Colchicum - planting and care

Cedar-tree looks like crocuses in its appearance, although it blooms in autumn, but not in spring. Thus, he casts bright memories of the spring and warms the soul with the expectation of a new heat that will come after the coming winter.

The second name of cedar-colchicum is colchicum. It is known to the flower growers for a long time. According to legend, the first flower grew on the blood of Prometheus. Its name was derived from the name Colchis (today it is the territory of Georgia). In Russia these flowers were called autumnal, timeless. In Europe they are known as saffron.

Colchicum - species and varieties

The colchicum genus numbers more than 65 varieties, most of which grow in the Mediterranean. In the garden the same species are distributed:

Custerless flower - planting and care

Planting and care for cesspool is quite unpretentious. They grow in any soil, although they will bloom more intensively in a loose and well drained land with compost or humus added to it.

When to plant colchicum: it is desirable to plant the plant in a rest period. The mature seeds are harvested and planted on a separate bed, but they will not bloom until 6-7 years later. Therefore, it is preferable to grow them with daughter bulbs. It's simpler, and faster.

A large bulb can bloom for the first year. The place for disembarkation should be chosen sunny or in a small penumbra. They do not like a thick shadow from trees, especially since they are attacked by slugs .

It is important for a secrecy correctly to choose "neighbors". Ideally, juniper, peony and hellebore are suitable for this role. You can drop colchicum at the pond or in a rock garden, where it will be covered with a periwinkle, a vivipant and other planting plants after flowering.

When to transplant a colchicum?

After 6-7 years of growth in one place, the cesspool is to be transplanted, as the tubers in the nest become cramped and the flowers are small.

The transplantation is carried out approximately in August - during the rest period. If the tubers are large, they are planted at a depth of 15 cm and at a distance of 25 cm from each other. The smaller ones do not need to be deepened - it's enough 6-8 cm, the interval will be 10-15 cm.

Before planting and transplanting, fertilize the soil with ash and superphosphate - this will accelerate the growth of roots, facilitate wintering and promote abundant flowering.

How to care for celiacs?

Care colchicum is minimal and simple. The flower is rather unpretentious. In the spring coevals feed nitric fertilizers to form strong leaves and have saturated the bulb with useful substances for more intensive growth and flowering.

Bulbs for the winter to dig out is not necessary - they perfectly winter in the ground. The exception is terry varieties, they are more gentle and poorly tolerated frosts. But they can not be dug out, but only cover the foliage for the winter.

You do not need to water colchicum. In additional moisture, they need only a period of planting / transplantation.

Of pests for flowers are the danger of slugs and snails. They are put on traps or fight with molluscicides.