Prickly saltwort
Salsola kali · Amaranthaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant prickly saltwort: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous, fine and fleshy
- Flowering
- Summer to autumn (July-October)
- Mature size
- 30 to 80 cm in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Not very hardy, annual or biennial
- Origin
- Arid regions of Central Asia and the Caucasus
- Soil type
- Well-drained, tolerant of poor and saline soils
Care
Watering
Water moderately during the growing season, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Once established, soda tolerates drought well thanks to its fleshy tissues. Avoid excess moisture which promotes root rot.
Exposure
Place the soda plant in full sun, ideally receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. It appreciates warm, open locations, particularly in coastal or continental regions.
Soil
Very well-drained soil is essential: enrich with sand or gravel. Soda adapts to poor, rocky, even saline soils, making it an excellent plant for difficult terrain. Avoid compact and wet soils.
Pruning and shaping
Little pruning is necessary. You can prune lightly in late winter to encourage a compact shape or remove dried stems. In autumn, the plant naturally deteriorates and can be pulled up.
Fertilizer
Soda is undemanding in nutrients. A very light application of balanced fertilizer in spring is sufficient. Excess nitrogen risks producing an overgrown plant that is less hardy.
Diseases and pests
Generally very resistant, soda mainly fears stagnant moisture which can cause root rot. Check for the absence of mealybugs in dry climates. Little susceptible to fungal diseases under appropriate conditions.
Did you know?
Historically, soda was burned in large fires to produce mineral soda, a precious alkali used in glass and soap manufacturing since antiquity. Its ash rich in sodium carbonate fueled the entire medieval economy of coastal regions. The plant owes its name to this ancestral practice.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.