PENNISETUM: FOXTAIL, BRISTLY, LANDING AND GROOMING IN TABLES

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Pennisetum is a grassy plant native to North Africa. Belongs to the Cereal family. It has been used as a decorative representative of the genus Cirruscetinum since the end of the 19th century.

Popular among gardeners because of its unique beauty.

Penisetum Description

It grows in height about 80-200 cm. It has narrow oblong leaves about 50-60 cm. Spikes 6 mm in length, containing one flower, are collected in panicle-shaped inflorescences of 3-6 pieces each, reaching 30 cm in length. The ear is covered with many villi of various lengths. Their colors are varied: there are pink-purple, burgundy, brown, chestnut and even green species. The stems are rough, they also have short hairs. The pennisetum blooms in mid-late July.

Popular types of pennisetum

The genus includes a wide variety of species forms, each of which is characterized by its size and color of the flowers.

View	Description, features	Leaves	Spikelets inflorescences
Plain	100-120 cm. Long and stable root system, tolerates severe frosts.	Narrow, 50 cm. Gray or pale green.	Large, changing color during flowering from green to yellow and brown.
Gray (African millet)	120-200 cm. Straight resistant stems.	About 3 cm wide. Maroon with a bronze tint.	Standard, have a rich brown color.
Foxtail	90-110 cm. Thick stems. Frost resistant.	Bright green, long, pointed towards the end. In the fall they get a yellow tint.	Purple, pinkish, burgundy or whitish with a red tint. Arcuate shape.
Oriental	80-100 cm, distributed in Central Asia. The stems are thin, strong. Winter hardy.	Approximately 0.3 cm wide, deep green.	5-12 cm long, purplish pink. Abundantly covered with bristles up to 2.5 cm.
Shaggy	Miniature view: 30-60 cm in height.	Flat, 0.5-1 cm wide. Dark green.	Ellipsoidal inflorescences 3-8 cm. Cirrus villi up to 0.5 cm in length. White, grayish and brownish spikelets.
Bristly	70-130 cm. Heat-loving, roots resistant to drought.	0.6-0.8 cm wide. Light green, pointed.	Large, 15-20 cm in length. Purple or pink with a silver tint.
Hameln (Hameln)	It tolerates frosts. Curved stems 30-60 cm tall.	Rough, narrow. In the fall, color changes from green to yellow.	20 cm long, 5 cm wide. Beige, yellow, purple or light orange with a pink tint.
Red head	40-70 cm. Spherical bush, the root system is well developed, withstands cold to -26 ° C.	Gray-green, elongated and pointed towards the end, rough.	10-15 cm. Purple, pinkish or burgundy with a rich gray tint.
Viredescence	70 cm. A winter-hardy species with dense stems and a large bush.	Drooping, dark green, narrow. In the fall they get a purple color.	Purple, standard sizes, have a slightly arched shape.

Reproduction and planting of pennisetum in open ground

The seeds are sown usually in the spring, at the beginning of May, when the weather becomes favorable and warm.

First dig up and level the area for disembarkation. Usually this is the space along the fence.
Then the seeds are scattered and slightly buried using a rake.
The resulting flowerbed is watered regularly so that there is no stagnation.
When the first seedlings appear, they are removed so that the distance between the bushes is 70-80 cm.

Pennissum seedlings are prepared in advance in February-March and planted in May.

Prepare a nutritious soil based on peat.
In each individual container, drainage holes are made and no more than 2 seeds are placed.
They create greenhouse conditions: they spray the soil every day, cover the container with foil, maintain bright lighting, room temperature and ventilate regularly.
Shoots rise in about a week.
Remove the shelter and install additional lighting (phytolamps).
When the shrub reaches 10-15 cm, it is planted in open ground.

Pennisetum is propagated vegetatively. Spend every 5-6 years, while the air temperature should not be too high.

Young sprouts, along with the formed root system, are carefully dug up so as not to damage the plant.
The soil is loosened and fertilized with peat, sawdust or humus.
The root is planted and completely buried, leaving only the green part above the ground.
Watered as it dries for 2-3 weeks, until the bush takes root.
Young pennisetum will bloom in 1-2 months, then watering is completely stopped.

It also propagates by self-seeding and does not require outside intervention. This occurs in perennial shrubs.

Care for the penisetum in the garden

In order for the cinnamon to grow healthy and delight with its extraordinary inflorescences, it is necessary to properly care for it.

Factor	activity
The soil	Use universal substrates or add peat with ash. Loosen and weed weekly from weeds.
Location	Planted in well-lit places where there is direct access to sunlight. Also, do not place an adult plant under various awnings or greenhouses. Pennisetum is well established along fences, fences or buildings. When using a bush in landscape design, its location can be more diverse.
Temperature	Planted in May, when the air had not yet had time to finally warm up, but there was no possibility of frost. The shrub is unpretentious, but it does not tolerate too hot weather and needs to be thoroughly moistened.
Watering	No additional required. The soil is moistened only with prolonged absence of rain or too hot temperature (July-August).
Fertilizers	Use mineral top dressing containing nitrogen, potassium or phosphorus. Also used organic, for example - manure, humus. They are fed Kristallon, Plantafol, Ammophos, Kemira.
Transfer	Carried out only in extreme cases (for example, during wintering), since the condition of the shrub deteriorates and it can die.
Winter	Perennial species and varieties are covered with a special flooring, and the soil around the plant is sprinkled with dry foliage or needles to ensure the safety of the root system. The stems are not pruned - this serves as additional protection for the penisetum. In the spring, when the snow is falling, the dried ground part and the shelter prepared for the winter are removed. If the plant is annuals, it is planted in advance in a large container and, with the onset of frost, brought into a warm room.

Penisetum growing problems, diseases and pests

Although the pennisetum is resistant to diseases and pests, cases of death of the shrub are not uncommon, therefore, the plant is carefully monitored and eliminated as they arise.

Symptom	Cause	Repair methods
The stem rots, the bush fades.	Too frequent watering.	Reduce moisture or stop it completely before the onset of drought.
Leaves turn yellow, fall off.	The soil is overdried.	Watering is organized 2 times a week for a month, then restore the standard, if the bush needs it.
The plant does not recover after wintering.	Winter is too cold.	The next time they grow pennisetum in a pot or tub, which at the end of October is transferred to the room for the whole winter until the beginning of May.
Dark spots on the leaves.	Disease: rust. Excessive hydration.	Sprayed with fungicides. Transplant the bush into new soil.
Small voids appear on the leaves and stem. Yellow or red spots appear, the shoots die off.	Shield.	Use a solution of soap and alcohol, tincture of fern and such chemicals as Permethrin, Bi 58, Phosphamide, Methyl mercaptophos.
Small green insects appear throughout the shrub. The stems and leaves wither, the penisetum perishes.	Aphid.	They increase the frequency of watering, treat the flower with a soap solution or tincture of lemon peel. Special intestinal preparations (Intavir, Actofit) are best suited for pest control.
The plant is covered with a thin web, and orange circles are visible on the back of the leaf.	Spider mite.	Moisturize the shrub and cover it with polyethylene for several days. They are treated with Neoron, Omayt, Fitoverm drugs for one month according to the instructions.
Small beige pests on the leaves, inflorescences and stem. White plaque and wax deposits.	Mealybug.	The growths and affected parts of the plant are removed. The soil is treated with an alcohol solution, parasites are removed. Actara, Mospilan, Actellik, Calypso are great for fighting.