Freesia
Family. Iridaceae.
Origin. South Africa.
Description. The genus contains 19 perennial bulbous plants.
The conical bulbs reach a diameter of only 2.5 cm.
The leaves are green, xiphoid, erect, basal, 10 - 30 cm long.
Peduncles are tall, leafless, vertical, each bears several flowers, opening sequentially - from bottom to top.
The shades of the petals include the entire color gamut, except perhaps black. Varieties with flowers of contrasting tones have been bred.
Flowering bushes emit a very pleasant aroma. For this smell the plant was given a second name - Cape lily of the valley.
Height. 15 - 40 cm. The final size will depend on the varietal characteristics and maintenance conditions.
It is interesting that varieties with red-yellow flowers grow the fastest.
Planting and care
Growing in open ground
The agricultural technology for growing freesia is reminiscent of the rules for planting gladioli.
When grown outdoors in harsh climates, the flower does not survive the winter, so it is cultivated in the warm season, and the bulbs are dug up in the autumn months for storage in a cool room.
The bulbs should not be planted in open ground immediately - they should first be placed in pots until the first shoots appear. Planting is carried out in early to mid-April with the expectation that they will be planted outside in May, when the threat of the last frost has passed.
- As a pre-planting preparation, the bulbs are soaked for half an hour in a fungicide solution.
- For planting, prepare fairly deep pots with large drainage holes.
- A drainage layer of expanded clay is poured into the container and filled with loose nutrient substrate.
- The planting depth of the bulbs is 5 cm; they are covered with the remaining soil on top and lightly compacted.
- You should not immediately water the plants abundantly - you need to wait for the first shoots. Until the first signs of growth appear, watering should be sparse.
For planting in open ground, prepare a small plot of land, thoroughly loosen it and free it from weeds.
The planting site should not be in the sun or in a lowland where moisture may stagnate. The site should be protected from strong gusts of wind.
The planting pattern will depend on the varietal characteristics - for example, on the height of the bush. Freesia can be used both singly and in small groups.
The holes should be prepared in such a way that the planting depth of the bulbs is 3-8 cm, depending on the size of the bulbs.
The soil is enriched with nitrogen fertilizers. The soil temperature should be at least 8 - 10 °C.
After planting, the sprouted bulbs are watered, and the soil is mulched with mown grass, burnt sawdust or straw.
With the appearance of the first shoots, for abundant formation of flower stalks and buds, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are added every 2 weeks.
As sufficient green mass is formed, the frequency of watering is gradually increased, after flowering, watering is reduced.
Watering is carried out in the morning or evening hours, using warm water. Drops of water falling on leaf blades during the daytime can cause a burn, since under direct sunlight, water acts as a lens.
Growing bushes should be provided with support by pulling twine between plantings or using a special garden plastic mesh with large cells, located directly above the plants.
In mid-autumn, the bulbs are dug up, cleared of any remaining soil, and the remains of the flower stalk and leaf blades are cut off.
The bulbs are dried and treated with a weak fungicide solution for half an hour, then dried again and stored until spring.
Drying is done in a very warm and light place at a temperature of 25 - 28 degrees Celsius.
Storage
Warm rooms with an air temperature of 28 to 30 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of at least 70 percent are suitable for storage.
The bulbs are placed in plastic boxes with large holes for good ventilation. If desired, the bulbs can be sprinkled with a small amount of peat.
The bulbs are well preserved in small fabric bags.
To increase the air humidity, any container with water can be placed next to the planting material.
The dormant period lasts about 3 months, after which the room temperature is reduced to 10 - 13 ° C, stratifying and preparing the bulbs for planting. The stratification period should be about 2 weeks.
Forcing
- Before planting, the bulbs are soaked in a fungicide solution with the addition of growth stimulating agents.
- Planting is carried out in such a way that the bulbs are at a depth of about 5 cm and at a distance of 7 - 10 cm from each other.
- For several weeks after planting, the pots are placed in a relatively warm place with a temperature of 18 - 20 ° C, and with the appearance of the first shoots, the temperature is reduced to 12 - 15 ° C.
If the above conditions are met, the first signs of growth can be noticed within a week.
The first flower stalks will decorate the bushes 16 - 18 weeks after planting.
Soil
The soil must contain a sufficient amount of organic nutrients and have good moisture permeability.
It is advisable to select a growing substrate with an acidic pH; freesia does not really like neutral or alkaline soils.
The growing mixture can be prepared independently from light turf and leaf soil with the addition of humus and a small amount of peat.
To improve drainage, coarse river sand, perlite or vermiculite are mixed in.
Growing at home, pruning
Growing freesias involves following certain rules. Do not cut off the drying leaves after flowering - they continue to feed the bulbs.
It is necessary to cut off faded buds to stimulate a possible second wave of flowering. It is worth removing both individual wilting flowers and entire flower stalks that have lost their external attractiveness.
Pruning is carried out with a sharp, well-sterilized tool.
Rotate the pot a quarter of a turn every week so that the beautiful freesia does not reach for the light source.
In the second year, it is better to plant the bulbs in open ground, since they are unlikely to bloom a second time indoors.
If necessary, faded bulbs with dead above-ground parts should be stored in a cool place until planting.
Tall and abundantly flowering varieties will require support when growing.
When blooms
Flowering time varies depending on when the bulbs are planted. If you wish, you can grow freesia for any desired holiday.
Each bulb is capable of forming 1 - 6 peduncles.
The flowering period can last up to 3-6 weeks - the buds open sequentially, from the base of the peduncle to its top.
When planted in open ground, the peduncles appear in August, and the buds can form throughout August and September.
Reproduction, growing from seeds
Freesia can be propagated by seeds; fresh seeds have the best germination rate.
- Sowing of seeds is carried out in early spring.
- The planting material is placed in loose, moist soil and sprinkled with a layer of about 2 cm of soil on top.
- The top of the container with seedlings is covered with film and placed in a well-lit place without access to direct rays of the sun.
- The lid is removed for a few minutes a day and the seedlings are aired.
- When the seedlings stretch 2 - 3 cm, you need to remove the film and thin out the young plants.
The germination period is 1 – 1.5 months, and the first flowering will occur at the age of 2 years.
This method can only be done by experienced gardeners, those who want to experiment with selection.
Reproduction by daughter bulbs is possible.
The children are separated from the mother bushes during transplantation, when their root system is already well developed.
Transplanting
In spring, the bulbs are planted in fresh soil to a depth of approximately 2-3 cm. in pots with large drainage holes.
The diameter of the pot for planting 5-6 bulbs should be about 15 cm. - no more.
Planting in pots that are too large can cause rot, as there is a large amount of free soil that absorbs moisture.
- A drainage layer of expanded clay, river pebbles or broken brick is placed at the bottom of the pot.
- Nutrient soil is poured onto the drainage layer and the bulbs are placed in it.
- The bulbs are covered on top with a layer of substrate 3-5 cm thick.
- After transplanting, keep the plants in a cool, bright place and do not water until the first signs of new growth appear.
Diseases and pests
- Bulbs rot when there is stagnation of moisture in the soil and excessive watering.
- If graceful freesia turns yellow after flowering, this is normal.
- The plant dries out and its leaves wither with insufficient watering, especially during the period of active growth and budding.
- Fusarium.
Harmful insects - thrips, aphids, spider mites.
Temperature
Temperature conditions are very important for maintaining health and the onset of flowering.
In order for the bulbs to germinate, they are kept at a temperature of 12 - 18 ° C.
During the period of growth and flowering, it is worth maintaining the temperature within 16 - 18 ° C - this will extend the flowering time.
After the above-ground part dies off, the bulbs are placed in a warm place where they will spend the dormant period. Most often, the dormant period occurs during the coldest time of the year.
The flower does not like strong summer heat - empty flowers may begin to appear on the peduncles, and even opened flowers will become unsightly and will consist of deformed petals.
Fertilizer
Potted specimens have a limited feeding area and require additional nutrients.
When the first shoots appear, start feeding with liquid fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus. Stop feeding after flowering.
Excess nitrogen in fertilizers leads to the bushes abundantly growing green mass to the detriment of flowering.
Fertilize only after abundant watering, adding a nutrient solution to a moist substrate.
Remember that a certain reserve of nutrients is stored in the freesia bulb, so do not overdo it with feeding.
Watering
Watering begins with the beginning of growth and gradually increases their frequency. During the flowering period, water in such a way that the soil dries to a depth of 3 - 4 cm. until the next watering.
After flowering, watering is gradually reduced to a minimum; plants with dead above-ground parts should be kept in almost dry soil.
Do not stop watering immediately after flowering - limited watering is carried out for another 1 - 1.5 months - this will promote the growth of small daughter bulbs.
Freesia should be watered with well-settled water at room temperature.
The plant responds well to watering with rainwater collected away from city roofs or softened bottled water.
Lighting
Shoots and leaves should take sun baths in the morning and evening, but during the daytime they should be shaded from direct sunlight.
In autumn and winter, it is necessary to provide the most illuminated place or use artificial lighting with fluorescent or phytolamps.
To maintain health and abundant flowering, freesia must be grown in conditions of long daylight hours, the duration of which should be at least 12 - 14 hours per day.
The most suitable for keeping at home are the window sills of the south-eastern and south-western windows.
When placed on the southern window, the pot is placed a little deeper in the room or shaded from direct sunlight with a thin translucent curtain.
Spraying
Freesia feels good in the normal atmosphere of residential premises and does not need additional humidity.
It is not recommended to spray, as drops of moisture on flowers and buds will spoil their appearance.
If necessary, increase the air humidity by placing a container of water next to the pot or using a room humidifier.
The pot with the plant can be placed on a tray with wet pebbles or expanded clay - water, evaporating from the surface of the pebbles, will naturally humidify the air for a long period of time.
Make sure that the bottom of the pot does not directly touch the surface of the water.
Freesia does not like cold drafts, but welcomes maintenance in well-ventilated rooms with constant air circulation.
Purpose
Freesia can be used as a forcing species, planting the bulbs in pots 4 months before the desired flowering.
The main mistake in agricultural technology is failure to observe seasonality - the conditions in which wild plants are found in nature.
The bushes are used by florists when composing wedding bouquets for brides. Stems with blossoming buds are suitable for cutting - the flowers can fully open already in a vase.
In open ground, freesia will decorate any flower bed and are often used in landscape design.
Note
Interestingly, the buds are used in perfumery to make expensive perfumes.
Varieties:
Freesia Peony
A terry variety, the flowers of which are more reminiscent of roses and have a delicate, very pleasant aroma, and therefore are often used in the perfume industry for the production of perfumes. The buds of this variety have delicate pastel colors.
Bush freesia
An elegant plant with long, strap-like, dark green leaves and tall, stiff, leafless flower stalks. At the tops of the peduncles there are small bright buds, painted in all shades of the rainbow. Each bush can have several peduncles.