Delicate flowers resembling crocuses appear in the empty flowerbeds of summer residents in late autumn. This is Colchicum, or colchicum. They belong to the Bezvremennikov family. There are more than seventy kinds of them.
Colchicums: where they grow and how they look
They grow in Europe, Asia, North Africa. Look how beautiful Colchicum flowers are! The photo shows their charm. Plant height can exceed twenty centimeters. Large leaves appear first in spring. Then, in the summer, the seeds ripen. Leaves wither and flowers bloom in autumn. They have the shape of a funnel or a glass, they attract with bright colors: blue, yellow, purple, white, pale purple. Almost all parts of the plant are poisonous, contain alkaloids, so when working with it, you must be careful, be sure to wear gloves. Even the water in which the cut plants stood is poisoned.
Features of breeding
As a rule, colchicum are flowers that bloom in autumn, before snow falls. But there are also varieties that bloom in the spring. They are very unpretentious. They can be planted in a flower bed well lit by the sun, next to tall perennial flowers and decorativeherbs. They will be very good in rock gardens, near bushes, under trees. Decorate the territory of the summer cottage with charming islands on the lawns.
Colchicum flowers are well suited for cutting - they can stand for a very long time in a vase with water. Of the plant species that are most popular and well-known among gardeners, we can mention Bieberstein, Agrippa, Bornmuller's colchicums. As well as Autumn, Cilician and others.
The land for planting corm colchicum should be loose, moderately moist, light, loamy, saturated with nutrients. They should be planted to a depth of 7 to 10 centimeters (this depends on the size of the planting material). Flowers should be arranged in such a way that there is a distance of ten to fifteen centimeters between them. This is due to the fact that colchicum flowers from the rain can lie down, lose their decorative effect.
For plants that bloom in autumn, the optimal time for planting in open ground is August. In one place, flowers can grow for quite a long time, up to six years. Watering should be done as needed. Colchicum flowers require additional preparations for wintering. Plants are mulched with peat, humus. Fallen leaves and spruce branches are also suitable. In July or August, when the leaves turn yellow, they are dug up. The resulting daughter corms are separated from the mother and dried. Store, like tulips, in a cool place. As a selection, reproduction of flowers by seeds is used. But in this case theydevelop longer and begin to bloom only in the 5th or 6th year.
Pest Protection
Colchicum flowers need protection from diseases and pests. Most often they are affected by slugs. To protect the plants, it is necessary to regularly weed the flower beds from weeds, loosen the soil. Pour superphosphate over the ground.
If these wonderful flowers settle in your garden, you can enjoy their delicate spring beauty until the first frost.
