About the perennial garden flower Bride: what it looks like, why it’s called that

The White Bride flower is officially called Euphorbia marginata and is one of the most beautiful representatives of the Euphorbiaceae family. It is distinguished by variegated leaves with a white border. The plant itself is hardy and unpretentious, requiring minimal attention. Often planted as a background to roses, phlox or dahlias. In this article we will tell you about growing the Bride and give advice on care.

Growing conditions

Let's find out where to plant spurge on the site, what conditions the plant needs for normal growth.

Location and lighting

Euphorbia should be planted in an area well lit by the sun. Garden spurge cannot tolerate shade and loses all its beauty and attractiveness in such conditions. If you plant a plant on the shady side of the site, the bush will not die immediately, of course, but it will turn out to be inconspicuous, low, and its leaves will be deprived of a white border. The lifespan of the flower will be significantly reduced.

Temperature and humidity

“Bride” is able to tolerate even severe drought and adequately perceives direct sunlight. But the plant does not like cold weather, which is why growing milkweed in the northern regions is problematic.

Humidity levels should be kept moderate. The shrub does not need too frequent watering and is afraid of prolonged rains.

Soil composition

It is better for milkweed to grow in dry, loose soil. Clayey, dense soil is not suitable. The soil should be fertile, but in moderation: the plant categorically does not tolerate excess minerals, especially nitrogen.

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Description

Bridal bush grows best in warm climates. That is, on the territory of our country, for the most part, southern regions are suitable for its cultivation. Even in the middle zone, the plant is not very common due to its heat-loving nature. But starting around Tambov and further south, gardeners cultivate spurge with great pleasure.

Euphorbia is famous for its rapid growth: from the moment of planting to the appearance of a lush, bushy plant, only a few months pass. Euphorbia looks gorgeous in the garden, representing a real decoration of the surrounding landscape.

Since the plant easily reproduces in favorable conditions by self-sowing, it is able to “occupy” all nearby free territories in a short time. If you are not too happy with this garden design option, you will have to remove the seed pods on time.

External characteristics

There are many varieties of milkweed, but only one of the species is called a bride - fringed milkweed. This species boasts small but multiple buds located at the very top of the shoots. The buds also have a white tint, however, the bush was not nicknamed the bride because of them. The unusual name is associated with foliage with a white border (see photo). It is interesting that at the beginning of their growth the leaves are evenly green; they acquire a white edge later.

The shrub is small in height, reaching only 80-90 cm. However, it grows very lush. The leaves are 6-8 cm long, the stems branch well. The buds and foliage of the plant are not at all afraid of the sun, do not lose their decorative value, and do not fade even in severe drought. Euphorbia blooms from July until the first autumn frosts.

Application

In landscape design, spurge is highly valued. With the help of this light plant you can make remote corners of the garden more attractive and elegant. Due to the peculiar white color of the bush, it is possible to achieve a visual expansion of the space.

In group plantings, euphorbia is usually used to separate those plants whose colors do not combine well with each other. Euphorbia itself in this regard has a rare versatility, but its variegated foliage looks especially impressive against the backdrop of red and blue flowers: roses, delphiniums.

Rich bride in landscape design

Designers treat the Rich Bride with special love. With the help of this easy-to-care flower, you can create extraordinary beautiful compositions in parks, squares, and flower beds. Milkweed is usually used to highlight distant areas of flower arrangements. Thus, the boundaries of the garden visually expand, which gives it even greater mysterious beauty.

When the color schemes of some flowers are incompatible, Euphorbia is used to remove the garishness of the composition and slightly dilute the edgy design move. This flower, which has an almost white color, looks great next to any plants. More often it is planted with red roses.

Euphorbia is used to make bouquets. In order for it to last longer in the vase, it is necessary to allow the white liquid to drain immediately after cutting the plant. To do this, the plant is placed in warm water and then dried in a well-ventilated area.

While watching the video you will learn about the described flower.

In general, Euphorbia is a very beautiful and easy-to-care plant. Leave some space in your flower bed this season and plant this stunning plant in late fall. Already in early spring, the first shoots will appear, which will grow and turn into a Rich Bride.

Flowers and Flowerbeds

Eco-friendly homestead: The rich bride is a flower that is quite easy to grow. The scientific name of the plant is Euphorbia marginalata or Euphorbia marginata. This is a beautiful lush annual, the height of which can vary from 30 to 80 cm, the leaves have an oblong oval shape, they are gray-green in color with a white edging along the edges, their size and shape can vary depending on growing conditions.

The rich bride is a flower that is quite easy to grow. The scientific name of the plant is Euphorbia marginalata or Euphorbia marginata. This is a beautiful lush annual, the height of which can vary from 30 to 80 cm, the leaves have an oblong oval shape, they are gray-green in color with a white edging along the edges, their size and shape can vary depending on growing conditions. The flowers are small, white, located at the top of the shoot. Euphorbia fringed blooms in mid-June, flowering continues until late autumn. Rich bride is an excellent plant for mixborders, borders, it feels great on alpine hills.

Euphorbia is a fairly unpretentious plant, but you need to know some growing features.

Euphorbia does not tolerate wet clay soil; the soil should be porous and light, mixed with sand or other baking powder. Euphorbia does not like frequent watering; water should not stagnate in the flowerbed, as this can lead to rotting. It is better to water the plant in the evening.

The Rich Bride prefers a sunny location, although the plant tolerates light shade. The more light the flower receives, the brighter and more beautiful the white edging will be. If you plant spurge in the shade, the plant may completely lose its beautiful border, and the shoots will become very elongated and become unattractive.

Euphorbia marginalata reproduces well by self-sowing, which is why it is called the “eternal bride.” If you purchased seeds for the first time, it is better to sow them before winter. When sowing in spring, you need to wait for warm weather, as young plants do not tolerate frost. The first shoots appear approximately 2 weeks after sowing. If you want to speed up flowering, you can grow seedlings, in which case the seeds are sown

The soil for planting cuttings should be very loose, mixed with coarse river sand or perlite. Do not use yellow sand under any circumstances; it does not loosen, but clogs the soil, making it sticky and unsuitable for planting. Propagation by cuttings is used when several plants are needed in a short period.

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The plant responds well to fertilizing with organic fertilizers. If you overfeed euphorbia, it will grow to the detriment of flowering. Knowing the simple secrets outlined above, you can easily master growing this flower on your site. published econet.ru

General description of the plant

Another name for the flower in question is Euphorbia Mountain Snow. It is an annual plant found naturally on the mountain slopes of North America. The bush grows up to 80 cm in height and is highly branched. Its main decoration is leaves. In spring, they are not of particular decorative value, since they are gray-green in color. The leaf blade is oval, slightly pointed or rounded.

The plant transforms immediately after flowering begins (June-July) - the leaves change color and a wide white edge appears on them. Flowers are collected in inflorescences at the ends of the shoots. The variety grows quickly, has a powerful root that spreads throughout the surrounding area. In September, self-sowing of grain-like seeds occurs.

Some gardeners confuse Euphorbia marginalata with the Bride and Groom flower. You can see the visual differences in the photo. The latter is planted in pairs, combining varieties with white and purple buds. The plant is usually grown at home and is considered a symbol of family happiness.

You should remember the name of the Bride and Groom flower, so as not to get confused when purchasing and planting. Officially, the species is called Campanula and belongs to the Campanula family.

Preparation for wintering and reproduction

The culture begins to bloom only after proper rest. To do this, it is necessary to carry out a haircut in the fall - the shoots are shortened to 10 cm. Then the flowerpot is moved to a bright and cool place, watering is reduced. Fertilizers are not required until March. In spring, dead shoots are cleaned out.

The lifespan of a bride flower is short and is only 3 years. Therefore, you need to regularly update and replant the plant. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in the spring. Gardeners distinguish several methods for breeding bellflowers:

By cuttings - the lower stems are divided into segments 10-15 cm long. It is advisable to treat the cuttings with a growth stimulator and then place them in a container filled with sand. You can create a greenhouse effect using film or a jar. The appearance of new leaves indicates the completion of rooting - the seedling can be transplanted to a permanent place. Young shoots - they can form at some distance from the bush in the spring

They should be carefully separated and transplanted into the substrate. For better survival, a greenhouse should be made before the first leaves appear. Dividing the bush is the fastest way to propagate Campanula.

During transplantation, you need to clear the roots from the soil and cut them into pieces with a disinfected knife. The cut site is treated with charcoal to prevent rotting.

Check the roots

If the root system looks pretty good externally, do not rush to replant the beauty. Firstly, she needs to undergo acclimatization in your apartment or house. This is a stressful situation, and if you add to it a replanting with freeing the roots from the soil, it will not be difficult to destroy the flower.

Dilute the drug "Fitosporin" in water. The color of the concentrate should resemble strong black tea. From this concentrate, prepare a solution for irrigation: 15 drops per liter of irrigation water. Spray the plant with Fitosporin. This needs to be done as soon as you arrive home and look at the roots. “Fitosporin” will destroy fungi and spores that contribute to the spread of root and other rot.

Basics of growing and caring for flowers

This unpretentious plant will delight its owners for a long time with abundant flowering if the following growing conditions are met.

Choosing a place in the house

Incorrect location of the pot leads to loss of decorativeness of the plant: with sunburn, translucent spots of indeterminate shape appear. At the same time, spraying accelerates their formation. Lack of light manifests itself in the development of thin, weak leaves on elongated shoots. Based on this, the right solution would be to place a pot with a flower next to a window with an eastern or western orientation. Installation on a southern window sill will require the installation of protective equipment in hot weather.

To obtain a beautiful, symmetrical bush, experienced gardeners recommend turning the pot every week at a slight angle.

Temperature

The optimal temperature conditions for the bride flower are 20-25 °C in summer and about 15 °C in winter. The flower pot should not be placed in drafty areas. It should not be placed near vines. The shoots of the plant must not be lifted up or attached to a support.

An important element of care is the timely removal of yellowed leaves and shoots. If the main stem becomes diseased, it is recommended to completely remove it without damaging the young shoots. In summer, it is useful to take pots with plants out onto the balcony or into the garden.

Choosing a pot and soil

For a convenient location of the roots (they grow quickly), a low and wide container is selected. Having made high-quality drainage, the container is filled with loose, breathable, slightly alkaline soil. If you prepare the soil mixture yourself, take equal parts of peat, humus, leaf soil, and sand. If necessary, soil is purchased in shopping centers. The composition is intended for decorative flowering species.

The first sign of an urgent plant transplant after purchasing it in a store (flower market) is the appearance of dried buds. It is better if this is done in the spring or autumn.

Watering and humidity

An indoor bride flower can do without daily watering for some time (which is convenient for travel lovers and busy owners). In the summer, when the bush sparkles with bells, it is better not to leave it for long

It is very important to monitor the condition of the soil in the pot. It should not be too dry and with excess water in the pan

In summer, the plant is watered once every two days. In the cold season, no more than once a month. The flower is at rest at this time.

Important! The bride flower is prepared for winter in October as follows: long shoots are cut to 10 cm, and a cool room with lighting is found. Use soft, settled water for irrigation at a temperature of about 22-24 °C. Along with watering, fertilizing with fertilizers for flowering plants is combined.

During the period of active flowering, this must be done at least once every 2 weeks.

Use soft, settled water for irrigation at a temperature of about 22-24 °C. Along with watering, fertilizing with fertilizers for flowering plants is combined. During the period of active flowering, this must be done at least once every 2 weeks.

Violation of the correct watering regimes (for example, waterlogging of the soil) provokes the development of rot and fungal diseases. At the same time, the stems and leaves turn black and the flower dies. It is impossible to do without the use of fungicidal drugs.

Standard air humidity values of 40–50% provide normal conditions for the development of campanula. During the summer heat, the flower can be sprayed, but make sure that water does not get on the inflorescences. It is better to put moss in the pot and maintain moisture by watering it.

When kept in too dry air, scale insects and spider mites appear on plants. They get rid of them with the help of actara, fitoverm, actellik and other drugs. Folk remedies often use soap solution, medical alcohol, infusion of onion and garlic.

Reproduction

Those who wish to plant several specimens of the bride or groom can use any of the propagation methods for this: seeds, dividing the bush, cuttings, one-year shoots.

Note! Flowers form on young shoots of plants of any age. To have more of them, the flower needs to be trimmed annually and updated frequently

By using simple techniques for growing indoor flowers, the bride and groom can constantly admire the beautiful delicate inflorescences. Belief in the eternal legends about the flower (which gave them the opportunity to be called the bride and groom) will strengthen family relationships, fill them with care, happiness, and love.

Diseases and pests

The flower bride gets sick and is attacked by insects on rare occasions. Among the pests you can find spider mites, nematodes and slugs. To get rid of insects, use a soap solution or insecticidal preparations.

Fungal diseases appear due to stagnation of moisture, prolonged wet weather, and a lack of microelements in the soil. The leaves of the affected plant turn yellow and fall off, and other symptoms characteristic of the disease appear. A mild infection of the Bride plant is treated by spraying with fungicides; a more serious infection will require removal of the bush to prevent infection of healthy plantings.

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Feeding, pruning

If the land on your site is very fertile, then Euphorbia marginalata does not need to be fed. If the soil is depleted, fertilize it with mineral or organic fertilizers. An excellent option is a manure solution. To prepare it, dilute 200 grams in 10 liters of water, stir the substance well, and leave for a day. The soil is fertilized with this solution in the evening.

The snow-like Euphorbia marginata is a member of the Euphorbia family, which means its juice is poisonous. Pruning this plant almost to the root. If a lot of root shoots have formed over the summer, cut off the excess ones too.

The most beautiful Snow on the mountain does not get sick and is not attacked by harmful insects. The plant is protected from the latter by poisonous sap, and its resistance to diseases is due to its powerful immunity. Euphorbia marginata successfully tolerates even bad weather, if it is not prolonged rains.

Such a beautiful flower is widely used in landscape design because it combines well with other garden crops. It looks no less excellent as part of bouquets, especially together with delphinium, mallow and dahlias.

Olga Danilina

Fertilizers for Campanula

Like any other plant, campanula needs feeding. It is necessary to feed the plant during the period of active growth of green shoots. This is done approximately once every ten days. For feeding, you can use any liquid fertilizer that is intended for flowering plants.

What is good about complex liquid fertilizers is that they reduce the possibility of the plant getting burned if the substance is not completely dissolved. Avoid overfeeding if the dosage has been violated.

During the period of active growth, we feed once every ten days, and during the dormant period - once every 30 days.

Mineral and organic fertilizers are applied two or three times a month. This is mainly done in spring and summer. And once every two weeks you will need to water it with special fertilizers for indoor plants.

In specialized stores you can find quite a lot of different complex fertilizers. One of the best, according to many gardeners, is the Kemira-Lux fertilizer.

Do not forget about simple plant care - plucking dry leaves, inflorescences, as well as pruning very long shoots.

Thus, it turns out that from March to August, during the period of active growth and flowering, the plant is fed up to 1-2 times a month. However, you shouldn't use this often either. It’s better not to feed him too much than to overfeed him. Excess fertilizer can lead to disease.

When applying fertilizing, you need to monitor the plant. If the campanula reacts positively to fertilization, it is fed twice a month, alternating mineral fertilizer with organic fertilizer. Moreover, this is done about an hour after watering the plant. The period for such feeding is from the beginning of March to the end of September. They start with mineral fertilizer, then move on to organic fertilizer.

So, everything is very simple here too. If you follow these simple requirements, your plant will be healthy and blooming.

However, that's not all.

What to do if the Bride does not bloom

Sometimes it happens that the plant “refuses” to bloom. This situation can arise for several reasons:

The bluebell grows in a larger pot than it needs. To produce many buds, you need a tight pot.
The plant lacks certain substances to flower. During the period of increased growth, the Bride needs to be fed 2 times a month.
Timely pruning is not carried out. Buds do not form on woody shoots, so the campanula needs to be rejuvenated annually.
Sometimes the reason lies in improper placement of shoots. By nature, they should hang down, so any attempts to lift them up may be accompanied by a negative reaction from the plant.

The bride is an amazing flower that, with proper care, can give beauty and extraordinary tenderness. In return, it will not require special attention, so anyone can grow it.

Euphorbia is a fairly unpretentious plant, but you need to know some of the growing features. Euphorbia does not tolerate wet clay soil, the soil should be porous and light, mixed with sand or other baking powder. Euphorbia does not like frequent watering; water should not stagnate in the flowerbed, as this can lead to rotting. It is better to water the plant in the evening. The Rich Bride prefers a sunny location, although the plant tolerates light shade. The more light the flower receives, the brighter and more beautiful the white edging will be. If you plant spurge in the shade, the plant may completely lose its beautiful border, and the shoots will become very elongated and become unattractive.

Euphorbia marginalata reproduces well by cuttings; shoots are cut with a sharp knife and washed with hot water. This is done in order to get rid of the milky juice. Then the cut cuttings are dried for 20 minutes in the open air, after which they are planted in peat cups. The soil for planting cuttings should be very loose, mixed with coarse river sand or perlite. Do not use yellow sand under any circumstances; it does not loosen, but clogs the soil, making it sticky and unsuitable for planting. Propagation by cuttings is used when several plants are needed in a short period.

The plant responds well to fertilizing with organic, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers, but you need to be careful with nitrogen; if you overfeed the spurge, it will grow to the detriment of flowering. Knowing the simple secrets outlined above, you can easily master growing this flower on your site.

What kind of plant

This delicate indoor plant, which many gardeners love so much, is popularly called the bride. This flower also has a completely scientific name. In the biological reference book it is called Campanula, which means “bell”.

White campanula in a pot on the windowsill

The houseplant campanula, or bride, is a small herbaceous perennial, about 15 centimeters in height. It has creeping, creeping stems on which there are long petioles with small (up to 5 cm) heart-shaped leaves. The surface of the leaves is light green with jagged edges.

The inflorescences are paniculate, the flowers are pale blue, lilac or white. The shape of the flowers is a five-petaled bell, the shape very much resembles a star. The size of the flowers is small - about 3 centimeters in diameter. In common parlance, the campanula with white flowers is called the bride, and its variety with blue flowers is called the groom. The period of abundant flowering lasts from the first days of June until the end of October.

Reproduction methods

Campanula can be propagated in different ways. The following methods are used in indoor floriculture:

seed propagation - seeds are sown in a loose and abundantly moistened substrate, covered with film for the period of germination. Ventilate periodically. After emergence of shoots, the film is removed;
cuttings - cut cuttings are treated with growth stimulants and deepened into the soil at an angle of 2 cm. For better germination, cuttings can be placed in water for several days, and only then planted. Propagation by cuttings is inferior in germination to seed propagation, but gives faster results;
Dividing a bush is an easy way to get a mature plant ready to flower. But the bell is considered fragile, and therefore dividing the bush should be done carefully. The earthen lump is moistened abundantly, then removed from the pot, the rhizome is divided into the required number of parts and planted in new bowls.

Campanula diseases and harmful insects

The most common disease of Campanula is gray mold. This is a fungal disease.

The main cause of gray rot is excessive watering or, as you can say, constant flooding of the plant with water, as well as very high air humidity. All this leads to rotting of the roots, as a result the plant becomes lethargic, and a very unpleasant odor emanates from the soil.

One of the ways to combat it, and practically the only one, is to remove the affected parts and change the soil. The flower must be immediately transplanted into new soil and into a new pot. In addition, you should reduce watering, or even stop it altogether for a while.

This is despite the fact that the disease has not gone too far and you managed to detect it in the early stages. If the plant turns out to be completely affected, then all that remains is to throw it away.

Reproduction

If the plant has grown enough and does not fit into the volume of the container, it must be divided into several parts. Carefully remove the bush from the pot with a lump of earth. Using a sharp knife, the rhizome is cut into pieces.

Don’t forget to treat the cut areas with crushed wood charcoal. Plant the resulting parts in new containers of smaller volume. It is not recommended to immerse plants deep into the soil. Immediately after transplanting, provide the plant with plenty of water and shade.

Using cuttings

Campanula cuttings

Cuttings are very easy to obtain. When pruning elongated shoots, use the lower parts for rooting.
Rooting occurs best in a mixture of peat and sand.
For cuttings, it is necessary to provide greenhouse conditions; it is advisable to cover the plant with a polyethylene cap and regularly spray it with water from a spray bottle.
The optimal rooting temperature is 20 - 24°C.
After the shoots grow to 7 - 10 centimeters, pinch their tops. This procedure provokes the appearance of additional shoots. Your bushes will be more branched.

Cuttings can be resorted to in the summer. They will grow over the summer and autumn, but by the beginning of winter the green part needs to be cut off and the flower allowed to rest. Already in the first spring after transplantation, campanula can bloom with proper care and timely feeding.

Green shoots

This type of vegetative propagation should be resorted to in the spring, when young green branches grow at the campanula. They can be cut and rooted.

How to do it correctly:

1Separate the green shoot from the “heel”

2Plant it in a mixture of loose peat soil and sand

3Cover with plastic wrap

4Ensure greenhouse conditions

5Keep the container with young shoots in a cool place at a temperature of plus 12-15 degrees

6Don’t forget to spray and ventilate your miniature greenhouse every day

Mini greenhouse for rooting cuttings

Campanella takes root quite quickly; after two weeks, small roots form. After the plants begin to actively grow vegetative mass, move them to a brighter and warmer place.

When the plant reaches a height of ten centimeters, it is necessary to pinch it so that it begins to branch and bush.

Propagation by seeds

The seeds of this plant are very small; they need to be planted superficially in small bowls filled with soil mixture. It is advisable to cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil on top. For seeds during the germination period, it is necessary to provide a greenhouse effect, wrap the top with plastic film or glass.

Sprouted seeds

Be sure to provide periodic ventilation to prevent excess condensation from accumulating. After the third leaf appears, pick up the seedlings, do not forget to pinch, this will allow you to get a branchy bush. Plants grown from seeds usually bloom in the second year.

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How to care during dormancy

Like any plant, after the flowering period, campanula enters a period of rest, when the plant rests and gains strength before flowering again.

With the onset of late autumn, when the flower completely stops growing shoots and flowering, all shoots are pruned, leaving only 10-12 cm. In addition, it is advisable to move the plant to a cooler place, but well lit, and reduce watering to twice a day. month. Instead of watering, you can also loosen the soil only if the soil is not dry. It is best not to water the campanula, but only to moisten the soil, since damp soil, and even cold soil, can cause the death of the plant.

In general, winter is a difficult period for the plant and it does not tolerate it well. Long shoots must be pruned. The cut area must be sprinkled with crushed charcoal.

The temperature regime in winter should also be optimal; very high temperatures and dry air are also harmful. Spray the plant only with warm water.

You will also have to watch out for drafts, which are also harmful to the plant. If young shoots have sprouted around the trunk, they do not need to be removed. When the trunk dies, it must be carefully cut off so as not to damage the young shoots. They will subsequently give rise to a new plant.

As soon as spring begins, the campanula will need to be moved to a warm room. This usually happens in early March. If there are dried shoots, they will need to be removed and watering will be done more often.

Spring is the best time to transplant the plant into a new large container and fresh soil.

Flower “Bride and Groom”: care at home

Caring for the Bride and Groom flower is considered quite simple.

Bluebells are lovers of cool places, so in rooms with a cool climate the plant behaves as if it were absolutely unpretentious. It is best to choose eastern and western rooms, while avoiding the southern sides. In summer, the campanula can be taken out to live on the balcony. To make the flower feel comfortable, the room needs to be aired daily. Bells love light, but it is better not to place them on the windowsills of windows facing south. The heat will not be the best ally for the “bride and groom.” When the room temperature is about 16-20 degrees, the campanula grows in full force, feeling very good. But in the summer, when it’s hot and stuffy outside, the flower can get sick. It should be watered abundantly during the active growing season. When the plant goes into hibernation, that is, a period of rest begins, it is advisable to reduce watering. In summer, water once every three days, and after flowering, once every 7 days is enough. For reference, the dormant period for such flowers falls at the beginning of December - mid-January

When watering, you can use hard water, but follow the rule: the hotter the room, the more often you water. Caring for the “bride and groom” at home requires mandatory spraying on hot days and in the first days of the heating season. In the summer, when Campanula actively blooms (June - August), it is very important to fertilize. It is best to do this 1-2 times a month with organic fertilizers. At the end of winter or spring, it is advisable to trim the shoots, leaving sections with 2-3 dormant buds

It is important to ensure that these same buds do not become lignified. Otherwise, the plant will simply lose its ability to bloom. To achieve lush flowers, you need to remove wilted flowers in time.

The popular name “Bride and Groom” was assigned to Campanula Campanula. These plants reach a height of no more than 30 cm. Light green leaves are located on thin, hanging down or creeping shoots.

From June to October the plant blooms profusely. Many bells appear on it. The diameter of which, as a rule, does not exceed 4 cm. It is customary to distinguish the groom from the bride by the color of the flowers. The bride's flowers are white, and the groom's flowers are light blue. There is a tradition to give newlyweds 2 flowers (necessarily male and female, 1 each), then the family will be strong, and love and happiness will never leave it.

In order for flowers to look appropriate for their status, they need to be grown correctly. The location on the north or south side is not of fundamental importance. Even-leaved bells love diffused, dim light. These plants are ampelous, so it is advisable to grow them on a stand or in a flower pot so that the stems can hang down freely.

Flowers "Bride and Groom" need good watering. It should be daily and plentiful. In summer, the plant is watered 2 times a day.

While the bells are developing and growing, they need to be fed once every 10 days with liquid fertilizers for violets “Kemira-Lux” and “Etisso”. Instead, you can use complex fertilizers for indoor plants.

Excessively overgrown lashes must be trimmed. The procedure is carried out after the plants have finished flowering. The upper shoots are removed almost to the base, and the lower ones are shortened, leaving only 10 cm shoots. In this form, the flowers can go on winter rest.

The dormant period lasts about 2 months - from the end of October to the end of December. The place should be dry, bright and cool. The air temperature should not be higher than +15 C. During this period, the plant is not fed, and watering is reduced to 2 times a month.

At the end of March - beginning of April, the bride and groom's flower is ready for transplanting. For the procedure, purchase in advance soil intended for replanting azaleas.

Spring is a good time for propagating even-leaved bells; use apical cuttings, 10-20 cm young shoots (tear off young shoots at the heel) or dividing the bush. In the latter case, do not divide the bush into too small parts.

Bride and Groom are different varieties of Campanula equifolia that are not suitable for planting together in the same pot. White plants are stronger and will quickly displace their blue neighbor.

Watering and humidity

When you purchase a new plant, you do not immediately transplant it into a new pot, but leave it for two days to adapt.

To transplant into another pot, it is necessary to prepare the soil, which should consist of an equal amount of the following components: humus, peat, leaf soil and coarse sand. Before pouring the prepared soil mixture, it is necessary to lay a drainage layer on the bottom.

Plants do not like direct sunlight, but prefer a lot of light. Therefore, it is best to place pots with bells on the east and west sides.

If you do not have such windows, then when displaying plants, you will need to shade them.

As for the temperature regime, in spring and summer the most optimal temperature will be 23-26 ° C, and in winter a slightly lower temperature of 12 to 14 ° C is required.

It is noted that the plant easily adapts to temperature conditions, so it can be freely transferred from a warm to a cold room and vice versa.

It is also noted that the plant can change its cycle and begin to bloom in winter and rest in summer. In this case, during flowering it is necessary to keep the plant at a warmer temperature, and during the dormant period at a colder temperature.

Watering

The watering mode is quite simple. In a nutshell: water abundantly in summer and moderately in winter. But we must take into account that although the plant is not picky about water, it does not like excess water. When watering, you need to make sure that there is no stagnation of water. During hot periods, the soil in the pot must be irrigated frequently and abundantly. In autumn, with the onset of cold weather, the amount of watering is reduced, and in winter they only make sure that the soil does not dry out. In general terms, autumn-winter watering is carried out 1-2 times a week. For this purpose, you need to use settled water. It is better to immediately collect it in containers and use it as needed.

In addition, the plant also loves daily spraying with the same settled water. If possible, it is good to humidify the air around the flower. But this is more of a suggestion than a requirement.

Thus, the main, let’s say, enemies of this plant are excess moisture, dry soil and too much light. These three components must be taken into account when caring for Campanula. In principle, nothing more is needed. Unless, fertilizers will still need to be applied.

Varieties and varieties

Today there are about 20 varieties of this flower, but in dachas no more than 4 of them are mainly grown. The most common types are angustifolia and graceful zinnia. It was this that served as the basis for the development of numerous hybrid varieties.

Zinnia graceful

This is a herbaceous annual plant, the height of which can exceed 100 cm. The inflorescences are colored pink, white or orange. As a rule, the shoots are straight and not branched; their cross-section is characterized by a rounded shape. The leaf blades have pubescence consisting of rather hard hairs. They are ovoid, length varies between 50-70 mm, width no more than 45 mm. Basket-shaped inflorescences form at the tops of the stems. The diameter of the flower reaches 5-16 cm, the surface can be double, semi-double or simple. The color is very diverse, even blue zinnia is found. The plant begins to bloom in early June.

Based on the height of the shoots, this variety is divided into:

Zinnia graceful

undersized, also known as dwarf zinnia. The height of the stem varies between 15-30 cm. A bushy branching plant is formed and looks very attractive. Can be planted in pots and open ground.
the average one has a stem height of 35-50 cm. It is grown in flower beds and is often used for cutting into bouquets.
tall zinnia grows up to 90 cm. It is planted exclusively for cutting, since in flower beds due to its large growth the plant looks sloppy.

Zinnia dahlia

The flower differs from its relatives in its powerful bushes, which can be compact or spreading. Their height varies between 60-90 cm. Shoots are formed of the first order. The massive foliage reaches 12 cm in length. The diameter of the hemispherical double inflorescences reaches up to 14 cm. The most popular varieties of this variety are:

Zinnia Dreamland is a double varietal flower that grows in height up to 65-70 cm. The inflorescences are formed quite dense, the color can be very diverse;
Zinnia Miss Butterfly amazingly transforms the garden plot during flowering. The height of the plant is no more than 0.7 m. The inflorescences reach 14 cm in diameter and have a rich orange-red color;
The polar bear grows as a compact bush, no more than 65 cm in height. The inflorescences are densely double, rich white in color with a greenish tint.

Zinnia Lilliput

She's pom-pom. It is distinguished by its attractive compact appearance, its height is no more than half a meter. A large number of shoots of the second, third and even fourth order are formed. The leaves are miniature.

Note! The inflorescences are also relatively small in size. Does not exceed 5 cm in diameter

The most popular varieties of zinnia lilliput:

Zinnia Magellan. The height of the bush is no more than half a meter; during flowering, deep red, scarlet, densely double inflorescences are formed. The shape of the flowers is truncated-conical or round;
California zinnia grows as a compact bush, the height of which does not exceed 45 cm. The color of the inflorescences is bright red, the surface is terry, the shape visually resembles a flattened ball;
Mixed tambelina reaches a height of about half a meter, the inflorescences can be of different colors. The diameter of the flower varies between 40-60 mm.

Zinnia angustifolia

This variety comes from Mexico. This erect plant belongs to the group of annuals; in the process of its growth and development it forms branched bushes. The leaf blade is elongated and has a pointed or lanceolate shape. During flowering, deep orange inflorescences are formed; the surface can be ordinary or terry. Known varieties:

Cherry is a highly branched bush, the height of which does not exceed 25 cm. The surface of the inflorescences is terry, the base of the reeds is dark orange in color, and the tips are brown-red;
white, lemon or yellow zinnia belongs to the Persian Carpet Mixed series. Sold as a mixed seed mixture. These are semi-double bicolor hybrids. The bushes form quite massive, visually reminiscent of oriental carpets;
Zinnia Swizzle reaches a height of no more than 30 cm. The stems are highly branched and creeping, but rather weak and thin. Inflorescences are formed in white, yellow or orange. In most cases, this variety is grown as a ground cover crop.