Silene

The genus Silene includes more than 500 species of herbaceous single -, double-and perennial plants, mostly distributed in the Mediterranean. Many perennials are not frost-resistant and in moderately cold climates they are grown as annuals. Silene maritima is a creeping species with a height of 20-30 cm, with ovate-lanceolate leaves of dark brown-green color and numerous single or pinkish-white flowers collected in small-flowered racemes, blooming in summer. Stemless resin (S. acaulis), 5-10 cm high, grows in a lush bush with a diameter of more than 60 cm. Flowers of a rich pink color appear in May. It is also used as a groundcover plant. S. elisabethae is a species up to 25 cm tall with large mauve-pink flowers with a fringed edge of the petals; it blooms in summer. S. fimbriata is a plant up to 60 cm tall, with white flowers. Of the annual species in the culture, the most common are the armeria resin (S. armeria), which reaches a height of 20-25 cm, with simple purplish-red, pink or white flowers, and the dense resin (S. compacta), up to 50 cm high, with bright pink flowers.

The genus Silene includes more than 500 species of herbaceous single -, double-and perennial plants, mostly distributed in the Mediterranean. Many perennials are not frost-resistant and in moderately cold climates they are grown as annuals.

Silene maritima is a creeping species with a height of 20-30 cm, with ovate-lanceolate leaves of dark brown-green color and numerous single or pinkish-white flowers collected in small-flowered racemes, blooming in summer.

Stemless resin (S. acaulis), 5-10 cm high, grows in a lush bush with a diameter of more than 60 cm. Flowers of a rich pink color appear in May. It is also used as a groundcover plant.

S. elisabethae is a species up to 25 cm tall with large mauve-pink flowers with a fringed edge of the petals; it blooms in summer.

S. fimbriata is a plant up to 60 cm tall, with white flowers.

Of the annual species in the culture, the most common are the armeria resin (S. armeria), which reaches a height of 20-25 cm, with simple purplish-red, pink or white flowers, and the dense resin (S. compacta), up to 50 cm high, with bright pink flowers.

Cultivation

Plants of the genus Silene are grown in the open ground in flower beds and in border plantings (primarily annual species) or in rock gardens (perennial species). It is not demanding for soil conditions, but good drainage is necessary. Seedlings are planted in a permanent place in the garden in autumn or spring in moistened and compacted soil, filled with a full complex fertilizer at the rate of 30-40 g/m2. Between plants when planting maintain a distance of 30-40 cm. In spring and summer, once every 20-30 days, a liquid complex fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in the amount of 10-20 g per bucket.

Plants of the genus Silene are grown in the open ground in flower beds and in border plantings (primarily annual species) or in rock gardens (perennial species). It is not demanding for soil conditions, but good drainage is necessary. Seedlings are planted in a permanent place in the garden in autumn or spring in moistened and compacted soil, filled with a full complex fertilizer at the rate of 30-40 g/m2. Between plants when planting maintain a distance of 30-40 cm. In spring and summer, once every 20-30 days, a liquid complex fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in the amount of 10-20 g per bucket.

Location

Preferably a sunny place, but Silene well tolerate partial shade.

Temperature

These plants are resistant to high temperatures, and do not tolerate temperatures below -5 °C.

Watering

Resin plants are watered regularly so that the soil is constantly well moistened, but without stagnation of water.

Care

When leaving, remove withered flowers.

Reproduction

Perennial species are propagated only vegetatively-by cuttings taken from apical shoots in June-August. For rooting, they are planted in boxes with a well-moistened substrate-a mixture of peat and sand (or agroperlite) in equal parts, covered with glass. Rooted seedlings are transplanted into boxes filled with soil from garden land (50%), peat (25%) and sand (25%), with the addition of full mineral fertilizer (30 g per bucket) and set for the winter in a cool room. In April-May, seedlings are planted in the chosen place in the garden. Annual species in March-April are sown immediately in the open air. put the soil in a permanent place or in seating boxes installed in the room. When the seedlings grow up, they are swooped down, rejecting unsuccessful specimens.

Diseases

To plant pinks in the garden, you need to choose a place where Clove plants have never been grown, and do not use a container substrate from under them, because pinks are extremely susceptible to all diseases characteristic of this family and can easily get them "inherited". The most annoying fungi of the genera Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium, which affect the roots, root neck and conducting system of plants, respectively. One of the fungi species of the genus Alternaria causes discoloration of the flowers and the appearance of spots on the leaves. The appearance of fungal diseases can be prevented only by using uninfected soil and cuttings taken from healthy plants. The root system is often affected by various types of nematodes, resulting in galls and rot. From nematodes, only planting in healthy soil is also effective, in rare cases, close sowing of marigolds helps. Other troubles for tar plants are mites (use acaricides) and butterfly caterpillars that eat stems and leaves (collect them manually or treat them with a suitable preparation).

Acquisition

Both seeds and seedlings in multi-seat cassettes or pots are purchased in flower nurseries and horticultural centers. When buying, check the shelf life of the seeds and the good condition of the seedlings: the plants should not be excessively elongated and have signs of rotting.