Freesia. Planting and care in closed and open ground

Freesia is a beautiful flowering plant of the family of irises, which came from the countries of Africa. This cormy plant is a perennial. To date, there are about 20 types of freesia. The leaves are linear, on the racemose inflorescences there are up to 12 flowers. Depending on the type and conditions of growing, freesia reaches a height of 30 to 60 cm. The smell of flowers is delicate and pleasant, so the plant is often grown for industrial purposes in greenhouses for bouquets and for use in perfumery and cosmetology. But many breed freesia and at home as in flower pots on the windowsills, and in the garden. Excellent, it is suitable for the decoration of flower beds in front of the house or office.

In order to achieve regular flowering from plants such as freesia, planting and care must be performed correctly. The main feature is the period of rest. This is due to the seasonal drought in his homeland. And, of course, an important factor is the creation of the necessary temperature regime for the growth of freesia.

Freesia - planting in the open ground

First, you need to heat the bulbs of the plant for several days. In winter, freesia can not be planted on the street, because it can not germinate at all. The most optimal condition for it will be landing in the spring, when the soil temperature reaches 15ºС, air - not lower than 20ºС. Humidity must be moderate or high. With sharp increases or decreases in temperature by more than 4 ° C, the plant can give low inflorescences or not bloom at all, but give a lot of onion cubs.

The soil for planting should be light and at the same time fertile. Water the plant abundantly during the vegetative period, reduce the flow of water after flowering. When approaching the rest period, watering is stopped altogether. Since the plant is temperature-sensitive, hybrid freesia, terry or usual, is grown in greenhouses. For the rest period the bulbs must be excavated.

Freesia - planting and care in room conditions

For the cultivation of freesia at home, it is better to use a substrate of peat and earth in a ratio of 3: 1. This will ensure good drainage and will not allow water to stagnate, which can lead to decay of the bulbs. In the room, freesia can be planted both in summer and in winter. Planted to a depth of 5-7 cm sprouts appear, usually in 2 weeks. Flowering occurs in 5 months. For a plant such as freesia, planting and care are more simple in room conditions. True, even for optimal growth and development, a good illumination of the room is needed. Freesia is best planted in varieties, but the composition in a pot of several varieties looks very original. A plant in a room can require additional fertilizing. For this purpose it is better to use a solution of ammophos. For the period of rest, the bulbs should not be excavated.

Freesia, planting and caring for bulbs

As already mentioned above, the bulbs are planted at a depth of 5-7 cm. Preliminary heat treatment is mandatory. They need to be held for several days (or even weeks) at a temperature of 30 ° C. The room should be dry and wet. Thus, the natural conditions of growth are simulated.

Propagation freesia bulbs or seeds. To obtain the latter, artificial pollination of flowers is necessary. But the seed does not reproduce badly in the natural conditions of cultivation. It is better to use the children of the mother bulb, which are formed during the vegetative period.