The fragrant weed wormwood of Steller today is used as an ornamental plant for landscape design in garden and summer cottages. There are several species that are planted to create compositions; caring for Steller wormwood does not require special expenses.
Planting and caring for Steller wormwood
Varieties
Artemisia stelleriana is considered one of the most popular Asteraceae plants, which decorate home gardens. In total, the genus of wormwood has about 400 species. Some varietal varieties of Steller are planted for decorative purposes:
- Moris Form - the description says that it reaches a height of no more than 15-20 cm and grows in width to 0.5 m, forming sterile shoots with dense oval or scapular foliage. There is white fluff on the foliage; peduncles appear in July. It is characterized by yellow inflorescences. For Maurice, sunlit places and poor soil are well suited, so it is often used for decorating borders and stone compositions;
- Silver Brocade - a plant up to 30 cm high with silver openwork foliage having a feathery-cut shape. Leaves are similar to deer horns, leaf blades and a stalk of Silver with down, the flowering period begins in June, blooms in plain yellow inflorescences. The plant is popular in landscape design due to its rapid growth;
- Boughton Silver, or silver brocade - reaches a height of 20 cm, growing in diameter to 0.5 m, has low-set openwork foliage.
Landing
Steller wormwood is planted in several ways, which depend on the type of planting material.
Before planting Steller's wormwood, choose a place suitable for the plant:
- open, well-lit areas;
- elevations where there is no stagnation of moisture;
- stony or sandy soils.
The soil for planting should be depleted, without a large proportion of humus and nutrients in it. Steller’s wormwood grows poorly on clay and waterlogged soils, which lead to decay of the root system of the plant. For loosening, sand is added to the soil, the amount of fertilizer is minimized, being limited only to humus.
Planting seedlings
Before buying ready-made seedlings, Steller's wormwood is convinced of the absence of dried and rotted fragments on them, there should be no mold deposits in the containers.
Seedlings are transplanted into open soil in the last days of April-early May, when the heat has settled. Pits are prepared for them, slightly larger than the roots, at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other and 0.5-0.6 m between the rows.
The bottom of the pits is laid out with mulch of fine gravel or stones, which creates additional drainage for the outflow of excess moisture.
If you want to limit the growth of the plant, pit the slate along the perimeter or install other limiters.
Planting seeds
When planting seeds, seedlings are initially grown, and only the grown seedlings are placed in soil. Seeds are sown in April, maintaining adequate illumination and moderate temperature.
Steller wormwood seedlings appear after 2-2.5 weeks.
The grown seedlings are planted 1-3 in separate containers at a distance of 10 cm. They are planted at a constant place of growth in open soil in the last days of May-June.
Seedling Care
Easy to care for plants
Steller wormwood does not require careful maintenance:
- watering - during the initial 2 weeks after planting, subsequently watering is reduced to a minimum or completely stopped, resorting to it only in the dry period, because due to an excess of moisture, the plant loses its decorative appearance;
- mulching and loosening - each variety is required, as removal of weeds and provides an influx of oxygen to the roots;
- top dressing - not required;
- pruning - involves cutting off fast-growing shoots to maintain the required shape, pruning is carried out at the initial stage of flowering, while peduncles are also trimmed;
- the fight against diseases and pests - not carried out.
Breeding
In the process of care, propagation is important, through which the area of planting is increased. The root system of the plant is formed in the form of a creeping thick rhizome used in the process of propagation of garden crops. Steller's wormwood is also propagated by cuttings and by dividing the bush.
Propagation by cuttings
When propagating Steller wormwood, cuttings receive a large mass of planting material. The procedure is carried out during the period of active growth of the bush, which usually occurs in May-June. Young and last year's plants, including the tops and the central part, are suitable as a source for propagation.
Cherenkovka process:
- source material is cut into small pieces (cuttings) of 8-10 cm;
- the lower cut is done at an angle, which makes it possible to subsequently determine the top and bottom of the planting material;
- prepare soil from sand and humus;
- planting cuttings to a depth of 3-4 cm, maintaining a distance between seedlings of 5-8 cm;
- from above, plantings are covered with glass or film, which allows to accelerate the process of formation of the root system;
- 2 weeks after the appearance of the roots, the covering material is removed.
Further care of the seedlings comes down to moderate watering. At a constant place of growth, they are planted for the next season.
Shrub propagation
Propagated by dividing shrubs more often, because This procedure gives the plant a rejuvenation that needs to be done every 2-3 years. Dividing is carried out in the spring, starting in April, or closer to autumn, in August.
Division process:
- dig a bush, shake off roots from soil;
- divide it into parts so that each of them has a root and 2-3 strong shoots;
- sections are sprinkled with charcoal;
- Separated parts are planted and watered abundantly.
Root propagation
Artemisia stelleriana is often propagated by rhizome, which makes it possible to quickly obtain new seedlings. Propagation begins in April or August:
- dig a bush, releasing the roots;
- cut off the root part;
- the cut off section is divided so that on each part there are 1-2 kidneys;
- delenki planted on a constant place of growth.
Conclusion
Artemisia stelleriana is used as an ornamental plant for landscape design. The plant is unpretentious in care. You can propagate by cuttings, rhizome and division.
