Kohiya: planting and care in the open field, description of species and varieties, growing from seeds

Kohia is a unique culture that looks like miniature cypress trees. The plant was first cultivated in eastern countries, but since the late 90s, it has gained popularity in the post-Soviet space. It is grown for the purpose of decorating the territory, using it as a natural medicine. You should first familiarize yourself with the rules of planting and caring for kochia. The following tips will help grow the culture safely even for an inexperienced gardener.

Description and characteristics of kochia

Kohia is a perennial belonging to the Marev family. He was first bred in East Asia, South Africa. In simple terms, it is called "summer cypress", "izenya", "annual cypress", "prutnyak".

Culture is planted on borders, flower beds, fences. The bush grows quickly, it only needs regular pruning.

Kohii are slender, lush, widely used in decorating country estates. The height of the bushes is 60-80 cm, depending on the variety. Flowering occurs in the first days of June, lasts until the first frost. On the bushes there are many thin, branched shoots. At the base is an erect, woody stem.

Many consider the plant coniferous, because of the narrow leaves resembling needles. Emerald foliage is soft, pleasant to the touch, with pubescence. Young bushes are light green in color, but during pollen, they become pinkish or crimson. The inflorescences are small, inconspicuous, collected in panicles. After pollination, tiny nuts grow. Each contains a seed that remains viable for 2 years

Kochia types

Gardeners have about 80 varieties. In the CIS countries, only the following types are popular.

Crawling

This is a less decorative type of kochia, bushes grow 5-6 cm tall. The plant itself is dense, the branches spread in different directions along the surface.

Wooly Floral

Annual bushes, reach 0.5 meters in height. The branches are reddish or yellow-green, with curly pubescence.

Densely flowered

An annual bush grows over 1 meter in height. The inflorescences are covered with a mass of small whitish hairs, which creates a shaggy appearance.

Coronal

Cochia forms spherical shrubs, resistant to dry periods. In autumn, the bush becomes burgundy. The variety, unlike its counterparts, can withstand frosts down to -10 degrees. Bushes bloom until late autumn.

Hairy

The culture forms slender, elongated bushes 10070 cm. The leaves are narrow, with a margin, in the spring of a salad tone. With the advent of autumn, the plant acquires a burgundy hue. It prefers sunny areas and can grow in poor soils.

Childs

Spherical variety of small size, up to 50 cm high. Spreading branches, densely covered with lettuce leaves. The plant never changes color.

Sultan

An annual species of compact size, round shape, grows up to 100 cm. The process of bush formation is fast, the variety takes root well in new areas. With the advent of autumn, emerald tones change to burgundy.

Acapulco Silver

Shrubs spherical, covered with green leaves with a silver border. In autumn they turn crimson.

Jade

The plant is famous for its rapid growth, its height is 1 meter. The shade is grassy, does not change during the year. With the help of a variety, marvelous green sculptures are created.

Flame

This is an annual bush with a columnar shape, the height is about 100 cm. By autumn, the leaves become crimson. The variety is resistant to frost down to -10.

Shilzi

Dense shrubs, up to 1 meter high, 60 cm in diameter. In summer they change green color to purple-red.

Burning Bush

Bushes have been red since June. Their height reaches about 80 cm.

Scoparia

Annual plant prefers warmth, pollen is not pronounced. Leaves turn copper red in autumn.

Green Forest

Annual bush, elongated in shape, with bright green leaves. During the growing season, the shade does not change.

Green Lace

The variety has an elongated, oval shape. Emerald leaf flower, does not change.

Cyprus

The variety is distinguished by a green shade of bushes, thick leaves. The plant reaches 80 cm tall.

Growing cochia in the garden

Cochia is usually grown from seeds only. Having once planted a bush in the garden, you can no longer buy them. The culture grows on its own. Seeds sprout quickly, out of 100 pieces almost all germinate. Their shelf life is about 1.5 years. After, germination decreases.

When is it better to plant a plant: optimal timing

It is advisable to plant a crop in early May. There should be no risk of frost reoccurrence.Flora is thermophilic, can freeze. It is possible to carry out planting work at the beginning of summer, but not later, as the culture quickly germinates. In the South, they land in April or late March. Pre-grow seedlings in room conditions, using boxes or containers.

Where is it better to plant kochia: selection of a place

The place should be spacious, open. Choose an area that is well lit by the sun, but some shade is also possible. In full shade, you should not plant a plant, otherwise it will lose its decorative appearance, the leaves will become pale.

Preparation of planting material for Kochia

Before planting kohii, seedlings or seeds are prepared. Depending on the technique, a number of manipulations are carried out.

Kohia seeds

A drainage layer is laid out in the container so that the liquid does not stagnate. Pour the soil mixture on top, water it.Seeds are sown in rows, with a distance of 3-5 cm. After that, sprinkle with a thin layer of earth up to 1.5 cm. Cover with glass or cling film on top. After 7 days, the first shoots appear. They are aired, watered from a spray bottle. The cover can be removed after 1-2 weeks, care for seedlings as for normal seedlings.

The desired temperature for the successful breeding of cochia seedlings is 25 degrees Celsius.

Seedlings

The soil in individual pots should be the same, you can use peat containers. The soil with seedlings grown up to 10 cm is poured with warm water, the wet earth is carefully undermined and the plant with a lump is transplanted into a pot. They put it on the windowsill, and in the evening they add lighting with a lamp. 1 week after transplanting, seedlings are fertilized with growth stimulants. Further feeding is carried out 1 time in 2 weeks before transplanting into open ground. It is impossible to keep an overgrown bush in a pot for a long time, the root system needs space, otherwise the plant will fade.

Preparing the soil for kochia

The earth must be well-drained, allowing oxygen and air to pass through to the rhizome. Ideally, the acidity of the soil is neutral or slightly acidic. Before planting, plow the soil, remove weeds.

Planting scheme

Holes should be made with a diameter corresponding to the size of the root system. Transfer the seedlings, together with an earthen clod, into the pits, press the soil with your hands, and water. There should be a distance of 40-50 cm between bushes.

Organization of competent care for kochia

Culture is unpretentious in care, it is only important to periodically water the bushes, loosen the ground, cut. The last event is especially important.

Water the plants

Cochia should be irrigated in hot weather often, plentifully, every 2-3 days. Watering is carried out in the morning or in the evening, after 16.00. If you irrigate the plant in bright sunshine, there is a risk of leaf burns.

Feeding Kochia

Kohia should be regularly fertilized so that it grows lush and does not get sick. The first recharge is carried out 2 weeks after planting. Further, every month the soil is fertilized with minerals or organic matter. You can use mullein, ash. Additionally feed the kochia after each pruning so that it recovers faster.

Pruning the plant

The kochia bears the formation of bushes safely, you can use the procedure to give it the desired shape. Due to rapid growth, it is possible to change shape every 2 weeks.

Cochia thinning

When bushes get too big, they can be thinned out by thinning them out. Shrunken, damaged branches are removed with a disinfected pruner.

What pathologies and harmful bugs are dangerous for kohiya

Kohiya has a strong immunity to various pathologies and harmful insects. If too frequent watering was carried out, rot is possible. Among the parasites, the spider mite sometimes attacks the bushes. Fight them by spraying with fungicides.

Collection and storage of seeds

To collect seeds, the bushes must be fully mature. When they turn burgundy, dry out a little, you can take the seed. This usually happens in October or November. Inflorescences are cut, small seeds are taken out of them.

Store them in a paper or fabric envelope in a dry place, with air temperature up to 25 degrees Celsius.

Using Kochia

Culture is used to decorate the site as a basic element. Another plant has healing properties, can treat some diseases.

Decorative properties

To decorate the dacha, single bushes are planted in the flower beds, creating the desired shape of the bush. You can make a combination of several varieties, playing with tones. Group plantings of plants are used for the purpose of edging a lawn or decorating trails. Tall varieties can be used as hedges and to decorate entire areas. Emerald bushes are suitable for creating a background for blooming bright colors of plants. Thanks to the group planting, a vase effect is created. Tall kohias with bright inflorescences bloom in it. Variegated varieties with burgundy or purple foliage look best in the middle of the lawn.

What is cochia used for in medicine

Kohiya has a cardiostimulating, diaphoretic and diuretic, general tonic effect. The plant is used to treat pathologies of the urinary canal, bladder, eczema, rheumatism, edema, inflammation of the skin. Cochia-based ointments treat dermatitis and nail diseases.

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