Saxifrage - planting and care in the open field, in the garden, at home

Saxifrage is an unpretentious flower, it feels great in rocky ground. There are more than 400 varieties of this plant in the world, distributed mainly in the temperate climatic zone. Some species have crept up to the Arctic expanses.

Thanks to the variety and endurance of the saxifrage, it can be used to decorate both the garden and the balcony. It also enriches urban landscapes, and some of its types are used in medicine.

Observing simple rules of care, you can decorate any place with saxifrage.

Appearance and classification of saxifrage

Most of the flowers of the Saxifrag family are stunted perennials, although there are one or two-year-old species, there is also a variety that grows up to 70 cm.

Plants form solid bushes with rosettes folded from massive rounded leaves. The stems generally grow up to 50 cm in height, while the leaves take on a slightly elongated shape, they are mainly dark and gray-green in color.

The saxifrage produces several flower stems from each rosette, its flowers usually have 5 petals. They differ in color depending on the member of the family.

Some common varieties

Picture 2 Arends's variety is popular among flower growers for its beauty and undemandingness

Arends's frost-resistant saxifrage is used for garden beds, forming turf islands no more than 20 cm high. Its small graceful leaves are covered with thin stripes, flowering begins in late spring and early summer.

The plant is divided into subspecies such as:

• Purple with flowers and bearing stems of the corresponding color, the flower core is yellow.
• A flamingo that delights with its light pink bloom.
• The saxifrage is white - this is the color of the intermittent inflorescences of bells produced by it, the sod itself is dark green and low.
• Red Arends, with bright colors and the shortest height (grows up to 15 cm).

Moss saxifrage

Creeping and branching shoots of bryophyte saxifrage densely covered with rich light green foliage grow very closely, which makes it similar to moss growth. In summer, white-yellow buds bloom on the stalks that rise above the "moss" by about 6 cm.

The places chosen by the shady saxifrage live up to its name

The undersized saxifrage shady does not need intense lighting, its irregular oval leaves with a pinkish-purple lower part retain a rich green color all year round. In July, purple inflorescences bordered with white petals bloom.

Wicker saxifrage is one of the most beautiful representatives of the family

The natural habitat of saxifrage is the damp slopes of the Chinese and Japanese mountains. This ampelous perennial, also called a beard, spider or Venusian hair, grows up to 50 cm in height. Its threadlike lashes release roots as they spread.

Wicker saxifrage can grow in both home and garden conditions. The roundish foliage, speckled with white veins above and red below, bristles along the edges. This species stands out for its red mustache, its complex white or red flowers are pleasing to the eye from May to August.

The leaf edges of saxifrage paniculata are white from protruding salts

Saxifrage paniculata climbs the granite and limestone mountains, it grows in North America, Europe and the Caucasus. The height of the cover of its close-knit thickets does not exceed 8 cm. The narrowish gray and blue-green leaves begin at the roots and are very sharp, and the flowers that appear in late spring and early summer can be white, as well as red and pale yellow.

Small flowering of soddy saxifrage is compensated by its spreading gray-green turf

Soddy saxifrage is widespread in Canada, the United States and the northern regions of Eurasia, its dark green leafy rosettes are formed along with abundantly branching shoots immediately from the roots. The veins are more visible on the lower leaves, the plant blooms for about three weeks. This saxifrage is pink, white or red and blooms in June-July.

The saxifrage saxifrage, whose name comes from the Latin words saxum - "mountain" and fragere - "to break", received it for its habitat. It grows mainly in rocks, gradually destroying the mountain slope on which it settled. Despite this feature, among the areas of growth of saxifrage, places with wind-blown soil prevail.

Features of caring for saxifrage

Indoor saxifrage is perfect for beginner flower growers.

The undemanding nature of most species of this plant allows it to be placed in northern rooms and rooms with moderate access to sunlight. Bright lighting can make the plant pale and cause disease.

This flower prefers a dry and cool environment, it has massive leaves and a generous mustache. Saxifrage is a bush whose species love sparse watering, soil with an abundant amount of sand, and looks good next to petunias.

Recommended temperature

During the spring-autumn period, temperatures acceptable for saxifrage range from 20 to 25 ° C. In winter, the plant will suit 12-15 ° C, its subspecies with variegated leaves will need from 15 to 18 ° C.

Lighting

The flower can be planted on the shady sides of the window, the best option is the western and eastern sides of the house. Northern sides are also allowed, but when placed on the south side, it will be necessary to provide the saxifrage with protection from direct sunlight.

Direct sunlight is unacceptable

Fresh air stimulates its growth, which is why it is often placed on a summer balcony. Intense lighting is harmful, but lack of sunlight can also cause fading. In an open garden, the plant is planted in the shade.

Watering

Distilled water at room temperature is used. Over-saturation of the soil with moisture should not be allowed, this leads to rotting of the roots. Drying out of the soil is also unacceptable.

From the beginning of spring to the end of autumn, the house plant is watered not earlier than the top layer of the soil dries up to a thickness of 2-3 cm, this is about 2 times a week. When located outdoors, precipitation should be taken into account.

For the winter period, the watering schedule is once every 8-12 days. Water should not accumulate in the leaf outlets, this can also contribute to decay, and therefore the best way to water is a tray. He should only feed the pot until the soil is completely moistened.

Spraying

Saxifrage should be sprayed with the same water as for irrigation. Infrequent spraying is carried out in spring and summer. With dry air in the apartment, it is occasionally carried out in winter.

Humidity

In winter, it is not recommended to keep the plant next to radiators or heating devices, but to increase the humidity of the air, wet things can be dried on adjacent radiators.

Despite its love for moisture, saxifrage thrives in dry climates, while frequent spraying can be harmful.

The soil

This flower is adapted to obtain useful substances from scarce mountainous areas and stone rocks, which is why ordinary soil does not suit it. A combination of garden or greenhouse soil, crushed gravel, lime, peat and sand will be ideal for saxifrage.

All this is enough in the same amount, with the exception of gravel, a handful of which is enough for a volume of 5 liters.

Top dressing

Soil enrichment is carried out in summer, winter and spring with a fertilizer solution diluted in water.

In winter, feeding is performed every one and a half to two months, the rest of the time every two weeks.

Winter care for saxifrage

In winter, the flower is dormant.

Low activity of saxifrage in winter is explained by its adaptability to weather conditions.

Control of humidity, temperature and fertilizers should be observed, the conditions of which are common to most species.

Those of them that can grow outside the house and at the same time are in an open garden do not need to be watered and fertilized in winter. Before the onset of cold weather and snowfall, moderate mulching is necessary, the saxifrage is covered with grass.

Flowering features

These flowers are very diverse in shape, color and size, providing a wide choice for the enthusiastic grower. For example, the shade saxifrage produces small pale pink inflorescences, while the opposite-leaved flowers are deep pink and large, becoming lilac over time.

Types of flowers

Saxifrage blooms in colors such as:

• white,
• red,
• lilac,
• purple,
• yellow,
• pink.

What are the forms of flowers

Among the flowers of saxifrage, flowers of five short, oblong-rounded petals prevail.

There are also four-lobed ones, but this is a large rarity that is not inherent in any particular variety. Common on a smaller scale, standard shapes are bells and intricate designs such as the wicker style.

When bloom passes

Flowering begins in late spring to early summer, with some weather-oriented varieties blooming in July.

The beginning of the formation of inflorescences falls on the end of spring of the second year, they grow in the form of loose panicles. There may be few flowers the first time.

Some varieties bloom in the fall, but generally flowering times range from three weeks to the end of summer. After it, the peduncles remain sticking out, so they are usually cut off.

Leaving during flowering

During this time, the saxifrage does not need any additional care beyond the usual spring-summer care. For a more orderly flowering, panicles are sometimes trimmed.

Reproduction

Saxifrage planting and care of which is available to a grower of any skill level, multiplies according to certain rules.

The usual vegetative method may not work. The saxifrage plant propagates through cuttings, seeds, layering and dividing rosettes. All of these methods are practiced either in early spring or in November.In this case, the seeds will germinate in the spring. The other methods should be planted in the fall, with the expectation that the flowers have time to release roots before frost and snow.

Germinating seeds

Most often, saxifrage for planting and care in the open field, as well as for indoor conditions, is sown indoors. In spring, sprouts can be planted in the garden.

At home, the seeds are stratified by mixing them with sand and placing the container in the refrigerator for a period of two to three weeks. The soil is compacted a little, covered with the contents of the seed container and watered.

Then the container should be covered - the greenhouse effect stimulates seedlings. They will appear in 10 days, after they acquire 4 leaves, the sprouts are planted separately. They should receive moderate watering for the first few days.

Sowing indoors is more convenient and effective

When planting in an open garden, the next step is to prepare the soil. It should only be done when it warms up enough. For the future flower bed, a layer of soil suitable for saxifrage is applied from 20 to 30 cm in thickness. The planted seedlings should be pre-watered once again, and the soil is loosened at the planting points, where recesses for the seedlings are also made with an interval of 20 cm between them. After planting, these places are compacted a little, their first watering is performed about a week later.

When sowing directly into the garden, the seed should be disinfected in potassium permanganate highly diluted with water for a couple of days. Other fungicides will work as well. The disinfected seeds are dried, sand is added to them, then the special soil already applied to ordinary soil is furrowed 1.5 cm. The seeds are planted, covered and watered.

Rooting cuttings

The time for selection of cuttings is late July. They should be between 7 and 15 cm long.

The shoot is cut below the knot in flowers from two years old using a sharp blade. Its lower leaves are removed, while the cut is immersed in a diluted phytohormone for several seconds.

The planting tank is filled with wet sand. Before planting, it is recommended to treat with charcoal powder. When the seedlings take root, they are planted separately, or left in the sand until the spring planting in the garden. In this case, allowable cool temperatures and low lighting are required.

Division of bushes

This is the most common method. The parts of the plant that appeared in the spring branching, in July, together with their roots, are separated from the main bush with a sharp blade. Sections are treated with wood ash, rosette with fungicides, then young saxifrage is planted in suitable soil. There should be at least 20 cm of free area around it. Planting in the garden should be carried out no earlier than spring. The first flowers can be expected next season.

Layers

Picture 11 Layers serve to spread the cover of the shrub

Under new young shoots that have grown farther away, in July, small depressions are made in the ground, watered, after which a sprout is fixed there with a light handful of soil.

It should be watered on a standard schedule with no overabundance in the event of rainfall in horticultural conditions. The roots are released in autumn, but the flower does not separate until spring. The cut is treated with wood ash, then the saxifrage from the cut is transplanted to its new place.

Transfer and picking

The saxifrage quickly spreads over the space available to it, having occupied it, it concentrates its forces on flowering.

A transplant is required only when the roots completely occupy the container with the soil, or when the plant is renewed, for which July is the right time.

In this case, the recommendations for reproduction by dividing the bushes are followed, and with a simple transplant, which is better done in early spring, it will be enough to fill the low pot with drainage and soil. This flower takes root shallowly.

Possible problems in growing saxifrage

This bush is resistant to diseases and parasites, but the health of the flower can be shaken due to the violation of the conditions of maintenance and vital activity of pests.

Changes in appearance

Yellow, dry and deformed lower leaves indicate the old age of the plant, in this case it is time to carry out the renewal procedure.

The lack of branching and layering may indicate a lack of nutrients, which can be easily replenished with a quick-acting liquid top dressing or a universal top dressing capsule placed 3-5 cm deep into the soil.

The fading and looseness of the bush can be observed both with a lack of lighting and with overheating - in this case, it is necessary to urgently change the location of the pot.

Frequent illnesses

• Excess moisture can lead to decay of the root system. When wilting and blackening, the plant should be examined for decaying roots. They are removed along with the affected leaves. The surviving petioles can be rooted in a temporary sand substrate with pieces of sphagnum in a 50/50 ratio. A greenhouse effect is created, the pot is placed in a place with the recommended temperature and sufficient lighting. The saxifrage can release its first sprout within a month.
• Rust infestation occurs through insect-borne fungal spores, with grainy spots of the corresponding color indicating that the water balance is imbalanced. Rust is treated by removing the affected areas and applying a fungicide, which is repeated 10 days later. In this case, the plant should be protected from the presence of conifers.
• Powdery mildew is a consequence of a fungus, white spots on the lower leaves with time of maturation of the spores are replaced by drops of moisture. This stops the flower from growing and makes it vulnerable to cold. Damaged shoots should be separated and burned, and the plant itself should be treated with fungicides such as Quadris or Skor.

Main parasites

• Spider mite infection is manifested in the dryness of the saxifrage. The leaves turn yellow, and a light cobweb appears on their bases. This is treated by removing and burning the affected areas, then applying an insecticide.
• The sticky white bloom on the leaves is the secretions of aphids, the flower is washed with soap and regularly sprayed with a settled composition of garlic, pyrethrum, onion peel and pepper.
• The inflorescences and foliage of the plant attract worms; they multiply quickly when the flower lacks moisture. Symptoms are a sugar-like discharge. Worms are treated by treating the affected areas with a composition of 12 g of soap per liter of water once a week and hand-picking the pests. In the future, the saxifrage must be treated with biotlin or confidor.

The beauty of the plant deteriorates if the conditions of maintenance are not observed during the cultivation process, which entails uneven stems and bald spots in the usually tight branching cover. Open ground can attract birds and mice to the flower.

In general, growing saxifrage is not difficult, and the wide variety of species opens up good space for decorating a room or garden. For inexperienced gardeners, the plant is quite suitable.