Platycodon belongs to the campanulaceae family. It includes only one species, which in the wild grows on mountain slopes and in deciduous forests. Platycodon (also known as grandiflora) is a herbaceous plant that grows for several years. Let's look at how to properly plant and care for it outdoors.
Platycodon varieties
The plant has a fairly developed root system and a tall stem densely covered with foliage. During flowering, up to five fairly large bell-shaped flowers form on the stem, the petals of which are covered with veins. This can be seen in the photo.
You may be interested in:The plant variety influences the color of the flowers, which can range from white-pink to blue-violet.
But regardless of the plant variety, the petals always have clearly defined veins. Depending on the number of petals, flowers can be single, double, or double (in two rows).
The variety influences the plant's characteristics, such as the height and branching of the bush. There are both tall and dwarf varieties.
Planting a plant
Platycodon is easy to plant and care for outdoors. Even the photo shows that the plant is well adapted to wild conditions.
Young grandiflora can only grow in soil when there's no threat of winter frost. This is when the flower seedlings are planted. The plants overwinter comfortably, even with prolonged periods of low temperatures.
The timing of planting seeds depends on the region. The further south you are, the earlier you should plant them—mid- to late March is ideal. For temperate climates, mid-April is best.
You may be interested in:For planting, you can purchase potting soil for regular flower plants at the store. To make your own, mix equal parts humus, sand, and peat moss. When sowing, press the seeds 3-4 mm deep.
The seed tray should be kept at room temperature. A comfortable temperature of 20-24°C is ideal. Water regularly, and avoid allowing the soil to dry out excessively.
Seedlings will appear in approximately 2-3 weeks. Once this occurs, the container should be moved to a cooler location—the ideal temperature is 16°C.
Young Platycodon plants should be kept in such conditions until they need to be planted in open ground, where they will grow and care for many years.
Caring for young seedlings
When the first shoots of the bellflower (also known as Platycodon) appear, watering should be done regularly. However, as the young shoots grow, the amount of water should be reduced slightly.
It's also crucial to carefully loosen the soil so as not to damage the young shoots.
When can you plant the plant in the fall? In soil that's not yet frozen. However, in this case, the seeds sown in the soil must be covered with a thick layer of compost to prevent them from freezing. After planting the platycodon outdoors this way, it won't require any care until spring.
Choosing a landing site
The plant will reward you with abundant blooms if you choose an open, sunny location that's well-ventilated but free of strong drafts. Generally, the bellflower will also thrive in partial shade.
Bellflowers have a fairly deep root system, which is strictly vertical. Therefore, it's undesirable for groundwater to be too close to the surface, as this will constantly damage the delicate root system and cause the plant to die.
It's worth considering that a bush can grow in one place for up to 10 years, without requiring replanting or additional care other than winter shelter.
Preparing the soil for planting
About two weeks or more in advance, the area should be prepared for planting the platycodon seedlings. To do this, carefully dig the soil to the depth of a spade. While digging, add wood ash and mineral fertilizer.
You may be interested in:Planting seedlings in the ground
Platycodon requires preparation before planting, and its care in open ground also depends on the plant variety. Regardless of the variety, planting itself follows a general pattern:
- holes are dug deeper than the size of the cup;
- the distance between them must be maintained at 25 to 35 cm, which will allow the bush to grow comfortably without interfering with the neighboring ones;
- The cups with seedlings must be thoroughly watered immediately before transplanting into open ground; this will facilitate the extraction of the soil lump and prevent damage to the root system of the Platycodon;
- After planting, the plant is watered generously.
Plant care
Bellflower requires regular watering. The soil around the bushes also needs to be loosened periodically to provide oxygen to the roots. Weeds should also be kept from overtaking the growing bush by regularly removing them.
To reduce weeding and watering of your grandiflora, it's recommended to cover the soil around the bush with mulch. This will reduce moisture evaporation and prevent weed growth.
You can also simply apply special mineral fertilizers for flowering plants during or before flowering. This will improve not only the quality of the flowers but also the abundance of blooms.
Bush formation
Most Platycodon varieties grow quite tall. If you don't need long stems in your garden, you can shape the bush to your desired shape. To do this, regularly pinch the long upper stem.
But it's important to choose the right moment to perform this manipulation. If the time is missed, you'll have to tie up the stem to prevent it from falling over.
To make the bush shorter, you can use inhibitors. To maintain the plant's attractive appearance, faded flowers should be removed promptly.
Plant wintering
This bellflower species has a rather fragile root system. Therefore, it's best not to repot the plant year after year. It should be left in one suitable location and allowed to grow there for up to 10 years.
After the plant has bloomed profusely, seed pods will appear in place of the flowers. These form around early fall. If necessary, the seeds can be collected and saved for planting next year. After this, the stem containing the flower stalk should be trimmed.
Once the first frosts arrive, the greenery will wither – this is the stage when it is necessary to cut off all the unusable withered foliage.
In temperate climates, it's important to protect plants from winter frosts. This can be done by covering the area where the platycodon was growing with a layer of mulch or yellowed foliage. This will ensure the plant survives the winter well.
Platycodon varieties and care
Platycodon Astra Pink has two varieties—standard and double. Planting and care in open ground are similar to those described above. Since this variety grows low, approximately 25 cm, it usually doesn't require pinching.
The Platycodon Fiji, however, is a rather lush shrub, so when planting it, it should be spaced less closely than other varieties, and care in open ground will require staking the branches. It's important to remember that the shrub can reach half a meter in height.
Platycodon Fuji Pink has distinctive, five-petaled, fairly large, star-shaped flowers. Its bush is wide in diameter and reaches 45 cm in height. The stems and leaves have a bluish tint, a trait common to many varieties of Platycodon Fuji Pink.
Platycodon Fuji Pink is quite unpretentious when planting; in open ground it requires the same care as all other varieties.
Plant diseases
Avoid allowing waterlogging in the root system. Otherwise, you'll have to repot the Platycodon, first treating the root system and removing any rotted parts. To combat the disease, you can purchase the following treatments:
- Horus;
- Teldor;
- Switch.
They can suppress the development of fungal infections and protect plants from them. Treatment should be carried out according to the instructions provided.
The bush can also be a threat to moles and mice, as the root system is quite succulent and seems quite tasty to these rodents. To eliminate this problem, plant plants with poisonous roots near the platycodon.
Platycodon of any variety is a unique and interesting plant for decorating flowerbeds and flower gardens. It is also used for decorative bouquets.
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