Indoor Reo Flower: Care and Reproduction

Reo, or as flower growers like to call it - multi-colored tradescantia, - This is an attractive home plant from the family Kommelinovyh.

The flower is found mainly on the edges of the tropics, likes to grow near rivers and lakes, which speaks of its endurance.

Reo is as unpretentious as a cactus, but as beautiful as an orchid. Therefore, it is ideal for beginners.

a brief description of

Reo flower is a grassy long-liver. The stem of the flower is thick and dense, standing straight. It grows up to 30-40 cm in height, its leaves grow in different directions, and the shape of the plant is always different. If the lighting is uneven, the leaves will grow in the direction of light, and the flower will tilt under its own weight. Thanks to a powerful stalk, the flower is steady, in the process of growth the lower leaves and shoots die off, and it becomes similar to a palm tree.

The length of a single leaf will be up to 30 cm, and the width will be up to 7 cm. The leaves have a dark green color on top and red-violet on the bottom with not very pronounced stripes. Around the plant grows orange-red hairs.

Reo has small white flowers that grow on small stalks. The flower has protection in the form of a “boat”, which is formed by two or three purple leaves of the bract. Flowering takes a short period and is not tied to a specific quarter, it can occur both in autumn and in summer. But if you create favorable conditions and provide the right care, then it can bloom throughout the year.

How to care at home

Tradescantia is very hardy and unpretentious. Even a child can handle the care of this flower. After all, even if you make a mistake somewhere, it will not greatly affect the flower itself.

Location and lighting

Reo flower must be kept in special conditions. Care for him at home requires good lighting from the owner. This flower can withstand high temperatures, but long, direct sunlight can be dangerous for it.

Therefore, it must be maintained in conditions of small but sufficient illumination. Otherwise, the leaves of the flower can get sunburn. If the plant is not sufficiently illuminated, then your flower with purple leaves will change to pale color.

Temperature conditions

The temperature should not be below 10-16 degrees. If you leave the plant on the balcony, then consider that it can transfer the temperature up to 5 degrees.

If it drops, the flower will begin to lose internal pressure, which will lead to difficulty in getting water into the cells and the subsequent death of the leaves.

Also, sudden changes in temperature and drafts are not desirable.

Watering

The plant does not need special care in terms of watering. It may be noted the main points:

• Do not keep the soil dry for a very long time.
• From the beginning of spring to the end of summer, watering should be increased up to two times a week.
• For the autumn-winter period, you need to water less frequently: 2-3 times a month.
• For irrigation, use separated water, because it is softer.

Air humidity

The plant feels very good in a humid environment. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to spray the spray. In winter, this should be done more often due to constantly working heaters.

Feedings

Reo begin to fertilize from March to August. This should be done with special fertilizers for indoor leafy plants every two weeks. In autumn, fertilizing is reduced, and in winter they are not fed at all.

Possible difficulties in growing

The plant is resistant to many diseases and pests, so there are no particular difficulties in growing this flower.

But in order for the plant to feel better, it is necessary:

• In time to pick flowers and leaves that have faded or grown too large.
• Update the soil as needed. It consists of a mixture of garden soil (50%), peat (30%) and sand (20%).
• From time to time, make good soil drainage.

Tradescantia is resistant to various diseases and parasites. But it can become sick with gray rot or powdery mildew if you do not follow the irrigation regime and the soil moisture is too high.

If you notice rotting stems, leaves or flowers, then you should:

• trim all affected areas;
• transplant the plant to another soil;
• if the root is also affected, then it also needs to remove diseased branches;
• process the plant with a fungicidal agent.

It happens that your plant can hit the shield. To get rid of it, you need:

• wash pests with a sponge soaked in soapy water;
• wash off the remnants of the solution with clean water;
• treat the flower with an insecticide.

Signs by which it can be determined that the plant is missing something or is sick:

• Shredding leaves - few nutrients and light.
• Burns on the leaves - the effect of direct sunlight on the flower.
• Plant growth stops - excessive watering.
• Dry leaf tips - insufficient humidity in the room.
• Leaves shrivel and shrivel - water with too cold water or water with little.
• Too soft leaves - low temperature in the room.
• The leaves are not densely arranged - lack of nutrients in the soil.

Transplant rules

First you need to prepare the soil in which the transplant will be made. For this plant is prepared a special mixture of sand, humus, leaf, sod land. If there is no time for self-preparation of the soil, then you can buy in the store a substrate for decorative leafy plants.

Repotting should start when the plant reaches the age of 2 years. In this case, they are transplanted every 2 years. Adults are considered to be instances that have reached the age of 5 years, they should be replanted every 5 years.

It is worth noting that you need to choose wide pots, because the plant grows in width when it reaches the maximum height. Also, you should give preference to plastic and porcelain containers, because, unlike clay, they retain moisture longer. Repotting should start in spring time.

Methods of reproduction at home

A flower of reo, like most flowers, can multiply in two ways: by dividing and grafting. Consider both of these methods in more detail.

Division

Reo is fairly easy to propagate by division.To do this, you need to split the tip of the main shoot and wait until the side shoots grow on it. They need to be separated in the spring, and then transplanted into separate pots.

Young shoots are very sensitive to temperature changes, so try to maintain a temperature of 18-20 ° C. Over time, they take roots, after which they can be looked after, as well as adults.

Cuttings

In this case, all the varietal characteristics of the parents are passed on to the young plants, so flower growers love this method more than seed.

In this way, these plants breed in the wild, so it is light and does not require much effort from you.

With the onset of spring, you need to cut off the young shoots and put them in soft water until they take root. After that, they can be transplanted into a new soil.

Signs and superstitions

A lot of superstitions will be associated with the flower of reo. He has a dual nature. Therefore, it gives a person who lives in the same room as a flower a tide of creative energy, and also neutralizes bad thoughts and negative energy.

It is said that the flower creates protection from love spells and witch spells, and also helps to finish unfinished business and go towards its goal. If Aquarius lives next to a flower, the plant has a positive effect on its circulatory system. If you decide to plant this beautiful flower in your home, then you will have no difficulty in growing it, because it is unpretentious in its care and is resistant to diseases. And also has a nice appearance and will delight you and "protect."