Helenium is a bright, simple and very beautiful flower from the Asteraceae family. There are more than 30 species of this plant. The birthplace of Gelenium is considered to be Central and North America. It has gained immense popularity among the florist for its simultaneous combination of simplicity and beauty. The article will talk about the rules for planting helenium, about growing and caring for it in the open field.
Description of the helenium plant
Gelenium is a perennial flower that can grow up to 1.5 m in height, and sometimes even higher. The stems are straight below, and branch up to the top. The leaves are lanceolate, arranged in a regular order. Baskets can be single or collected in thyroid-shaped inflorescences. The flowers are ligulate at the edges, and tubular in the middle. They can be orange, brown, yellow, red or purple. The fruit is a cylindrical achene.
Growing helenium from seeds
Sowing seeds
Most often, helenium is propagated in a vegetative way (dividing a bush and a leaf rosette). But there are those who prefer the seed method of reproduction. This method is suitable for those florists who are accustomed to keeping the growth and development of the plant completely under their control.
You can plant seeds both for seedlings (in late February-early March) and directly in open ground (in autumn). Seeds planted in autumn during the winter cold period will undergo natural stratification and in spring only the stronger and stronger ones will germinate.
Seedlings of helenium
Pour soil into prepared seedling containers. Ready-made soil for seedlings of flowering plants is perfect as a substrate; it can be easily purchased at absolutely any store for summer residents and gardeners. It is necessary to evenly distribute the seeds over the surface of the soil, then carefully close the containers with polyethylene and put them in a cold place for at least a month. After the containers need to be taken out, put in a warm, well-lit place, where the temperature is about 18-20 degrees.
When the seedlings have two true leaves, they must be planted in separate pots. To do this, you can choose peat pots, during transplanting they can be planted in open ground along with the seedlings, this will most likely not destroy the root system of the plant.
Planting helenium in open ground
An excellent time for planting gelenium in open ground is the second decade of May-first half of June. At this time, the soil has already warmed up enough, and the spring frosts will probably not return. The place for planting gelenium should be in the sunny part of the garden, you can also plant a flower in partial shade. The soil needs nutritious and light, neutral acidity and well-drained. Also, before planting, the soil should be thoroughly dug up, compost and pits should be prepared.
Gelenium must be carefully removed from the pots (if they are not peaty!) And placed in a container with water, this will saturate the root system with moisture.After the seedlings need to be planted in open ground, sprinkle with soil and carefully mulch the area around the plant using peat or humus. A flower planted in this way will delight with its flowering only after two years. It should be remembered that this method is absolutely not suitable for honeycomb helenium, since varietal characteristics with the seed method of reproduction will not be preserved.
Caring for helenium in the garden
Watering
It is not difficult to care for helenium, the main thing is to know some of the features of its cultivation. The plant does not tolerate dry soil, therefore, it is necessary to regularly water abundantly, but in no case allowing the soil to become waterlogged and stagnant. If, after planting seedlings in open ground, the soil around the plant was not thoroughly mulched, then after each watering it is imperative to carefully loosen it and remove weeds.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Fertilizers should be applied 3 times per season, this applies to both mineral and organic fertilizing. The first portion of fertilizer must be applied at the end of May after planting helenium seedlings in open ground. A solution of urea should be added (20 g of urea per 10 l of water), potassium sulfate and organic matter. The second top dressing should be applied during the active flowering period. To do this, you need to dilute Agricola-7 or Agricola-fantasy with a liquid mullein (1 liter) in 10 liters of water. The third feeding is needed in the second decade of October. Superphosphate and potassium sulfate (20 g of each mineral fertilizer) must be diluted in 10 liters of water.
In order for more buds to be tied in the helenium, it is necessary during the period of their active growth to carefully treat the plant with a special agent that regulates the process of bud growth. As a regulator, you can use "Bud" (10 g of the product for 10 liters of water). In order for the bush to branch well, to bloom for a long time and abundantly, it is necessary to regularly remove wilted inflorescences and dry leaves, and also gently pinch the upper part of young shoots by a few centimeters.
Transfer
Helenium also needs to be planted every 2-3 years. During transplantation, you can propagate the plant using one of the types of vegetative propagation - bush division.
Gelenium after flowering
It is possible to collect seeds from helenium, but it is not a fact that they will sprout and grow exactly the branches that you want to see. Since such seeds do not retain varietal characteristics and germinate poorly. Therefore, for planting, it is best to use purchased seed or propagate helenium by vegetative methods. After the flowering period is over, it is necessary to cut off the wilted parts of the plant, leaving 10 cm from the ground. Then it is necessary to cover the plant with a thick layer of moss, sawdust or dry foliage, and then also with a covering material. Such preparation will help the plant to easily survive the winter cold and not suffer even from severe frosts.
Diseases and pests
Gelenium is quite resistant to diseases and attacks of harmful insects, but sometimes it can still be attacked by chrysanthemum nematodes, which damage leaves and flower buds. Due to such damage, they dry out and become brownish brown. In order to get rid of these harmful insects and prevent their reproduction, it is necessary to cut out the affected parts of the flower and burn it outside the garden, as well as carefully treat the plants with special preparations and add ground sulfur or slaked lime to the soil.
If you follow all the rules for caring for helenium, then no insect attacks and diseases will be afraid of him.
Types and varieties of helenium
It was said above that there are more than 30 species of this plant, but only 5 are grown in culture. It is about these 5 species that will be discussed in more detail.
Helenium bigelovii - this type is the least popular. It can grow up to eighty centimeters in height. The stems are straight. Lanceolate leaves. The flowers are about 6 cm in diameter. The middle is tubular and the root is fraught with shade, and the reed petals are yellow.The flowering period begins in early June and ends in early August.
Spring Helenium (Helenium vernalis) - stems are straight, can grow up to 1 m in height, and sometimes more. The leaves are grayish-green in color. The inflorescences are solitary on long peduncles, about 6-8 cm in diameter and have a yellow tint. Bloom lasts from June to July.
Helenium autumnale - This species is the most popular and most widespread species. It is often used to breed new varieties. It grows up to 1.5 m in height, and sometimes even more. Stems are tall, strong, woody after flowering. Leaves are jagged along the edge. Flowers are collected in thyroid inflorescences. The reed petals are yellow or yellow-red, and the tubular center is yellow-brown. Flowering lasts for two months. It starts in July and ends in September.
Helenium hybrid (Helenium x hybridum) - This species is considered to be a combined species, since it includes all varieties of uncertain origin. More popular varieties of this type:
- Gelenium Rubintsverg (Ruby Gnome). This variety is very popular. The bush grows up to 65 cm in height. The flowers are ruby-colored. Flowering begins at the end of July.
- Cockade. The bush can grow up to 1.5 meters. The flowers have an interesting color, the reed petals are yellow-red, the color smoothly passes from the tips of the petals to the middle. The tubular center is yellow-brown. Flowering begins in August and lasts for almost 1.5 months.
- Moerheim Beauty. A very popular variety. It has a peculiarity, when the flowers bloom, they can be red, yellow, copper or golden, but when fully open all the multi-colored flowers will turn red-brown. In height, the bushes of this variety grow from 1 m to 1.2 m, rarely reach 1.5 m. Flowering begins in July and lasts almost until mid-November.
