Sanvitalia is a low-growing herbaceous annual and perennial plant from the Astrovye family. More recently, sanvitalia grew only on the lands of Central and North America. But once in a temperate climate, it quickly took root and feels great. With proper care, sanitation grows well and pleases the eye of gardeners with graceful flowers that look like small bright stars.
Description of the plant sanvitalia
The sanvitalia flower is a low spherical bush that grows significantly in width. The stems, reaching a length of 45 cm, spread along the ground, forming a continuous green carpet. Leaves are oval, elongated, spread out opposite each other.
Inflorescences are small baskets up to 25 mm in diameter. The inner flowers are tubular, brownish in color, and the lingual petals located around the circumference are white, orange or yellow.
The first description of the plant was made by the Italian botanist Sanvitali, after whom the flower was named.
Sanvitalia blooms from mid-summer to late October. Small grains do not lose their germination for two years.
Growing sanitation from seeds
Sowing seeds
Seeds are harvested in autumn, and already in early March they are sown for seedlings. First, select suitable containers. The bottom is covered with a drainage layer, after which a mixture is prepared containing sand and fertile soil in a ratio of 1: 3. Fill containers with prepared soil. The seeds are buried by about 10 mm. Sprinkle with a thin layer of soil and spray with a spray bottle. To create a greenhouse effect, the seedlings are covered with glass or foil. After 12-14 days, sprouts will appear, after which the shelter is immediately removed.
Seedlings of sanitation
From the day of sowing until the first leaves appear, the seedlings are regularly ventilated and watered for 2-3 days. Irrigate either with a spray bottle or by bottom irrigation of the soil, so as not to accidentally damage the emerging sprouts.
When 2-3 leaves appear, the seedlings dive into a separate dish. Planted in several pieces in one cup. When stable warm weather sets in, when the sprouts take root well after diving, they are planted in the ground.
Planting sanitation in open ground
Two weeks before the transfer of the plant to a permanent place, the seedlings undergo a hardening procedure. Cups or pots are placed daily on an open balcony or in a garden, where they spend the warm time of the day, gradually adapting to external weather conditions.
The site for planting plants is chosen the most illuminated and sunny, with moderately fertile soil. Digging small holes, leaving a gap of 25 cm between them. The depth of any of them is up to 10 cm. The bottom of each hole is covered with expanded clay. Seedlings roll over the edge of the hole along with an earthen clod. From above, the hole is supplemented with soil and tamped. The seedlings are watered abundantly.
In areas with warm spring weather, seeds are sown directly into the soil, somewhere in May - June. But then sanvitalia will bloom later than usual. When the shoots reach 10 cm, they are thinned out.
Caring for sanitation in the garden
Sanvitalia is an undemanding plant. Any amateur florist can take care of it.
Watering
Moderate watering is enough for the plant. And on rainy days, there is enough natural moisture. The lack of liquid is in no way reflected on flowering, but its excess leads to decay of the roots, which threatens the death of the entire plant.
Loosening
It is performed after each watering or rain to ensure that air enters the root system. Weeds are removed at the same time.
Location
It is advisable to plant the plant in places where it is not so windy. But if this happens and the winds are strong, you need to worry about frame supports to protect against stem breakage.
Top dressing and fertilizers
This procedure depends on how fertile the soil is. With good soil condition, the plant does not need feeding. Otherwise, it is carried out 2 times a month using complex mineral fertilizers.
Transfer
It is not difficult to transplant sanitation at any age and condition, even during the flowering period. The plant is easy to tolerate this procedure and continues its life path. Remember to thin out dense plantings and pinch the ends of the shoots before flowering.
Diseases and pests
There are two types of problems. This is rotting of the roots from an excess of moisture and the black leg fungus, which appears due to the same, only during the development of seedlings. To avoid sanitary diseases, it is necessary, first of all, to control soil moisture, ventilate seedlings, loosen the soil and get rid of weeds in time.
Sanvitalia in landscape design
Despite its modest appearance, Sanvitalia looks great in mixed flower beds, next to nasturtiums, petunias, vervains and other plants. It is successfully used on alpine slides, gazebos and terraces, decorates garden paths, flower beds and borders, they cover an empty plot of land. But in the fall, it is worth transplanting it into a flowerpot and bringing it into the house, where all winter the plant will delight the inhabitants with its exquisite green carpet.
Types and varieties of sanitation
Only one widespread sanvitalia is cultivated. But breeders, crossing different species, have received many new varieties. The most popular ones are:
Outstretched - the most popular sanitation, as the most unpretentious among other varieties. Although the bush is not high, it spreads in different directions by almost half a meter. It has orange petals and a brown core.
Bright eyes - the variety has flowers of a picturesque color. Black-gray heart and juicy orange petals.
Honey saved - a bright, beautiful carpet is obtained when the plant blooms, which is not surprising, because this is the most exuberantly blooming variety with dark chocolate tubular centers and bright honey reed flowers.
Gold Braid - bushes, reaching 20 cm in height, widely spread their shoots in all directions. The flowers are yellowish with a black center.
A million suns - a variety with bright flowers, reminiscent of chamomile, with yellow petals and a tubular core of brown color. Grown as an ampelous plant.
Orange Sprite - this variety is endowed with dark green leaves and semi-double inflorescences of orange tone.
Aztek Gold - dark foliage does not hide yellow flowers with a greenish core at all.
