Brachycoma (Brachycome), or in the people "short hair" has more than 50 annual and perennial species in its genus, which belong to the Asteraceae family. Most often, the flower is found in the natural environment of Australia and New Zealand. In European countries, the seeds of a flowering herbaceous plant appeared at the end of the 17th century, but flowers became widespread only in the 19th century. Nowadays, the culture is very popular in breeding and various experiments are regularly carried out with it to develop new varieties and varieties.
Description of the brachycoma flower
Brachycoma of white varieties bears great resemblance to chamomile. But the large blooming family contains plants with blue, purple, lilac, pink, purple and pastel shades of flowers. The culture consists of a branched stem more than 20 cm high, small openwork leaves of a bright green color, fragrant flowers - baskets with a yellow or brown center and fruits - achenes. Each seed is covered with a small fluffy tuft of short hairs.
Growing a brachicoma from seeds
Sowing seeds
In areas with short summers, where autumn cold comes early, and spring comes very late, it is recommended to grow brachicoma only with the help of seedlings. At home, seedlings will be able to get stronger and gain strength before planting in an open flower garden. The first flowering can be expected approximately 18 days after the young plants emerge.
Seeds can be sown from early March to mid-April. It is imperative to take into account the climate of the region. Seeds can be sown in regular plastic or wooden containers, but experienced growers advise using peat pots, as these delicate and fragile flowers react negatively to transplanting. The peat container allows you to keep the plants intact and safe and does not require removing them when transferred to a flower bed or flower garden.
For sowing seed, you will need a loose soil mixture with moderate moisture, designed for growing seedlings or flowering garden plants. Seeds must be scattered randomly over the surface of the substrate, and then slightly press each seed with your finger by 1-2 mm. The crops are sprinkled with coarse river sand, sprayed from a fine spray bottle and the containers are covered with glass or dense polyethylene.
Seedlings of brachicoma
Before the seedlings appear (within 10-15 days), planting boxes and peat pots should be in a dark and warm room with a temperature of at least 22-23 degrees. When the sprouts appear, the glass or film must be removed and the crops must be transferred to a bright room with bright and diffused lighting. Within 2-3 weeks, the seedlings need regular moistening, which is carried out using a spray bottle. Can be used for watering through the pallet.So that the substrate does not thicken, it is recommended to loosen it often and carefully, without touching the young growth.
After the formation of 2-3 full-fledged leaves on the seedlings, it is necessary to pick. Individual containers can be planted one or two plants at a time. The first top dressing is applied 7-10 days after the pick. Complex mineral fertilizers are diluted to a low concentration and applied together with irrigation water under each plant.
For shaping and for active tillering of plants, it is advisable to carry out the pinching procedure during the period when the height of the crops reaches the five-centimeter mark. It will also help thicken and strengthen the stems.
Planting a brachicoma in open ground
When is it better to plant brachycea
Plants are planted on a flower bed or garden plot in the last week of May or in the first half of June, it all depends on the weather. It is very important that warm weather is established by the time of planting, and the ground is sufficiently warm. Night frosts should have completely stopped by this time.
2 weeks before planting, the seedlings are recommended to be taken out to fresh air for hardening every day. You need to choose a place that will be protected from cold winds and drafts. You need to start with a few hours a day, gradually increasing the duration of walks to 24 hours or more.
Brachycoma prefers to grow in fertile soil with moderate humidity and good water and air permeability. The soil in the selected area should be loose and light. The flower bed or flower garden should be located in the southern part of the land with little shade or partial shade.
How to properly plant a brachicoma
The distance between the planting holes is about 25 cm. It is recommended to lay a drainage layer of about one large handful at the bottom of each hole. You can use expanded clay or small pebbles. A young plant with an earthen clod or a peat pot is placed on the drainage and the entire hole is filled with a prepared nutritious soil mixture. The mixture is lightly tamped and moistened abundantly.
Caring for a brachycoma in the garden
Watering
As irrigation water, you can use rain or tap water, but always warm. Watering should be done early in the morning or after sunset. Watering volumes are moderate. Flowers have a negative attitude to excessive moisture, but they tolerate a lack of moisture much easier. Each next watering should be started only after the topsoil has dried by about 1-2 cm.
Fertilization
Fertilizers are required for crops regularly every 10-15 days, but only until the beginning of the flowering period. Brachikome is a complex mineral fertilizer suitable for flowering garden crops. The soil in the flowerbed should always be light; for this, frequent weeding and loosening of the earth are carried out.
Pruning
Perennials need regular pruning. To maintain decorativeness, it is worth constantly removing faded and wilted buds and shoots. Formative pruning is also necessary to add splendor to the bushes.
Wintering brachicoma
If the flowering period of the brachicoma has not yet ended, and the autumn cold has already arrived, you can transplant the flowers into flower containers and grow them as indoor plants until spring arrives.
Diseases and pests
The most common disease is root rot. It occurs as a result of excessive watering or stagnation of heavy rainfall. When planting seedlings, it is recommended to choose a place on a small hill or with mandatory drainage.
Possible pests are snails, slugs, whitefly. When they appear, it is worth treating the bushes with special preparations or using folk recipes.
Popular types and varieties of brachicoma
Two types of thermophilic brachicoma - Iberisolistnaya and Multifarious - are grown in our climatic conditions. The period of abundant flowering lasts from early summer to late September. Flower lovers use a seedling and seedless method of propagation of flowering perennials.
Brachycoma Iberisolistnaya (Brachycome iberidifolia)
A perennial plant most common in western Australia. The flower reaches 40 cm in height, has a branched stem and green leaves. From mid-summer until winter, the plant is covered with black baskets about 4 cm in diameter, and blue purple or pink flowers.
- Waltz is a variety with a delicate palette of inflorescences painted in lilac, blue and pink tones. Used for planting in the garden.
- The blue star is a curly variety, characterized by unusual flowers of a bright blue hue.
- Bravo is a variety of German origin, blooms with reed flowers of different shades. Ideal for hanging planters.
- Pearl Splender is a popular cultivar with purple buds three to three and a half centimeters in diameter. Grown in pots and as a curb plant.
- Margarita is a spectacular variety with baskets - stars of blue, lilac and white shades.
- Swan Lake is a variety with bright purple, snow-white and delicate lilac flowers.
- Vinta Splender - the variety is distinguished by snow-white inflorescences and a bright aroma.
Brachycoma multifida (Brachycome multifida)
Possesses small baskets and flowers of white or pink hue. The plant prefers rocky soil, for which it got its name - mountain daisy.
