Description of lavatera, features of growing from seeds and caring for seedlings

A representative of the Malvaceae family, the lavatera flower is still as popular among gardeners today as it was several decades ago. The genus is not numerous, but it includes herbs, shrubs, and trees. The method of growing lavatera from seeds is a fun and simple activity. Ultimately, the gardener receives a tall beauty with bright multi-colored buds. It is important to properly prepare the soil, sow the material and properly care for the young seedlings.

Description and characteristics of the Lavatera flower

This plant is also known by names such as wild rose or khatma. Lavatera's natural habitat is the Mediterranean, East Asia and Australia. The genus is quite small, with a total of about 25 species. Moreover, there are both trees and shrubs, as well as herbaceous plants. The first mentions of this culture date back to the 16th century, and it received its name in honor of the Lavater brothers, Swiss doctors and naturalists. Lavatera gained particular popularity only in the last century.

The height of lavatera bushes varies from 0.5 to 1.5 meters. In recent years, breeders have developed many varieties of this ornamental crop. The main feature that unites them is alternately arranged lobed leaf plates covered with small hairs. The shade of Lavatera flowers is amazing - there are yellow, red, pink, and white representatives. The plant blooms for a long time - the first buds appear in June, and the last ones in mid-autumn.

Lavatera flowers are excellent for cutting - they last in a vase for a whole week without losing their decorative appeal. As for growing, many gardeners call Lavatera a flower for the lazy. Indeed, the culture is one of the most undemanding and does not take up much time for summer residents. Three-month-old Lavatera is one of the most popular varieties grown by gardeners.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages and disadvantages are what gardeners first pay attention to when choosing flowers to decorate their garden.

The advantages of lavatera include:

• Attractive appearance and a varied palette of color shades.
• Unpretentiousness to the place of growth.
• Undemanding to watering and fertilizing.
• Easy to grow from seeds.

Of the minuses it is noted:

• The need for timely removal of faded buds.
• In rare cases, rust damage.

Features of growing lavatera

Even novice gardeners do not have any difficulties with growing lavatera from seeds. The main thing is to choose the right place, prepare planting material and provide minimal care for the plant.

Preparing the landing site

To grow lavatera, you need soil that allows water and air to pass through well and has a loose structure. In the fall, the selected area is dug up, weed roots are selected, and complex fertilizers are applied.

As soon as the frosts have passed and consistently warm weather in the spring has established, the soil is once again lightly loosened and shed with water.

Preparation of planting material

Dry seeds of the plant can be sown directly into open ground by making grooves in the soil. However, in order to bring the flowering period closer, many gardeners first grow seedlings indoors, and when consistently warm weather sets in, they transfer them to flower beds.

The process of growing seedlings occurs as follows:

• Prepare plastic containers or wooden boxes, at the bottom of which a drainage layer is installed.
• At a gardening store, they buy special soil for flower seedlings and pour it into containers.
• The laid substrate is spilled with water at room temperature.
• Dry lavatera seeds are buried 10 cm into the soil.
• Cover the containers with glass or plastic film.
• Periodically remove the cover so that the crops are ventilated, and at the same time water the soil so that it is always slightly moist.
• When the first shoots appear (after about 15 days), additional lighting is organized, since without it the seedlings will stretch into a thread and will not be viable.
• When the sprouts become stronger, the cover is removed.
• In the future, the crops are regularly irrigated and the container is turned with different sides to the sun to ensure uniform development of the seedlings.
• The picking process is usually skipped and the seedlings are immediately planted in the flower beds.

When and how to plant

The best time for planting ornamental crops is April-May, depending on the climate in the region. Some gardeners also practice sowing seeds before winter. In this case, the beds will have to be insulated with dry leaves or spruce branches.

If it has been decided to sow flower seeds directly into open ground, carry out the following actions:

1. In the bed prepared in the fall, furrows are made at a distance of 25 cm.
2. Dry seeds are placed in grooves at a distance of 20 cm from each other.
3. If the lavatera variety is chosen to be tall, immediately install supports so that the flowers are not broken by gusts of wind.
4. Water the planted material and wait for germination.

In the case of ready-made seedlings, they are simply transferred to the flower beds, maintaining the same distance between the seedlings.

Lavatera grown from seedlings blooms 2-3 weeks earlier than the one that was sown directly in open ground.

Recommendations for caring for ornamental crops

Caring for decorative lavate is simple; even inexperienced gardeners can handle it. All the plant needs is periodic moisture, prevention of diseases and pests, application of complex fertilizing, preparation for the winter period.

Watering and fertilizers

Lavatera is quite resistant to arid climates and requires watering only in particularly hot weather.During such periods, moistening is carried out once a week, pouring about 20-25 liters of water under an adult bush. If it rains periodically, then this procedure is abandoned; the plant has enough natural precipitation.

To fertilize newly planted bushes, urea and nitrophoska are used. Take a tablespoon of each component and dissolve them in a bucket of clean water. It is recommended to add nutritional components a second time when the buds begin to form on the plant. In this case, sodium and potassium sulfate is used. They are measured in a tablespoon per 10-liter bucket of water.

Wintering perennial

To protect a perennial plant from frost, its shoots are bent to the soil and secured with staples. Dry fallen leaves or spruce branches are placed on top. In regions with particularly cold winters, any covering material, spunbond or lutrasil, is placed over the top, which is removed with the first warm days so that the plant does not rot.

How to deal with diseases and pests

The persistent immunity of the ornamental crop allows you not to worry about its health; in rare cases, the lavatera is affected by rust. Then yellow or brown spots are noticed on the plant, localized on the underside of the leaves. Such areas must be removed, and the entire crop is sprayed using Bordeaux mixture. Chemicals such as Topaz and Kuproksat are also effective in fighting rust.

If the lavatera is severely affected by the disease, then it is better to dig up such specimens and burn them so as not to expose other plants on the site to the risk of infection.

Among the insects on the lavater, aphids can occasionally be found. This happens in cases where there are large colonies of this pest on the site.To destroy it, purchased drugs are used - “Aktara” or “Aktellik”.

Methods for propagating lavatera

Lavatera is bred only using seeds. They are either immediately sent into open ground, or seedlings are first grown, and only then transferred to flower beds.

Examples of use in landscape design

The best garden companions for the beautiful lavatera are plants such as delphinium, petunia, and irises. The decorative crop looks impressive on a green lawn, in the background in mixborders. Low-growing varieties are used to create borders and frame paths. However, you should not combine more than three shades of lavatera in one flower bed; such a mix looks tacky and tasteless.