Dicenter, or "broken heart" - a herbaceous shrub that differs in the original form of flowers and a pleasant unobtrusive aroma. The culture belongs to the poppy family. Depending on the species, it can be annual or perennial. In the wild, the plant can be found in North America, China and the Far East. Until recently, the dicenter was rarely grown in personal plots, but now its popularity is growing.
Characteristics of dicentres: varieties and varieties
The center is a herbaceous shrub, the height of which reaches 0.3-1.0 m, depending on the species. The aboveground part of her dies in the winter, and grows with the advent of spring. It is characterized by vertical branched shoots or lodging sprouts.
Flowers at the dicentres are heart-shaped
The root system of the dicenter goes into the deep layers of the soil. It consists of thickened processes that look like palm tubers in appearance. They contain a supply of moisture and nutrients.
The stems of this culture are fleshy, juicy. They have a smooth, reddish-brown surface. The leaves are pinnately dissected, on the shoots they are located far from each other, since for the most part they are concentrated in the basal rosette. The color of the plates can vary from olive to dark green. Dicenter flowers reach 2 cm in length. Their color can be white, pink or yellow.
Interesting! The genus dicentres includes 8 species. Each of them has characteristic differences and features. But in gardening, not all of them are used.
Therefore, it is worth considering the most popular types and their features:
- Dicentra magnificent or spectabilis (Dicentra spectabilis). This species is characterized by a large spreading bush and is a perennial. It forms branched shoots up to 1 m. It differs in racemose inflorescences 15 cm long. At the base of the bushes, dense rosettes of leaves form. Duration of flowering at magnificent dicentres is 2.5-3 months. This species can withstand low temperatures, but needs shelter. The most common varieties of magnificent dicentres are: Valentine (dark red flowers with white petals below), Alba (with white flowers), White Gold (with a yellow tint of foliage and snow-white flowers).
- Beautiful dicentra (Dicentra formosa). Perennial culture with a bush height of up to 30 cm. The leaves have long petioles and are collected in a basal rosette. The upper surface of the plates is green, and the lower has a bluish tint. The flowers are pink-purple, collected in inflorescences. This type of culture is characterized by prolonged flowering throughout the summer. Popular varieties: Aurora (with white and pink flowers), Adriana Blum (with bluish foliage and pink flowers), Lava Hearts (with white and purple flowers).
- Dicentra climbing (Dicentra scandens). It is a vine with shoots up to 2 m long. Stems are able to spread along the ground or support. Petiole ternate leaves are located along the entire length of the branches. Inflorescences are formed not only at the ends or nodes of the shoots. The most common variety of climbers is Golden Vine. It is distinguished by bright yellow flowers-hearts.
- The dicentra is excellent or exceptional (Dicentra eximia). A dwarf plant 25 cm high. It is characterized by dark green leaves, which are very similar to ferns. The duration of flowering of this species is 2 months. The plant does not suffer from drought. Common varieties: Stuart Butman (with a pink hue of buds).
Planting a plant
You can plant a dicenter on the site with seeds and seedlings. Each of these methods has certain features. Therefore, you need to study them in advance.
Seed planting
This method is quite laborious. But then it gives the opportunity to get many young seedlings at the same time. Seed dicentres retains their germination for 2 years after harvest. Therefore, it is important to find high-quality planting material that can germinate.
Planting seeds must be carried out in August-September or in February-March. For this, it is necessary to prepare wide containers with drainage holes and fill them with nutritious loose soil. After that, moisten the substrate well and deepen the seeds by 0.5 cm. After this, the containers should be placed in a shade with a temperature of 18-20 ℃ above zero and covered with glass.
Seeds will germinate after 30-40 days
When seedlings appear, the containers should be rearranged on a light windowsill. During this period, it is important to ensure that the soil does not dry out. As soon as the seedlings get stronger they need to be adapted to the external environment. To do this, it is necessary to remove the glass on the first day for 30 minutes, and with each subsequent increase this interval by half an hour. After a week, the shelter can be completely removed.
Planting seedlings
Young seedlings dicentres need to be planted on a permanent place in the spring, when the earth warms up enough. Before this, you need to dig a plot to the depth of the shovel and carefully remove all the roots of perennial weeds.
Algorithm of actions:
- Dig holes 40 cm deep at a distance of 50 cm from each other.
- Lay a 7 cm thick drainage layer at the bottom of the recess.
- Top with a mixture of sheet earth with compost.
- Place a seedling in the center.
- Fill the voids with earth, pour over.
If there is heavy soil on the site, then before planting seedlings it is necessary to add sand to it and add limestone crumb.
Interesting! With proper planting and maintenance of the dicenter in open ground, the plant grows rapidly and begins to bloom fully for 2-3 years.
Watering and loosening the soil
It’s easy to look after the dicenter. Seedlings should be moderately watered, avoiding stagnation of moisture and drying out of the roots. It is also important to loosen the soil at the base of the seedlings, so that air can freely penetrate to the roots.
During a drought, watering should be carried out more often as the top layer of the earth dries. Under each plant, pour at least 5-6 liters of water. And so that the roots of the plant do not dry out, and the moisture does not evaporate so quickly from the ground, it is necessary to mulch the root circle of the plant with peat or humus. It will also help prevent crusting on the surface of the soil.
Breeding methods
To obtain new seedlings of dicentres, it is recommended to use the method of cuttings and division of the rhizome.
In the first case, for propagation, it is necessary to use the basal processes that appear in April. Cuttings with a “heel” 12-15 cm long are suitable for rooting. After this, the bottom cut is dusted with a root-forming agent and planted in nutrient soil. On top of the processes, cover the plastic bottle and film. This will create a greenhouse effect inside and accelerate rooting.
After the seedlings get stronger and grow, the shelter must be removed. In the first year, young plants should be indoors in winter, but only with the advent of spring can they be planted in a permanent place.
Saplings dicentres adapt quickly and grow
In the second case, in early spring or early autumn, it is necessary to dig up an adult bush of dicentres over 4 years old. Then thoroughly clean the roots from the ground, and then rinse. After that, put the plant in a shaded place so that it slightly fades. This will allow the division to be carried out quickly and accurately.
After 2-3 hours, with a sharp knife, cut the thickened part of the root into several parts. Each of them should have 3-4 growth points and a well-developed root process. Fresh sections after the procedure must be sprinkled with charcoal, and then plant the divisions in a permanent place. After this, seedlings should be abundantly watered.
Fertilizers and fertilizers
Caring for this crop includes timely feeding of the plant. In the spring, during the period of active vegetation, bushes must be fertilized with organics twice with a frequency of 2 weeks. Mullein (1:10) or bird droppings (1:15) are best suited for this. In the absence, you can use mineral fertilizers with a high nitrogen content, such as urea or ammonium nitrate 30 g per 10 liters of water.
During the formation of buds, the dicenter flower must be fertilized with superphosphate (40 g per 10 l) and potassium sulphide (30 g per bucket). Pour the bush under the root with the resulting solution. This must be done in the evening.
It's important to know! In the second half of summer, fertilizers cannot be used, as this will weaken the bush before wintering.
Plant transplant
It is necessary to transplant the dicenter when the bush reaches the age of 4-5 years. In this case, the plant needs to choose a new place, well-lit or in partial shade. This procedure must be carried out in the same way as the planting of young seedlings.
Additional Information! The center belongs to the category of cultures that do not suffer from transplants, so if you wish, you can do this every 3 years.
Trimming dicentres
After the bush has bloomed, it is necessary to remove all the peduncles when they begin to turn yellow. More cardinal pruning should be done in the fall. This will help the plant to relax in the winter.
Trimming the basal outlet is necessary at the base, leaving only small stumps
Pests and diseases
According to the description and characteristics, the dicenter is highly resistant to diseases and pests. But if the growing conditions are not consistent, the plant's immunity is reduced.
Common problems:
- Ring spotting. With the development of the disease, shoots and leaves of the dicentre are covered with a bluish bloom. This interferes with photosynthesis and leads to wilting of the plant. It is difficult to get rid of this viral disease, therefore it is easier to prevent it. To do this, it is necessary to treat the dicenter bushes with fungicides several times per season. You should also timely remove weeds, leaf litter and old branches.
- Tobacco mosaic. A characteristic sign of lesion are black annular spots on the leaves. As a result of this, the plates stop developing and shrink. The disease negatively affects the plant, and becomes the reason why the dicenter does not bloom. To fight, it is necessary to remove diseased shoots and leaves, as well as to carry out preventive spraying with fungicides: "Skor", "Fitosporin".
- Aphid. The pest eats the juice of young shoots, which significantly weakens the plant. To destroy the pest, it is recommended to spray the bushes with Intavir, Karbofos.
The flowering period and care during this period
Flowering at the dicentres occurs at the end of May. During this period, elegant inflorescences similar to necklaces appear at the ends of the shoots. Under their weight, the branches bend down and become arched. The upper part of the buds has a heart shape, and at the bottom there are petals that diverge and look into the slot in the form of a folded tube.
The plant blooms twice a season. The duration of the first wave is 3-4 weeks. In the middle of summer, the bush gradually fades, only a few young shoots remain. In August, when the heat recedes, the plant blooms again. After this, boxes are formed in which the seeds ripen.
After flowering, care of the dicenter consists in the timely removal of wilted shoots, which will help redistribute the strength of the plant.
This plant looks organically in group plantings.
Winter preparations
The magnificent Alba center, like other perennial varieties of culture, must be covered for the winter with a layer of peat or humus. This will help prevent freezing of the top of the roots when there is not enough snow.
You need to remove the shelter in early spring, without waiting for sustained heat. During this period, with the threat of return frosts, it is better to use agrofiber to preserve young shoots.
It's important to know! The center, planting and care of the crop does not require special skills, so any beginner gardener can cope with this.
Use in landscape design
This plant is often used in landscaping shady and arid corners of the garden, rockeries, alpine hills and rocky slopes. At the same time, the dicenter looks great singly and in group compositions.
As a self-sufficient plant, it should be planted against a green lawn or conifers. The best neighbors for her can be:
- hosts
- Purchased
- lungwort;
- daffodils;
- hyacinths;
- tulips.
You can also combine in several plantings several types of flower with different colors and at the same time flowering. The dicenter also feels good under the canopy of tall crops.
Dicenter is a foreign guest, which is characterized by long flowering with minimal care. Culture can be planted in places where other perennials are not able to grow. Therefore, the popularity of dicenters is growing. This is no coincidence, because few plants are so unpretentious and able to please the eye throughout the season.
