Saxifrage

Saxifrage(Saxifraga) Native to Asian countries, belongs to the family Saxifrage... The genus Saxifraga includes evergreens, deciduous, perennial, biennial and annual plants. This is a miniature plant on which rounded leaves with a diameter of 5 centimeters are formed that make up a rosette. Most varieties have light green leaves that cover fine silvery veins on the outside and purple on the inside. Flowering shoots grow up to 45 centimeters in length. They can be branched and are formed in the center of the rosette leaf. During flowering, they are covered with pink and white flowers in the shape of a star 3 centimeters in diameter. On this ornamental plant, creeping shoots and miniature daughter rosettes are often formed.

Growth in saxifrage is slow, usually about 8 centimeters.

Choosing a place in the garden:

A place for a saxifrage should be chosen with a lot of light in the morning and afternoon, and shaded in the midday heat.

Sowing activities are carried out in the pre-winter period, so that seedlings do not have time to appear and the seed material can undergo the stratification procedure in natural conditions. How the seeds are planted, they must be lowered for 2 days in a weak solution of manganese. To make the sowing work easier, you can mix them with river sand in equal proportions.

Seeds planted in an open area in the garden will begin to germinate in a month and a half.

If you are engaged in the cultivation of saxifrage in the garden using seedlings, then planting should be carried out in the summer. Before planting seedlings on a plot in the garden, it must be hardened. To do this, you need to send containers to fresh air every day and increase the time spent there.

When preparing the planting holes, you need to ensure that the distances between them are from 10 to 30 centimeters, it all depends on which variety is chosen.

A place near trees is not suitable for saxifrage, since if foliage from the latter falls on the curtains, rot may begin to develop in the saxifrage.

It will be possible to observe the flowering after two years of the plant's life; in the first year, the formation of leaf rosettes will occur.

In order to provide the plant with proper care, it is enough to periodically clear the land of weeds, water it correctly, and apply the fertilizers the plant needs. Top dressing is carried out three times during the growing season. Irrigation measures are arranged only if the drought lasts for 30 days.

In order for the plant to feel comfortable in the winter cold, it must be protected using spruce branches, straw or special material as a shelter. It is possible to transplant certain varieties into pots and transfer them indoors. Varieties, whose origin begins in cold countries, do not need to be sheltered in the winter months in the territory of the Middle Lane.

Soil selection:

The saxifrage is not picky about the soil and can grow even where nutrient levels are very low. In natural conditions, it grows in rocky areas. If the plant is grown in the house, then the soil should consist of leaf humus, coarse river sand and perlite to increase the drainage of the soil. As for the acidity level, it all depends on the selected variety.

Breeding methods:

With the help of seeds, the reproduction of saxifrage can be carried out in the spring, for this it will be enough to press them a little into the top layer of the earth. When propagating a plant using this method, one should not expect any great results, the seeds of this species have a low germination capacity.

Before sowing, it is necessary to subject the seeds to the stratification procedure, keeping them in the cold for 2 months. Some species will need less time for this, and some do not require such a procedure at all.

Seed material is certified in the vegetable section in the refrigerator.

Before sowing, you need to prepare the soil. To do this, mix peat and river sand in equal proportions and water it abundantly. It is not necessary to deepen the seeds, it is enough to lightly sprinkle it with river sand. They should be located in a well-lit area, but where the sun's rays do not touch the container. On top of them, you must cover them with film or glass to create greenhouse conditions.

The emergence of sprouts can be expected after 21 days, then the film will need to be removed. Carrying out a pick in separate cups is carried out after the first 4 leaves appear on the plant.

Reproduction with the help of daughter rosettes, which are formed in large quantities at the base of the plant in adulthood, is carried out in peat mixed with 1x1 sand. The formation of the roots of such a plant occurs within a few weeks. Flowering begins as early as the next season.

To propagate the plant by the layering method, it is necessary to pin the young branches to the soil surface and sprinkle it with earth. After some time, the formation of the root system and the development of new shoots in the nodes of the leaves will begin.

For reproduction by dividing the bush, you must take adult plants. It is necessary to divide them in such a way that a formed root system and a green part remain on each of its parts. In the same way, you can rejuvenate the bush. It is impossible to carry out such a procedure during the formation of buds or flowering, this plant spends a lot of energy and may not withstand transplantation.

There are a number of varieties that can be propagated using stem cuttings. To do this, you need to prepare 15 centimeter shoots, cutting them off from the plant with a sterile and sharp knife. First, you need to clean the cuttings from the lower petals, put them briefly in a growth stimulator and, after that, plant them in wet sand for rooting. As soon as the plant takes root, young leaves and shoots will begin to appear. The procedure can be carried out in the spring and summer.

Flowering period:

Flowering shoots begin to appear towards the end of the summer season. Saxifrage blooms for 21 days. During this time, the plant is constantly changing the faded buds to new ones.

How and when to transplant:

A transplant in the spring season is carried out if necessary. For many years, saxifrage can grow in one place and does not require a change of place. This is due to the undemandingness of nutrients and the fact that the root system of the plant is very modest.

If there are no signs of any diseases on the plant, the development of rot does not begin, then it is best to transplant it by transshipment, without damaging the clod of earth on the roots.

If there are any signs of illness or rotting is noticed on any of the parts of the plant, then it must be completely cleaned of the ground, remove all damaged areas and only then transplanted into a new pot with fresh earthen mixture. The new pot should be shallow and have a large drainage hole.

A drainage layer of broken brick or pebbles should be laid out at the bottom of the pot. When planting a plant, you need to make sure that it is located in the center of the pot. Next, the plant is sprinkled with an earthen mixture and tamped gently with your hands. After the plant is transplanted, it does not need to be watered for several days.This is done in order to protect the roots from the development of rot, which could be damaged and which need time to adapt to new conditions. For a week, you need to put the plant in a place where the sun will not shine on it. Fertilization of plants after transplantation is carried out after 5 weeks.

Possible troubles:

If the bushes do not begin to bloom, then this indicates that the plant is lacking in nutrition with useful elements.

If the temperature regime is not observed, namely excessive heat, the stems will begin to stretch excessively.

Watering too much can cause brown spots on the leaves, leading to further death.

Leaving the plant under the scorching rays of the midday sun leads to the fact that the leaves begin to fade.

The plant can get sick with powdery mildew and rust, these are fungal diseases that occur in the case of stagnant water in the soil, poor ventilation and with a high level of humidity in the room.

If the plant lacks lighting or an overabundance of minerals, then flowering may not occur at all or it will be very scarce.

Root rot affects the plant in case of too abundant watering and poor drainage. During the winter cold season, watering must be treated with special responsibility.

A bald patch may appear, as the lower part of the stems is exposed. This is due to the lack of transplants and divisions. To give the plant the desired appearance, it is necessary to rejuvenate it by dividing it.

Of the pests on the plant, you can find aphids, red spider mites, mealybugs. You can understand that a tick has appeared on the plant by a thin airy cobweb that appears on the bottom of the leaf.

Cropping:

During pruning, it is necessary to remove dead rosettes, as well as damaged and turned yellow leaves. If saxifrage is grown in the house, then wilting flowers with flowering shoots are also removed.

During the spring-summer period, it will be useful to send flowers to the garden or to the balcony, but the main thing is not to forget to provide them with protection from winds, showers and the hot midday sun.

Watering rules:

During watering, it is necessary to completely soak the earthen lump, giving time between these procedures so that the top layer has time to dry 3 centimeters deep. As soon as flowering is over, watering should be reduced so that the ground in the intervals between them dries out almost all. It is necessary to carry out watering activities in such a way that the liquid does not get into the leaf outlet, as this can lead to the development of rot. For example, the bottom watering method is suitable, where the pot, along with the plant, is lowered into a bath of water for a couple of minutes.

Watering can only be carried out using warm water that has time to be infused. Melt, rain, bottled and filtered water is also good.

During the winter cold, putting the plant in a cooler place, watering will have to be practically stopped. It is only important not to let the earthy coma dry out.

All the water from the trays must be poured out. Saxifrage is not a moisture-loving plant and is more comfortable with drought than stagnant water in the soil.

Temperature range:

The saxifrage in the summer will feel comfortable at +18 +20 degrees. During the winter cold weather, the thermometer should be from +5 to +10 degrees. If the plant is at higher temperatures, then watering should be more frequent. Variegated varieties prefer higher temperatures, from +20 to +25 in summer, and in winter the thermometer should not fall below +12 degrees.

Illumination:

If the plant is well lit, the colors of the saxifrage will be brighter. In the morning and in the evening, the saxifrage should be in the sun for about 2 hours. When it's especially hot outside, you need to create a shade for the plant.

Variegated varieties prefer more light.

The saxifrage will grow comfortably on the west or east side of windows.Thus, there is no need to create special conditions. The plant will receive the right amount of light in the morning or evening, and during the day it will not be threatened by the sun.

Cultivating saxifrage in an apartment all year round, you need to take care of additional artificial lighting for the winter. Leaving the plant without light will make the shoots stretch out and look sick and unkempt.

Fertilization:

Plants grown in pots are limited in area nutrition, therefore fertilization is necessary for their good growth and development. Top dressing should be regular, once every 30 days during the period of active growth, in the form of liquid mineral fertilizers used for succulents. When preparing a solution, it is enough to use only half the dose of that indicated in the instructions. During the winter cold season, saxifrage falls into vegetative rest and does not need fertilization. You can return to them with the arrival of the spring season and at the moment when the plant begins to grow again.

All dressings are applied after irrigation measures to prevent burns on the root system from the fertilizers applied.

Please note that if nitrogen is contained in the dressings in large quantities, then the plant will actively build up the green mass, but it will no longer bloom.

Air humidification:

Spraying is necessary if the thermometer shows a temperature exceeding +18 degrees. It is imperative to make sure that there is a sufficient amount of fresh air entering the room, and there are no drafts.

It is necessary to spray it only in the morning with warm, settled water, so that by the evening all the moisture is absorbed and does not remain on the surface of the leaves. This should be done with a spray bottle that sprinkles in small drops. During the procedure, no water should appear on the petals and buds, just cover them.

To increase the moisture level in the room, you can use a special humidifier or put wet small stones on a saucer near the plant. This will be enough and you will not have to spray. During the fall-winter period, keep the saxifrage away from heaters and radiators.

Saxifrage, as a decoration in the house and its medicinal properties:

These flowers can be used to decorate hanging baskets, from which they will hang effectively, decorating the house. Varieties with drooping shoots can be used as ampelous plants. The saxifrage can be a great decoration for alpine slides. This flower, with its miniature size, even in the house can create a background for large plants, decorating their foot. Due to their size, these beauties can be used to collect a large collection of its varieties and place them on a very small area.

Saxifrage is not only able to decorate a garden or a house, but is also used in medicine as an antineoplastic and antiseptic agent. With the help of green leaves and stems, it is possible to improve the functioning of the digestive system, for the treatment of lungs and helps with diseases associated with the urinary system.

This plant can grow in the same place for ages, but over the years their appearance becomes unattractive, so they should be changed.

Saxifraga: variety of species

Arends (Saxifraga arendsii) Arends' saxifrages - this group includes about 40 plant species. These are evergreen perennials no more than 20 centimeters high. The formation of attractive rosettes of these plants is due to the small leaves of a dark green color, which after a while become a dense grassy mat. During flowering, they are abundantly covered with pink, red and white single flowers, towering over their flowering shoots. Plants bloom in the period May-June.

Wicker (Saxifraga stolonifera) - native to Asian countries, a plant that belongs to ground cover and round-leaved. Most often in cultivation it is used as an ampelous plant and becomes an ornament for hanging pots.The shape of the leaves of this species is round, the color is dark green. They have long petioles and the branching of veins of a light shade is clearly visible on them. The diameter of the leaf is about 10 centimeters. On the edges they are covered with large denticles, and on the surface they have a slight pubescence. The plants form attractive side shoots, 90 centimeters long, on which miniature daughter rosettes grow, decorating the house, hanging over the edges of the vases. During flowering, the formation of tall leafless flowering shoots with slight pubescence begins, on which graceful and unusual snow-white flowers open, consisting of 2 long and 3 short petals. Among the varieties of this species, you can find those whose leaves will have a burgundy shade, painted in yellow or even pink.

Paniculata (Saxifraga paniculata) - refers to evergreen perennial plants. The formation of a leaf rosette occurs with oval-oblong leaves. They are quite thick and can be green or blue. The very shape of the rosettes becomes an ornament of this species, as it resembles a flower. The formation of miniature daughter rosettes occurs on the lateral shoots, which quickly grow in length. The flowering shoots are long and often branched; during flowering, they reveal a large number of small flowers of pink, white or yellow. The plant can bloom throughout the summer season.

Soddy (Saxifraga cespitosa) - the leaves of this plant have a finger-dissected shape resembling deer antlers. They are soft to the touch and have an emerald green color. Erect flowering shoots reveal incredibly attractive flowers of yellow, white, pink and green. The whole plant is covered with light attractive pubescence. Its height is about 15 centimeters. In its natural habitat, it can be found on the island of Svalbard, which indicates the great endurance of this species.

Shadow (Saxifraga umbrosa) is an evergreen perennial plant with dark green spoon-shaped leaves forming large leaf rosettes. During flowering, small pinkish flowers appear on tall and thin flowering shoots. It blooms profusely throughout the summer months. Plant height can reach 35 centimeters.

Mossy (Saxifraga hypnoides) - the height of these miniature, very leisurely growing bushes is no more than 10 centimeters. Dissected attractive green or burgundy leaves form rosettes. The flowering shoots are small in this species, but very strong, they have flowers of green, white or yellow color. They consist of 5 oval-oblong petals.

Reed (Saxifraga lingulata or Saxifraga callosa) is an evergreen herbaceous perennial whose leaf rosette rises 60 centimeters in height. The development of this species is slow, but over time they can create a good leaf carpet. The formation of leaf rosettes is due to the long green belt-shaped leaves. On the pubescent erect flowering stems, snow-white flowers open, often interspersed with purple on the petals.

Opposite-leaved (Saxifraga oppositifolia) is a herbaceous perennial with leafy rosettes, the length of which is no more than 5 centimeters. Green leafless leaves are attached to strong, creeping and abundantly branching shoots. Their length is 0.5 centimeters. During flowering, large-sized pink or lilac flowers appear on low, strong and pubescent flowering shoots.

Snowy (Saxifraga nivalis) - in this perennial evergreen, the root rosette is assembled from glossy, dark green leaves resembling the shape of a spoon. On the upper edge, the leaves are covered with large teeth. Flowers with oblong bicolor petals, the outer side, which is pink and the inner side white, are located on tall and pubescent flowering shoots.