May lily of the valley is a perennial, herbaceous, beautifully flowering plant that has spread in many regions of our country. This flower can be found in parks, mixed and deciduous forests, floodplain oak forests, in clearings and forest edges. Under favorable conditions, the lily of the valley rapidly expands in breadth, forming large fragrant clumps.
Growing lilies of the valley. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license.
If you wish, you can dig lilies of the valley in the forest and plant them on the site - in a flower bed or in a front garden. The main thing is to choose the right time for the transplant and follow the rules of care.
What do lilies of the valley love and dislike?
These flowers are common in the forest in clearings and forest edges, they grow well on moist, neutral soils. The garden lily of the valley differs from its forest counterpart in large leaves and flowers, the height of the plant is no more than 30 cm. It has fibrous roots and large basal leaves of an oval shape. The dark green leaves are over ten centimeters long and about five centimeters wide. In autumn they turn yellow and fall off. The main bud is located on the rhizome. White flowers resemble bells, after ripening red berries form. The main types of this lily of the valley: May, mountain, Keiske, Transcaucasian. The differences are insignificant: Keiske blooms late, long flowers are characteristic of the mountain, and wider in the Transcaucasian inflorescence.
Lilies of the valley at their summer cottage
Flowers can be white, pink, cream, and foliage - green, yellow, striped, speckled. So it is worth trying to enrich your site and plant a garden lily of the valley. Experienced flower growers draw the attention of all novice lily of the valley lovers to the following factors. The rejuvenator captures the territory, and in order to control the increase in crops, limit the plantation, install a fence with a height and depth of 25 centimeters. The root grows rapidly in width and depth. Lilies of the valley prefer a humid and darkened environment. Flowers require the same conditions as in a forest in a clearing, they need a temperate climate.
Solid darkening interferes with flowering, and oversaturation with moisture and stagnant water adversely affects the sprouts. The species is frost-resistant, therefore it tolerates frost well. In the garden, they select a place near the terraces and paths. This is the most suitable option to feel the bright aroma. But for successful flowering, you need to choose the right neighbors. Bushes of currants, gooseberries, raspberries, deciduous trees will provide protection from overheating and drying out. Better to plant next to plants with roots at the surface of the earth. Species that breed with whiskers are suitable. Flowers do not overwhelm species with small root systems. Neighborhood with them will give the territory a beautiful aesthetic appearance. Lilies of the valley also do not tolerate strong winds; they will not bloom in a blown area. Will shelter a house, buildings or a fence from the wind.
Dig lilies of the valley in your area
If lilies of the valley are already growing in your garden, you will not lose anything if you dig up a square meter of roots in the fall. Lilies of the valley reproduce so well that even neighbors will willingly share the roots with you. Dig up the roots in late autumn, just before the first severe frosts.Separate the shoots and roots from each other with your hands (do not worry that the clod of earth is crumbling, then you will plant the lilies of the valley in a pot in new soil) Save as many shoots as fit into the pot. Each sprout must end with a root. Choose pots made of thin plastic. 2 square meters of spines is enough for at least 4 pots.
The wisdom of planting and breeding features
What can be done to improve soil properties?
- if there is a lot of clay, add sand;
- mix sandy soil with clay;
- for sour - prepare lime four months before planting;
- humus or peat compost is useful for the soil;
- for nutritional value, use superphosphate (100 g / m2) and potassium sulfate (40 g / m2).
Planting lilies of the valley
Good growth will be provided by moist, slightly acidic and neutral soils. Expect to prepare the soil a year before planting flowers. To normalize the environment in the previous season, you can plant legumes, peas, lupines. In addition to creating a good chemical balance in the soil, the tops of legumes will serve as a good material for mulching, because they retain the moisture necessary for life.
Rhizomes are planted and transplanted in September, since heavy rains that begin at this time have a beneficial effect on the microclimate near the garden. After planting, in order to prevent dryness of the land, if nature does not help with precipitation, it is required to water several times and loosen a little. Water and air easily penetrate into such a substrate. You can pre-mix the soil with deciduous humus, this will be an unobtrusive replenishment of nutrients, or you can throw a little on top of a new plantation. Lilies of the valley are planted at a distance of 100 mm, and 250 mm are measured between the rows.
The best way to reproduce is by dividing the rhizome. At the end of summer, the sprouts are sorted. It is necessary to select separately those that are going to bloom next year and in two years. To understand this, you should look at the buds: large, rounded 0.6 cm in diameter will give color in the next season, and thin and sharp at the top - in another year. Mainly separate roots with unblown buds are used. But you should not plant it right away in the soil, you need a little preparation. First, the roots are soaked in water at room temperature for four hours. Then the roots are straightened, planted with a large handful of earth in the hole, and rows are formed. Then the roots and buds are covered with earth. If the latter are swollen enough, they are left outside. It remains to press down on the soil, water it, cover it with compost-mulch.
Alternative planting - using seeds. Red small fruits in lilies of the valley are formed after flowering, in which the seed is formed. These seeds are prostrated, i.e. wrapped in a damp cloth, placed in a closed container and placed in a freezer with a temperature within 3-5 degrees. In this case, they can be stored for a month. Then the container is filled with earth and the workpieces are planted to a depth of 1.5–2 cm in the holes. Sow them in rows. The distance between flowers should not be less than 12 cm. If necessary, the rows are then thinned out.
Many seeds are sown in autumn directly into loose soil. But this landing will not be effective. In general, it is difficult to grow a flowering lily of the valley using seeds. In spring sprouts develop slowly to adult form, form 2-3 leaves each. The next year, another leaflet appears. Flowering will begin only after 5-6 years. The seeds are characterized by poor germination, and besides, they are unsuitable for storage. You should also expect that a lot of material will be required for sowing, because only 1/5 part will rise.
Problems and diseases of the convali
The plant is most often affected by vegetable rot. For treatment, you will need fungicides.
Damage to lilies of the valley with vegetable rot.
Several insects can cause damage. Nematodes, sawflies and onion crackers are especially dangerous.You can get rid of onion crackers and sawflies using insecticides. Plants affected by nematodes must be destroyed. The lilies of the valley, the top layer of the substrate and the container should be burned. It is necessary to see all the neighboring cultures. The parasites spread quickly.
As a preventive measure, good drainage of the soil should be ensured. It is necessary to constantly clear the area of weeds. You need to thin out the culture as needed.
What kind of care will the flowers need?
Naturally, plants need compost and organic fertilizers. Humus is applied in August, and mineral fertilizers are not applied at all in the first year, but they do it later. Otherwise, the flowers do not require special care in terms of feeding. In the spring, fertilizers are usually applied in liquid form, and once is enough. As a result, large leaves and flowers will appear very quickly, and flower buds will form in larger sizes.
Watering flowers on the site
It is important to monitor soil moisture. Its excessive dryness will lead to the death of the roots. Stagnant water and high humidity are also detrimental. Therefore, water the plant throughout the summer when required. A lot of water is required for large flowers to appear, but there should not be puddles. With good care, the bush blooms 3-4 times a year. It is also necessary to restrain the growth of weeds and remove them in a timely manner, therefore, it is advisable to remove the grass after watering. In the beginning, the plants need weeding every time after this operation, and when they grow, they will be able to displace the weeds on their own. They pull out the excess near the flowers, as a rule, with your hands, carefully, protecting the root system. During such care, there is no need to loosen the soil, if the weeds do not have time to grow, then, by taking them out every time, you will already create good channels for air exchange.
When the lilies of the valley have matured a little, there is no need to clean them after each watering, weed twice a month during the year. After all, not only weeds, but even the most common grass significantly harms the growth with its roots. Watch the temperature as the flowers take root well and grow in cool weather. If it's hot, create a shade, when watering it is better to take colder water, but do not try to put it in the refrigerator. The health of the plantation will also be improved by transplanting, it is being done after five years of flowering. Usually in the spring the overgrown rhizome is divided and the bed is formed again. The roots are selected in such a way that the buds and leaves have not yet blossomed.
On average, lilies of the valley are usually grown for about 10 years, then they stop blooming. To prolong flowering, the beds are periodically renewed in a natural way. Part of the bed is dug, leaving an empty space, they are monitored in the same way as for a regular bed. The vacated plot is overgrown again, but already with young growth. This is best done every three years. For the health of the garden, it is important to periodically induce cosmetic beauty by removing wilted and broken bushes and leaves. This helps to maintain plant growth, cleanliness, and a beautiful appearance of the flower bed.
Growing features
Substrate
Lilies of the valley prefer loose soil with high air permeability. It is advisable to prepare a loamy, well-drained soil.
For indoor plants, a peat mixture from garden nurseries is ideal.
For container lilies of the valley, you can purchase a ready-made soil mixture.
Top dressing
The soil for the convali must be fed periodically. Depleted soil adversely affects the development and flowering of lilies of the valley.
Indoor plants can be watered with a solution of a water-based complex mineral fertilizer.
Minerals should be used for feeding.
In the open air, a mixture of rotted manure and leaf humus should be used for the top layer of soil. Compost tends to retain moisture.
Konwalia in a flower pot
Lilies of the valley can also be grown in a container.A container should be prepared taking into account the size of the rhizome. In the fall, it is necessary to plant lilies of the valley in a pot of nutritious soil. Place the container in a cool and dark place. The average air temperature should be between + 2 and + 4 degrees.
Lilies of the valley in a container.
In mid-January, it is necessary to take the lilies of the valley to the windowsill. It is advisable to choose the side of the building with diffused sunlight.
When the plant forms green foliage, you can start feeding. Application of mineral fertilizers about 3 times a month will prolong the abundant flowering of lilies of the valley.
After the inflorescence wilting, it is necessary to transfer the conval to a cool room. At the first sign of yellowing of the leaves, watering should be reduced.
Protection from pests and diseases
An important part of grooming is to look after the health of the flowers. The main enemies of the lily of the valley are crackers (onion and linear), as well as sawflies. These bugs eat leaves, stems and flowers. Their thick brownish mucus-covered larvae need to be removed from the beds, usually carefully collected under the leaves, this is their favorite place. Preparations Aktara and Confidor will help to destroy the larvae of these insects. Still not a very pleasant guest - nematode worms. They affect the stems and roots, diseased plants cannot be saved, they must be removed from the site. Marigolds as neighbors will help get rid of this worm, or you can cultivate the land with nematicides.
Aktara drug
Diseases can be different too, even if the care seems ideal. The appearance of a gray bloom on the leaves indicates excessive overgrowth of plantings and soil moisture. We need a flower transplant, and it is also necessary to reduce the number of watering. The reddish border is gleosporia. In case of slight damage, Topaz and Alarin-B will help, in case of serious damage, the plantings must be eliminated in order to preserve at least part of the plantation. Treatment with fungicidal preparations will also help.
From the defeat of gray rot, they get rid of with the help of fungicides. This is a fungal disease that spreads very quickly on both vegetables and flowers. Sick plants are dug up. Otherwise, the disease will spread to other bushes.
Preparatory stage
Remember that the less often you transplant lilies of the valley, the better they will grow. But situations are different, and by planting a plant, as it seems to you, to a permanent place, you can change your plans in connection with the construction of a new building, reconstruction of a site or a move.
Lilies of the valley are transplanted in the fall, do it in the first autumn days, then the adaptation period will pass quickly and painlessly for a delicate flower.
Collection and distillation at home
Flowers, as a rule, are not cut, but are plucked by hands, they are simply pulled smoothly upward. Moreover, it is desirable to collect them, as this accelerates the growth of the plantation. Dorien and Grandiflora varieties look beautiful in a bouquet, usually 20-25 sprouts are enough. It is better to collect the bouquet before the flowers have fully opened. They are not placed in water with other flowers, because their strong aroma will overwhelm the neighbor's, and even worse, if you get an unpleasant smell from mixing them. At home, bells are arranged on one side so that the bouquet does not look loose and careless, they are placed in filtered water and activated carbon is added - three tablets.
Beautiful bouquet of lilies of the valley
When the plantings have grown in the country, it will be possible to admire the flowers in winter, but at home. This can be achieved by distillation - by creating the necessary conditions for the species in apartment conditions. What do I need to do? In the summer - standard care, the beds are weeded, loosened and watered. And in the fall, at the first frost, strong plants are dug up, they are waiting for planting in another place. Sprouts with large buds are transplanted into pots. Those that do not fit are transferred to a new bed. Next year they can be used again for forcing. The rest of the weak shoots are left in their original place. In the future, they will grow and strengthen.A pot for domestic residents is filled with earth with humus, sand is added, roots are planted there. Small boxes, containers, and other containers are also suitable.
The sprouts are distributed in rows, measuring 40 mm between them, watered, covered with sand or moss with a layer of about 100 mm. The container is placed in a cool place - basement or loggia. The room temperature should be only 5 degrees, this retains the necessary substances. We begin further care in two weeks, when the containers return to a warm room - we water the flowers with warm water, this will promote germination. The pot can be transferred to the battery, but covered with something so that the moisture does not evaporate at great speed. After two to three weeks, the flower will begin to grow. Then remove the extra layer of sand. Gradually, the sprouts will begin to get used to the light, the boxes need to be placed on the windowsill and watch out for the draft. To speed up the distillation, the pot is sometimes covered with snow a little and left overnight, they say that after such a freeze, the flowers will bloom earlier.
Planting lilies of the valley in a pot for subsequent distillation
Lilies of the valley are not very whimsical, ordinary mixed soil will suit them. When the sprouts are already planted in the pot, let them sit for a few weeks before distilling. You can store the pots outside or in a barn, at freezing temperatures. It is advisable to store them until December or January.
Lily of the valley sprouts for sale start to appear in December and are ready to be distilled as soon as you receive them. Soak all the roots in water at room temperature for a couple of hours, and then plant them in a pot at least 8 cm deep.The tips of the shoots should rise above the surface of the soil; in nature, lilies of the valley grow close to the surface of the earth
Scions dug up in the garden will emerge better if stored at near zero temperatures for at least 5 weeks. You can start distilling in late December or early January if the cuttings have been kept cold before. When it snows, move the pots to a shed, garage, or shelter out of the snow. And although lilies of the valley are considered frost-resistant flowers, avoid freezing the soil in pots.
Use in medicine and landscape design
Lily of the valley is widely used in decorating parks and gardens. This plant is not suitable for a round small isolated flower bed, but rather finds application for a continuous soil cover. Looks good with ferns and aquilegia. The plant is popular with perfumers, but it is difficult to get a natural smell from flowers, therefore chemical compounds are actively used to recreate the scent of a flower.
Lily of the valley tincture
In medicine, cardiac drugs, choleretic drugs are made from herbs and flowers, they are used for cholecystitis, cholangitis. The tincture is used as a sleeping pill. Zelenin drops soothe with neuroses, Korglikon is needed for injections. The drugs normalize the work of the heart, relieve pain, swelling. All recommendations on the use of drugs should be obtained from a doctor and be careful, since substances in the composition of such drugs can provoke poisoning due to one feature - convallatoxin.
It is a poison found in plants, it is present in the lily of the valley and makes it poisonous. Hands should be washed after touching flowers. Children should be warned about the danger, not allowed to eat or put red berries in their mouths. Planting and caring for lilies of the valley does not require much effort. They can breed for several years in abandoned areas, but the above rules should be followed to obtain bright large flowers. Then, in the garden every spring, the lily of the valley will delight you with beautiful bell flowers and an extraordinary aroma.
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Delicate and very beautiful lily of the valley plant is indispensable for flower beds and lawns located on the shady side. In spring, lily of the valley pleases with miniature flowers with a delicate aroma; in summer, its wide and succulent leaves spread like a solid carpet, shading any floral arrangement. Lily of the valley is a perennial plant that can rightfully be called aggressive due to its active distribution. It is enough to plant a few roots in the ground and soon your entire lawn will be filled with fragrant lily of the valley.
Lilies of the valley.
Landing features
It is best to plant lilies of the valley in the fall. However, they take root well in the case of a spring disembarkation. Since lily of the valley is a shady plant, you should avoid overly lit areas that are characterized by active exposure to direct sunlight. If you could not find a completely shady area, partial shade will do. Amateur gardeners often plant lilies of the valley in the shade of fruit trees. They thrive and thrive.
Lily of the valley can be grown from seed, but it is best to transplant whole plants or use the method of dividing rhizomes. So you can quickly wait for flowering. In autumn, planting is carried out in September, and in spring, the months April and May are considered the optimal time.
Lilies of the valley.
Soil requirements
Lily of the valley is unpretentious and can grow on almost any soil with the exception of saline and swampy. Most of all, he prefers light loams with good water and air permeability, medium or low acidity.
Rhizomes are planted to a depth of 1.5-2.5 cm, after which they should be watered abundantly. Lily of the valley loves moisture, and dry soil can result in the absence of flowering. In some cases, lack of water leads to the appearance of extremely small and rare flowers.
Lily of the valley grown in the garden <>
How to care for lily of the valley
After planting, the rooting period begins, which lasts for a month. At this time, it will be useful to use organic fertilizers for the best planting effect. But mineral fertilizers will become appropriate only after a year. Due to the fact that lily of the valley is unpretentious, it should not be unnecessarily saturated with chemicals. The main thing is to water the plant on time, but not to breed excessive dampness in the flower bed. Weeds are best removed by hand, and watering can be done as soon as the soil around the plant is dry.
Lily of the valley is beautiful, but poisonous, so all planting and maintenance work must be carried out with gloves. If there are many small children in your yard, then the plant should be freed from ripe berries just in case.
A flower bed with lilies of the valley and daffodils. <>
Reproduction
Flowers only at first glance may seem fragile and delicate. In matters of spreading to nearby territories, lilies of the valley are quite aggressive. Every year they expand their habitat by about 20 cm. Reproduction is carried out using self-seeding and growth of the root system. If the lilies of the valley are provided with a favorable environment for them, they will take over the entire lawn in a short time. This will help you create a lush green carpet from these broadleaf plants.
Once every three years, lilies of the valley should be thinned out, since in too dense greenery, flowering is significantly reduced.
Lilies of the valley.
Fun facts
In some regions of Russia, local residents believe that the lily of the valley drives away spiteful critics from the house. So, in the Kuban, he is planted along the fences in order to drive away unkind people on the way to the house. In order for the effect of driving out unwanted guests to be double, lilies of the valley are planted along the fence also from the side of the yard.
Lilies of the valley planted along the fence.
At the end of the flowering period, red berries are formed, ripening in August or September.
Like the rest of the plant, they are poisonous. Breeding lilies of the valley, planting and caring for them are widely carried out both in industrial conditions and in horticulture and home floriculture.
We do not complicate our life
All those who are "friends" with ornamental plants know that over time the varietal characteristics of garden pets are erased. So, artificially derived doubleness of flowers, variegated color of leaves gradually disappears. Seed reproduction helps to avoid this. It also gives everyone the opportunity to create new hybrids of their favorite crops even at home, and not only in laboratory conditions.
Of course, this is a rather long path, and more than one year passes before the first flowering from the moment when the grains are in the ground. But the result in the form of a lush bloom is always pleasing. In addition, propagation of wild plants from seeds is an incredibly exciting experience for children and adult nature lovers. So why not do it together?
Planting and caring for the garden
Accommodation:
An ideal place for lilies of the valley is a slightly shaded area, for example, under trees and along shrubs, which will protect the flower from bright sunlight and winds. However, a place that is too dark will result in no flowering.
The soil:
Suitable soil for growing lilies of the valley is drained, light to medium loamy, moist, slightly acidic soils (pH 5). Good results can also be achieved with neutral kidneys.
How to plant lilies of the valley if the soil is acidic?
In this case, distribute 200-300 grams of lime per 1 square meter. In addition, to improve the structure of the soil, about 10 kg of humus or peat compost, about 100 g of superphosphate, 40 g of potassium sulfate are added to a plot of the same area. In the summertime, it is good to plant this place with legumes, which grow strongly and prevent overgrowing with weeds.
Lily of the Valley Photos
How to plant lilies of the valley
It is advisable to prepare the soil a year before breeding, planting and caring for lilies of the valley. In order to prevent strong growth of lilies of the valley, you can fence off the site for planting them using any available material about 20 cm high (sheets of slate or iron). This will be enough, since a powerful root system grows mainly in width and only 4-8 cm in depth.
Rosehip. Wild Rose. Care rules
Lily of the Valley Photos
Now how to plant lilies of the valley correctly. The preliminary procedure is loosening the soil and preparing grooves up to 15 cm deep. A small part of the rhizome is planted so that the process can be covered with earth by 1-2 cm, no more.
When planting, they maintain a distance of about 8-10 cm, and between rows up to 25 cm.
Subject to all the features of agricultural technology, lilies of the valley will grow and bloom well in the same area for up to 10 years.
Lily of the Valley Photos
Fertilizer for lilies of the valley
Reproduction of lilies of the valley, planting and care require fertilization regularly at every stage. It is recommended to do this once every 14 days in spring and summer, during the growth period. Humus (on top of the soil) or mineral fertilizers are suitable as top dressing.
Reproduction of lilies of the valley
Lily of the valley is best propagated by dividing the rhizome in August. For this, segments 3-6 cm long will be separated from it, making sure that each one has processes, one or more apical buds. The kidney should be straight and not very sharp. The plant will bloom when at least 3 leaves appear, 2 years after planting. The seed propagation method is not particularly effective, because seeds have a very low germination rate.
Lily of the valley care
The growth and development of lilies of the valley is also positively influenced by timely watering, which maintains the soil in a constant moist state. Insufficient moisture in dry summer weather will lead to the fact that the plant grows small, and flowering next year is unlikely to come. Lilies of the valley are distinguished by good winter hardiness, so in the cold season they do without shelter.
Lily of the Valley Photos
Pests and diseases
When breeding lilies of the valley, as with other plants and flowers, the question arises "How to plant lilies of the valley if there is a risk of disease and pest damage?" The answer is the same in any cases - you should think in advance about certain measures to protect the plant and combat them and try to regularly inspect the flowers. The root system can be very badly damaged by nematodes. Plants affected by this pest are weak and eventually die.
Measures must be taken in advance, otherwise the affected plant will have to be disposed of. As a prophylactic agent, nemocytads, specially developed for this purpose, are suitable. It is also helpful to dip the sprouts in hot water at 43 ° C, which will destroy the pest. Gnawed leaves of a plant are the result of the activity of sawflies. Insecticides will help in the fight against them. Rainy weather and excess nitrogen in fertilizers contribute to the appearance of gray rot on plants that grow in open ground.
All parts of the plant are affected - both the peduncle, and the leaves, and the flowers.
Lilies of the valley in the open field
To grow the convali outdoors, you need to choose a suitable place. Lily of the valley garden prefers uniform moisture and shade. It is advisable to plant the plant in the shade of other shrubs or trees. A miniature plant will need protection from wind and drafts.
In neutral soil, lily of the valley can actively develop for more than 10 years. Lime must be added to slightly acidic soil. It is advisable to periodically fertilize the soil with manure and peat compost. Superphosphate and potassium sulfate are available.
To grow a conval, it is necessary to prepare the landing site in advance.
For planting, you must prepare the site in advance. A year before planting, the soil should be dug up at a depth of 35 cm. The site should be covered with agrofibre and constantly cleaned of weeds. You can also plant legumes.
Lilies of the valley should be planted in October or mid-April. For the conval it is necessary to make small holes. The sprouts of silversmith with parts of the rhizome should be placed in the holes. The length of the rhizome should be about 7 cm. You should choose a planting material with two buds in the apical part. The rounded top of the sprout, more than half a centimeter in size, guarantees flowering in the current year.
It is necessary to close the soil up to 3 cm deep. The spacing between the grooves should be at least 20 cm. Densely planted shoots are often affected by gray rot. Lilies of the valley must be watered abundantly with warm, settled water.
A month later, when the lilies of the valley take root, you need to feed the plant with organic matter. During the dry period, the plant will not lose its decorative appearance. The formation of new inflorescences may completely stop. It is necessary to thin out the conval once every 3 years.
You can find out all the features of a flower from the video:
Variety of varieties
Konwalia is a fairly popular garden flower. It has been cultivated since the 16th century and by now quite a few varieties have been bred. They are distinguished by the richness of the color of the flower, for example, the Rosea variety has a pale pink bell, as well as the number of flowers on the peduncle, for example, the Flore Plena variety has a very large number of them. In addition, there are lilies of the valley that remain beautiful even after flowering ends. For example, Convallária Albostriata has large green leaves with white veins. They are widely used to decorate flower beds that are located in the shade.
Curious facts about lily of the valley
- Lily of the valley is also popularly called "young man", "lapushnik", "smooth", "silversmith".
- There are many legends about the appearance of this charming plant. According to one of them, the lily of the valley appeared from the tears of the sea princess. The princess's name was Volkhova. She passionately fell in love with a young man named Sadko, but soon learned about his betrayal with Lyubava. The water princess came out of the water to enjoy the songs of her chosen one for the last time. After a long search, she found him, but in the arms of Lyubava.Volkhova proudly turned back, and bitter tears poured from her eyes, which turned into flawless flowers, later called lilies of the valley. It is this plant that is a symbol of tenderness, unrequited love.
- In Ireland, lily of the valley flowers are legendary rungs of stairs for fairies. It is on such steps that tiny fairies climb to the reed, and then weave cradles from it.
- It is believed that nightingales begin their trills when they hear the amazing smell of lilies of the valley.
- Some legends say that lilies of the valley are miniature lanterns of fairy gnomes who live in the forest and hide from human eyes.
- Lily of the valley flowers in some beliefs are considered pearls that make up the laughter of the mythical Mermaid.
- The word "lily of the valley" in translation from the Latin language means "lily of the valleys, blooming in May."
- Lily of the valley is a companion flower for those people who were born between May 1 and 10.
Description of pharmaceutical properties
Lily of the valley is a medicinal plant. All its parts contain a large amount of cardiac glycosides, which are characterized by high cardiological and biochemical activity. These are mainly convallotoxin and convalloside. In addition to good therapeutic properties, they are unstable, therefore, they do not accumulate in human organs and tissues. Therefore, the extracts obtained from the processing of plant materials are used in medicines for the treatment of heart diseases. In addition, convalia has a good calming effect, therefore it is often prescribed in herbal preparations in combination with valerian, motherwort, hawthorn and their analogues.
How to plant May lilies of the valley from seeds: a quick guide
Every gardener will say that it is best to harvest tomato seeds and other vegetables yourself. But lily of the valley is not a tomato, and obtaining its seeds is even more troublesome than growing adult plants from them. Give preference to ready-made seed. Although it is not as easy to find it as sunflower seeds or asters, it is still possible on the Internet.
They said that the seeds of lily of the valley do not germinate well, so here's a piece of advice - order more of them.
On some bags, manufacturers indicate the germination rate up to 70% and the shelf life of the seeds up to 3 years.
But more often than not, this is more desirable than real, and this must be taken into account.
Before sowing seeds, they need to be stratified. This botanical term, which is difficult to pronounce, hides hardening. In other words, the grains need to be immersed in a winter sleep so that the subsequent rise in temperatures will be accepted as spring warming and will sprout together.
Such cold preparation should last at least 2 months. Pour the seeds into a bowl, and then fill it with snow and put it out in the cold. If snow is not found, you can replace "snow therapy" with simple hardening in the refrigerator.
How lilies of the valley reproduce
It is best to sow cold-prepared grains in purchased soil for seedlings of ornamental crops with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. You can add quilted forest litter to it. But before you mix it into the store soil mixture, it is advisable to calcine it in the oven in order to exclude the contamination of lilies of the valley with soil pathogens.
It is not necessary to immerse small grains too deeply - it is enough to make grooves 2 cm deep in containers with earth, spill them with water from a watering can with small holes, spread the seeds and cover them with moist (but not wet!) Soil. By the way, if it is already steadily warm outside, the seeds can be sown in an open area, having moistened and leveled the ground on it in advance.
Contraindications
Since the plant is poisonous, it must be used with caution. In case of an overdose, it causes vomiting, slows down the work of the heart and the central nervous system. You can not use these drugs and people who have the above, as well as those who have a pathological condition. The heart muscles start at the weakest.But there are some diseases, for example, the gastrointestinal tract, which are very sensitive to certain foods.
Self-medication is also not worth it - a referral for examination, treatment and a prescription can be obtained from your attending physician. But if, nevertheless, poisoning has occurred, it is necessary to do a gastric lavage.
What does it look like
To better understand what a lily of the valley looks like, we give a botanical description of the plant and show how the May lily of the valley looks in the photo. This herbaceous plant reaches a height of 30 cm.
Lily of the valley rhizome is long, thin, creeping. Numerous processes extend from the main root. Pale leaves are located at the base of the plant.
Shortened shoots. The plant has two, less often three, whole broad-lanceolate leaves, between which a flowering stem is located.
The cluster-like inflorescence of the lily of the valley consists of 6-20 pale yellow or white flowers, similar to bells. Larger flowers are located at the base of the inflorescence. Towards the top, they decrease. Lily of the valley blooms from May to June.
Fruits are spherical bright red or orange-scarlet berries, up to 8 mm in diameter. They contain one to two round seeds. Lily of the valley berries ripen from June to July.
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We have described the appearance of a lily of the valley. Now we will tell you where the lily of the valley grows, what climate and soil it prefers.
Popular varieties
Previously, it was believed that the genus of Lilies of the Valley consists of only one polymorphic species - the May one. Based on the geographical fragmentation, some lilies of the valley were distinguished into autonomous species, while the biological characteristics differed very little.
In today's classification, it is customary to distinguish three biological species of the genus:
- Maisky (Europe and the Caucasus);
- Mountain (USA);
- Keiske (North and East Asia).
In decorative floriculture, lilies of the valley have been bred since the XY century. Several garden varieties have been bred:
- "Rosea" - has light pink inflorescences;
- Alba Pleno (Flore Pleno) or Alba Plena (Flore Plena) - has large white terry inflorescences;
- "Grandiflora" - stands out in large inflorescences;
- "Albostriata" - the leaves of the plant have creamy white longitudinal stripes;
- "Picta" - with purple spots at the base of the filaments;
- "Prolificans" - differs from other forms by branching pedicels forming crowded inflorescences;
- "Aureovariegata" or "Lineata", "Striata", "Variegata" - distinguished by yellow longitudinal stripes on the leaves.
Popular name
Due to their unusual shape and delicate aroma, lilies of the valley are one of the most popular flowers, long loved by the people. It is not surprising that people gave this plant a variety of affectionate nicknames, reflecting not only its external characteristics, but also the beneficial properties that it possesses. Here are just a few of these names that have survived to this day: May lily; field lily; forest bell; forest language; canine tongue; hare salt; hare ears; May Day; rejuvenated; youngster; soapy grass; eye grass; the culprit; shirt; lanushnik; smooth; meadow cherry; raven; lumbago; silversmith; snow droplets; bells of Mary.
Did you know? It is noteworthy that the modern Latin name of the plant has survived since the time of the Swedish naturalist and physician Karl Linneus (1707-1778), who, in turn, modified the ancient Roman name for the flower - lily of the valleys (lilium convallium). And in English, Danish, Spanish and some other languages, lily of the valley is literally called the lily of the valleys today (Lily of the Valley, Lirio de los Valles, etc.). No less interesting are the names given to the plant by other peoples. For example: among Bulgarians, lily of the valley is the “tears of a girl”; for the Czechs - "bun"; the Germans have a "May bell"; among the Poles - "doe's ear" (because of the leaf shape similar to the doe's ear); the French and Italians have a “milkmaid” (muguet and mughetto, respectively).
RUNNING LANDYASH MAYSKY
You can admire the lily of the valley not only in May, but also at any time of the year, as it is easy to distill. In autumn, the rhizomes of garden lilies of the valley with well-developed flower buds are selected. In appearance, such a kidney is blunt, thick, directed upward from the rhizome. Forest lilies of the valley are not very suitable for forcing, since they give small flowers or do not bloom at all
For forcing the rhizomes of lilies of the valley in May in the garden are dug out after the first autumn frosts.It is more convenient to do this with a pitchfork, then the earth wakes up through the teeth. The central flower buds (they are thick and dull) are separated from the lateral vegetative ones; the largest of them are taken for early distillation, the rest - for later periods. Fold them "head to head", tie them into bunches of 25-30 pieces and trim all the roots by about a third. Before planting for distillation, rhizomes are dropped in sand or peat vertically in boxes and stored in greenhouses or in a cool room. The plants selected for early forcing are slightly moistened from time to time; with the onset of cold weather, they are transferred to the basement after a short freezing at a temperature of minus 5–6 ° C. Freezing makes forcing easier and more abundant flowering. Do not water the rhizomes during storage in the basement.
The first distillation can begin in December. At the rhizomes taken for planting, the roots are cut, leaving them 12 cm long, and immersed for 12-16 hours in water at a temperature of + 32-35 ° C. This speeds up flowering by 6-8 days. After the bath, the rhizomes are planted in pots with a diameter of 10-12 cm by 5-6 or in boxes of 25-30 pieces with a mixture of peat, turf soil and moss, covered with moss on top, placed in a dark place with a temperature of 25-30 ° C and often sprayed with warm water. They should be here before the buds appear. In room conditions, such a temperature can be created only by placing lilies of the valley near a heat source. You can darken it with black paper caps or an empty pot overturned on top. By the time of the formation of large flower arrows, the plants are exposed to the light, normal flowering begins. Distillation lasts 25 days. Blooming lilies of the valley can be moved to a cool place: they will bloom longer.
The quality of inflorescences when forcing in December can be improved with additional lighting. Fluorescent lamps are suspended above the plants at a height of 30 cm at the rate of 50 watts per square meter. Backlighting is done from 6 to 9 in the morning and from 4 to 22 hours. In this case, the leaves are colored more intensely, the peduncles are stronger.
For distillation after January 15, planting material is not treated with warm water, otherwise, to the detriment of flowering, the leaves grow strongly. Lilies of the valley are taken from the room where they were stored, and immediately planted. The temperature is maintained at 25 ° C, from February - 20-22 ° C. Closer to spring, the duration of the blackout is reduced. On bright sunny days, light darkening is required. Flowering occurs in 18–20 days. Lilies of the valley used in forcing are unsuitable for further culture.
Indoor career of garden lilies of the valley
Lilies of the valley with their touching, elegant and fragrant inflorescences have long become legendary plants. It is difficult to imagine the start of a new warm season without tiny bouquets of this charming representative of corms. In addition to beautiful flowers, lilies of the valley can also boast of considerable decorativeness, and the ability to create beautiful spots and thickets from large bright leaves, which have long been appreciated in garden design.
It is as a garden plant grown in secluded places and creating fabulous meadows that lilies of the valley are generally known. But, like all bulbous plants, they offer many different options for growing agricultural technology. And not all of them boil down to growing in open soil. Garden lilies of the valley are subject to distillation to the same extent as other representatives of corms.
Even moving into containers, they do not lose their ability to maintain decorativeness and delight with flowers for many years, and after flowering in the room, they can be grown in the garden and return to the pots after a short pause.
In room culture, only one type of lily of the valley is grown - the legendary May lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis). For growing as indoor plants, cultivated, garden lilies of the valley are used. Forest plants are not suitable for potting.You can buy lilies of the valley already accustomed to forcing and growing in a limited amount of soil, or you can use lilies of the valley that grow in the garden, selecting strong, high-quality specimens.
Breeding technology
Lilies of the valley can be spread by seeds and vegetatively (cut off rhizomes).
Convalia from seeds is able to form the first inflorescences only after 7 years. The seeds are sometimes sown in the fall. The planting material gives a low germination rate. You can plant seeds in a container. The resulting sprouts must be carefully protected from exposure to sunlight. It is recommended to constantly moisten the soil. During the first two years, transplanting a young convalia can destroy immature shoots.
Lily of the valley seeds.
For vegetative propagation, you will need to split the root. The procedure should be carried out in the fall (before the first cold snap) or early spring. In the first year of the life cycle, only two leaves will form. Flowering will come on average in 3 years.
To breed lily of the valley, you will need to plant the top of the rhizome in the prepared substrate. The mixture must include clean sand and clay soil. The soil should be loosened thoroughly. When planting, it is advisable to feed the earth with leafy humus. It is necessary to maintain a distance between seedlings of the order of 15-20 cm.
Division of the rhizome.
With the help of distillation, you can get blooming convalues even in winter. Large-colored representatives of the culture should be prepared for the procedure. In the fall, you need to cut off the top of the rhizome. Cuttings should be placed in large containers. At least ten lilies of the valley should be planted in one container.
The pot must be transferred to the greenhouse. You need to bury the container in the sand and cover it with moss on top. The temperature of the medium should remain between + 30 and + 35 degrees. Moss moisture must be constantly monitored. If all conditions are met, the first inflorescences will form in 3 weeks.
How to collect and dry this medicinal plant?
Lilies of the valley, the description of the pharmaceutical properties of which confirms that this is a valuable medicinal plant, are harvested in almost all regions. For this, almost all of its ground part is used. The exception is lily of the valley berries. They are poisonous and are not used in folk medicine.
The main harvesting time falls on the period of active flowering. It is better to do this in dry weather after the fallen dew has melted. Since the flower is under the protection of the state, there are strict rules for its collection. It is forbidden to pluck the plant so as not to damage the root system. It should only be trimmed neatly with a knife. In this case, the height of the stem left should not be less than 5 cm. If the flowers are being prepared, then not the entire brush is cut off. From the lower flower you need to surround at least 3 cm. If lilies of the valley are going in the forest, then it is forbidden to cut off all the plants in the meadow. Cutting is permissible at the rate of one plant per square meter.
The description of the drying method is very simple. The grass is laid out to dry on the day of harvest, preventing wilting, since all its useful substances are lost. It is better to do this in specialized electric dryers. If they are absent, they are dried in well-ventilated rooms until tender. Then they are stored in canvas bags in a dry, dark place.
Influence of lilies of the valley
The fragile plant is very poisonous. At first glance, harmless miniature inflorescences can lead to serious consequences. Blooming convalia in the bedroom can cause migraines, shortness of breath, rhinitis, swelling and other allergic manifestations. It is not recommended to grow the plant in a house with children.
The aroma of the convalia can cause poisoning.
Lily of the valley berries contain a high concentration of toxic substances. Eating the fruit causes poisoning. It is necessary to rinse the stomach, take a sorbent and seek help from a medical center.
Planting a flower
Lilies of the valley can be grown from seeds, but it is better to transplant them entirely or use the method of dividing rhizomes.
It is advisable to plant flowers in the fall. Nevertheless, they root well in the case of spring planting.
In autumn The best time for planting is August-September. If you are planting in the fall, then sow legumes or peas on the site in two months. Before planting, mow the greens, and seal the roots into the ground. The beans will help enrich the soil with nitrogen and organic matter that has accumulated in the root tubers.
In the spring Spring disembarkation is also acceptable. Actually in the spring, you can easily find planting material. The optimal planting time in this case is April-May. However, when planted in spring, the plants can get sick. Young shoots will take root more easily in open ground if you prepare a plot of land in the fall, and dig up the soil before planting in the spring. Also, cover the sprouts overnight with plastic to protect them from early spring frosts.
Planting scheme
- Prepare the material for planting: divide the root into 3-5 cm segments with several apical eyes (buds). Look for cuttings that have a large and rounded apical peephole.
- There is no need to make beds. Dig in a wide (about 20 cm) fence along the border of the site. If there is a threat of liquid stagnation, use ordinary branches to organize drainage.
- Shorten thin roots at the root segments.
- Place the segments into holes approximately 3 cm deep at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other.
- Fill the holes with fertile soil and mulch with leaf humus.
As for when the lilies of the valley bloom, the first buds are expected in the month of May. The grass blooms for only two weeks. Thus, the flowering phase will last until early June.
Application in cosmetology
Cosmetologists actively use not all parts of lily of the valley, but lily of the valley oil, which impresses with its fresh, cool, delicate aroma, incomparable with any other. Lily of the valley essential oil is added to cosmetics that are able to restore skin and hair tone, improve microcirculation, strengthen capillary walls, and relieve congestion.
Creams, balms, tonics and other cosmetic products are saturated with oil. The result of using cosmetic products is visible: with oil, the skin becomes softer and more well-groomed, beautiful smooth, clean.
Mask recipe for dry hair: mix one yolk, 50 ml of honey, 5 ml of May lily of the valley essential oil, then apply the mixture to the hair, from roots to ends, cover the head with polyethylene for 15 minutes. Wash off the mask with warm water and shampoo.
Hair after this procedure gains elasticity and shine. Recipe for a tonic for dry skin: add 100 ml of a spoonful of aloe juice, 2 drops of lily of the valley oil to 30 ml of freshly brewed green tea. This tonic is applied before going to bed on the face, every day.
