Cissus belongs to the ampelous plant species and is a prominent representative of the Grape family. He has long won the love of flower growers. They know this plant as indoor grapes. In nature, cissus is common in tropical and subtropical zones. In total there are 300 types of indoor grapes, this article will be about the most common.
Description
Cissus is presented as a vine with tendrils growing on it. With their help, the plant clings to various supports that it bumps into. The leaves, depending on the species, are dissected and whole. As for flowering, here the grapes are much inferior to other indoor plants. Its flowers are quite inconspicuous, have a rather pale shade and are collected in small umbrella inflorescences. However, indoor grapes have something to brag about - these are its leaves, which are valued above all in this plant.
Grow grapes exclusively in hanging pots to give him the opportunity to trail. look after ita flower is very simple, so even beginner flower growers can safely plant such a plant for themselves. Cissus will be a wonderful decoration not only for an apartment, but also for an office or other working space. At home, most often you can find such types of indoor grapes as multi-colored, rhomboid and Antarctic.
Views
As already mentioned, there are about 300 species of this flower in the world, but I want to talk about the most common ones separately:
- Antarctic. These are creepers covered with small leaves that are shaped like a heart, and their edges are slightly jagged. The leaves are not too big. They are only a centimeter long and about eight millimeters wide. Can bloom, but blooms are not too bright in the form of small green buds.
- Quadrangular cissus. Quite an unusual plant. Thick tetrahedral shoots grow on vines, covered with three-lobed leaves. This flower is also different in that it grows more slowly than other species.
- Bicolor grapes. In the collection of gardeners is quite rare. It has a rather noticeable difference from all other domestic species. First of all, these are large leaves up to ten centimeters in length and eight in width. But their color is especially striking. From below, the leaves are very dark, the shade is very close to burgundy, and from above they are dark green, covered with silver spots. It also has unusual yellow inflorescences that gather into small umbrellas.
- Rhomboid. One of the most popular typesindoor grapes. For normal growth, this vine needs an openwork support, which will not be noticeable among dense thickets. Beautiful green leaves have a rather complex shape. The sheet has three parts, each of which has the shape of a rhombus. Also, this species is distinguished by the presence of long shoots, which, with good care, reach one and a half meters in length. They have antennae that serve as fasteners to the supports. An attractive reddish pubescence can be seen on the cuttings and stem. This view can act as indoor trellises. After all, the length of his vines allows you to fill entire walls.
Temperature conditions
Cissus will feel more comfortable at high temperatures, because, as already mentioned, the tropics and subtropics are considered its homeland. In summer and spring, the temperature in the room where the indoor grapes are standing should not fall below 18 degrees, but it is better if the thermometer is at around 25 degrees. In winter and autumn, such high temperatures should not be achieved, and it will be quite enough if the air temperature in the room is 18 degrees. In addition, in the summer it is recommended to take pots with this flower outside, where they will feel much better.
Despite the fact that the plant is thermophilic, it can easily withstand a temperature drop of up to ten degrees. But for a long time in such conditions the flower should not be. Much depends on its variety. Since the Antarctic cissus will not suffer much even at a temperature of five degrees, butmulti-colored needs a constant indicator of at least 16.
It is also worth noting that drafts are strictly contraindicated for this plant, as they can lead to leaf fall.
Where to put
Indoor grapes love not only warmth, but also a lot of light. But direct sunlight is best avoided. If you have acquired an Antarctic cissus, then you can put it in partial shade, where it will also feel fine. Multi-colored cissus also loves light, but no more than rhomboid. However, no matter how light-loving this plant is, it should not be placed in direct sunlight and should be hidden in the shade on especially hot days of summer.
Irrigation features
The period of active growth in cissus falls in spring and summer, so at this time special attention should be paid to watering. Indoor grapes have a large deciduous mass, which requires a lot of moisture. Therefore, watering should be plentiful. But you should be more careful in this matter, because the plant can be flooded, and then its roots will begin to rot, the flower will simply die. Overdrying the soil is also not recommended. You need to monitor the condition of the top layer of the earth, if you find that it has dried up, then you can safely water the flower. When the cold comes, the amount of watering is greatly reduced. Especially in winter, cissus needs little moisture, since its growth is slowed down. Experienced flower growers recommend using automatic watering for indoor plants. This is a convenient way to water the plant on time and not spend your own money on it.time.
Indoor air
Cissus is a houseplant, an ivy grape from the tropics and subtropics, and there, as you know, the air is quite humid, and it should be the same in the room where the pots with this flower are located. Multi-colored cissus is especially demanding on high levels of air humidity. Therefore, it must be sprayed frequently. This is especially true for the winter period. Flower growers say that during the winter months, multi-colored cissus should be sprayed at least twice a day. In the summer, the procedure can be reduced, but you can not refuse it completely. Indoor grapes should also wipe the leaves with a damp cloth.
Feeding
When indoor grapes have a period of active growth, they are in dire need of top dressing. To do this, it is better to choose a high-quality complex mineral fertilizer for non-flowering plants. You can buy it at any flower shop. Fertilizers begin in April and continue until September. You need to feed the flower every week. In winter, cissus will not need fertilizer.
Transfer Rules
The ivy grape houseplant is a flower that grows and develops at an incredible rate. That is why in the first five years of his life, transplants should be done every year. Then they become rarer, and one procedure every two or three years will be enough.
Land for planting can be bought at the store, but flower growers recommendcook it yourself. Moreover, it is not so difficult. It is enough to mix equal parts of sand, leaf, humus, peat and sod land. And we must not forget that every plant needs a good drainage layer, which is necessary so that water does not stagnate in the roots, which leads to decay. Expanded clay will be good drainage in this case.
How to trim
In the spring, two types of pruning are carried out: sanitary and rejuvenating. If you want indoor grapes to branch better, you should pinch the tops of its shoots. You can even shape the grapes into whatever shape you would like to see.
Types and features of reproduction
Every florist should know how this or that plant reproduces. Decorative indoor grapes have two types of propagation: cuttings and dividing the bush. Both of these methods are considered quite good and almost always have a positive result.
Propagation of indoor grapes by cuttings is quite simple. It is enough just to cut off the top of the shoot you like and place it in water until it takes root. This process is fast. In a week, good roots will appear.
The division of the bush is carried out during the next plant transplant. The bush can be divided into several parts, but this must be done very carefully so as not to damage the root system.
How to plant
First of all, you should find out in advance where theplanted plant. Then prepare the containers for planting, lay out the drainage layer and half fill the flowerpots with soil prepared according to the technology described above. If you plant several cuttings in one flowerpot, then you should choose a larger diameter.
Indoor grapes (cissus) are recommended to be planted and transplanted in the spring. With caution, you should plant a plant in winter, and if possible, it is better not to do this at all. This is due to the fact that in winter the flower has a rest mode, and its growth slows down greatly. There is a risk that cissus will shed its leaves or not be accepted at all.
Seed propagation is also possible, but this method is generally only applicable to Antarctic cissus. Seeds are planted in common containers, then they are picked and planted in separate pots.
Diseases and pests
Even the best home care for indoor grapes will not be able to protect it from various pests and diseases. But if you study the symptoms of diseases, you can help your favorite plant in time.
So, note that if the leaves of the grapes become covered with brown spots, and the plate becomes wrinkled, then this is a clear indication that the plant lacks moisture.
It happens that the flower "stops" in place and does not grow at all. In such cases, you should completely replace the earth and transplant the flower into a larger flowerpot.
If direct sunlight falls on the leaves, they become pale rather quickly. The green part may dry out. This means that the plant does not have enough water, and it is also recommended to irrigate daily. Especially often this problem occurs in the summer, when the plant is especially hot.
It is also worth noting insects that can harm indoor grapes:
- Shield. It mainly attacks the leafy part of the plant. You can get rid of it with the help of a special treatment of the plant with insecticides.
- Spider mite. It is not difficult to detect its presence, as thin cobwebs appear on the leaves. And after a while, spots can be found in their place. It is also better to fight spider mites with insecticides.
- Aphids. This is a rather dangerous insect, since it sucks the juice from plants, which ensures their normal functioning. The flower begins to dry, the leaves become covered with yellow spots, dry out and fall off. If you do not take up treatment in time, then soon the flower will completely die. Here insecticides will come to the rescue again.
Conclusion
Decorative indoor grapes are quite easy to grow at home. This task is within the power of even a novice florist. It is worth noting that the main thing here is to choose the right place for the location of the pot and water the plant on time. Cissus does not require any special conditions for keeping and care at home, which makes it even more attractive to gardeners. After all, unfortunately, modern man does not always have time for his favorite plants. As well asunpretentious flowers are valued in offices and various establishments, since there is not always time to care for them there either. And to make your work on cissus even easier, you can use automatic watering for indoor plants.
