The delphinium has faded. What to do next?

Delphinium is an amazingly beautiful ornamental shrub characterized by abundant, bright and long flowering. If you take proper care of the plant after flowering is over, you can ensure that the plant blooms twice a year - in the autumn and summer periods. There are several basic rules that relate to caring for the plant after the delphinium has faded, so that it differs in brightness, density, large flowers, and also twice a year.

In order for the delphinium to bloom, you first need to grow it. The nuances of growing

Delphinium is a perennial plant that prefers an open, well-lit area. For this reason, you must stop your choice in well-lit areas in the morning. In the afternoon, it should be shaded to protect the plant from strong sunlight.

The plant loves moisture very much, but moisture stagnation should not be allowed, as this will negatively affect the root system of the plant. Therefore, if there were heavy rains, or you often watered the plant, then loosening the soil should be carried out.

Also make sure that the area is protected from drafts. The plant also reacts poorly to their presence. Each type of plant has a branched root system that is horizontal along the surface and brings fresh growth every year.

For this reason, the delphinium is very sensitive to what kind of soil it grows in. A slightly acidic and neutral soil with a good drainage system is best suited. Loose loam is also good for a plant, which will need to be mulched with peat, humus and compost. For 1 sq.m. it is necessary to apply up to 7 kg of fertilizer.

The root system of the delphinium is sensitive to oxygen deficiency.For this reason, it is necessary to loosen the soil as often and as much as possible. If the soil is alkaline, then acidify it. Slaked lime should be added - per 1 sq. m. 100-150 g.

Delphinium has good resistance to cold weather, can withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees. But a thaw can have a detrimental effect on the root system of a plant. Since it is located near the surface of the soil, it begins to dry out, and if there is a chance of frost again, the plant simply begins to die. For this reason, the plant should be planted in a place where the snow cover leaves a little later.

In one place, a delphinium can grow for about 6 years, after which it should be transplanted to another place or transplanted.

Delphinium has faded, what to do, how to care

In the southern regions of our country, the beginning of flowering occurs in May-June, and for the regions of the middle lane, flowering occurs in the second half of June - August. Perennials of the 1st year of life begin their flowering exclusively in August. If you take proper care of the plant, then it can bloom again in the fall.

The reason that flowers begin to grow smaller and thinner

In the event that the plant remains in the same place for more than the time allotted for a particular variety, this may affect the external characteristics. Moreover, the deterioration will occur from year to year.

Flowering becomes worse if the bush is too thick and neglected. In order for the inflorescences to delight with their density and density, and the buds - in large sizes, pruning must be done on dry and damaged, weak and diseased stems.

Each type of plant has its own personal optimal number of shoots. If the variety has small flowers, then it is necessary to save no more than 10 stems, if large - up to 5. If the cut stem is strong and healthy, then it can be saved for vegetative propagation of the plant using cuttings.

In order for the plant to grow and develop correctly, it is necessary to choose a fertile, loose soil with a good drainage system, apply fertilizers on time, but not overdo it.

In order for the delphinium to fully bloom, it needs good watering. For 1 season, you may need about 60 liters of liquid. But make sure that the moisture does not stagnate in order to avoid negative consequences for the root system of the plant. Therefore, the delphinium needs a thorough loosening of the soil.

Do I need to prune the delphinium after it has bloomed for the first time

There are gardeners who say that shoots with inflorescences that have already bloomed need to be removed after the first flowering occurs. When pruning the stems of a plant, dormant buds become active, from which peduncle stems are subsequently formed.

After you have pruned the inflorescences of the plant, each plant variety has a different time when fresh flower stalks appear. Some can be seen already at the first wave of flowering, or 7 days after it.

Depending on which species the plant belongs to, re-flowering can occur in 15-25 days. The second bloom is less intense than the first bloom

We apply fertilizers

In order for the plant to be distinguished by good growth and development, it needs fertilization. Correct feeding can have a beneficial effect on the quantity and quality of flowering.

From the beginning of spring to the beginning of flowering, it is necessary to add 1 sq. m. complex mineral fertilizer, which should include superphosphate (70 g), ammonium nitrate (15 g), potassium chloride (30 g), ammonium sulfate (40 g). Fertilizers need to be mixed and scattered under the root system, then add a layer of peat on top. The shoot, reaching a height of 20 cm, should be watered with mullein solution. You need to take manure (1 part) and water (10 parts). For 5 large bushes, 10 buckets of fertilizer will go. It is possible to replace cow dung with compost.

During the appearance of buds for 1 sq. m. it is necessary to add superphosphate (60 g) and potassium chloride (40 g). In August, after flowering ends, the plant needs fertilization that you applied in the spring. This will have a good effect on the laying of the buds on the roots.

After you apply any fertilizer, the plant will need to be watered well so that the fertilizer can reach the root system. To prevent rhizomes from burning out, after you apply fertilizer, the soil should be covered with a layer of peat or compost (about 2-3 cm).

Delphinium has faded: collecting seeds

The seeds should be harvested from strong and healthy shrubs so that they have a more typical color for a particular variety. Delphinium seed setting is easy. 1 bush with 5 flowering stems can produce approximately 800 seeds. If they are fully ripe, then this can adversely affect the general condition of the plant. Possibly a bad influence on the process of preparing the plant for the winter period.

It is for this reason that about 15 leaflets with fruits are left in the inflorescence, in the lower parts of the inflorescences, the rest should be cut off. After that, it is best to leave the plant until the seeds are ripe.

It is necessary to collect unripe fruits, from which the drilling process begins.You can also be brown, but the main thing is that they do not open up yet. After which they should be left until ripe. A dry and well-ventilated post-drying room is suitable for this. You need to make sure that the seeds spill out and germinate, which can happen quite quickly. The collection of planting material should be done only in dry weather conditions.

How to prune a faded delphinium

Pruning is carried out for several reasons:

• To provide a second wave of bloom.
• Before the winter period.

In order for the plant not to suffer during pruning, it is necessary to carry out all the actions correctly.

Cropping methods

If you want to improve the quality of flowering a second time, then pruning is necessary after flowering ends, before fruit begins to appear. The more you prune the stems, the better you will stimulate the dormant buds.

Branches that are near the soil itself are subject to pruning. However, it is safer if you save the stumps that are up to 20 cm high to prevent moisture from accumulating in the stem cavity. After all, this can lead to the fact that rotting of the root system can begin.

If you want to cut the inflorescences to create a bouquet or after the flowering ends, then in order to be on the safe side, the stems must be processed with clay or garden varnish. If there is no heavy rainfall in the region where the plant is grown, then you can trim the faded stem to a height of about 15 cm from the soil and bend it to its side so that water does not enter the pipe.

There are some gardeners who do not prune the stems after the first flowering is over. They attribute this to the fact that with repeated regrowth and flowering of shoots, negative consequences may occur before preparing the plant for the winter period.

There are also times when the plant may lack vitality to produce the required number of buds for flowering for the coming year. In this case, the stems of the plant do not need to be cut, but bent, breaking, while pruning must be carried out in the spring.

Pruning for the winter season

After the plant has re-bloomed, its stems must be completely cut off, preserving the stumps, in which the height will reach 40 cm. The top of the tube must be treated with clay or garden varnish for protective purposes from rain and snowfall. In case of a snowless winter, the cut plants should be covered with spruce branches or straw.