2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
The Russian climate is not adapted for the life of thermophilic lianas, which is the fragrant Stefanotis, and therefore he found shelter here as a houseplant. Liana has a wayward character, which you need to adapt to, so that not only large leaves decorate the interior, but also white flowers fill your cozy home with a pleasant aroma
Crowned ear
It just so happened historically that almost all botanical names of plants have Latin or Greek roots. Not spared this fate and shrub vine with an intricately sounding name "Stefanotis". Only connoisseurs of the Greek language disclose the meaning of the name and it sounds something like this: "Crowned ear". And the culprit for such an unusual combination of words is the flower of the plant, which inspired the botany, which gave the name, the association with an ear decorated with a crown of fragrant corolla-petals.
Rod Stefanotis
About one and a half dozen shrub vines are combined into the genus Stephanotis. Their curly shoots cling to the support with aerial roots and antennae, stretching up to five or even ten meters in length. Therefore, curly supports are often arranged for them, directing their growth along the path necessary for the grower.
At home, only one species is most often grown, Stefanotis profusely.
Stephanotis profusely
Stephanotis profusely originally from the southern island of Madagascar, about which we sang songs in childhood, not even hoping to ever see it with our own eyes. Today, Russian tourists are a common sight on the island and can see the liana in its natural form and size.
On a long stem of vines, dark green leathery leaves are located in pairs, the surface of which is glossy. With their oblong-oval shape and all appearance, they are similar to the leaves of rubber ficus, a symbol of prosperity of the fifties-sixties of the last century. The leaf ends with a sharp short spine. Some people compare the leaves of Stephanotis with the leaves of his relative in the Lastovnevye family - Hoya, which can be read about here:
www.asienda.ru/komnatnye-rasteniya/voskovaya-hojya/
But the main advantage of Stephanotis is its tubular white flowers that bloom from May to October. Their pleasant aroma, filling the space around the plant, is comparable to the aroma of jasmine, for which liana is sometimes called Madagascar jasmine. Wax flowers form racemose inflorescences in the leaf axils, abundantly covering the long stem. The corolla consists of five lobes.
Growing
At home, satisfying all the needs of a Madagascar handsome man does not always work out to the fullest, so for him the best place to live is a greenhouse.
The plant needs a support to which young shoots are tied. When Stephanotis acquires aerial roots and antennae, he himself firmly clings to a wire arch, lattice, reed sticks or other support built for him.
In the summer, when the air temperature does not fall below plus 10 degrees, the pots with the plant are taken out to the open space, where it is sunny, but there is no crazy wind. Stefanotis is sensitive to drafts, and therefore, even in a room, choosing a place for him near a well-lit (but without direct sunlight) window, drafts should be avoided.
Stefanotis is a large water reservoir, and therefore in the summer it is watered 2-3 times a week, but without fanaticism. Liquid fertilizer is periodically added to the water. The best water for irrigation is soft rainwater, since the water from the city water supply can be harsh, and the plant does not like excess lime. It is recommended to keep the soil slightly damp in winter.
To maintain the appearance, the leaves need spraying and wiping with a damp cloth.
Reproduction
Propagated by spring cuttings, which are taken from non-flowering lateral shoots. Rooted in a mixture of peat and sand, at a temperature of 18-20 degrees and high humidity. After 1, 5-2 months, roots appear, allowing young specimens to be transplanted into independent containers.
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