CINERARIA
Popular potted hybrid cineraria (Cineraria hybrid) belongs to the aster family (Asteraceae), or Asteraceae (Compositae).
Source types are the origin of the Canary Islands. Pure varieties in production greenhouses to grow practically impossible, as the plants are easily crossed.
Cineraria grow well in low term greenhouses, blooming in 7-9 months after planting. The plant has small yellow blossoms, pink, blue, purple flowers. Withered instances are of particular importance to gardeners.
For crops and the pick is a mixture of leaf and compost soil (1:1) or peat and sand (1:1). Further cultivation in pots and ridges is on the ground, consisting of turf, leaf and compost soil (2:1:2) or turf and sphagnum peat (1:2).
When culture on peat at 1 m were added 2.5 kg of fertilizer "B" or the following components: i: potassium nitrate - 1700, ordinary superphosphate - 1030; sulphate - magnesium - 300, iron - 5 Manganese - 3, zinc - 0 , 5, of copper - 0.5 boric acid - 5. In all cases, the pH of 6.0-6.5.
In 1 g contains 3.4 thousand seeds. Of this number, you can get about two thousand plants, suitable for implementation. Germination is stored for 3 years. Summer-autumn crop (July - September) bloom in March and April, the spring (March-April) - in November - January and the spring-summer (end of July) - In January-February. 2-3 weeks after germination spend pick in boxes of 60-70 pieces. Protect seedlings from direct sunlight.
After 6-7 weeks after picking, when the plants begin to touch, they are put in pots with a diameter 11 to 13 cm and pritenyayut until they take root. The plants are arranged on 14-16 pieces / m., And with the beginning of buds - 12-14 pcs / m.
During the summer, like boxes with seedlings and pots better contain greenhouse or under the film with open sidewalls. In realization are only full-blown copies cineraria.
Plant out seedlings watered regularly, occasionally sprayed water on a sunny day - 2 times a day. Established and having got to the growth cineraria sprayed less.
After planting in pots plants should be well watered. In the future (especially in the period of the temperature 6-8 ° C), moisten the soil moderately, avoiding, however, the drying.
On sunny days, cineraria quickly fade, but watered easily restore juicy stems. Much more dangerous than a surplus of moisture: the leaves wither and the plants die.
Cineraria seeds germinate at 16-18 ° C. Then, the temperature was lowered to 14 ° C. Planted in pots of plants at first kept at 10-12 ° C, and when they start - at 6-8 ° C. It is very important to maintain a low temperature in November - January. Since the beginning of the formation of buds cineraria requires more heat - about 12-14 ° C.
Culture can in bright rooms, but does not like direct sunlight. It is best grown in the northern part of the greenhouse. Seedlings watered with 0.1% solution of crystalline.
Cineraria, transplanted into pots and began to develop, every 10-15 days, fed a 0.2% solution of the same fertilizer. Since the beginning of flowering extra food stop.
Artificially pollinated cineraria readily form seeds. To do this, pick a compact, well-developed, healthy specimens with horizontal baskets.
On a sunny day at about 10:00 am, with a soft brush the pollen is transferred from one flower to another of the same plants. The procedure is repeated two times a week, unless there seeds. They have a fluffy flying detachment and easily fall off, so it is important to harvest time. Treated seeds are stored in a cool, dry, dark place.
Many growers in growing cineraria may encounter the following problems:
1. The plant has the lower leaves wilt. Hence, the substrate is too dry or wet. In the first case, you have to water profusely or while immersed in water pots. Wetting the soil when the plant can not be saved.
2. Bushes stretched, weak, poor quality. Most likely, the reason for this is that the pots are too closely. Place them so that the plants are not touching.
3. The leaves are wrinkled, curled edge down, buds bloom poorly. Most likely landing struck aphids. In the greenhouse temperature is too high.
4. The leaves bright brown spots. This is the result of careless irrigation.
5. The underside of the leaves, stalks and buds are white soft coating, drying herbs, buds are deformed. Rather, it is powdery mildew.
6. In young plants on the upper side of leaves - pale greenish spots (then they turn brown) on the bottom - Downy mildew; plate quickly shrivel and fall off.
Disease - mildew. Necessary to strengthen ventilation of greenhouses, to add to potash. It is important not to overfeed the plant with nitrogen.
7. In seedlings and adult specimens in the stems and stalks of red-brown spots with ashen middle. This blight. You should remove the diseased plants.
8. Dry leaves, buds do not bloom or bloom late. On young shoots from the bottom of the plates and inflorescences can be seen wingless and winged insects. There was potato aphid.
9. The leaves and buds of gnawing. In the greenhouse, outside cabbage moth flies. Insert the window frame with a mesh or gauze. Destroy weeds around the greenhouse.
10. In the pulp leaves gnawed white winding paths. The reason for this - meat omnivorous fly. Need to break the leaves until they still have caterpillars and larvae of the pest.
Correct and in compliance with all the rules of farming, you will achieve remarkable success in raising and breeding of cineraria, which will delight you with flowers all summer long, giving you an unforgettable experience and memories.
