Dolphinarium flower. How to grow a delphinium

Delphinium is a delicate and graceful flower culture of the buttercup family. Luxurious look delphinium successfully combines with others flowering plants in the summer garden.

The spectacular inflorescences of the bush have a complex pyramidal or cylindrical brush. mature plant often reaches 2-2.5 m in height, while the length of the stem with flowers is from 60 to 80 cm.

The plant gives simple, semi-double or double flowers, the diameter of which is about 7 cm. The delphinium blooms from July to mid-August.

Delphinium inflorescences are purple, bright blue, blue and white color, sometimes there are pink shades. The leaves of the plant are also beautiful and unusual - they are dissected into serrated-pointed slices and decorate the long stem of the plant very much.

Factors for the successful cultivation and flowering of the delphinium in the garden

To this beautiful flower pleased his master and surprised those around him with abundant and regular flowering, you should create favorable conditions for the flower to live:

• the place to plant the plant should be sunny, however, direct sunlight throughout the day can kill the plant. Therefore, care should be taken to ensure that the selected area is slightly shaded, especially at noon. For example, a plant feels comfortable under a tree or next to tall bush, near the fence or near the wall of the house;
• the soil where the delphinium grows, it is advisable to loosen and fertilize more often. Heavy clay soil must be diluted with sand and humus;
• the delphinium tolerates drought quite easily and does not like excess moisture in the ground, however, during the laying of inflorescences, the plant should be watered abundantly;

The only thing weakness delphinium - its fragility. In order not to lose a beautiful flowering pyramid of flowers, the plant must be tied up. Strong wind, downpour, heavy inflorescences can destroy the bush.

A particularly vulnerable spot is the junction of the stem and rhizome. Therefore, if the gardener does not want to see a broken two-meter stem of the delphinium, it is best to tie up the bush in advance. The first garter should be made at the level of half a meter from the ground, the next - at the level of 1-1.2 m.

Plant nutrition

Delphinium is very sensitive to feeding and responds to care with large flowers and bright colors. The plant should be fed 3 times during the warm period of the year. The first feeding should be done in early spring when the first tender leaves of a flower culture appear from the ground.

Must be purchased ammonium nitrate, potassium chloride and ammonium sulfate. Fertilizers should be mixed and scattered on the soil around the plants. Then water the soil a little. Can these be replaced chemical fertilizers the usual infusion of mullein.

The second dressing must be done when the inflorescences are formed. During this period of time, the plant needs superphosphate and potassium.

The third feeding is carried out after the delphinium gradually fades. In September, delphinium bushes should be pleased with phosphorus potash fertilizers without nitrogen. The plant will gain strength for growth and flowering next year.

How to propagate delphinium

Delphiniums look great if rarely planted. In a composition with other colors, they do not lose their charm. However, if they are planted in a large clearing and bloom at the same time, this is an unforgettable sight for others.

That is why many flower lovers dream of propagating this graceful flower. Delphiniums breed as follows:

• with the help of seeds;
• young cuttings;
• kidneys (the most time-consuming and unreliable method);
• division of an adult bush.

Propagation with seeds

You can collect seeds from already growing plants, you can also buy ready-made seeds from trusted suppliers.

Important - delphinium seed material must be used the next year after harvest, after which the seeds completely lose their germination capacity. In addition, it is necessary to store the seeds after collection in the refrigerator. It is necessary to plant them in February in seedling cassettes.

Reproduction by young cuttings

For this type of reproduction, young shoots of the plant should be used. In the spring, you should choose strong healthy shoots of a bush about 12-15 cm long.

It is necessary to break off the cutting with a "heel" at the base of the plant, put it in water for 1-2 days, and then root it in a greenhouse in a well-lit place.

If the cutting has taken root, after about a month it can be transferred to open ground. This is the most reliable breeding method, giving a 70-80% success rate.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

Adult delphinium bushes can be divided into separate roots. To do this, in the spring it is necessary to dig a bush from the ground, wash the rhizome with water. Then, with a sharp knife, separate the cuttings of the plant so that each separated bush has a sufficient amount of the root system.

Holes should be prepared on the selected bed. The earth must be fertilized with humus, peat and wood ash. After planting, you should regularly moisten and loosen the soil next to the plant.

Beautiful strong delphiniums are a real decoration personal plot. They look great along garden paths, you can decorate flower beds with them or landscape corners. The care and reproduction of delphiniums will not take much time and effort.

But as a result, you can proudly enjoy their lush flowering, and this will be that wonderful result of the garden improvement work.

Photo of the delphinium on the site

herbaceous plant of the buttercup family. This genus includes more than 400 species, annual and perennial flowers. We will consider the delphinium growing from seeds precisely perennial flower. Let us briefly analyze the main types that are grown at home, gardens and greenhouses.

Another name for the delphinium: spur, or larkspur. In nature, it is found in China, Asia, tropical forests and mountains of Africa. With its luxurious flowering, it attracts a large number of gardeners. Depending on the conditions and variety, the delphinium blooms different colors and coloration.

The lifespan of perennial flowers is no more than 6 years, then it is necessary to plant the bush by division. In the presence of wind, the stems can break, they need to be tied to supports. Flowering, as a rule, takes place in early June, but often, under favorable conditions, briefly repeats in September.

Lighting and location: Delphinium is grown in open areas (area near the house) and in greenhouses. The main conditions for an open area are the sunny side, but with the possibility of shading in the summer at lunchtime, the most comfortable place from the winds and the presence of a drainage system if there is a threat of prolonged stagnation of water.

Delphinium propagation - growing from seeds

There are several ways to propagate a delphinium flower: seeds, cuttings, buds, dividing the bush. We will touch on all methods, but we will talk in more detail about the method of growing from delphinium seeds. The superiority lies in an interesting and fascinating process, which, unlike other methods, we will dwell on in more detail through a number of features.

• seeds Sow seeds at the end of winter (second half of February). It is necessary to keep the seeds in a humid place at a temperature of 5-10 ° C, otherwise most of the sprouts will not sprout.

Prior to sowing, the grains are disinfected from possible pest infestations. The seeds are placed in a gauze bag and dipped for 15-20 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, or a fungicide. Then rinse under running water and dip in a solution of epin for 12 hours. Rinse again under water and dry slightly.

Epin solution recipe: 3-5 drops per 100 ml of boiled, settled water.

Soil: To prepare the soil, peat, humus, garden soil and sand are used, in equal proportions. For a looser substance, add perlite (100 grams per 5 liters ready soil) and distribute the land in small containers for future shoots.



Planting seeds: Sow the seeds evenly in bowls, lightly covering up to 5 mm with a sifted layer of soil. Lightly compact upper layer and carefully make the first watering. Use a spray bottle to keep the seeds from floating. Water is taken soft, or settled at room temperature.

Cover the seed bowls with glass jars and dark material on top. In the dark, the seeds germinate much faster and more intensively. Keep the temperature at 10-12°C and keep the soil moist at all times. If you cannot reach the indicated temperature conditions, place the seed containers in the refrigerator.

After 10-15 days, the first shoots should appear. It is necessary to follow the process, and at the first appearances, open the shoots by removing glass jars, or film. If you are planting several varieties at once, place a tag with the inscription next to it.

Transplant: By appearance, healthy and weak sprouts can be determined. In healthy ones, the color is dark green, and the cotyledons are pointed. As soon as 3 leaves appear, young sprouts dive into small pots and raise the temperature of the content to 18-20 ° C. Use the same components for the soil with the addition of 0.5 hours of leaf. The mixture should be loose, well pass air and water.




Watering is moderate, the top layer should be slightly moist. Excessive watering indicates darkening of the stem and leaves. As soon as the frosts go away, regularly take the seedlings to the balcony, or the street, the sprouts gradually need to get used to the open external environment.

Top dressing: Top dressing is added 1 time in two weeks. Use purchased, for flowering ornamental plants. But top dressing should not fall on the leaves, otherwise burns will appear.

Landing in open ground: As soon as the seedlings germinate, and the roots do not have enough space, they can be transplanted into open ground. Young delphiniums are transplanted together with an earthen clod so as not to damage the fragile root system. But young plants are afraid of frost, make sure they are absent, especially at night.

Decide on a place and plant a flower. Previously, they dig holes to a depth and with a diameter of up to 0.5 m and fill it with prepared earthen mixture: 5 l. humus, 100 grams universal fertilizer, and 0.5 l. charcoal. Everything is mixed with the earth.

Having made a small depression, the future flower is planted. Having slightly compacted the ground, water moderately. The distance between seedlings is at least 50 cm, sometimes up to 1 m.




This method growing from seeds has its own characteristics. Only a certain part is capable of acquiring everything uterine properties, others will have different differences. If you need to achieve unique differences and originality of colors, use it.

But there are examples when you need the full heritage of the parents, for this they use vegetative reproduction: dividing the bush (rhizomes) and cuttings.

• Division of rhizomes: This method can be used starting from the 3rd year of life, in early spring or early autumn. Dig up the root, rinse well under running water, cut off all dry and rotten parts. With a sharp knife divide the root into several parts, but always with at least one shoot. Plant parts of the roots in small containers and only after full rooting (after 2-3 weeks), transplant to open area. This method gives rapid growth and abundant flowering. If strong roots are needed, pluck the first peduncle.


• cuttings Applies this method for an adult, well-grown bush. The stalk is cut off with part of the root and the soil, without completely digging out the entire bush. A young shoot is cut off, 10-15 cm high, but always with a part of the root. The cutting is planted in a container with river sand, deepening by 2-3 cm. As soon as its own root appears, after 2-3 weeks, it is planted in the ground, shaded from direct sunlight. The young sprout must be regularly watered and sprayed until it is fully rooted. As a rule, up to 1 month, the stalk will fully acquire roots.

delphinium species

There are a large number of species, among them annuals and those that can exist up to 10 years. But at home I use only a few species, as a rule, perennial ones.

Delphinium planting and care

Top dressing: After transplanting into the ground in an open area, the delphinium needs to be fed. Use either purchased top dressing, according to the instructions, or do it yourself: humus (cow manure) diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10, poured under the bush. One bush needs one diluted bucket. Feed as soon as young shoots reach 15 cm in height. Sprinkle a few cm of peat on top. IN hot weather, especially during the flowering period, potassium-phosphate fertilizers are added to the water with the expectation of 10 liters of water, 20 grams of fertilizers.

Pruning and strengthening: Upon reaching 30-40 cm in height, the bush is thinned out, leaving up to 5 stems, to achieve beautiful and large flowers. Weak and dry stems are cut at the very root.

As soon as the height of the stems exceeds 0.5 m, it is necessary to build a fortification from metal rods, or wooden stakes, between them, pull the rope and tie the stems to it, otherwise there is a high probability of breaking in the wind.

The next garter is done after 1 m. After flowering, the inflorescences are plucked, seeds are collected from them. Often the delphinium releases new shoots and blooms again in the fall.

After the second flowering, the plant can be propagated by dividing the rhizome.

Watering: In the hot period, the bush needs abundant watering. Approximate consumption, 10 liters (1 bucket) of water, for 2-3 days. You need to water carefully and slowly so that the earth does not clog.

Pests: Delphinium is often attacked by powdery mildew, aphids, especially noticeable in the second half of summer. fungal diseases, white, or gray coating on the leaves. If untimely elimination, all leaves and flowers will die.

Delphinium bushes 2-3 times are sprayed with a solution of foundationazole, Topaz, or other remedies for fungal diseases.

The spots that appear on the leaves are sprayed with a solution of tetracycline tablets, diluting 1 pc. for 1 liter of water. Due to its whimsicalness and care problems, the delphinium often dies from pests and viruses, and spraying does not help, in particular, its ground part dies.

In the buds of flowers, a fly appears, carrying eggs, as well as slugs. To remove the larvae, the flowers are treated with insecticides.

Diluted lime saves from slugs. It is placed in small containers between the bushes. The smell of lime repels the pest.

Preparation, maintenance and shelter for the winter

After flowering, the leaves dry up. The bush is cut no higher than 40 cm. The place of the cut is covered with clay, or sprinkled with ash. The plant is able to endure frosts, sometimes severe. In severe frosts and the absence of snow, the bushes are covered with viscous straw.

Delphinium does not tolerate excess moisture and frequent temperature changes, especially when passing through the zero mark, causes increased humidity. In such cases, the bush is partially covered from direct moisture (rain). Otherwise, the roots will rot and the plant will die.

Even before planting, a layer of expanded clay mixed with sand is laid on the bottom. The layer must be below the root system. Such drainage system will allow excess moisture to escape. In the first winter, the delphinium is covered from frost with a film, airing regularly.

Under favorable conditions, one bush can exist up to 10 years. Leads to aging improper care, lack of moisture and fertilizers. Often, gardeners rejuvenate plants every 5 years, dividing the bush, or cuttings from early spring.

There are many colors and shades, from white to rich red or blue. Each gardener is trying to bring out his own unique color and create his own unique composition. Do not be afraid to experiment, and the delphinium will always thank you with beautiful and abundant flowering.

Plant delphinium (DELPHINIUM) belongs to the buttercup family. It is often called larkspur or spur because of the small spur in the flower bowl.
According to ancient Greek legend, a young sculptor sculpted his dead beloved from stone and breathed life into her. The angry gods turned the young man into
dolphin, and when the girl was mourning her lost love, sitting on the seashore, a dolphin swam up to her and laid it at her feet beautiful flower. It was he who was named after the deceased sculptor.

On this page you can get acquainted with the description of the delphinium, learn about what varieties and types are this plant, as well as see photos of these beautiful perennial flowers that came into cultivation from mountain meadows.

Types and varieties of perennial delphinium (with photo)

In total, about 350 species of delphinium are known - these can be both high and low plants with a rosette of basal leaves, usually rounded, often
deeply dissected. In summer, stems appear, bearing the apical inflorescence in the form of a loose or dense brush, composed of numerous flowers of a wide variety of colors.

Pay attention to the photo: delphinium flowers have a small spur in the middle of the bowl.

The most commonly grown varieties cultural delphinium (D. x cultorum)- under this name all forms of hybrid origin are combined.

In the international classification, the following groups of delphinium are distinguished:

1. Group Elatum (Elatum Gruppe), species was involved in the creation of varieties e. high (D.elatum).

As you can see in the photo, these are varieties 150-180 cm high with dense blue-blue flowers ("Ariel", "Malvine", "Persival", etc.).

2. Belladonna group (Belladonna Group)- hybrids of large-flowered delphinium (D. grandiflora) and labial (D. cheilanthum), differ in lower (80-120 cm) bushes with loose inflorescence ("Casa Blanca", "Capri", "Lamartine", "Piccolo" and others

3. Group Pacific hybrids(Pacific Group) represented by tall (140-160 cm) bushes with a dense large inflorescence, often with double flowers ("Astolat", "Black Knight", "Blue Bird", "Galahad", "King Arthur", etc.).

4. Group Marfin hybrids- the work of the breeder N.I. Malyutin from the Moscow region.

Look at the photo of these perennial delphiniums - they all have a dense, non-collapsing bush and a multi-flowered inflorescence of semi-double flowers different colors("Lilac Spiral", "Daughter of Winter", "Blue Lace", "Morpheus", "Pink Sunset" and others).

Delphinium care and reproduction

All varieties of perennial delphinium prefer sunny areas with neutral, fertile, well-drained soils, best of all loamy and sandy loam. When caring for delphiniums, it is necessary to make annual (spring) complex fertilizers and water the plants regularly.

Delphinium is easily propagated by seeds (sowing in spring for seedlings and before winter), seedlings bloom quickly (1-2 years). But at the same time, varietal
features, since delphinium varieties are easily pollinated. To preserve the variety, reproduction of the delphinium should be done by dividing the bush (in spring and late summer) or stem cuttings(in May and August).

An excellent plant for planting in a mixborder in the background, as lower plants cover an unattractive lower part bush. An interesting landing between large bushes of peonies. Used in bouquets.

Delphinium flowers from a distance resemble lupins: the same high flower stalks grow on the bushes, strewn with bright petals. However, upon closer examination, the differences become obvious: if in lupins the flowers resemble unopened boxes, then in delphiniums they are completely dissolved, like in mallow. Despite the height and apparent fragility of the stems, the flower stalks are very stable.

Delphinium (delphinium) is also called liveliness or spur. The plant belongs to the Ranunculaceae family.

There is a sweet legend about the origin of the delphinium. The Greek youth decided to portray his beloved in stone. But the gods did not like it, and they turned him into a dolphin, forced to live in the sea. The girl waited for her beloved on the shore every evening. Once a dolphin swam up to her and threw it at her feet. amazing flower, which she named after her beloved delphinium. Delphinium is referred to as garden flower And medicinal plant even in the treatises of Ancient Greece, and in European gardens, cultivated modern varieties of delphiniums appeared only in the 19th century.

The gracefulness of the inflorescence, the elegance of the leaves, as well as color palette make this plant simply irresistible.

Today there are over 300 species of delphinium. Any gardener will be able to find among them the one that he likes best. If you prefer to plant annual crops - plant a delphinium, biennials - also a delphinium, perennials - again a delphinium. The main thing is to choose the right variety, not to confuse an annual crop with a perennial one, and also decide which color scheme you prefer, because delphiniums come in white, blue, purple, lilac, blue (all sorts of shades), pink and even red.

On this page you will learn what delphinium flowers look like and how to care for them in the garden.

What a delphinium flower looks like: photo and description of plant species and varieties

Delphinium (spur)- one of the most beloved garden plants with amazing beauty and rare color flowers.

Perennial frost-resistant and drought-resistant powerful plant up to 200 cm high, may consist of 10-15 stems. The flowers are semi-double, large, bright. Inflorescences up to 7 cm in diameter are collected in giant (up to 70 - 80 cm) brushes of various colors (white, blue, purple, pink, etc.). The plant is moderately moisture-loving; grows well in sunny places, protected from the wind.

Of the perennial delphiniums, the hybrid delphinium is most often bred. Several groups of varieties of perennial hybrids can be recommended, which differ in height, size and structure of the inflorescence, as well as their color and degree of doubleness.

The most popular Pacific group, which consists of 12 varieties. All plants in this group are shrubs. Their height reaches 2 m. The inflorescences are large, powerful. The flowers can be either double or semi-double and have a variety of shades of blue, purple, pink and lilac.

Delphiniums of this group do not require transplantation for 6 years, then they are re-planted with seeds, cuttings or rejuvenated by dividing the bush.

The next group is marfin hybrids.

Their varieties are taller (up to 220 cm). They have pyramidal or wide pyramidal inflorescences, in which there can be up to 80 flowers. The leaves, like the previous group, are 3-, 5- or 7-parted, with more or less narrow lobes and light or dark color (depending on the color of the inflorescence). If you purchased a delphinium in the form of a cutting or cutting (part of a bush) and do not know what color the inflorescence will be, please note: in plants with light leaves, the inflorescences are also light, and vice versa - the darker the leaves, the darker the inflorescence.

The belladonna group differs in appearance from the previous ones.

In height, these plants are much lower and do not grow more than 1.5 m. The plants are more spreading and have few-flowered inflorescences. Flowers are usually non-double. The color scheme is usually light blue or blue, but sometimes the flowers are white.

The most undemanding and labor-intensive in terms of cultivation is the hybrid delphinium.

The best flowering can be obtained by growing it in well-fertilized soils and in well-lit areas. To grow this plant, the tillage must be very deep, since the delphinium has a powerful root system. This plant does not like sandy soils, as well as wetlands. On loose soils filled with peat, the delphinium lives longer than on chernozems and loams.

Delphiniums are amazingly beautiful plants.

There are varieties with flowers of a pure tone, there are iridescent, passing from one to another. Very often in the center of the flower there is an eye of a different color, in particular black or white, which gives it a peculiar charm. Semi-double and terry varieties are especially elegant. Of greatest interest to gardeners are varieties from the Pacific group of cultural spur.

Check out the photos and descriptions of the colors of delphiniums of the most beautiful varieties.

Delphinium cultivated perennial, variety Bellamosum.

Plant height - 100 cm. Inflorescences are dark blue, bright. Propagated by seeds and division

When describing a delphinium plant, it is worth noting the large-flowered perennial Pink Butterfly.

Attracts attention with pyramidal inflorescences 40 cm high. Flowers, like butterflies, delicate, airy, pink. Propagated by seeds and division of the bush every 3-4 years. Blooms July and August.

The variety White Butterfly has the same characteristics as the Pink Butterfly, with snow-white inflorescences.

From Dutch varieties attracts the attention of a perennial Pacific mix with a height of 180 cm. Used for single and group plantings and for cutting. Seeds are sown in March for seedlings. Sow in open ground in May. The place is sunny, the soil is fertile. In autumn, delphiniums are pruned at the root. Blooms in July, if cut off after flowering, blooms again in September.

Delphinium varieties are especially popular in gardens:

"Black Knight" - dark purple

"King Arthur" - purple with a white eye

"Blue Jay" - blue with a dark eye

"Spring Snow" - lilac-white with a white eye

"Pink sunset" - lilac-pink with a dark eye

"Vespers" - bluish-pink-lilac

"Astolat" - pink, raspberry-pink, rose-red with a dark eye

"Pink Sensation" - pink iridescent

"Lilac spiral" - lilac with a white eye

"Million" - bright blue

"Blue Tit" - dark blue

"Naina" - lilac-blue with a white eye

"Summer Sky" - blue with a white eye

"Lyudmila" - blue with a white eye

"Blue lace" - blue with a white eye

"Blue bis" - pale blue

"Daughter of Winter" - white with a black eye

"Sir Galahad" - pure white

"Butterball" - cream

See photos of delphiniums of different varieties:

The next section of the article is devoted to how to care for the delphinium on the site.

How to plant a delphinium in the soil in the garden and how to care for it (with video)

An important condition for growing perennial delphiniums is to provide plants with loamy, humus-rich, moderately moist soil with a close to neutral reaction (pH 5.5–6). The landing site should be open, sunny, but at noon - shaded. Tall varieties (about 2–2.5 m) require garters to supports. These plants are not planted single - they are planted in a separate curtain according to the scheme 60 × 60 cm. Long, up to 50–100 cm, inflorescences can contain up to 100 flowers in a brush. Inflorescences can be cone-shaped, cylindrical, pyramidal, oval, strongly branched (spread).

flowers irregular shape with an elongated spur (hence the name - spur).

In varietal hybrids, flowers have a diameter of 3-4 cm. Beautiful palmately dissected leaves of delphiniums, like those of phloxes, often dry prematurely on the lower part of the stems, which quickly becomes ugly. Therefore, before the delphiniums, plants should be planted that retain their decorative effect all summer.

All delphiniums look beautiful in group plantings or among other flowers in the center of flower beds. But in this case it is better to use lower grades (1–1.5 m). For such colors of delphiniums, the planting pattern is 45 × 45 cm. They are also suitable for the background in mixborders or discounts. Delphiniums go well with phlox, rudbeckia, lupins. There are also undersized dwarfs only 50–70 cm tall, for which an area of ​​​​30 × 30 cm is enough.

Usually delphiniums bloom in July for about 2-3 weeks. If you cut the flower stalks at the level of the soil (without touching the basal rosette of leaves!) At the time of the withering of most of the flowers, you can cause re-blooming at the end of August, though not so plentiful.

You should be aware that repeated flowering leads to a weakening of the plant, and it does not bloom so magnificently the next year.

Delphiniums take out a lot of mineral elements from the soil, so the soil must be well seasoned with organic matter and mineral fertilizers before planting. Landing pits must be prepared in advance. They are made deep enough, since the delphinium has a taproot that goes to a considerable depth. That is why plants do not tolerate transplants, especially at an older age.

landing pit should have dimensions of 40 × 40 × 40 cm. 2 buckets of rotted compost, a glass of ash (or half a glass of dolomite flour or lime), a tablespoon of any mineral fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are added to it. It is best to prepare a hole in the spring, and plant a plant in August.

When planting, the stems are cut at a height of 10 cm. The plant is deepened by 1–2 cm. Before the onset of frost, the seedlings will have time to take root well. Delphiniums are heat-loving plants, they can freeze in harsh winters, so the planted delenka in the fall should be covered with spruce branches. In the spring, after the snow melts, the spruce branches should be removed.

This video shows how to plant a delphinium in open ground:

For good flowering in the first year in spring, when the plants grow and reach 10 cm, should be left at strong plants 3 stems, and in the weak - only 1.

After planting, when caring for delphiniums in the open field, no more than 3-4 shoots of peduncles should be left on the bush. In the spring, when the stems begin to grow, leave only the strongest, cut the rest under the root. By the way, they can be used as cuttings for propagation. All later shoots should also be removed.

After the frosts have passed, the plants are fed mineral fertilizer. Best suited for this purpose is "Mortar" of the Buysky chemical plant or flower fertilizer of the same plant, but in general you can use any other fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. One tablespoon per 10 liters of water is enough. Top dressing is poured 1 liter under the root of each plant. If the growing foliage has a pale green color, then you should additionally feed it with an infusion of weeds or manure.

After planting, when caring for delphiniums, during the appearance of buds, they again give mineral supplement, but already 3 tablespoons per 10 liters of water. After the end of flowering, the delphinium should be fed with phosphorus and potash fertilizers, a tablespoon of each per 10 liters of water (or autumn fertilizer Buysky plant, 2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water), use a solution of half a liter under a bush.

Delphiniums are not big lovers of nitrogen, so do not overdo it with manure infusion or weeds. They are potassium-loving, therefore they respond well to the introduction of ash or potassium supplements (only without chlorine!). They also need boron. When growing delphiniums in open ground, it is easiest to pollinate the plants on the leaves a couple of times per season with powder boric acid or pour a solution of boric acid (2 g per 10 liters of water). If, after the end of flowering, only inflorescences are cut off, leaving flower stalks with leaves until they dry completely, then the rhizomes will grow significantly, and next year they will provide lush flowering.

After planting garden delphiniums, when caring for plants in the fall, when all the foliage withers, all above-ground part cut at ground level. But many gardeners do not make such a short pruning, but leave stumps 20 cm high, but at the same time they must cover the cuts with clay, since the delphinium has a hollow stem and water entering it through the cut causes the rhizome to rot.

You can, just in case, pour a bucket of peat on the plant to protect the delphiniums from death in the harsh winter. In the spring, when the earth thaws, peat is raked from the tillering center and raked around. It will serve as a mulching material under the plant. If the plant was healthy, then it can not be cut.

The first frosts will “break” the stems, and they will fall to the ground, covering the rhizome. This will delay the first snowfall. Then peat is not required. spring plant remains take it to the compost.

Often in books it is recommended to cut the delphinium at a height of 30–40 cm in the fall. This cannot be done, because it has a tubular stem, and water will enter the funnel during the autumn rains, which will cause the rhizome to rot, or, as amateur flower growers do, it must be covered clay cuts, as mentioned above.

After sowing, with careful care, the delphinium in one place can grow up to 10 years. He is developing well and blooms better with regular (once a week) watering and top dressing. Watering is especially important during the budding period. To prevent your plant from getting sick with powdery mildew, water should not fall on the leaves when watering.

If you like to grow cut flowers, then this is what you need, because all types and varieties of delphiniums are great for cutting flowers for up to two weeks.

Delphiniums, generally speaking, are not perennials, they are rather juveniles, because they require division every three years, otherwise you can suddenly lose them. In them, like in phloxes, the middle of the bush becomes rotten. When growing delphinium flowers, this center should be cut out. Transplantation can be done in May, but in middle lane Russia is better in August. It is necessary to dig a bush, divide it into separate parts, cutting out the middle, and plant it. All sections should be well covered with ash. If you want to return the delphinium to its old place, then change the soil.

Delphinium growing conditions: flower care after sowing

In dry weather, delphiniums are watered abundantly, as the plants suffer greatly from high temperatures and especially from dry air. Each plant needs about 100 liters of water during the growing season. When leaving, the soil is loosened to a depth of no more than 5 cm, so as not to damage the small roots that grow at a great distance from the base of the bush. During the growing season, the soil for delphiniums in the garden is fertilized several times.

The first feeding is carried out in April: for 10 liters of water, dilute 1 tablespoon of urea, potassium sulfate, superphosphate, spend a solution of 1 - 2 liters per adult bush.

The second top dressing when caring for flowers with delphiniums is done at the beginning of flowering: 1 liter of mushy mullein and 1 tablespoon of Agricola-7 are bred for 10 liters of water, 2 liters are spent per 1 bush. Delphinium can be fed with nitrophoska (2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water).

During care when growing delphiniums in the summer, it is advisable to tie up the plants, although many gardeners claim that flower stalks already successfully resist even the strongest winds.

The delphinium blooms in June - early July. With the timely removal of flowering inflorescences, flowering continues all summer. At good care the plant may bloom at the end of summer for the second time.

Diseases and pests of delphiniums, measures to combat them

To prevent diseases, the delphinium can be regularly (once every 2-3 weeks) sprayed with the Healthy Garden preparation. The most common disease is powdery mildew. Instead of the “Healthy Garden”, in the spring, when the stems grow back, you can spray the plantings with a 1% solution of any preparation containing copper (Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate, copper oxychloride) or the Epin-extra preparation, which at the same time will protect plants during sudden frosts. In addition, in the fall, after cutting (or directly on the plant), repeat the spraying.

When delphinium diseases appear, Zircon can be used to combat them, which, among other things, also increases the size of the flower and the intensity of its color.

Of the pests, the delphinium is attacked by a fly, a scoop, spider mite. With regular spraying of the "Healthy Garden" pests do not touch the plants. But if you do not have this drug, then spray once every three weeks with Fitoverm or IskraBio, starting from the moment the cherry blossoms. By the way, the self-defense of any plants is enhanced by regular feeding (once every 2-3 weeks) organic fertilizer"Gumi" or microbial fertilizer "Extrasol".

Of the pests, the delphinium fly can attack delphiniums. The fly does not like peat, and therefore, when mulching the soil with peat, it will fly around the delphiniums. Sometimes the ends of the shoots are inhabited by aphids. "Perimor" works perfectly against it, as well as preventive spring spraying with "Healthy Garden" (2-3 times in May-June). Of the diseases, powdery mildew most often occurs in wet summers (do not water over the leaves, and it will not be). But the plant cannot be protected from rain, so you will have to use blue spraying (Bordeaux liquid, Hom, blue vitriol) or use "Zircon", "Bravo", soda ash (3 tablespoons per 10 liters of water).

Sometimes black spot or bacterial wilt appears. In both cases, "Fitosporin" or "Zircon" helps well.

The following describes how to propagate delphiniums in the garden.

Propagation of delphiniums by cuttings, dividing the bush and seeds

Reproduction of delphiniums is carried out by seeds, dividing the bush and cuttings.

You can divide 3-4-year-old bushes into 5-6 parts. Each division should have 2-3 renewal buds and a good root system. Then the transplanted plant will bloom the next year. But, as mentioned above, the delphinium is difficult to take root, so sometimes flowering is delayed for a year. To help the plant, systematically feed it with Fitosporin plus Gumi. If there is "Extrasol", then add a tablespoon to every 10 liters of solution. When propagating the delphinium by dividing the bush, spray with Zircon in the first year of planting (every two weeks) or use the Healthy Garden.

Cuttings are cut in the spring, when they grow up to 5–10 cm, at the very base of the root neck. They should not have a hollow part of the stem at the bottom. The lower ends of the cuttings should be pollinated with ash and Kornevin. Make vertical holes in the cuttings with a stick and insert the cuttings into them.

Cover with water bottles. When propagating the delphinium by cuttings, care must be taken that the soil does not dry out. As soon as new leaves appear, the bottles can be removed. Water and spray regularly with Ferovit along with Zircon. In autumn, rooted cuttings can be planted in place.

Varietal delphiniums reproduce mainly by dividing rhizomes, as well as by seeds. After a year, the seeds lose their germination. Seeds are sown in March in boxes on the window. Seedlings appear after 20 days without picking. When leaving during the cultivation of delphiniums from seeds, planting on permanent place held in early May.

With such early spring sowing, the plants gain strength and bloom by the end of summer, forming one small inflorescence each. The plants are planted shallow, otherwise they will rot. Real flowering begins in the second year and can be twice - in June and August.

How to propagate delphinium seeds: planting and care when growing seedlings

At seed propagation parental properties are not transferred, so you yourself will become a breeder and may well get hitherto unknown varieties. Freshly harvested seeds (they ripen in August, for this you need to leave faded brushes on the stems) are immediately sown in the greenhouse. Seedlings appear in autumn and may freeze in spring, so they should be covered with spruce branches for the winter. In order not to mess around with this, it is better to sow the seeds right before winter (end of November). Seedlings appear in the spring, when growing delphiniums, seedlings should be planted 2–3 plants in one container or thinned out according to the 10 × 10 cm scheme and planted in place in August according to the 40 × 40 cm scheme.

Seedlings may bloom the following year. If you sow seeds for seedlings at home, then they should first be stratified (cooled). To do this, containers with sown seeds must be buried in the snow (on a balcony or loggia) or put in the refrigerator for a week.

Then put in a warm room to the light. There is a nuance. Since the seeds of the delphinium are very small, they are not sprinkled with soil when sowing. The moistened earth is compacted, the seeds are scattered over the surface and covered with a film until germination. Or, when sowing seedlings at home in March, snow is brought to the soil surface in containers and seeds are sown on the snow. Having melted, it will draw the seeds halfway into the soil.

To grow seedlings of delphinium from seeds, containers are placed in a plastic bag, it is tied. Seedlings are watered through a syringe, the needle of which is inserted into the ground. When growing flowers from seeds, when the delphiniums grow up and begin to fall sideways, you need to rake up the soil with a match.

When the frosts pass, when caring for the delphiniums, the seedlings can be moved either to the school until next spring, or directly to the place. But here it is important not to let the weeds clog them, and the soil to dry out.

The combination of delphinium with other flowers in the garden (with photo)

Delphiniums look good in a wide variety of decorative plantings. Particularly spectacular are groups combined from varieties with flowers of different colors. Delphiniums are most successfully combined with lilies, dahlias and park roses with white, yellow and pink flowers.

Varieties with light blue flowers look very beautiful against the background. coniferous trees, and varieties with white flowers - in front of shrubs such as barberry, jasmine and red-leaved dwarf maple. Blue delphiniums go well with white and pink aquilegia, while chrysanthemums, daisies and lychnis Haage can be planted in the foreground.

Delphiniums are used in various flower beds, including in the center of the flower bed and on the lawn in separate groups. It is good to place them in the background of the site along the fence. Delphinium bushes perfectly decorate fences, low buildings, planting trees.

They provide excellent material for cutting: delphinium flowers placed in water last up to 10 or more days.

Here you can see photo the best combinations delphinium with other colors:

This class belongs perennial delphiniums with a rather high (120-180 cm) erect stem. Type of inflorescence - large candles (up to 100 cm), semi-double, different shades. Size of each single flower- up to 7 cm in diameter.
The main disadvantage of Pacific delphiniums is their short lifespan (no more than 5 years). Besides, in Russian climate they are often prone to diseases, so they require careful personal care.

The most attractive and resistant to adverse conditions varieties of Pacific delphiniums:

	Black Knight(Black Knight) The size of the stem is up to 150 cm. The inflorescence (up to 70 cm) is quite dense, with large flowers of a rich blue-violet hue and a black eye. Blooms in early summer for almost a month.
	Blue Jay(Blue Jay) This Pacific delphinium grows up to 170 cm. Flowers - a rich blue color are collected in inflorescences 60-70 cm long. This variety of delphiniums is very common among domestic gardeners.
	blue bird(Blue Bird) A bush growing up to 170 cm. Inflorescences are pale blue with a white eye. This variety of delphinium blooms in mid-summer.
	Galahad(Galahad) Stem - up to 180 cm. This white delphinium with the same eye color. Inflorescence up to 70 cm long - in the form of a cone, medium density. Blooms in early summer.
	Guinevere(Ginever) Stem - up to 2 m. This is the highest representative of the Pacific delphiniums. large flowers- rich lilac-pink color, semi-double. Begins to bloom in mid-summer.
	Cameliard(camelliard) A beautiful delphinium with bright lavender petals.
	K Arthur(King Arthur) Tall plant (up to 180 cm) with semi-double purple inflorescences. Flowering begins in mid-summer.

Hybrids Belladonna

Varieties of delphiniums of the Belladona group are formed by large-flowered and labial species of this plant. Representatives of this class are characterized by branched paniculate inflorescences (5-20 flowers each) and dissected leaves. Blossom, as a rule, closer to the middle of July.

The most famous varieties of hybrids Beladonna:

	Casablanca(Casablanca) The most popular variety of this class among gardeners. Height - up to 120 cm. Inflorescences - snow-white with a slightly yellowish center. Great for cutting.
	Arnold Beklin(Arnold Becklin) Color is deep blue.
	Berghimmel(Berghimmel) Stem - up to 2 m. The inflorescence of a beautiful blue color with a white eye consists of 15-20 individual flowers.
	Capri(Capri) Color is light blue.
	Moerheimii(Murgame) Stem - up to 120 cm. Inflorescence with 15-20 flowers on each. This is a white delphinium.
	Volkerfrieden(Volkerfrieden) It grows by 90-160 cm. The size of a sky-blue inflorescence with a black or white eye is 45 cm. The flowers themselves are quite large.

Marfin hybrids

Delphiniums of this class are in great demand among flower growers (these are Russian varieties), as they are perfectly adapted to the conditions of our climate. In terms of quality and decorative indicators, they are in no way inferior to their foreign counterparts. Varieties of delphiniums belonging to this class form neat bushes reaching 180 cm. Large inflorescences are in the form of a pyramid, with semi-double flowers of different colors.

Qualitative varieties of marfin hybrids:

	Spring Snow It grows up to 180 cm. The inflorescence consists of 80 individual flowers. Flower petals are large and white.
	Blue Lace Bush up to 180 cm. Pale blue inflorescence consists of 70 individual large flowers.
	winter's daughter It grows up to 160 cm. Large inflorescences contain up to 75 large white flowers.
	Pledge of Youth Stem - up to 160 cm. Pale pink inflorescence with 70 flowers.
	Caravan The height of the bush is up to 160 cm. The color of the inflorescence is pale lavender. It has a light vanilla aroma.
	Summer morning Stem - up to 160 cm. The inflorescence can have up to 90 large lilac-pink flowers.
	Morpheus Height - up to 160 cm. A large inflorescence (up to 80 cm) contains 60 purple flowers.