The colony-shaped ratibida plant belongs to the family Asteraceae or Astrovidae; flower growers know 7 species of perennials. The shape of the flower of the ratibida was called the Mexican hat (sombrero), and not in vain, since it comes from Mexico.
Brief Description, Origin History
The homeland of the Ratibida flower is the American continent, its northern and central territory, called the prairie, which means undulating plains. In nature, grows in glades, vacant lots, along roads. The people called it the Echinacea of the prairies. It has been cultivated since the 19th century. It is rare in our regions.
Description of varieties derived from pure Ratibida columnifera
Not many varieties of this plant are known, and those described below deserve special attention.
Ratibida the Fair - guest from the prairies
Mexican hat
Ratibida Mexican hat is an easily recognizable plant with original inflorescences resembling a Mexican hat in shape. Large flowers up to 8 cm in diameter have a reed arrangement (5 stamens and 1 pistil). The color of the flowers is yellow-red, brown-black.
It is grown in gardens, on lawns. In cut form (bouquets) is stored for more than a week. Flowering is long and plentiful, ends with the onset of frost.
Important! For cultivation, sunny places are preferable.
Conflover
The ratibida column-shaped Conflover grows well in sunny places with little shading.
Other
The variety Yellow Cheyenne with bright yellow petals is popular. A subspecies with the name Beautiful is also well known. It is distinguished by dark red petals with yellow stripes at the edges.
Mexican hat ratibida seed cultivation
Ratibida sombrero propagated by seed through seedlings and in a non-seedling manner.
This is done simply:
- Shallow grooves are laid on prepared soil.
- Seeds are placed in them.
- Fall asleep on top with a layer of sand.
- Cover the rows with spruce branches.
Seedlings
Florists are more likely to use seedlings of ratibida colony. To obtain seedlings, seeds are sown in mid-winter, or rather, in February.
Peat cups are prepared for sowing so as not to injure the seedlings during a dive and transplant. Cups are filled with moistened and light soil mixture consisting of:
- coarse sand;
- turf land;
- peat.
The ratio of ingredients is (1: 1: 1).
Important! Seeds are slightly pressed into the soil, and the container is covered on top with a film or glass. Crops are kept in a warm, well-lit place. After about 2 weeks, the shelter is removed, and the shoots receive a lot of bright sunlight, but not direct, but diffused light.
Seedling method
Ratibida is able to breed self-seeding, that is, without seedlings. Do not allow uncontrolled growth of a flower plant. It is necessary to break off mature inflorescences with the beginning of wilting of flowers.
Ratibida: landing and care
The conditions and rules for growing are quite simple. Coloniform ratibida plants are not demanding on the soil, tolerate both heat and cold, and flowering lasts a long time.
Growing ratibida
Timing for sowing
Seeds are sown either in late autumn or early in the spring until the ground is completely thawed.
Seed preparation and sowing
For autumn sowing, seeds do not need special preparation.
Important! Sowing in the spring season is carried out only after mandatory special preparation of seeds under the influence of cold and moisture (stratification) for 4 weeks.
How to care for seedlings
After 2 weeks, the seeds germinate. After the appearance of two leaves, they need to be dived and transplanted into separate containers. 2 weeks before planting seedlings in an open space, it should begin hardening by daily transfer to fresh air in a place protected from drafts and rain. The duration of the procedures should be gradually increased.
Site selection and soil preparation
The ratibid flower does not survive in the soil where the water stagnates, so the construction of a drainage is required. Soil quality and lack of moisture have little effect on the development of roses.
Landing
Mexican hat cultivars grown from seeds that have grown seedlings of ratibida are transplanted into the open ground around the middle of May. The best time for transplanting seedlings is considered a cloudy day or evening. The distance between plants should be at least 20 cm - 25 cm.
Important! Bushes are extracted together with a lump of earth, and those growing in peat cups are planted with them.
Ratibida - unusual plant
Care after flowering and preparation for winter
After flowering, preparing the plant for winter, the ground part is cut almost to the level of the soil. Seeds can be separated from dried, darkened cores
Features of plant care in the open ground
It’s easy to look after the ratibida flower garden. Only a few procedures will be required:
- prune wilted inflorescences;
- loosen the soil;
- remove weeds.
Lighting
For planting, it is advisable to use warm, sufficiently sunlit areas. A slight shadow is allowed.
Watering
Flowers need watering only in the event of a protracted drought.
Important! The settled, warmed up water in the sun is used. With frequent rainfall, watering the plants is not necessary. Usually moist soil is loosened and weeded.
Spraying
In order to prevent from harmful insects, it is possible to spray with weak solutions of fungicides.
Priming
For growing flowers, a well-lit or slightly shaded area is suitable. The soil is preferably clayey.
The ratibida variety is hardy to slightly acidic, slightly alkaline, or slightly saline. Site preparation is reduced to digging and making 1 cup of wood ash and 1 bucket of compost for each square meter of soil.
Top dressing
The plant has a pivotal rhizome that can get nutrients from the depths. Therefore, top dressing is not required. Land containing enough nutrients stimulates the rapid growth of foliage, and this is a limiting factor in flowering. So, feeding should not be carried away.
Ratibida as a decoration on an unattractive plot
When and how it blooms
The first year of life of the bushes is not marked by violent flowering, only some roses bloom in a very hot summer closer to autumn.
Such plants many growers grow as an annual. If ratibida is grown as a perennial plant, then there is a need to dig bushes every 2 years at the beginning of spring and divide the rhizome into parts. Since the roots are very long and delicate, the procedure is very difficult.
Important! It is necessary to show maximum attention and patience so as not to damage the root.
Types of flowers
Colony-shaped ratibida is used in landscape projects. It is recognized in massive plantings due to the special shape of a large yellow flower. It has meter shoots.
Another species, called Red Midnight, stands out in dark red colors.
Variety Yellow Cheyenne is popular with gardeners for its yellow petals.
Flower shapes
The ratibida has an interesting form of inflorescence:
- in the center is a brown cylinder;
- it is made up of a huge number of small flowers;
- strongly curved petals are located around the cylinder.
Flowering period
In May, wild roses bloom, their flowering period is short. At the end of May - June, garden roses delight with flowers. These species bloom mostly once, with some exceptions.
Changes in flowering care
During the flowering period, roses require proper care. At this time, the shoots are trimmed, giving a certain shape and activating sleeping buds.
Transplant after purchase
When buying roses, you should carefully examine the condition of the stems, shoots. Experienced gardeners transplant plants from pots after flowering. Typically, plants do not tolerate this adaptive period. The first two weeks are the most difficult, even loss of foliage can be observed.
Important! Having adapted, the rose quickly grows.
Ratibida colony in nature
Possible problems in growing
When growing, there may be problems with the leaves - they will lose their decorative effect. This is because the youngsters, to which the rose belongs, need to be updated in a timely manner, that is, every 1-2 years.
Pests
Ratibida is distinguished by its resistance to insects and diseases, so it is easy to grow.
Disease
Long rains can cause rot. In such a situation, damaged plants must be removed, and the soil is treated with a special solution of fungicides.
Important! With increased humidity, powdery mildew may appear. It is detected by a whitish coating on plants. In this case, the bushes must be treated with a solution of baking soda or a sulfur-containing fungicide. Heavily affected plants are destroyed.
Signs of improper care
Such signs can be expressed in a change in appearance, for example, loss of color, yellowing of leaves. This happens with insufficient attention to chemical additives in the soil.
Aphids may appear as a result of improper watering.
An improperly chosen landing site causes many failures. It is especially necessary to be careful during sharp prolonged fluctuations in weather conditions.
Roses deserve the attention that flower growers give them. To grow such beauty in your garden, on your own piece of land is to a certain extent improve your self-esteem, bring joy to life.
