Kaluzhnitsa (Caltha) is a herbaceous perennial that belongs to the small family of Buttercup. In total, the family includes about 40 items of various plant forms. Translated from Greek, marigold means "bowl" or "basket" and resembles an open bud. In the Russian dialect, the name comes from the Old Russian word "kaluha" or "swamp". The frog or water snake is a popular definition of a plant that is heard much more often than scientific abbreviations. The marsh marigold is especially popular. This cultural representative of the genus grows in the countries of North America and Europe, China, Japan, Mongolia, as well as in the mountainous regions of India.
Features of the marigold
On the garden plot, marsh marigold is grown as an ornamental perennial. The surface of the leafless stem is smooth, and the inner cavity is loose and hollow. Straight stems are rarely recumbent, mostly, they rise slightly above the ground and lift the tops of the head towards the sun. The height of the shoots is approximately 3-40 cm, which depends on the growing region and is determined by the climatic conditions of the area. The root system is cord-like, bundle-shaped. The leaves of the marigold are whole and heart-shaped, arranged in a regular order at the bottom of the stem. The outer part of the leaf blades is shiny and smooth to the touch. The color of the leaves is predominantly dark green. Their length can reach about 20 cm.
The lower tier of basal leaves rests on long fleshy petioles. Sessile bracts. In mid-spring, elongated peduncles begin to form in the axillary part on the crown of the plant, which are capable of forming 3-7 flowers, painted in a yellow, orange or golden tone. The diameter of the flowers does not exceed 5 mm. A corolla, consisting of 5 leaves, emerges from the middle of the bud. After the withering of the flowers, a multileaf with black shiny seeds remains on the stems. The number of leaflets from which the fruit grows is equal to the number of pistils. The fruit and other vegetative parts of the plant are considered poisonous.
Planting marigold in open ground
Kaluzhnitsa prefers lighted areas with moist soil, adapts well to survive in places hidden in the light partial shade of trees and shrubs. However, during flowering, plantings with marigold are especially in need of sunlight. The substrate must be nutritious and moist, so you will have to spend more time watering.
Dry soil has a bad effect on the growth of perennials and inhibits its development.
Finished marigold seedlings are sent into open ground in April or September, adhering to an interval between individual specimens of at least 30 cm so that the overgrown shoots do not interfere with neighboring bushes in the future.At the end of planting, the seedlings are watered abundantly and a shelter is made near them from the southern side, so that the rooting process is faster and more painless.
Marigold care
Growing marigold in the garden is not difficult. The plant demonstrates high resistance to low temperatures and does not make great demands on care. The flower grows calmly even under adverse conditions and survives severe winters. We must not forget about watering, because without water the plant will quickly wither. The soil must be kept moist at all times. After natural precipitation or watering, the soil is loosened and weeds are removed from the flower bed, which aggravate the growth and development of the crop.
Top dressing with complex mineral fertilizers is applied 2-3 times throughout the year. Adult marigold bushes are transplanted after three years, otherwise the flower will grow strongly and lose its decorative appeal. Simultaneously with the transplant of the marigold, the division of the roots is carried out. This procedure will preserve the beautiful appearance of the plant, and the plots can be used for reproduction.
Breeding methods for marigold
Gardeners prefer to grow marigold using seeds, layering, or resort to dividing the bush.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
The plant has a horizontal root system, which is why the bush is easily removed from the ground. They are engaged in division in early April or September. The seedling is removed from the ground and manually divided into parts. The finished cuttings are planted in other holes or grooves so that the distance between the specimens is from 30 to 35 cm. The final stage of the transplant is abundant watering of the site. In order for the seedlings to take root better in a new place, the bushes must be shaded from the south side.
Reproduction by layering
For propagation by layering, the stems are laid on the surface of the ground and pinched slightly so that they remain in this position. A small layer of soil is poured on top. Layers are thoroughly watered throughout the summer and do not forget to feed along with the mother plant. The next year, the formed root sockets are disconnected from the bushes in order to transplant them to another place.
Seed propagation
The seed method of growing is rarely used due to the poor quality of germination of the seed. As a seedling, you can take a forest marigold bush and transplant it into a garden plot. A plant that has grown in the wild is also suitable for division. Despite the advantages of methods of dividing and breeding layers, experienced breeders manage to get good shoots from seeds.
The harvested marigold seeds are sown in early summer. In this case, the first green shoots are expected at the end of August. Winter sowing implies germination of seeds only for the next year.
For sowing, take boxes or containers, fill them with a wet substrate and sprinkle the seeds. The containers are stored in a cold room at a temperature of 10 ºC for 30 days, after which they are transferred to a warmer place, where they are left for another two months. At the end of the second stage of stratification, the first green strings of shoots appear. The hardened seedlings are transferred to fresh air for further cultivation in the garden. Flowering is observed in plants in the second or third year of life.
Diseases and pests of marigold
Scientists have not yet been able to find out exact information about the susceptibility of marigold to diseases or attacks of any insects. The plant is characterized by resistance to pests and diseases. Inhibition of growth and flowering occurs due to the dryness of the soil. If the plant is not watered for a long time during a prolonged drought, it will die.
Types and varieties of marigold with a photo
Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)
The most common perennial of its kind, which is found in personal plots. There are unique garden variations of the marsh marigold, which has terry snow-white or yellow buds.Today, breeders are trying to cross various garden forms of this perennial and are breeding new crops.
Fistus marigold (Caltha fistulosa)
The flower is native to Sakhalin and the Japanese islands. The shoots are thick, decorated with branched stems. When the plant begins to bloom, the stems rise slightly above the ground. In the process of maturation, the shoots grow up to 120 cm in length. The leaves of the lower tier look denser and leathery and attach to long petioles. The edges of the leaf blades are rounded. The inflorescences are formed from lush lemon-yellow buds. Their diameter usually does not exceed 7 cm. The flowering period of this type of marigold falls at the end of spring.
Polypetal marigold (Caltha polypetala = Caltha orthorhyncha)
The species began its origin from the Caucasus Mountains and other alpine Central Asian corners. The height of the plant ranges from 15-30 cm. The opening of the buds occurs in May and continues until the end of June.
