- Plant thrift correctly
- care tips
- Which location is suitable?
- The right planting distance
- What soil does the plant need?
- When is flowering time?
- Cut the thrift properly
- Water the thrift
- Fertilize the thrift properly
- hibernate
- multiply thrift
- How do I plant correctly?
- Beautiful varieties
Their bright flower balls over filigree leaves contrast impressively with the stony force of the rock garden, gravel bed and a dry stone wall. The Thrift acts as a lush problem solver in full sun, sandy and dry locations. Do you still have unanswered questions about plants and care? Then there are well-founded answers to be found here.
The thrift flowers from May to July
Table of Contents
Show all- Plant thrift correctly
- care tips
- Which location is suitable?
- The right planting distance
- What soil does the plant need?
- When is flowering time?
- Cut the thrift properly
- Water the thrift
- Fertilize the thrift properly
- hibernate
- multiply thrift
- How do I plant correctly?
- Beautiful varieties
- Clean out wilted flower heads every few days
- After the first flowering period, cut back to just above the leaves
- Also cut off the second bloom down to the leaf tuft
- Only remove the foliage close to the ground in January/February
- Water occasionally during dry summers
- Start fertilizing at the end of April and after the first pruning
- Düsseldorf pride: The Armeria maritima impresses with its lively carmine red flower color and spherical habit
- Armada White: The premium variety develops dainty cushions in bright white from May to July
- Roses: A delightful dwarf armeria that contrasts beautifully with pink flowers over evergreen foliage
- Ballerina Lilac: It is up to 20 cm taller than the popular sea thrift with its purple flower balls
- Bess Ruby: The up to 30 cm high flower stalks in rich purple rose are ideal for cutting vases
Plant thrift correctly
If you plant early thrifts either in May or August/September, the cushion perennials will find ideal conditions. In a sunny, sandy, dry location, dig small pits 20-30 cm apart. If in doubt, compacted soil with a high clay content is optimized with sand and fine grit. (46.95€) If a pH value test beforehand gave a result greater than 7, mix in rhododendron or foliage soil as an acidic component. Repot the young plant and place it as deep in the loose soil as it was in the seed pot before. Soft rainwater is poured on.
care tips
The mainstay of professional care of armeria is the targeted pruning at the right time. The water and nutrient supply take a back seat. We have summarized all relevant measures for you here:
Considering a frost hardiness of up to - 35 degrees Celsius, armeria do not require winter protection. Rather, the evergreen foliage takes on a natural protective function. Of course, thrifts in the pot move to a frost-proof, bright winter quarters or are planted out in the bed in autumn.
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Which location is suitable?
The thrift is predestined for a location in full sun with loose, sandy-dry soil, as is the case in rock gardens, rocky steppes and on dry stone walls. In addition, the busy summer shrubs do well in the sunny, dry ambience of a heath garden. The armeria is often used to surround graves in sunny locations.
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The right planting distance
With a planting distance of 15-20 cm, you give a sea thrift (Armeria maritima) enough space for a harmonious development of its spherical silhouette. In contrast, the broad-leaved thrift (Armeria pseudarmeria) likes a slightly larger distance from the plant neighbor of 25-30 cm.
What soil does the plant need?
Across the board, Armeria species thrive in sandy-loamy soil that is humus-rich and deeply loosely structured. The lower the lime content, the more vital the cushion perennial trumps with more and more new flower heads. It is therefore advantageous for successful cultivation if the pH value is in the acidic to neutral range of 4.5 to 7. Therefore, mix in a handful of rhododendron or ericaceous soil in the pot as the acidic component.
When is flowering time?
The delightful flower heads stretch towards the sun with bright colors from May to July. In order to preserve the lively splendor of flowers throughout the summer, withered flowers are cleaned promptly. If the perennial is cut back down to the foliage after the first flowering period, it will reliably replant for an opulent second flowering.
Cut the thrift properly
The distinctive thrift thrives throughout the summer as if peeled from the egg, if withered flower balls are immediately cut off. Not only does this create a clean appearance, but it also makes room for more splashes of color above the bushy foliage. Once an armeria has completed its first flowering cycle, cut back all the stems to just above the foliage. A portion of compost replenishes the consumed nutrient reserves. The plant then busily reassembles for a magnificent second flowering within a few weeks. The filigree, evergreen leaves adorn the garden until February, when they are cut off close to the ground.
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Water the thrift
If the summer weather is normal with alternating sun and rain, there is no need to water the drought-loving thrifts further. Only in pot culture does the thumb test provide information about a possible water requirement. To accommodate armeria's desire for a slightly acidic substrate, we recommend using collected rainwater or decalcified tap water.
Fertilize the thrift properly
Poor, sandy-dry soil is favorable for thrifts. Too high a stock of nutrients tends to have a weakening effect on the ability to compete with neighboring beds. Nevertheless, the double application of compost or horn shavings (€32.93) has a beneficial effect on the abundance of flowers at the end of April and immediately after pruning after the first flowering period.
hibernate
The thrift is equipped with a robust frost hardness. Even temperatures of -35 degrees Celsius do not cause any problems for an armeria. The evergreen foliage also acts as a natural protective coat for the root ball. In the narrowly limited substrate volume of balcony boxes and pots, however, there is a risk that the root ball will freeze through. Planters with a diameter of less than 30 cm are therefore placed in a bright, frost-free winter quarters. Where this plan fails due to lack of space, resourceful hobby gardeners quickly plant the perennials in the bed.
multiply thrift
A propagation method without gardening stumbling blocks is the division of the root ball. Since a thrift is rejuvenated in the same train, this method tops the alternative sowing. Either in May or September, dig out the root ball and place it on a firm surface. Using a knife or sharp spade, cut the armeria in half. Now is the best time to cut out bare areas and rotten bits of root. Put the cushion perennial in the new location in the ground while maintaining the previous planting depth.
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How do I plant correctly?
When transplanting thrifts, you kill 3 birds with one stone. The cushion perennial is rejuvenated, moves to a prepared location and can be propagated. The time window for this cultivation measure opens up for Armeria twice a season. In May or August/September, dig up the rootstock, cut out senile and stunted areas, then divide the plant into two or more segments. Plant the thrifts again in a new, sunny location with loose, slightly acidic soil. The more precisely the previous planting depth is maintained, the more advantageous it is for rapid growth.