Freesia flower - cultivation and care in the garden
Content:
Freesia or freesia (freesia) is a herbaceous perennial plant of the iris family. Her wild ancestors grow in South Africa, on the territory of the Cape region. At home, the flower forms thickets on moist tropical soils among shrubs. Thanks to the descriptions of the German doctor Friedrich Vries in the 19th century, the flower became known in Europe, and the plant was named in his honor.
Description of the plant
Freesia is a flower that smells great and is used to create elite perfumery. Depending on the variety, it can smell like woody freshness, lily of the valley, peony or citrus notes. The "porcelain" design of the petals gives the flower an amazing tenderness. Most likely, it was the shape that inspired the creators of the lamps to give their brand the name "Freesia Light".
What is a plant
Freesia flowers
The flowers of this African beauty are narrow-funnel-shaped, with smooth or double petals. Their color can be lilac, yellow, orange. Despite the significant number of varieties, there are characteristics common to all of them:
- inflorescences are one-sided, slightly widened at the base;
- leaves are belt-like, coming from the root;
- stem from 20 cm to 1 meter;
- smooth, branched stem;
- the fruit is a box.
In a bouquet, freesia flowers look wonderful for 10 days, making the plant very popular with flower growers as a cut crop. White freesia is used in wedding floristry. Brides often include her in a floral arrangement of a wedding ceremony.
Of the 20 known types of freesias for breeding, only three are relevant:
- Frezia Armstrong. Shoot height about 80 cm. Bell-shaped flowers of various shades: red, scarlet; collected in 3-5 pieces. Blooms from May to June;
- Freesia Broken. Shoots up to 40 cm, each with 3-4 inflorescences, blooms in spring. The petals are white or orange;
- Hybrid freesia. It is a favorite of florists. Its bush is up to 1 m tall and branched. She is a cross between Armstrong's freesia and a broken one. Inflorescence of large, fragrant flowers of purple, crimson, yellow flowers.
All three varieties have regular and terry representatives. The former have one row of petals, while the terry freesia has 2 or more rows. Freesia mix is often found on sale - this is a mixture of varieties, the so-called mix.
The following varieties of freesias are popular with florists:
| Variety | Description |
| Cardinal | The flowers are red, not double |
| Ballerina | White freesias Ballerina have a beige base and corrugated petals |
| Apollo | Petals are snow-white with a yellow throat |
| Pimperina | Low peduncles 20-25 cm, in the inflorescence 6 flowers of dark red and yellow flowers, the aroma is not expressed |
| Freesia Double White | Shoots up to 30 cm in height, double petals, white |
| Helsinki | Perianth purple with a violet tinge and yellow markings below the petal, center with purple strokes |
| Stockholm | Pink brick petals with terracotta mark on the underside, late blooms |
| Red Lion | The flowers are bright scarlet with a deep-colored throat |
| Orange Favorite | Bright orange flowers with a richer throat |
| White Swan | White flowers with creamy, purple lines |
Growing Freesia from seeds
Freesia seeds are angularly rounded, dark brown. They ripen in 2-3 pieces in one box (pod). They retain the ability to germinate for up to 3 years.
How to grow from seed
Before planting, the seeds are immersed in a rich pink manganese solution and laid out to dry on an ironed napkin. Then they are soaked for 24 hours in clean boiled water at a temperature of 18 ° C and sown 0.6-1 cm deep into the soil. For growing, it is better to use a greenhouse covered with polyethylene or film. The humidity inside should be 60-70%, and the temperature should be about 22 ° C. Jumps in these indicators are undesirable. Airing should be carried out twice a day by spraying with boiled water. The box is placed in a humid place where twilight reigns. Shoots should appear 10 days after planting.
Planting on the ground
Planting shoots in pots is carried out after the appearance of two leaves, the distance between them should be maintained at least 50 mm. With the onset of heat, they are transferred to open ground. In a residential building, sowing is carried out in March. In a year, by International Women's Day, the plant should bloom.
When growing seedlings, you should follow some rules:
- the emergence of shoots should be accompanied by a decrease in the temperature for the plant to 8-10 ° C;
- plants are light-requiring, and with a decrease in daylight hours, additional lighting is required up to 12 hours / day;
- there should be no direct sunlight;
- intensive watering is recommended;
- the plant does not like drafts.
Landing in open ground
Freesia is characterized by frost resistance. Even 10 years ago, it was grown only in greenhouses, now it is cultivated in gardens, even in the north-west of Russia. Planting freesia and outdoor care are quite specific:
- you need to monitor the temperature;
- the flow of light rays should be controlled;
- competent watering is important.
To admire the flowers in the flowerbed at the end of summer, you need to plant the tubers of the plant in peat cups in early April. Before that, the bulbs are soaked for half an hour in 0.2% solution of the foundation, planted 4-6 cm deep. They should be germinated for a while on a well-lit balcony. They are planted outside the premises not earlier than May, when the air temperature warms up to 10 ° C.
Planting dates
Freesias are placed along the trench at a distance of 6 cm from each other, mulched with neutralized peat to retain moisture. Experienced florists introduce a 1: 1 mixture of sand and crushed coal into the planting holes for better growth. It is advisable to fertilize the plant once every two weeks with superphosphate (30 g per bucket of water).
Freesia is a plant that does not tolerate direct sunlight, which can cause burns. Weak stems of young shoots need to be propped up, for which a net is used. Planting plants at different times will ensure flowering from spring to late autumn. With the onset of frost, the flowering freesia can be transplanted into a pot. And indoors, it will delight the owner's eye for a long time.
Freesia care in the garden
How to water a plant
One of the conditions for full-fledged care and growing freesia is reasonable watering of the beauty. It is important to monitor the saturation of the soil with moisture, especially the first two weeks. The land should not be swamped, drying out is also undesirable. The most abundant watering is needed when planting shoots and when the plant begins to bloom.For preventive purposes, to prevent rot, infections, freesia flowers are watered before lunch. The shoots should be completely dry by evening.
How to water
Reproduction of Freesia
The flower propagates with the help of corms and seeds. The bulb contains nutrients necessary for the future germination of a new shoot. On the old tuber in September-October, babies are formed (4-5 pcs. On each), and the bulb itself is completely reborn. In the next season, they need to be separated and planted separately for growing. So with bulb reproduction - no problems.
Freesia is propagated by seeds with a lack of seed and for breeding new varieties. This process is complex and unreliable.
Diseases and pests
When cultivated on a site, the flower is often attacked by: aphids, spider mites and thrips. In this case, treatment with insecticides ("Iskra", "Fitoverm") is required.
Pests
The appearance of fusarium, rot or scab on the shoots only means that the plant is improperly looked after. Freesia flowers should be watered with warm water after settling. Plants should not be crowded so that the air “walk” freely; watering at night is not recommended.
Leaving during flowering
Full bloom is only possible with strict temperature control. In the first 6 weeks it should be around 22 ° C, and before flowering it should be reduced to 10-15 ° C.
Freesia flowers are quite heavy, which is why the shoots need to be supported during the flowering period. For this, it is advisable to stretch the twine over the beds. The optimal planting of plants is 5 cm from each other, and it is recommended to maintain at least 15 cm between rows. During this period, the most active water supply is also required. However, one should not forget that water stagnation is harmful to freesia.
Freesia after flowering
How and when to collect seeds
To collect seeds from a plant, it is artificially pollinated with a brush. After flowering, seed pods are formed on it. They must be left on the plant until fully ripe, i.e. and after the petals fall. Wait until the pods turn dark brown and brittle - this is harvest time. Most often they are dried in a warm place on paper or a saucer, away from the sun, stirring regularly. Store the seeds in a paper envelope, be sure to sign them.
Preparing for winter
Within 3-5 weeks after flowering, there comes a time of intensive maturation of the babies on the bulbs - the material for the next generation of plants. When the flowers lose their attractiveness, they are plucked so that the plant does not waste nutrients and seed formation does not occur, but watering continues for up to a month.
Freesia tubers in Russia (especially the Urals, Siberia) do not winter in open soil. After the shoots turn yellow, they are cut off, the bulbs are dug up. 2 weeks before extraction from the ground, reduce watering and reduce the temperature. They are stored by placing them in a linen bag at a humidity of 65% and a temperature of 28-30 ° C. For the required amount of moisture in the air, a container with water is placed next to the storage location. Three months is enough for tubers to "rest". After this period, the bulbs can be prepared for planting.
How to prepare a plant for winter
Use in landscape design
Freesia is a welcome guest of any landscape installation. It is in demand and popular when decorating lawns, rock gardens, flower beds, mixborders. Nowadays, hybrid varieties are most often used. Many landscape designers, when asked which flower will add paradox and aristocracy to the composition, point to freesia.It is often planted with herbs such as thyme, lavender, rosemary. Flowers are often grown in pots, flowerpots, and taken out to decorate gazebos, terraces, balconies. It is convenient that such a decoration can be hidden indoors when frost sets in.
For about 10 years, according to Dutch florists, freesia has been ranked sixth in the list of popularity in the flower market. All this is due to its elegance, a variety of colors and a palette of aromas.
