A wonderful decoration for any room is nightshade. This is a small shrub plant with beautiful flowers and ovaries. The trunk of the plant is woody, the leaves are elongated, small. With proper care, indoor nightshade will bloom all year round and then set fruit. The plant has several names: not only nightshade (solanium), but also Jerusalem or Cuban cherry.
What species exist
The birthplace of the plant is considered to be South America. This tropical plant attracts with original leaves, snow-white flowers and bright berries. During their maturation, both flowers and berries are present on one bush of indoor nightshade. The latter have a variety of shades - from green to red.
There are more than a hundred varieties of the plant, but at home, pepper and pseudo-pepper species are most often grown.
False nightshade
This species comes from the island of Madeira, but in the wild it can also be found onterritory of Russia. The leaves do not have an edge, they are oval in shape, elongated, with a pointed end. The fruits of indoor nightshade are round, large, red. This species is inedible and is considered poisonous.
Pepper nightshade
This variety of nightshade is similar to false pepper, but the latter is smaller. Pepper has a grayish edge, the leaves are short. The fruits of this species are edible and have medicinal properties. They are used to treat sore throats, and the juice is an excellent wound healing agent.
Plant care
Some people are puzzled by the care of indoor nightshade, but if you follow all the necessary requirements, the plant will grow beautifully and delight with its beauty.
For a bush to grow well and bear fruit, the following conditions are necessary:
- Correct temperature. In the room where the nightshade grows, the temperature should be from 20 to 25 degrees. In winter, the temperature drops to 15 degrees. If you do not adhere to the temperature regime, then the foliage of the plant begins to turn yellow and fall off.
- Lighting. Indoor nightshade is a plant that prefers bright places, but without direct sunlight. With a lack of light, it does not bear fruit well, immediately sheds foliage. This tropical plant is also afraid of drafts, so it is advised to place it away from loggias, balconies and other places where doors and windows are often opened. Drafts are especially terrible in winter.
- Irrigation rules. During the growth period, the bush needs a lot of water, so it must be watered abundantly. Some recommend additional spraying of the plant. For irrigation use only warm, settled water. In winter, it is necessary to reduce watering: the soil is moistened only as it dries.
- Feeding. Indoor nightshade in home care requires regular fertilizing with fertilizers. He needs enough nutrients. It is recommended to fertilize during flowering, fruiting. To do this, use complex fertilizers intended for flowering plants. They can be purchased at any flower shop. After the nightshade has faded, the top dressing is reduced, and in winter it is completely stopped.
In the warm season, the plant can be taken out to the balcony or terrace. In the fresh air, it grows and develops better, gives more flowers.
Features of transplant
Plant transplantation is carried out every year during the dormant period: the best time is the end of February. To do this, prepare a light and nutritious substrate. It must be breathable. Be sure to select a larger pot than the previous one. For transplanting, use a special soil for tomatoes and peppers.
During transplantation, the plant is pruned. On it, all branches are removed to half the height, and all side shoots are cut so as to form a beautiful bush.
The next pruning is done in June - this stimulates branching.
Reproduction methods
Reproduction of indoor nightshade is possible in two ways: sowing seeds andcuttings. The first method is considered the simplest.
Seeds are harvested from ripe fruits, you can also let them germinate on their own. This happens after the fruits wither, which fall to the ground and, after lying a little, sprout. Young plants are carefully dug up and transplanted into separate containers.
Medium-sized fruits are selected for seed collection. Seeds are extracted from them, washed in a pink solution of potassium permanganate, and then dried. Sow seeds in spring in pots with prepared soil. You can make it yourself, or you can buy a ready-made mixture for peppers and tomatoes.
Seeds are sown to a depth of 0.5-1 cm. Containers with crops are placed in a warm, bright place. It is important to ensure that the top layer of soil does not dry out. After about two weeks, the first shoots appear. After they have two true leaves, they carry out the first pick, and after about a month - the second.
You can propagate nightshade and cuttings. To do this, cut branches are placed in water or immediately planted in the ground. In the latter case, it is necessary to put the plant in a mini greenhouse. Nightshade can be propagated by cuttings not only in spring, but also in summer and autumn. In winter, nightshade sleeps and is not propagated by cuttings.
Beware of the kids
Indoor nightshade is considered a poisonous plant. If the family has small children, then it is better to refuse to grow it or place the pot so that the child cannot reach it. Bright berries attract to themselves, and kids always want to touch them,pick and taste. Under no circumstances should this be allowed!
Love to bite off a leaf and some pets. To prevent this from happening, it is best to keep the plant in offices, in a winter garden where animals, and especially children, cannot get.
Pests and plant diseases
Indoor nightshade (photos are presented in the article) needs protection from pests and diseases.
The main pests are aphids and whiteflies. To avoid trouble, you need to constantly monitor the condition of the leaves. In case of damage, treatment with special preparations is used. You can buy any pest control that is available in the store. Be sure to look for an indication that it could be used at home.
The plant is practically not affected by diseases, with the exception of the black leg of seedlings. Most often, starvation occurs due to a lack of nutrition. This is indicated by a change in the color of the leaves.
Growing difficulties
Let's talk about proper care for indoor nightshade. How to care for and how to avoid possible problems, later in the article.
- No fruiting. With a lack of pollination, the plant does not set fruits well or they are absent altogether. If the plant is not taken out into the open air, then manual pollination is recommended. To do this, take a soft brush and use it to transfer pollen from one flower to another. These actions are performed several times.
- The plant sheds berries and leaves. This may be causeddrafts, sudden changes in temperature, heat. To eliminate trouble, it is necessary to change the habitat of the plant.
There are no other difficulties with growing. If you follow all the recommendations, then the nightshade grows into a beautiful lush bush with abundant berries.
Benefits and harms
Some types of nightshade are poisonous. Even a small amount of substances contained in berries can lead to severe poisoning. This is usually expressed in an upset stomach, and at high concentrations - in severe poisoning.
Other types of plants have beneficial properties. Their leaves, fruits contain many vitamins, acids and other substances. All of them actively fight bronchitis, tonsillitis, and promote wound healing. Nightshade infusions have anthelmintic and diuretic effects.
If you follow the rules of care, this plant will be a real find for those who like beautiful plants that require minimal care. For proper care, timely feeding and regular watering, the plant will respond with abundant flowering and a large number of fruits.
