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Children growing alpines.
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Children are often at perfect ease amongst plants. Teach them to relax.
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Left is an advert for the RHS, 'Share your love of gardening with future generations.'
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On the right is a German postcard, which quotes Psalm 27 v9 and reflects the same sentiments.
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Alpine plants of the traditional sort appeal to children because they are attractive and because of their size and growth. They can be handled with ease by small fingers, and several plants take up little space in a garden, balcony or patio.
Alpine plants can be readily used to demonstrate a range of propagation methods. Cuttings often root quickly and seed germinates well. There are few pests and diseases. A well chosen group can look good all year round.
Beware of plants that become too rampant for this can be off putting, especially when it swaps their other plants, and then has to be removed.. (see suggested list to beware).
Encourage children to have some spare plants for swapping. But resist the urge to take too many cuttings of easy plants.
Consider the following alpine plants for children to grow. (a very rough list)
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Easy:
Aquilegia
Arabis
Campanula (not invasive ones)
Dianthus
Draba bryoides
Hypericum
Mentha requenii
Saxifraga
Sedums (but not the invasive ones)
Sempervivums
Thymus
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Moderate:
Androsace
Campanula collina
Gentiana verna
Iris
Lewisia cotyledon
Oxalis laciniata
Phlox
Primula
Saxifraga retusa
Bulbs:
Crocus
Cyclamen coum
Narcissus
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Challenging:
Corydalis
Gentiana acaulis
Sagina boydii
Soldanella
Shrubs:
Sorbus reducta
Juniperus communis 'Compressa'
Picea abies 'Lilliput'
Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana 'Gnome'
Helichrysum(s)
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Beware of over planting, and remove some plants when they spread too far.
Keep bulbs in a pot for a year until you are sure they will not take over the rock garden.
Do not plant with too many shrubs and conifers. Make sure that conifers really are dwarf and slow growing. Dig them out if they are not - they slow down if transferred to a pot and look good on a patio.
Plant in Autumn and Spring and water well for several weeks after planting
Talk to people about plants to find out how others grow them. Do not be afraid to ask questions.
Beware of plants which people are getting rid of! Check the name in a book first.
Avoid the following. . .
Cerastium / some oxalis / Campanula poscharskyana / Sagina glabra (even 'Aurea') / Muscari .
Get a good book and refer to it often. Join the Alpine Garden Society
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Some ideas to encourage children to growing alpines
1. Let the child choose the plants to grow from seed or when buying.
2. Encourage and help them to find about the plants by reading and asking.
3. Let them experiment with growing the plant.
4. Let them choose seed from a list.
5. If interest fades for a while do not worry, just casually take over for a while and then draw their attention back to the plant..
6. Try not to let growing plants become confused with gardening.
7. Try not to let growing plants become a chore or hard work.
8. Let them talk about, and show other people the plants they grow, especially if they raise them from seed.
9. If you are really not a gardener, find someone who is who could help them.
10. Use Latin names as well as common names.
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