Gardeners probably would not have paid attention to the inconspicuous flowers of wild astilba. Tiny buds, nondescript colors, resemble weeds, which are abundant around. However, the breeders managed to do the incredible – to bring out such bright varieties of astilba that simply cannot go unnoticed.

 Demanded qualities of culture:

 -decorative openwork leaves;

 -catchy strong inflorescences;

 -abundant and long-lasting flowering;

 -cold resistance;

 -shade- and moisture-loving. 

 Astilba from seeds at home germinates without any problems and begins to bloom early. In order to plant a culture correctly, you need to first study its requirements.

 At home, decorative culture is grown in medium-deep containers with a side height of no more than 15 cm. Drainage holes should be provided at the bottom of the tanks to remove moisture. Before planting at home, it is recommended to subject the grains to stratification, or cold treatment. The simplest algorithm looks like this:

 -A clean napkin or cotton pad is moistened with lukewarm water.

 -Seeds of decorative culture are scattered on the surface.

 -Remove the substrate in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator.

 -Leave for 20 days in the dark and at a low temperature.

 -The seeds should hatch within the specified time. After that, they can be carefully planted in a prepared container with a substrate or put on the soil directly on a thin paper napkin. Seeds at home in this case will germinate through the substrate.

 Stratification, carried out according to all the rules, accelerates the rooting of astilba and increases its endurance.

Sowing astilba seeds for seedlings is not associated with any difficulties. At the end of stratification at home, it is necessary:

 -Disinfect the prepared container from microorganisms by scalding it with boiling water.

 -Fill the container with a nutritious loose substrate and properly moisten the soil.

 -Carefully transfer the seeds into the ground, spreading them into shallow grooves with a distance of 2-3 cm between the individual grains.

 -Lightly sprinkle the material with sand with a layer of no more than 1 mm.

 -After that, the soil is gently moistened again. The container is covered with a film or glass to create greenhouse conditions and left at a temperature of 18-20 ° C in a room with diffused lighting.

 Seedling care:

1. Watering. Astilba should be moistened as necessary when the soil dries in the container. In order not to damage the thin and delicate shoots, watering is better carried out with a syringe with a needle removed. Water is injected under the root, the liquid is used to stand, with a soft composition. Spraying seedlings from seeds is not recommended to avoid the development of fungal diseases.

 2. Ventilation. Before the emergence of shoots, the film or glass from the container is removed daily for 20-30 minutes. After the formation of green shoots, the shelter is completely removed. Periodically, it is necessary to ventilate the entire room so that the seedlings from the seeds receive enough oxygen.

 3. Illumination. In early spring, the length of the day may not be sufficient. In order for astilba from seeds to develop without problems, you need to light it up with a phytolamp in the mornings or evenings. The light day for culture should be equal to 12-14 hours.

 Perennial seedlings grow very slowly. If necessary, the sprouts dive into separate containers after the appearance of 2-3 leaves. Practice shows that in most cases a full-fledged socket barely has time to form by the end of the year, and therefore astilba is transplanted into the open ground only next spring.

  The plot is selected shaded and well-moistened, with nutritious loose soil. Holes are dug in the flower garden, maintaining a distance of 35-40 cm. The bottom is flavored with ash. The astilba root is lowered to a depth of 20 cm . It is important to ensure that the renewal buds are covered with soil, a layer of up to 3 cm.

 After transplanting, the soil around the seedling is well mulched. Peat or humus is used. Uncovered earth quickly evaporates water, and the perennial loves moistened places very much. Watering of astilba is carried out regularly for 10-15 days before the appearance of obvious signs of rooting. Top dressing is not needed.

 Growing a perennial in the open ground does not cause gardeners problems and worries. The main thing is that the right place is chosen for the plant.

 We remind you that the ideal site is characterized by:

 -scattered shadow created by shrubs or trees;

 -moist air provided by a reservoir or stream.

 Astilba is a very beautiful perennial that attracts gardeners not only with decorative qualities, but also with simple rules of agricultural technology, unpretentiousness, resistance to diseases, pests and severe frosts. It is known that the culture is able to resist weeds on the site. 

Choose this flower to decorate your garden and it will become your favorite.