- Does the blue cushion need fertilizer?
- Is it right that you don't have to water the blue cushion?
- Is hibernation necessary and sensible?
- Are there potential diseases and pests?
- When and how is the blue cushion cut?
Whether on dry stone walls, in herb beds or in the rock garden between the paths - the blue cushion is frugal. And yet it needs a certain amount of care in order to bloom again and again every year and to maintain its dense growth. What is really necessary?
Blue cushions often get by without fertilizer
Does the blue cushion need fertilizer?
Inevitably, the blue cushion does not have to be fertilized every year if it was planted in nutrient-rich soil. If you want to stimulate its growth, a subtle application of fertilizer in the spring, for example in the form of rotted compost, is sufficient.
Free fertilizer comes in the form of eggshells. They contain a lot of lime, which benefits the blue pillow. The eggshells are pulverized and then carefully mixed into the substrate as fertilizer.
Is it right that you don't have to water the blue cushion?
It is true that the blue cushion copes well with dry soil. But it doesn't like long periods of drought. Therefore, it should be watered during dry periods. Otherwise, watering is not necessary. On the contrary, too moist soil would quickly lead to rot. This cushion perennial does not tolerate waterlogging at all.
Is hibernation necessary and sensible?
The Blue Pillow:
- is frost resistant
- tolerates temperatures down to -20 °C
- gets along without winter protection
- needs protection in the form of twigs and leaves in extreme sub-zero temperatures
- should be freed from winter protection as soon as possible (otherwise there is a risk of fungal diseases)
Are there potential diseases and pests?
When nothing better green is around, snails like to attack the leaves of the blue cushion. Otherwise there are no typical pests. Gray mold can occur as a disease if there is too much moisture.
When and how is the blue cushion cut?
Immediately after flowering, the blue cushion is trimmed. The cut should be made by June at the latest, as this is when the flower buds for the next year develop and are otherwise cut off.
When cutting the blue cushion, the shoots are shortened by half. This not only stimulates a second flowering, but also promotes dense growth.
tips
The blue cushion should be divided every 4 to 6 years. On that occasion, it can be transplanted and propagated immediately.