Narcissus - growing, care, transplant and reproduction

Kind Narcissus (Narcissus) from the amaryllis family includes about 60 species of perennial bulbous plants. The homeland of daffodils is the Mediterranean, although several species have been found in central Asia and China.

The flower got its name after the hero of one of the ancient Greek myths. He talks about how a young man who once lived by the name of Narcissus, who was very beautiful, once saw his reflection in the water. Having fallen in love with him without memory, he did not want to leave the stream even for a minute, so he found his death from starvation near him. Soon, at the place of his death, an elegant, very slender flower grew.

Today, thousands of varieties of this charming plant, which has found wide application in garden design, are already known. For convenience, among a huge number of hybrid forms of garden daffodils, experts distinguish 13 groups that combine plants based on their appearance of flowers and leaves. Depending on the variety, the flowers can be simple and double, large, upright or drooping, single or in inflorescence, fragrant.

The average duration of the flowering period in daffodils planted at normal times is from 10 to 15 days. If the plants were planted in the early stages, then they can bloom up to 30 days or more. Therefore, using the difference in the flowering time of various species and hybrids of daffodils, you can make excellent garden compositions that bloom throughout spring. Daffodils look best in the neighborhood with other spring-blooming bulbous: tulips, crocuses, hyacinths, hellebores, etc.

Narcissus - growing and care

Daffodils are less demanding of growing conditions than, for example, tulips or lilies. Once planting quality bulbs in the ground, for many years you can enjoy their delicate color without much hassle. It is best to choose a sunny place or partial shade for planting these plants, with light soil and good drainage. Drainage is a prerequisite for their cultivation, since the place of origin of most species of daffodils are mountainous areas.

For a good development of these flowers, an indicator of the humus content in the soil is very important. You can increase its nutritional value by making compost, humus. However, you can’t fertilize the soil with manure, as it can attract the most dangerous pest of this crop - the daffodil fly (onion grub). If necessary, liming the soil is carried out, but this must be done a year before planting the bulbs. It is very useful to bring wood ash into it (1 glass per 1 sq. M.).

The timing and duration of flowering plants are determined by the temperature of the soil and air. The optimum temperature is 15 ° C, and soils - from 10 ° C to 12 ° C. With the start of hot weather, daffodils need watering, which should be continued until the leaves wilt.

At the end of flowering, the withering heads of their flowers must be removed, but the leaves must be allowed to die out naturally, therefore, they should remain on the plant for at least 6 weeks after flowering.

If, over time, the flowers of daffodils become smaller, and the splendor of flowering decreases, then the time has come to divide the overgrown plantation. Bulbs should be divided and transplanted every 3-5 years.

Narcissus - transplant and reproduction

Bulbs are planted and transplanted daffodils at the end of summer so that they have time to root before the onset of cold weather. The depth of the onion should be three times their height. If planting is done on heavy clay soils, you need to plant daffodils on a layer of sand to improve drainage. The distance between the bulbs should be at least 10 cm. Humus soil, full mineral fertilizer and wood ash should be added to the planting hole. If planting is carried out in early autumn, then the plants should be covered with peat or dry foliage upon the onset of cold weather.

Daffodils are propagated mainly in a vegetative way. Reproduction by seeds is used only for plant breeding. For valuable varieties, reproduction by parts of the bulbs is possible. To do this, they should be divided into 4-6 parts, treated with a stimulant, dried and dropped into boxes filled with a sterile substrate. Children that are formed from such parts of the bulbs are capable of flowering in the third year.

When propagated by seeds, they are sown in late summer or early fall. Plants obtained in this way will begin to bloom only a few years after sowing.

Daffodil - Diseases and Pests

The most common diseases of daffodils are fusarium, sclerotiniosis, mosaic disease, penicillosis and bacterial rot. To prevent disease, daffodils after flowering need to be sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate, prepared in a concentration of 100 g. on 10 l of water. The flow rate of the solution is 1-2 liters per 10 square meters. m. plot.

The main pests of the daffodil are the onion bug, nematode and root onion tick. In order to combat them, the plant is sprayed in the spring before the start of budding with the Fitoverm drug, 2 ml of which should be diluted in 1 liter of water. On 10 square meters. m. the flow rate of the solution is 1 liter.

As you can see, the care of daffodils is not at all complicated, and if you make a little effort, then in early spring this flower, blossoming before other plants, will give warmth and joy to all lovers of our unique nature.

Watch the video: How to divide daffodils, PART 1, Divide perennials, divide bulbs, narcissus, bulbs transplant (June 2024).