What should be noted when propagating Silene pendula (pendulous catchfly) from seed?
Silene pendula has quite a few cultivated varieties with bright flower colors, making it popular among many flower lovers. The flowers of Silene pendula are small, and it looks best when viewed as a group, so it is often used as a groundcover plant. Artificial propagation of Silene pendula can be done by sowing seeds, so what should be noted when sowing Silene pendula by hand?
Silene pendula
Silene pendula is usually propagated by sowing. Sow in early September, transplant before winter into a cold frame with frost protection equipment, and transplant outdoors the following spring. Because it is semi-procumbent, it should be planted out in flower beds as early as possible.
Sow in an open-field seedbed in late September; the optimum germination temperature is 20°C. In North China, overwinter in a sunken cold bed; the following spring, when the seedlings have 5-6 true leaves, they can be transplanted once, then planted out at a spacing of 25-30 cm between plants and rows. Choose loose, fertile soil to make the bed, sow in early spring, autumn or winter, cover with 0.2 cm of fine soil, and germination takes about 1 week. Transplant when the true leaves have grown to 4-6.
Silene pendula Silene pendula illustrated guide: how to grow Silene pendula / how to propagate Silene pendula
Silene pendula profileSilene pendula Silene pendula
How to grow Silene pendula and points to note; an introduction to Silene pendula
Silene pendula is an annual or biennial herb. The plant is about 30 cm tall. It is much branched. The leaves are ovate-lanceolate. The inflorescence is a cyme. The petals are obcordate with a 2-lobed tip, pink; cultivated varieties have flower colors including white, pale purple, light pink, rose, and so on; there are also double-flowered varieties with a very rich range of colors.
The calyx tube of Silene pendula is long and swollen, with purplish-red veins on the tube. The capsule is ovate. The flowering period is from late April to mid-June, and the seed-collecting period is June.
Silene pendula is a plant of the Caryophyllaceae family and the genus Silene. It is suitable for arranging flower beds and flower borders.
Morphological characteristics of Silene pendula
Silene pendula is about 30 cm tall, the whole plant covered with white soft hairs, glandular above, much branched; the stems are spreading from the base and semi-procumbent; the leaves are opposite, ovate-lanceolate or narrowly elliptic; the flowers are axillary, in cymes, the petals obcordate with a 2-lobed tip, pink, and among cultivated varieties the flower colors are more varied, including white, pale purple, light pink, rose, and so on; the calyx tube is long and swollen, with purplish-red veins on the tube; the flowering period is May-June; the capsule is ovate.
The plant of Silene pendula is about 30 cm tall. It is much branched. The leaves are ovate-lanceolate. The inflorescence is a cyme. The petals are obcordate with a 2-lobed tip, pink; cultivated varieties have flower colors including white, pale purple, light pink, rose, and so on; there are also double-flowered varieties with a very rich range of colors. The calyx tube is long and swollen, with purplish-red veins on the tube. The capsule is ovate. The flowering period is from late April to mid-June, and the seed-collecting period is June.
Silene pendula is an annual or biennial herb, with a plant height of 20 cm. The whole plant is covered with white soft hairs, glandular above, and much branched. The stems are spreading from the base and grow in a somewhat prostrate manner. The leaves are opposite, ovate-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, green and without serrated edges. The flowers are axillary, 2 cm in diameter, small and numerous, gathered into lateral raceme-like cymes, slightly drooping. The calyx is longer than the pedicel, with long stiff hairs and a sticky substance; the calyx tube has ten red longitudinal veins, and after flowering the calyx swells into a pot shape and is purplish-red. There are five petals with a 2-lobed tip, obovate, pink. The flowering period is April-May, the fruit is ovate, and the fruit ripening period is June. Cultivated varieties of Silene pendula have many flower colors, including pale white, pale purple, light red, rose, and so on.
Ecological habits of Silene pendula
Cold-resistant, light-loving, fertilizer-loving. It grows well in soil rich in humus, well-drained and moist.
Silene pendula is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. It is cold-resistant, fertilizer-resistant, moisture-resistant, and prefers sufficient sunlight and soil rich in humus and well-drained.
Cultivation techniques for Silene pendula
Silene pendula is relatively simple to manage; during the growing period, simply give appropriate fertilizer and water, and carry out weeding and loosening of the soil.
Optimum germination temperature: 15-20 degrees
Optimum growing temperature: 15-25 degrees
Sowing period: autumn-spring
Flowering period: spring
Cultivation
This species can also be sown directly, and after thinning, the plants are left at a spacing of 20-30 cm and planted out. Silene pendula likes sufficient sunlight, is cold-resistant and fertilizer-resistant, and grows well when planted in moist soil rich in humus and well-drained. From late August to early September, sow in an open-field seedbed; before winter, transplant into a cold frame with frost protection equipment to overwinter, and plant out in the open field the following spring. If used to arrange flower beds, because it is semi-procumbent, it should be planted out early. When transplanting, carry as much of the original soil ball as possible to reduce root damage, and water thoroughly in time. When moving plants in the spring-rain season, pay attention to keeping the soil loose and well-drained, to prevent excessive rain from rotting the root crown and causing the whole seedling to die. During the growing period, apply fertilizer and water frequently, and at the same time pay attention to timely intertillage and weeding, so that it grows vigorously and blooms profusely.
Points to note
After the seedlings have been transplanted once, plant them out in the garden in early November; when planting out, the seedling roots must carry plenty of soil to help them survive, with a spacing of 40 cm between plants. When there is a lot of rain in spring, the planting site must drain well to prevent the root crown of the flower plants from rotting.
Key cultivation points
Silene pendula likes sufficient sunlight, is cold-resistant and fertilizer-resistant, and grows well when planted in moist soil rich in humus and well-drained.
From late August to early September, sow in an open-field seedbed; before winter, transplant into a cold frame with frost protection equipment to overwinter, and plant out in the open field the following spring. If used to arrange flower beds, because it is semi-procumbent, it should be planted out early. When transplanting repeatedly, carry as much of the original soil ball as possible to reduce damage to the root system, and water thoroughly in time.
In the spring-rain season, be sure to keep the soil loose and well-drained, to prevent excessive rain from rotting the root crown and causing the whole seedling to die. During the growing period, apply fertilizer and water frequently, and at the same time pay attention to timely intertillage and weeding, so that it grows vigorously and blooms profusely.
How to grow Silene pendula: key points for cultivation
Silene pendula likes sufficient sunlight, is cold-resistant and fertilizer-resistant, and grows well when planted in moist soil rich in humus and well-drained. From late August to early September, sow in an open-field seedbed; before winter, transplant into a cold frame with frost protection equipment to overwinter, and plant out in the open field the following spring. If used to arrange flower beds, because it is semi-procumbent, it should be planted out early. When transplanting, carry as much of the original soil ball as possible to reduce root damage, and water thoroughly in time. When moving plants in the spring-rain season, pay attention to keeping the soil loose and well-drained, to prevent excessive rain from rotting the root crown and causing the whole seedling to die. During the growing period, apply fertilizer and water frequently, and at the same time pay attention to timely intertillage and weeding, so that it grows vigorously and blooms profusely.
Planting methods
Sow in an open-field seedbed in September; the optimum germination temperature is 20°C. After sowing, water frequently to promote germination, and when the seedlings have grown five or six true leaves, transplant them carefully. When there is a lot of rain the following spring, prevent the root crown from rotting. The planting distance is about 2-25 cm. After planting out, pay attention to frequent watering and frequent fertilizing, so that the plants grow vigorously and the flowers are dense and beautiful; after flowering, the purplish-red swollen calyx tubes left behind are also very beautiful. Pay attention to intertillage and weeding. For Silene pendula, after the capsules mature they often do not split open, so they can be harvested all at once, dried and threshed.
Propagation methods of Silene pendula
Silene pendula is usually propagated by sowing. Sow in early September, transplant before winter into a cold frame with frost protection equipment, and transplant outdoors the following spring. Because it is semi-procumbent, it should be planted out in flower beds as early as possible.
Sow in an open-field seedbed in late September; the optimum germination temperature is 20°C. In North China, overwinter in a sunken cold bed; the following spring, when the seedlings have 5-6 true leaves, they can be transplanted once, then planted out at a spacing of 25-30 cm between plants and rows.
Raising seedlings
Choose loose, fertile soil to make the bed, sow in early spring, autumn or winter, cover with 0.2 cm of fine soil, and germination takes about 1 week. Transplant when the true leaves have grown to 4-6.
Variety classification of Silene pendula and other varieties
Silene compacta (S. compacta)
Biennial, 1.2 m tall, the basal leaves clustered, lanceolate-castor-shaped, the stem leaves ovate, clasping the stem, the inflorescence head-shaped, the petals bright pink.
Silene fortunei (S. fortunei)
Perennial, upright, woody at the base, the leaves linear-lanceolate, the inflorescence a raceme-like cyme, the pedicels short, the calyx teeth ovate with white edges and cilia, the petioles and leaves have cilia to which small insects easily stick, the petals 2-lobed,
rose-colored, distributed in eastern China.
Silene laciniata (S. laciniata)
Perennial, densely covered with short glandular hairs, the stems 90 cm tall, the leaves sessile, linear-lanceolate or obovate, the flowers one to several, the petals deep red, split like fringe, very gorgeous, distributed in the western United States. There are many subspecies, and it is quite popular in cultivation.
Differences between Silene armeria and Silene pendula
Silene armeria, the whole plant smooth and hairless, the upper leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, the base slightly heart-shaped, slightly clasping the stem. The flowers are white, pink or purplish-red, in a terminal corymbose cyme. The petals are obovate-cuneate, the tip blunt or slightly concave, the throat with 2 linear corona scales. The ovary is long club-shaped, long-stalked, and the capsule is oblong.
Silene pendula, the whole plant densely covered with white soft hairs and glandular hairs, the upper stem leaves long elliptic or lanceolate, the base gradually narrowed into a stalk, entire, both surfaces densely covered with white soft hairs and glandular hairs. The flowers are pale red or white, with short stalks, axillary or loosely borne at the top of the stem, forming a monochasial cyme. After flowering it swells, the petals obovate, the throat with 2 scale-like corona scales. The ovary is ovate, and the capsule is ovate.
Distribution range of Silene pendula
Silene pendula is native to the Mediterranean region and is now widely distributed throughout the world.
Uses and purposes of Silene pendula: ornamental value
Silene pendula is low-growing and dense, blooms profusely, and after flowering the swollen calyx remains very beautiful, so potted plants are a good material for arranging flower beds and flower borders. It is suitable for arranging flower beds and flower borders.
Decorative value
The low-growing varieties are ideal material for decorating living rooms, rock gardens and artistic flower beds.
Landscape uses of Silene pendula: landscape purposes
It is suitable for arranging flower beds and flower borders. The low-growing varieties are especially suitable for arranging formal flower beds. Silene pendula is mostly used for arranging flower beds; the flowers are small and look best when viewed as a group, or it is used as a groundcover plant, which can both cover the ground and provide flowers to view, and after flowering the calyx can also be enjoyed.
Silene pendula pictures
How to propagate Tulbaghia violacea: propagation methods of Tulbaghia violacea
Tulbaghia violacea, also called society garlic, wild garlic, Silene pendula, and African small lily, belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family of perennial herbs. How is Tulbaghia violacea propagated? Let's take a look at the propagation methods of Tulbaghia violacea below.
1. Scale propagation
That is, using scales for cuttings to produce daughter bulbs. First select high-quality Tulbaghia violacea with large bulbs, correct color, and intact with no pests or diseases as the seed stock. First use a bamboo knife to cut off the base of the bulb so that the scales separate, then in September-October plant them in a seedbed of sunny sandy soil, opening furrows 10 cm deep, with a row spacing of 30 cm and a plant spacing of 35 cm, bury the scales in the furrows, cover with 4 cm of soil, and press lightly after burying. The following spring, take out the scales, use them as propagation scales, and plant again. When planting, the concave side of the scale can face down, otherwise it is not easy for seedlings to emerge.
2. Bulb propagation
Also called bulb division propagation. When harvesting Tulbaghia violacea in September-October, separate and collect the small bulbs beside the mother bulb and keep them as propagation bulbs, mix them with damp sand for storage, and take them out for planting in mid-April the following year. When planting, the depth is 10-15 cm, and they sprout and emerge in 20-25 days. Larger bulbs can flower the same year, while smaller ones take 2-3 years of cultivation to flower. There is also soilless seedling raising, that is, putting the removed small bulbs in a wooden box in a greenhouse, with a temperature of 18°C-20°C being suitable; after 3-4 months, small lily seedlings can grow, and they can be planted in March-April the following year.
3. Bulbil propagation
Small bulbils grow in the leaf axils. After the flowers fade and before the bulbils fall off, collect the bulbils and plant them in the nursery; after one year they can form small bulbs and grow leaf buds, and after 2-3 years they can flower. Sowing propagation is also possible, but because the seedlings grown from seeds grow slowly, it is mostly not used unless for large-scale propagation. The propagation methods include sowing, dividing small bulbs, scale cuttings and dividing bulbils, 4 methods in total, and any one can be chosen as needed.
4. Sowing propagation
Sowing is sexual reproduction and is mainly used in breeding. Collect seeds in autumn and store them until sowing the following spring. Germination occurs about 20-30 days after sowing. During the seedling stage, give appropriate shade. When autumn comes, the underground part has already formed small bulbs, and they can be dug out and planted separately. Depending on the species, some seed-grown seedlings flower in 3 years, while others need many years of cultivation before they can flower. Therefore, this method is not suitable for home use.