Saxifrage thigh - growing and caring for the home
Content:
The saxifrage is known primarily as a wild plant that attracts attention mainly for its medicinal properties. However, this bush is also grown for decorative purposes at home.
What does Saxifrage Thigh look like, which family does it belong to?
Saxifrage thigh (Pimpinella Saxifraga l) is a perennial aromatic plant of the Umbrella family. Due to its high content of essential oils, it is widely used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetology.
The shrub itself reaches a length of about 1 meter, has feathery leaves. On top of the stem is a large white inflorescence, which is its main decorative part.
Common varieties
The appearance of new species and varieties is influenced by the areola of the plant. The Arends variety is especially decorative, which is inferior in size to the thigh, but is widely used in landscape design. It grows as a creeping shrub with dense and fine foliage. Another variety, Soddy, has yellow-white flowers and light green lush foliage.
Healing properties
The rich chemical composition of saxifrage can help cure many diseases and ailments. The history of its use as a healing agent goes back many centuries.
The healing properties of the thigh:
- relieves inflammation;
- raises immunity;
- has expectorant properties;
- treats a runny nose or colds;
- improves the functioning of the digestive tract.
Briefly about the history of appearance
The very first mention of saxifrage was documented in the 16th century. Plague and cholera were treated in Europe with the help of bush infusions. The birthplace of the flower is Eurasia, more precisely, all territories with a temperate climate: Crimea, Western Siberia and the Urals.
Features of caring for a flower at home
The thigh is characterized by its resistance to adverse environmental influences. The shrub is rarely sick and is absolutely not capricious in its care.
Temperature
The flower grows best at moderate temperatures, although it tolerates hot periods well.
Lighting
The shrub, undemanding to lighting, grows well both in the shade and in open areas. In summer, in the heat, the saxifrage can be shaded with any structure.
Watering
It is necessary to water the plant only after the soil has dried, excess liquid will harm and provoke the appearance of diseases.
Spraying
During dry periods, you can spray the thigh with water every other day to help withstand the heat comfortably without serious consequences.
Humidity
The plant is not very demanding for moisture indicators. However, it is worth avoiding sudden jumps in humidity, especially during the dry season.
Priming
The land on which the plant will be grown should be of medium acidity and fertile. Before planting saxifrage, organic fertilizers must be introduced into it: manure, compost, bark or humus.
Top dressing
It is enough to feed the Berdenets once every two months. For this, it is not necessary to use special complex fertilizers, you can get by with a mullein solution or Superphosphate.
Features of care in winter, dormant period
The thighbone tolerates winter well, therefore it does not require shelter. It is enough to cut the shrub from dried stems and leaves.
When and how it blooms
For decorative purposes, the thighbone is grown precisely because of its large inflorescences. Its flowers are small, similar in shape to five-petal daisies, in the middle they have small pale yellow stamens.
The thighbone begins to bloom its flowers in the first half of May. This process continues until the end of summer - about three months.
During the flowering period, the care for the saxifrage does not change. It is important not to overflow the bush and protect it from direct sunlight.
Pruning
In the second year after planting, the bush begins to bloom for the first time. During this period, it is necessary to cut off the drying stalks in order to accelerate the formation of new flowers.
How the saxifrage thighbird reproduces
The plant can be bred in a variety of ways. They are all easy to use, but vary in duration.
Germinating seeds
In the fall, the plant produces fruits with seeds. They are cut and seeds are taken out, which in winter must be stored in a dry and sun-protected place.
In the spring, when the frost is over, the seeds are soaked in a growth stimulating and disinfecting solution. The beds are dug up and organic is introduced into them. The planting material is planted in a row and watered with water separated from harmful impurities.
Rooting cuttings
Cuttings are cut in late spring or early summer, their length should be at least 10 cm. Before planting in a nutrient substrate, they are soaked for several hours in saline. You can plant the cuttings directly into the open ground or root them in boxes.
Air layering
This method is used only if the shoots of the plant are flexible and strong. You need to tilt the stem to the ground and dig in it, leaving the top above the ground. When it takes root, it is cut off from the main bush and transplanted to another location.
Other options
Another method often used for transplanting is the division of the rhizome. It is necessary to dig up the plant and divide it together with the roots into 2 or 3 parts. It is important to leave up to 6 viable buds on each seedling.
Transfer
The shrub can do without transplanting, but sometimes problems arise in which this procedure is necessary. If the thighbone gets sick with an infectious disease or the soil on which it is grown is depleted, then it is better to transplant in the fall or early spring.
Procedure:
- Water the bush abundantly and dig it out with the rhizome.
- In a new place, make a hole up to 50-60 cm deep and place a bush in it.
- Cover the seedling with a nutritious substrate and water.
Possible growing problems and diseases
Saxifrage is resistant to fungal diseases, but may have some growing problems.Their appearance is usually caused by improper care.
The plant sheds buds and leaves
Falling leaves and flowers can occur at any time during the growing season. The causes of the problem are the depletion of the soil and the lack of nutrients, therefore it is necessary to apply fertilizers in a timely manner.
Leaves turn pale
If the leaves of the bush begin to lose their rich green hue and fade, you need to increase the level of iron in the soil. To do this, it is treated with a solution of ferrous sulfate.
The tips of the leaves dry
Drying of the edges of the leaf plates indicates excessive lighting, high temperature and lack of watering. This is often due to a sharp drop in air humidity. As a rule, the plant behaves this way in hot summer periods. At this time, it is necessary to spray the bush more often and to increase the frequency of watering.
The lower leaves fall
This problem occurs due to the transfusion of the thigh and the use of low-quality water. It is better to let the soil dry slightly than to pour it over. In order to prevent the lower leaves from falling off, you need to water the bush with non-cold soft water and loosen the soil.
Pests
The saxifrage is practically not affected by pests. The tissues of the bush contain many essential oils that repel parasites.
Other problems
If the bush is not treated for a long time when it is poured with low-quality water, the stem may begin to rot, and the leaves will turn dark and turn brown. In this case, you need to dig out the bush and remove the dead shoots. The plant itself is treated with disinfectants and planted in another place.
The use of the saxifrage thigh (Pimpinella Saxifraga) for the treatment of diseases has been widespread for more than one century, but it has not been so long ago that the plant has been grown for decorative purposes. The shrub does not require special care, but all summer it pleases the eye with long flowering.