Diastia
The main part of tropical flowers and trees has long been transported to the middle lane and settled in gardens and suburban areas, even if due to the climate difference a number of perennials began to grow as annual plants. Among these specimens was also diastia, the flower of the family of the norniches, whose homeland is considered to be South Africa.
Ampel ampelling: flower features
Despite the fact that there are up to 50 types of diastia in nature, a little less than 10 took root in the middle lane, since all of them are notable for their extreme thermophilicity and do not tolerate low temperatures. 10–15 degrees below zero are the limit for diastia, at which its sensitive root system begins to freeze, which turns the perennial plant into an annual. For this reason, much more often the flower is grown in the apartment, as a home ornamental plant, rather than planted in open ground. Therefore, the most popular is the ampelous diastia with a creeping, flexible stem up to 60 cm long. Under natural conditions, it can reach 100 cm. In addition to flowers, it is attractive in diastation and dark green glossy leaves are ovoid, small, with slightly traced along the edge, densely seated along the entire length of the stem. Up to 3 months after germination, any type of diasciation, including an ampelous one, has upright stems, which with age may begin to decline.
Flowers of ampelous dyasia, which are only 1.5–2 cm in diameter, resemble the flowers of a lion's pharynx in shape: the same pyatidolnye perianths, the same differences in the sizes of the lobes - the lower ones are larger and form a so-called “lip”. The number of buds under properly selected conditions is so great that the leaves behind them are simply lost during the flowering period of diastia. Its duration is 30-40 days, however it has several waves, as a result of which the total bloom lasts from June to October. Experienced growers recommend pruning diastia after the 1st wave, which ends in late July or early August, to enhance the formation of buds in the 2nd wave. The traditional color of the petals is delicate pink or with a touch of fuchsia, however, there are also flowers in salmon, orange, yellow or lilac-violet colors. Flowers of ampelous diastia have no aroma.
Among the species of ampelous dyasia in the middle zone for cultivation in hanging pots, they usually acquire a vigilant dying, whose petals have a pale pink color, and the stems are drawn up to 50 cm. In length. The period of its flowering is somewhat shorter and ends as early as September, and at this time the bush turns out to be littered with open buds only on the tops of its stems. The shoots are able to take root and grow actively, as a result of which small areas are often lined with vigilant diascium.
No less beautiful and beloved flower growers are the diastia of the beard: its stems are 40 cm in length, branched, erect in some varieties, but mostly lodge. The range of colors is extensive, since it is the borodchaty diastia that has the largest number of varieties, among which there are ampelous individuals, and forming traditional bushes. But almost every bud has a small yellow core in the center. Flowering can begin at a young age, when the length of the shoots will reach 10 cm. Therefore, even if you have lately sown the dyasia, you will not have to wait for a whole year of flowering. The main advantage of this species is its drought resistance, which makes the warty diasciu an attractive candidate for residence in regions with a hot summer without rains.
Diastia "Pink Queen": growing from seed
The ampella diastia with the majestic name "Pink Queen" is a rather popular variety of diascium of the beard. Its petals have a milky pink color and darken closer to the core. The length of the shoots is 40 cm, flowering begins in July and lasts until the end of October, if the plant is in the apartment. Cultivation even through sowing can be done in 2 ways: right into the main containers or by creating seedlings, which will be spiked. Due to the fact that diastia has a shallow root system, it transfers transplants without any special problems. But with the cultivation itself, difficulties may arise: even experienced gardeners note that it is very difficult to wait for seedlings and not ruin them. And for this reason, far more often the diaztion is grown and propagated by cutting.
The planting algorithm of the plant is traditional: large containers filled with soil with a high content of peat are filled with sand mixed with seeds, which need to be covered with a thin layer of the same soil. They are not necessary to be buried, but it is necessary to moisten the ground before and after sowing: this is done with a spray bottle, since the seeds are very small and easily float to the surface with an excess of water. It is recommended to pick up the substrate in such a way that even after watering it retains its friability and does not retain moisture. To this end, it is advisable to lay a little pebble or special drainage on the bottom of the tank. The containers themselves are tightened with foil and placed in heat, where the temperature will be maintained at 17 degrees. The place is chosen shaded, without drafts.
Shoots are expected no earlier than in 14-16 days, if the air temperature did not fall below the set point. Otherwise, prolongation of waiting up to 21-24 days is possible, or uneven germination of seeds. Even after the emergence of germs, watering of the diastia is done only through spraying until 2-3 leaves appear on the seedlings. At this stage, the seedlings are pinched, and it is possible to carry out a pick-up in separate pots, populating 1 container with not more than 2 bushes. If you decide to move the diaztion into the open ground, then you should wait for the heat, even if it affects the size of the plant. When transplanted into the soil, fertilizer is introduced in small quantities: the soil saturated with nutritive elements for a flower is no better than a very poor land.
At home, it is possible to grow a diaztion from seeds already in February-March, but if you plan to plant it in open ground, it is recommended to move the process to the last days of April, when the earth is completely warmed up, and the air temperature will keep within 14-15 degrees day time The flowering of the diascia with such a planting schedule will begin in mid-August or closer to autumn.
Diastia: planting and leaving a photo of a plant
In order to understand the conditions under which diastia should grow, one has to turn to its natural halo of habitat: these are the slopes of the mountains of South Africa. Thus, we can talk about the need for sun, heat and abundant irrigation for the diascium of any kind. It is on these factors that emphasis will be placed on choosing a place where the flowerpots with a flower will be located and scheduling care for them.
If you grow diaztion in an apartment, pots with it protect from direct sunlight, away from the windows, if they go to the south, but do not leave in the shade. It is also impossible to place it in a draft: the resistance of a plant to insignificant frosts does not affect its compliance with the cold wind. If the diastia grows in the open field, she is selected to be protected from the wind, but a sunny place, with a good, loose earth. The south facing elevations are perfectly suited, where moisture does not stagnate, but is not open on all sides.
The next important point in the care of diastia is watering. It is carried out as often as the earth requires: it must maintain its elasticity and light moisture. Watering is carried out with settled water at room temperature, the leaves must also occasionally be irrigated with water from a watering can or a spray bottle so that the moisture gets not by a direct stream, but by a diffuse stream. In the apartment in winter, the diastia is watered very rarely, but also necessarily with warm water.
After the 1st wave of flowering has passed, dry inflorescences are removed from the diascia so that only 5 cm of stem are preserved. If this is not done, the next wave will not be so abundant, and the bush will remain almost naked. In addition, each wave of flowering gives the maximum possible result, from June to September, a complex fertilizer is introduced into the soil at the bush 2 times a month: this is the only period when fertilizing is allowed - the nutrition that the earth provides is enough for the rest of the time. October to May.
The basic rules for cultivating diascium and caring for it are loose, not very fertile soil from sand, peat and earth, frequent watering, the absence of abundant under-feed and well heated air. After flowering, be sure to cut the bushes, and when rooting, do not forget to pinch. If these recommendations are followed, even such a difficult plant will live in a city apartment or at a dacha no less comfortable than in the natural conditions of Africa.