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Saxifraga Peter Pan Advice

CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
edited May 2018 in Plants
Hi guys,

I purchased Saxifraga Peter Pan today and I've  never had an alpine before so I am just after some advice about how to plant it and pruning.

I am going to plant it in a small terracotta pot so what kind of compost would it need? And after it has flowered do I cut the flower stems down and will it reflower again?

Thanks :)
Craigh
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Posts

  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    You need really good drainage, alkaline or neutral soil, sandy/loam and in an open sunny area. Don't use multipurpose compost they don't like it at all.

    I love alpines but can only grow them in containers as its too acidic and wet here. 
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
    Thanks for the advice. Do they reflower after being cut back or is it just the once?
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    They have a long flowering period so i think dead heading is helpful. It depends on the variety.  
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Mossy saxifrages don't like to get too hot or dry out so in a terracotta pot you will have to be careful to keep the pot/roots cool and moist. They also don't like to be too wet so use a gritty soil. I like to use a mix of john innes no2 and sharp grit. Some people say leaf mould is good to add to the mix if you have any. i add some feed granules but only very few. If you want to stick with the terracotta then maybe use a plastic liner with drainage holes or find a plastic pot that fits nicely inside. The pros like to submerge their terracotta pots in beds of sharp sand during the hot months but basically the key is to make sure they're watered every day when it's hot and keep them out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day. Don't stand them in water trays though.

    I have a Peter Pan here that is looking terrible after the heatwave we had last summer. Luckily I took 2 cuttings when I potted it up and they were in small plastic pots and have survived much better. Cuttings take really well so as you're repotting it pull a few off the sides (preferably with some root) and keep them in a plastic pot as a backup.

    I tend to cut the flower heads off mine after flowering just to look neater but they don't tend to flower again after. When they're planted out in the garden I leave the seeds to ripen as they might self seed.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    That's very interesting to know Wild Edges. My Saxafrage Peter Pan is looking terrible in this heat-wave. I am watering every day and the flowers are bleached and dying quickly. I guess, that's it, the flowering time has been cut short by the heat. I've got it lined in plastic and in very gritty John Innes 2, but it's still no good, I can't find any shade for them. I have heard they really need a fair bit of shade.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    They're an odd plant like that. I've got them planted in a rockery around my pond in full sun all day and they're thriving there even when they're sat on top of rocks with no soil under them. I guess the roots are down under the rocks where they stay cool. At the same time I've got any in pots tucked away in the shade and they're still struggling with the heat.

    Don't forget to give the soil a good thick gravel mulch on top to help prevent evaporation by the way.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
    Well I potted the plant up today and I did go for the terracotta pot option and I used a 50:50 mix of john innes no 2 and grit.

    I did notice that in full sun today the plant looked a little sickly so I am going to put the pot somewhere where it gets full sun up to around midday and then some shade afterwards to see if it does any better this way.

    Ive never grown an alpine so it's definately just experimenting right now :)
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    CraighB said:
    Well I potted the plant up today and I did go for the terracotta pot option and I used a 50:50 mix of john innes no 2 and grit.

    I did notice that in full sun today the plant looked a little sickly so I am going to put the pot somewhere where it gets full sun up to around midday and then some shade afterwards to see if it does any better this way.

    Ive never grown an alpine so it's definately just experimenting right now :)
    Nice. If you find it struggles then you can always reduce the grit ratio. It's a bit of an experiment with alpines, they have goldilocks syndrome for everything in my limited experience.

    If I can recommend your next alpine go for sempervivum. Every house should have some. It's actually a Welsh folk tradition to keep sempervivum as it protects your house from evil and from being struck by lightning. Plenty of drainage, full sun and they'll thrive with very little care. Keep them out of the rain in the cold months if you can though.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    That's good to know Wild Edges -  I was just wondering what to do next with my sempervivium, been in a pot all winter to keep it dry.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Borderline said:
    That's very interesting to know Wild Edges. My Saxafrage Peter Pan is looking terrible in this heat-wave. I am watering every day and the flowers are bleached and dying quickly. I guess, that's it, the flowering time has been cut short by the heat. I've got it lined in plastic and in very gritty John Innes 2, but it's still no good, I can't find any shade for them. I have heard they really need a fair bit of shade.
    My plant just got worse despite my best effort and I took it out of the pot today to find vine weevils had eaten most of the root system. I did the same to several other pots that had brown patches and they also had grubs in there but not so many. I'm relieved that it wasn't my fault (and a few baby birds got a good meal). I think I've caught it just in time to save a few cuttings but it might be worth checking yours too.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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