Armeria is a perennial herbaceous plant that blooms throughout the summer. Having planted armeria once in the garden, you can completely forget about it. The flower multiplies well by self-sowing.
The intricacies of planting armeria seeds
Grassy shrubs are grown in seedlings or by sowing seeds into the ground.
Sowing Armeria seeds in open ground
Sowing seeds is carried out in autumn or early spring, so that they undergo natural stratification. For autumn planting, the seeds are not soaked, but immediately distributed over the surface of the soil. The best time to land is the second half of October.
In the spring, sowing is carried out as soon as the soil is thawed, the second half of March is considered the optimal period.
A ridge for sowing is prepared in advance, the weeds are loosened and removed, the soil is leveled and slightly compacted. Under natural conditions, the seeds germinate well.
Advice! Do not cut dry flowers and in the fall, seeds of armeria will spread throughout the flowerbed by the wind. In the spring, you just have to wait for the seedlings and thin out them.
Planting Armeria seeds for seedlings
To sow seeds begin in late February or early March. Seeds are not planted in the soil, but only slightly covered. So that germination is 100%, planting material is subjected to stratification in advance at home.
Place the seeds in a paper bag a week before the intended planting and refrigerate. Before sowing, soak them in a warm solution of potassium permanganate or growth stimulator for 6-8 hours.
Landing is made in plates with loose nutrient soil. Before emergence, the containers are kept in greenhouse conditions in the brightest place.
Armeria seedlings are developing rapidly. As soon as the seedlings grow up, and they have the first pair of real leaves, they begin to pick. They are planted in containers at a distance of 5-10 cm. Further seedlings are grown in a greenhouse until the seedlings get stronger.
Planting Armeria seedlings in open ground
The flower is transferred to the flowerbed when the frost is completely gone. Timing may vary by region.
For planting armeria choose a sunny area where the plant will feel comfortable. The soil should be slightly sour and rocky. If the soil is not acidic enough, then it is watered with a solution of acetic acid.
The site is prepared a few weeks before planting, dig and make organic matter. Wells are made at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other. If armeria is grown in groups, then the distance between the individual specimens is reduced to 15 cm. Landing in trenches is allowed. During operation, make sure that the root neck of the plant is not covered with soil. Do not deepen the seedlings, otherwise it will die.
Advice! In order for the seedlings to take root well, water the bush abundantly in the first weeks after planting. But do not flood, let the earth dry out a little between watering.
Armeria grown from seeds blooms only the next year.
Caring for Armeria in the Garden
Armeria is an unpretentious plant and caring for it does not cause trouble. It includes standard procedures that can be done by any summer resident.
In the spring, the bush is fed several times with complex mineral fertilizer. The first time feed is carried out before flowering, then with an interval of 14 days.
Watering the flower too often is not necessary, it’s enough to moisten the soil well several times a season. If the summer is dry, then water the bush several times a week, but do not flood. The soil should dry out.
Armeria is grown in one place for 5 years, if it was planted with seeds or seedlings. Adult bushes need division. To do this, in the spring, the bush is dug up, divided into parts and planted in places. If this is not done, then the armeria is translated. Further division is carried out every 3 years.
What to do with armeria after flowering
Collecting seeds for further cultivation does not make sense, since the plant needs to be planted regularly. Planting material will be enough for friends. Do not leave dry inflorescences, as they take away power from the bush, new buds do not arise.
If necessary, collect seeds as follows:
1. Leave a few inflorescences and tie them with gauze.
2. Wait until the flower withers completely, cut off the dry inflorescence.
3. Cut the seeds onto paper and dry them indoors.
4. Store the seeds in a cool but dry room.
Sow the seeds as described above.
Adult Armeria bushes winter well without shelter, especially in regions with snowy winters. Young seedlings in regions with little snowy winters necessarily cover. To do this, use dry peat, non-woven materials and spruce branches. They cover armeria as soon as cold weather sets in.
Pest and Disease Control
Armeria itself is very resistant to disease and rarely affected by pests. But if the growing conditions are not suitable, for example, the bush is planted in insufficiently acidic soil, then infection can not be avoided.
Of the diseases, spotting of shoots is most often found. The affected parts of the plant are removed and the soil acidified with suitable means. You can transplant the bush to another, more suitable place with acidic soil.
Among pests, Armeria annoys aphids. Sprays are sprayed with any drugs from leaf-sucking pests or use folk remedies. With severe damage, the shoots are subjected to radical pruning.
Varieties and varieties of armeria with photo
Among cultivated varieties, the most common are several species that are most often used for planting in rocky gardens, rock gardens or discounts.
Armeria Alpine
Perennial plant with an average flowering period. The first buds open from mid-June. The shrub grows with a dense carpet up to 30 cm in diameter, reaches 15 cm in height. Armeria winters along with leaves.
The most popular varieties:
• Rosea - baskets of bright pink color;
• Alba - different white inflorescences;
• Laucheana - carmine red flowers.
Armeria is beautiful
Evergreen perennial shrub with white or pink inflorescences. Blooms in early summer, flowering 3-4 months. The height of the bush is about 40 cm.
Armeria seaside
In the natural environment it is found on rocky shores near the sea. Shrub dense, up to 20 cm high. Flowers of purple shades. Flowering occurs twice a season. The first time blooms in early May, the second time in early autumn.
Armeria Soddy
Perennial requires mandatory shelter for the winter. The shrub reaches 15 cm in height, the leaves are linear, flowers are pink in shades. Flowering is so plentiful that from the side of the leaves of armeria is not visible.
Armeria Velchiva
A tall variety of armeria, the bush reaches 35 cm in height. This is one of the varieties with a long flowering period. The plant blooms in early summer and blooms to frost.
Armeria ordinary garden
The shrub reaches 60 cm in height, peduncles not leafy, high. On one bush there are up to 40 peduncles with inflorescences of red hues.
