Saponaria or Saponaria is an annual, biennial or perennial herbaceous flowering plant from the Clove family. The plant got its name due to the fact that in the roots of the plant there are specific substances saponins, which impart soapiness. Currently, it is from the substance that is contained in the soap box that soap is produced. Previously, the roots were crushed and added to the water, which created a foam that could be washed. The people call the soap dish in a simple way - soap or moon dust.
Description of the plant soapwort
Among the soapworms, there are both undersized specimens and rather tall plants growing up to one meter. Stems are highly branched, erect and erect. Smooth, sometimes covered with a small downy. The leaves are oblong, wide and round at the base, pointed towards the ends. Five-petalled flowers with large stamens are collected in corollas. Most often white, but can be of various shades ranging from pale pink to purple.
Mylnyanka is a hardy mountain plant. It can grow on heavy soil, easily tolerates sudden changes in temperature, it is rarely attacked by harmful insects and affects various kinds of diseases.
The blooming of the soapwort is quite long, it begins in early summer and lasts until autumn. Common varieties and types of plants can be propagated both by seeds and by vegetative methods. But terry varieties need to be propagated only vegetatively, since during family reproduction all the characteristics of the variety can be lost.
Growing soapwort from seeds
Sowing seeds
Saponaria seeds can be planted directly in mid-May or early October. To do this, it is necessary to thoroughly dig up the soil before planting, distribute the seeds evenly over the surface and carefully embed them in the soil with a rake. If the planting was carried out in the spring, then the beds with the planted seeds should be covered with plastic wrap, this will shorten the germination time. If the planting was carried out in the autumn, then the flower beds with seeds must be mulched with dry foliage so that the seeds do not freeze and sprout well next spring. Also, the soapwort reproduces well by self-seeding.
Sapling seedlings
In order for the plant to be more hardy and healthy, it is best to first grow seedlings from seeds. The best time to plant seeds for seedlings is mid-March. In the prepared containers, you need to pour the finished nutrient substrate, evenly distribute the seeds over the surface and lightly sprinkle with soil gently. After planting, the soil must be sprayed with a sprayer so as not to wash out the seeds. The container must be covered with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect. The temperature for growing seedlings should be 20 degrees, and the lighting should be diffused.Every day, the film must be removed for 10-15 minutes to ventilate the soil. It is also necessary to regularly spray the soil. The first shoots should appear in 2-3 weeks. When the seedlings appear, the plastic wrap must be removed and the plant should be placed on a visit, where the temperature is about 5 degrees. When the seedlings develop 2 true leaves, they need to dive into separate pots.
Planting soapworms in open ground
It is necessary to plant seedlings in open ground in the second half of May, when the soil has warmed up well, and night frosts will probably not return. It is best to transplant seedlings together with an earthen lump, so it will quickly take root in a new place. The distance between the seedlings should be at least 25 cm. The plant will bloom in the next season.
In order for the soapwort to grow and develop well, it is necessary to provide it with conditions that will be as close as possible to their natural habitat. The site for planting soapworms must necessarily be in the open sun and on a small hill, preferably with rocky ground. Due to the lack of sunlight, flowers can lose their saturation. The plant is unpretentious to the soil and can grow on low-density calcareous soil. A good drainage layer is also needed, since the plant does not tolerate waterlogging. In order for the flowering to be lush and last as long as possible, a little bone meal can be added to each hole before planting. You can also add sand and pepper. If the groundwater is too high on the site, then it is necessary to prepare a high bed for planting the soapwort.
Caring for soapworms in the garden
The soapwort is an unpretentious plant; it will not require a lot of time and effort to grow it. Watering should be moderate, since the plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture and waterlogging of the soil. Due to an excess of moisture in the soil, the roots may rot.
After each watering, you need to gently loosen the soil around the plant. This will allow oxygen to reach the roots. Weed should be removed during loosening. In order to weed less often, the soil around the plant can be laid out with small stones.
After the flowering period is over, it is necessary to cut off all droughts of inflorescences and leaves, and also shorten all shoots by one third. This will give the bush a beautiful shape.
There is no need to feed the plant throughout the season. It is enough to apply balanced mineral fertilizers with a high phosphorus content in the middle of spring.
Mylnyanka in winter
The cold resistance of the soapwort depends on the species and variety. Almost all varieties can survive a temperature drop of up to twenty-five degrees, and some up to thirty. In regions with severe and little snowy winters, it is best to cover the plant for the winter. To do this, cover the entire bush with dry leaves, then cover it with spruce branches or any covering material.
Reproduction of soapwort
Reproduction by dividing the bush
You need to divide the bush either in early spring, or when flowering ends. For this propagation method, only adult plants should be used. It is necessary to carefully dig out the bush and divide it so that each delenka has good roots and several living buds of growth. Then the delenki should be immediately planted in the soil and watered abundantly.
Propagation by cuttings
You can also propagate soapwort by dividing the bush with the help of apical cuttings. You need to cut such cuttings in early spring, before flowering begins. The leaves from the bottom of the cutting must be removed, then dug into wet sand and covered with a jar to create a greenhouse effect. It is necessary to plant cuttings in open ground as soon as the roots appear, this will allow the plant to take root well in a new place before the onset of frost.
Diseases and pests
It is extremely rare that the soapwort will help to hit the spot. Due to improper watering and an excess of moisture in the soil, roots can begin to rot.In order to get rid of the disease, you need to remove the affected areas, and treat the plant itself with special preparations. If the disease is too advanced, then it is best to remove the affected bush from the garden and burn it outside.
Of the pests, only the garden scoop can attack the soapworm. You need to deal with it with the help of manual collection and processing with special preparations.
Soapy woman in landscape design
Tall types of soapwort are best planted next to massive plants. The soapstone looks beautiful next to dahlias, phlox, sage and aconite. Flowers are beautiful in combination with decorative deciduous plants. The soapstone looks great in mixed beds and in the background behind dwarf flowering plants. With the help of undersized varieties, you can decorate an alpine slide, rockeries, etc.
The healing properties of soapwort
Medicinal soapwort has useful properties. It contains ascorbic acid, pectins, carbohydrates, glycosides, various minerals and other useful substances. The plant has antimicrobial and inflammatory effects. It has a choleretic, expectorant and diuretic effect. Helps in the treatment of diseases of the kidneys, liver and spleen, with diseases of the urinary system and respiratory tract.
The plant also helps to normalize metabolism and is used in the treatment of various skin diseases.
Types and varieties of soapwort
There are about 40 different species, but only ten of them are grown in culture. The most popular types:
Saponaria officinalis (Saponaria officinalis) - this type is the most popular. The stems grow up to almost one meter in height. The leaves are long, grow up to 12 cm in length, oblong in shape. The flowers are small, about 3 cm in diameter, can be white or pale pink. This species is unpretentious and cold-resistant.
Popular varieties of this type: Flore Pleno, Betty Arnold, Variegata, Dazzler, Alba Plena, Rubra Plena, Rosea Plena.
Basilicola or lunar soapwort (Saponaria ocymoides) - undersized view. Stems grow no more than 30 cm in height. The leaves are small and oval in shape. The flowers are small, can be pink or lilac in color.
The best varieties of this species are Rubra Compacta, Splendens, Snow Tip.
Olivana's soap (Saponaria x olivana) - this species is bred for alpine slides. The height of the stems is not more than 10 cm. The five-petal corollas are goblet-shaped. They can be pink and purple.
Soddy soapwort (Saponaria caespitosa) - stems grow 7-15 cm. Leaves are smooth, oval in shape. The flowers are pale pink.
Soap Lemperdzhi (Saponaria x lempergii) - grows up to 40 cm. Stems are erect and strongly branching. Leaves are elongated. Flowers can be from pale pink to lilac.
