Ratibida columnifera care

The columnar ratibide plant belongs to the Asteraceae or Asteraceae family, 7 species of perennials are known to flower growers. According to the shape of the flower, the ratibide got the name Mexican hat (sombrero), and it is not in vain, since it comes from Mexico.

Short description, history of origin

The birthplace of the Ratibida flower is the American continent, its northern and central territory, called prairies, which means undulating plains. In nature, it grows in clearings, wastelands, along roads. People called it prairie echinacea. It has been cultivated since the 19th century. It is rare in our regions.

Description of varieties bred on the basis of pure Ratibida columnifera

Thuja columnar western - description of varieties

Not so many varieties of this plant are known, and those described below deserve special attention.

Ratibida the Fair - Guest of the Prairie

Mexican hat

Ratibida Mexican hat is an easily recognizable plant with original inflorescences, shaped like a Mexican hat. Large flowers up to 8 cm in diameter have a reed device (5 stamens and 1 pistil). The color of the flowers is yellow-red, brown-black.

Grown in gardens, lawns. In cut form (bouquets) it is stored for more than a week. Flowering is long and abundant, ending with the onset of frost.

Important! For cultivation, sunny places are preferable.

Conflover

Ratibida columnar Conflover grows well in sunny places with little shade.

Others

A popular variety is Yellow Cheyenne with bright yellow petals. A subspecies called Beautiful is also well known. It is distinguished by its dark red petals with yellow stripes along the edges.

Growing Ratibide Seed Columnar Mexican Hat

Ratibida Sombrero is propagated by seed, seedlings and seedlings.

Chubushnik shneesturm - description, planting and care

This is done simply:

Shallow grooves are laid on the prepared soil.
The seeds are placed in them.
Fall asleep on top with a layer of sand.
Cover the rows with spruce branches.

Seedlings

Florists are more willing to use columnar ratibide seedlings. To obtain seedlings, seeds are sown in the middle of winter, or rather, in February.

Peat cups are prepared for sowing so as not to injure the seedlings when picking and replanting. The cups are filled with a moist and light soil mixture consisting of:

coarse sand;
turf land;
peat.

The ratio of ingredients is (1: 1: 1).

Important! The seeds are lightly pressed into the soil, and the container is covered with film or glass on top. Crops are kept in a warm, well-lit place. After about 2 weeks, the shelter is removed, and the seedlings receive a lot of bright sunlight, but not direct, but diffused light.

Seedless method

Ratibida is able to reproduce by self-seeding, that is, without seedlings. Do not allow the uncontrolled growth of a flower plant.It is necessary to break off ripe inflorescences with the beginning of the wilting of flowers.

Ratibida: planting and care

Anemones - outdoor cultivation and care

Growing conditions and rules are quite simple. Plants of ratibida columnar are not demanding on soils, they tolerate both heat and cold well, while flowering lasts a long time.

Growing ratibide

Timing for sowing

Seeds are sown either in late autumn or early in the spring until the ground is completely thawed.

Seed preparation and sowing

For autumn sowing, seeds do not need special preparation.

Important! Sowing in the spring season is carried out only after mandatory special preparation of seeds under the influence of cold and moisture (stratification) for 4 weeks.

How to care for seedlings

After 2 weeks, the seeds sprout. After the appearance of two leaves, they need to be dived and transplanted into separate containers. 2 weeks before planting the seedlings in an open space, you should start hardening it by daily transfer to fresh air in a place protected from drafts and rain. The duration of the procedures should be gradually increased.

Site selection and soil preparation

The ratibid flower does not survive in soil where water stagnates, therefore drainage is required. The quality of the soil and the lack of moisture have little effect on the development of the rose.

Landing in open ground

The hardened seedlings of the Mexican hat variety, grown from seeds, are transplanted into open ground, around the middle of May. The best time to transplant seedlings is considered to be a cloudy day or evening. The distance between plants should be at least 20 cm - 25 cm.

Important! Bushes are removed together with a lump of earth, and those growing in peat cups are planted with them.

Ratibida is an unusual plant

Post-flowering care and preparation for winter

After flowering, preparing the plant for winter, the ground part is cut off almost to the level of the soil. Seeds can be separated from dried, darkened cores

Features of plant care in the open field

It is not difficult to take care of a ratibide flower garden. It only takes a few procedures:

cut off wilted inflorescences;
loosen the soil;
remove weeds.

Lighting

For planting plants, it is advisable to use warm, sufficiently sunlit areas. Light shade is allowed.

Watering

Flowers need watering only in case of prolonged drought.

Important! Water that has settled, warmed up in the sun is used. With frequent precipitation, it is not necessary to water the plants. Usually wet soil is loosened and weeded.

Spraying

In order to prevent harmful insects, you can spray with weak solutions of fungicides.

Priming

A well-lit or slightly shaded area is suitable for growing flowers. It is desirable that the soil is clayey.

The ratibide variety is hardy to slightly acidic, slightly alkaline or slightly saline soils. Site preparation is reduced to digging and adding 1 glass of wood ash and 1 bucket of compost for each square meter of soil.

Top dressing

The plant has a tap rhizome that can extract nutrients from the depths. Therefore, feeding is not required. Land containing enough nutrients stimulates rapid foliage growth, which is a deterrent to flowering. This means that you should not get carried away with top dressing.

Ratibida as a decoration on an unattractive site

When and how it blooms

The first year of the life of the bushes is not marked by exuberant flowering, only some roses bloom in a very hot summer closer to autumn.

Many flower growers cultivate such plants as annuals. If the ratibide is grown as a perennial plant, then there is a need to dig out the bushes every 2 years at the beginning of spring and divide the rhizome into parts. Since the roots are very long and delicate, the procedure is very difficult.

Important! You need to show maximum attention and patience so as not to damage the root.

Types of flowers

Ratibida columnar is used in landscape projects. It is recognized in massive plantings due to the special shape of a large yellow flower. Possesses meter shoots.

Another species called Red Midnight stands out in deep red flowers.

Cheyenne Yellow is popular with flower growers for its yellow petals.

Flower shapes

The ratibid has an interesting inflorescence shape:

there is a brown cylinder in the center;
it is made up of a huge number of small flowers;
strongly curved petals are located around the cylinder.

Flowering period

Wild roses bloom in May, their flowering period is short. At the end of May - June, garden roses delight with flowers. These species bloom mostly once, with a few exceptions.

Changes in care during flowering

During the flowering period, roses require proper care. At this time, the shoots are pruned, giving a certain shape and activating the dormant buds.

Transfer after purchase

When buying roses, you should carefully examine the condition of the stems and shoots. Experienced gardeners transplant plants from pots after flowering. Usually, plants do not easily endure this adaptation period. The first two weeks turn out to be the most difficult, and even loss of foliage can be observed.

Important! Having adapted, the rose grows quickly.

Ratibida columnar in nature

Possible growing problems

When growing, problems with leaves may arise - they will lose their decorative effect. This is due to the fact that youngsters, to which the rose belongs, need to be updated in a timely manner, that is, every 1-2 years.

Pests

Ratibidu is insect and disease resistant, making it easy to grow.

Diseases

Prolonged rains can cause rot formation. In such a situation, damaged plants must be removed, and the soil is treated with a special solution of fungicides.

Important! Powdery mildew may appear at high humidity. It is found by a whitish bloom on plants. In this case, the bushes must be treated with a baking soda solution or a sulfur-containing fungicide. Severely affected plants are destroyed.

Signs of improper care

Such signs can be expressed in a change in appearance, for example, loss of color, yellowing of leaves. This happens with insufficient attention to chemical additives in the soil.

Aphids may appear as a result of improper watering.

The wrong landing site is the cause of many failures. You need to be especially careful in case of sharp long-term fluctuations in weather conditions.

Roses deserve the attention that flower growers give them. To grow such beauty in your garden, on your plot of land, is equivalent to a certain extent to improve your self-esteem, to bring joy to life.