Primula (or Primrose spring)

Primrose - or as they call it - primrose - this is a whole genus of plants that belong to a very large family of primroses. The name is explained by the fact that many species of this plant bloom very early in spring, one of the first among all other flower crops, and hence the Russian name of the culture - primrose. This is also the characteristic, the special features of this landing. Primroses are perennials, but there are annual and biennial crops that are herbaceous. Their leaves are whole, wrinkled, if you feel them, you can feel a large number of small short villi. Due to the leaves, a root rosette is formed, which looks quite interesting and attractive.

Description of primrose, its main types

Flowers consist of five petals, have a fairly regular shape, but what really surprises primroses is the variety of colors and colors of this culture. There are also single inflorescences or inflorescences collected in a brush, there can be inflorescences in the form of umbrellas, the fruit is a box in which numerous primrose seeds are collected, with which they can be further propagated and cultivated. Most of the primrose species available are short grasses that exhibit incredibly attractive and beautiful blooms that are difficult to take your eyes off.

The plant is distinguished not only by its incredible appearance, but also by the fact that it contains many useful components. For example, this is carotene, vitamin C, a large amount of carbohydrates and glycosides, which perfectly help a person with certain diseases. For example, you can use decoctions from the plant for rheumatism, headaches or pains in different parts of the body, for bronchitis, pneumonia or other diseases of the upper respiratory tract. In Germany, primrose flowers can be dried and then brewed with tea to help relieve headaches and strengthen the nervous system. In England, the plant can be used as one of the ingredients in a salad, and the roots are used as a spicy aromatic additive and as a medicine for those suffering from such a dangerous disease as tuberculosis.

There are some types of primrose that can produce nectar. But due to the fact that the plant has an elongated flower tube, it is difficult for bees to obtain nectar in large quantities. More than five hundred different species of primroses are known in nature today, but in this article we will dwell in more detail only on those species that are most popular, and therefore are of the greatest interest to gardeners and florists. Each species has its own characteristics and characteristics, so you should be able to distinguish them from each other. A separate species is also the subtleties in caring for a plant, so in no case should you forget about such details and ignore them.

Let's start with a description primrose - basically, this species can be found in the European part of our country, especially in the regions that are located in the south, as well as in the Caucasus and southern Siberia. The roots of this species include substances such as saponins, essential oils and glycosides. Thanks to this, the roots can be used as an effective expectorant. In addition, large-cup primroses are simply wonderful melliferous plants that are common in indoor floriculture.Primroses bloom during the entire winter period, until the onset of spring, which cannot but delight gardeners and flower growers, because in winter not all plantings are able to bloom, be bright and decorative.

Primula stemless (in other words, this is an ordinary primrose) - it differs from large-cup and other primrose species in that their leaves are oblong, slightly wrinkled along the surface. This species is distinguished by the fact that breeders have bred a large number of hybrid varieties, their flowers are located on rather low stems. The colors of the flowers can be white and blue, yellow and red, the flowers themselves are located right in the center of the rosettes, which consist of leaves. After the flowering of this species of primroses is completed, you can plant the primrose already in open ground, where it will feel very comfortable and cozy.

Spring primrose, or it is also called medicinal primrose. This plant blooms in early spring, its height usually varies from ten to thirty centimeters, the leaves of the primrose are wrinkled, but the flowers are painted in an incredibly bright yellow hue. This species of primrose grows in almost all regions of the European part of our country, it takes root well in dry meadows and on the edges of forests, it can also grow next to shrubs and well-lit forests. Among the people, this species of primroses has several more nicknames - rams or keys. Bell flowers are a striking distinctive feature of this species, and they serve as a real decoration of meadows in natural conditions, they look incredibly bright, attractive and original.

Chinese primrose - this species differs in that its leaves are very lobed, and they are serrated along the edges. The flowers are very large, they can reach four centimeters in diameter, they are painted in a variety of shades, but the peculiarity of the species is that the middle of the flowers is colored yellow, and the petals are not smooth, but more wavy. After the plant fades, in principle, it can be left for the next season, but for this, throughout the summer, the primrose should be located in a cool and ventilated room or place, and in this case, the moderation of watering depends on the gardener. In the autumn, the yellowed parts of the plant, the leaves should be carefully removed, and the primrose itself should be watered very abundantly. This is the specificity of this species, and this is its advantage over many other plantings and plants.

Primula cus - the flowering of this primrose is carried out due to the very bright yellow flowers. They also exude a very persistent, pleasant aroma, and the diameter of the flowers is very small - no more than one centimeter. Peduncles are of medium height, usually it is about thirty centimeters, the leaves are unusual, and with jagged edges, they are covered with a light powdery bloom, but this does not mean at all that the plant is sick with something, since bloom is an absolutely normal phenomenon for this type of primroses.

Primrose soft-leaved - the homeland of this plant is South China and, perhaps, this is due to some needs and interesting features of this plant. It is an annual that grows like a herb, and the height of the bush is usually forty centimeters. The leaves resemble a heart in shape, they can also be elongated, oval, they are serrated at the edges, the leaves are about 17 centimeters in diameter, their petioles are also very long, about eight centimeters. Peduncles do not have leaves, flowers are collected in 5-20 whorls. The whorls themselves may not be evenly spaced, but in several floors. Flowering usually occurs in the months of January-February, everything looks very attractive and interesting, as decorative as possible. The colors can be white or pink, and there are red flowers with a pronounced yellow spot right in the center.

Primula reverse conical - China is her homeland. This is a perennial plant, its height can reach sixty centimeters, the leaves are about ten centimeters in diameter, the flowers are collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences, and the peduncle itself has absolutely no leaves, the height of the peduncle is no more than 25 centimeters. The flower is completely typical in its external characteristics, many varieties of this species are known, the flowers of which are painted in white, pink, blue or purple shades, there are dark red flowers that also look incredibly attractive. Over time, through the efforts of breeders, varieties were also bred that contain a minimum amount of primin, as well as varieties that do not have it at all, but at the same time the plants still look peculiar, original, stand out from the rest of the plantings with their appearance and features.

Japanese primrose - this species is used in gardening, as an ornamental plant that can decorate personal plots and rooms. The height of the plant is no more than ten centimeters, the leaves are oblong, large notches are visible at the tips and along the edges, the length of one leaf reaches 25 centimeters. The inflorescence is collected in umbrellas, the flowers have a bright crimson color, their diameter is up to two centimeters, and the flowers themselves are collected in two-tiered inflorescences, the height of the peduncle is from thirty centimeters to half a meter. The number of petals is five, the fruit looks like a box filled with seeds, and the seeds themselves are very small, have a black color, so it is recommended to pour the seeds out of the box on a piece of white paper in order to clearly assess their quantity and quality, the level of maturity.

Fine-toothed primrose - in height, this plant can reach about thirty centimeters, just like in diameter. The leaves of the primrose are quite wide, oblong, there are oval-shaped leaves that wrinkle a little. After flowering, they can vary in length from twenty to forty centimeters. Flowers can be painted in a wide variety of shades - these are lilac or purple, red or white flowers, the diameter of which is about one and a half centimeters. Usually they gather in rather dense spherical blooms, the diameter of one inflorescence is about ten centimeters, the peduncles themselves are dense, thick, can be covered with a mealy bloom, but this is only a feature of this variety, no more and no less. At first, the peduncles have a height of ten to twenty centimeters, but then they can stretch very much - up to sixty centimeters. The primrose blooms from April to May, the flowering duration is from one month to forty days, while the plant blooms gradually, it seems that the plant has a long flowering, and this really attracts a lot of gardeners and florists.

This species is most often used in order to grow in garden and park areas, and also the primrose fits perfectly as a curb plant that takes root well in flower beds, group plantings on lawns or even on alpine slides. The plant reacts remarkably to fertile soils, and the soil must also be well-drained, in particular the primrose takes root well in partial shade, and it will be very grateful if the grower carries out very abundant watering. You can propagate primroses in several ways - by seed, cuttings or cuttings of a bush. The choice of method depends on the abilities and desires of the grower himself, as well as on his experience and the goals with which he plans to reproduce the plant. Of course, the well-being of the bush entirely depends on how the grower himself takes care of the planting, since the health and decorativeness of the bushes depends on the observance of the rules of agricultural technology.Therefore, the next part of our article will be entirely devoted to exactly the consideration of the features of primrose care.

Primrose care

Part of the article on primrose care I would like to start with information on its lighting. As a rule, these plants are best placed in a cool room and on a light-colored windowsill. The room must be ventilated, and it is best to do it regularly. Also, primroses are among those crops that need constant bright lighting, but it is worth remembering that primrose may not react in the best way to direct sunlight, so you should protect it from them. Ideally, place primroses on the western or eastern sides of an apartment or room, but a primrose can easily tolerate partial shade, so that it can be and develop on a windowsill from a northern orientation, unless it is still worth supplementing it with phytolamps.

Primroses need a moderate air temperature, during flowering it should fluctuate from 12 to 16 degrees, because it is in such conditions that the flowers can stay on the peduncle much longer than if the temperature is above or below these limits. Also, primroses bloom well in unheated greenhouse conditions, and they can also feel quite comfortable between window frames - the place depends solely on the grower himself and on the conditions under which he can plant primroses. Now it is also worth talking about watering - it should be moderate, and abundant watering must be ensured during the flowering of the plant. The water should be settled, at room temperature, and moisture is added as the substrate itself dries up. When watering, in no case should the leaf plates be wetted, as this can lead to the plant beginning to rot, and burns may form under the influence of sunlight. It is best to carry out bottom watering so as not to touch any leaf blades at all, thereby protecting the plant from negative influences and manifestations.

Fertilizers and feeding - primroses respond well to liquid fertilizers, especially if the gardener uses organic matter - liquid bird droppings. But it should be in small doses and concentrations, since oversaturation can lead to rather sad consequences. It is best to feed the plant in June and at the very end of August. For the first time, feeding is carried out with the help of organic fertilizers, but for the second time, ammonium nitrate can be used as fertilizer, since primroses react to it just fine. But at the same time, there are some features of growing primroses that should be adhered to, because observing the features, you can observe all the necessary agrotechnical characteristics and requirements, and in this case, the plant will respond in gratitude with incredibly abundant, bright and decorative flowering.

For example, when the last flowers have bloomed on the peduncles, they should be plucked out, and all yellowed leaves and shoots are removed from the bush. For planting primroses, you can use not the most nutritious soil, even humus is suitable for these purposes. But it is better to use a mixture that the florist can prepare on his own. To do this, he mixes humus, leaf and sod soils, adds sand or compost, peat and sand there - it already depends on which of these components the gardener has in a certain period of time. It is best for young primroses to choose a loose and nutritious soil that will perfectly absorb moisture. This nutrient mixture is prepared using sod and deciduous soil, as well as sand. In addition, the plant reacts remarkably to weak acidic soil, so coniferous soil can be added to the mixture.

Now we should talk about planting primroses.Seed material is recommended to be sown in April or at the very beginning of May, for this you can use containers, bowls or boxes. Seeds are sown on the very surface of the soil, which includes squeak and deciduous soil. Up to 0.5 g of seeds can be planted in one box, and everything is moistened on top with a spray bottle. Crops should be covered with glass and placed on window sills, while it is worth creating shading from direct sunlight. The air temperature should be 18-20 degrees, seedlings in this case will appear about ten days after planting. Seedlings, which are still very small, dive, and then they are planted in pots, about 2-3 plants can be placed in one ten-centimeter pot. The nutrient mixture for planting is prepared by the gardener himself, for this he needs to mix deciduous, greenhouse soil and a certain amount of sand. As the plant grows and develops, it is transferred two to three times into pots that will exceed the previous containers in size.

In general, seedlings can also be grown without handling. To do this, they are immediately planted in large containers, placing from two to three plants in one pot; it is also recommended to add a small amount of cow dung to the soil mixture. In this case, the primrose will begin to bloom about six months after planting. Primroses are usually propagated using seeds, although this method is considered one of the most laborious, as well as dividing the bushes, rooting axillary shoots, which is also interesting and effective. Let's talk about each method of reproduction in more detail, so that the grower will understand what he has to deal with, and whether he wants to use this particular method.

By seeds - primroses are often propagated using seeds, they are formed in very large quantities right in the fruit after artificial pollination of the flowers has been carried out. Usually, seeds are sown in June or July, they are placed in pre-prepared containers. After about 30 days, the plants should be dived into bowls or containers, the feeding area should be about 3x4 centimeters. After another month, the seedlings are replanted even less frequently, on an area of ​​8x8 centimeters. With the onset of October, plants can be placed in large pots, and primroses begin to bloom six months after planting the seeds. During flowering, it is worth maintaining a certain temperature in the room, it ranges from 10 to 12 degrees. With the onset of autumn and winter, the temperature can be reduced to eight degrees, but underestimation should not be allowed, otherwise there is a great risk that the plant will die before it even begins to bloom.

The second breeding method is dividing the primrose bush. After the plant has bloomed, and this period falls on the month of May, they can be placed in shaded places so that the plant enters a dormant stage. The plant should also be constantly moisturized, since it cannot be allowed to dry out completely. When the stems begin to grow gradually, the bushes can be divided into several parts with a pre-prepared, well-sharpened and disinfected tool, each part is placed in boxes in which loose nutritious soils are located. When planting, it is best not to deepen the plant too much, since the rosette should have been located at the same level with the soil. In order for the delenki to strengthen and take root better, it is also recommended to cover the box with glass or polyethylene, and then put the box in a well-lit area. Then the plants are planted in medium-sized containers, and after about 30 days it should already be 13-centimeter containers in which the primroses will feel most comfortable just due to the fact that the root system will have enough space for development and growth.

As the cuttings grow and develop, they should be fed approximately every 10-12 days. To do this, use a weak solution of mineral fertilizers. When the leaves are old, they should be removed. Plants may have a weak root system and therefore may not be suitable for this propagation method, and another method can be used - propagate primroses using axillary shoots. To do this, at the very base, a leaf petiole is separated, there must be viable soil on it, and a part of the shoot must adjoin it, after which this part takes root in coarse-grained river sand. Cuttings are planted at a slight slope and to a depth of about one centimeter, no more. In order for the cuttings to take root as quickly and successfully as possible, they should be placed in a well-lit room, in which the temperature should be between 16 and 18 degrees. It is also worth spraying the plant moderately. If you follow the agrotechnical requirements and all the conditions, then in about three months, strong shoots will develop from the buds, on which three or four large full-fledged leaves will form. They can already be placed in separate, pre-prepared containers with suitable soil.

Of course, when a grower takes care of a plant, then people with very sensitive skin should be very careful, since contact with primrose leaves can cause irritation and inflammatory reactions. In children, the leaves can also cause small rashes, so it is recommended to work with primroses with gloves. If contact occurs, then it is best to treat hands and contact points with soapy water, or use slightly acidified water.

As with any culture, primrose can also be a little tricky. If you suddenly keep primroses in very humid conditions, then this can lead to the fact that the plant will be affected by gray rot. If suddenly the plant is kept at too high a temperature, the air is very dry, moisture stagnates, and water that has not settled and is used for irrigation, this can lead to yellowing of the leaves and to the fact that the root system acquires a brown tint. This also suggests that the gardener should urgently take some measures to save the plant, otherwise large plantings can be lost. If there is dry and hot air, then this will lead to a very rapid withering of the flowers, which means that the flowering period will be noticeably reduced. In general, it all depends on the external conditions, which the florist himself creates, and therefore he can regulate them himself.