Basil soap(Saponaria ocymoides) is a perennial that delights with abundant flowering, ease of cultivation and versatile use. It is perfect for rockeries as it has modest requirements and grows quickly. Learn the rules of growing basil soap and proven ways to reproduce it. We also advise where it is best to plant a soapwort in the garden!
Basil soap - Saponaria ocymoides
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What does the basil soap look like?
Basil(Saponaria ocymoides) belongs to the clove family (Caryophyllaceae).In its natural state, it grows in Italy, Spain and France.
This perennial, creeping plant forms thick, soft pillows reaching 20-30 cm in height.Hairy soapworm shoots are overgrown with lanceolate, dark green leavesSmall, fragrant, red-pink, star-shaped flowers form inflorescences in the form of tips on the tops of the shoots.The basil leaves bloom from May to JulyIn favorable conditions, the mydlnica blooms again in autumn.
Basil soap - application
Basil soap is greatin mountaineering and rock gardens. It is an ideal plant for perennial borders. Due to its compact habit and overhanging shoots, it is also suitable for planting walls, crevices, hanging pots and creating floral carpets. It looks great in the company of plants from the so-called spring rock five.
Basil soap - cultivation
Basil soapbox grows best in a sunny positionand permeable, average, gravely soils with a pH close to neutral.
Watering basil soapshould be moderate as this plant is very sensitive to water stagnation within the roots. In rainy years, the roots of the soapwort can rot.
Fertilize basil soapusing potassium-phosphorus mineral fertilizers. We do it twice: at the beginning of vegetation and at the beginning of flowering. When the mydlaria grows in fertile soil, it can be fertilized at all.
Basil soap - Saponaria ocymoides
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During the growing season it is necessaryto remove the faded inflorescences of the soapwortto prevent self-seeding and extend the flowering period. In the fall, before the onset of cold weather, the shoots of the soapwort are shortened by a third of their length.
Basil soap well withstands low temperatures(belongs to the plant frost resistance zone 5) and can winter under the snow cover without additional covers. If a snow-free winter is expected, it is better to cover the plants with, for example, grass or agrotextile.
In one place, the basil leafworm can grow for no more than 8 years. It grows strongly, so it requires rejuvenation over time. We perform this procedure in the spring,digging up a clump of soapwort from the ground and dividing it into smaller parts , which we immediately plant on the target site.
Basil soap - reproduction
Basil can be propagatedboth vegetatively and by seeds.
Propagation of soapwort from seeds- seeds of soapwort are sown in the middle of March to boxes filled with moist, loose substrate. Seeds need at least 20 ° C to germinate. They germinate in the light after about 2 weeks. When the seedlings have 2-4 true leaves, pick them into individual pots.We can also sow seeds on the seedbed at the turn of IV / V.Soapwort seedlings do not require special care. They must be protected from drafts and direct sunlight and should be watered. We plant the seedlings in the ground in mid-May. We start hardening the plants 14 days before transplanting.
The seedlings obtained fromseeds should be planted in groups, spaced every 30 cmOver time, they will grow and cover all the free space. About 7 plants are needed for 1 m².
The soapwort is propagated by division- we start dividing the root ball in spring. We divide the plant into parts so that each of them has several growth tips. Then we shorten the leaves and roots. The obtained plants are planted directly in a permanent place and then watered abundantly.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
