Mirabilis is a flower that attracts gardeners with unpretentious care and an unusual, memorable aroma. The plant looks unusual during flowering - the buds have a different color, which allows you to use it in landscape design.
Features of mirabilis
Mirabilis Night Beauty or Evening Dawn are the popular names for a culture that has the ability to open flowers in the late afternoon and close them at dawn.
Mirabilis
Which family belongs to
Mirabilis - a plant belonging to the family Niktaginovye. More than 50 varieties of culture are known.
Briefly about the history of the appearance
The birthplace of mirabilis jalapa (mirabilis jalapa) is Mexico. After the appearance of the Spaniards in the country, the plant was exported to European countries. From there, the mirabilis of the Yalapa varieties eventually migrated to Egyptian and Moroccan lands, where they gained wide popularity.
Important! In Russia, only one species of exotic shrub is grown - the rest do not take root due to inappropriate climate.
Plant characteristics
The bushes of the culture have a rounded elongated shape, they grow by 0.3-0.8 m. The shoots are upright with a pale red color, their lower sections become sapier as they grow older. Sheet platinum is opposite, green. The foliage is ovoid-elongated.
Mirabilis in the garden
Varieties in great demand among gardeners
Mirabilis has several varieties that gardeners love to grow.
Iolanthe
The shrub grows to 0.5 m, the shoots in the upper part are highly branched. Funnel-shaped buds with an average size, on the petals, in addition to the main color, bright stripes are present. Flowering begins in late June and continues until frost.
Red lollipop
Grows to 0.9 m, pale green shoots are durable. The edge of the oval-oblong foliage is wavy, buds of a red hue with a diameter of 6 cm.
Elvira
The medium-sized shrub has smooth and durable shoots. The oblong leaves have a dark green tone and a pointed tip. The average diameter of the flower is 3.5 cm.
Ti Time Red
Variety with smooth and knotty shoots, with strong branching in the upper part. The dark green foliage has an oval-oblong type, petals with a bright pink tint.
Ti Time Fyomula Mixche
Spherical bushes grow to 0.9 m. The oblong-type leaf plates at the tops are pointed, there is no foliage in the lower part of the shoots. Funnel-shaped buds with a wavy edge and variegated color, with a diameter of 2.5 cm.
On a note! Several varietal yellow mirabilis in the flowerbed give the homestead a festive look.
Mirabilis Iolanta
Reproduction of mirabilis
The cultivation of mirablis can begin with seeds, planting rhizomes or cuttings.
Seeds
Planting of seed material can take place in two directions:
- directly into the ground;
- with pre-growing seedlings.
The choice of the appropriate procedure depends on the climate of the region of residence.
Seeds
Annual planting of overwintered rhizomes
The culture is easily grown by seed, so the use of tubers is an inappropriate method. Only in a number of cases he is given preference:
- due to size advantages;
- rapid development and growth of bushes;
- accelerated formation of buds.
Important! To plant a flower The night beauty of mirabilis in this way, tubers are removed from the ground before the first frosts arrive. Storage of material is carried out in a darkened and dry room until the arrival of spring.
Green cuttings
The method is considered time-consuming and rarely used by gardeners. In an adult plant, strong and lignified processes are cut off, dried and placed in a solution for root formation. In the spring months, shoots are sent under the open sky.
Dividing the bush
The method is used on adult plants in which varietal characters are present. The division of the bush is carried out according to the standard scheme: it is divided into several parts together with the root system using a sharp tool. Delenki planted in new places as separate plants.
Seedlings
Seedling by seedling
Mirabilis flowers can be obtained from seed material procured independently or purchased in a special store. Germination of seeds is maintained for three years, storage is carried out at room temperature.
Time for landing
Mirabilis cultivation from seeds when to plant: sowing work is carried out from March 20 to April 15. The process can take place at home or in greenhouse conditions, some prefer to send young animals to the heated balcony.
Capacity selection
Mirabilis seeds are planted in deep containers - it’s easier to use ordinary flower pots or disposable glasses for the procedure. The main requirement during planting is to provide the root system with sufficient space that will not interfere with its growth and development. The roots of the plant grow deep, the width of the tank does not matter.
Is it possible to keep seedlings on the balcony
A few weeks before transplanting the crop into open ground, hardening begins. Accustoming to an unusual regime is carried out on a terrace or loggia, where the temperature is lower than in a house or apartment.
Important! Hardening occurs in stages, with a gradual increase in the time spent in a cool place.
Soil and seed preparation
Cultivation is best done in soil with a neutral reaction - in flower shops you can buy a universal mixture. When self-preparing the soil in equal volumes, the following components are taken:
- peat;
- garden land;
- river sand.
Wood ash or dolomite flour is added to the soil mixture, after thorough mixing it is disinfected with a fungicide solution.
In the preparatory measures involved not only the soil, but also the seed. Seeds are soaked and empty specimens floating up in water are removed. After that, the selected units are sent to a humid environment for 24 hours.
Seedling Care
Young plants hatch at the end of the first week after planting. After their appearance, the mini-hotbed is removed and the containers are rearranged in a lighted room. Young growth is watered only after the earthen coma is completely dry - it reacts poorly to waterlogging of the soil.
Important! After the seedlings grow to 10-15 cm, they are transferred to large containers and fed with complex mineral fertilizer.
Transfer
Dive
The appearance of the first sheet plate requires thinning. In each container, gently sprout weak sprouts. This approach will prevent the growth and development of a strong plant from stopping. In the same period, young animals are fed with a solution of Fertica, Krepysh or Mortar.
Features of non-seedling planting in open ground
The process begins with the planting of seed material directly into the soil - after the end of the spring frost season. Experienced growers are advised to carry out planting work in the early days of June.
Seeds are planted at a distance of 50 cm - a moderate planting density will prevent the need for replanting of overgrown bushes in the future. The sowing area should be in a constantly lit place. Mirabilis flower cultivation in open field: planting time depends on the climate of the region of residence.
Features of gardening
The plant does not require special knowledge or skills when planting in a personal plot. Care is simple, but requires compliance with the norms recommended in the description of the culture.
What conditions like mirabilis
The culture has a special relationship to temperature and lighting. Despite the fact that the buds open at night, the plant should be under the sun throughout the day.
Additional Information! When planting a shrub in the shade, slow growth and development of small flowers is noted.
What is the plant afraid of?
In mirabilis planting and care provides for the protection of the plant from cold and drafts. It reacts poorly to constantly moist soil and its increased acidity.
Watering
For the growth of a beautiful and healthy flower, regular soil moisture is necessary. The frequency of watering is determined by the weather: in arid times, it increases, in the moderate period it is carried out no more than once a week. With a prolonged absence of rain and complete drying of the earth, its moisture is carried out three times a week.
Watering
Mulching
The procedure is applied in warm areas and takes place in autumn, before the start of the winter season. This approach helps to protect the root system from the cold, to keep it from freezing. Peat, straw, compost, leaves are used as mulch.
Loosening
In the spring-summer season, the plant is supported by loosening of compacted soil. Easy digging of the earth will help increase the amount of oxygen entering the root system. The procedure is combined with the removal of overgrown weed grass.
Top dressing
Mirabilis planting and subsequent care requires fertilizing at least three times during the growing season:
- for the first time - after planting young animals, nitrous solutions are introduced;
- in the second - mineral formulations, top dressing takes place in the second half of July;
- in the third - the final replenishment with mineral fertilizers should be carried out in the last days of August.
Interesting! Florists pay attention that an overabundance of nutrients also negatively affects the condition of plants, as well as their lack.
When and how it blooms
When mirabilis blooms: the opening of the buds begins after four in the afternoon, and ends with the first rays of the sun.
Beginning of flowering
Types of flowers
The color of the petals of the culture is diverse. Buds can be painted in orange, white, red, raspberry and yellow. There are varieties in which there are several shades of flowers.
Flower shapes
Funnel-shaped buds are collected in inflorescences.
Flowering period
The appearance of the first flowers occurs in June, shrubs delight with their bright colors until the first frosts arrive.
Changes in flowering care
There is no need for special supervision or special procedures during the period when the bush blooms.
On a note! To increase flowering time, gardeners break off withered petals. The procedure is carried out with extreme care so as not to damage the bud.
Care after flowering
The end of the season leads to the choice of the method of propagation of the culture. Despite the title of perennial, in Russian territories it is grown as an annual - due to the poor tolerance of the local climate.
Seed collection
The formation of the seed material takes place when the buds begin to tighten. At the end of the process, the seeds are harvested and left for future planting.
Seed collection and sorting
Preparing for wintering
When the culture is maintained in the southern regions, it is sheltered for the winter: mulching is carried out initially, then the bushes are insulated with special agrofibre (like roses). This approach increases the chances that the plant can survive the cold period and not die.
Important! In other areas, gardeners prefer to collect seed material and dig up tubers.
Possible problems in growing
The culture is rarely attacked by insects and diseases. Mirabilis and faithful care reduces their appearance to zero.
Pests
Of all the known parasites on the bushes, only aphids take root - on young individuals. You can get rid of it with the help of Fitoverm and Intavir.
Disease
With systematic waterlogging of the soil, the plant develops root rot. There is no cure; the affected specimen is dug up and burned. The land where it was located is treated with fungicidal solutions.
Signs of improper care
In case of violation of the rules of landing and supervision, the culture may experience:
- yellowing of foliage - with fungal infections;
- small buds - due to insufficient lighting;
- stopping growth and development - with a constant presence in the shade or lack of nutrients.
The culture belongs to unpretentious varieties that even beginners in gardening can grow. Compliance with the recommendations will help to grow a beautiful and eye-catching flower garden.
