Small-toothed primrose - how to grow at home
Content:
Primula is one of the spring primroses. It has long been considered a medicinal plant and a strong amulet against evil spirits. In some countries, there are many beliefs associated with this flower.
Small-toothed primrose: description and history of origin
The plant belongs to herbaceous perennials from the Primroses genus. The homeland of primroses is the Himalayas, China and the mountains of Southeast Asia.
The plant reaches 30 cm in height, has wide, oblong-oval leaves, serrated at the edges. The toothed primrose has a wide palette of shades (from white to purple), flowers 1.5 cm in diameter are collected in dense spherical inflorescences and are located on thick peduncles. Primrose blooms in April-May for 30-40 days.
Fine-toothed primrose
According to various sources, there are from 400 to 550 species of primroses in nature. Under natural conditions, plants grow on the banks of mountain streams and streams, in wet meadows. Florists often use primroses as a living bouquet for March 8, planting them in small pots. The plant is popular in outdoor landscaping along with tulips and daffodils.
Blooming primrose
Plant varieties
Perennial fine-toothed primrose is represented by a number of decorative forms and varieties grown at home. Among flower growers, varieties with small flowers, collected in large inflorescences on high stems, are popular. Common varieties include:
- Alba. The name of the variety speaks for itself - small white flowers are collected in round dense inflorescences, a peduncle 20 cm high during flowering. A frost-resistant variety that prefers partial shade and moist soil.
- Violet. The flowers are purple in color, the inflorescences are slightly smaller than those of the alba, and are located on stems 25 cm high.
- Ed. Red toothed primrose is a winter-hardy variety suitable for central Russia. Prefers semi-shady places with loose, well-moistened soil.
- Ruby. Bright ruby-red flowers with a yellow heart are collected in small inflorescences up to 6 cm in diameter. After flowering, the leaves and peduncle grow in size, so the plant needs sufficient space in the garden for normal development.
- Bugle. The variety is characterized by flowers of white, red, purple, collected in spherical inflorescences on peduncles 10-15 cm tall.
- Primrose pon pon fine-toothed, like the previous variety, has a variety of shades of colors (white, pink, red).
A mixture of varieties in garden design
Planting and growing fine-toothed primrose
Adult toothed primrose is undemanding to care, it is enough to control soil moisture and cover the plant in time before the onset of frost.
Diffused light is required, but any area with partial shade can be suitable. The main thing is not to allow direct sunlight to hit the primrose.
For long-term flowering, the plant will need a temperature of 8-16 ℃ above zero. Primrose loves moisture.If the air humidity is insufficient, the leaves may dry out and the flowering time will be shortened. Water the primroses at least 2 times a week, 2-3 liters for each plant.
For the cultivation of fine-toothed primroses, a loose, permeable soil with a slightly acidic reaction is chosen. For abundant flowering, fertile soil is needed, therefore, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied 3 times a season.
Small-toothed primrose varieties are not afraid of transplantation, unlike other plant species. When planting, flowers are placed in small individual pits. The distance between adjacent plants should be at least 25 cm.
For the winter, primrose is additionally protected from weather changes, for this it is enough to cover the flower with a non-woven material, providing ventilation whenever possible. This is necessary so that the roots of the plant are not blocked.
Primrose in the garden
Pruning
Pruning is important for the plant. Remove discolored buds, old and dead leaves. This will increase flower production for the next year. In the fall, do not remove all the leaves to prepare the plant for winter. They will become a natural protection for primroses from temperature extremes in winter.
Features of flowering plants
The herbaceous perennial primrose blooms immediately after the snow cover disappears (mid-April). The peduncle develops rapidly, in line with the new green leaves. At the beginning of flowering, its height reaches 2-3 cm, during the period of active flowering - 20-25 cm. When the fruits ripen, the height of the peduncle reaches 30-50 cm. Flowers collected in large spherical inflorescences have different colors.
After flowering, the primrose leaves continue to grow, forming a rosette of up to 40 cm. By autumn, the leaves wither, leaving the rosette and fibrous root system until spring during the dormant period.
Blooming primrose
Flower reproduction methods
You can grow primrose from seeds, dividing the bush and leafy cuttings.
Cuttings
For the successful cultivation of the plant by cuttings, leaf rosettes with a small part of the rhizome are harvested from May to June and planted in a shaded place. During the summer, the cuttings take root, winter, and in the spring they are planted in a permanent place of growth.
Dividing the bush
The procedure for dividing the mother plant is carried out at 3-5 years of life after the full growth of the flower. The time for dividing the bush is chosen in early spring or summer. To do this, dig out the primrose, gently shake off the ground and divide it into parts with a sharp knife, leaving at least one outlet in each. Sections are treated with ash. The divided parts are planted immediately and watered daily for 2 weeks.
Seeds
Cultivation of fine-toothed primrose from seeds is carried out in two ways:
- Sowing in the fall in the garden.
- Growing through seedlings.
In the first method, sowing is carried out in loose soil to a depth of no more than 1 cm. The seeds are laid out on the soil surface and sprinkled with a substrate. You can make crops in regular seedling boxes and bury them in the garden.
Seeds sown in autumn will undergo natural stratification and will sprout in the spring. Care must be taken to ensure that immature plants do not wash away the spring water. In the fall, the grown primroses are transplanted to a permanent place.
Growing through seedlings requires more attention. It is necessary to start work at the end of January, combining seed germination with artificial stratification:
- To begin with, the seeds are laid out on a cotton pad using a moistened match or a toothpick and covered with a second disc, placed in a small container. The discs are slightly dampened.
- The container with seeds is alternately kept in the refrigerator and at room temperature, gradually increasing the residence time of the seeds in the room.
- After the seeds hatch, they are planted in the ground. During the cultivation of seedlings, 2 picks are carried out.
- Plants are planted on a seedbed at the end of May, and a permanent place of growth is planted in the fall or spring of the next year after flowering (until mid-August, so that the plant has time to take root and prepare for winter).
Seedling primrose
Protect the plant from direct sunlight at all stages of growth. An excellent place for primrose breeding in the open field will be an area under a tall, spreading tree. A young plant will bloom not immediately, but only in the 3rd year or in the 2nd year.
Growing problems, diseases and pests
Among the problems associated with growing primroses, wilting and drying of the foliage is common. This may be due to insufficient watering or exposure to sunlight. You can solve the problem by adjusting the watering of the plant or moving it to a more shaded place.
With insufficient nutrition or too much overgrowth of the bush, weak flowering may be observed. In this case, the feeding of the plant is regulated and the transplant is done with dividing the bush.
Primrose is vulnerable to fungal infections (root rot, rust, powdery mildew). Infections (cucumber mosaic virus or mottling) may develop. For the prevention of infection with fungicides, they are treated with fungicides, and all affected areas are removed.
Among insect pests, primrose affects aphids, spider mites and slugs. To combat slugs, the treatment of plants with ash helps, it is scattered around the flowers. To combat insects, insecticides and a soap solution are used.
Plant rot
Caring for fine-toothed primrose is simple, and even an inexperienced gardener can carry out its reproduction. This colorful primrose will take an important place in the design of any site.
