Gatsania hybrid herbaceous plants for open ground. Growing gazania - all about planting and care in the open field

Gatsania is an unusually beautiful, spectacular flower that will not only decorate your home garden, but will also become its central attraction. He came to the European continent from Africa, and specifically from Mozambique, so the second name of gazania is African chamomile. Due to the fact that the flowers of gazania open at twelve o'clock in the afternoon, it is also called the "midday sun". The topic of this article is Gazania: landing and care in open ground. From it you will learn how to grow this amazingly beautiful plant and what conditions it needs.

Gatsania: planting and care in the open field

Planting gazani in open ground - where to start?

Gazania belongs to the Asteraceae family and can be grown as an annual or perennial flower. How to plant a plant in open ground? To get started, follow these guidelines:

In order for the gazania to begin to bloom, you need to plant seedlings. To do this, prepare the soil for planting seeds. It should be loose, so you usually buy the appropriate mixture in a specialty store or cook it at home. To do this, you can take equal parts of sod land, peat, humus and coarse river sand. Such a mixture is filled with small containers or cups, in which the seed is planted. Before sowing, the soil should be watered.

The time for sowing seeds is from the third decade of December to mid-April. Seed cups are placed in plastic bags, the containers are covered with glass to create the effect of a greenhouse. The ambient temperature should be around 20 degrees Celsius. The first shoots appear in one to two weeks. Sometimes seeds are planted in a greenhouse directly at their summer cottage in the last days of April, if the earth is well warmed up. And in the southern regions, gazania seeds are usually planted immediately in open ground.

4 weeks after germination, seedlings dive into peat pots. After picking, seedlings are grown in a cooler room (on a glazed loggia, for example), where the temperature is around 16 degrees Celsius. After 7 - 10 days after planting the seedlings, they are fed for the first time. Two weeks later, mineral fertilizers are applied a second time. For fertilizing, complex mineral fertilizers are usually used.

How to plant gazania open ground?

On the site for African chamomile, they are looking for a place where there is often sun. In shaded places, gazania only grows, but does not give inflorescences. Best of all, this plant develops and blooms on light soils, in which organic and mineral substances are added in advance. On clay soils, gazania begins to wither if the rainy season begins. African chamomile does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil and stagnant water in the soil.

If the groundwater in the area comes too close to the surface of the earth, then before planting flowers, gravel, crushed stone or other drainage material is placed on the bottom of the holes. Before planting seedlings in open ground, the soil in containers is well moistened, then the clod of earth with the plant is carefully removed and transferred to the prepared holes. The distance between the holes is about 0.2 m.

To get high-quality cuttings, at the end of July or at the beginning of August, side shoots are cut off from the plant near the main stem. In order for the roots to appear faster in the cuttings, the processes are placed in special solutions with drugs that stimulate root growth. Kornevin, Heteroauxin or other similar ones are best suited for this. Then the cuttings for further rooting are placed in moist and loose soil. Once the plants have successfully established roots, they can be transplanted to a permanent location.

Gazan Care - Plenty of Light and Moisture

Caring for this "midday sun" is easy. For gazing you need:

1. Regular watering. Gatsania can easily survive the drought. If moisture does not enter the soil for more than a week, then the flowers of the plant decrease in size, or the African chamomile may simply stop flowering. But when watering is resumed, the plant begins to bloom again.
2. Sun rays. It is not recommended to plant the plant in the shade. It will immediately stop growing and never bloom.
3. Regular loosening of the soil. After watering, it is better to mulch the soil under the flowers so that the moisture in the soil remains longer.
4. Destruction of pests. Also, do not forget about the destruction of weeds during the loosening of the soil.
5. Fertilizers. E If the plant lacks trace elements, then once every three weeks it is necessary to feed the gazania with complex mineral fertilizers. The first flowers appear on the plant about 2.5 months after germination. In order for the gazania to bloom more actively, it is necessary to remove faded inflorescences in a timely manner.

How to prepare gazania for winter?

In the southern regions, gazania can easily winter in the open field, but it must be covered. But in the colder regions of our country, the "midday sun" is grown as an annual plant. In autumn, this flower can be dug up along with a clod of earth (trying not to damage the root system) and transplanted into containers.

In winter, gazania is kept in a room where the temperature does not drop below 8 degrees Celsius. They should be watered occasionally so that the soil does not dry out. Cut the plants in half in spring. When the temperature in the garden rises above 17 - 19 degrees Celsius, the plants can be transplanted back into the flower bed. So, gazaniya, landing and care in open ground behind which is simple, will be an excellent addition to your flower beds. The plant does not need special attention and grows quickly.

Gatzania, she is also an African chamomile, midday gold, gazania is a beautiful plant, a leader in decorativeness, vitality, and unpretentiousness. All that this sunny flower needs for a prosperous and long existence is warmth and sunlight. In its African homeland, gazania grows on sandy soils, on gravel, in dunes, does not have enough moisture all year round, but every new morning joyfully opens the petals of its beautiful flowers towards the sun.

The plant has been known in Europe since the 17th century. Named after the Italian clergyman Theodore Gaza. He was not a famous botanist, but he translated many Aristotelian works into his native Italian. So the Europeans decided to perpetuate his name in the name of the "golden" flower. The gazania family is Asteraceae. The flower is represented by forty different species and countless hybrid varieties, each of which is more beautiful than the other. There are canary-yellow, sunny-gold, orange-orange, two-tone, striped, variegated, spotted gazanias. The color of the flowers is dominated by a warm range.

The height of the plant is small - only 25-30 cm. Gatsania puts all its vitality and received solar energy not into the stem and not even into the leaves, but into the flowers. During the flowering period, the bush is completely strewn with huge bright-colored daisies. The leaves are thin, dull green. In most species, they are covered from the inside with a silvery “bloom”, like a fluff, which allows the plant to save moisture.

This is a perennial plant that develops and grows in its homeland for about twenty years. In our flowerbeds, it acts as an annual, as it does not tolerate winter.

Advice! If the gazania is transplanted into a pot in the fall and transferred to a room (to a heated balcony, to a greenhouse), the next year the bush can be planted again in the garden.

Gorgeous gazania inflorescences fully open only by noon, in the bright sun. As soon as the sun hides behind the clouds or begins to decline, the gazania closes the petals. There is only one kind of plant that leaves its flowers open all day, regardless of the presence of the sun - and that is Talent.

The main types of gazania, popular in cultural floriculture:

shiny or harsh;

one-flowered;

pinnate;

long-range;

white;

peacock.

Type name	Characteristics
long rifle	Low - 15-25 cm. The flower is seven centimeters in diameter. The color is bright yellow. The bases of the reed petals are brown
brilliant	Maximum height - 30 cm. Medium flowers - 4-6 cm in diameter. The colors are interesting - dark red, intense orange, sunny yellow. The base of the flower (tubular petals) is black-red. At the base of the reeds - black, brown, white, spots
Peacock	Very narrow leaf shape, different from other varieties. Large flowers, more than eight centimeters in diameter. Height - 30 cm. Color - black base, to the ends of the reed petals - orange-yellow. Tubular center - canary yellow
pinnate	A bush 25-30 cm high. It is distinguished by pomp, multi-flowering and an unusual color of large flowers. In the center of each reed petal, a stripe contrasting with the main color passes from the base to the edge.
White	It is to this species that the variety belongs, which can bloom without the sun and closes only at night. Flowers and shrub of medium size. Reed petals are snow white, tubular petals are yellow-brown.
Single flowered	The most compact of all types. Reaches 15 cm. Flowers - no more than five centimeters in diameter. Petals - pale yellow

Agricultural technology of gazania

The plant reproduces mainly by seeds. But for especially valuable terry varieties, propagation by cuttings is possible.

cuttings

Cuttings begin no earlier than mid-summer, when the mother bush is already sufficiently formed and has gained leaf-stem mass.

A side escape is selected.
Cut to a length of at least 10 cm, obliquely.
The cut is processed with a stimulant - root.
The lower leaves are torn off.
The cutting is planted in a suitable container (about 12 cm in diameter is enough).
The soil around the cutting is moistened.
For rooting, the plant is sent to the conditions: + 18 ° C, indirect sunlight, ventilation, humidity about 60%.
Watering is necessary regular, after the topsoil has dried by 3-4 cm.
The cutting will take root for a long time - 1.5 - 2 months. Then the bush is kept in indoor or greenhouse conditions until spring planting in the garden.

seed propagation

Seedlings develop slowly.
Seedlings are afraid of spring cold.
Flowering occurs only 3-4 months after sowing seeds.

The best way to grow ganation - seedlings

Therefore, the only best way to get healthy blooming gazania on the site as early as possible is to grow seedlings.

Growing seedlings

Since the period from sowing to flowering in gazania is, depending on the variety, from 80 to 110 days, the first flowers from seedlings can be expected already in June, only by sowing gazania no later than February.

By the way! Gazania is a late flowering plant, but new flowers appear on it until the end of mid-autumn, especially if September and October are sunny.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

It is optimal to sow gazania seeds at the end of February or at the very beginning of March. It rocks early varieties. Late ones, which bloom in August, can be sown in closer to the middle of spring - March - April.

The timing of sowing depends on the climatic features of your area. If the spring is cold and protracted, there is no need to rush with sowing - the sprouts will stretch and overripe before planting in the garden.

Vieo - We sow the seeds of gazania

For sowing, it is necessary to prepare the soil, boxes, seeds and lamps for artificial lighting. The gazing sun lover needs it from the very birth.

Growing seedlings

While the gazania seedlings are growing up, there is little trouble with them. Immediately after mass shoots, the shelter is removed and the temperature of the content is reduced by two degrees. Since the case takes place in March or even February, 3-4 hours of illumination are organized daily. Optimally - two hours in the morning and in the evening to extend the light day of the sprouts up to 12 hours. On cloudy days, lighting is around the clock. At night, the lamps must be turned off.

Gatsania needs a pick. Especially if the depth of the seed box is insufficient. They dive later than other flower seedlings, with the appearance of four leaves. Transplanted into deeper personal pots. Water and reduce the temperature of the content by another two to four degrees, leaving the same amount of light. Picked seedlings of gazania are best formed when kept in the temperature range of +12°С…+16°С.

Planting in a flower bed

Hardening is traditionally required before planting. Although adult gazania can withstand a short-term temperature drop to -7 °, young seedlings do not have such abilities. Therefore, a few weeks before taking it out into the garden, you need to start hardening it, first opening the window, then taking it out to the balcony or courtyard.

Planting seedlings in the soil of the flower bed begins in mid-May. It is important to choose a suitable place - open to the sun, otherwise the flowers of the plant will be closed most of the time, and you will not be able to admire them.

The soil should be nutritious and not heavy. It is better if the soil is dry than wet and swampy.

Planting seedlings in the ground

Planting will have to be done very carefully. It is difficult to damage a powerful tap root, but besides it, gazania has many roots of the second and subsequent orders. If the main root extracts water from the depths for the plant, making it drought-resistant, then small roots allow the gazania to breathe. Therefore, they should be minimally damaged during transplantation.

Soak the soil in a pot or box if you have grown seedlings without picking.
Remove the plants from the pots without disturbing the coma.
Carefully remove each seedling from the boxes with all the soil adjacent to the roots with a long scoop.
Prepare holes in the loosened soil. Water. The distance between them is 20 cm.
Lower the seedlings into the holes, sprinkle the voids with peat mixture with soil. Lightly crimp the surface near the root collar.
Water again. If frost is likely, cover overnight with plastic wrap.

Gatz care

This culture is a real gift to the florist. She does not ask for water, showing wilted leaves, is not naughty, does not get sick. If there is sun, gazania is good. But a few conditions should be observed so that the African guest in our flower beds is more comfortable.

Care activities

Event	Description
Soil drainage	As already mentioned, glazing does not like stagnant moisture.
moderate watering	Better rare, but deep. The plant will extract water from the lowest soil layers, if necessary.
Weed removal	The area of nutrition that we provide the plant in the garden is already small. Why would he "share" food with weeds
loosening	After each watering, you need to loosen the soil at the roots for access to air
Removing dry flowers	The procedure is mandatory not only to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the plant, but also for the speedy formation of new flower buds.
top dressing	The soil must be initially highly fertile. But twice a season, gazania will have to be fed - with a mineral complex fertilizer in the amount of 25 g of granules per square meter. If the soil is poor, you need to feed every two weeks.

Possible problems with glazing

Usually gardeners have the least problems with this flower. But still, some, especially beginners, complain about the following troubles.

Gazania not blooming

This can only happen for two reasons:

seedlings are still too young to bloom;
the plant does not get enough sun.

In healthy specimens, flowering is active, it is difficult not to notice it. The plant blooms by variety - from June to September. Flowers are formed in stages. The life of each flower is about three weeks.

Gazania is sick

This is also an unlikely phenomenon - it is difficult to imagine a plant more resistant to diseases and pests. However, sometimes, if care is completely run, gazania can be affected:

gray rot;
spider mite;
aphids;
snails (slugs).

Snails are harvested by hand, without waiting until they destroy all the leaf mass. It is not very laborious and quite effective. If bugs, caterpillars and other pests gather on the foliage and gazania bush, the branches must be shaken well so that the insects fall to the ground, from where they can then be collected (lay a film or cloth).

Beer is good for catching snails and slugs. A deep vessel is filled up to half with this healthy and tasty drink and buried in the soil in places where slugs accumulate. Slugs, attracted by the intoxicating smell, "dive" into the beer, but cannot get out.

Actellik, fitoverm and other preparations help against aphids and mites.

Gray rot can be destroyed by treating plants with phytosporin.

Collection of gazania seeds

Seeds ripen after full flowering for about two months. Usually, the time remaining before the onset of cold weather is not enough for the seeds to ripen. But if there is a great desire to get your own seed, especially from beautiful terry large-flowered varieties, you can try. It is necessary to put on one of the first flowers, after it dries, a bag made of light breathable fabric. If this is not done, it is easy to miss the moment when the seeds spill out of the box and scatter in the wind. Store the collected and dried seeds in a cool place and no more than two years.

Gatzania is a bright and beautiful flower, shaped like a chamomile, has a wide variety of colors: white, pink, orange and red shades. It will be interesting for all gardeners to learn how to grow it from seeds, care for and propagate, how long a plant can bloom.

Botanical description

In the genus of gazania, or gazania, belonging to the aster family, there are both annual and perennial undersized plants with a short stem. Inflorescence - solitary in the form of a basket, located on an elongated peduncle, has a bright color. The leaves are collected in a narrow rosette, the color is olive green or with a gray tint, the shape is pinnate or elongate-lanceolate, on the underside there is a white-silver fluff to retain moisture and protect from the cold.

All types of gazania have good drought-resistant abilities, they love light and heat, therefore they prefer open, sunlit flower beds. German gardeners gave the flower the name "midday gold" due to the fact that their disclosure always occurs during the day in sunny weather.

A plant 25-30 cm high is decorated with a bright flower 5-9 cm in diameter, dark blotches are clearly visible at the base of the petals, and contrasting thick stripes run along the length. The birthplace of the gazania flower is South Africa, the Cape Province, where it grows as a perennial. The genus includes about 40 species.

Gatsania: growing from seeds

Gatsania is characterized by a long time period from sowing seeds to flowering (80-100 days). That is why it is necessary to start dealing with seedlings as early as possible in order to have time to admire the colorful multi-colored flower beds. Some gardeners start doing this as early as late February and early March, others closer to April. Flowers obtained from seedlings begin to bloom much earlier than those sown in open ground, since this can only be done in mid-May.

Small seeds are sown shallowly (1 cm) in a checkerboard pattern with a distance of 3-4 cm, covered with earth and watered with water in a small amount, preferably with a spray bottle. From above, the box should be covered with a film or glass, then put in a well-lit place, maintaining a temperature of at least +18 ° C.

Growing from seeds of gazania requires painstaking care of crops: periodic ventilation with the removal of water drops on the glass. After the appearance of young sprouts with the first leaf after 2 weeks, the seedlings must be dived into separate pots, trying not to damage the roots. Optimal soil for young sprouts: loose peat-humus mixture.

Before planting seedlings in open ground, it must be hardened, exposing it to a cooler (temperature +12 - +15 ° С) and protected from the wind place for several hours daily. For this, a closed balcony or loggia, a veranda in a private house is optimal. Some flower growers plant sprouts in April in cold greenhouses.

Transplantation into the soil is carried out with the help of a scoop, which first needs to make a deep hole, and then plant the seedling along with a clod of earth and roots. The distance between plants is 20-30 cm.

Planting seedlings, soil

Gazania sprouts are best placed in a flower bed with rich, well-drained soil or loose soil containing gravel in moderate moisture. It is also recommended to prepare the soil from a mixture of leafy soil, sand, humus, peat and sod. The plant does not like heavy clay soils, which do not allow air and moisture to pass through well, which is why flowers feel oppressed in rainy weather.

Seedlings are planted in mid-May, with each flower planted along with a clod of earth, trying not to damage the roots, or peat pots are used.

Gatsania: care and watering

The plant is not demanding, tolerates heat and dry days well, thanks to the taproots, caring for it is quite simple. The only requirement is to prevent the land from drying out, which may result in crushed flowers or the absence of inflorescences.

Basic rules for caring for glazing:

often loosen the top layer of soil;
watering - moderate or even scarce;
after each procedure, the soil should be mulched;
remove surrounding weeds, especially wheatgrass and cereals;
collect all faded buds to stimulate the setting of new ones.

Top dressing and wintering

The gazania flower periodically needs to be fed with organic and mineral fertilizers, which well stimulates harmonious growth and abundant flowering. The frequency of feeding depends on the soil: for plants growing on fertile soil - once every 1-1.5 months, for poorer ones - every 2-4 weeks.

The plant tolerates frosts well, so many gardeners transplant flowering gazelles into pots in the fall and put them on a glazed balcony. It is only necessary to watch that the temperature there does not fall below +10 ° C. When transplanting, you should carefully handle the root system, trying not to damage it. Watering gazania in winter is done with warm, settled water for several days. When spring comes, the plant can be planted back in a flower garden or flower bed, which will allow it to be used as a perennial. However, be sure to shorten the shoots by half.

Varieties and varieties

The most common types of annual gazania flowers:

Hybrid, growing in a low bush, which has oblong leaves collected in a basal rosette. The size of bright flowers in this species is 7-9 cm, inside each there are dark spots in the form of oval patterns. Flowering takes place from the end of June until frost, 6-9 inflorescences bloom at the same time, each bloom lasts up to 20 days. Thus, each plant blooms for 90-100 days.
Gatsania long-shooter is distinguished by creeping stems with narrow leaves, yellow flowers with a white border and a dark circle in the middle have a diameter of about 7 cm, are placed on high peduncles. Flowering time lasts from August until frost, flowers close every evening. After removing the dried buds, new ones appear almost immediately. During cloudy weather, the plant does not open flowers.

Breeding and variety series

With the active work of plant breeders, many interesting varieties of garden flower gazania have been bred, the most popular of them are:

Daybreak series - represented by bright yellow, golden tangerine and burning orange hues, as well as red-brown.
Kiss varieties are characterized by undersized plants up to 25 cm high, inflorescences have a diameter of up to 10 cm.
Chansonette - distinguished by two-color inflorescences of various shades;
The Talent series is one of the new, but popular among flower growers, plant height up to 20 cm, a characteristic feature: silvery olive-colored leaves that contrast beautifully with flowers, do not close at night.

Sundance varieties - have large flowers, 2-color color (bright yellow edges and a burgundy stripe along the entire length of the petal).
Harlequin - characterized by a large bush, the color of the flowers is bright red-orange with a central dark red stripe.

Seed collection and propagation by cuttings

To obtain seeds, a bud is left that ripens within 2 months. Then it must be removed in time. You can store the seeds in a paper bag or bag in a cool place, germination lasts 2 years.

Some varieties of gazania flower, such as terry ones, can only be propagated vegetatively. Propagation by cuttings is carried out in July, for which a side shoot 10 cm in size is cut off, the lower leaves are removed, the cut is treated with root. A container with a diameter of at least 10 cm is selected, the soil is covered loose and moist. After planting the cutting, it is placed in a bright but shaded place, protected from drafts, temperature up to +18 ° C. Watering should be regular, well ventilated. The root system is formed within 1-1.5 months. The resulting bushes can be planted in spring in open ground.

What to do if gazania does not bloom?

After planting seedlings in open ground, gazania, as a rule, begins to bloom almost immediately, usually this happens in the second half of June and early July. If this does not happen, then the reasons may be the following:

lack of lighting, which can happen due to the shade of closely spaced trees;
excess watering, which the plant does not tolerate, therefore, can not only refuse to bloom, but also die;
late planting of gazania in the ground due to insufficient time for growing seedlings from seeds, this period should be at least 80 days.

Understanding the reasons for the failure, any grower will be able to take into account their mistakes and adjust the cultivation of sprouts from seeds or their planting for the next year.

Diseases and pests

The most common gazania disease is gray rot, caused by excessive watering or prolonged rains, which cause the stem and leaves to rot. It is manifested by the appearance of brown spots on the leaves. For treatment, you need to treat the flowers with Bordeaux liquid or special preparations.

In order to prevent the plant, it is recommended to treat the plant with fungicides designed to combat the fungus, avoid waterlogging the soil, do not plant flowers too close and avoid water on the leaves when watering. All pruning activities are recommended to be carried out in dry weather with a sharp knife.

Harm to the plant can be caused by pests: aphids, spider mites, snails, slugs. To combat them, mechanical, biological and chemical methods should be used: snails are collected by hand, aphids are washed away under the pressure of water from a hose. To combat snails, folk methods are widely used: sprinkling with salt, dropping cans with baits (beer, compote), mulching with pine needles. In case of severe damage, biologics and systemic fungicides can be used, but they should be changed periodically so that addiction does not occur.

The use of gazania in landscape design

The given photos and description of gazania give an idea of its coloring and colorfulness. Flowers are widely used for decorating flower beds, rockeries and mixborders. They go well with other plants. Therefore, they are used as bright accents in front of shrubs, to decorate the space on the supporting wall, for inclusions on lawns. Looks great with blue ageratum, lobelia, daisies, ursinia and gypsophila.

A big advantage, according to amateur gardeners' reviews of gazania flowers, is the possibility of growing plants in pots or containers on loggias and balconies. The pubescence of the back side of the leaves helps the flower to endure excessively strong gas pollution, which is felt in the urban environment. After cutting, the flowers look beautiful in a bouquet along with others.

An interesting plant - gazania, planting and caring for which is not burdensome for a grower - will delight with its flowers until the first frost. Most of the varieties are perennials, but there are also annuals among these plants. The African flower has taken root well in our country, because it is precisely such a climate that is favorable for its development and growth. Despite the simple care of gazania, it has some features.

Gatzania - gazania

Resembling a large bright chamomile, a flower with a small stem strikes with a variety of color shades. It does not like highly moist soils and is able to withstand a dry period. A feature of this flower is the ability to retain moisture - this is facilitated by leaves covered with fluff on the underside, which not only retains moisture inside the plant, but also protects from frost.

Growing gazania from seeds can be done in decorative containers anywhere. It can coexist with all plants without adversely affecting them. For the winter, a flowerpot with a flower can be brought indoors - the gazania will continue to grow even at home. The variety of varieties is simply amazing: they differ not only in color, but also in some features of growth. For example, most flowers fold their petals at sunset. But there are species that leave flowers open even at night.

Landing

Planting gazania, as well as subsequent care, requires quite a lot of patience. First, select a site with good soil for this plant. This flower grows best in dry areas with little rainfall.

When choosing a location, it is also important to consider that:

gazania grows well and develops on light, fertile land;
it is important that the soil passes moisture well without retaining it;
on heavy soils, gazania grows poorly and most often dies;
the flower loves the sun, so it is better to plant it in sunny places.

For reproduction, two methods are used: from seeds and vegetatively.

seed method

Growing from seeds at home is due to the long growing season of the plant. For better seed germination, it is important to observe the following sowing steps:

Prepare the soil. To do this, you need to mix the same amount of humus, fine sand, turf and leafy soil.
Seeds are sown in early spring. The time is chosen taking into account the climatic conditions of the area, taking into account the fact that usually two-month-old seedlings are planted in a permanent place.
The seeds are laid out in small grooves at a distance of 3 cm. It is better to plant them in a checkerboard pattern.
When the seed is lightly sprinkled with earth, water is sprayed from above with a spray gun so as not to wash the planted seeds.
Then the container is covered with transparent polyethylene and transported to a bright and warm window sill with a temperature of at least 18 degrees.
Before shoots appear, it is necessary to periodically ventilate the resulting greenhouse and remove the condensate that appears on the film.

When the first seedlings appear in a couple of weeks, they need to provide optimal lighting. Due to the short daylight hours, the sprouts need additional lighting, so lighting fixtures should be installed next to the seedlings. It is also important to maintain the temperature at least 15 degrees, otherwise the sprouts will grow weak. Seedlings need to be watered with settled water.

Important! Gazania seedlings are not dived to avoid the possibility of injury to a weak root system.

Before planting in a permanent place, you must first prepare the site where the flower will grow. Gazania is planted in a deep hole along with a clod of earth where it grew. It is important to try not to injure the main root of the plant. The distance between future bushes should be at least 20 cm. Soon after transplanting, the first flowers will appear - first single, and then in groups. Growing seedlings from seeds at home is more effective than cuttings.

Advice! For longer and faster flowering, wilted buds need to be cut off regularly.

Vegetative way

Used for breeding in summer. To obtain new plants in a vegetative way, perform the following steps:

At the main stem, a lateral shoot is cut necessarily with a thickened base no more than 10 cm.
For better survival and to prevent drying of the process, the cut is treated with a root formation stimulator.
Remove all lower leaves from the shoot.

Advice! To accelerate the growth of the shoot, it can be soaked overnight in a growth mixture, which can be urea derivatives and other drugs.

The cutting is planted in a container filled with earth. It is important that the container is large enough - at least 9 cm in diameter.
Well watered escape.
They create conditions for growth and development the same as when growing seedlings from seeds. It is important to exclude the influence of drafts and direct sunlight on weak shoots. It is also necessary to take into account that the future bush needs good lighting.

After about a month and a half, root formation occurs, but the gazania remains in the container until the news. Only then can you plant a perennial in a permanent place.

Growing some types of gazania is possible only by this method, since they do not produce seeds. When choosing a shoot from which a new bush will form, it is necessary to give preference to elongated and healthy cuttings. To increase the likelihood of root formation, it is necessary to choose processes with a heel - a thickening near the base.

Care

Growing and caring for gazania is simple, the main thing is to responsibly choose the soil on which the future flower will grow. Do not plant a plant on heavy soil, including clay.

Watering should be moderate. Otherwise, cultivation in any way will not make sense. After all, a flower can protect itself from a lack of moisture - its long root is able to get water out of the ground, and the fluff on the leaves prevents too much water evaporation. But it cannot protect against waterlogging - it weakens and begins to rot.
Top dressing is also necessary for flowers. On fertile land, plants are fed once every one and a half months, and on poor land - twice a month with a solution of complex mineral fertilizer.
Timely removal of weeds and thorough loosening of the soil at least twice a month.
Pest protection. To combat aphids, you can plant onions or garlic, which will repel insects with their specific smell. Treatment with Bordeaux liquid will help prevent damage to gray rot. Spider mites are exterminated with special insecticides. When snails and slugs appear on the plant, they are harvested by hand. Planted nearby garlic, sage or parsley will help get rid of harmful insects.

Proper cultivation allows you to get plants with large bright inflorescences. Despite the fact that most of the gazanias are perennial crops, it is quite difficult for them to winter under our harsh climatic conditions. Therefore, for the winter, the perennial is simply transferred indoors, and in the spring it returns to its place. In winter, in the room where the gazania will winter, it is better to maintain a temperature of 10 to 15 degrees.

Gazania care in winter consists in periodic watering. Growing gazania in pots or flowerpots at home allows you to bring the plant indoors for the winter without much difficulty and replanting, where it will continue to delight with flowering inflorescences. When spring comes, the containers can be taken outside again so that they decorate the site with bright flowers.

The family of aster flowers has about 40 species. Gazania or gazania stands out for its beauty from all asters. The birthplace of the flower is Mozambique, South African countries. Many people call the flower African daisy. Gatzania can be found on the dune-covered coast of Australia. Gatsania came to Europe in the 17th century.

People dedicated it to one Italian priest - Theodor von Gas. He did a great job, he devoted his life to translating the works of Theophrastus and Aristotle. Gazania blooms in the hot sun at noon, attracting with its golden color. In the west of Europe, it was called "midday gold". At night, the African chamomile closes, sleeps.

Description of glazing

Gatzania is annual and, the stem rarely grows more than 30 centimeters, sometimes it does not grow at all. Root leaves form a rosette. The flower is distinguished by dense leaves, rich green, sometimes they have a gray-green tint. The shape of the leaves may vary, it depends on the variety. On the inside of the leaves there are villi that protect against cold and dehydration. Therefore, gazania will endure drought. The hot homeland makes itself felt, the flower will pass the test of intense heat and lack of water.

The flower basket has a diameter of 5-9 cm. The color range of flowers varies from yellow, orange to red. The base of each plant has contrasting spots. The middle is covered with many tubular flowers of yellow hues. After flowering, the hairy achene makes it possible to breed. Seeds can be planted again.

Growing gazania from seeds at home and in open ground

Many beginner gardeners are interested in growing African chamomile. They are interested in how to achieve marvelous flowering. The secret is simple, let's try to figure it out.

If we sow in the ground

Gazania flower in the ground Photo of shoots from seeds sown before winter

When sowing gazania seeds in spring climatic conditions are taken into account. Cool climate, late spring prevents early planting. But as soon as the soil ripens, you can safely sow: the plants will sprout only when favorable conditions are created.
Seeds can be sown before winter with the expectation that they will not have time to ascend. It could be the end of October or the beginning of November. It is better to mulch the bed with fallen leaves, which also protect the seeds from frost. In the spring, the seeds will sprout as soon as the earth warms up.

Before sowing, the bed is carefully leveled, even grooves are made about 5 cm deep and they try to sow as rarely as possible. Later it will be possible to thin out if it still turns out thick. Row spacing is 20-25 cm if you don't repot plants. After thinning the bushes in a row, we also maintain a distance of 20-25 cm.

If the bed is planned as a nursery, you can make grooves every 8-10 cm and leave a distance of 5-6 cm in a row. When the seedlings rise, they are watered and pulled out with a clod of earth. You can use a garden shovel and carefully dig up the plants for transplanting.

If we grow seedlings at home

The optimal time for sowing seeds for seedlings is mid-March or early April. Containers for planting should be deep enough. The roots need to be given space.

- Gatzania does not tolerate heavy soil. It is necessary to choose a light substrate that passes water well. The acidity index is 5.5-6.5.
- Seeds are rarely sown (2-4 cm between them), the embedment depth is only 0.5-1 cm, otherwise they will not germinate.
- To make the task easier, imagine that a piece of land is a chessboard. Arrange the gazania seeds like chess, keeping the distance between them - 2-3 centimeters. Just put the seeds, sprinkle with earth.

The spray gun will help moisten the crop: there will be no excess moisture, and the water will evenly moisten the entire surface.
The air temperature should be at least 18-20 degrees.
It is better to cover the seeds with a film, providing sufficient moisture. But the film must be opened daily. It is necessary to remove the condensate that forms under the film.
Sprouts appear in 7-14 days.
We remove the shelter, water it as the earth dries up, excess moisture is not needed.
Thick seedlings can be pricked into separate cups when 2-3 true leaves appear. You can help yourself with an ordinary fork or a toothpick.
A week before landing, leaving them outside for a short time at first, and gradually increasing the interval to a full day.

In general, growing seedlings of gazania is not a difficult matter, it is enough just to carry out timely watering. Diligent flower growers can show extra attention and feed the seedlings 1-2 times before planting in the ground, after 10-12 days at least.

How to sow gazania for seedlings, the video will tell:

Perhaps the laziest grower and inexperienced beginner can easily cope with such a simple task as growing gazania. At the same time, you will get excellent planting material and a stunning perennial that can decorate any corner of the garden, make it bright and fantastically attractive.

Surprisingly, many flower growers cannot part with their favorite flower and grow it on the windowsill, decorate balconies with it in summer. There are also annuals specifically designed for this purpose.

Gazania seedling care

Gazania flower hybrid seedling photo Growing from seeds When to plant gazania in open ground

If the gazania seedlings are in a deep container, picking is not needed. A shallow container will not give freedom to the roots. You need to wait for the fourth leaf to appear, plant the plants in separate disposable containers. Before planting seedlings in the ground, it is necessary to support it for some time at home. Young shoots can be on a closed loggia, at a temperature of 12-16 degrees. Start hardening the plants by opening the window for a few minutes. Avoid drafts. Hardening has a beneficial effect, the plant becomes strong. When you plant a gazania in a garden plot or flower bed, the seedlings will not die from the cold.

Planting gazania in open ground

Wait for warm weather, when you are sure that the last frosts are behind, only then plant with gazane. The optimal planting time is mid-spring. These flowers love the sun's rays, it is better to plant them in an open area. The soil must be sufficiently nutritious. Gatzania is not afraid of heat and will feel great even if a drought occurs.

A peat pot with gazania seedlings is planted immediately in the ground.
Seedlings in a box must be removed along with the root with a scoop, planted in the ground.
Try not to damage the root system.
Observe the distance between the bushes - 20 cm.
Seedlings need 3 months to grow, and they will delight you with beautiful flowers.

Caring for African Chamomile Gazania

This flower does not require special care. The soil is nutritious, well-drained, the sun's rays will give the plant vitality.
A cold snap is not a cause for concern, gazania will withstand a slight frost of -5 ... -7 C.
The soil where gazania grows needs to be loosened, weeds, dried inflorescences removed.
To avoid problems with weeds, drought, the soil can be mulched.
Even the most fertile soil cannot provide the flower with enough nutrients. Therefore, you will have to feed once a month. With poor soil, it is necessary to feed the plant every 2-3 weeks. For top dressing, you need to take a mineral complex fertilizer. 25 grams is enough for 1 square meter.

Bloom

After sowing seeds, after 3 months, wait for flowering. With a timely landing, this will happen in June. The plant will delight with its beautiful flowers until November. The life cycle of one basket is about 3 weeks. At night, when it rains, the gate closes. Gazania will not bloom if there is not enough sunlight. With an excess of moisture, a late transplant of gazania may also not open. By providing optimal conditions, you will enjoy beautiful, numerous flowers. But if the conditions are bad, you won't get flowers.

How to propagate gazania cuttings

Cuttings can be cut at any convenient time: it can be summer, autumn or even winter, when the gazania is in the house for the winter.

We cut the cuttings 10-12 cm long, remove the leaves at the bottom of the trunk, dip the roots into the powder and “plant” them in a nutrient soil mixture.
For rooting, we maintain high soil moisture.
After about a month and a half, the cuttings will give roots and begin to grow. After two or three months they will be ready for landing in the ground.

Diseases and pests

Although gazania is not very susceptible to diseases, they sometimes happen. In poor conditions, the plant becomes weak, can get sick with gray rot. Fitosporin helps to defeat the disease. Healthy parts of the plant are lubricated, the sick are simply removed.

Snails, spider mites, aphids harm gazania, the use of certain means will help get rid of misfortunes. You just need to clean the snails with your hands, destroy the aphids with a phyto-farm or acarin. Actellik, Fufanon, Ditoxom preparations will get rid of spider mites.

Seed collection

Gatsania rarely survives to bear fruit, as summer ends quickly in our area. But if the summer is hot and long, then it is quite possible to wait for the seeds. Unfortunately, the seeds of hybrid plants do not retain species characteristics. And in our garden plots, mostly only hybrid varieties.

Ripe seeds can fly away from gusts of wind, like dandelions. If you want to collect seeds from varietal plants, then protect the flower from the wind by wrapping it with gauze. When you see the appearance of a light fluff, tear off the basket and leave to ripen for a couple of weeks in a dark, dry place. It is recommended to store the seeds in a cotton bag or paper bag, always at a temperature not higher than 22-24 ° C. But it is better where it is very cool: 15-18 ° С. High humidity is unacceptable.

wintering gazagna

Usually, after flowering, the remains of gazania are simply cut off and thrown away, and the next year they start all over again. There is no need to prepare seeds, sow, wait for good weather. An old plant is able to bloom again, delight with its beauty next year. To do this, it can be dug up and transplanted into a pot.

Then the glazing should be transferred to a cool room, where the temperature does not drop to 8-10. There should be enough light in this room so that the gazania can develop further. A sleeping plant must be watered, the earth should not dry out. In the spring, you can re-plant the gazane in a flower bed. New, newly appeared shoots, while you need to cut off to half.

New plants are obtained from the trimmed gazania, it is enough to simply lower them into the water until the roots appear, or simply plant them immediately in the nutrient mixture, providing abundant watering. In winter, gazania can be cut off and new full-fledged seedlings can be obtained by spring.

Types and varieties of gazania with photos and descriptions

Gazania long shooter Gazania longiscapa

Able to bloom for only one year. This gazania does not grow more than 15-20 cm. Near the roots are whole-cut leaves of bright green color. They usually go down. In the basket you can find many tubular and reed flowers. The flowers themselves have a bright yellow color, but their base is brown.

Gazania harsh Gazania rigens, or shiny - Gazania splendens

Grows up to 30 centimeters. Baskets of Gazania rigens can be up to 6 centimeters in diameter. The flowers can be tubular, blood-black, and reed, ranging in color from yellow to red. At the base, as expected, there are dark spots. The leaves may be entire or pinnatipartite.

Gazania pottsii Gazania pottsii

It strongly resembles a harsh one, but has a larger size. The diameter of the basket is about 12 centimeters.

Peacock Gazania Gazania pavonia

The leaves of this species are different from those of the other gatzans listed above - they are narrow and long. The diameter of the basket is 8 centimeters. The middle consists of only tubular flowers, the base is dark, and at the edges there are reed flowers of yellow hues.

When crossing some plant species, breeders were able to get a snow-white, pinnate, hybrid, single-flowered gazania. can please with its flowering even in bad weather, when there is no sun at all.

Gazania hybrid

Hybrid varieties that are popular with gardeners:
Daybreak Red Stripe - yellow flowers, characterized by stripes of red, blooming full daylight;
Talent - a mixture that gives beautiful flowers, leaves all sunny day;
Ministar - gives flowers of yellow and white, which are distinguished by their special beauty.