Creeping creeper is a groundcover plant that is distinguished by endurance and unpretentious care. It is unusually resistant to weather conditions that are not always favorable, it tolerates diseases well and takes root relatively quickly in a new growing place. This flower will decorate any infield. Further, the article will provide a description of the creeping tentacles, as well as detailed information about planting and caring for this plant.
Description of the plant and popular varieties
Zhivuchka (other names: "dubnitsa", "Dubrovka", "Vologlodka") - this rhizomatous perennial, which can grow up to 20-25 cm. Its shoots are creeping and just rooting in internodes.
The leaves are oval-shaped, whole, spatulate, coarsely dentate along the edge and almost completely covering the stems, forming a kind of carpet. The flowers are small and numerous, usually blue (in some species may be white, pink or yellow), gathered in dense spike-shaped inflorescences. Flowering begins in May and lasts for 1.5-2 weeks.
For a horticulturist, a tenacity is valuable in that it successfully grows on steep slopes and keeps its decorative effect throughout the summer season. Looks great in the foreground of flowerbeds, harmoniously fits the alpine slide, sprouting in the grooves between the decorative stones.
Other groundcover plants are also very popular: iberis evergreen, stonecrop, carnation, thyme, alissum, periwinkle, saxifrage, rookewell, young, primrose.
The plant can be planted in shaded areas and under garden trees, where even ordinary grass does not grow well. Located between low shrubs, it will make a variety of solid green background due to its bronze and purple leaves, as well as the bright color of flowers.
Creeping creep includes the following varieties:
- Burgundy glow. It is considered the most attractive among varieties due to diversity in foliage color. Able to combine burgundy, pink, green and red shades on one stem.
- Variegata. Leaves uneven color, consisting of silver, cream, gray and green shades. Not suitable for landing in plentifully lit places, as it can lose its attractiveness. The growth process is slow. It is an excellent option for decorating an alpine slide.
- Atropurpurea. The plant is upright, foliage maroon-purple shades. Bushes are small, compact, grow quickly enough, forming a lush carpet.
- Multicolor. Color foliage amazingly picturesque. They are dark purple or burgundy with smears of pale green, yellow and pink shades.
- Chocolate chips. Foliage atypical for zhivuchek narrow and slightly elongated, chestnut color. The variety is very short, the growing process is much slower than other varieties. The inflorescence is bright, rich blue.
- Black scallop. The leaves are rich purple, have a glossy surface. If you plant in a richly lit place, the foliage can become almost black. Inflorescences of pale blue color.
- Variegata rubra. Brown leaves with a reddish tinge, inflorescences are blue, closer to blue.
- Giant kathleen. The tallest variety of zhivuchek. Leaf plates are large, peduncles noticeably elongated.
Features of growing
Considering that the creeping zhivuchka plant is completely unpretentious and has a high level of adaptability, planting and further care of it will not give the gardener a lot of trouble.
Location selection
Of particular importance for the growth and development of the flower growing place does not play. After all, it will grow beautifully both in the shade and in the sun, both on sandy soil type and on loamy soils. You need to pay attention to the preferences of a particular variety, because lighting can be displayed on the decorative color foliage. It is worth noting that the majority of varieties like light partial shade.
Did you know? Zhivuchka known for its healing properties. It is able to improve metabolism, has antiseptic, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory and diaphoretic properties.
Many gardeners practiced planting plants near tree trunks or next to shrubs. Zhivuchka has a superficial root system, and therefore will not interfere with the development of the roots of trees, moreover, even help prevent the formation and spread of weeds.
Important! The creeping creep cannot stand when animals or people walk on it, it is not a lawn grass. It should be understood that the trampled plant will die very quickly.
Soil selection
The ideal soil for this plant is a fertile, light, flowing earth, which passes water and air well. The best option for landing - a mixture of sand, peat, turf soil and humus. Also, before planting a plant, it is necessary to add drainage, loosening additives and organic fertilizers to heavy soil.
Landing zhivuchki
The process of landing zhivuchki in open ground - a fairly simple task. Seeds are best purchased at a garden store, as they are characterized by a good level of germination. Sowing of seeds is carried out in the spring, right in open ground, during the period when the soil warms up.
Most often this is the second half of May. If suddenly there will be an unexpected decrease in temperature, the plant will not die, since it can tolerate short-term frosts down to -8 ° C. The day of planting should be serene and must be dry.
Important! You must choose the "neighbors" for zhivuchki. It should be remembered that this plant is quite aggressive, able to survive the most resistant species of weeds, let alone weak flowers and plants. The neighborhood with a geranium, roses, carnations and ferns is admissible - they will not suffer from zhivuchki.
Care rules
Caring for a creeping tentacle comes down basically to thinning thickets, rare watering and feeding.
Watering
Regular irrigation should be observed in the most important periods for the survivor - in the process of planting and during rooting sprouts and shoots. It is necessary to moisten the soil as it dries, in order to improve the survival and rooting of the plant. In the future, watering should be moderate, preferably only during periods of prolonged drought, because the zivuchka can easily grow without moisture for a month.
Top dressing
As feed and additional fertilizer is best to use organic. Corroded manure, peat, wood ash and compost will do. You can make top dressing under the root in the liquid form or in the dry - sprinkling the plant with the plant on top of the leaves and stems. Sometimes you can make and mineral fertilizers. Suitable complex medicines or phosphorus-potassium preparations will do.
Protection against diseases and pests
The creeping creep is almost the only plant that almost never gets sick. This flower is amenable only to fungal diseases. It can suffer in case of strong thickening or constant soil moisture. Another disease is root rot. A clear sign is a drooping, puffy tentacle, on the foliage of which brown or dirty yellow spots are formed.
To make sure that the lesion really exists on the root system, the plant must be dug out to see the gray bloom and brown spots on the roots.
The affected bushes need to be disposed of, and the rest of the affected areas sprinkled with powdered coal. Additionally, the soil can be treated with fungicides. Suitable drugs: "Topaz", "Rovral", "Skor", "Fundazol."
As for pests, zhivuchka can only marvel at snails and slugs. This is due to the fact that the substances that are in the composition of the plant, stop the development of offspring of harmful insects, so they do not like it.
But the garden mollusks are very attracted by thick, wetted thickets, which are almost an ideal place for their habitat. Snails feed on the juicy foliage of the tentacles, as a result of which only thin veins remain.
To fight with snails and slugs, you can use chemicals of chemical action, such as molluscicides of the type "Meta" or "Thunderstorms". From folk remedies it is worth noting the effectiveness of mustard powder, or pounded hot pepper. Plants can be sprinkled with these ingredients in a dry form, or you can prepare a solution from them and spray the thickets until the slugs and snails disappear from the site.
Did you know? Bottom leaves, as well as young shoots of creeping zhivuchki used as a seasoning for fish dishes, and also quite often added to salads.
How to propagate a plant
In creeping survivors, reproduction can be carried out by seeds, but only by those that were purchased at a garden store. The fact is that the planting material, which was collected independently from grown varietal plants, will give offspring that will not be similar to the parent plant.
The most productive recognized vegetative method. In early spring, rhizomes are divided into stolons and planted, keeping to a distance of 23-27 cm. Deepening delenki to a considerable depth is not necessary. Watering requires abundant and frequent during the first week, until the roots appear.
Division bushes on the outlet. This can be done throughout the summer season. Sockets should be planted at a distance of 12-15 cm. For the first seven days, seedlings need intensive watering.
Preparing for the winter
It has already been said that the creeping tenacity is a cold-resistant plant. However, in severe winters, especially in the absence of snow, it needs additional warming and shelter. For these purposes, you can use dry foliage or lapnik. It is especially important to cover the young plants that grow on the site for the first year.
As you can see, the creeping tentacle is a truly unique and easy-care plant. It can be an ornament to any garden, while not requiring special attention to itself and not being exposed to common diseases and pests.
