2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Roicissus (lat. Rhoicissus) Is a flowering plant belonging to the Grape family.
Description
Roicissus is an evergreen climbing shrub or climbing liana, equipped with amazingly beautiful decorative leaves. The stems of the plant are long and branching. Young shoots are distinguished by impressive elasticity, but over time they gradually lignify. Rocissus leaves are dark green, and their undersides have a rather attractive brownish tint. They sit on petioles of medium length, and their simple leaf plates can have the appearance of buds or be rounded. There are also such varieties in which the leaf blades are endowed with broad bases that look like a heart. Below the leaves, especially young ones, are always pubescent, and on top they are usually smooth and have a slight, not very pronounced shine. The edges of the leaves are equipped with fairly large denticles. In addition to the dense foliage, on the Roicissus, you can see a great many antennae, also densely covered with microscopic hairs. With these antennae, the plants cling to the supports, completely wrapping them around them after some time.
The inconspicuous small flowers of Roicissus form small inflorescences, and its cute medium-sized fruits are distinguished by a rounded shape - these reddish-purple berries are often processed for the purpose of subsequent consumption.
The small genus of Roicissus has only a little more than a dozen varieties.
Where grows
Roicissus grows mainly in the South African territories. Quite often it can be found in the tropics of Laos or Vietnam.
Usage
Most often, the roicissus is used as a climbing plant on trellises or as an ampel plant in hanging or wall vases.
The leaves of some varieties of rocissus have found their way into traditional medicine. And the edible berries of this plant are often eaten.
Growing and caring
Rocissus should be grown in bright areas, providing it with proper shading from the scorching rays of the sun (otherwise, its leaves will quickly turn yellow). This plant tolerates shading very well, so do not be afraid of it. In winter, it is advisable to maintain the temperature of the Rocissus content within a maximum of fifteen degrees, although slightly higher temperatures are also quite acceptable.
Rocissus needs to be watered often, especially in the summer season, as it not only grows very quickly, but is also endowed with a huge number of leaves with a very impressive evaporating surface. Regular spraying with water will also benefit him. In addition, in the summer, it is recommended to systematically feed the Roicissus with full-fledged fertilizers - this will contribute to the acceleration of its growth.
With the onset of spring, it is advisable to transplant the plant into a mixture formed by sod soil with humus in combination with peat and sand (it is important to observe the ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1/2).
Roicissus can be propagated with apical cuttings throughout the year, but if mass reproduction is necessary, it is best to take stem cuttings with eyes (with one or two). If you provide moss with sand or peat, in which the cuttings were planted, with proper soil heating (that is, a temperature in the range of twenty to twenty-two degrees), their rooting will occur within fifteen to twenty days. By the way, several cuttings can be planted in one pot at once, after which the pots are often transferred to greenhouses until they form roots.
