Growing clarkia graceful and caring for it at home and in the open field. Clarkia graceful growing from seed when to plant planting and care in the open field Clarkia flowers planting

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

Clarkia are very beautiful annual herbs with unusual and bright colors. For a variety of pink shades and abundant flowering, Clarkia is often called "Sakura". The plant belongs to the cypress family. It is native to Chile and the Pacific coast of North America. Bright flowers, as if strung on thin stems, form colorful islands in the garden. This will certainly make the site more beautiful and attract a lot of attention. A motley flower garden will become the pride of the owners. Clarkia is undemanding in care, but with a few tricks, flowering will be more abundant and last longer.

Botanical description

Clarkia is a herbaceous annual with a fibrous, superficial rhizome. Thin erect stems branch well, so the plant forms a bush 30-90 cm high. The shoots are covered with reddish bark with short pubescence. The alternate leaves, sessile or on short petioles, are painted dark green. Sometimes reddish strokes are visible on the surface. The leaf plate has an oval shape with a pointed end.

Flowering begins in May-June, 2 months after sowing seeds. At the tops of the shoots, single axillary flowers are formed on short pedicels. They have the correct shape and a small tube. Thin petals are painted in pink, purple or lilac shades of varying intensity. Petals may have smooth or serrated edges. There are simple and terry buds. Flowers exude a delicate aroma that attracts beneficial insects to the site.

After pollination, fruits are tied - small oblong seed boxes. They hide small seeds with a brown coating. They remain viable for 2-4 years. Seed pods open after ripening, which provokes self-seeding.

Types of clarkia

The genus Clarkia is not very numerous. It has about 30 species, but only 4 of them are used in culture. Breeders also bred several ornamental varieties. Plants look good in a monophonic planting, as well as when using a mix of Clarkia varieties with multi-colored buds.

The plant reaches a height of 90 cm. It consists of thin, highly branched stems. Dark green leaves with relief veins have an oval shape and serrated edges. Flowering occurs from June to September. At the tops of the stems loose racemes are formed. The diameter of each whisk is about 4 cm. Popular varieties:

Salmon perfection ("Salmon perfection") - loose shoots 70-90 cm high are covered with terry inflorescences with salmon petals;
Albatross - snow-white terry flowers bloom on a bush 75 cm high;
Diamond - the tops of the shoots are decorated with large double flowers of bright pink color;
Gloriosa - the plant is densely covered with simple scarlet flowers with a light core.

The compact variety does not exceed 40 cm in height. Green elongated leaves have a solid edge and a pointed tip. Axillary flowers bloom at the ends of the shoots. They are located singly or in small inflorescences. Thin, soft petals are divided into 3 parts and resemble an unusual trident or antlers. Flowering begins at the end of May.

The view appeared only in 2006. A plant up to 50 cm high is resistant to cold. Symmetrical delicate flowers in diameter are no more than 3 cm. Pink flowers of Clarkia are compared with cherry blossoms.

This annual forms dense shoots due to strongly branched shoots. The height of the bushes is 40-65 (90) cm. Dark green elongated leaves surround double flowers with white, pink, purple and burgundy petals.

Breeding and planting methods

The best way to propagate clarkia, like any annual, is to sow seeds. During the season, they ripen on the plant in large quantities, so there are no difficulties. Seeds can be sown on seedlings or immediately in open ground.

Seedlings can be sown in early March, then flowering is expected in the second half of May. For growing seedlings of clarkia, wide boxes are prepared from seeds. The soil is made up of the following components:

leaf ground (2 parts);
rotted humus (1 part);
peat (1 part);
sand (1 part).

The earth should be steamed from pests, and the seeds should be soaked for several hours in a solution of potassium permanganate. Crops are planted to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. The surface is sprayed with a spray gun and covered with glass or film. Germination takes up to 14 days, after which the shelter should be removed. Seedlings are grown in a well-lit and warm place.

Seedlings are grown without picking until transplanting into open ground. All Clarkias, but especially hybrid varieties, die when replanted. To avoid this problem, you can sow the seeds in peat tablets. In this case, the rhizome is not injured when planted in open ground. It is also important not to deepen the root neck.

It is permissible to sow seeds immediately in open ground. Seedlings grown in one place look stronger and bloom faster. The procedure is carried out in May, when the spring frosts have passed. At the landing site, carefully dig the soil, remove weeds and apply mineral fertilizers. Seeds are sown to a depth of 1.5-2 cm with a distance of 4-5 cm.

Outdoor cultivation

Location. Clarkia is a hardy and fast growing plant. She feels equally good in the open sun and in partial shade. Also, she is not afraid of drafts and short-term cooling. The plant prefers light and fertile soils through which air can penetrate to the roots. Of course, Clarkia can adapt to heavy clay soils, but it will not grow so intensively.

Landing. Since the Clarkia is heavily branched, it may need to be thinned out. The distance between adult plants should be at least 15 cm. This will allow the sun and air to penetrate to the bottom of the shoots, which means greens and flowers will remain attractive longer.

Watering. It is better to water the Clarkia regularly so that only the top layer of soil dries out. When the roots dry out, the leaves and shoots begin to turn yellow. Stagnation of water contributes to the development of root rot. If precipitation falls regularly in summer, you can do without watering. Otherwise, irrigation is carried out with small portions of water.

Humidity. The plant does not need excessive humidity. Sunny and well ventilated places are preferred.

Fertilizer. From the moment of planting, the Clarkia needs regular feeding. Twice a month, a solution of mineral fertilizers for flowering garden plants should be applied. They contain all the necessary substances and do not harm beneficial insects.

Crown formation. Young plants about 10 cm high can be pinched to get more lush bushes. As the flowers fade, it is better to cut them off so that the plant retains its decorative effect. You should immediately select several buds for seed ripening. When flowering is complete, it is recommended to remove the remaining shoots and dig up the soil. It is highly likely that next year self-sowing will appear and Clarkia will be reborn in its original place without any effort.

Clarkia indoors

Clarkia can be grown not only on the street, but also on the balcony or in the room. However, the houseplant is more modest in size and small flowers. The Clarkia pot should be placed in a well-lit area. You can grow it even in winter, using additional lighting.

If the plant in the open field sprouted late and did not have time to bloom, it can be dug up with a large clod of earth and continue to grow at home. It should be remembered that even the most thorough care will not turn a Clarkia into a perennial. After the flowers wither, the rhizome begins to die.

Diseases and pests

Clarkia is disease resistant. Only when grown in a damp place, on flooded soils, the roots and shoots are affected by the fungus. The appearance of a whitish fluffy coating or brown spots on the stems indicates infection. It is impossible to save such plants; all shoots should be destroyed and the soil should be treated with a fungicide.

Clarkias are most attractive in large, dense groups. Then it resembles a lush carpet covered with fragrant flowers. Usually the plant is planted near fences or along paths. You can combine varieties with different colors of flowers in one flower garden. Clarkia looks good next to asters or phlox, roses or conifers.

Fragrant flowers attract beneficial insects, so herbs are honey-bearing. Clarkia can also be used to form bouquets. Brushes of delicate flowers will stand in a vase for 1-2 weeks.

Clarkia is an annual shrub from the family Cypress, which is sometimes combined with the genus Godetius. The stems of the plant are branched, reach a length of 0.3-1 m, depending on the species. The lower part becomes woody by the end of the growing season. Clarkia blooms almost all summer with multi-colored four-petal flowers.

This flower culture is very popular with flower growers. Due to its attractiveness, it is successfully used to decorate flower beds, borders, open balconies and other places. Clarkia is unpretentious in care. It is easy to grow both in seedlings and by sowing seeds directly in open ground.

Types and varieties of clarkia for open ground

The homeland of the plant is the western part of North America, Chile. The Clarkia was brought to Europe from California in the 19th century by Captain William Clark, after whom it was named. Sometimes the flower is also called the "California marigold". In nature, there are about 30 varieties of it. But for home cultivation, only some types of clarkia are used.

Graceful

Shrub up to 1 m high. Leaf plates are oval in shape, have reddish veins. Flowers are simple and double in different shades. Flowering occurs in July-September.

Popular varieties:

Albatross- undersized plant up to 0.7 m, with white double flowers.
Salmon Perfection- shrub of loose form up to 0.9 m high. Terry flowers, pink-salmon hue.
Terry- low shrub with large double flowers collected in spike-shaped inflorescences.
Sakura- tall, has double flowers of a creamy-pink hue.

Pretty

Dwarf variety with straight stems up to 0.4 m high, narrow and long leaves. The petals are thin, tripartite, so this species is also called the "trident". It blooms from July to September with pink, lavender or bright crimson flowers.

Brewery

Cold-resistant clarkia up to 0.5 m high. Small flowers are collected in loose inflorescences. They look like butterflies. The aroma of this species is much stronger than that of other clarks. The most popular cultivar is Pink Ribbon, which has pink flowers with ribbon-like petals.

Growing seedlings from seeds

You can grow these flowers only from seeds - seedlings and seedless way. To achieve earlier flowering, many prefer to sow seeds for seedlings in advance.

Sowing dates

From the beginning of the growing season to flowering, Clarkia takes about 2 months. With this in mind, you need to plan the time of sowing seeds for seedlings. To get flowers already at the beginning of summer, it is better to sow no later than the first half of March. In some cases, it is shifted to the end of February. Seedlings are planted in open ground when the soil warms up well so that there is a minimal risk of bacterial root diseases. The best period for this is the second half of May. In the southern regions, you can do it earlier.

Planting capacity and soil

Seedlings can be grown in peat cups or in ordinary boxes. Young plants are not afraid of transplants. It can be sown in special pots, which, together with adult flowers, will be taken out into the garden or open veranda.

The soil for Clarkia should be loose and nutritious with a slightly acidic reaction. If it is heavy, the flower will not be able to develop normally. The best option for a plant is a substrate of equal parts of leafy soil, peat, sand, rotted humus. To prevent the future development of fungal and bacterial infections in the culture, it is recommended to steam or ignite the soil in the oven before use.

Seed preparation and sowing

Seeds before sowing are recommended to hold for some time in a solution of potassium permanganate. This is necessary not only for disinfection, but also so that pests do not spoil them. Fill the container with soil, level it. Scatter the seeds on top. Slightly deepen them into the ground by 1.5-2 cm, sprinkle with warm water from a spray bottle. Cover with glass or film on top, create a mini-greenhouse. Move the "bed" to a warm place, shelter from direct sun. The room should be well ventilated and dry.

How to care for seedlings

Shoots will appear in 1.5-2 weeks. After germinating the seeds, the glass or film can be removed and the box moved to a more lit place. Seedlings need to be watered regularly, but not abundantly. The soil should always remain slightly moist. Seedlings can be sprinkled with water. Clarkia grows well at a temperature of + 25-27 degrees. When the growth of seedlings reaches 15 cm, it can be pinched. So it will become more branched and powerful. But some hybrids do not dive, they do not tolerate transplantation well. In such cases, the plants are carefully thinned out so as not to injure neighboring seedlings.

Planting seedlings in open ground

Planting seedlings should be planned as early as possible. It is recommended to prepare the site for transplantation 2 weeks before the procedure. Dig up the soil and fertilize with potassium sulfate and superphosphate (1.5 tablespoons per 1 square meter), peat. If the soil is acidic, sprinkle it with dolomite flour on top, if it is alkaline, pour it with a solution of citric acid.

It is better to transplant seedlings in groups of seedlings along with an earthen clod. The distance between each group should be about 20-40 cm. Do not bury the root collars. They should be at ground level. Next to the flowers, strengthen the supports on which the growing stems will curl.

Planting seeds in a seedless way in open ground

If there is no time and desire to grow seedlings, seeds can be sown directly in open ground. This method guarantees stronger and healthier shoots. But Clarkia blooms in such cases later than from seedlings.

Rules and deadlines

Seeds can be sown in well-warmed soil when there is no longer a risk of sudden temperature changes. Otherwise, the sprouts that are not yet strong may freeze and die. Usually crops are planned for the first half of May. But if the climate and weather allow, you can move them to the end of April. Sometimes sowing is carried out in the fall, so that shoots appear in early spring.

Site selection and lighting

Like seedlings, the seeds themselves must be sown, choosing a place in advance. Clarkia, unlike many other plants, can grow not only in well-lit areas, but also in partial shade. She is also not afraid of drafts. More soil requirements. When choosing a place, it is taken into account how the culture will fit into the overall landscape.

soil

The soil should be fertile and light. If it does not meet the requirements on the site, some adjustments will have to be made. If the soil is dense, clayey, it needs to be dug up, add sand, peat. It is loosened to ensure free access of oxygen to the roots, to avoid moisture stagnation. It is necessary to prepare the soil and make the necessary compositions into it 2 weeks before planting.

Landing features

For sowing, recesses (nests) are made in the selected area at a distance of 25-40 cm from each other. If the variety is tall, the distance is increased by 20-30 cm. 4-5 seeds are thrown into each nest. Can be sown in rows. But then young shoots will have to be thinned out.

Outdoor care

Cultivation of Clarkia in the open field does not differ from the seed and seedling method of planting. For a flower, timely watering, top dressing, and prevention of the appearance of pests are important.

Watering

The amount and regularity of watering is affected by the weather, which will be set during the growth of the plant. If the summer is cool and it often rains, then there may be no need for watering at all. In other cases, it is necessary to moisten the soil when the top layer dries.

On a note! If the Clarkia is too saturated with moisture, this will lead to rotting of the roots. To avoid this, after each watering, the soil should be loosened near the shrub. You need to water the plant in the morning or in the evening, when there is no scorching sun. It is important to avoid getting water on the flowers, this can adversely affect the appearance of the culture.

top dressing

Fertilize flowers 1-2 times a month. Complex fertilizers for flowering plants effectively act on Clarkia:

Nitroammophoska- 15 g per 1m 2 during budding;
Kalijfos-N- 20-25 g per 1m 2;
Diamophoska- 2 g per 1 liter of water during the period of intensive growth.

Sometimes a solution of chicken manure (1:15) is used. It is applied at the beginning of the growing season.

pruning

If the Clarkia grows densely, it must be thinned out so that the bushes have room to develop. Between plants there should be at least 15-20 cm. But it is not worth it to thin out too much so that there are no voids. When the plant has faded, its stems are cut to the very soil. The remains of the roots are removed when digging the site. It is better to burn them to prevent the development of pathogenic bacteria or fungi that can infect the soil.

Flowering (how to prolong flowering)

With a seedling planting method, flower stalks may appear as early as late May or early June. When sowing in open ground - a little later. Clakiria can bloom until autumn. If you want to prolong flowering as long as possible, you need to adhere to certain conditions. Abundant flowering contributes to the tillering of sprouts. When the seedlings grow up to 10 cm in length, you need to carefully pinch off the top. This stimulates budding, and abundant flowering. After the flower stalks fade, they must be removed.

Seed collection and wintering

You need to determine in advance which flower stalks to leave for seed ripening. You don't need to remove them. Seeds appear after pollination of the ovary. They ripen in small oblong boxes. 1 g can contain up to 3,000 seeds. They ripen about a month after the end of flowering. When the seed pods turn brown, the seeds are ready to be harvested. A fabric bag is recommended in advance for the seed box so that self-seeding does not occur in the ground.

Seeds are additionally dried for several days, then stored in paper bags in a dry, cool room. After 3-4 years, the seed loses its qualities, germination decreases. Therefore, it is better to use fresh seeds for sowing.

Diseases and pests, control methods

Clarkia is characterized by stable immunity. Therefore, it is rarely exposed to diseases and pests. But sometimes it can be affected by fungal infections. Usually they are associated with excess moisture, frequent watering. First, the roots are damaged, the whole plant gradually fades. In such cases, it is almost impossible to save the flower. It is recommended to simply remove damaged specimens and regulate the irrigation system.

To prevent infection of other plants, it is recommended to treat them with such means:

Oksikhom,
bordeaux liquid,
copper sulfate.

Pests that damage the Clarkia:

garden flea.

Karbofos;
Fitoverm;
Confidor.

Combination with other plants (clarkia in landscape design)

Due to its unpretentiousness and abundant flowering, Clarkia deserves a place of honor in landscape design.

Scope of application:

in flowerbeds, along fences, alleys, fences;
in pots on balconies, window sills, on walls (undersized varieties);
in bouquets with other flowers (tall varieties).

In addition, its flowers have a beautiful aroma, it is a good peduncle. It goes well with other low plants:

phloxes;
asters;
white daisies;
Red roses.

Clarkia is a very popular outdoor crop. Caring for her does not require much effort. The flower reproduces well both in seedlings and in seedlings. It can grow almost anywhere, even in partial shade and in a draft. The main thing is to provide it with suitable soil and regulate the level of moisture.

More useful information about growing clarcia from sowing to collecting seeds can be found in the video:

The plant got its name in honor of the name of Captain William Clark, who brought it to Europe. There are more than 30 types of shrubs, but the most popular is the graceful clarkia. Lush bright bushes can harmoniously decorate green lawns. Tall shrubs are most often planted as hedges with other summer flowers. Let's take a closer look at how to grow and care for flowers, what are their features and varieties.

Short description

Clarkia flowers are an annual herbaceous culture that grows up to 90 centimeters. The bush blooms in different shades, spicate or racemose inflorescences.

Clarkia has branched, erect stems, pubescent with short villi. The leaves are elongated, oval in shape and bright green or bluish in color. On the stem, the leaves are arranged in turn.

The shrub has simple or double axillary flowers of the correct form, their diameter can reach 3.5 centimeters. The flower itself has a tubular calyx, four solid or three-lobed corolla, which tapers at the base into a nail.

Clarkia value

Graceful Clarkia has a delicate beauty and elegance. It is also appreciated for the following advantages:

the clarkia flower blooms within a couple of months after sowing and pleases with its decorative effect before the onset of frost;
planting is carried out in open ground. If the seeds are sown in autumn, the shrub will grow strong and hardy;
seeds have increased germination, can germinate quickly;
during the season, full-fledged high-quality seeds ripen;
the plant can independently be sown, retaining the original varietal characteristics.

The most decorative and valuable plant is the marigold or graceful clarkia, as it can bloom in white, pale pink or purple hues.

Gardeners most often plant three types of flowers in their gardens: graceful clarkia, pretty and Brevery. Based on them, many different unique varieties have been bred.

The main types of shrubs:

graceful clarkia has a thin, branched, strong stem, grows up to 90 centimeters. The leaves are densely green with red veins and serrated edges. It blooms with simple or double flowers in June and pleases with its flowering until the end of September;
Clarkia pretty grows up to only 30 centimeters. Blooms in a variety of double or non-double flowers. Blooms in mid-May and blooms until frost;
terry clarkia has amazingly beautiful flowers. Plant height 25 - 65 centimeters. The diameter of terry flowers is 6 centimeters. They are strung on stems and in their appearance resemble a spike-shaped plant;
the Albatros variety has double white flowers, the bush is branched, its height can reach 75 centimeters;
the Purpurkenig variety has double carmine flowers, 4 centimeters in diameter, the height of the shrub reaches one meter;
variety Salmon perfection has double, pink-salmon flowers, with a diameter of 3.5 centimeters. Shrub loose, no more than 90 centimeters high.
the Brilliant variety is also valued by gardeners. A tall bush has large bright pink terry inflorescences;
the Clarkia Sakura variety has terry inflorescences of a white-pink hue. Its height is 120 centimeters, its appearance resembles a Japanese cherry;
the bushes of the Shefteyn variety have a lilac-lilac color, a height of 50 centimeters.

Read also: Features of amaranth, cultivation, care

Clarkia Brewery has also recently been considered popular. The variety endures cold, is an annual, grows only up to 50 centimeters. It has flowers that look like butterflies. The diameter of each flower is 3 centimeters. Flowers gather in loose inflorescences. The bushes emit a strong and pleasant aroma.

Brewery has a subspecies called Pink Ribbons. This variety blooms with pink flowers, the petals of which resemble ribbons in their appearance. The height of the shrub is not more than 30 centimeters. Blooms profusely on branched stems.

If you have heard other varieties of the plant, you need to take note that they belong more to the genus Godets than to Clarkia.

Since the seeds of the plant are very small, they are sown on the surface of the earth. For dense and better adhesion of seeds to the ground, the breast should be watered abundantly before sowing. You can also sprinkle some dry peat mixed with sand on top.

Seeds are planted according to the nesting scheme, in groups of 5 - 6 seeds with an interval of no more than 30 centimeters from each other. After 14 days, the first shoots will appear. When thinning seedlings, it is imperative to leave several plants each to obtain a thick, voluminous bush.

Important point! One sachet weighing 1 gram contains 3.5 - 4 thousand seeds. Pinch them to sow will not work. Therefore, mix the seeds with fine sand in a ratio of 1:10 or gently shake them into the ground from a sheet of paper.

Clarkia graceful is grown from seeds as follows:

Soak the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate for a couple of hours. Instead, you can steam them a little in the oven. This procedure is done in order to destroy a possible infection.
Place the container for sowing seeds in a bright place, out of direct sunlight. Press the seeds into the soil with a wooden stick. Then moisten the soil with water from a spray bottle and cover the container with glass.
As soon as the seedlings acquire leaves, they can be planted in different cups and grown further in a ventilated greenhouse. After some time, the grown seedlings are transplanted into open ground.
It is recommended to sow seeds immediately in open ground in April or May. Since the seed is not afraid of frost, Clarkia is sometimes sown in deep canopy.
For planting, the soil is selected loose, slightly acidified, on the sunny side of the site.
Before sowing seeds in open ground, fertilize the ground with superphosphates or other mineral fertilizers.
It is recommended to plant grown seedlings at a distance of 15 centimeters from each other.

Read also: Planting marigolds and caring for them in the open field

For lush and abundant flowering, it is important to follow the recommendations described above, as well as to carry out proper plant care in the future.

Clarkia is sometimes grown in pots and containers. Varieties with shoots of 50 - 80 centimeters are cut to create bouquets. If you remove the lower leaves from the stems, the flowers will stand in a vase for a week without losing their decorative effect.

Features of planting a plant in open ground

In open ground, flowers are planted in May. To acidify the soil, peat with sulfur or a solution of oxalic or citric acid is added to it. An experienced gardener should suggest the exact dosage of fertilizers.

Seedlings from containers are taken one at a time along with an earthen clod. They are planted in holes dug at a distance of 20 - 40 centimeters from each other. So that the stems do not break during growth, it is recommended to stick sticks near each seedling, to which they will be attached in the future.

After planting all the seedlings in the holes, water them and pinch them to stimulate tillering.

Clarkia graceful cultivation is easy, so all gardeners love it.

It is recommended to water the bushes regularly, moderately. Watering is best when the soil has dried out on too dry summer days.
In dry summer, it is recommended to feed the plant with mineral fertilizers several times a month.
If you properly care for Clarkia, already in July, the bushes will begin to bloom. To maintain their decorative effect, regularly remove faded buds and dying leaves.
A month after the petals of the buds fall off, fruits appear in their place - boxes with small seeds. If they turn brown, then the seeds are already fully ripe. Flowers can be grown from seeds that are no more than four years old.
When the shoots grow up to 20 centimeters, it is recommended to pinch their tops to get thicker bushes.
High grades of clarkia are recommended to be tied to sticks so that they do not break.
Before frost, the stems are cut to ground level.

Protection against diseases and pests

If the leaves are covered with dark spots, they may have become ill with a fungus. To get rid of such a disease, plants are sprayed with fungicides. You need to process the bushes several times in seven days. To avoid further development of the fungus, it is recommended not to moisten the root system too much.

Read also: What to do if astilbe does not bloom?

There are cases when, even before germination, the seeds are attacked by fleas. To prevent the appearance of pests, cover the soil with planted shifts with non-woven material. Thanks to this, crops will be reliably protected from pests, and their moisture will also be ensured.

Care after flowering

Clarkia is most often sown on its own. It is enough only in the spring, after the appearance of the bristle seedlings, to carefully thin it out.

To collect seeds, select the most beautiful flowers at the time of flowering and mark them with something. As soon as they begin to fade, tie pieces of gauze to the top of the flower heads. A month after the end of flowering, the box will turn brown. Cut it off and sprinkle the collected seeds on the newspaper. After drying well, sow the planting material in the ground before wintering, or store it in a paper bag until spring.

Wintering clarkia

After the end of the flowering process and the collection of seeds, the bushes are cut to the ground. When digging the site, remove the remains of shrubs and remove them from the garden. To prevent the development of diseases, dug up roots are best burned. In the spring, re-sow the seeds collected in the fall.

The terry type of clarkia is always planted only in open soil. The height of the bushes is 90 centimeters. The flowers are unusually terry.

As soon as the first shoots and the first four leaves appear, plant the shoots at small distances between them. It is necessary to transplant along with small lumps of earth, into holes prepared in advance. When the stems of the plants become strong, the bushes from above need to be pinched. It is also easy to care for a terry type of clarkia.

It is important to regularly water the bushes, if necessary, at the very root and fluff the topsoil. Feed with mineral fertilizers during budding. Terry Clarkia blooms from July to the end of September. Pest protection is carried out in the same way as the protection of the graceful clarkia.

Clarkia and other plants

From clarkia and other garden flowers, you can create an amazingly beautiful flower garden.

Phloxes, lilies, white daisies and asters can be planted next to the shrub.
Clarkia looks harmoniously next to low red roses.
If you cut a Clarkia and keep it in water, it will stand for two weeks, slowly blooming buds.
Clarkia is often planted in groups to decorate discounts, to plant balconies, to create Moorish lawns.

They were separate genera, but recently they were combined into one. Here we will talk about the Clarkies, which were originally part of this genus, although the care for both Clarkia and Godetia is similar.

So, these are herbaceous annuals, the height of which, depending on the species, varies from 35 cm to almost a meter. The shoots of these crops can be straight or branched, often covered with fluff. The foliage is oblong, alternate. Flowers form inflorescences-spikelets or brushes. 3 representatives of the genus are cultivated.

Varieties and types

Or marigold an annual plant with a branching shoot growing up to 1 m. The stems are thin, their bottom becomes stiff with aging. The foliage is rounded, oblong, casting a bluish tint, riddled with red veins. Flowers are both simple and double, depending on the variety, and the color also depends on this.

Among the varieties are Albatross , Salmon Orange , Diamond , Ruby , Purplekening , Sun .

Clarkia pubescent or pretty undersized species that grows up to 40 cm. The foliage is long and narrow. Flowers have widely spaced petals.

popular variety Arianna .

Culture reaching half a meter in height. Small strongly fragrant flowers form inflorescences.

Popular dwarf variety Pink Ribbons having strongly branching shoots and pink flowers.

The rest of the plants called clarkia are godetia, which, however, itself, through the efforts of scientists, turned into clarkia.

Among them we single out Clarkia terry , which was previously a hybrid species of godetia, and its variety Sakura . This tall plant has a shoot covered with beautiful peach-colored flowers that will decorate any garden.

Clarkia graceful growing from seeds

Clarkia graceful reproduces only in a generative way. If you do not want to mess with seedlings, then the material is sown in the soil around the middle of spring closer to May or in the fall with the approach of winter.

A month before planting, you need to dig up a site with fertilizers in the form of a kilogram of peat per square meter, as well as a tablespoon of superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

Seeds are laid out on the soil in several pieces and slightly pressed into it. The distance between crops is about 30 cm. If the seedlings are too thick, then they need to be thinned out, but do not overdo it, because lush bushes look more attractive.

Planting clarkia for seedlings

If you want to get seedlings, then the seeds need to be sown in light, sandy, slightly acidic soil, thus pressing them down a little or crushing them with thin layers of soil. Next, the sowing is slightly moistened and kept warm under the film, in a well-lit place, protected from direct sunlight.

With the advent of the first sprouts, the film is removed, and the container is kept in a warm room with fresh air until transplanted to the flower bed.

Do not tighten with a dive and spend it with the appearance of a couple of leaves. Planting young plants in the garden is carried out no earlier than May to protect them from return frosts.

soil for clarkia

The soil for Clarkia should be slightly acidic, light, permeable.

Heavy clay substrates are undesirable and in this case the soil must be dug up with sand.

Clarkia planting and care in the open field

Transplantation of seedlings into the ground is carried out together in an earthen clod, in groups of seedlings. The distance between the groups is the same as when sowing - about 30 cm. You need to take care of the supports that are stuck next to the planted bushes.

When the plants are accepted, light pinching is carried out, due to which they will bush more strongly.

Watering clarkia

Watering this plant is needed only in the heat in the absence of rain, in other cases, precipitation is enough for it.

The amount of water for irrigation should be moderate so that it quickly enters the soil and does not stagnate on the surface.

Clarkia fertilizer

From the beginning of the growth and development of buds and until flowering, it is necessary to carry out fertilizer with a complex mineral top dressing of the Rainbow type.

pruning clarkia

To make flowering more beautiful, it is necessary to remove fading inflorescences, leaving the amount you need to collect seeds.

This crop reproduces well by self-sowing. If you want to collect seeds, then wrap several flowers with gauze so that the seed does not crumble to the ground. Seed maturity occurs approximately 30 days after flowering ends.

With the advent of autumn and cooling, the upper part of the plants is cut off, and the site is dug up, getting rid of the roots.

Diseases and pests

When growing clarkia on loam, it can get sick with rust . To get rid of the fungus, the bushes are treated with a Bordeaux mixture.

Also with excess moisture roots can rot , as a result of which the plant wilts, weakens and dies. Trim off diseased areas and destroy heavily infested individuals, and then disinfect the area and plants with fungicides.

Among the pests, the most common is mealybug , occurs in rare cases aphid . Insecticides are used to control these pests. To defeat aphids, you can also use an infusion of water with citrus or an infusion of garlic, but when spraying with the latter, you can burn the plants themselves.