Planting, growing and caring for heliotrope in open ground, varieties and types

Heliotrope is a flower that is planted and cared for in a special way. The plant loves warmth very much and grows in the same place for many years. But in our climate, the flower certainly freezes in winter, for this reason it is cultivated as an annual plant. Heliotrope has an amazing scent, reminiscent of vanilla, and is used in perfumery. And the flower also turns towards the sun and follows it, like a sunflower.

Description and features

If you decide to plant heliotrope, your dacha will be transformed as soon as the plant begins to bloom. Small flowers, arranged in inflorescences, will fill your garden plot with a pleasant aroma of vanilla. The plant has a wide color palette:

1. Inflorescences may appear blue.
2. There are pink and white heliotropes.
3. The flower may also have a bright purple, purple hue.

The leaves of the plant are also worthy of attention because they are decorative - they seem to be covered with fringe and have an oval, ovoid shape.

The height of heliotrope varies, it depends on the plant variety and can range from 20 to 60 centimeters. If you give preference to low-growing varieties, then plant them in flowerpots or earthen vases available on the site. The flowers look spectacular.

As mentioned earlier, heliotrope loves warmth. South America is considered its homeland; the flower grows in subtropical and tropical climates without changing location. You can plant heliotrope in a greenhouse, water and care for it abundantly, and protect it from frost. In this case, he will delight you for many years. But when planted in open ground, it freezes over the winter; next year the flower will have to be planted again.

Growing seedlings

In our climate, due to its specifics, seeds do not have time to ripen. Therefore, preference is given to material sold in stores. If you take seeds for planting from friends, their germination rate is unlikely to please you. But even if the seeds germinate, the bushes will have different heights. Such plants look out of place on the site.

Landing dates

If you decide to plant a flower and grow it from a seed, then choose the material carefully. It is better to start germinating seeds at the end of February. When the flower sprouts, it is planted under film or in open ground.

Attention! Often, seedlings are prepared for planting by keeping them in boxes or pots, allowing the flower to grow stronger and gain strength.

From the moment of planting to the beginning of flowering of heliotrope, 3-4 months pass. If you are planting in open ground, then keep the flowers at home until the temperature in the region stabilizes. Heliotrope loves warmth, so it is better to plant it in early May. But here a lot depends on the temperature characteristics of the climate.

Selection and preparation of seed material

When selecting seeds, adhere to the following rules:

• pay attention to the appearance of the planting material - the seeds should not have rot or signs of mold;
• damp material for planting is unlikely to be suitable.

It is better to purchase a package of seeds in a specialized store. You can collect seeds yourself, but there may be problems with germination.

How to plant

Planting material chosen correctly is part of success. Another component is a soil mixture that you can prepare yourself, just mix:

1. Ripened humus.
2. Peat and sand (in different proportions).

You can buy soil in the store; such a substrate is suitable for planting seeds.But it is better to treat the soil with a strong solution of potassium permanganate before planting (just rinse it).

If you do not germinate the seeds, then when planting the crop, adhere to the following rules:

• moisten the soil;
• cover the seeds with 1-2 millimeters of soil;
• cover the box or container with film;
• keep the temperature at 19-20 degrees.

After 1-3 weeks, shoots will appear, at this moment the film is removed and the boxes are placed on a light windowsill. If, after the specified time, the seeds have not sprouted, then the planting material is removed and the containers are thrown away, preferably along with the soil.

Temperature and light conditions

Heliotrope loves warmth and light. Therefore, seedlings are grown at a temperature of 22-25 degrees. If there is not enough light, then use special lamps.

Picking

When 2-3 leaves appear on the plant, it is transplanted into a separate container, after watering the soil and thoroughly loosening it. When the flower reaches a height of 10 centimeters, pinch the growth point so that side shoots appear. Transplantation into the ground is carried out when the weather is warm outside, frosts that can destroy the crop will be excluded. It is advisable to carry out manipulations at the end of May, beginning of June.

Hardening

The flower loves warmth, so it is better to harden the seeds and treat them with a solution of potassium permanganate. Add growth stimulants. It is not recommended to expose seedlings to low temperatures - this can lead to their death.

Watering

Heliotrope loves moisture and will have to be watered frequently, but the plant does not tolerate stagnant water in the area. To prevent the roots of the bush from rotting, take care of the drainage system.

Top dressing

They are fed with any mineral fertilizer; the procedure is carried out after planting the prepared seedlings in the ground or greenhouse.Fertilizing is repeated after 14 days, and is also carried out during the growing season to optimize the process.

You can feed the seedlings after the first leaves appear on the flower. It is also carried out using organic or mineral fertilizers.

Planting in open ground

Produced when the required temperature is established in the region. More often the plant is planted in a greenhouse, or under a film cover.

When to plant

Seedlings are planted at the end of May, at the beginning of June. If you are replanting in a greenhouse, you can do it earlier. Much depends on the climate and temperature fluctuations. Plants can be planted earlier if the weather permits.

Soil requirements

The substrate is a mixture of clay, sand and peat. If there is a lot of sand in the soil, then add clay and peat, if on the contrary, then add sand.

Planting scheme

It is advisable to adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

1. Prepare the soil in advance, water it abundantly, and then loosen it.
2. Form a hole of shallow depth to accommodate the roots of the plant.
3. Plant and sprinkle the root system with soil.
4. The next day, fertilize with mineral or organic fertilizer.

Care

Any crop requires care, otherwise you can’t expect it to bear fruit or delight you with abundant flowering. Therefore, before planting heliotrope, familiarize yourself with the care rules.

Watering

The flower loves water, it is recommended to water it abundantly, daily, if the climate in the region is hot. But it does not tolerate drought well - it immediately loses its decorative effect. However, excess water on the site leads to consequences - the root system rots, and the risk of developing fungal diseases increases.

Loosening and weeding

You will have to remove weeds regularly, pull them out so that they do not harm the plant. Loosen the soil after each watering, that is, daily or once every 2 days.

Mulching

This procedure will significantly reduce the frequency of watering. You can use straw, dry grass or sawdust. They are placed directly around the root system of the flower. Help: mulching will not only reduce the intensity of watering, but will also relieve the summer resident from regular weeding and loosening the soil.

Top dressing

It is carried out in several stages. Preference is given to mineral or organic fertilizers that introduce:

• after planting in the ground;
• procedures are repeated after 10-14 days;
• and they also resort to the help of fertilizers during the growing season.

Diseases and pests

There are several pests that can cause serious harm to a plant. As for diseases, improper care and failure to follow watering recommendations increases the risk of developing fungal infections.

Aphid

Small insects form colonies; it is not difficult to detect them, but they can be destroyed by treating them with an insecticide.

Spider mite

It mainly affects young shoots and seedlings. Cobwebs and white dots appear on the leaves, indicating that the flower is affected by spider mites.

Whitefly

It will be necessary to treat with an insecticide 2 times, with an interval of 2 weeks between treatments.

Gray rot

If the leaves of the plant begin to dry out, areas of necrosis appear on them, it is worth collecting the damaged shoots, tearing off the leaves, and then burning them.

Topping

Carry out after planting the plant in the ground or greenhouse, when it reaches a height of 10 centimeters. Pinch the growing point, which allows you to stimulate the growth of side shoots of the bush.

After flowering

When the growing season is completed, you can begin preparing the crop for winter. Some gardeners are starting to collect planting material.

Collection and storage of seeds

If you still decide to try to collect planting material, then adhere to the following rules:

1. You will have to wait until the flowers wither and the leaves dry out.
2. Then start looking for boxes filled with seeds.
3. It is advisable to store planting material in a dry place at room temperature.

Self-collection of planting material rarely produces seeds suitable for planting.

Preparing for winter

You can save a flower only if:

• dig out its mother part, do it before the onset of cold weather;
• plant it in a pot and care for it throughout the winter (water, loosen the soil);
• In the spring you can use cuttings to plant heliotrope on the site.

Kinds

There are many types of heliotrope in nature, but not all of them have taken root and are cultivated in our country. Let's look at several varieties of flowers that gardeners often plant on their property.

Peruvian

A common species with dark purple flowers. The bushes reach a height of 60 centimeters. The leaves are dark green, reminiscent of linden in shape and shade.

Stem-encompassing

Suitable for those who love compact crops - a low-growing variety.

Shield

It is distinguished by large flowers and small, compared to other species, leaves. The variety is widespread.

Hybrid

The species is compact and is often used for cultivation at home. The bushes reach a height of 30-50 centimeters. The colors of the flowers vary, from dark purple to white.The variety does not tolerate a lack of light and quickly dies in a dark place.

tree-like

It blooms profusely and for a long time, the growing season lasts until the onset of the first frost. The bushes are decorated with dark purple inflorescences.

pubescent

Inconspicuous, small inflorescences appear on the bushes; when they bloom, they acquire a yellow tint. The height of heliotrope is 20-50 centimeters, the stem is rigid.

Popular varieties

There are several varieties that are popular among summer residents and are widely cultivated in our country.

Marin

It has a wide distribution and will decorate the area with small inflorescences of a dark purple hue. Dark green leaves also look decorative. The bushes bloom until the cold weather, filling the area with a wonderful aroma.

Regal Dwarf

Compact bushes will surprise the gardener, but even more so is the ability of flowers to change color during the growing season. Initially, the buds have a pink tint, and when they bloom, they turn white.

White Lady

Compact bushes with white or pale pink inflorescences will decorate the site. During the growing season, small buds form on the plant.

Black Beauty

The gardener will be pleased with the pronounced aroma of vanilla and large, violet-purple flowers located on a rigid stem.

Odysseus

They are planted on balconies; the bush is no different in its large dimensions, reaching a height of 30 centimeters.

Sea breeze

It is planted on borders, decorating them with blue flowers that form large, shield-like inflorescences. Grows up to 45 centimeters in height. The smell contains notes of freshness.

Helios blue

The plant is medium-sized, 25-30 centimeters high, decorated with blue-violet inflorescences. Due to its modest size, it is often planted in pots.The variety is picky about soil and requires careful care.

Reproduction

It occurs in several ways and involves the participation of cuttings and the mother plant in the process or is carried out using seeds.

Cuttings

Remove the upper part of the shoot and cut it off. Remove the leaves (last ones). The cut is treated with a stimulant in powder form. It will help the heliotrope form roots faster. It is advisable to place the cuttings in a peat mixture, and then transplant the plant into a pot with substrate or move the planting to the site.

Seeds

Propagating a flower with seeds by collecting them yourself is unlikely to succeed. But you can purchase planting material. It is germinated in the standard way.

Features of growing at home

When planting heliotrope in a pot, you will have to adhere to certain rules:

1. Take care of the flower, water it as needed, loosen the soil.
2. Provide heliotrope with temperature conditions and additional lighting. The room temperature should be 15-18 degrees.

Benefit and danger

Heliotrope has a lot of useful properties; its use allows you to:

• get rid of worms and other parasites living in the human body;
• the flower reduces the size of stones formed in the kidneys;
• The juice of the plant is used to remove warts and papillomas.

But the plant contains a dangerous alkaloid that can cause intoxication of the body. Therefore, you should be careful with heliotrope.

Use in landscape design

Medium-sized bushes with decorative leaves and multiple inflorescences will decorate any area. It is recommended to plant the flower at the entrance, as well as next to the house, in order to fill not only the garden plot with aroma, but also the home.

Heliotrope is planted on balconies, borders, and flower beds are formed; preference is given to low-growing varieties.

Heliotrope is a wonderful perennial that can change the appearance of a site, as well as fill it with the aroma of vanilla. But in order for the plant to enjoy long-lasting flowering, it will have to be provided with suitable conditions. Otherwise it will simply die.