Quite often in landscape design, saxifrage is used - a perennial herb plant that attracts attention with its rather unusual appearance: a rosette of silvery-green leaves is collected at the roots, and on stems up to 70 cm, five-petalled flowers up to 2 cm in diameter are visible. The saxifrage grows with a continuous carpet, pleasing with a variety of flowering: it's pink, and yellow, and white.
Gardeners use of saxifrage mainly reduces to the decoration of alpine hills , rock gardens, rockeries , retaining walls. The fact is that the flower loves to grow in the cracks of cliffs and rocks. That's why the plant got its name. Different in growth and in the form of leaves, varieties of saxifrage allow creating unusual patterns in your flower garden. Among the varieties that live in our region are Bluetenteppich, Flamingo, Purpurnantel, Arendza, Schneeptpich, and others.
What the gardenellers particularly like about the plant is the beautiful properties, namely, durability, resistance to frost, compact dimensions. In addition, saxifrage gives a large number of seeds. By the way, it is not so difficult to grow a plant from them, however, you should familiarize yourself with some peculiarities. Therefore, we will describe the cultivation of saxifrage from seeds.
How to grow saxifragmas from seeds: preparation
Seeding can be done in April. The seeds of saxifrage are small in size, black in color. Before landing, they need additional training. Its meaning is the treatment with cold. To do this, take a small container, which should be poured a small amount of land. The most suitable - light, slightly moisturized. Seeds of saxifrage should be sprinkled on top of the soil, and the container with them - placed in the refrigerator. After two or three weeks, the seeds can be obtained. True, before planting a container with seeds should be left on the windowsill, covered with a film. The most optimal conditions for sprouting seeds of saxifrage are the temperature regime of 18-20 ° C. Usually a week after sowing of saxifrage, the first shoots appear. The first leaves of the plant, as a rule, are very weak. Therefore, the picking of seedlings in boxes should be done after the appearance of the first strong sheet.
Saxifrage: planting and care
Seeds of saxifrage can be planted in the open ground by the beginning of June. Plants plant at a distance of 7-10 cm from each other. Perfectly suitable for saxifrage middle-fertile soils. When choosing it, consider the fact that the plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture. Therefore it is better to plant it, for example, on the slopes, rock garden or in crevices between pebbles.
Growing saxifrage - it's not at all complicated. Unfortunately, flowering will begin only in the second year of plant life. Very fond of flower fertilizing complex fertilizers. It is recommended to hold it one week after the transplant to a permanent place in your garden. In addition, saxifrage well responds to loosening and weeding the soil. As for watering, the plant needs regular, but without overflow, watering. By the way, the lack of irrigation is indicated by a decrease in the size of each plant and the appearance
When saxiflorum fades, it is recommended to prune its stems to stimulate growth and enhance subsequent bloom.
As you see, growing saxifrage from seeds does not require any special knowledge and incredible efforts.