Ixia: planting and care in the open field, growing in the garden, description of the best varieties

Gardeners want to create the most comfortable and beautiful environment on their own backyard. To do this, they use a variety of varieties and types of plants, planting them in an original way and turning a nondescript flower bed into a real work of art. Plants familiar to the area are already tired, since they are found in almost every area, so you should give preference to unusual new flowers. Ixia is an excellent alternative for those who strive for originality, by studying the correct planting and care of the culture, excellent results can be achieved.

Ixia - a botanical description of a garden plant

Ixia is a herbaceous perennial that belongs to the Iris family. The name of the plant in Greek means "glue", and all because the culture secretes sticky juice. Previously, it was used to catch birds, and the flower itself needs it to attract insects that carry pollen. The natural habitat is the south of the African continent, but now you can find a large number of hybrids, cultivated in many regions since the 19th century.

This bulbous plant can reach a height of 15 to 70 cm depending on the variety. The stems are long and rather thin, the narrow leaves are shaped like swords. Ixia itself looks very elegant and sophisticated. The diameter of strongly open flowers is from 2.5 to 5 cm, each of them consists of 6 large petals of various bright colors, ranging from white to red.

The color becomes more saturated closer to the core. One inflorescence contains about 10 flowers. Ixia begins to delight with its flowering and subtle unobtrusive smell in late spring or in the first decade of June, it lasts from 20 to 30 days. At night and in bad cloudy weather, the buds close.

Advantages of use in landscape design

Exotic Ixia are considered the most interesting and in demand for landscape design. In the garden, ixias are recommended to be planted in one group in rock gardens, stony rockeries or flowerpots. Look great in a flower bed near the curb in the foreground. Ixias are used to create lawns, creating an atmosphere of natural natural charm. Can be grown in greenhouses for cutting and bouquets.

Ixia is a good partner for group plantings. A combination of bright contrasting colors, such as yellow and purple, looks advantageous.To create attractive compositions, lupine, delphinium are suitable as neighbors for ixia. It also looks good with a combination of vegetation that does not bloom, but has the same height as the ixia. In addition to being visually appealing, this will help the exotic Ixia's slender stem survive inclement weather.

Varieties and varieties

In nature, there are more than 20 types of ixia and countless bred varieties and a wide variety of hybrids.

The most popular varieties include these.

Monadelpha Ixia monadelpha

Ixia of this species is distinguished by the presence of star-shaped flowers, often of a lilac or blue hue, collected in dense spike-shaped inflorescences. The stem is thin and branched, rarely simple, it can reach a height of 15 to 40 cm. The leaves can reach 28 cm, lanceolate or spiral.

Longituba Ixia longituba

Ixia has an unusual flower structure, the petals are located on a long tube, thanks to this feature the variety has such a name. The color of the petals is the most diverse. Varieties can also be both miniature and tall.

Spotted Ixia maculata

Ixia flowers of various shades 40 mm in diameter with a dark core are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences. The height of the stem is not more than 40 cm, and the round bulb is about 30 mm in diameter. The leaves in the root zone are collected in a rosette and have a lanceolate shape.

Greenflower Ixia viridiflora

This variety of Ixia is very rare and it is quite difficult to find planting material. Small small, flat flowers, collected in inflorescences, have a green color, a dark purple core, thin weak stems and neat leaves.

Cream Ixia

An unusual variety of Ixia, which got its name from the delicate cream shade of the petals of the bud and the dark purple center. Flowers collected in massive dense inflorescences gradually bloom from the bottom up and may not crumble for a long time. It has a thin stem and narrow leaves.

Pink

The star-shaped bud has a pink tint that becomes darker towards the end of the petal and towards the beginning of the core, which has the most burgundy color. Ixia buds are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences, located on long thin stems, framed by bright strong leaves.

Ixia Red

Ixia variety with large inflorescences collected from bright red flowers. Stem up to 45 cm high, leaves lanceolate, dark shade.

Orange

Dwarf variety of ixia that reaches a maximum of 20 cm in length. It is characterized by abundant flowering and bright orange petals with a dark center. The peduncle itself is low, the leaves are lanceolate, not attracting attention.

Mix

Lush inflorescences of ixia consist of buds of various colors. Flowering lasts for 20 days. Ixia reaches a height of more than 50 cm.

What conditions does the flower require

Cultivation of ixia portends some difficulties, as it is not adapted to growing in our regions.

Light, humidity

It is recommended to choose a site for planting and further growth of ixia away from tall trees. Culture requires direct sunlight. Liquid stagnation negatively affects the formation of ixia, so you should take care of drainage.

Temperature conditions

Planting material will die when the temperature drops to -2 degrees. Ixia tubers will not survive the winter, so they must be dug up and transplanted into a pot for a period of adverse conditions, placing it in a warm room.

Suitable soil composition

The soil should be fertile with a neutral reaction and a sufficient amount of humus. Ixia will develop normally in a soil mixture containing sand, sod and peat.

Neighbourhood with other cultures

Ixia should not be placed next to tall trees, characterized by a massive crown and powerful root system. Can be planted next to annuals such as petunia, salvia, lobelia. The culture with queens and gladioli takes root best of all.

How to plant outdoors

Before you start landing, you need to learn a few important rules in advance.

Optimal timing

In the southern regions, bulbs are planted both in spring and autumn. But during the autumn landing, the holes should be 10 cm deeper than usual. In temperate areas, planting is carried out exclusively in May.

Processing bulbs and sprouting before planting

For long flowering, choose a good planting material. Bulbs should be elastic and dense, at least 3 years old. Before planting, they are disinfected by soaking in a non-concentrated solution of potassium permanganate for 15-20 minutes, after which they are washed well with clean water. Then the prepared material must be laid for germination, laying the bulbs close to each other in containers with coarse sand or sawdust. Cover with foil and send to a warm windowsill. Every day, air 10 minutes, lifting the film.

In 2 weeks the bulbs will sprout. If the material does not germinate, then it is not suitable for planting and should be discarded.

Fitting technology

Dig holes 6-8 cm at a distance of about 10 cm if they are children, and 20 cm if adult bulbs.Send the tubers into the holes, sprinkle with a small amount of soil and a thin layer of mulch. It is impossible to water, only after 2 weeks to moisten the soil, when the first sprouts will already sprout.

How to care

Caring for the plant is simple, but the agricultural technology of this crop has its own characteristics. Important conditions for germination are optimal temperature, high humidity and bright light.

Feeding and watering

Ixia should not be watered before the formation of the first shoots. Subsequently, moisten the soil regularly and abundantly, especially at the time of bud formation. To create high humidity, it is recommended to spray daily in the evening.

After flowering, reduce watering to a minimum.

Culture needs to be fed with mineral fertilizers, which alternate with organic matter. Special fertilizers made for this exotic plant can be purchased at the flower shop.

Cutting

Ixia care involves proper pruning of faded inflorescences so that new buds have time to form.

Diseases and pests: treatment and preventive treatments

Ixia is a resistant plant and does not have potentially dangerous diseases and pests that can be affected, as the culture has an enviable immunity. He alth problems can appear solely due to wet ground. If the root system is in a state of chronic waterlogging, moisture stagnation provokes root rot. Prevention is following the watering schedule.

How to store ixia bulbs until spring

Storing bulbs in the winter has its own characteristics, which are worth paying attention to.

When to dig

After flowering at the end of July, carefully remove the bulb from the ground.

How to dig and store

Dry the excavated material in a well-ventilated place, soak in an antibacterial solution of potassium permanganate and send it to dry again. Next, put the bulbs prepared for wintering in a dry box, which should be placed in a dry, cool place.

If you want to enjoy flowering and in the winter, plant the bulbs in indoor pots and put on the windowsill.

Subsequent landing in the ground

The next landing depends on climate conditions and is no different from the above landing dates.

Reproduction

Reproduction of ixia is carried out in several ways: by children and division of corms.

Babes

Around the maternal corm, small outgrowths are formed, which are called babies. Carefully separate them, and cover the attachment points with coal powder and send them to the holes. Flowering occurs in the second or third year.

Dividing the bulb

Considered the best breeding option. To do this, cut one onion into pieces, but only so that each of them has buds, well, or at least one, as well as the beginnings of the root. Sprinkle the planting material, applying wood ash at the cut site, and plant it in the soil. A properly divided bulb will form and bloom this year.

Exotic and unusual ixia can be easily grown in your own garden, even though the culture is not suitable for growing in our region. Subject to all the conditions of planting and care, you can achieve the desired result, decorate the garden plot and just cheer you up.

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