Growing Thrift Plants: Tips and Tricks for a Beautiful Garden

Do you want to add some color and texture to your garden? If so, growing thrift plants might just be the perfect solution! With their beautiful, low-growing blooms and ease of care, thrift plants make a great addition to any garden. In this article, we'll share some tips and tricks for growing thriving thrift plants in your own backyard.

What are Thrift Plants?

Thrift plants, also known as sea thrift or sea pinks, are evergreen perennials that grow in rocky coastal areas. They produce low-growing clumps of grass-like leaves and pink or white flowers on tall stems. Thrift plants can bloom from spring to fall, depending on the species and climate.

Choosing the Right Spot

To grow healthy thrift plants, you need to choose a location that gets plenty of sunlight and good drainage. These plants prefer sandy or gravelly soil that is slightly acidic. If you have heavy clay soil, consider amending it with sand or gravel to improve drainage.

Thrifty plant growing in sandy soil

Planting and Care

Once you've chosen the right spot, it's time to plant your thrift plants. You can start them from seed or purchase nursery-grown plants. Plant them in the spring or fall, spacing them about 6-8 inches apart. Water them deeply after planting, then let the soil dry out slightly before watering again.

Thrift plants are relatively easy to care for. They don't require much fertilization, but you can give them a boost in early spring with a balanced fertilizer. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers, and prune back any yellow or brown foliage to keep the plant looking tidy.

Close-up of sea pink flowers

Propagating Thrift Plants

If you want to expand your thrift plant collection, you can propagate them through division or stem cuttings. Division involves digging up the plant and separating it into smaller sections, each with its own set of roots. Stem cuttings involve taking a cutting from the stem of the plant and rooting it in a pot of soil or water. Both methods can be done in the spring or fall.

Dividing thrift plants

Using Thrift Plants in Landscaping

Thrift plants are versatile and can be used in many different landscaping applications. They work well as ground covers, edging along pathways, or as accent plants in rock gardens. When planted in large masses, they can create a stunning drift of color. You can also mix and match different varieties of thrift plants to create a unique and eye-catching display.

Thrift plants used as ground cover

Thrift plants are a beautiful and easy-to-care-for addition to any garden. By following these simple tips and tricks, you can grow healthy and thriving thrift plants that will add color and texture to your landscape for years to come.

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