The birthplace of knifophia is sunny Africa. It can become a unique instance in the garden, so this flower is used in landscaping. It is grown both as a single and in combination with other flowers. The article below describes what knifophia looks like, planting and caring for the flower in the open ground.
Botanical Description
Kniphofia flower (Kniphofia) is a perennial flower. It belongs to the Asphodelovs subfamily, the Xantorrevs family. Has evergreen dense leaves, painted in gray-green color. The bush forms a basal rosette.
What does it look like
Briefly about the history of the appearance
The plant knizofiya begins its history from the 18th century. He was named after the scientist from Germany E.I. Kniphof. He worked on plants and became the one who first described the plant knizofiya.
Important! This flower has other names: trioma, notosceptrum, kniphofia.
Features
The uniqueness of inflorescences is their ability to change color. First, the buds have a red tint, then they turn orange, and then they acquire a bright yellow color.
Description of species
To date, 75 varieties of knizofia are known. Many of them grow exclusively in hot African countries. In the environment of the Middle Strip, it is possible to grow only some of them.
Knifofia Tukka
Knifofiya Tukka is a stunted species. The inflorescence can grow up to 15 cm, and the plant reaches a length of 80 cm. This is the most frost-resistant species that tolerates temperature extremes. It can be grown in a pot at home.
View of Tukka
The most common varieties of this species are:
- knifofiya Alkazar. Height 80 cm, orange blossom;
- Fleming Torch. It is a hybrid and stands out among others for its small size. It grows to 65 cm.
Knifofiya berry
It is a tall species. Peduncles can reach up to 2 m, and inflorescences up to 25 cm. Berry knifofiya also called Tritoma.
Important! This species has been cultivated since the beginning of the 19th century.
Grandiflora
The most popular varieties of berry knifofiya:
- Popsicle. Below are bright yellow inflorescences, and above are coral;
- Martian. Grows to 1.5 m. Flowers can be pink or red. It is a heat-loving variety, in connection with which it must be planted in lighted places;
- Makowena. It grows to medium size. Flowers reach 10-15 cm, the buds are orange in color with a golden tint. Tolerates high humidity.
Hybrid Knifophia
Hybrid knifofiya - an artificially bred plant based on a berry species.
The most popular varieties of the species:
- Cobra. Has a late flowering period. Buds begin to bloom only in August. Flowering occurs before the first frost;
- Rocket. It is an exotic variety. It is rarely grown in the garden. The bush reaches up to 50 cm. The flowers are small red. After planting in open ground, it begins to bloom after 1-2 months;
- Cardinal. This variety is tall, reaching up to 1.5 m. The flowers are bright red.
Other popular varieties of the flower in question include:
- Thomson's book. The plant can reach 3 m;
- Dr. Kerr. It has a meter length, and inflorescences are 25-30 cm. Lemon-colored petals;
- Orange Beauty. It grows up to 2 m. The leaves are stretched to a length of 50 cm.
How to care
Knifofiya care and cultivation requires quite difficult, as it has African roots. For normal development, the flower needs sun throughout the day. It does not tolerate shade and drafts, as well as excessive humidity.
Watering
Knifofiya is a plant resistant to aridity, therefore, it does not need abundant watering.
Spraying
It is not necessary to spray the plant, as it does not like excessive moisture.
Humidity
Since knifofiya is very gentle to excessive humidity, it is better to plant it on a hill and where there is a good drainage system.
Priming
Sandy soil is suitable for the crop in question. It must be well loosened and fertilized. At the bottom of the hole where the plant is planned to be planted, lay out a drainage layer, and then fill it with fertile soil.
Important! Near planting, it is better to lay out stones of various sizes. This will allow the soil to warm up well.
Top dressing
It is necessary to add dressing under the bush of knifofiya, guided by the following rules:
- when the first leaves hatch, fertilizer containing nitrogen is required;
- after a certain period of time, fertilizing with organic fertilizers is carried out: humus, compost, peat;
- after flowering is completed, potassium or ash is added. This will allow the plant to tolerate frosts favorably.
Winter Care Features
Depending on the climatic region, wintering of knizofia occurs by various methods:
- in the southern parts of the country. The plant is not dug up, but they produce shelter. When autumn comes, the leaves are tied so that moisture does not get inside. The bushes are sprinkled with leaves or covered with a film. In this state, the flower will be able to transfer the temperature to -15 ° C;
- in the northern regions. In open land, a flower is not left. They dig it out and transplant it into a container. It should have a drainage layer and nutrient earth. In this state, knizofia is able to winter at a temperature not lower than 8 ° C.
When and how it blooms
Peduncle is large. When knifofiya blooms: from July to September. The flower stalk has a sultanate inflorescence. It is also called spiky in a different way. Flowers bloom gradually.
Important! In some varieties, the beginning of flowering occurs from the upper flowers, and in some from the lower. Each inflorescence is like a bell.
Knifofiya: growing from seeds at home
Knifofiya is propagated both by seeds and by the vegetative method. Growing from seeds at home is a difficult process, as it has many disadvantages:
- is more labor intensive;
- in the northern and middle regions there is not enough daylight to grow.
Only seeds purchased at the store are used. They are sown in the second half of March. The soil should have good moisture conductivity, be loose and nutritious. The container is covered with a film for 2-3 weeks. Occasionally, a film needs to be removed to ventilate and moisten the soil. Gradually, after the first sprouts have sprouted, the plant is accustomed to room temperature. When two leaves are formed, the plant is planted in different containers. Landing is carried out in July. Knifofiya will begin to bloom in the third year.
Growing seedlings
Vegetative way
When a plant turns three years old, it forms daughter sockets. They can be removed to propagate the plant. In early May, these outlets are separated with a sharp knife. The place of cut is well dried and processed with charcoal. For daughter parts, it is required to prepare the wells in advance. They must be filled with nutritious soil. Separated plants are transplanted several hours after separation. First, abundant watering of the plant is carried out, and then, as it grows, 1-2 times a week.
Note! The daughter flower will bloom next year.
Possible problems
Some dangerous diseases and pests can ruin the book.
- Of the pests, leaf-eating insects (aphids, spider mites) are common. They appear on seedlings. In order to get rid of them, it is necessary to spray with insecticidal agents.
- Of diseases, rot is common. It develops on the roots. The reason for its appearance is waterlogging of the soil. First, the roots are treated with fungicide. If this does not work, then the diseased bushes are eliminated to prevent the further spread of the disease.
Planting and caring for knifofiya is a complex procedure. This is due to the fact that the plant came from Africa. It requires a lot of sun and heat. The most dangerous for him is excessive moisture, which can provoke the appearance of the disease. In any case, those who ventured to grow this miracle plant will appreciate their unusual flowering.
