Saline has been grown in Russia for several decades and has not lost its popularity to this day.
Under natural conditions, it grows in the shady and humid corners of the islands of Sardinia and Corsica, densely intertwining its stems and forming a lush bright rug with a green tint. Helksina (Gelksina) is the second official name for saltyrolia. Saltrolia care and reproduction can be successfully provided both at home and in bottle gardens and terrariums (both in hanging pots and floor vases).
The plant received such a sonorous name in honor of Joseph François Soleioli, a French botanist and traveler of the 19th century, who studies the flora of the Mediterranean countries. Among the people, Soleyrolia has a dozen more nicknames: "Tears of an Angel", "Mother of Thousands" and even "Corsican Curse".
Views and photos
Below are descriptions and photos of the main varieties of salt, which can be provided with home care.
Green
The smallest, with light leaves. With regular pruning, the flower can be shaped as you wish..
Argentina
Differs in silver plating on foliage.
Golden queen
A real feast for the eyes! Tiny leaves of saltyrolia seem to be covered with gold embossing and turn a flower pot into a real work of art in the sun.
Description
Dieffenbachia Adorable Home Care
More than 100 years ago, the English navigator Soleirol discovered an unknown plant on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, later named after him. In its natural habitat, it is a low-growing shrub that covers the ground. It grows under the shade of a tree or on mountain slopes.
Botanists have classified saltyrolia: the nettle family, the genus Soleirolia, the species Soleirolia soleirolii, which is the only one. Scientists have developed several varieties of gelxin:
- Argentea;
- Green;
- Variegata;
- Aurea.
Soleirolia is a short plant that covers the ground. It has leaves of an elongated shape of the color of young green foliage, up to 0.5 cm in diameter and they are located in pairs. Fragile and thin stems do not exceed 20 cm.
Florists select original places for the growth of saltium: a terrarium, a bottle garden, a hanging flowerpot, in pots with tall flowers. Neighborhood with low plants is undesirable, since salt will destroy the plants.
Bloom
In an apartment, saltwort blooms very rarely and never bears fruit. In natural conditions, its flowers are small, whitish, faded, after which reddish berries are formed, which contain seeds.
Microclimate
Gelksina is a thermophilic plant, the optimum growth temperature is approximately + 18.25 ° C. In summer, it is allowed to take it out to the balcony, and in winter it must be protected from gusts of wind and hypothermia. Create diffused light for the flower, use artificial lighting on cloudy days. Successful growth directly depends on the conditions of detention, so adhere to several rules:
- the soil substrate should contain pebbles, sand, turf;
- spray your pet in the morning and evening, drain excess liquid after watering;
- feed the plant with mineral fertilizers once every 14 days, and in the cold season, once every 30 days;
- reproduction of saline occurs in a vegetative way.
Using
With the help of gelksina, you will create coziness in any room. It looks great both on its own and in combination with tall plants. Used to hide soil. Choose a neighbor so that the conditions for leaving are approximately the same.
On a personal plot, using various varieties of gelksina, they create openwork patterns of any complexity. This shrub will braid any support you give it, so you can make living figurines from it.
The smallest varieties can be grown in bottle gardens. This will be an original gift for any housewife.
Superstition
Many flower growers are sure that gelksina brings joy, harmony, and a positive mood to the house. When caring for a pet, a person gets rid of anxiety, nervous tension and even depression.
Solleyrolia is recommended to be installed in the nursery, as it promotes sound sleep. According to the teachings of Feng Shui, it is not recommended to install in the bedroom of the spouses, as this will lead to a deterioration in relations between them. Her presence in the living room is also undesirable.
Place the flower in the niches of the cupboards, so positive energy accumulates there that can fill the entire space of the room. The optimal neighborhood is a TV or a computer, which is explained by the ability of gelksin to reduce electromagnetic radiation.
Care
Soil and pot
The soil is light, nutritious, with good air permeability and a pH level of 7 (or lower). From the store, soil is suitable for violets and palms. But do not rush to plant a flower immediately after purchase! The soil must be disinfected before use.: Your refrigerator freezer or oven will help you with this. The soil should be kept in the freezer for a day, in the oven - 2-3 hours, properly calcined. These measures will help you destroy both dangerous microorganisms and pest larvae trapped in the mixture.
If you have the opportunity to get sand, peat and leafy (sod) soil, you can do it yourself. Shares - equal, add a handful of small pebbles, for friability.
Expanded clay of fine fraction or vermiculite is suitable as drainage. Layer - at least 2 cm. All materials also need to be disinfected! Having chosen a terrarium, florarium or an aquarium for planting, pour a more drainage layer - 5-6 centimeters.
The planting container will work shallow but wide, with drainage holes and compulsory tray included.
Temperature
20-25 degrees above zero is the ideal temperature for growing saltium.
But by winter, the plant needs to be taught in advance and the temperature should be reduced to +15 degrees (at rates below +10, the flower will die).
If you find it difficult to withstand such standards and the thermometer in your house is much higher than the permitted numbers, move the salt solution to a terrarium or aquarium, where it will be easier to maintain the desired humidity and temperature for some time.
Lighting and location
You can equip any corner of the room for saltrolia - a window sill, a curbstone in the corner, a stand near the wall opposite from the window. And the sunny side, and partial shade, and even the shade for a flower do not cause discomfort. However, this will still affect the appearance of the plant, therefore, if you want to enjoy a spectacular view, place the flower closer to the west, east or north window, or in the back of the room, but not where it can be hot. In winter, when there is little light, additional lighting is required, otherwise the bush will grow slowly and lose its decorative effect.
Phytolamps can be used not only in winter, but also in spring, and in general - all year round. This will not impair the appearance of the salt.
Watering and humidity
The ideal air humidity is 60-80%. Spray Saltrolia every day, in hot weather two to three times. Hot dry air has a detrimental effect on the plant, so move the pot away from radiators and other heating devices.
Water regularly. In summer and spring - more often and more abundantly, less often in winter, but not allowing the earthen coma to completely dry out. Soleirolia loves watering in a tray, but do not forget to drain the excess liquid so that the root system does not rot. Young plants should be watered more often - 2-3 times a day, and adults less often - once every 4-5 days.
Tap water is hard, chlorinated, and its salt content is off scale. It is absolutely impossible to water the plant with it! And this applies, by the way, not only to saline.
Water for irrigation must be defended: it is enough to pour water into a jar and put it without a lid in a dark place for a day.
Rainwater can only be taken after prolonged torrential rains (short-term precipitation is dangerous, the water may contain harmful and even poisonous substances).
Another way to purify water is to pour water into a metal bowl, put it out in the cold, and when it freezes, break through the top layer, pour out the unfrozen water, and let the broken ice thaw.
Top dressing
For a comfortable development, it is enough to feed Saltrolia once a month in winter and twice - in spring, summer and autumn. Buy complex fertilizers in liquid form (for decorative leafy plants) at a flower shop: peat oxidate, for example.
Pruning
Regular pruning is not required, but, if you want to dream up and give the salt an unusual shape - give it a haircut... Be sure to treat tools with alcohol or potassium permanganate, and dust the cuts with crushed coal.
Transfer
A suitable time for transplantation is the month of March. Young saline should be transplanted only if it grows strongly.
- Prepare a pot wider than before, pour fresh soil into it.
- Transplant the plant using the transshipment method.
- Add soil, loosen and water the top coat.
Bloom
In the wild, saltwort blooms all summer, luxuriantly and abundantly.... And it looks very beautiful - a living carpet creeping underfoot releases more and more new blooming shoots.
At home, the bloom of saltium is rare. The flowers are creamy or white, small and inconspicuous.
Sharing to other indoor flowers
Soleirolia can be easily coexisted with almost all indoor flowers. It can be safely planted in a pot with another flower, the exception applies only to undersized plants - since saltyrolia covers the entire soil, low flowers will be "drowned out", begin to suffer from a lack of light and, most likely, wither away. But in the same flowerpot with a ficus or palm tree, Gelskin will look great, covering the ground and going down through its edges.
The same rules apply when growing saltium in aquariums and hanging planters.
Preparing for winter
For the winter, salt lily goes into hibernation, so from September the temperature in the room should be lowered, watering should be reduced to a minimum and the plant should not be disturbed by pruning, transplanting and feeding (without urgent need).
Description of the plant
A ground cover plant with creeping decorative shoots, belongs to the nettle family. In the wild, saltium is found in the shade, on the banks of rivers, reservoirs, and swamps. Corsica, Mallorca or Sardinia are considered its homeland. Ampel, creeping culture is growing rapidly, forming original openwork carpets.
Growing salt at home is a very simple procedure.An unpretentious plant grows quickly and does not need special conditions. And the appearance of the culture simply wins the heart.
Characteristic
The plant got its name thanks to the Corsican captain Soleirole Joseph. Botanists know another name for an indoor flower - helskin (gelskin). And among the people the plant was nicknamed very poetically and even romantically: "tears of an angel", "room duckweed" or "children's tears". Solleyrolia really looks very gentle.
- Plant height. The herbaceous crop forms a low green ball. The shoots of saltium do not grow up, but spread along the ground.
- Stems. They are distinguished by high fragility and tenderness. Thin shoots are highly branched. In the nodes, filamentous roots are formed, with which the shoots firmly grasp the ground.
- Leaves. Small leaves, round or oval in shape, reach 5 mm in diameter. Bright green or yellowish, and sometimes silvery plates have a glossy surface.
- Flowers. Salleuria has inconspicuous and small flowers. Most often they are white. But sometimes there are varieties with cream-colored inflorescences.
Solleyrolia is prized not only for its exquisite beauty. There is an opinion that the plant is able to neutralize the harmful effects that modern technology emits.
Variety of varieties
There is only one species of solyrolia. But there are many varieties of the plant. Thanks to breeders, some of the salts acquire amazing shades from rich emerald to pale light green. In the table you can read the description of some varieties.
Table - Variety of varieties of salt
| Variety name | Characteristic differences |
| Argentea | - Leaf blades of a silvery shade |
| Green | - Foliage color - soft green; - the bush is very tiny; - the maximum width of the bush is 20 cm |
| Aurea | - Light golden leaf plates |
| Variegata | - A plant with two-colored leaves; - green plates contain a snow-white thin border |
Different varieties of saltiliums planted side by side look very original. They form multi-colored "balls" that fold into one amazing carpet.
Reproduction
Seeds
In the first 3-4 years of development, saltium shows the maximum of its beauty, but then its decorativeness decreases. therefore do not postpone the breeding procedure for a long time.
- When buying seeds, carefully check the collection and expiration dates indicated on the package, and the integrity of the bag itself. At home, stir a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and pour out the contents of the package. Floated seeds are considered spoiled and unsuitable for sowing, they can only be thrown away. Soak them for half an hour in any growth stimulant.
- Put the seeds in a container, on the surface of the soil, without digging into the ground, spray from a spray bottle.
- Cover the container with a lid or wrap it in a thick plastic wrap, put it in place with a bright but diffused light. Lift the lid every day to ventilate the greenhouse, water the soil (it should not dry out).
- Plant the emerging seedlings in separate pots or plant them with other green pets.
By dividing the bush
The most convenient breeding method.
- Cut a fragment with a couple of shoots from the mother plant (not less than 3 years old). Use a clerical knife, previously disinfected, when working.
- Plant in a pot without going deep.
- Treat it like an adult plant.
Cuttings
The principle of action in this procedure, as in reproduction by dividing the bush, but cuttings should not be planted in the soil, but in a mixture of peat and river sand. When the roots appear (after 2-3 weeks), they can be planted on a permanent place of growth.
Rooting escape
The shoot, strong and healthy, is bent to the surface and sprinkled with soil.After 2-3 months, a new bush with a separate root system grows in this place. It is carefully separated from the mother plant and transplanted.
Soleirolia in the interior
Evergreen salt balls can decorate window sills, but more often this herb is chosen to create original multifaceted compositions from a variety of indoor plants. This becomes possible due to the unpretentiousness of gelksina and its ability to fill the entire surrounding space.
- the flower of salt can play the role of hair in a pot in the shape of a human head;
- become a living carpet in the legs or various landings;
- the herb is used in flower arrangements, creating a micro-oasis.
Diseases
- If the stem of saltium has turned brown, has become thin and brittle, your pet has been attacked by brown rot. The reason lies in the owner's oversight: you either did not remove the fallen leaves in time, or you flooded the plant too much. Treat your pet with a fungicide (for example, "Rovral").
- Gray rot occurs due to too high humidity at a low room temperature. Cut off spoiled leaves, reduce the amount of water for irrigation and adjust the humidity, and ventilate the house often.
- Does the bush look dull and dull despite your best efforts? Try feeding it liquid fertilizer.
- Root rot causes yellow leaves and decay of the root system. The reason is stagnant water and lack of oxygen. The salt will have to be transplanted into a different soil. Be sure to inspect the roots, remove damaged areas, sprinkle the places immediately with activated carbon powder. Unfortunately, a badly damaged plant cannot be saved.
- If the leaves begin to dry at the same time, wrinkle and fall off, it means that you do not water the plant much and overheat it.
- Is one side of the plant thick and lush, while the other is clearly lagging behind? Get in the habit of turning the plant pot in different directions towards the light.
- Yellow spots on leaves facing the sun indicate sunburn. Shade the plant or move it away from light.
Main varieties
There are few varieties of saltérolia known among flower growers. They often have uniform morphological features, with the exception of foliage color. This made it possible to use the view for the decorative arrangement of any landscape, as well as the interior.
Most often, the following varieties of salt can be purchased on the market:
- aurea - differs in the foliage of a rich yellow-green or ash-colored;
- argentea - has a rather rare light silvery leaf color;
- green - the plant is remembered for its rich light green leaves. Unlike other varieties, its foliage grows no more than 2 mm in diameter;
- variegata - the variety is characterized by leaves of a rich dark green color, with a thin white border.
Pests
The most dangerous pests for saltium are whitefly and spider mites.
The whitefly lays many eggs, the larvae of which, after hatching, suck all the juices from the plant in a matter of days.
Adults are easy to spot: they flutter from plant to plant, leaving behind sticky patches of plaque (pad), which gradually turn into a sooty mushroom. The reasons for the appearance of whiteflies are commonplace: they can be brought in with purchased soil, a new plant, or they themselves entered your house through an open window in the spring and summer.
- Isolate gelksin from the rest, cut off heavily damaged parts, change the soil.
- Vacuum the flying specimens and collect the larvae and eggs with your hands.
- Rinse the plant in the shower, covering the ground with a plastic bag.
- If there are few whiteflies, treat the salt solution with soapy water (dissolve a tablespoon of laundry soap in a liter of water) or garlic tincture (pour 3 chopped cloves with a liter of boiling water and let cool). If there are a lot of pests, try dichlorvos treatment.Put the pot in a bag, sprinkle the preparation on a cotton swab and place it in the same bag, tie it up and put it on an open balcony for 4-5 hours. Chemical means of struggle: "Aktara", "Iskra", "Akarin", "Confidor".
Spider mite is a sucking parasite that entangles saltyrolia with cobwebs. Adults can be easily washed off under a warm shower, but it will not work to remove the larvae in one go. Treat with insecticides - "Vermittek", "Aktellik", "Fitoverm" - 2-3 times. Remember - these drugs are toxic, so protect your eyes and mucous membranes, and also keep pets and children away for a while.
Observe preventive measures:
- quarantine the new plant for two weeks;
- regularly inspect the greens growing in the house;
- remove damaged parts and at the first signs of the appearance of insects, proceed to active actions;
- process pots, tools and soil;
- use biostimulants and fertilizing to make plants stronger and more resilient ("Zircon", "Epin").
Difficulties in growing
Problems in growing saltyrolia are rare, this plant is considered resistant to all kinds of infections, but often if the optimal conditions are not observed, the bush can become seriously ill. Despite the fact that such pathologies often develop rather slowly, if they are untimely eliminated, they can cause a decrease in the immunity of the bush, and with this, its death.
The main problems arising during the cultivation of salt and methods of their treatment:
| Problem | The main reason | Remedies |
| Drying and dying off of leaves | low soil and air moisture | the frequency of watering should be increased, as well as the amount of foliage moisture |
| Blanching of leaves and inhibition of shoot growth | lack of nutrients in the soil | the bush is transplanted into new soil, the frequency of dressings is increased |
| Pulling a plant | lack of lighting | the flowerpot needs to be moved to a more illuminated place |
| Foliage withering, silvery-brown spots are observed on the leaves | sunburn | the flowerpot is shaded with tulle or other shelter |
| The bush withers, the color of the foliage changes to yellow | waterlogging of the soil | the frequency of watering and moistening the bush should be halved |
| The leaves turn brown and curl, a pale bloom may be observed on the lower part | infestation by parasites (aphids, spider mites) | the bush twice, with a gap of 14 days, is treated with solutions of Intavir (1 tablet / 0.5 l of water), Vertimek (5-10 ml / 10 l of water), Aktofit (10 ml / l of water), Aktara (1 g / 10 l of water) or Fitoverm (2 ml / l of water). |
Soleirolia is the best addition to the garden as well as home decor. This evergreen, creeping bush, in addition to decorative purposes, is important for humans as an active adsorbent that helps cleanse the air in the room from all kinds of pollution. It is not difficult to grow this plant on the windowsill, but when cultivating it, special attention should be paid to lighting and proper watering. Since they directly affect the development of decoratively valuable specimens.
