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Silver Carpet Jaskolka (Cerastium tomentosum Silverteppich) is a herbaceous ground cover perennial with lush and long flowering. This crop is undemanding to the care and composition of the soil, so growing it does not cause any difficulties even for beginner gardeners. The sapling quickly grows in diameter, as it easily takes root with shoots, and fills the space allotted to it. At the same time, the plant does not spare small seedlings, but resignedly yields to large-sized ones.
Planting seedlings of seedlings in open soil is carried out in July
Description of the variety and characteristics
“Silver Carpet” – one of the varieties of felt stalks or cerastium, as the plant is also called. Culture is a representative of the Clove family. It is characterized by dense upright shoots that are strongly intertwined with each other and create a dense carpet on the soil surface. The height of the plant is 25-30 cm, and the growth diameter is 50-60 cm. This is achieved through underground shoots that easily take root in any soil.
At the silver carpet, the leaves are narrow, sessile, up to 3 cm long and not more than 0,3 cm wide. They are located oppositely on the shoots. A feature of the variety is that its stems and whole plates are densely covered with felt pubescence. Therefore, they have a silver tint.
The main decoration of the plant are snow-white flowers with a diameter of about 1-1,5 cm, which plentifully strew it. They consist of 5 petals, slightly trimmed at the end, and a yellow center. The flowers at the Silver Carpet, as seen in the photo, are collected in small corymbose inflorescences.
The root system of the perennial is superficial, but has great growth power, so it easily breaks through even among stones.
This groundcover actively forms buds in the second year after planting.
The flowering period of the Silver Carpet is at the beginning of summer and lasts a little more than a month, namely 33-35 days. Periodically, the perennial needs to be trimmed, especially when most of its shoots have “spread out” on the soil surface. This will not only improve bushiness, but also promote re-blooming at the end of August. However, in this case, the number of buds in the plant is formed much less.
At the end of flowering, fruit-boxes of an oblong shape are formed. They contain small brown sapling seeds.
The variety “Silver Carpet” is distinguished by drought resistance and frost resistance. But it can suffer from melted spring waters, as it reacts badly even to short-term moisture stagnation.
Advantages and disadvantages
The variety “Silver Carpet” has a number of advantages, which makes it popular among flower growers. But the plant also has disadvantages that you need to pay attention to. Therefore, you should study in advance the strengths and weaknesses of this perennial.
Yaskolka “Silver Carpet” prefers to grow in sunny areas
The main advantages:
- unpretentiousness to care;
- abundant flowering;
- can mask any unsightly areas;
- easily tolerates lack of moisture;
- has high frost resistance;
- easily propagated;
- not afraid of drafts;
- has increased resistance to diseases and pests.
Disadvantages:
- does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil;
- may inhibit the growth of small crops;
- requires periodic haircuts and transplants.
Methods of reproduction
You can propagate the “Silver Carpet” by seeds, cuttings and dividing the bush. Each of these methods has its own characteristics that need to be studied.
Seed propagation should be applied in spring and autumn. Planting can be carried out directly in the ground, as well as at home for seedlings. This method is very time consuming, but allows you to get a large number of seedlings.
Reproduction of the variety “Silver Carpet” by dividing the bush should be carried out in the spring, when the vegetation of the plant begins. To do this, you need to dig a bush, clean it from the ground. Then, with a shovel and a sharp knife, cut into pieces so that each has well-developed root processes and shoots. After that, immediately land the “delenki” in a permanent place. This method can be applied to snails older than 4 years.
Cuttings of the “Silver Carpet” variety can be carried out before flowering or after it ends. To do this, it is necessary to cut the apical shoots 5-10 cm long. The lower part should be cleaned of leaves. After that, plant the cuttings in moist soil in a shady place. To speed up rooting, you can pour a solution of any root former. To create favorable conditions, the cuttings must be covered with a transparent cap. Rooting of the stalk occurs in 2-3 weeks.
Cultivation and care
In order to get stronger perennial seedlings by the beginning of the season, it is necessary to properly sow and comply with the deadlines. Even a florist who does not have many years of experience can handle growing the Silver Carpet from seeds. It is enough just to follow the recommendations and take into account the requirements of the culture.
Terms of sowing seeds
Sowing the “Silver Carpet” for seedlings in the southern regions should be carried out in early March. And in the central and northern – in the middle or at the end of this month. It is not recommended to plant earlier, as the plant reacts sharply to a lack of light, as a result of which the seedlings will stretch. And this will negatively affect the further development of the bushes.
Soil preparation and site
Variety “Silver Carpet” prefers to grow in open areas. Therefore, when growing seedlings, you need to choose the sunniest window sill. For planting, it is necessary to prepare wide containers 7-10 cm high. They must have drainage holes, since moisture stagnation can cause the death of seedlings.
The soil should consist of turf, sand and peat, taken in equal volumes. A day before planting, you need to pour it with a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate and dry it a little, which will allow it to be disinfected.
Planting Seeds of the Silver Carpet
When sowing, it is necessary to strictly follow the procedure. This will avoid serious mistakes and then the seedlings will not be long in coming.
Algorithm of actions:
- Fill the containers with soil, water abundantly.
- Compact and level the surface well.
- Spread the seeds at a distance of 1 cm from each other.
- Press them a little to the ground, without sprinkling with soil.
- Humidify with a spray bottle.
- Cover containers with foil.
Then you need to put the containers on the windowsill and provide a temperature of + 23-25 degrees.
Seedling care and planting in open ground
If everything was done correctly, then at the end of 2-3 weeks friendly shoots appear. During this period, it is necessary to reduce the temperature to +18 degrees, which will slow down the growth of shoots and activate the development of the root system. Seedling care at this stage consists in regular watering when the soil dries.
When the seedlings reach a height of 5 cm, they need to dive into separate cups. The soil for this can be used the same as when planting. 2 weeks after this, the seedlings can be fed with nitroammophos at the rate of 20 g per 10 liters of water.
It is necessary to plant seedlings of saplings in a permanent place at the end of May or at the beginning of June. To do this, it is necessary to dig a site in advance and add humus at the rate of 10 kg per square meter. m. Yaskolka “Silver Carpet” prefers to grow on sandy and rocky soil, where usually other cultures do not survive. Holes should be made according to the size of the root system of seedlings at a distance of 25-30 cm.
Aftercare
Variety “Silver Carpet” is undemanding to care. It is necessary to water the sapling no more than 2 times a week in the absence of regular rains. You should also periodically loosen the soil at the base of the plant. For top dressing during the period of active vegetation in the spring, you can use organic fertilizers.
With a strong growth of the bushes, the shoots must be cut to 1/3 of the length. Every 5-7 years, the Silver Carpet tree needs rejuvenation. To do this, the plant must be divided into several parts and transplanted to a new place.
Pests and diseases
The Silver Carpet Yaskolka, subject to the growing conditions, is not affected by diseases and pests. This feature of the plant also contributes to its popularity with flower growers. But in order to maintain the increased stability of the plant, it is necessary to remove weeds in a timely manner, loosen the soil at the base of the bushes and prevent overflows.
What plants are combined with
The Silver Carpet Yaskolka has a tendency to chaotic growth, which leads to the suppression of small plants planted nearby. Therefore, when choosing partners, you need to take this into account.
Yaskolka goes well with:
- tulips;
- calendula;
- dark types of bells;
- saxifrage;
- cineraria;
- peonies;
- juniper;
- boxwood
Variety “Silver Carpet” can be grown in hollows between stones
Conclusion
Yaskolka Silver carpet is a ground cover that can mask any unsightly places on the site. At the same time, the plant does not require complex care and easily tolerates drought and frost, and not all garden crops have such qualities. Therefore, once settled in the garden, she remains in it for a long time.
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