Tips for caring for and cultivating pelargonium Rose Zonartik
Pelargonium is an indoor plant, characterized by lush flowering. She will perfectly decorate a balcony, windows and other rooms in the house.
Among all the variety of varieties, pelargonium of umbrellas remains very popular. This variety has lush and vibrant flowers, which it will give only if it is properly cared for.
How to care for this pelargonium so that it develops properly and delights with its flowering? And what diseases affect her most often and how to treat them?
History of occurrence
Zonartik is a new category of pelargonium, which includes huge double and non-double flowers. This is a hybrid that was obtained by crossing zonal pelargonium with an article number.
REFERENCE! Breeders worked on the creation of these flowers for about 22 years. And only in 1994 the name of the flower was invented. it consisted of 'z-o-n' from zonal pelargonium and 'a-r-t-i-c' from pelargonium article number.Description of appearance
This plant is characterized by an underground rhizome, consisting of alternating thick and thin sections. A short stalk rises above the ground. This pelargonium is characterized by dropping leaves. They grow old early and at the time of flowering, the plant has an unattractive appearance.
On a few peduncles, pale yellow flowers form. Each of them forms 2-5 small flowers. They have a short flowering period.
Flowers can be of various colors, among which:
- pink;
- white;
- yellow (more varieties of yellow pelargonium and tips for caring for them can be found here);
- peach;
- Orange;
- red.
Landing Features
Pelargonium Rose zonartik belongs to unpretentious plants. You can land it if you adhere to the following plan:
- Pick up a container with several drainage holes below. The root system of the flower is sensitive to moisture and can rot in case of constant contact with water. The pot should be 25 cm deep. This is enough for the growth and development of the flower.
- Wash and treat the pot before planting with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This will eliminate bacteria and pest larvae.
- Soil is better to apply purchased. At the same time, it must perfectly pass air and moisture. A great option would be a universal mixture.
- Lay a layer of expanded clay on the bottom of the container. Sprinkle with sand above and fill the pot with earth, but not completely. Run a small recess and set the shoot with a spine there. Sprinkle with earth. Thoroughly pour soil with settled water and place the pot on the windowsill.
Lighting and location
Pelargonium umbrellas is a photophilous plant. So in the summer it can be safely transplanted into the open ground, where it normally tolerates direct sunlight.
IMPORTANT! If the plant is located on the windowsill, where the direct rays of the sun, then the flower may overheat, especially if there is poor ventilation.In this case, it will be necessary to create protection against scorching summer rays. Pelargonium normally responds to minor shading. But if there is a lack of light, then the leaves will turn yellow, die. The stalk is bare, and flowering will stop. Once every 2-3 days, turn the flower pot. This will achieve uniform crown growth.
Soil requirements
Pelargonium umbrellas prefer to grow in fertile and well-drained soil. Land can be purchased at the store or prepared independently. When preparing the soil, you need to mix these components:
- turf land;
- humus;
- peat;
- sand.
How to care?
Temperature mode
In the summer, the flower prefers to be in a temperate warm climate. The temperature regime will be 17-23 degrees heat. Landing on the street is carried out only after the danger of returning frost has passed. At rates of 12 degrees and below, flowering stops. Heat is also unacceptable for plants, especially indoors. Understand that the flower is cold, you can on the reddened leaves.
ATTENTION! With the advent of autumn, it is better to gradually lower the temperature and water the flower abundantly. Growth should not be active, otherwise the plant will begin to stretch and become depleted in poor light.Winter season
In winter, the pelargonium of umbrellas is kept in a greenhouse or a glazed balcony. The temperature should not fall below +6 degrees at night and + 12 + 15 degrees during the day. On sunny days open windows for ventilation to avoid overheating. In winter, excellent air circulation is important for the flower. Do not place the pots close to each other. Thin out the crowns if necessary. This will prevent the development of fungal diseases.
Watering in winter is not often and mild. Do this from pallets, carefully measuring the amount of water and the time for the next watering throughout the tank. Moreover, the top of the soil should be dry. Wintering of pelargonium umbrellas can take place in other ways:
- This method is to preserve plants in the form of cuttings that are already rooted. In this case, the mother plant is thrown away. This method is used for summer cultivation of pelargonium in the open air.
- This method is also used for street flower maintenance. Before frost, remove the plant from the soil with roots and shake off excess soil. Trim the flower and wrap it in paper. Put in a cool basement. Choose a room with excellent ventilation and high humidity. Otherwise, the plant may dry.
These two methods can be combined: first, take the cuttings, and then send the mother plant for the winter to a cool room. Wintering comes at the warmest time in and lasts 3 months (November-February). In late January-early February, when daylight hours begin to increase, pelargonium begins to gradually wake up.
Watering
REFERENCE! Pelargonium umbrellas is a moisture-resistant plant, but at the same time it is exposed to fungal diseases. So it’s better to shorten it than to waterlog it.To carry out watering in the summer as the top layer of the earth dries. In this case, the plant should be in a warm and sunny place. In winter, limit watering, but do not allow the land to completely dry out. Excessive moisture can be recognized by lowered and sluggish leaves. In addition, symptoms of gray rot will begin to appear.
In severe cases, the stem undergoes rotting, which ultimately leads to the death of the flower. Another symptom of excess moisture remains "sores" that form on the underside of the leaves. When the earthen coma is overdried, flowering stops, the leaves turn yellow, and the edges die. For irrigation only settled, warm and soft water is used. Humidity for pelargonium umbrellas is not important.
These flowers do not need spraying. Excessive humidity and stagnant air contribute to the development of the fungus..
Top dressing
It is necessary to introduce top dressing with each watering, while reducing dosages. For example, if hydration is carried out daily, then the weekly rate of fertilizers should be divided by 7-10. To make the received dosage in each watering. If the lump of land has dried out between irrigation, moisten it with clean water.
During the winter holiday, top dressing is canceled not to be applied if the temperature is low, and the plant is completely resting. When a slight flower growth is visible, then the introduction of fertilizer is restored in ¼ dosage. After rooting the cuttings, fertilizer with a high nitrogen concentration is used.
ATTENTION! A complex universal fertilizer is used to feed young plants, which are too early to bloom. Before flowering, for 2-3 months, it is necessary to use a fertilizer with a high concentration of potassium.With signs of chlorosis, it is treated with magnesium sulfate and iron helan.
Common Diseases and Pests
Pelargonium umbrellas are very rarely affected by diseases and pests. They arise mainly due to violated rules of care. So that the plant is always healthy, do not over-moisten the soil, regularly loosen it and remove dry leaves.
Most often, pelargonium of umbrellas is affected by such diseases:
- Gray rot. This is a fungal disease in which the plant becomes covered with dark spots and quickly disappears. To combat the disease, remove all affected parts of geranium, carry out treatment with fungicides. To prevent the development of the disease, moderate watering and regular cleaning of the soil from weeds is necessary.
- Rust. You can recognize the disease by the presence of clearly defined yellow spots on the leaves. Over time, they dry and fall. There is a disease at elevated temperatures and excessive watering. To combat rust, remove the affected parts of the plant, and then perform the treatment with systemic fungicides (Topaz).
- Late blight. The plant no longer blooms, rapidly fading and decaying. The reason for the development is improper care: dense plantings, poor-quality lighting, too wet soil. If the first symptoms are detected, stop watering and treat with Profit-Gold, Ridomil or Previkur.
Of the insects, pelargonium affects aphids and white-wings. To control pests such drugs are used.:
- Spark.
- Actellik.
- Commander
Breeding methods
Reproduction of pelargonium of umbrellas occurs in two ways:
- Seminal. For planting, select a container with several drainage holes below. The pot should be 25 cm deep. This is enough for the full growth of the plant. Planting seeds is carried out in a clean container. To do this, wash and treat it with a solution of manganese.
Lay claydite at the bottom, cover it with earth, sprinkle seeds and lightly proceed with the ground. Tamp and pour a little. set the pot under the film. After 10-14 days, the first shoots are formed. From now on, open the film every day. And with the appearance of the first 2 leaves, a pick is performed.
- Cuttings. It is necessary to cut off the shoot from the mother plant, hold it for several days in a dry, moist room, and then transplant it into a pot with suitable soil.
Previously, the shoot should be lowered into a container with water and kept until roots are formed, but the quality of growth will not get better from this. Water the young plant regularly and keep it on a well-lit window sill.
Pelargonium umbrellas is a decorative culture, which any grower, even a beginner, can grow. In terms of care, the plant is not picky, it is distinguished by lush and colorful flowering, although it does not last long. With quality care, pelargonium will not hurt, and its growth and development will occur in normal mode.