Tigridia: planting and care in the open field, when to dig and how to store

Planting tigridia and outdoor care are of interest to many flower growers. This plant is an unpretentious bulbous perennial. It has beautiful flowers. The culture got its name due to the colorful coloring of the base of the petals. The plant belongs to the Iris family. Its homeland is the subtropics of America. The flower will certainly fill the garden with bright colors.

Description and features

Tigridia is one of the varieties of perennial herbaceous crops that originated from South America. The height of the flower reaches 30-70 centimeters. The rhizome is a bulbous formation. From above it is covered with dry films of a brown tint.

The leaves have a belt-like shape and a corrugated texture. They form a fan and come out directly from the rosette. In the central part there is a straight stem.

The flowering of the plant begins in July and continues until the autumn frosts. Each bulb produces 6 flower stalks. They have 2-3 buds. The corolla has 6 petals, with 3 being larger.

After the end of flowering, the fruits appear on the plant in the form of boxes. Each contains several brown seeds.

How to plant in open ground

To grow a strong and viable plant, it is necessary to observe the terms and planting technology.

Timing

It is recommended to plant tigridia in the soil in late spring. The best time to do this is in May. In the south, planting work can be performed at the beginning of the month, in temperate latitudes - in the middle. It is not worth planting a plant in autumn.

Preparation of planting material

The simplest method of breeding a flower is bulbous. To do this, it is recommended to plant already germinated bulbs in the ground. You can also grow the plant from seed. To do this, it is enough to sow them in the spring in boxes or pots. When the frosts pass, the seedlings are transferred to the ground.

Plant pattern

First, on the site you need to make indentations of 8-12 centimeters and water them. Between the pits it is worth keeping a distance of 15-20 centimeters. This will give the sprouts enough space and make it easier to care for.

Growing and care

Caring for a crop is quite simple. It is enough to water and fertilize it in a timely manner. Soil mulching is also important.

Irrigation

The plant needs adequate watering.There is little conventional irrigation of the soil. When growing tigridia, it is important that the soil is well saturated. The frequency of watering is chosen taking into account the frequency of precipitation. In a dry summer, this procedure is carried out every day, and the upper part of the flower is additionally irrigated.

Loosening and weeding

Tigridia does not need loosening. It is enough to cover the soil with peat or humus. In this case, you need to systematically weed the beds. This will help prevent the spread of weeds.

Feeding

After planting the plant in the ground, you need to apply nitrogen fertilizer. For 1 square meter use 30-40 grams of fertilizer. When tigridia begins to bloom, use nitrophoska in the same volume.

Some flower growers fertilize the plant at intervals of 2-3 weeks, using a complex preparation. It is brought under the root during watering.

Mulching

To ensure the full development of tigridia, the surface of the soil should be covered with peat or humus. Under such a layer, the soil will remain loose for a long time. Mulching helps avoid soil compaction.

Removing faded flowers

After the end of flowering, wilted buds must be removed. Thanks to timely pruning, it is possible to preserve the decorative properties of the crop and ensure the appearance of new flowers.

Installation of supports

Weak plants need extra support. They are recommended to be tied to supports. Otherwise, the first gusts of wind will break the flower stalks.

Transfer

For earlier flowering bulbs should be grown at home. In early spring, they are planted in a pot and provide moderate watering. As the germination proceeds, the soil needs to be moistened more and more. When arrows appear, the plant should be transferred to a warm windowsill.

It is recommended to transplant a flower in open ground in early June. To do this, you need to make a hole 50-60 centimeters deep. It should be borne in mind that after transplantation, the culture requires abundant watering.

Reproduction

Reproduction of tigridia can be done using seeds or bulbs. Each of the methods is characterized by certain features.

Collection and storage of seeds

You can buy planting material in a special store or prepare it yourself. To do this, you need to get the seeds from the seed box. In early spring, they are planted in a special container. After 2 weeks, sprouts will appear. At the beginning of summer, tigridia is transplanted into the soil.

Vegetative method

The most common method of propagation is bulbous. This is a fairly simple manipulation. For its implementation in the spring, the bulbs are divided into several fragments and planted in open soil.

How to dig and store in winter

Great importance is the preparation of crops for wintering. The plant can bloom until frost, but in this case, the bulbs do not have time to accumulate nutrients for the next season. Therefore, a couple of weeks before the temperature drops, flower stalks should be cut off. When the leaves wither, the bulbs need to be dug up.

Remove only part of the soil to avoid damage to the child growth. Within 1 month after digging, the bulbs are dried at room temperature. After 15-18 days, they get rid of the remnants of the earth, completely cut off the roots and remnants of greenery.

Dried bulbs should be stored in a dry and cool place. It is recommended to do this in a container with sand. In high humidity conditions, they should be placed in nets and hung.

Diseases and pests

The plant often encounters various diseases and harmful insects. To avoid problems, it is worthwhile to process the flower on time.

Rot

This disease manifests itself in the form of focal spotting on the leaves and stems of the crop. A viscous slurry accumulates in each spot. It can be brown, white or black. Bordeaux liquid will help to cope with the problem. You can also use Kuproksat.

Rust

The disease is accompanied by the appearance of round formations on the flower. They can vary in size but always include a bright red powder. When cracked, it falls out. To eliminate the disease, you need to use Poligard, Flutrivit or similar drugs.

Scab

The disease is characterized by foci of infection on the surface of the culture. This leads to peeling of the upper layers of the leaves. Spots, ulcers, warts appear on them. To prevent the disease 2-4 times during the season, it is worth treating with such means as Fitosporin-M, Profit Gold or similar preparations.

Thrips

Small black dots on the plant help to identify the pest. With a strong defeat, the parasites provoke the appearance of dry ulcers. They also lead to curling and dying of foliage. A characteristic feature of infection is a dry net on the leaves. Abamectin, Fitoverm help to cope with thrips.

Slugs

They eat young leaves and stems, which provokes a general oppression of the plant. To identify slugs, you should pay attention to the white mark on the plant and the ground. Glanzit, Mesurol and similar drugs help to cope with pests.

Cabbage Scoops

The caterpillars of this insect eat buds, foliage, seed pods. The pest hibernates in the soil. Therefore, before frosts, you should dig up the soil. As a result, the scoop pupae will be on the surface of the earth, which will lead to their death.

Medvedki

These pests infect the bulbs and root system of the plant, causing it to wilt. It is possible to detect parasites by small mounds and minks in the ground. Before planting, the bulbs should definitely be treated with Confidor, Actara or similar means.

Popular varieties

Tigridia has about 50 species. They differ in height, bud colors, growing conditions.

Alba

This perennial plant has branching stems. In height, they can reach 60-70 centimeters. The leaves are elongated and light green in color. They are covered with longitudinal folds. The plant usually has 5 flower stalks. Each of them contains 4-5 buds. They unfold in succession. The flowers are cup-shaped. The diameter is 10-15 centimeters.

Aurea

This ornamental plant has fairly strong and straight stems.In height, they are 45-55 centimeters. Culture does not need to be tied up. The inflorescences are bowl-shaped. Petals have a rich yellow hue and a scarlet middle. The diameter is 10-14 centimeters. The leaves are characterized by a light green hue and an elongated shape. Flowering begins in July.

Carminea

The flower has a fairly strong stem 65 centimeters high. The leaves have a green tint and contain longitudinal veins. Each plant has 3-4 peduncles, which form 4-5 inflorescences. The flowers are bowl shaped. The petals are characterized by a rich orange hue. The middle is covered with yellow spots. The diameter of the flowers is 13-14 centimeters. Flowering continues throughout July and August.

Lilacea

This culture is characterized by straight stems 50-60 centimeters high. The leaves are elongated and covered with veins.They are characterized by a light green hue and a pointed shape. Inflorescences have a bright shade. The petals are soft pink, and in the middle you can see carmine spots. The shape of the flowers resembles a bowl. Their diameter is more than 11 centimeters.

Rosalind

The height of the plant reaches 40-50 centimeters. The leaves are oblong and veined. The plant has up to 5 peduncles, which contain 3-5 inflorescences. Petals have a soft pink hue. In diameter, they reach 12-14 centimeters. The flower is shaped like a bowl. The plant blooms from July to August.

Canariensis

The plant has soft inflorescences of pastel colors. At the same time, the bud has a rich red tint. The size of the inflorescence is 10-15 centimeters.

Speciosa

The flower is characterized by straight stems that reach 45 centimeters in height.Each plant has 5 peduncles with 4-5 inflorescences. Petals have a rich red hue. In the middle, on a yellow background, you can see red spots. The flowers are cup-shaped. In diameter, they reach 15 centimeters. The plant begins to bloom in July.

Ferraria mixed

Tigridia Ferraria mixed variety is very popular. The height of the bush reaches 60 centimeters. The leaves are sword-shaped. The flowers are 15 centimeters. The outer petals are uniform in color. It can be yellow, red, white. There are purple-pink and orange flowers. There are spots on the inner petals.

What species are used for breeding

Breeders use different types of tigridia - Mexican, with yellow flowers, tubular pink. Celerian is also very popular. It has lilac-blue inflorescences. The peacock tigridia looks very beautiful.

Landscape use

Tigridia is often used in landscape design, when creating group plantings. When planting different varieties of plants in one place, it is possible to get a colorful flower bed. It is important to remember the sense of proportion. It is not worth combining a plant with others with variegated flowers.

Bright flowers look very nice on a green background. It is created by low plants and a lawn. Green coniferous crops and shrubs are well suited. The advantage of tigridia is the possibility of growing in tubs or pots.

Tigridia is a spectacular plant that can become a real decoration of a flower bed or garden. To get a strong and viable flower, he needs to provide full care. To do this, you should take into account the main recommendations of experts.