General differences in saxifrage, rules for care, advice on how to propagate a plant with your own hands, pests and diseases affecting the ruptured grass, interesting facts, species. Saxifraga (Saxifraga) is a plant genus with a perennial life span, in rare cases it grows for a year or two. Such representatives of the flora are included in the family of the same name Saxifragaceae. There are also up to 440 varieties, and this genus is the most numerous in this family. The native area of distribution falls on the mountain ranges of Eurasia and the Caucasus, as well as Central America, and this also includes some mountainous regions of Africa with a tropical climate.
The saxifrage has its name in Latin because of the confluence of two words: "saxum", which translates as "rock" and "fragere", meaning "to break." In the people, you can hear another name - tear-grass. All this became possible due to the area in which this representative of the green world of the planet grows, often it is rocky or rocks, or limestone slopes. Naturally, people had the opinion that this gentle plant split the earth with its shoots. And this is really so, due to the fact that the root system of this plant is so powerful that even rocks and granite cannot withstand its onslaught.
The form of growth in saxifrage is herbal. The stems are mostly upright or lodging and can form clumps with the shape of green cushions and cover the soil like a carpet. Shoots can grow up to 60 cm in length, they have threadlike outlines. On the stems, leaf plates are located, sometimes in an opposite order. Rosettes are made from the leaves, which can reach 12 cm in diameter. The leaves have a wide oval or spatulate shape, sometimes it can take on more rounded outlines, and at the base the contours are heart-shaped. In some varieties of tear-grass, there is a jaggedness along the edge of the leaf, and also on the upper side of the leaf, on the edge there is a border of white and pink shades. The leaf surface also differs from variety to variety; it can acquire leathery, velvety or fleshy features. There is also a grayish bloom on the leaf surface, which indicates that the plant is capable of producing lime.
The flowers are crowned with elongated flowering stems. Paniculate, umbellate or racemose inflorescences are collected from the buds. The flowering process extends from May to August. The color of the flowers can become snow-white, lemon, pinkish or crimson. The bud usually has five petals, and they are symmetrically located relative to the center. After flowering, the fruit ripens in the form of a box, inside which multiple seeds are placed.
Mostly indoors, saxifrage is planted in hanging flowerpots and pots so that its shoots hang down. Those varieties that are intended for cultivation in rooms have flatter rosettes, which are formed by leaves from the root part of the stem. Over time, a small stem is formed there.
Conditions for growing saxifrage, planting and care
- Lighting. The saxifrage feels best in a place with good lighting, but devoid of direct streams of ultraviolet radiation in the midday summer hours. In the rooms for this, a pot with a gap-grass is placed on the window sills of the windows of the eastern and western locations.
- Temperature the content of saxifrage from spring to autumn should not go beyond 20-25 degrees Celsius. But with the arrival of the winter months, it is recommended to move the plant to a cool place. It is desirable that the thermometer readings vary within 12-15 units, but for variegated varieties the temperature should be 15-18 degrees.
- Air humidity does not play a significant role in the cultivation of saxifrage in rooms. However, the plant responds well to spraying with warm and soft water, especially if the temperature rises in the spring-summer period.
- Watering. In the period from spring to autumn days, the saxifrage is moistened as the top layer of soil in the pot begins to dry out. With the arrival of the winter period, watering is reduced, but the earthen coma cannot be allowed to dry. But with the beginning of spring, watering is resumed in the same volume and regularity. Only soft water is used.
- Fertilizing saxifrage. Top dressing is applied both in summer and winter months. Their regularity is once in 1, 5-2 months. A weak solution of a liquid preparation is used. With the arrival of spring time, fertilizers are already applied every 14 days. If there are not enough nutrients, then the leaf petioles will begin to stretch, and the stems will grow randomly.
- Gap-grass transplant carried out as needed. The container must be taken flat and shallow, since the plant does not tolerate the substrate gulf poorly. To make the flowerpot look more decorative, several pieces of outlets are planted in one pot. A good drainage layer must be placed in the container.
The soil for replanting is used with an acidity of about pH 6. Also, the soil should be nutritious, humus. The substrate is compiled independently from clay-sod soil, humus, peat and coarse sand, in proportions of 2: 1: 0, 5. Alternatively, you can combine equal parts of sod and leaf soil, humus, peat and river sand.
Recommendations for breeding saxifrage do it yourself
If the flowers of the tear-grass have been pollinated, then a large number of small black seeds ripen. Their germination rate reaches 85%. If you sow them in light soil (peaty-sandy), then in 5-7 days sprouts will appear. At the same time, heat indicators of 18–20 degrees are maintained. As soon as 2-3 true leaves appear on the seedlings, the first dive can be carried out, and should be planted in open ground only in the middle of summer days. The intervals between plants are kept within 15–20 cm. If indoor cultivation is supposed, then after the saxifrage gets stronger, then it is transplanted into a separate pot with large diameters of about 9–11 cm and soil suitable for adult specimens.
You can also propagate this plant by grafting, using layering or dividing the rhizome. In July, cuttings are cut, which are planted in a seedling box with a sandy-peat substrate (it is possible with the addition of turf and humus), and with the arrival of winter it is transferred to a cool place. With the arrival of spring, you can transplant into open ground to a permanent place. If it is not supposed to grow saxifrage outside, then the rooted cuttings are transplanted in separate pots.
When propagating with the help of layering, the time is guessed after the flowering of the rupture-grass. Then the longest shoots should be pinned to the ground with wire hooks, placing them in the grooves prepared in advance. In the open air, you need to mulch with humus, and as soon as spring comes, the rooted stems are carefully separated from the mother bush and planted in the chosen place. At home, you can perform this operation as well.
When dividing the rhizome of saxifrage after the wilting of flowers, the plant separates the formed young rosettes with pieces of rhizome. They can be planted right away and in the open field such "babies" tear-grass successfully take root and hibernate, even without requiring shelter.
In one place, a saxifrage can successfully grow up to 5-6 years, then its bushes lose their decorative effect, and plantings should be rejuvenated.
Difficulties in the cultivation process of growing saxifrage
Of the pests that infect saxifrage, spider mites, mealybugs and thrips can be distinguished. If harmful insects are detected, it is recommended to first rinse the plant under streams of a warm shower, and then treat with insecticidal preparations.
If it is too damp or too cold when growing tear-grass indoors, the plant may start to rot. In this case, the saxifrage is removed from the pot, the root system is examined, and if there are rotten root processes, then they must be removed. In the case when the leaf outlet is still alive, then it can be rooted. All parts of black leaves and roots are cut off. If the leaves have turned black, but the petioles that are involved in the formation of the rosette are still alive, then the plant can successfully take root. After the leaf outlet has been cleared of rotten areas, it is planted in loose soil. For it, chopped sphagnum moss and coarse sand, taken in equal parts, are mixed. The planted plant is covered with a plastic bag or placed under a glass or plastic vessel. Then the pot of tear-grass is set in a warm place with good lighting, but no direct sunlight. In about a month, you will be able to see a new small leaf.
Interesting facts about the saxifrage flower
Saxifrage has long been familiar to folk healers because of its strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It helps to cope with fever and has anticancer effects. Also, tear-grass is used as a plant with antihemorrhoidal and bactericidal qualities. Many useful substances have been found in leaf plates, such as saponins, flavonoids and alkaloids, there are also many coumarins, organic and fatty acids, glycosides. It is rich in saxifrage and essential oils, vitamins, multiple pigments and trace elements.
Most often, the juice of this representative of the saxifrage is used, since it can not only fight pathogenic bacteria, but also provide a sedative for disorders of the nervous system, and also heals bronchial asthma and bronchitis.
Decoctions and infusions made on the basis of tear-grass leaf plates are used for skin diseases: carbuncles, purulent rashes or ulcers.
However, one should not forget about contraindications when using means (teas, tinctures or decoctions) from saxifrage, as this will harm people with thrombosis or bradycardia, and also cannot be used by pregnant and lactating women.
Saxifrage types
- Saxifraga paniculata (Saxifraga paniculata) also bears the name Saxifrage everliving, synonymous with Saxifraga aizoon. It prefers to grow on rocks and slopes of calcareous mountains, often even settling on granite ledges. The distribution area falls on the territory of Europe, the Caucasus and North America. It can reach 4–8 cm in height. Leaves form rosettes in the root section, which grow into dense thickets. The leaf plates are narrow with a sharp top, serrated along the edge, painted in a grayish-green or blue-green color scheme. They are cartilaginous along the edge, crenate serration is present, and lime protrudes along the entire edge. Paniculate inflorescences are collected from the flowers, the flowering process stretches from May to June. The color of the flowers is very diverse, it can be either pure white or contain a pattern of reddish "warts", and there are also plants with light yellow or red petals. Most often, this variety is planted in rocky crevices, picking up places on the northern or eastern slopes of rock gardens. Humus soil is recommended for planting, but frequent watering is necessary. In the summer, reproduction is possible by dividing the rhizomes.
- Saxifraga caesia (Saxifraga caesia) often found under the name Cesium Saxifrage. It has a thin rhizome. Strongly branching shoots form dense tussocks. Loves to grow on limestone rocks that are found in the alpine or subalpine belt of the Carpathian Mountains. Peduncles are elongated ascending upright. The color of the petals in the flowers is white, they bloom throughout July-August. Only experienced growers will be able to cope with the cultivation of this variety.
- Saxifrage hard-leaved (Saxifraga aixoides) has a characteristic stem creeping over the soil surface, which over time forms a turf with loose outlines. The shape of the leaf plates is oblong, they have oval or linear outlines, the surface is hard, the edge is jagged. In height, the plant can vary within 2–20 cm. The top of the flowering stem is crowned with several flowers with yellow petals, the surface of which is covered with reddish mottling. The flowering process occurs in June-August. Prefers to settle in flooded meadows or swampy areas. If this variety is grown in a rock garden, then you will need to find a place with the same humidity indicators. The substrate is used fortified with calcium. Can be found wild.
- Opposite-leaved saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) has a changeable shape. In height, the shoots vary in the range of 30-60 cm. These are the sizes typical for plants growing in highlands. Often, creeping stems can form pillow-like thickets. Shoots are measured in length in the range of 5-15 cm. The leaf plates on the stems grow in opposite order, which served as the specific name. The flowers are large in size and initially have a pinkish tint, but as they bloom, their color changes to lilac. They begin to bloom from March and bloom until April. Prefers well-drained soil, with excellent air and water permeability, a large amount of calcium is required. It can multiply both by dividing the rhizome and by cuttings. Most often it is planted in group plantings, over a large area.
- Saxifraga cotyledon occurs under the name Saxifrage cotyledon. The native habitat is located in the mountainous areas of the Alps, as well as in the Pyrenees, in the lands of Norway and Iceland. In height, the plant reaches 10-15 cm. The height of the peduncle together with the flower can be measured about 60 cm. The leaves are collected in a large rosette, reaching up to 12 cm in diameter. The leaf shape is wide, oval, fleshy, dark green, on the edge is jagged. The flowering process begins in June and flowers with white petals are formed. In natural conditions, he prefers to settle on rocks made of granite, and also chooses calcareous soil. When planting, the substrate is selected with good permeability, and the site should be sunny, but shaded from direct rays. It is customary to propagate by means of daughter rosettes or seeds. Young bushes are grown in pots indoors, and then, with the arrival of spring, they are moved into the rock garden soil.
- Saxifrage hawk-leaved (Saxifraga heiracifolia) prefers the subalpine or alpine belt of the Carpathian or Alpine mountains. The leaves in the root section are thick, with short petioles, their edge is serrated. The surface of the leaf plate is bare from above, and the underside has pubescence. When flowering, buds appear on short pedicels. The color of the flowers is greenish or red. Flowering stretches from July to August. In height, such a plant varies within 5–50 cm. It is best to plant rosettes of this variety on gentle slopes, where they begin to grow, crawling one above the other. Reproduction is carried out by seeds.
How to grow saxifrage, see here:
