Organic Stachis Woolly Seeds (Stachys byzantina)

Perennial herb 20-60 cm high from the Lamb family. Oblong leaves with felted pubescence, which you just want to stroke, sit oppositely on erect stems. Due to its interesting appearance, the popular name of stakhis is used - sheep ears. The dark green shade of the leaves emphasizes the white-silvery pubescence. Stems are erect and branching.

Woolly Stachis blooms throughout May-August. Whorls of pretty pink flowers form a spike-shaped inflorescence. The leaves are very attractive to flower growers and in most cases the inflorescences are plucked before blooming. Already in the first year, a lawn will form, and next season it will turn out to be an almost solid rug.

In warm regions, they are sown directly into open ground in spring or before winter. Just dig up the area, sprinkle the seeds and cover with a rake. If your area has severe winters, it is best to take care of growing seedlings.

The seeds germinate quickly (from 5 to 10 days) and without problems, and the seedlings are tolerant of transplanting, they can even "wander" around the site several times per season.

    Pour the sand-peat mixture into a wide container, distribute the seeds over the top, sprinkle with a thin layer of sand and spray from a fine spray.
    You can germinate without shelter, just try to spray the soil daily, diffused lighting is required, keep the temperature within 20-25 ° C.
    If necessary, thin out dense seedlings; before transplanting into open ground, seedlings can be grown in the same container.
    Dig holes according to the size of the root system, transfer the seedlings together with an earthen clod, when planting, adhere to a gap of about 15 cm.


Care
In culture, the plant practically does not require attention to itself.

Stachis tolerates periodic drought perfectly, waterlogging of the soil has a negative effect: the rhizome and stem rot. Focus on rainfall, let the topsoil dry between waterings.

Feed twice in spring with complex mineral fertilizers. It responds normally to organic matter: a solution of an infusion of chicken manure or mullein mixed with saltpeter.


Wintering
Under a snow cap, the Byzantine Chisel successfully tolerates frosts; in the event of a particularly harsh winter, sprinkle the plantings with leaves or cover with spruce branches. By the way, the leaves do not fall, but the attractiveness is lost, so gardeners cut off the shoots in the fall so that in the spring they do not spoil the view of the flower bed.

Diseases and pests
The Byzantine purist does not suffer from pests and diseases. Only in the case of excessive watering can fungi develop, which will lead to rotting. Heavily affected plants must be removed from the site, treat the soil with a fungicide.