How to grow aquilegia from seeds at home? Perennial flower aquilegia: planting and care in open ground Alpine catchment herbaceous plants for open ground.

In autumn, aquilegia seeds are planted immediately in the soil. Pre-use mineral fertilizers located just below the seeds themselves in the soil.

In spring, the plant germinates and produces high-quality seedlings, which are subsequently planted in the desired places.

To grow aquilegia from seeds in the spring, mini-greenhouses or special boxes are used.

A mixture of sifted earth, sand and leaf humus in approximately equal quantities is taken as soil soil. Before sowing, the soil is compacted and slightly moistened.

To ensure that the seeds lie evenly, it is best to use a fine sieve. The seeds are first covered with a thin layer of soil, and then with thin paper or burlap to further prevent the soil from drying out.

The optimal temperature for rapid emergence is considered to be 16-19 °C.

During the first 3-4 days, boxes with sown aquilegia are stored in a warm place, then they are placed in the cold for the same period. It is necessary to regularly water the greenhouse, but at the same time exclude the possibility of fungus forming from excess moisture.

The first shoots appear 2-4 weeks after sowing. When 2-3 leaves appear on a sprouted stem, the plant is picked and transplanted into a separate container.

Planting in open ground takes place in August or early spring of next year. Full flowering of aquilegia can be observed in the third year of the plant’s life.

Aquilegia care

Aquilegia is an unpretentious plant and can easily develop both in the shade and in open space under the sun.

In the first case, the flowering period is longer and the flower sizes are larger. The preferred soil is slightly loose soil with moderate moisture.

Aquilegia is drought-resistant, but do not neglect regular watering, which will subsequently affect intensive flowering.

Also in the summer, flowers are fertilized with minerals - 1-2 times per season.

After flowering is complete, the stems of the aquilegia are cut off at the level of the basal leaves. This procedure will prevent unwanted seeds from entering the soil and will preserve the decorative condition of the bushes. Every year fertile soil is added to the bushes.

Aquilegia tolerates winter well and does not require additional care during frosts.

The optimal placement of flowers is 10-12 stems per 1 m² of land. When growing low-growing plant varieties, the desired distance between individual aquilegia flowers is 25 cm, in the case of tall varieties - up to 40 cm.

Aquilegia does not tolerate transplantation well and in many cases this leads to the death of the plant. If replanting is necessary, it is best to do it at the end of summer or early autumn, so that the aquilegia can adapt to a new place and take root before the onset of frost.

The procedure itself will require:

dig up an aquilegia bush along with a small amount of soil;
trim the leaves, leaving only a few young ones;
cut the flower root lengthwise so that each half has root buds;
sprinkle rhizome sections with charcoal;
bury the bush in a new place and water it intensively at the initial stage.

Old plants lose their original attractiveness over time, which is most noticeable during the flowering period, so they are replaced with new ones. The approximate period of full life of an aquilegia is 5-7 years.

Popular varieties of aquilegia

Aquilegia comes in different varieties; we will tell you about the most beautiful and famous varieties of this flower.

Ordinary

This species is found in forests, meadows and even at the foot or on the slopes of mountains. The height of the stem can reach 80 cm, while the plant has a small rhizome.

The flower, 4-5 cm in diameter, can be white, pink or purple, depending on the type of aquilegia vulgaris.

The leaves are dissected into two or three lobes. Aquilegia vulgaris is a wild plant that has healing properties, but also contains a sufficient amount of toxic substances.

Hybrid

This flower is the result of crossing the common aquilegia with other varieties from the American continent and the Northern Hemisphere.

In nature, the height of the plant varies in the range of 50-100 cm.

The leaves have an original bluish or even variegated tint. The flowers are large and can reach more than 10 cm in diameter.

The color of the petals is varied: white, golden yellow, pink lilac. Flowering period is June and July.

One of the varieties of hybrid aquilegia, “Winky,” goes well with growing in pots at home. The decorative appearance of the plant and the long flowering period contribute to this in every possible way.

Terry

A perennial herbaceous plant can reach 1 m in height. The leaves have a bluish color and an original three-lobed shape.

The flowers are large in size and distinguished by a terry bloom; in addition, terry aquilegia is endowed with a variety of shades and shapes.

Flowering period - early summer. It is found both at home and in natural conditions.

Barlow

The usual habitat of Aquilegia barlow is the mountainous and temperate massifs of the Northern Hemisphere. It has a thick and branched root that can go 50 cm into the ground and occupy about 70 cm of area.

The stem of the plant reaches 100 cm in height. Aquilegia barlow has large flowers of various colors and dissected bluish leaves. It occurs in the form of shrubs.

Read how to properly plant clematis in the spring so that they will delight you with their flowering all summer long:

Blue

It grows in Western America in meadows and forests of the subalpine zone. Aquilegia blue quite often appears on the covers of publications about ornamental plants and adorns the image of the coat of arms of Colorado.

In nature, it occurs in the form of overgrown shrubs, reaching a height of 70 cm. Decorative huge leaves have a bluish-green tint and are divided into three lobes.

The flowers can reach 10 cm in diameter and are blue or light blue in color.

Siberian

Often found in areas of Western and Eastern Siberia. There is noticeable pubescence along the erect stem.

It occurs in the form of shrubs not exceeding 70 cm in height.

The flowers are white or lilac-blue, up to 5 cm in diameter.

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Aquilegia (in Latin Aquilégia), water catcher or eagle- Ranunculaceae family. Its name comes from the Latin phrase aqua and legere, meaning water and to collect. It has gained considerable popularity in our country for its beauty and unpretentiousness.

It is a perennial plant, grows as a compact bush in open ground, reaching a height of 100-110 cm. Characterized by openwork leaves and numerous flowers of original shape and varied colors. The flowers attract special attention - they are located singly and in inflorescences, they are hollow, double, with long spurs and on a high peduncle.

Aquilegia blooming

Aquilegia begins to bloom on a personal plot in June-July and continues for 30-35 days. The flowering process itself is abundant, as people say, violent.

To prolong flowering until the first frost, the following conditions are observed:

Already faded inflorescences are regularly picked off;
carry out regular fertilizing with mineral and complex fertilizers for flowering plants.

Growing aquilegia in open ground

When is the best time to plant and replant?

Aquilegia is planted in open ground in the summer, in June. The planting site in the flowerbed should be shaded.

Aquilegia is planted before winter at the end of summer, in August, or in the spring, after wintering.

In an open area, aquilegia produces smaller flowers, and the flowering time will be reduced.

Planting aquilegia

Aquilegia is planted in late summer or late spring. Soil of any composition is suitable for aquilegia, but it is better to plant it in light and loose soil with a high humus content.

The place where it is planned to plant aquilegia in open ground is chosen in the shade, as noted earlier. The scheme for planting plants in open ground is to plant no more than 10-12 plants per 1 sq.m.

They adhere to the following scheme:

if the plant is tall, the distance between flowers is 35-45 cm;
if the flower variety is short, plant it at a distance of 20-30 cm.

And also keep in mind that the catchment tends to scatter seeds into the soil after flowering and therefore you should be prepared to deal with self-seeding and periodic thinning of bushes. On the other hand, it is convenient - when after 4-6 years the old plant gradually loses its decorative characteristics, it can be removed and the young bushes left.

Sowing seeds in open ground

The seeds are planted in open ground immediately after they have been collected, and after spring shoots appear, they are transplanted to a permanent place in the flowerbed. If sowing of seeds is postponed until spring, they are germinated into seedlings in a substrate.

To prepare the mixture use:

humus;
sand;
foliage;
rotted earth.

Everything is taken in equal parts.

Seeds planted in open ground are sprinkled with a layer of soil no more than 3 mm and covered with polyethylene to create a greenhouse effect.

As it dries, spray it with a spray bottle. The first shoots show themselves 1-2 weeks after sowing, and after the first 2 true leaves appear, they are planted.

How to grow more crops?

Any gardener and summer resident is pleased to receive a large harvest with large fruits. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to obtain the desired result.

Plants often lack nutrition and useful minerals

It has the following properties:

Allows increase productivity by 50% in just a few weeks of use.
You can get a good one harvest even on low-fertility soils and in unfavorable climatic conditions
Absolutely safe

How to care for aquilegia?

Adult aquilegia grows well in a shaded area in any soil. Caring for a flower does not require much effort. Care includes watering, weeding, fertilizing and fertilizing, as well as pruning the bush.

Weeding and loosening the soil

Aquilegia has a developed root system and therefore regular loosening will ensure full growth and development, as well as air access.

Loosening is carried out regularly, at intervals of once every 2 weeks and at the same time deepen the bayonet of the shovel no more than 5-7 cm deep.
For full growth Regular weeding of the garden plot is also important - weeds should be removed so that they do not choke out the eagle.
To improve breathability and nutritional characteristics soil composition, weed control - mulching is carried out. For this purpose, sawdust or pine/spruce needles are used as mulch.
In the fall they bring in fertilizer and humus under the plant, dig it up, which will provide food for the winter.

Watering and fertilizing

Aquilegia prefers constantly moist places of growth. and regular and abundant watering is important to her.

But due to the fact that the root system is quite strong and deep, the flower can withstand prolonged drought, although this will negatively affect its decorative characteristics. This is especially true for varietal types of aquilegia.

Many years of growth and flowering in one place will constantly deplete the soil and that is why it is so important to regularly fertilize the plant. For bright and long-lasting flowering, the right fertilizer is selected.

Fertilizing is applied 3 times per season:

The first is carried out before flowering begins, choosing organic fertilizers.
The second feeding is carried out when the buds have blossomed - this time a solution of urea or nitrophoska is used.
The third feeding is carried out when the plant has finished flowering and is preparing for the dormant period and wintering - choose one that contains a large percentage of calcium.

Trimming

Trimming a columbine bush is simple—to do this, just remove the flowering stem, on which the inflorescences have already faded. Manipulations are carried out as low as possible to the basal leaves. This will preserve the decorative appearance of the bush and prevent the seeds from sifting into the ground and multiplying by self-sowing.

In mid-summer, when after pruning only a rosette of leaves remains, without a peduncle, the general condition of the plant is observed. At the first manifestations of the disease, plants carry out preventive pruning of the affected branch or the entire plant.

Before preparing for winter, at the end of September - beginning of October, the catchment area is carefully inspected and the above-ground green part is completely pruned, almost to the root. Next, shelter is provided for the winter.

Care during flowering

Care after flowering consists of removing shoots, thereby preserving its decorative characteristics.

The beginning of abundant flowering varies among all varieties, most often at the beginning of June. Flowering lasts no more than 7-10 days.

Adding additional fertilizing will allow you to enjoy the flowering process before the first autumn frosts. For this purpose, phosphorus-potassium compounds are added, which promotes the growth and development of a larger flower with a bright color.

Aquilegia propagation

Propagation by seeds

For the most part, gardeners grow aquilegia with seeds in open ground - collecting them from a bush is not difficult at all. To grow aquilegia from seeds, just cut the pods and dry them on a piece of paper or fabric.

When the boxes open, the seeds are collected, dried and then sown as seedlings or directly in open ground. Shelf life of seeds when properly stored in canvas or paper bags is 5 years.

Growing seedlings

The process of sowing seeds for seedlings in containers is simple:

The optimal density of planting seedlings at a dacha in open ground for tall varieties is no more than 8-10 bushes per square meter, for low-growing varieties - 10-12 pcs.

Aquilegia cuttings

Planting aquilegia with cuttings in open ground is much simpler and easier than growing seedlings and fiddling with seeds.

Rules for planting cuttings:

In the spring months, when the foliage has not yet blossomed on the bush, young shoots are cut off at the heel and the lower end is treated with a growth stimulator.
After this, they are planted in the ground or in a flowerpot, covered with film.
The soil chosen is nutritious and loose, preferably river sand with the addition of humus.
Choose a shaded place for the cutting in open ground, watering as the soil dries, the main thing is not to raise the shelter.
The rooting itself takes about a month - once it has taken root, it is planted in a permanent place.

Dividing an adult bush

This method is applied only to an adult plant, after 3 years of growth.. Propagation by dividing rhizomes is done in the fall, before the first frost - the main thing is that the plant has time to take root and take root in a new place.

The process of dividing rhizomes is as follows:

the bush is dug up;
cut into pieces with a knife;
the cut area is sprinkled with activated carbon;
planted in a new place;
water the bush abundantly;
mulch the ground around it.

Stories from our readers!
“I am a summer resident with many years of experience, and I started using this fertilizer only last year. I tested it on the most capricious vegetable in my garden - tomatoes. The bushes grew and bloomed together, they yielded more than usual. And they did not suffer from late blight, this is the main thing.

Fertilizer really gives more intensive growth to garden plants, and they bear fruit much better. Nowadays you can’t grow a normal harvest without fertilizer, and this fertilizing increases the amount of vegetables, so I’m very pleased with the result.”

Pests and diseases

Aquilegia is very sensitive to many diseases.

Among them are:

Gray rot– it is immediately removed from the bush and the affected parts are burned. At the moment, there are few effective drugs in the fight against rot.
Orlik is often affected by rust– the greenery is covered with red spots. In this case, treat the leaves with a solution of copper sulfate and soap.
Powdery mildew is another disease that attacks the watershed, showing itself as a whitish coating of fungus on the stems and foliage. It is enough to treat with a sulfur solution, as well as with a special garden green soap.

Of the harmful insects, aquilegia in open ground is most often affected by:

nematodes;
scoop.

You can fight insects with a solution of soap, sulfur sulfate, or chemicals sold in specialized stores.

Preparing for winter

Autumn procedures:

After flowering and entering the dormant stage, the plant is provided with complete rest.
Inspect and trim down to the outlet itself.
At the same time, seeds are collected.
If you plan to replant a flower, then divide the bush.

Particular attention is paid to the root system - by 4-5 years, roots begin to appear above the surface of the earth. Therefore, after trimming the above-ground part, the roots are covered and the ground around is covered with mulch. To do this, use a mixture of peat and humus, mixing everything with manure - this additionally provides food for the eaglet for the winter and shelter for the root system.

Aquilegia is a wonderful neighbor to any plants.

To add contrast to the flowerbed, the composition is complemented with tall lupine candles, which will harmoniously fit into the design of the flowerbed with aquilegia.

Combines harmoniously with plants:

poppies;
small cloves;
saxifrage.

When drawing up landscape design, take into account that:

Low-growing varieties of aquilegia are suitable for alpine hills.
Medium-sized varieties - for decorating paths, as a beautiful border plant.

The water collector requires virtually no attention and with minimal effort will delight you with a beautiful view.

Photo gallery: examples of planting aquilegia in the garden

Varieties of aquilegia

Alpine– low varieties, perennial. The flowers are large, blue in color, and the spurs are short. The flowering period of the species lasts from the end of June and the first ten days of July.
Fan-shaped– a feature of the species is trifoliate leaves and long petioles. The spurs are rounded and most often the flowers are marked with bluish-purple hues, edged with fringe. The variety grows well and easily tolerates cold and frost.
Ordinary– frost-resistant, classified as European. A distinctive feature is the stem, reaching a length of 40-75 cm. The flowers are large, of different colors, double and simple, with and without spurs.
Golden-flowered– characterized by a pronounced golden-yellow color of the flower with long and sharp spurs. The species prefers open areas filled with sun. Resistant to frost and drought. Occupies a leading position in landscape design.
Hybrid- obtained by crossing Aquilegia vulgaris and North American. The varieties are distinguished by a high stem, reaching a height of 50 to 100 cm, as well as rather large flowers - their diameter reaches 9-10 cm, simple and double.
Canadian– grows well in the shade. A moisture-loving variety that came from North America. , straight red spurs.
Dark- a European variety, quite popular in site design. The flowers are dark purple. Plant height - 30 - 60 cm.
Olympic– perennial, 30–60 cm high, with large flowers 10 cm in diameter, painted in soft pink shades.
- a fairly unpretentious plant, however, it does not tolerate severe cold, withstanding them no lower than minus 10-12 degrees of cold. The variety is classified in the North American varietal group and is noted for the red-yellow color of the flowers.
- a varietal species, quite tall, reaching a height of 60-80 cm, while having medium-sized flowers. The flowers do not exceed 4-5 cm in diameter and are distinctly double. The flower petals are pointed at the ends, the inflorescence is devoid of spurs.

In addition to the described varieties and species, the database of selectors includes bicolor and ferruginous types of aquilegia, as well as Siberian and blue varieties, green-flowered. Today, many unique and beautiful varieties have been developed that will not leave any gardener indifferent.

Photo gallery: variety of varieties and types of catchment

Alpine

Fan-shaped

Golden-flowered

Hybrid

Canadian

Dark

Olympic

Common columbine is a perennial unpretentious herbaceous plant, a species of the genus Columbine of the Ranunculaceae family. Other names are Orlik or Aquilegia vulgaris. In England and America, this flower is called differently - “Columbine”. Under natural conditions it grows in the middle and southern regions of Europe and Scandinavia. Distributed in North America. On the territory of Russia it is found in the European part and Western Siberia. The plant is valued for its unusual appearance of flowers, wide range of shades and frost resistance.

Description

Aquilegia is a flower with a discreet, sophisticated charm. It has an erect stem covered with leaves. The root system is well developed, taprooted. The leaves are trifoliate and green-gray in color. The plant can reach a height of 30–100 cm. The flowers are solitary, drooping, located on the tops of tall, strong peduncles in the form of loose inflorescences. The flowers of the plant, depending on the type and variety, are single, semi-double or double. They can be pink in color; purple; blue; red with a white or yellow center. Between the sepals of the flowers there are narrow funnel-shaped petals ending in hollow spurs that easily retain water. In most species of aquilegia, the flowers are equipped with spurs of varying lengths. Flowering time: June-July.

Species

There are about 100 species of aquilegia. The most beautiful are modern hybrids.

The following are particularly well known and widespread:

Canadian watershed. The color of the petals is red-yellow. The stem reaches a height of 25 cm.

Alpine catchment. This is a mountain plant that is protected in several countries. The color of the petals is blue.

The catchment is blue. A huge number of varieties of this species have been bred. Mainly grows in the mountains of America.

Olympic watershed. The flowers are quite large. The petals may be pink or blue with white edges.

The catchment area is ordinary. Widely distributed in Europe, America and Scandinavia. The flowers are small, about 4 cm in diameter. The color of the petals can be pink, red, blue, and rarely white.

Place of cultivation

Aquilegia grows well both in the sun and in partial shade, in any soil areas fertilized with rotted compost. The soil should be loose and light. In partial shade, aquilegia blooms longer than in sunny places.

Landing

Planting is carried out by sowing seeds in early spring or early autumn in open ground. The friendly shoots that have appeared are planted in the right places. In the spring, in March, seeds can be sown to obtain seedlings. For this purpose, mini-greenhouses are arranged. The seeds are evenly applied to the surface of the moistened soil and lightly sprinkled with soil. Cover with film and place in a warm place for germination. When 2-3 true leaves appear, the seedlings are planted in separate containers.

Seedlings are planted in the flower garden in May. Before planting in open ground, the soil must be dug up and fertilizer (compost) applied. The distance between neighboring plants is maintained at 25 - 40 cm (depending on the type or variety). After planting, the soil must be watered. At first, the seedlings are shaded from the sun and protected from spring frosts. Young plants begin to bloom the next year.

Care

Aquilegia is a plant for lazy people, because it does not require much attention.

Care measures are as follows:

Loosening the soil;
Weeding;
Watering the plant.

Many people, judging by the name of this plant “WATERSHED”, mistakenly think that it requires a lot of water, but this is not so. This flower has a fairly powerful root system and is therefore drought-resistant. Of course, periodic watering is necessary, especially if you combine this process with the application of mineral or organic fertilizers.

After watering or rain, it is advisable to loosen the soil so that a so-called crust does not form, which prevents the penetration of air to the roots. Every year you need to add fertile soil under the bush.

After the plant has finished blooming, the flowers should be cut down to the level of the rosette of leaves.

It is not recommended to grow Aquilegia in one place for more than 5–6 years. The bush needs to be replanted or replaced with a young plant.

Reproduction

Aquilegia reproduces in several ways:

Seeds;
Cuttings;
Dividing the bush.

The latter option is used quite rarely, but that’s all, because the root system of this plant lies very deep and the roots do not tolerate this procedure well. They resort to dividing the bush if it is necessary to preserve a valuable form or variety of the plant. This should be done in early spring or early autumn. The flower, at this moment, must be more than 3 years old. You should dig very carefully, without damaging the small roots. Then they need to be washed from the soil, shoots cut off at a height of 5 - 7 cm, as well as leaves, leaving only the youngest (2 -3). Next, cut the tap root equally, but so that each half has 2 buds and several small roots. The cut area must be sprinkled with crushed coal. Plant plots in boxes. Be prepared for the separated flowers to hurt for a long time.

The easiest way is cuttings. In early spring, before the leaves have time to bloom, the young shoot is cut out with a “heel”, the lower end must be treated with a biostimulating preparation and planted in the ground under a plastic bottle. When watering, the cover cannot be removed. It can be removed only after 10 days. Rooting takes about a month, after which the cutting can be planted in a permanent place.

Aquilegia produces a large number of seeds and easily propagates by self-sowing.

To limit the spread of seeds throughout the area, only a few fruits are left after flowering, and the rest are cut off. When the fruits dry out and open slightly, they are cut off and dried. Seeds retain their viability for 2-3 years. They are sown in April, and the first shoots appear within a month. Germination can be increased using stratification. To begin with, the seeds are kept on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for about 2 months. Next, use sandpaper to damage the shell of the seed, but it is important not to damage the core. And only then are they planted in the ground.

Pests and diseases

The watershed is not often susceptible to diseases. In bad and unstable weather, powdery mildew may appear on the leaves. The leaves become brown, gradually curl and fall off. You can fight this disease by spraying the plant with a urea solution or Topaz.

There are also fatal diseases:

Rot;
Spotting;
Mosaic.

In this case, the plant is dug up, burned, and the place is disinfected.

Of the pests of Aquilegia, the most annoying are caterpillars, which can destroy young shoots and buds in a short time. Aphids may also attack.

Chemicals help prevent pest damage.

Medicinal properties

Aquilegia has the following medicinal effects:

Antiseptic;
Calming;
Choleretic;
Laxative.

Its flowers contain vitamin C, and its seeds contain acids and oils.

The plant juice, its green and flowering parts are used for medicinal purposes. The plant is used fresh or its dry raw materials. To obtain it, the plant is cut at a distance of 10 cm from the ground, crushed and dried on a tray in a dark place.

Do not forget that this plant is poisonous and should be used very carefully for medicinal purposes.

Used to treat the following diseases and conditions:

Kidney stone formation;
Dropsy;
Cough;
Jaundice;
Pneumonia;
Eye diseases;
Women's diseases;
Oncology.

When preparing decoctions or infusions, the dosage must be observed, otherwise poisoning may occur. Before use, you should consult a specialist.

Application in landscape design

Aquilegia should be placed on a garden plot depending on its height.

Tall species are placed in the shade of trees. In group plantings, it is better to plant it along the edges. When constructing an alpine slide, lower varieties are perfect. Aquilegia looks good with ferns, bluebells, irises and ornamental grasses.

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Meat with mushrooms in a frying pan is an inexpensive hot dish that is suitable for a regular lunch and for a holiday menu. Pork will cook quickly, veal and chicken too, so this is the preferred meat for the recipe. Mushrooms - fresh champignons, in my opinion, are the best choice for homemade stew. Forest gold - boletus, boletus and other delicacies are best prepared for the winter. Boiled rice or mashed potatoes are ideal as a side dish.

I love ornamental shrubs, especially unpretentious ones and with interesting, non-trivial foliage colors. I have various Japanese spirea, Thunberg barberries, black elderberry... And there is one special shrub, which I will tell you about in this article - viburnum leaf. To fulfill my dream of a low-maintenance garden, it is perhaps ideal. At the same time, it is capable of greatly diversifying the picture in the garden, from spring to autumn.

Aquilegia or columbine is a beautiful, low-maintenance plant that is used to decorate the local area. He has a special charm. The appearance and structure of aquilegia flowers are very unusual; they look like a marvelous orchid from the tropics.

The catchment is quite unique. There are more than 120 varieties of it. This ornamental plant is also called dove. With proper care, your aquilegia will bring you joy every day. But in our country it is possible to grow only watershed hybrids.

Where is the best place to plant aquilegia?

Aquilegia prefers a shaded place, but this does not mean that it cannot grow in a well-lit area. A plant growing in a sunny location will not look as gorgeous and its flowers will be much smaller.

The catchment is unpretentious to the soil. It prefers light, loose soil with moderate moisture. It is advisable to fertilize it with humus or compost.

How to care for your watershed

It is necessary to systematically loosen and weed the soil. We must remember about watering. But the common aquilegia is unpretentious to water and can withstand dry conditions perfectly.

Feeding will not be superfluous; it should be carried out 1-2 times a year. Organic or mineral fertilizers can be used as fertilizing.

Growing a watershed in one area for more than 5 years is not recommended. After all, this can contribute to the formation of hybrids and reduce the decorative appearance of the flower. To prevent this situation after the aquilegia has flowered, you need to remove the flower stalks. The resulting seeds should be planted at a distance.

For earlier flowering it is necessary to use forcing. This agrotechnical technique is as follows: with the onset of autumn, it is necessary to transplant the rhizomes of aquilegia into ordinary pots or special flower containers.

Next, they must be placed in a dark room and left there until cold weather sets in. For the winter, the containers must be moved to a cold place. This could be a basement or a cold greenhouse. The plants should remain there until the end of January.

Then they should be placed in a warm, well-lit place. For growth and formation of flower stems, it is necessary to maintain 12-16 ° C. If all rules are followed, the plant will bloom in early April.

How to fertilize aquilegia

In summer, the catchment area must be fed with a solution of manure. You can also use superphosphate 25 g and potassium salt 8-13 g. To fertilize with this composition, you must observe the proportion: 1 bucket of fertilizer per 1 m².

How to propagate a catchment

Aquilegia can reproduce in the following ways:

Seeds. They are best planted immediately after picking, in the fall. Such sowing promotes friendly and active shoots. You can also sow the seeds in spring. To do this, it is better to freeze them slightly.

The first shoots will appear in a month. The optimal temperature for germination is no more than 18° C. Growing aquilegia from seeds is a fairly popular method.

Seedlings. The essence is the same as the first method. But it will take a little more time. But in the end you will get truly beautiful flowers. Seeds must be planted in specially prepared soil, for which soil, sand, and humus are used in proportions of 1: 1: 1.

First of all, the soil must be loosened, leveled, then watered and lightly compacted. You need to scatter the seeds on top and lightly cover them with soil using a strainer. It is best to do this in early spring.

The first shoots will appear in 14 days. The temperature should not be lower than 15-19° C. At the beginning, you should try not to over-moisten the soil. Excessive humidity can cause illness.

After a month, the seedlings should be moved to other boxes. After another 30 days it can be planted in open ground. Flowers can be used both this year and the next.

Cuttings. The columbine can be propagated by cuttings. A cutting is taken from the mother plant and planted in river sand to form roots. It is best to make a small greenhouse. You can also cover the flowers with film. We need to create penumbra.

Cuttings need regular sprinkling with water. Before planting, they must be treated with a growth-stimulating drug.

By dividing the bush. This method is used infrequently, since aquilegia is characterized by a certain fragility and deeply located roots. The method should be used in August or March, April.

The plant must be dug up, most of the leaves cut off, and the roots thoroughly washed. Next, leave several seven-centimeter cuttings and divide the tap root, making sure that each part contains small roots and buds.

Then plant them in loose, fertile soil. It is also necessary to observe regular watering.

Aquilegia is planted on the basis that there are 10 - 12 bushes per 1 m². The distance between plants should not be less than 30 cm. When planting, you need to take into account the age and variety of aquilegia.

What is wrong with the catchment? What insects can harm him?

The catchment is quite sensitive to the effects of some insects and diseases. It can be harmed by cutworms, leaf miners, spider mites, nematodes, aphids, gray mold, various types of spotting, powdery and rusty mildew. The latter are the most common diseases of aquilegia.

Having discovered the first signs of the disease, such as browning of leaves and white spots, the catchment must be treated with sulfur-containing products, which can be purchased at any flower shop.