Primula - Varieties And Growing In An Apartment

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

According to the horoscope for indoor plants of the zodiac sign Taurus (April 21 - May 20) astrologers classify decorative growing begonias (tuberous, multiflorous, winter-flowering), Blossfeld's and Mangin's Kalanchoe, Persian cyclamen, Uzambara violet, beautiful gloxinia, ampelous peperomias and primrose (primrose).

The vast family of Primroses, well known to most flower growers, owes its name - Primulaceae - to the genus Primula (Primula). The genus itself was named after the Latin word "primus", which means "first": this family contains many plants that delight flower lovers with very early flowering periods. Primroses, or primroses, are scattered almost all over the world (the genus unites almost 600 different tropical annuals and perennials common in Europe, Asia and North America).

The homeland of the vast majority of primrose species, according to many experts, is China. It is believed that primrose has been in the culture since the end of the 19th century, although even in Russia it has been known for a long time. Even during the reign of Catherine II, primrose was actively bred in greenhouses, and in the Winter Palace there was a room completely covered with Chinese porcelain with the image of these flowers, which the empress liked so much.

Primrose mallow or malakoides (P. malacoides)

In indoor floriculture, only a few types of primrose are widespread. The most common is considered a mallow primrose or malakoides (P. malacoides), or a soft primrose. This is a low plant with basal elongated-oval petiolate leaves, forming a dense rosette, from the center of which, in autumn-winter time, one after another peduncles of 7-8 flowers (up to 1.5 cm in diameter) of various colors (white, pinkish, red) emerge, with a yellow center, in a whorl.

Inflorescences are located on thin peduncles (up to 45-50 cm long). The following whorl grows from the center of the whorl: several "floors" of 6-7 whorls are formed. One flower can produce 40-50 flowers. Due to the abundance of flowers, Malvian primrose is highly valued among all types of primroses. If it is propagated by seeds, then with the May sowing it blooms in the fall, with the June-July flowering it begins in the spring of next year.

Back-conical primrose (P. obconica)

can be considered one of the most beautifully flowering ornamental plants. It has large heart-shaped (slightly wavy) fleecy (with a rough surface) leaves on long pubescent petioles, collected in a lush rosette, and the inflorescence is an umbrella of large (2.5-4 cm in diameter) weakly aromatic flowers of various colors (bright pink, white, red or purple) with a green center. The inflorescences, as it were, rise in the second tier above the leaves due to the high (up to 25-30 cm) peduncles.

With successful care, the back-conical primrose can bloom from early spring to December. However, the widespread distribution of this wonderful primrose is hampered by an unpleasant feature: the hairs covering its leaves contain a specific alkoloid. When touched, the leaves can cause severe allergies on the hands of some people - temporary irritation in the form of itchy red spots (even a small rash in children). To relieve this unpleasant itch, you need to quickly rinse your hands in acidified water. True, in recent years, breeders have been striving to create reverse-conical primrose varieties that do not contain the allergen alkaloid. Note that this primrose can not be thrown away after flowering, but left for the next season. The plant is transplanted into a larger container and kept in a cool room all summer. In autumn, yellowed leaves are removed and watering is somewhat increased.

Chinese primrose (P. chinensis)

Unpretentious Chinese primrose (P. chinensis)usually grown as a 1-2 year old plant, as in subsequent years it blooms weaker and weaker, quickly losing its decorative effect. It is distinguished by lobed leaves with a toothed margin, covered with fine and rather dense hairs. This is an elegant bush, from the center of which inflorescences of delicate large (2.5-4 cm in diameter) flowers (various colors with a yellow center) with wavy petals appear, which are also characterized by a pleasant delicate aroma. There are many varieties of Chinese primrose with double flowers. In a cool room and a sufficient area, Chinese primrose is able to bloom well all winter. But if there is not enough space for it, the plant quickly stretches out, therefore it takes on a rather miserable appearance and weakly keeps upright.

Primula stemless (P. acaulis)

The homeland of the stemless primrose (P. acaulis), in contrast to the previous species, is considered the Crimea and the Caucasus. Although indoor flower growers began to grow this beautiful stemless, rhizome low plant relatively recently (15-18 years ago), it appears quite often in retail. Perhaps this is due to the fact that this species can be equally successfully cultivated both in the open field (due to its winter hardiness), and in boxes or pots on the balcony, in a closed loggia or in a cool room.

This plant has rosette leaves, oblong-oval with pinnate venation, rather wavy, rough, arranged on short petioles. Large (up to 3-4 cm in diameter) flowers of various colors (white, pure yellow, blue-purple, red-burgundy) with a white center are located on short pedicels. Flowers are collected in 5-7 pieces in the center of the rosette. Primula stemless blooms profusely from February to August. Its small bushes look good in graceful baskets and pendants - macrame pots. If the stemless primrose is placed on an open light balcony, then it is desirable to have sufficient moisture in the soil substrate and light shading at midday, as well as spraying with warm water in hot, dry weather.

Primula cus (P. kewensis)

Less common among fans of indoor floriculture, Kewensis primrose (P. kewensis), although exactly 110 years ago it was bred in the famous Kew Botanical Garden, which is located in Kew, a London suburb. It is considered a hybrid obtained by crossing whorled primroses and multiflorous primroses. The Cus primrose is a rather powerful rosette plant with green leaves. The population also includes plants with leaves, as if powdered with white bloom. This species is especially appreciated for its long flowering in winter and for its powerful peduncles, which form several whorls ("floors") of large yellow fragrant flowers. When sowing seeds in early spring, plants bloom all winter, starting in autumn, but most brightly by the spring of next year.

Growing in an apartment

For a pot with primrose, choose a fairly bright, cool location (but protect from direct sunlight and drafts). At the same time, fresh air is important for the plant. It is watered regularly and with moderately settled water, since the primrose does not tolerate chlorine. During the flowering period, watering is slightly increased, avoiding waterlogging of the soil. Drying out of the root system is also unacceptable. Top dressing is carried out during the flowering period (once every 2-3 weeks) with a weak solution of a complex fertilizer, which necessarily contains trace elements (especially molybdenum, manganese, iron).

To exclude the "fattening" of the plant and to provide the primrose with the best flowering conditions, the dishes for it are selected small, as if cramped. Primrose soil should be slightly sour (pH 5.5-6.5). Inverse-conical primrose requires heavier soil (compost soil with the addition of clay, peat, sand). Clay is not added to the rest of the primroses, a light mixture of leaf, compost, peat soil and sand (in equal proportions) is quite suitable. The ideal temperature for normal maintenance of mature plants is 10-13 ° C, during the flowering period it can be raised to 15-16 ° C.

The primroses are propagated by the seeds obtained after artificial pollination, which remain viable for up to one year at a temperature of 16 … 20 ° C, as well as by dividing the bush during transplantation. The primrose has a fruit - a box, the seeds are brown, small. From the moment of sowing the seeds to the flowering of young plants, it usually takes 5-6 months (seedlings dive twice). In order for the primrose to delight the eye longer with new portions of flowers, their dead heads are regularly carefully removed. Fresh cut flowers look good in vases for over two weeks, and cut leaves can be used for arrangements. primrose of cus

Unfortunately, primrose can be attacked by diseases and pests. Plants can wither and die due to root rot. Having dug up and examined the roots of such plants, you can see the browning of its vascular system in the root section. More often this happens as a result of the combined action of waterlogging of the soil substrate and parasitic fungi. These plants are usually difficult to save. To prevent root rot, before planting young plants, it is necessary to disinfect the soil and pots in advance.

Fringed spot - of an infectious nature - is characterized by the appearance of light brown (with a yellow border) spots on the leaves, which quickly spread throughout the leaf blade, as a result of which such plants die. Maintaining normal air and soil moisture is considered a preventive measure. At the first signs of this spotting, the leaves are sprayed with a solution of copper-containing preparations (for example, copper oxychloride at the rate of 4 g / l).

Harmful gray rot is noted with increased soil moisture, as well as with excessive thickening of plants. Diseased plants must be removed, the remaining plants must be planted and tried to rescue, although the infection usually spreads to infected plants quickly enough. Experienced growers believe that even those plants on which signs of this fungal disease are barely noticeable should be discarded. Of the pests, aphids and spider mites may appear on primrose.