Elegant iberis, belonging to the cruciferous family, is well known to connoisseurs of alpine slides, compositions in floral tubs, rockeries. In appearance it resembles cabbage and radish. Iberis is unpretentious in planting and care, so even a novice grower can handle it.
Did you know? The plant has received the name under the ancient name of Spain - Iberia.
- In nature, there are two types of flower:
- Iberis is an annual herbaceous form;
- Iberis perennial in the form of a bush.
Growing iberis from seeds
The plant propagates both in seeds and vegetatively. But since it is not difficult to procure or get sowing material, most often the flower is propagated by seeds.
Planting iberis seedlings
When the weather is warm, you can plant iberis on seedlings. As a rule, this is the period from March to May. When sowing Iberis use loose soil, the seeds are placed at a depth of 1 mm, sprinkled with sieved sand on top. Capacity with crops needs to be put in the warm, light place and cover with glass to keep the necessary amount of moisture.
Important! Seedlings should not be watered, and plentifully spray as needed.Since iberis has a core root system, they do not pick a pick. Before planting in open ground, seedlings should be carefully removed from the container so as not to damage the roots. The land should be slightly compacted and watered.
Sowing seeds in open ground
When the last spring frosts recede, you can sow iberis in open ground. The best place for it will be a sunny piece of land with rocky, sandy soil. This will save soil moisture from stagnation and root rot. Seeds should be placed shallowly.
The first shoots can be seen in 10-15 days. They must be thinned out so that the distance between the plants is at least 12-15 cm. Alternatively, you can plant iberis in open ground and before winter, in late autumn. The technology of sowing is the same as in the spring works. Shoots should be expected in late April - early May.
Partners and use in landscape design
Iberis is used both as a monoculture for decorating lawns and borders, and in combination with other plants in ridges, rock gardens, mixborders. Neighborhood with other colors he tolerates well. It grows well between stones. Best of all, iberis is combined with alisium, phlox, obrietta and other perennials.
Tulips, all types of juniper, cypress will become ideal neighbors for a flower in the spring. Also traditionally planted next to calendula, petunia, pansies.
Did you know? Iberis is found in most grassy lawn mixes.
Plant Care Tips
Flower care is not complicated at all. It is to give it a neat, compact form. For this pruned to a third of the length of the stems after flowering. Also carry out the removal of wilted flowers of Iberis. Perennial iberis should be planted every 5 years. This will ensure the preservation of the decorative functions of the plant.
Important! It is necessary to water a flower only in very dry weather.
Iberis fertilizer can be avoided, but if you feed a plant with complex mineral fertilizers once or twice a season, it will thank you for caring for a particularly lush flowering.
When to harvest and how to store iberis seeds
Harvesting iberis seeds will not be difficult for a grower. They are formed on the site of flowers. Since this happens all the time, it makes no sense to wait for the fall to procure seeds. It is better to collect them as education. Collected pods need a little dry in a warm place, get the seeds from them.
Seed material must be stored in a dry, cool place. Some gardeners prefer to breed Iberis self-seeding. In this case, the spring should be carefully thinned shoots.
How to prepare perennial iberis for winter
Iberis perennial varieties quite frost-resistant. Its creeping branches, which are closely intertwined, help to retain moisture and heat. However, in frosty and snowy winters it will not be superfluous to cover the plant with fallen leaves or needles. This ensures the safety of the flower until spring.
How to deal with pests and diseases
Iberis has a strong immunity to diseases, but due to the nature of the root system is susceptible to fungal infections. Symptoms of cruciferous keels in Iberis are the formation of growths on the roots, which look like a tumor. This causes the plant to stop growing. Because of the disease, the leaves gradually turn yellow and fade.
Important! Kila completely destroys only young seedlings. In adult plants, it suspends development.
With rhizoctoniosis, gray spots with black dots appear on the leaves. Begin to wither stems. To prevent these diseases, Iberis before planting is recommended to treat the site with a fungicide. If rot on the roots has already started, you should immediately remove the diseased plant. Of the pests most often iberis bother earthen flea, cabbage aphid and mealybugs.
Earthen flea eats greens, leaving large holes on the sheets. In the fight against insects used a decoction of tansy and insecticides, although the easiest and most effective way is to moisten the soil under the bushes. Cabbage aphid drinks juice from the plant, it gradually dies. To diagnose infection with this parasite can be on white spots, which gradually turn brown, and the sheets are folded. Destroy the insect by treating iberis with a solution of liquid potassium soap. 300-400 g of substance dissolved in 10 l of water.
If necessary, the procedure will be repeated after 7 days. You can also use tobacco broth and anabizin sulfate. Mealybug eats sap of the plant. It leaves a white matter on Iberis that resembles cotton. They struggle with the scarlet by repeatedly spraying "Mospilan", "Fitoverm", "Aktar". Treatment of iberis from the pest is carried out with an interval of 7-10 days. Apply and tobacco, garlic tinctures. Before the procedure, you should carefully remove the sticky plaque.
In general, iberis is unpretentious in care, and it can be grown almost everywhere. It will be a great decoration of the garden. It should only be remembered that the most detrimental to the flower will be excessive moisture.
