Diasia is an ornamental plant of the Norichnikov family. Originally from the highlands of South Africa, in the Eurasian climate, it grows both in open garden soil as an annual groundcover, and in hanging planters or containers, as well as on lawns. Among gardeners, it is considered to be unpretentious, but cultivation, nevertheless, has certain nuances.
Why growing seedlings from seeds is better than planting in open ground
Diasia propagation is carried out both by seeds and by green cuttings. Each of the methods has its pros and cons.
When seeds are planted immediately in open ground, flowering of plants occurs only in August. Not so productive for an annual. It is on this basis that experienced gardeners recommend planting diasia seeds for seedlings at home in advance. And with the onset of the summer season, having planted ready-made seedlings in open ground, the florist receives brightly flowering decorative plants much earlier.
Another advantage of growing diasia from seeds: when planting seeds in open ground, flowers may not rise due to unstable climatic conditions in spring. At the same time, a florist can create optimal growing conditions for plants sown at home, which guarantees the survival of young animals.
When to plant: general dates and best dates on the lunar calendar
Typically, diasia seeds are sown on seedlings in late February - early March. When planting seedlings in the garden land at the end of May, flowering begins in June (about a month later).
When choosing a landing date, you need to focus on the climate of a particular region. Being a southern plant, diasia loves warmth and sunlight. Therefore, in the northern regions, planting in the ground should be carried out later - in early June, while in the more southern latitudes, the optimal period is mid-May.
According to the lunar calendar, in 2019, the best dates for sowing seeds of ornamental plants are: February 18, 20, 21. These days are favorable for both annual and perennial plants. For annuals fit February 20-28.
The best varieties of diasia with a photo
For decorative purposes, the following varieties of diasion are most often grown:
- bearded;
- felt;
- harsh;
- elegant;
- Ideas C lavender Pink.
Diarrhea
A feature of this variety is the ability to bloom very young plants, barely reaching a ten-centimeter height; whereas the height of an adult is 30 cm. The following varieties of this variety are known:
- Pink Queen, having pale pink inflorescences.
- Ruby Field, characterized by flowers with a dark center and pink petals.
Felt diasia
The bushes of such a plant, even in a non-flowering state, look elegant due to the effective shape and arrangement of the leaves. The flowers have a dark pink color with red spots. Such a flower can be grown on the balcony - it will bloom all summer.
Harsh diasia
The height of the shoots reaches 50 cm. In early autumn, the green changes color to red-brown. This variety blooms with small pink flowers. This variety is recognized as one of the most cold-resistant, it can be grown even as a perennial plant.
Elegant diasia
This variety has a very long flowering period, and the color of the petals varies throughout the entire spectrum of pink.
Lavender pink
This is a hybrid variety. Among all plant varieties, it is distinguished by the most abundant flowering. The bushes have a spherical shape, and the flowers are painted in pink and lilac.
How to plant diasion
Diasia seeds are extremely small
When planting diasia using seeds, it is recommended to adhere to the following algorithm:
- Seeds selected for planting should be placed in a container with crushed loose substrate.
- Press each seed slightly onto moist soil without sprinkling with earth. As a substrate for both sowing seeds and picking, it is optimal to use soil consisting of sand and garden soil, having a slightly acid reaction, not very nutritious.
After landing care
The container in which the seeds are planted should be covered with a film to create the optimum temperature and humidity level.
To maintain the best temperature for seed germination (21-22 ° C), the container with seeds should be ventilated with the necessary frequency. After the emergence of seedlings, what happens during the first 10 days, the film must be removed, and when the first pair of leaves appears, they must be peeled into separate containers.
Throughout the entire period of growing seedlings, an average level of soil moisture should be maintained, not allowing either drying out or abundant soaking with water.
In order to form bushes, it is recommended to pinch the growing seedlings several times.
Landing and further care
Planting in open ground should be carried out after the soil in the garden has warmed up and there is no longer any risk of frost return. Before planting, plants should be accustomed to the open ground, to new conditions. To this end, containers with seedlings are exposed to the open air, starting from a short period, gradually increasing the duration of the "air baths". It will be possible to plant young animals after the period of their stay in the fresh air reaches a day.
For planting seedlings, you should choose a place well lit by the sun, not subject to moisture accumulation. The best option is along the wall of the building, facing south. Young plants should be planted at a distance of 15 cm from each other and water abundantly after planting.
On hot days, they will require abundant watering, and after this procedure, loosening the soil around the bushes. Once a month, it is recommended to feed diasia with fertilizers for flowering garden crops.
Growing a South African plant does not require the creation of special conditions and is not time-consuming. It is enough to grow seedlings in time and plant them in open ground, maintain the required level of watering and regularly loosen the soil around the bushes.
