Astilbe

Family. Saxifragaceae.

Origin. Japan, China.

Description. Astilbe is a perennial plant with beautiful, showy, fluffy, pyramidal inflorescences on thin but rigid stems.

The leaves are shiny, bright green, serrated.

The tiny flowers vary in color from white to pink and red. The bush blooms for several weeks.

The inflorescences vary in size - they can reach 15 cm - 60 cm, the height of the shoots ranges from 15 cm to 150 cm, depending on the species.

The varieties differ in size, shape, shade of inflorescences, flowering time and color of leaf blades. They grow quickly, and even first-year seedlings bloom.

Height. 15 - 150 cm.

Planting and care

Flowering time 

Different species bloom from mid-spring to late summer, astilbes vary in flowering time and inflorescence shape.

Plants can have pyramidal, paniculate, drooping and rhombic inflorescences.

1. The branches of pyramidal inflorescences depart from the main stem at approximately a right angle.
2. Paniculate inflorescences have raised lateral branches.
3. Rhombic inflorescences also have raised lateral branches and are shaped like a rhombus.
4. Specimens with long, arched inflorescences are called drooping.

There are varieties with early, mid and late flowering periods.

It is believed that direct sunlight on the inflorescences shortens the flowering period, this should be taken into account when placing plants on the site.

Early flowering species are grown in partial shade, since solar activity is maximum in late spring and early summer.

Late flowering varieties, for example, those that bloom in August, will not be so demanding of lighting, since at this time solar activity decreases.

Do not cut off flower stalks with faded flowers - they will decorate the bushes for a long time, maintaining an attractive appearance even in the form of dried flowers.

It is not recommended to leave flower stalks for young seedlings in the first year of life - having spent energy on flowering, such bushes will not form a sufficiently powerful root system.

After flowering, a short period of rest should be provided for several days - reduce the temperature and frequency of watering.

Growing at home, pruning 

Caring for astilbe is not difficult, but there are certain rules of agricultural technology for this plant.

If seed formation is undesirable, the inflorescences are cut off with a sharp sterile instrument - this way the plant does not waste energy on seed formation.

Some species will look attractive even without dry peduncles, pleasing the eye with green foliage.

Thus, pruning has not only a sanitary, but also a purely decorative effect, and its size will depend on the tastes and needs of a particular gardener.

When growing in open ground, the entire above-ground part is often cut to the base - right at ground level - this will make it easier to cover the bush for the winter and protect it from frost.

Faded specimens should be planted in the garden - in open ground, having first simply put the pots out in the fresh air for a few days so that the astilbe has time to get used to new living conditions.

Representatives of this genus are some of the easiest perennials to grow indoors.

During the warm season, it is better to keep the flower pot outside.

Transplanting

Young seedlings are replanted annually in the spring, into pots of a slightly larger diameter, since with age the root system grows and takes up more space.

The need for replanting can be judged by the tips of the roots that will appear in the drainage holes of the pot.

Before removing the plant from the pot, it is worth watering it thoroughly - the moisture will soften the earthen lump and the bush can be easily removed from the container.

Adult specimens will also need annual replanting, since astilbe can only be considered a conditionally indoor plant - to maintain health, it should be planted in open ground in the warm season so that the bushes can stock up on nutrients.

You should not replant flowering specimens - be patient and wait until flowering ends.

When replanting, astilbe is placed in a new pot, which is 2-3 cm larger in diameter than the previous one, and the root system is sprinkled with fresh substrate around the perimeter, lightly tamping it to remove air pockets. Flowering will be most abundant in slightly cramped conditions - choose a small pot for growing. In a too spacious container, excess moisture will accumulate, and the roots may rot. Astilbe is able to delay flowering until it occupies most of the soil with its roots - in a small pot, this process will go faster.

1. A good layer of drainage material in the form of broken bricks, clay shards or expanded clay is first placed on the bottom of the pot.
2. When replanting, they try to disturb the root system as little as possible - astilbe does not like this and will suffer for a long time when planting in new soil.
3. The planting depth is always left the same - if it is too deep, the root system can rot. 
4. The seedlings are watered thoroughly, and excess moisture is drained from the tray a few minutes after watering.
5. If, after watering, the substrate has settled strongly, it is topped up.
6. Only planted plants should be placed in partial shade - exposure to direct sunlight will only harm stressed bushes.

Reproduction - growing from seeds, division 

Astilbe can be grown from seeds, but they germinate poorly - the germination rate of even fresh planting material does not exceed 70 percent.

Specimens obtained from seeds may not inherit all the attractiveness of their parents. In addition, young bushes sometimes bloom only in the third year of life.

When grown in open ground, self-seeding sometimes occurs - most often this occurs in early flowering varieties, which not only have time to bloom, but also fully form seeds.

Seeds are planted in spring or autumn, but not in summer - when it is hot. The most suitable time for planting is considered to be the end of February - beginning of March.

1. For planting, take a transparent plastic container with drainage holes at the bottom and a lid.
2. A drainage layer 1 - 2 cm high is placed at the bottom of the container.
3. Fill the container with nutritious and loose substrate. Peat mixed with coarse river sand is often used for planting.
4. The soil is thoroughly moistened with water at room temperature from a spray bottle.
5. Astilbe seeds are very small and resemble dust - they are sown on the surface of the soil and lightly pressed into it with your fingertips.
6. The crops should undergo short-term stratification in the refrigerator at a temperature of about 2-4°C for 2-3 weeks. Stratification reduces the time of the first shoots and increases the percentage of germination.
7. After this period has expired, the seedlings are taken to a warm room with good lighting, but without access to direct sunlight.
8. The crops are covered with a lid, plastic wrap or glass to maintain uniform humidity and periodically moistened with a spray bottle.
9. The first picking is carried out when the first pair of true leaves appear on the seedlings.

The first shoots may take up to six months to appear, so do not throw away the container with the crops, even if they do not show the slightest signs of life for several months.

Astilbe can also be propagated by division. Adult specimens are divided every 4-5 years or even more often - this allows you to rejuvenate the bushes.

1. The division of bushes is carried out in early spring - with the appearance of the first shoots, but before the formation of inflorescences. 
2. The rhizome is cut with a shovel or cut with a sharp knife in such a way that 2-3 growth points remain in each section.
3. The cut areas are treated with charcoal powder.
4. The cuttings are immediately planted in different containers.
5. Water the seedlings a couple of days after dividing, allowing the wound surface to heal.

This propagation method allows you to preserve all varietal characteristics of astilbe. 

Soil 

Rich, moist soil, slightly acidic - pH around 6.0. The soil should contain a sufficient amount of humus soil, turf and leaf soil, as well as compost.

To improve drainage, coarse river sand, perlite or vermiculite are added to the substrate.

Astilbe prefers very nutritious soils with a high organic content.

Growing in sufficiently heavy loam is thought to prolong the overall flowering time.

Since the plant loves potassium, you can add a small amount of charcoal to the growing substrate. 

Fertilizing 

With the beginning of new growth in the spring, plants begin to be fed with fertilizers with a fairly high nitrogen content - this measure contributes to the abundant growth of green mass.

During the budding period, it is worth switching to fertilizers with a high content of phosphorus and potassium - for flowering species.

Fertilizers should be applied regularly - approximately every 2 weeks.

Fertilizer is applied only after abundant watering - if the nutrient solution gets into dry soil on the roots, it can cause a burn.

Astilbe will appreciate the use of organic fertilizers, and the greatest effect will be achieved by alternating mineral solutions and organic substances.

After flowering, potassium-phosphorus solutions are also used, while the frequency of fertilizing is gradually reduced, but not stopped completely.

During the dormant period, the bushes do not need to be fed.

Diseases and pests

When grown indoors, shoots and leaves may be subject to attack by insect pests such as spider mites, nematodes and aphids.

Temperature

Representatives of the genus prefer cool conditions, but the temperature should not fall below 10 °C. As soon as the plant wakes up, it is transferred to a warmer room with a temperature of 16 - 18 °C.

In spring and summer, when the bushes are actively developing and forming buds, the temperature can be room temperature.

In a fairly hot place, the flowering period can be shortened.

In autumn, the temperature is gradually reduced and the plants are put into a dormant state - they should be kept in a cool room with a temperature of about 12 °C until the first signs of new growth appear. Cool wintering helps to accumulate strength for abundant flowering in the next season.

Lighting

Astilbe will bloom in the shade, but it is advisable to provide it with several hours of sunlight. In hot weather, it is better to keep it in partial shade.

When grown in direct sunlight, the leaves can get burned, and if there is insufficient lighting, flowering will suffer.

Astilbe can bathe in the sun in the evening and morning, but at midday in spring and summer it is better to shade it.

In the autumn months, you can provide the bush with the most illuminated place.

Watering

The warmer the weather, the more moisture the plant needs, especially if you grow it on a sunny windowsill.

When forcing astilbe, the temperature of the water for irrigation is crucial. If you water the bushes with water slightly above room temperature and arrange a warm shower in warm weather, flowering may occur earlier.

During the period of active growth and budding, the plant should regularly receive a sufficient amount of moisture.

Water generously until the soil lump is completely wet. Excess moisture that appears in the tray after watering is removed after a few minutes.

In spring and summer, the soil only slightly dries out in the upper layer between waterings.

After flowering, in the fall, the frequency of watering is gradually reduced, and in winter, when the bushes go into a dormant state, watering should be reduced to a minimum. In the winter months, simply protect the soil from drying out completely.

For watering, always use only well-settled water at room temperature.

Spraying 

Leaves should be periodically sprayed to maintain the required humidity level.

Spraying should be done only in the morning and only with softened water at room temperature. If such procedures are carried out during the day, the moisture remaining on the leaves overnight can cause rotting.

Remember that drops falling on buds and flowers significantly reduce their attractiveness - cover the inflorescences with your hand during the procedure.

To increase air humidity, you can place the pot next to a room humidifier or use a tray with wet pebbles.

If you surround the pot with a layer of well-moistened sphagnum moss, the water, evaporating, will naturally humidify the atmosphere for a long time.

At home, astilbe prefers to be in well-ventilated rooms with good air movement, but is afraid of cold drafts. When airing the room in the cold season, you should take this feature into account and take the plants to another room.

Purpose

Astilbe can be used indoors as a forcing plant, and you can get a flowering bush for any holiday.

Some dwarf varieties allow you to use this flower as a ground cover or border.

Cut inflorescences will retain their attractiveness for a long time in a vase with water or even as dried flowers.

Forcing

1. The plants are dug up in the fall along with a lump of earth and transplanted into a suitable size pot.
2. The bushes are kept in a cool and relatively dry room at a temperature of 0 - 2 °C.
3. In January, the temperature is increased to 8 - 12 ° C, and with the appearance of the first signs of new growth, watering and fertilizing are resumed.

Note

Faded specimens are usually planted in open ground.

Varieties:

Astilbe Arendsii

A. Arendsa represents a large group of cultural hybrids. The plants are perennials with compound, compound leaves. The leaves are dark green, oblong-lanceolate, leaf blades with small teeth along the edges. Inflorescences are apical, branched panicles of various shades - from white to burgundy. The onset and duration of flowering varies among different varieties of this group. 

Astilbe arendsii Bumalda

Medium-sized, perennial, herbaceous plants 40 - 70 cm high. The leaves are compound, green or bronze - consist of several lanceolate segments with large denticles along the edge of the leaf blades. Plants have large, paniculate inflorescences. An interesting feature of this variety is that its flowers are able to change their color - only the blossoming inflorescences are painted white, and the fading ones are soft pink. 

Astilbe thunbergii

A tall variety with erect stems reaching a height of 90 - 100 cm. The leaves are glossy, light green, compound. Segments lanceolate, toothed. The inflorescences are drooping, painted in delicate pastel shades - white, pink, salmon, lilac.

Astilbe chinensis

     Compact, low, perennial plants with lacy green leaves. Inflorescences a. Chinese in shades of lilac or pink, they are distinguished by a more loose shape; compared to other types, they are loose and strong. It grows slowly.

Astilbe davidii

Large, tall, perennial plants up to 120 - 200 cm in height. The leaves are compound, usually consisting of 3 oblong-lanceolate segments with a finely toothed edge. The leaf blades are colored green or bronze. The inflorescences are apical, lilac or pink - as they fade, they turn brown, but do not lose their attractiveness for a long time.

Astilbe japonica

         Low-growing plants with graceful, lacy leaves of dark green, sometimes blue-green color. The inflorescences are very lush, as if double - mostly pink or dark - burgundy. Very good for cutting. During the flowering period, many varieties of this variety emit a very pleasant, tart aroma.

Astilbe crispa

Elegant small astilbes, which often do not exceed 30 cm in height. The leaves are large, dark green, glossy. The edges of the leaf blades are covered with large denticles and are highly corrugated - for this feature the plants received their name. Inflorescences are apical branched panicles with pink or crimson flowers. 

Due to its miniature size and spectacular appearance, this variety is easiest to grow indoors.

Astilbe Diamant

Tall flowering perennials, reaching a height of 75 - 80 cm. The leaves are openwork, consisting of several broadly lanceolate segments of dark green color with a glossy surface. The inflorescences are very fluffy, branched panicles that decorate the plants during the summer months. The inflorescences consist of numerous, small, white or delicate cream flowers.