Astra: planting and care
There is probably no person who has never heard of asters. These undemanding, colorfully spotted annuals add color to fall gardens. They can be white, yellow, red, purple, and there are also species with double colors. Growing and caring for them is not difficult at all.
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Planting asters
Almost anyone can breed asters. Even a completely inexperienced gardener can do this. Grow this one flower possible from seeds. This is done in two ways:
- Growing seedlings.
- Planting seeds directly into the ground.
The first method requires additional time, but this method is the most suitable for plant propagation. It is necessary to sow seeds for seedlings in May or April. The specific time is determined by the plant variety. Before planting, aster seeds should be wrapped in a piece of cloth and left for several hours in a weak concentration of potassium permanganate solution. Then the seeds must be placed in a plastic bag at room temperature for germination. Any pot or other container will suit you for propagating seedlings.
Aster needs light soil enriched with nutrients. Before planting, the soil should be watered with a solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection and grooves of small depth should be made in it. Place the sprouted seeds in these furrows and sprinkle with a small amount of sand. Then cover the box with glass and place it in a warm room.
After a few days, the first shoots will sprout. Immediately after they appear, remove the container to a less warm place and water the sprouts moderately. When 4 leaves appear, transplant the seedlings into small containers, while pinching the root. For replanting, take soil with the same composition, adding a little ash to it. Do not water the aster seedlings too often to prevent it from getting sick.
Varieties of asters
Now there are over 4,000 different varieties of aster. Thanks to the tireless activity of breeders, new varieties are being developed. The most popular types of aster are:
- Alpine aster grows up to 40 cm in height. This flower has single and large inflorescences of pink and lilac colors. Flowering period is May-June.
- The Italian aster reaches 60 cm in height. The flowers of this variety grow up to 4 cm in diameter and are colored predominantly lilac-lilac.
- The sedum aster can grow up to 40 cm in height. This aster has small baskets of pink or purple color.
House aster
At home, maintaining and growing aster is not difficult. It is important to create an optimal level of illumination for the flower. To do this, turn regularly pot with plant on the windowsill. This way you will achieve uniform growth of all parts of the plant and the bush will be symmetrical. Water the plant moderately so that moisture does not stagnate in the pot, but also do not allow the soil to dry out. Asters do not like stuffiness, so periodically ventilate the room where the aster lives.
Some types of aster look worse if they are too spreading. Due to the extra side shoots, the flowers become smaller and seeds do not form. In this regard, promptly remove unnecessary shoots.
Every 4 years the aster bush must be divided. After flowering ends, the bush is removed from the pot and carefully freed from the old soil. The bush is divided in such a way that each part has at least 3 shoots and a healthy root remains. These parts should be planted in new pots and cared for as usual.
Asters in the open ground
The seeds of this plant can not be grown as seedlings, but can be sown immediately in open ground. This can be done in April or May, when the soil is well warmed up. You can sow seeds in the fall with the onset of frost.
- Make furrows 2 cm deep in the soil. Before this, for disinfection, it is recommended to water the planting site with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to prevent disease.
- Place the seeds in the grooves and cover with soil. Water with warm water if you plant the plant in spring. Before the first shoots appear, cover the planting site with film.
- When the fourth true leaves appear on the shoots, thin out the planting. At the same time, try not to damage the plant being removed. It can be transplanted to another place.
- When planting seeds in autumn, simply cover them with humus with a layer of up to 4 cm and leave until spring. In the spring, loosen the row spacing without removing the humus until the sprouts appear.
Caring for asters
When watering an aster, remember that this flower does not tolerate excess dampness. But at the same time, in hot weather the plant is necessary water intensively. Be sure to water the aster abundantly during the formation of buds. This way you will ensure lush flowering of the aster.
Asters do not need frequent feeding. The first time you need to apply fertilizer a couple of weeks after planting, using mineral fertilizers. When the buds appear, feed the plant with nitrogen-containing substances. Use fertilizer for the third and final time during the flowering period. At this time, add superphosphate or potassium sulfate. There is no need to add organic matter; asters do not like it.
Trim the bush regularly and remove side branches if necessary. This way you will form the right plant. Pruning is necessary to increase the flowering period.
