How to Grow Sweet Alyssum from Seed? Complete Guide to Planting Methods and Precautions

Sweet alyssum is a perennial herbaceous flower that prefers a cool climate, so in the cold winter, as long as it is not exposed to frost, it can survive tenaciously. Growing this flower requires great patience. Below, we will explain how to grow sweet alyssum and what precautions to take.

How to Grow Sweet Alyssum from Seed

1. Substrate: For potting sweet alyssum, you can choose one of the following substrates: garden soil: furnace slag = 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: furnace slag: ceramsite = 2:2:1, or sawdust: vermiculite: medium-coarse river sand = 2:2:1. After potting, water thoroughly once and keep it in a slightly shaded environment for one week.

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, then sprinkle a layer of fully decomposed organic fertilizer on top as base fertilizer, about 1-2 cm thick, then cover with a 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 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, backfill the soil to cover the roots, press the soil firm with your foot, and water thoroughly once.

Sweet Alyssum Planting Methods and Precautions

Planting Methods

1. Temperature: Sweet alyssum prefers a cool climate and dislikes extreme heat. It is not strict about winter temperatures; as long as it is not exposed to frost, it can overwinter safely. Summer temperatures must not be too high. The most suitable growing temperature is 15℃-25℃.

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, so 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 days last too long, it is prone to infection by pathogens. It is afraid of rain. At night, keep the leaves dry. The most suitable relative air humidity for sweet alyssum growth is 40%-60%.

Precautions

1. Pay attention to pruning: During the flowering process of sweet alyssum, you can cut off spent flowers along with three leaves, which can extend the flowering period.

2. Prevent and control pests and diseases: During the cultivation of sweet alyssum, pay attention to preventing pests and diseases. Spray 2000x decis or 1000x dichlorvos every 10-15 days to prevent insects. Spray 700x carbendazim or chlorothalonil every 7-10 days for sterilization.

3. Control fertilization: Sweet alyssum has relatively high fertilizer requirements, but do not fertilize indiscriminately, 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 humidity or poor drainage can easily cause water accumulation, and even cause the roots and stems of sweet alyssum to rot.

5. Pay attention to ventilation: Maintaining air circulation can extend the flowering period and lifespan.

How to Make Sweet Alyssum Germinate Quickly

1. Sunning seeds

Generally, before sowing, seeds should be sunned (not exposed to intense sunlight) to improve seed vigor and increase the germination rate and germination energy. Germination rate refers to the proportion of seeds that can germinate, and germination energy refers to the proportion of germination within a unit of time.

2. Soaking seeds

Professionally, for seeds with harder seed coats, hormones are needed for seed soaking, such as lavender and cyclamen. For others, hormone soaking is not necessarily required. The soaking time should be based on the hormone instructions. It is recommended to use expert-grade "gibberellin" to promote seedlings.

3. Paper towel germination

For home use, it is recommended to use a transparent glass cup. Lay a layer of moistened paper towel at the bottom of the cup, place the seeds evenly on the paper towel, then place another layer of moistened paper towel. Then seal the cup opening with plastic wrap. Then wait quietly for germination.

The Uses of Sweet Alyssum

1. Potted plants: Sweet alyssum grows in a creeping manner, and the whole plant has a pleasant delicate fragrance. It is very suitable for planting at the edges of rock garden walls, and can also be potted or used as ground cover, etc.

2. Garden planting: Sweet alyssum plants are short and much branched, blooming in a sheet of white. The flower shape is very beautiful and gives off waves of delicate fragrance, attracting large numbers of bees. It is an excellent flower for arranging rock gardens and also an excellent edging material for flower beds and flower borders. The inflorescence of sweet alyssum is corymbose, and the fruiting period is also very long. The flowers have filamentous pedicels, 2-6 mm long; sepals about 1.5 mm long; the outer whorl of the flower is wider than the inner whorl, the outer whorl is oblong-ovate, and the inner whorl is narrowly elliptical or narrowly ovate-oblong.

Although growing sweet alyssum is somewhat troublesome, today we also introduced several small techniques to make it germinate quickly and planting methods. With these methods, growing a pot of it is not difficult for friends who like it. Besides, placing such an ornamental plant at home is also very atmospheric.