How to properly care for chlorophytum at home, especially for growing a flower
Chlorophytum is considered one of the most unpretentious indoor plants. It is often purchased for placement in offices or apartments. It is quite easy to care for the chlorophytum flower at home. Most of the work is based on the period of forced transplants, the rest of the time the flower adapts itself to the chosen mode. During flowering, additional fertilization is provided to increase the internal resources of the plant.
Description and peculiarities of the plant
Chlorophytum has long been assigned to the genus Liliaceae, but at the beginning of the 19th century signs were found by which the plant was considered a representative of the asparagus family.Chlorophytum highlights the presence of linear stem-like leaves.Depending on the variety, the leaves have a different color. Flowering begins in spring or summer and lasts about 30 days. Small white flowers bloom from the peduncles.
The peculiarity of this plant is its ability to accumulate harmful substances and vapors, process them and convert them into clean air.
Reference! A flowerpot is often placed on the window sills of apartments located in gas-polluted areas.
Main varieties
There are several types of this plant. Each of them has characteristic features.
Hoopoe
The Chlorophytum huppé is a more widespread variety than the others. This variety is recognized by the presence of a branched rosette, from the center of which depart leaves of green color with a pronounced clarified middle or light, almost creamy edges.
Curly
The plant has wavy leaves. This variety is particularly impressive in flower arrangements.
Kapskiy
The difference between this variety is wide, but the leaves are long. They stretch up to 60 centimeters. Cape chlorophytum is grown in hanging pots.
Orange
The midrib of the leaves and petioles has a pronounced orange tint. This plant is characterized by an elongation of the stem up to 30-40 centimeters.
Laxum
Compact variety with a small rosette of leaves. Leaf plates at the edges acquire a pale, almost white tint.
ocean
A new variety developed by experienced growers. Has narrow, white leaf patches at the edges.
Borilianum
A variety that can be recognized by the wavy edge of each leaf. The leaves are colored with a lovely emerald green shade.
Vittatum
The central part of the plate is white. The length of the stems does not exceed 50 centimeters.
Conditions of detention
Elementary rules are observed when keeping chlorophytum. Then the flower will fully develop and bloom for a set period.
Temperature regime
Moderate temperatures are suitable for storing chlorophytum. In winter, the flower successfully exists at +8 degrees without loss.
The optimum temperature, which ensures active growth, is on the border from +15 to +20 degrees.
watering
The flower is watered with cool water as needed. He needs to increase the number of waterings only in the summer, when the temperature indicators begin to exceed comfortable limits for the plant.
Priming
For planting use universal soil mixtures with a high content of phosphorus or nitrogen. The soil is loosened as needed - this saturates the roots with oxygen.
Lighting
Chlorophytum grows in the sun, but it can grow in the presence of shade. The optimal placement condition is to provide diffused light.
Warning! Direct sunlight can burn the leaf.
air humidity
It is not customary to spray or wipe the leaves - this can lead to the rupture of the plaque. The humidity of the air with the content of chlorophytum can be different: the plant tolerates dry or waterlogged air.
top dresser
In the spring, the plant is fed no more than once a month. Mineral fertilizers are used for feed.
Dormant period
In winter, the flower rests, gains strength before laying new buds. At this time, watering is reduced to a minimum.
Features of care during and after flowering
When the chlorophytum blooms, pay attention to the timely removal of faded rosettes. This prolongs flowering and prevents the plant from flowering prematurely.
Training
This species does not require any particular pruning.The only condition for maintenance is the removal of dry and obsolete parts of the plates.
Culture in hydroponics
When growing, use the hydroponic method. Chlorophytum grows well in a hydropot, receiving the necessary mineral elements from the solution.
Rejuvenation
For rejuvenation, a regular grafting method is used. Plants quickly adapt to new conditions, actively releasing new stems.
How to transplant correctly
The flower is transplanted in the spring. Except in special cases, transplanting is done when the pot becomes small for the plant.
In the good ground
A good soil option for transplanting is considered a universal soil type. In this case, an important condition is to provide a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot.
In the hydrogel
Chlorophytum is good for growing in a hydrogel. This method maintains a consistent moisture content and promotes vigorous growth with proper placement of drainage holes in the sides of the container.
Temporary Aquarium Transplant
Without a suitable pot, some types of chlorophytum can spend some time in the aquarium. This applies to the Laxus, Atlantic and Ocean varieties.
Possible growth problems
By the appearance of the plant, you can easily determine what kind of mistakes were made when leaving. Most violations can be easily corrected.
Care errors
Chlorophytum reacts to maintenance errors by changing the color of the leaf plates. According to pronounced signs, the presence of pests on the plant is detected.
brown leaf tips
Browning of the tips of the plates indicates improper watering. Most often, brown tips appear with excessive irrigation.
Brown stains
The appearance of brown spots indicates a lack of mineral elements. The situation is corrected by performing potash dressings.
Pale foliage
Stems and plates turn pale if they lack light. In addition, the tightness of the container leads to the bleaching of the main part of the sheet.
Sockets blacken and rot
Excess moisture leads to partial blackening and the appearance of rot. This happens with plants that are planted on a hydrogel or grown hydroponically in violation of planting technology.
Variety variegation is lost
The shade of plates, stems and rosettes changes if the pot is located in a dark, dry room. Lack of space for root growth also leads to this phenomenon.
Lack of peduncles
Experienced flower growers explain the lack of flowering of chlorophytum by a lack of minerals. This is due to the imperfection of irrigation systems and the organization of fertilization.
Loss of leaf elasticity
The softness of the plates is a sign of excess humidity, excessive fertilization outside the schedule. The leaves become thick and soft.
Foliage yellowing and dropping during dormancy
The yellowing of the leaves, their active fall with the simultaneous appearance of rhizomes through the drainage holes indicate the tightness of the pot. In this case, the plant is transplanted without waiting for a suitable transplant period.
Brown edges on crumpled sheets
The leaves shrivel and stain if pests have settled on the plant. In the same way, chlorophytum also reacts to mechanical damage.
pests
Despite the fact that chlorophytum does not attract flower pests, they often settle there by replanting neighboring crops.It is not always easy to get rid of pests, it depends on the characteristics of the pest and the degree of damage to the flower.
Spider
The mite is a common flower pest that can be detected by the presence of sticky white cobwebs on the stems. The tick is removed by hand, and then the flower is methodically processed.
Aphid
Aphids eat the plates from the inside, so they are not immediately noticed. Aphids are collected individually, then the flower is sprayed with special solutions.
Shield
Scabbards are small parasites that appear on stems; they are difficult to destroy due to their shell. Folk remedies cannot cope with these insects, therefore intestinal contact means are used for elimination.
cochineal
The worm clings to any part of the plant and feeds on the sap of its cells. It is impossible to get rid of it manually, it lays eggs that are not noticed. To get rid of the consequences of its activity, the flower is treated with insecticides.
Thrips
Thrips damage all parts of the plant, lay eggs, actively reproduce in a short time. They are destroyed by step-by-step processing. For this, folk insecticidal solutions are used, folk remedies are used.
Diseases
The plant gets sick in spring or autumn, when the indoor temperature changes sharply. Diseases begin due to drafts or a change in placement.
Root rot
Root rot develops only due to violation of the rules of irrigation.This means that the roots do not have time to dry out and are covered with a thin viscous film, which leads to the appearance of putrefactive areas.
gray rot
A rare but dangerous disease for chlorophytum. It is caused by excessive moisture and excess moisture on the root system. Systematic treatment and a change in the temperature regime can correct the situation.
Breeding methods
The characteristics of the species allow you to propagate the flower in different ways. Florists choose the appropriate option from the listed methods.
Seeds
Seed propagation is an uncommon method that is used to obtain seedlings. Seeds are sown on prepared soil, the first leaves emerge from the ground after 3-5 months.
Divide the bush
The rosette is planted with excessive branching. It not only helps to get a new plant, but it is also a method to rejuvenate the mother flower. You can plant a plant in spring or autumn. The overgrown chlorophytum is divided into 2, 3 or 4 parts.
Each piece is transplanted into a pot of the correct size.
girl jacks
The species reproduces by transplanting a daughter rosette. This method is called propagation by cuttings. The socket is carefully separated from the adult bush and placed in a container with a growth-stimulating solution. After the roots appear, the rosettes are planted as adult plants.
Rooting Air Babies
After flowering, airy babies appear on the whiskers of the chlorophytum. They take root in an adult pot by dropping them. The appearance of leaves means that the baby has successfully taken root.
Attention! Air babies are not cut off from the parent plant until they root themselves.
Additional tips and tricks
When caring for chlorophytum, it is advisable to follow simple rules:
- It is not recommended to take out a pot with a flower in the summer: the increase in air temperature negatively affects the color of the leaf plates.
- Experienced growers note that the main condition for keeping this plant is to provide a light regime with a moderate diffuse light supply.
- Despite the fact that it is not customary to spray the plant, a hot shower is often provided for this.
- To grow a flower, not only soil mixtures, hydrogels, but also sphagnum moss are used.
- Varieties of Chlorophytum with branching stems reaching 50-60 centimeters are grown in hanging pots.
- A common and effective method of treating a plant for disease and insect infestation is to wipe down the patches with a laundry soap solution.
- The germination rate of chlorophytum seeds is 40 percent, so this method of propagation is rarely used.
Chlorophytum is one of the least pretentious houseplants. Caring for him includes observing the basic rules.