Descriptions and varieties of fragrant gladiolus or acidanthera, planting and care rules

Acidanthera is a true child of the distant African continent. She is refined, warm-loving and mysterious. Her appearance evokes vague memories from books she has read about great travelers. “Sharp flower” is what the people of Africa called the plant. There was a lot of controversy among Russian gardeners about the correct name of the flower. Fragrant gladiolus or acidanthera, does it matter? This lovely plant is gaining more and more popularity.

Description of acidanthera

This exotic plant attracts attention with its tall peduncles. Their height reaches from 1 to 1.9 m. Acidanthera flowers are collected in groups and resemble a flock of carefree butterflies. The size of the flowers does not exceed 10 cm. The slenderness of the plant is emphasized by a pair of pointed leaves. Their length is 50-65 cm. Fragrant gladiolus has an unpretentious character.

Types of varieties

Science knows many varieties of acidanthera. Some of them are popular among flower lovers.

1. Acidanthera called Tropical. Tall fragrant gladiolus. The height of the plant reaches 1.1-1.3 m. 5-6 white flowers are formed on a high stem. Each petal is decorated with a crimson speck.
2. Acidanthera laminaria. The most elegant representative of the fragrant gladioli tribe. The narrow leaves blend harmoniously with the shape of the flowers. The drooping flower heads are distinguished by narrow petals and pink coloring. The petals are marked with a purple stripe.
3. White. The most fragrant guest in the garden. The plant boasts white flowers and a strong, slender stem.
4. Acidanthera called Cape. White petals dotted with red veins are the hallmark of the variety.

Propagation of fragrant gladiolus

The aromatic plant can be propagated using seeds, daughter bulbs or children. Using seeds is the least convenient method of propagation. In this case, you will have to wait a long time for flowering. Seeds can be collected from faded plants or purchased at the store. In February you can start sowing. To do this, the box is filled with a substrate made from peat and sand.

The seeds are distributed over the surface of the soil and sprinkled with soil. Moisten the soil with a spray bottle and cover the crops with a plastic bag.After the procedure, you need to put the container with future plants in a warm place.

The first shoots will hatch in 15-20 days. Strong seedlings are planted in separate pots. Plants can be planted in open ground only after 2-3 years. Acidanthera children are planted in the spring directly in open ground. The planting depth for a miniature bulb is 5-9 cm. In the future, caring for plantings and adult plants is no different. Young plants bloom after 2-3 years. Acidanthera is propagated by daughter bulbs in the traditional way. With the arrival of spring, planting material is planted in a flower bed.

Planting a flower

The planting procedure is not fraught with any difficulties.

When to plant a plant?

Acidanthera is planted in the second half of May. The main thing is that the threat of spring frosts has passed. The bulbs are planted in sun-warmed soil.

Site selection and preparation

Fragrant gladioli thrive in sunny areas protected from the wind and tolerate partial shade well. It is better to plant plants in light, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. The soil needs to be thoroughly dug up and fertilized.

Landing technique

Before planting, the corms are soaked in a solution of fungicide or potassium permanganate. In the prepared soil, dig holes 12-15 cm deep. A little river sand is poured into the bottom of the planting hole, and then the bulb is placed. Cover the planting with fertile soil and moisten it.

The distance between large tubers is 17-20 cm. Between medium-sized specimens, a gap of 10-12 cm is left. Skilled gardeners recommend germinating the seed before planting. This trick will help bring the flowering period closer. The procedure begins in March.To do this, the bulbs are planted in a pot and germinated in a bright and warm place. In May, acidanthera are planted in open ground.

Plant care rules

Unpretentious acidanthers are content with little, but they still have some requirements.

Regular watering

Like most tropical plants, fragrant gladiolus needs abundant watering. In hot weather, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the soil at the roots of plants. Lack of moisture can cause tubers to dry out. For acidanthera to feel good, 2 to 4 buckets per week are enough. Flowering plants are watered less often. This trick will help adjust the color of the flowers. Graceful acidanthera will acquire a rich hue. To reduce moisture evaporation, it is advisable to mulch the plantings.

Loosening and weeding

After each watering procedure, the flowerbed is weeded and loosened. You need to cultivate the soil carefully, trying to touch only the top layer of soil.

Fertilizer application

Acidantherae are fed every 2 weeks. Complex mineral fertilizer is applied to the soil. Fertilizer is applied to moist soil.

When purchasing fertilizer, you need to pay attention to the composition of the fertilizer. For example, a high concentration of ammonia in the product can lead to rapid growth of leaves and peduncles, while the size of the buds will remain small.

Wintering

African beauties are not adapted to severe frosts, so the bulbs are dug up in the fall and stored until spring. Plants are prepared for wintering gradually. Faded specimens are cut off without allowing the resulting seeds to ripen. The lower pair of leaves are left so that the bulbs can stock up on nutrients.

Disease and pest control

The “sharp flower” may be attacked by thrips and aphids. You can get rid of the problem with the help of insecticides. There are many products on sale, for example, Actellik or Decis.

In rainy weather, the plant is bothered by slugs. You need to fight enemies in the old proven way, collecting pests by hand. Acidanthera often suffers from powdery mildew. You can cope with the problem using a fungicidal agent. For this purpose, it is convenient to use the drug Prognosis.

Cleaning and storage

As soon as there is a threat of frost, the tubers are removed from the soil and thoroughly dried for 3-4 weeks. Dry, clean bulbs are wrapped in newspaper and stored. Planting material can be stored in a pot or in a bag of peat. The main thing is that the room is warm and dry. Bulbs do not tolerate high humidity and low air temperatures. In this case, the planting material may rot. The optimal temperature for storing corms is 21-25 degrees.

Application in landscape design

Acidantheras look harmonious near the shores of artificial reservoirs and can decorate the front area at the entrance to the house. Fragrant gladioli are organically combined with low-growing plants on the rocky ledges of an alpine hill. Flowers are convenient to grow in containers. Fragrant mobile flower beds can be moved to different parts of the garden.