Tender is a favorite of novice gardeners, since planting and caring for them does not require much experience and will not take much of your time. This beautiful perennial is able to decorate any part of the garden.
As with any plant, even the most unpretentious, there are some nuances in the cultivation of stevia that you need to know before planting this flower in your garden.
Did you know? The curtain has attracted various butterflies, which gives an additional reason to plant this perennial in its garden.
How to choose a monitor when buying
If you decide to purchase flowers for your garden, then you need to be very careful. You can purchase the rhizomes of stevia, or seedlings. In either case, you need to know some points to choose quality seed.
What to look for when buying a room rhizome
Usually rhizomes are packed in a transparent package, thanks to which it can and should be carefully considered. The roots should not be brittle, but resilient. If the purchase is made in the spring, young buds should be seen on the rhizome. Also carefully inspect the rhizome for signs of decay, mildew, or insect damage.
What to look for when buying nursery seedlings
When buying seedlings you will be helped by a detailed description of how high-quality planting material of a nursery should look. First of all, pay attention to the root system. If it is not strong enough, the seedlings may not settle down, and the plants will die.
Important! It is not necessary to purchase seedlings even if the rhizome is seen from the hole in the pot. This is a sign that the plant is overexposed as a seedling, which means it will grow ugly, weak and painful.
Of course, the leaves should be strong and resilient, and the earth should be wet. 
The optimal time for disembarking
The time when it is best to plant your monitor depends on the planting material you purchased. For the rhizomes, the best time to plant is the middle of spring. At this time, there are no shoots on the rhizome, so there will be no risk of damaging the plant when planted. The nursery seedling is best planted in early summer, when the cold finally recedes and the young plant does not freeze.
Site selection and soil preparation for planting
For stevie best sunny places will do, even in the penumbra there is a risk that the plant due to lack of sun will not bloom. The soil for stevia should be with good drainage and also be nutritious. If you decide to place stevia on poor sandy soils, then you need to enrich them with manure.
Before planting, the ground must be thoroughly dug and removed large stones, if any. They can interfere with the development of the root system, which will affect the quality of flowering. Sometimes the soil is additionally fertilized with bone meal.
Correct landing on the site
If you plant not one, but several plants, then the distance between them should be approximately 40 cm.
If you plant a rhizome, then it must be buried to the ground by 5 cm, to prevent freezing in the winter, it will not be superfluous to produce mulching with humus, peat or sawdust from above, to preserve moisture at the roots.
It also helps protect the plant from weeds. Watering should be done frequently, until the plant is rooted.
Planting pits are also harvested for seedlings, but in this case it is desirable to additionally fertilize the soil, since the seedlings are more capricious than rhizomes. In the landing hole should be added bone meal, ash and humus, in proportion 1: 3: 6. In the pit we place the roots, previously cleared of old soil, dropping properly and pour water.
The combination of stevia and other plants
Monument is widely used in landscape design due to its decorative properties. Often they are planted in groups, they hide buildings and fences well, and also visually increase the space.
But beyond that, they look great with other plants. They are in perfect harmony with black cohosh, astilbe, echinacea, and a good contrast with stevie is obtained in Rudbeckia, buzulnik and gelenium.
The use of stevia is due primarily to its lush inflorescences, which are visible from long distances. However, the leaves of this plant also have excellent decorative properties. 
Care of the guard
The centered person does not need careful care, but for maximum quality of flowering, it is still worth a little care for him. This plant loves loose soil, so it needs to be mulched and loosened quite often. The depth of loosening should not be large, so as not to damage the root system.
Watering plants
This plant belongs to moisture-loving, therefore, watering of stems must be performed regularly. The steward is able to endure drought for some time, but it’s better not to allow it. If you have properly prepared the soil, and it removes moisture well, then you should not be afraid of overmoistening.
Fertilizing flowers
For fertilizing mineral fertilizers are used, such as:
- Kemira Lux;
- "Health";
- Nitroammofosk.
Reproduction
Stevia is a typical perennial, so reproduction occurs the same way as other plants. This plant can be propagated by seed, cuttings, as well as by dividing the bush.
Seeds
Seed seeds are sown in March in greenhouses or on a windowsill. They are slightly covered with soil and covered with film. Separator from seeds will give the first shoots in about 2-3 weeks, after which the film can be removed.
Further, the seedlings continue to grow until 4–5 true leaves are formed on them, after which they dive into separate pots. In open ground planted in early summer, when the threat of frost has passed.
Did you know? Stevia after flowering can give abundant self-seeding. Such plants bloom in the third year.
Dividing bush
This method is suitable for plants whose age is at least 5 years. The division can be done in spring and autumn, but experienced gardeners recommend doing it in spring.
At this time, the pedigree begins to grow actively, so the delenki will take root faster. The rhizome is cut into pieces so that each has at least 3 buds, after which they should be planted immediately. After this, it is necessary to pour plenty of water on the delenki
Cuttings
Cuttings can begin to cut at the end of June. In each handle should be at least 3 buds, then they are rooted in a greenhouse or greenhouse. The soil should be wet all the time. In August, they can already be transplanted into open ground.
Graft cutting is the most time-consuming process, but it is best suited to produce a large amount of planting material.
Important! Remember that no matter how you multiply your pedigree, in the first winter young plants must be covered with lapnik, so that the frosts do not damage the young root system.
Resistance to pests and diseases
With proper selection of planting material and proper care, the pedigree will not be sick and be affected by pests. Exceptions are miners. These pests of boneset affect the leaves because of their thin skin. No drugs and chemicals will help you here, the only way to combat these pests is to completely remove the affected leaves.
