Garden blankets , also known as dog tags or dry husk, are reliable plants with versatile use. These thermophilic, drought-resistant annuals are also prized for their lovely, brightly colored flowers. Learn the secrets ofgrowing garden helmetsand their requirements. We present the most interestingvarieties of Helichrysum, recommended for gardens , as well as the rules for the correct drying of their flowers and the propagation of these plants.
Garden blankets - Xerochrysum bracteatum
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Garden blankets, dry-cutters - description
Garden blankets(Xerochrysum bracteatum) come from Australia. These plants belong to the Asteraceae family. They are one of the best plants for dry bouquets. In the regions of origin, Helichrysum are perennial plants, but in our conditions we grow them as annuals.
Depending on the varietyGarden Helichrysum grow to a height of 20 to even 100 cmSuchołuski have a spreading habit and their raised shoots are often branched. The leaves are narrow, lanceolate, tailless, glossy and dark green. In summer flowers gathered in baskets appear on the tops of shoots. Tiny, tubular flowers form a shield that surrounds the dry, scaly, colored leaves of the casing.Garden blankets bloom in July and bloom until frostThey come in a wide range of colors.
Garden blankets, dryworms - application
Garden blankets are not only extremely decorative, but also very versatile in use.Low varieties of Helichrysumcan be placed in front of flowerbeds and borders, in terrace containers, window boxes and hanging pots.
Higher varieties of Helichrysumare they decorate a bed, and in large containers they can be interestingly combined with plants with similar requirements. Along with species such as: rudbeckia, monarda, yarrow or zinnia, the hellette creates typical rural flower beds.These species have something else in common. Due to their low water and maintenance requirements, they are suitable for xeriscaping, an ecological type of gardening that requires minimal resources to maintain. To sum up - Helichrysum are great plants resistant to drought and easy to grow, perfect for country gardens.
Kocanki garden, drywort - varieties
The grower of the garden blankets is waiting for a multitude of varieties in shades of pink and purple, orange, yellow and snow white. You can also meettwo-color varieties of HelichrysumThe cultivation mainly uses the Monstrosum large-flowered form, whose shoots reach a height of up to 100 cm.
Bearing in mind container cultivation, breeders selecteddwarf varieties of Helichrysumwith a height of 20-50 cm and with overhanging shoots. The Basket Bon Bon series is characterized by a compact habit and overhanging shoots creating picturesque cascades.
Kocanka 'Copper Red'- this is a dark red variety that contrasts wonderfully with the yellow center.
Kocanka Garden 'Golden Yellow'- is a variety with orange, bright yellow flowers.
Garden blanket 'Magenta Red'- has an intense yellow center and purple casing leaves. It is a dwarf variety, reaching a height of up to 40 cm. It works great in containers and as a border plant.
Garden blankets - Xerochrysum bracteatum
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Kocanka 'Swiss Giant'- has snow-white leaves surrounding a yellow, white-edged center.
Kocanka garden 'Monster Rose'- is a tall variety, growing up to 80-100 cm and highly branched. Its large, showy flowers take on intense shades of pink.
Garden blanket 'Double White'- is a tall variety - 60-80 cm. Full, white inflorescences with a yellow center make the perfect cut flower.
Garden blanket 'Salmon Rose'- is a variety with a beautiful, delicate salmon color. Strongly branched plants are perfect as borders.
Kocanka garden 'Totally Yellow'- from the Sundaze group is a perfect variety for container cultivation. It grows up to 20-30 cm, and both the center and the leaves of the casing have an intense shade of yellow.
Kocanki garden, drywort - cultivation
The best place for Helichrysumwill be a warm and sunny place, while the soil is fertile, moist and slightly acidic. When preparing the stand for plants, it is worth feeding the soil with compost.During the growing season, plants should be fertilized with a multi-component mineral fertilizer every 2 weeks (a specialist fertilizer for flowering plants will be perfect) or with an organic fertilizer such as, for example, biohumus.
Kocanki do not require special care They have little water needs, but moderate watering is necessary in periods of prolonged drought. Be careful not to overflow the plants, because they do not like it very much and then they easily get fungal diseases.
If we want to branch out plants, it is worth removing the main bud. Thensuchołuska will branch out beautifullyand produce more flowers as a result.
How to dry Helichrysum?
The blankets for drying are cut at the beginning of flowering.In tall varieties, the middle shoot is best trimmed above 5-6 leaves. When cutting flowers for drying, it should be done when the lower 3-4 rows of casing leaves have already departed from the bud, and the upper ones still tightly cover the center of the inflorescence.They should not be cut too late, because at the end of flowering they produce seeds that reduce the decorativeness of the inflorescences. The cut flowers are tied in bunches of 10-15 pieces and dried, sheltered from the sun, hanging upside down.
Garden blankets, dryworms - reproduction
Kocanki breed by seedsWe sow them in March or April under covers. The seeds germinate after 8-10 days. When the plants produce 2-3 true leaves, pick them into individual pots. The seedlings are planted in the ground in mid-May at a distance of 20-30x50 cm. The plants bloom in mid-July.
Seeds of some varieties of Helichrysumcan be sown directly into the ground after May 15, when the risk of frost has passed. After germination, the seedlings should be thinned, leaving the plants in a row, every 15 - 20 cm. This method of cultivation is simpler than the production of seedlings, but the plants do not bloom until the second half of August.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
