Dichondra

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Video: Dichondra

Video: Dichondra
Video: Дихондра - мой опыт выращивания из семян 2024, March
Dichondra
Dichondra
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Dichondra (lat. Dichondra) - indoor plant; perennial plant of the Bindweed family. Under natural conditions, it grows in tropical and subtropical swamps and humid forests of Australia, New Zealand, East Asia and North America.

Characteristics of culture

Dichondra is a herbaceous evergreen plant with creeping or creeping stems up to 1.5 m long, forming a dense carpet. The root system is superficial. Leaves are small, opposite, round or kidney-shaped, green or with a silvery bloom, located on short petioles. The flowers are inconspicuous, can be white, lilac or light green, up to 2-3 mm in diameter. Flowering takes place in May-August.

Currently, among flower growers, silver Dichondra is widespread, or rather its two varieties: "Emerald Falls" (green leaves, medium-sized, rounded) and "Silver Waterfall" (pubescent leaves, silky, silvery-ash color). Despite the nondescript flowers, dichondra is a highly decorative culture, grown as an ampelous plant, capable of creating an unusual background, ideal for pots, hanging baskets and flat containers. Creeping or creeping stems with a large number of closely spaced leaves can create an imitation of a creek or a running stream.

Growing conditions

Dichondra is a light-loving culture, prefers well-lit window sills, develops well in rooms with diffused light, some forms accept partial shade. Dichondra is not whimsical to soil conditions, but it feels better on loamy, well-drained and mineral-rich soils with a pH of 6, 6 -8.

The optimum temperature of the content is 18-25C. A sharp decrease in temperature to 10C is extremely undesirable, this has a detrimental effect on the general condition of the plant. Dichondra is favorable to high air humidity, therefore it needs systematic spraying.

Reproduction and planting

Dichondra is propagated by seeds, layering and stem cuttings. Sowing seeds is carried out in mid-January - early February in low containers. The seeds are not embedded in the soil, but only slightly pressed, watered and covered with glass or polyethylene. The optimum temperature of the content before the emergence of shoots is 22-24C. Seedlings appear in 1-2 weeks. Initially, young plants develop very slowly, dichondra reach their maximum decorative effect only after 3-3.5 months.

The most popular among florists is the method of propagation of culture by cuttings. This method is believed to be more effective and simpler. Cuttings are cut 5-6 cm long and rooted in a moist, slightly acidic substrate for decorative deciduous plants. Rooting occurs in about 10-15 days. An important task with this method of reproduction is to maintain greenhouse conditions; in no case should the soil be allowed to dry out.

When dichondra propagates by layering, the planting material is laid out on moist soil and pressed in several places. The containers are covered with polyethylene. After 7-10 days, with the onset of rooting, the stem is cut, and the layers are transplanted into another pot.

Care

Dichondras grown in ampelous form require regular pruning. Watering is carried out in moderation, since the roots of the plant do not tolerate stagnant water. The bottom of the pot should be covered with a thick layer of drainage. Dichondra tolerate a short-term drought without any problems, after watering they quickly recover.

The culture has a positive attitude towards fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers. Top dressing is carried out from April to September. In the autumn-winter period, fertilization is contraindicated. Dichondra is extremely rarely affected by diseases and pests, therefore it does not need preventive treatments.

Application

It turns out that dichondras are suitable not only for decorating premises (offices, apartments and other premises). In regions with warm winters, they are often used to create rocky gardens, often planted between the tiles of walking paths, as well as under trees and in courtyards.