Cornflower blue plant description. Unpretentious cornflower for beginner gardeners

Perfect order in the apartment is always a guarantee of good mood among the household, because no one will look for things and will not be ashamed to bring guests to the apartment. In addition, the order of objects in the house helps to focus, putting everything on the shelves in your head. You should also put things in order even if you move out of a rented apartment, because you don’t want to be thought wrong about you (as if you are sluts and loafers).

Today in our article we will help to restore perfect order in an apartment or house, doing everything quickly and correctly.

11 secrets on how to clean up your apartment

Focus on dust. It is impossible to avoid it, since it penetrates us from all places - windows, doors and even vents. We bring it on the soles of our shoes and, of course, outerwear. You can get rid of such dust with a vacuum cleaner, but put it on wet cleaning so that it does not spread dust throughout the space. By removing the dust, you can perform the movement of those things that are required. There is no need to do the opposite otherwise, for example, you can move the bag to another place where dust will already be accumulated, respectively, it will remain there for a long time, and it is better not to breathe such air. The place where dust is most visible (especially to guests) is the surface of tables, chairs, TVs and window sills (there is especially a lot of dust here, as it blows out of the window). Dust can also form on the wallpaper (rarely, but if it appears, it means that you cleaned the rooms for a very long time), vents (it is better to remove them and thoroughly clean them from cobwebs, dirt, etc.). The top ones deserve special attention. ceiling corners, where, as a rule, you can find the web.

The first thing our guests pay attention to is the floor. So you start by cleaning the floor. Thoroughly clean the carpets (if any), sweep and wash the floor itself (parquet, linoleum, tiles, etc.). It is better to focus on those places that are most polluted - the hallway and living room, but this does not mean that you can forget about hard-to-reach places, such as areas under the bed or sofa.

If your apartment is small, then try to take out the trash more often. It is not necessary to install separate buckets in the bedroom, living room, etc. for this. The fact is that the bin will be quite easy to notice, however, the garbage left on the table or nightstand will also not give you rest. Therefore, immediately accustom yourself to one bucket (in the kitchen) and the daily removal of garbage bags, although the more often the better, because it emits far from the most pleasant smell in the house, which spreads very quickly.

Get rid of things you don't need. Now that the living room and corridor are in order, take care of the objects that surround you. Order comes first rational use spaces in the house. When the house is a mess, there are a lot of things in it that we do not need. Of course, you are unlikely to be able to throw them away, so we suggest doing this: purchase a large box in which to put all the necessary things. Moreover, it is quite simple to determine a thing as necessary: put in the box all those items that you have not used for a month, two or more: lamps, pens, magazines, accessories, small appliances(an old mobile phone, for example), etc. You can also put some decorative elements in the box (vases, mugs, figurines, glasses that you don’t like much). Having filled the box to capacity - seal it, write today's date on top. Take the box to the garage, basement, or at least closed balcony. And believe me, most likely, you will not look into this box for at least a year (because of necessity), and, therefore, all the collected things are really nothing more than rubbish for you. After one year, you can safely sell these items.

After removing everything you need, surround yourself with those things that you constantly use. You never noticed behind you that you take out all the necessary items from cabinets, shelves and even other rooms, when there are things nearby that you don’t need at all. If so, then you should urgently review the entire set of objects around you. He is unfaithful. Try to surround yourself by putting in a prominent and convenient place for you only those things that you use, and not those that should be located according to generally accepted canons. After completing this step, you can easily avoid a meeting in a messy apartment, because there will be no extra things, and the necessary things will not create problems for you.

A clean apartment in which everything is at hand is not yet an ideal order. Since now it's time for us to take up hiding unnecessary items from the eyes of outsiders. Face the idea that guests will visit your home from time to time, that is, in fact, strangers. These may include: people from a repair service, neighbors, controllers (gas and electricity), friends, colleagues, acquaintances (friends of your children, parents or spouses), etc. All of them may have different understandings of order and cleanliness, but in general, there is such a rule - to hide personal life from strangers, so try to distribute things in the house in such a way that even if strangers came to visit you at night, you did not feel embarrassed . So, how to do it?! Pretty simple! Get in the habit - "personal things, always hide!". It doesn't matter if it's money or bedding. Documents should never lie in plain sight. A trifle, such as glasses, watches, mobile phones, bracelets and other things, should also have its place, preferably in bedside table. When changing clothes, put all things in the closet, and dirty linen or clothes in a special basket. Washing should not stretch for the whole day. It is also better not to leave the dishes dirty, but to wash them immediately or put them in the dishwasher.

Keep the kitchen clean. The order in the house can often be determined by the kitchen, if it is clean and well-groomed, then most likely the rest of the rooms in the house will not be dirty. There are often most guests here who drink tea with you or come in for a short conversation. Therefore, several rules follow from this, which the owner should not forget about, if he strives to put things in order in the entire apartment. First, as we said, wash the dishes immediately after dinner, and don't even think about leaving dirty dishes around the house. Secondly, clean the refrigerator, both inside and out. outside. It attracts attention most of all because of its size and frequency of reference to it. It is not necessary to store spoiled food in it that already has an expired date or is not suitable for cooking in itself (they smell bad and look terrible). Thirdly, wipe thoroughly all cabinet handles and kitchen appliances(for example, a microwave oven) so that the guest does not get dirty by accidentally grasping something. Fourthly, ventilate the room more often so that not only the order and cleanliness in the kitchen can be seen, but also the smell does not bother us.

If you have already begun to put in order the rooms of your house, then you should not bypass the bathroom (bathroom). It will be very strange if everything in the house radiates cleanliness and order, and the bathroom somehow stands out against the general background. There should also be a pleasant smell, a clean floor, fresh towels, soap and bottles on the mirror should have a clean look, and the sink should have good drain so as not to create discomfort for the guest and yourself.

Now it's time to think about the order and cleanliness "In the Holy of Holies" - the bedroom. You can feel the order not only by putting all the items in their places, but also by changing the bed linen, removing small debris from the dressing table or coffee table, aligning books or magazines on the bedside table, and also airing the room itself. Naturally, here we no longer mention the cleaning of the room itself. Pay attention to mirrors. If you are a pedantic person who loves order and cleanliness, then you will not feel comfortable enough seeing dirty stains on the mirrors (from touch or cosmetics).

If it is difficult for you to constantly remember what and how should be ideally folded, then we advise you to restore the perfect order once (which you would like) and capture it on. Such a picture will help you every time to perform all the actions that will tell you what else you have not done to keep your house in order.

Being engaged in restoring order in the house, check at the same time the technical component of all appliances. Here we are talking about various techniques such as televisions and computers. Check their connections to the socket and other connectors. Is everything inserted correctly, is there any backlash or problems (especially with the electrical part, so that there is no short circuit later).

Conditionally divide the entire apartment into several zones (living room, bathroom, corridor, etc.) and put things in order gradually in each zone, do not try to clean everywhere and at once, as you will definitely forget something.

Accustom yourself to put things in order in the house, at least 15-20 minutes a day, then you will not have to spend whole days on this once or twice a week.

If the amount of work is large, then it is better to stretch the process over several days.

Scientists have calculated that from 20 to 100 things we do not need appear in the house of an average family every month. Therefore, we suggest that you take a box with you once a month and forcibly put in it from 20 to 30 things that are not particularly dear to you. Take the box to the garage. Thus, the apartment will not turn into a "junk storage".

Before you clean up, make a list of things that you need to do for that day, and gradually begin to do it.

If you want the ideal frequency and comfort in the room, try to do everything horizontal surfaces as clean as possible, and also to have a minimum of objects on them.

Never leave a thing in plain sight unless it can be hidden in a locker or dressing room.

It is better to put things in order to fast and favorite music (you can even dance to it), so the process will go faster and more interesting. In no case do not turn on the TV and, especially, on an interesting program or film / series, as you will definitely look at it and forget what you generally wanted to do. After watching, you are unlikely to want to wedge into the process again.

Our online magazine website editors recommend finding for each subject separate place, since in this case it will be easiest to find it, as well as put it in place. Which will save you time and nerves.

Use space rationally! Do not forget about the small shelves that are in your closet or even coffee table. For example, we always forget about the bedside table on which the TV stands, and in fact it often has a lot of shelves on which you can put remotes from household appliances, a magazine with a program, favorite movie discs, etc.

If you are overtaken by laziness in putting things in order, then you can come up with some kind of motivator for yourself, for example, invite dear guests tonight or tomorrow, in front of whom it would be very embarrassing to show the apartment in such a state. Then laziness will leave you, and the desire to clean up the house will quickly appear!

Eradicate in yourself such a “sovdepian” habit - to hang clothes on doors, chairs and other pieces of furniture. Accustom yourself to order, then you will have to direct it less.

Place aroma candles or special air fresheners around the rooms, which will create not only an outwardly pleasant atmosphere, but also rid the apartment of unpleasant odors.

Cornflower blue refers to a herbaceous annual or perennial species the plant that grows in the meadow belongs to the Compositae family. Differs in a rough stem, lanceolate leaves, taproot, flowers can be collected in baskets, which are single and large up to five pieces. The flowers turn blue or purple. The fruit is an achene that has a tuft at the top. It can bloom throughout the summer, bears fruit in August. The blue cornflower belongs to the weed, but most often it is planted in the country and decorated with flower beds. The plant spreads throughout Europe, can often be found in the Caucasus, Ukraine, Russia.

Description of blue cornflower

The plant loves moist soil, found in potato, wheat, rye fields. Aristotle in his works says that plants have healing properties. In Old Russia, the plant was endowed with magic, it was often used to remove spoilage, arable farming, so that it was fruitful.

Blue cornflower is a good honey plant, honey from the plant has a pleasant almond aroma, a bitter aftertaste. Sometimes the flowers are used to make the blue and cyan dye that is used to dye wool.

Cooking uses the flowers to make cornflower blue vinegar, in small quantities you can add it to food. In winemaking given view plants are used to color champagne, vermouth, while drinks have pink color. For medical purposes, flowers from blue cornflower are also often used.

Useful properties of blue cornflower

This plant is slightly poisonous because it contains a cyanide component. Marginal flowers contain anthocyanin, tannin, centaurin glycoside, quinic and caffeic acid. The flowers are rich in calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium. The fruits contain some alkaloids. Blue cornflower seeds contain fatty oil.

With the help of this type of plant, you can increase diuresis, reduce the concentration of substances such as calcium and phosphorus in the blood, which play an important role in the formation of kidney stones, in this way they are more quickly excreted in the urine. Cornflower blue has a bactericidal and antitumor effect, also has a choleretic and antispasmodic effect.

Official medicine places blue cornflower flowers in factory packaging, they are also included in fees for appetite and diuretics. In pharmacies and at home, they prepare infusions based on blue cornflower, with the help of which you can get rid of cardiac and renal edema. These infusions are one of the best anti-inflammatory and choleretic agents that help cure hepatitis, biliary dyskinesia, cholecystitis.

Lotions from the plant are used externally, with the help of which conjunctivitis, hemeralopia can be cured, and they also relieve eye strain.

The use of blue cornflower

Traditional medicine advises taking medicines based on cornflower for hypertension, colds, urolithiasis, and ascites. Cornflower blue is one with the best means for appetite, they have a laxative effect.

Not only blue cornflower flowers are used, but also the essence of the stems, it is used in the form of dressings for various wounds and fractures, you can burn warts with the help of plant seeds, they must first be thoroughly crushed.

Blue cornflower contraindications

You can not use drugs based on this type of plant for pregnant women, with diseases female organs in which uterine bleeding occurs. Be sure not to forget the dosage, because the plant is toxic, due to the fact that it contains cyanogen.

With the help of flowers, you can relieve spasm, heal, eczema and furunculosis.

Medical recipes based on blue cornflower

1. To prepare an infusion that has a diuretic, antimicrobial and choleretic effect, you need to take dried flowers, pour 250 ml of boiling water, leave for up to two hours.

2. In order to get rid of redness and fatigue from the eyes, you need to brew three tablespoons of cornflower flowers in a glass of boiling water. Insist, wait until it cools down, then take a cotton pad and apply them to the eyes.

3. To cure skin diseases, rashes, you need to take a tablespoon of blue cornflower, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for up to 30 minutes. Wipe the skin 3 times a day.

4. In order to increase your appetite, you need to cook this medicine, it will require a teaspoon of the plant, 250 ml of boiling water, drink and only after 30 minutes you can eat.

5. Wounds can be healed faster with cornflower seed powder applied to the problem area.

6. This recipe will help cure urethritis, prostatitis, remove it, for this you need to take two teaspoons of blue cornflower flowers, 250 ml of boiling water, leave for one hour.

7. For dermatosis, allergic diathesis, furunculosis, neurodermatitis, an infusion based on blue cornflower is used externally.

8. To cure seborrhea and baldness, you need to brew a tablespoon in a glass of boiling water, wait until the broth cools down, then wipe problem areas gauze.

9. To get rid of abscesses, boils, you need to take marigold flowers, nettles, horsetail, leaves walnut, blue cornflower, string grass, pansies. Brew in one liter of water, leave everything overnight.

10. If there is a problem with urination, you need to use such a collection - hernia grass, elderberry root, bearberry, birch buds, horsetail, blue cornflower.

11. For heart diseases, use a decoction based on beans, birch buds, corn stigmas and horsetail, pour one liter of water.

12. To overcome hypertension, you need to take fruits, hawthorn, blue cornflower flowers, yarrow, valerian root, white mistletoe, everything needs to be brewed in a glass of boiling water. Drink 70 ml after meals.

Thus, cornflower blue is not only beautiful plant but also useful.

Knapweed, medicinal properties and the contraindications of which we will consider in the article is annual plant, the representative homeland is the Mediterranean. It grows in Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan. The plant is often found on forest edges and roadsides.

legends

Many legends are associated with the origin of the cornflower. According to one of them, the centaur cured the wound inflicted by Hercules with the juice of the plant. According to the beliefs of the Romans, a young man named Cyanus wore dark blue clothes. The goddess Flora did not like this, and she turned him into a flower. And in Ukraine they say that once a peasant named Vasily was mowing rye. He liked the mermaid, who decided to bewitch him. Vasily followed her spellbound. And she, not wanting to let go, turned him into a cornflower (photo of flowers in front of you), which resembles water in color.

Magic

This plant is attributed magical properties. Flowers are said to protect people from evil spirits. For example, on the day of Ivan Kupala, girls wash themselves with infusion from this flower so that evil spells cannot overcome them. And on the wedding day, the bride and groom were baptized with a bunch of cornflowers. It is customary to sanctify them on August 14, the day of Makovei or the First Savior. And wreaths are woven from them and kept at home for a whole year. The cornflower is also mentioned in folk songs. Medicinal properties and contraindications have long been known in traditional medicine. Even Hippocrates knew about this flower. It is still used today in the treatment of many ailments.

Science has about 700 species are not only blue, but also white, black, yellow and purple. However, the classic cornflower has exactly the blue color.

Collection, preparation of raw materials and storage

The flowers are harvested all summer long while they bloom. The best of them are those that are fully bloomed. The raw material is blue flowers, which are separated from the tubular bases in order to achieve best quality medicinal product.

Plucked flowers ventilate, spreading out in a dark cool place. If the raw material is prepared correctly, then it will become of blue color, will not smell, and if you taste it, the cornflower will turn out to be bitter. Flowers are stored in glass containers or paper bags for two years.

If the rays of the sun fall during drying, then the cornflower flowers will lose their medicinal properties and become useless for traditional medicine. This, by the way, can be seen from the color - it will turn white.

Compound

The fact that cornflower has medicinal properties and contraindications is explained by the composition. It includes the following trace elements and substances:

potassium;
magnesium;
calcium;
copper;
iron;
vanadium;
chromium;
cobalt;
luteilin;
selenium;
pelargonin chloride.

There are many in the plant:

vitamin C, which normalizes the work of the central nervous system, activates the activity of the endocrine glands and normalizes hematopoiesis;
carotene, an immunostimulating substance, as well as an excellent antioxidant;
resins that have antibacterial, disinfectant and immunomodulatory effects;
coumarins, which reduce blood clotting, and also have astringent, antiseptic and diuretic properties.

Useful properties of blue cornflower

In folk medicine, the healing properties of the plant have long been used. Based on it, antipyretic and diuretic drugs are prepared. Another ancient Roman physician named Galen treated the plant with kidney patients. Until now, cornflower is used for problems in the genitourinary system, for example, with neuritis or cystitis.

Other medicinal properties of cornflower include choleretic and cleansing. Thanks to the first, liver diseases are treated with the plant. Cornflower protects the body from viruses and infections. And the cleansing property is actively used in diets. By removing unnecessary water, cornflower contributes to the speedy burning of fats. Decoctions from it normalize digestion and help eliminate toxins and toxins, eliminating harmful substances.

The positive effect of the flower on vision is known. Yes, blepharitis cotton pads dipped in an infusion of cornflowers, applied to the eyelids. The same tool will relieve fatigue after a long work at the computer.

Contraindications

First of all, you should not discount individual intolerance. Some trace elements make the plant toxic. It is about potentially dangerous cyanide components that cornflower contains. Medicinal properties and contraindications vary greatly in percentage, however, it must be borne in mind that the plant is slightly poisonous. Therefore, its use is prohibited for pregnant women, as well as women during lactation and children. It is also known that folk remedies with uterine bleeding from it do not. Moreover, in the presence of such a problem, it cannot be used in any form. The coumarins that make up the cornflower are very strong anticoagulants, they inhibit blood clotting.

Application

For those who want to normalize the digestive process, improve appetite or cure a cold, it is useful to drink tea brewed with cornflower. The flowers are added to black or green tea, the drink is drunk twenty minutes before meals. It actively eliminates toxins. They also prepare a healing potion from various components. To do this, take a teaspoon of bearberry and pour 500 milliliters of boiling water and leave on fire for 3-4 minutes, after which add the same amount of cornflower, cool the solution and insist for several hours. Take the medicine three times a day according to Art. spoon.

Recipes

The following tincture will have an excellent effect as a diuretic for edema and to increase appetite. They take one part of the flowers and pour ten parts of vodka. The medicine is insisted for two weeks, after which it is filtered. Take before meals twenty drops, which are diluted in a tablespoon of water at room temperature.

Decoction is good to make lotions for the eyes from inflammation and fatigue. Take a teaspoon of flowers, add boiling water to a glass and keep on fire for several minutes. Then they insist an hour, filter, moisten cotton pads in a cool broth and apply to the eyelids. It is also taken orally in two tablespoons. spoons three times a day an hour before meals with tonsillitis, bronchitis and laryngitis.

They also prepare an infusion for colds. The same recipes are folk remedies for diarrhea in children and adults, stomach pains and kidney diseases. The recipe is the following. Three teaspoons of cornflowers are poured with 400 milliliters of boiling water, insisted for a couple of hours, and then filtered. Take the remedy 4 times a day 15 minutes before meals.

Cornflower for beauty

Look at the cornflower! A photo of flowers shows how beautiful these plants are. No wonder they are widely used in the beauty industry. The flower has a beneficial effect on the skin of the face, eyelids and hair.

The plant extract is found in many cleansing lotions sold in stores. But they also prepare it themselves. For this, two articles. spoons are poured with two glasses of boiling water and insisted for an hour. It is useful to wash your face in the morning or wipe your face. It is also frozen and rubbed with an ice cube. It perfectly tones the skin and tightens the pores. Cornflower is especially suitable for oily and combination skin, as it reduces the secretion of fat and the appearance of acne. If you use it constantly, then the face will acquire a matte shade and freshness.

When working at a computer for a long time, cornflower infusion becomes an indispensable tool. With him make compresses for the eyelids. They also wash the skin around the eyes after removing makeup and before applying cosmetics to the face.

The infusion will help breathe strength into weakened and lifeless hair. It is rubbed into the roots after shampooing. It is also good to just rinse the curls. Cornflower will help stop their loss and get rid of dandruff.

Physiotherapists recommend doing flower baths. They relieve fatigue. This is facilitated essential oils included in the plant. Preparing a bath is easy. A glass of flowers is poured with boiling water, insisted for an hour and poured into a bath. The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes.

Use in cooking

Cornflower seeds are used as a condiment. They are added to gravies, sauces, salads, hot dishes. The leaves are used for salting and added to pâtés and sausages. All dishes with cornflower acquire a special refined taste.

Conclusion

These are the medicinal properties and contraindications. Of course, the plant is worth trying to heal. But before you start taking it inside, you need to make sure that there are no contraindications, and also consult a doctor.

Cornflower (Centaurea) is a herbaceous annual or perennial plant from the Compositae (Asteraceae) family.

Origin

Cornflower is widely distributed in the temperate zone of Eurasia, North Africa and the Americas. The cornflower genus includes about 500 plant species; more than 150 cornflower species grow in our country. V agriculture meadow cornflowers are considered malicious weeds that clog fields with wheat. Gardeners are happy to grow unpretentious and bright flowers in the flower beds.

Description

The plant forms herbaceous branched bushes, from 30 cm to a meter high. Flowering of cornflower begins at the end of May, and lasts until autumn. The color of the flowers can be blue, bright blue, white, pink, purple.

Species and varieties

You can evaluate the variety of types of cornflower by the presented photos of the flower.

Cornflower blue. The popular names of this most common cornflower in our gardens are: beaver, commotion, bell ringer. The plant is an annual, reaches a height of 60 cm, the leaves are elongated, grayish-green. Flowers can be single or double in shape, blue, pink, blue or white. Varieties:
Alba - a variety with double snow-white flowers;
Anniversary stone - cornflower, 20 cm high, with bright blue flowers;
Azuria - double flowers have a bright blue tint;
Carmina - cornflower with bright red or dark pink double flowers;
Blaur Bush is a low-growing flower variety with blue inflorescences.
Cornflower mountain. Annual, 80 cm high. Single flower baskets, 7-8 cm in size, white, blue or pink.
Cornflower meadow. The species is widely distributed in the meadows and fields of the middle zone of our country. The height of the plant is 80 cm, the foliage is elongated, blue. Flowers, 4 cm in size, purple, white or light blue.
Russian cornflower. Perennial, with a powerful stem rhizome and a weakly branched stem, up to 130 cm high. Cornflower inflorescences are yellow, reach a diameter of 6 - 7 cm.
Cornflower large-headed. The plant is a perennial, with bright yellow flowers, 5 cm in size. Flowering lasts from early summer until autumn.
Phrygian cornflower. The height of the stems of this species reaches a height of 70 - 80 cm. The flowers are pink or purple.

Soil preparation and site selection for cornflower

For cornflower choose the sunniest parts of the flower garden. In a small shade, the plant can also exist, but flowering will be poor, and growth will be slow.

Cornflower is unpretentious to soils, although it loves loose fertile soils with a neutral reaction. acidic soils be sure to notify, or contribute dolomite flour, wood ash. It is useful to scatter ashes around perennials every year, followed by shallow loosening of the earth.

Unnecessarily heavy soil is improved by adding sand, up to 10 kg per 1 sq. meter. Well-rotted manure or compost is applied to all types of soils, at a dose of 8-10 kg per square area. Organics can be replaced full range mineral fertilizer for flowers, making it according to the instructions.

reproduction

You can get cornflowers in your area: by sowing them with seeds, planting a root delenka or propagating them with cuttings.

Seeds propagate annual varieties of cornflowers. In the southern regions, flowers reproduce well by self-sowing. V middle lane, seeds are sown immediately into the ground in the month of April. At first, the crops are covered with a film or lutrasil. Seedling care is simple: moderate watering (it is important to avoid excessive moisture), loosening the soil and frost protection by throwing covering material on the plantings.

If the spring turned out to be cold and protracted, the cornflower is sown at home in the ground, consisting of a mixture of garden soil and sand. It is important to provide cornflower seedlings with a cool temperature, not higher than +15, then the plants will be strong and healthy.

The seedlings are placed in open field at a distance, depending on the height of an adult plant. Low-growing cornflowers are planted at intervals of 15 - 20 cm, tall ones - up to half a meter.

Perennial varieties of cornflower can be sown with seeds before winter (in October), or in spring, after mandatory stratification.

Perennial cornflowers are easiest to propagate by dividing the bush. In early spring(April) or in August, after flowering. The bush is dug up, the aerial part is cut off (if the division takes place at the end of summer), and divided into parts with a pruner or a sharp knife. Delenki are immediately planted in a new place, watered abundantly. Perennial cornflowers are recommended to be transplanted every 3 to 4 years.

Cornflower cuttings are cut from plants at the beginning of summer, and rooted in a bed with loose soil, with a predominance of sand or perlite. A greenhouse is installed above the plantings. Cuttings are regularly watered and ventilated. On the permanent place rooted seedlings are placed next spring.

Care

Cornflower is an unpretentious plant, care for it is within the power of an inexperienced gardener. Immediately after planting, young plants need watering and loosening. Mature plants are watered only in extreme heat.
Annual forms of cornflower do not require top dressing. For perennials, two top dressings are carried out per year: in early spring, the soil in the flower garden is mulched with humus; at the beginning of flowering, the plants are watered with a solution of complete mineral fertilizer for flowers.

It is better to cut the faded cornflower buds so as not to spoil the appearance of the flower, and not to weaken the plant with seed ripening. Tall varieties of cornflower require a garter to the supports. Cornflower can suffer from some fungal infections, such as Fusarium wilt.

Prevention of diseases consists in observing the distance between plants, observing the irrigation regime and regular loosening. Affected plants are removed from the flower bed and burned. For the winter, cornflowers - perennials do not cover, the plant winters well under the snow cover.

Cornflower in the flower garden

Tall cornflowers are planted in the background of mixborders; they go well with delphiniums, sage, and aconites. Meadow and other medium-sized cornflowers look harmonious in natural-style flower beds, and are combined with chamomile, cinquefoil, cereals, poppies.

Plant features

Growth area

homeland of this beautiful flower- Mediterranean basin. Cornflower blue (field, sowing) - a well-known and beloved flower by many, distributed throughout Russia. It can also be seen in the Far East and Siberia, in the Central Asian and Caucasian regions. It can grow in forest zones and forest-steppe. Abundant in grain fields, especially wheat and rye. Also often found near roads, in forest belts, roadside plantings. In dry meadows, it can be seen next to chamomile and poppy. Cornflower blue is considered a weed. For many years, the plant was exterminated, which led to a significant decrease in the number of field cornflower. Therefore, today this species is under protection.

Botanical description, chemical composition and procurement of raw materials

What are the contraindications to the use of blue cornflower? The flower belongs to slightly toxic plants. With an overdose and a long course, cyanine poisoning may occur. Also, with great care, under the supervision of a physician, the drug is prescribed to pregnant and lactating women, children under 3 years of age. Many Internet sources indicate: uterine bleeding is a contraindication. The question remains controversial, since in the old herbalists, on the contrary, the flower is recommended for uterine bleeding.

Healing effect of blue cornflower

What are beneficial features cornflower What diseases is it used for?

For infections of the urinary system. The plant is part of the diuretic tea. Helps with disorders of the kidneys, bladder, removes swelling well, removes excess fluid from the body.
For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Acts as a mild choleretic agent for hepatitis and cholecystitis. It is used for acute and chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, biliary tract and liver. Flowers are part of the gastric fees, which improve appetite and digestion.
With SARS, influenza. Cornflower flower is used in fever as a diaphoretic, which leads to a decrease in temperature.
For cardiac disorders. It has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular, nervous system.
Outdoor use. The flower is famous for its bactericidal properties. Therefore, it is used as an external agent for suppuration, boils, eczema, ulcers, warts, inflammation of the eyes of various nature - barley, blepharitis, conjunctivitis. Also, the infusion of the plant is used to treat night blindness.
Pain relief effect. Alcohol tincture flowers are used for toothache.

The flower is actively used in homeopathy. First of all, they treat eye diseases. Also, galenic preparations are effective for headaches, hepatitis, cough, diseases of the kidneys, bladder, and blood.

Application and preparation at home

In folk medicine, decoctions and tinctures are made from the flower for oral administration. They can also be used externally - in the form of lotions, compresses, washes.

Water tincture of cornflower. For its preparation you will need: 1 teaspoon of flowers and 1 cup of boiling water. You need to insist for 2 hours, then strain, take ¼ cup before meals. This tincture can be taken as a prophylaxis, it cleanses the blood and the body of toxins well.
Alcohol tincture. It can be purchased at pharmacies. Also for external use, when caring for oily skin, it is recommended to add alcohol or vodka to the water tincture (for 1 glass of decoction, 1 tablespoon of alcohol).
Hair tincture. Vinegar is added to the decoction of cornflower flowers (for half a liter of decoction, 2 tablespoons of vinegar). It is used as a mask for rubbing, as well as for rinsing after shampooing.
diuretic tea recipe. To prepare tea, a mixture of such herbs is taken: 1 teaspoon of cornflower flowers, 1 teaspoon of licorice and 3 teaspoons of bearberry. The collection of herbs is poured with 1 glass of boiling water, infused for 1 hour. Take a tablespoon before meals.

Features and medicinal properties of other species

There are about 500 varieties of cornflower. The most common of them are blue, white, meadow, bleached, mountain, pink, yellow, large-headed, oriental, sprawling, Phrygian, rough and others. Garden varieties of cornflowers have also been bred. In addition to Europe, the flower is found in America and Asia. On the territory of Russia, two more species of wild cornflower are widespread - meadow and Russian.

Cornflower meadow

Russian cornflower

Where does it grow? Russian cornflower is found in the Caucasus, the Urals and Altai, in Central Asia, as well as in southeastern regions Europe. He likes steppes, dry meadows, shrub zones, rocky slopes, limestone, chalk rocks. In a number Russian regions This flower is under protection and is listed in the Red Book.
What does a Russian cornflower look like? It's perennial herbaceous plant. The stem is covered with down, 50 to 150 cm high. The leaves are wide, divided into narrow lobes. Flower yellow color in the form of a single basket. Flowering period: July to August.
How is it used in traditional medicine? Cornflower Russian is not used in folk medicine as widely as meadow and blue cornflower. His medicinal properties little studied, there is no information about side effects when using this type of plant. Its bactericidal property is known, the decoction is used for digestive disorders. Seeds contain oils suitable for food, used for technical purposes. Not only flowers are harvested, but also leaves and stem.

The use of blue cornflower has a wide range, since the plant has a diuretic, diaphoretic, choleretic, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory effect. But still, experienced herbalists refer it to auxiliary additives for diseases of the digestive system. In folk medicine, blue cornflower is most often used as an external remedy for eye ailments.