Only a few flowers can create a dreamy and snowy landscape in your garden the way Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ flowers can. Not only do these tiny flowers turn gardens into serene places, but they also fill gardens with honey-like scents.
If you want a dreamy and fragrant garden but are unsure how to achieve it, no worries because we’re here to help! Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ flowers are relatively low-maintenance, so it’s surprisingly easy to achieve that dream garden of yours.
Here’s everything you need to know about Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ and how to take care of them:
Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ General Information
Scientific Name: Lobularia maritima ‘Carpet of Snow’
Common Name: Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow,’ sweet alyssum, sweet Alison
Family: Brassicaceae
Plant Type: Annual; short-lived perennial
Native Habitat: Southern Europe
Blooming Period: Spring to fall
Mature Size: 3 to 10 inches tall, 2 to 4 inches spread
Toxicity: Non-toxic to humans and animals
Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ is a cultivar of Lobularia maritama or sweet alyssum. It’s a low-growing flowering plant that’s typically grown as annuals, though it can sometimes grow as a short-lived perennial.
The plant is known for its small, fragrant white flowers that can form a dense carpet of delicate blooms, making it a perfect ground cover for gardens. It also spreads quite quickly, so it can also be used for edging or as fillers in flower beds.
The plant is well-loved for its low-maintenance and resilient nature. It’s easy to propagate through seeds and cuttings, so replacing it every year doesn’t pose many challenges, even to novice gardeners.
Taking Care of Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’
What soil is best for Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow?’
Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ plants are not overly particular about soil type and can adapt to various mixes. But they thrive in chalky, sandy, or loamy soil that has a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 and excellent draining capacity.
Most soil mixes in the market fall within the recommended 6.0 to 7.0 range, so they can work well with Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow.’ Succulent mixes, however, are not recommended since they cannot retain enough moisture for the plant.
Adding organic matter, such as vermicompost, can also help your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ grow healthily.
How do I make a soil mix for Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’?
To create a simple and effective soil mix for your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow,’ you can follow this recipe:
- 2 parts garden soil
- 1 part perlite
- 1 part coarse sand
- 1 part compost
This soil mix provides a well-draining, nutrient-rich growing medium suitable for Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ to thrive.
Any standard garden soil is a suitable base for your soil mix since most garden soil has good drainage and enough nutrients to support an Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow.’ Adding perlite and coarse sand to the mix further improves the soil’s drainage.
Compost, on the other hand, can supply more essential nutrients, like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, to the soil mix. It can also help retain enough moisture to provide a consistent water supply to the plant.
How often should I water Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow?’
The frequency of watering needed by your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ will depend on the local climate, the soil mix used, and the amount of sun it’s exposed to. Generally, you should only water the plant when the top part of the soil is dry.
Before watering, always check the soil’s moisture level by inserting your finger into the soil until your knuckle is touching the surface. If the soil feels dry at this depth, then it’s time to water your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow.’
It’s often best to water it early in the morning to allow the roots to take up as much water as they can before the afternoon’s heat dries up the soil. This will also help prevent fungal growth that can happen if the soil is overly moist at night.
Do Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ flowers require sun or shade?
Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ typically produces more profuse blooms and maintains a more compact growth habit when grown in full sun. That said, they can still thrive even when grown in partial shade.
It’s a good idea to provide shade for your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ during the afternoon if you live in a warm climate, as the sun can get too hot and intense. Just aim for at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight, and you’ll have a thriving alyssum.
What temperature is recommended for Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’?
Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ thrives when grown in environments with a stable temperature of 50ºF and 60ºF. It can tolerate some heat, but it may not perform as well in extremely hot conditions, especially if those conditions last long.
They’re usually best grown in regions with colder weather since they’re frost-tolerant and can withstand light frosts. This is why they often bloom during spring and fall but fade during summer.
If you’re in a warmer region, you might need to water your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ more frequently to help the plant battle the heat. Providing some shade can also help when it gets too hot.
What humidity level is recommended for Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow?’
Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ flowers aren’t overly fussy when it comes to humidity levels. They can do well in low to medium humidity, so there’s no need to be concerned about using humidifiers or humidity trays.
Unless the soil has to be watered, misting the flowers is not recommended, as this can increase the humidity level around them. High humidity levels can increase the risk of the flowers contracting fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew or downy mildew.
Moreover, your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ may get stressed from exposure to high humidity levels and temperatures for a long time. Alyssums prefer a relatively dry environment over an excessively moist one.
How often should I fertilize Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow?’
Despite their profuse growth, Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ flowers are not heavy feeders. A dose of slow-release fertilizer during initial planting is generally sufficient to support the flowers unless the soil doesn’t have enough nutrients.
In cases where the soil isn’t fertile, adding liquid fertilizer after the blooms fade can help your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ produce new flowers. Adding a monthly dose of liquid fertilizer to the soil can also be helpful if it’s planted in a pot or container.
Remember not to over-fertilize the plant because this can damage the roots and may lead to reduced flowering.
How often should Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ plants be pruned?
Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ generally doesn’t need extensive pruning unless it has become too leggy. Instead, deadheading or removing faded flowers can be more beneficial for the plant.
It’s highly advisable to remove spent flowers regularly to encourage the plant to produce new blooms. By removing them, you’re preventing the formation of seed heads, which results in the plant redirecting its energy towards the production of new flowers.
Whenever the plant becomes too leggy, you can start pruning it to keep it in shape. Just remember not to trim more than one-third of the plant for each pruning session to avoid potential stress and shock.
When should I repot Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow?’
Most Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ plants are annuals, so they usually don’t need to be repotted during their lifetime. However, if the plant has grown too big or you want to use a more decorative pot, you can repot it to a different container.
Since Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ plants grow very quickly, they can easily outgrow their container or pot if it’s small. It will be best to repot the plant in a bigger pot to encourage the roots to spread more.
How to Successfully Propagate Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’
Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ plants can be easily propagated through various ways. It’s typically easier and more effective to use seeds, but stem cuttings can also provide you with a beautiful sweet alyssum.
How to Successfully Propagate Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ through Seeds
Step 1: Collect seeds from your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’
Matured alyssum plants produce seed pods in their flowers, which contain small seeds. When the pods turn brown, collect them and carefully extract the seeds by opening the pods.
If you don’t have a mature alyssum plant, there are a lot of alyssum seed pockets available in the market.
Step 2: Fill a seed tray with a seed-starting soil mix
Seed-starting soil mix is a specific type of soil mix that’s designed to provide seeds the best environment to germinate. There are several different seed-starting mixes in the market that you can use for your alyssum seeds.
Step 3: Sow the seeds
Scatter the Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ seeds you have over the surface of the soil. Press them gently into the soil, but make sure not to bury them too deep or they won’t have enough air to germinate.
Step 4: Water the soil
Water the soil sparingly to help the seeds settle. Make sure not to pour too much water, as it can disturb the seeds.
Step 5: Keep the soil moist while waiting for the seeds to germinate
Regularly misting the soil can help the seeds germinate faster. Alyssum seeds typically need 7 to 10 days to germinate, but some may take longer depending on the quality of the soil and the environment they’re growing in
Step 6: Transplant the seedlings into their permanent pot
Once the seedlings are about two to three inches big, transfer them to their individual pots or directly into the garden. Be careful when transferring them because the seedlings are still delicate and may die if you’re not gentle with them.
How to Successfully Propagate Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ through Cuttings
Step 1: Take stem cuttings
Choose healthy stems from a mature Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ plant and cut about 3 to 4 inches of the stems. It’s best to cut multiple stems to increase the chances of successful propagation.
Step 2: Remove the leaves from the cuttings
Remove all the leaves from the lower end of the cuttings and only keep the ones at the top. By doing this, you can reduce the likelihood of the cuttings acquiring bacterial and fungal infections after being planted.
Step 3: Plant the cuttings into a pot
Fill a pot with a soil mix and plant the cuttings. You can use the soil mix recipe we recommended here or use other nutrient-rich, well-draining potting mixes available in the market.
Step 4: Water the cuttings
To help the alyssum cuttings settle into their new home, water them thoroughly until you see water dripping down the pot’s drainage holes.
Step 5: Move the cuttings to a shaded area
Keep the planted cuttings in a shaded or partially shaded area. This is to minimize the potential stress they can suffer from receiving too much heat and light.
Common Problems with Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’
Overwatering
Alyssum plants are semi-drought tolerant and don’t appreciate waterlogged soil, so it’s common for novice gardeners to overwater them. When the soil gets soggy, there’s a high risk that the plant will suffer from diseases like root rot and botrytis blight.
Root rot is a fungal disease that causes the plant’s roots to decay. This usually happens when the soil is excessively moist for prolonged periods, leading to harmful pathogens to grow and attack the roots.
Botrytis blight, on the other hand, is caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, which thrives in highly humid and damp conditions. One of the most common symptoms of this is the grayish-brown mold that appears on the affected parts of the plants.
How to Fix Overwatering
The best way to combat overwatering is really just monitoring your watering routines. Don’t follow a strict watering schedule and just water the plant when necessary or when the soil is dry.
It’s also best to avoid watering the leaves of your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ to prevent its surrounding environment from being overly humid. This will prevent the growth of pathogens like Botrytis cinerea.
If the soil is overly soggy and doesn’t dry up after days, it’s best to repot the plant. You can either use the soil recipe we recommended or buy a well-draining mix to make sure that water doesn’t accumulate near the root zone.
Excessive Exposure to Sunlight
While Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ plants love sunny areas, too much heat can scorch their leaves. When they’re exposed to intense afternoon sunlight, they may suffer from heat stress, leading to various problems.
Wilting is one of the primary signs that your plant is suffering from heat stress caused by excessive exposure to sunlight. When your alyssum starts becoming limp, your alyssum is most likely losing water more quickly than usual because of the heat.
Another sign that the sunlight is too intense for your alyssum is browning leaves. When the leaves start turning brown, that means the sun is causing them burns and damage.
How to Fix Excessive Exposure to Sunlight
Move your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ to a partially shaded spot to protect it from the sun’s heat if you live in a tropical country with strong afternoon light. You can just move it back to its original position when the sun isn’t at its peak.
If you’re growing your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ indoors, make sure not to put it in areas near radiators and vents. These areas typically have higher temperatures than other parts of the home, which can cause heat stress to the plant.
If your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ plants are planted in your garden, consider covering them with row covers during the afternoon. This can shield them from the intense sunlight without completely depriving them of light.
Underwatering
When some people hear Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ plants are drought tolerant, they sometimes think they can’t suffer from underwatering. But like most plants, alyssums also need moisture for optimal growth and flowering.
One of the common signs that your alyssum is underwatered is curling or drooping flowers and leaves. They do this to reduce transpiration and conserve the remaining water that they have.
The plant will focus on surviving, and it may sacrifice some of the flowers it already has just to conserve water. It’s also likely to produce fewer blooms since it doesn’t have enough resources to support profuse blooming.
How to Fix Underwatering
Just like when dealing with overwatering, the best way to fix underwatering is by simply regularly checking the moisture level of the soil. Don’t let the top inch part of the soil be dry for a prolonged period.
It can also be beneficial for the plant if you add mulch, coco coir, or peat moss into the soil. These soil amendments can help improve soil’s moisture retention capacity and reduce risk of dehydration.
Pest Infestation and Diseases
Alyssums, including Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’, are resilient and hardy, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to diseases and pest infestations. They may also suffer from powdery mildew or become the main targets of aphids and spider mites.
Aphids and spider mites feed on the plant leaves, causing stippling and discoloration. When the infestation becomes severe, it can impact alyssum plants’ ability to produce flowers.
Powdery mildew, on the other hand, is a fungal disease that’s characterized by white, powdery substance on the leaves, stems, and sometimes flowers. Unlike other fungal diseases that need moisture to grow, powdery mildew thrives in dry conditions.
How to Fix Pest Infestation and Diseases
If your Alyssum ‘Carpet of Snow’ is suffering from pest infestation, it would be best to isolate it from the rest of your plants if possible. Once isolated, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove the pests in the plant.
After you remove most of them, apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to the plant to eliminate the remaining ones and prevent them from coming back. You may need to reapply them multiple times to completely get rid of all the pests in the plant.
If your alyssum is suffering from powdery mildew, immediately treat it fungicide upon noticing the disease. The disease can be hard to contain once it becomes severe, so it’s best to start treatment as soon as possible.
