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The money tree (Crassula ovata) is known all over the world for its coin-shaped leaves. This evergreen succulent from the Tolstyankov familywhich is native to South Africa and has over 300 species.
People grow and appreciate Crassula because of its durability, unpretentiousness and attractiveness. She grows slowly and her tree-like appearance makes her a suitable candidate. for bonsai... However, with improper care, for example, lack of lighting, the plant becomes spindle-shaped - the stems are depleted and the leaves fall off. If this happens, use the tips below to make it fuller and thicker.
Signs and superstitions associated with dieffenbachia
The decorative perennial is incredibly popular among amateur flower growers, but not everyone knows where the negative signs associated with such a plant came from, and why many still associate such a flower with troubles and misfortunes. In ancient times, such a flower was widely used as a torture tool for slaves.... It's all about the presence of vegetable juice with toxic components.
The delinquent was forced to slowly chew the leaves of such a plant. Of course, a small amount of toxins did not cause the death of the slave, but it became the cause of the strongest edema, which did not allow the person to speak. Thus, the risk of causing death or serious physical injury was minimal, but the guilty ones were very afraid of such punishment.
Description of the types and varieties of dieffenbachia
Absolutely all varieties of this genus are characterized by thick and juicy stems, on which green leaves with white spots are located. The growth point of a perennial is most often located in the apical part of the shoot, but bushy forms sometimes have dormant buds at the base of the stems. The maximum height, as a rule, does not exceed a couple of meters, but in the process of growth, the trunk part is gradually bare, which causes a decrease in decorative effect. Flowering in indoor floriculture is rare. Flowers are collected in inflorescences or cobs.
Dieffenbachia spotted Camilla, Tropic snow, Tropic sun
D.maculata - has very wide leaf plates, on which white spots are concentrated along the side veins. This species was used for breeding the cultivars "Camilla", "Tropic Snow" and "Tropic Sun". For example, the popular Tropic Snow variety is characterized by a predominance of white foliage.
Dieffenbachia Tropic Snow
Dieffenbachia compact
D. Сomraceta - a variety characterized by a very small, compact size, with a height of the aboveground part of no more than 35-40 cm. The foliage is spotty, medium-sized, located on dense shoots.
Dieffenbachia adorable (pleasant)
D.amoena is an unpretentious variety that is easy to care for. The above-ground part is no more than one and a half meters high with half-meter dark green leaves and white stripes along the veins.
Also read: Arrowroot tricolor: description and home care technology
Dieffenbachia large-leaved
D. macrorhylla - a variety with a strong stem no more than a meter in height and dark green, oblong-ovate or broadly ovate leathery leaves with a fairly thick central vein.
Dieffenbachia large-leaved
Dieffenbachia Baraguin
D.baraquiniana is a variety characterized by the presence of snow-white petioles and dark green foliage, with rare white specks of irregular shape and medium white streaks.
Dieffenbachia Leopold
D. leoroldii - the species is characterized by a short stem, no more than 50-60 mm in height and up to 20 mm in diameter, with green petioles with purple spots. Leaf plates of a wide elliptical shape, dark green, with a white central vein.
Dieffenbachia Leopold
Dieffenbachia Seguin
D.sеguine is a variety characterized by the formation of fairly wide and large leaf plates, on the surface of which there are a small number of specks of white coloration. The number of lateral veins does not exceed twelve.
Dieffenbachia Oersted
D. erstédii - this species has oval-pointed or elongated-heart-shaped leaves no more than 35-37 cm long. The foliage is green in color, with a pronounced central vein of light green color.
Dieffenbachia Oersted
Dieffenbachia Baumann
D. bоwmannii is a very popular variety with the largest leaves, usually more than half a meter in length. With a pronounced green color, the leaf plate is covered with very characteristic, small and light dots.
Dieffenbachia bush Green Magic
D.Green Magic is one of the most popular and well-known hybrid forms, forming a dense and low bush with dark bluish-green leaves and a white central vein.
Beautiful flowers
There are very few types of poinsettias in nature: sparkling and spherical, large-horned and the most beautiful, "mile". Flowers bloom in the cold season, delighting amateur gardeners all three months of winter. But by themselves they are of no interest. The flowers are completely invisible, but the bracts (these are modified leaves) are the opposite. They are not only bright red, but also white or pink.
Bracts can be on the plant for up to six months. Therefore, a person has time to admire the beauty of a flower. In order for the red "stars" to remain on the plant as long as possible, you need to buy it with buds that have not yet blossomed. This is what many amateur gardeners write on the forums, where there are many different reviews about interesting flowers.
After flowering for poinsettia comes a dormant period. She sheds all the leaves, and only the stem remains. This look doesn't look very good, but this is a normal condition for this plant. If you do not throw it away, but save it, then for the next New Year's holidays there will again be a flower with red leaves.
Dieffenbachia care at home
Almost all varieties of such a decorative tropical perennial are completely unpretentious and fast-growing plants that absolutely do not require complex special care.
Nevertheless, in order to maintain decorative attractiveness for many years, it is very important to adhere to the irrigation and fertilization regime without fail. Among other things, it is imperative to provide the plant with microclimatic conditions as comfortable as possible for full growth and development.
Temperature, humidity, lighting
Dieffenbachia of any variety is photophilous, and also prefers the presence of sufficiently intense lighting in the room, but without hitting the above-ground part of the direct rays of the sun.That is why, on especially hot summer days, it is advisable to install a flower pot with a culture in the partial shade of the east or west window.
If an ornamental plant is supposed to be grown on a south window, then it is best to install a flower pot at a distance of a meter from the window. In winter, on the contrary, the culture should be placed in the brightest place. Heavy shading causes problems: leaves turn yellow, and the plant itself often withers, and excessive lighting is the cause of foliage discoloration.
It is imperative to provide diffambachia with microclimatic conditions as comfortable as possible for full growth and development.
In winter and late autumn, the indoor temperature should be approximately 16-18 ° C. It is not scary if for a short time the temperature drops to 13-14 ° C. Also very important to rememberthat drafts are categorically contraindicated for culture. The perennial is very responsive to the increased level of humidity in the room. From spring to the first decade of autumn, it is imperative to provide all varieties with regular daily spraying of the foliage.
Also read: Cyperus: main species, growing conditions, reproduction
Beginning in mid-autumn and throughout the winter, spraying can only be done a couple of times a week. A completely worthy replacement for spraying will be the arrangement of a flower pot on a pallet with wet expanded clay. Not less important remove dust from the above-ground part with well-settled tap water at room temperature or with the use of special cosmetic preparations that allow you to remove whitish spots from leaf plates.
Dieffenbachia of any variety is photophilous
Soil and flower pot
A tropical perennial grows very well in soil mixtures with an acidity of 5.6-5.8 pH. The soil must be breathable and breathable.... This type of soil allows oxygen to freely penetrate to the root system, as well as water does not stagnate at the roots.
Perfect for growing any versatile substrate suitable for cultivating ornamental deciduous plants with the addition of a small amount of peat chips and charcoal. For self-production of the correct nutrient substrate, you need to mix four parts of leafy soil, two parts of peat chips, a couple of parts of sphagnum moss, one part of medium-fraction sifted sand and half of charcoal.
To ensure a comfortable position of the root system, you need to choose a medium-sized flowerpot, slightly larger than the volume of the roots. A prerequisite for choosing a high-quality planting tank is the presence of a sufficient number of drainage holes in the bottom. Among other things, the flowerpot must be made of heavy materials, which will ensure its stability.
Dieffenbachia grows very well in soil mixtures with an acidity of 5.6-5.8pH
How to properly water a flower
Irrigation activities should be moderately abundant from the beginning of spring to the onset of autumn, which is due to the large leaf mass and increased evaporation of water. During the evaporation process, the foliage can sometimes appear to be crying. However, an excess amount of water can cause root decay, so irrigation is carried out with well-settled water at room temperature only after the soil substrate in the flower pot dries out by about a third. In autumn and winter, it is also necessary to observe the irrigation regime, and do it only as the soil dries out enough.
How often and under what conditions dieffenbachia blooms
The inflorescences are cobs that vaguely resemble corn cobs. Flowering usually occurs in the spring and begins in April or May.... The inflorescence emerges from the leaf axils and has a cream or greenish veil.
In indoor floriculture, flowering is rare and does not last long, after which the inflorescence withers and needs to be cut off. If this is not done, then red or reddish-orange poisonous berries are formed. The formation of seed material is very depleting for the plant.
In indoor floriculture, dieffenbachia bloom is rare and does not last long.
Indoor plant transplant
After the root system has completely filled the entire volume of the flower pot, the plant needs to be transplanted. Experienced amateur flower growers recommend replanting the culture in early spring, after coming out of dormancy. In the process of transplanting, the woven roots are gently unwound, after which they are carefully examined. All identified areas of damage and lesions are cut off and sprinkled with powdered coal.
Also read: Anthurium Andre: we grow a tropical flower at home
How and when to fertilize Dieffenbachia
Especially important properly feed the culture at the stage of active growth, which occurs in the spring and summer. Varieties with green leaves are fed with fertilizers that do not contain lime. It is recommended to feed variegated varieties with standard mineral fertilizers, about once every three weeks.
It is especially important to properly feed Dieffenbachia at the stage of active growth, which occurs in the spring-summer period.
Lovely poinsettia
The flower with red leaves looks very beautiful. Such a plant will be an excellent gift for family and friends. "Christmas star" or poinsettia is the name of a flower with red leaves. When the New Year comes, a person always wants bright colors (perhaps that is why he was so named). The birthplace of poinsettia is Central America and Mexico. More recently, the Aztecs have used bracts in cosmetology and textiles. The "Christmas star" was also considered to be curative, juice was extracted from it and added to medicines for fever.
The plant got its name "poinsettia" thanks to Joel Roberts Poinsett. He was the first Mexican minister, botanist and physician. He was the first to be struck by a beautiful flower. J. Poinsett brought it to South Carolina 189 years ago, began to grow it on his plantations and send it to other gardens.
Breeding methods dieffenbachia
Seeds, as a rule, do not ripen, therefore, an ornamental culture most often propagates in a vegetative way. For this purpose, you can use apical cuttings, stem cuttings, as well as lateral processes. Cutting and rooting should be done in the spring, with the beginning of an active growing season. The cuttings are placed in a special nutrient medium, represented by water or soil, where the rooting process is carried out.
The first option is more convenient and lightweight. It is very important to add a couple of activated charcoal tablets to the rooting water. Until the roots appear on the cuttings, the temperature regime should be maintained at 21-24 ° C. Then young plants are planted in a nutritious potting soil mixture.
Croton
Croton
Croton is a small bush with leathery leaves of an unusual shape. Young leaves are colored in light shades of green. Over time, they acquire a dark green and burgundy color.
The flowers of this houseplant are creamy and not particularly noticeable.
Croton is a light-loving plant that grows well in warmth and abundance and moisture. It does not like difficulties and needs comfort. It should be protected from drafts and temperature extremes.
The temperature range from 17 to 26 ° C is comfortable for development. The optimum temperature for croton to live is 20-22 ° C. However, whatever the temperature in the room, the main thing is that it does not change.
It needs high humidity, so it should be watered and sprayed frequently. For watering, you need to use soft and warm water.
Plant diseases and pests
The main diseases and pests that can affect all varieties of dieffenbachia are:
- leaf spot, accompanied by the appearance on the leaf plates of small round brown spots with an orange border. When the first signs appear, treatment with systemic fungicides is performed;
- fusarium, in which elongated dark spots form on the root collar and roots, and the aerial part turns yellow and fades. For prevention, Trichodermin is used, and treatment is performed by Rovral or Fundazol;
- anthracnose, causing the appearance of rather large spots on the edges of the leaf plate, followed by the drying of the plant. When the first signs appear, treatment with Vitaros or Fundazol is carried out;
- root rotcausing a fairly rapid withering of the aboveground part of the ornamental perennial. Treatment is carried out with systemic fungicides, including Profit-Gold, Ridomil-Gold and Previkur;
- bacteriosisaccompanied by the appearance of watery spots on the plant. The plant cannot be treated.
Of the plant parasites, the culture is most often affected by spider mites, scale insects, aphids, thrips and mealybugs, for the destruction of which mechanical removal is used with a soap solution, followed by treatment with a solution based on Actellika or Karbofos, diluted at the rate of fifteen drops per liter water.
Cordilina
A plant with large elongated leaves, which belongs to the Dracene family. Includes at least 20 species. In natural nature, it grows in the subtropics and tropics in the form of a shrub or tree. The shape of the leaf plate depends on the variety and can be linear, lanceolate, xiphoid. When grown indoors, the bush reaches a height of 1.5 m. Over time, the lower leaves fall off and it becomes like a palm tree. It blooms with small red or white flowers that have no decorative value.
In the room, this species is most often grown in a large floor pot, since it not only grows quickly and reaches great heights, but also has a powerful root system that requires a lot of space.
Difficulty growing a flower
Growing problems are most often manifested by constantly moistened soil, leaf fall, wilting of the aboveground part, as well as the appearance of a whitish bloom on the soil surface. To avoid such unpleasant phenomena, it is very important to observe the regime of watering and feeding, as well as to provide the culture with the correct temperature regime and humidity indicators in the room.
At present, the peak of popularity of such an ornamental-deciduous plant as indoor dieffenbachia has slightly decreased, due to its significant dimensions and the need to frequently update a fast-growing culture.
Estimate (2 estimates, average: 4,25 out of 5)
"Christmas Star"
The flower with red leaves gained real popularity thanks to an emigrant from Germany, Albert Ecke. He was a true fan of plants. In 1911, a flora lover founded a greenhouse. Together with his son, he saw that the poinsettia colors are perfect for the symbol of Christmas and New Year. The family started growing a red-leaved indoor flower already in the sixties. And for more than forty years now, the "Christmas star" has been decorating the homes of American families for the New Year holidays. It has become a good tradition to purchase indoor flower with red leaves for celebrations in the cold season.At first, poinsettia was grown in the open field, then in greenhouses, and only then in indoor conditions. On the eve of Christmas, the red-leaved flower is the most sought after plant in America. Over fifty million poinsettias are sold during the New Years season. In the Russian Federation, the indoor flower with red leaves is not yet well known and loved. However, every year more and more buyers purchase a beautiful overseas plant. You can rarely pass by such a charm.
