Content
Planting and caring for stone roses is quite simple, because the plant is very unpretentious and develops normally in almost all regions of Russia. It has high frost resistance and overwinters in open ground with minimal shelter. It requires virtually no maintenance - watering should be infrequent, and fertilizers should be applied only 1-2 times per season. The plant can be propagated either by vegetative methods or from seeds (obtain seedlings and transplant them into a flower bed).
Description and photo
Stone rose, also called young (family Crassulaceae), is a perennial plant with rather thick shoots and leaf blades. It has nothing to do with Rosaceae, but looks like a rose. The fact is that the lower rosette of leaves forms an inflorescence similar to a rose (sometimes reminiscent of a head of cabbage). It is quite large in diameter - up to 15 cm. Although there are also very miniature varieties up to 1 cm.
The color and shape of the leaves of a stone rose also depend on the specific variety. The palette is quite varied: red, brownish, pink, white.
There are interesting species of juveniles that, with proper planting and care, change color in different seasons. It is also affected by the level of illumination. Some varieties have noticeable pubescence on the leaves. Moreover, all representatives of the stone rose are very unpretentious and hardy plants. That's why they are also called survivors.
Rosettes resemble rose inflorescences
The culture is a ground cover plant, which must be taken into account when planting and caring for it. Juveniles grow both in open ground and in pots. At the same time, miniature varieties of stone roses require very little space. Therefore, they can be grown even on small balconies.
How to plant a stone rose (rejuvenated) correctly
Planting a stone rose can be planned both in early spring (from late March to mid-April) and in autumn (until the end of September). In the latter case, it is important to do it before the onset of frost (at least 3-4 weeks in advance). Specific planting dates depend on the climatic characteristics of the region:
- In the middle zone, a stone rose can be planted in early October.
- In the south - in the middle of the month.
- In the Urals and Siberia, planting and care are planned for the second half of September.
The soil can be almost any, including infertile and dense. But in order for the stone rose to grow as well as possible and not suffer from pests, it is better to choose light and fertile loams. Basic requirements for the place:
- good illumination (partial shade is allowed);
- distance from the potato field (chafer bugs can seriously damage a stone rose even with proper planting and care);
- absence of stagnation of water (lowlands are excluded).
If the soil is fertile, then there is no need to prepare it. Otherwise, humus or compost is added to the soil 2-3 months before planting (a bucket per square meter).If there is too much clay in the ground, it is advisable to also add sand or sawdust up to 3-5 kg to the same area.
When planting a stone rose seedling obtained from seeds or vegetatively (for example, from a leaf), proceed as follows:
- Level the surface of the area.
- Several holes are marked at a distance of 5 to 20 cm from each other (depending on the variety).
- Place small stones and a little sand on the bottom (stone rose does not like excess moisture).
- Rosettes are planted and sprinkled with fertile soil.
- Give some settled water.
- After a few weeks, mulch for the winter.
But even with proper care, they will grow slowly. Therefore, it is preferable to first obtain seedlings and then transfer them to the flowerbed.
How to properly care for a stone rose
The plant is a succulent, like aloe or money tree.
To properly grow a stone rose, it is necessary to ensure both planting and proper care. Since the culture is unpretentious, the growing technology is quite simple. Even a summer resident without the necessary experience can handle it.
Watering
Caring for a stone rose in the garden requires infrequent watering. The plant is classified as a succulent, like aloe or money tree. It has fleshy leaves with a very dense coating. Thanks to this, water can be given not even weekly, but once every 10 days (i.e., about three times a month). Watering should be moderate, since excess moisture has a bad effect on the plant.
In mid-summer, with the onset of drought, the frequency of watering is increased - water is given once a week. Another important rule of care is to loosen the soil after moisture or heavy rains. At the same time, if necessary, remove weeds.
Feeding
To properly care for the outdoor stone rose flower, it is necessary to periodically apply fertilizer. Moreover, this should not be done in the first or even in the second season. They start working in the third year. They use fertilizer for cacti, but at the same time the concentration is reduced by exactly half.
During care, it is important to understand that excessive application of fertilizing leads to the fact that the rosettes become fat, become very stretched and begin to disintegrate. Due to improper care, the foliage becomes lighter, and in general the rose loses its decorative, attractive appearance. Therefore, fertilizers should be given no more than twice a season, for example, in June and September.
Wintering stone roses in open ground
Planting and caring for the plant is quite simple, since the stone rose normally tolerates winter in open ground. Almost all varieties are frost-resistant, and if they have time to become sufficiently strong (if the autumn planting dates are observed), wintering will be successful. With the onset of frost, you only need to cover with mulch, for example, dry leaves, spruce branches, straw or other materials.
Juveniles overwinter in open ground
Disease and pest control
To grow a beautiful stone rose flower in your dacha, as in the photo, you need to organize proper care, as well as monitor preventive treatments against diseases and pests. If planted in a suitable place, the plant will not suffer from infections. But with stagnant moisture and excessive watering (especially in lowlands), the young are affected by rot. Fungicides are used to treat fungal diseases:
- "Maksim";
- "Fundazol";
- "Tattu";
- "Skor";
- "HOME."
It also happens that the rosettes are infested by the larvae of cockchafers and birds; they are prevented from growing by weeds and rodents. To combat them, traps are set, and insecticides are used to combat insects, for example:
- "Decis";
- "Fufanon";
- "Match";
- "Aktara";
- "Fitoverm" and others.
Reproduction methods
With proper care, propagating a stone rose is quite simple. There are several ways to do this:
- Planting rejuvenated with seeds for seedlings.
- Leaves or cuttings.
- Daughter rosettes (children).
The last method is the simplest because it does not require special care. At the end of September, adult plants are taken, separated from the mother bush and planted in an open, dry place. For the winter, carefully mulch.
At the very beginning of summer, you can try to grow a stone rose from a leaf. To do this, the strongest leaf blade is separated, dried for several hours, and then planted in a moistened mixture of sand and vermiculite in a 1:1 ratio. Cover with film, periodically water and ventilate.
After four weeks, with proper planting and care, a small rosette appears from the leaf. It takes another two months to form, after which it can be transplanted to a permanent place (until the end of September) and mulched.
You can also grow young from seeds. They are planted in common containers (shallow but wide) in early March. First, the container is doused with boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate 1 g per 1 liter. The soil for planting and caring for stone roses is prepared in advance on the basis of garden soil, peat, compost and humus in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. It is disinfected by keeping it in the oven (20 minutes at 120 degrees).
Then holes are made in the boxes for drainage, and a layer of small stones and soil is laid.When planting, stone rose seeds are evenly distributed over the surface and buried no more than 5 mm. Then moisten it with a spray bottle, cover it with film and place it on the windowsill. The place should be well lit; for proper care, the temperature should be maintained in the range of 20-25 degrees.
Periodically the film is removed for ventilation. After planting, maintain a constant level of humidity. If all care conditions are met, stone rose sprouts will appear two weeks after planting. Then, after the formation of 2-3 leaves, the seedlings dive. Two weeks before planting in open ground, they begin to harden. In early May they are transferred to flower beds.
Application in landscape design
Juveniles can be beautifully planted in almost any garden. It is suitable for single plantings and compositions. Looks great in rock gardens and is used as a ground cover. With proper planting and care, stone roses create patterns and ornaments both in the flowerbed and in other places (paths, borders). The plant is also planted in nondescript places at the back of the garden, on a slope. Juveniles are also used to create compositions in large flowerpots.
Main uses in landscape design:
- Composition of different varieties.
- Decorative flowerbed-basket.
- Planting in a rock garden.
- Decoration with stones.
- Multi-tiered composition.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for stone roses is available to all summer residents. This is one of the most unpretentious crops, the cultivation of which is very simple. The basic rules of care are related to watering and rare feeding. It is worth considering that juveniles cannot tolerate excess moisture.
