Garden and street paths are often framed by marigolds. Flowers are not chosen by chance. They have a long flowering period. When the summer varieties fade, the velvet buds continue to delight until late autumn. Is it possible to grow perennial marigolds at home in pots in winter, ask lovers of this species. The answer is clear - you can. And at any time, depending on when we want to see flowering.
What kind of flowers are these?
Marigolds are representatives of different species and varieties. The height of the erect stem varies between 0.2-2 meters. Leaves are pinnately dissected, pinnately divided, serrated, rarely entire, green to dark green in color.
The buds can be large, small, simple, or velvety. Color: yellow, orange. There are both calm tones and bright, saturated ones. Some representatives come in two colors.
The flowers gained popularity for their unpretentiousness, frost resistance, and long flowering. In addition to decorative properties, marigolds have medicinal properties; they are used in cooking, as a spice, and in cosmetology.
Can marigolds be grown in pots at home?
Marigolds are flowers with a bright, specific aroma. Therefore, they are suitable for growing on a balcony, terrace, loggia. Lovers of spicy scents grow flowers in the room.
Marigolds are planted not only as ornamental plants. Thanks to their spicy smell, flowers protect themselves and neighboring plants from pests; they are used in cooking as a spice. The plant has medicinal properties.
Specifics of home cultivation
Marigolds bloom 2 months after germination. Therefore, the time is selected for a certain date, month. If you want to have fragrant blooms for the New Year, sowing should be done in October, on International Women's Day - March 8 - in January.
Soil for sowing is either purchased or prepared independently. They combine earth, sand, humus, and turf soil. All ingredients are taken in equal parts, except for sand - its dose is halved. The land from the store does not require cultivation. Do-it-yourself soil is disinfected: with heat, steam, frost, or solution. A layer of drainage is placed at the bottom of the flowerpot or container: expanded clay, crushed stone, pebbles.
Seed selection
Planting material is collected independently or purchased at a flower shop. Collect seeds in autumn. Dry in the shade and pack in paper bags. When you collect it yourself, you have the opportunity to choose your favorite color, bud size, and stem height.
When buying flowers in a store, pay attention to low-growing varieties that will harmoniously fit into the design of the apartment.
- Bonanza bolero (USA) - bushes 25-30 centimeters high, girth 20 centimeters in diameter. Double buds, annuals, orange in color.
- Bonanza flame (USA) – stem height – 25, bush girth – 20, bud diameter – 6 centimeters. Bright terry buds of orange and yellow.
- Bonanza orange (France) – stem height – 20 centimeters, large double buds with bright orange tones.
- Among the miniature varieties, Gnome, Lupa, Paprika, Ursula are popular - bushes up to 20 centimeters high, 2 centimeters in diameter; the buds are yellow, orange, double-colored, the petals are simple.
Choosing a pot
A pot for marigolds must meet certain requirements:
- have a drainage hole so that excess water does not stagnate at the bottom;
- material: clay, ceramics, metal;
- The plant loves sunny windowsills, so choose a light color for the flowerpot. In dark flowerpots the root system will overheat;
- marigold tap root. Hence, a deep pot is required (1/3 of the height of the plant with roots).
- The width of the pot is chosen up to 20 centimeters in diameter. The wider the crown, the wider the pot.
If the requirements are met, the bushes will grow spreading, with lush flowering.
Selecting a location
Marigolds, in good light, reveal themselves in all their glory. With a lack of lighting, the stems become elongated, flowering is poor, and the inflorescences become smaller.
The apartment is suitable for southern, southwestern, eastern, western window sills. If there are no such sides, artificial lighting is used.
Planting process
Planting material is germinated for several days. To do this, place the seeds on damp toilet paper and cover with polyethylene. When loops appear, the seeds are ready for planting:
- Drainage and a nutrient layer of soil are placed in containers.
- Sprouted seeds are sown in the grooves at a distance of 5 centimeters. Sprinkle a layer of soil on top. Plants will bloom faster if you immediately plant them in separate pots without picking.
- Cover the containers with glass or a plastic bag and place them in a warm place (20-22 degrees).
- On the 2-3rd day shoots will appear, the shelter is removed.
- When two true leaves appear, the seedlings dive into separate pots.
Further care
Marigolds are not demanding to care for. Standard actions are needed: watering, fertilizing, lighting.
Watering and fertilizing
In summer, flowers require daily watering. In winter - as the soil dries out. The main thing is to follow specific irrigation rules. In summer, water the plants at night. They manage to get enough moisture. In winter, watering is carried out in the morning so that the flowers draw liquid into the root system throughout the day.
The soil should not be allowed to dry out - the flowers will be smaller and the color will be pale. When buds appear, watering is carried out after the soil has dried.
Marigolds respond positively to complex balanced mineral supplements. During the growing season, fertilizing is applied 3 times: after emergence, during the formation of buds, and flowering.
Trimming
The bushes will have a spherical shape if you trim the elongated buds in time.
Lighting and humidity
The plant must receive light at least 12 hours a day. In autumn and winter, artificial lighting is provided with photo lamps.
Marigolds love moderate humidity - 50-60%. At low humidity, the bushes are sprayed and trays with water are placed. If the humidity is high, ventilate the room.
Temperature
During sowing, the temperature is maintained at 15-20 degrees. High temperatures, over 25 degrees, have a detrimental effect - seedlings do not germinate. When seedlings emerge, the seedlings are placed on a bright windowsill, and the temperature is reduced to 18 degrees.
The optimal temperature in summer for adult bushes is 20 degrees, in winter 18-20 degrees. In winter, remove flowerpots from radiators or make protection, for example, from a shoebox.
Disease and pest control
Marigolds are resistant to diseases and pests. During the growing process, the plant can be affected by blackleg, and among the pests - spider mites.
Blackleg
Young seedlings are most susceptible to blackleg disease. The cause of infection is fungi.
Symptoms: the stem becomes covered with a white coating at the bottom. As the disease progresses, black spots appear and the process of decay begins. It is difficult to protect seedlings, but it is possible to preserve healthy specimens.
Control: remove all infected seedlings and burn them. Healthy specimens are treated with fungicides and transplanted into new soil.
Prevention: prevent disease when sowing seeds. Planting material is treated with biological preparations: Fitolavin-300, Planriz, Baktofit.
The soil, prepared with your own hands, is steamed in the oven. At temperatures above 100 degrees, mushrooms die. Before planting, trichodermin is added to the soil.
Spider mite
When attacked by spider mites, the surface of the leaves becomes covered with cobwebs. White dots appear on the back of the leaf blade. The leaves turn yellow and fall off. Sometimes symptoms are confused with fungal diseases and the wrong medications are used.
Fight: each leaf is washed with warm water. Keep in a plastic bag for 3 days. Spray the soil, window sill, and pot from the outside with alcohol.
In case of severe damage, treat with Fitoverm or hormonal with Apollo.
Prevention: the substrate is disinfected. Spray marigolds with warm water. Ticks don't like moisture.
New plants are not put on a par with the “locals”. They are washed in the shower and quarantined for 2 weeks. After 10 days the shower is repeated.
Warnings and Tips
Marigolds do not like crowded conditions. Do not place pots with other flowers close to them. Please comply with all requirements when boarding. Any deviation leads to negative consequences. Water the flowers with settled warm water. Inspect the plants every day for diseases or pest infestations.
