Growing saxifrage from seeds

Saxifrage is becoming very popular among flower growers as an excellent component in the arrangement of an alpine slide or rockery. It has an attractive appearance, durability, frost resistance and compact size. Despite its fragile appearance, the roots of the plant are capable of destroying rocks.

Saxifrage is a herbaceous perennial and belongs to the Saxifrage family. She attracts attention to herself due to her unusual beauty. A rosette of green foliage or green with a silver tint is collected at the roots.

Stems up to 70 cm long are decorated with small flowers consisting of 5 petals with a diameter of no more than 2 cm. The saxifrage grows and covers the surface with a solid carpet, surprising with a variety of colors: white, pink, red, yellow, lilac. At the end of flowering, the carpet does not lose its decorative properties.

For growing on their own backyard plots, gardeners mainly use hybrid varieties of saxifrage, such as "Purple Robe", "Hair of Venus", "Pink Carpet". Their height usually does not exceed 20-25 cm. Abundant flowering begins in late spring or early summer, when beautiful rosettes of small purple, red or bright pink flowers with a diameter of 1-1.2 cm appear, and lasts for 30 days.

Planting saxifrage seeds directly into the ground is recommended in the southern regions of our country, as soon as the soil warms up to + 8– + 9 ° С. Since in nature the plant develops rocky terrain, the sowing site will require preliminary preparation.

It should be borne in mind that in the open field, the saxifrage loves good drainage and does not tolerate stagnant water, so elevated terrain is perfect for it. In addition, the flower responds well to growing in a bright place, but at the same time does not like direct exposure to ultraviolet rays. It is necessary to choose a place with an unobstructed hit of the sun's rays in the daytime and evening, but so that there is a shadow there at noon.

The selected place should be cleaned of large roots and well loosened. The preferred soil for saxifrage should be composed of the following components in equal proportions:

• sand;
• turf;
• humus.

Top can be sprinkled with a thin layer of damp sand. After sowing seeds in open ground, you need to wait for the first shoots in a month. At the same time, at first for 2–3 weeks, the seeds undergo cold treatment, and when the sun warms up the soil to the required temperature, the seeds will awaken and germinate over the next 2 weeks. Bloom will come in May or June.

And also there is such a thing as "Winter sowing"... This is sowing of cold-resistant crops and plants before the onset of frost in late autumn, and the plants undergo natural stratification. Saxifrage belongs to such crops. Therefore, you can safely sow its seeds before the onset of stable cold weather and expect friendly shoots in the spring. This method increases the likelihood of saxifrage blooming in the first year after planting. In most other cases, the plant blooms the next year.

You can grow a flower by making seedlings. Growing saxifrage from seeds at home of the Purple Mantle variety is especially advisable in central Russia, as this will allow the plant to develop at an earlier date. Sowing seedlings is carried out in the middle or at the end of March. First, the seeds must undergo stratification, that is, cold treatment. Thanks to the procedure, the percentage of seed germination increases. The sowing container must be prepared not too deep and filled 3-4 cm with sandy peat soil. Then the substrate is moistened, the seeds are sown, pressing them tightly. Cover the container with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 weeks.

After the expiration date, the container is removed from the refrigerator, installed near a light window, and it becomes a small greenhouse, which must be periodically ventilated by lifting the film. The ambient temperature must be at least 20 ° C, and the soil must be moistened with a spray gun. Finally, the film is removed after the shoots appear. Sprouts appear within 10 days. After the formation of 2 leaves, the seedlings are dived into separate cups.

It is necessary to plant saxifrage seedlings in a permanent place together with a lump of earth, taking it out of the glass with gentle movements. The distance between the bushes of seedlings during planting should be about 10 cm.

Saxifrage is fed after the plant is taken in the open field, that is, after about a week. Nitrogen fertilizers must be used within reasonable limits, since their excess can lead to the death of the root system and the spread of rot. Further care comes down to weeding and good watering, especially in dry summers. Weeding must be done in open areas next to the plantings. This event will allow the plant itself to fight weeds and suppress them, taking up free space.

In spring, saxifrage can be covered with a layer of straw, which will reduce watering and avoid loosening. The straw layer must be at least 5 cm and be constantly renewedbecause it tends to decompose. By decomposing, the straw supplies additional nutrients to the soil and makes it lighter.

With proper care, saxifrage is practically not susceptible to damage by pests and diseases. At the same time, if you choose the wrong location for the plant, pour heavily, do not loosen and do not weed, then there is a possibility of some problems. These are mainly fungal diseases and aphids. To get rid of fungal diseases, it is used Fitosporin, which must be diluted according to the instructions and added during watering and spraying. Biological and natural remedies help to fight aphids:

• Fitoverm;
• Tabazol;
• garlic and onion infusions.

For growing saxifrage from seeds, see below.