How to care for syngonium, omens and superstitions

The syngonium is a fast-growing liana, which has won the attention of many gardeners all over the world with its unpretentiousness, beauty and a huge choice of various species. Find out more what kind of flower.

Description

From Greek, singonium is translated as "seed." This is a perennial liana growing in the tropical forests of America, belongs to the family of Aroids. In the wild, more than 30 species grow, and less than half cultivated.

As an indoor ornamental plant, syngonium is very popular due to the variety of color and shape of leaves. This flower has the following characteristics:

• Flexible thin trunk with a large number of air roots helps him cling to the support.

• The leaves have different forms: in the form of a heart, spear-shaped, consisting of three parts. With age, their shape may change.
• The color of the foliage varies from light green (almost white) to dark green, with splashes of yellow.
• In floriculture, the plant is used as a vine or as an ampelous plant.

Basic landing rules

Having decided to plant a singonium flower at home, it is necessary to know that the plant does not cause much trouble, but it is necessary to provide certain conditions for its decoration.

Choice of location and lighting

Syngonium loves scattered sunlight or partial shade. From direct sunlight, some varieties lose their brightness, and at the same time its lack leads to shredding of the foliage. The ideal option for placing pots for growing will be windows from the east and west sides.

Temperature and humidity

The temperature of the syngonium is tolerant.Indoors, it should not be above +25 ° C in summer and +17 ° C in winter.

Since the plant comes from the tropics, the air humidity plays an important role. To maintain it at the right level, you can use a special device. If you can not buy it, then spend daily foliar spraying and place the container with the plant in a pan with claydite, always keeping it wet. For spraying water must be taken at room temperature.

Growing soil

The soil for planting is taken neutral or slightly acidic, light and consisting of leafy soil, peat, sand and humus in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 0.5.

The addition of charcoal or bone meal to the earth will add nutrients to it. At the bottom of the pot it is necessary to fill the expanded clay (1/3 capacity to collect excess moisture), which will protect the roots from rotting.

Care instructions

As with the cultivation of other plants at home, you will have to take care of the syngonium in a certain way to get a healthy and beautiful-looking flower. Mandatory procedures include: watering, fertilizing, crown formation and transplanting.

Watering

The plant is moisture-loving and he needs regular watering. It is carried out as the earth dries out, that is, if the soil is 3 centimeters dry it should be moistened. To do this, use filtered or settled for several days at room temperature water.

Once every 10 days you need to bathe the syngonium under the shower, carefully moistening the earthy ball in the pot. Moreover, the key to the decorativeness and health of the flower is its regular spraying, especially during the heating season, when there is dry air in the room due to central heating.

Fertilizers and fertilizers

Caring for the syngonium, in order to obtain a healthy plant at home, implies mandatory fertilizing with special compounds.They need to be carried out, starting from spring and up to the autumn, with a frequency of twice a month. Perform this procedure using complex fertilizer for leafy plants. In winter, when the flower is at rest, the procedure is not carried out.

Crown formation

The beautiful ornamental plant is not only watering and top dressing, but also correctly formed krone.

For this procedure, there are several ways:

• Spring pruning of shoots to a length of 20 centimeters allows you to rejuvenate the plant. During the year, the branches of the syngonium grow up to 30 centimeters (approximately 6 sheets).
• Pinching shoots at a distance of 6 centimeters from the leaf allows for branching of existing shoots and growth of new ones. This technique allows you to create a bushy lush crown.
• A pipe wrapped in moss is inserted into the center of the pot, which will support the syngonium. This is done when transplanting plants to another pot, so as not to damage the roots of the flower. Moss on the tube moisturize during watering.The plant with its aerial roots is well attached to it and twists on a support.

Transfer

The transplanting process is a must-have procedure, which is necessary not only for the syngonium, but also for all indoor plants. In this case, several problems are solved:

• Complete replacement of depleted soil.
• Replacing the pot with a larger container for comfortable placement of an overgrown root system.

The operation itself is best carried out in the spring, when the plant leaves the state of rest and begins a period of development. Young specimens must be replanted annually, and adult plants once a few seasons. If the flower is large, in order not to injure it with this procedure, you can replace the top layer of soil (about a depth of 3 centimeters).

The procedure of transplantation is carried out according to the following scheme:

• A drainage layer of expanded clay (1/3 of the pot volume) is poured at the bottom of the tank.
• The plant is lowered into the prepared container, the roots gently straighten and covered with soil.
• The soil is slightly compacted and well filled with settled water to remove the remaining air. If after watering the soil subsided, it is necessary to fill it.

Reproduction of syngonium

The breeding procedure at home is not laborious and is carried out in several ways: by dividing the shoots and grafting the upper part of the shoot of the syngonium.

The division of shoots

Step-by-step instruction:

• The branch of a liana is cut off and parts, about 14 centimeters long (with two buds) are cut with a sharp knife.
• Then they are put in plain water to branch roots. To stimulate the formation of roots, you can add "root" or activated charcoal. If rooting is carried out in wet peat or earth - shoots are placed horizontally.
• The container is covered with glass or film to create a microclimate with constant humidity and temperature of about +25 ° C.
• After the roots have gone up, the shelter is removed, and as soon as they reach a length of about 3 centimeters, the parts obtained are seated in prepared pots.

Apical cuttings

Sequence of operations:

• Using a sharp knife, cut off the upper part of the stem 15 centimeters long with two leaves and one growth point.
• The lowermost leaf is removed, and the cutting is lowered for a couple of hours in a solution with a growth stimulator.
• In the prepared mixture of peat and sand (in equal parts) we bury the cutting to the remaining leaf.
• Well watered and covered with a jar to create a microclimate.The temperature inside the mini-greenhouse should not be below +23 ° C.
• It is necessary to constantly keep the ground moist.
• After three weeks, we remove the shelter, and when the roots are strengthened and reach a length of a couple of centimeters, plant the cuttings in prepared pots.

Diseases and pests

The main pests of syngonium manifest themselves in different ways:

• The leaves began to curl, so the flower is affected by aphids. The favorite place of the pest is the lower part of the leaf plate. In this case, the syngonium stops growing, the leaves begin to lose color, turn yellow and fall off, leaving bare shoots. For the destruction of pests using insecticides, for example: "Decis", "Fitoverm" and others.
• The shield is infecting the leaves on both sides, so they dry out and die. Organophosphate insecticides such as Actellic (20 drops per liter of water) can be used for control.
• If brown spots appeared on the lower part of the foliage, it means it is thrips.They appear on the syngonium when the plant is kept in a hot room with overdried air. To destroy the colonies of this pest can be the same drugs that are successfully used by aphids and shchitovki.

The treatment is carried out by spraying the plant. For prophylaxis, in two weeks, the procedure is repeated.

Flower diseases:

• The stems rotting occurs at low air temperature and excessive watering.
• Those who are interested in what to do if the leaves of the syngonium began to turn yellow, it is worth knowing that the plant does not have enough mineral fertilizers and needs to be fed.
• Foliage is reduced in size - the flower is not enough lighting. Move the pot closer to the window or place an additional light source nearby.
• The tips of the leaves dry up, turn brown, and over time quickly fall off - the air in the room is too dry. You must put a humidifier or increase the number of sprays.

Signs and superstitions

There are many accept and all sorts of superstitions that are associated with syngonium. It is rumored that:

• The plant can save the homeowner from disease.
• The flower, located near the bed, eliminates bad dreams and makes the night rest more complete.
• Helps owners to get rid of bad habits, to adapt well to the new environment and improves mental abilities.
• One of the main superstitions - singon flower is man-hater. It is believed that where he grows men do not stay long. By the way, this applies to all climbers planted at home.

Types of syngonium

The most popular varieties of syngonium grown in indoor floriculture:

• Knifelee. The leaves of a young plant are like spears, and with age their shape changes and becomes like a foot.

• Ushkovaty. The leaves are very dense with a glossy finish, in adult specimens in the shape of ears. In the interstices of the stems grow aerial roots.
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• Pink. The name speaks for itself - the foliage is painted in pale pink color.

• Brokant Foliage chocolate with red streaks that stand out.

• Wendland. On velvety, saturated-green leaves, there passes the central vein of silvery color.

• Pixie The leaves are clearly distinguished streaks of white color.

• Butterfly. Foliage color varies from white to pink.

Knowing everything about this exotic vine, the cultivation of which does not cause almost any trouble, every gardener will want to settle it at home as an effective interior decoration and as a natural air purifier.