How does this plant differ from other representatives of the flora, how to care for a luxurious plant when planting in the garden, reproduction, difficulties and ways of solving them, types. Roscoea (Roscoea) is a perennial plant with bulbous roots, which is part of the Ginger family (Zingiberaceae). This family contains monocotyledonous representatives of the flora, of which there are up to 52 genera and more than 1580 species. All of them are distributed in the southern and southeastern regions of Asia, where a tropical and subtropical climate prevails; the lands of Africa and America are also included there. The very same Roskoya is found in mountainous areas (forests and meadows) of China and the Himalayas, as well as in countries of the southern direction. The height at which the plant feels comfortable varies from 1000 to 5000 meters above sea level.
The plant bears its scientific name thanks to James Edward Smith, a botanist from England, who in 1806 decided to immortalize the name of his friend William Roscoe. This prominent scientist was the founder of the Botanical Garden, located in Liverpool. You can also hear how this specimen of the green world is called the "flower of the lawyer" because of the activities of Roscoe. And also because of its resemblance to orchids, the luxurious is often called the "ginger orchid". They began to cultivate the flower only at the beginning of the 20th century.
Roskoy has a long life cycle and a herbaceous form of growth. Plant height does not exceed 15 cm to half a meter. Under the soil surface, it has short tuberous rhizomes in which nutrients accumulate. The leaf plates are bright green in color, elongated or lanceolate. Their outlines resemble the reduced leaves of corn, with pronounced sheaths with tubular contours, which are inserted into each other, like banana leaves.
During flowering, large buds are formed, which, opening with their contours, are very reminiscent of orchid flowers. The color of the petals is quite bright. Interestingly, it was the evolution of sterile stamens that made them look like flower petals. This is the lobed shape of the wide lip sticking upward. The shades of the six petals range from yellow, pinkish and blood red to sky blue and violet. The top petal is nodular and like a hood, as if hanging over a single stamen, preventing moisture from entering it. The other two petals are spread out on the sides. The three petals growing outside are spliced in such a way that they resemble a tube. Such a tubular formation is colored in green and is characterized by the presence of a deep cut - it is usually called a cup.
As a rule, the flowering period of the roskoi is quite long and a large number of buds are laid. In central Russia, you can admire the flowers of this plant already from late spring to September, but the flowering period directly depends on the quality of wintering (whether the luxurious rested well before the wave of bud formation and opening). Flowers often bloom in mid-summer. The buds can open either one at a time or in pairs at the same time during the month.
According to the observations of workers in botanical gardens, pollination takes place by means of large bumblebees. Although there are no reliable sources on how and who pollinates the flowers of the ginger orchid. Usually it is customary to grow luxuriantly in curbs or on alpine hills, in stone gardens (rockeries). However, despite its rather exotic appearance, the plant does not differ in great care requirements and winters well in open ground. But in central Russia, it is recommended to dig up the "ginger orchid" to ensure a successful wintering and, as a consequence, the subsequent abundant flowering.
Luxurious outdoor planting and maintenance tips
- Drop off location. The location needs to be sunny, but some varieties prefer partial shade during the formation and opening of flowers, and with protection from cold winds. If this rule is violated, then the flowering will be short and the flowers will fade quickly. But even in full shade, the "ginger orchid" will not be able to please with its flowering. Since the natural conditions of the plantations of roscoi are found on scree, then when cultivated in open ground, these flowers are adorned with alpine pots and rockeries. With its rhizomes, Roscoia is very reminiscent of medium-sized dahlia tubers, which have the ability to creep, forming small permanent colonies. These tuberous formations are quite vulnerable, and immediately after purchase they must be immediately planted in the ground. If this is not done, then you can lose the flower.
- Planting and selection of the substrate. Saplings are planted to a depth of 8-10 cm. The distance between plants is maintained within 15 cm from each other. The soil must be well moistened. Have excellent drainage and be rich in humus. The soil is recommended cultivated, nutritious. Before placing a roscoi seedling in the hole, it is useful to fill the depression with a soil mixture of equal parts of bottom (black) peat, coarse sand and rotted compost.
- Wintering Roscoi. For this perennial, if it is grown in central Russia with mild winters, it is recommended to drain and mulch with a thick layer of peat, which will serve as protection from frost in winter - these are the actions taken if the "ginger orchid" remains to winter in the ground. Some varieties, with good and careful mulching, can withstand temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees below zero. The layer of mulch can be 0.5-10 cm. The material is laid out all over the flowerbed (or the place where the roskoya is planted) or only under the plant itself. The most popular material for mulching is considered to be sawdust from deciduous trees such as willow, poplar, birch or aspen. Material from fruit trees can be used. Do not put a very large layer of mulch, as mice can start in it, subsequently damaging the tubers, breaking through the passages. When the winter is harsh, mulching will not save this southern representative of the flora and the steps described below will be required. If the plant is valuable for the grower, then it is excavated for the winter period. At the onset of the first frost, the roscoi tubers must be removed. Then it is recommended to dry them for several days and carefully clean them of soil residues and those old tubers that have grown - the so-called uterine tubers, over time they are replaced by young formations. Then this planting material is placed in containers filled with moistened sand, previously wrapped in plastic bags. Temperature readings during storage of "ginger orchid" tubers should be low (about 5 degrees Celsius). However, some store them in rooms by moving the containers closer to the cold window pane. 1-2 times a month (depending on the degree and speed of drying) it is recommended to spray the sand from a fine spray gun. It happens that tubers are stored in paper bags, on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator (as well as tuberous formations of gladioli), where the temperature is approximately 5-8 degrees. With this storage, you will need to periodically check them for mold or signs of decay. In growth, the roscoi tubers begin to get under way in February or at the very beginning of spring. At first, their growth rate (the first 10-14 days) is rather slow, but by the end of March it will begin to increase. For this period, seedling boxes or pots are prepared, filled with a suitable substrate, and the tubers are planted there. The containers are kept on the windowsill, and the care of the tubers consists in regularly moistening the soil. After the frost has passed, and the substrate in the garden warms up well, you can plant the grown roskoi in the chosen place.
- Watering and general care. During the period of active growth, which occurs in April-May, infrequent soil moistening is carried out on the plantings of the "ginger orchid". If the summer turned out to be hot and dry, then watering is also necessary when it is noticed that the earth has begun to dry out. You will also need to regularly weed the soil so that the weeds do not drown out the young shoots.
- Fertilizers for luxury. In order to support the plant during the period of vegetative activation, the addition of a small amount of complex mineral preparations is needed.
How to reproduce roscoi independently?
You can propagate the "ginger orchid" by planting seeds or tubers. It is customary to sow seed material in the spring, but some prefer to sow seeds under the snow in the middle of winter in order to have a formed young plant with a small nodule in stock by autumn days. Such a young grove in autumn days is dug up and stored in the same conditions as the planting material of adult specimens.
According to the advice of experienced flower growers, it is most rational to sow seeds in special seedling boxes, so as not to dig up "young animals" for the first time. The substrate for planting is a soil mixture of equal parts of peat and sand. Containers with crops for the winter are removed so that young Roskoi steams are not disturbed by digging. The development of seedlings is proceeding at a fairly rapid pace and the "ginger orchid" obtained in this way will bloom already 2-3 years from the moment of sowing.
However, it should be borne in mind that in central Russia, due to climatic conditions, seeds are never formed in roskoi, but occasionally, it turns out, it turns out that it turns out to acquire seed, then growing a plant using this method does not present much work. It is most preferable to carry out reproduction by tuberous planting, since in adult specimens of roscoi on the tubers, over time, the formation of small tuberous formations - children - takes place. Reproduction is carried out in April with a frequency of once every 3-4 years. Before planting in open ground near the mother plant, the babies are separated and planted in a suitable substrate in early spring. For planting, an earth mixture is poured into each hole, consisting of equal parts of river sand, low-lying peat and rotted compost. However, it should be remembered that with such cultivation there is the possibility of losing the varietal characteristics of the parent roscoi specimen.
Difficulties in growing roscoi outdoors
Often, the plant is exposed to fungal diseases, which manifest themselves in the form of a wide variety of rot that occurs on leaf plates or tubers. These putrefactive processes can also give rise to viruses. The part located above the soil surface is often attacked by slugs or other pests that prefer to feed on vegetation. It is recommended to carry out treatment with preparations such as "Thunderstorm" or "Meta".
Facts for the curious about the Roscoy flower
As history says, the man after whom the Roscoe was named - William Roscoe, who lived from 1753–1831, was a rather versatile person. There are statements by the well-known scientist in history and botany, William Stearne, who, in his work on the names of plants given in honor of certain significant personalities of science, wrote about Roscoe: “William Roscoe is from Liverpool, is a lawyer and fighter against the slave trade, historian and patron Arts, who was one of the founders of the Liverpool Botanic Gardens and the author of an excellent book on plants belonging to the Ginger family."
It is also known that Roscoe was the son of a gardener, and at the beginning of the 19th century (1817) was elected a member of the Liverpool Society.
Types of roscoi
Roscoe Hume (Roscoea humeana). The native area of distribution falls on the territory of South China. The plant has its scientific name from two components of the names of famous botanists: Roscoe and Hume. The latter served as a gardener at the Royal Botanic Gardens, headquartered in Edinburgh, and fell on the battlefield at the very beginning of the First World War. Often the flower is called Roscoe moisture-loving and is the most unpretentious of the whole genus. Its height does not exceed 30 cm. The buds bloom simultaneously with the formation of leaf plates. In the inflorescence, there are 2-8 flowers, painted in lilac shades. Quite popular in the gardens of England and well known varietal and hybrid varieties.
Roscoe kotlievidnaya (Roscoea сautleoides) is found in mountain meadows and shrubs of southern China, spreading to 2000-3000 meters absolute height. The plant never exceeds 30 cm in height. Flowering occurs simultaneously with the unfolding of the leaf plates. The color of the petals in the flowers is yellow, but occasionally they can be white. Veins of a light bluish hue are visible on the petals. In the inflorescence, 2–5 buds are collected. There are garden forms and varietal varieties that are quite popular in European floriculture.
Roscoe purpurea (Roscoea purpurea) grows in the Himalayas and the mountains of India (Assam), and is also found in Burma. The height of the plant can vary between 50-60 cm. When the leaves appear, the flowering period begins. In the inflorescence, the number of buts reaches 2–4 units. The color of the petals is purple, but there are varieties that have a white base at the petals. Prefers shady places and the plant will require shelter for the winter.
Alpine Roscoe (Roscoea alpina). The name of the species speaks of its territorial distribution, which falls on the alpine belt of the western and central parts of the Himalayas. Grows taller than all species in the genus. Prefers partial shade and coolness. The height of this plant usually never exceeds 20 cm. It can bloom simultaneously with the unfolding of the leaves or before they appear. The size of the flowers is large, the color of the petals is light purple, pinkish or lilac.
Roscoe auriculate (Roscoea auriculata) can reach a height of 50-60 cm with its shoots. Buds begin to form in the axils of the upper leaf plates. The color of the petals in flowers is purple or violet with whitish or bluish spots.
- Variety "Monique" it is particularly hardy and has flowers in which the petals are painted in a snow-white color with veins of purple tones. The flowering period is very long.
- Variety "Yeti" flaunts with petals of a warm and gentle light yellow tint.
- Long Acre Voskhod variety. The plant is producing pale yellow flowers and is the earliest flowering hybrid.
- Variety "Red Gurkha". These colors are distinguished by bright red, or we can say that even the scarlet color of the petals.
Roscoe scillifolia (Roscoea scillifolia). Plants of this species are short and their height is no more than 30 cm. They are used for phytodecoration of rock gardens. In summer, flowers with pinkish petals bloom on them, which rise above the deciduous mass.
Roscoe "Beesiana". The stems grow to a height of about 50-60 cm. They are crowned with flowers with creamy petals, on which there are stripes of purple shade. Flowering marks the beginning of summer and can last until the deepest autumn days. There are also snow-white forms.
How Roscoya looks like, see the video below:
