Saxifrage: planting and care in the open field, at home

Saxifrage – several hundred species of one-, two-year and perennial plants, popularly called gap-grass. It can be sown in open ground with seeds or seedlings first. Planting and caring for saxifrage should be carried out according to the rules after some preparation.

Saxifrage breeding methods

There are several ways to propagate saxifrage. Collecting and sowing seeds is just one of them. The material can be prepared independently after flowering.

The combination of saxifrage of different colors is spectacular – you can buy a mix of seeds or make your own

When planting and caring for a perennial saxifrage, it can be propagated with rosettes, that is, by dividing the bush. This method is suitable for adult plants. Carry out the process when flowering is completed. Algorithm:

1. Outline healthy bushes. They must have at least three outlets.
2. Well shed selected plants.
3. Carefully separate additional sockets from the main one with a knife or a sharp garden spatula.
4. Sprinkle the sections of the mother plant with earth.
5. Dig the separated rosettes in fertile soil. Choose a shady spot.
6. Water.
7. Plant in open ground in spring.

Before transplanting, rooting sockets must be protected from the scorching sun. Regular watering and loosening is required.

After flowering, the saxifrage can be propagated by cuttings. Algorithm:

1. Choose long side shoots-antennae.
2. Pin them to the ground with staples.
3. Sprinkle fixatives with soil.
4. Liberally pour.
5. Moisten the soil regularly so that the cuttings take root better.
6. In autumn, mulch the ground, sprinkle the cuttings with leaves, sawdust or cover with spruce branches.
7. In the spring, separate the rooted shoots and transplant to a permanent place.

You can cut cuttings and root them in a box. For wintering, it is better to place them in a cool room in the house. Transplant saxifrage to carry out in the spring.

Propagation by cuttings or dividing the bush should be done not only for the sake of obtaining new plants. This also allows you to update perennials, which eventually lose their decorative effect. The reason is the excessive growth of the stems and the loss of leaves close to the ground.

Features of growing saxifrage from seeds

When growing saxifrage from seeds, there are several factors to consider:

1. The plant needs good drainage. This is important both when planting in open ground and when growing seedlings.
2. The seeds are very small, therefore, before sowing, it is better to mix them with five parts of calcined river sand. This measure avoids excessive thickening of seedlings.
3. Every 5-6 years, the saxifrage must be replanted. This process is well combined with updating the bushes.

Saxifrage is popular in landscaping as it blooms all summer and forms a beautiful solid cover.

When can you sow saxifrage

You can sow saxifrage in open ground or seedlings in spring or autumn. When buying seeds in a store, you should focus on recommendations for a particular type and variety.

Planting saxifrage in autumn

In open ground, saxifrage seeds can be planted in late autumn. This option is attractive in that the material will undergo natural stratification. As a result, seedlings will appear together in spring, and the probability of flowering in the first year will increase.

Sowing saxifrage in spring

If you first grow seedlings, then sowing is best done in early February. Plants should be moved to open ground until July. In this case, before the fall, they will have time to gain strength in order to successfully winter.

Planting saxifrage seeds for seedlings

Growing saxifrage from seeds is easy. It is necessary to properly prepare the soil, containers and planting material, to correctly sow it.

Preparation of containers and soil

You can buy ready-made soil for seedlings or make a mixture yourself. In a ratio of 1:5:10:20, the following components are taken:

• lime (can be replaced with chalk);
• vermiculite;
• sand;
• peat land.

For growing seedlings, you can choose different containers – plastic containers, small boxes, cups. It is important to organize drainage holes, as plants do not like stagnant moisture. The size of the containers should be oriented to a specific variety.

At first, seedlings can be grown in one box or large container, then picking is required. Individual containers are filled with a mixture of peat and sand.

There is another option – to plant saxifrage seedlings in peat tablets.

Seed preparation

Seeds of saxifrage before sowing seedlings require stratification. After such treatment, seedlings appear faster, plants become stronger and more resilient. Algorithm:

1. Place the seeds in a shallow container.
2. Spread a thin layer of wet sand.
3. Seal the container tightly with a transparent lid.
4. Remove the container for three weeks in the refrigerator.

For convenience, seed stratification can be done immediately in a seedling container. It must be filled with soil, and planting material should be laid out on top with a thin layer. At the end of the stratification, move the container to a bright place at a temperature of 18-20 ° C.

How to sow saxifrage

After stratification, the seeds can be sown:

1. Fill containers for seedlings with moist soil mixture.
2. Spread the seeds on the surface.
3. It is not necessary to sprinkle the crops with soil.

Cover the container with planted saxifrage seeds with a film, glass or transparent lid and place on a light windowsill. The optimum temperature for germination is 18-20 °C.

Germination of seeds takes 1-3 weeks – the period depends on the variety, the quality of the seed

No watering is needed before germination. Daily ventilation and removal of condensate are obligatory.

Caring for saxifrage seedlings

When growing saxifrage from seeds at home, seedlings need some care. When shoots appear, the shelter must be removed. Do this gradually so that the flower gets used to the fresh air. The rest of the activities are:

1. Water the seedlings with warm water. Focus on the condition of the soil, moisten it moderately.
2. At the stage of two leaves, dive seedlings into individual containers.
3. Shade plants from direct sunlight.

How to plant a saxifrage in the ground

You can plant saxifrage in the ground directly with seeds or seedlings. Each case has its own characteristics.

Deadlines

It is possible to plant strengthened and grown seedlings in the ground in May or early June. Dates to focus on the growth rate of the bushes and weather conditions.

Direct sowing of seeds into the ground can be carried out in April-May. The soil should warm up to 8-9 ° C. This option is recommended in the southern regions. In cooler climates, it is best to grow seedlings first.

Site selection and preparation

The saxifrage is rather unpretentious, but nevertheless, some factors are important for good development and decorativeness. The site for the plant must meet the following requirements:

• the place is bright, but protected from direct sunlight at noon;
• lack of moisture stagnation;
• the soil is fertile, moderately moist and light.

The saxifrage is able to grow in direct sun. With an excess of light, the leaves can lighten significantly, there is a risk of burns, expressed as dark spots. Insufficient lighting is fraught with growth retardation, cessation of flowering.

The saxifrage feels good in a soil mixture of equal parts of sand, turf and humus. Effectively add lime, peat, gravel. The selected area must be carefully loosened and rid of large roots.

The saxifrage feels good among stones, on sloping areas

Planting saxifrage seeds in open ground

With direct sowing in open ground, stratification is not necessary. Its seeds will pass naturally. The further algorithm of work is as follows:

1. Prepare the area.
2. Spread the seeds over loosened soil.
3. Press the material firmly against the soil or sprinkle it thinly with moistened sand.

After sowing the seeds, the bed can be covered with a film. It will not allow moisture to evaporate quickly, it will maintain the optimum temperature.

When the sprouts have three true leaves, it is necessary to thin out the plantings, leaving the strongest specimens. Before this, abundant watering is recommended.

Many types of saxifrage grow well, forming a flower carpet – you can leave free space in advance for this

Landing algorithm

Transplanting saxifrage seedlings into open ground is easy. The algorithm is this:

1. Prepare the area.
2. Seedlings should be watered abundantly a few days before transplanting.
3. Carefully remove the bushes from the containers, keeping the earthen ball.
4. Plant plants at intervals of 10-20 cm.

Features of care

After moving seedlings into the ground or planting saxifrage with seeds, care should be comprehensive. In general, the plant is unpretentious.

Watering and fertilizing schedule

Saxifrage should be watered regularly, but in moderation. Humidification is required when the top layer of the earth dries up. Watering should be done early in the morning or after sunset. Water should be warm and settled.

On cool days, plants need less moisture. In the heat, the frequency of watering is increased.

Watering the saxifrage during the day is fraught with burns of leaves and flowers

It is recommended to feed the saxifrage every month. Fertilizers are not needed by the plant only in October-February. The first time they should be applied three weeks after planting.

The flower responds well to mineral compounds. Dosages per 1 m²:

• 15-20 g of potassium
• 30-40 g of phosphorus;
• 30-40 g of ammonium sulfate, do not apply in summer;
• 25-30 g of ammonium nitrate, use only in spring and autumn.

If you use liquid concentrates, then you need to dilute them twice as much as according to the instructions. Top dressing should be combined with watering.

Loosening, mulching

The area with saxifrage should be regularly weeded. Loosening is recommended after each watering or heavy rainfall. You can reduce the need for this procedure and moisturizing by mulching. It is good to use straw for this. The material must be spread out in a 5-centimeter layer and regularly updated.

Care during the flowering period

During flowering, it is important not to forget about standard care measures – watering, weeding, loosening. To maintain decorativeness, you should regularly get rid of dried leaves and peduncles.

Wintering

Preparing a saxifrage for winter is easy. Main activities:

1. Stop watering and fertilizing.
2. Cut off the above ground parts.

The saxifrage belongs to frost-resistant plants, therefore it requires shelter only in cold regions. It is effective to use spruce branches or leaves for this (layer 10 cm).

Diseases and pests

The saxifrage has good immunity, but this does not give an absolute guarantee of the absence of diseases and pests. Often, their defeat is provoked by improper care of the plant or adverse climatic conditions.

One problem is powdery mildew. This is a fungal disease provoked by high humidity, excess nitrogen, and a strong thickening of plantings. It is expressed by a white bloom of mycelium on the leaves. When the spores mature, droplets of liquid appear. Affected parts of the plant turn brown, fall off.

There are several methods for controlling saxifrage powdery mildew:

• fungicide preparations – Topaz, Fundazol, Fitosporin, Alirin-B, colloidal sulfur, copper sulfate;
• folk remedies – serum, iodine, potassium permanganate, infusion of onion peel.

To prevent powdery mildew, it is necessary to destroy the affected residues, use potassium-phosphorus fertilizers

Another fungal disease is rust. It manifests itself as pads on the leaves, from which, after cracking, an orange powder spills out. These are fungal spores.

Leaves affected by rust dry and fall off, the plant’s immunity decreases. You need to fight the disease with fungicides: Topaz, Fitosporin-M, Baktofit, colloidal sulfur, Bordeaux mixture.

To prevent rust, it is necessary to burn plant residues, moderately water the saxifrage, and do not overfeed with nitrogen.

Rust affects all above-ground parts of the plant, can destroy it

With excessive watering and poor drainage, saxifrage can suffer from root rot. At the same time, the aerial parts of the plant wither, the flowers fall off, and the entire bush gradually dies. For treatment, fungicides are used – Alirin-B, Diskor, Gliocladin.

Root rot is transmitted through the soil, various equipment – sterilization is needed for prevention

Among the pests, the saxifrage can be affected by the mealybug. The size of the insect is only 5-10 mm.

The mealybug infects the aerial parts of the plant. The symptom is a white, cottony, waxy coating. You can remove it with a cotton swab dipped in soapy water. Then sprays are needed:

• drugs – Aktara, Fitoverm, Biotlin, Tanrek;
• folk remedies – an infusion of garlic or tobacco, a decoction of cyclamen.

For the prevention of mealybugs, it is necessary to remove dried leaves in a timely manner.

The saxifrage can be affected by aphids that feed on plant juices. The flower at the same time begins to dry and wither, slowly dies. There are many ways to deal with pests:

• preparations – Tornado, Tanrek, Biotlin, Aktara, Apaches;
• sticky traps;
• folk remedies – solutions of garlic, onions, tobacco, pharmacy chamomile, potato tops
• plants that repel aphids with a strong smell – garlic, fennel, mint, coriander, basil, marigolds.

The color of the aphid depends on its type and is black, red, green, brown, yellow.

Another enemy of the saxifrage is the spider mite. It is difficult to see it, but it can be identified by a thin cobweb on the undersides of the leaves, white dots, causeless drying. To combat the tick, the drugs Fufanon, Kleshchevit, Fitoverm, Bitoxibacillin, Iskra Bio are used.

The size of the spider mite is less than 1 mm, the pest is not dangerous for people, animals and birds

Conclusion

Even inexperienced gardeners can plant and care for saxifrage. It can be sown from seeds in open ground or grown through seedlings. The flower is unpretentious, has good immunity. A variety of species and varieties provides it with wide application in landscape design.