Primrose is one of the spring primroses. It has long been considered a medicinal plant and a strong amulet from evil spirits. In some countries, there are many beliefs associated with this flower.
Fine-tooth primrose: description and history of origin
The plant belongs to herbaceous perennials from the genus Primroses. The homeland of primrose is considered to be the Himalayas, China and the mountains of Southeast Asia.
The plant reaches 30 cm in height, has wide, oblong-oval leaves, serrated at the edges. Toothed primrose has a wide palette of shades (from white to purple), flowers with a diameter of 1.5 cm are collected in dense spherical inflorescences and are located on thick peduncles. Primrose blooms in April-May for 30-40 days.
Fine-tooth primrose
According to various sources, there are from 400 to 550 species of primroses in nature. Under natural conditions, plants grow on the banks of mountain streams and streams, in wet meadows. Florists often use primroses as a living bouquet for the holiday of March 8, planting them in small pots. The plant is popular in street landscape design along with tulips and daffodils.
Interesting to know! Primroses in decorative floriculture in Europe appeared thanks to well-known plant lovers G. Forrest, G. Sherrif, F. Ward, who bred 66 new species. Breeders bred more than 1000 varieties of primroses, surprising in their color (2 and 3-color, terry).
Flowering primrose
Plant species
The long-standing small-tooth primrose is represented by a number of decorative forms and varieties grown at home. Among flower growers, varieties with small flowers collected in large inflorescences on tall stems are popular. Common include varieties:
- Alba The name of the variety speaks for itself - white medium-sized flowers are collected in round dense inflorescences, a peduncle 20 cm high during flowering. A frost-resistant variety that prefers partial shade and moist soil.
- Violet. The flowers have a purple color, inflorescences a little less than that of the alba, are located on stems 25 cm high.
- Ed. Red tooth primrose is a winter-hardy variety suitable for central Russia. Prefers semi-shady places with loose, well-moistened soil.
- Ruby. Bright ruby-red flowers with a yellow core are collected in small inflorescences up to 6 cm in diameter. After flowering, the leaves and peduncle increase in size, therefore, for normal development, the plant needs enough space in the garden.
- Bugle. The variety is characterized by flowers of white, red, purple, collected in spherical inflorescences on peduncles 10-15 cm tall.
- The primrose pon pon fine-toothed, like the previous variety, has a variety of shades of colors (white, pink, red).
A mix of varieties in garden design
Planting and growing small-toothed primrose
Adult primula dentate is undemanding to care for, it is enough to control the soil moisture and cover the plant in time before the onset of frost.
Diffused light is needed, but any area with partial shade may come up. The main thing is to prevent direct sunlight from reaching the primrose.
For continuous flowering, a temperature of 8-16 ℃ above zero is suitable for the plant. Primrose loves moisture. If the humidity is insufficient, the leaves may dry out and the flowering time will be reduced. Primroses are watered at least 2 times a week, 2-3 liters per plant.
For the cultivation of fine-tooth primroses, loose, permeable soil with a slightly acidic reaction is chosen. For abundant flowering, fertile soil is needed, therefore, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied 3 times a season.
Important! For abundant lush flowering for primrose create conditions close to the place of its natural growth.
Varieties of finely toothed primrose are not afraid of transplantation, unlike other plant species. When planting flowers are placed in small individual pits. The distance between adjacent plants should be at least 25 cm.
In winter, primroses are additionally protected from weather changes, for this it is enough to cover the flower with non-woven material, providing ventilation if possible. This is necessary so that the roots do not rot in the plant.
Garden primrose
Pruning
Pruning is important for the plant. Remove faded inflorescences, old and dead leaves. This will increase color reproduction next year. In autumn, do not remove all the leaves, preparing the plant for winter. They will become a natural protection for primrose from temperature extremes in winter.
Additional Information! Dry foliage is removed in the spring when snow melts and additional shelter is removed from the plant.
Features of flowering plants
The herbaceous perennial primrose blooms immediately after the snow cover has melted (mid-April). Peduncle develops rapidly, on a level with new green leaves. At the beginning of flowering, its height reaches 2-3 cm, during the period of active flowering - 20-25 cm. When the fruits ripen, the height of the peduncle reaches 30-50 cm. Flowers collected in large spherical inflorescences have different colors.
After flowering is complete, the leaves of primrose continue to grow, forming a rosette up to 40 cm. By autumn, the leaves wither, leaving the rosette and fibrous root system until spring in the resting period.
Blooming primrose
Flower propagation methods
You can grow primrose from seeds, dividing the bush and leafy cuttings.
Cuttings
For successful cultivation of plants with cuttings, leaf rosettes with a small part of the rhizome are harvested from May to June and planted in a shaded place. Over the summer, cuttings take root, winter, and in the spring they plant on a permanent place of growth.
Bush division
The procedure for the separation of the mother plant is carried out at 3-5 years of life after the full growth of the flower. The time of dividing the bush is chosen in early spring or summer. To do this, dig up the primrose, gently shake the ground and use a sharp knife to divide it into pieces, leaving at least one outlet in each. Sections are treated with ash. The separated parts are immediately planted and watered daily for 2 weeks.
Seeds
The cultivation of finely serrated primrose from seeds is carried out in two ways:
- Sowing in the autumn in the garden.
- Growing through seedlings.
The first method is sowing in loose soil to a depth of not more than 1 cm. Seeds are laid out on the surface of the soil and sprinkled with a substrate. You can make crops in ordinary seedling boxes and bury them in the garden.
Important! Darkness is necessary for the germination of primrose seeds, this should be remembered when sowing.
Seeds sown in the fall will undergo natural stratification and will spring in the spring. It is necessary to ensure that immature plants do not wash out spring water. In the autumn, grown primroses are transplanted to a permanent place.
Growing through seedlings requires more attention. It is necessary to start work at the end of January, combining the germination of seeds with artificial stratification:
- To begin with, the seeds are laid out on a cotton pad with a moistened match or a toothpick and covered with a second disk, placed in a small container. Discs moisturize slightly.
- The seed container is alternately kept in the refrigerator and at room temperature, gradually increasing the residence time of the seeds in the room.
- After the seeds hatch, they are planted in the ground. During the growing seedlings spend 2 picks.
- Plants are planted on a seedling bed at the end of May, and planted at a constant place of growth in the autumn or spring of the following year after flowering (until mid-August so that the plant has time to take root and prepare for winter).
Seedlings of Primrose
It's important to know! Sowing is carried out from the seeds of the current year, this increases the chances of a positive result when growing a plant.
At all stages of growth, it is worth protecting the plant from direct sunlight. An excellent place for propagation of primrose in the open ground will be a site under a high spreading tree. The young plant will not bloom immediately, but only in the 3rd year or in the 2nd year.
Growing problems, diseases and pests
Among the problems associated with growing primroses, wilting and drying of the foliage is common. This may be due to insufficient watering or exposure to sunlight. You can solve the problem by adjusting the watering of the plant or moving it to a shaded place.
Note! With excessive watering, especially cold water, the roots rot.
With insufficient nutrition or too large overgrowth of the bush, weak blooming can be observed. In this case, fertilize the plant and transplant with the division of the bush.
Primrose is vulnerable to fungal infections (root rot, rust, powdery mildew). Infections may develop (cucumber mosaic virus or spotting). To prevent infections, fungicides are treated, and all affected areas are removed.
Among the insect pests, primrose affects aphids, spider mites and slugs. To combat slugs, the treatment of plants with ashes helps, it is scattered around the flowers. Insecticides and a soap solution are used to control insects.
Rot on the plant
Caring for primrose fine-toothed is simple, and even an inexperienced gardener can carry out its reproduction. This colorful primrose will occupy an important place in the design of any site.
