2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Smosymyannik (lat. Pittosporum) - a genus of shrubs and trees of the Smolosemyannikovye family. Another name is pittosporum. The genus includes about 200 species that naturally grow in tropical and subtropical areas, more precisely in Africa, Southeast and East Asia, Australia and Oceania. Only one species has been widely used as a garden and indoor culture - Pittosporum Tobira (lat. Pittosporum tobira).
Characteristics of culture
Smolens is an evergreen shrub or tree up to 30 m high. The leaves are simple, green, leathery, slightly toothed or whole-edged, alternate, up to 15 cm long, arranged in a spiral manner. Flowers are small, five-petalled, white, yellow or red, single or collected in umbellate or corymbose inflorescences, axillary or sitting on the tops of the shoots. The flowers have a sweetish, pronounced aroma. The fruit is a capsule with numerous seeds covered with a sticky resinous substance.
Growing conditions
Light is preferable diffused without direct sunlight, the effect of which can adversely affect the quality of the foliage, moreover, it can get severe burns. A light shadow is not forbidden, but in such areas the culture blooms weakly. The optimum temperature for growth and development is 20C. At home, spring-summer temperatures range from 18 to 22C, in winter - 10-15C. Increased humidity is necessary, plants do not tolerate dry air well. The soil is desirable loose, fertile, moderately moist with a neutral reaction.
Reproduction and planting
Propagated resin seeds and cuttings. Seeds are sown immediately after collection in seedling containers or pots. Seedlings dive in the phase of two true leaves. The pots are filled with a soil mixture composed of sod and leafy soil and sand in a ratio (1: 1: 1). Seed-propagated resin seeds bloom in the third year after sowing.
Crop cuttings are carried out in the summer. Cuttings are cut from healthy shoots and planted in the substrate as for seed propagation. The soil in containers is regularly watered and shaded from direct sunlight. Rooted specimens are transplanted into separate pots with a diameter of 7-9 cm and grown. After a year, the plants can be planted in open ground. It should be remembered that resinous plants are thermophilic plants. They can withstand frosts down to -12C, so they can be grown outdoors only in regions with a warm climate.
Care
Watering is timely with the use of soft, settled water. During a prolonged drought, watering is abundant and frequent. Resin seedlings, grown as a room culture, are watered as the substrate dries up; in winter, watering is limited. It is impossible to overmoisten the soil in the near-trunk zone, this can lead to acidification. It is important to regularly spray the plants with warm water. Spraying is carried out in the evening or early in the morning.
Fertilizers are applied during the period of active growth. When growing a resin seed plant in the garden, 2-3 dressings are enough; in room conditions, dressing is carried out once every two weeks. In this case, it is recommended to use both organic and mineral fertilizers (alternately). Crown pruning is carried out in early spring. Plants lend themselves well to pruning. Also, pruning is carried out during intensive shedding of foliage.
Smoloseyans painfully tolerate transplantation, it is better to limit themselves to standard transshipment. Pot-grown specimens are transplanted once a year at the age of 1 to 3 years, and once every three years at the age of 5-10 years. Plants are often affected by various pests and diseases, in particular: mealybugs, false scutes, spider mites, thrips, as well as fusarium and other types of spotting. It is important to detect the problem in time and carry out the treatment.
