Clarkia: growing from seeds, planting and care. Clarkia graceful: growing from seeds Clarkia pubescent

Clarkia graceful is an annual that is very popular with gardeners due to its high decorative effect. This plant is very unpretentious, coexists wonderfully with neighbors in the flower bed, such as roses, asters or phlox, and is great for cutting. Another plus:growing clarkia graceful from seedscan be carried out even by the most inexperienced plant grower, this flower is so unassuming. Clarkia is a bush with herbaceous stems up to 1 m high. Flowers lilac, pink or white, collected in a brush. The plant belongs to the cypress family. It grows wild in Chile and in the west of the North American continent. It got its name in honor of the English explorer William Clark, who introduced the plant into culture.

Preparing seeds for sowing

First you need to purchase high-quality seed in the store. Even better to collect seeds on your own. Clarkia seed box has an oblong shape, the seeds are brown, small. Retain excellent germination for 4 years, subject to storage conditions. To exclude possible infection of seeds with diseases, before planting, they should be soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 2-3 hours, previously wrapped in gauze or other clean thin cloth. After that, they are laid out to dry on dry napkins or cloth. When the seeds dry, you can start planting.

Growing clarkia graceful from seeds

It is not at all difficult to grow an elegant Clarkia from seeds. It is enough to know a few nuances related to the care of young plants and their planting.

Letnik is sown both in open and protected ground. Moreover, the first option is more suitable for residents of the southern and central regions of our country. In a more severe climate, the plant may not have time to fully bloom and form seeds before the onset of cold weather.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Optimal time for sowing clarkies in closed ground - the beginning of spring. Best to sow material for seedlings in the middle of March. Seeds sprout quite quickly and amicably. In open ground, sowing is carried out in April, when the soil dries and warms up. Possibly also sow Clarke in autumn.

Plants planted before winter are more resistant to temperature changes and begin to bloom earlier.

Seeding tank

As a container for sowing, it is best to use medium or large wide shallow containers with drainage holes in the bottom. It is also possible to land in separate cups, but working with them will be more troublesome. Before filling them with soil, the landing containers are disinfected. This can be done by wiping them from the inside with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol.A nursery used not for the first time is better to pour boiling water over.

The soil

For growing clarkia from seeds usually they take light soil for seedlings and add river sand, humus and peat in equal parts to it. Mature plants are not so demanding, but loose, light-textured soil is best suited for them. You can plant Clarkia in dense, poor soil, for example, in loam. But this will significantly slow down its development and reduce the abundance of flowering. It is desirable to add coarse sand to such soil, it will serve as drainage and improve the structure.

When preparing the soil for sowing, do not forget about its disinfection. This can be done by steaming in a water bath or calcining in an oven..

Sowing clarkia

Growing clarkia graceful from seedsin closed ground consider step by step:

In the prepared soil, grooves of small depth are carried out. The distance between them should be at least 1 cm, but not more than 2 cm.
Seeds are sown in furrows. You can pre-moisten the ground so that the seeds do not scatter.
Top landing sprinkled with a small amount of earth.
The soil is carefully sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle.
The container is placed in a well-lit place and covered with a transparent material (glass, polyethylene).

Crops are aired daily to prevent rot. As soon as shoots appear, the container is no longer covered. At this time, young plants should be protected from drafts.

It is also possible nest planting seeds of 5-6 pieces at a distance of 25 cm from each other. After the emergence of seedlings, after about a couple of weeks, you can carefully thin out the plantings.

Clarkia seedlings

If it is necessary to plant seedlings from a container, this should be done very carefully. Seedlings have a thin root system that is easy to damage. Transplantation is carried out together with an earthen clod. Young bushes are tied up so that they do not damage the wind. Since the landing takes place in May, when the earth is still quite damp from melt water, at first it will not be necessary to water the young plants. In order for Clarkia to grow branchy and dense, pinch the tops of young bushes. The same procedure is carried out earlier, when 4 true leaves appear on the seedlings.

picking

Neither seedlings nor young plants planted into open ground , it is undesirable to dive. Clarkia, especially hybrid varieties, do not take root well when replanted. But if there are few seeds sown and you don’t want to remove extra plants, you can still pick a pick, and the sooner the better. The optimal time for this procedure comes when the first pair of true leaves appear.

Planting clarkia graceful in open ground

Planting clarkia immediately in open ground will allow the plant to quickly adapt to environmental conditions. However, it is worth strictly observing the sowing dates so that the flower does not die from too low temperatures and begins flowering on time.

When to Plant Clarkia

Landing of the Clarkia can be done at the end of September - November. If spring sowing is planned, it is carried out in the last decade of April, when the earth has warmed up enough and the threat of night frosts has passed. A plant sown before winter will begin to bloom in June, and if planted in spring, flowers will form by mid-July.

Seeds that have spent the winter underground undergo a natural cold stratification procedure. This makes the future plant healthier and more resilient.

How to plant a Clarkia

When choosing a landing site, it should be borne in mind that the Clarkia does not tolerate shade well, therefore, it is necessary to choose a lighter place for it. The bush is not afraid of drafts, but a strong wind can break and damage the branches. Therefore, it is worth avoiding open, unprotected places. The plant tolerates spring cooling and summer heat well, but excessive sunlight can harm it. Another nuance that is taken into account when planting: the Clarkia is prone to overgrowth, so it really needs space.

The algorithm of actions when sowing seeds of clarkia graceful in open ground is similar to the planting method described above:

The soil is dug up and fertilized (mineral supplements are mainly used for this, Clarkia does not favor organics. However, peat can be added to the soil at the rate of 1 kg per 1 m 2).
Grooves are drawn in it, located at a distance of about 5 cm from each other.
The seed is carefully laid out. For convenience, you can mix the seeds with coarse sand.
Sowing is sprinkled with earth and abundantly moistened.

If the spring is cool, you can leave the greenhouse until warming, opening it slightly in sunny weather. The emerging shoots of Clarkia must be thinned out so that the plants do not interfere with each other's development. This should be done in such a way that at least 15 cm remain between adult plants in summer. Thin and weak young shoots will need support and a garter. It can be made from a peg.

Outdoor care

Graceful Clarkia picky, which distinguishes it from most annuals. Caring for her is simple and not difficult. But if you want to admire a particularly lush and abundant flowering, it is important to take care of the Clarkia with all responsibility.

soil for clarkia

Clarkia grows well and develops on light, slightly acidic soils with a loose structure. If the soil is oxidized, you can sprinkle it with dolomite flour or lime chips. To eliminate excess alkali, the earth can be watered with a solution of citric acid. Clarkia loves rich, fertilized soils, so a solution of superphosphate must be applied a couple of weeks before planting. It would be useful to add peat.

It is worth remembering that the soil needs timely loosening and removal of weeds. At first, after planting, you need to be as careful as possible, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the weak root system.

Watering clarkia

Clarkia loves moderate watering, so moisten the soil as needed. In hot summer weather, it will have to be carried out much more often than on cloudy days. It is important to prevent drying out or, conversely, waterlogging of the soil.Watering is carried out in the evening or in the morning.

Clarkia fertilizer

Feed annuals twice a month. For this purpose, complex and mineral fertilizers for flowering plants are used. You can also use a solution of chicken manure in a ratio of 1:15. This will provoke a set of green mass and stimulate the growth of the bush. In addition, such dressings do not harm beneficial insects and do not interfere with pollination.Sometimes wood ash is added to the soil as an additional fertilizer.

pruning clarkia

When the shoots reach 12 cm in height, they are pinched for more intensive tillering. So that the plant does not lose its decorative effect and does not multiply by self-sowing, fading inflorescences are cut as needed.

Diseases and pests

Despite its hardiness, the graceful clarkia is susceptible to attack by pests and diseases on a par with other garden plants. To prevent the death of a flower and infection of other inhabitants of the flower bed, it is important to recognize the problem in time and take appropriate measures. Clarkia diseases: With improper care, specks and fluffy, mold-like growths appear on the leaves of the plant. This indicates the defeat of the flower by the fungus. In such a case, it is necessary to treat it with a fungicide, adhering to the dose indicated in the instructions. It also makes sense to adjust watering, saving the plant and the soil under it from moisture stagnation.

If root rot occurs, fungicide treatment and adjusting the frequency of watering can also help. It will also be useful to trim the affected parts. However, if the Clarkia has suffered too much from the disease, it will be easier and more convenient to remove it completely and grow a new young flower. Similar measures should be taken when downy mildew appears, manifesting itself in the form of dark spots on the underside of the leaves, causing them to curl and fall off. The cause of this disease is also waterlogging of the soil. Red spots on the leaves, called rust, can occur if the Clarkia is grown on loamy soil. The culprit for the appearance of these spots is a fungus that attacks the plant with an excess of nitrogen or stagnation of moisture in the soil. As a therapeutic measure, the treatment of the plant with Bordeaux liquid, carried out twice a week, is suitable.

Clarkia after flowering

With the completion of the flowering pore, the life of the plant does not end. Ahead is the collection of seeds and preparation for winter. These procedures must be performed correctly and on time, otherwise the garden beauty Clarkia may not please with her delicate flowers next year.

How and when to collect clarkia seeds

To collect seeds, several withering Clarkia flowers must be tied with gauze. This is done to prevent self-seeding. After 30 days, the seeds are fully mature and can be harvested. This will be indicated by the drying and darkening of the seed box. After collection, they are dried on cloth or paper and stored in a dark, dry place.

Clarkia in winter

After collecting the seeds, the plant is cut at the root and covered with straw or dry foliage. Thanks to intensive self-seeding, it will turn green again in the same place next year.

Sometimes warming happens in the fall and the seeds begin to sprout. In such a case, they need to be more securely covered. The plant tolerates frost and will safely overwinter.

If the Clarkia was planted late and did not have time to bloom, it can be transplanted into a pot for the winter along with a clod of earth on the roots. However, short daylight hours will not allowat homebloom as vigorously and abundantly as in open ground. In the event that it is planned to plant the Clarkia in a new place in the spring, the old bushes are removed with roots, and the ground in the place of their growth is properly dug up.

Types and varieties of clarkia

In the wild, there are more than 35 varieties of clarkia. But only 3 of them are grown in culture. On the basis of these species, breeders have bred many new interesting varieties.

Clarkia graceful or marigold (Clarkia unguiculata or Clarkia elegans)

This type of flower grows in California. The stems are lignified below, branched, their height varies from 30 to 90 cm. The leaves are oblong, serrated at the edges, dark green in color with a bluish tint and red veins. Flowers up to 4 cm in diameter, collected in a brush. The petals are simple or double, depending on the variety, red, orange, blue, white, purple. Possible: mixture of colors stripes, specks. Flowering begins in June and continues until October.

Clarkia is so hardy that it continues to bloom even when cut, without losing freshness for up to 10 days.

On the basis of Clarkia graceful, the following varieties were bred:

"Albatross". plant with pure white terry flowers. The height of the shoots is slightly more than half a meter.
"Sun". Variety with unusual single salmon-pink flowers. The height of the bush reaches 70 cm.
"Ruby". Bushes of this variety grow up to 60 cm, the flowers are rich ruby.
"Sakura" . Tall, over 1 m, variety, shape and color of flowers reminiscent of Japanese cherry.
"Diamond". Variety characterized by bright pink double flowers of large size.
"Sheftain". Plants of this variety are distinguished by an unusual purple color of the petals and low, up to half a meter, shoots.
"Orange". A shrub about 60 cm high, the flowers of which surprise with a bright orange color.
Salmon perfection. This variety is distinguished by an extraordinary salmon-pink color of the petals.
"Purple King". The flowers of this variety are large (up to 10 cm) and rich purple in color.

Clarkia Brewery (Clarkia breweri)

A type of clarkia that is rapidly gaining popularity, small flowers of which (up to 3 cm in diameter) have a magical aroma. The plant is a branched bush up to 60 cm high, resistant to cold. The most common variety of this variety is Pink ribbons, a short annual with pink flowers. Great for mixborders. Perfect for cutting, retaining aroma and brightness for a long time. Photo: © prseeds.ca

Charm and the tenderness of Clarkia will not leave indifferent any flower lover. And thanks to its unpretentiousness and high decorativeness, it will definitely find a place in a flower bed, near a hedge or along paths and will become an adornment of any site.

The family of bright annual flowers is so numerous that it is easy to get lost in it. Garden Clarkia has a memorable appearance - stately, flowering, with a pleasant smell. Like a real aristocrat of the flower kingdom, she is both graceful and hardy - she easily tolerates cold, drought, is undemanding to the soil, resistant to diseases.

In group plantings, Clarkia forms a rather tall, strongly branched bush, showered with flowers, from afar or in the photo it resembles a blooming hibiscus or Chinese rose.

Species and botanical characteristics

The genus Clarkia belongs to the family of Cyprus, it is the closest relative of Godetia, having a common homeland and origin with it. The genus is named after the American explorer and traveler who introduced the plant into cultivation.

Clarkia flowers, common in our gardens, are a plant with a herbaceous, partially woody, upright stem from 30 cm to 1 meter high by the end of the growing season. Due to good branching forms a lush bush. The leaves are bluish-green, the flowers are medium in size (ø3.5-4 cm) are collected at the top in a brush or a rare ear. The predominant color scheme is pink-lilac, but there are varieties with white, purple color.

A sunny plot in the garden is the only mandatory requirement in the agricultural technology of the summer. Otherwise, it is rather unpretentious - it loves not too fertilized, with a slightly acidic soil, manages with rain moisture, and is resistant to spring frosts.

It is interesting! Under the name Clarkia, one can often find Godetia seeds. Distinctive features of a godetia are a creeping stem, satin flowers that look like an azalea, racemose inflorescences.

Advantages and decorative value

Clarkia graceful flower growers love for its delicate beauty and elegance, it has a flower and other virtues.

It belongs to the group of annuals that bloom 1.5–2 months after sowing and retain their decorative effect until autumn frosts.
Clarkia is sown directly in open ground in summer or before winter, the plants are strong and hardy.
Seeds have increased germination, germinate quickly and amicably.
During the season, it manages to give full-fledged, fully ripened seeds.
The flower is prone to self-sowing, does not degenerate, retains its original varietal characteristics.

Of particular decorative value is the graceful or marigold clarkia, cultivated in a mixture of colors - from white and pale pink to lilac. Bright spots of lush bushes look good against the background of green lawns. Tall varieties are planted along walls and fences, in hedges. The plant is harmoniously combined with other letniki in flowerbeds and discounts.

The view of the Brewery is incomparable in the cut. Half-blown branches in the water open all the buds, forming an elegant and lush bouquet.

Growing technology

Clarkia graceful is most effectively grown from seeds by sowing in open ground. The culture is cold-resistant, so it can be sown in autumn or April, as soon as the soil is ripe. Seeds that have undergone cold stratification produce strong, healthy seedlings that are more resilient compared to seedlings grown in greenhouse conditions.

1.5–2 weeks before sowing, the soil is loosened, peat or coarse sand is added to obtain a light, crumbly structure. Organics are not needed, the greater effect will be from mineral fertilizers, preferably complex (30–40 g / m²).

Sowing seeds

Clarkia seeds are quite small, they are sown on the surface of the soil. So that they lay down more densely and stick better, the garden bed is watered abundantly before sowing. From above, you can lightly sprinkle with a dry mixture of peat and sand, or not at all. Planting scheme - nesting, in groups of 5-6 seeds with an interval of 20-30 cm. Shoots appear quickly - approximately after 2 weeks. After thinning, several plants are left in the group to make the bush thick and voluminous.

Advice! A bag of flowers weighing 1 g contains from 3.5 to 4 thousand seeds. You can't sow them with a pinch. The best way is mixing with fine sand (1:10) or gently shaking from a piece of paper.

Growing seedlings

To bring flowering closer, to protect young seedlings from freezing, they practice growing clarkia by pre-planting seeds for seedlings.

You will need a shallow container with loose, breathable, peaty soil (provides the necessary acidity). Sowing is carried out in March on a pre-moistened substrate, on the surface. The sown seeds are lightly compacted with a wooden block and sprayed from the sprayer. The germination of the crop is good, so you should strive to distribute the seeds as little as possible. Before germination, the container is placed in a plastic bag, covered with a plastic lid, and placed in a warm place. After germination, the greenhouse is removed.

Advice! For planting seedlings of summer flowers, a plastic container with drainage holes and a lid is best. When closed, it contains a volume of air sufficient for the development of seeds without ventilation for several days.

Seedlings do not respond well to diving, so it is better to thin out the seedlings, and plant several pieces at once in the ground with a wet clod of soil. They do this in the last decade of May.

Features of care

Clarkia is an unpretentious plant that does not require any special care. In order not to be disappointed in the flyer, follow a few simple rules.

To prevent lodging of thin stems, provide a peg for tying in the center of each group.
Control growth. The stem, which has reached a height of 10–12 cm, is pinched, stimulating tillering.
Remove faded flower stalks in a timely manner - this contributes to the formation of new inflorescences.
Watering is needed only during the dry period, on the surface of the soil, not too plentiful.
Top dressing is optional, but will improve and prolong flowering. It is recommended to feed with full fertilizer along with watering, with a frequency of 1-2 times a month.

Species and varieties

In ornamental gardening, 3 types of flowers are cultivated - graceful (marigold), pretty and Brevery. Based on them, many unique varieties have been bred.

In culture, the most common is the graceful clarkia, which often comes in a mixture of colors, as shown in the photo below. Her bushes grow to a height of 70–90 cm, Flowers are simple and double.

The most valuable varieties are:

Brilliant - a tall bush with large bright pink terry inflorescences;
Purple - strikes with an unusual rich color, large double flowers, collected in a rare spike;
Clarkia Sakura - a variety with double inflorescences of an unusual white and pink color. A lush bush up to 120 cm high really resembles a Japanese cherry;
Shefteyn - flowers of a romantic lilac-lilac color, compact bushes up to half a meter high.

No less attractive is the dwarf species of Clarkia pretty with regular and double flowers. The unusual shape of the petals, which received the popular name "moose horns", is striking. Compact bushes 30–40 cm high look good in mixborders. Blooms earlier than other varieties by about 2 weeks.

Decorating a garden with ornamental plants is a challenging yet exciting activity. It's so interesting to pick flowers, break flower beds and think over the design of your own site. Unfortunately, many beautiful ornamental crops require special care that not everyone can provide. Clarkia graceful is easy to care for, easy to grow, and the abundance of colors and long flowering will make it a real queen of your garden.

In today's article, we will look at the main features and varietal varieties of this ornamental crop, as well as give tips on planting and further growing it, so that you, too, can enjoy the original Clarkia bloom in your garden.

Features of clarkia graceful

Clarkia graceful is an annual plant with many stems that can reach a height of 30-90 cm. In fact, it is a shrub, as the stems of the culture are very branched and covered with numerous green leaves. This feature, along with unusual flowering, gives the plant a special decorative value (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Species diversity of clarkia is huge

Despite the fact that Clarkia flowers are small, only 3-4 cm in diameter, their description and appearance will not leave any gardener indifferent. Inflorescences can be simple or double, but their main feature is in a wide variety of colors. There are varieties with raspberry, red or pink buds, there are also lilac and lilac subspecies of clarkia, but species with a mixture of colors are of particular value. As a rule, the petals of such hybrid varieties are covered with multi-colored strokes, dots or inclusions.

It is noteworthy that the plant belongs to annuals, and in autumn a lot of seeds can be collected from the flower bed, which can be sown again next season. This is another advantage of growing this ornamental crop in a summer cottage.

Varietal varieties

Like many other ornamental plants, the Clarkia flower is represented by a huge variety of varieties with petals of various shades. We will consider only the most popular types of culture and describe the varietal characteristics of each of them so that you can create an original color composition for your own garden (Figure 2).

Popular varieties of Clarkia graceful include:

Terry: a relatively low variety, the height of the shoots of which rarely exceeds 65 cm. The bush is quite branched, covered with dark green leaves. During the flowering period, buds 5-6 cm in diameter, with double petals, bloom on the branches. The shade of inflorescences can range from white to deep red.
"Fantasy": This annual plant with lush inflorescences is highly decorative. The length of the shoots can reach 75 cm, and during the flowering period they are abundantly covered with relatively large terry inflorescences. A distinctive feature of the variety is the variety of petal colors. In addition, this subspecies can be used not only in group and single plantings, but also for cutting.
Clarkia is pretty a very unusual variety, which differs from others in short stature and the original shape of inflorescences. The height of the plant is 20-40 cm, the leaves are thin and pointed, and the flowers can be double and simple. The variety is also distinguished by an early onset of flowering: the first buds bloom 2-3 weeks earlier than representatives of other subspecies.
"Joy": densely branched variety with a shoot height of 40-60 cm. A distinctive feature is that flowering begins two months after sowing the seeds. Petals can have a different color: from rich pink to crimson.

Figure 2. The best varieties of culture: 1 - Terry, 2 - Fantasy, 3 - Pretty, 4 - Joy

Each of these varieties is good on its own, but the flower bed will look much more spectacular if you combine several types of clarke at once. In addition, many of the described subspecies served as the basis for the creation of hybrids, which are also highly decorative.

Growing Rules

Since the Clarkia is an annual plant, it can only be grown from seed. But even with such restrictions, you still have the freedom of choice: either sow the seeds directly into the ground, or first grow seedlings, and only then move the grown seedlings to the flower bed.

from seeds

Growing clarkia from seeds at home is not difficult, as the culture germinates quickly and adapts well in a new place (Figure 3).

Note: Seeds can be sown in spring and autumn. In the first case, the procedure is carried out in late April or early May, and in the second - around October. Sowing before winter has its advantages: during the cold season, the natural stratification of seeds will take place, and in the spring you will get a ready-made flower bed, while spending a minimum of effort.

To make the flower bed truly beautiful, follow these recommendations:

About a month before planting seeds, you need to carefully dig up the selected area and apply fertilizer: a kilogram of peat and a tablespoon of superphosphate and potassium sulfate per square meter of area.
You can place the seeds on the bed in any order. But in order for the grown flowers to be comfortable, the distance between crops should be about 30 cm.
It does not make sense to deepen the planting material into the ground. It is enough to spread the seeds on the surface of the soil and press them a little.

Figure 3. In most cases, the flower is grown by direct sowing in the ground

from seedlings

If you live in a cold climate, growing Clarkia flowers by direct seeding in the ground is not suitable for you. It is much better to use the seedling method, because in this case you will transplant already grown and grown seedlings to the flower bed, which will normally endure any weather surprises (Figure 4).

Sowing seeds of Clarkia graceful for seedlings to obtain flowers is carried out as follows:

Planting material is sown in light sandy soil with a slightly acidic reaction.
As in the case of sowing in open ground, the seeds are not buried, but simply laid out on the surface of the substrate, slightly pressing them into it.
To make seedlings appear faster, seeds can be sprinkled with a thin layer of soil and lightly watered.
Next, the container is covered with glass or film, and placed in a well-lit, warm place. At the same time, it is desirable that the pot is not exposed to direct sunlight, which can destroy delicate sprouts.
As soon as the first stalks appear, the shelter is removed, and the seedlings are grown in a warm, well-ventilated room.

Like any other seedlings, Clarkia seedlings need to dive. The procedure is carried out when a pair of true leaves appears. After that, it remains only to wait for the consistently warm May weather, and you can transplant seedlings into open ground.

Figure 4. In cold climates, the plant is best grown in seedlings.

Experienced gardeners advise not to rush to move the seedlings to the flower bed. The fact is that young plants are very sensitive to frost, and sharp fluctuations in temperature can adversely affect their health. Therefore, it is better to wait for consistently warm spring weather, and only after that to land.

Suitable soil

Despite the fact that the elegant Clarkia is considered an unpretentious annual, lush and abundant flowering will be possible only if certain rules of agricultural technology are observed. They concern not only planting and caring for a crop, but also the selection of soil for its cultivation.

Usually, the culture is grown on any garden soil, but Clarkia develops best on loose, fertile soil of medium and low density. Theoretically, it is possible to plant a flower in clay soil, but in this case, the seedlings will develop more slowly, and flowering will not be plentiful.

Experienced gardeners prefer to prepare the soil for the culture separately. To do this, mix ordinary soil for seedlings with humus, peat and sand in equal proportions. To exclude infection with diseases, it is advisable to ignite the mixture in the oven or steam it in a water bath.

Fertilization and watering

Clarkia may well do without fertilizers, especially if planting was carried out in a special soil mixture described above. But, if you see that the culture is developing slowly or blooming poorly, you may need to feed it. To do this, from the beginning of the rapid growth of shoots and during the formation of buds (but before flowering), complex mineral top dressing is introduced into the soil (for example, with Rainbow). Organic fertilizers for feeding Clarkia should be avoided, as this crop does not respond well to them (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Watering a flower is necessary only during a drought

A plot with fertilizers and flowers needs watering only occasionally, for example, in dry weather with a long absence of precipitation. The rest of the time, water is not added to the soil, since the flower will have enough natural moisture from the ground. If the need for watering nevertheless arose, do not try to add a lot of moisture to the soil at once. The liquid must be completely absorbed into the soil, and not stagnate on its surface. Otherwise, rotting of the roots or lower parts of the stem may occur.

plant pruning

Since Clarkia is graceful - an annual plant, there are no special requirements for its pruning. Despite the fact that outwardly the culture resembles a lush shrub, it is not necessary to shorten or remove the shoots (Figure 6).

Note: The only event that can be carried out in the garden is the removal of wilted inflorescences. They are simply cut off so that dry petals do not spoil the appearance of the plant.

Usually, a few dry inflorescences are still left on the stem in order to collect seeds in the fall. However, keep in mind that this ornamental culture reproduces very well by self-sowing. Therefore, if you do not want to spoil the appearance of the flower bed, wrap a few inflorescences in cheesecloth. So the seeds will not spill out on the ground, and you can collect them.

Figure 6. Pruning involves the removal of wilted inflorescences

As a rule, planting material reaches maturity one month after flowering is completed. With the onset of autumn, after collecting the seeds, the stems are cut off, and the site is dug up so that the roots do not remain in the soil.

How to deal with diseases and pests

Clarkia, grown in a flower bed in compliance with all the rules of agricultural technology, is extremely rare more. But sometimes dark spots may appear on the leaves of the plant, which indicate a fungal infection. It reproduces at high soil moisture, so it is imperative to revise the watering schedule and spray the affected plant with fungicides twice a week.

Pests also rarely attack the flower. However, the flea is considered the most dangerous insect for the Clarkia. These small insects live in large colonies and can quickly destroy a flower at the very beginning of its growth. Spraying with chemicals in this case will not only not help, but also harm. Therefore, it is better to spray the plant with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and take some preventive measures. In particular, it is not necessary to allow stagnation of moisture at the roots, and the soil around the stems must be periodically loosened.

You will find more recommendations for growing this flower crop in the video.

Clarkia is a very attractive and elegant plant that has a long flowering. Outwardly, it looks like a bush, showered with elegant double flowers, similar to roses.

As you can see in the photo, clarks are distinguished by a variety of colors and their brightness, they are white, pink, red, orange, lilac and purple, and there are also two-color ones, with various spots and haircuts.

To Europe from California brought by the English priest Clark. The flower got its name from his name.

The plant is an annual from the fireweed family. It has whole oval leaves of dark green color with red veins. Stems erect, branched, slightly pubescent. The flower reaches a height of up to 60 cm. Flowers are collected in an inflorescence at the top. There are more than 30 types of clarkia.

Types of clarkia

Gardeners give preference to only three types:

Clarkia graceful (marigold).
Clarkia is nice.
Clarke is pretty.

You can admire these graceful plants by looking at the photo.

For growing plants at home, there are excellent low-growing varieties. The varieties Joy and Khavskoe sun look most impressive. Their flowers are salmon pink and crimson pink.

Growing a flower is simple, subject to the following rules:

How to care for flowers?

Special care for a plant grown from seeds is not required.

Care is within the power of even an inexperienced gardener:

It is required to create additional lighting for seedlings using an ultraviolet lamp for the entire daylight hours.
It is necessary to observe regular, but without excess moisture, watering. It should be carried out when there are long dry days or when the soil dries up.
Feed only with mineral fertilizers 2 times a month. Fertilizers are especially needed for the plant in dry weather. You can add ashes to the soil for abundant flowering.
The decorativeness of the bush must be maintained with regular care, remove faded buds and dying leaves.

Ripe fruits-boxes containing seeds should be brown in color.

With periodic pinching of the tops of the plant, you can get denser bushes. But the escapes must already reach 25 cm height.

Tall plants are supported with pegs, which are driven in during planting. Otherwise, shoots in strong winds may break.

Before the onset of frost, the stems are cut flush with the ground.

The combination of clarkia with other plants

Clarkia in combination with other garden plants can create an amazingly beautiful flower garden. They look great with phlox, lilies, white daisies and asters.

Clarkia looks great against the background of low red roses. This is an excellent cut plant that can stay in water for up to 15 days, slowly opening its buds.

Below are photos of elegant clarkia of various decorative varieties:

Diseases and pests

On the leaves and flowers of the plant, you can sometimes notice gray spots with a dark border. This is the first sign of a fungal disease. The problem is eliminated by spraying the bushes with fungicides. Processing should be done twice a week. Usually the fungus appears from excessive moisture of the root system.

The most dangerous pest is the flea. It can destroy the plant even at the seedling stage. And even belated treatment with chemicals will lead to a complete loss of crops.

To prevent diseases, it is necessary to cover areas with seed crops with non-woven material, geotextiles. This will prevent fleas from attacking the crops and keep the soil moist.

If you follow the simple rules of planting and caring for a clarkia, the plant will bloom profusely and for a long time. It can serve as a spectacular decoration of the terrace and balcony.

Clarkia flower

The flowers of Clarkia graceful from afar resemble miniature roses, strung on a straight long stem and numerous shoots. The plant branches strongly, forming as a result a lush bush that blooms until the arrival of cold weather. Clarkia graceful, due to its unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention, beauty and grace, has gained popularity among flower growers and is successfully grown in many garden plots. The growing process does not require special knowledge and skills, and even beginners can do it.

Description of the plant and popular varieties

The Clarkia is native to Chile and parts of North America. According to the description, this plant is an annual with a stem height of up to 90 cm. Dark green leaves on short petioles are alternately arranged on the stem. The flowers are located in the axils of the leaves on short pedicels. The color of the petals can be in pink, lilac and purple shades of varying intensity. Flowers are simple and double with smooth or dissected edges of the petals. Clarkia fruits are small boxes with seeds that open when ripe.

The genus Clarkia has only about 30 species, of which only 4 are used in ornamental gardening.

Clarkia graceful forms a bush up to 90 cm high with a strongly branching stem. The leaves are dark green in color and have an oval shape with serrated edges. Loose racemes are formed at the tops of the stems. The flowering period begins in June and lasts until October. Among the most famous varieties are Brilliant, Albatross, Gloriosa. The planting of varietal mixtures of clarkia graceful colors looks very nice. For example, the Fantasy mix allows you to grow white, red-pink and purple double flowers, while the Charm mix can produce a wide range of shades.

Clarkia pretty is compact in size and does not exceed 40 cm in height. The plant has elongated green leaves with a pointed tip. Axillary flowers are located at the ends of the shoots in small inflorescences. The flowering period begins in the last days of May.

Clarkia Brewery was bred not so long ago. Small bushes up to half a meter high are resistant to cold. Small flowers have a symmetrical structure and are somewhat similar to sakura flowers.

Clarkia terry is characterized by strong branching, due to which it forms dense thickets. Double flowers can be white, burgundy, pink or purple.

How to sow seeds?

You can grow graceful clarkia in seedling or seedless way. If growing from seeds is carried out directly in the ground, then the best time for this is April or early May, as well as late autumn. When digging a plot for clarkia, 1 kg of peat and 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate and potassium sulfate. Two weeks after fertilization, seeds are sown in groups of 4–5 pieces, keeping a distance of at least 20 cm. They do not need to be buried in the ground, just spread over the surface and sprinkle with a thin layer of earth. After two weeks, the first shoots appear. If the seeds are planted in the fall, then the sprouts appear in early spring.

Seeds for seedlings should be sown in March, then flowering will begin in early June. To do this, they are laid out on the surface of slightly acidic soil and slightly pressed with a plank. Then the crops are moistened with water from a spray bottle and the container is covered with a film or glass. Germination is carried out in a warm and bright place, avoiding direct sunlight. Glass is removed immediately after germination, but before transplanting into the ground, seedlings are kept in a warm and dry place. When the seedlings acquire the first leaves, they dive into separate cups.

Transplanting seedlings in open ground

It is necessary to move seedlings to open ground at the end of May, when warm weather finally sets in. If the seedlings have grown strongly, the transplant can be moved to mid-May. Two weeks before this, site preparation begins:

if the soil is not acidic enough, it is necessary to dig with the addition of 1 kg of peat for every 1 m2 or 60 g of sulfur;
if the acidity is too high, lime is added during digging;
too greasy soil is dug up with sand.

Shallow pits are made on the prepared site, in which seedlings should be planted in groups of several, along with a clod of earth.

When transplanting, it is important not to deepen the growth point. This slows down the rate of clarcia growth and causes a lack of flowering.

A rail is placed next to each hole, to which the plant will then be tied. Different varieties of Clarkia should be planted at some distance from each other to prevent cross-pollination. After planting, the seedlings need to be watered and the tops pinched a little so that the plant branches better.

Care

Clarkia is undemanding to the conditions of detention, and caring for it in the open field is not considered burdensome. Plants should be watered regularly, as the top layer of the earth dries out. If the root system does not have enough moisture, the flower signals this by yellowing the shoots and leaves. But it is not necessary to fill in the Clarkia, excess moisture causes rotting of the roots. If precipitation regularly falls in the summer, then there is no need to additionally water the plant. In dry and hot weather, irrigation is carried out in small portions.

To prevent overgrowth of clarkia with weeds, it is better to mulch the soil around the plant.

After transplantation, Clarkia needs to be fed twice a month, using solutions of mineral fertilizers suitable for flowering plants. To preserve the decorativeness of the bush, as the shoots wither, they need to be cut off. When flowering is fully completed, all remaining stems are cut off and the site is dug up.

If you need to collect seeds, you need to select several inflorescences in advance and, after the flower wilts, tie them with a thin cloth made of natural fibers. This will prevent the seeds from spilling onto the soil after the final ripening and opening of the seed box. After a month, the box is cut off and dried, if necessary. Ripe seeds are poured onto paper and packed for storage. The material collected in this way can be used for 4 years.

Clarkia can be grown not only in open ground, but also at home. Such a plant will have smaller sizes and small flowers. Plants are placed on well-lit window sills or on a balcony. With additional illumination, Clarkia can also be grown in the winter season. This method is also suitable for those plants that sprouted late in the garden and did not have time to bloom before the onset of cold weather. In this case, they are dug up and placed in a pot along with a clod of earth. Homes for the plant create the usual conditions of detention so that it can complete its vegetative cycle.