2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
To rid your wardrobes of the nasty moth that loves to feast on natural fabrics, shelter the evergreen Plectranthus. The scent of their beautiful leaves will ward off insects, and the openwork shape will add elegance to the interior of the room
Rod Plectranthus
Several hundred species of evergreens are united by the genus Plectranthus or Shporotsvetnik. Among them are herbaceous annuals and perennial shrubs. Plant height varies from a few centimeters of ground cover species to two-meter shrubs.
Common to all species are tetrahedral stems, which can be bare or pubescent, and whole fragrant leaves, the openwork of which is given by the serrate or crenate (with rounded teeth) edge of the leaf.
Small, irregularly shaped double-lipped flowers form inflorescences, painted in white, purple or lilac.
The root tubers and leaves of Plectrantus in many countries are used for food on an equal basis with other vegetables. In addition, fragrant leaves replenish the ranks of spices, medicinal plants and are a decorative adornment of gardens and premises.
Varieties
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Plectrantus Forster (Plectranthus forsteri) is a herbaceous perennial grown as an ampelous plant. The leaves are somewhat similar in shape to the leaves of pelargonium. They are wide, ovoid, slightly pubescent and exude a peculiar spicy aroma. Popular varieties with variegated leaves are bred. For example, the green surface of the leaves of Plectrantus "Motley" and "Bordered" is decorated with a white-cream pattern. The cluster inflorescences are collected from light blue flowers.
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Shrub plectrantus (Plectranthus fruticosus) is an unpretentious shrub that grows up to two meters high. It also has a second name - “
Molar tree"Assigned to the plant for the ability of ovate-elliptical leaves to protect premises from annoying flies and moths. The camphor smell emitted by the leaves rubbed in the hands is not to the taste of insects. In addition to the "guard" function, the leaves play the role of decorators, pleasing the eye with the openwork of the jagged-crenate edge. Light blue, pink or blue-purple flowers prefer to grow in groups. The plant feels more comfortable in cool rooms.
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Plectrantus Ertendahl (Plectranthus oertendalii) - has bronze-green velvety rounded leaves and panicle inflorescences, collected from flowers from white to light lilac. Aerial roots are formed in the nodes of the stem. It is used as a ground cover or ampel plant.
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Plectranthus Madagascar (Plectranthus madagascarensis) is a semi-succulent member of the Plectranthus genus with creeping shoots that are good for growing as an ampelous plant. It has fragrant green, sometimes variegated, leaves and flowers from white to lilac.
Growing
Grows outdoors in tropics and mild climates. We often grow it as an annual, decorating terraces, garden pavilions or city balconies. Species with creeping shoots are beautiful ampelous decorations for any premises.
They prefer well-lit places, but not in direct sunlight. The air temperature below plus 10 degrees deprives the plant of life, the interval from 18 to 20 degrees is optimal for life. Only the Molno tree loves coolness and shows its qualities more actively at 12-14 degrees.
The soil is prepared from a mixture of fertile soil (one third) and peat (two thirds). When grown outdoors, infertile soil is also suitable. It does not need fertilizing the soil when planting, but in the spring and summer, moderate watering every 2-3 weeks is combined with mineral fertilizing. In winter, watering is rare. Excessive watering induces fungal diseases and yellowing of the leaves.
With a strong growth of the green mass, they resort to pinching the shoots.
Worms and gluttonous aphids love to feast on young shoots. A particularly prolific enemy is the spider mite.
Reproduction
Plectrantus can be propagated all year round using cuttings that take root easily in water or sand.
In the spring, you can divide the bushes, immediately defining the separated part for a permanent place.
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