Kochia (Kochia) or summer cypress is a fast-growing ornamental foliage plant from the Amaranthaceae family of the Chenopodiaceae subfamily. The genus combines drought-resistant subshrubs and herbaceous plants-xerophytes.
Kochia got its name in honor of the director of the botanical garden in Erlangen (Germany), Elangen Koch.
The plant is popularly known as summer cypress, bassia, summer cypress, izen, prutnyak, broom grass.
The homeland of this plant is China. Kochia is cultivated in East Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, Japan and Australia.
Kochia is an annual or perennial ornamental plant with a lush, developed crown. The plant forms and takes shape in early June. It retains its appearance until frost begins. Height 60-150 centimeters.
Kochia consists of an erect woody stem and large quantity branched thin shoots. Young branches are formed along the entire length of the shoots.
Leaves are entire, thin, linear, petiolate, soft, similar in appearance with cypress needles. The leaves are covered with short pubescence, often lanceolate, less often filiform.
On young kochia, the leaves are dark green or light green; closer to autumn, the foliage acquires a yellow, orange, crimson or pink tint. The root is taproot, goes into the ground up to 3 meters deep.
Kochia changes color in autumn The flowers are inconspicuous, paniculate or spike-shaped, very small, collected in inflorescences and hidden in the axils of the apical leaves. Flowering of kochia extends from July to September.
After pollination, miniature nuts are formed in place of the flowers.
Each nut ripens with seeds that remain viable for 2 years. If the seeds are not collected, they scatter on the ground and sprout in the spring.
Fresh kochia leaves are added to soups. The plant is used medicinally. Kochia helps with eczema, erysipelas, skin inflammation, rheumatism, edema, and gonorrhea. It has diuretic, laxative, diaphoretic, cardiotonic, bactericidal and tonic properties.
In addition, Kochia is not averse to feasting on livestock and silkworm caterpillars. Some farms specifically grow this crop for these purposes.
Dried bushes can be used in the form of a broom (broom).
Types and varieties with photos
There are about 80 species of kochia in nature. Only a small part (about 10) is grown in ornamental horticulture.
Kochia broom (paniculata) is a low, spherical plant. In autumn, the subshrub turns reddish-burgundy. The plant can withstand light frosts and retain its decorative look until late autumn.
Kochia broom Greenlace Perennial kochia is a subshrub 10-50 centimeters high, strongly branched at the beginning and spread along the ground.
One of the best varieties perennial kochia is Kochia creeping.
The shape of the plant depends on the place of growth. The shoots spread along the ground and rise at the ends. The length of the stems is 70 centimeters.
Creeping Kochia - Kochia prostrata At first they are covered with weak or dense pubescence, towards the ends the stems are almost bare, reddish in color. Leaves are filamentous or linear. Silky, fluffy or smooth to the touch.
Flowers are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences of 3 pieces.
Kochia wooliflora– annual subshrub, 78-80 centimeters high. The stems are yellowish-green or reddish in color, covered with short curly hairs.
Kochia laniflora Kochia dense-flowered- a highly branching annual. Height 130 centimeters. The branches are slightly directed upward, located horizontally.
The flowers are surrounded by long white hairs around the base.
Kochia densiflora - an elongated oval, slender plant, up to 100 centimeters high, 50-70 centimeters wide. The leaves are pubescent, narrow, light green in spring, burgundy in autumn. The flowers are small, collected in green balls.
Childs' Kohia It is a compact spherical bush, 40-50 centimeters high.
The shoots are branching, heavily leafy. The leaves are light green. The color does not change throughout the year.
Based on these species, several beautiful ornamental varieties were bred:
Nephritis is fast growing plant reaching 100 centimeters in height. Suitable for curly haircuts. 
– neat round shape, grows up to 70-100 centimeters in height. In summer the leaves are emerald in color, and in autumn they acquire burgundy tones. The variety is suitable for sculptural cutting. 
In addition to them, one can highlight very beautiful varieties: Acapulco Silver, Kochia Cypress, Flame, Green Lace, Shilzi, Royal Castle and others.
Growing kochia through seedlings is considered the most effective way. In regions with a cool climate, this plant is grown as seedlings; in the south, kochia can be grown from seedlings or sown directly into the ground.
To sow at home, you need to take seedlings, containers or pots, fertile soil and high-quality seeds. The soil can be collected from the garden; humus, sand and peat are added to it. Kochia is unpretentious; the main requirements for the soil are moisture permeability and looseness. The soil should be slightly acidic or neutral.
After the seedlings grow, they need to be planted in separate pots. Seating can be done in one or 2 stages. That is, picking several pieces in containers, and then seating them in separate containers. Or transplant one plant into a pot.
When landing in peat pot, seedlings are planted in open ground along with it, peat in this case plays the role of additional nutrition for the flower.
Seeds are sown at the end of March or beginning of April.
Seeds are sown on the surface of the soil and are not buried.
If there is a dense layer of soil on top of the seeds, the crops may not sprout.
When buying seeds, you need to pay attention to the expiration date, otherwise you may not get germination.
Preparing soil and seeds
Kochia seeds are quite small and do not require special preparation.
To accelerate growth, they can be treated with any growth stimulants (Epin, Energen, Heteroauxin).
Before sowing, the soil must be calcined in the oven at a temperature of about 110 degrees for 25 minutes. After calcination, the soil is treated with a solution of fungicides or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
The soil for planting should be moist, but not wet.
Small grooves are made on the surface of the earth. The seeds are carefully scattered, pressed to the ground and watered from a spray bottle.
The boxes are covered with glass, film or a transparent lid and placed in a bright place away from any heating devices. The room temperature should be 18-20 degrees. Watering is done using a spray bottle, in the morning or evening, daily. The first shoots appear after 7-10 days.
When 3 main leaves appear, kochia seedlings need to be planted in pots or cups. You can plant 3 sprouts in a container with a diameter of 10 centimeters. With this type of planting, before planting in the ground, another transplant of seedlings into separate pots is carried out.
The plant is light-loving and with a lack of lighting it stretches and weakens. For additional lighting, a phytolamp is placed at a short distance from the plants. Daylight hours including additional lighting should be at least 12 hours.
If there is excess moisture, a black leg may appear. Sick seedlings should be removed immediately. The soil is dried with charcoal, calcined sand or perlite. During watering, potassium permanganate or any antifungal drugs. Watering is carried out along the edges of the pot, without touching the plants.
Kochia does not tolerate cold and shade. When choosing a location, you need to take into account that the area should be light and warm. In partial shade the bush turns out to be more compact and low. Lowland or area with close occurrence groundwater not suitable for planting kochia.
The plant is not picky about soil, but the best option considered fertile soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction.
The soil should easily allow air and water to reach the roots. The subshrub does not need frequent watering and easily tolerates drought.
After the spring frosts have passed, you can begin planting plants on permanent place. The gap between the bushes should be at least 30-45 centimeters. By the time of transplantation, the seedlings should become stronger and grow up to 15 centimeters.
Plants need to be replanted together with a lump of earth. The holes for planting should correspond to the volume of the pot. The grooves drain well warm water. The plant and soil fall into the hole and are pressed down with soil.
If the seedlings were planted in peat pots, the plants are planted directly into them. The bushes quickly take root in their new location and begin to grow.
Kochia seeds can be sown directly into the ground. Sowing is done both in autumn and spring. In spring, seeds are sown in mid-May. When sowing earlier, you need to use covering material to protect from the cold.
For faster germination, the seeds are soaked in warm water for several days or treated with a growth stimulant. The area is dug up and loosened. A mixture of sand and peat crumbles. This mixture allows the seeds to germinate faster.
The seeds are distributed over the soil and lightly pressed with the palm of your hand.
Sprouted seeds grow faster. After a week, shoots appear. Weak shoots are removed.
At autumn sowing before winter, the seeds are sown together with sand and peat in slightly frozen ground. The seeds are not afraid of the cold, and in the spring they sprout together.
When the bushes grow, they can be planted. The distance between each bush should be at least 30-40 centimeters; denser cultivation leads to poor development of bushes and rapid release of flowers.
These methods of growing kochia are less effective than the seedling method and are used only in regions with warm climates.
Kochia can reproduce on its own.
In order for self-seeding to occur, several bushes are left in the soil until spring. During the first warm days, young shoots similar to Christmas trees will appear.
Caring for kochia includes watering, loosening, weeding, fertilizing and pruning bushes.
Watering is carried out using a watering can. The plant is drought-resistant. It is necessary to water in dry weather if the leaves of the flowers begin to droop.
Loosening and weeding is done several times a season. The soil should not become crusty.
For active growth Kochia requires regular feeding. The first application of fertilizers is made 2 weeks after planting the bushes in the ground. Afterwards, fertilizing is done once a month.
For feeding, organic matter or complex mineral fertilizers are taken. You can use mullein and ash. After cutting, to quickly restore the bush, extraordinary fertilizing with nitrogen-containing fertilizers is carried out.
Plants are pruned 1-2 times a month.
Kochia is quite resistant to diseases and pests. With prolonged rains, rot can develop. When rot appears, diseased bushes are removed, and healthy plants are watered with potassium permanganate.
Sometimes it may appear on the bushes spider mite. The mite damages the greenery of the plant. To combat the pest, special protective agents are used (Bitoxibacillin, Neoron, Akarin) or a decoction of cyclamen tubers, a soap solution.
The bushes easily tolerate pruning and retain their shape for a long time.
Using sharp scissors and pruning shears, plants take the shape of a pyramid, ball, oval, rectangle, nesting doll, column or any other shape. When planting a group of bushes, you can create something like a vase; tall, bright flowers are planted in the middle for this.
When planting along paths, you can create a neat trimmed border. To create miniature bushes, the tops are pinched at the early stage of bush development.
After any cutting, plants need fertilizing with water-soluble nitrogen fertilizers.
Tall bushes are used to decorate various buildings, gazebos, and hedges.
Kochia can be planted in a single copy among ground cover plants or on the lawn, in the form of a tapeworm.
Can be planted in groups in a mixborder, in a flower bed. Kochia goes well with roses, marigolds, asters and many other flowers. 
These lush, slender bushes make it possible to decorate any area. They are used to decorate flower beds, borders, and fences.
They look great in rock gardens, rockeries, topiaries, near fountains and next to large stones.
Kochia (border shrub): video
Unpretentiousness and ease of care make kochia an almost ideal plant in the garden.
Kochias grow in America, Europe, Asia and Australia. All of them are herbaceous plants with an upright, highly branched stem and entire narrow leaves with a linear to filamentous shape. There are annual and perennial species.
Kochias bloom, but their inflorescences are small and inconspicuous. The corollas are collected into panicles or spikelets. There are about 1400 seeds in one gram of seeds.
Taxonomists do not have a consensus on which family this flower belongs to. Sometimes he is classified as an Amarantov, in other cases as a Marev. Among gardeners, kochia is known as “summer cypress.”
Types of kochia
About 80 species of kochia are known, but not all of them have decorative qualities. Thus, the perennial prostrate kochia (Kochia prostrata) is found on the territory of our country. It is used for agricultural purposes as a fodder plant, but is unsuitable for flower beds.
Kochia prostrata
In ornamental gardening, broom cochia (bássia scopária) is usually cultivated. This is an annual beautiful plant up to 1 m high. The leaves are lanceolate, pubescent, bright green, small.
Kochia broom reaches full size in July, forming bushes resembling upward cypress trees in shape. By autumn, its green leaves turn bright red.
The species Kochia broom is not of decorative interest. In the wild, it grows in wastelands like an ordinary weed. Its hair-like variety with very narrow, pubescent leaves up to 5 cm long is planted in gardens and flower beds.
Several varieties of hair-like have been developed:
- Sultan;
- Nephritis;
- Flame;
- Shilzi.
Propagation of kochia - how to grow from seeds?
The only way to grow emerald kochia bushes in the garden is to buy or collect seeds yourself and sow them at home.
Seeds are viable for no more than 1-2 years. They are sown in April in a room or greenhouse, in a common box. At temperatures above 20 degrees, seedlings will appear in 5-6 days. Next, they are grown one at a time in a pot or transplanted directly into a bed under a film.
The diameter of the pot is 7 cm. You will need to transfer it once into 10-11 cm containers. When picking from a box into a greenhouse, leave 20 cm between plants. Without shelter, kochia can be planted in a permanent place in the 2-3rd decade of May.
The plant is afraid of frost. Once exposed to cold weather, the seedlings will stop growing and turn red.
In the southern regions, the plant reproduces by self-sowing. Wild bushes can be grown by covering them from spring frosts with pruned plastic bottles, and then transplant to a permanent place.
Summer cypress seeds quickly lose their viability. When purchasing them, you need to carefully look at the production date stamped on the bag.
It is better to purchase seed from well-known companies that use vacuum envelopes made of polyethylene or foil for packaging and treat the seeds with fungicides.
Seedlings need a lot of light and moderate heat. When overwatered, kochia quickly dies from the black leg. To preserve seedlings, you need to sow the seeds in loose, moisture-permeable soil and water moderately with water at room temperature.
When growing kochia from seeds, you need to decide when to plant them. Sowing must be carried out in such a way that the seedlings reach a permanent place a month after the seedlings appear on the soil surface.
Sowing technology:
- Pour a layer of substrate 5 cm high into a wide container.
- Press down with your palm.
- Scatter the seeds over the surface.
- Sprinkle with a layer of sand 2-3 mm,
- Spray with water from a spray bottle.
- Cover with glass or film.
- Place in a place with a temperature of 20-22 degrees.
The soil must be fresh, not previously used for growing seedlings. Better to buy in store universal primer with pH 5.5-6.5.
Immediately after the seedlings appear on the soil surface, the temperature should be reduced to +12... +15 and ensure bright conditions. If one or two plants in a box suffer from blackleg, you can simply remove them along with a lump of earth and water the holes with a solution of potassium permanganate of medium color intensity.
Video from Yana Fedorova:
Landing Features
Kochia has a clearly defined, upward-pointing bush, the diameter of which can reach, depending on the variety, 1 m. This must be taken into account when planning its planting.
The minimum distance between plants should be 30 cm. This is how kochia is planted in hedges.
In dense plantings, bushes have little space and light, which is why they dry out and completely lose their decorative appearance. Therefore, when planting in a flower garden, more space is left between neighboring specimens - 50-100 cm.
The plants are unpretentious, undemanding to humus and sun, but look most beautiful in sunny places and nutritious soil. Kochia does not tolerate overly acidic and wet soils - the roots begin to die and the foliage dries out.
Before planting seedlings in the ground, it is advisable to fertilize the soil with nitrogen fertilizer and dig it with a pitchfork. Nitrate fertilizers contribute to the bright green color of the leaves.
The seedlings are planted together with a clod of earth at the same depth at which they grew in the pot.
Difficulties in growing from seeds - tips for gardeners:
Plant care
Care consists of watering and cutting or pinching.
Immediately after planting outside, seedlings need to be watered abundantly. If the soil dries out and the plants have not yet had time to take root, the leaves will droop and the plantings will take on a pitiful appearance.
The main requirement of kochia for soil is looseness. At first, the soil near the bush will have to be constantly fluffed up, deepening the rake no more than 2-3 cm. Deep tillage can damage the roots, which in summer cypress are a superficially located rhizome.
Even a day in the heat, spent without water, leads to drooping of the flower. You need to water the bushes in the morning or evening, when there are no bright sun rays. Moisturizing in the sun will cause the luxurious leaves to get burned and wither.
Plants tolerate shade, but it is necessary that the shade is sparse not in the first half of the day. With a lack of light, the bushes lag behind in development, turn pale and become ugly.
During the growing season, you need to feed the summer cypress twice with water dissolved in it. complex fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The first feeding is done a month after planting the seedlings in the ground, the second in mid-summer.
The plant tolerates it better liquid fertilizers than loose or granular ones, so it is recommended to infuse even manure in water.
All fertilizing is carried out only at the root. Spraying on the leaves is not advisable, as unsightly spots may remain on the “needles”.
Despite the robust appearance of the summer cypress, it has pests. The most dangerous of them is the spider mite. If the leaves begin to turn yellow and dry out, you need to take a closer look at them back side. Arachnids are visible to the naked eye as small dark dots. The leaves themselves are covered on the back side with a layer of cobwebs.
Specimens with mites are sprayed with Actellik or Neoron (1 ml per liter of water). The treatment is repeated after 30 days.
Kochia in landscape design
Plants are planted in large groups or tapeworms on lawns, used to enclose edges and flower beds. In the fall, the plants can be transplanted into a container and brought into the warmth, where they long time will maintain a decorative appearance.
Kochia is easy to trim. You can use it to create hedges of any shape and length. Bushes are trimmed once every 2 weeks. They are turned into balls, pyramids, parallelepipeds and other figures. Planted in a row, trimmed summer cypress trees form a beautiful tetrahedral hedge or hemispherical border.
Varieties with a dense crown and short leaves are suitable for pruning. If seeds have formed on the plant, it becomes unsuitable for shortening. The leaves on such bushes will no longer grow, and the cut branches will remain visible.
The haircut is carried out on a cloudy day. Best tool- lawn scissors. They start with simple figures: pyramids, cubes, hemispheres. Having filled your hand, you can proceed to more complex ones: cylinders, balls. After cutting, plants retain their created shape for a long time.
You don’t need to trim the kochia, but simply regularly remove the young tips of the branches. The result is a compact, very dense bush. After cutting, it is advisable to add a complex mixture to the soil. mineral fertilizer so that the plant regains its strength.
Despite the lack of flowers and monotony of color, summer cypress attracts a lot of attention. It can be used as the accent of a flower garden, surrounded by shorter, beautifully flowering plants.
Well-groomed bushes make luxurious garden compositions. For this, plants are combined with annual flowers: salvia, and others.
Summer cypress is magnificent not only in summer, but also in autumn. With the first cold weather, it acquires a carmine color and pleases the eye with its brightness, when most ornamental flowering plants have already dried out.
There are varieties that remain bright green until frost without turning red. The most beautiful of them is considered to be Acapulco Silver, with the tips of its leaves being silver-gray.
Autumn leaves of kochia can be dried and used in flower arrangements.
Kokhia is rapidly gaining popularity among amateur gardeners and professional landscape designers. Why do they love this culture, which blooms inconspicuously? small flowers, not bearing decorative value? The flowers are barely noticeable, hiding in the leaf axils. Kochia is definitely not grown for its flowers. The leaves are thin, long, delicate, and in themselves are not highly decorative. In addition, kochia is also an annual plant, which means it has to be grown from seeds every year. Nevertheless, this is a popular plant that today can be found on every second plot.
Secrets of growing kochia
Kochia can be grown through seedlings or by sowing directly into the ground. In general, many varieties have been cultivated. They differ mainly in size and color. Some have bright green leaves that turn red in the fall. Some have intense light green foliage that later turns dark green. There are varieties in which the leaves turn orange.
Sowing seedlings
Timing for sowing kochia seeds further cultivation seedlings depend on the climate of your area.
At the end of March you can start sowing in the standard Central Russian climate, when deadline threat of frost on the ground - early May.
Video - Growing kochia from seeds
Seedling care
Shoots appear on the eighth - tenth day. Protective material cleaned up. You should immediately move the containers into a room with a temperature 3-5 degrees lower. Maximum +16°C. The sprouts must be carefully watered along the edge of the container, avoiding overflow. Kochia seedlings are susceptible to the disease of all seedlings - black leg - to a greater extent.
To protect green sprouts from disease, it is necessary to maintain the specified temperature, preventing it from increasing. Watering the seedlings is carried out moderately, especially if the room humidity is high.
Advice! The soil in the container should not dry out - the seedlings' leaves will immediately droop and begin to wither. With aerated soil and good drainage in the container, it is advisable to water young plants twice a week.
If, however, a black leg does occur, and you find diseased specimens with characteristic spots and darkening on the leg, you must:
- remove diseased plants;
- stop watering the container;
- Sprinkle the soil with dry sand, which will absorb some of the excess moisture.
When the soil dries, the next watering should be carried out with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
If the blackleg continues to spread, the seedlings will have to be planted in dry, fresh, disinfected soil.
To obtain compact seedlings that do not stretch out excessively, they need to be planted after 2-3 weeks, at the three-leaf phase, into individual containers of 2-3 pieces. Picking pots should be up to 10 cm in diameter.
After picking, the temperature is the same, the place is the brightest, watering in the same mode, feeding.
The first fertilizing with a complex of fertilizers with a predominance of nitrogen a week after diving and then every 10-14 days.
Landing at the very end of May. You need to choose a place for kochia that is sunny, where there is no wind, and where there is calm. The soil should be moderately fertile, not waterlogged, and loose. The distance between seedlings when planted in flowerbeds and edgings is up to 30 cm, when grown in the form of a hedge - 10-15 cm.
During the period of rooting of seedlings, the plant needs increased watering and the next feeding, two weeks after planting. When cutting, be sure to feed the plants every time after the procedure.
Sowing in the ground
If you don’t want to bother with seedlings, you can grow kochia by sowing it in the ground. For successful emergence and development of seedlings, several conditions must be strictly met.
On open ground seeds germinate one and a half times longer than in a container for seedlings. Shoots may be thin and unpresentable. Subsequently, the weak ones must be removed, leaving a distance of 20-35 cm between the bushes. If you are growing a decorative border of kochia, the distance between plants can be reduced to 10-15 cm.
At night, when the temperature drops below +10°C, the plants should continue to be covered.
Outdoor care
Caring for seedlings in the open ground is not much different from caring for seedlings. It is necessary to water intensively, trying, however, so that the plants do not rot or get sick. In its adult form, kochia is relatively drought-resistant, but still you should not allow the soil to dry out so that the foliage - the main “asset” of the plant - does not lose its decorative effect.
In the flowerbed, be sure to weed the plants and loosen the soil, especially on early stages growing season. You can mulch the soil between the bushes when planting sparsely with decorative stones, bark and other mulching materials.
At least twice during the summer you need to feed kochia with a complex of minerals, in which nitrogen has a large share.
Kochia must be pruned so that the branches grow evenly. It can also be given any shape - it lends itself well to an artistic haircut.
Using kochia in landscape design
| Fit type | Peculiarities |
|---|---|
| Solitaire planting | As single accents, for example in the lawn or among low ground covers |
| Group planting | In groups in a flowerbed or ridge or in a mixborder for a background row |
| Alpine slide or rock garden | Near large stones or in small groups |
| Border planting | As a border for a flower bed, along paths, as a hedge |
| Topiary | Single planting followed by crown formation in topiary style |
Kochia can be sown not only in spring, but also in autumn. For winter sowing, flower beds are prepared in October. Sowing is superficial, with a little sprinkling. It is important not to sow before October so that the seeds do not begin to grow until spring. It is especially convenient to sow kochia in winter to create borders.
Kochia seeds have a short germination period. 50% “survive” with proper storage up to two years, but the standard shelf life is limited to a year. It is better to sow fresh plant seeds, which you can collect yourself from female specimens. They are in seed pods, and if they are not removed in time, the plant will reproduce by self-seeding. For continuous group plantings in a flower bed, propagation by self-seeding can come in handy. With the onset of spring and the appearance of sprouts, it will only be enough to thin out so that the plants do not oppress each other.
During the autumn cold, kochia quickly withers and dies. Decorative effect can be extended by moving plants into containers. On the balcony, the kohia will remain green for another 1.5-2 months, before the onset of serious frosts.
When the plants dry out, they can be used to create ikebana and dry compositions. Traditionally, kochia was used as an ordinary broom.
Kokhia is rapidly gaining popularity among amateur gardeners and professional landscape designers. Why is this culture loved, which blooms with inconspicuous small flowers that have no decorative value? The flowers are barely noticeable, hiding in the leaf axils. Kochia is definitely not grown for its flowers. The leaves are thin, long, delicate, and in themselves are not highly decorative. In addition, kochia is also an annual plant, which means it has to be grown from seeds every year. Nevertheless, this is a popular plant that today can be found on every second plot.
Kochia can be grown through seedlings or by sowing directly into the ground. In general, many varieties have been cultivated. They differ mainly in size and color. Some have bright green leaves that turn red in the fall. Some have intense light green foliage that later turns dark green. There are varieties in which the leaves turn orange.
Sowing seedlings
The timing of sowing kochia seeds for further growing seedlings depends on the climate of your area.
At the end of March, you can start sowing in the standard Central Russian climate, when the last date for the threat of frost on the soil is the beginning of May.
Video - Growing kochia from seeds
Seedling care
Shoots appear on the eighth - tenth day. The protective material is removed. You should immediately move the containers into a room with a temperature 3-5 degrees lower. Maximum +16°C. The sprouts must be carefully watered along the edge of the container, avoiding overflow. Kochia seedlings are susceptible to the disease of all seedlings - black leg - to a greater extent.
To protect green sprouts from disease, it is necessary to maintain the specified temperature, preventing it from increasing. Watering the seedlings is carried out moderately, especially if the room humidity is high.
Advice! The soil in the container should not dry out - the seedlings' leaves will immediately droop and begin to wither. With aerated soil and good drainage in the container, it is advisable to water young plants twice a week.
Disease - black leg
If, however, a black leg does occur, and you find diseased specimens with characteristic spots and darkening on the leg, you must:
- remove diseased plants;
- stop watering the container;
- Sprinkle the soil with dry sand, which will absorb some of the excess moisture.
When the soil dries, the next watering should be carried out with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
If the blackleg continues to spread, the seedlings will have to be planted in dry, fresh, disinfected soil.
To obtain compact seedlings that do not stretch out excessively, they need to be planted after 2-3 weeks, at the three-leaf phase, into individual containers of 2-3 pieces. Picking pots should be up to 10 cm in diameter.
After picking, the temperature is the same, the place is the brightest, watering in the same mode, feeding.
The first fertilizing with a complex of fertilizers with a predominance of nitrogen a week after diving and then every 10-14 days.
Landing at the very end of May. You need to choose a place for kochia that is sunny, where there is no wind, and where there is calm. The soil should be moderately fertile, not waterlogged, and loose. The distance between seedlings when planted in flowerbeds and edgings is up to 30 cm, when grown in the form of a hedge - 10-15 cm.
During the period of rooting of seedlings, the plant needs increased watering and the next feeding, two weeks after planting. When cutting, be sure to feed the plants every time after the procedure.
Sowing in the ground
If you don’t want to bother with seedlings, you can grow kochia by sowing it in the ground. For successful emergence and development of seedlings, several conditions must be strictly met.
In open ground, seeds take one and a half times longer to germinate than in containers for seedlings. Shoots may be thin and unpresentable. Subsequently, the weak ones must be removed, leaving a distance of 20-35 cm between the bushes. If you are growing a decorative border of kochia, the distance between plants can be reduced to 10-15 cm.
At night, when the temperature drops below +10°C, the plants should continue to be covered.
Outdoor care
Caring for seedlings in the open ground is not much different from caring for seedlings. It is necessary to water intensively, trying, however, so that the plants do not rot or get sick. In its adult form, kochia is relatively drought-resistant, but still you should not allow the soil to dry out so that the foliage - the main “asset” of the plant - does not lose its decorative effect.
In the flowerbed, it is necessary to weed the plants and loosen the soil, especially in the early stages of the growing season. You can mulch the soil between the bushes when planting sparsely with decorative stones, bark and other mulching materials.
At least twice during the summer you need to feed kochia with a complex of minerals, in which nitrogen has a large share.
Kochia must be pruned so that the branches grow evenly. It can also be given any shape - it lends itself well to an artistic haircut.
Using kochia in landscape design
| Fit type | Peculiarities |
|---|---|
| Solitaire planting | As single accents, for example in the lawn or among low ground covers |
| Group planting | In groups in a flowerbed or ridge or in a mixborder for a background row |
| Alpine slide or rock garden | Near large stones or in small groups |
| Border planting | As a border for a flower bed, along paths, as a hedge |
| Topiary | Single planting followed by crown formation in topiary style |
Kochia can be sown not only in spring, but also in autumn. For winter sowing, flower beds are prepared in October. Sowing is superficial, with a little sprinkling. It is important not to sow before October so that the seeds do not begin to grow until spring. It is especially convenient to sow kochia in winter to create borders.
Kochia seeds have a short germination period. 50% “survive” with proper storage for up to two years, but the standard shelf life is limited to a year. It is better to sow fresh plant seeds, which you can collect yourself from female specimens. They are in seed pods, and if they are not removed in time, the plant will reproduce by self-seeding. For continuous group plantings in a flower bed, propagation by self-seeding can come in handy. With the onset of spring and the appearance of sprouts, it will only be enough to thin out so that the plants do not oppress each other.
During the autumn cold, kochia quickly withers and dies. The decorative effect can be extended by moving the plants into containers. On the balcony, the kohia will remain green for another 1.5-2 months, before the onset of serious frosts.
When the plants dry out, they can be used to create ikebana and dry compositions. Traditionally, kochia was used as an ordinary broom.
Every amateur gardener tries to adequately decorate his plot and make it unique. Creating beauty in your area is not so easy. Nevertheless, desires do not fade, and unique garden masterpieces are created.
Ornamental plants are the best helpers in decoration personal plot. These include a plant such as kochia.
Kochia coronata pilosa is an ornamental annual foliage plant. She is loved for her beauty and forms, which are changed by the person himself at his own discretion and desire.
Botanical description
Kochia is from the Amaranth family, subfamily Chenopodiaceae, native to China. There are a huge number of species, about 80. The differences are characterized by the size of the plant and its colors.
The plant is a herbaceous shrub. Kochia has an oval cone shape. The stems are erect, strong and flexible. They are often covered with narrow green leaves. The leaves have a slightly curved shape and a soft texture.
Kochia reaches a height of 1 meter. The flowers are spike-shaped, barely noticeable in the fluffy crown of foliage. In autumn the plant turns red and purple.
One of the worthy species is Kochia coronata. Widely used in site design and decorative needs.
It is popularly called "summer cypress".
Kochia coronata is unpretentious in cultivation and care. From a distance the plant resembles the conifer family. But when you touch the green fluffy creature, you feel softness and tenderness.
Kochia coronata is a kind of summer chameleon. Will please its owners within a season different shades. Throughout the warm period, kohia proudly wears bright green decoration. And in the fall the plant dresses up in yellow and crimson tones.
In flower beds, such changes look simply amazing.
Growing Kochia coronata. Care
Kochia coronata is grown either by seedlings or by planting in open ground. The plant does not require excessive attention.
Kochia coronata, planted and cared for according to all the rules, will demonstrate all its possible splendor and grandeur.
The place for growing kochia should be sunny, preferably without drafts. But even in partial shade, kochia will feel quite comfortable.
The average distance between bushes is 50 cm. If you plan to grow a lush single bush with further specific pruning, it is better to increase the distance to at least 1 meter.
When planting borders, the distance between the bushes is 10-15 cm. In this case, a hedge is formed.
Kochia coronata likes soil that is fertile and moderately moist. Does not tolerate drought, begins to droop, lose color and wither.
Kochia also does not like temperature changes. Needs periodic loosening and weeding.
Sowing seeds and propagation
The timing of sowing seeds and growing seedlings depends on the local climate. In average climates, seed sowing can begin in late March or early April.
Features of planting kochia coronata for seedlings and caring for sprouts are as follows.
- Choosing the right container or other container. The depth of the box should not be less than 12 cm, since the roots of kochia are quite long and they need enough space for good development.
- Before planting, the container must be thoroughly disinfected. To do this, you need to rinse the box with hot water. soap solution or water with vinegar added.
- The soil should be light, airy and nutritious. Ready-made earthen mixtures are available for sale, but you can prepare them yourself. The mixture is best prepared from peat with the addition of river sand. It's good to add a little humus.
- Before sowing, the soil is treated with a warm solution of potassium permanganate.
- The soil needs to be compacted a little. The seeds are evenly immersed in the soil and lightly sprinkled with a thin layer of humus.
- After planting, the container is covered with a special non-woven material, greenhouse conditions are created.
It is necessary to regularly moisten the soil using a spray bottle. The soil should not be allowed to dry out, but moderate moisture should not be allowed.
In the fall, you can remove the seeds from the bushes and sow them the next year. Seeds can be stored for two years. But of course, fresh is preferable.
Some gardeners prefer to sow kochia seeds in the fall. The subtlety of such planting lies only in the sowing time. It is not recommended to sow before October. Otherwise, the seeds will germinate ahead of time and freeze.
Self-seeding often occurs, especially with group plantings. It is very comfortable. In the spring many seeds will sprout. All you have to do is thin them out at your own discretion.
Seedling care
The germination period of seeds takes up to two weeks. Optimal temperature for growing seedlings - 16 degrees, maybe a little lower. Temperature very important at this stage. If the rules are not followed, seedlings run the risk of developing blackleg.
Watering is carried out regularly, very carefully, along the edges of the container, so as not to injure weak stems.
When the seedlings grow and 5 leaves form on the stem, you need to pick. 1-3 seedlings are planted in a pot with a small diameter, about 10 cm.
Plant outdoors after all frosts have passed, approximately in the second half of May.
Kochia seeds in open ground
If there is no opportunity or desire to grow seedlings, you can sow the seeds directly in open ground.
It's worth waiting for the warm May weather.
We prepare the soil by loosening and adding peat, mullein, compost or humus. After the soil is moderately moistened, it needs to be compacted a little. Seeds are sown sparingly. Sprinkle a thin layer of earth or sand on top.
If possible, then better place Cover the sowing with non-woven material. You should not use film as a cover; the seeds need air.
Of course, seed germination will take longer than when grown at home or in a greenhouse.
Thinning of seedlings is mandatory.
If the daytime or nighttime temperature drops below +10 degrees, better seedlings cover.
Feeding and spraying
It is recommended to nourish the soil before planting the plant in the ground. For intensive growth and the formation of a dense crown, the plant is fed weekly (during the growth period). Specialized liquid fertilizers are used, containing minerals and, most importantly, nitrogen.
The first feeding should be done 1.5-2 weeks after transplantation.
Diseases of cochia coronea
Kochia seedlings are susceptible to diseases such as blackleg. If a diseased seedling is present in the container, it should be removed immediately. Stop moistening the soil for a while.
If the disease spreads, healthy seedlings are transplanted into another container.
Kochia coronata is quite resistant to various diseases. Nevertheless, it is recommended to regularly spray kochia bushes in open ground against various pests.
The most dangerous for ornamental plant is a spider mite. If there is a small cobweb on the plant, the kochia should be immediately treated with an insecticide.
If the soil is too wet, the trunk may begin to rot. If the problem occurs in the upper part of the plant, you need to trim off the damaged areas. If it rots near the root part, the kochia will have to be removed.
Kochia in design
Kochia coronata is a favorite of landscape designers and gardeners. The plant is widely used in various compositions. Kochia looks perfect in a group mix of its relatives and other flowers.
Combines with various flowers and shrubs. You can verify this by looking at a photo of Kochia coronata.
Used as a mini fence, decorative fencing. Widely used when dividing gardening and cultural zones.
If you create the right contrast between plants, it will turn out just great. It will look unusual, for example, a ring made of kochia coronata with a blue or red center made of other colors.
With the onset of autumn cold weather, kochia begins to wither. You can extend the summer a little and enjoy the greenery at home, for example on the balcony. For 2 months before the onset of serious frosts, the green beauty will delight household members and guests.
The dried bush can be used in decorative purposes, make ikebana or add to a bouquet. The result will be an unusual composition.
Shaping and trimming
Caring for cochia coronata involves trimming the bushes. This procedure allows the branches to grow evenly and proportionally.
Various geometric shapes and more are also created.
A haircut can be done every 2 weeks. Young shoots need to be pinched regularly. This will provide the plant with lushness.
After cutting, the plant needs feeding.
It’s easy to practice and get your hands on kochia before cutting conifers, especially for beginners.
There are many different options transformation garden plot using trimmed kochia.
You can create borders, mini-fences of rectangular or conical shape. A lone bush can be designed in the form of a square, circle or, for example, a butterfly. It will be very impressive and varied. Kochia will look unusual in the form of a real spruce.
Benefits and uses of kochia
Kochia coronata, the description of which is discussed, is used in folk medicine. Medicinal properties have all parts of the plant.
Kochia is used:
- as a means for bowel movement;
- for heart problems;
- for diseases of the genitourinary system;
- for kidney diseases;
- for fungal nail diseases.
Medicinal products are prepared by drying and preparing decoctions, tinctures and ointments.
The use of kochia also affected the culinary sphere. It perfectly complements the taste of first courses, giving them a special piquancy.
Also, since time immemorial, kochia has been used for economic needs. The dry plant is used instead of a regular broom.
