Every amateur gardener tries to decorate his site with dignity and make it unique. Creating beauty in your area is not so easy. Nevertheless, desires do not fade away, and unique garden masterpieces are created.
Ornamental plants are the best helpers in the design of a personal plot. These include a plant such as cochia.
Cochia coronata hairy is an ornamental annual deciduous plant. She is loved for her beauty and forms, which are changed by the person himself at his own discretion and desire.
Botanical description
Kohia from the family Amaranthaceae, subfamily Marevy, originally from China. There are a huge number of species, about 80. The differences are characterized by the size of the plant and its colors.
The plant is a herbaceous shrub. Kohiya has an oval conical shape. The stems are erect, strong and flexible. They are often covered with narrow green leaves. The leaves are slightly curved and have a soft texture.
Kohia reaches 1 meter in height. The flowers are spike-shaped, barely noticeable in the fluffy crown of foliage. In autumn, the plant turnsred, magenta color.
One of the worthy species is coronal cochia. Widely used in landscaping and decorative needs.
Popularly known as "summer cypress".
Cochia crown is unpretentious in cultivation and care. From a distance, the plant resembles a family of conifers. But when you touch the green fluffy creature, you feel softness and tenderness.
Cochia coronata is a kind of summer chameleon. For the season will delight its owners with different shades. Throughout the warm period, the kochia proudly wears bright green attire. And in autumn, the plant dresses up in yellow and crimson tones.
In the flower beds, such changes look amazing.
Growing cochia crown. Care
Cultivation of coronal cochia is done either by seedlings or by planting in open ground. The plant does not require excessive attention to itself.
Cochia coronata, planted and cared for in accordance with all the rules, will demonstrate all its possible splendor and grandeur.
The place for growing kochia should be sunny, preferably without drafts. But even in partial shade, the kochia will feel quite comfortable.
The distance between the bushes is on average 50 cm. If you plan to grow a lush single bush with further certain pruning, it is better to increase the distance to at least 1 meter.
When planting on a border, the distance between the bushes is 10-15 cm. In this case, a hedge is formed.
Cochia crown loves fertile and moderately moist soil. Does not tolerate drought, begins to droop, lose color and wither.
Does not like cochia and temperature changes. Needs periodic loosening and weeding.
Sowing seeds and propagation
The timing of sowing seeds and growing seedlings depends on the local climate. In an average climate, seed sowing can begin in late March or early April.
Features of planting cochia crown for seedlings and caring for sprouts are as follows.
- The right choice of container or other capacity. The depth of the box should not be less than 12 cm, as the roots of the kochia are quite long and they need enough space to develop well.
- Before planting, the container must be thoroughly disinfected. To do this, wash the box with hot soapy water or water with the addition of vinegar.
- The soil should be light, airy and nutritious. Ready-made earthen mixes are on sale, but you can also prepare them yourself. The mixture is best prepared from peat with the addition of river sand. It's good to add some humus.
- The soil is treated with a warm solution of potassium permanganate before sowing.
- The soil needs to be compacted a little. Seeds are evenly immersed in the soil and lightly sprinkled with a thin layer of humus.
- The container after planting is covered with a special non-woven material, greenhouse conditions are created.
It is necessary to regularly moisten the soil with a spray gun. The soil should not be allowed to dry out, but it is also unacceptable through measured moisture.
In autumn, you can remove the seeds from the bushes and sow them the next year. Seeds can be stored for two years. But of course, fresh is preferable.
Some gardeners prefer to sow kochia seeds in the fall. The subtlety of such a planting lies only in the sowing time. It is not recommended to sow before October. Otherwise, the seeds will germinate ahead of time and freeze.
Often self-seeding is obtained, especially in group plantings. It is very comfortable. Many seeds will sprout in spring. They will only be thinned out at your discretion.
Seedling care
The seed germination period takes up to two weeks. The optimum temperature for growing seedlings is 16 degrees, it can be slightly lower. The temperature regime at this stage is very important. If the rules are not followed, the seedlings run the risk of getting sick with a black leg.
Watering is carried out regularly, very carefully, along the edges of the container, so as not to injure weak stems.
When the seedlings grow up and 5 leaves form on the stem, you need to pick. In a pot with a small diameter, about 10 cm, 1-3 seedlings are planted.
Plant outdoors after all frosts around the second half of May.
Cochia seeds outdoors
If there is no opportunity or desire to grow seedlings, you can sow the seeds directly in open ground.
Worth waiting for warm May weather.
Soilwe prepare by loosening and introducing peat, mullein, compost or humus. After the soil is moderately moistened, it needs to be compacted a little. The seeds are sparsely sown. Sprinkle a thin layer of earth or sand on top.
If possible, it is better to cover the sowing place with non-woven material. Do not use foil as a cover, the seeds need air.
Of course, seeds will take longer to germinate than indoors or greenhouses.
Thinning seedlings is mandatory.
If the temperature during the day or at night drops below +10 degrees, it is better to cover the seedlings.
Feeding and spraying
Soil nutrition is recommended before planting the plant in the ground. For intensive growth and the formation of a dense crown, the plant is fed weekly (during the growth period). Fertilizers are liquid specialized, containing minerals, and most importantly - nitrogen.
First feeding should be carried out 1.5-2 weeks after transplantation.
Diseases of cochia crown
Cochia seedlings are prone to black leg disease. If a diseased seedling is present in the container, it should be removed immediately. Temporarily stop moistening the soil.
If the disease spreads, he althy seedlings are transplanted into another container.
Cochia coronata is quite resistant to various diseases. However, outdoor cochia bushes are recommended to be regularly sprayed against various pests.
The most dangerous for an ornamental plant isspider mite. If there is a small cobweb on the plant, the cochia should be immediately treated with an insecticide.
If the ground is too wet, the trunk may begin to rot. If the problem occurs in the upper part of the plant, you need to cut off the damaged areas. When rotting near the root, the cochia will have to be removed.
Kohiya in design
Cochia crown - a favorite of landscape designers and gardeners. The plant is widely used in various compositions. Kochia looks great in a group mix of its relatives and other colors.
Combines with various flowers and shrubs. You can verify this by looking at the photo of the coronal cochia.
Used as a mini-fence, decorative fences. Widely used in the division of horticultural zones.
If you create the right contrast of plants, it will turn out just great. It will look unusual, for example, a ring of coronal cochia with a blue or red center of other colors.
With the onset of autumn cold weather, kochia begins to wither. You can extend the summer a little and enjoy the greenery at home, for example, on the balcony. For 2 months before the onset of severe frosts, the green beauty will delight households and guests.
The dried bush can be used for decorative purposes, make an ikebana or add to a bouquet. You will get an unusual composition.
Shaping and trimming
Caring for coronal kochia involves cutting the bushes. This procedure allows the branches to grow evenly.and proportionally.
Also creates various geometric shapes and more.
Haircut can be done every 2 weeks. You need to regularly pinch young shoots. This will provide the plant with splendor.
After shearing, the plant needs top dressing.
Kohii is easy to practice and get your hands on before cutting conifers, especially for beginners.
There are many different options for transforming a garden plot with a cropped cochia.
You can create borders, mini-fences of a rectangular or cone shape. A lone bush can be designed in the form of a square, a circle, or, for example, a butterfly. It will be very effective and varied. Kochia will look unusual in the form of a real spruce.
Benefits and uses of kochia
Cochia coronata, the description of which is being considered, is used in folk medicine. All parts of the plant have medicinal properties.
Kohiya is used:
- as a bowel movement;
- for heart problems;
- for diseases of the genitourinary system;
- for kidney disease;
- for fungal nail diseases.
Medicines are prepared by drying and preparing decoctions, tinctures and ointments.
The use of kokhiya also touched the culinary sphere. It perfectly complements the taste of first courses, giving them a special piquancy.
Also, since time immemorial, kochia has been used for household needs. A dry plant is used instead of a regular broom.
