Our flower growers are just beginning to master the venidium, although it significantly enlivens the usual beds and front gardens. Its outlandish, sunflower-like flowers are distinguished by a wide range of colors and immediately attract attention.
Description
The homeland of venidium is South Africa, which explains its love of heat and light. There you can find both annual and perennial forms of plants, but in a temperate climate, venidium lives only one season.
The plant of the family Asteraceae has about 20 species, of which only a few have spread in our country. His root system is branched, but rather superficial. The stem and leaves are covered with short, hard villi. The color of the foliage is bright green, and the peduncles have a brown or burgundy hue. The leaves are next located almost along the entire length of the stem and have a lobed or dissected shape.
The height of the whole plant can reach 80 cm. Long peduncles are decorated with bright flowers. In structure, they look like chamomile or sunflower. Petals are very elongated, the outer edge is pointed or rounded. There are flowers of white, yellow, orange and even pink flowers. At the base of the petals, a contrasting brown, purple or burgundy ring is indicated. The core of the basket has a tubular structure and a dark color. The diameter of one flower is 10-12 cm, and in some species - 14 cm.
Flowering is long and plentiful, lasts from June to the first snow. With proper care, new peduncles quickly form in place of a wilted flower. After flowering, the fruit ripens - the naked winged achene.
Varieties
A small assortment of venidiums has so far been presented to domestic florists, but they cannot be ignored. The growth of popularity of this flower is expected, which means the appearance of new developments by breeders.
The most popular in various countries recognized magnificent venidium. Spectacular annual flowers will serve as a decoration not only in street plantings, but also on the balcony and flowerpots on the veranda. Large baskets reach a diameter of 10-12 cm and are distinguished by contrasting colors. This plant has a stable wide stalk 60-70 cm high, which is crowned by one bud. Peduncles change, gradually their number in one plant increases, and venidium turns into a lush flowering bush. Even in natural conditions, he lives only one year. This variety has several interesting varieties:
- Prince of Zulu. Straight white petals with a purple-fawn ring at the base border a brown or black core. Often at the ends of the light part of the petal, you can notice lilac dashes.
- Orange prince. Brighter fiery flowers with slightly bent back petals. This variety is more like small sunflowers.
- DwarfHybrids. It has a miniature structure, the maximum height of the bush is only 30 cm. For this reason, the plant is often used for ampelous cultivation. The flowers are orange with narrow elongated petals and a contrasting purple-brown core, or pale cream with a purple base.
Venidium marigold at home it is considered a perennial and is able to delight flower growers indoors for a long time. Saturated green foliage has a pubescence of light hairs below. Stems straight or slightly rising with a long thick peduncle. The flowers are smaller, their diameter does not exceed 4 cm. A basket with narrow straight petals is similar to a flower of marigolds or calendula, which is fully reflected in the name. Flowering begins in late June and lasts all summer.
Growing
Like other annuals, venidium is propagated by seed. In a mild climate they are sown immediately in the ground in mid-April. To do this, the seeds are laid out in well-loosened holes and slightly crushed by the ground. It is not recommended to sow too densely. When the shoots grow and get stronger, they are checked and removed by the thickest and weakest shoots in order to make room for the remaining ones. To transplant the seedling to a new place, they dig it out with a large lump of earth.
You can pre-grow seedlings in a greenhouse or greenhouse. To do this, in early March, prepare a large tank with light fertile soil. Sand and peat mixtures, as well as a purchased garden substrate, are suitable.
Since the seeds are large, they are immediately sown at a distance from each other, so that you do not have to thin out thick places. The seeds are carefully deepened into the soil by 5 mm, covered with a film and left in a warm room at a temperature of + 20 ... + 22 ° C. Shoots appear together at about 8-10 days. Another 2-3 days, the film is not completely removed, but only periodically aired. Fortified seedlings are fully opened to prevent waterlogging. It is necessary to water a little so that the top layer of the earth has time to dry. Seedlings are left in the same place until 2-4 true leaves appear.
In the middle or towards the end of May, when the risk of night frost disappears, seedlings are planted in beds where young flowers will remain. When planting, observe a distance of 25-30 cm. While the adaptation period is in progress at a new place, seedlings must be protected from direct sunlight and stagnant water in the soil. When active growth begins, the plant will cease to need these measures.
Care Features
Well-lit places with light, fertile, well-drained soil are selected for venidium. Subject to these conditions, the plant will please with plentiful and long flowering. In dry and sunny weather, flowers constantly replace each other, but a rainy and damp climate is contraindicated for them. There is not only a decrease in the number of buds, the plant can even get sick.
After rooting, venidium immediately begins to actively increase in size. To form a lush bush, you should periodically pinch the tops of the plant. Strongly branched shoots need space to allow air to circulate freely and evaporate excess moisture, so it is very important to maintain a distance between neighbors.
The plant tolerates drought well, so watering is carried out in the absence of rain for more than a week. If the bush is very tall, then in windy weather the stems can bend and break much, so they are tied up.
To form new peduncles after the basket is wilted, the old stem should be completely removed almost to ground level. Usually, in the place of each cutaway shoot, two flower buds are formed at once. That is, the bush expands exponentially after each pruning.
Accumulations of black aphids are sometimes found on young shoots, which are able to drink all the juices from the plant. If insects are found, the leaves are immediately treated with pest control.
Using
Bright flowers of venidium can be used as the main emphasis in the flower arrangement or as a tapeworm on the flowerbed. Some plants, especially dwarf varieties, are conveniently grown in flowerpots or containers on balconies or terraces. Perennial bushes are suitable for decorating the winter garden with sufficient lighting. Venidium is also popular in bouquets, it is very effective and long retains its charm in a vase.
