The cuff is soft in landscape design and in combination with other plants. Soft cuff, planting and care Growing the cuff

The cuff can be used for various decorative purposes:

1. It fits perfectly into a shady garden, stone piles, an alpine hill, as well as various mixborders and multi-level flower beds. If you place the cuff next to a lush plant with original flowers, the bush will shade and make the shaded flower sparkle with new bright colors.
2. Excellent delicate combinations are made if the cuff is planted next to, or erect delphiniums. Their leaf blades create a pleasant leaf cover that covers large areas. In addition, the shrub does not require special care, so it is very popular.
3. In large flower beds, the plant smoothes out sharp jumps from one stripe to another, as well as the brightness of different shades.
4. You should not place the plant along the contour. It grows and begins to fill the entire territory not intended for it. It should be placed in the foreground of various flower beds, and the plant will also look original if the edge of the flowerbed goes into a lake or other body of water.

Thus, mantle is not only an ornamental plant, but also a medicinal herb that helps cope with various ailments. The bush should be planted at a distance of 40 cm from the neighboring plant. Otherwise, the bush will begin to grow and absorb the plant, preventing other bushes from developing.

More information can be found in the video:

A plant such as soft cuff is now in great demand in landscape design, so planting and caring for it deserves a few words. Although for a long time gardeners, for various reasons, considered the mantle to be a weed, in fact, this perennial plant of the rose genus (Rosaceae) has enviable decorative and biological properties.

Soft cuff: planting and care, photos of compositions in the garden

Previously, the cuff (Alchemilla, from the Arabic “alchemy”) had the glory of a miraculous plant in the field of alchemy and was a kind of example for architects and designers.

Cuff: description

The foliage of the plant is endowed with the property of guttation, moisture is released through the stomata of the leaves, it is located in small droplets along the edge of the leaf plate, and what is interesting is that they do not drain, thanks to the pubescence and the special structure of the leaf, they remain in place, like beads.

Alchemists considered this phenomenon a miracle and used dew to prepare the elixir of life and youth. And those who were keen on magic prepared a love potion from the roots of the plant.

The shape of the leaf inspired many architects and artists to create masterpieces; its outlines were the basis of Gothic style ornaments.

Cuff: varieties and types

The cuff is unique, it cannot be confused with any other plant; in the spring it is one of the first to hatch from under the snow and serves as a decoration for the garden until the end of October.

Some species bloom for a long time and profusely, others stand out for the color of their stems and foliage. By the way, palmate, round or lobed leaves covered with fine hair are the main decorative advantage of the cuff.

The plant received its Russian name due to the external similarity of the leaves to ancient starched lace cuffs with scallops. And in Europe, with the advent of Christianity, for some similarity in the shape of the foliage with the robe of saints, the cuff was called the mantle of the Virgin Mary.

In total, there are about 300–350 species in nature that practically do not differ from each other, in our area there are about 170 of them, and if we talk about popular and widespread varieties, then there are very few of them, but we will highlight 5 of them:

Soft cuff (A. mollis)

Creeping herbaceous perennial is a leader in the field of landscaping; it is most often used when decorating gardens and parks.

This type of cuff grows up to 40 cm in height, the bush is also about 40 cm in diameter, and grows very quickly, especially in rich, moderately moist, well-drained soils. The soft cuff does not like drought and can only withstand short dry periods.

Most sources say that this species blooms from early June to July, and from experience it can be noted that in good conditions the plant will bloom in May, then if the flower stalks are cut in a timely manner, the next flowering period will begin, it will last until the end of August.

Varieties: Senior, Golden Bouquet, Gold Strike, Thriller. The Robusta variety is distinguished by a more neat bush shape and large inflorescences. This species includes variegated plant forms used as ground covers to decorate tree trunks.

The length of the peduncles can reach 70 cm, but during the period of active flowering they droop and do not seem so tall. Lush paniculate inflorescences contain many elegant, small greenish-yellow flowers. The leaves of the soft cuff are fan-shaped, narrowing funnel-shaped towards the base.

A winter-green type of mantle that does not require pruning, one can say more - autumn pruning can lead to a subsequent lack of flowering. The soft cuff is propagated during the growing season by dividing the bush, cuttings or seeds.

This species grows well both in the sun and in the shade, so you can freely use your imagination when determining a place for planting and choosing companions. Good neighbors for the soft mantle will be hostas, ferns, lupins, blue delphiniums and bells, roses, daylilies, etc. Feel free to come up with your own options, but keep in mind that the mantle can suppress small, low-growing plants.

Miniature alpine cuff (A. alpina)

Neat spherical bushes no higher than 20 cm. Alpine cuff is distinguished by deeply dissected foliage, with silvery pile on the reverse side; on top it seems that they are framed by a white border. The plant blooms from mid-May to the second half of June with small greenish-yellow flowers; Alpine cuff can be propagated vegetatively and by seeds.

This species is not bad in rockeries, gravel beds, or in containers next to bulbous plants - daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, etc. In nature, the alpine cuff grows in humus-rich and calcareous soils.

Of the miniature plant species, in addition to the alpine one, two more interesting options can be noted - Siberian mantle (A. sibirica) And Hoppe (A. hoppeana), their maximum height is 20 cm.

Common cuff (A. vulgaris)

This species has folded leaves and does not bloom profusely from the second half of May to mid-June. Due to lodging inflorescences, the decorative effect of the entire bush is lost and it looks untidy. The common mantle is damaged by slugs and is a rather aggressive plant, so it is used extremely rarely for landscaping.

Red-petioled cuff (A. erythropoda)

The species received its name because of the red hue of the pedicels, foliage and cuttings. The plant is up to 15 cm tall, the leaves are green with a barely noticeable bluish fluff. It blooms from mid-May and almost all of June. Propagated by dividing roots and cuttings. This species can be planted in mixed compositions, as a border and in rockeries.

Sparkling cuff (A. splendens)

This species is similar to an ordinary cuff, but unlike it, it grows into a neat bush with erect pedicels. It blooms twice - from May to June and from August to September. Looks good in mixed flower beds and as a border.

Let us note a few more species based on plant preferences and habitat:

• shaded and damp areas are a habitat for semilunar (A. semilunaris) And wavy-leaved (A. cytophylla) cuffs;
• wetlands love cuffs holostem (A. glabricaulis) And small town (A. subcrenata);
• bluish (A. glaucescens), mountain (A. Monticola) And globular-crowded (A. Conglobata) cuffs love open spaces and are resistant to dry, gravelly soil;
• cuff tuberous (A. gibberulosa) has enviable tolerance to drought and sandy soils;
• unpretentious species are considered bristly (A. substrigosa) And close (A. propinqua) cuffs, however, it is worth noting that with a critical lack of moisture, plant stems droop;
• mountain, bristly And graceful (A. gracilis) cuffs are quite resistant species, they practically do not get trampled, so they are ideal for the lawn.

Cultivation, reproduction and care

There is an opinion that there is no need to care for the cuff, it grows well on its own. But our experience shows that you should still adhere to some rules for maintaining the plant.

For good development, the cuff requires loose, fertile soil and regular moderate watering. It is better to choose a sunny place for the plant, partial shade is possible. Cuff is a winter-hardy plant, however, winter mulching will not be superfluous; foliage of large-leaved trees is suitable for this.

Any of all the species presented can become an aggressor, so faded inflorescences should be removed, thereby preventing self-seeding. By the way, timely pruning stimulates the next wave of flowering.

Cuff Reproduction

1. Dividing the bush. It is carried out throughout the season; you should dig up a bush, divide it into parts and plant each bush at a distance of 30 cm. The cuff takes root and grows very quickly.
2. Cuttings. After flowering (until mid-July), the rosettes along with the heel should be separated from the plant. The removed cuttings need to be rooted in open, moist soil and a shaded place; after 14 days, the rooted bush can be replanted.
3. Seeds. Cuff seeds are sown in open ground in the spring or seedlings are harvested in November. A container is prepared and a moist substrate into which the seeds are placed and covered with a thick film. After 14 days, the box along with the shelter should be taken outside and brought back into the room in the spring, where the seedlings will hatch together. After three weeks, picking is carried out and after the formation of a developed root system they can be planted in the ground.

Useful properties of the cuff

Mantle is also considered a fodder, melliferous and medicinal plant. In folk medicine, the cuff is used in many ways:

• a decoction from the plant helps in the treatment of female ailments, is useful for diseases of the kidneys and genitourinary system; it is also used for bronchitis and diseases of the upper respiratory tract; the decoction has an astringent and anti-inflammatory effect for problems with the intestines, flatulence and diarrhea;
• compresses, lotions and baths with a cuff relieve ulcers, acne and boils;
• crushed fresh leaves of the plant stop bleeding and speed up the healing of wounds from cuts;
• Tea with mantle leaves is useful for diabetes.

The mantle is also used in cooking; young leaves (sometimes shoots) are used in soups and salads. The dried, crushed leaves are an excellent seasoning for various dishes. Properly prepared, the plant is rich in vitamin C.

If the cuff grows under the scorching sun, it is unsuitable for cooking, since in such conditions the plant acquires a bitter, astringent taste.

Cuff in landscape design (photo)

The cuff fits perfectly into the natural landscape style, and is also a good option for a shady garden. As mentioned earlier, the plant copes well with the decoration of various stone structures.

Surprisingly, the cuff has a place even in ceremonial compositions; its hemispherical shape gives rhythm and supports the front edge of the flowerbed.

The cuff successfully acts as a retinue; it is good in any combination; thanks to its color, the plant smoothes out especially bright contrasts. The cuff looks especially beautiful in the foreground of tiered compositions and near ponds. Thanks to its decorative foliage and soft waves of inflorescences, the plant successfully hides the unsightly trunks of tall flowers.

But it is worth remembering that it is advisable to plant the cuff in open ground in a place where no alterations are planned, and you should not plant it too close to other plants, this will complicate the process of caring for them. The optimal distance is 40 cm.

It’s an enviable list of useful and decorative properties for a perennial that has long been considered a weed, isn’t it? This is such a beautiful soft cuff plant and, as you can see, planting and caring for it is absolutely not worth the hassle!

Any owner of his home wants the territory of his personal plot to look beautiful, bright and original. To achieve this effect, they arrange flower beds, erect hedges in their gardens, build all sorts of comfortable recreation areas, etc.

One of the most original crops that can decorate a suburban area is soft mantle. This plant belongs to the ornamental group. But at the same time, it is not at all demanding on the conditions of detention and takes root well in our climatic conditions. Let's talk in more detail about the properties of this plant and the technology of its cultivation later.

Properties of culture

The plant belongs to the Rosaceae family and is a perennial crop. It got its name from two words “Alchemilla”, which translates as “alchemy” and “mollis”, which means “soft edges”. The full translation of the plant sounds like “alchemists’ grass” or “alchemical grass.” Its name is explained by the fact that even in ancient times, scientists - alchemists noticed the ability of this culture to retain drops of dew on the surface of its leaves.

This property raised many questions among inquisitive people, because in theory, water must drain. In those days, such properties of the plant were regarded as mystical, and therefore the culture was given this name.

Regarding the second part of the term - “mollis”, the designation “soft edges” indicates the appearance of this plant. And this is actually true, since the leaves of this culture are edged with fluffy lace, which gives the plant a unique appearance. That is why flower growers choose this crop as a decorative material for flower beds.

The characteristic features of the culture are:

Types of soft cuff

This plant culture gained its popularity due to the interesting shape of its leaves. They are quite large, reaching a diameter of more than 11-12 cm. However, the flowers of our plant are not particularly large in size, especially in comparison with its leaves. The inflorescences are collected in small paniculate racemes. When moisture hits the surface of the leaves, it collects in small droplets, creating a stunning spectacle as they shimmer in the sun.

Despite the fact that the cuff has a wide variety of species, only a professional florist can find the differences between the majority of them. There are some varieties that are visually distinguishable, the following are distinguished:

Cuff: photo

Reproduction

There are several ways to propagate this type of crop:

1. Dividing the bush.
2. Seed propagation.

The first method is quite painstaking; it is not surprising that it is used very rarely by gardeners. This is due to the difficulty of digging the plant out of the ground due to the fact that it has a branched and massive root system.

Stages of propagation of the cuff by dividing the bush:

• The bush should be carefully dug up so as not to damage the roots.
• Next, you should disconnect part of the bush.
• Plant bushes on the site.

Seed propagation of plants is used in the vast majority of cases. Seeds of the soft cuff are very affordable; they can be purchased at any specialized retail outlet or collected by hand in your own garden plot. They are stored for a year, after which they will be ready for use. Seeds are sown in planting material in November days.

Landing

Planting this crop in the ground occurs in several stages:

Care

This culture belongs to those cultivated herbs that do not require much attention. But to increase the germination of seedlings and their flowering, it is worth following a few basic rules for caring for it:

Diseases and pests of the soft cuff

Soft cuff, like most ornamental crops, is susceptible to various pests and diseases. As a rule, this plant is exposed to various diseases as a result of improper care. The most common ones are:

In addition to diseases, the soft cuff is also threatened by pests. The vast majority are insects:

The most common plant in landscape design today remains the unpretentious and hardy soft cuff - an amazing and unique creation of nature. Believe me, the appearance of this amazing plant in your garden will make the overall picture simply charming. In order for you to be able to grow cuffs on your own site, we will give several recommendations and reveal the main secrets: we will introduce the main varieties, talk about planting in open ground, as well as the main points of proper care.

Botanical description of the cuff

Mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is a perennial plant of the Rosaceae family with a rather short rhizome and a large, powerful root system. This herbaceous perennial is universal: it “feels” great in the sun, in the shade of trees and in partial shade. It grows especially actively on cultivated soils with good drainage, but also on other types of soil, with regular watering and fertilizing, it develops well.

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Its above-ground herbaceous part can reach 40 cm. The fan-shaped leaves with a wavy edge, tapering into a funnel towards the base, are collected into a rounded compact bush. From the beginning of summer until the onset of autumn, the soft mantle blooms. Planting and caring for it is quite simple, and even a novice gardener can easily cope with it. The plant “throws out” flower stalks up to 70 cm long, on which there are many small greenish-yellow flowers, forming airy and lush paniculate inflorescences. The soft cuff goes into winter with green leaves. Caring for such plants consists of sprinkling the core of the bush with humus or leaves and covering it with earth. Such measures will help prevent the cuff from “falling out” or weakening next season.

Cuff varieties

Siberian - Grows in the harsh conditions of northern latitudes, has strong and massive roots. It grows up to 30 cm, the leaves are characterized by bilateral pubescence.

• Soft - This species is distinguished by large yellow-green leaves and small flowers. The plant is often used in decorating personal plots and gardens.
• Common - The plant has folded foliage. It blooms with small, inconspicuous flowers. Rarely used in decoration.
• Red petiolate - The bush is painted red on the stalks, foliage, and cuttings. Does not grow higher than 15 cm. The leaf blades are pubescent with a barely noticeable blue fluff.
• Alpine miniature - A low shrub that grows up to 20 cm. The leaves are divided into small petals, and their lower part is supplemented with fluffy pile.

Most often, varieties of soft cuff are planted in areas, such as:

• Gold strike.
• Senor.
• Robustica.
• Golden bouquet.
• Thriller.

Reproduction and transplantation of the cuff

• Dividing the bush. It is carried out throughout the season; you should dig up a bush, divide it into parts and plant each bush at a distance of 30 cm. The cuff takes root and grows very quickly.

• Cuttings. After flowering (until mid-July), the rosettes along with the heel should be separated from the plant. The removed cuttings need to be rooted in open, moist soil and a shaded place; after 14 days, the rooted bush can be replanted.
• Seeds. Cuff seeds are sown in open ground in the spring or seedlings are harvested in November. A container is prepared and a moist substrate into which the seeds are placed and covered with a thick film. After 14 days, the box along with the shelter should be taken outside and brought back into the room in the spring, where the seedlings will hatch together. After three weeks, picking is carried out and after the formation of a developed root system they can be planted in the ground.

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Watering the cuff

The frequency of watering is determined by weather conditions - when it is hot, abundant and frequent watering is necessary. But without overwatering, this can destroy the plant.

Fertilizer fertilization

Soil fertilized in the spring with humus will be sufficient to avoid the need for additional fertilizing. At the same time, fertile, moist soil, which does not need to be further loosened, will ensure good growth and flowering of the mantle.

Trimming the cuff

Pruning is necessary to ensure the plant's continued attractiveness. At the beginning of spring, it is carried out for sanitary purposes, cleaning the bushes and removing everything that has dried over the winter. There is no need to be afraid of cutting off too much - the bush grows very rapidly. Important! Growth control is due to the aggressiveness of the cuff, which can outshine and absorb its neighbors. In order for the bush to bloom again in the fall, it is necessary to prune immediately after the flowering period.

Diseases and pests of cuff

Mantle, like most ornamental crops, is susceptible to various pests and diseases. As a rule, this plant is exposed to various diseases as a result of improper care. The most common ones are:

• Mold. This is the most common disease that occurs due to improperly maintained water balance. Due to overflow, pathogenic fungi begin to develop. Also, this disease is caused by a lack of sunlight and heat, which causes poor soil drying. It is very easy to discover that mold has already affected the soft cuff. On its leaves there are wide gray spots bordered by a black border. If you leave everything as it is, then the plant begins to quickly degrade and eventually dies. The procedure for combating mold involves improving soil drainage, a balanced watering regime, and treating the soil and plant roots with antifungal agents. Among the preparations suitable for these purposes, copper sulfate was and remains the most popular. To increase the air permeability of the soil, it is necessary to maintain a minimum distance between plantings during the planting process.
• Rust. It is characterized by the appearance of spots of either red or yellow-brown bloom on the leaves. As the plant ages, the spots become darker. They fight the disease with the help of such means as “Oxychom” and “Colloidal sulfur”. They should be sprayed on the surface of the leaves once every 14 days.

In addition to diseases, the cuff is also threatened by pests. The vast majority are insects:

The cuff grows in the form of a low bush (maximum height does not exceed 30 cm) of a spherical round shape. The plant looks most attractive in the early morning, when droplets of dew collect on the leaves - a large drop shimmers in the center, and throughout the entire leaf it is complemented by tiny droplets, shining with all the colors of the rainbow.

Every owner of a private house strives to make his garden area look bright, beautiful and original. For this purpose, flower beds are set up, hedges are erected in the garden, various comfortable recreation areas are built, etc. One of the most original plants that can decorate a summer cottage is considered to be a soft cuff. This culture belongs to a number of decorative ones. However, it is not at all demanding and takes root well in our climate. We will tell you more about the characteristics of this plant and the method of growing it later in the article.

Soft cuff - characteristics of the culture

Soft mantle (Alchemilla mollis) belongs to the perennial crops of the Rosaceae family. The plant got its name from two words “Alchemilla”, which means “alchemy” and “mollis”. And this is not surprising, because even ancient scientists noticed the culture’s ability to retain drops of dew on the surface of its leaves. This raised many questions for them, since usually the water should drain. Such properties of the plant were regarded as mystical, which is why the culture received such a name. As for the second part of the name - “mollis”, it is translated as “soft edges” and characterizes the appearance of the soft cuff. And this is true, because the leaves of the plant are framed with fluffy lace, giving the plant an original appearance. Therefore, flower growers prefer to use a soft cuff to decorate flower beds.

The distinctive characteristics of the culture are as follows:

• The soft cuff has a rather short root, but at the same time it is quite powerful and massive. The root system contains many branches.
• As noted above, the culture is quite unpretentious. Therefore, it can be planted both in sunny meadows and in partial shade.
• The plant is undemanding to the type of soil. The only condition is that the soil has good drainage.
• The plant reaches a height of 45 cm. The leaves are shaped like a fan.
• The flowering of the crop occurs in the summer, starting in June. Sometimes the soft mantle re-blooms in early autumn.
• During the flowering period, the crop “throws out” flower stalks that reach a height of 65-75 cm.
• The plant has racemose inflorescences. It blooms with yellow-green flowers.
• The plant is also undemanding in care, which consists only of timely fertilizing, watering and hilling the soil.
• There are more than 150 varieties of the crop. In total, more than 300 different plants can be classified in the Rosaceae genus.
• Most often, plants of the Rosaceae genus can be found in North and South America, Eurasia, and Russia.

Types of soft cuff

The soft cuff gained its popularity due to the interesting shape of the leaves. They are quite large, reaching more than 12 cm in diameter. However, the flowers of this plant are not large in size, especially in comparison with its foliage. The inflorescences are collected in small paniculate racemes. When moisture hits the surface of a leaf, it accumulates into small drops, forming a stunning spectacle, shimmering in the sun’s rays.

Despite the fact that the mantle has a large number of species, the differences between most of them can only be determined by a professional florist. There are several visually distinguishable plant species:

1. Siberian cuff. It takes its name from the region where it grows. The largest habitat of this plant is Siberian meadows. It has a rather massive root system. The height of some plants can reach 30 cm. The leaves of the Siberian mantle are pubescent on the front and back sides.
2. Alpine cuff. A relatively small plant with lobed leaves arranged in the form of peculiar hummocks. In summer, yellow inflorescences appear on the leaves. However, the flowers of this plant are not the most important thing. It is valued primarily for its beautiful leaves.
3. The Hoppe cuff is very similar to the Alpine cuff, only it is slightly smaller in size.
4. Red petiolate cuff. This type of plant received its name due to the reddish tint of the peduncles and petioles of the leaves. The bushes have a relatively small height, usually no more than 15 cm. The plant has quite beautiful leaves. Their color is bright green, on the front and back sides they are decorated with soft blue pubescence. The plant begins to bloom from late spring to early July. In the last days of flowering, the inflorescences acquire a reddish tint. Due to its beauty, the red-petioled cuff is often used in landscape design, both as a border and in mixed flower beds and alpine slides.
5. The cuff is soft. It is distinguished by large green-yellow leaves and small flowers. The most common types of soft cuff are:

• Soft cuff Robusta. This species is fast-growing, among all other varieties it is most similar to a wild plant;
• Auslese soft cuff;
• Soft cuff Senior.

Reproduction of the soft cuff

There are several ways to propagate the crop:

1. Dividing the bush.
2. Planting seeds.

The first method is quite painstaking and is used very rarely. This is due to the problems of digging up the plant due to the presence of a massive and branched root system.

The order of propagation of the crop by dividing the bush:

• The plant bush is carefully dug up so as not to damage the root system.
• Disconnect part of the bush.
• Two bushes are planted on the site.

Plant propagation by seeds is used very often. You can buy soft cuff seeds at any flower shop or collect them yourself on the site. In a year they will be ready for planting. Planting material is sown in November.

Soft cuff: fit

Planting order:

1. The first step is to choose the right place to plant the crop. The plant will show the best germination in neutral, loose soil, which contains a large amount of humus. The soil should be well drained. In addition, soft mantle planted on loamy soil fed with organic fertilizers feels good. It is best to plant the crop in sunny meadows, but in the absence of this, the plant also shows good survival rate in partial shade.
2. Once a site has been selected, it should be treated with fertilizers. Humus or compost is suitable for this.
3. Next, the soil on the site should be moistened. However, keep in mind that the soft cuff does not like stagnation of moisture. Therefore, when watering, moisture must be added in moderation.
4. Since the plant can grow greatly during its maturation period, seedlings should be planted at a distance of 35-40 cm from each other. In addition, if you plant the sprouts at a short distance, it will be impossible to transplant them to another area in the future. This is due to the fact that the plant has a massive and branched root system.

Soft cuff care

Soft cuff is an unpretentious plant. However, to improve the germination of seedlings and their flowering, you should follow a few simple rules for caring for the crop:

• The plant should be watered in a timely manner. At the same time, moisture should not stagnate in the area.
• After the crop has flowered, the inflorescences and yellow leaves should be cut off.
• In order to protect the plant from winter cold, you can mulch the soil in the area using dry leaves or peat.
• Fertilizers should be applied several times per season. So, after planting the seedlings, complex mineral fertilizers are added to the soil, and in April the soil is fed with humus.

Pests and diseases of soft cuff

Like most ornamental plants, soft mantle is susceptible to various diseases and pests. Most diseases affect this plant due to improper care:

• Mold. The most common disease that occurs due to improper care. Its main cause is excessive waterlogging of the soil, in which pathogenic fungi develop. Also, mold can be caused by a lack of heat and sunlight, which causes poor soil drying. It is very easy to spot a soft cuff affected by mold. Large gray spots with a dark border are visible on its leaves. If measures are not taken, the plant quickly degrades and dies. The procedure for combating mold includes improving soil drainage, a more optimal watering regime, as well as treating the soil and root system of the plant with antifungal drugs. Among the latter, the most popular is copper sulfate. To improve soil ventilation, it is necessary to maintain a minimum distance between plant bushes when planting.
• Rust. It is characterized by the appearance of red or yellow-brown spots on the leaves of the plant. With further aging of the flower leaf, the spots become darker. The fight against the disease is carried out using the preparations “Colloidal sulfur” or “Oxychom”, which are sprayed on the surface of the leaves at intervals of two weeks.
• Septoria. It is characterized by the appearance on the leaves of the cuff of soft, rounded, convex spots of a dirty green color. On the reverse side of the leaf, the spots are slightly pressed in and have a brown-green tint. The disease usually manifests itself in the second mid-summer. The fight against the disease must begin with the removal of infected parts of the plant, after which they are burned. The affected plant itself is sprayed with Bordeaux mixture (1%) or an aqueous solution of the drug “Hom” at the rate of 4 g/1 liter of water.
• Ring mosaic. It is characterized by the appearance of pale green stripes on the leaves of the plant. Later, the stripes may turn yellow and merge into large spots, which subsequently leads to degradation and death of the crop. The diseased soft cuff bush must be removed from the flowerbed and thrown away or burned. Seedlings with traces of the disease should absolutely not be planted in a flower bed.

In addition to various diseases, soft cuff bushes can also be threatened by pests, most of which are insects:

• Aphid. A small pest that can destroy most plants in a short time. The danger of aphids lies in their rapid reproduction. To combat it, the drugs “Karbofos”, “Confidor” or “Iskra” are used.
• Spider mite. It sticks to the back of a plant leaf and sucks out all the juices from it. Ticks are especially active in hot summers. They are fought with the help of Karbofos, colloidal sulfur or the drug Agravertin.

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