Whether between stone joints, in the foreground of the herbaceous bed, on the side of the path, in a pot on the balcony or on a dry stone wall - the stone herb quickly finds a place to grow. But only with a portion of care will it stay he althy and bloom happily.
How do I properly care for my alyssum?
Stonewort care includes pruning after the first bloom, occasional watering, especially in containers, and optional fertilization after pruning. Watch out for diseases such as mildew and snail pest infestations.
When and how is pruning done?
After the first wave of flowers is over, the alyssum should be cut back. This pruning encourages a second bloom in late summer. At the same time, it prevents the alyssum from investing too much energy in the formation of seeds. In autumn you can cut the plant back heavily if it is outdated or has become lazy to bloom.
When should you water the alyssum?
The alyssum survives dry periods without any problems - provided it was planted a few weeks ago. And yet it shows gratitude when it is watered in persistent heat and drought. Even when grown in containers, it needs to be regularly supplied with water. Be careful not to let it dry out!
Once the top layer of soil has dried, you can water. It doesn't matter whether you use hard water from the tap or rainwater. The stone herb tolerates both. Water evenly and avoid waterlogging!
Does the alyssum need regular fertilizer in order to grow and bloom well?
You should keep this in mind when fertilizing:
- basically not necessary
- also tolerates poor soils
- Fertilization is helpful for abundant flowering
- fertilize best after pruning in summer
- Use liquid fertilizer, compost (€41.00 on Amazon) or horn shavings
- do not fertilize too much, otherwise flowers will not form
Which diseases and pests can harm him?
Alyssum is usually not susceptible to disease. If powdery mildew infestation occurs, for example due to excessively humid weather, affected parts are cut off. Snails and snails can cause problems for stoneweed.
Tip
The alyssum is often not hardy. You can therefore pull it out and compost it in late autumn. Beforehand, it is advisable to shake the plants so that seeds fall out, which will sow themselves in the spring.
