What is needed for chionodox to bloom magnificently on the site

Chionodoxa is one of the first to bloom flowers on garden beds and lawns, covering the ground with a colorful carpet. In the wild, it grows in large numbers in the mountains of western Turkey, as well as in Asia Minor, on the island of Crete and in the Mediterranean.

Description and characteristics

Chionodoxa (tzh... Scilla luciliae) is a small bulbous perennial, which botanists attribute to the family of asparagus and the genus Proleskids. It is divorced as an ornamental flowering plant. In early spring, due to its frost resistance, it pleases the eye with bright colors contrasting with the dark earth and white snow.

Chionodoxa belongs to the ephemeroid group of herbaceous plants. This means that the flower has a very short growing season. From the first green shoots to the complete disappearance of the aerial part from the flower beds, it takes about 1-2 months. The budding and life cycle of perennials occurs in April and May.

The plant is undersized - from 10 to 50 cm in height. He loves both sunny areas and slightly shaded with openwork ligature of trees.

The flowers, thanks to the pointed and elongated shape of the petals, resemble six-pointed small stars. Depending on the species, their color is white, pink, blue, bluish, lilac, etc. On the peduncle there are from one to six flowers. The leaves are basal, not wide, with a groove, and their color is rich green.

The choice of planting material

The key to good development and lush flowering is the selection of a suitable seed. Healthy chionodox bulbs are dense, light, round or oval, 2-3 cm in diameter.

Adhere to the following rules to select quality planting material:

• buy bulbs in late summer or early autumn - at this time you will get fresh planting material from this year;
• buy goods in specialized stores or nurseries with a good reputation, it would also not hurt to check the quality certificates;
• check the bulbs for mechanical damage, stains, plaque, odd color, rotten smell; gently press on the base - if it bends, then the bulb is sick, in which case it is better to refrain from buying plants in this store, since the disease could spread to other specimens;
• check with the seller if the bulbs have been treated with antibacterial treatment; if not, buy a fungicide and disinfect the material at home;
• the larger the bulbs in size, the better, the small ones have not yet ripened and, most likely, after planting they will not sprout the next season, but a year later.

Landing in the ground

It is recommended to send the bulbs to the flower garden in early autumn, in one of the first weeks of September. Usually gardeners plant them together with tulips.

In order for chionodox to take root in the open field, you must choose the right place. Land must meet the following criteria:

• be loosened and saturated with nutrients;
• damp, but not waterlogged;
• neutral or slightly alkaline.

Advice
It is advisable to bring the soil from the forest, which contains humus from leaves and bark, and mix it with garden soil - this is an ideal substrate for Chionodoxa.

It is better to break a flowerbed with Scylla in unshaded areas of the garden. The more light, the better these frost-resistant flowers feel. Their landing in partial shade is allowed, but then budding will have to wait longer.

Depending on the size, the bulbs are embedded in the soil in different ways:

• large holes are required from 6 to 8 cm deep, at a distance of 8-10 cm from each other, you cannot plant them too close;
• small and medium-sized bulbs should be planted closer to the surface, the depth of the hole in this case should not exceed 4-6 cm, the row spacing is also reduced, up to 6-8 cm.

Plant care

Chionodoxa does not require special care, but to prolong budding, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

1. Do not water the plant often. Usually he has enough natural moisture - from melted snow or rain. Watering is required only in dry spring.
2. Periodically, the soil should be loosened, simultaneously removing all weeds around the chionodox. And in order to make loosening less often, it is recommended to add mulch from humus or dry peat under the bushes.
3. During the growth period, nitrogen-containing fertilizers must be applied to the soil. However, you need to feed the plants with them carefully. Nitrogen should not be allowed to get on immature leaves, it can burn them. Fertilizer should be scattered around the flowers, then water the plantings and loosen the soil in the aisle so that nitrogen is absorbed faster by the roots.
4. Treatment of plants with special solutions against insect pests is allowed.
5. Once every 5 years, it is recommended to change the planting site of the chionodox.

After budding, the perennial produces boxes with seeds. It is advisable to cut them off in order to prevent unauthorized reproduction. However, it makes no sense to germinate flowers from seeds: this is a difficult and long process. Most often, perennials are propagated by separating daughter bulbs.

Chionodoxa is a flower that even inexperienced gardeners can grow on plots. Delicate shades of petals - from white to lilac - will refresh the area after winter.