Freesia freesia

 
Фрезия

Kasatik (iris) family. Homeland South America, Cape province, hence the name - 'Cape lily of the valley'. There are about 20 species of ornamental flowering bulbous plants in nature. The genus is named after the German physician Friedrich Fries.

As a potted plant, Freesia hybrid Freesia hybrida is grown - a plant about 50-60 cm tall, with narrow linear leaves about 20 cm long and 2 cm wide. Inflorescences on a long peduncle, carries about a dozen flowers. Funnel-shaped flowers, very fragrant, about 6 cm in diameter. The color of the flowers can be very diverse: all shades of yellow, red, lilac, purple, white. To maintain shape, freesia leaves require a garter to the support, otherwise they hang, break and the bush does not look attractive.

Caring for Freesia

Temperature and care: during the growing season in the range of 20-25 ° C. When the plant has faded, the dry peduncle is cut off. The leaves begin to wither and die, at this time they reduce watering, only occasionally moistening the soil, and continue to be kept in a warm and dry place for 1-2 months, at which point new bulbs form. Then the bulbs are taken out of the ground and stored at about 15 ° C (but not in a refrigerator or cellar) until planting.

Фрезия

Lighting: bright sunlight, no shading required. If there is little light, freesia grow frail, bloom reluctantly or do not bloom at all.

Watering: abundant during flowering and moderate at the time of germination of bulbs. Avoid excessive dampness, bulbs can easily rot. That is, it is necessary to water after the soil in the upper part of the pot dries. To protect plants from waterlogging, you need to use not ordinary garden land, but make up potted soil of increased porosity, and pour high drainage at the bottom of the pot.

Top dressing: during the period of growth, budding and flowering, every two weeks. Of fertilizers, for example, Fertica Lux or Agricola for blooms, Merry flower girl, etc.

Air humidity: loves humid air, regular spraying is required, especially on hot days in the summer (after spraying, shading is necessary so that the plant does not get burns).

Reproduction: by seeds and bulbs. Seeds are sown in a loose peat mixture in March-April, in which case flowering occurs in autumn, seeds germinate within 10-15 days. Bulbs are planted in April, completely buried in the ground (about 5-6 cm deep if the ground is dense and deeper if light).

Since freesia is easily propagated, seeds and bulbs can be planted all year round. The main condition for successful growth and flowering is a lot of light.

Soil: you can use a purchased mixture for bulbs, or prepare yourself from equal parts of sheet earth, humus, peat and small gravel (2-3 mm). Drainage to the bottom is mandatory, but also make sure that the drain holes are not clogged with expanded clay or earth. The freesia pot should be very spacious in width, but not too deep.

At home, freesia can experience problems in closed, poorly and rarely ventilated rooms, if, for example, on a hot day you forget to open the window, plants can overheat and suffocate - the leaves quickly turn yellow. Therefore, with sunny weather, leave the windows ajar, and water the freesia in the morning.

The second problem is a cold snap from the second half of summer, when it is cold enough at night, try to check the soil before watering to make sure it is well dried.

Freesia growing conditions

Bibisara:

My freesia grows all year round at home, on the windowsill, and nothing breaks, blooms and smells. I plant several types of them in one pot, and it turns out a lush bush. As it gets warmer, I take it out onto the balcony. Which were planted in September, blossomed on March 8 and still bloom. And the second pot was planted at the end of December - 16 pcs. in one pot, they sit and grow very magnificent. They smell very sweet, like perfume - I really like it.

I wait for the leaves to dry and dig out the bulbs. I clean them, separate the children, dry them and re-plant them in another land - large bulbs separately, children separately.

polin:

I planted it as I bought it - bulbs have already begun to germinate there. She took a low wide pot, and "stuck" everyone there. Then, after a couple of weeks, she began to fertilize "for decorative and flowering." A kind of "grass" grows in appearance. In order not to fall "bushes," bamboo sticks stuck around the perimeter of the pot, pulled a wire between them - the bushes rested on it, then flowers hung with twigs through it - it turned out very nice. Then, after flowering, the tops began to brown and dry a little. A month after the "drying" shook out the contents of the pot - there was a scattering of new bulbs.

irina-bahus:

I have a south balcony, the sun from morning to evening, freesia grow well. In order not to fall, they must actually be buried deeper (maybe add land, if possible), because when they are planted in the garden, you need to have 3-4 cm of land above the bulb. And they are cramped in pots, if you transplant, you will see what is happening there with the roots. Well, it remains to support if it is not possible to land in open ground.

And one more thing: freesia are very frozen, even in Austria it is hardly possible to plant them from autumn, like ordinary bulbous ones. They are stored at home only in dryness and warmth (while heat is a prerequisite for laying flower buds), planted in the spring, dug up in the fall after flowering.