Delphinium is a herbaceous, wild plant from the family of buttercups. But the breeders have been brought out various garden varieties of the delphinium of the perennial: simple, semi-double and terry.
The flower itself is very decorative and has an irregular shape, consists of five sepals, two nectaries and staminoids, like eyes, pistils and stamens. Usually the flowers of the perennial delphinium are collected in a brush and grow to 3-5 cm in diameter, they are of different colors: most often shades of blue, and more rarely pink or red. Blooms in July - August.
Cultivation of the perennial delphinium
To ensure that this garden flower does not perish and has pleased you with flowering, it is necessary to adhere to the following rules for planting a long-term delphinium and caring for it:
- Location - it is suitable for a sunny windless place with fertile soil without stagnation of water. Absolutely not suitable for the cultivation of the delphinium sands and heavy loamy soil.
- Planting - you can plant delphiniums in the spring (late April) or in the fall (end of August - mid-September). In the planting pit size 40x40x40cm, compost, ash and mineral fertilizers must be added. After planting, the flower should be watered before its rooting. The distance between the colors should be at least 50cm.
- Watering - delphinium is a moderate enough amount of moisture in the soil, so it should be watered as necessary to prevent waterlogging. Watering to make under the root, not getting on leaves and flowers.
- Feeding - since delphinium forms a lush green mass, it must be fed. Usually it is done twice: in April - a solution of superphosphate, potassium sulfate, urea and before flowering - a solution of complex fertilizer and humus. Sometimes fertilizers are reapplied after flowering, for its repetition. In this case, a complex fertilizer with a predominance of phosphorus and potassium is used.
- Loosening . Care for the delphinium is a regular loosening (no more than 5 cm), weeding weeds, tying the stem at a height of 50-70 cm, timely cutting off the stems at a height of 15-20 cm and bending them down.
- Transplant - with excessive overgrowth of the bush (usually after 4 years), the delphinium is recommended to be updated: divide the rhizome and transplant to a new location. This is best done in late spring or in August.
- Reproduction - the delphinium reproduces in many ways: by dividing shrubs, cuttings and seeds, but to maintain the flower variety one should use vegetative methods.
How to prepare a delphinium for the winter?
Usually delphinium winters well, all preparation for the winter is that the ground around the bushes should be weeded, well loosened and watered.
But when they are going to cover the bush of the delphinium for the winter (usually young ones), it is necessary to trim the front of it not very low, but at an altitude of 15 to 20 cm, so that through the hollow stems the water does not get to the roots and they do not rot.
Delphinium: problems and pests
Delphinium is not affected by pests, but its cultivation can be complicated by the following diseases:
- black patch of leaves - with excessive humidity;
- powdery mildew - during drought;
- Root rot - as a result of the ingress of water into the stems.
To combat them, you should spray the plants with the necessary preparations and remove the affected leaves and stems. To prevent the appearance of these diseases, it is recommended not to thicken the planting of the delphinium, regularly break through the weeds , cut off dying stems correctly and adhere to the correct watering.
Delphinium is good not only for decoration of the front garden, but also looks great in the vase.