The goose cress is a fairly undemanding perennial. Nevertheless, there are some care tips that you should consider.
The first dashes of color in the garden bed are particularly welcome after a long winter. The goose cress (Arabis) can help bring life into your rock garden in spring. The cruciferous plants form attractive cushions and usually bloom white or red. Even less experienced hobby gardeners will enjoy the goose cress. Fast-growing and easy to care for, the small cushion perennial is the ideal beginner's plant. What needs to be considered when caring for goose cress can be read below.What do you need to pay special attention to during care?
The goose cress is generally easy to care for and is also satisfied with shady and partially shaded locations. When in bloom, the plants are a popular bee pasture.
Types that grow compactly are also very suitable for planting in containers. The goose cress looks particularly pretty in the bed - in the vicinity of hyacinths, irises, gentians or crocuses.
Water the goose cress properly
The undemanding plants require little care. After planting, ensure adequate watering. Older plants need less watering. However, the soil must not dry out completely. If the drought persists, the plant must be watered in any case. Always make sure that the liquid does not accumulate in the ground and cause waterlogging. If the soil is too wet, the roots will be attacked and the plant may die.
Watering the goose cress correctly in keywords:
- Water young plants regularly
- Only water older plants during prolonged drought
- Soil must not dry out completely
- Avoid waterlogging
➔ Tip: The plants tolerate lime and can therefore also be watered with tap water.
Do you have to fertilize goose cress?
The goose cress grows and grows - even without fertilizer. Conventional garden soil is well suited as a substrate. Too high a nutrient concentration can damage the plant. When planting, adding compost to the soil can be recommended. The organic material represents an ideal fertilization andenough for the goose cress to grow and thrive throughout the season.
Cut the cress correctly
To ensure the compact growth of the plants, the goose cress is cut back to around ten centimeters after the flowering period. Timely pruning promotes renewed flowering.
Colored goose cress has quite inconspicuous flowers and does not have to be cut back. Here you only remove the faded blossoms.
➔ Tip: After cutting, the plant parts do not necessarily have to be disposed of because the goose cress is edible.
Overwintering goose cress - you should pay attention to this
Most varieties of goose cress survive the winter without our help. The plants tolerate even severe frosts down to - 25 degrees without any problems. However, there are also some species, originally native to warmer regions, which prove to be more sensitive to cold and should receive protection in winter. In severe frosts, you should cover the plants with brushwood or leaves. Since the goose cress tends to rot under a thick layer of leaves or twigs, the winter protection should be removed promptly or only used sporadically when the thermometer falls below zero.
Exception potted plant
What applies to planting goose cress outdoors does not automatically apply to potted plants. Plants in tubs are always classified as sensitive to frost. This is not necessarily due to the plant itself, but to the location in the planter. The supply of substrate is limited there. If there is frost, plant pots freeze quickly, which inevitably leads to the death of the plant, as it can no longer obtain nutrients from the roots.
If you want the potted plant to overwinter outdoors, place the pot on a base made of wood or styrofoam so that the planter does not freeze through. Furthermore, the planters should be covered with garden fleece.
➔ Tip: Potted plants should be overwintered indoors, bright and frost-free.
Plants in the winter quarters should be checked more frequently. The soil must not dry out completely. Therefore, watering may be necessary. Outdoor plants can also be lightly watered on frost-free days.