Peculiarities of care for a ctenant at home

Ktenante (Ktenante, Ctenanthe) - indoor plant of the ornamental group, belongs to the Marantova family.

She is often confused with calathea due to the lack of classification of these species.

Description

In the wild, a ktenant is found in the humid tropical climate of South America (Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela), introduced to our continent at the end of the 19th century.

The leaves of the qutenant have an oval, pointed or rectangular shape, with veins, located on small shoots in the form of a fan or comb, from which the name of the flower originated.

The foliage of a two-color qutenant: a bright green or light green background and a clearly visible motley pattern in the form of asymmetrical bands of light green, yellow, light gray or white. The surface of the sheet is velvet. On the reverse side of the leaves have a dark red color. With the onset of the evening, the leaves of the Ctenant rise to the top, closing, lower in the morning again.

The height of a room ctenant can reach 90 cm, and in nature - up to 2.5 m.

Ktenanta rarely indulges the owner with flowering, the shape of the flowers resembles a large wheat spikelet of a pale purple, white or yellow color. Lovers of indoor plants in the price of beauty foliage plants.

Kinds

At home, Berl-Marx, Lubbers, and Oppenheim grows up to a companion, although the science knows about 15 species of a tenant.

Ktenanta Burl-Marx

View Ctenanthe burle-marxii discovered in Brazil Roberto Burle-Marx. Of all species of the family of maranths, this plant is the shortest, it reaches no more than 40 cm in height. The foliage is light green, gray, with bottled-colored spots in the form of stripes, has the shape of a rectangle with rounded edges approximately 6 to 10 cm in size, and on the reverse side - cherry.

The view is very well taken root in the garden, spread out in the form of a carpet.

There are several varieties of Bern-Marx ctenants: obscura, amagris and dwarf species. They differ in a shade of leaves.

In obscura type (Obscura) The foliage has a broad malachite border. Ktenanta Burl-Marx Amagris (Amagris) characterized by leaves of pale green color with a darker shade pattern in the form of thin streaks. Ctenante Burl-Marx Amagris was artificially bred in Belgium. Leaves dwarf ctenants reach a height of no more than 20 cm, have a beautiful pattern of stripes of grass color on a light background.

Ktenant Lubbers

Ctenanthe lubbersiana leaves the shape is long, tapering upwards. The color of the leaves is emerald green with randomly scattered large oblong spots of pale yellow color. On the seamy side of the foliage is green. Stems of wine-colored plants. A characteristic feature of this species is the growth of leaves on the trunk. On sale there are quenters of the Golden Mosaic, Variegata, Brazilian Snow and Tropical Dragon varieties. The first one is characterized by light green spots of irregular shape against a dark background. "Variegata" is characterized by patches of pale yellow color. The spots on the leaves of the queen "Brazilian Snow" and "Tropical Dragon" are milky in color, but the first one has large spots, almost half of the leaf. On the leaves of the "Tropical Dragon" spots in the form of broad bands. In the height of the queen Lubbers reaches from 80 cm to 1 m.

Ktenanta Oppenheim

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana - one of the highest. In the wild, Oppenheim's grower grows up to 2 m, at home - up to 1 m.

Its leaves are strong, leaden in color with bright green large spots, crimson on the back side. Rounded at the bottom, long (up to 40 cm) foliage sharpens up.

A common variety in Europe is "Tricolor" (Tricolor), on the leaves there are spots and stripes of pale pink color.

Ktenanta compressed

Leaves compressed ctenants (Ctenanthe Compressa) represent rectangles with round edges of pistachio color with imperceptible strips of a light shade in the form of streaks. Science is known stubby ctenant, or ctenant cytosis (Ctenanthe setosa) with bristle cuttings.

Conditions

Ktenanta come from the tropics, especially care and cultivation provide for the creation of a warm and humid tropical climate. Caring for a ctenant at home includes controlling the temperature, humidity of the air and the soil, the degree of lighting.

The most enduring kind of ktenanta considered ktenanta Oppenheim.

Temperature

For normal growth and beautiful appearance, a ktenant requires well-warmed air, in summer it is not lower than +20 ° C (slightly less at night), in winter it is not lower than +12 ° C. Failure to follow these rules can lead to diseases of the plant root system.

Do not leave the queen by the open window, as drafts can destroy the flower. A jump in temperature differences is also unacceptable for healthy plant growth. To reduce the likelihood of his death, it is desirable to provide a stable high temperature.

It is not necessary to rearrange the ctenant from place to place, as this may have a detrimental effect on her beauty.

Air humidity

In a room where a ctenant grows, the humidity should be maintained at a level not lower than 55%, and better - 70%.

Leaves to maintain moisture should be sprayed from a special sprayer. The installation in the room of a special humidifier can have a beneficial effect.

Lighting

Under natural conditions, a ctenant grows in the shade of tropical trees, covering it from direct sunlight. Therefore, an excess of bright sunlight can cause leaf burnout.

If the windows of the room where the ctenant stands are facing south, it is good to place the flower not on the window sill, but on the stand or table not far from the window, so that the scattered rays of the sun illuminate the plant a little, since lack of light will lead to loss of brightness of the leaves and poor growth. But best of all, this kind of flora feels like in rooms in which the windows face out in other directions. Ktenanta tolerates artificial lighting, which is important in winter.

The soil

A ctenant needs a special primer, not acidified, without lime. In the conditions of home floriculture, the care of a ktenant includes the purchase of a special substrate for maranths. As a substitute, you can use the soil for azaleas.

You can also make a special mixture of your own by mixing 2 parts of leafy ground, 1 part of peat, 1 part of sand and adding a little charcoal.An important condition is to ensure not only nutritious, but also loose soil that is able to retain moisture, so you should definitely check this composition, clenched in your fist. If the ground is loose, you can fall asleep in the pot.

Breeding

Propagated by a quander when transplanting by dividing a bush or cuttings.

Dividing bush

The essence of this method is to carefully, trying not to damage the rhizomes, during the spring transplant, divide an adult flower that has reached the age of three into several parts and plant in different pots. Flowerpots with parts of the plant should be watered and covered with a bag of polyethylene, not tying it until the qutenant begins to give new leaves (after about a month).

Cuttings

A ctenant stalk is a leaf with a leg on which it is attached to the stalk. Propagation by cuttings can also be carried out in the fall. To do this, cut petiole immersed in a glass of water for several weeks before the roots. Additionally, you can cover the glass with a plastic bag. When the roots appear, the stalk is transplanted into the pot.

Care

It is necessary to care for such a flower as a ktenanta, by irrigation, fertilizer and transplanting.

Watering

The humidity of the tropics causes a high demand for water in the ctenants, but do not allow the creation of puddles in the pan, otherwise the roots may rot. To prevent this situation can gravel, moss or absorbent cloth, located on the tray with a flower.

Watering is carried out under the leaves, preventing the formation of large drops of water on the foliage, because of which it can change color.

Water for irrigation and spraying should be pre-settled and heated to room temperature. You can also use rainwater.

The optimal interval for watering the plant is 2-3 days, but the dryness of the soil in the pot must be controlled.

Fertilizer

Caring for the soil provides for its mandatory loosening and fertilizing. Fertilizers should be applied at least once a fortnight, using special liquid fertilizers intended for decorative leaf. In winter, this interval can be increased. Do not overfeed the plant, you can not allow a high content of calcium and nitrogen in the substrate, it can lead to his death.

Transfer

It is recommended to replant the qutenta each spring, especially if it has grown heavily. You should not choose a large-sized pot for a medium-sized plant, it can lead to a halt of its growth.

Flowerpot is better to take from baked unglazed clay with holes at the bottom to remove excess moisture.

Do not forget to provide drainage in a pot for draining excess water. To this end, a nut or egg shell, small smooth stones, gravel, wood bark, foam plastic, etc. are placed on the bottom of the pot.

Diseases and pests

With improper care, a ktenant may be exposed to diseases or become a victim of pests. Such diseases are spread to ctenants:

1. Root rot - a disease caused by excessive watering. The roots of the plant darken and begin to rot. This problem can be eliminated by cutting the diseased roots by spraying Bordeaux liquid, colloidal sulfur, cuproxate.Sometimes a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate helps.
2. Mealy dew - diseased leaves are powdered with flour. Treatment consists of spraying with benomyl, teofanate-methyl, rarely with soap and soda.
3. Black fungus (black) - while the plant seems to be covered with soot. It is possible to neutralize such a fungus by washing the affected areas with soap and treating it with insect repellents.
4. Rust - this disease is characterized by the presence of rust-colored pimples with a rash on the reverse side. From this disease can help fungicides or Bordeaux mixture.
5. Leaf spot - wet spots with clear boundaries that arise from exposure to direct sunlight or excessive spraying.

Dangerous microorganisms that harm a ktenante are:

1. Spider mite - cobwebs around leaves and stalks. Turning over the sheet, you will see a brown dot. Alcohol, which needs to wipe the infected areas, will help to destroy it.
2. Scutellum - round insects of pale brown color, which must be removed by treating with turpentine, lube or kerosene. The plant should be washed.
3. The whitefly is very small white butterflies eating the plant. You can get rid of them using a fumigator, adhesive tape, onion or garlic water.
4. Mealybug - an oval-shaped insect plastered with white patina. You can get rid of it by wiping with a soap or alcohol solution, or using special chemicals.
5. Aphids are small insects that come in different colors, living from the back of the leaves. You can fight them like a mealybird.

Pest control must take place in several stages to destroy the adult individuals and larvae.

Possible difficulties

You may encounter such problems when growing a ctenant:

1. The leaves dry out and fold. Perhaps the air in the room is too dry, it is necessary to spray the flower.
2. Spots on the leaves. The reason - direct sunlight or water. Remove the flower from the window or cover the glass with a curtain. When watering the qutenant, avoid water on the leaves.
3. Leaf rot - occurs due to drafts. Do not place the plant on the window sill.
4. Curve flower growth due to lack of light.Try to move the queen to another, more lighted room.

Having provided the ktenante with normal conditions, it is easy to get a beautiful evergreen in return.