Liatris, cheerful feather or sparkling star is one of the most popular plants among amateur and professional gardeners, which can become a real decoration for a personal plot. The flower does not require special attention or adherence to strict rules when planting. They will help you grow a liatris flower in your garden by following the rules of planting and care in the open ground.
Planting methods in spring and autumn
Before you begin planting pre-prepared material in open ground, you should carefully select the location for the work. Liatris is not afraid of either heat or cold. Direct sunlight will benefit the plant, and frosts in early spring will not harm it.
In order for the flower to grow and develop rapidly, bloom actively and please the eye, it is planted in open areas where regular, high-quality watering can be provided. Landing is carried out using:
- seeds;
- seedlings;
- tubers;
- basal shoots.
The gardener makes his own choice. The seeds are evenly distributed over the surface of the bed and sprinkled with a layer of mulch mixed with garden soil. The thickness of this layer does not exceed 2-2.5 cm. You can achieve the desired arrangement of flowers in the selected area by planting pre-grown and hardened seedlings in open ground. In this case, each seed is germinated in a separate peat cup, which is placed in the ground.
Other methods of planting a sparkling star are popular among professional florists and amateur gardeners. First of all, this is dividing the tuber into separate parts. This operation is performed every 3–4 years. Otherwise, you will have to wait several years for flowering.
Separate the tubers carefully, trying not to damage the thin roots and root collar. The following are the rules:
- The depth of the hole is 10–12 cm.
- Humus is poured into the bottom, which is covered with a thin layer of garden soil.
- A depression is found on the surface of the tuber, from which a shoot will appear. When planting, the tuber is placed on the bottom of the hole so that this recess is directed upward.
- Planted at a distance of 20–30 cm, deepened into the soil by at least 5–8 cm.
The appearance of new shoots should be expected no earlier than after 28–35 days. Basal shoots appear above the soil surface in early spring. This is the right time to separate young shoots from the main bush. All manipulations are performed with great care, paying attention to the presence of the detached shoot’s own root system.
The distance between the holes should be at least 30 cm, the depth of the holes should be 10–12 cm. 2/3 of the depression in the soil is filled with humus, adding mineral fertilizers. Young shoots can be strengthened using a humate solution. Seeds are soaked in it or tubers and shoots are processed.
Rules of care
You can speed up the growth of a sparkling star, achieve active flowering, and fill your garden with the subtlest aroma of vanilla by providing proper care for the plant. It consists of a number of simple activities that should be carried out regularly.Knowing the characteristics of liatris, water the flower rarely and ensure high-quality drainage. Deer tongue tolerates drought better than excess moisture. Its roots quickly rot and the flower dies.
Basic care consists of:
- With regular watering. The soil is moistened often with small portions of water. In case of severe drought, 10–12 liters of water can be poured under a large liatris bush every 3 days.
- Using mulch will help keep the soil moist enough for a long period of time. To do this, the soil gaps between the bushes are filled with sawdust.
- Feeding the plant means adding complex mineral fertilizers to the soil. Noticing that the leaves of the flower turn yellow and fall off, liatris is fed with nitrogen nutrient compounds.
Regular hilling will help protect the roots of the flower located almost on the surface of the ground, and garter will help maintain the attractiveness and integrity of tall bushes. You can prolong flowering by cutting off dry inflorescences. Weeds around the bush are removed manually so as not to damage its root system with a hoe.
Liatris is used to create amazing compositions in landscape design, has a persistent aroma, is resistant to frost and high temperatures, and easily tolerates harsh winters, drought and heat. Its unpretentiousness has made the plant extremely popular. This amazing plant will become the basis for a hedge and the center of a mixed flower bed, combined with daisies, poppies, lilies. From the beginning of summer until autumn, a cheerful feather will delight the eye if the gardener pays it a little attention and shows care.
