With its delicate white flowers, the snow marbel fits into any garden bed. It is easy to care for, undemanding and therefore an enrichment for every hobby gardener.
The hustle and bustle in the flower garden is enriched by the snow marble. The inflorescences of the popular native perennial sway in the wind and bring grace and lightness. The white flowers can arrange themselves with all the colors of the natural garden and provide a harmonious and harmonious icing on the cake.
Plant Description
The snow marbel belongs to the rush family and is also known as the snow-white grove rush (Luzula nivea). The most striking thing about this perennial plant are the snow-white petals. The snow marbel grows more like grass and reaches a maximum height of 30 centimeters. The light and delicate appearing white flower umbels sit on the upright stems. The leaves also appear delicate and almost filigree. Hairiness is visible on the leaf edges.
The snow marbel is native to Europe and occurs more frequently in the mountainous areas of the Pyrenees and the Alps. The plant is quite common in mixed forests. The rush grass seems to feel particularly comfortable in the company of beeches, oaks, birches or conifers.
In the home garden, the snow marbel enriches perennial beds and is suitable for group planting.
» Tip: Due to its rather low growth height, the snow marbel should be planted in the front of the bed.
There are a variety of possible uses:
- ideal plant for the shade garden
- suitable as underplanting for trees and shrubs
- particularly decorative in dried bouquets
- Enrichment of summer bouquets
When does the snow marbel bloom?
The whitish clusters of flowers appear in early summer and persist into August. The snow-white petals are about five millimeters long. The length of the stylus exceeds the ovary. The star-shaped individual flowers are in groups of up to 20 flowers. The flowers are followed by the brown capsule fruits.
Some Marbel species closerfeatured
In addition to the snow marbel, the forest marbel is also a member of the rush family. The home of the great grove simme are moist meadows and forests. Unlike the snow marbel, the forest marbel can grow almost a meter tall. The stems are also erect. The flowers reach lengths of up to four millimeters. The flowering period extends to the months of May and June. In the mountains, the Wald-Marbel can be found up to an altitude of 2,000 meters. Cultivation as an ornamental plant is less common, but is preferred in shady wild plant gardens.
The snow marbel comes in several species. One of the newer breeds is “snow bunny”. The pure white inflorescences catch the eye. The plant grows in clumps and is recommended for group planting. When it comes to care, there are no differences to conventional snow marbels.
How to properly plant the snow marble
Easy to care for and versatile, the snow corn moss simply fits into any bed. If you would like to make your natural garden even more multifaceted, you should plant the snow marbel.
❍ Location:
The snow marbel is not picky and can get along with almost any location. Partial shade is preferable to full sun. On hot days, the leaves could burn. In addition, it must then be poured particularly intensively. The rush grass can play to its strengths as an underplanting of woody plants as well as alone in an open area. The snow marbel is particularly recommended for group planting. Popular plant neighbors are early bloomers, ferns or Christmas roses.
short:
- light
- Penumbra
- no waterlogging
- Group Planting
❍ Substrate:
Fresh clay soil is ideal for the snow marbel. Since the plant does not tolerate waterlogging, the soil should be permeable. This can be achieved by adding coarse sand or gravel. The plant also tolerates dry locations. The soil should be in the neutral to slightly acidic range. If you want to be on the safe side here, you can get a tester in the hardware and plant store. The ideal value is between 5.5 and 6.5.
short:
- fresh
- permeable
- clayey
- limescale
- neutral to slightly acidic
❍ Planting Instructions:
❶ Best planting time - spring or autumn
❷ Select location
❸ Loosen and clean soil
❹ Enhance soil according to the circumstances
❺Dig the planting hole
❻ Water the plant
❼ Fill up the substrate
❽ Press the soil down gently
❾ Water the plant well
Since the snow marbel is hardy, it can be planted in spring as well as in autumn. Depending on the needs of the plant, the location should be protected and not in full sun. The soil is prepared before planting. This includes loosening and removing stones and weeds. Heavy soil can be loosened by adding sand or gravel. The addition of compost also upgrades the soil and provides an effective long-term fertilizer. The planting hole should be about twice the size of the root ball. Before planting, the snow marbel should be able to soak up water. Even after planting, it is watered well again.
❍ Cultivation in the tub:
As an ornamental grass with a low stature, the snow marbel is very well suited as a decorative planting for flower boxes or planters. To ensure that the plant also grows well here and shows a rich flowering, some demands are made on the care. The nutrient requirement in the plant pot is higher than is usual with outdoor plants, which can be sufficiently supplied with nutrients by spreading the roots. Fertilization should not be neglected either. Another disadvantage is the less durable winter hardiness. It is advisable to provide suitable protection in the bucket. The roots are particularly vulnerable during severe frosts.
How to properly care for the snow marble
❍ casting:
The snow marble needs even moisture. For this purpose, watering is carried out regularly between spring and autumn. The soil can be permanently moist, but not waterlogged. In winter there is less watering. However, the root ball must not dry out.
» Tip: If brown leaf tips appear on the snow marble, it was probably not watered enough.
❍ Fertilize:
The plants do not have to be fertilized additionally. It is sufficient to mix compost under the substrate when planting. This provides an effective long-term fertilizer.
» Tip: If the snow marbel is cultivated in a bucket, there is a limited supply of nutrients and organic vegetable fertilizer can be used during the growing season.
Over-fertilized soil does not get the snow marbel. It can happen that the straws feel soft and lose their stability. In general, the plants are then no longer resistant and it can lead to the occurrence ofDisease and pest infestations are coming.
❍ Pruning:
If you cut back the snow marbel completely in autumn, you will miss something. The ornamental grass is extremely decorative in winter. Covered with frost and dew, it offers a bizarre and atmospheric picture in the wintry garden. Not cutting back the grasses in autumn is also good for the plant itself. The culms offer reliable winter protection. Moisture quickly accumulates in the cut stalks, which can lead to rotting of the roots.
» Tip: Ornamental grasses should not be cut until spring. Evergreen grasses do not necessarily need to be cut.
As an evergreen plant, the snow marbel does not need to be cut back completely. If a pruning is to be carried out, this must be done up to about ten centimeters above the ground. Dead stalks and stalks with brown tips should be removed regularly.
❍ Pests and Diseases:
The snow marble is extremely robust and resilient. Diseases and pests do not play a significant role. Nevertheless, it can happen that the ornamental grasses are weakened by wrong choice of location or wrong watering behavior. Prolonged drought is indicated by brown shoot tips. In extreme drought, the stalks can also dry up.
In rare cases, snow marbels can be affected by aphids or spider mites. If the infestation is recognized in time, it can usually be severely reduced by spraying the plant. Plant extracts or natural predators also have an effect. Spider mites are more difficult to control naturally than aphids. The pests are quite stubborn and repeated applications of the respective preparation will be necessary.
Have proven themselves:
- Soapsuds
- Stinging nettle stock
- Garlic sauce
- Onion broth
❍ Propagation:
The Snow Marbel can be reproduced by division and by seeds.
Division is the fastest and easiest method.
Reproduction by division:
In order to split a plant, it must have an appropriate size. The root ball is completely removed from the soil. The best time for this is spring. The grasses can be divided quite easily and no knife is needed. The individual tufts are simply divided by hand. Each section should have at least 15 to 20 individual leaves. The sections can immediately be transplanted separatelyare and are cultivated as already described. The great advantage of propagation by division is the simple procedure and the rapid production of vigorous plants.
Propagation by seeds:
If you have a little patience, you can also propagate the snow marbel by sowing. In autumn the seeds have reached the necessary maturity. If you don't have your own plant, you can also buy the seeds. The seeds are sown in a container filled with potting soil and placed in a light and warm location. The seed must be kept consistently moist. Covering the seed tray with a glass or plastic hood will encourage germination. After a few weeks, the first shoots appear and when two to three pairs of leaves have appeared, the young plants can be cultivated in separate containers. The young plants can then be given a place outside next spring.
❍ Overwintering:
With the evergreen plants, the hobby gardener gets little work in the cold season. The snow marbel is very hardy and can withstand temperatures down to - 25 degrees outdoors without having to take special protective measures.
The snow marbel in the bucket can also spend the winter outside. A winter hardiness of up to -20 degrees is assumed for potted plants. If there is a threat of prolonged frost, it is advisable to assign the plant pot to a sheltered location and cover the substrate with brushwood or leaves to protect the sensitive roots.
❍ Repot:
A look at the planter reveals whether the snow marble needs to be repotted. If the culms have expanded to cover the entire circumference of the planter, the plant should be given a larger container. Repotting potted plants is not only an opportunity to replace the soil, but also to propagate the plant by division. This allows several plants to be obtained, which can immediately be planted separately and cultivated separately from each other.
» Tip: Potted plants urgently need to be repotted if the root system is already swelling out of the bottom of the pot and the plant is difficult to remove from the planter.