Heliotrope is a plant common in the past, but has lost its former popularity. Apparently due to the fact that it looks great in a semi-wild, rustic garden landscape design, and now there are not many fans of this style. And before, not a single Russian estate could do without heliotrope.
Heliotrope is great for attracting butterflies. Its older varieties are much more aromatic than modern ones. Heliotrope blooms for quite a long time, from June to September. And its small flowers collected in large corymbose inflorescences will look gorgeous among a bright green lawn. Heliotrope is also planted in flowerpots and grown on balconies.
Heliotrope growing from seeds
This plant has a rather long development period, but despite this, planting heliotrope with seeds and growing heliotrope from seeds is a very simple process. It has large seeds that germinate and develop well at home.
When to plant heliotrope seedlings
From planting heliotrope seeds at home to its flowering, approximately 80-110 days pass, and modern heliotrope hybrids begin to bloom faster than older varieties. Therefore, if you want to see heliotrope bloom in June, the optimal time to plant heliotrope seedlings is from February 20 to March 10. You can sow heliotrope seeds later, and then flowering will occur later.
How to grow heliotrope from seeds
Heliotrope from seeds develops quite slowly, so it does not require particularly nutritious soil. To sow seeds, you can use a mixture of non-acidic peat and sand (4:1) or flower soil from the store. Since sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out early, even during short daylight hours, it is advisable to steam the soil mixture, even if it is written on the package with soil that this is not required: at such times the risk of fungal diseases is especially high, and additional insurance will not hurt.
How to sow heliotrope for seedlings - fill the container for flower seedlings with slightly moist soil mixture, compact it and sprinkle heliotrope seeds over the surface, as evenly as possible.
Some manufacturers write in the instructions on the seed packaging that heliotrope should be sown superficially (without covering it with soil), since its seeds germinate in the light. In fact, this does not matter: heliotrope seeds germinate equally well in light and in darkness. When sowing at home, it is still better to sprinkle the seeds a little with soil (1-2 mm), this will reduce the risk of the seeds drying out.
Then water the crops in small increments, preferably from a spray bottle, until the water completely saturates the soil mixture.
Place the container with the planted flower seeds in the greenhouse and put it in a moderately warm place with an approximate temperature of +18...+20°C. When shoots appear, remove the pots from the greenhouse onto the windowsill. Heliotrope seedlings grow best at a temperature of +20...+22°C.
Heliotrope seeds usually take 5 to 20 days to germinate. If seedlings have not appeared after 3 weeks, it is better to play it safe and re-sow, although it happens that the plant sprouts even after 4 weeks. Despite the fact that sowing is carried out early, heliotrope tolerates lack of light well. If the windows are not north-facing and are not shaded by anything from the outside, it can usually be grown without additional lighting.
Here's how to sow heliotrope for seedlings. Quite simple and fast. Usually this process does not cause difficulties.
How to dive heliotrope
As soon as two true leaves appear, you need to pluck the heliotrope seedlings.
It is better to plant heliotrope one at a time into individual pots measuring 9 x 9 cm. You can use the same soil mixture in which you sowed heliotrope for seedlings. If necessary, untangle the roots of the seedlings with a toothpick so that they are placed evenly in the hole, without bends.
The harvested seedlings need to be watered with warm water. 2 weeks after picking, it is advisable to feed it with any fertilizer for flowers.
How to plant heliotrope in a garden pot or flowerbed
Heliotrope seedlings are planted in open ground in a permanent place in early June, when the threat of night frosts has finally passed. It can be transplanted into flower pots earlier. If cold days arrive, they can be covered or brought indoors.
Very often heliotrope is planted in flowerpots with others. For example, you can plant annual Drummond phlox in delicate shades together with heliotrope.
To create a beautiful composition for the balcony, select a beautiful flowerpot and fill it with soil, do not forget to add complete mineral fertilizer (1 tbsp per 5 liters of soil). You can choose fertilizer sticks or special granular fertilizer for balcony, container and indoor plants (consumption according to instructions). Such fertilizers dissolve slowly, gradually releasing nutrients. One refill should be enough for plants to last the entire season.
Water the plants after planting and move the flowerpot to a permanent location. At first, until the plants have taken root, you need to shade the flowerpot.
Growing heliotrope is a matter associated not only with special care of the plant, but also with a certain risk. But if you do everything correctly, you can get a beautiful flower, the aroma of which will simultaneously resemble cinnamon and vanilla.
Description of heliotrope
The heliotrope genus includes herbs and shrubs. In the wild, they grow in the temperate zone, as well as in the tropics and subtropics.
The foliage of the plants is dense and pubescent, and has a dark green color. The shape is obovate, the structure of the leaves can be either wrinkled or wavy.
Heliotrope blooms vigorously, with purple, less often white, inflorescences. They consist of small, closely spaced five-petal flowers. After flowering, small nut-shaped fruits remain in place of the flowers, consisting of 4 parts tightly adjacent to each other.
Some types of this flower can be dangerous, as they contain toxic substances related to alkaloids. Thus, the leaves and stems contain cynoglossin, and the seeds contain lasiocarpine and heliotropin. The latter substance was named after this flower. All these aldehydes, when ingested by a living creature, in particular a person, can adversely affect the functioning of the liver and nervous system.
Growing heliotrope from seeds
In southern Russia you can find a weed belonging to this genus, called “Heliotrope pubescent”. But, despite this, in other regions plants of this genus are widely used for decorative purposes.
You can grow heliotrope at home from seeds in two stages:
- transplanting;
- open ground planting.
Each one is worth talking about separately.
Planting seedlings
You need to start sowing heliotrope seedlings at home relatively early: at the end of February or beginning of March. This is necessary so that the plant gets stronger before transplanting into open ground.
Before planting a plant, it is necessary to prepare nutritious soil for it. To do this you need to mix:
- 4/5 peat;
- 1/5 sand.
In order to kill all fungal spores and pathogenic bacteria in the resulting soil, it must be steamed.
The resulting mixture should be placed in an even layer in a flat container and compacted with something like a plank. Without loosening, sprinkle several seeds on top of the resulting layer. Afterwards they need to be sprinkled with earth again, but this time there is no need to compact it. In this case, the layer of top soil should not exceed two millimeters.
After the seeds are planted, the container must be covered on top with either glass or cling film. This will create a greenhouse effect. To enhance it, it is recommended to keep the plants in a warm place with a temperature of 18 to 20°.
Keeping seeds in such conditions can last from 5 to 20 days. A signal that it is time for the plants to change their environment will be the appearance of sprouts, which at home will hatch just at the time indicated above. After this, it is recommended to remove the greenhouse and move the container to a warmer place (20-22°). However, the presence of sunlight is not necessary for heliotrope. He can do without it in the first months of development.
Transplantation into a larger container
The sprouts formed from the seeds remain together exactly until they begin to acquire normal leaves. This shows that the plant has already developed and become stronger. From this moment on, all flowers begin to be transplanted into separate pots. It is important that the diameter of the new container is at least 9 cm, since this is exactly the space required for the roots of the young flower. Before planting in the pot, you should fill it with soil consisting of the same ingredients that are included in the soil for seeds.
It is important to water the plants after transplanting. After 2 weeks, you should start adding fertilizer intended for seedlings to the water for irrigation. You can buy it in stores that sell garden seeds. Solutions must be prepared as written in the instructions.
Planting in open ground
Planting seeds in open ground is extremely rarely practiced, since this method practically does not bring any results or the plants become sick. But despite this, this practice is very similar to what needs to be done with seedlings after they have been in pots for several weeks.
First of all, you need to choose the right place where the flower will grow. An open but windless area is suitable for this. The soil must contain humus, be loose and fertile.
When replanting plants that have already grown from seeds, it is necessary to make a hole in the soil. Its size should be slightly larger than the old pot. Heliotrope must be replanted together with the clod of earth in which the roots grew, so as not to damage them. Before this, a layer of humus, which may consist of leaves or manure, must be laid at the bottom of the recess.
The heliotrope along with the old soil is inserted into the dug hole; the hollow spaces must be filled with earth and compacted around the seedling. The last stage of replanting is watering the plant with plain water.
Features of care
Caring for heliotrope has its own characteristics. The main one is watering the soil for this flower. In order to drink, the plant does not need a lot of water, therefore, in weather with relatively average humidity, the frequency of watering should not be more frequent than for other plants. However, after watering, the soil on which the heliotrope grows must be carefully loosened, since water compacts it, blocking the access of air to the soil.
In addition, after each watering, you should weed the soil to remove weeds, which appear quite often in fertile soil. Before rapid flowering begins, the plant must be fed with fertilizers containing a full range of nutrients.
You should also treat the plant with Actellik, this will avoid collisions with pests that can destroy it. To use, you need to dilute 1 ml of the drug in 1 liter of water. This amount of solution will be quite enough to treat 5 m2 of flowers.
Bottom line
In order to care for heliotrope, a lot of time is needed, especially in the first months of the plant’s life. Failure to follow the rules of care at home can lead to the fact that nothing will grow from the seeds.
But if you are patient and do everything as described above, then as a result a new flower may appear in the garden, which will not only surprise everyone with its unusual appearance, but will also give the flower beds the delicate aromas of vanilla and cinnamon.
The content of the article:
There are many representatives of the “green” world of the planet who follow the movement of the Sun with their “look”. We are well aware of the ability of the sunflower to turn its flower following the change in the position of our luminary in the sky, but few people dare to grow such a flower in their rooms. But there is one of the same lovers of sunlight that gets along well at home - this is Heliotropium.
The plant belongs to the Boraginaceae family, which also includes up to 300 varieties of angiosperm dicotyledonous flora. For their growth, they have “chosen” the territories of the Mediterranean and the entire American continent, where temperate, subtropical and tropical climates prevail. In the southern lands of Russia, only the Heliotropium lasiocarpum variety is found as a weed.
The plant received its name in Latin due to the fusion of two ancient Greek derivatives - “helios”, translated as “Sun” and “tropein”, which means “to rotate” or “to turn”. This name emphasizes the property of flowers to turn following the movement of a star in the sky throughout the day. And heliotrope derives its Russian name from a simple transliteration of the scientific name. However, due to its aroma, which is very reminiscent of vanilla, the plant has been extremely popular since the 18th century. In our open spaces it was called “dye litmus” or, not very poetically, “lichen grass”. On the lands of France, the name of heliotrope had a more sonorous interpretation - “herb of love”, but in old Britain it was nicknamed “cherry pie”, even the Germans called it “herb of God”.
Species of this genus mainly have a herbaceous, semi-shrub or shrub growth habit. Its leaf blades have short petioles and obovate outlines. There is also pubescence, their color is dark, rich emerald, the surface is wrinkled and wavy.
When flowering, small buds bloom, which are collected in curls with a white or purple corolla.
After flowering, a nut-shaped fruit ripens - coenobium, consisting of a pair of dry carpels, which peculiarly disintegrate into 4 single-seeded particles called erem.
Getting heliotrope to bloom in your garden or room requires some effort.
Growing heliotrope, planting and care
- Lighting When growing "grass of love" it should be good, but without direct sunlight. It is better to place the plant on the window sills of the eastern and western locations. In full shade, heliotrope gets sick and dies.
- Content temperature. Heliotrope is quite heat-loving; thermometer readings in the spring-summer period should vary between 20–24 degrees, but with the arrival of autumn they are gradually reduced to 16.
- Air humidity.“Lichen grass” also grows in a dry room, but the ends of the leaves will dry out, and pests may also attack. Therefore, regular year-round spraying is used.
- Watering. As soon as the growing season has begun and until flowering ends, you will need to moisten the substrate abundantly and regularly. The top layer of soil should always be moist. But it is important to prevent flooding of the soil by not allowing water to stagnate in the stand under the pot, especially in winter, as the root system may rot. Overdrying is strictly prohibited. Only soft and warm water is used.
- Fertilizers They are introduced starting in March and continue to feed until the end of flowering. The regularity of adding fertilizing is once every 14 days; complex mineral preparations are used.
- Transfer heliotrope is held annually in March. The plant is removed from the container, the damaged roots are cut off and planted in a new pot, several centimeters larger than the previous one. Drainage is laid on the bottom, and then soil. Then the plant is placed in a pot, watered and pinched. The substrate must be light and nutritious, otherwise the heliotrope will not develop. You can make your own soil from turf substrate, deciduous soil, peat and coarse sand (in proportions 4:2:2:1). Crushed charcoal and granular complex fertilizer are mixed into it.
It is possible to obtain a new heliotrope bush by sowing seeds, as well as by cuttings.
The cutting process begins at the end of winter and lasts throughout the spring. Slicing is carried out from plants that have reached 3 years of age. The top is cut off from the branch, which should have 3-4 internodes. The lower leaves are removed, and all the remaining leaves are halved (this will reduce the area of moisture loss).
The sections are treated with a root formation stimulator. Planting is carried out in a humus-sand substrate (equal parts), which is well compacted in the pot and moistened. The cuttings are planted in the ground and covered with a glass jar or plastic bag to create mini-greenhouse conditions. The pot is placed in a well-lit place with heat levels of 22–25 degrees. The seedlings are ventilated daily and the soil is moistened if necessary. The cuttings take root in a month. After this, they are transplanted into separate containers with a suitable substrate. At first, they are placed in a shaded place and sprayed several times a day.
Seeds are sown in March. Peat-sand soil is poured into the planting pots, and the seed material is not embedded, but poured onto its surface. The container is covered with glass or film. Place the container in a place with diffused illumination at a temperature of 22 degrees. Additional lighting can be provided so that the daylight hours are 10 hours.
It will be necessary to ventilate, and as soon as the seedlings appear, they are sprayed with a spray bottle. When a pair of leaves develop on the seedlings, pick them (1.5–2 months after sowing). 6–9 sprouts are placed in one pot. After a month, you can re-seat them into separate containers. By autumn the heliotropes will be blooming.
Difficulties in cultivating heliotrope
Among the pests that plague the “grass of love” are scale insects, whiteflies, aphids and spider mites. If harmful insects are detected, the entire plant is wiped with a soap solution, followed by treatment with insecticides.
The most common problems that occur with heliotrope include:
- Gray rot - gray spotting on leaves and shoots. For control, fungicides are used after removing all affected parts.
- Rust - the foliage is covered with stripes and spots of a rusty-brown color or lumpy formations (pustules), from which a rust-like powder pours out when ripe. Treatment too.
- The plant does not bloom if the light is low and the temperature is high in winter.
- When the edges of the leaves dry out, over time they turn yellow and wither, and subsequently fly off, this was due to low humidity.
- If the leaves fall off from the bottom of the stem, this is due to excess moisture and souring of the substrate.
- In case of lack of light, the shoots become thin and stretched, the leaves lose their color.
It is important to remember that some of the plants contain poisonous alkaloids in their above-ground parts (stems and leaves), and the seeds contain heliotropin, cynoglossin and lasiocarpine. If such substances enter the human body, they cause damage to the nervous system and liver (heliotropic hepatitis is provoked). Therefore, when growing this flower in your home, it is necessary to prevent small children and pets from coming into contact with the “cherry pie,” as this can be fatal.
However, with all this, heliotrope is actively used in perfumery (due to its delicate aroma similar to vanilla and cinnamon), in floriculture and medicine. This mainly applies to varieties native to Peru - Heliotrope peruvianum and thyroid. The essential oil of this plant is still very popular.
Since heliotrope is a “worshipper” of the Sun, it is suitable for people born under the sign of Leo and Libra. It is believed that the plant will bring good luck, glory and prosperity to its owners in business. It will also help owners gain strength, become influential and authoritative, without losing the subtlety and sophistication of taste.
If we consider its effect on a couple, then it is not for nothing that it is called the “herb of love” since heliotrope helps to create harmonious and strong relationships, which are so necessary in the family. It is especially recommended by experts in the field of energy that if troubles and quarrels begin in the family, then it is necessary to bring heliotrope into this house, which will establish peace and harmony unnoticed by the owners, and can also revive faded feelings and love.
Even in ancient times, heliotrope was used as a magical flower during various rituals. There was even such a sign that if a flower of the “grass of God” was placed in a church, it would not allow women who were unfaithful to their spouses to leave the temple.
Also, according to legend, if heliotrope, together with a bay leaf, is wrapped in cloth and hidden on your body under clothing, this will protect the owner from envious people and ill-wishers, and will help win the love and respect of others. And there was a belief that a plant growing in the house could scare away thieves.
If you prepare a decoction or tincture based on heliotrope, then helminths are fought and pain caused by urolithiasis is eliminated. The plant is still not recognized by official medicine.
Types of heliotrope
- Peruvian heliotrope (Heliotropium peruvianum) or as it is also called Peruvian Heliotrope or Tree Heliotrope. This variety is the most common among indoor plant lovers. The plant has a shrubby growth form and a fairly spreading crown, reaching a height of 40–60 cm. The leaf blades have obovate contours, there are wrinkles over the entire surface, the petioles of the leaves are short. The flowers of this variety are dark purple or rich blue in color. They have a strong pleasant aroma and are collected in inflorescences reaching 15 cm in diameter. The flowering process is very long (begins in the middle of summer and lasts until frost) and is quite abundant. Popular varieties are Marin, Black Beauty and White Lady.
- Corymbose heliotrope (Heliotropium corymbosum). The height of this variety is the most impressive - 120 cm. The leaf blades are lanceolate in outline and have the contours of a boat. The color of the upper part of the leaf is slightly darker than on the back side. The flowers take on a blue or blue color. They gather in inflorescences, the length of which reaches 10 cm. The flowering period stretches from the beginning of June and lasts until late autumn.
- European heliotrope (Heliotropium europaeum) has the synonymous name Heliotrope Stevens or lichen herb. Although, based on the name, this variety should be found exclusively in the Mediterranean, it has taken root well in the lands of South America. A perennial plant that begins branching from the very base of its trunk. Usually the height does not exceed 30–40 cm. The leaf blades are large, oblong or wedge-shaped, with long petioles, their color varies from light to yellow-green. Flowers at the very beginning form small curls, which, as they grow, transform into dense and lush inflorescences. The color of the petals is white and the buds originate in the leaf axils or at the ends of the stems. The corolla does not exceed 0.5 mm in length. The flowering process extends from May to the end of summer. When ripened, a nut-shaped fruit with ovoid contours is formed. Its surface is tuberculate and wrinkled. The seed material is very small and in one gram their number can be 1500 units. The plant is poisonous and must be used with extreme caution.
- Curassavium heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum). Its native growing areas are in North and South America. A perennial shrub plant with an upright growing stem and wide outline. In height it rarely exceeds 0.5–1 meter with a width of up to 1–3 meters. It happens that its branches begin to lie down, pressing against the soil. The color of the stems and leaf blades is rich green. The leaves are located opposite on the branches. Their shape is oblong, the surface is fleshy. At the tops of the succulent flowering stems, one-sided racemose inflorescences are formed, into which flowers with whitish-blue petals are collected. The number of petals in a bud is 5 units.
- Heliotrope amplexicaulus (Heliotropium amplexicaulus) considers South America to be its true homeland. The variety is short-growing, reaching a height of only 30 cm. The stem of the plant is upright and branched. The leaf blades are oblong, lanceolate in shape, with wavy edges. Their length rarely exceeds 8 cm. The flowers bloom with a tubular corolla and purple-colored petals or yellowish with a purple corolla (this is what the corolla of a flower is called in English).
- Heliotrope lasiocarpun or as it is also called Heliotropium dasycarpum. This plant is an annual plant with a herbaceous growth habit and poisonous properties. Its height rarely exceeds one and a half meters. All parts have hard pubescence. The stem of this variety has good branching and leaf blades with rounded or elliptical contours. Each leaf has a long petiole. The flowers are small in size and consist of yellowish or whitish petals. Curls are collected from them. The flowering process occurs throughout the summer.
- Heliotrope oval (Heliotropium ovalifolium), which can be found under the name Heliotrope ovate. The lands of the Australian continent are considered to be the birthplace of this variety. The plant is an annual plant, reaching a height of one meter. The stem is branched; it is crowned by a peduncle with buds with a tubular corolla. The leaf blades acquire lanceolate or oval contours, the length of which rarely exceeds 3 cm. The flower has 5 petals in the form of prominent lobes. The color of the bud is lilac or snow-white. This plant begins to bloom from April days until autumn.
- Heliotrope Sea Breeze is a hybrid bred variety. Its height reaches 45 cm, and the inflorescences measure 12 cm in diameter. Small buds with blue petals are combined into an inflorescence. The foliage has obovate contours and a dark green color. The flowering process extends from the beginning of summer days and lasts until October.
Name: gender comes from the Greek words "helios" - Sun and "tropos" - turn, direction and is explained by the fact that the flower stalks of these plants turn following the movement of the sun, so the inflorescences are always facing it.
Description: The genus includes 250 species, distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. Herbaceous perennials or subshrubs. The most famous: European heliotrope(N. euroraeitis), native to the Mediterranean; grows everywhere in North and South America heliotrope kurasawa(N. curassavicum). Most often used in floriculture tree heliotrope, or Peruvian(N. arborescens = N. peruvianum), native to Peru and Ecuador, where it forms a lush bush up to 190 cm high, covered with vanilla-scented flowers. Much less commonly used heliotropes stem-encompassing(N. amplexicaulus) And corymbose(N. corymbosum).
All heliotropes have obovate, pubescent, dark green, wrinkled or wavy leaves on short petioles. The leaf arrangement is regular. The flowers are small, fragrant, collected in corymbose inflorescences. The corolla is dark purple or dark blue, with a short tube and a 5-part limb; there are varieties with white or blue petals. Heliotrope flowers contain fragrant essential oil, which is used by perfumers to prepare perfumes. The fruit, which botanists call coenobium, splits into four identical “nuts” - erema. The seeds are small, 1 g contains 1400-1500 seeds.
Heliotrope came to Russia in the middle XVIII centuries and quickly won love thanks to its pleasant vanilla scent. However, in XX century, it lost its position due to the difficulty of propagation (exclusively by cuttings) to annuals that are easier to cultivate. Currently, interest in heliotrope is returning, as new varieties have appeared that, when seeds are sown early, bloom in the year of sowing and bloom all summer. INattention! Some types of heliotrope (H. europaeum, H. lasiocarpum) in their stems and leaves contain a poisonous alkaloid, cynoglossin, which causes damage to the nervous system in animals.
| Heliotrope peruvianum- N. peruvianum L. = H. arborescens Homeland - South America. A perennial plant used in open ground in the temperate zone as an annual. Branched bushes with spreading or erect branches, 40-60 cm tall. The leaves are obovate, wrinkled, pubescent, on short petioles, dark green above, lighter below. The flowers are small, fragrant, dark blue or dark purple, collected in corymbose inflorescences with a diameter of 10-15 cm. Blooms profusely and for a long time from June until autumn frosts. Seeds in temperate latitudes rarely ripen (in October). It must be said right away that modern heliotrope grown from seeds has largely lost its pleasant aroma, which is due to the peculiarity of selection, the main direction of which was not to enhance the smell, but to accelerate development and improve decorative qualities. CThe aroma of sludge can be different even within the same variety. Therefore, if you are buying flowering seedlings, take the time to smell a few plants. Surely some of them will be more fragrant. The most popular variety is "Marin" ("Marine").Compact, inflorescence diameter 15 cm. Flowers dark purple. The leaves are dark green with a purple tint. Plant height is 45-50 cm. It develops well and blooms in the year of sowing. "Mini Marine"("Mini Marine") -low-growing, up to 40 cm high, dark violet-blue flowers.
Photo by Olga Bondareva |
Location: light- and heat-loving.
The soil: prefers loose, permeable soil rich in organic fertilizers.
Petroselinum crispum and Heliotropium peruvianum
Photo of Natalia Nesterova
Care: In order for young plants to grow well, they need to be watered. Mature plants need watering only when the soil dries out. Heliotrope requires regular feeding of seedlings and young plants (up to mass flowering) with a complete complex fertilizer at intervals of 10-14 days.
Diseases and pests: The appearance of black spots on the leaves, followed by drying out of young shoots and falling leaves, is a sign of mite damage to plants.
Reproduction: seeds and mainly cuttings. Queen cells are stored in winter in greenhouses at a temperature of 8-15°C. Water moderately at this time. Plants from early cuttings are left on the queen cells. The best mother plants are old perennial specimens; they are less capricious during wintering, and in the spring they produce significantly more cuttings and, moreover, of better quality. In the summer they are pinned up in pots in greenhouses, and in the fall they are put away in greenhouses. Cuttings begin in the second half of February and continue until May. Shoots with 3-4 internodes are cut into cuttings. The leaves are trimmed slightly to reduce moisture loss. Picking boxes are filled with soil consisting of humus and sand (2:1). Clean sand is poured on top 1-1.5 cm. Then the substrate is compacted and poured with plenty of water, or even better, a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Before planting, the prepared cuttings are treated with growth substances (heteroauxin or root), planted in boxes and placed in a bright place under glass or film. The temperature in the room where the cuttings are rooted is maintained within 22-25°C. Plants are watered daily and must be ventilated. In such conditions, roots appear within 18-25 days. The cuttings are then planted in peat pots in a more nutritious and loose substrate. It is made up of peat, turf soil and sand (4:2:1) with the addition of complete mineral fertilizer. During the first week, the transplanted plants are shaded and sprayed with water 2-3 times a day. To obtain compact plants, seedlings are pinched several times. When the danger of spring frosts has passed, heliotrope is planted in open ground. The distance between plants should be at least 15-20 cm.
When propagating from seeds, sowing in boxes is carried out in February-March in a damp mixture of sand and peat, after which the boxes are placed under glass or film. Shoots appear in three to four weeks. After the emergence of seedlings, the boxes are exposed to diffused light and the air temperature around them is maintained at 22-23°C. Watering is carried out with settled water at room temperature. When propagated by seeds, heterogeneous planting material is obtained; seedlings grow quickly, forming tall bushes, bloom in autumn and, moreover, have small inflorescences.
Usage: V In landscaping, heliotrope is good as a carpet plant in borders and flower beds, where it goes well with salvia, tuberous begonia and petunia, and is also very decorative in pots, in which it is usually formed in the form of a small tree on a trunk. Here is how P.N. Shtemberg describes the rules for the formation of a standard plant in the “Everyday Recipe for a Gardener” (1911): “If you have a greenhouse or greenhouse in which you could keep young plants for the first winter, cuttings to obtain a standard are planted do not pinch out in autumn and until spring. In spring, pinching is done at a height of 3-4 quarters of an arshin and higher, depending on the variety; the side shoots from below are gradually plucked out, but not all at once, otherwise the stem will turn out to be too thin. The leaves from the axils of which the side shoots emerge. , remain until approximately the end of July, when all side shoots must be removed to the height of the crown. Throughout the summer, the side shoots left to form the crown are pinched off when they reach 5-6 leaves in order to obtain a denser crown.
In winter, plants in pots feel good in a cool, bright window at a temperature of 12-15°C and with moderate moisture. In winter, it is necessary to monitor the soil moisture in the pot, since if there is excessive moisture, the roots will immediately rot, and if the earthen clod dries out, its leaves will immediately fall off. At any time of the year, heliotrope responds gratefully to spraying.
With good care, heliotrope can last for many years. It is a known fact that in Bohemia, in Kopilno, heliotrope about 4 meters high was grown over 40 years. This is how N.F. described this plant. Zolotnitsky (1911): “It grows in a huge iron box, which is brought into a greenhouse with an air temperature of 10 degrees for the winter. In March, as soon as the tree begins to be covered with new buds, it is pruned and transferred to the garden. Around July, the tree blooms and then presents an unusually beautiful appearance, as it is covered with several thousand clusters of its dark purple flowers, the wonderful smell of which spreads throughout the entire garden.”
Heliotrope is widely used in occult sciences. There were guidelines for collecting and using herbs to protect people from evil forces. It stated that the heliotrope plant protects against thieves, and flowers picked during the full moon, dried and then burned drive away evil spirits from the house. At the same time, witches were recommended to use heliotrope to make an ointment that gave them the ability to fly.
At all times, heliotrope was considered a symbol of devotion and harmony. Since heliotrope owes its origin to unhappy love, as if wishing happiness and mutual understanding to everyone, it is believed that this plant is capable of harmonizing relationships between people. Therefore, if you are tired of troubles with your husband or wife, with friends or partners, plant heliotrope. The sense of partnership inherent in him will help you establish even the most complex and confusing relationships.
Read the article Olga Bondareva "With the aroma of cherry pie"
used materials from the article by O. Signalova “Forgotten heliotrope” // “In the world of plants” - 2003 - No. 3
Young heliotrope bushes are planted at a distance of 20 cm from each other.
Bushes that have overwintered in the house need more space. It makes sense to plant flowers with yellow, white, and red flowers next to heliotrope. It can be , . And it is better to plant the plant itself where you can enjoy its aroma. In order to expand the growing area for heliotrope, it can be planted in a flower pot and placed on the veranda.
Some bushes, the strongest ones, can be planted in the ground along with a large pot. Then in the fall it will be easier to preserve the mother bush. A drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the pot. It can be made from broken brick, gravel, expanded clay. You can buy soil for flowers, or prepare it yourself. Mix garden soil, sand, clay (to retain moisture).
Flower care tips:
- Heliotrope does not require increased care. But he will not tolerate the drying out of the earthen clod. Therefore, you need to ensure that the soil near the bush always remains moist.
- In order for the plant to bloom profusely, heliotrope needs regular feeding. They are applied once every two weeks. Organic and decorative flowers such as “Ideal” or “Kemira Lux” are used. They accelerate the growth and development of plants, making flowers brighter and larger. Before and after fertilizing, the bush is watered.
- A bush that is actively growing and developing needs to periodically adjust its crown. To do this, it is pinched.
- Closer to the time of the first frost, the bush is dug up, transplanted into a pot and moved indoors, where it continues to bloom.
- In winter and especially in autumn, the bushes need to be illuminated, increasing the daylight hours to 10 hours. To do this, use a fluorescent lamp. Temperature range for winter maintenance is from 15 to 18°C. The minimum temperature at which heliotrope does not disappear is 5°C. Reduce the amount of watering, but make sure that the soil in the pot does not dry out.
- Diseases and pests. The leaves and stems of heliotrope can be affected by spider mites and whiteflies. Treatment is carried out with Fitoverm and other insecticides. To destroy aphids, wipe the affected areas with a solution of laundry soap. Then wash off with water. Falling leaves indicate spider mite infestation. To get rid of the pest, they create uncomfortable conditions for it - they spray the leaves with water several times a day. It shouldn't be tough. Heliotrope can be affected by fungal diseases. This is evidenced by the formation of brown spots on the leaves.
The use of heliotrope is very unique. Its leaves are used to fight dark forces. Some believe that the plant can protect the home from thieves. It is widely believed that in a house where heliotrope is grown, the relationship between spouses improves significantly. Now this flower is becoming more and more popular. Many of those who managed to grow it at home become its fans and distributors.
Heliotrope is used to achieve real results. It is used as a flavoring agent in the manufacture of medicines. Due to its pleasant and strong smell, extracts from the plant are added to perfumes.
More information can be found in the video:
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