Cushions

[Ragged Robin]

Small but beautiful - Saxifraga 'Jozef Capek' in the garden :

Wow, Luc that's a real beauty - if it grows as well as your campanula it will be a bigger cushion in no time 

[Lesley Cox]

Recent pictures from the Shows are saying that there are fabulous cushions around in many collections. Please, cushion growers, bring them to this thread and share your lovely plants and how you grow them to such perfection.

[Mick McLoughlin]

Like everybody else the sight of the really well grown cushions at the shows extracts the statement 'how do they grow them like that'. So you have to have a go, don't you.
I've not been growing them long, so no large ones yet, or probably very well. I tend to not be very scientific with growing my plants but if they seem to like my routine  I stick with them.
All my cushions in pots are grown in the sand plunge in the greenhouse, picture 1. Probably not as much ventilation as they should have or care as during the winter months I hardly get to see a plant during the week.
So these are my little cushions and I like em.
First Saxifrage cochlearis? I think i had this labelled wrong (as carniolica) at East Lancs last week can anyone confirm please.
Silene acaulis 'Lady Frances' just starting to show new growth.
Androsace muscoidea breviscarpa a little uneven. Any tips on how to even it out anyone.
Bolax gummifera.
The rest are all Saxifrage. 'Snowcap' 'Coolock gem' 'Tenerife' and 'Your Song'
My only Dionysia 'Monika' still very small. The small inner pot is nearly all grit and only the lower pot and plunge recieve water. I heard somewhere this is how to do it?

[Mick McLoughlin]

Sorry pictures are dark I took them tonight after work.

[angie]

Really nice cushions, they all look pretty happy to me. What is the reason for you to have the last one on another pot
Angie

[Lesley Cox]

Mick, yours looks like what I have as cochlearis 'Minor.' There is certainly a bigger rosetted but otherwise similar form as well.

[Mick McLoughlin]

Angie
Its to avoid them getting too much moisture when watering. The bottom pot is watered this is wicked up by the smaller pot is the theory I think.
Cheers
mick  

By the way is there a definition of 'cushion plant' for show classes?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very nice display Mick !
Should result into some great "big" pots some day !! 
Thanks for showing !

[angie]

Angie
Its to avoid them getting too much moisture when watering. The bottom pot is watered this is wicked up by the smaller pot is the theory I think.
Cheers
mick 

Thanks for the reply I had seen this done before, but didn't like to ask why
Angie

[karel_t]

Luc - I'm pretty sure your saxifraga is 'Karel Capek' not 'Josef' - Sax. 'Josef Capek' is yellow/orange flowered.

[SAXIFRAGE at LYMINGE]

A couple of pictures of my Sax collection taken the other day. I'm busy getting plants ready for Exeter on Saturday, but will get back with more information in the next few day's
Best Wishes David

[Luc Gilgemyn]

A long drive to Exeter for you David !
I'm sure you will be most welcome there when you arrive with your truckload... 

Good luck !!

[angie]

Wow what a collection
It must be so hard to choose which ones to take 
Looking forward to see pics, of Exeter.
Angie

[David Nicholson]

Lovely selection there Mick.

You too David and I'll look out for you at Exeter.

After all those beauties don't know if I dare post a couple of mine from the garden-but I will!

Saxifraga 'Peach Melba'
Saxifraga 'Peter Burrow'

[Maggi Young]

By the way is there a definition of 'cushion plant' for show classes?

A good question, Mick.... there are often some questions raised during judging as to whether a cushion really is a cushion or not

 Basically, those plants which habitually make neat, rounded ( circumference) and (usually) domed shapes, close grown foliage making mounds with no gaps (though flatter growing carpet forming types sometimes are shown) .... that hits the particular "cushion" spot.
For example..... Androsace, Saxifraga, Bolax, Kelseya, Dionysia are cushions, but mound forming Campanulas might not meet with much enthusiasm.....