Cottagers decorating their flower beds use a variety of cultures. Among them deserves attention mountain gerbil, which is used to design borders and rocky gardens. A modest plant allows you to maintain the integrity of the composition and make a smooth transition between poorly compatible cultures.
Culture Description
Mountain gerbil or arena are a herbaceous plant in the clove family. Among various forms of culture, annual, perennial and biennial specimens are found. The height of the gerbil ranges from 3 to 30 centimeters. The leaves of the plant are oval in shape and can reach a length of 2.5 mm to 1.5 cm. The culture delights gardeners with flowering from late April to June. Small flowers can be painted in pale purple or pale pink. Plants are pleased with abundant flowering, after which small bolls with seeds are formed.
Varieties of culture
It is worth saying that the genus of mountain gerbil includes more than 220 species. Most of them grow in the north and in regions with a temperate climate. The culture is common in the Northern Hemisphere, but some species can be found in mountainous regions and even in the tropics.
For decorative floriculture, not all varieties are of interest, since many have too small and inconspicuous flowers.
Among the whole variety of types of culture, there are low-growing forms and those that are higher. In addition, some species have more prominent and larger flowers. Of no less interest are plants with interesting leaf shapes.
Montana gerbil is the most famous and most common species. Plants can be easily found for sale. In height, the culture reaches 15 cm, and the size of the flowers is 2.5 cm (for this plant, these are large sizes). It is noteworthy that this species withstands frosts up to -35 degrees. In the wild, culture grows in Portugal, France and Spain.
One of the best decorative varieties of mountain gerbil is Lizard and Avalanche.
Large-flowered forms of culture are very similar to mountain views, but have larger flowers.
Thyme leaf gerbil is common in North America, Central Asia and Europe. Plants usually grow in fields, in forests and in meadows. They are represented by annual and perennial forms.
Bokotsvetnaya gerbil is a relatively tall species, the height of plants reaches 40 cm. Among other forms of culture, it is also worth highlighting: Balearic, tetrahedral, round-leaved and others.
Arena Balearic refers to undersized species. In height, the plant reaches only five cm, and in width the bushes grow to 45 cm. This species is highly frost-resistant, since the bushes tolerate frosts up to -35 degrees. Evergreen culture has small white flowers that bloom in late autumn. The life span of a plant reaches five years. Its homeland is the Balearic Islands and Corsica.
The tetrahedral arena comes from the Spanish Pyrenees. In natural conditions it grows high in the mountains. The plant has a very unusual appearance, due to the shape and location of the foliage. The culture refers to stunted forms, since the height does not exceed four centimeters. Arenaria blooms in May and June. This species is of interest to gardeners, as it retains its decorativeness even after flowering. Outwardly, it seems that the earth or stones are covered with beautiful moss. But in reality - this is a carpet of their tetrahedral arena.
Use for decorating plots
Mountain gerbil is usually used to decorate alpine hills. Plants are planted between the stones. Outside the rock garden, it is preferable to plant the culture in well-lit areas. Bushes can grow in partial shade, but with a lack of lighting, their flowering period is reduced. For a gerbil, places with sandy loam and well-drained soil should be chosen.
Culture does not like stagnation of moisture. It looks great not only in rock gardens, but also between tiles on tracks. A feature of the plant is the good tolerance of trampling. The gerbil is a frost-resistant crop, but can freeze in winter due to excess moisture.
Which plants go well with a gerbil?
Growing a mountain gerbil is popular because the culture densely covers the soil, thanks to which it is possible to hide unsightly areas. Plants are almost impossible to trample, so it can be planted anywhere, including close to paths. A gerbil is planted in rockeries, rock gardens, near borders, paths, on the slopes. With tall crops, the mountain gerbil is planted with islets. Small plants look good in pots.
Experienced growers recommend combining arenaria with lithophytes, alpine flax, gentian, saxifrage, tenacious, armeria, juniper, periwinkle, bluebells.
Growing conditions
Mountain gerbil (photo is given in the article) feels good in conditions close to natural. Plants prefer sunny places. However, not all species love the south side. Some grow well in partial shade. The culture does not put forward special requirements for soil. But it is worth taking care of good drainage of the soil. Plants grow well on alkaline soils, but can also grow on acidified soils.
The gerbil loves compost fertilizers. It is necessary to water the plants in hot weather several times a week so that the roots do not dry out. Culture is resistant to ailments and pests. After the flowering period ends, dried inflorescences must be removed. If necessary, in the spring, the branches of the plant can be pruned, giving the plantings the desired shape. Planting a mountain gerbil and caring for it, according to gardeners, is not difficult. Therefore, the culture is called unpretentious.
Seed cultivation
Most often, gerbils are grown from seeds. Sow them from January to June. The seed placement depth should not exceed 0.5 centimeters. If the air temperature is 20 degrees, the seeds germinate in a month or a half. In the event that the crops do not hatch after six weeks, the pots must be wrapped in polyethylene and put for 1.5 months in a cold place in which the air temperature does not exceed 3-5 degrees.
After the period of stratification, the pots can be returned for germination on the windowsill.
You can also use a different method of sowing. Seeds are planted from November to January and kept at room temperature for several weeks. After the pots are taken out to a secluded place in the garden until spring comes. With the onset of March, containers are transferred to a house or to a greenhouse for germination. Shoots are dived only once, after which, after 20 days, they are planted on the prepared site. The time of planting a mountain gerbil fully depends on the period of sowing seeds. Seedlings are planted at a distance of 30 centimeters from each other. Young plants need frequent weeding. Otherwise, the gerbil can be drowned out by weeds. Plants bloom only in the second year.
Vegetative methods of reproduction of mountain gerbil
Arena Lizard, like other species, can be propagated not only by seeds, but also vegetatively. You can get young plants by dividing the bush and cuttings. The latter method is rarely used, since the shoots of the crop are very thin. They are cut and placed in a container of water and waiting for the appearance of roots. And only after that the cuttings can be planted in the ground. Most often, the mountain gerbil is propagated by dividing the bush. The method is very simple. However, it cannot be used during the flowering period of the culture.
If you decide to propagate the plant, then it is best to do this in late summer or early spring. The existing bush is dug with a shovel, after watering the site. Then it is carefully divided into parts, each of which is planted separately. Young plants the first time after planting need more thorough care and regular watering.
Watering
Watering is an important part of care. Moisten the plantings several times a week. Drying of the roots is not recommended. And at the same time, an excessive amount of moisture can lead to decay of the root system. If the culture is grown as a home plant, then in winter it is necessary to reduce the number of irrigation to a minimum. Sometimes a mountain gerbil can be sprayed.
Pests and diseases
Florists note that the mountain gerbil is an unpretentious culture resistant to pests and ailments. Nevertheless, plants are prone to the following diseases:
- Rust. The appearance of the disease is indicated by red tubercles on the foliage. To combat rust, colloidal sulfur or bordeaux is used.
- Blackleg. The appearance of a fungal ailment is indicated by a dark coating on the bottom of the plant. As a preventive measure, gardeners recommend treating the soil with a potassium permanganate solution before planting. Most often, fungal infections appear due to improper care (excessive watering or drought).
- A spider mite is the most dangerous pest for a gerbil. White spots and the thinnest cobwebs testify to its appearance.
Instead of an afterword
Mountain gerbil is a very popular culture that landscape designers are actively using in the design of plots. An unpretentious culture with small flowers can transform even the most unsightly sections of your flower garden. If you are not familiar with the arena, try planting it in the garden and enjoy all the benefits of an unusual plant.