Montbrecia is an ornamental bulbous plant that can rarely be found in Russian flower beds. Despite this, some gardeners have been growing it for many years. It belongs to the Iris family, and has a second name - Japanese gladiolus. In garden stores, the flower is quite expensive, so it is better to grow it yourself.
There are a large number of species in nature, about 50. All of them come from the countries of South Africa. Over time, they have adapted to all temperate countries. The best flowering and growth occurs where warm weather prevails.
Montbrezia with its appearance resembles a gladiolus. Its stem can grow up to a meter in height. In temperate climates it can grow smaller in size. The colors of its flowers are the most varied. For example, it is very common to find orange or red inflorescences. The plant blooms profusely. It begins in mid-summer and ends in early autumn. Time frames may vary depending on natural conditions.
Flower care
In order to care for this plant, you do not need to have any specific skills. Care consists of actions that seem simple at first glance. For example, you should weed the beds on time, tie up the stems, and prepare the plant for winter. You also need to take into account that watering, temperature, fertilizing and soil composition are very important for the full development of the plant. Therefore, these conditions must be ensured.
Location and temperature
It is important to monitor where Montbrecia is grown. She's enough photophilous. Under no circumstances should moisture stagnate in the soil. It is also recommended to plant it where there is no groundwater nearby. An open and lit area is ideal for planting. In hot climates it can be planted in places with partial shade. Areas with drafts are absolutely not suitable.
As is already known, this flower is a heat-loving plant. But it can still withstand minor frosts. In winter, it is better to cover the plant so that it does not freeze. The most optimal temperature for growing varies between 20-25 degrees Celsius. It will ensure abundant flowering. But this does not mean that the flower will not grow even at temperatures below or above this mark on the thermometer.
Watering
Watering is done quite often as the soil dries out.. This is done approximately once or twice a week in the spring, and a little more often in the summer. You can even use a hose. If it rains regularly in the region, then frequent watering is not necessary. Overwatering contributes to the development of diseases of the root system, which will not please any gardener at all.
Soil and fertilizing
A lot depends on the right soil. For example, development and flowering. Therefore, her choice is taken responsibly. Montbrecia loves fairly nutritious soils. If groundwater lies close to the root system, then the holes should be drained before planting. You need to loosen the soil regularly.
It is the responsibility of the gardener to provide proper nutrition to the soil. It is recommended to begin preparing the correct soil in the fall. At this time, take the substrate and mix it with nutrients. For example, with calcium, humus or superphosphates.
Important– add fertilizers on time. Do this twice a month before the plants begin to bloom. At this time, take mineral fertilizers and nitrophoska and put them into the soil. Also, when the first buds begin to form, you should fertilize twice a month with potassium and organic fertilizers.
In order to speed up the development of bulbs, it is recommended to trim off wilted flowers. They do this as soon as they bloom.
In some cases, tying the stem to some kind of support is simply necessary, since some varieties can reach large heights. The wind can easily break even the strongest stem.
As for wintering, the plant does not need to be dug up if the frosts in the region are not severe. It is recommended to cover it with film and dry leaves. Only varietal flowers are dug up. They begin to do this in mid-autumn, when the rainy seasons have not yet begun. The flower is dried from moisture and placed in any container, then covered with peat. All this is stored in a dark place at a temperature of no more than 10 degrees Celsius.
Diseases and pests
Diseases and pests are an unpleasant thing for all gardeners. Montbrecia is susceptible to a disease characterized by dry rot. This happens due to long-term drought and waterlogging of the soil. The first symptom will be yellowing of the leaves, which die over time. One method will help cope with this disease. The bulbs must be cooked. In too advanced situations, the plant can no longer be saved.
Pests also like to live on leaves and stems. They do this especially often. In order to get rid of them, you need to purchase special drugs. For example, "Karbofos". The leaves and stem are processed in the dosages indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging.
Planting in open ground
To plant the so-called Japanese gladiolus, you need to prepare the beds in advance. They do this in the fall. They are carefully dug up, several buckets of manure and fertilizers, which include superphosphates and potassium, are added to the soil. Lime is also added.
Just before planting, you can add fertilizer to the soil, which contains nitrogen. In the spring, when the frosts have long since receded, planting takes place. Of course, weather conditions should be taken into account. The earth should warm up well. A good time is the end of March or the beginning of April.
Not only the beds are prepared, but also the bulbs themselves. At the end of winter, they are placed in a warm place for a month so that they warm up well. The temperature should not exceed 15-20 degrees Celsius. Roots and leaves are removed from the bulbs. Parts that are useful for reproduction are separated from them.
Plant the bulbs in the holes at a distance of about 20 cm from each other. The depth varies around 10 cm. A young plant can bloom as early as next year. This is subject to proper care and growing conditions.
Plant propagation
Montbrecia is propagated in two ways: by seeds and vegetatively. The second is to divide the bulbs. Both the first and second methods have their merits, so they both have the right to life. Gardeners choose them based on their preferences. Before choosing, you should think carefully about everything and learn about all the intricacies of reproduction.
Seeds
Propagation by seeds is a fairly simple method that anyone can handle, even if they do not have certain skills and have never done it.
At the end of winter or early spring, the seeds are sown in a special container for further ripening. You can also plant in open ground. This is done in mid-spring, when weather conditions stabilize. The soil is prepared in advance.
The seeds are planted close to the surface and then the soil is slightly moistened. In the first year of life, flowering will not occur; the root system and the bulb itself will form. For those plants that will be dug up for the winter, you need to dig a hole 5-7 cm deep, and for those that will winter in open ground, the hole will be much deeper, about 15 cm deep.
Vegetative way
Perennial Japanese gladiolus can reproduce vegetatively. This method is the most labor-intensive, but it is faster and more effective.
The bulbs are stored all winter in a dark and cool room, and then, at the beginning of spring, they are taken out and prepared for planting. They are well heated for several weeks at a temperature of 15-20 degrees Celsius. The tubers are carefully sorted and cleaned of roots. Then heat treatment is carried out. Soak for a couple of hours in a solution of potassium permanganate, which is heated to a temperature of 45 degrees.
The bulbs are planted to a depth of 10 cm, depending on the size. The distance between the holes should be maintained at about 15 cm. Very small tubers cannot be kept warm, they will easily dry out. It is recommended to grow them in pots, and then plant them in open ground along with a lump of earth in which they were grown. As you can see, this method will require a little effort, but will save time. Gardeners love him for this.
Application in landscape design
Montbrecia is actively used by landscape designers in the design of garden plots. It is grown in both large and small groups. It goes well with other perennial plants. For example, with echinacea. Designers plant it with smaller flowers.
Japanese looks good against the backdrop of a bright green lawn. Some varieties grown in the shade form a very dense thicket.
Montbrecia is also cut and placed in a beautiful vase. Life expectancy will be several weeks. Its branches can be combined with other flowers. Such bouquets are perfect as a gift.
The most popular varieties
In nature, there are a large number of varieties of this plant. Only a few of them grow in Russia. This is due to climatic conditions.
- « Star of the East" - the most beautiful variety. Grows up to one meter in height. The flowers are large, orange in color. It does not tolerate frost, so it is covered or dug up for the winter.
- « Emily McKenzie" is an ornamental variety that grows up to half a meter in height. Flowering occurs later than the others. Flowers are brown or orange.
- « Lucifer" - the brightest and largest variety. Grows up to one and a half meters. Its flowers are bright red. It survives frosts well, but still needs shelter in winter.
Montbrecia is a beautiful plant that can be easily grown in front gardens. With proper care, it will delight you with its flowering for many years.
Japanese gladiolus is a beautiful garden plant of the iris family, characterized by orange-red bell-shaped flowers collected in paniculate inflorescences and a fan-shaped tuft of pointed, stiff leaves. A special feature of Montbrecia (also called a garden plant) is its similarity to iris and gladiolus; If on a gladiolus the flowers quite tightly cling to a peduncle that looks like a huge spike, then on the Japanese gladiolus they grow in a branched manner.
Japanese and the care of which give gardeners real pleasure, has about fifty species, most of which come from South America, and has another name - crocosmia, derived from “crocos” and “osme” - smell.
Japanese gladiolus (crocosmia): types
- Crocosmia paniculata- an early flowering tall plant with medium-sized bright orange flowers. Compared to the others, it is the most frost-resistant species, tolerating wintering well, provided that a little shelter is provided.
- Crocosmia Lucifer- a hybrid created on the basis of Crocosmia Paniculata. The flowers are coral red. Frost resistance is relative.
- Crocosmia Golden. Characterized by large (about 5 cm in diameter), yellow-orange flowers. Able to grow in slight shade. Flowering period is autumn. Looks great cut.
- Crocosmia vulgaris. The most common cultivated hybrid of Japanese gladiolus, obtained by crossing Crocosmia Potsi and Golden. Plant height is about 1.2 meters. Flowering occurs at the end of the summer period.
Montbrecia is characterized by high resistance to pests and diseases; needs minimal care: watering, weeding, fertilizing and weed removal.
Japanese gladiolus (Montbrecia): description
Montbrecia has small corms (about 2 cm in diameter), covered in several layers of mesh membranes; one unit per season produces 3-4 beautiful peduncles and several replacement bulbs.
The height of the stem is about 0.6-1.0 meters. The leaves are collected in a basal rosette, which gives Montbrecia a special attractiveness. (about 3-4 cm in diameter) funnel-shaped, with petals diverging to the sides. The blossoming of the plant occurs gradually, one after another, from the base to the top, thanks to which from the beginning of flowering (July - September) until late autumn, the Japanese gladiolus looks elegant. About 10 flowers open at the same time. The plant is not suitable for wintering in open ground.
Growing conditions
Japanese gladiolus (the photo conveys all the charm and bright orange beauty of a garden plant) feels comfortable in loose, well-drained soil rich in humus.
It is advisable to choose a place for planting that is well lit, without drafts and sunshine on a summer afternoon. Montbrecia should not be planted in the shade, otherwise the plant will begin to stretch and will not bloom at all.
In the fall, the area where it is planned to grow Japanese gladiolus needs to be prepared by adding organic fertilizers to the soil in combination with slaked lime and superphosphate. Before budding, and then every 2-3 weeks, Japanese gladiolus, the cultivation of which is not too troublesome, is recommended to be fed with mineral fertilizers.
Montbrezia in the garden
Japanese gladiolus (photo can be seen in the article) is a flower that looks attractive in rock gardens and against the background of low-growing flowers.
The plant is suitable for cutting; the inflorescences last in water for about 10 days or longer. Dried flowers retain their color and shape well, so they can be used to decorate a winter bouquet.
Planting and storing bulbs
Montbretia bulbs are planted in April-May to a depth of 6-10 cm with an interval between plants of 10 to 12 cm. In still fairly cool soil, Japanese gladiolus will first form a root system, and as the soil warms up, it will actively begin to grow the above-ground part. When planted at a later date, the flower will immediately begin to grow and will not have time to acquire good roots, which will negatively affect its appearance. The bulbs are dug up.
After digging up the bulbs, which must be done after the leaves turn yellow (at the end of September-October), the stem must be carefully trimmed, leaving 5 cm of its length at the root. Then the bulbs with children should be dried in a cool room (cellar or basement) at a temperature of 6-8 o C for 1-2 weeks, placed in containers with dry peat, moss or sawdust. Before spring planting, which takes place in March, it is recommended to keep the bulbs for several days at room temperature, after which preparatory steps such as separating the children, peeling, trimming roots and shoot residues are carried out. Before planting, the bulbs should be kept in a light solution of potassium permanganate for several hours. The plant needs to be planted in a container, and in May transplanted to a permanent place of growth in open ground.
Reproduction methods
Japanese plants, which do not require much effort, can be grown from seeds, pups and corms. In order to obtain seeds, montbretia bulbs are planted in a flower pot in March, the flower is kept outdoors all summer (without replanting), and in the fall it is brought indoors again. It is necessary to wait for the completion of its flowering and ripening of the seeds, which are sown for seedlings in February. It is recommended that young Japanese gladiolus plants be hardened off before planting in open ground (in early June). Japanese gladiolus grown from seeds blooms in the third year. Reproduction by children is more convenient and less labor-intensive, of which the Japanese gladiolus produces 5-6 pieces per year. Montbrecia planted in this way blooms in the year of planting.
Planting montbrecia and caring for it in the open ground is not a hassle at all and can be done even by a novice amateur gardener.
Scientists around the world are conducting selective work to obtain the newest crosses and varieties of crocosmia.
Today there are approximately four hundred cultivars of this flower.
Japanese gladiolus - description
Crocosmia (tritonia, mambretia, montbretia, Chinese gladiolus or Japanese gladiolus) is a bulbous flowering plant classified as a member of the Iris family.
The dry inflorescences of the plant emit a scent strongly reminiscent of the aroma of saffron (crocus).
Montbrecia grows from 35 to 140 cm in height, has a large number of basal narrow and rigid leaves up to 70 cm long, no more than 25 mm wide.
Yellow, white, orange or red star-shaped flowers up to 50 mm in diameter are collected in three to five pieces in compressed, tight inflorescences. Its stem is branched with urinary or straight leaves, and its healthy peduncle makes it look like a gladiolus. The plant is native to South Africa.
Growing from seeds
One of the ways to breed crocosmia is to propagate it by seeds.
In temperate climatic conditions, it bears fruit well and by the end of October forms multi-seeded round capsules with rather large, reddish-brown seeds, which are successfully used for propagation of the crop.
Sowing
At the end of February or in the first ten days of March, seed planting material should be placed in water to soak for 24 hours.
The fluid should be changed every five to six hours.
Sow the seeds in a soil mixture consisting of sand, humus, peat, and soil.
The container with the crops is covered with glass or film and placed in a warm, bright place for germination.
Seedling care
Caring for Japanese gladiolus sprouts at the seedling stage involves following standard measures.
After the first sprouts appear, the film (glass) is removed from the pot.
The soil around the sprouts is carefully loosened and watered as needed.
It is advisable to keep the soil substrate moderately wet to avoid fungal diseases.
Picking
At the stage of the appearance of the third true leaf, young plants are transplanted into separate, larger containers.
Three weeks before planting seedlings in a garden plot, they are hardened off: young shoots are taken out into the fresh air every day, gradually lengthening the time period of the strengthening procedure.
In the third ten days of May, Montbretia along with the soil is transplanted outside.
Note: Tritonia obtained from seeds begins to bloom only in the 3rd year, less often in the 2nd.
Planting crocosmia in open ground
Tritonia grows beautifully in well-lit, open areas.
She is not afraid of drafts or partial shade. The preparation of the land for planting is done in the autumn.
The plot is dug up shallowly and superphosphate is added. Mineral fertilizer is applied at the rate of 35-40 g per 1 m2.
You can also add nitrogen and potassium mineral fertilizers to increase the nutritional value of the soil. In order to avoid moisture retention, a mixture of compost, sand, peat in a ratio of 1:1:1 is added to the beds.
The bulbs are laid out on a lined “cushion” (about 15 cm thick) at intervals of 12-16 cm, then covered with sand and then garden soil.
Note: When planting Japanese gladiolus of various types in a limited space, a distance between varieties should be maintained (80-100 cm), otherwise the flowers may be cross-pollinated.
When to plant in the ground
Crocosmia corms are usually planted in open ground in April-May, when the ground warms up after the winter cold.
Seedlings grown from seed material are planted in late May, when the threat of spring frosts has passed.
The site for planting Japanese gladiolus is prepared in the fall - the soil is dug up, weeds are removed, and fertilizers are applied.
Preparing the site for planting planting material can be done in the spring, 7-10 days before planting, so that the soil is compacted.
How to plant
Crocosmia is planted in warmed (about +10 °C) soil. The depth of planting tubers in the soil directly depends on their size.
Large bulbs are buried 8-10 cm, medium ones - 5-8 cm, and children - no deeper than two to three centimeters.
Corms are planted either in furrows or in holes, which should be well watered and filled with organic fertilizers.
The row spacing is maintained within 40-60 cm, and the gap between the bulbs is 5-15 cm.
Montbretia seedlings are planted in holes at a distance of 10-12 cm between plants, row spacing is 25-30 cm. After planting, they are watered and shaded from direct sunlight for 2-3 days.
Caring for a plant in the garden
Caring for crocosmia is simple and even a beginner can handle it, since montbretia is completely unpretentious.
In the summer, with the appearance of the 3rd normal leaf, every two weeks the plant is fed with infused mullein and complex mineral fertilizer (2.0-4.0 g/liter).
During the budding period, potassium fertilizers are applied (2.0-3.0 g/liter). Watering is done once every seven days, after which the soil should be loosened to seal in moisture.
Caring for Montbretia also involves systematic planting and dividing plant bushes. The bulbs are dug up in the spring, sorted into mother and child bulbs, and then planted again in the ground.
To prevent diseases in a timely manner, the plant must be periodically inspected and dried parts of the plant must be removed. Flower stalks should be trimmed as early as possible to ensure rapid and complete ripening of the bulbs.
In late autumn, the crop is prepared for wintering - some plants are dug up, while others are covered with improvised means, thereby protecting them from freezing.
How to grow
Growing tritonia is similar to the technology for cultivating gladioli.
Beautiful, strong plants are obtained if you regularly fertilize with complex mineral fertilizers.
Watering the plant is not advisable often - only once a week, but plentifully.
It is advisable to harrow the soil around the bushes of flowering plants a certain time after sprinkling the flower beds. Compliance with agrotechnical measures will inevitably lead to a healthy, lushly flowering plant.
Reproduction
Experienced gardeners advise propagating tritonia not by seeds, but vegetatively: by corms or bulbs (babies).
In the spring, they are separated from the adult bulb and planted in pre-prepared holes in the summer cottage.
Flowering of plants grown from children will occur only in the 2nd year after planting.
Propagation of crocosmia with adult bulbs is as follows:
- sorted bulbous material for planting is removed from winter storage and kept for 7-10 days at room temperature;
- Before planting the tubers in the ground, they are kept in a warm solution of potassium permanganate at a 0.1% concentration to stimulate germination and disinfect the bulbs.
Florist advice: It is advisable to plant in the last ten days of April, when the ground warms up to approximately 8-10 °C.
Pests and diseases
Crocosmia is a fairly resistant crop to diseases and insect pests.
But improper, inadequate care of the crop can lead to the development of diseases such as:
- Gray rot. This fungal disease primarily affects the bulbs; they become covered with a fluffy, light gray coating. An effective fungicide for combating gray mold is Teldor, as well as Diskor, Alarin-B, and Skor emulsion. To prevent and combat rot, you should adhere to the best planting scheme for montbretia, avoid thickening of flowers and excessive soil moisture.
- Jaundice (herbaceousness). It is initially expressed in the yellowing of the edges of the leaves, then the foliage becomes straw-colored, as a result of which the flower plant dies. The virus of this disease is transmitted by cicadas.
- Fusarium (dry rot). Characteristic signs of fungal infection are yellowing and dying of leaves, changes in the size and configuration of flowers, and bending of peduncles. Affected bulbs wrinkle and darken. Violation of agricultural practices is the main reason for the development of fusarium. It is recommended to treat the sick plant with a fungicide.
It is important to know: To prevent possible diseases of Japanese gladiolus, it is recommended to strictly adhere to cultivation technology, treat seeds and bulbs with potassium permanganate, and change the planting location every 3-4 years.
The following insect pests pose a serious danger to Montbretia:
Montbrecia after flowering
At the end of flowering of crocosmia, it is necessary to prune the plant - the entire stem is removed.
This procedure promotes the ripening of the corms and a good overwintering of the crop in the ground, and also promotes the flow of additional micronutrients and substances to the root system.
Take note: very overgrown plants overwintering in a garden plot weaken, so it is advisable to replant and thin them out once every 3-4 years after flowering.
When and how to collect seeds
The seeds of Japanese gladiolus are large and are found in round-shaped seed pods.
Seed material is collected in the fall, and next year (at the end of February) they are sown to produce seedlings.
In the southern, warm regions, self-seeding can be observed in this crop, but in colder regions, the seeds, as a rule, do not ripen.
To collect seed material in the northern regions, 5-7 bulbs are planted in flower pots in early March. In mid-May, grown flowers are planted in the garden plot so that flowering begins earlier.
In the fall, Montbrecia is transplanted into containers and placed in storage, thus increasing the growing season for seed maturation.
Please note: When a flower is propagated by seeds collected independently at home, there is a high probability of obtaining a new variety that is not similar to the mother variety. It is best to buy seeds in specialized flower shops.
Winter storage
Storing Japanese gladiolus in winter is carried out in two ways: leave the corms for the winter in the garden plot or dig up and place the bulbs for storage in a pantry or warm basement.
The way the flower plant is preserved is influenced by the climate of the region.
Before being placed in wooden containers, the bulbs are sorted by variety and size. Planting material is placed in a container on dry sawdust or sprinkled with dried earth.
The temperature at the storage location should not be higher than 5-8 C. During the wintering period, it is not recommended to allow Japanese gladiolus tubers to dry out.
In regions with warm climates, crocosmia tolerates winter well in the ground. But still, the bushes must be covered with a sufficiently thick layer of sawdust, fallen leaves, spruce branches, roofing felt or roofing felt. In spring, the coating is removed after possible severe frosts.
Tritonia is a colorful, catchy plant. On the site, the crop is placed in groups of different sizes between low-growing flowers.
Cut Japanese gladiolus deserves special attention.
Inflorescences for bouquet arrangements are cut at the stage of opening the second or third flower bud.
Crocosmia stays in a vase with water for up to two weeks, gradually blooming all the available buds. Florists use dried inflorescences to create all kinds of bouquets. At the same time, the color of the inflorescence and its shape are perfectly preserved.
Watch the video in which an experienced gardener talks about planting and caring for montbretia in open ground:
Japanese gladiolus is a beautiful, perennial, bulbous plant from the Iris family, native to South Africa. Other names are crocosmia or montbretia, the Latin name is Crocosmia, the popular name is Japanese gladiolus. The plant is very similar to a miniature gladiolus, distinguished by even more elegant flowers and peduncles.
Description
Crocosmia is a plant with tall (from 0.6 to 1.5 m), very branched stems; sword-shaped soft green leaves, 40-60 cm long, collected in a fan-shaped basal rosette; paniculate inflorescences bearing star-shaped or funnel-shaped, graceful (3-5 cm in diameter), orange-red or yellow flowers. The corm is small, covered with a shell of leaf scales. One corm grows up to 3-4 peduncles. Crocosmia blooms profusely and for a long time - from July to September.
Kinds
The genus Crocosmia has about 50 species. The most popular of them are:
- Crocosmia golden. The species is thermophilic and grows in the wild. Blooms in early autumn. The flowers are bright yellow or orange, large, up to 5 cm in diameter. Stem up to 1 m high;
- Crocosmia vulgaris is a hybrid of Crocosmia Potts and Crocosmia Golden. Blooms in late summer. The buds are bright orange or yellow with a red tint. Stem up to 1 m high. Has the following varieties:
- Vesuvius;
- Orange Delight;
- Bouquet Parfait;
- Hiz Majesty;
- Lady Oxford;
- Reingold;
- Lady Wilson;
- Crocosmia massonorum. Blooms in mid-summer. It blooms profusely and for a long time. It differs from other species in its good winter hardiness. It has small bright orange flowers. The stem is 0.8-1.2 m high. In nature, it often grows on mountain slopes;
- Crocosmia Potsie. Very moisture-loving, grows in wetlands. Hybrid varieties of this species are common in cultivation. Particularly good is Culcean Pink with pink flowers. Stem height up to 1 meter;
- Crocosmia Lucifer is a hybrid with the brightest coral-red flowers. Relatively frost-resistant. Has many common varieties;
- Crocosmia Paniculata Plant up to 1.2 m high. Blooms early, has bright orange, medium-sized flowers. The most frost-resistant.
Growing conditions
Crocosmia is a light-loving plant, so the planting site should be well lit by the sun and sheltered from strong winds and drafts. In the shade, the plant stretches out, lies down and blooms poorly. Soils should be:
- Rich in humus;
- Loose;
- Lungs;
- xwell drained;
- Non-acidic;
- Without excess moisture.
Landing
For planting, crocosmia bulbs are taken out in March and stored for several days at room temperature. Then the corms begin to be prepared for planting: they are cleared of dry leaves, the remains of the stem and roots are cut off, and the children are separated. Before planting, the bulbs are soaked for 1.5-2 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. They are planted in small containers, and in May they are planted in open ground, in soil well warmed by the first rays of the sun. The bulb is buried 10-15 cm. A distance of 15-20 cm is maintained between plants.
Care
Caring for crocosmia is not difficult and includes weeding, loosening, and timely watering, especially during dry periods. Every 10-14 days it is recommended to fertilize with liquid mineral fertilizers.
Reproduction
Crocosmia is often propagated by baby corms, less often by seeds. Moreover, a clone plant grown from seeds may lose the characteristics of the mother plant.
To obtain seeds, the bulbs are planted in a pot in March, taken outside in the summer, and in the fall the flowering plant is brought indoors again until the end of flowering and ripening of the seeds. Ripe seeds are collected and sown for seedlings at the end of February. Sowing is done in fertile soil, the composition of which includes humus, sand and peat. After germination, the seedlings are separated.
In warm weather, the crops are taken out into the fresh air for hardening. Seedlings are planted in open ground in mid-May - early June. First, in the fall, fertilizers in the form of humus, superphosphate, slaked lime and potassium chloride must be added to the soil. When grown from seeds, crocosmia blooms only after two to three years.
Reproduction using “children” is the most affordable and easiest way. In early spring (March - April), 4-5 children separated from the corms are planted in wide pots or other containers. At the beginning of summer, sprouted shoots with a lump of earth are planted in the ground to a depth of 8 to 10 cm and at a distance of 10 cm from each other. During the summer season, the corm of the plant forms 5-6 baby bulbs, which, after transplantation, bloom in the first year.
Digging and storing bulbs
In the southern regions, crocosmia is not dug up for the winter, but mulched with a thick layer of fallen leaves, mown grass or sawdust, and covered with film on top. Bulbs are dug up only once every 2-3 years to separate and plant the children.
In the northern regions, bulbs are dug up. Choose dry, warm days in October, before the onset of frost. After digging, cut off the stems, leaving 5 cm. The bulbs with the children are air-dried for one to two weeks. Then they are placed in a wide container, covered with earth and stored in a basement, refrigerator or cellar at a temperature of +5-8 °C.
Diseases and pests
Crocosmia is resistant to diseases and pests. But there may be some problems when growing. Flowering plants, which can become sick from improper care, drought, or excess moisture in the soil, require special protection. Most often, plants are affected by gray rot, causing damage to the bulbs. For prevention, follow the watering regime. Fusarium is very dangerous, which is characterized by rapid yellowing of leaves, gradual death and drying of the plant. Crocosmia can also be affected by jaundice - yellowing of the tips of the leaves, which spreads to the entire foliage. The leaves dry out and the plant dies. The disease is transmitted by cicadas. They are destroyed by heat treatment of the bulbs at a temperature of + 45 o C for 30 minutes.
Among the pests, Japanese gladioli are often attacked by:
- Mole crickets that gnaw on leaves and roots. Traps are set against them;
- Thrips;
- Spider mite.
They are fought using pesticides.
Decorative features, use in landscape
Japanese gladioli decorate flower beds, lawns, mixborders and ridges. Properly composed compositions of its flowers look beautiful and unusual.
Typically, plants are planted among perennials in small groups, among shorter plants. Tall stems are resistant to lodging and do not require staking. Crocosmia looks great in bouquets. Its combinations with roses, chrysanthemums and cereals are especially beautiful. Flowers, when cut, retain their fresh appearance for up to two weeks. Dried inflorescences look beautiful in winter bouquets, retaining their shape and color well.
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