Where forget-me-nots grow. Forget-me-nots - blue tenderness in the garden

Forget-me-not in many countries is called the same meaning, for example, in England - "Forget-Me-Not". In Russia, this plant is also known as the mouse's ear, and the pretty, and the gourd, and the fever grass. Genus forget-me-not (Myosotis) belongs to the Borage family (Boraginaceae) and includes about fifty one-, two- and perennial species. Natural habitat - areas with high humidity in Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, America.

Description

The root system of most representatives of the genus is fibrous. Some species, such as pleasant forget-me-not, form a rhizome. Stems thin branched. Their height is 10-40 cm. The leaves are sessile, can be lanceolate, linear-lanceolate or spatulate. Some species have hairy leaves.

Flowering occurs in May-June. Flowers form an inflorescence curl. The color is usually blue with a yellow center. Rarely come across pink or white inflorescences. At the end of July, nut fruits with many shiny small black seeds ripen, which remain viable for two to three years.

Flowering forest forget-me-not

The most attractive views

Annual species:

• N. rare-flowered (Myosotis sparsiflora) - differs in the presence of a small white tail (caruncle) on the seeds
• N. small-flowered (Myosotis micrantha) - the plant is completely pubescent, the diameter of blue flowers is up to 1 mm
• N. related (Myosotis propinqua) - characterized by relatively large flowers (1.3 cm in diameter).

Biennial species:

• N. Sakhalin (Myosotis sachalinensis) - can only be found in the Far East
• N. field (Myosotis arvensis) - high stems (up to 60 cm), blue flowers with a diameter of 2-4 mm. Calyx, pedicels, leaves, stems pubescent

Forget-me-not along the path

Perennial species:

• N. forest (Myosotis sylvatica) - characterized by large flowers with a diameter of up to 1 cm. Flowers can be white, blue or pink. Flowering can last up to 1.5 months
• N. arranged-flowered (Myosotis dissitiflora) - miniature (maximum 20 cm high), large leaves (about 8 cm long) pubescent basal. The color varies by variety and is white, blue, blue, pink,
• N. alpine (Myosotis alpestris) - a miniature bush up to 15 cm tall, leaves grayish from pubescence. Flowering lasts up to one and a half months
• N. Krylova (Myosotis krylovii) - characterized by barren shoots
• N. hybrid, or alpine garden (Myosotis x hybrida) - bred as a result of selection from Myosotis alpestris. Bush 15-30 cm high. The color of the flowers depends on the variety. For example, ‘Rosylva’ (Rosylva) and ‘Carmen King’ (Carmine King) - with pink flowers; 'Blue Bol' (Blue Ball), 'Indigo' - with blue; ‘Compinidi’ (Compinidi), ‘Music’ (Music) - with dark blue flowers
• N. marsh (Myosotis palustris) - due to constantly forming new shoots, flowering lasts from May to September. Flowers up to 1.2 cm in diameter. The color depends on the variety. The variety Semperflorens is very effective - a yellow center in combination with bright blue petals.

Photogallery of species

Cultivation and care

The location for forget-me-not should be chosen in the shade or partial shade. The exception is the photophilous alpine forget-me-not. In other species in sunny areas, the flowering period is almost halved. It is better if the site is with humus light soil. Due to its natural origin, the plant is moisture-loving. In drought, they need abundant watering. With insufficient moisture, they quickly fade.

Worth paying attention! The site should have good drainage. Waterlogging leads to rotting or excessive stretching of the stems.

Forget-me-not alpine (different varieties)

Before flowering, it is advisable to feed the plant with organic fertilizer. The concentration of the solution should be weak. "Overdose" can cause active leaf growth, which is unusual for forget-me-nots. In the spring, you can pour a mixture of compost with peat onto the site (pour a layer of 3-5 cm).

reproduction

Reproduction of forget-me-not is carried out in two ways:

seeds

To grow forget-me-nots from seeds, they are sown in small grooves, lightly sprinkled with earth, and gently watered. Shoots appear after two weeks. After the formation of true leaves, the plant is seated. In August-September, they are planted on a permanent site according to the 15x15 scheme.

Forget-me-not is easy to grow from seed.

The division of the bushes

Perennial species easily reproduce by dividing overgrown bushes. The procedure is best done at the beginning of the growing season (spring) or after flowering. With the spring division, the plants will bloom already in the current year.

Diseases and pests

Diseases that forget-me-nots are susceptible to: gray rot, root rot, powdery mildew, downy mildew. Spraying plants with a special preparation ten days after germination is considered an effective remedy for rot. Treatment of plants with fungicides is a method of treating powdery mildew.

Disease prevention:

• regular loosening of the soil
• compliance with the optimal irrigation regime
• flower plantings should not be thickened.

May be affected by aphids, whitefly and slugs. Spraying with insecticides will help to cope with the attacks of small insects. Slugs are best collected by hand or set traps.

Forget-me-not in landscape design

Use in landscape design

A modest forget-me-not will decorate a lawn near a natural or artificial reservoir, give a touch of romanticism in a shady corner of the garden. Alpine forget-me-not hybrids will successfully fit into rockeries. Myosotis sylvatica is used as a border plant. In group plantings of forget-me-nots, low-growing species and varieties are used as ground cover plants.

Forget-me-nots look great in pots or planters on terraces, balconies, loggias. Garden forget-me-not is used for cutting when making bouquets.

Ideal neighbors in bright mixborders will be: daffodils, daisies, pansies, tulips, garden wallflowers, ferns, etc.

Worth paying attention! After flowering, biennials lose their decorative effect, gradually dry out, so they should be replaced with other plants.

Forget-me-not (Myosotis) is a member of the Borage family (Boraginaceae). The flower can be annual or perennial. The forget-me-not has folk names: gourd, pretty, feverish grass.

Origin

Under natural conditions, forget-me-nots can be found in Asia, Europe, Australia and South America.

Description

In ornamental floriculture and European gardens, forget-me-nots are quite popular due to their modest charm and attractive blue color. Traditional healers use forget-me-not in the treatment of lung diseases.

A low bush is covered with large, elongated lanceolate leaves, painted in a gray-green or bright green tone. The height of herbaceous stems in most representatives is 30-40 cm. Tall and creeping species are also found.

Small flowers of forget-me-not of pale blue color form inflorescences. In the center of the flowers are yellow eyes. The flower is formed by 5 single-row, rounded petals. Sometimes there are varieties of forget-me-nots with pink or white petals. The flowering period is from May to September, depending on the variety and lasts 1.5-2 months.

The fruit is a black nut, consisting of four parts in the shape of an egg. Seeds ovoid, glossy black.

Common types

About 50 species of wild forget-me-nots have been classified. Among them, the most popular among gardeners is such a forget-me-not:

In the vastness of Russia, the unpretentious forget-me-not field and swamp is more common.

As a result of selection, varieties with blue, lilac, purple, pink and cream petals were bred. In private floriculture, the cultivated analogue of the Alpine forget-me-not Myosotis x hybrida hort has become widespread.

What kind of care is needed

Forget-me-nots are resistant to spring frosts, are shade-tolerant and frost-resistant. The best conditions for flowering are shaded areas. Therefore, forget-me-nots can be planted along with tall and spreading, ornamental plants such as. In the sun, the flowering period of forget-me-not will be less, only 20 days. Only for field and alpine forget-me-nots is the sun favorable.

Forget-me-nots are cultivated as biennials. Perennial plants stretch and fade from the third season.

For the growth of flowers, wet clay, sandy-clay or meadow soil is needed. However, forget-me-nots can suffer from excess moisture from watering or after rain. Weeding in flower beds with forget-me-nots is not required, as it can harm a plant with a fibrous root and a dense mass of intertwined roots.

Top dressing is applied monthly, alternating mineral and organic composition. The mixture is prepared from potassium sulfate, urea and nitrophoska in a teaspoon per bucket of water. The first time fertilizers are applied 2 weeks after planting, then before flowering and in autumn. In the spring, a layer of rotted compost and peat is added for planting. Excess fertilizer enhances vegetation and reduces the abundance of flowering.

How to breed forget-me-not in the garden

For planting forget-me-nots, seeds, seedlings, cuttings and dividing the bush are used as the main methods of reproduction.

The plant has vitality: it responds well to transplants and quickly takes root in a new place.

Planting seeds

Seeds are recommended to be planted immediately on the site at the end of summer - it's simple and convenient. Seed material is preliminarily kept in salt water. Only seeds that have settled to the bottom are suitable for use.
Soil preparation includes digging with peat and humus. After that, spread the earth with a rake and moisten. Place the seeds in holes or shallow grooves. It is necessary to maintain an interval between grains of about 10 cm. Sprinkle with a thin layer of sand. The site will turn green after 2-3 weeks. After the formation of several leaves, the plants are thinned out and seated. They are moved to a permanent place in August or early September, and next year, forget-me-nots will already please with flowering.

seedling method

Seedlings are planted in a greenhouse or in containers in October-November, then in six months the plants will already bloom. In light soil, seeds are planted very finely or sprinkled. Shade, moderate moisture and drainage are sufficient for germination. Dive is carried out after the formation of 2-3 leaves. In winter, young forget-me-nots are kept cool, and in March they are transferred to a warm room. By the end of March or April, the seedlings are ready for transplanting into the flower garden, and in May they will give color.

Cuttings and division of the bush

Varietal forget-me-not is conveniently propagated by cuttings. Cuttings are cut from the top on warm, June days. A length of 4-5 cm is enough. For rooting, they can be placed in water or in a container with a substrate and covered with a film. They are planted on the site in early autumn, like germinated seedlings.

The division of the bush is very effective and is carried out at any time, even at the time of flowering. Sockets are easily separated from each other and quickly take root after planting. Due to the peculiarities of the structure of the root system, small roots are not injured during separation.

Forget-me-not tends to self-seeding. Fallen seeds soon sprout around the mother bush. Young bushes can be transplanted to a new site.

Pests, diseases

Negative manifestations in forget-me-not, such as drying out of leaves, wilting of flowers and rotting of roots, are a reaction to the bright rays of the sun and unbalanced watering, when there is either little or a lot of moisture. Thickening of plantings should also be avoided.

The main pest of forget-me-not is. It is possible to be affected by gray and root rot, against which they are treated with fungicides "Skor" or "Hom".

Forget-me-not in landscape design

Forget-me-nots have been recognized by flower growers for their undemanding care and sky blue blooms. A romantic forget-me-not with bright colors will complement any composition when decorating a garden. It will give lightness and naturalness to garden ponds, Moorish lawn, rockeries. Forget-me-nots are planted as a border, placed in flower beds, group and single plantings are made.

A meadow of forget-me-nots is ideal as a natural backdrop for a photo shoot. Delicate blue color creates a favorable atmosphere. When determining a landing site, species preferences are taken into account. The swamp forget-me-not will thrive near a garden pond or stream.

The main purpose of the forget-me-not in garden design is to create a frame or decorative border. The small-flowered and low forget-me-not is good in extensive plantings, attracting the eye with delicately perky flowers.

Designers use forget-me-nots to decorate balconies and terraces when flowers are placed in separate flower pots. Ferns and pansies are considered good partners for forget-me-nots. Beautiful forget-me-nots surrounded by lilies of the valley.

Blue-eyed forget-me-nots are suitable for cutting. In cool water, they will stand for about a month.

See also video

Forget-me-nots are a genus of plants of the Burachnikov family, which are found almost everywhere in the world. Forget-me-nots grow small, have small flowers. The genus includes about 50 varieties of such plants. One of the most common species is a blue flower with a yellow center.

Forget-me-nots, depending on the species, can be either annual, biennial, or perennial. As a rule, certain species with blue and blue inflorescences will delight in flowering for several years. What does a forget-me-not flower look like? See photo below.

Flowers up close.

There are varieties with pink shades of flowers.

General view of the plant.

The most common types and varieties

Forget-me-not is a flower that is common in many countries of the world, including in the vastness of Russia. On our territory you can find wild and swamp flowers of forget-me-not. These small shrubs are unpretentious when grown, so they can often be seen in gardens and beds. The plant loves moist soil. Alpine and field forget-me-not feels great in the sun. It is worth remembering that certain species take root well in the shade of trees or shrubs. Varieties that have been bred for growing in pots are practically no different from others.

Swamp forget-me-nots (Myosotis palustris)

Such flowers can be seen in the forests and swamps of Siberia, the Balkans, Transcaucasia, Mongolia and Europe. The main differences from other species is that marsh varieties have a branched stem, large leaves and small inflorescences with pink or blue petals. As for the size of the swamp forget-me-not, it can reach a height of 30 centimeters. The length of the leaves is about 4-5 cm, blooms in spring or early summer, flowering lasts until the end of summer. The plant will be an excellent option for decoration or borders.

Alpine species (Myosotis alpestris)

As a rule, it grows in mountainous areas. This species is best grown in well-lit clearings. The species is characterized by a small rhizome and stem (up to 15 cm). In addition, the relatively short flowering period (approximately 7 weeks) is a disadvantage of the flower. Alpine forget-me-not has a dark blue color with dark green leaves. This species will delight with its flowering season 2. The maximum height is 45 cm, it has small flowers, only 1 cm in diameter. Alpine forget-me-not begins to bloom in early May and then for 20-30 days. After flowering, fruits are formed - small nuts, which are used as seeds for the next year.

Varieties of the alpine species differ in the duration of flowering, height, shape and color. Some of the most beautiful varieties are: Victoria (Victoria) (may have white, blue or pink flowers), Bluebird (Bluebird), Blue Ball (Bluebell) - this variety has blue flowers with stems up to 15 cm.

Bluebird (Bluebird)

Blue Ball (Bluebell)

Victoria

Field forget-me-nots (Myosotis arvensis)

In addition to external qualities, field varieties have some medicinal properties. These plants are widely used for medicinal purposes. It blooms for 2 years, while it is worth remembering that there are also annual varieties of this species. Flowering begins in May, and ends depending on the variety, most often at the end of June. The plant is harvested during flowering and after the formation of boxes with seeds.

The note! For medicinal purposes, for the treatment of coughs and inflammatory diseases, almost all components from the stem to flowers and seeds can be used.

Forest forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica)

Found in the Carpathians and European countries, perennial. It grows up to 30 cm, has light blue petals and light green leaves. Mostly observed in forests, in small clearings.

To date, breeders have managed to develop many different varieties of forget-me-nots, they have excellent characteristics and are often used in landscape design for decoration and reservoirs, formation.

On the territory of Russia, it is rare to find an Alpine variety; in our country, its domesticated varieties are planted, given above. In seed stores you can find forget-me-nots for every taste and color, some varieties can bloom in two colors.

Growing and planting

Growing from seeds and planting in the ground is the same for all varieties. As for care, different types require certain conditions to perform such actions. Outdoor plants are usually grown from seeds. To plant seeds in the ground, you must:

• prepare the soil (plow the ground, fertilize with peat and / or humus);

Depending on the variety, planting in the ground can vary from late April to early May. Of course, seedlings can also be used for planting in the ground, they have been prepared since autumn.

• level the ground;
• make small furrows and place seeds in them;

Note! Furrows should be shallow (up to 2.5 cm, depending on the variety). In addition, the distance between rows should be approximately 10 centimeters. The first shoots will be visible in 12-14 days.

• after the first leaves appear, the seedlings must be thinned out or planted. In this case, it is worth considering the distance between plants of 4-5 cm;
• in late summer, biennial varieties should be transplanted elsewhere.

To plants began to bloom earlier, you can use seedlings. In this case, buy the soil or prepare it yourself. It is best to buy special soil for flower seedlings. Next, the seeds are planted in boxes with soil and expect the first shoots. Before sprouts appear, it is best to water the earth through a sheet of paper with warm water. When leaves appear on the seedlings, flower boxes are sent to a cold greenhouse until spring. At the end of April, seedlings are sent to open, prepared ground in the manner indicated above. Plants grown from seedlings begin to bloom in May.

Outdoor care

Despite the fact that forget-me-nots are light-loving flowers, a shaded area would be the best option for them. At the same time, you should monitor the soil moisture near the flower bed with the plant. If the soil is too dry, the flower may die. Flowering and its duration also depend on the area where the flower is planted. In a sunny area, the plant will bloom for only 3 weeks, while in a shaded area for up to 2 months.

The note! Exceptions are field and alpine species and varieties. The common garden blue forget-me-not grows well with larger, taller flowers that provide shade.

In most cases, plants are grown for 2 years, after which they are sown again. In the third year, the stems of the plant stretch too much, and the diameter of the flowers becomes smaller.

As for the soil, moderately moist soil with a small amount of fertilizer would be ideal. If the soil is oversaturated with moisture, the plant will stretch, the stem will become thinner, and the flowers will be smaller. Too dry soil will not work.

Watering should be carried out as the soil dries up, depending on weather conditions, the forget-me-not forest clearing in your area should not be oversaturated with moisture. If the plant is grown in the sun, the amount of water for irrigation is increased. It is not necessary to water the flower bed in spring.

Fertilizers are applied only 3 times:

1. Before planting the plant in the ground.
2. Before flowering, after germination.
3. In autumn.

As a fertilizer, it is better to use liquid mineral mixtures for flowers. You can buy them at any gardening store. In autumn and spring, the clearing is fertilized with peat and humus.

Note! Forget-me-nots love fresh soil, so it needs to be loosened periodically. As for weeding, it must be carried out as weeds appear on the plantation.

When to plant forget-me-not?

Seedling growing method:

1. annual plant- sow in late February-early March.
2. biennial plant- sow in May-June. In late August-early September, seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place.

For forcing plants in winter, seeds are sown in late February-early March. The next timeframes are as follows:

• in July-August, the resulting seedlings are transplanted into pots,
• at the end of September, the pots are brought into cool rooms with temperatures up to 0 ° C,
• in February they bring them into a warm apartment.

How to use in landscape design?

Forget-me-not will be a great option for decoration flower beds, flower beds or balconies. Many varieties of flower can be grown at home. When choosing a place for planting forget-me-nots, it is worth considering the type and variety of this plant, marsh - will perfectly decorate an artificial pond, garden - a flower bed, alpine will look great among the stones.

Forget-me-not goes well with tulips, lilies of the valley, daffodils. Daisies and pansies will also look great in the flower bed next to her.

To replace the forget-me-not, when it comes to selecting plants for shaded and moderately humid areas of the garden, you can:

• lungwort,
• small-bulbous, daffodils, crocuses,
• chiostophyllum.

Below are photos of flowers in a flower bed:

Application in landscape design on video

One of the most beautiful videos on the topic.

The natural habitat of the forget-me-not flower is humid areas in Europe, Asia, America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Of the 50 existing one-, two- and perennial species, 35 grow in the CIS.

Outwardly, this plant is very elegant - its branched, from 10 to 40 cm in height, shoots are crowned with delicate blue (pink and white are found) flowers with a yellowish eye, collected in inflorescences, curls. In the Russian Federation, the flower is so popular that a garden, wherever it grows, is a rarity.

Varieties and types

- a familiar plant for the forests of Central Europe and the Carpathians with densely branched bushes no more than 30 cm in height and delicate green foliage. This shade-tolerant and moisture-loving perennial is grown in culture as a biennial. The flowers of a heavenly shade are 10 mm in diameter, while a considerable number of varieties have been bred, the flowers of which are painted in pink and blue, for example, the inflorescences of the variety forget-me-not pompadour - dark blue.

Distributed in the territories of the European part of Russia and southern Siberia, it can reach 70 cm in height. The tips of the leaves are either pointed or blunt. Corollas of blue flowers, consisting of 5 petals, are 6-10 mm in diameter.

She also settled in Central Europe and Mongolia. Its height is 30 cm, and the blue flowers are relatively large - up to 12 mm in diameter. Marsh forget-me-nots are widely used in decoration along the banks of reservoirs.

- grows on rocky areas in the zones of the Alps, Carpathians and the Caucasus. Another perennial forget-me-not, relatively low (from 5 to 15 cm tall) with numerous dark blue flowers. In gardens, you can most often find its varieties, and not the natural variety.

(cold ) with spatulate, less often linear, oblong foliage grows in coastal areas, damp woodlands and tundra.

10-15 cm tall, with densely pubescent shoots and leaves pressed against them. Blue corollas are 6-7 mm in diameter. It grows in the steppes of Khakassia and Siberia.

From New Zealand it is a perennial plant up to 45 cm high with a straight branched stem, oval green leaves and yellow or white flowers.

- no more than 15 cm tall, with blue small (5-6 mm in diameter) corollas. The plant is very rare, but it can be found on rocky slopes in the lowlands of the Lena River.

(compressed ) - a small (from 3 to 15 cm tall) annual plant with flowers directed upwards. Corollas are very small - only 1-2 mm in diameter, painted in deep blue or blue. It grows everywhere in the steppe, rocky and sandy areas, near roads, in fields.

- perennial, from 10 to 40 cm in height, with a creeping rhizome, an ascending or erect shoot, lanceolate foliage and a 2-color corolla - pink at the beginning, then azure blue.

Forget-me-not planting and care in the open field

In order not to complicate the cultivation of forget-me-not, it is preferable to choose a shady or semi-shady area for it.

The exception is the alpine forget-me-not, which is very fond of sunlight. All other species are characterized by an almost twofold reduction in the flowering period in well-lit areas.

Watering should be done sparingly, as with excess moisture, root rot is possible. It is best to water once a week, but with large amounts of water, although the forget-me-not also likes small portions poured throughout the day.

Brunner large-leaved is also a member of the Burachnikov family. You can read the recommendations on planting and caring for this flower in this article.

Forget-me-not soil

Suitable soil for forget-me-not is moist and slightly flavored. Extremely fertile soil, especially one that includes fresh manure, will encourage foliage growth, which will then disrupt the natural seasonal rhythms of growth and development.

It should be noted that the plant needs good drainage in order to avoid oversaturation with moisture of both the root system and the stems, which are also prone to decay.

Forget-me-not transplant

The undoubted advantage of forget-me-not, important in ornamental gardening, is its resistance to transplantation. The probability that the plant will endure this procedure is almost one hundred percent.

However, one serious nuance must be taken into account here - after transplanting, the forget-me-not must be watered abundantly. In general, the process consists of 4 steps:

• preparing a new site by leveling the land and mixing it with peat and humus;
• digging up a forget-me-not, carefully prying it with a root with a spatula made of wood or plastic, so as not to injure the stem;
• digging a small hole and planting a plant in it;
• watering.

If the procedure is planned for autumn, then you should choose the time before the first frosts come, since it is easier for the plant to adapt in unfrozen soil. Forget-me-not also copes well with transplanting during flowering!

Forget-me-not top dressing

No special dressings are required. It is recommended to apply organic fertilizers in low concentrations before flowering.

It is important to remember that any excess of the dose in this case threatens with an active growth of foliage, which is not characteristic of these plants. In spring, a mixture of peat and compost (a surface layer of 3-5 cm) is suitable as a fertilizer.

Forget-me-not pruning

Perennials before the arrival of frosts are cut almost to the root, then covered with spruce branches. Forget-me-nots are not afraid of winter, however, with strong drops in temperature, combined with small amounts of snowfall, they may not survive.

Forget-me-not propagation by cuttings

For varietal forget-me-nots, the propagation method by cuttings is expedient; at the same time, it is considered the most popular for these plants. Overgrown bushes are selected and the highest cuttings are cut below the shoot.

They are placed in water to take root, then they are planted in the soil. The land before planting should be prepared accordingly - moisten, fertilize with peat and humus, make small holes.

The planted cuttings are sprinkled with superficially dry earth and watered under the root. After 5 days, it is recommended to feed the plants with a universal fertilizer without ammonia.

Diseases and pests

Forget-me-nots can be hit gray mold And powdery mildew . In the first case, the bushes are saved by trimming the diseased elements of the plant, the rest by treatment with Bordeaux liquid or copper sulphate.

Powdery mildew will help to cope with spraying in the morning or evening with a solution containing the following components: 10 liters of water, 1 kg of wood ash and laundry soap.

Gardeners advise, as a precautionary measure, to systematically remove weeds on the site, to make a thin planting and water the plants moderately.

Forget-me-not useful properties

Forget-me-not petals contain anthocyanins, which give the petals their blue color. These substances largely determine the medicinal properties of the plant - eliminates inflammation, helps to remove sputum from the lungs and reduce sweating, and stops blood.

Basically, in medical practice, juice and powder are used in the treatment of cancerous tumors of the oral cavity and organs of the reproductive system, less often - a decoction of the roots externally for eye diseases and as a bath additive for skin rashes, rashes and dry eczema.

Forget-me-not (from lat. Myosotis) belongs to the Borage family. There are more than 50 species in the genus that grow in Europe, Africa, America, Asia, New Zealand and Australia, Russia. The plant is located in wet, sometimes swampy areas. In Russia, this flower is well known and loved, it has received among the people such names as "gourd", "pretty", "fever grass". Starting to build a beautiful forget-me-not flower garden in your garden, cultivation and care are the main issues that you need to study. And our article will help you with this.

Small, usually blue, flowers on long stems.

Forget-me-not flowers can be:

1. annual;
2. two-year;
3. perennial.

The stems are long, reach 40 cm. The leaves can be lanceolate, sessile, spatulate, linear-lanceolate. Flowers in color - blue, pink, white. Collected in inflorescences. The fruits of the plant are small dense boxes in the shape of a nut, inside there are many black shiny seeds. They take root well and can remain viable for up to 3 years.

Types of forget-me-nots

More than half of all types of forget-me-not grow in the territories of Russia and the former USSR. Let's take a look at some of the most famous.

1. Alpine forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris). Place of distribution - rocky terrain of the Caucasus, the Carpathians, the Alps. The rhizome of the plant is short, the stem is low - up to 15 cm. The leaves are light green, and the petals are dark blue. Likes to be in bright light, in these conditions it can bloom up to 7 weeks. Propagated by seeds.
2. Marsh forget-me-not (Myosotis palustris). It grows in moist soil, along the banks of reservoirs and swamps. Stems are long, branching. The leaves of the flower are large, bright green. The petals are pink or blue, the flowers are relatively large, up to 1.2 cm in diameter.
3. Forget-me-not field. It is considered a medicinal plant. The shoots are low, the flowers are small, blue.
4. Forest forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica). Perennial with a long stem, green oval elongated leaves. The flowers are numerous, arranged on pedicels and collected in curled inflorescences. Depending on the variety, the color of the petals can be pink, blue, blue. The plant loves shade and moisture.

Breeders are constantly deducing new types of forget-me-nots with flowers of various colors - purple, yellow, cream.

Breeders have already created forget-me-not varieties with pink and purple flowers.

Alpine forget-me-not is rarely found in the nature of our country, most often its domesticated version is grown, which is called "Alpine garden forget-me-not" (Myosotis x hybrida hort). This garden plant is very unpretentious - it grows well and blooms in the sun, in the shade, in drought conditions. Even withstands small, up to -5 degrees, frosts. It can bloom for a long time - about 45 days. Popular varieties of garden forget-me-not:

1. "Music" is a tall flower with dark blue petals.
2. "Indigo" - small bushes up to 15 cm tall, with blue flowers.
3. "Rosilva" - small plants, pink flower petals.
4. "Victoria" - the bushes are small, rounded, with pale blue flowers.

Home Care

Forget-me-not grows and feels great in natural conditions, therefore it is an unpretentious plant. It is usually grown in the garden or in the greenhouse.

Lighting

Although it is believed that forget-me-not flowers grow well in the shade, they still need sunlight. It is necessary to provide conditions when the grown flower is in the sun from 3 to 6 hours a day, partial shade conditions will be ideal. In this case, flowering will be more abundant.

Given the recommendations, in the garden you need to choose a place where the flower will be half a day in the sun and half a day in the shade. Indoors choose the south side, not forgetting to curtain the windows in time. You also need to remember about regular ventilation.

Watering

For watering, forget-me-not is more demanding. It grows well only in moist soil, so it should not be allowed to dry out. It is better to water infrequently - about 1 time per week, but plentifully, moistening the soil well. Regular spraying of the flower with warm water is allowed. The regularity of watering is calculated based on external conditions. If the forget-me-not is in the sun for a long time, you need to water it more often, if in the shade - less often.

Diseases and pests

Due to their natural hardiness, forget-me-nots are less susceptible to diseases and pests. Problems can arise as a result of improper care. If you water often and allow the soil to become acidic, fungal diseases can develop - gray rot, powdery mildew. In this case, spraying with fungicides will help.

How to grow forget-me-not

When choosing the soil for growing a plant, you need to consider two factors:

1. the soil should not be too nutritious, otherwise the forget-me-not will grow strongly and practically not bloom;
2. the soil should not be poor sandy, otherwise the flower will not grow well.

The ideal option is moist meadow soil. Next, you will need to monitor the level of humidity and observe the irrigation regime.

Forget-me-not needs to be fertilized infrequently. After planting, after 2 weeks, liquid mineral fertilizer must be applied. In the spring it is better to feed with peat and humus, and in the fall with organic mineral fertilizers.

During the period of plant growth, the soil must be periodically loosened to provide better access to moisture and top dressing. But forget-me-not does not need weeding - a powerful root system does not give weeds a chance to break out. For the winter, the plants are not covered with anything.

Landing

For planting in the garden choose a shaded place.

First you need to choose a place in the garden where the forget-me-not will receive enough light and be in partial shade. You can grow the plant next to tall flowers that will cast a shadow. For example, a sprawling fern is suitable as a neighbor.

In open ground, the method of growing from seeds is best suited:

1. The soil is well loosened, peat and humus are introduced, then leveled.
2. Furrows are made on the surface and seeds are laid out in them, retreating between the holes of about 10 cm.
3. Seeds are lightly sprinkled with soil and covered with polyethylene on top.
4. Water regularly, keeping the soil moist. This must be done carefully, spraying or passing water through a piece of matter.

Shoots of forget-me-nots appear 2 weeks after planting. When the first leaves appear, it is necessary to thin out the sprouts or plant them at a distance of 5 cm from each other. Flowering begins in May and lasts up to 2 months.

Another option for planting forget-me-nots in the garden is to pre-grow seedlings. To do this, in the fall, the seeds of the plant are sown in containers with light soil, slightly deepening. Under the soil layer there must be a layer of expanded clay. It is better to water seedlings before germination through a sheet of paper.

With the advent of leaves, seedlings dive and move to a cold greenhouse until early spring. At the end of April, seedlings can be planted in open ground. Flowering will begin in May.

Regardless of the method of cultivation, planting and caring for a forget-me-not will not cause much trouble.

reproduction

By correctly planting and propagating the forget-me-not, you can create a beautiful carpet of flowers on the site.

There are three main ways to propagate forget-me-nots:

1. Seeds. Seeds can be harvested by hand during fruit ripening. To do this, dried branches with fruits are cut off and the seeds are shaken out in the place where they want to grow forget-me-not. But it is easier to let the plant propagate by self-sowing, after transplanting it to the right place. The main thing is to prevent the strong growth of forget-me-not bushes, periodically thinning them out.
2. The division of the bush. You can propagate forget-me-not flowers by dividing the bush into several parts. A transplant is done at any time of the year - the root system of the flower is very strong, it can easily take root.
3. cuttings. The method is suitable for breeding varietal forget-me-nots. In early June, you need to cut off the green shoots at the top of the bush (about 5 cm). They are planted immediately in open ground, shaded and covered with a film. Water carefully, trying not to fall on the leaves. For better tillering, pinch a little on top. Plants propagated in this way bloom in the same season, but not for long. For the winter, the plant is covered with spruce branches or peat.

If you plant and propagate forget-me-not flowers correctly, you can get a beautiful multi-colored carpet that will decorate the garden.

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