An unpretentious plant of Asian origin - bergenia - will give the garden a mystery, a unique charm. Badan belongs to the Saxifrage family, and, as the name implies, is able to literally break through a stone with its roots, growing into cracks. The second name of the plant is Bergenia, in Latin Bergenia.
Wanderers and nomads of the Great Silk Road noticed a beautiful bush with small inflorescences on the slopes of the rocks. The amazing ability to give beauty despite the harsh conditions attracted travelers. So in the XVIII century, the culture of gardening was replenished with a perennial with the name "thick-leaved saxifrage". Later, it was given the Latin name Bergenia, in honor of the German botanist Carl von Bergen. For a better sound in the Russian version, the word was reduced to "Badan".
More than 10 varieties of badan are known, each of which has its own varieties and varieties. The selection does not end there, scientists are developing new varieties and hybrids that are unpretentious to weather and climatic conditions.
Description of the bergenia plant
Depending on the life cycle, perennial or annual, badan has its own external features and qualities. distinguished by strong stems, roots that spread along the upper layers of the earth. Annuals are characterized by fragility and tenderness. Their roots are not so strong.
The height ranges from 6 to 60 cm, so the plant is convenient to use in alpine slides, decorating rocky architectural forms, borders.
The leaves are thick-skinned, which helps to better retain moisture and endure dry periods. It tolerates the lack of watering for several weeks. For lush flowering, watering is carried out as needed. The shape of the leaf plate is rounded, somewhat reminiscent of a begonia leaf. The color ranges from bright green to emerald green with a red border.
Video about an unpretentious plant for the badan garden:
Small flowers in the form of a cup are collected in a bouquet on a low stem. Pastel red colors: pink, red, coral, sometimes white. Up to 120 miniature flowers can be collected on one panicle. Not all varieties are suitable for cutting, only with a height of more than 20 cm.
Growing bergenia from seeds
Seed planting of plants allows you to avoid diseases of adult plants, to get excellent flower-bearing bushes. Badan is not common in central Russia, so the choice of species must be approached responsibly.
Planting bergenia seeds on video:
What to look for when choosing seeds in the store:
- color spectrum;
- plant type: perennial or annual;
- required soil quality;
- timing of landing at a permanent place;
- light needs: shade or bright sun;
- plant height.
Self-collection of seeds from an adult large bush is carried out after in September. As soon as the inflorescence begins to fade, they put on a gauze or organza bag so that the ripened seeds do not have time to fall to the ground. After the formation of the box, the bag is cut off and allowed to dry for 2 weeks.
Badan seedlings when grown from seeds
Sowing is carried out in the winter way
Low temperatures kill fungal infections, pest larvae. In addition, there is a natural hardening of plants and their further endurance.
Sowing begins at the end of November: seedling boxes are filled with flower soil (universal or special for begonias is suitable), grooves are made for seeds, which are covered with a small layer of earth. Boxes with seeds are taken out under the snow until March. Planting depth 0.5-1 cm. We try to place the seeds less often, up to 2-3 cm between them in a row. Between rows 5 cm.
- With the advent of the thaw, seedlings are germinated in a warm room until the first two true leaves appear.
- The ambient temperature should be 19-20 °C at a relative humidity of 75%.
- From the box, seedlings are planted in individual containers or spacious containers at a distance of 5-7 cm. Picking is carried out at the end of April, maybe earlier, depending on the growth rate.
- A plant planted by seed will give its first flowers only after 3-4 years. In the meantime, it will delight with intricate foliage, filling the garden with the freshness of a summer day, giving the allotted corner an indescribable flavor.
seedling care
Badan seedlings photo
Care consists in standard watering, loosening, pest control, if necessary. By the end of May, the seedlings are ready for transplanting to a permanent place, so they begin to spend a week in advance.
Take out to the fresh air of an open balcony or veranda of a private house. The time spent on the street is gradually increased: first, daytime hours are chosen, then morning and evening hours are added, and lastly, they are left for the night. When the seedlings are ready to withstand nighttime temperatures, they are transplanted into the open ground to a permanent place.
Tips for caring for seedlings of bergenia:
- do not flood the seedlings, the risks of mold rot are high;
- the soil should be well-drained sand, small pebbles;
- does not need special feeding, but the use of growth activators gives a quick result, which is important for a short summer;
- ventilate the room with seedling boxes, air exchange is useful for the synthesis of nutrients and the active growth of plants;
- protect from the scorching sun, otherwise burns of young leaves are possible;
- windows on the east and west sides of the house are ideal.
Strong seedlings take root better, flowering is brighter and more abundant.
Planting badan in a permanent place
The timing of landing in open ground depends on the climatic conditions of the region. It is better to wait out the night frosts than to destroy the seedlings. For the first time, you can use covering material to protect the flowers from low night temperatures. In central Russia, the temperature in early June can drop to 0 °C at night. The southern regions note low temperature fluctuations until the beginning of May.
Soil preparation
For badan, well-mulched soil with the addition of pebbles and sand is perfect. On a fertile layer of soil poured on sandy or pebble ballast. So the optimal density of the soil will be maintained, there will be no stagnation of water. Horizontally creeping roots feel great in a 5-7 cm fertile layer.
Sometimes they come to the surface of the earth. Then the sun's rays can burn and dry the plant. To avoid this, you need to choose the northwestern penumbra places of the garden or organize an artificial canopy from tall bushes or architectural buildings, sculptures. The surface of the earth is covered with a special covering material, mulch from rotted leaves, peat.
Holes for bergenia bushes are staggered, each 6-8 cm deep. Watering is carried out at the beginning of planting, then left without water for a week. Plants take root better in rainy weather, when there is no scorching sun. Or evening hours, after the decline in solar activity, 18.00-20.00 hours. The distance between seedlings is 40 cm. Wide leaves will fill the space, forming a continuous carpet.
How to care for bergenia in the garden
Badan is an unpretentious plant, care consists in timely watering, cutting off dry leaves and inflorescences. Cleaning is carried out in early spring, for this you need:
- check the safety of the root system and the presence of a growth bud;
- clear of dry foliage, last year's inflorescences;
- cut off excess shoots, leaving only independent bushes.
Top dressing consists of a complex of mineral fertilizers: Fertika Lux, Zelenit, Kemiru Kombi or other suitable universal compounds. The solution is prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions, an excess of substances will adversely affect budding and growth in general. For 2 sq.m, 10 liters of solution with 1 tsp is enough. facilities.
Watering is carried out only during the dry summer. It is important to prevent stagnation of water, even a short time in water is detrimental to the roots. You can increase the main watering for the period of bud formation by 10-20%: a guarantee of abundant flowering.
Soil mulching is necessary to maintain the optimum temperature of the root system. Exposed roots dry out quickly in the open sun. Under natural conditions, dry leaves serve as protection. For decorative cultivation, nondescript foliage is cut off to maintain an aesthetic appearance, and the roots are covered with peat or mulch from sawdust, sand, needles.
Reproduction is carried out not only by seed, but also vegetatively - by dividing the bush, which avoids the hassle of seedling boxes. carried out after flowering is completed, from May to August, during this period the plant has time to settle down and prepare for the winter period. For division, a bush with several processes is chosen. The rhizome of the separated bush should have 3 buds. Excess foliage is removed, leaving 3 young leaves. New shoots in the first year will gain green mass, bloom for 2 or 3 years, depending on climatic and weather conditions.
He has a negative attitude to transplantation, he masters a new place in 2-3 years. Therefore, it is recommended to initially determine a permanent place of growth, where bergenia will delight the eye for decades. Unnecessary bushes that occupy the territory behind the flower bed are removed in the spring during cleaning or in the fall in preparation for hibernation. To save young shoots and give them life in a new area, transplantation is carried out in September, when abundant flowering is completed.
Pest control depends on the characteristics of the site:
- Ants loosen the ground, expose the roots of plants, which adversely affects the bush itself. Suitable anti-ant treatment with gels and powders "Anteater", "Muracid", "Anti-ant", "Great Warrior"
- The hosted aphid eats the leaves. Entangling the stem and leaves with a thin cobweb, air exchange stops. "Inta-vir", "Commander", "Marshal", "Calypso" do an excellent job.
- Slugs and snails eat both the green mass of the plant and the root system. To get rid of them, you need to constantly ventilate the ground, mow the grass, and prevent waterlogging and dampness both in the garden and near it.
- Nematodes in a shady place destroy the roots, the struggle is long and painstaking. An unhealthy bush is dug up, treated with a solution of potassium permanganate, transplanted to a new place. The soil is treated with special means, completely replaced with a new one. It will be possible to grow a crop only in a year, but for now it will be sown with accelerators: rye, mustard.
- Slobbering pennies are displayed by Aktara. A two-stage treatment with an interval of a week is enough and the plant is completely healthy.
From pests, it is necessary to process not only the flower bed, but also the surrounding area. This stops the spread of infection to other plants. In winter, young shoots are covered with mulch or spruce branches.
Popular varieties of badan
In nature, there are several types of badan, which are divided into varieties. Breeders continue to work on the development of new varieties and. The ability to take root in any conditions, unpretentious to watering and care made a popular guest in the garden.
Badan Strechi
Badan Strechi is found on the slopes of the mountains of Asia, Afghanistan, China. Its maximum location reaches 3000 m above sea level, which means that the plant is resistant to temperature extremes and winds.
The leaf plate resembles an egg, the diameter of which is 3-5, and the length is 8-10 cm. The leaf is decorated with cilia and notches along the edges, making it unsafe in contact with the skin. The surface is glossy, which allows rainwater to drain from the leaf, the sun does not incinerate the plant. The flowers are purple-red or white-pink, collected in a panicle on a stem up to 40 cm long. It begins to bloom from May to September, enlivening the rocky surface.
Popular varieties:
Gazebo- the shortest, its height reaches 20 cm. It differs in small leaves, 5-6 cm, with former flowers with a slightly pinkish tinge.
Beethoven up to 40 cm high. The color composition is not uniform: the calyx itself is brown, the peduncles are pink, and the flower is snow-white.
Alba blooms with pure snow-white flowers in nature reaches 10-15 cm. In culture it can grow up to 20 cm.
Badan thick-leaved
Badan thick-leaved Bergenia crassifolia photo
Better known as badan officinalis or Mongolian tea. The nomadic tribes of Asia have long paid attention to nondescript bushes and appreciated the taste, healing properties.
This is a perennial plant with a powerful creeping rhizome that spreads on the soil surface. The species is distinguished by the presence of two types of shoots: vegetative with abundant green mass and flower-bearing without foliage. It reaches a height of 40 cm. The foliage is bright green, and by autumn it becomes fiery red. You can play with colors in the flower bed throughout the growing season. Flowers in the form of white bells. Blooms not for long, 3-4 weeks from late May to June.
Senior, with lilac small flowers reaches 40 cm. Can be used for cutting.
Giderruspe, a giant among badans - 60 cm. Pale pink flowers form a panicle that reaches 20 cm. The variety differs in flowering time - up to two months.
Purpurea, a purple-red light in a flower bed reaches 50 cm.
Badan hearty
Bergenia cordifolia photo
They began to grow it in 1779, when Carl Linnaeus developed new varieties from a previously unknown thick-leaved bergenia obtained from St. Petersburg. He retained the external features, changing the structure of the leaf and the color variety - rich pink, white, purple, lilac. The brush with flowers is slightly inclined, it is not suitable for cutting, only as a decorative decoration of a flower bed, lawn, border, architectural forms.
Badan Hissar
A rare representative of its kind, it is distinguished by matte leaves and a height of up to 20 cm. The flowers are white or pale pink, collected in brushes of 5-6 pieces. Not common in horticulture. Often grown in nurseries and botanical gardens. It is not whimsical in care, like other species.
Badan hybrid
Badan hybrid photo variety Bergenia hybrida ‘Baby Doll’
The species is distinguished by varietal diversity. It can most often be found in garden plots, parks, decorative decoration of streets.
Abenglut- low, up to 30 cm, a plant with bright purple, sometimes double, flowers.
Frau Holle - susceptible to cold, its petioles turn purple. The flowers are snow-white, collected in straight brushes.
Schneekenigin- a broad-leaved variety up to 50 cm high with a purple peduncle and white-pink flowers. Loved by florists for long flower brushes.
Morgen Rote- differs in the ability to please the eye twice per season. Its bright pink flowers appear towards the end of May and the beginning of September when the temperature subsides.
Baby Doll- a miniature baby up to 30 cm high with neat cream or pale pink flowers collected in a brush.
This is not all there is in honor of famous composers (Bach, Bizet, Brahms), scientists, cities. They are distinguished by the color scheme, leaf shape, endurance, flowering duration.
Badan in landscape design
Badan is known for both decorative and medicinal properties. It is specially grown for making drinks, healers use the whole plant as a whole. For decor, there is a green mass and flower stalks with buds.
Decorative value:
- floristry, used in bouquet composition, making greeting baskets, flower sculptures;
- cooking, for decorating cakes, cupcakes, festive table with fresh flowers;
- landscape design, ideal for alpine slides, lawn flower beds, borders.
Badan in the garden photo variety Bergenia cordifolia ‘Eroica’
Healing properties of bergenia
For treatment, infusions and decoctions of rhizomes, leaves, flowers, seeds are used. The roots are rich in starch, tannins, resin and polyphenols.
Used for treatment and prevention:
- fibroids and erosion of the cervix (initial stage);
- enterocolitis;
- malignant tumors.
Foliage and inflorescences contain tannins, flavonoids, arbutin, manganese, copper, iron, vitamins.
Used in the treatment of:
- inflammatory processes of the oral cavity and throat (angina, tonsillitis, bleeding gums, gumboil);
- additional therapy for respiratory diseases, influenza, pneumonia, bronchitis;
- prevention of anemia, increases the level of hemoglobin;
- promotes the healing of microcracks, ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract;
- washing wounds and inflammations on the skin to relieve itching, rapid regeneration.
Badan has anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictive, wound healing properties. It is used to lower blood pressure, relieve migraine attacks.
Contraindications:
- hypotension;
- tumors with a diameter of more than 4 cm;
- increased levels of bilirubin in the blood, can provoke thrombosis.
The use of badan is great and varied. Its miniature arrows of inflorescences will delight the eye throughout the entire warm period, and after hibernation it will delight you with fragrant tea from last year's dry leaves.
Creating a blooming flower bed is an art. The right choice of plants for decorating a flower garden is the key to success. Badan can be used as an element of the composition. Planting and care in the open field will not cause any problems. Blooming bergenia is combined with many decorative cultures, therefore it is actively used in landscape design.
Description of culture
Siberia is considered the birthplace of culture. It was the harsh growing conditions that made the bergenia flower an unpretentious plant.
Badan is distinguished by small pink flowers. Which are collected in large inflorescences. During the flowering period, the entire bush is covered with "pink stars". The leaves are large, some gardeners compare them to the ears of an elephant. The bush looks decorative even without flowers: large leaves change their color during the season.
Healing properties
The plant is not only an ornamental flower, but also a useful culture, which is distinguished by its medicinal properties. Leaves and roots contain:
- ascorbic acid;
- tannins;
- gallic acid;
- carotene.
Some gardeners use it as an anti-inflammatory agent. Infusions and decoctions are used to improve digestive processes and normalize intestinal motility.
In addition, it is believed that bergenia tea has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Tea made from the leaves of the plant has a pleasant aroma and taste..
Varieties of culture
Under natural conditions, more than a dozen species of bergenia grow. Many varieties of plants are cultivated in the garden. This diversity makes it possible to create mono-flower beds, using plants of the same species to achieve a harmonious composition.
The most common culture for landscape design is thick-leaved badan. Planting and care is a simple process and accessible even to a novice grower. The species was divided by breeders into several varieties, as a rule, these are hybrids of bergenia and other flowering plants:
- "Britten" is distinguished by pale pink, apple-like blossoms.
- "Purple Glocken" has large purple inflorescences that have a delicate aroma that can fill everything around.
- "Abbenglute" - bright pink flowers have a multi-layered structure.
- "Morgenrote" has a velvety texture of petals, the main feature is late flowering.
- "Sunningdale" is another late bergenia variety with the most beautiful inflorescences.
Regardless of the type and variety, bergenia is a wonderful decorative culture that will not only fit into the overall composition of the flower garden, but can become the prima flower bed. Therefore, the plant is popular among summer residents and designers..
Landing in the ground
In order for the plant to fully develop. He needs to create the most natural growing conditions.
Badan feels great in soddy soils, while clay areas are contraindicated for him. However, if the clay soil is lightened with sand and compost, the plant may well develop.
The culture is sensitive to moisture stagnation, therefore, when planting in the area of reservoirs, drainage is indispensable.
Seedlings are planted in early spring or early autumn. It is important to pay attention to soil preparation.
The hole should be spacious in order to avoid damage to the roots. Disembarkation can be carried out in two ways:
- They form a spacious rather deep hole, it is filled with water. Only after that the plant is placed in the hole. In this case, surface watering is not required.
- Another method does not include "internal" watering. The plant is placed in a hole and gradually rammed with layers of soil and peat, the seedling is watered.
Both planting methods are quite effective, so it is preferable to choose the method that suits the grower. The most effective will be the transplantation of bergenia in the spring.
plant care
Plant care includes simple activities that even novice gardeners can do.
For good plant growth, it is necessary to water in time, prevent stagnation of water at the roots, feed the plant several times and periodically remove dried leaves.
However, there is an opinion that it is not worth removing last year's foliage. Why? It's simple - fallen leaves, in this case, play the role of mulch. They cover the soil under the plant. Forming a protective layer that protects it from drying out.
The plant can feel comfortable in one place for more than 10 years. Here is such a universal culture - badan. A transplant is not required. The plant tolerates wintering favorably.
Reproduction methods
The culture propagates in standard ways, however, the most popular are cuttings and planting by seed. Either option will take time and effort.
The first way is growing from seeds. Small black seeds of bergenia are planted in the spring in the ground. Seedlings grow rather slowly. It will take several years to get a fairly mature bush capable of flowering.
Seedlings are small rosettes consisting of several leaves. Seedlings need to be watered regularly and ensure that the soil does not dry out. With the onset of cold weather, seedlings are covered with special material or dry foliage.
Cuttings are another method of propagation. For propagation by this method, strong healthy bergenia bushes are needed. A part of the shoot with a rosette is separated, all leaves, with the exception of a few upper ones, are cut off.
Rooting occurs within a few days. Young cuttings are placed at a distance of 30-40 centimeters.
In addition, reproduction by dividing the bush can be considered, however, such seedlings are more finicky and prone to disease. A win-win option is to buy a ready-made plant in a pot.
Pests and diseases
Thick bergenia is susceptible to diseases and pest attacks only if the optimal conditions for its growth are not met.
A plant placed in uncomfortable conditions is covered with light yellowish spots. After the spots become brown, and a plaque appears on the back of the sheet. This indicates a fungal infection as a result of an excess of moisture.
Treatment consists of removing the affected areas. Further, preventive treatments of foliage and adjacent soil are carried out with preparations containing copper.
Scope of application
Badan is used in the design of flower beds, garden compositions, paths. A bright conspicuous bush is used as a tapeworm or in combination with other crops.
The culture is combined with lungwort, fern, juniper, mahonia, astilba and other shade-loving plants.
Badan will not be able to get along with undersized "rugs", lilies of the valley or periwinkle. These plants will always crowd each other out. And as a result, both cultures will not be able to express themselves in the composition and they will have to be transplanted into more comfortable conditions.
The best combination, perhaps, is bergenia and deciduous trees. A shade-loving handsome man will bloom and feel great in the shade of a "big neighbor".
A feature of badan is its unpretentiousness. It can be planted in the shady thickets of the garden and open areas. This is a dominant plant that covers the soil, preventing weeds from growing.
Spectacular and unpretentious flower gets along well in any "interior" of the garden. It always attracts the eye, thanks to its decorative effect.
It is difficult for beginners in floriculture to figure out how to propagate bergenia, because in old bushes the rhizome almost lies on the surface, and what to do with it is not clear. With seeds, too, you can’t immediately make out whether it’s worth planting them? Let's decide in which cases which method of reproduction is more suitable for you.
Simple ways to propagate bergenia
Badan reproduces in three ways - by seeds, cuttings and dividing the bush.
Reproduction by seeds
We note right away that growing from seeds is a rather lengthy process: in the 1st year, seedlings develop slowly, form rosettes no higher than 3 cm. Toward the end of the 2nd year, leaf rosettes will grow up to 8 cm, and flowering will occur only 3 or th year.
Seeds ripen in September, their size does not exceed 2 mm, grains should be collected from the largest and most beautiful inflorescences. When the flowers begin to fade, tie the inflorescence with a gauze bag and leave until the middle or end of September, then cut the inflorescence, dry it and collect the seed material.
Seeds can be sown in open ground in October or November, and covered with leaves for the winter. Sowing for seedlings is carried out in May or March, first prepare a flat container of medium depth and soil. The best option is light turf land. The mixture can be prepared by mixing one part compost or humus, sand and loamy soil.
Let's move on to sowing. On the surface of the soil, you need to make small indentations (up to 5 mm), moisten them with warm water and lay out small bergenia seeds. The first shoots will appear in about 3 weeks. Care for them consists in timely watering: make sure that the soil does not dry out, but do not flood the seedlings. 
At the beginning of June, seedlings can be planted in a permanent place, the distance between seedlings should be at least 40 cm. Pour some sand at the bottom of each hole, up to 6 cm deep, place a seedling in it and fill it with the rest of the mixture that was prepared for seedlings. For the winter, young bergenia grown from seeds should be covered with leaves or peat.
Division of the rhizome and cuttings
The simplest and most common ways to propagate bergenia are suitable even for beginners.
You can divide the bush in September. Separate the aerial part of the root from an adult (4 or 5 years old) bush no shorter than 7-10 cm with three buds and slightly deepen the segment into the soil in a new place. You can also make a cut of the rhizome right in the flower bed, and dig up a division for next year - then the daughter bush will more easily endure the transplant.
The grafting procedure is carried out after the flowering of badan, from about May to August, separate the outlet with the rhizome and slightly burn the earth. For better rooting, periodically water new seedlings, and cover for the winter.
It happens that the first 2-3 years after division or transplantation, badan grows poorly. Check if the plant is not flooded and its rhizome is not very deep, then just be patient and wait - it will manifest itself. But if he has a calm for 5 years, then still change the place - he is not a fan of a deaf shade, he prefers light partial shade, and even more open places. Here's a look at what a good landing site looks like:
Plant this magnificent evergreen plant in your home, as bergenia reproduces quite simply. If it is possible to write out some rare variety, then sow seeds. If you managed to get a rhizome division or stalk - plant it, you will not regret it. We are sure that now you will definitely figure out how to propagate bergenia for your garden.
Badan is a mysterious flower that came from the Asian deserts. With its unique charm, it is able to decorate even harsh and stony soils. This Asian is from the Saxifrage family and can literally destroy a stone with its powerful root system, growing in the crevices of impregnable rocky mountains.
It was discovered by wandering merchants on the Great Silk Road. The flower literally bit into the rocks and delighted travelers with its beauty despite the harsh conditions of the desert. It was in this way that in the 18th century gardeners got a new plant called the saxifrage thick-leaved.
Somewhat later, it received the Latin name Bergenia (Vergenia), in the Russian version - badan, - after the scientist Carl von Bergen.
There are about 10 species of this plant. And each of them is distinguished by its varieties and varieties, and breeders continue to bring out the latest hybrids, even more unpretentious and pleasing to the eye with their beauty.
Inside the species there are both annual representatives and perennials, differing in external features and qualities.
Perennials have stronger stems and creeping roots in the upper layers of the soil. Annual representatives are fragile and tender, they have a not so strong root system. Flower growth varies depending on the species from 6 to 60 centimeters.
Badan leaf plates are dense and fleshy, they are able to accumulate water, helping to survive the drought. Even if the plant is not watered for several weeks, it will perfectly cope with such troubles.
To get a lush flowering bush, watering is carried out as the soil dries.
Badan leaves have a rounded shape, which has some resemblance to begonia leaves. The color of the leaves varies depending on the species, from green to bright emerald with purple edging.
Badan blooms with small calyx flowers, collected in a bouquet on a small stem. Flowers come in all shades of red and pink, as well as white. One panicle of inflorescences can have 120 tiny flowers.
Ways to grow bergenia
Badan can be grown from seeds, and also obtained by dividing the bush.
How to grow a flower from seeds
Growing from seeds has its advantages. This method makes it possible to avoid diseases that affect adult plants.
Seeds can be purchased at the store or collected by yourself. In this way, the seeds of an adult plant are collected after the end of the flowering period, in September. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the seeds do not wake up in the ground.
To do this, a gauze bag is put on a fading flower, and when a box is formed, it is cut off and dried for two weeks.
Seeds are sown before winter. At low temperatures, the larvae of insect pests, as well as pathogenic microflora in the form of various fungi, die. In addition, it contributes to the hardening of flowers and their further endurance.
Sow seeds by the end of November. To do this, prepare containers for planting by filling them with a substrate, which can be used as a universal or special for begonias.
Seeds are buried in prepared grooves to a depth of 0.5-1 centimeter. Seeds are sown not densely, leaving 2-3 centimeters between the seeds in a row, and 5 centimeters between the rows themselves.
The growing algorithm is as follows:
- After planting, containers with seedlings are placed under the snow until March.
- As soon as the thaw has come, the boxes are transferred to heat and wait until two or three true leaves appear on the seedlings.
- The temperature should be maintained at 19-20 degrees, humidity -75%
- Around the end of April, looking at the condition of the seedlings, the seedlings are dived. Plants are planted in individual boxes or in a large container, then at a distance of 5 centimeters from each other.
- A flower grown from seeds can only bloom for 3-4 years, and until then you can enjoy the colorful foliage of this amazing plant.
How to care for seedlings
Seedling care is quite standard, it requires timely watering and loosening. Usually at the end of May, plants can be transplanted into open ground, but before that, it is necessary to harden off for a week.
At the same time, seedlings should be taken out to fresh air at first only in the daytime for a short time. Then, gradually increasing the time of stay, first in the daytime, and then in the morning and evening.
Gradually getting used to lower temperatures, it will be possible to leave the seedlings in the fresh air and at night. Only after being ready to withstand night temperatures, flowers can be sent to the garden.
When caring for seedlings, you need to follow some recommendations:
- when watering, do not pour the plants so that the roots do not begin to rot;
- the prepared soil should have a good drainage layer of sand or pebbles;
- there is no need to do special dressings for seedlings, but growth stimulants will speed up development, and with a short summer this is of great importance;
- seedlings need ventilation, which contributes to better air exchange and the synthesis of useful microelements that feed it;
- protection from the scorching sun to protect tender shoots from burns. For this, the east or west side of the apartment is better suited.
Landing in open ground
When planting seedlings in open ground, one should look at night temperatures so that sub-zero night temperatures do not destroy tender young plants.
To insure, at first you can use covering material. After all, even in early June in central Russia, night frosts on the soil are possible.
For bergenia, it is best to prepare the soil with a drainage layer of sand or pebbles, and pour a fertile layer of soil on top so that moisture does not stagnate. For horizontally growing bergenia roots, 5-7 centimeters of the fertile layer will be enough.
It often happens that the roots of bergenia, which are not deep in the soil, come to the surface. This can be fraught for them with getting a sunburn and the death of the plant.
To this end, it is better to plant bushes in shady places in the garden, or near various buildings. It is desirable to mulch the soil with rotten foliage or peat
Pits for planting bushes should be staggered, digging each to a depth of 7-8 centimeters. Water the bushes immediately after planting, and after only a week later. The survival rate is higher for seedlings planted in rainy weather, when the hot sun does not bake. Evening time is also good, starting at 6 pm
Seedlings are planted at a distance of 40 centimeters from each other. This method of planting will allow the wide leaves of bergenia to form a continuous coating resembling a fluffy carpet.
Growing by dividing the bush
Growing bergenia is also possible by dividing the bush. The division of the bush is best done when flowering ends, from June to August. You can divide a bush that has several processes, and the rhizome of a detachable bush should have 3 buds.
Excess leaves on the bush are removed, leaving three young leaves. In the first year, the flower will grow and grow new leaves. Flowering should only be expected after a year or two, depending on the growing climate.
Care
Badan belongs to rather unpretentious plants in care. In caring for him, it is enough to carry out timely watering, pruning of dried foliage and flowers. In addition, in the spring it is necessary to clean. This should:
- make sure that the root system is preserved and there are growth buds;
- remove dry leaves and last year's inflorescences;
- remove unnecessary shoots, leaving the main bushes.
Top dressing is carried out using universal mineral compositions for flowering. When preparing the solution, the doses indicated by the manufacturer should be observed, since excessive fertilization can lead to a lack of flowering.
Badan is watered only in dry weather.
Overflow can be detrimental to the root system of the flower, leading to decay. During the period of the appearance of buds, it is recommended to increase watering by 15-20%, which will contribute to abundant flowering.
The soil needs to be mulched to maintain optimum root temperature. If the roots come out, which happens quite often, then they may dry out under the sun. Under natural conditions, protection for the roots is the dry leaves of the plant, covering the soil and protecting the roots.
To decorate the flower bed, dry leaves are removed, and the root system of the flower is mulched with peat or sawdust, sand, coniferous needles.
Pest control depends on the characteristics of the soil and is standard for flowers in this group. In addition, it is very important to fight pests not only in the flower bed, but also in the entire surrounding area.
For the winter, young plants shelter from freezing.
Species and varieties
The most common type is badan thick-leaved. Based on this species, a lot of varieties have been bred:
Sort Britten
This cultivar is often referred to as "apple blossom" because of its pale pink flowers.
Sort Purple Glocken
This variety has the most fragrant inflorescences of a purple hue.
Grade Abbenglute
This variety produces bright, velvety pink flowers.
Grade Morgenrote
This variety is no less beautiful, but blooms a little later. Flowering occurs in July
The blooming bergenia plant is a charming evergreen "inhabitant", which is considered a worthy decoration of any summer flower garden. About what varieties and types of bergenia exist, how to properly plant and care, grow and propagate the plant, as well as what garden crops to combine in landscape design, we will tell in the article!
Description: varieties and varieties of badan
An unusually beautiful bergenia plant, completely strewn with small pink flowers, came to gardeners from Siberia. It was the harsh growing conditions that made the herbaceous plant unpretentious and able to winter in any region of our country.
An amazing feature of bergenia is not only in the beauty of the inflorescences, but also in the wonderful healing properties: the leaves and rhizomes of the garden perennial are considered a treasure trove of ascorbic, tannic and gallic acids, carotene. Medicines prepared from thick-leaved bergenia have a good anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effect, have a beneficial effect on intestinal motility, and improve the secretion of the digestive glands. And tea brewed from the leaves will not only have an unusual aroma, but also strengthen the cardiovascular system.
Interesting! Often gardeners compare bergenia, planting and caring for which does not take much time, with elephant ears. And all because the plant has beautiful, large leaves, which throughout the season can change their color, which greatly enlivens the flower garden, emphasizes its uniqueness and picturesqueness.
In nature, there are about 10 species of this flowering plant and many of the most unusual varieties. This feature allows you to create luxurious flower arrangements using only bergenia.
The most common horticultural crop is thick-leaved bergenia, which got its name because of its fleshy leaves with petioles, which contain a supply of moisture. Crossing thick-leaved bergenia with other species, breeders managed to breed several varieties of this crop:
- "Britten" with soft pinkish flowers (gardeners call this variety "apple blossom" among themselves);
- "Purple Glocken" with fragrant inflorescences of rich purple color;
- "Abbenglute" with bright pink velvety flowers;
- "Morgenrote", "Sunningdale" - no less beautiful, but late flowering varieties. The peak of their flowering occurs in the middle of the summer season.
Planting a plant
If you want the bergenia, planting and caring for which is extremely simple, to grow in full force and retain all the useful properties as much as possible, try to recreate the natural conditions for its growth.
For planting, it is better to use lightweight soddy soil, avoid clay soil, or dilute it with fine sand or gravel. Badan also grows well in the composition of sand, compost and clay soil, but stagnant water has a bad effect on its growth and flowering. If the post is sufficiently drained, then flowering plants can safely beautify the shores of reservoirs and ponds.
The best time for planting is spring or late summer. Before planting, the soil is prepared, its composition is determined and, if necessary, improved, and weeds are removed. Only after that a spacious hole is dug (up to 30 cm), the rhizome of the plant is placed in it and sprinkled with earth.
Advice! Planting is carried out with the utmost care so as not to damage the root system!
Often, before planting, the hole is filled with water, into which the rhizomes are placed and covered with a layer of soil. Then the soil is compacted and mulched with sawdust and peat. If it was the second method (using water) that was chosen for planting, then watering will be required only after 5-7 days.
plant care
Like any garden crop, bergenia requires care, but it cannot be called burdensome. All that is needed for normal growth and fabulous flowering is timely watering, excluding stagnant water and overflow, suitable feeding, periodic cleaning of falling leaves and mulching.
Important! In spring, bergenia needs to be cleaned of last year's shoots, get rid of dried leaves, and shorten the shoots a little.
If the plant was not planted in a prominent place in the backyard, then you can not clear the garden crop from last year's leaves: gradually falling off, they will cover the soil with a kind of protective layer that will help maintain moisture in the ground and save the plant from overheating in the summer heat.
In one place, bergenia can grow quietly for about 10 years, while it does not require a transplant and is extremely resistant to frost on the soil.
Fertilizer and top dressing of bergenia
The plant is very responsive to properly selected top dressing. It is recommended to use mineral fertilizers before and after the flowering of bergenia. 2-3 weeks after flowering, you can feed the plant: fertilizers in this case activate the process of growing up and aging of the leaves, which at this time are just beginning to change their color.
Plant propagation
The breeding procedure is somewhat lengthy and complicated, but not all of us prefer easy solutions. For those who do not succumb to difficulties, we will talk about two methods of reproduction - with the help of seeds and cuttings.
Method 1. Growing bergenia by propagating seeds.
To begin with, we note that the bergenia has black and very small seeds (1-2 mm). During the first few years, seedlings develop slowly, forming miniature rosettes no more than 2.5 cm long. Seedlings need constant watering and supervision, and in late autumn they must be covered with dried leaves until spring. In addition, seedlings are necessarily dived with a substrate of compost, loamy soil and sand (ratio 1: 1).
Experienced breeders note that the best breeding method is planting in early spring in a special seed container, which is fearlessly exposed in winter under the snow and only in the middle of spring is placed in heat. Seedlings are planted in the area of permanent growth in the second year in the second half of summer.
Method 2. Growing bergenia by cuttings.
Strong and healthy middle-aged plants are selected for propagation by this method. Before planting, a part of the branch with an apical bud and a rosette is separated, almost all the leaves are cut off. Usually after a few days you can see the first signs of rooting. It is recommended to plant cuttings at a distance of no more than 40 cm from each other, placing the outlet in the prepared soil to the base. The procedure for caring for seedlings is similar to adult plants.
Diseases and pests
Thick bergenia is insensitive to pests and diseases. But this is only if all the conditions for the growth of the flower are met, otherwise the plant may suffer from spotting from time to time: brown spots with sharp outlines will appear on the leaves. In the future, the color of these spots will change from brown to brown-gray. On the underside of the leaves, a white, unhealthy coating gradually forms. To get rid of a fungal disease, it is enough to cut off diseased leaves or spray with a Bordeaux liquid composition, foundationazole or preparations with a high copper content.
Badan: combination with other plants
Badan, planted in flower beds, creates unusual compositions with plants such as:
- fern;
- mahonia;
- lungwort;
- juniper;
- hellebore.
But with lilies of the valley, periwinkle and other undersized and creeping plants, it is better not to plant bergenia - it will not only get lost among them, but will also prevent them from growing, and it will be limited in space. A well-groomed bergenia growing under the spreading crown of any deciduous tree looks unusually picturesque and harmonious. Badan is no less beautiful, surrounded by spring bulbous flowers - delicate hyacinths, charming snowdrops and blueberries, bright crocuses.
Badan in landscape design
An important feature of bergenia - the unpretentiousness of care and lighting - allows you to grow a plant both in the shade and under direct sunlight, in flower beds surrounded by other flowers and as an independent unit of landscape design. Thanks to its creeping rhizomes, bergenia effectively covers the soil, preventing the appearance of weeds.
How to grow badan: video
Badan in the garden: photo
