Growing plants in a stone wall

campanula portenschlagiana

Stone walls can add an elegant touch to your outdoor space, but they can also be a challenge to decorate. One way to bring some life to your stone wall is to add plants such as Campanula portenschlagiana, also known as wall bellflower, that can thrive in the small crevices and gaps of the stones. Here is a guide on how to add Campanula portenschlagiana to your stone wall using seeds mixed with sand, cement, and soil.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

To get started, you will need a few materials. These include:

• Campanula portenschlagiana seeds or other seeds listed below
• Sand
• Cement
• Soil
• A trowel
• Water
• A small container

Step 2: Mix Your Seed Mixture

Begin by mixing your Campanula portenschlagiana seeds with 2 parts sand, 1 part cement, and 3 parts soil in a small container. The sand and cement help to anchor the seeds into the wall and the soil provides the nutrients the seeds need to grow. You can adjust the ratio of sand, cement, and soil depending on how many seeds you are using. Add some water to the mix so it’s still crumbly and not too wet. 

Step 3: Prepare Your Wall

Clean the area where you will be planting your seeds to make sure there is no dirt or debris that could prevent the seeds from adhering to the wall. Using a trowel, apply the seed mixture into the crevices of the stones where you want the plants to grow by pushing the mixture into the wall.

Step 4: Water Your Wall

After you have applied the seed mixture to the wall, water the wall from the top to help the mixture adhere to the stones. Make sure the mixture is moist but not too wet, as this could cause the mixture to slide off the wall. For 14 days one every 3 days using a light hand sprayer to produce a mist to keep the wall areas damp 

Step 5: Monitor Growth

Campanula portenschlagiana is a hardy plant and should start to sprout within a few weeks. Keep an eye on the wall and make sure to water it regularly to help the plants grow. If the plants seem to be struggling, you can add more seed mixture to the wall to give them a boost.

Adding Campanula portenschlagiana to your stone wall using seeds mixed with sand, cement, and soil is a great way to bring some colour and life to your outdoor space. With a little patience and some care, you can transform your stone wall into a beautiful and vibrant garden.

Other plants from seed you could use are 

• Sedum spurium (Dragon’s Blood Sedum) – This low-growing succulent plant has dark red foliage that turns a brilliant red color in the fall. It is easy to grow and can thrive in the crevices of a stone wall.
• Thymus serpyllum (Creeping Thyme) – This herb has tiny, fragrant leaves and produces small pink or purple flowers in the summer. It is a hardy plant that can grow in poor soil and is ideal for planting in a stone wall.
• Aubrieta deltoidea (Purple Rock Cress) – This perennial plant produces masses of purple flowers in the spring and can continue to bloom sporadically throughout the summer. It is well-suited for growing in the small crevices of a stone wall.
• Saxifraga x urbium (London Pride) – This low-growing perennial has glossy green leaves and produces delicate pink or white flowers in the spring. It can tolerate a range of growing conditions and is a good choice for planting in a stone wall.
• Armeria maritima (Sea Thrift) – This compact perennial produces clusters of pink or white flowers on slender stems in the spring and summer. It is a tough plant that can tolerate drought and salt spray and is ideal for growing in coastal areas or in a stone wall.

When selecting plants to add to your stone wall, it is important to choose those that are well-suited for the growing conditions and climate in your area. By using the same method of mixing seeds with sand, cement, and soil, you can create a stunning living wall that adds colour and texture to your outdoor space.