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Dicentra ("broken heart"): rules for planting, growing and care. Potassium permanganate for plant health - reliable and irreplaceable

Dicentra - herbaceous, bushy plant is annual and perennial. It is called "broken heart", as the flowers look like a heart with a drop in the center. Dicentra is used for growing even by the most inexperienced gardeners, it is unpretentious, does not require constant care.

Varieties and types of dicenters

Dicentra is tall and short, with a different root system, gardeners have about 20 species:

Features of landing dicentra

Dicentra loves a place in the shade, goes well in different landscape compositions. Dicentra planting rules:

1. Soil preparation and planting site:
   • They dig a hole with a diameter of about 40 cm, a depth of 40-50 cm;
   • If the soil is clay, then add peat, sand to it. At the bottom of the hole, put drainage in the form of stones, rubble;
2. Gently plant plants without pressing down, so as not to disturb root system and not break the branches;
3. Sprinkle with a mixture of earth and peat;
4. Apply fertilizer in the form of humus, wood ash or a special purchased phosphorus-potassium fertilizer;
5. pour over warm water;
6. For better adaptation of the plant after planting, cover with polyethylene for 5-8 days.

Dicentra is best planted in the spring, depending on the region, from April to May. When planting, leave a distance of at least 50 cm between the bushes, then you will not have to replant the plant often.

Gardener's advice: dicentra roots are poisonous, so gloves or mittens must be used when planting.

To divide the root well, it needs to be dried a little, it will become more elastic and easily amenable to division.

Dicentra Care

It is important to provide the plant with regular watering with warm water and loosening the soil.

For stimulation abundant flowering in the spring, it is necessary to fertilize the flower with superphosphate. Top dressing is carried out 3-4 times during the season spring - autumn. The first - in April-May, the second - in July, the third - at the end of August - September.

IN summer period fertilizing with organic fertilizers: chicken or cow manure, which is diluted in a bucket or other container in a ratio of 1:10. Failure to comply with the proportion threatens with serious burns of the roots of the flower.

Dicentra is prepared for winter, starting in September:

1. The last top dressing is carried out at the end of August with nitrogen fertilizer;
2. Watering is stopped in the month of September;
3. Before the first frosts, they loosen the soil and apply fertilizer in the form of peat, humus;
4. After the first established frosts, a broken heart is covered with dry foliage or hay, spruce branches;
5. In order for the plant to grow well and not hurt, after flowering or wilting of the branches, they must be removed;
6. Before the first frosts, I cut off all shoots no more than 6 cm;
7. In the spring, at the beginning of March, cow and chicken manure can be brought under the bush, only if the snow has not yet melted.

Dicentra breeding methods

Reproduction is carried out in 3 ways:

1. seeds;
2. cuttings;
3. Roots.

Gardener's advice: in order to quickly grow a plant, it is better to plant it with roots. The plant will quickly adapt and begin to bloom.

Propagation by seeds is the most difficult method, since in some regions it is very difficult to obtain mature seeds, due to climatic conditions. Purchased seeds do not always sprout, and in order to grow a full-fledged bush, you will have to spend a lot of money and effort. Reproduction by seeds takes place in several stages:

1. Planting is carried out in moist, warm ground or in a flower pot;
2. Cover with polyethylene or glass jar;
3. Periodically watered with warm water with organic fertilizers and a growth stimulator;
4. Open the plant when it reaches a height of 10 cm;
5. Dicentra does not like transplants, especially if the plant is young. It is better to plant in 3-4 years.

Propagation by roots is the easiest and effective method. The plant quickly adapts to a new place. Root division is best done in a plant that is at least 3 years old. Carry out the division of the roots in early spring. The root is cleaned, cut sharp knife into several parts, so that each has 2-3 kidneys. Prepare holes with drainage and organic fertilizers.

Propagation by cuttings. For cuttings choose plants 4-5 years of age. In the spring, the shoot is cut off at the base of the bush. Dicentra cuttings are placed in a greenhouse at a depth of 10-12 cm in a mixture of peat and earth, watered with a growth stimulator. Be sure to follow the regime of watering, fertilizing, airing in the greenhouse until the plant gains strength and starts a couple of shoots. The next spring, you can transplant the plant to a permanent place.

Diseases and pests

Most often on the dicenter you can see: aphids, cicadas or ring spot. Although dicentra is resistant to many diseases, it is necessary to carry out preventive actions from diseases and pests.

1. When aphids or cicadas appear, the plants are sprayed with chemical or insecticidal preparations;
2. Can be used against aphids soap solution 80% laundry soap;
3. When ring spot appears, spraying with a Bordeaux mixture is used;
4. In order not to lose the plant variety, damaged flowers and leaves should be removed. Dig up, dry the root. Prepare a pale pink solution of manganese for root treatment. Soak the root in manganese for 2-3 hours, dry it and plant the root in a new place;
5. Treat the affected area with 5% formalin solution. Planting any plants in this place can be done after 1 year.

It is optimal to plant dicenters along the perimeter of the front garden or garden. It can be planted next to any plants, as it is very friendly, despite its poisonous nature.

• Kind: poppy
• Flowering period: June July August
• Height: 15-40cm
• Color: pink, white, purple, persian blue
• perennial
• hibernates
• Shade-loving
• moisture-loving

Lush rose bushes, high thickets of gladioli and smooth lines of marigolds and calendula near country houses look great, but quite traditional. Why not revive the familiar landscape with such a wonderful plant as dicentra? From the earliest spring delicate flower will bloom its heart-shaped buds and will decorate your garden until mid-summer, unless, of course, the rules for planting and caring for the dicenter are correctly followed.

Dicentra is an uncommon name, much more often we hear a more figurative version of “heartbreak”. The flower received such a capacious name due to the curious shape of the buds, resembling small hearts. Some people know this plant as a double spur - a literal translation of the words dis and kentron - "twice" and "spur". The French, rich in legends, gave the flower the name "Jeanette's heart", the practical Germans - the "flower of the heart", the inventive English - "the lady in the bath", but the Russian people christened it in their favorite minor key "broken heart".

Although many consider this plant to be European, its homeland is Japan, from where it was brought to Europe only in 1816. A beautiful flower immediately attracted attention with a bright range and an interesting shape of buds, so it became a regular in the gardens of aristocrats and nobles. Gardeners fell in love with the non-standard, exquisite dicentra so much that even the names of the varieties turned out to be “talking”: elegant, beautiful, magnificent, excellent, exceptional.

The place of a plant in a flower bed or in a flower garden is chosen depending on its variety. A tall magnificent dicentra looks great in the center of the composition, miniature wandering or exceptional - along the edges or along the border

Although the plant is not capricious, for better flowering in the fall it is worth preparing a place for planting and tilling the soil. Dicentra feels great both in areas lit by the sun and in the shade of trees, so there should be no problems with the arrangement of the flower garden. In shady areas, the buds open a little later.

In autumn, it is necessary to carefully dig the flower bed chosen for planting to a depth of 40 cm and make it more fertile by adding humus (about 3 kg per m²). Suitable for mineral supplements universal fertilizer For garden flowers in the amount of 15-20 g per 10 liters of water. In the future, when the plant gives color, it should be fed 3-4 more times - this guarantees rapid growth and violent flowering. After rain or watering, the soil around the bushes should be loosened, but very carefully, since the roots of the plants are close to the surface.

For weeding and loosening the soil, it is better to use a tool resembling a small pitchfork - soil cultivation will turn out to be gentle, and fragile roots will not be damaged

The soil should be relatively light and well let in moisture and air. If the soil is heavy, clayey, it must be diluted with river sand or peat so as not to provoke root rot. Many gardeners make a "pie" for the winter from dry straw or reeds, laying them out in layers and alternating with the ground in a specially dug hole.

The best ways to propagate and transplant

There are three ways to propagate the dicentra - by dividing the rhizome, above-ground shoots and seeds. We immediately dismiss the last path - the plant usually forms a small amount of seeds, and some varieties (for example, "Magnificent") in temperate latitudes do not give them at all. Difficulties also arise with growing seeds, so the most optimal method of propagation is to deposit parts of the rhizome or shoots.

It is better to divide the plant at the end of summer, when the above-ground shoots die off. The roots are very carefully dug up, removed from the ground and dried - in a slightly sluggish state, they become more elastic and break less. Then the rhizomes are carefully divided into parts so that 3-4 buds remain on each segment for the formation of shoots. Pieces of the root are buried in the ground in a dimly lit area and watered abundantly with warm water. To protect the cuts, you can sprinkle with ash. When the delenki take root, they can be transplanted into a flower bed.

For dividing an old bush, part of the plant will not work, you need to dig the whole plant. The rhizome should be carefully disassembled into elements, removing dead fragments and thin processes

Early spring is also suitable for dicentra transplantation. It is necessary to choose the moment when the shoots are still “sleeping” or have just begun to grow. Division is best done once every 5-6 years, but not less often, as the roots begin to age and die.

The order of disembarkation is as follows:

• dig small holes in the flower bed, the distance between which is 30-40 cm (the larger mature plant, the greater the distance).
• put 3-4 divisions in each hole - for splendor;
• fill the holes with earth, lightly tamp;
• sprinkle with sun-warmed water.

Propagation by ground cuttings is carried out in the spring. Carefully rake the soil at the base of the bush and cut off small parts of the plant with a “heel” with a sharp knife. Then, the cuttings are kept in a stimulator for about a day for the rapid appearance of roots and planted in well-watered soil, finally covered tightly with a greenhouse film. Roots will appear in about a month. Sprouts are planted at a permanent place of flowering only after a year.

If it is important to show the beauty and originality of a plant, it is necessary to plant it alone in a flower pot, planter or large ceramic flowerpot

Features of caring for this plant

Proper cultivation of dicentra consists in constant care, during which it is necessary to monitor lighting, timely watering, weeding and loosening.

The plant blooms equally well in the shade and in the sun, but the splendor and timing of its flowering directly depend on the degree of illumination. In an open area, the buds bloom and bloom early, and the flower stalks are not particularly large and pompous. In shaded areas, the color picks up more slowly, but the "hearts" are bright, large and do not disappear until mid-summer.

Dicentra simply loves sandy and rocky soils. therefore, one of the best places for its location is gentle slopes along paths lined with stone or brick

For the construction of a drainage layer located under the upper fertile layer, fine expanded clay is suitable, as well as gravel or coarse river sand

A few tips for caring for the dicentro:

• The saturated color of the buds is ensured if the roots are fed with superphosphate in the spring, and then, during the growth process, make another 3-4 top dressings.
• Even after the plant has faded, it is necessary to fertilize with nitrogen to better form new buds.
• During a strong drop in temperature, it is better to cover the plant using non-woven material.
• Faded brushes must be removed in time, then the flowering period of other branches will be extended.
• With the advent of autumn, the aerial part is removed, leaving stumps no higher than 5 cm.

The soil requires special attention. When waterlogged, the roots of dicenters begin to rot, so it is better to choose elevated places to place flower beds. If the plant has already been planted, and the soil is regularly flooded, the soil should be raised artificially and the flower garden should be equipped with a drainage layer and grooves for the outflow of water. At high temperatures, watering must be carried out more often and more abundantly so that the roots do not dry out. To retain moisture and protect against overheating, peat or humus is used, which is laid out in a dense layer around the base of the plant.

The most common dicentra varieties

Dicentra magnificent got its name due to its size - it is the largest and most lush plant. An adult specimen looks like a voluminous bush covered with openwork foliage and densely strewn with flowering tassels. The most common tint range is bright pink, plants with white flowers are much less common. White-flowered forms are shorter, but no less lush and decorative.

In order for the magnificent dicentra to re-bloom towards the end of summer, you need to use a little trick: at the end of flowering, carefully cut off the brushes with peduncles

Beautiful dicentra is a miniature shrub that reaches a height of no more than 30 cm. It blooms with small but elegant flowers from pale white to bright purple. The flowering period is quite large - from early spring to late summer. Some varieties have an unusual silver color of the leaves, as if covered with a light fluff. The plant is suitable for decorating borders and alpine slides.

The dicentra is beautiful - one of the plants that manages to produce seeds. This is explained by her long flowering, until autumn, when the seed pods are fully formed

Dicentra exceptional (excellent) is small in stature - no more than 25 cm. Against the background of bluish-gray leaves resembling fern leaves in shape, fragile pink, purple or white inflorescences flaunt. It blooms modestly, not very abundantly, for 2 months, and in cool summers - throughout the season. This plant lends itself easily to winter forcing.

Due to the resemblance of leaves to a fern, the exceptional dicentra is ideal for spectacular decoration of alpine slides, rockeries or low coniferous plantings.

The result of selective selection was the winding dicenter (climbing) - an amazing variety, an annual, whose homeland is considered to be the Himalayas. It does not look like a familiar bush, but rather long, up to 2 m liana, which blooms with beautiful yellow buds.

Growing a climbing dicenter is more difficult than its relatives. Creepers require special care and attention, higher temperatures and absolutely cannot tolerate cold.

Wandering dicentra is distinguished by its small size - no higher than 15-20 cm and short roots. The flowers are rare, but large, have a white, pink and red color. Has more late deadline flowering - from July to September. Feels good in a temperate climate, easily tolerates cold snap.

Dicentra vagrant prefers not waterlogged soil. He loves sandy, gravelly or rocky soil, so it must be used to decorate alpine slides, screes and slopes

Dicentra is a universal flower, equally suitable for single plantings and for decorating group flower beds. Low grades serve to decorate lawns, alpine slides, rockeries and thickets of evergreen shrubs, large ones to create lush multi-level flower beds around the house.

The plant discussed below dicentra- translates as "broken heart". We are all used to lush bushes roses, tall clumps of gladiolus, and even rows of marigolds and marigolds that are gorgeous but traditional. Recently, more and more often you can find wonderful plants - dicenters - reviving the usual country landscapes.
In early spring, the plant blooms its delicate flowers, and adorns the garden with heart-shaped buds for half of the summer season. But for this it is necessary to correctly follow the rules for planting and caring for the dicenter.
The plant belongs to the poppy species, blooms for a long time, starting in June and ending in August. Dicentra height - 15-40 cm, blooms pink, purple, blue, peach flowers. It is a perennial, loves moisture and shady places.

Broken heart or dicenter

These original flowering plants rarely called a dicentra, so it is more familiar under the name "broken heart", which appeared on the flower due to its curious shape of buds that look like small hearts.

The plant has another name - double spur. The French, rich in legends, call the flower "Jeanette's heart", the practical Germans - "the flower of the heart", the inventive English - "the lady in the bath", and among the Russian people the plant was called the "broken heart", characteristic of the favorite minor scale of our people.

Not all gardeners know that the dicentra is not a European, but a Japanese plant that was introduced to European countries in 1816. The beautiful view of the flower attracts attention, thanks to its bright range and interesting shape of the buds, and is a familiar inhabitant in the gardens of aristocrats and nobles. The non-standard and refined dicentra is liked by many flower lovers, who gave its varieties "talking" names. They named dicentra:

1. Graceful;
2. beautiful;
3. Magnificent;
4. Excellent;
5. Exceptional.

The choice of a place for planting a dicentra in flower beds and flower beds is influenced by its variety. A tall magnificent dicentra is planted in the center of the composition, and for miniature vagrant or exceptional, places are allocated along the edges and along the borders.

How to prepare the soil for planting dicentra

The plant is not very capricious or finicky. However, starting from autumn, in order to subsequently receive best flowering, it is necessary to prepare a place for planting it - properly cultivate the soil. Dicentra likes areas that are well lit by the sun, and she also likes to grow under the canopy of trees, in shaded areas, for this reason, setting up a flower garden will not be a difficult task.

In sunny areas, dicentral buds bloom a little earlier than in shaded areas.

At the onset of autumn, the flower bed chosen for planting the dicenters is carefully dug up, moreover, the depth of digging should be 40 cm. Then the soil must be fertilized with humus, which is added about 3 kg for each square meter soil. In addition, it is necessary to carry out a mineral supplement, which is used as a universal fertilizer for garden flowers, 15-20 grams of which must be diluted in 10 liters of water.

Later, when the plant blooms, it is fed 3-4 more times per season so that it grows faster and blooms rapidly. After each watering (or the past rain), the soil near the dicentra bushes is loosened. This must be done as carefully as possible, since its roots are located almost on the surface of the earth.

Dicentres grow and bloom well in relatively light soil, which passes moisture and air well. In heavy and clay soils, the plant does not take root, so they are improved with sand or peat, which prevent the roots from rotting. Some gardeners are preparing a winter "pie", which includes straw or reeds. They lay straw in layers, alternating with layers of earth, in specially dug holes.

Methods for transplanting and propagating dicentra

Dicentra reproduces in three traditional ways:

1. The division of the rhizome;
2. ground sprouts;
3. Seeds.

Since the plant produces few seeds, and in some varieties, in particular the variety "Magnificent", they do not exist at all, propagation by seeds is not advisable. In addition, growing seeds is also difficult, so the most optimal way propagation is considered to be the jigging of parts of rhizomes or shoots.

The optimal time for dividing plants is the end of summer - at this time, above-ground shoots begin to die off. You should carefully dig the roots, get them out of the soil and dry them, because their slightly sluggish state contributes to elasticity, the fragility of the roots decreases.

After that, it is necessary to divide the rhizomes in such a way that 3-4 buds are left on each part, capable of forming shoots. After that, each piece of root should be buried in the soil in dimly lit areas and watered abundantly with warm water. to protect the roots from pests, they are sprinkled with ash. When the pieces of roots take root, they are transplanted into flower beds and flower beds.

If used for reproduction old bush plants, they dig it out completely, and then carefully disassemble the rhizome into elements, remove dead pieces and thin shoots.

It is possible to transplant dicentra in early spring. In this case, choose the time when the shoots either did not wake up, or just started to grow. It is recommended to carry out the division no more often and at least once every 5-6 years, since at this age the aging and death of the roots of plants begins.

Dicentra is planted in the following order:

1. They dig shallow holes in the flower bed. The distance between them depends on the size of an adult plant, and should be approximately 30-40 cm.
2. Each hole is designed for 3-4 divisions - so the dicenter will be more magnificent.
3. The pits are filled with soil, which is lightly compacted.
4. From above they are poured with warm water, which has warmed up in the sun.

Propagation by ground cuttings is carried out in the spring. It is necessary to carefully rake the soil at the base of the bush, and then cut off small parts of the plant with the so-called "heel" with a well-sharpened knife. It is recommended to keep the cut cuttings in the stimulator for about a day so that the roots appear faster, and then plant them in abundantly watered soil.

Top planted cuttings should be tightly covered plastic wrap. The appearance of roots occurs after a month, but only the next year the sprouts can be planted in the place allotted to them in the flower bed.

In order for the beauty and originality of the dicentra to be noticed, plant it in flower pots, flowerpots or large ceramic flowerpots.

How to properly care for dicentra?

Competent cultivation of dicenters is constant care, in which it is necessary to strictly observe the lighting parameters, water the plants in a timely manner, weed and loosen the soil.

Plants bloom in sunny and shady areas, however, the degree of illumination affects the splendor and flowering time of the dicentra. Landed on open areas, the buds bloom faster, and fade earlier, while the flower stalks are small and not lush. If you plant a dicenter in a shaded area, it will slowly pick up color, but the flowers themselves, with their brightness and large size, will delight you until the middle of the summer period.

It is best to plant dicentra in sandy or rocky soil. The most successful places for its location may be a gentle slope along garden path lined with stones or bricks.

To equip the drainage layer, which is located below the upper fertile layer, you can use expanded clay of fine fraction, gravel or coarse river sand.

When caring for a dicentra, follow the following tips from experienced flower growers:

1. Feed your plant roots with superphosphates. The first time - in the spring, and then 3-4 times during the season. The buds of the plant will be rich in color.
2. Feed even a faded plant with nitrogen-containing fertilizers so that new buds form better.
3. With a strong decrease in air temperature, plants are covered with any non-woven material.
4. It is necessary to remove faded buds in a timely manner in order to prolong the flowering of the plant.
5. In autumn, the aerial part of the plant should be removed, leaving 5 cm stumps.

Pay special attention to the soil in which you plant the dicenter. If the soil is waterlogged, the roots of the plant will rot, so try to place the flower beds in raised areas. If you planted a plant in an area where the soil is regularly flooded, it is necessary to artificially raise the soil, as well as make a drainage layer and grooves to drain water.

If the air temperature is high, frequent and plentiful watering of dicentres is necessary. It is impossible to allow the drying of its roots. To retain moisture and protect the plant from overheating, you can use peat or humus, laying them in a dense layer on the soil near the base of the flower.

The most common dicentra varieties

There is a certain variety of dicentra varieties, the most common of which are as follows:

Dicentra is magnificent This plant is large and lush. Adult specimens are voluminous, covered with openwork foliage and strewn with flowering tassels. The most common color is a bright pink tone, more rarely you can find a magnificent dicentra blooming with white flowers. White-flowered plants have a shorter height, but they are just as lush and decorative.

For re-blooming of the magnificent dicentra, which is possible at the end of summer, a little trick is used: when the plant fades, its brushes and peduncles are carefully cut off.

Dicentra is beautiful is a 30 cm shrub that produces small but graceful flowers when flowering, with flowers that can range from pale white to bright purple. They bloom from early spring to late summer. Some varieties of this species have an unusual silver color of the leaves, as if they were covered with a light fluff. Plants decorate curbs and alpine slides.

The dicentra of this variety produces seeds because for a long time blooms - until autumn, when seed pods are formed.

Dicentra exceptional- which is also called excellent. Plants of this variety have short stature- up to 25 cm. Their leaves have a bluish-gray color. Their shape resembles the shape of fern leaves, and the inflorescences are fragile, pink, purple or white color. They bloom modestly, not abundantly for two months, and if the summer is cool - the whole season.

Since the leaves of the exceptional dicentra are similar to the leaves of a fern, it effectively decorates alpine hills, rockeries or low coniferous plantings.

Dicentra curly(climbing) - appeared due to selective selection. It is an amazing plant, an annual, whose birthplace is the Himalayas. The plant is not a familiar bush, and looks like a vine, up to two meters long, on which beautiful yellow buds bloom.

It is difficult to grow such a plant, since vines require special care and attention, as well as a higher temperature, since cold is contraindicated for them.

Dicentra vagrant is small and has short roots. It does not grow more than 15-20 cm. It blooms with rare, but large flowers of white, pink and red. The plant blooms later than its "relatives" - July-September. Suitable for temperate climate, it is not affected by cooling.

The soil in which the plant is planted should not be too waterlogged. The soil should be sandy, gravelly or rocky. Therefore, the wandering dicenter is successfully used in decorating an alpine hill, scree or slope.

Dicentra is universal plant, which is perfect for a single planting and for a group flower garden. Its low varieties adorn lawns, alpine hills, rockeries and thickets of evergreen shrubs, and large varieties create lush multi-level flower beds around the house.

Do you dream of planting something unusual and very beautiful in your garden? Yes, plus the fact that caring for him was not burdensome? Then flowers broken heart - exactly what you need. These amazing plants will not only create an exclusive and original design, but they will also bring you many pleasant moments in caring for them, and perhaps even help solve some personal problems.

History of a broken heart

I must say that in a scientific way the plant is called a dicentra, translated from Hellenic it is a "double spur". The ancient Greeks saw two spurs in this fragile and delicate flower, and so they called it. In other countries, the same flower is known as the lady in the bath (if the flower is turned over, it looks like), slipper Mother of God, Jeannette's heart, lyre.

He has such unusual names as a bloody heart and even Dutch pants. In Russia, the name of the plant is mysterious and a little intriguing - flowers broken heart. This is based on the appearance of the flowers. They look like hearts split in half. The French even have a legend about the unfortunate girl Jeannette, who fell in love with one beautiful young man, and he married another. Jeannette's heart broke from grief, and on the spot where she died, grew beautiful flower. They say that now broken heart flowers help all lovers find their happiness. This plant comes from South-East Asia (Far East, Korea, China). Some varieties can be found in Canada and Japan. The beautiful dicentra conquered Europe three times. At the end of the 18th century, Carl Linnaeus described her sample, at the beginning of the 19th century she was brought for flower beds, but the flower went unnoticed. After another 50 years, she fell into the hands of an amateur florist, thanks to whom she finally took her place among the leading plants in garden floriculture.

Description

Broken heart flowers, or magnificent dicentra, are the only species of plants from the genus Lambrokapnos (Lamprocapnos in Latin), which means "brilliant, shining smoke." Plant family - Poppy. IN separate view this flower was isolated only in 1997, after visual and molecular studies. It is a herbaceous shrub, by the type of vegetation - a perennial.

There are 20 types of broken hearts, 9 of which are garden ones. The height of some is only 12-15 cm, others grow up to 2 meters. The average plant height is 1 meter. The stems are erect or arcuately inclined to the ground, the leaves are carved, gray-smoky below, green above, reaching up to 12 cm long (with petiole). Heartbreak flowers are extraordinarily beautiful. Outwardly, they resemble heart pendants on strings. In some countries, the plant is called that - ladies' pendant. Their color is pink, crimson, red, rarely purple and white. Nature collected the flowers of a broken heart from four petals - two bright outer ones, slightly flattened, wide at the base and narrowed, deviating in different directions at the end, and two inner ones - not bright, more often white, narrow, elongated, as if protruding from the outer ones. They grow in clusters of inflorescences. Their fruits are oblong boxes with 2-8 round black seeds inside.

Reproduction by seeds

A broken heart is a flower, which is propagated by seeds, cuttings, and dividing the bush. Each method has its pros and cons.

It is difficult to propagate this plant by seeds, but it is possible. Sometimes there is no other way out at all, for example, when there is nowhere to take the stalk of the desired rare species. If you collect the seeds yourself, there is a risk that they will not have time to ripen before frost. Although in the southern regions of Russia dicentres even give self-sowing. The germination of a broken heart is unimportant. To get the result, you need to follow these rules:

1. All seeds - both self-collected and purchased - must undergo stratification, for which they must be kept for 2-3 months in the refrigerator. After that, they can be sown in April-May (depending on the region) in open ground. How to prepare a garden bed will be discussed below. You can sow seeds directly into the ground in the fall (in regions where there are no harsh winters). Then they will go through a natural stratification on their own. But it is best to sow the seeds in containers and germinate them at home. The temperature in the room is not lower than +15 and not higher than +20 degrees, soil moisture in containers is moderate, but the soil should not dry out. You will have to wait about a month for shoots. Seedlings are transplanted into the ground in the spring, when warm weather is stable. Their care is normal. It is advisable to cover immature plants for the winter. Flowering will delight in the third year.

Reproduction by cuttings

A perennial broken heart flower can be cut from spring to mid-summer. If you do this later, there is a risk that the young shoot will not have time to take root and get stronger before frost. Cuttings are harvested with a sharp knife, cutting off shoots with thickenings near the rhizome itself. You can keep them for a day in water with honey (1 tsp per glass) or in another rooter (according to the instructions), or you can immediately place them in the ground, burying them to a depth of 10 cm. The landing site should be sufficiently moist. Top cover with a film or press down with glass. It is also desirable to cover the stalk from straight lines. sun rays. Roots should appear in a month. For the winter young plant you need to cover with foliage or spruce branches, but with the first warm days, be sure to remove the shelter so that the plants do not rot.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

What needs to be done so that the eyes of the hostess are always pleased with the flowers of a broken heart? Caring for this plant is not very difficult. One of its stages is the rejuvenation of a green pet every 3-5 years. This is a good reason to propagate dicentra by dividing the bush. If necessary, this "operation" can be carried out more often, but not to bring the bush to complete exhaustion. It is reasonable to divide the rhizomes before or after the dicentra blooms, that is, either in spring or by the end of summer - the beginning of autumn. They are carefully dug out of the ground, mindful of the poisonousness of the plant and the fragility of the roots. To make them more elastic, the excavated bush can be briefly sweated in the air. Divide the rhizomes so that each segment has at least 4 live buds (shoots). It is advisable to treat the "wounds" with some kind of antiseptic, for example, a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Delenki are placed in holes, sprinkled with earth, watered. You can additionally sprinkle ash on top. Flowering will be next year.

Preparing for landing

A broken heart is a flower that can be planted in any corner of the garden where water does not stagnate. A lush and longer plant blooms in partial shade, for example, in places shaded by foliage tall trees. But if the shadow from them is thick, the dicentra will bloom poorly and for a short time. The same is true in bright sunshine. No, the plant will develop, but it will not give a lush color. Dicentral varieties with beautiful carved foliage are planted in sunny glades and in the shade. In the chosen place, it is advisable to dig the earth in advance, apply fertilizers (mineral - 20 g per square, organic - 2-3 kg per meter). Holes are made with a diameter and a depth of half a meter. Drainage from small gravel is laid at the bottom. Such holes can be prepared in the fall under spring planting. It should be borne in mind that dicentres of many species grow strongly. In order not to turn the plantings into thickets, the holes are dug no closer than 50 cm from one another.

Care

A broken heart is a flower, planting and caring for which is quite simple. After placing the plant in the prepared hole, it must be watered, but it is not necessary to overdo it so that the roots do not rot. In order not to be mistaken with moisture, the ground around the bushes is mulched. For more lush flowering in early spring, a broken heart can be fed with superphosphate fertilizers, and during the season - a couple more times with mineral fertilizers. In autumn, it is useful to add nitrogen to the plant's diet so that new buds begin. During the summer, in addition to watering, you need to weed weeds, cut off faded brushes, cut dry stems in autumn, leaving hemp up to 5 cm tall sticking out of the ground. It is very good to sprinkle them on top with peat.

Usage

Beautiful and exclusive flowers broken heart. Cultivation in gardens group landings or solitary. Depending on the species, dicentres are used in alpine slides, to create borders, as single showy plants in the center of flower beds. We must not forget that a broken heart, fading, loses foliage, so it is advisable to plant flowers next to it that can replace it. Corydalis, aquilegia, geyhera, astilbes look good next to the dicenter. In the spring, blueberries and daffodils create a beautiful contrast. A broken heart is not against the neighborhood of lindens, apple trees, bird cherry. This flower also goes for cutting, but we must not forget that all its parts are poisonous.

In the garden or at home in a vase, a delicate flower broken heart will create a special lyrical mood. The signs associated with him, perhaps not serious, but interesting. So, for example, the Germans believe that girls who put such a living “heart” in their bosom will meet their betrothed on the same day, and guys who pick a flower will meet their bride.

Dicentras gorgeous and beautiful

Dicentra magnificent, or a broken heart, a flower that is never difficult to plant and care for, is very popular with gardeners. The most commonly planted varieties are Alba (white flowers) and Gold Heart (delicate pink or red flowers and golden foliage). Released relatively recently new variety Valentine with showy cherry hearts on dark stems. In addition to these species, a beautiful dicentra is often planted, which is slightly lower than the magnificent one (up to 30 cm), and its flowers, respectively, are slightly smaller. But it is easily propagated by seeds. Varieties: Aurora (white flowers), Spring Gold (leaves change color from green to golden), King of Hearts (silver foliage), Ivory Hearts (cream flowers), Luxuriant, Bacchanal (cherry hearts). The dicentra is valued beautiful for its long flowering and decorative foliage.

Broken heart fringed and others

This is what they call the dicentra exceptional. Due to its miniature size (up to 20 cm), it is mainly used to decorate borders, rockeries, alpine slides. Her flowering is the longest - from May to frost. The peculiarity of the flower is a creeping root, which should be considered when planning plantings. The flowers of this species are mostly white and pink. The plant has the ability to intoxicate, for which it is also called connecting rod grass.

In addition to this species, there are also low and rare in our gardens canadian, clobuche, few-flowered dicentres. They bloom very luxuriantly, adapt well to the sun, but have very poisonous tubers.

In contrast dwarf varieties there is a dicentra giant growing more than 2 meters in height. Her flowers are yellow, for which she is called a yellow broken heart. This species blooms from May until frost. The plant looks spectacular near the walls of buildings, near fences, in arched structures. It is desirable to cover it for the winter, there are no other difficulties in caring for it.

At unusual plant dicenters set folk names: broken heart, Janet's heart, Virgin's slipper, bloody heart. This is because the flowers of this plant are shaped like hearts, split in two. The legends associated with the flower speak of an unhappy, but great love, the personification of which was the dicentra.

Origin

Dicentra is a herbaceous perennial from the Dymyankovye or Poppy family. In nature, the flower can be found in Asian countries (Japan, China, Korea), as well as in the USA, Canada. In our country, dicentra grows in forests in the Far East.

Description

The plant is a herbaceous shrub, from 50 cm to a meter in height, there are varieties - creepers. The leaves are pinnate, strongly dissected into segments, from light green to dark green. Branches dicentras grow from the center of the bush, smoothly curving in a beautiful arc, on which they are located large flowers in the shape of a heart. The color of the petals depends on the variety, and can be red, pink, yellow, white, pale blue. Inside the flower, a fruit box with black seeds ripens.

Varieties

Many varieties of Broken Heart have been developed that can be grown in the garden and at home.

• The centerpiece is great. Variety garden plant, 50 - 60 cm high. The base of the bush is densely leafy with large pinnate strongly dissected leaves. Flowers, 2.5 - 3 cm in size, densely cover the branch - peduncle. The flower is winter-hardy and unpretentious, suitable for cultivation even for the northern regions of our country.

• The dicentra beautiful forms a bush 30 cm in height, with two-centimeter purple flowers. This variety is suitable for decorating rock gardens and the front tier of mixborders.

Having examined the photo of the flower, you can be sure that the name "broken heart" was not given to it by chance.

Location

IN natural conditions dicentra grows on the edges of the forest, under the shade of tree crowns. In an open sunny place, she will be uncomfortable, tender petals will burn. In dense shade, the plant feels good, but blooms poorly.

Optimal for a flower, plant it next to large plants or openwork buildings, so that light penumbra covers it during the day. In the wind, the dicenter should not be planted either, the petals of the flower are too delicate.

At home, the dicenter is located on the northeast or east windows, shading at noon.

The soil

The soil

The dicenter does not impose special requirements on the soil. She suits loose and fertile lands without stagnant moisture. In low places where melt water stagnates, the flower is not planted.

Starting to plant dicentres, the soil is carefully dug up, removing all the roots of weeds. For 1 sq. area meter contribute mineral fertilizer(superphosphate or ready mix for flowers) - 25 - 30 g, and well-rotted manure or compost - up to 5 kg.

If the soil contains a high percentage of clay, add sand, up to 7 - 8 kg per square. Drainage is poured at the bottom of the landing hole (expanded clay, crushed stone). This will allow the water to leave without stagnation in the root zone.

Care

The culture needs regular watering and loosening of the soil, weeding. This work can be facilitated by mulching the plantings with a layer of peat, tree bark or small daws. Mulch will prevent weed seeds from germinating, retain moisture in the soil, and protect the roots from overheating.

During the season, the "broken heart" is fed up to 5 times. Apply before flowering organic fertilizers(mullein infusion in a ratio of 1 to 10) or superphosphate 15 g per 1 sq. meter, during and after flowering - phosphorus-potassium. Fertilizing the plant is completed by August, so as not to provoke the bush to the formation of new greenery.

After flowering, faded buds are removed from the bush so that it does not waste energy on the formation of seeds. In addition, drying flowers spoil the view of dicentra.

In autumn (September - October), the aerial part of the dicentra is cut to a height of 5 - 7 cm. The base of the bush is sprinkled with peat or sawdust to a height of 12 - 15 cm, covered with spruce branches or agro fabric. When the snow falls, you can throw a small snowdrift on top of the shelter. In the spring, insulation should be removed gradually, layer by layer, allowing the flower to get used to the fresh air.

Pests, diseases

A "broken heart" is rarely affected by diseases, but you need to know why a flower can suffer. Dicentra can suffer from root and stem rot, ring spot and microplasma disease. Unfortunately, the treatment of dicenters is not effective, diseased bushes are destroyed, and the soil is disinfected with formalin solution.

It is better to prevent the appearance of an infection than to part with beautiful plants. To do this, all the rules for growing a flower are observed, and the soil is shed with antibacterial drugs before planting. Dicentra can not be flooded, and planted too thickly, then the plants will be healthy.

Can be planted undersized varieties"broken heart" in pots, and admire the subtle beauty of a flower at home, on a balcony or terrace.

Blooming almost all summer season"Broken heart" is good in shady flower beds, among ferns,.

large bushes dicentres harmoniously look in single plantings. The shape of the bush is such that any neighbors seem superfluous.

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