Knifofia: planting and care in the open field, cultivation, 25 best varieties, preparation for winter

Many gardeners grow not only common varieties of flowers, but also other, more exotic plants. Knifophia, which is often found in African countries, is popular among flower growers. Before planting a flower, you need to understand the recommendations for planting and caring for knifofiya in the open field.

Description and features

Knifofia is a perennial plant that belongs to the group of evergreen flowers. Such seedlings are often used for landscaping flower beds. Therefore, with their help, you can decorate the site, even if there are no flower stalks on the bushes yet.Knifofia blooms in the twentieth of July and ceases to bloom in September. The petals are brightly colored and can be yellow, orange or red.

Views

There are three varieties of Knifophia that are most commonly found in flower growers' gardens.

Taka

This is a South African seedling that was discovered in the distant nineties of the nineteenth century. Taka is considered a tall plant, as the height of the seedlings is 80-100 centimeters. Taki's inflorescences are also rather big, their length is 10-15 cm. The petals on the buds are completely red, they bloom in June.

Berry

Berry varieties of knifofiya are considered the highest, their bushes grow up to two and a half meters. The leaf plates are painted green, their length is 40-60 cm. The flowering of berry plants lasts 2-3 months.

Hybrid

Hybrid varieties of the flower were created on the basis of berry plants. Their distinctive features include disease resistance, long flowering and tall stature. Also, some hybrids are resistant to frost.

Varieties

Before planting knifofia, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of common varieties.

Dr. Kerr

This is a unique variety whose flower stalks grow up to a meter in length. At the same time, the height of the inflorescences is 25-30 cm. Dr. Kerr can be distinguished from other varieties by the bright colors of the petals, which have a lemon tint. The advantages of the variety include:

• long flowering;
• low temperature resistance;
• powerful stalk.

Orange Beauty

Tall two-meter variety, which is often planted in large flower beds. The leaves of Orange Beauty are huge, they grow up to fifty centimeters in length. The flower blooms in July and stops flowering after 60-70 days.

Fire Flame

Fire Flame, which has a unique fiery red color of petals, is perfect for decorating the garden. The variety can be grown both in open ground and in greenhouses. The seedling, like many other varieties, begins to bloom in July.

Eskimo

A tall seedling that is often grown in flower gardens. A distinctive feature of Eskimo is that its flowers are arranged in two tiers. Bright yellow buds on the bottom and coral buds on top.

Abenzonne

This is a plant with large flower stalks that, when properly grown, grow up to 25-30 centimeters. The seedling is very tall, and therefore it must be tied to supports. Abendzonne blooms at the end of June.

Cardinal

Another tall plant whose peduncle grows up to one and a half meters. So that the planted seedling does not break due to strong winds, it is tied to the supporting columns. Cardinal buds are bright red.

Burnox Triumph

Short growing seedling that can be grown in pots or boxes. The maximum height of this variety is only 45-55 centimeters. Burnox Triumph will bloom in June, flowering lasts a month and a half. The buds are orange with a golden hue.

Golden Scepter

This is a tall seedling suitable for outdoor cultivation only. The main stem grows up to 120-140 centimeters. In summer, large inflorescences appear on it, which turn bright yellow during flowering.

Indiana

Medium-sized flower with a powerful stem that grows up to 80-90 cm. Among the advantages of Indiana are resistance to temperature extremes, diseases and pest attacks. During flowering, large orange flowers can be seen on the bushes.

Royal Standard

This is a rather old variety, which is still popular among flower lovers today. Royal Standard is distinguished by medium-sized bushes, the stem of which grows up to 75-80 cm. The seedlings have lower flowers that are colored yellow and upper ones are bright red.

Prince Maurito

This is an unusual flower bush with large green leaves and a thick main stem. The main difference between Prince Maurito is the color of the inflorescences, which are painted brown. This variety blooms in the first half of July.

Theo

Medium-sized seedling that begins to bloom profusely after June 20-25. Theo's flowering lasts 1-2 months and ends before the beginning of the autumn cooling. The flowers of the variety are painted in reddish color with a faint orange tint.

Rocket

This is an exotic variety that is rarely found in the flower beds of summer residents. Rocket grows up to fifty centimeters, but sometimes the height of seedlings reaches a meter. The flowers of the seedling are small, have a reddish color. They bloom 1-2 months after planting in open ground.

Knifofia hybrid Fleming Torch

This flower hybrid differs from most other Knifofia varieties in its compactness. Low seedlings can grow up to 55-65 centimeters. Because of this, some flower growers grow Fleming Torch in pots.

Flamenco

Tall flower, painted in red-yellow colors. Outwardly, Flamenco resembles brightly flaming torches. The flowering of the variety begins in mid-July and continues until the last days of September.

Macowen

Medium-sized flower plant that grows up to 75 centimeters during the flowering period. At the same time, Macowen's inflorescences grow up to 10-15 cm. Flowering buds are colored orange with a slight golden tint. Among the advantages of the variety are resistance to high humidity.

Surprise

This is a beautiful plant, the flowers of which are located at the top and bottom of the bush. The flowers below are dark pink in color. The upper buds are brighter, as they are painted in a golden color.

Alcazar

Exotic perennial flower, the bushes of which are formed up to a height of one hundred centimeters. This plant is not frost-proof and is therefore often grown in greenhouses. Blooms in July and blooms until early September.

African guest

This tall variety attracts attention with the variety of its inflorescences. They differ from each other in their coloration. Some of them are painted pink or red. Burgundy buds with an orange tint are also common.

Bengal fire

One and a half meter flower bush with small inflorescences of yellow, coral or burgundy. Bengal fire buds are spike-shaped, their length is 15-20 cm.

Fleming Torch

Tall Knifofia, adult seedlings of which can grow up to two meters in height. The inflorescences of Fleming Torch are also long - 20-30 centimeters. The buds are yellowish with a reddish or orange tinge.

Amazing fan

Another knifofiya, which refers to tall plants. Its bushes reach one meter. In early summer, small flowers appear on the seedlings, which are painted red. After flowering, the buds lighten and turn yellow.

Tukkah

People living in regions with an unfavorable climate can plant the Tukka variety. Such a flower is resistant to temperature drops and high humidity. Active flowering begins in the first days of summer.

Martian

Perennial flower with strong root system. The Martian grows up to one and a half meters, the flowers are pinkish and have a red tint. This variety is heat-loving, and therefore it should be grown only in lighted areas in the garden.

Cobra

This variety is suitable for people who are looking for flowers with late flowering. Cobra buds bloom in early August. Flowering continues until the first night frosts.

Atlanta

Medium-sized knifofiya, which is often used when creating flower arrangements in a flower bed. Atlanta has large orange colored buds. They bloom in summer and bloom until the end of August.

How to grow seedlings

Knifofia is grown in seedlings, and therefore it is necessary to deal with the peculiarities of obtaining young seedlings in advance.

Timing

It is necessary to figure out in advance when it is better to plant seed for further cultivation of flower seedlings. Experienced flower growers recommend planting in the twentieth of March. You should not plant knifofiya before.

Preparation of soil, containers and seeds

Plastic pots are used for planting seeds and growing flowers. Holes are pre-drilled in them so that a lot of moisture does not accumulate inside the container. Then, a soil mixture made from soddy soil, sand and peat is poured into the prepared pots.

After preparing the containers and soil mixtures, they prepare the seeds. They are pre-disinfected in manganese liquid and washed with water.

Sowing

Sowing knifofiya seeds is quite simple. To do this, holes are made in containers filled with soil. The depth of each of them should be 10-12 millimeters. One seed is planted in each hole. After landing, it is covered with soil and watered with water.

Temperature conditions

Before the appearance of the first shoots, it is necessary to monitor the temperature regime. Experts advise germinating seeds in rooms where the temperature is at the level of twenty degrees. If temperatures drop below 15 degrees, seedlings will germinate slowly.

Water and airing

The number of waterings affects the development of seedlings. Young seedlings of knifofiya should be watered often, but 300-450 milliliters of water is spent on each bush. It is impossible to overmoisten the soil, as this contributes to the development of diseases. Also, the plant should be aired regularly.

Dive

When the first real leaves appear on the planted bushes, they start picking. During the procedure, the seedlings are planted in separate pots.

Hardening

In order for the flower to get used to temperature changes on the street, it is necessary to do hardening. To do this, young plants are taken out of the room to the street for a day. Hardening should be done two weeks before transplantation.

How to plant

It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the features of planting knifofia in order to plant it correctly.

Choosing a seat

When choosing a suitable place for an African flower, you need to pay attention to the level of illumination, since the development of a young seedling depends on it. Experts advise planting a flower in the illuminated part of the garden, which is not obscured by tall plants.

Ground requirements

Also, the development of bushes depends on the soil in which they grow. It is necessary to transplant seedlings into sandy and loose soil, as it passes moisture better. At the same time, before planting, it must be fed and saturated with nutrients.

Timing

Transplanting seedlings in open ground is done when the air temperature rises to 10-15 degrees. Therefore, do not plant before May or the end of April.

Plant pattern

In order for the planted flowers to grow and bloom normally, you must familiarize yourself with the planting scheme in advance. Holes for seedlings are dug at a distance of 20-35 centimeters so that the flowers do not shade each other. The depth of each hole is 5-8 centimeters.

Care

Knifofiya requires proper care, and therefore you will have to familiarize yourself with how to care for her.

Irrigation

Despite the fact that it is a drought-resistant perennial, it still needs to be watered regularly. They are engaged in irrigation twice a week, and little water is spent on each bush. Do not flood flowers, as this negatively affects flowering.

Loosening and weeding

Growing knifofiya, be sure to engage in weeding and loosening. This helps to get rid of weeds and thick crusts that may have formed on the surface of the soil.

Feeding

Without enough nutrients in the soil, the plant will grow worse, and therefore they are periodically fed. Seedlings are fed with mineral fertilizers and organic matter.

Mulching

So that the moisture in the soil does not evaporate longer, the site is mulched. To do this, a mulching layer of sawdust, peat or tree twigs is lined near the flowers.

Preparing for winter

In autumn, the arrows that have already faded must be cut off. In winter, flowers cannot be stored without additional frost protection, and therefore a shelter is made. Plants are covered with plastic wrap or roofing material.

Transfer

Once every 2-3 years, flowers should be transplanted to a new place. To do this, adult bushes are carefully dug up with a shovel and transplanted to another well-lit place in the garden.

Diseases and pests

There are dangerous diseases and pests from which knifofia suffers.

Leaf-eating pests

Most often leaf-eating insects appear on seedlings. To save the plant and get rid of pests, you need to spray the flowers with insecticides.

Rot

The most dangerous disease is root rot, which develops due to waterlogging of the soil. Affected bushes must be destroyed immediately so that the disease does not spread to neighboring flowers.

Reproduction

There are two methods for propagating Knifophia.

Dividing the bush

When dividing a bush in the first days of May, they dig up the parent seedling, from which the child rosettes are separated. The separated parts of the plant are dried and planted in the ground.

Seeds

Most flower growers propagate bushes with seeds. To do this, ripe seeds are harvested from the bush in early autumn. Then they are stored until spring and planted to germinate seedlings.

Combinations with other plants

Experts recommend planting an African flower next to these plants:

• dahlias;
• sage;
• cereals;
• irises;
• peony.

Landscape use

Florists and flower growers are advised to plant knifofiya together with other large flowers. Best of all, such plantings look near water bodies, on lawns and mixed-type flower beds.

Conclusion

Lovers of exotic flowers often plant knifofia in gardens. Before planting such a flower, it is better to familiarize yourself with the varieties of varieties and recommendations for growing.

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