Few gardeners know what kohia looks like. But personally, or photographs of the plant from which the brooms are made, have probably seen everything. The aesthetically pleasing and fluffy kohia provides almost unlimited possibilities for use. Thanks to the breeders, the plant, previously used only for making brooms, today has found a new life, embodied in many bright colors. Kohia - this is the finished material for the transformation of your garden, and you only have it landing and proper further care for him. We will discuss this further.
Basic rules of planting kohii
Growing kokhii is a rather fascinating process. This plant loves well-lit area. But if there are no such places left in the garden, then do not be discouraged, the kohia can also be planted in dark areas. The main question is whether there will be daylight from time to time. If you completely deprive the plant of the sun, it will greatly slow down the development.
Important! In the wild, kohia grows in semi-desert areas. This is one of the features of its cultivation.
When to plant kohiyu? Seed producers tend to sow that plant from March to April 20. And planted in the ground at the end of May. Therefore, kohia can be added to the list of crops whose seedlings are harvested in March.In terms of soil, kokhiya is very unpretentious. It will take root even in poor forest soil. But Kohiya does not tolerate acidic and waterlogged soils. The height of adult kohii ranges from 75-100 cm.
Experienced gardeners note that This plant is rather freedom-loving. In open areas, in the absence of "neighbors", kokhiya grows much better than near its fellows or other plants. It is a spacious area that allows Kochia to increase the vegetative mass. In case of space restriction by other shrubs, the plant begins to bloom ahead of time, and the decorative properties of its flowers are not much appreciated. This explains the fact that Kohiya can not be grown at home indoors.
Did you know? The oldest tree on Earth, growing to this day, is a pine tree in the United States aged 4500 years.
Comprehensive care for kohii bushes
During the vegetative period the kohia needs regular loosening, weeding, watering the soil and feeding with mineral fertilizers. Top dressing needs to be entered the first time on the tenth day after disembarkation in an open ground, and the second time - a month later.
It is very important to carry out watering kohii in the absence of rain. This is necessary to prevent flowering in a period of less ornamental. After crown formation and intensive growth, you can feed the shrub with nitrogen fertilizer. If kohia is limited in nutrition, it will fade. With insufficient watering leaves fall and look bad.
She also likes well-fertilized soil, the bushes on her will grow much more magnificently.
Pruning and forming a bush of kohii
As mentioned above, Kohiya perfectly tolerates pruning. There is only a questionhow beautifully cut summer cypress.Especially since you can give it almost any shape that will last a long period of time.
It has long been invented and to this day widely used plant haircuts, including Kokhii, in the form of various elements and figures. From scrap materials, in addition to shears, you will need ropes and slats.
The simplest figure is the cube. To form a living cube of kohii with a facet of 1 m, five plants are required. They need to land in the corners of a square at a distance of 80 cm. The fifth kohia is planted exactly in the center. Then the edges of the future cube are delineated on the ground and the framework is built. First, a rough cut is done: a margin of a couple of centimeters is left above the frame. Haircut starts from the top and continues on the sides. "Pure" start only after a visual check of the rough cut.
Important! According to statistics, cochia should be cut every two weeks, but it all depends on what the gardener wants to receive as a result. Growing this plant is a real surprise even for experienced gardeners.
How to cut Kohya in the form of a ball? Let's say right away that this Kochia haircut is carried out "by eye". For those who grow kohia for the first time, we recommend that you first cut a cube, and then truncate and trim to form a sphere. When you learn to make a ball out of kohii, it will be easier for you to cut out figures of animals, such as duck and lamb. And, of course, different plan pompons, boulders and hills.To create a column or cylinder bush must grow in a place well illuminated from all sides. Before starting to cut the plant, around the perimeter of the plant put slats - this will be the frame. Conducting a haircut, move away from the figure more often and evaluate whether it turns out or not.
Important! During the shearing, make sure that the position of the battens is extremely vertical.To cut a kohiyu with a cone, you need to draw a circle around it. Align several guide rails along the contour and fasten it on top. During the haircut, move in a circle from top to bottom. Try to do it as evenly as possible.
To form a spiral from kohii, it will take several years. Haircut Kochia will occur in two stages. Initially, the plant is formed into an ideal conical shape. A bright rope, contrasting in color, is tied to the bottom of the trunk of kohii and wrapped around to the top. Need to clearly maintain the angle of inclination and the distance between the coils. Next, fix the rope at the top. Rope pruning shears the contour of the spiral. After passing by a trellis scissors, forming rounded coils.
Did you know? The word "borscht" was originally applied to the Siberian hogweed plant. He was part of the same soup as the main ingredient. Later in this sense borsch is out of use.
Breeding kohii
All types of kohii begin to propagate by seed, which are sown at home in mid-March. The seedling is not tender, but the Spartan conditions are not for her either. Better to stick to a temperature of 18-20 ° C. Therefore, it is better to plant the seeds in the greenhouse, and then, when they germinate in the seedlings, transfer them to open soil. A fragile cochia that has just begun to germinate can be killed by March night frosts.
Sifting out the germinated seeds into the soil, you need to make centimeter grooves and leave a distance between them not less than 30 cm. Seedlings need more light at first. It is not necessary to dig deep into them, just press it down slightly with soil. They must be abundantly watered. With a lack of moisture leaves will lose vitality.
When the size of the seedlings is about 7 cm, it is time to pick them, so you need to know how to dive kohiyu.Picks are known to develop the root system of a plant and strengthen the stem and stems. As with other plants, Kochia dive into separate containers with the appearance of several leaves. It can be transplanted into one large one so that they develop freely without interfering with each other.
For transplanting seedlings, dig them together with the ground without damaging the young roots. Take care of the seedlings and after picking until the end of May, until it reaches a height of 20 cm.
Combination with other plants in landscape design
Kohia in landscape design gives just unlimited scope for the flight of fantasy. The plant is widely used for the formation of hedges, design of flowerbeds, borders of green. Summer cypress decorate any composition and alpine slide. Kochia will dilute any paints with its juicy green splashes. A strong effect is achieved in the rose garden. A combination of kohii with lavender on an alpine slide will make your neighbors jealous. Zigzag fence, fantastic images and geometric shapes, even hearts and nested dolls can be cut out of kohii.
Kochia, planted in a flower bed, completely transforms its aesthetic appearance. Kochia is a seasonal chameleon. This successfully used landscape designers. In the summer, it plays the role of a green background; in the fall, the colors change to yellow and red, which looks favorably on flowerbeds. And in combination with chrysanthemum Kohia is simply gorgeous. In floristics, cut branches of kohii are woven into bouquets. The dried sections are stained and also used in various compositions.
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The use of kohii in different areas
Kohia is a valuable ornamental shrub with a crown in the form of a sphere. It looks great as a single planted, and as part of flower beds. As an emphasis on rabatkah, an element of front gardens and homestead mixborders. Good looking group lawn planting.
Kochia will adorn the rose garden, alpine slide or retaining wall. Planting kohiyu, you can create beautiful borders around the perimeter of flower beds, along paths or around flower beds. But it is best to plant it near the stones or create a trimmed composition. Kochia landed fringe tracks and made hedges.
In addition to the use of landscape design Kochia used in everyday life. From this shrub weave strong and lush besoms for a long time, which is why the name “venic grass” stuck to it.
Not spared kohii and homeopathy. Drugs based on this plant treat eczema, diseases of the urogenital system, erysipelas of the skin, swelling and rheumatism. Cochia decoctions perfectly tone up. It is taken as a diuretic and pacing, diaphoretic and laxative.
In Chinese medicine on the basis of kohii produce ointments that cure various skin diseases and nail diseases. Fresh leaves of kohii are used in cooking, they are added to the first courses. Also this shrub is fed by silkworm caterpillars and domestic cattle.
Did you know?The tree in the oldest root system grows in Sweden, and its age is 9000 years.
Cochia pest control
The most active and dangerous pest for Kochia is the spider mite. If a characteristic thin web appeared on the leaves of a plant, it means that it was attacked by a pest. To destroy it, it is necessary to treat the shrub with an insecticide, for example, Neoron. One milliliter of the substance is dissolved in a liter of water. Process and repeat after a fortnight.
As you understood from our brief excursus, planting kohii and further care of it do not require much effort. The shrub gets attention for its wide range of uses. And unpretentiousness and high immunity to various diseases turn the care of kohia into pleasure.
