Vatochnik yellow. Vatochnik planting care

Among all the unpretentious, maintenance-free and growing without constant attention and care, garden flowers - plant milkweed The most interesting.

America is the homeland, and it was brought to Europe at the beginning of the 17th century, not at all like garden plant, but as a technical agricultural crop, the first seeds of the milkwort came to Russia in 1649.

They used the plant for the production of ropes, fibers for coarse fabrics used in production for improvised needs, for example, wiping machine tools, and so on.

Description and features of the vatochnik

On the photo of a milkweed it can be seen that this is a plant with small, tender, however, this is an illusory impression. Flower cottonwort- a very powerful plant, perennial, from a large family of kutrovye, with a straight stem up to 1.5-2 meters tall, developed taproots and large oblong leaves.

The flowers themselves are collected in "umbrellas", quite miniature when considered separately - only 1-2.5 cm in diameter, but in general, "umbrellas" are not lost against the background of large leaves, creating visual effect bouquets. Blooms from June to September.

To date, there are 80 varieties of milkweeds in the world, however, as decorative garden varieties only a quarter of this amount is available.

Some types of milkweed continue to be used as a technical agricultural crop, producing technical oils from it. It is also practiced cultivation of milkwort at apiaries, because it is one of the best honey plants in the world.

Planting and breeding

The flower is completely undemanding either to the place, or to the soil, or to temperature. It even suppresses the growth of weeds on its own, although at the same time it can also suppress flowers located too close.

Despite such versatility, they still have preferences, it will bloom much more abundantly and grow faster if the following conditions are met:

single landing in a free sunny place;

slightly acidic loamy soils.

If a buy a vat in the form of seedlings, then it should be planted in late spring, in mid-May. The plant propagates both by seeds and by cuttings from the rhizome. However, in middle lane and in gray areas milkweed seeds almost do not tie, or do not have time to ripen.

If the seeds are still ripe, or purchased in a store, then they can be sown both before winter, in October, and in spring, in early May. During spring sowing, the first shoots appear after a couple of weeks, and those grown from them begin to bloom in the fourth year of life.

Segments from the rhizome are made in the spring, in early May. Settled thus, already new flower, takes root very quickly, and blooms in the second year.

Planting a quilt does not require any special tricks and will not cause difficulties. The only caveat is to decide on the landing site. After all, the plant will live in the corner allotted for it for at least 25-35 years.

Often, beginner gardeners plant bushes near recreation areas or not far from the porch, because of the incredibly pleasant aroma and large size.

However, then they are forced to replant the plant, because they did not take into account one small nuance, the milkweed is a honey plant, and bees, bumblebees and wasps circle over its “umbrellas-bouquets” all summer.

Wadding Machine Care

Vatochnik care does not require, however, each of ornamental varieties there are some nuances and preferences. In general, taking care of these comes down to top dressing - 2 times a season you need to apply mineral fertilizer complexes, and before flowering, to increase the decorative effect, you need to feed the bush again with a mixture of urea and potassium sulfate.

Watering the plant is necessary only when necessary, for example, in a severe drought.The honeycomb grows quickly, does not require additional supports, garters or formations, and in the presence of a small hive, just one decorative bush can provide a family of four with honey until next summer.

All are winter-hardy, except for a few species, and the life of one bush at favorable conditions can reach 40 years, less than 25 plants do not live, even under extremely uncomfortable conditions for them.

Types of milkweed

There are not so many decorative species of this flower, but the most popular for growing in gardens are:

tuberose tuberose

Highly beautiful flower. With a delicate spicy aroma and large bright red and dark orange inflorescences. It is used mainly as an annual, because it winters very badly if the temperature drops below 5-8 degrees. Covered in the first year of life.

However, you can try to cover the bush for the winter, this makes sense, since a simple box with a film can save the life of a handsome quilt and save the gardener's efforts, time and labor.

Tuberous tuber

This is hybrid variety, very tiny. It grows up to 70 cm, bushes profusely and is covered with “bouquets” of flowers, among the colors orange is most in demand, but it can be red, yellow, yellow-red.

The variety is winter-hardy, blooms all season, does not show any requirements for care.

Incarnate milkwort

Another name for this variety is vatochnik red. It grows up to 120 cm, the most multi-leaved of all species. But it blooms only from July to August, covered with large purple ones. On the basis of this variety, hybrids were bred with white - Ice Ballet, and with pink - Cinderella, the color of the buds.

The entire inflorescence, a “bouquet”, exceeds 6 cm in diameter. The variety is very effective, moreover, it is frost-resistant and tolerates shaded and wind-prone areas very well.

Syrian squid

King or padishah among decorative quilts. Minimum Height bush - one and a half meters. The bushy stems and large ovate leaves are impressive even when the bush is not in bloom.

Flowering begins at the end of June and continues until mid-September. At the same time, the air around is simply permeated with a subtle, delicate, honey aroma. not very large, like a full inflorescence, but there are a lot of them. It reproduces well by dividing the bush, the stems grow a large number of and the “parent” bush is not at all averse to getting rid of them.

Perfectly winters, completely unpretentious, special care does not require. But. left to "itself" can reach 3 meters or more in diameter, unless, of course, nothing will restrain the formation of shoots.

Vatochnik Maharadzha

Another name for this species is less poetic, but more well known, it is - vatochnik orange. It grows very quickly, bushes profusely, and the bush begins to form immediately, already in the first month of its life.

Quite small, sharp-petaled, but collected in huge "umbrellas", blazing with a bright, deep, pure orange color, such as in the palette of watercolors.

He loves light and the sun very much, easily gets along with the neighborhood of other milkweeds, and quite calmly treats perennials growing nearby with similar characteristics.

Winters extremely badly, but feels great in flowerpots or flowerpots that can be moved indoors for the winter. Fits perfectly into vegetable world balcony or loggia, the only reasonable limitation is the height of the floor.

Vatochnik – honey plant, and if the balcony is on the lower floors, then it will be filled with insects. But on the 12th floor, this flower and its aroma can be enjoyed all summer long.

In addition, this variety feels great as an indoor variety, and the height of the bush directly depends on how much space will be available to the rhizome.

The bush of the milkweed is a great addition not only for the garden, but also for the usual suburban area, on which fruits and berries are grown, the harvest of which directly depends on the activity of insects, which this modest flower will attract.

This plant, as, indeed, most of the genus of milkworts, is common in North America. It came to Europe at the end of the XVII - early XVIII century. It quickly spread to England, Germany, France and Finland. It was first introduced into Europe as technical culture. From the stems, fibers for coarse fabrics, ropes, stuffing for upholstered furniture and toys.

(Asclepias syriaca) is one of the most cold-resistant and drought-resistant species of the genus (Asclepias). It was grown mainly as a pleasant-smelling, but, in general, it is not clear what useful plant. Indeed, its flowers, collected in spherical inflorescences, have a lovely aroma of hyacinth. in Nikitsky botanical garden in the 30-50s, it was studied as an essential oil plant. Of the 26 studied species of the genus Asclepias L. (this is how the genus is called in Latin) it turned out to be the most promising. The harvest of flower raw materials amounted to 40-50 kg / ha, however, at a very low content, only 0.05-0.1% essential oil. But it is obtained by extraction, which makes it possible to obtain a substance containing not only volatile substances, the so-called concrete.

The essential oil was obtained from the inflorescences. Therefore, the milkweed belongs to the group of flower raw materials. On the fourth day, from the opening of the first buds in the inflorescence, more than 90% of the flowers bloom. It is at this moment that the content of the concrete is maximum, and its perfume rating is the highest.

In all parts of the flower, the content of concrete varies from 0.34 to 0.54% of the raw mass of raw materials; pedicels, calyxes, corollas also have a different smell. For example, corollas and inflorescences have a strong heliotropic smell, calyxes have a slightly heliotropic smell, and flower stalks have a resinous-terpineol shade.

The concrete of the Syrian milkweed from the inflorescences is solid yellow-gray color with a very pleasant resinous-hyacinth smell with a note of heliotrope. The inflorescences are extracted with petroleum ether for 30 minutes. followed by washing. After distillation, a hardening concrete is obtained.

In the 30s, this plant was studied in detail for various purposes - it was proposed to use the fluff from leaflets with seeds to warm the clothes of polar explorers (the Arctic was then in vogue) instead of eiderdown. And indeed, it practically does not get wet and holds the volume well. Something like a modern synthetic winterizer.

The cottonwort was used as an anti-erosion plant, since its horizontally diverging rhizomes and roots are arranged in several tiers and fix large volumes of soil. Recommended for landscaping.

Another direction of its then study was the production of rubber. All parts of the plant secrete milky juice, and the USSR in the 30s was in great need of rubber. And as its source, they studied the Central Asian dandelions kok-saghyz and tau-saghyz, and, at the same time, the cotton plant. He still has more mass.

The whole plant contains triterpene saponins, which have an irritating effect, flavonoid glycosides, lignans, milky juice contains the poisonous glucoside asklepiadin, the seeds contain a brown dye, up to 20% fatty oil, which was tried to be used in the textile industry, to obtain solid fats, to manufacture - protective coatings.

The milkweed is an excellent honey plant, the productivity of one hectare is 600 kg of honey, which has a strong aroma and is not candied during storage.

And now only a decorative function remains.

botanical portrait

Va-tochnik Syriac (Asclepias syriaca) L. from the dove family (Asclepiadaceae)- perennial herbaceous rhizome plant with a height of 0.7 to 1.8 m. The tap root penetrates to a depth of 3-4 m and has a system of horizontal roots that extend from the main one almost at a right angle and are located in the soil in tiers in the amount of 3 to 5. The first is at a depth of 8-10 cm, the second is 16-18 cm, the rest are deeper. A large number of buds are formed on the core part and lateral branches, from which vertically standing stems develop.

The leaves are entire, oblong-elliptical in shape, short-pointed, rounded, with a thick midrib, whitish from below due to dense tomentose pubescence, covered with scattered hairs above, short-petiolate.

The flowers are collected in dichasia with very short internodes and form a cymose inflorescence - a false umbrella. Each flower sits on a pedicel attached to a flower-bearing stalk, which is 4-8 cm long. Both pedicels and flower-bearing stems are densely pubescent. Inflorescences are located in internodes mainly in the upper part of the stem. Flowers large, white to purple. Although I personally came across only plants with dirty pink flowers.

The fruit is a multi-seeded elliptical leaflet 6-10 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm wide, slightly drawn to both ends, whitish from dense short and soft pubescence. Seeds are flattened, ovoid, with a wide wrinkled margin and elongated, keeled, darker tubercles on both sides.

Cultivation and reproduction of the Syrian milkweed

Vatochnik grows on slightly acidic dry sandy and sandy loamy soils, it develops better on alkaline, well-aerated soils, worse on wet heavy ones. This should be taken into account when choosing a site on the site. It is better to choose a sunny place. In one place it is advisable to grow 10-15 years. Before planting, it is necessary to clear the soil of weeds and introduce mineral and organic fertilizers. In summer, keep the site clean from weeds.

For sowing it is better to use seeds with a one-year storage period, then their germination is from 80% and above. From the emergence of seedlings to the formation of the first pair of true leaves, an average of 10-12 days passes. By the end of the vegetative period, the Syrian milkwort has one stem 20-40 cm high with 8-11 pairs of leaves. One-year-old plants develop a tap root going deep into 30 cm, a system of horizontal rhizome lashes (3-4) 25-30 cm long and small suction roots (up to 60) with a diameter of 0.5 mm.

In October-November, the leaves completely fall off. The underground part of the plant overwinters, on which the renewal buds are located.

When breeding segments of rhizomes less hassle than using seeds. Rhizomes cut them into segments 5-10 cm long with 2-3 nodes on each. best term planting rhizomes - October-November. Their rooting rate ranges from 62 to 100%, depending on the length of the cut. In general, it is better not to make the segments too small, greed is not appropriate here. In spring, good results were obtained when planting with rhizomes 7-10 cm long. The depth of embedding is determined by the type and moisture of the soil and should be at least 10 cm.

Rhizomes are planted in moist soil. The row spacing is 70 cm, the distance between plants in rows is 40-50 cm. The cotton plant is responsive to organic fertilizers.

The milkweed begins to grow at an air temperature of +11 + 13 ° C. It grows most intensively in the third decade of May and early June, and when budding and flowering occurs, growth stops.

The duration of flowering of one inflorescence is 4-8 days. But there are many inflorescences, therefore, in general, the duration of flowering is long.

In some years, the milkweed can be affected by dry spotting, a fungus from the genus Alternaria tenuis, fusarium, fungus Fusarium sp. Infections by fungal diseases are not widespread and usually do not require any measures.

Tuberose tuberose (lat. Asclepias tuberosa)- a representative of a small genus Vatochnik, which belongs to the Kutrovye family. decorative look, suitable for decorating personal gardens and recreation areas of large city parks.

Characteristics of culture

The tuberous tuberose is represented by perennial herbaceous plants no more than 70-80 cm high, endowed with branched stems, abundantly crowned with opposite, wide lanceolate or, on the contrary, elongated foliage. The foliage, in turn, is green or dark green, covered with short soft hairs over the entire surface.

The flowers are small, orange or orange-red, very attractive, fragrant, harmoniously look against the background of green lush foliage. Flowers, like those of other representatives of the genus, are collected in umbellate inflorescences that adorn the garden from the first or second decade of July until the onset of autumn frosts.

It is worth noting that the tuberous milkwort actively participates in breeding work. To date, there have been many interesting varieties, which differ not only in the shade of flowers, the abundance of flowering and the splendor of inflorescences, but also in size. For example, a mixture of Guy Butterfly varieties boasts a variety of flower shades (the mixture includes orange, red, yellow). He is also characterized by low growth - only 50-60 cm.

The tuberous tuberose belongs to the category of frost-resistant crops, however, in Central Russia for the winter it is recommended to cover it with spruce branches or a layer of fallen leaves. With the advent of heat, it is important to immediately remove the insulating layer, otherwise it will not be possible to avoid underheating and, as a result, decay and various diseases, which, if not timely intervened, can cause death.

Use in the garden

The tuberous tuberose, along with other representatives of the genus, is not yet too actively used as decorative culture on personal household plots, and in vain! The plant looks very original, especially in group plantings. In addition, it gives the garden and its surroundings an amazing aroma. Despite active growth and the possibility of forming whole clumps, the tuberose worm accepts some neighbors, for example, echinacea, tall bells and meadows.

Growing features

The tuberose tuberose can hardly be called a whimsical culture, however, some requirements for active growth and abundant flowering should still be observed. It is preferable to plant plants in well-lit, open and heated areas, but in no case in the shade. Also, the vatnik will not tolerate areas with stagnation of cold air and places where melt water or precipitation accumulates.

Soils for successful cultivation are desirable loose, moderately moist, nutritious, loamy, with slightly acidic pH. Too poor, saline, swampy, heavy clay and strongly acidic soils for the cultivation of any representatives of the genus, including the tuberous tuberose, are not suitable.

It is worth noting that the tuberose tuberose, with a favorable climate and sufficient care, grows very quickly, which leads to the formation of whole carpets. If the gardener does not plan to fill the allocated area with only a vineyard, he must limit the growth of the crop by fencing it with a border. By the way, with good attention, a plant in one place can grow and bloom profusely for more than seven years.

Reproduction methods

The tuberose tuberose is propagated by seeds and division of the bush. The first method is rarely used, since it allows you to get the first inflorescences only after 3-4 years. Most often, the plant is propagated vegetatively, that is, by dividing the bush. This manipulation is carried out either in early spring or in August. As a rule, delenki take root quickly and bloom already this summer (when dividing in spring) or next year.

Vatochnik or asklepias - far from the most famous gardeners and flower growers flowering plant. Its flowering is not as lush and bright as that of luxurious lilies or roses, and the color palette is not rich - pink, purple and orange. At the same time, the bushes themselves grow large and spread out, occupying a lot of garden space. And, although the plant does not claim to be the main roles on stage garden design, it is in its own way very attractive and original. At the very least, the vatnik is certainly worth being at least paid attention to as a modest, but not at all superfluous extra on the plot.

general description

Another name for the quilt is the gospel. Belongs to the Kutrov or Lastovnevy family. The plant is powerful, bushy and tall enough for a herbaceous perennial, reaching a meter or more in height. Pairs sitting large leaves have an oval or longitudinal shape. The rhizome is strong, thickened, grows horizontally and can go to considerable distances from the central bush. The inflorescences are complex-umbrella, fragrant, attracting bees, and are excellent honey plants. Painted in brown-red or dirty pink, less often greenish-purple with long pointed leaves. Flowering occurs in the second half of summer and early autumn.

The plant got its name for the characteristic tufts in the seeds, resembling cotton wool. The people often used them in this capacity. Seed pods are large, up to 10 cm, self-opening. After opening, the pubescent seeds are dispersed by the wind over long distances, however, under conditions of middle latitudes, self-sowing culture practically does not spread due to cold autumn.

Vatochnik has medicinal and technical application. In addition to a cotton substitute in living conditions, it, along with other threads, was used for the production of yarn and fabrics. There were attempts to obtain rubber from the milky sap of the plant, but the idea was unsuccessful.

Varieties of milkweed

There are more than 200 natural varieties of Asclepias. Both the American continents and Africa are their homeland. In nature, the plant can be both deciduous and evergreen, sometimes taking a shrub form. It was brought to Europe for the purpose technical use, but expectations were not met and interest in culture was lost. Despite this, Asklepias found his niche in the amateur design of park areas and household plots, and in domestic use, and for medicinal purposes.

At present, several species of the most cold-resistant and decorative species are cultivated in Russia.

The plant is native to the North American continent, and its Asian name received by pure misunderstanding.

A plant breeder from Italy, Cornuti, confused it with another crop - kendyr, which grows in Syria. The error was discovered by K. Linnaeus during the classification, the genus of the plant was changed, and the name was saved. This is a tall and even somewhat majestic variety, growing almost to human height. It has erect densely leafy powerful stems and large, relatively wide leathery leaves of rich green color. As it grows, the lower rows of leaves begin to fall off, exposing the stem. The flowers are light pink, large enough, collected in spherical umbrella-shaped inflorescences with a luxurious aroma. It blooms in early July and blooms all month, actively attracting bees.

Despite the fact that the autumn cold does not allow falling seeds to take root, the Syrian milkwort reproduces perfectly with the help of a creeping rhizome. Spreading in different directions, the roots give rise to young shoots, which can sometimes be found at considerable distances from the bush itself.

Another North American variety. The stem is branched, tall, densely leafy. The leaves are elongated, slightly pubescent. This species is less winter-hardy, but more moisture-loving, in winter it requires shelter with mulch. Umbrellas of inflorescences are painted in pink-purple tones. flavor compared to Syrian look, less pronounced, but thinner, and the bush itself is less prone to capturing territories and grows compactly and densely. Among artificially grown varieties, Ice Ballet is especially interesting - tall and blooming with snow-white balls.

A small decorative showy variety with rich orange flowers that stay on the stems for a very long time and can be grown for cutting. Requires good shelter in winter. In very frosty winters, it can freeze even under a thick layer of mulch, so it is not recommended for planting in regions with a very cold climate. There are varietal groups with other colors of buds - yellow, pink, red.

Of all the varieties of culture, this one makes the highest demands on care.

From a botanical point of view, this is not separate view, but many beekeepers call this plant that way, as well as the Crimean or Siberian doves. It is a valuable honey plant due to its increased drought resistance. When others honey crops already dry up and cease to secrete nectar, the gospel or milkwort of this species still feeds the bees with its nectar. Honey from it is fragrant, gives a fine-grained cage.

Moisture-loving evergreen variety with rich green even elongated leaves and very bright flowers in red-orange palette. It can be grown as an annual, as it throws out the first buds 4.5 months after sowing with seeds. It is undemanding to soil fertility, but less drought-resistant than other species.

It should be borne in mind that the seeds of the Croissave variety germinate for a long time, up to 3 months.

Relatively short perennial with narrow hairy leaves and greenish-purple inflorescence balls. It is frost-resistant, well stands in cut, exacting to moisture.

Selecting a landing site

Caring for a cotton pad starts with right choice places. If it is a perennial or rhizomatous variety, it can live in one place for 10 years or more, and this must be taken into account. Culture loves open areas, but puts up with partial shade. Consideration should be given to the tendency of some species of Asclepias to grow and capture territories. At the same time, it does not form a dense curtain in one place, but releases child layers that can grow in the most unexpected places far from the main plant. If this is undesirable, you need to set a limit in advance, for example, dig pieces of old slate around the flower bed or a special garden tape to a depth of 30-40 cm.

Almost all varieties of the plant contain poisonous white juice in the stems and leaves, which can irritate the skin and mucous membranes, and cause dermatitis. It becomes especially dangerous on sunny days.

Soil Requirements

The ideal option would be slightly acidic loam. Yet for the right choice suitable place and substrate should be guided by a specific variety of Asclepias, since they may have different preferences. For example, planting and caring for a drought-resistant Syrian or spicy milkweed are very different from the agricultural practices of growing a moisture-loving meat-red species.

Watering

Irrigation requirements are completely dependent on the needs of a particular species, therefore general recommendations can be reduced to ensuring good drainage and compliance with the agricultural practices of the varietal group.

top dressing

After the snow melts, it is recommended to add rotted organic matter, such as compost, under the bushes. In the future, two top dressings will be optimal - before the start of flowering with the inclusion of potassium sulfate, nitrogen and urea, and again after the end of flowering - with nitrophoska.

Transfer

Despite the long lifespan of perennial varieties, unlike many other centenarians, a rejuvenating transplant is recommended at intervals of 4-5 years. This allows not only to extend the period of its life and flowering, but also gives it a more presentable, neat appearance. The new location should not have cardinal differences from the old in terms of soil, light or humidity of the substrate, because the transplant itself is stressful for the plant. But in general, the culture tolerates it well.

Wintering

Not all types of asclepias tolerate winter cold well. The only "Siberian" among the varieties of culture is the Syrian sheepwort. It can be left to winter as is. The rest require varying degrees shelter, which is well suited for fallen leaves, sawdust and other materials as a thick layer of mulch. Before shelter, it is necessary to cut off all the shoots of the current year up to 10 cm from the ground. They are also left in the garden for warming.

Reproduction from seeds

Growing a milkweed from seed is one of three possible ways along with the division of the bush with the root and the rhizome itself. This method is preferable for more southern latitudes, since in the middle heat zone it may not be enough for the full ripening of seeds and the appearance of ovaries. Stratification is mandatory for a month in a wet substrate (sand, sawdust). In March, they are planted in a container with a light substrate. A ready-made mixture for indoor flowers, sprinkled on a drainage layer, is well suited. The depth of seed placement is no more than 2 cm. Further equipment is common with the arrangement of a mini-greenhouse, airing and watering every 2-3 days. Shoots appear in 10-14 days. Recommended picking with pinching the root at the stage of 4-5 leaves. Removal into open ground is carried out with the onset of stable heat, closer to the beginning of summer.

It is possible to expect the first flowering during seed propagation for 3-4 years.

Division of the rhizome

Most effective method reproduction, the best time for which is autumn, after the end of flowering. Especially good if it rained the day before. A good, developed, strong bush is dug up with a rhizome, which is washed and divided into parts with the obligatory presence of at least one kidney. Landing delenok is done immediately. Watering young bushes is done frequently until the roots reach the desired depth for self-feeding.

Reproduction by cuttings

The cuttings are cut in June in 15 cm segments. After removing the lower leaves, they are placed in a moist nutrient substrate. After about 3 weeks the young root system will be formed and ready for transplanting to a permanent place.

Medicinal use

Lastoven or vatnik gives a valuable medicinal raw material, which is used as an expectorant, antispasmodic, analgesic and antimicrobial agent. For this, medicinal infusions of decoctions are made. At the same time, it is extremely important to be guided by proven recommendations and advice from a doctor. It is especially important to keep in mind that the plant is poisonous, so you need to use it for any purpose with extreme caution and knowledge of the matter.

Potential Growing Problems

• Whitefly. Signs of damage are the drying of the stems, from which the insect sucks the juices. You can fight the pest with Aktellik, Rovikurt and other specialized insecticides.
• Mold on the ground. If mold appears on the ground near the bush, you should be afraid that the root system is starting to rot. At the same time, yellowing and leaf fall can be seen. The reason is waterlogging.
• The plant drops unopened buds. The reason is that it is too dry. The bush should be watered abundantly once, and then the watering regime should be restored gradually, avoiding new stress for the weakened plant.

Vatochnik, asklepias(Asclepias) - herbaceous plant for open ground from the Kurtovye family, in which there are about 200 species of evergreen and deciduous shrubs and semi-shrubs. The ripened seeds of this plant are covered with cotton-like, fibrous fluff, hence the name "cotton". The people have other names for the plant: “swallow grass”, “milky, Aesculapian grass”. Vatochniks are grown most often as ornamental plant. Gardeners love it for its wonderful, delicate scent of flowers, reminiscent of hyacinths.

Vatochniki are beautiful stately plants with spectacular leaves and attractive globular inflorescences, consisting of small white-purple-lilac flowers. These are excellent honey plants that attract various insects. And honey from the flowers of milkweeds smells good and does not become candied during storage.

It must be remembered that the whitish, milky juice of milkweeds is poisonous! When exposed to sunlight, hitting the skin, it causes irritation and itching. Allergy sufferers need to be careful: work with this plant in long sleeves and gloves. Although it is interesting that the leaves of the milkwort contain a large amount of ascorbic acid.

In the Moscow region, mainly milkweeds are grown: Syrian, meat-red and annual Kurassavian.

(A.syriaca) - perennial with straight, high stems up to 1.5-2 m. The aggressor is spreading over the site, but it is very beautiful, it is impossible to refuse it. Every year, strong shoots grow, and in various unexpected places, with beautiful, large (up to 10-15 cm long), dark green, leathery, elliptical leaves, very similar to ficus leaves. Blooms from July for more than a month with beautiful lilac-pink fragrant flowers, which are collected in spherical inflorescences.

The milkweed is meat-red or incarnate(A.incarnata) - a perennial plant with straight stems up to 1-1.2 m high. The leaves are slightly smaller than those of the Syrian milkwort, but also beautiful. It blooms from the end of June with small white-pink-purple fragrant flowers, also collected in spherical inflorescences.

(A.curassavica) is a perennial plant, but does not hibernate in the Moscow region, therefore it is grown as an annual. Semi-shrub with stems up to 70-90 cm. It blooms with bright small orange-red flowers, collected in a kind of longline umbrellas. Sow the seeds of the Kurassavsky milkweed in May in room conditions, dive in June, planted in open ground from June 10-12.

Location, soil

Vatochniks are planted both in the sun and in partial shade. On the sunny places they grow a little lower, although they bloom better.

The soil any, although they prefer loamy or sandy loam. Fertile land or not, it does not matter, the main thing is moisture, although they do not need additional irrigation in the Moscow region, there is enough natural precipitation. Moreover, they develop better on slightly acidic loose soils. But on heavy clay they still have a lot of moisture.

Landing

When planting milkweeds, it is recommended to prepare a place: remove the roots of perennial weeds, add a little and a tablespoon of any complex fertilizer for the plants to take root. If the soil in the area is clayey, then it will not be superfluous to add a little peat and sand. All components are mixed and planted.

At one place Syrian quilt can grow for many years up to 10 or more. However, he does not sit in one place, but simply walks wherever he wants. It is recommended to plant it in a bucket or barrel without a bottom, then it more or less grows like a curtain. Although, after a lapse of time, he still shoots shoots at a distance of a meter and two from the mother bush.

The meat-red milkweed is less aggressive, it grows in a quite compact bush, expanding in diameter. In one place it can grow up to 7-8 years.

Before boarding plants are soaked in a root formation stimulator:, etc. If the root of the milkweed is purchased, then it is soaked overnight in a solution. Can be used . Potted veggies are soaked for about 30 minutes. Planted plants without deepening root collar(look at who does not know what it is). Then water well (you can use the solution in which the plant was soaked for irrigation). The soil around the stems is recommended, this will make it possible to take root faster, because the mulch retains moisture and prevents the growth of weeds.

Care, subcortex

Veterinarians grow with little or no care: they are content natural precipitation, do not like waterlogging. In the spring they are fed with any. In early spring or autumn, you can please the plants by scattering 20-30 g of any mineral fertilizer buried in soil or under mulch. For the winter, the stems are cut to the ground. If there is a desire, then the place where the milkweed grows is mulched for the winter with humus. I recommend just leaving fallen leaves, which rot and serve as food for plants.

reproduction

Veterinarians can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, segments of rhizomes and dividing the bush.

seeds. Seeds remain viable for about 3 years. It is better to grow through seedlings at home. Seeds are sown in April-May in breeding containers. We close up the soil by 1-1.5 cm. Shoots appear in 10-12 days. Plants are planted in open ground only when the threat of return frosts has passed (in the Moscow region, this is the first decade of June).

cuttings. In June, grown young shoots 10-15 cm long are cut or broken off, kept under water for some time to wash off the milky juice that stands out. The lower leaves are removed, leaving only 1-2 upper ones. Rooted in a light mixture of peat and sand 1: 1. Roots will appear somewhere in 2-3 weeks.

Segments of rhizome. After flowering, pieces of rhizome are dug out in autumn and divided into parts with 2-3 nodules on each. They are planted in light soil to a depth of 8-10 cm, covered with fallen leaves from above, the place is marked. Young shoots will appear in the spring at the end of May-June.

By dividing the bush. The taproots of milkworts can go to a depth of up to 3 m, horizontal roots depart from them in tiers. Both on the rod and on the horizontal, many buds are formed, from which shoots develop. It is better to dig to the roots when the shoots are visible (in June or August). The soil near the shoot is dug up to the root and separated from it with a sharp shovel. mother plant. The secreted milk is washed off, and the plants are planted in the right place.