Gardeners, and ordinary inhabitants love this flower for a riot of colors. Gatsaniya, perennial or annual, really has a bright exquisite beauty. And blooms like a colorful daisy. These plants come from Africa, which is probably why they like sunny days.
The bright sun, which gives warmth, allows us to admire such a creation of nature. And in the cold season, we can also observe such a plant as gatzany. How to preserve these flowers in winter so that later in the summer they decorate the garden? Such questions are often asked in amateur gardener forums.
Types of gatzania
Gatzania belongs to the Astrov family. Such plants come in several forms: annual or perennial, semi-shrub or shrub.
They gained fame thanks to the variety of colors. In fact, there are quite a few varieties of this flower, they can be counted up to fifty.
The most popular are gatzany brilliant, or harsh. Our breeders bred flowers of various colors. And now, not only a plain daisy, but also a motley gatsaniya, the photo of which you see in the article, makes us happy. The main varieties are gatsaniya monochromatic, brilliant, peacock, white, cirrus and so on.
Plant features
This interesting southern specimen feels its complicated character. It manifests itself in the fact that if it is cloudy on the street, the petals close, and the middle of the flower becomes invisible.
Initially, these plants, accustomed to heat and light, could bloom from sunrise to sunset, but in bad weather they keep closed. But gardeners would like more. And then they, through trial and error, began to experiment on responding to weather conditions with this plant. And so, thanks to their actions, a hybrid called Talent appeared.
As a result, now you can admire the colorful shades of the flower in any weather. So our experts, despite the capricious mood of the plant, quickly found a way out.
Love African watering daisies. It is advisable for them to arrange it in the heat systematically. If you do not do this on hot days, then the flowers in your eyes will become smaller and smaller. And, of course, they will no longer be able to delight us with their beautiful coloring.
Let's talk about hybrid and long shooting gatsaniya
Floriculture uses in our latitudes mainly gatsaniyu hybrid and long shoot. Longshot gatsaniya native to South Africa. This type of gatsaniya - perennial. Grows with stems short and creeping. It blooms from August to the beginning of winter. In diameter, these flowers are seven centimeters.
Hybrid gatsaniya has a harsh structure, and the flower is 8 cm in diameter. It can be set with any shade of orange, as well as white and yellow. It grows with a bush in a rosette of basal leaves.
The hybrid flower has leaf decor. They have a linear scapular structure. Leaves with a touch of silver from below, feel like velvet to the touch. By the way, such pubescence is not accidental. Thanks to him, the plant is not afraid of cold. In addition, the leaves contribute to the preservation of moisture on the flower.
Hybrid varieties are more in demand among our compatriots. The fact is that they are perfectly adapted to our climate. They have large flowers and a large number of semi-double or double petals. A lot of hybrids and main varieties are bred. And they bloom white, raspberry, pink, yellow, bronze-lemon, cream, orange, striped and spotty flowers.
Their names are suitable for color. For example, there are such names of varieties (sort mixes): Sun flare, Sun dance, Marvelous marvel, Sunlight, Sunshine, Big Kiss, Bonjour and so on.
How to care
After two weeks of planting, feed the gatsan with mineral fertilizers. If the plot has poor soil or flowers grow in a container, then use complex fertilizers, but also after a while, within 14 days.
Be sure to top-dress a plant such as gatsaniya at the beginning of the season. Growing and caring, properly organized, are those actions that will help her constantly delight you with her flowering.
The soil for gatzany is the most favorable - sandy loam. It should not be waterlogged. And, importantly, there should be a lot of humus in it. When the flowers gain strength, top dressing can be canceled. Remove constantly fading inflorescences and peduncles.
How do these flowers feel in winter
Such a unique flower as gatsaniya, care, thorough and thoughtful, is necessary, however, like all plants. But for you it will not be too burdensome. A plant needs light fertile soil with good drainage.
When the flowers mature, they become cold-resistant, they can be admired almost until the first frost. Although gatzania, perennial or annual, is a native of the south, it has almost adapted in our latitudes.
Only when you already feel the onset of winter, transplant neatly your favorite flowers into pots. If you have a glazed balcony and the temperature there is not lower than +10 degrees, then they will winter well in this place, so that in the spring they will return to the garden plot. Do not forget about moderate watering.
Try to transplant the flowers very carefully so as not to damage the roots. You can also use flowerpots in areas to grow a plant such as gatsaniya. How to save such flowers in flowerpots in winter? Do not transplant them from the pots, but simply take flowers home in them.
Can a flower overwinter?
In order to preserve gatsaniya until spring, there are several ways:
1. In winter, the flower will be nice and indoors. Only good lighting will be needed. The plant is unpretentious. If you live in a region with mild, wet winters, without frost, then you can not even take the pot home.
Although they love warmth, but, growing up, the flowers adapt to the local climate. You can use special containers to grow them in the garden. And then, with the onset of cold weather after -3 degrees, pick them up, put them on the balcony so that you can get used to the new conditions of gatsaniya.
Wintering of the plant can then continue in warm rooms, but only after the flower gets used to the balcony climate, where 9-11 degrees with a plus sign will be considered the optimal temperature for it.
2. But if you live where frosts rage in winter, gatsanii is best grown as annual plants. To do this, you can sow gatsaniya seeds in early spring. Try to water the plants in winter, but very rarely. And make sure that the soil does not dry out. Gatzania (cultivation and care in this case will not particularly differ) can grow if you either did not transplant it from the pot, or carefully, without damaging the roots, tried to transplant it.
Gatsaniya perennial is a stunted bushy plant, so when you replant it on open soil, carefully separate the bushes.
About seedlings
Gatzania is sown in the first month of spring. After the seeds are thinned, seedlings must be dived in greenhouses or in earthen pots. And as soon as spring frosts end, drop them into the ground.
We advise you to still use peat pots if you grow a flower from seeds. This is necessary in order not to accidentally damage the roots. And in this case you will not need to dive. So you solve the problem of vital activity in winter time of such a plant as gatsaniya. How to save it in winter, as well as how to grow seedlings from seeds, we examined.
And since April, the weather usually allows you to send seedlings to a cold greenhouse or to an open ground. Seedlings need to be gradually hardened. This can be done already from the moment that thawed spots disappear.
Shoots will gradually get used to the cold up to -3 degrees and to bright sunlight. If you notice that the temperature is lower at night, then use lutrasil to cover young growth. At a temperature outside of +17 degrees, you should expect shoots in a decade or a little later.
How to propagate a plant using cuttings
Gatzania propagation can also be done using cuttings. Midsummer is just the period when the gatsaniya, perennial or annual, propagates calmly with the help of cuttings that are obtained from lateral shoots at the base of the stems.
First, treat the cuttings with stimulating root formation preparations, then plant them in the shade so that the rays of the sun do not fall on them. They need to get used to a new place. When you see that the cuttings are rooted, take a lump of earth with the cuttings and drop them off at the place you have chosen.
That's the way gatsaniya will always grow on your site. How to save such a flower in winter, now you already know.
In what places can gatsaniya be planted?
They are planted on the curbs, paths. Near the stones or undersized flowers, flower beds are arranged. Unique floral arrangements with ageratums, lobelias and other floral creations will definitely not leave anyone indifferent. It turns out a wonderful sight that cannot but be perpetuated.
No one remains indifferent, contemplating such a gift from nature as gatzany. The photo is proof of that.
Does gatsaniya hurt?
She can catch a disease called gray rot. As you can see, the plant of gatsaniya can get sick, like all living things in the world. Growing (and caring for it) during this period is a little complicated by the fact that you need to resort to the help of a fungicide.
With its solution, treat the diseased flower. Preventive measures will also not be superfluous. They are simple: make the flowers grow on unmoistened soil.
Also protect them from aphids, snails, slugs, spider mites.
Performing such simple actions, you will constantly enjoy the bright exotic exotic of the native African, and will delight you at any time of the year gatsaniya. Wintering is not scary for her. So enjoy the view of these beautiful flowers!