Terry Aquilegia: description of varieties, planting and care rules, disease control

Aquilegia is a perennial flowering shrub that belongs to the Buttercup family and has more than a hundred varieties. The plant, in addition to various species, has many names - a catchment area, an eagle, a magic flower of elves and others, which were given for an unusual and fabulous shape. That is why many gardeners tend to grow aquilegia on their plots, and the unpretentiousness of the plant allows you to make little effort for this.

Description of the plant

Aquilegia is a sprawling shrub reaching a height of 1 meter. The root system is strong, thick and well developed, usually does not exceed half a meter.The leaves are rounded, lacy, reminiscent of clover. Basal greenery grows on long, dissected petioles, on stems - sessile.

Flowers - drooping to the ground, double and large, can grow up to 10 centimeters. Most have elongated outgrowths - spurs that serve to collect nectar. The color scheme is different, and can combine several shades.

Where does he prefer to grow?

Elven slipper prefers shady forests, mountain slopes or meadows. In the wild, aquilegia can be found in the Caucasus, Altai, Crimea, and the Far East. Outside of Russia, the catchment blooms in alpine meadows, in America, and also in Europe.

Varieties of variety Barlow

Aquilegia Barlow is a hybrid of the common eagle and other hybrids rarely found in the wild.

Barlow Pink

Flowers: bright red. Height: 80 centimeters. Flowering period: 2 months. Preferences: Shady area and high humidity.

Barlow Winky

Flowers: double, not drooping, different colors. Height: 50 centimeters. Flowering period: May-August. Features: frost resistance and wind resistance.

Krista

Flowers: purple, wilting at the end of the day. Preferences: partial shade.

White

Similar to Krista. The only difference is that the color of the flowers is white.

Nora Barlow

Flowers: white-pink, sometimes white-red, with a dark core, large, double. Height: 70 centimeters. Shape: sprawling.

Specific flower cultivation

Aquilegia is very unpretentious, but there are still some peculiarities when growing.

Selection and site preparation

The ideal place for aquilegia is partial shade, since the complete absence of the sun will reduce the number of flowers, and constant direct light will not only affect the brightness, but can be detrimental to the plant.If there is no shadow on the site, then the seat should be shaded. The soil is better to choose loamy and moist. First, you should dig up the bed and get rid of the weeds.

Preparation of planting material

Planting material, namely aquilegia seeds, collected immediately after the fall, is wrapped in a damp cloth and left to ripen in a cold, dry place, it can be in the refrigerator, and then they are planted. If planting occurs with the help of seedlings, then the seeds are also allowed to ripen, cooling, and then the following preliminary steps are performed:

into pre-prepared containers with soil, lower the seed by 3 centimeters;
top should be sprinkled with a little peat;
gently pour warm water over and cover with cling film for a "greenhouse" effect;
then water with a little water every 2-3 days;
after three weeks, noticing the emergence of seedlings, the film should be removed;
after the appearance of 4 leaves, the seedlings are ready for planting in the garden.

Plant pattern

As already mentioned, there are two options for planting aquilegia: seeds and seedlings. Planting Rules:

End of August-beginning of September:

prepare seat;
place seeds;
sprinkle with earth - about 1.5 centimeters;
water a little;
mulch with humus or peat.

In the spring, after the snow has melted: after the seeds have cooled, sow in a prepared place, controlling the moisture balance.

Seedling transplant:

in June: seedlings are planted in the prepared soil at a distance of 20 centimeters from each other, trying not to damage the roots.

Plant care

In order for aquilegia to grow strong and he althy, you should follow the basic rules of care.

Weeding and loosening the soil

Loosening the soil, no more than 20 centimeters, is carried out after each watering or rain, so that oxygen stagnation does not occur. Also remember to weed when weeds appear.

Irrigation

Aquilegia loves moisture, but the plant should not be flooded. It is enough to water as soon as the soil dries out. It is advisable to use irrigation products to simulate rain, as the leaves of the plant love to absorb raindrops. In rainy summers, additional moisture is not needed.

Soil

Aquilegia roots often break through the ground, so the plant needs to top up the soil every year, while removing the 8-centimeter layer of the old one.

Feeding

The best time to apply organic or mineral fertilizers is overcast or rainy weather. If the summer turned out to be sunny, then aquilegia should be fed in combination with watering in the evening, and then it should be well shaded for a day. Fertilizers are applied in May, June and after flowering.

How to care for aquilegia after flowering?

After the flowering of aquilegia, it is necessary to prune the processes that have lost their strength to a leaf rosette. He althy cuttings will make excellent compost, infected and weak ones should be burned. Also, the period after flowering is the best time to divide the plant and collect seeds.

Winter Care

Aquilegia is frost-resistant, however, when it reaches 5 years of age, the roots of the plant come to the surface and require shelter in winter. To do this, the bush should be mulched with humus with peat compost and sprinkled with fresh soil. Preparations for the cold should begin in the fall.

Cutting

As already mentioned, pruning of aquilegia is carried out after flowering to avoid arbitrary self-seeding and rejuvenate the bush.

Aquilegia disease and pest control

Elven slipper is prone to the following diseases:

powdery mildew - appears with a lack of sunlight and high humidity. Prevention - treatment of greens with a solution of sulfur. Treatment - folk and chemical means;
mosaic - the most dangerous, incurable disease. If symptoms are detected, the bush should be dug up and burned;
gray rot - at the initial stage, treatment with Fundazol is possible, when running - digging up the plant and further burning.

From pests, aquilegia can be attacked by aphids, caterpillars and mites. Against them, folk remedies or chemicals should be used. If left untreated, the plant may die in a couple of days.

Reproduction

The bush can be propagated in several ways.

Seeds

Aquilegia seeds are harvested after flowering. To do this, future "parents" should be put on a gauze bag to collect seeds, so as not to be collected from the ground. However, the chance of getting an identical flower to the mother is very low, as the plant interpollinates.

Dividing the bush

Dividing aquilegia is not the best way to propagate as it can harm the plant. For this method, an adult bush that has reached the age of 5 is suitable:

divide the dug-out root with a knife into parts, leaving 3 buds on each;
plant the split root in holes and water immediately;
feed only after vaccination.

Cuttings in spring

The surest way to get the original look of the flower. To do this, use young spring shoots, cut off before the blooming of greenery:

cut off the cutting near the soil;
treat the cut with a root-growth-stimulating agent;
fertilize the seat with sand and peat and moisten;
plant cuttings a centimeter deep;
the bed needs to be shaded;
landing in a permanent place takes place in August.

Landscape use

High varieties of aquilegia go well with irises, bluebells, hostas, poppies and other flowers, while low ones will advantageously decorate alpine slides, rockeries, and also complement carnations. In addition, it is in harmony with spruce and fir trees, and will also be an excellent decoration for the pond. Another interesting composition will be the landing of an eagle of various colors and types.

Probable problems when growing terry aquilegia

The most important and dangerous problem is disease, due to improper care or pest invasion, from which the flower can die. However, prevention and timely treatment will help save the plant.