Xerantemum

Xerantemum: description

Xerantemum: photo of a flower

Xerantemum - belongs to the herbaceous dried flowers of the Astrov family.

Xerantemum flowers can delight with their beauty during one season. It is called the annual dried flower and immortelle. This genus includes 6 species, but only Xeranthemum annuum is represented as a cultivated plant.

The flower does not exceed 60 centimeters in height. Straight branches are slightly pubescent, making them silvery in color. Leaves without petioles, covered with small villi 3 centimeters long, have a lanceolate shape. They are alternately arranged on the stem.

In natural conditions in the Asian countries, in the Mediterranean countries, in Europe, namely in the western and southern countries. They inhabit steppes, dry slopes, small mountains, chalk outcrops and sandstones.

The cultivation of the Xerantemum dried flower as a cultivated plant began at the end of the 18th century. They are used to decorate flower beds, make beautiful bouquets and use dried flowers to create interesting compositions. The plant pleases exclusively on summer days, but thanks to its beauty, unpretentiousness, ease of care and the ability to use dry inflorescences in drawing up bouquets that can please the eye even in winter, it has gained great popularity among gardeners.

Flowering period

You can enjoy flowering from mid-summer until the first days of autumn. Simple, double, semi-double hemispherical inflorescences with a diameter of 3 centimeters, composed of numerous flowers blooming at the same time. These small flowers can be snow-white, have a pinkish tint, their color can be purple, while there is a slight metallic sheen on all the petals.

Xerantemum: landing

In order to achieve July flowering, you must first grow seedlings. In this case, sowing should take place on the last days of March. For growing, a container whose height will not exceed 10 centimeters is suitable. It should be filled with a special earthen mixture, which is sold in stores and nurseries, specifically for this purpose. Sowing takes place on the surface of the ground, which must be pre-moistened, and they can be deepened a little, but only by 5 mm. and no more.

Next, the container is covered with polyethylene or glass, which must be lifted every day, allowing the soil to breathe. They must be stored in a room where the temperature is kept at a level from +22 to +25 degrees. Lighting should be bright and diffused. Moisten the soil regularly. After the sprouts appear, the film must be removed. As soon as two real leaves are formed, it is necessary to dive into different pots. Carrying out this procedure, one must be extremely careful so that the root system does not suffer.

Next, you need to keep the soil constantly moist and provide the correct lighting, which should be bright and diffused. After adaptation and the beginning of active growth, the seedlings must be prepared for transplantation into the garden. To do this, it is necessary that it has been hardened for 2 weeks. Every day you need to take a young plant outside and increase its time there. As soon as the threat of frost disappears and warm weather is established during the day, the plants can be safely sent to the garden plot.

Xerantemum: growing from seed

Xerantemum: photo of flowers

Sowing the seeds of Xerantemum directly into the garden bed in the garden is carried out in the second half of May. When planting a plant in this way, you need to know that you will not be able to enjoy flowering in July, as in the first case, but in August. The depth of the furrows should be 3 centimeters. They should be moistened with water at room temperature. After the moisture has saturated the soil, you can scatter the seed material over the surface and sprinkle it with soil. Seeds will germinate faster if covered with plastic.

In order for the seeds of Xerantemum to germinate well, the thermometer should show +20 degrees. Even with a slight minus temperature, the seeds will die. The emerging mature sprouts will be able to grow at a temperature of +5 degrees. But, I would like to note that there were cases that even wintering did not prevent the seeds from germinating. Sowing xerantemum in autumn is possible only in the southern regions of the country.

Site selection:

The dried flower Xerantemum loves a lot of sun, so the site should be chosen taking into account these needs. Thanks to the bright sunlight, the flower will show a lush and abundant bloom.

The soil loves rich in nutrients, loose and with a neutral level of acidity. Sandy and sandy loam soil is a good option.

Planting seedlings

Seedlings move to the garden at the very end of spring. Before transplanting, it is necessary to prepare holes at a distance of 20 centimeters, into which the plants are planted by transshipment without damaging the earthen lump. After disembarking, you need to gently tamp the ground with your hands. Please note that the root collar must remain on the surface of the ground.

The annual dried flower Xerantemum does not require special care, so there will be very little labor costs.

Xerantemum: care

Watering

Irrigation should be carried out regularly only during the cultivation of seedlings and some time after planting in the garden. Once the plant has adapted and takes root, it will only need to be watered when the topsoil dries out. As soon as the buds begin to form, the plant will no longer need watering, even if there is no rain and hot weather outside.

Fertilization

Fertilizing the plant is needed for abundant flowering. Complex mineral fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus elements are perfect. Before use, you must carefully read the instructions and follow its instructions.

Loosening the soil and removing weeds from the site is also very important, because this allows the plant to receive more oxygen. But during these procedures, you should be careful not to injure the roots.

Resistance to diseases and harmful insects

Xerantemum: photo of a flower

Due to its strong immunity, the Xerantemum dried flower rarely suffers from any diseases and harmful insects. The only thing that can destroy the plant is rot that develops on the roots of the flower, in case of excessive watering and stagnation of water. It is impossible to cope with rot, the plant must be removed along with the roots and destroyed. As a preventive measure, it is necessary to regularly loosen it, which will allow the earth to dry out better. If the weather is rainy, then you can cover the plant.

As for pests, the plant can be found

• Gall nematodeIs a very dangerous little worm that is extremely difficult to spot. This pest settles on the root system and kills it. Wet soil at a temperature of +18 degrees can provoke the appearance of a worm. You can understand that the plant needs help by the fact that the plant stops growing, the leaves twist and the flower begins to die. All this happens because the roots cease to consume nutrients and transfer them to the plant. When signs of this insect appear, it is necessary to immediately treat the plant with insecticides;
• Leaf aphid- green or black midges sucking out all the juices from the leaves, eating them and the buds in which the flowers are blocked. Its reproduction takes place within a short time, which is why the plant can die quickly enough. As soon as these insects appear, it is necessary to treat the plants with insecticides as soon as possible.

All these troubles can be avoided by following the rules of watering, clearing the land of weeds and observing the distances when planting.

Possible difficulties in growing Xerantemum from seeds

Growing the dried flower Xerantum, you can face such difficulties as poor seed germination, but this happens only if the temperature regime is violated; slow flower growth may be due to rare watering during growing seedlings and in the first days after planting in the garden; sluggish bloom with pale flowers, possibly if the plant is not fed with nutrients. The plant must be maintained with fertilization.

Decorating the garden with the Xerantemum flower

Landscape designers love to use Xerantemum in their projects because of its unusual beauty and unpretentiousness. Flower beds, rockery borders will look great if you decorate them with these flowers. Planting them in groups will create the appearance of natural vegetation on the lawn. Even when the plant stops blooming, it does not cease to decorate the garden area and continues to give aesthetic pleasure.

It can be safely planted with Iberis, Yarrow, Astrantia or Escholzia.

The use of xerantemum by florists:

Xerantemum: photo of a flower

This flower is valuable not only for landscape designers, but also for florists who grow them in order to make unique and beautiful compositions of fresh and dried flowers with their participation.

These wizards are able to make sure that within two years, the buds will retain their shape and bright colors.

In order to achieve this, the cut is carried out until the buds fully open. Further, bunches are made of them, which are dried in a dry, shady and well-ventilated room, suspended so that the inflorescences look down. To preserve the brightness of the buds, they must be dipped in hydrochloric acid for 4 seconds. It should be mixed with water in a ratio of 1 hour of acid to 12 hours of water. The solution should be well mixed and the buds should be freshly cut. After they need to shake slightly and send to dry.

Xerantemum will go well with Kermek, Helipterum, with helihrizumswinging in bouquets of dried flowers. Lavender, yarrow, astilbe will also be a good partner.

Xerantemum: varieties

As mentioned above, among the few species, only one is grown as a cultivated plant, the description of which was in this article.

Thanks to the work of breeders, many varieties have been bred that belong to this species.

The most popular are:

• Rose - this variety is herbaceous. Its height is half a meter. The diameter of the double pink inflorescences is about 4 centimeters. Flowering lasts from the middle to the end of the summer season. This flower is hygrophilous and needs to be watered more than others.
• Carmine - a variety with a height of half a meter. During flowering, it shows beautiful purple inflorescences that do not lose their saturation after drying. This plant should be grown in an area open to the sun. Good resistance to cold weather.
• Xerantemum Mother of Pearl Bouquet - florists love this variety for its different shades. Inflorescences with a diameter of 4 centimeters can be white, pink and purple. Like the previous variety, Xerantemum Pearlescent bouquet easily tolerates cold spells.

Russian varieties

• Winter's tale - the height of this herbaceous plant is just over half a meter. Terry inflorescences can be bright pink, purple, purple and deep crimson.Florists use these flowers to create dry flower arrangements.
• Xerantemum Kazachok - this variety is not shade tolerant, so it should be planted exclusively in a sunny area. Xerantemum Kazachok has velvety white and pink inflorescences. Also, Xerantemum Kazachok endures cold weather.