Growing clarkia graceful and caring for it at home and in the open field. Growing clarkia graceful in a summer cottage from seeds Clarkia flowers planting

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, a mixture of Fantasy allows you to grow white, red-pink and purple double flowers, and a mixture of Charm 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.

Clarkia graceful or marigold is a spectacular annual. During flowering, its slender branched shoots are decorated with numerous bright flowers with unusually shaped petals. Clarkia owes them the presence of a second name (marigold) and a resemblance to flowering hibiscus or Japanese sakura. The plant outwardly resembles an exquisite aristocrat, but unlike her, it is very unpretentious. Clarkia is easy to grow from seed using seedlings or by sowing outdoors.

Clarkia graceful or marigold belongs to the genus of the same name of annual flowering plants, which is part of the Cyprus family. The genus is named after the American explorer Wilm Clark, who first brought these plants to Europe in 1832.

The clarkey is native to California, Chile, and western parts of North America. About 40 of its wild-growing species are now known. In decorative floriculture, only 4 is most often used. The most popular is elegant or marigold clarkia.

Clarkia graceful is a tall (up to 1.2 m) flowering plant with branched, thin and strong shoots. On the stems are alternately small, sessile, oval-elongated serrated leaves, painted in shades of dark green and pierced with red veins.

Clarkia is characterized by long (about 45 days) flowering, starting in July. During it, on the tops of the shoots in the axils of the leaves, large (up to 5 cm) single flowers or racemose inflorescences are formed, formed by flowers with simple or double corollas. The petals are colored purple, pink or lavender.

For the special shape of the petals, tapering to the top and bottom, Clarkia got its second specific name.

The flowering of many varieties of elegant clarkia has a strong and pleasant aroma.

The fruit is elongated polysemyanki, filled with very small (up to 3 thousand in 1 g) seeds. The bolls open as they mature, providing abundant self-seeding.

Clarkia is often confused with godetia or they are considered two names for the same plant. Clarkia and Godetia are completely different plants belonging to two different genera of the Cyprus family.

Popular varieties

On the basis of the species, about 10 hybrid varieties were obtained by selection, differing in:

height: medium-sized (40-60 cm) and tall (from 70 cm and above);
the structure of flowers: simple and terry;
petal coloring.

Several are popular with flower lovers.

Variety Albatross with branched shoots of medium (up to 75 cm) height and double flowers of a white-pink hue, forming loose, delicate inflorescences.

Clarkia Purple, characterized by high strong shoots and large (3.5-4 cm) terry buds, collected in a loose spike inflorescence and painted in rich carmine shades.

Plants of the variety "Salmon Queen", having high (90 cm) loose bushes, decorated during flowering with inflorescences of terry pink-salmon flowers.

The slender, medium-sized variety "Brilliant" with large terry apical inflorescences of bright pink tones is very effective and therefore popular.

Plants of the Gloriosa variety are easily recognizable by simple corollas formed by scarlet, with a light middle, petals.

Clarkia Sakura is a tall (1-1.2 m) lush bush with double inflorescences of delicate white-pink color. The variety was named for its similarity during the flowering period with Japanese sakura.

Bright long and abundant flowering, unpretentiousness and ease of cultivation contributed to the popularity of Clarkia in decorative floriculture and landscape design:

The plant looks great in group plantings and mixed compositions, ideally combined with phlox, various types of roses and conifers.
Suitable for growing in containers on balconies, loggias and verandas.
Clarkia flowers are cut for a long time (1-2 weeks), so they are often used to make bouquets.

Growing from seeds

Clarkia graceful is easy to breed. It, like most annual plants, is grown from seeds that are purchased in specialized stores or harvested independently.

When self-collecting, it should be noted that the seeds do not always retain varietal characteristics.

Seeds are collected from the most liked flowers, waiting for the end of their flowering and the setting of the fruit. A cap (pouch) made of porous transparent fabric (gauze) is put on the seed box. After ripening (the mature box will turn brown), the fruit is cut off. Seeds are released, dried and put into a paper bag for storage. They remain viable for 4 years.

Clarkia can be grown in 2 ways: by sowing directly in open ground or using seedlings. In any case, sowing is preceded by the preparation of planting material.

Seed preparation

Immediately before sowing, the seeds are disinfected by soaking for 3 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. It is convenient to distribute small seeds with a sharp object (for example, a toothpick) on a strip of porous thin fabric (gauze). The tissue strip is carefully immersed in a wide shallow container with a solution.

After disinfection, the seeds are dried at room temperature.

Sowing in open ground

Clarkia is an elegant cold-hardy. Its seeds and seedlings are not afraid of a short exposure to low temperatures, so sowing can be carried out immediately in open ground.

The advantage of this growing method is to obtain plants with strong strong shoots. The disadvantage is late flowering.

Timing

Sowing in open ground can be done both in spring and autumn. Timing determines the start of flowering:

Autumn (second decade of September) will bloom in May or early June.
Plants sown in spring (first decade of May) will bloom at the end of July.

Selecting a landing site

Sowing is carried out immediately to a permanent place, in a flower garden or in a flower bed. For all its unpretentiousness, this plant has certain preferences that must be taken into account when choosing a site for planting:

Clarkia feels good in a sunny place and in partial shade.
It grows well in open areas, not afraid of strong winds and drafts.
Prefers light, fertile, neutral or slightly acidic soils.

Seeding technology

When sowing in open ground, it is important to consider several nuances:

Clarkia looks more spectacular not in single plantings, but in curtains;
the plant is prone to strong branching, which must be taken into account when distributing seeds;
tall varieties may require support, experienced flower growers, in order to avoid injury to the roots, recommend installing it immediately when sowing.

Before the procedure, the site is well dug up, removing weeds. To increase the nutritional value, complex mineral fertilizers or humus are introduced into the soil.

Along the perimeter of the seat at a distance of 15-20 cm (for tall varieties 30 cm), shallow grooves 3-4 cm wide are made and seeds are distributed in 2-3 pieces at a distance of 30 to 50 cm. Seeds by 1.5 - 2 see sprinkled with earth.

Sowing is completed by moistening seedlings from a spray bottle.

Seedling care

The first shoots of clarkia will appear in 1 - 2 weeks. They need attention:

Very dense plantings are rarefied: all weak plants are subject to removal.
For good tillering, seedlings 10-15 cm high pinch off the top of the shoot. This procedure stimulates the formation of buds and brings the beginning of flowering closer.
Seedlings are moderately watered, focusing on the state of the topsoil: it should not dry out completely.
After 2-3 weeks, the first top dressing is carried out with mineral fertilizers with a high nitrogen content.

In the future, care is carried out corresponding to adult plants.

Growing seedlings

The method is time-consuming and laborious, but justifies itself with earlier and lush flowering.

Sowing dates

It takes about two months from the beginning of the growing season to the flowering of Clarkia.

Considering this fact, the sowing of the Clarkia is planned for the end of February - the first week of March.

It is more convenient to sow small Clarkia seeds in medium-sized shallow containers: containers or seedlings. To prevent diseases, containers are disinfected before sowing by treating with boiling water or calcining in the oven.

Sowing can also be done in individual containers or peat tablets. This is less convenient, but avoids further plant transplantation. Plants grown in them take root faster and bloom earlier.

Substrate preparation

For growing seedlings, a mixture is used consisting of peat, sand and rotted humus, taken in 1 part, with the addition of 2 parts of leafy soil. All components of the mixture are thoroughly mixed.

Before sowing, the substrate is disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or steamed in a water bath.

Seeding technique

Carrying out this procedure is similar to sowing in open ground. The difference is only in the more frequent arrangement of seeds on the soil surface:

1. The finished soil mixture is poured into containers and leveled.
2. Seeds are laid out on the surface of the substrate, but not too often. Lightly press in with a convenient device (shovel) or sprinkle with a 2-centimeter layer of soil.
3. The land is irrigated with a spray bottle.
4. The container is covered with an airtight transparent material to create greenhouse conditions for the seedlings.

Optimal conditions

For good germination, seedlings need:

heat: 23...26 °C;
good lighting, excluding direct sunlight;
fresh and dry air, which is achieved by frequent ventilation and timely removal of condensate;
moderate watering.

Shoots appear within 1 - 2 weeks. Remove the protection from the container. Thickened crops are thinned out.

seedling care

Clarkia seedling care is simple:

1. Lighting: at first, additional lighting is organized. As the day length lengthens, the backlight is removed.
2. Watering: moderate, warm water, preferably from a spray bottle. The soil should always be slightly damp.
3. Pinching: carried out to enhance branching and when the seedlings reach a height of 13-15 cm.

Clarkia seedlings cannot be dived. This plant, especially its hybrid varieties, does not tolerate transplanting very well.

Landing in open ground

A favorable time for planting seedlings in open ground is the second half of May. If the plants are very tall and branched, then this can be done a little earlier - in late April or early May, as soon as the topsoil warms up.

Young plants endure short cold weather.

Before planting, marginal lands are enriched with humus or peat. Sand is added to heavy ones. Small depressions are made at a distance of 20 to 50 cm on a pre-selected section of the flower garden. Young plants removed from individual containers along with a clod of earth are placed in the wells.

When planting, the growth point is left on the surface of the soil, otherwise the Clarkia will grow slowly and refuse to bloom.

Care for plants grown from seedlings and seeds is the same and consists of thinning, watering, top dressing, crown formation and, if necessary, getting rid of pests and diseases. Basics:

1. Developing, the shoots of the Clarkia branch strongly, so thinning of the plantings will be required. Leave at least 5 cm between adult plants. This will allow the sun and air to penetrate to the base of the shoots, which is important for their development.
2. Clarkia needs watering. Its regularity is determined by the drying of the topsoil. With a lack of moisture, Clarkia's shoots turn yellow. Waterlogging provokes the occurrence of root rot.
3. Good development of clarkia is impossible without regular top dressing. They are carried out 2 times a month using a solution of mineral fertilizers for flowering plants.
4. To preserve the decorative appearance, faded buds are removed from the shoots in a timely manner.

After the complete end of flowering, the shoots are removed, and the ground under them is dug up.

Clarkia indoors

The flower can be cultivated not only in open ground conditions, but also on a balcony, loggia or in a room, on a windowsill. Most often, this is done if one of the plants did not have time to bloom before the onset of cold weather. In this case, it is dug out along with a clod of earth and planted in a spacious container to continue the growing season.

At home, the flower needs good lighting, watering and feeding. However, even the most attentive care will not be able to prolong the growing season of the Clarkia for more than one season. After flowering, the roots of the plant gradually die off, which will inevitably lead to the drying of the entire aerial part.

Pests and diseases: causes and treatment

Clarkia is rarely affected by pests and gets sick. However, with gross and frequent violations of the recommendations for planting and growing it, these troubles are possible:

With waterlogging and stagnant water, the roots and lower parts of the shoots are affected by fungi. The disease is diagnosed by the appearance of brown spots. They grow rapidly and are covered with a gray fluffy coating, indicating the maturation of spores of the fungus. When the first signs of infection appear, the plants are destroyed, and the soil is treated with an 18% solution of Bordeaux mixture.

The garden flea loves to feast on tender sprouts of seedlings in the open field. This is especially true for flower beds located near vegetable beds. Flea infestation is easy to spot by the small holes that appear on the leaves and petals. Adults can be affected by mealybugs. Its appearance is evidenced by foamy accumulations in the nodes of the leaves. The flea and the worm are destroyed with the help of chemicals: Karbofos and Fufanon.

Clarkia graceful is an excellent choice for flower growers who strive to make the flower bed not only beautiful, but also original. A wide selection of varieties will allow you to choose plants of the required size and color, and growing from seeds is possible even for a beginner.

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 crop.

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:

For a novice grower who selects plants for a “southern” sunny flower bed, Clarkia can be safely recommended. It does not require special care and will adequately decorate your flower garden for the whole summer, until the frost. And in the company with zinnia, echinacea, chamomile, it will withstand even a short drought. So that you can fully appreciate this flower, let's look at how elegant clarkia is grown from seeds and how to provide it with comfortable conditions.

Clarkia (Clarkia) is a cute herbaceous annual of the family Cypress. This plant came to Europe from North America, where more than 30 of its species grow. It is a close relative of godetia (you can learn more about this culture) and fireweed (Ivan-tea). Named after American Captain William Clark.

Erect, slightly covered with a short fluff, the clarkia stems branch well, grow from 30 cm to almost 1 m. The rich green leaves have an oval-elongated shape and are placed alternately. The flowers are located either one at a time in the leaf axils, or form an apical inflorescence-ear (or brush). Four petals (sometimes three) form a tubular calyx. They can be simple or terry. Coloring is white or various shades of red-pink. Blooms from July until the first frost. The fruit is an oblong capsule with many seeds.

In decorative floriculture, three of its types are used.

Clarkia graceful

Clarkia graceful or marigold

Clarkia graceful or marigold (Clarkia unguiculata) forms branchy sprawling bushes of various heights: from miniature (30 cm) to tall (90 cm). Green oblong leaves with sparse teeth have a bluish bloom, as well as reddish veins. Small (3 cm) flowers are located singly in the leaf axils. There are simple and terry, reminiscent of miniature carnations. Blooms very profusely and for a long time. In the seed box, small oval rough brown seeds ripen.

Clarkia graceful has various varieties. For example, Clarkia "Sun" (60-70 cm) with large (4 cm) double flowers of a warm salmon shade, with rich pink double flowers of Clarkia "Our Joy", an aggressive red variety "Brilliant" (60 cm), very beautiful a shade of red has a clarke "Ruby" (40-70 cm).

Clarkia graceful "Sun"

Very bright mixtures of colors in clarkia graceful. For example, Clarkia "Fantasy" is a mixture with white, red-pink and purple double flowers (60-75 cm). A wide range of pinks is presented in the "Charm" mixture.

Clarkia is pretty

Clarkia pretty (Clarkia pulchella) is a low herbaceous annual. This species is also called omitted clarkia. It has erect (30-40 cm) stems, long thin pointed leaves sometimes form a basal rosette. Terry or simple flowers of various shades of pink are located in the axils of the apical leaves, both singly and in small groups. The petals of its flowers are interesting, similar to elk horns, widely dissected into three lobes. Blooms a little earlier than elegant Clarkia.

Clarkia pretty or down

Mixtures such as Arianna Clarkia (up to 40 cm) with white and crimson double flowers, the bright old Miss Langri variety are popular.

Clarkia Brewery

Clarkia Brewery (Clarkia breweri) - this species has become available to our flower growers relatively recently (10 years ago). Srednerosly (up to 50 cm), cold-resistant annual. Simple large flowers with strongly dissected petals are very similar to delicate moths. It has a wonderful, especially rich aroma.

The Pink Ribbons variety with delicate pink petals is distinguished by its miniature size (30 cm), it fully justifies its name, as its flowers really resemble a symbolic pink ribbon.

Clarkia Brewery
Clarkia Brewery "Pink Ribbons"

reproduction

Clarkia propagates by seeds. You can first grow seedlings or immediately sow it directly into open ground. Pay attention to the expiration dates of the seeds, in Clarkia they remain viable for up to a maximum of 4 years.

The seedling method allows you to get earlier flowering, to exclude freezing of seedlings. This method is most suitable for the northern regions. Clarkia is sown for seedlings in March. This process is the same as in most other plants. Seeds are sown in a special soil for seedlings, without deepening, only slightly pressed to the ground.

Clarkia is quite versatile: tall varieties can be safely planted along walls or fences, and undersized ones are suitable for the foreground of a flower garden. Looks good in compositions with daisies, phlox or petunias.

Excellent in cut. Keeps fresh for a long time and opens all the buds. And the Clarkia Brewery looks great in hanging planters.

The simplicity and unpretentiousness of clarkia in planting and care provide her with the status of a welcome guest in every garden. You just need to do everything right and on time. And then you will see beautiful large and fragrant flowers in the flower bed, Clarkia will not disappoint you.

Clarkia graceful is an annual herbaceous plant. Belongs to the cypress family. Depending on the variety, the plant can reach a height of 30 - 150 cm. Clarkia is a fairly well-known culture among gardeners, both experienced and beginners. She gained such popularity due to a number of her qualities. For example, such as: unpretentiousness, ease of growing and caring for it, a variety of ways to reproduce it.

Clarkia graceful is widely used to decorate gardens and home gardens. It is grown in open beds, flowerbeds, either alone or in combination with other annuals and perennials, and can also be planted in containers or pots. It is good for cutting. The plant can stand in a vase for almost 2 weeks. At the same time, the flower does not lose its original freshness and gradually blooms over this period.

A distinctive feature of this flower is the brightness of the flowers and the variety of their colors, as well as the unusualness of their shape. Clarkia flowers are white, pink, orange, red, lilac, purple. There are also two-color inflorescences with different stripes and spots. The flowers are located on the stem both singly and in whole inflorescences, resembling a brush or spike in shape.

Ways to grow clarkia graceful

Clarkia graceful is a fairly cold-resistant culture. The seeds of this plant tolerate low air temperatures well. Therefore, it can be sown in two ways:

To a permanent place in open ground.
Pre-growing seedlings at home.

Sowing seeds in open ground

In this case, the seeds are sown in the garden at the end of April and in May. The seeds of the plant are very small, so they are placed directly on the surface of the earth. From above, they are lightly covered with a substrate or covered with wooden planks.

It is best to sow several seeds at once in one place, thereby forming the so-called nests. The distance between them should be at least 25-40 centimeters. The first shoots appear, as a rule, in 1-2 weeks. Thinning seedlings or transplanting plants is not recommended.

Seedling method of reproduction

The second way to grow graceful clarkia at home is to grow seedlings. To do this, the seeds of the plant are sown in seedling boxes or small containers, not buried in the ground, but placed on the surface. From above, the boxes are covered with glass and placed in a warm, bright place.

Sowing Clarkia seeds for seedlings is best done in early April. The optimum temperature for seed germination is about 15 degrees, while the air in the room must be sufficiently humidified.

Emerging shoots are thinned out. The pick is carried out early, since the Clarkia tolerates the transplant well only at a fairly young age. When carrying out a pick, young plants of the graceful clarkia are planted in separate pots of several pieces. It is best to plant 3-4 plants in one pot. Clarkia a graceful mix of colors

The plants are planted in a permanent place in open ground in May, when the threat of frost has passed. Seedlings are planted in nests, without dividing them among themselves. When landing, they make an interval of 30-40 centimeters between them.

plant care

Like all plants, Clarkia graceful needs care. It consists in the usual procedures for annuals. These include:

Weeding and loosening the soil.
Regular watering. It is produced as needed, while it is necessary to ensure that water does not stagnate on the surface of the soil.
Top dressing with fertilizers. For this, only mineral fertilizers are used. The application of organic fertilizers should be avoided. Top dressing is carried out at least 1 time within 2 weeks.

In order for the graceful Clarkia to bloom as luxuriantly and profusely as possible, young plants must be pinched. Do this at a distance from the ground of at least 10-12cm.

Also, some tall varieties of clarkia need additional supports. They are usually placed in the middle of the nest.

Attention! To extend the flowering time at home, wilted buds must be removed from the plant. They are left only if they want to collect seeds from the plant.

Seed collection

Seed ripening occurs a month after the full flowering of the plant. You can find out that the seeds are ripe by the color of the box. It takes on a brown hue. Immediately, the box must be cut off, and the seeds should be poured onto a sheet of paper and dried.

Ready-made Clarkia seeds can be sown before winter or left for storage at home until spring. Clarkia seeds may not be collected, as in most cases the plant produces self-sowing.

If you follow all the above rules and recommendations for planting and caring for such a plant as the elegant Clarkia, then you can adequately decorate your garden or plot with this bright and rather unusual plant. These bright bushes will delight you with their variety of colors and shades throughout the summer.