Freesia - growing and caring for a capricious aristocrat

Fragrant freesia, cultivated and nursed since the beginning of the 19th century, attracted high-ranking individuals with its beauty, so in France it was grown in royal gardens. This miraculous plant was brought to Russia in the middle of the 19th century. Freesia deserved the reputation of a complex plant. Some people try to plant this capricious plant, fail, it just does not blossom, but I want to please myself and others with elegant and bright flowers. So what is freesia, growing and caring for is fraught with so many difficulties?

Freesia is a herbaceous perennial tuberous plant native to South Africa. The leaves of freesia are of a xiphoid form, very soft. Coloring of flowers can be different: yellow, crimson, white, pink, etc. Many sympathize with this wonderful plant because of the aroma, which slightly resembles a lily of the valley and has the ability to relieve depression and relieve stress. The plant is collected in racemose inflorescences on peduncles, which have a length of up to 60 cm.

Let's consider in detail how to plant freesia and what conditions for it to create. Bulbs of freesia are prepared for planting in early April in order to prevent various diseases of the plant. Bulbs before planting soak in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for about an hour. Further the bulbs are placed in a pot up to eighteen centimeters high. The bottom of the pot must have holes. The soil is suitable for peat, well, if it adds large yellow sand and turfy loamy soil. Next, you need to choose a sunny place with a temperature of up to 25 degrees. It is important to know that freesia is a very thermophilic plant, do not allow the temperature in which it is located to fall below ten degrees.

Moisture-loving freesia. Growing and caring for it should be accompanied by frequent and abundant watering, especially often watering should occur during the formation of buds and flowering. But make sure that the water does not stagnate in the pots. Freesia sometimes suffers from fusariosis, viral diseases. Pests such as thrips, spider mite, aphids, especially like this plant. To avoid many unpleasant moments, you need to shed the ground with a pinkish solution of potassium permanganate before planting, which will be an excellent prevention.

Consider how to plant freesia in the garden. Corms plants are best planted at the end of April in pots, so that they grow a little in the loggia or on the windowsill, then planted in the garden, so there will be much more chance of seeing freesia blooming. The place where you plant the plant should be sunny and protected from the wind. In the flower garden you excavate a hole at the bottom of which you place the denser manure and a pinch of yellow sand, superphosphate and complex fertilizer. Transplant freesia to a depth of about six centimeters. The plant must be tied to the support, otherwise sagging and scrapping of the leaves may occur.

To grow a healthy freesia, growing and leaving it must be accompanied by periodic feeding. The first fertilizing is good after a couple of weeks after planting, to feed the best with nitrogen fertilizers, next time the spikelets start to appear, fertilize with mineral fertilizer, we fertilize the plant in the midst of flowering. The last time to fertilize best at the end of August is a dilute superphosphate.

In mid-September the peduncles begin to fade, the leaves turn yellow. In this case, you should remove drooping peduncles, but continue to water and feed the plant. As soon as the cold comes, cut off the yellow leaves and dig up the bulbs. After digging the corms should be washed, disinfected and dried. Store at 25-30 degrees. You can put them in closed sterile jars and place near the heating battery.