If you intend to diversify the design of your garden with the help of new plants of grassy nature, which resemble alpine herbs in their appearance, pay attention to rhodohypoxis. This plant can make a significant variety in the appearance of your site, give it freshness, novelty and create the illusion of mountainous terrain. In this article, we will analyze in detail all aspects of home care for the plant and discuss the use of rhodohypoxis in landscape design.
Botanical description
This genus includes 6 species of plants, the most popular and widespread of which is rhorohypoxis Baur. The unifying feature of all plants of this genus is the presence of a thick, elongate-tuberous root, which is located quite deep underground.
Did you know? For the first time, such a concept as landscape architecture, from which landscape design was later formed, was formulated in the United States about 200 years ago.
An adult plant in its structure resembles low (up to 20 centimeters) bushes with numerous leaves of a narrow, oblong, dagger-like shape with many hairs dotting them. From each bush several flower legs rush upwards, each of which is crowned with one or two flowers.
Rhodohypoxis flowers consist of 6-8 large, elongated, sharp, oval-shaped petals each, in the center of the flower there are pistils (7-9 pieces) and stamens. 
The color of the flowers may vary depending on which particular member of the genus Rhodohypoxis caught your eye, most often white, red or pink, but there are also cream and yellow specimens.
The mature fruit of this plant is a medium-sized hard and rough to the touch box, each of which contains from 5,000 to 10,000 grains. The period of flowering of almost all representatives of the genus falls on the period from the end of spring and up to the very end of summer.
Spread
Rhodohypoxis - these are flowers that require a lot of moisture, respectively, they can be found in large quantities near various water bodies, especially located in mountainous altitudes.
Often they can be found on the territory of drying up and practical dried-up reservoirs, where they grow directly in the place of the bed of the former riverbed. Many flowers of this genus are found on swampy land. 
Did you know? The record height at which rhodohypoxis was found was 3200 meters (Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa).
The endemic zone of growth of this plant is South Africa, with an emphasis on its mountainous part. Quite substantial thickets of these flowers can also be found in the southern parts of the Cape Region, which closely adjoins Natal and the South Transvaal.
A huge number of rhodohypoxis can be found throughout the territory of the Republic of South Africa, especially in the river deltas, which flow through the territory of this country.
Application in the garden and landscape design
The flowers of the Alpine type due to their small size will look pretty good against the background of large plants with large in size and bright in color flowers. These plants can confidently include hibiscus, roses, lupine, meadowsweet, delphinium, etc.
Just like rhodohypoxis, your garden will be filled with paints such plants as Babian, Adonis, Levkokorina, Crinum, Pentas, Dodecateon, Sparaxis, Peach Blossom Bell, Strawberry, Sidealtia, Gloriosa, Agapanthus, Penstamon, Lavater, Armeria and Chionodok, Gloriosa, Agapanthus, Penstamon, Lavater, Arteria, and Chionodok, Gloriosa, Agdapanthus, Penstemon, Arterium and Chionodok, Gloriosa, Agapanthus, Penstamon, Livatero, Armeria and Chionodok, Gloriosa, Gloriosa, Agapanthus, Penstemon, Lavater, Armeria and Chion Dodos, Gloriosa.
It is only necessary to closely monitor the color range, since too obvious variation in colors (for example, white rhodohypoxis and black roses) can bring obvious disharmony into the appearance of the garden. It is very good to use this plant as an alternative to the lawn or to decorate your alpine hill with it.
We advise you to read about how to make an alpine slide with your own hands, as well as how to choose plants for an alpine slide.
In the first case, the main drawback is that it will be impossible to walk on such a lawn, although it will produce just a stunning aesthetic effect, while in the second it will be necessary to think very carefully about the placement of the plant root, which is critical for its normal growth and development, because , as already noted, he has a fairly large size.
Not bad rhodohypoxis look and against the background of evergreen trees, especially Tui. Their alpine and fresh appearance pleasantly harmonizes with the needles, creating a stunning flavor of forest space. 
Fir-trees and fir-trees will also be a good alternative for thujas, especially those that have the bluish color of a lapnik tree. Such a barely noticeable contrast will surely appeal to the eye of even the most demanding and aesthetically savvy observer.
Planting and care at home
According to the generally accepted opinion of this plant, it is quite gentle and demanding to care, but in reality it is not quite so. Virtually every gardener is able to provide all the necessary conditions for its successful growth and development. Below we provide specific recommendations on this matter.
Breeding
Under natural conditions, this flower multiplies with the help of seeds, but in practice it is quite problematic to collect them, as the boxes with seeds are very quickly carried by even light wind. 
We recommend that you reproduce rhodohypoxis by dividing the hive according to the following algorithm:
- After the last flowers bloom (approximately at the beginning of autumn), carefully dig up the plant with the root and divide it into 2-3 even delenki.
- Next, you will need to prepare the wells for subsequent planting, the diameter of each well should be equal to 25-30 centimeters at a depth of 20-25 centimeters.
- In each well, add a little nitroammofoski (25-30 g) or organic fertilizer (diluted 1:10 with water liquid mullein or fermented bird droppings).
- Then place delenki in harvested pits in such a way that the roots of the young plant are completely laid out in it.
- After that, fill the hole with earth, slightly compacting it around the young bush.
- Water the transplanted plants at the rate of 1 bucket for each mother flower.
Important! In the event that a frosty and snow-free winter is expected in your area, it will be best to mulch the soil around the young plant with peat or fallen leaves.
Choosing a landing site
Rhodohypoxis - plants that do not tolerate excessive windiness, under the influence of winds and strong drafts, all the flowers are quickly blown off from them, as a result of which they can no longer please you with their elegant appearance. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a site that is well protected from the wind for their landing.
They are not afraid of excessive accumulation of superficial groundwater, even on the contrary, such a neighborhood is to their advantage, which is primarily due to the peculiarities of the structure of their root system. Very well suited for them, and areas that are located not far from the various reservoirs.
These plants require ample amounts of sunlight for their adequate growth and development, but in the shade they are capable of showing quite good growth rates, although in the latter case they will bloom for a somewhat shorter period of time and their flowers will be less bright. 
Given all the above, it is recommended to plant rhodohypoxis in well-lit places. These flowers are able to withstand temperatures up to -15 ° C, and the main reason for the end of their life in cold weather is blooming.
This is especially true in those places where temperatures are quite low, but at the same time a large amount of precipitation falls during the winter. To prevent such phenomena, it is recommended to cover the ground over the flower with a glass surface or polyethylene for the winter.
Soil and fertilizer
The best survival rate and growth rates of rhodohypoxis are shown on well-drained, loose soils with neutral acidity (within 7.0).
It will be useful for you to read about what types of soil exist, how to independently determine the acidity of the soil at the site, as well as how to deoxidize the soil.
It is desirable that in the soil there was a rocky component, but at the same time, it is necessary to monitor the absence of lime in it, because it badly affects the biochemical processes occurring in the flower. Fertile chernozems are also good for growing this plant. 
Fertilizing rhodohypoxis, as a rule, should not be - the flower is quite enough feeding, which he receives in the process of planting. However, if you see that the plant needs help in its growth, if it does not bloom in a proper period or starts to hurt, then you may need to feed it.
For this, it is best to use 2-3 cycles alternating with an interval of 1 week of fertilizing from mineral substances and organic fertilizers.
As mineral fertilizers, you can use, for example, nitroammofosku or ammonia water in the amount of 20-30 g per 1 bucket of water for each bush. As an organic fertilizer, you can use the already mentioned fermented bird manure, mullein or fertilizer from fermented grass.
Important! It is best to fertilize these flowers before sunrise or in the evening, after sunset, as the active components of fertilizers can react with the sun and cause chemical sting of the plant stems.
Watering and moisture
These plants love water, so try to water them as often as possible, especially in dry weather, as well as if they grow away from different water bodies. The optimum mode of irrigation is 1 bucket of water per 1 square meter of planting every day in normal weather.
The amount of water will need to be doubled if the air temperature exceeds +35 ° C. Planted near ponds, rhodohypoxis does not need additional humidification of the air around them, but if the flowers grow far from them, then no additional spraying with water from a spray bottle is necessary.
Especially often, a similar procedure, like watering, must be carried out in the summer. Under normal conditions, the spraying of these plants from the spray gun should be carried out once or twice a week. 
Disease and Prevention
This flower is rarely affected by any disease due to the natural features of the device of its own stems and leaves.
However, if you overly fill his roots with water, which can happen quite rarely, due to his natural love for water, he may have fungal lesions such as gray mold, black leg and mealy growth.
We recommend to read about how to get rid of powdery mildew.
Treatments to these diseases include treatment with various solutions of fungicides in concentrations that comply with the instructions, as well as the removal and burning of all affected parts of the plant.
Prevention is also carried out with the help of fungicides, but often in much lower concentrations, usually before the start of spring sap flow. So, we hope that this article has helped you find all the answers to your questions regarding rhodohypoxis. 
Being engaged in landscape design, you not only develop the perseverance and love of nature inherent in each gardener, but also contribute to the development of a whole trend in modern art, which is called "landscape architecture". Appreciate it and love your garden!
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