Gatsania is a perennial plant with bright inflorescences that are shaped like flowers of annual dahlias or chamomiles. The peculiarity of gatsaniya is the complex multi-colored color of the petals.
Gatsania is grown to decorate flower beds, balconies or window sills. In the conditions of the middle zone, gatsaniya can be grown as an annual, or kept in a pot on the windowsill in winter. The height of the bush does not exceed 30 cm.
What should you consider when growing a plant?
Choosing the right sowing time
In the northern regions, gatsania begins to be sown in mid-February. Residents of the southern regions should start sowing in the second ten days of March. When sowing is early, the plant must be provided with additional lighting, otherwise the sprouts will stretch out and the gatsaniya will bloom much later. Under favorable weather conditions, approximately three and a half months pass from germination to the appearance of the first flowers.
The right container for growing seedlings
This plant has a long tap root, so it needs a deep pot or glass. The root should not bend. If it is positioned vertically, young shoots will develop much faster.
Soil mixture
You can purchase ready-made universal soil, but preparing the mixture yourself will not be difficult. The composition should include regular soil, ash and vermiculite. The main requirements for soil are looseness, lightness and breathability.Ash will saturate the soil with useful substances and prevent the development of certain diseases.
Distance between plants
Gatsania sprouts are placed at an even distance from each other. 3 cm between seeds is enough. The seeds should not be sprinkled with a large layer of soil, otherwise they will not sprout. You can lay them out on the surface and cover the container with film. Gatsania can also be sown directly in individual pots or peat tablets. Do not use by watering with a spray bottle. The first shoots appear 5-15 days after sowing.
Temperature conditions
The most favorable place for young gazania sprouts is a windowsill on the sunny side with a temperature of +18-20 CO. The minimum temperature that the plant can withstand is +10 CO.
Watering mode
The seeds are watered using a spray bottle. It is worth knowing that the plant loves moisture, but does not tolerate waterlogging. The container with seeds and young sprouts needs to be ventilated daily. If condensation collects on the surface of the glass or film, it should be removed. Stagnation of water should not be allowed.
Picking
This stage is skipped if young plants are in deep individual cups or a large container at a great distance from each other. The picking is done after the plant produces its second true leaf. Replant in pots made of peat and soil or plastic glasses.
Preparing for planting in open ground
After transplantation, pots with plants are placed in conditions with a lower temperature - +12-15 C will be enoughO. This will stop excessive growth and allow the plant to adapt to outdoor conditions. Around this time, the seedlings begin to harden. To do this, they are taken out into the fresh air and left in direct sunlight. On the first day, the container is left for an hour to an hour and a half, and the time is increased every day. This technique will prevent sunburn. You can open the window, but you should make sure that the sprouts are not in a draft. Depending on weather conditions, from the beginning of May to the end of June, gatsaniya is planted in a flowerbed.
Gatsania is a light-loving plant that tolerates drought well. It will grow well on southern slopes, in direct sunlight. Modern varieties are not so demanding of sunlight, which makes it possible to grow gazania in the northern regions. The plant produces buds until late autumn. Flowering stops only after frost.
Gatsania bushes can be transplanted into a pot and moved indoors. The plant is kept in a cool, well-lit room. It is worth remembering that the plant does not like excessive watering. In spring, such bushes successfully take root in flower beds and bloom very early.
