Content
Herbaceous perennials have long been popular with gardeners around the world. The secret of these plants is in their unpretentiousness and high decorativeness, thanks to which even the most ordinary-looking area can be transformed beyond recognition. Alpine Arabis also has unexpected sides, hidden under the guise of visual appeal. For example, rather dense and sharp hairs on the leaves, which can easily injure your hands. That is why Arabis is often called rezuha. The plant never ceases to amaze, becoming more and more popular. To start growing it in your garden, you first need to get strong seedlings, which will gradually turn into adult bushes that take root well in different conditions.
Arabis alpine loves a lot of sun
Description and varieties
Arabis is a compact shrub, the height of which does not exceed 30 cm. Gradually expanding, it covers the soil like a thick carpet. The leaves of this plant are also remarkable. They resemble small hearts in shape, which are reliably protected by small needles. The edges of the sheet plate can be completely flat or wavy. Inflorescences in the form of brushes appear on the stems, and the flowers themselves are simple or double. The flowering period usually falls in mid-April. Incredibly beautiful flowers exude a delicate aroma that attracts many bees to the garden. This fact makes Arabis an excellent honey plant.
There are several varieties of arabis: Bruovidny, Terry, Caucasian and Alpine. It is the latter species that can often be found both in modern gardens of private houses within the city limits, and on personal plots outside the city.
Arabis alpine terry has quite large flowers
Arabis is represented by many varieties, the best of which are most often used in landscape design.
Schneehaube
It is a beautiful Arabis shrub 25 cm high. A distinctive feature of the Schneehaube is its large classic white flowers. They make the plant versatile, able to fit into any composition.
Arabis Schneehaube is distinguished by dense inflorescences
Terry
This Arabis is distinguished by rather large inflorescences that resemble Levkoi in appearance. There are tens of them on one bush.
Arabis of the Makhrovy variety has an average size of a bush
Pink
Pink arabis is the most compact variety, the bush does not exceed 20 cm.It is decorated with small flowers 2 cm in diameter.
Arabis pink is one of the shortest varieties of the Alpine species.
Application in landscape design
On household plots, Arabis is planted in a variety of places, mostly stony. Fancy bushes fill the spaces between the slabs of the paths, decorate mixboards, small flower beds and alpine slides.
Alpine Arabis goes well with tulips, crocuses and daffodils, becoming a harmonious backdrop for bright and distinctive bulbous. The same goes for roses and mini-trees.Arabis performs the solo part no less successfully, the main thing is to choose the right shades and types that will harmoniously complement each other. The bushes will look great on a perfectly trimmed lawn, contrasting favorably with the even tone of emerald green.
Alpine Arabis goes well with different types of plants
Breeding features
For reproduction of the classic Alpine Arabis, the seedling method is chosen, for hybrids and terry varieties - the division of the bush and cuttings.
To get healthy cuttings, you can dig a bush out of the ground and carefully divide the plant into parts, or you can do this without resorting to completely digging out the roots.
As cuttings, the tops of Arabis shoots of about 10 cm are suitable, only you need to immediately get rid of the lower shoots. Sometimes a leaf of a plant that has a heel is also used. It is pulled away from the stem and torn off so that a small piece of bark with inner pulp is separated. The procedure is carried out after the arabis has completely discolored.
How to grow alpine arabis from seeds
The process of planting Alpine Arabis is not difficult, it does not take much time. For experienced gardeners and beginners, further growing seedlings will become a pleasant and exciting experience, because gradually small seedlings will grow stronger, turning before our eyes into beautifully formed plants that acquire bright species features.
Sowing terms and rules
You can sow seeds twice a year: the first - at the end of autumn, and the second - in the middle of spring (most often in April). The advantage of this plant is that it does not need nutritious soil to grow. It is enough to mix in a container three parts of garden soil with sand or fine gravel (one part). Smooth the upper layer of the resulting substrate and make small grooves ½ cm deep. Seeds are placed in them and carefully sprinkled with soil on top. The whole process is quite simple and does not take a lot of time. Further, it is necessary to provide the correct temperature regime (about + 20 ° C) and additional shelter for the containers.
After sowing the seeds, the container should be covered with a transparent film, non-woven fabric or glass of the appropriate size.
Seedling care
The first small sprouts of the plant will hatch in about 21 days. With their appearance, the top coat can be removed, and watering can also be reduced. Containers with seedlings are kept in a warm and bright room, moistening the soil as the top layer dries. It is impossible to allow waterlogging, otherwise mold will appear on the top of the ground, which will quickly destroy the plantings. It is also important to loosen the soil after each watering using a match or toothpick.
As a result of loosening, moisture and oxygen will be better supplied to the roots.
As soon as the first fully formed and strong leaf appears, it is time for the plants to dive. They can be planted in wide boxes at intervals of 30 cm or transferred to individual small pots. Alpine Arabis, which in the future will play the role of a ground cover plant in the garden, does not need a dive: it is enough to harden and protect from drafts.
Planting and caring for Alpine Arabis
Strong and viable seedlings of Alpine Arabis must be transferred to a permanent place in the garden. The transplant process is quite simple, but you need to find the optimal time and follow some instructions. Proper planting and caring for Alpine arabis is the key to a beautiful and long-lasting flowering. It is necessary to plant Arabis seedlings when the night frosts pass on the street.
Recommended timing
It is necessary to wait until stable heat is established so that not only the air, but also the soil warms up properly. It is also worth making sure that night frosts do not come as an unpleasant surprise. Alpine arabis is usually transplanted not earlier than the end of May, and in some regions it will have to be postponed until June.
Site selection and soil preparation
The site must be well lit and ventilated (free wind flow without draft). Poor soils, most of which are sand, are perfect. Before planting alpine arabis, organic matter (humus) or mineral compositions are introduced into them and thoroughly loosened.
Sod or gravel is added to make the soil more airy.
Landing algorithm
The planting process includes several stages:
- It is necessary to make holes in the ground, adhering to the 40 40 cm scheme.
- Further, bushes are placed in the recess (it is permissible to plant several plants at once).
- Sprinkle the seedlings with earth, compact a little and watered abundantly.
- If fertilization was ignored during soil preparation, after 7-14 days Arabis will need to be fed using complex mineral preparations.
Watering and feeding schedule
Alpine rezuha usually tolerate moderate drought without loss, but an excessive amount of moisture kills plants. If there is enough rainfall during the summer, additional watering may not be needed at all.
In very hot and dry weather, they resort to artificial moistening of the soil
Fertilizers are applied only to poor soils. Usually there are enough of those that are buried in the ground before planting. You just need to observe the plant, determining the need for fertilizing by its appearance.
Pruning and pinching
Alpine Arabis is a rapidly growing plant that can interfere with flowers and shrubs planted nearby. That is why it is recommended to regularly cut the shoots, forming a neat, beautiful bush. It is also worth getting rid of dried alpine arabis inflorescences (tiny insects that spread various diseases can hide in them). Sometimes the upper parts of the shoots are also pinched.
Post-flowering care, seed collection
The seeds are fully ripe as soon as the first frost has passed. It is necessary to select the largest inflorescences and cut them along with part of the shoot. They are collected in small "bouquets", tied with a thread and hung in well-ventilated rooms. Once they are completely dry, the seeds are carefully removed from the boxes and placed in homemade envelopes from newspapers or notebook sheets.
It is necessary to collect Arabis seeds only in dry, calm weather.
Wintering
Arabis Alpine Meeting and its other varieties are not adapted to too low air temperatures. If the indicator drops below - 5-7 ° С, the plant needs to be covered. Previously, all shoots are cut, leaving only small parts of them 2 to 4 cm long. Dry fallen leaves, spruce branches or any other covering material will serve as reliable protection for the roots.
Diseases and pests
Alpine Arabis is very rarely affected by serious diseases, and pests do not bother him too much. Subject to all the rules of care, problems do not arise. However, in rare cases, cruciferous fleas may appear, which are fought with wood ash and insecticides ("Aktara", "Actellik"), and a viral mosaic. There are no effective remedies against such a disease. The plant must be destroyed by fire so that the infection does not spread over the site, and the soil is watered with potassium permanganate for disinfection.
Cruciferous fleas are most common in Arabis.
Conclusion
Alpine Arabis always attracts attention with its bright flowers. Its compact bushes are endowed with a bright personality and never get lost against the background of other garden plants. Even with minimal maintenance, it will delight with abundant flowering, bringing bright colors to the site. In appearance, gentle and defenseless, he lives beautifully among the stones, softening their severity and generously giving his beauty.
