Dichondra: growing from seeds, planting and gardening. Dichondra: growing from seeds, planting and care with photo Dichondra groundcover
Dichondra - how to grow a delicate silver “waterfall” in the garden!Dichondra- a gorgeous perennial and evergreen plant belonging to the Bindweed family. It grows successfully in Australia, North America and East Asia. Tropical and subtropical climates with marshy areas are ideal for it. Dichondra has become quite popular among many gardeners.
Its decorative creeping branches with dense foliage are widely used to decorate many tree groups, balconies, and gazebos. The dichondra variety “Silver Falls” (pictured) is especially popular. The leaves are round, kidney-shaped, small in size - about 2.5 cm, and the petioles are 3 cm in length. Small flowers with a diameter of 3 mm can be purple, white and light green. Just look at the photo of this decorative beauty. Creeping stems can reach 1.5 m in length, for which dichondra is very successfully used as an ampelous and ground cover plant.
Plant varieties
Today there are about 10 varieties of creeping vines. The most common types grown at home are:
Dichondra silvery, which is famous for its unusual silvery leaves and rather long stems. It is recommended to grow this variety in containers. This drought-resistant and light-loving plant has another name - dichondra “Silver Falls”. For its unusual decorativeness, ease of cultivation, as well as resistance to various diseases and pests, this species was awarded a medal.
Dichondra “Emerald Falls”. The leaves of the plant have a rich green color. This shade-loving vine grows well in shaded areas. It is readily used as a ground cover material.
Growing dichondra "Silver Falls" carried out in several ways: seeds, cuttings and layering. The last two methods must be used during pruning, which is done to give the bush a decorative appearance.
How to get dichondra seedlings
The cut stems are planted in the soil substrate and covered with non-woven covering material. The process of growing by layering is quite simple. It is necessary to deepen the stem 2-3 cm into the soil and press it well on all sides, then water it with a growth stimulator. Very soon the first roots and young shoots will appear, which will exactly repeat the parental characteristics and characteristics. For successful rooting, young shoots planted using this method require room temperature and proper care. Therefore, the layering is covered with a covering non-woven material to create a small greenhouse. Cuttings take root best in a well-lit room on windowsills.
Dichondra “Silver Falls” very successfully propagated by seeds. This cultivation is based on the use of seedlings. Sowing of seeds is carried out in the middle of winter.
The depth of planting seeds should be no more than half a centimeter. Sowing is done in containers or pots in a pre-prepared moistened substrate, which must be saturated with sodium humate or a growth stimulator. The planted seeds are covered with polyethylene. Within a week the first shoots will appear. This requires good lighting and room temperature. Since the formation of seedlings at the initial stage of the growing season is quite slow, the time for planting seeds should be in advance. The maximum expected decorative effect of a plant is achieved no earlier than 3 months after planting. Dichondra “Silver Falls” is planted at a distance of about 30-40 cm from each other. If the plant grows in a pot, then it is necessary to use a more compact planting.
Plants grown from seeds are readily used to decorate lawns. Lawns decorated with dichondra are very resistant to damage and are highly frost-resistant. Seeds are sown along the lawn on moist and loose soil and always in a sunny area. Then they are lightly trampled and watered. Until the seeds germinate, it is necessary to monitor the soil moisture. Approximately 10 g of seeds are needed per square meter. Planting seeds is best done in spring or autumn. Nitrogen fertilizer is ideal for feeding.
With the onset of winter, it is recommended to bring adult potted plants into winter gardens or cool rooms. Plants planted in the garden are dug up and, together with a lump of earth, placed in the basement, where they are stored until spring and remain in dormant anabiosis. In the first months of spring, dichondra awakens and produces young shoots with roots. They should be separated from the mother bush and planted in open ground as independent plants.
Growing a wondrous vine
For full and active growth, moist soil with an acidic structure is quite suitable for it. If the plant is planted in containers, it must be provided with good drainage.
Timely watering of both the root system and the surface part of the plant is very important. The main thing is not to overdo it so that there is no stagnation of water, otherwise the plant may die. This applies to bushes grown at home, since in nature dichondra grows quite successfully in swampy areas.
If a long-acting fertilizer was not applied when planting the plant, then it is necessary to apply combined fertilizing twice a month in the summer.
Dichondra silver waterfall is quite resistant to diseases and damage by various pests. But if it is planted next to petunia or other annuals that have a number of diseases, then its immunity will begin to weaken. Dichondra needs regular pruning. This will give its shape a decorative and unique look. Therefore, competent care is needed here.
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Not every gardener knows how to grow a dichondra silvery waterfall flower at home.
It doesn’t matter, all the nuances of the procedure will be described in our article.
The plant is considered a hanging plant, so it is widely used in decorating the landscape design of a site.
Description
We consider the plant to be a bindweed crop. Its natural habitat is considered to be the expanses of Central Asia; in addition, dichondra can be found in the USA, Canada and even Australia.
Dichondra is of increasing interest among gardeners. Its long creeping branches with dense, beautiful foliage can decorate any balcony or gazebo.
Note: Dichondra develops well in warm and humid places, for example, in swampy areas.
The leaves of the “silver waterfall” variety reach 2.5 centimeters in length, the petioles are quite large, up to 3 centimeters in size. Numerous purple, light green or white inflorescences are small, approximately 3 millimeters in diameter. The length of the stems is up to 1.5 meters.
Varieties
The silvery variety of the crop has fairly long shoots and silver-colored leaves. It is advisable to grow the flower in special containers.
It is characterized by high rates of drought resistance, loves sunlight and sufficient moisture in the soil. The plant is extremely beautiful; in addition, it has acquired good resistance to diseases and pests and does not require special care.
The variety “Emerald Waterfall” differs from its analogue in dark green leaves. This is a shade-loving plant, so it is better to place this vine in shaded areas. In landscape design, the flower is used as a ground cover crop.
Growing from seeds
The seed method of dichondra propagation is quite long-lasting, since the culture takes a very long time to develop.
It is best to sow flower seeds in seedling containers in the middle or end of February, and the seed material is treated with a growth stimulant before planting.
Humidification is carried out using a spray bottle, which will make it possible to maintain the loose structure of the soil in the seedling containers. Next, the boxes are covered with transparent plastic film or a piece of glass and installed in a warm, well-lit room.
It is important to know: During sowing, the grains must be spread on the surface of the soil and lightly sprinkled with loose soil.
The first shoots should appear approximately a week from the moment of sowing. When growing seedlings, seedlings must be hardened off, acclimating them to natural conditions.
Caring for seedlings consists of periodic watering and fertilizing. As we have already said, the process of growing dichondra using seed material is lengthy. The first true leaves of this crop will appear in about a month from the moment of germination.
The appearance of the first two leaves is associated with the need to pick the flower. At this time, the seedlings are moved into separate containers. After the seedlings have grown stronger, the flowers are transplanted into large flowerpots on the balcony or in open ground.
Reproduction methods
It takes a long time to obtain additional plants using seeds, so gardeners have come up with several more methods for propagating this crop. This is cuttings and the use of layering.
In the case when the flower is grown as an ampelous plant, cuttings can be cut during the formation of the bush. These parts of the crop are treated with a growth stimulator and buried in moist soil.
Gardener's advice: A simpler way to propagate a flower is as follows. Part of the shoot is sprinkled with earth and held until roots appear in the plants. At this point, the crop is cut off from the mother stem and begins to be grown as an independent plant.
After some time, the dichondra will take root, it will be removed from the soil and transplanted to a new location.
Diseases and pests
In its development and resistance to various stress factors, the dichondra bush resembles weeds. This crop is rarely affected by diseases and does not suffer from pest attacks.
It is quite difficult to cure plants infected with nematodes. The main measure to combat this infection is compliance with the irrigation regime.
And one more thing, getting water on the leaves of the crop can cause burns, so the irrigation liquid must be applied to the root of the plant.
Features of care
One of the basic rules for growing a flower is to maintain soil moisture within certain limits.
The earthen lump should not dry out or become oversaturated with moisture. To prevent leaf burns, it is advisable to carry out crop watering operations in the evening, and the irrigation liquid is poured under the roots of the plants.
As you know, long flower shoots need high air humidity. Proper watering here will not bring the desired result, so the leaves need to be sprayed with a spray bottle.
Good to know: Dichondra is considered an unpretentious plant; with proper care, it can delight its owner with thick, lush foliage for 6-7 years.
Daily spraying will accelerate the development of the flower and allow the foliage to grow. Fertilizing with nitrogen-containing fertilizers is carried out twice a year (spring and autumn) with a frequency of 2 weeks.
The most difficult time to grow dichondra is in winter. At this time, the plant may suffer from a lack of sunlight in the room and a lack of humidity. In winter, additional light sources are installed above the flower, and the leaves are also periodically sprayed.
Use in landscape design
Dichondra is considered one of the most popular crops for growing in pots and hanging baskets.
This flower is valued for its unusually beautiful dense foliage, which resembles the flow of a waterfall. With the help of this plant, against the general background of garden flowers, you can imitate a stream, lake or river.
The culture can also be used as a decorative element for high fences. In this case, dichondra stems can reach the soil level, take root in it and be used as ground cover plants.
Dichondra can develop even in shaded areas where lawn grass does not grow. The seeds of this crop are sown between slabs within garden paths.
Interesting fact: In addition to the cases described, dichondra can be used in landscape design to create a carpet lawn; it is suitable for arranging compositions with other flowers or for creating a rocky garden.
Caring for the crop is quite simple, just follow all the listed rules, and you will definitely achieve results.
How to properly grow dichondra from seeds, see the tips in the following video:
Today it is very easy to create a shady terrace using a plant tent. For this purpose, there are many varieties of plants with climbing stems on sale. Among them you can find real diamonds. For example, flowers of ampelous dichondra (Dichondra) have not yet been fully appreciated by gardeners only because of their low prevalence. But in fact, this is an absolutely unpretentious plant that grows not thanks to, but in spite of any conditions that the grower and nature create for it.
Planting and care are not difficult even at home. The earlier you sow, the more likely it is that by the beginning of the summer season a real green screen for your balcony, loggia or veranda will be ready. With the help of well-placed flowerpots and mixes of other flowering plants, you can create a real flower garden with various color accents. The photo shows ampelous dichondra in a variety of options for combining it with other representatives of the flora:
In fact, this is a hanging plant intended for landscaping areas, forming a background for flowering plants, covering the soil in alpine hills and flower beds. Two varieties are widespread: “Silver Falls” and “Emerald Falls”. Their main distinctive features, planting and care rules during cultivation from seeds are described in this article. 
Meet the dichondra flower and its photo!
So, get acquainted, this new guest in the collection will provide a lot of opportunities for phytodesign. The dichondra flower and its photo can be viewed on this page, and tips on growing it from seeds are also given.
It’s worth starting with the fact that the history of the popularization of culture in the country dates back only a decade. For the first time, graceful round leaves forming an unforgettably beautiful living waterfall were presented to amateurs at a specialized exhibition in 2004. The debut did not go unnoticed - dichondra was awarded medals of the highest standard for originality, unpretentiousness and universal purpose.
But let’s return to the origin of the species, which belongs to the vast family of bindweeds. The first representative of this species was discovered at the end of the eighteenth century in East Asia. Several decades later, similar plants were brought from America, Africa and Australia. But initially, apparently, no corresponding bet was made. The grass, unremarkable in its natural growing conditions, did not cause great delight among botanists. A little later, the attention of florists was attracted by the opportunity to form a soil cover when creating rock gardens. This is how the story of the popularity of the inconspicuous hanging culture began.
And today, despite numerous works in the field of selection, dichondra flowers make it possible to form dense flowing waterfalls of emerald or silver-colored vegetation. However, flowers cannot be expected; this is an exclusively deciduous plant.
The branches are distinguished by their grace and amazing length. With proper care, the lashes can hang down 6-8 meters. They are densely covered with small round leaves. The foliage color can be bright green or silver, depending on the variety.
A quick set of deciduous mass allows you to create an imitation of a waterfall or a running green stream on your garden plot in a matter of weeks. There are many ways to use this representative of the flora. In the photo, the ampelous dichondra is presented in various types of practical applications: 
"Silver Falls" or "Emerald Falls"? You can also combine!!!
Currently, two plant hybrids are widespread. These are “Silver Falls”, the Latin name for Silver Falls, and “Emerald Falls”, the Latin name for Emerald Falls. The first variety is distinguished by its refined and unusual appearance. The fact is that its leaves and lashes have an exclusively silvery tint, which, when the sun’s rays hit it, glares and creates the impression of flowing water. This is a wonderful backdrop for the colorful buds of flowering plants such as lilies, asters, dahlias, petunias, nasturtiums and many others. 
Dichondra “Emerald Falls” is a more familiar green of foliage and vines, which creates the most comfortable conditions inside the gazebo or balcony entwined with it. Withstands prolonged direct exposure to sunlight. But at the same time, she loves it when, when leaving, she is regularly sprayed with settled warm water from a spray bottle. After the procedure, pleasant freshness appears and the turgor of the leaves increases. But light shading won't hurt either. 
Which variety to choose for phytodesign of a personal plot or decoration of a balcony in an apartment? You can combine both types, alternating them or creating amazing compositions. By the way, an excellent result is obtained by planting dichondra along the edges of the flowerpot, in the center of which bindweed, petunia or dahlias will grow.
To cover the soil in the garden, it is better to choose a green shade. But for an alpine hill, silver dichondra will be very useful. It will create the impression of running streams of water between beautifully planted plants and placed stones. 
Growing ampelous dichondra from seeds at home: planting and care
Please note that before growing dichondra at home, you need to familiarize yourself with the botanical characteristics of the plant. The fact is that the flower does not tolerate dry air and constant elevated temperatures. For its proper growth and development, regular pruning, spraying the foliage with water and a sufficient amount of sunlight are required. 
It is practiced to grow ampelous dichondra from seeds, since it is extremely difficult to purchase layerings and cuttings of the plant due to its low popularity among gardeners. And the rooting process occurs much more slowly than we would like. Therefore, propagation using seeds is the best way to get a beautiful plant.
Dichondra is planted with seeds in January-February, depending on the time when an adult plant is needed for landscaping. Here you should know that the flower reaches its full glory 4 months after germination. Those. To obtain a flowerpot for taking out onto the balcony at the end of May, sowing is required at the beginning of February. For sowing, soil is prepared in a mixture of 3 parts sand for every 3 parts fertile soil. Seeds must be planted to a depth of 5 mm. After watering, the container is wrapped in a plastic bag to retain moisture and sent to a warm place where the temperature is kept at 25 degrees Celsius. This speeds up the process of seed germination as much as possible. After the first shoots have appeared (this can happen after 10 - 12 days), it is necessary to completely remove the plastic bag and place the container with the seedlings in a bright place.
As 3-4 true leaves are formed, the picking procedure is carried out. You can transplant it immediately to a permanent place of growth in a pot. Initially, 3 shoots are enough to form 1 bush. As they grow, they bend down to the ground and produce roots and new shoots. Thus, in 2 months you can form a dense bush with high decorative value. 
Planting and caring for dichondra does not present any particular difficulties; the only thing worth paying attention to is the air temperature. It should be between 18 and 26 degrees Celsius. These are the most favorable conditions for the rapid growth and development of the plant.
In nature, the ampelous dichondra is a representative of the swamp flora, so the humidity of the surrounding air is very important for it. When spraying foliage once a day, growth accelerates by approximately 25%, and spraying in the morning and evening leads to a twofold acceleration of the growth process.
Watering should be done with caution. Excess moisture in the soil is detrimental to the plant. But you shouldn’t allow the soil to dry out either. In the process of caring for dichondra, an important point is the timely application of mineral and organic fertilizers. From liquid organic matter, we can recommend “Ideal” - it is applied once every 2 weeks. At intervals once a week, a complex mineral fertilizer with a predominant content of nitrogen, important for the rapid growth of leaf mass (Agricola), is applied. 
Pruning is required to create a lush crown. Pruning is also required when preparing dichondra for wintering in a city apartment. It is advisable to root new cuttings in February to rejuvenate the plant.
Do not leave pots with this type of hanging crop outdoors for the winter. Be sure to bring it into your house or apartment and you will have the opportunity to get a sufficient number of cuttings for subsequent propagation. Bushes do not lose their decorative value with proper care for 5 - 7 years. 
Among hanging plants, Dichondra “Emerald Falls” is one of the most attractive. The plant received its unusual name due to its densely leafy, bright green or silver-green shoots that cascade down. Dichondra looks especially beautiful in hanging flower pots, which can be used to decorate gazebos, summer terraces, balconies, arches and other objects in an original way.
Dichondra is propagated by cuttings and layering, but it can also be grown from seeds through seedlings.
Description of Dichondra “Emerald Falls”
Dichondra belongs to the bindweed family. The stems of the plant are climbing, reaching 1.5 m in length. Superficial roots, which actively develop in the internodes, take root easily, which is why Dichondra is often used as a ground cover plant. Dichondra's leaves are small, round in shape, slightly pubescent. All the beauty of the plant lies in its leaves, but the pale yellow small flowers are inconspicuous and do not attract attention.
Dichondra "Emerald Falls" is native to Australia and New Zealand. Surprisingly, in its homeland, unlike European countries that cultivate Dichondra, this perennial evergreen herbaceous plant is considered a weed, which gardeners diligently fight. But Dichondra “Emerald Waterfall” will not only decorate various architectural forms, but can also replace lawn grass. Since this type of plant thrives in partial shade, it can be used to “cover” bare areas in the garden between the trees.
Dichondra “Emerald Falls” in landscape design
Dichondra “Emerald Falls” looks very beautiful in high flower beds, as well as in hanging flowerpots, where the plant cascades down like a kind of waterfall of foliage. It is the main background for brightly flowering crops.
Ampelous plant Dichondra: application in landscape designAn excellent combination for Dichondra “Emerald Falls” are plants such as ampelous Begonia and Petunia, Lobelia (white, blue or purple), Fuchsia.
Creeping species of Dichondra can be planted along garden paths and around flower beds. The plant looks great in combination with bright flowers, such as marigolds and salvia.
How to grow Dichondra "Emerald Falls" with seeds at home
Since Dichondra seedlings grow for a very long time, it is necessary to sow seeds in winter. The most favorable time for this is January-February. Dichondra seeds “Emerald Falls” do not require pre-sowing treatment - they can be immediately sown in the ground. The main thing is to comply with all the requirements for growing seedlings.
Step-by-step instructions for sowing Dichondra seeds “Emerald Falls”
Step 1. Prepare containers for sowing seeds. They should be shallow. Maximum height - 5 cm.
Step 2. Place a layer of fine gravel or expanded clay on the bottom of the container - they will serve as a kind of drainage system. After this, the soil substrate is laid out. It should be loose, with neutral acidity. Sprinkle the soil with “Zircon” or “Epin” - growth stimulant preparations. If they are not available, then you can use humate.
Step 3. Place Dichondra seeds “Emerald Falls” on top of the substrate and lightly press them into the soil. There is no need to sprinkle it with additional soil; the seeds will germinate well.
Step 4. Cover containers with seeds with glass or film, transfer them to the windowsill, but place them in such a way that direct sunlight does not fall on the containers. Favorable air temperature for seed germination is +18-25°C.
How to care for Dichondra seedlings “Emerald Falls”
The first shoots of Dichondra “Emerald Falls” appear in about a week. Mass seed germination occurs after 2 weeks. During this period, young sprouts require fresh air, so the film (glass) must be removed from the containers. Seedlings must be protected from possible drafts - they can be destructive for them.
It is necessary to water the seedlings very carefully so as not to damage the still immature sprouts. It is best to water with a spray bottle. Under no circumstances should the soil be over-moistened.
Picking seedlings should be done at a time when the seedlings reach the stage of 2-3 true leaves. You can replant them in separate containers, or better yet, immediately to a permanent place of growth - in a flowerpot.
At first the seedlings will be very thin and weak, but by mid-May they will already get stronger and grow. Seedlings are planted in a flowerbed or flowerpot only after side shoots appear.
If you plan to grow Dichondra “Emerald Falls” in a flower pot, then it is best to plant 3-4 seedlings in one container. Only in this case will it be possible to obtain an emerald cascade.
In order to plant seedlings in a flowerbed, you will need to loosen the soil well, make holes at a distance of 30 cm from each other, and place the seedlings in them along with a lump of earth. The soil should not be compacted - this can damage the root system. Sprinkle the seedlings with water and sprinkle the planting site with mulch.
Seeds can be planted in open ground to create lawns. However, a positive result can be achieved only in the southern regions where winters are warm.
In our latitudes, Dichondra “Emerald Falls” is grown as an annual plant. Heat-loving, it cannot withstand harsh, frosty winters.
Nowadays, vertical gardening of plots and greenhouses has become very popular. And flower growers pay special attention to the flowing forms of plants, because they not only look decorative and beautiful, but also allow you to create unusual compositions and combinations with other flower crops. Such cascading hanging plants include dichondra “Emerald Falls,” which is also valued for its unpretentiousness and decorativeness.
Dichondra "Emerald Falls" is a plant with thin branching stems up to 1 m long and a superficial root system. The stems are decorated with frequent heart-shaped leaves of emerald green color, each about 3 mm in size. The flowering of dichondra is not particularly decorative, since the yellow-green flowers grow very small and inconspicuous. On the other hand, flowering does not in any way spoil the appearance of the plant itself. Dichondra has another interesting feature - this culture takes root very quickly, releasing new roots from the internodes of the leaves upon contact with the substrate. Therefore, gardeners usually do not have problems with its propagation.
But dichondra “Emerald Falls” is not the only representative of this flower culture in Russia. There is another popular variety of dichondra called “Silver Falls,” which is distinguished by its unusual silvery leaf color. Most often it is used specifically for vertical gardening, so if you want to have an alternative lawn made of dichondra, which can also be a ground cover, then experts recommend choosing “Emerald Falls” for these purposes.
In addition, these two varieties differ in the planting location: for example, “Silver Falls” is preferably planted only in sunny areas, since in the shade the leaves may lose color, while the emerald dichondra is planted both in shaded areas and in partial shade. Watering when growing these varieties is also different: silver dichondra prefers drier soils, while emerald dichondra is very responsive to both watering and spraying the leaves.
Planting material can be purchased at specialized gardening stores.
The timing of sowing “Waterfall” directly depends on its permanent place of cultivation, since full decorative effect will occur no less than four months after the appearance of the first shoots.
If you want to decorate a greenhouse or glassed-in loggia with this plant, then sowing dichondra seeds should be started in January, but if it is used for landscaping a garden plot, then the sowing time can be postponed even until the end of February - beginning of March.
Dichondra prefers loose, moisture-permeable soils, so you can use a soil mixture of turf soil and sand as a substrate, or buy ready-made soil in the store. Containers for planting should be shallow and should have drainage holes at the bottom to drain excess moisture.
Preparing the dichondra seeds themselves for planting is not difficult - just soak them in one of the growth stimulants according to the instructions. For these purposes, you can use one of the following drugs: “Zircon”, “Epin”, “Prorostok”, “Ekosil”, etc. This operation will help the seeds to sprout faster and more efficiently, and also increase the percentage of their germination.
It is recommended to plant the seeds shallowly, so make grooves in the soil with a pencil or any other object with a depth of no more than 0.5 cm and row spacing of 2...2.5 cm, carefully pour settled water from a room watering can (you can add sodium humate to it) and sow the seeds at a distance of 1.5...2 cm from each other.
After all the seeds are in place, the grooves are sprinkled with soil on top until a smooth surface is obtained, and the soil on top is moistened with a spray bottle (a stream from a watering can can wash out the planted seeds). After this, the container is signed and covered with glass on top or wrapped in a plastic bag.
The box with the planted seeds should be placed in a warm place where the temperature will not drop below +25 0 C. If all conditions are met, dichondra seeds will sprout 7...10 days after sowing. When seedlings appear, the glass (or polyethylene) is removed, and the container with the plantings is placed in a well-lit place.
When dichondra seedlings have two or three true leaves (excluding the first cotyledons), you should think about replanting.
- If “Emerald Falls” is grown in a garden plot in the ground, then it is planned to pick the growing seedlings into separate pots with holes in the bottom.
- If the plant constantly grows in a flowerpot or pot, then it is worth transplanting the sprouts to a permanent place.
Planting dichondra in a permanent place
As mentioned above, dichondra sprouts can be planted in a permanent place when several true leaves appear. To do this, a cache-pot (pot) is filled with a nutritious soil mixture, shallow holes are made in a flat surface, spilled with water and seedlings are planted in them. When planting, it is not recommended to bury seedlings, since dichondra has a superficial root system.
It is best to replant with a fork so as not to damage the young roots, while trying to preserve the earthen lump around the root. This way the seedlings will experience less stress and take root better.
After planting in a cache-pot or pot, the soil is shed and care for the young shoots continues indoors.
In order for the “Waterfall” to be voluminous during spring, young shoots are pinned to the soil in a pot. They quickly produce new roots and shoots. Containers are placed on the loggia or in the greenhouse in early to mid-May, depending on weather conditions. By this time, the dichondra planted in January will look as decorative as possible.
Depending on the climatic zone in which the garden plot is located, the timing of planting dichondra in a permanent place varies from the end of May to the beginning of June.
When choosing a planting site, they are guided primarily by illumination (openwork shade from trees or partial shade is suitable, since in such conditions the leaves become larger in size), soil composition (non-acidic soil with an acidity level of 7-8 is suitable for dichondra, and the soil must be fertile and loose) and the appropriateness of planting (it is clear that to obtain a cascade, the dichondra needs to be planted on a hill so that the lashes fall down).
The distance between neighboring seedlings when planting is 30...35 cm, so it is more convenient to plant seedlings in holes rather than in trenches. It is advisable to carry out planting by transshipment, without exposing the root and maintaining an earthen lump around it.
This decorative crop is quite unpretentious, so there are no special care requirements. Basically, caring for dichondra is aimed at achieving the desired decorative appearance of the plant, therefore, in addition to timely watering, the gardener should pay attention to:
- Regular fertilizing twice a month. The fertilizers used can be complex and must contain a large proportion of nitrogen for the plant to constantly gain green mass.
- Spraying the leaves, to which the “Emerald Falls” variety is especially responsive and begins to grow much faster.
- Pruning and crown formation. Regular pruning in this case stimulates the density of the dichondra crown - for its intensive branching, the shoots are shortened by 7 cm. Also, pruning will be simply necessary when preparing the plant for wintering when moving indoors.
Dichondra can be propagated both by seeds and by rooting shoots. It is clear that cuttings from a bush allows you to obtain seedlings more quickly, especially since dichondra is pruned regularly during the summer season.
You can also simply pin a separate strong shoot to the ground and wait for it to take root in the internodes of the leaf, and then simply cut it off from the mother bush and plant it in a container.
Dichondra “Emerald Falls” is highly resistant to a range of pests and diseases.
The only pests that can cause significant damage to it are nematodes living in the soil. The fight against them is carried out with special chemicals.
Most often it is used specifically for vertical gardening, creating a unique appearance of a flowing stream. Dichondra not only looks very decorative as a solitaire, falling, for example, from a high border or wall, but can also complement various flower arrangements in pots, boxes and cache-pots.
It is very popular to plant dichondra on alpine hills, since the plant is not tall (15 cm in height). Additionally, in areas with warm climates, dichondra can be grown as an alternative lawn as a perennial, and in areas with colder weather conditions, dichondra can be used as an annual ground cover under trees.
Dichondra from seeds: video
Dichondra is a spectacular plant for the garden and home. There are some peculiarities in growing and caring, but the flower is accessible to everyone and beginners in floriculture.
