Blue Spider is a popular annual aster, featuring a compact and upright bush reaching up to 60 cm in height. The flowers are large, with a diameter of up to 10 cm, blue in color, and possess aromatic properties. The flowering period lasts from mid-August to the beginning of cold weather, making the plant ideal for long-lasting decorative effect in the garden or in compositions.
Seeds are grown in greenhouses or hotbeds in March–April. At a temperature of 20–22 °C, seedlings appear in just 4–5 days, while at 18–21 °C – in 6–15 days. After the appearance of one or two true leaves, seedlings are potted out according to a 4×4 cm scheme and watered with warm water. They are fed weekly with a complex mineral fertilizer (1 g per 1 liter of water). The seedlings are transplanted in May–June: low varieties at a scheme of 20×20 cm, high ones at 30×30 cm. Two weeks after planting and at the beginning of budding, the plants are fed with fertilizer again.
Blue Spider grows well on sunny plots with a nutritious soil substrate – clay, acidic, or ordinary soil of normal quality. The plant does not require special conditions and is suitable for use individually or in group plantings, as well as in compositions on southern plots and in a temperate climate. Seeds retain viability for 2–3 years, but it is best to use fresh seeds for sowing.
