Today we will tell you about growing alissum from seeds at home. Occupation is not troublesome and very pleasant. In our article you will find a detailed description of the planting process and further care of the plant, and we will also share with you a description of the most popular varieties of this plant. You must be able to grow this wonderful plant yourself.
A brief introduction to the plant
Lobularia, stamen and alyssum are names that are given to the plant along with alissum. This flower is actively used for decorative purposes, not only because of its attractive appearance, but also because of its unpretentiousness. In addition, beekeepers highly appreciate the melliferous qualities of its flowers. Low stems form a lush bush with a diameter of 6 to 30 cm, depending on the variety. Oblong leaves have a lanceolate shape, and small four-petalled flowers are collected in dense inflorescences.
The stems of older plants begin to stiffen over time. The leaves become grayish due to their pubescence. The color of the flowers is striking in its wide range - from snow-white and soft lemon to scarlet and purple tones. Another advantage of the plant is its pleasant vanilla aroma.
Alyssum is considered a long-flowering plant - the season of bright flowers takes effect in May and ends with the onset of autumn.
Varieties
Among the variety of different varieties we offer to get acquainted with the most beautiful and popular:
- Snow carpet. One of the most popular varieties of alissum. It got its name thanks to the snow-white flowers covering the ground, like a dense carpet. An annual plant with a spreading crown, reaching a height of not more than 8 centimeters. The conditions for growing the Snow Carpet alissum from seeds are no different from other varieties.
- Marine alissum in nature has two main shades - white and lilac, but in decorative floriculture there are much more colors. The bushy shape of a lush bush, silver leaves and a large diameter of the plant are the main advantages of this variety, which tolerates a long absence of moisture.
- Gmelin. One of the most beautiful varieties of alissum. A distinctive feature of this variety is the color of inflorescences - sunny yellow petals begin to bloom in May, and by mid-summer the fruits of the plant fully ripen.
Growing Alissum seedlings
What do you need to know? Seeds for growing seedlings are sown no later than April. The soil for planting should be slightly alkaline (acidity level from 5.5 to 6). This indicator can be achieved by applying a small amount of lime to the soil. Seeds are sown on the soil surface and lightly pressed with a thin layer of soil.
To accelerate seed germination, certain conditions must be observed. The temperature in the room for growing alissum from seeds should be in the range from +13 o C to +15 o C degrees. In addition to natural light, an artificial light source is required. To create a greenhouse environment, the planting box is covered with film or glass.
Constant airing and moderate watering are important for alissum. Subject to all the above conditions, after 7-9 days the first young shoots will appear from the ground. At this moment, the first top dressing is carried out. And when 2-3 leaves appear on each sprout, the seedlings are transplanted into separate containers. With the onset of warm weather, the plant can be transferred to open fertilized soil.
Sowing seeds in open ground
For sowing alissum immediately into the open ground, it is necessary to wait for stable warm weather. Unlike the greenhouse sowing, which is carried out in April, alissum seeds are not planted in open ground until May. Seeds are buried in the soil no deeper than a centimeter. With a deeper planting, the sprouts will not break through the ground. Since the alissum forms a kind of living border, the distance between the seeds should not be too large, but too frequent sowing is undesirable, as neighboring plants will begin to crowd out each other. The optimal distance between future bushes is from 20 to 30 centimeters.
Lighting Features
When planting alissum, special attention should be paid to lighting in the area where it is planned to be grown. Alyssum "Snow Carpet", "Marine", "Pyrenees" and many other varieties prefer sunny places that are well protected from drafts. The plant is considered light and heat-loving. It is permissible to grow alissum and in partial shade, only in this case the flowering will be less uniform. This flower grows well among decorative plates and stones, which are well warmed up by the sun - this combination adorns the garden plot wonderfully.
Soil requirements
The soil for sowing and further growing alissum should have good drainage properties. To do this, a layer of expanded clay or fine pebbles and sand are necessarily laid out on the bottom of the seat. In addition, a month before sowing seeds, be sure to add a small amount of compost and humus to the soil. Too acidic soil can be neutralized with lime. If the acidity of the soil is too low, then the soil is diluted with peat. It is also important to completely remove the weeds before planting alissum so that they do not re-sow.
Soil care
When growing alissum from seeds at home, special attention should be paid to soil care. The applied fertilizing is quickly exhausted, so the delay in the next fertilizer application leads to starvation of the plant.
The lack of minerals during the flowering period leads to rapid withering and decay of the flowers. In addition, regular application of fertilizing provides not only healthy growth, but also immunity to various diseases. Before flowering begins, the plant is in the phase of active growth and especially needs nitrogen fertilizing. An excellent fertilizer at this moment is a solution of urea or "Agricola". During the formation of buds, potassium preparations and humus are introduced into the soil.
A mandatory process is loosening and weeding. These procedures allow you to get rid of weeds, as well as prevent the formation of an earth crust on the surface, which leads to oxygen starvation of alissum. Water, fertilize and loosen the soil in the evening or early in the morning, before sunrise, in order to preserve moisture as much as possible.
Flower pruning
The perennial fragrant alissum flower needs periodic pruning. This procedure is carried out not only to give the plant aesthetics, but also to improve it. When pruning, diseased and dry shoots are removed, as well as peduncles after flowering is completed. However, it should be understood that when growing alissum for collecting seeds, peduncles are preserved.
A month after flowering, the plant is pruned. Each shoot is shortened to 4 cm. This procedure can significantly increase the splendor of the bush in the autumn. In addition, the renewed shoots are much stronger and healthier, and therefore the plant will be less susceptible to various diseases. The next pruning is carried out only in the spring. Dry and damaged shoots are removed, and the plant is given an elegant shape.
Disease control
Growing alissum can be overshadowed by the onset of disease. But this happens only in adverse conditions, that is, when the plant is not properly cared for. Lack of fertilizers, ignoring pruning and excessive watering are the main causes of the development of diseases of alissum.
With late blight (brown rot), the process of plant death begins with rotting of the root system. The upper part of the plant, on the contrary, dries completely. This disease occurs with excessive moisture in the soil. At the slightest sign of infection, the plant is immediately treated with fungicidal preparations (for example, "Ordan"). Watering at the stage of treatment of the plant must be significantly reduced.
Another trouble on the way to grow alissum at home is powdery mildew. This disease applies not only to the plant itself, but also to all the nearest crops. The leaves are covered with white coating, due to which their growth slows down, black spots appear on the leaves and the plant completely dies. The main reasons for the development of this disease are excessive pruning, abundant fertilization and temperature differences. Alissum can be cured with the help of "Fundazol" and "Fitosporin" preparations.
Seed collection
For self-growing alissum from seeds at home, it is important to take care of the planting material in advance. The optimal time for collecting seeds is considered mid-autumn, namely the first half of October. When choosing later dates, you risk not having time to collect valuable seeds, since spontaneous pollination will occur, and the seeds will simply begin to crumble. Absolutely dry inflorescences are selected, which, after collection, are carefully rubbed by hand. In this case, large debris is removed, and the separated seeds are sent for drying in a room with warm and dry air. The dried material is stored in cloth or paper bags at room temperature.