How to care for room cordina

Cordilina genus includes more than 20 species of plants.

They are common in subtropical and tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia.

In this article, we will look at how to care for the cordilin flower at home.

Short description

This plant is very similar for dragon. But they can be easily distinguished by the roots protruding from the ground: they are white in Cordilina, and the roots of the dracaena have a yellow-orange color. In nature, the plant in question can reach a height of up to 12 m, and in a pot it does not exceed 1.5 m. It is a tall tree or shrub with a thin trunk. In the photo below you can see how the cordilina looks. Cordilina has a strong root system and long leaves that have a lanceolate or xiphoid shape.The leaves are mostly green, but on some plant species there are red, cream and pink spots. The plant over time becomes like a palm tree when old leaves fall off and bare the lower part of the trunk. Often this tree is called "false palm".

What to look for when buying

Buying a plant, you need to pay attention to some factors. Before buying, carefully inspect the flower:

• leaves should be bright;
• leaf stalks should depart directly from the base of the plant;
• it is better to grow a young plant - pay attention so that it does not acquire a thin stem with a bundle of leaves at the top;
• there should be no damage on the leaves.

Do I need to replant after purchase

If, after purchasing the Cordilina, you notice that the roots protrude outside, then a flower transplant is required.To do this, it is necessary to prepare a soil mixture, which consists of top peat, large river sand and hardwood humus. You can also add charcoal, which can prevent the appearance of rot. And when brick crumbs are added to the ground, excess water will be well absorbed, giving the soil looseness. The size of the pot depends on the size of the flower and its roots. If Cordilina is small, then the pot should be in accordance with the dimensions. It is recommended that the width and length of the tank for the transplant should be approximately the same. With each next transplant pot must be larger. The best material for such a container is plastic.

Further care and growing conditions

Cordilina flower requires high-quality care for growing at home.

Location and lighting

This plant prefers bright light, but with the obligatory shading from direct sunlight.The best place for a flower will be western or eastern windows. Cordilina can grow successfully with artificial light. Also, the "false palm" can be in a deaf shadow, but at the same time it should be carried out once a week to the place lit by bright diffused light.

Temperature

This plant is thermophilic, so the air temperature in the room should be: in summer - 18-22 ° C, in winter - not lower than 12 ° C. False palm is sensitive to temperature changes. And also it should be protected from drafts.

Air humidity

Humidity should be high all year round. To do this, every day to spray the leaves on both sides.

In winter, it is undesirable to keep the flower close to the heating devices.

Watering

In the warm season, Cordilina is watered twice a week, and in winter, watering is reduced to 1 time per week. The main thing - do not allow the earthen clod to dry. Also, the "false palm" does not tolerate stagnant water - it begins to shed its leaves. Flowers with wide leaves require more abundant moisture than narrow-leaved Cordilins, whose leaves evaporate a lot of moisture.Water for irrigation is best used defended.

Top dressing

It is necessary to fertilize a plant in spring and summer 2 times a week, and in winter it is enough 1 time per month. To do this, you need complex fertilizers for indoor plants, such as "Ideal", "Rainbow", "Giant".

Features care in a dormant period

Cordilina needs peace to gain strength for active growth in the new season. Plant resting in autumn and winter. False Palm needs coolness. But at low temperatures, the plant should be protected from overcooling the roots. A pot with a flower growing on the window sill, it is desirable to put on a piece of foam - it retains heat. Cordilina, conducting a period of rest on the balcony, needs warming the pot by wrapping it with warm insulating material.

If the temperature is below +15 ° C, then the humidity should not be increased. Watering is also limited to a minimum, keeping the soil slightly moist. Thermophilous species of this plant are also watered modestly, but they must be sprayed regularly.

In the period of rest, it is necessary to increase the length of daylight for all types of Cordilin.Especially variegated plants need it - with a lack of light, they lose their bright color. Lamps for lighting is better to use LED or fluorescent - they do not dry and do not heat the air, and the plants are well perceived by their light.

How often do I need to transplant

You need to repot the flower 1 time in 2 years. This is usually done in the spring, but if necessary (if the roots look out of the pot), the procedure can be carried out at other times of the year. When transplanted into a pot, pebbles, coarse sand and charcoal are poured. This circulates oxygen and also helps evaporation of excess water. Next, you need to fill up the middle of the pot. And, having established a plant in capacity, to fill up with the remained earth. Tamper the plant is prohibited. After the done actions, the Cordilina is watered and the flower is taken root in the new pot.

Fighting possible problems with growing

When growing any flowers can be difficult. Cordilina is no exception.

Consider what to do if dry leaves. The reason for this is dry air, draft or weak watering. This problem can be solved by spraying the flower and moistening the air. It is necessary to protect the plant from temperature changes, drafts and prevent complete drying of the soil. If the leaves turn yellow and die, it means that the cordilin lacks fertilizer or the air is too dry. To avoid this problem, it is necessary to moisten the leaves of the flower and the air, as well as regularly apply fertilizer. Due to too low temperature at the leaves elasticity is lost - they become soft and the edges turn brown. To prevent this from happening, you can not put the plant in a cold room or close to a cold window. A large amount of sun burns the leaves, and light dry spots may appear on them. It is recommended in the hot season pritenyat flower from the bright sun.

In addition to the above problems, Cordilin can be affected by pests and diseases.

The appearance of thrips on a plant is characterized by the fact that light small spots appear on the leaves, and later they acquire shine and the leaves wither.It is necessary to fight by removing damaged leaves and spraying with insecticides, such as "Inta-vir", "Decis", "Aktellik".

Twisting and drying of young shoots indicates an attack of aphids on the "false palm". To get rid of the pest, the plant must be treated with "Biotlin", "Antitlin" or drugs that contain permethrin.

Shchitovka also poses a threat to the Cordilina. On the lower part of the leaves of the plant appear hard spots of brown or yellow color. You can overcome the shield in this way: with a sponge or napkin, you need to remove pests, and then treat the flower with "Confidor" or "Aktar". For prophylaxis, you can apply a foam of household soap on the plant and leave it for 1 hour. Then wash it off with a warm shower.

If white lumps appeared on the stems and leaves, the leaves became sticky, turn yellow and die, then it means that the mealybug has settled on the plant. Pests must be manually destroyed and treated with "Aktar", "Flyoverm" or "Confidor". Spraying should be repeated in a week. A common disease of Cordilina is rot caused by a fungus.Evidence of this is wilted, but not withered leaves, and shoots lose elasticity. In this case, it is necessary to remove the flower from the soil, remove the damage and treat the roots with activated carbon or fungicide. After that, the plant must be planted in a new pot.

If the roots are completely dead, then the top should be cut off and rooted. To rot did not hit the plant, it must be planted in a sterilized substrate. It is also impossible to prevent overmoistening of the soil and overcooling of the root system.

Vegetative breeding methods at home

Cordilin breeding occurs by seed, cutting and dividing the bush. Seed method is the longest. Mainly propagate the flower vegetatively.

Division of rhizomes

To multiply this way the plant is best during transplantation. The rhizomes are carefully removed from the soil, washed and separated, removing all small roots. The obtained sprouts must be planted in a light substrate - sod land, sand, leaf and peat land.After the plant has taken root, it is transplanted into a substrate that is familiar to Cordilina.

Cuttings

For reproduction using this method, it is necessary to take half-lignified shoots. You can use both the tip and the middle of the stem. It is necessary to cut off the cutting with a length of not less than 7 cm with a sharp knife. It is recommended to process the cuts with crushed activated carbon, a mixture of "Heteroauxin" or "Root Caviar".

Then you need to plant the cuttings in the sand-peat mixture. Planting must be covered with a transparent film and kept at a temperature of 20-22 ° C, while not forgetting to spray frequently. Rooting should take place within a month. After that sprouts should be seated in separate containers.

“False palm” will decorate any house, and there will be no problems with it if you follow all the rules of growing and caring for a flower.