Sweet Alyssum: Home Potted Cultivation Methods and Precautions

Sweet alyssum is a perennial herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean coast, and it is now cultivated in many places in China as well. It has an attractive appearance, a relatively long flowering period, and gives off a delicate fragrance when in bloom, so it is often used as an ornamental flower for flower beds and scenic spots. Many people want to grow a pot of it in their own courtyard, but their understanding of how to grow sweet alyssum is not very thorough.

How to grow sweet alyssum

1. Substrate: For the substrate used when potting sweet alyssum, you can choose one of the following: vegetable garden soil: cinder = 3:1, or garden soil: medium-coarse river sand: sawdust (mushroom residue) = 4:1:2, or one of paddy soil, pond mud, or leaf mold, or peat: perlite: ceramsite = 2:2:1, or peat: cinder: ceramsite = 2:2:1, or sawdust: vermiculite: medium-coarse river sand = 2:2:1. After potting, water once thoroughly and place it in a slightly shaded environment for one week of care.

2. Potting: When potting sweet alyssum seedlings, first place a 2-2 cm thick layer of coarse-grained substrate or ceramsite at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer, sprinkle a layer of fully decomposed organic fertilizer on top as base fertilizer, about 1-2 cm thick, then cover with another layer of substrate about 1-2 cm thick, and then place the plant in, so as to separate the fertilizer from the roots and avoid burning the roots.

3. Transplanting: When transplanting sweet alyssum seedlings, first dig the planting hole, sprinkle a layer of organic fertilizer at the bottom of the planting hole as bottom fertilizer (base fertilizer), about 4-6 cm thick, then cover with a layer of soil and place the seedling in, so as to separate the fertilizer from the roots and avoid burning the roots. After placing the seedling in, backfill the soil to cover the root system, press the soil firm with your foot, and water once thoroughly.

Sweet Alyssum: Home Potted Cultivation Methods and Precautions

I. Cultivation methods for sweet alyssum

1. Temperature

Sweet alyssum likes a cool climate and dislikes extreme heat. It is not strict about winter temperatures, and as long as it is not exposed to frost, it can overwinter safely.

Summer temperatures must not be too high. If the temperature reaches 30°C, it will die. The most suitable growing temperature is 15°C-25°C.

2. Soil

It is not strict about soil requirements. As long as the soil is loose, fertile, and well-draining, it can grow healthily.

3. Light

Sweet alyssum likes a sunny environment and is slightly shade-tolerant.

Therefore, except in summer when direct sunlight should be avoided, it can be placed in a sunny spot in other seasons to receive scattered light.

4. Watering

Sweet alyssum prefers a relatively dry air environment. If rainy weather lasts too long, it is easily infected by pathogens. It fears being rained on, and at night the leaves should be kept dry.

The most suitable relative air humidity for sweet alyssum growth is 40%-60%.

II. Precautions for growing sweet alyssum

1. Pay attention to pruning

During the flowering process of sweet alyssum, faded flowers can be cut off together with three leaves, which can extend the flowering period.

2. Prevent and control pests and diseases

During the process of growing sweet alyssum, pay attention to preventing pests and diseases. Spray 2000-fold decamethrin or 1000-fold dichlorvos once every 10-15 days to prevent insects. Spray 700-fold carbendazim or chlorothalonil once every 7-10 days to sterilize.

3. Control fertilization

Sweet alyssum has relatively high fertilizer requirements, but do not fertilize randomly, do not apply concentrated fertilizer, and do not apply nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers in a one-sided way. Follow the principle of "light fertilizer applied frequently, small amounts with more applications, and complete nutrition."

4. Pay attention to rain protection

During the plum rain season, do not let it be exposed to rain for a long time. Otherwise, excessive moisture or poor drainage can easily cause water accumulation, and may even cause the rhizomes of sweet alyssum to rot. Pay attention to frequent ventilation and keep the air circulating, which can extend the flowering period and lifespan.

The flower language of sweet alyssum

The flower language and symbolic meaning of sweet alyssum: fresh, clear, and joyful, and sweet memories. You can give sweet alyssum to friends, colleagues, and family.

The uses of sweet alyssum

1. Ornamental use

Sweet alyssum is short and much-branched, and when it blooms it is a mass of white, giving off waves of delicate fragrance that attract large numbers of bees. The small flowers are densely clustered into ball shapes, with colors such as white, light purple, deep purple, and purple-red. There are also large-flowered varieties and foliage varieties with white edges and variegated leaves. It has a slight fragrance and is an excellent flower for arranging rock gardens, as well as an excellent edging material for flower beds and flower borders. It is also very good for potted ornamental display.

2. Potted decoration

Plant sweet alyssum in the courtyard, and according to its own height, match it into a clearly layered garden scene, breaking up the overly neat and uniform shape of a square garden. Harmonious color matching can also make the garden present a relatively harmonious scene amid variation, creating a charming scene with heights rising and falling in orderly fashion while avoiding an overly cluttered appearance.

Looking at flowering sweet alyssum from afar is like looking at a white ocean. It has very high ornamental value and is much loved by people. However, this beauty is not achieved overnight and is closely related to good care techniques.