Care for clerodendrum at home with skill

A perfect example of successful adaptation of tropical plants in our homes is a representative of the genus of evergreen or deciduous plants of the Verbenov family - klerodendrum, a favorite of greenhouses, which can also be cared for in a regular apartment.

In everyday life, the klerodendrum is sometimes called the "tree of fate", so its name is translated, or "volkameria", as the flower was called in olden time.

Description and biological features

Clerodendrum grows in the wild nature of the tropical latitudes of Asia, Latin America, Africa.These plants are valued for their decorative properties, thanks to bright green dense foliage, flexible shoots, and most importantly - for abundant flowering.

Flowers of a klerodendrum are collected in inflorescences in the form of panicles, brushes, scutes, many species have a wonderful delicate aroma. For example, an evergreen klerodendrum fragrant, with white and pink fragrant flowers, capable of blooming intermittently throughout the year. Or the rapidly growing Ugandan klerodendrum, its blue and purple petals, with elongated stamens look like tender butterflies.

We create optimal conditions in the house for a tropical plant.

Among klerodendrum there are quite unpretentious species, but most of the cultural representatives of this kind of demanding light, temperature, humidity, soil and watering.

Location and lighting

Coming from the rainforests, the klerodendrum prefers a lot of fairly bright but diffused light. In the period of active growth is especially important.If the windows of the room face south, the flower is prune in the summer, if it is north - you need to think about the lighting.

The lack of illumination is one of the reasons why the clerodendrum does not bloom. In the period of rest, the flower can be placed in a place with a muffled light.

Shoots of some species grow to 3 meters, so you need to take care of support for them. If the vine is located against the wall, you can pull a strong fishing line or thin wire. In the pot for support, you can insert special, including decorative props of metal, plastic or natural materials. They can be selected in stores and departments for gardeners. The vines of the ampelous form in the hanging pots look spectacular.

Temperature conditions

The most favorable temperature in the summer period is from 18 to 25 degrees, in the period of rest the flower requires coolness. It partially (evergreen species) or completely (deciduous) loses leaves, the optimum temperature from November to March is 15-17 degrees.

If the winter temperature is higher, the plant will not come to a state of rest, and it may not bloom in the spring.At temperatures below 12 degrees, the plant may die.

Peculiarities of home care

To preserve the beauty of fast-growing plants at home, it is important to observe the following conditions when caring for them:

• sufficiency of moisture in the soil and air;
• regular feeding;
• crown formation;
• regular transplant.

The abundance of irrigation

Water the flower as the soil surface dries. General conditions:

• Do not allow the ground to dry out, it should be slightly damp.
• Defend water for irrigation for at least 24 hours.
• The lower the temperature, the less need to water the plants, about 1 every 3-4 days.

The amount of moisture and frequency of watering depends on the season and the state of the flower.

• In the state of winter dormancy, it is watered rarely and with a small amount of water.
• During the flowering period, the volume and frequency of watering increase.
• At the end of flowering the plant is watered less.

Air humidity

To maintain a comfortable level of humidity, spraying of the flower is carried out regularly, during the whole warm season using distilled water. The drier the air, the more water must be sprayed.

• At temperatures above 22 degrees and no rain, the plants are abundantly sprayed daily.
• In wet and cool weather, leaves moisten one time in 2-3 days.
• For the rest period, the plant is removed from the heaters, but spraying is carried out regularly.

Fertilization

During the period of active growth, flowering, the klerodendrum needs to be maintained by adding liquid fertilizers for indoor plants 1 time in 10-15 days. The amount of fertilizer is adjusted depending on the state of the plant:

• With too many leaves and no flowering, fertilizing is reduced by up to 2 months.
• If the plant is not transplanted, to enrich the soil with minerals and fertilizers, the amount of fertilizer applied is increased by no more than 10%.

Pruning

Clerodendrum forms inflorescences only on young shoots, it is pruned in order to:

• removal of dead leaves, weak, old, dry shoots;
• giving the plant a decorative shape.

The period of the year depends on this, when it is necessary to trim the clerodendrum.

Before the beginning of active growth, at the end of February - beginning of March, old and weak shoots are removed. They are cut to 5-7 mm above the level where the wood was formed.

To create a shape pruning is carried out in spring or autumn, when flowering ends.

Clerodendrum shoots quickly condense and woody, which allows you to give the crown interesting forms. Regulating their growth, the bush is given a beautiful configuration:

• arches;
• ampelous;
• woody or stab form.

The shape of the tree is attached, leaving 1 the strongest central shoot, cutting off from it the side processes in the lower part of the stem. When the desired length is reached, the shoot is clamped to shape the crown.

It is possible to get the form of a bush, cutting off the tops of the shoots to 25% of the length.

Features care in a dormant period

In the last autumn month, the klerodendrum enters a resting stage. Inflorescences fall, partially or completely the plant loses foliage. During this period, it is transferred to a cool room and create conditions for wintering:

• temperature 14-15 degrees;
• rare watering;
• moderate humidity.

Transplant rules: choice of pot and soil

Transplantation of a klerodendrum is carried out every year, in the spring after trimming. Parameters of a new flowerpot for transplanting: 2-3 cm to the height and width of the old pot.

Drainage of expanded clay, gravel or shards from ceramic dishes is poured at the bottom of the pot. Drainage layer - from 3 to 6 cm.

Soil can be bought at a flower shop, adding to it up to 10% of washed sand.

You can independently mix at 25%:

• peat;
• sand;
• leafy ground;
• loam.

When trying to transplant, they try to keep the earth ball by carefully separating the soil from the walls of the old pot in a spatula or other convenient tool.

Having placed the plant in a new pot, the soil prepared for transplantation is added to the voids, compacted and watered. If necessary, immersed in the ground support for the shoots.

Breeding methods

Flowering ends with the formation of fruits, seeds ripen in them, which can be used for the propagation of klerodendrum. It can also be diluted with cuttings.

For growing seeds and cuttings, they use purchased soil or prepare a mixture for transplanting adult plants, but without clay soil.

Growing from seed

Seeds are sown in a small container, covering 5-7 mm of soil. The distance from the upper edge of the tank to the level of the soil is 1.5-2 cm.

The container should be placed in a warm place and covered with a film or a transparent cap to form a greenhouse. Of the available tools fit plastic cups from dairy products or desserts boxes with a transparent lid. In the evenings, the crops are watered and aired for 25-30 minutes, removing the covering material.

After 45-60 days, the first shoots appear. When 4 true leaves are formed, the seedlings are transplanted by picking into a large container, 1 or 3 sprouts. The diameter of the tank - 7-12 cm, depending on the number of shoots.

Cuttings

When pruning the flower to form the crown cut enough young and strong shoots. Rooting these cuttings, you can get the saping of the clerodendrum, skipping the seed germination stage.

To cut the roots, they are placed in a glass with soft water, in a warm, well-lit and ventilated place.

It is possible to plant cuttings into the ground, if the roots are 3-4 cm long. Planted cuttings are covered with a transparent cap, which is daily removed for half an hour for airing.Transplantation of young plants is carried out at the beginning of the next spring.

Ways to control pests and diseases

Clerodendrum suffers from typical pests and diseases for houseplants.

The whitefly, spider mite - from them spend spraying solutions of insecticides, 4 times with an interval of 72 hours.

Shchitovka, mealybug - with a small lesion the leaves are treated with an alcohol solution of 8-9%, the pests are removed mechanically. In case of more serious infection, insecticides are sprayed for houseplants.

Mealy dew is a fungus, its appearance indicates that the plant lacks heat. The flower needs to be treated with a fungicide preparation, transferred to a warmer place, use slightly warmed water for irrigation.

Clerodendrum, unlike other vines, signs and superstitions attribute the ability to bring good luck and happiness in love.One thing can be said for sure: with the advent of this flower, beauty and harmony settle in the house, the undoubted companions of love!