Chionodoxa

Family. Liliaceae.

Origin. Türkiye.

Description of the plant. A small genus of perennial, herbaceous, bulbous plants, consisting of 6 species. Chionodoxa is a primrose and is capable of forming buds immediately after the snow melts. The plant looks like a scilla and has long, green, strap-shaped, basal leaves. The peduncles are thin, vertical, barely exceeding the leaves in height, and carry one or more flowers of white, lilac, blue or soft pink at the top.

Height. 10 - 20 cm.

Planting and care in open ground

How and when to plant

The bulbs are planted in late summer - early autumn - in this case, the bushes will have time to get stronger and take root before the frost sets in. When planting in the garden, it is worth considering that many varieties easily reproduce on their own, forming self-seeding. Since the flower is tolerant to different lighting conditions, you can choose both an open place to the sun's rays and a shaded corner of the garden for planting. These primroses are often used to decorate the trunks of trees and shrubs, since flowering occurs early, when the foliage has not yet appeared.

When grown on the sunny side, flowering will occur earlier, since the soil will thaw faster in this place. However, when planted in partial shade, where flowering will occur later, it will last longer. Flooded lowlands and places with close groundwater are not suitable for growing chionodoxa - the bulbs can rot in such conditions. If the soil on the site is acidic, then crushed chalk is mixed into it, lime milk is poured in or dolomite flour is added. The site is carefully loosened and weeds are removed. If the soil is too heavy, clayey, then rotted leaves are mixed into it for nutrition and river sand is added to improve moisture permeability.

Prepare planting holes, the depth of which will depend on the size of the bulbs. As a rule, the bulbs are planted at a depth of 2-3 times their height. For a garden with dense soil, this value can be reduced, and for a loose substrate, you can plant a little deeper. You can place 3-4 bulbs in each hole - in this case, the chionodoxa will look more impressive. Between the holes, depending on the planting pattern and the frequency of transplants in subsequent years, leave about 8-10 cm.

The bulbs are lowered into the holes and sprinkled with earth, which is slightly compacted. The plantings are watered and covered with a thin layer of mulch about 2-3 cm thick. Straw, mown grass or sawdust can be used as mulch, but they must be well rotted.

Caring

Further care of the flower in the garden will consist of timely watering, periodic fertilizing and weeding of the soil. Of course, after each watering, it is worth loosening the soil to a shallow depth.

Fading buds should be cut off so that they do not form seeds and the plants give all the nutrients to the bulb. When pruning, do not touch the foliage - it will feed the bulbs until it dies completely.

With the onset of the first spring days, fertilizing is carried out with fertilizers for flowering plants, scattering granules directly on the surface of the melting snow. Since the bulbs contain a supply of nutrients, you should not overfeed the flower. The second feeding can be done after complete flowering, preparing the bulbs for the dormant period.

Plants will need additional shelter for the winter only in regions with harsh winters and little snow. In such areas, chionodoxa plantings are covered with pine or spruce branches or fallen dry leaves before freezing occurs. 

Flowering time 

Early spring - March - April. 

Transplantation and propagation

Chionodoxa reproduces by small daughter bulbs and seeds. 

When grown in open ground, the flower is dug up and divided every 5-6 years. The fact is that underground, in just one year, each mother bulb forms 2-4 more daughter bulbs, which develop and begin to take more and more nutrition from the adult plant. Of course, this state of affairs has a negative effect on flowering. Such large nests are dug up after flowering, but before the leaves die off - otherwise it will be problematic to find a bush in the garden.

Until planting in late summer - early autumn, the bulbs are stored in cool and dry conditions - at a temperature of about 15 degrees. The nests are divided into several parts by hand immediately before planting in open ground, and only strong and healthy planting material is selected. Rotten or diseased bulbs are destroyed, and healthy ones are pre-treated with a weak fungicide solution. 

The flower is easily grown from seeds and often self-sows. For sowing, you can use seeds from your own collection - this should be done in good, warm weather. After full ripening, the seed pods are cut and the seeds are extracted. Furrows about 2 cm deep are prepared in advance. After sowing, the area is abundantly watered with water.

The seedlings should be protected from ants, which like to try the planting material and can get the seeds and transfer them to another place.

At first, it is better not to move the flower from place to place and do without transplanting. To grow chionodoxa from seeds, you should be patient, because the first buds on such plants will appear only after 2 - 3 years. After flowering, the bulbs can be planted in another area.

Care at home 

Unfortunately, chionodoxa bulbs bloom in pots for 1 season, after which they are dug up and kept in a cool place for several months until signs of new growth appear. In order for the bulbs to stock up on nutrients in sufficient quantities and for the bush to form buds next season, such specimens are planted in open ground. After flowering, the leaves will turn yellow and dry out - do not remove them, they continue to feed the bulb.

Containment temperature

Planted chionodoxa bulbs at home are kept at a temperature of about 5 °C until signs of growth appear, simulating climatic conditions in the natural environment. After that, moderately cool conditions at a temperature of up to 15 °C are suitable. In such conditions, abundant and prolonged flowering can be observed. At elevated air temperatures, flowering may not occur at all.

Lighting

Chionodoxa is not demanding on lighting conditions - it can be successfully grown both in a brightly lit place and in partial shade. 

Soil

Feels great in any soil with good drainage, but prefers nutrient-rich substrates with a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. The soil can be composed of components such as leaf and turf humus, river sand.

Fertilizer

With the appearance of sprouts, fertilizing with complex fertilizers begins. 2 - 3 feedings per season are enough.

Spraying

Maintain high humidity by placing the plant container on a tray of damp pebbles or use a room humidifier. Spraying can be done. 

Watering

Chionodoxa requires abundant and regular watering during the growing season. After flowering, watering is gradually reduced. 

Transplant

Every year, the bulbs are planted in fresh soil so that they are only slightly covered with the substrate. 

Pests and diseases

Rotting due to frequent watering in autumn and winter or insufficient drainage.

Purpose

Chionodoxa is successfully used for forcing - the bulbs are planted 5 months before the expected flowering. Growing different varieties of plants in one container always gives impressive results. 

Varieties:

Chionodoxa forbesii

A perennial bulbous herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 15 - 30 cm, has very delicate flowering and is classified as a primrose. Each bulb forms 2 - 3 dark green, belt-shaped, glossy leaves, slightly folded along the central vein. Peduncles from 15 to 25 cm high carry an inflorescence at the top - a loose raceme, consisting of 4 - 10 soft blue flowers with 6 oblong petals. The tips of the petals are bright blue, while the center of the flowers remains white.

Chionodoxa luciliae

Perennial flowering bulbous plants with a height of 10 to 20 cm. This species has a small number of flowers on each peduncle, but the flowers have a large diameter. The leaves are dark green, belt-shaped, glossy. The flowers are blue or soft lilac with oblong petals; there are plants with white and pink flowers.