Growing rosemary at home is not only an interesting activity, but also an unconditional benefit. In addition to the natural coniferous smell in the apartment, the plant will delight with its unusual appearance. You can prepare homemade seasoning from dried rosemary, because it is actively used in cooking for cooking meat and fish dishes. Also, medicinal rosemary has unique properties: relieves symptoms of fatigue, helps get rid of stress. Below in the article everything about this wonderful plant: what is rosemary and how to grow it at home.
Variety of species
In the wild, many types of rosemary grow, but for growing at home only two are used: ordinary / medicinal and open. Breeders brought a huge number of varieties of indoor rosemary.
Rosemary growing in an apartment
Drug
The most common type - medicinal rosemary - has straight bushes growing in height up to 1.5-2 m with narrow tight-to-touch leaves. Leaves and shoots are highly valued in various fields: culinary, traditional medicine, the manufacture of essential oils and cosmetics. Bushes are also used as decoration of the garden, because they bloom beautifully in bulk with small blue, purple or white inflorescences. The fragrance attracts beneficial insects to the garden or vegetable garden.
Medicinal look
Outstretched
The largest number of sprawling shrubs, similar to balls, can be found in the southern regions of the country. In length, the shoots reach only 70 cm, but grow so much that they cover an area of about 1.5-2 m. In winter, the plant has a rule to change its color to green with bluish tones. Serves as a plant to create a hedge.
Popular varieties
Rosemary is a perennial plant with a wide variety of varieties. Due to the appearance of rosemary, it is difficult to distinguish one species from another, but they differ in many characteristics: the shape and color of the leaves, the maximum height, shades of flowers.
Corsican blue
The shrub Corsican Blue has a powerful root system that can penetrate deep into the earth for 3-4 m. The shrub is distinguished by leaves of gray-green color and small, dense inflorescences of blue color. It blooms in late April - early May for only 20 days. The variety is considered medicinal and is planted in flower beds, along curbs in sandy or gravelly soil.
Blue winter
Ornamental shrub with blue-green needle-like leaves. Often used to design flower beds, acting as a backdrop for roses or peonies. Also great for fragrant mini-gardens, so it is planted next to lemon balm, chamomile and mint.
Note! The plant is very frost-resistant, can easily tolerate temperatures up to −17 ° C.
Rosemary Tenderness
Flowering ornamental plant with thin 3-4-centimeter leaves-needles. In the fall, a green shrub becomes gray-blue, and in April it begins to dissolve brushes of pale blue flowers. The variety is popular for decorating the garden in the southern regions, but the cold winter is disastrous for him. It grows well in sunny, well-ventilated places.
Rosemary ampel
An open view of a shrub with twisted, hanging down shoots. It looks good as a decoration of a wall or a rocky fence. Twisted with a scattering of bright colors, rosemary branches create a fabulous atmosphere. The name ampelous speaks for itself - these plants are intended for decorative decoration of rooms.
Rosemary Rosinka
The most popular variety for growing a house on a windowsill. It is actively used in the preparation of various dishes, as it gives a spicy taste. Rosemary grows well both in winter and in summer, the main thing is to keep it in a well-lit place.
Dewdrop
Rosemary: planting and care at home
How to grow rosemary? It is required to grow a bush at home in compliance with all the rules for caring for the plant. To get a healthy plant containing beneficial substances, favorable conditions should be organized.
Important! Planting shrubs for optimal growth should occur in the spring.
Required temperature
The best temperature for growth is 20-25 ° C in the summer. In winter, the plant can calmly continue to grow in a cool environment of at least 15 ° C. Some varieties should provide coolness during this period, lowering the temperature to 5-10 ° C.
Air humidity
Maintaining the level of humidity in the room is required to prevent drying and yellowing of the leaves of the flower. In summer, an additional increase in humidity is not necessary, but in winter it is extremely necessary because of heating and a closed room.
Moistening method: in a pan of a rosemary pot you can pour liberally moistened expanded clay.
For your information! Do not worry that the roots of the plant will begin to rot from an excess of moisture, since in this version the water will not reach the drainage holes.
Lighting
Rosemary is very photophilous, requires constant (at least 5-6 hours) and intense lighting. To put a healing plant should be on the southern or eastern windowsill.
It is important to constantly turn the plant towards the sunlight on the other side, so the plant will not be one-sided.
In summer, the plant should be slightly shaded and protected from direct sunlight, but in winter you need maximum lighting.
Watering and fertilizer
It should be remembered: rosemary tolerates overdrying more calmly than excessive watering. But, despite this, watering should be carried out regularly. You need to feed the plant during its growing season: from spring to November every month. Apply should be a comprehensive fertilizer for plants.
Plant pruning
As they grow, shoots should be systematically trimmed, forming a further form of shrub. Mowing shrubs is very important, because it motivates the plant to further growth, in the future it will affect the number of new shoots and the beauty of rosemary.
Note! Although rosemary is motivated by further growth from pruning to 2/3 of the shoots, pruning to the most mature base will make the plant weakened and vulnerable to diseases and pests.
Shrub Transplant Rules
An annual shrub requires an annual transplant in a new pot, it is worth doing this in the spring, closer to mid-April. Adult rosemary needs to be transplanted every three years, but the very first layer of soil should be replaced annually.
How to plant rosemary
A transplant of a home plant occurs by the method of transshipment:
- The entire lump of earth, along with a grown bush, is taken out of the flowerpot.
- The lump is carefully placed in a new vessel.
- The free space is covered with new earth, all crushed and watered.
For your information! As the bush grows, it will take the form of a tree - it will become like a bonsai.
Methods of propagation of rosemary
Planting rosemary, as well as growing it is easy. There are various ways to propagate shrubs.
- With the help of seeds. This method requires careful preparation of planting material and soil. Rosemary seeds must be processed to ultimately increase germination. Seedlings need constant care and a special microclimate. After they grow up, they should be sent to the street.
- Cuttings. It is necessary to cut off the top of an adult plant, then root it in a prepared substrate. Providing a number of conditions, the cuttings form the roots, after which they can be planted.
- Sprigs. Cut branches of the plant are placed in water and wait for the roots to appear. After seedlings, they are left in a pot or taken out onto the street.
- Division. The method used when transplanting rosemary - the roots are divided into several parts and planted in various pots.
- Layering. They bend one of the branches of the plant without tearing it from the bush, sprinkle it with earth. After some time, she has her own roots, after which layering can be separated from the mother bush.
Breeding
The benefits of rosemary herb and methods of application
Before planting rosemary, you should familiarize yourself with its properties. The plant contains an amazing set of useful vitamins and substances like thyme, which by the way can also be grown at home. Perennial shrub is a godsend for traditional medicine, cooking, creating essential oil.
Rosemary in the form of essential oil is used for:
- relieve headaches, fatigue and stress;
- helps in relieving the symptoms of flu and other colds;
- as a foot bath after a hard day — relieving swelling and pain;
- as an additive to shampoo - strengthens hair and promotes their growth;
- To combat any kind of skin irritation, you just need to mix the cream with essential oil.
In cooking, rosemary is widely used in cooking, and also serves as a component for brewing herbal teas.
Application
To grow at home a perennial useful plant used for various purposes is a good choice. In addition to its vitamin base, the shrub will serve as an excellent element of decor and give a wonderful forest aroma. The shrub is not very demanding, but you need to take care correctly: ensure regular watering and good lighting.
