On many private plots, you can find a decorative flower mallow (the second name is stock-rose), which has a large number of varieties (about 60) and a variety of colors that can satisfy the taste of both a gardener and a landscape designer.
Flower mallow - species
Among a large number of different species of mallow, one can find annual, biennial and perennial plants. The mallow flower, belonging to two-year and perennial varieties, blooms only in the second year after its landing in the ground. Common varieties of mallow are perennials, grow to 180-200 cm, have large stems and bloom from the beginning of June to the cold, the most popular of them can be described as follows:
- Malva is pink. The most popular, cultivated species grows to 200-250 cm. Flowering continues from June to September, color occurs white, pink, yellow, red, lilac, violet.
- Malva is wrinkled. This variety, being a wild relative of the pink mallow, is unpretentious, frosty, it is adorned with huge, corrugated light yellow flowers.
- The mallow is musky. The variety is low, unlike the previous ones, it has a pleasant aroma, the flowers are densely located, it looks great on the site.
- Malva is forested. The plant is thermophilic, blossoms all summer months, differs in a wide variety of colors.
Malva perennial
The flower mallow perennial has a long flowering period, the area on which it is planted does not lose its decorativeness until the fall. This plant loves heat and light, so choose a place for planting perennial mallow where there is a lot of sun and there is no wind and drafts. An excellent solution will be planting plants along fences or building walls, some varieties, especially tall ones, require a garter. Growing and caring for the flower is not difficult, the plant can easily adapt to our climatic conditions, it needs minimal attention.
Malva's annual
Annual varieties of mallow grow lower (30-120 cm) than perennials, due to this quality they do not need additional support. The one-year stock-rose has a lush foliage, it branches well, has a powerful stem, is less prone to disease. A distinctive feature of this species can be called a bright color of flowers growing on stems individually, the plant looks very impressive.
One-year-old mallow plant can be planted in floor containers or flowerpots, at the same time, it looks great. Many gardeners especially appreciate the annual varieties for their unpretentiousness, they are drought-resistant, they need to be watered two or three times a month. Blooming mallow begins in late June, ends late in autumn (if autumn is not cold). Breeding independently by seeds, it can grow on one place for many years.
Malva - landing
Planting mallow in the ground is produced by seeds and seedlings. Seeds are sown mallow in late spring, after the soil warms up well, or in late autumn, under winter. The best germination is possessed by seeds with a two-year shelf life. For growing seedlings, seeds should be planted in early March, and in the 20th of May grown seedlings are planted in the garden. If the plant is planted in seedlings by spring, it will blossom earlier. Choose a site with dry soil (loam), well drained, pre-loosen it in advance, flavor with humus.
The mallow plant is planted with seeds
Experienced growers recommend to plant the mallow seeds in the spring, avoiding the sub-winter planting. To do this, in the previously loosened and fertilized soil, make holes to a depth of 3 cm at a distance of at least 25-30 cm from each other, place 2-3 seeds in them, sprinkle with earth and lightly pound. After sowing the soil is well poured with water, cover with a polyethylene film for rapid swelling and germination of seeds.
After the appearance of the first shoots, after about 7-10 days, polyethylene clean and sow the seedlings. Malva, planted in a direct way to the open ground, starts to bloom only the next year, in the first summer the plant forms only a leaf socket. If the cultivation of mallow from seeds takes place under comfortable conditions and with proper care, there will be annual self-seeding, after which the flower is renewed on its own.
How to plant mallow seedlings?
Malva blooms the next year after planting, if you want to get a flowering plant in the planting year, it makes sense to grow seedlings first. To grow seedlings, follow the simple rules:
- plant seed in containers at the end of February, early March;
- plants are best grown in peat cups, each separately. Subsequently, the cups along with the sprouted seedlings are easily planted in the ground;
- container with seedlings cover with a film or transparent glass, providing a moist and warm microclimate;
- Ensure the seedling temperature in the room is not lower than 18-22 ° C;
- normal plant growth occurs with sufficient light; if necessary, arrange additional illumination;
- spray sprinkles regularly.
Before planting mallow in the open ground, young growth can be slightly hardened, this procedure should be repeated daily for some time. Every day take out a few hours containers with seedlings in a cool place, this will help the plant after landing on the open space to adapt more quickly to the natural conditions.
Flower mallow - planting dates
Planting mallow flowers can occur in both spring and autumn. Planting seeds in seedlings at the end of February and beginning of March, planting it in May-June in the soil, at the end of July you will receive a flowering mallow. Planting mallow in the spring, it is necessary to observe the following rules:
- choose the time at the end of May, after reducing the possibility of a night frost on the soil;
- if planting is done by seeds, deepen them into the soil for 2-3 cm;
- planting flowers seedlings, leave between plants a distance of 8-10 cm.
Many gardeners, choosing the time of planting mallow, having familiarized themselves with the rules and conditions of cultivation, prefer the autumn sowing. In this case, the following conditions must be met:
- The best time for autumn sowing is September month;
- The holes must be made to a depth of at least 3 cm;
- Sprinkle with peat;
- For the winter, the seedlings are covered with a layer of straw or fallen leaves;
- Early emerging shoots in the spring cover, saving from frost.
Malva - growing
Beginners florists, learning how to grow a mallow, are happy to cultivate this unpretentious, decorative flower on its own plot. The basic requirements for growing mallow are few, and they are very simple:
- soil for planting choose loose (loam), well drained;
- The place for breeding must be sunny, the plant easily tolerates drought, but does not like excessive moisture;
- watering needs a moderate, but regular;
- annually make a feeding, the best organics are humus and compost (2-3 kg per 1 square meter).
Flower mallow - care
Care for mallow in the open field is also simple. The plant grows superbly in open sunny space, but it easily tolerates penumbra. It is necessary to systematically loosen the soil, which can sometimes be fertilized with a fertilizer containing phosphorus and potassium. Since the flowers of the mallow grow high, keeping them from the gusts of wind, tie the stems to high pegs. Make sure that the earth is wet (water should be 1-2 times a week, depending on climatic conditions) and there was no stagnation of excess water.
Flower mallow - reproduction
Among the specialists of gardeners there is an opinion that the flowers of mallow are best propagated by seedlings rather than seeds and replaced in the ground already hardened and hardened bushes, so their root system will be stronger and more enduring. Some varieties of mallow, especially its double-species or hybrid, selected by breeding, are propagated by cuttings, by means of division, preserving varietal qualities, since their seeds do not always carry hereditary traits. By dividing the radical cuttings should be engaged in the spring, in the summer, cuttings can be cut from the stem.
Diseases of mallow
Proper planting and caring for mallow can prevent the occurrence of diseases in this flower. More frequent in these plants are diseases associated with excess moisture, so the correctly chosen place for planting, on which there will not be excessive accumulation of it after the rains - will be the guarantee of the growth of healthy shrubs. The most common diseases that occur in these flowers are:
- rust of leaves;
- spotty and powdery mildew ;
- stem cancer;
- a mosaic virus.
After discovering the first signs of these diseases, remove the affected areas (mainly leaves), treat the plants with "Mycosan-B", "Phyto-Doctor", "Trichodermin" or other antifungal formulation. But the most important means in the fight against the disease is to eliminate the original cause, otherwise the fight against the disease will not bring success.