The species Alyssum marine (or marine lobularia) is a herbaceous plant with bright, densely arranged flowers, the colors of which depend on the variety - from snow-white, cream, pastel pink to lilac-violet, burgundy and golden. In vivo culture grows in southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Unpretentiousness in care and plentiful blossoming allow to use this plant in landscaping for decoration of a site.
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Alyssum maritium is a perennial plant, the semi-lignified shoots of which spread along the ground. Based on the description, the height of the plant is not more than 40 cm. Some bushes grow only to 8-10 cm. But on the basis of the described species, some ampel species of allisum were selected. The shoots are covered with dense and fleshy oval leaves. There are silver hairs on the surface of the leaf plate.
Did you know? Presumably, in earlier times, alissum was used to treat rabies. This can explain the Latin name of the flower: a - without, lyssa - dog rabies.
Flowers of various shades are grouped into brushes, the diameter of which is not more than 7 cm. The flower is about 1 cm wide. Low frost resistance. Shrubs are able to withstand frosts without significant losses up to -16 ° C. Therefore, the main task of the plant grower is to shelter the winter cows.
Varieties of sea alissum
There are several common varieties of sea alissum:
- Clea White Crystal. Refers to annual shrubs. The height of the plant is not more than 25 cm. The length of the shoots is about 30 cm. It is actively grown on balconies in containers or in decorative flower pots. Crystal Clear White flowers have a white hue, and are collected in 3-4 inflorescences.
- Tyneey tim characterized by compactly growing shoots up to 8 cm high. The bush cap is white with a pleasant honey aroma.
- Violet Coning - spherical bushes, the height of which is up to 15 cm. The flowers are characterized by a rich purple hue.
- Esther Bonnet Is an ampel variety that grows to 25 cm in height. In July, cream tones or all kinds of purple shades of buds appear on the shoots.
How to plant
Labularia maritima is a thermophilic plant. Therefore, it is recommended to land at the end of May, when the air warms up to + 22 ° C and there will be no risk of frost return. Choose a site that is well lit by sunlight. The presence of shade can slow down the growth of the culture, as well as weaken its immune system.
Did you know? In Siberia, tinctures are prepared from alissum, which are used to treat inguinal hernia. Also, using this culture, you can remove kidney stones.
Plants need to be planted in loose and well-drained soils so that moisture does not stagnate. It is best to plant in land with a neutral pH level. If you decide to plant a sea alissum in open ground, then you need to take into account the peculiarities of the development of the bush. Plants grow fairly quickly in width. Therefore, the distance between the holes should be at least 50 cm.
A step-by-step planting procedure is as follows:
- Dig holes 40 × 40 cm in size.
- Pour some expanded clay inside (literally 5 cm) and cover it with garden soil (the layer should be 20 cm).
- Place a seedling in the hole with an earthen lump.
- Sprinkle with soil and compact.
- Water each bush with 10 liters of water.
Care for alissum sea
Despite the fact that alissum marine is unpretentious in care, it is necessary to adjust the interval of watering. If they are too frequent, then on the surface of the root system can develop diseases that provoke the death of the plant. It is also required to periodically apply organic and mineral fertilizers to stimulate a beautiful and bright flowering shrub. We should not forget about preparing the culture for winter, so that in the summer again enjoy rich and fragrant flowers.
Watering
Plants need moderate watering. If there is not enough moisture for the bushes, they will bloom early. Exceeding the allowable water application rates will result in the death of the entire flower. Watering a culture is necessary when it itself requires it. Determining the optimal timing is quite easy. Check the soil at a depth of 3-5 cm.
Important! After watering and before top dressing, you need to loosen the top layer of the soil so that a sufficient amount of oxygen arrives at the root system.
If it is dry, then it is necessary to pour at least 10 liters of water under each bush. In regions with heavy rainfall, it is better to refrain from frequent watering and carry them out no more than once every 2 weeks. This will allow you to adjust the flowering and dormancy, as well as increase the life span of the plant.
Top dressing
When the green mass on the bushes begins to actively grow, nitrogen fertilizers must be applied. You can use a urea solution (200 g per 10 liters of water) and pour 5 liters of liquid under each bush. Some gardeners use the drug "Agricola 7" (20 g for each bush). In autumn, it is recommended to use superphosphate, which will improve the frost resistance of marine alissum. Under each bush, close up to 30 g of the drug.
Video: feeding alissum
Pruning
Timely and high-quality pruning can significantly enhance the aesthetic attractiveness of the bush. In the spring, it is recommended to remove last year's peduncles and dry leaves. Also cut off diseased and weak shoots that can slow down the development of the plant. When the summer flowering is over, remove the faded buds and shorten the shoots by 5 cm. This will provoke the re-formation of flowers.
Seed collection
The process of collecting seeds is carried out in late September or early October. Wait for the day when there will be no wind and rain outside. Cover a large veil in the garden or courtyard and rub the flowers above it. Then, with your hands, select large debris so that it does not interfere while preparing the seed for planting.Place the seeds in a cool and dry place to dry. There should be good ventilation in the room so that there are no signs of mold. Dry seeds should be placed in clean linen bags and stored until spring.
Wintering
It is very important to prepare the culture for winter, as the frost resistance of plants is low. If you live in a region where the temperature does not drop below -15 ° C, then it is enough to mulch the bushes with fallen leaves. When enough snow falls, you need to create a high snowdrift around the plant.
The snow cover will maintain a constant temperature, which will protect the alissum from hypothermia. In regions where winters are severe enough, additional shelter from material that does not allow moisture to pass through will be required. In the spring, you need to open shrubs in a timely manner so as not to provoke the development of diseases.
Video: alissum wintering
Pest and Disease Control
Alyssum sea can be affected by such diseases:
Such pests can appear on plants: cruciferous flea, caterpillars and whites. A solution of vinegar is used against the flea (5 tbsp. L per 10 l of water). In the fight against caterpillars, Lepidocide is used (60 g per 8 l of water). An effective remedy against whitewash is called "Entobacterion" (30 g per 10 liters of water).
Alissum breeding
Svitalisum, as the gardener is often called the marine culture, is propagated in several ways. The most common of them is cuttings. The procedure begins at the end of summer, when the bushes bloom.
Important! All spraying against diseases and pests is carried out with an interval of 20 days.
The technology is as follows:
- Choose a healthy bush.
- Cut off the central part of last year’s shoot (at least 5 cm long).
- Plant the cuttings in transparent containers filled with a mixture of garden soil, peat and humus.
- Water the seedlings every day, storing the containers in a clean, warm and dry room.
- When you see the rhizome forming through the walls of the container, plant the alissum in a permanent place.
You can also breed culture by dividing the bush. The procedure should be started when green shoots begin to appear. Dig up the bushes completely and divide the rhizome into several parts. At a distance of 30 cm from each other, make holes in which to plant young plants. Water them and wait for complete rooting.
So, now you know that there is nothing complicated in the cultivation of sea alissum, if you know the basic stages of planting and care. Monitor the state of culture, taking into account soil moisture and climatic features of the region. The brightness of the buds and the timing of flowering depends on how regular your actions will be.
