Ampel or creeping verbena - a hybrid species, actively used to decorate flower beds and household plots, consists of small leaves and flowers collected in umbellate inflorescences. Being a hibernating perennial in nature, in floriculture this plant is grown as an annual plant - in the spring it is sown, and in the autumn seeds are collected. The length of Verbena ampelnaya stems reaches 30-60 cm, one plant covers an area of about 0.5 m², so it is often used as a ground cover. But most effectively her flowers look in hanging pots and pots due to abundant flowering. In addition, verbena is resistant to weather changes, perfectly tolerates transplantation at any stage of its growth, and also has an incredible range of colors. Extremely unpretentious ampel verbena in matters of planting and care. These remarkable features of it and are the determining factors of the popularity of this plant among gardeners and florists - both sophisticated and beginners.
Verbena ampel: growing from seeds
Verbena is grown from seedlings, sowing seeds for which follows in the very beginning of March. Pre-seeds need to warm up well, and then simply scatter on the surface of the dilapidated and moistened earth. From above, it is not necessary to sprinkle the earth, it is enough to put polyethylene or glass on the whole area for germination. As soon as the shoots appear - usually it happens in a week or a little earlier, everything superfluous in the surface of the earth should be removed. When the seedlings reach 8-10 cm in height, it should be pierced. Caring for seedlings is extremely simple - a fairly moderate watering, the normal temperature for seedlings - 20-23 ° C. Note that the verbena can be sown directly in containers or pots, in which it is planned to grow it.
The plant categorically does not tolerate frost, so planting seedlings on the open ground is necessary when the weather outside the window is established and will become stably warm. It is important to remember that the ampel verbena is not very undemanding, but it feels best in an acidic soil with good drainage. Plant the plants at a distance of 20-25 cm. It grows best in well-lit areas, but it is quite normal to tolerate penumbra.
In the first months after transplanting flowers to a permanent place, they are especially in need of additional nutrition. Two weeks after the planting, it is necessary to introduce mineral fertilizers with phosphorus content - to strengthen the root system and nitrogen - to grow the green mass. To feed plants should be twice a month and especially should be done carefully during the flowering period - excess nitrogen can lead to a decrease in the number of colors.
Verbena ampel: care
The favorable temperature for growing verbena is from 17 to 25 ° C, but it also tolerates losses without loss to 5 ° C. Water it should be moderate, but often enough. It is believed that this plant tolerates drought well, but still it is not necessary to allow the drying of the soil. In the heat it is necessary to participate in watering the verbena, but at the same time reduce the portions.
In order for specimens growing in the room to blossom well and survive the winter safely, in the cold season it should be ensured that the temperature in the room is kept at about 8 ° C, lean irrigation and good lighting.
Verbena has a long flowering period - from early June to November, until the first frosts. To stimulate the abundance of flowering, discolored inflorescences are removed. If necessary, as they grow, the ampel varieties are transplanted into large pots or vases, the size of which corresponds to the size of the root system of the flower.