Monarcha double, or Indian nettle
Monarda didytna
It is believed that its second unusual name, "Indian nettle", the monarch received due to some evidence that the Indians valued this plant for its medicinal properties. Monarda is a beautiful and unusually ornamental plant. Often used to decorate flower gardens.
Description: is a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 80-160 cm. The leaves are cordate-lance with a serrated margin. Blossoms monarch red or crimson flowers in July and August, usually starting from the second year. Seeds mature in late August-September. Leaves have a lemon smell.
Monarda citriodora, monarch lemon, is a wonderful aromatic plant for breeding in the garden.
Composition of : monarch leaves and stems contain essential oils, carvacrol, thymol and other components.
Cultivation: The monarch is not demanding on soils, but on increasing fertility is responsive. On fertile soils and with regular top dressing, plants are taller with large leaves, giving more stems with inflorescences. Monard is a moisture-loving plant, but excessive moistening, as well as low waterlogged areas for it are undesirable. It also grows poorly on acidic soils.
Seedlings can be grown with early sowing under film shelter or in a box on the window. Seeds are embedded no deeper than 2-2.5 cm. Plants( seedlings or parts of the bush) are planted at a distance of 25-35 cm from each other. The main methods of care are weeding and loosening of the soil, if necessary, watering. For poor soils, with poor development of plants, fertilizing is carried out. In early spring, the monads are fed with ammonium nitrate - 12-15 g / m2.With a lack of moisture, this amount of fertilizer is introduced in the form of liquid fertilizing. Under the first spring loosening of the soil, 10-15 g / m2 of superphosphate is applied. The monarch multiplies by seeds and vegetatively by dividing the bush.
Collection:
Collection: fresh leaves for direct use collect all summer, leaves, flowers and flowering grass for drying are harvested in June-July, dried in the shade, spreading a thin layer on cloth or hanging beams, it is made of tea and drink it cold.
Medicinal properties: monad tea is taken with digestive disorders, the monad is added to improve the taste of medicinal mixtures, are included in the composition of herbal preparations.
Usage: monad is mainly used as a flavoring for fruit salads, compotes and fruit canning.