What you need to know about planting and caring for Argirantemum?

Why is planting argyranthemum becoming an annual ritual for flower growers? And what is more beautiful than an armful of the most beautiful roses? Only a huge bouquet of large white, pink, apricot daisies. I would like to contemplate such a miracle as long as possible, but the life of cut flowers is short ... Would be, but with the advent of argiranthemum, live chamomile bouquets adorn the flower beds and balconies of flower lovers.

Flower with character

Planting and caring for the bush have features, but in general, argirantemum is not capricious. Difficulties may arise at the first stage - when determining the place of residence. Argiranthemum is a guest from the tropics, but not those hot and humid ones, but from the Canary Islands. It is always warm there, only from time to time a cool fresh wind blows from the ocean. In our latitudes, it is not possible to recreate such a climate, only to bring it as close as possible to the original.

Advice! When choosing a landing site, you should pay attention to areas with diffused lighting. Experienced gardeners have adapted to growing lush bushes under awnings, the material of which allows a certain amount of sunlight to pass through.

At first, argiranthemum was attributed to the daisy family, but, after the discovery of the twentieth species, it was isolated as a separate species. The breeders also tried - they bred many hybrids. Instances of varieties even differ in the appearance of the leaves: some have small, pubescent, silvery leaves, while others sport a basal rosette of large green leaves.

The flowers of the shrub are large, but not bright, but delicate with a slight nacreous tint. Depending on the variety, you can choose the color palette of the chamomile bouquet in advance:

• Angelic White is famous for its huge, snow-white, fragile flowers.
• Dark blue daisy? It happens with the famous Dana variety.
• The Flamingo variety is prized by gardeners for the large pink flowers that sprinkle the bush from June to October.
• "LaRita" - the variety is known for its peach color palette of opening buds.

Depending on the variety, argiranthemum has a height of 30 cm and more. There are meter-long giants in flower beds. Miniature specimens are perfect for flowerpots, and tall plants will adorn any garden. Vases with compact bushes are often displayed at the entrance to the house, by the swing or near the pool.

Growing secrets

Argiranthemum grows in its native spaces as a perennial plant, in our country it is grown only as an annual. It will not tolerate even light frosts, therefore, sowing seeds into the ground is not practiced. You can propagate a bush in the following ways:

• Planting seeds in seedling boxes under the film. Sowing work begins in mid-March, then the seedlings are grown in separate pots. Caring for them consists in moderate watering and lighting with lamps. The end of May, the beginning of June is the time of disembarkation on the flower beds.
• Propagation by cuttings. In the fall, an adult plant is dug up and placed for the winter at a temperature of 14-16 ° C with backlight. Watered sparsely, but drying out is not allowed. Such care will allow the argiranthemum to overwinter without loss. The beginning of April is the optimal period for grafting. Cut 6 cm cuttings with a knife at an oblique angle and root in the ground.

For a bush, soils with PH values ​​of 4.5-5.5 are suitable, that is, slightly acidic and neutral. With stagnation of moisture in the root system, argiranthemum will die from decay. Therefore, swampy places are not suitable for planting, they can only be grown in flowerpots. The soil should be loose and nutritious.

Advice! In order not to worry about proper watering, you can plant with the introduction of drainage material into the ground, which does not have the ability to leach the soil.

Experienced gardeners grow chamomile trees on their plots. To do this, during the growth process, the growing shoots are cut, except for the central one. In an almost adult plant, the apical bud is removed and it begins to form a crown. Breeders help the bush by regularly pinching the twigs. Anyone who has ever seen such a flowering tree will certainly grow the same one for himself.

Young plants are planted in flower beds, trying not to damage the roots. To prevent the stems from rotting, the seedlings should be in the soil at the same depth as they were in temporary containers. Caring for argirantemum in flowerpots is easier, since they do not require transplanting. Experts advise to harden the seedlings from the beginning of May, taking them out into the open air.

How to care for a chamomile bush?

Watering Argirantemum is best in the evening after sunset. Watering must be regulated in accordance with the air temperature - heat means more soil moisture. The soil should always be moistened, but excessive moisture will destroy the flower. However, like the drying out of the soil.

Advice! It is especially dangerous to fill plants in flowerpots. Experienced growers advise focusing on the topsoil. If the first two centimeters of the earth are dry, then it's time to water the argyranthemum.

In gratitude for proper care, he will thank the owner with abundant flowering. By investing all the forces in the formation of buds, argiranthemum can be exhausted and die. Regular fertilization will help to avoid this, which depends on the method of planting:

• Plants in flowerpots need weekly fertilizing with complex or mineral fertilizers.
• Bushes in the open field require five dressings for the entire growing cycle.

Advice! Do not overuse organic matter. The bush will begin to powerfully build up its green mass to the detriment of flowering.

The overseas guest has few pests. To prevent their invasion, insecticide spraying is used. But the treatment with fungicides will help against the more common misfortune - powdery mildew. The first sign is the rapid wilting of mature plants. Regular pruning of the bushes will also serve as a good prevention against this disease.

Reproduction of a flower requires the winter preservation of one or more specimens and their care. But gardeners can no longer imagine their flower beds without him. Landscape designers grow many miniature trees and decorate public gardens. And how great it is to do it in your own garden.

Argiranthemum is so self-sufficient that the flower garden will look luxurious without other plants. Planting it and waiting for the first buds is always exciting for beginners. Experienced flower breeders are more concerned about the availability of a new variety in the store. Or take it out yourself.