Worth knowing:
The Chinese Silver Grass is one of the tallest species of sweet grasses that grows tufts with a height of up to two meters. The most significant mark of the plant is the conspicuous inflorescence with silvery-shining, feathery panicles that show from August until late autumn. Especially as a solitary shrub plant it shows to advantage with its expanding stalks in bows and the big flower heads. The Chinese Silver Grass not only grows in age but also in its beauty.
Natural Location:
The Chinese Silver Grass has its natural habitat in East Asia.
Cultivation:
Seed propagation indoors is possible throughout the year. Gently press the seeds into moist potting compost that ideally contains about 25% of perlite for a better permeation. Cover the seed container with clear film to prevent the earth from drying out, but don’t forget to make some holes in the clear film and take it every second or third day completely off for about 2 hours. That way you avoid mold formation on your potting compost. Place the seed container somewhere bright and warm with a temperature between 20° and 25° Celsius and keep the earth moist, but not wet. The best way to do so, is by daily using the water sprayer to moisten the soil. Usually it takes about two to three weeks until germination.
Place:
The Chinese Silver Grass needs a warm and sunny place for cultivation.
Care:
The Chinese Silver Grass has to be kept free from competitive weeds in its first year of planting out - that means, initially some care is necessary for cultivation. The plant prefers moist soils, and you should consider the weather, location and type of soil, before watering the grass accordingly. Regularly fertilizing is not necessary, and – starting from the second year – giving fertilizer only once in spring would be sufficient. Due to the heavily spreading roots, it is recommended using a rhizome barrier for outdoor plants. Tub plants need for its compact, but deep reaching roots a rather tall pot for cultivation. Further proliferation is possible through rhizome cuttings, preferably in spring.
During the winter:
During winter, you can bind the stalks and leaves together to protect the grass from wind and snow load. Only for the first two years you might want to frost-protect the plant with a layer of brushwood or foliage around the root area. When covered with hoarfrost, the Chinese Silver Grass makes a particular beautiful sight during winter. In early spring, the plant is to be cut back to around 10 cm of height, and will then sprout again in all its glory.
Picture credits:
- © © Daderot - CC0 - http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
- © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © Daderot - CC0 - http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
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