Not so long ago in our gardens there was a rather exotic visitor - climbing liana Cobaea scandens - kobei violet.It has intricate openwork plates and original, up to eight centimeters, buds on thick long peduncles. In shape, the flowers resemble Christmas bells.
Our exotic guest is a residentAmerican tropical latitudes-represents a genus of beautifully flowering curly shrubs. But in our Russian climate, kobei violet is grown as an annual liana. If you have the possibility of container preservation of the roots in winter conditions, it can be grown as a perennial plant.
Numerous, rapidly growing shoots up to 4-5 meters long, growing, create a huge green tent. They are able to climb to higher heights thanks to their tenacious tendrils.
Seeds of kobei in the conditions of our regionit is advisable to plant in the beginning or the middle of March. Planted in these terms, the liana will develop quite well and when planted into the ground on a permanent place will immediately start to grow.
For seeding, it is necessary to prepare a loosefertile soil and individual containers, so that during planting the roots of plants are not damaged. It can be peat or plastic pots or just small containers, where there must necessarily be drainage holes. On the eve of planting seeds for a couple of hours it is desirable to sustain in a growth stimulant solution (HB-1 or Epin may be suitable). They do not deepen them deeply, falling asleep with moist soil only 1-1.5 centimeters. Germination lasts about two weeks at a temperature of +18 - + 20 ° C. And only after emergence of sprouts of the container should be placed in a cooler room.
When a real plant leaves appearShould be transferred to a larger pot. Very justify themselves in this case themselves peat pots, because in the soil of the plant can be planted with them, without spending additional time on the adaptation of plants in natural conditions.
One of the unpleasant moments is the intertwiningwhip growing vines. In order to prevent this problem, in addition to installing supports, it is possible to pinch the tips of the shoots. Plants after this procedure become more chunky.
In the ground, the kobei should be planted on approacha warm period when the threat of recurrent frosts has already passed. It is necessary to carefully prepare the landing pits by selecting a sufficiently illuminated place, protected from the cold north-east wind. You need to make sure that there is a support for your plant. Pits should be located at a distance of at least 60 centimeters from each other. It is necessary to fill them with a nutrient mixture consisting of humus, sand, sod land. At the bottom of the pits to fill in flower mineral fertilizers.
Kobei violet easily transfers the transplant frompot, because it does not damage its roots. It is necessary only very cautiously to manage with shoots of plants at landing on a constant place. After a few days, which are necessary for her to adapt and build roots already in "real" conditions, your liana will start growing, increasing foliage. Initially, it must be fixed on the support, and then it will already cope on its own. By decorative and the ability for rapid growth, a plant like kobe is difficult to find. It is able to grasp its antennae for any roughness of the support and rise to a height of up to 6 meters, braiding it with a green carpet. Good watering and regular feeding are necessary for such a powerful fast-growing vine, like kobei.
Planting plants in the ground at earlier timeswill require shelter, where plants can develop, adapting to the conditions of real life, without the threat of possible frosts. Such a step will greatly approximate the beginning of flowering, because plants will receive an additional supply of time. They will get stronger, acclimatize, increase the root system and leaf mass necessary for the start. And from the moment of removing the shelter of the kobei, violet will immediately grow, throwing out the first buds. Buds first remain a greenish shade and, only opened, are filled with purple. There is another, more rare species - white kobei. Imagine how the green carpet of your arch is covered with amazing purple or white flowers, which eventually become brighter. Blooms kobei long - until the autumn cold, calmly transferring small September frosts.
Already in the fall, you can trim the whips, prepare pitsfor planting a vine for the next year. In the presence of cool conditions, the roots can be stored in a container for the next year, because Kobei, in fact, a perennial tropical liana. Simply in the conditions of our climate, we have no experience of wintering under a snowdrift. But she still has everything ahead!
