How to Grow Alyssum Argenteum

Growing Alyssum Argenteum from Seed

• 1

  Gather seed from an Alyssum argenteum plant in autumn after the flowers fade and are replaced with airy, papery seed pods. Pluck the flat, reddish-brown seeds from the stem and store them in a sealable plastic bag until late winter.

• 2

  Sow the seeds in a 3-inch-deep seedling tray filled with potting soil four weeks before the last frost in spring. Moisten the soil to a depth of 1 inch before sowing the seeds. Scatter the seeds 1 inch apart across the surface of the soil. Press each seed firmly into the surface. Do not cover the seeds.

• 3

  Place the seedling tray where it will receive bright, indirect sunlight for at least six hours a day and where temperatures stay above 70 degrees Fahrenheit most of the time. Stretch plastic wrap across the seedling tray to help regulate the temperature of the soil.

• 4

  Remove the plastic wrap every three days to mist the Alyssum argenteum seeds. Spritz the soil three or four times with a spray bottle to thoroughly moisten the top inch. Put the plastic wrap back in place after watering.

• 5

  Watch for germination in 21 days. Remove the plastic once the seedlings appear. Transplant the seedlings into individual containers four to six week after planting, or once they grow to 3 inches in height.

Growing Alyssum Argenteum from Cuttings

• 6

  Prepare a rooting container before gathering the Alyssum argenteum cutting. Fill a 6-inch planting container with a mix of equal parts coarse sand and compost. Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of water into the container to saturate the soil mixture.

• 7

  Put on gardening gloves before working directly with Alyssum argenteum plants since all parts contain a milky, somewhat irritating, sap that provokes an allergic skin reaction in many people.

• 8

  Select a 6-inch-long portion from the tip of an Alyssum argeneum stem. Look for one with healthy foliage, an unblemished stem and no flower buds. Make the cut between two sets of foliage using clean pruning shears.

• 9

  Strip off the leaves from the lower half of the Alyssum argenteum cutting by pulling them back against their natural direction of growth. Dip the leafless end of the cutting into 0.1-percent IBA rooting hormone immediately after removing the leaves to staunch the flow of sap and to promote faster rooting.

• 10

  Insert the defoliated, hormone-treated end of the Alyssum argenteum cutting into the prepared rooting pot. Press it into the sand and compost mixture up to its lowest leaves. Firm the growing medium around the base.

• 11

  Place the potted Alyssum argenteum cutting in a warm, partially shaded location outdoors. Protect it from direct sun, especially during the hottest part of the day.

• 12

  Moisten the soil to a depth of 2 inches every three to five days using a spray bottle. Mist the foliage once a day to keep the leaves perky and hydrated.

• 13

  Test for roots in 21 to 30 days by gently trying to lift the cutting from the rooting medium. Feel for any anchoring or resistance to the movement, which is a sign of successful rooting.

• 14

  Transplant the rooted Alyssum argenteum cutting into a permanent pot or outdoors in a sunny, draining bed two weeks after rooting.