Aspidistra flower, or a friendly family, can often be found in houses and apartments. Its scientific name means "snake pointer" in translation. It is believed that it is due to the fact that in nature the plant prefers the same places in which these reptiles like to hide. In addition, the gray curved root of the plant also resembles a snake.
General information about the species
Speaking of room or garden aspidistra, they usually mean the species Aspidistra high. It is she who, as a rule, is cultivated by flower growers. In total, 98 species of herbaceous stemless plants belonging to the Asparagus family belong to the genus Aspidistra of the same name.
The plant comes from the humid mountain subtropical forests of Japan and South China. Growing in the garden, it covers quite large spaces. Because of the many leaves growing one next to the other, the plant was popularly nicknamed "friendly family".
Description
This plant is notable for its long-petiolate dark green leaves (werespotted varieties are also bred). They are glossy, have a rich color, lanceolate, belt-like or broadly oval shape. In length, the leaves of the garden and indoor Aspidistra flower (the photo of the plant is presented in the article) reach 50-60 centimeters, in width - about 15. At their base, at the beginning of the petiole, you can see small scales, which are modified leaves, the purpose of which is to protect the main sheet.
The rhizome of the aspidistra is quite powerful, long, curved, highly branched. With strong growth, small roots can tightly braid the entire earthen ball in the aspidistra flower pot.
How does the plant bloom? This usually happens during the winter. Aspidistra flowers are not too remarkable, one might even say nondescript, sessile. They are purple in color, with eight lobes and eight stamens. What the Aspidistra flower looks like high can be seen in the photo below.
The fruits of the plant are pear-shaped large berries. At home, they can be obtained using artificial pollination.
Condition Requirements: Lighting
Those who are interested in caring for the aspidistra flower should first of all understand that this plant comes from dense tropical forests, so it loves shade, and the direct rays of the sun can be fatal for it. Variegated varieties ("variegata") require a little more lighting. But in general, this plant is shade-loving, shade-tolerant, which means it is most suitable for landscaping rooms facing north. In summer, taking outindoor aspidistra flower (photo below) on a balcony, terrace or garden, this should also be taken into account. Scattered bright light will not harm the plant, but it should be protected from direct sunlight. Sunburn appears as spots of brown or brown color.
Temperature conditions
In our time, more and more often in summer the air temperature rises to unusually high levels. How to be in this case with the aspidistra flower? How to care for him? Aspidistra does not need to create special temperature conditions. She feels great in the temperature range from +18 to +25 degrees Celsius. But if the summer turned out to be hot, it is necessary to provide additional moisture: spray it from a spray bottle and water it more often than usual. Home care for the aspidistra flower (photo below) also involves wiping the leaves with a damp cloth. In the heat, it will help the plant avoid drying out, and at other times of the year it is necessary to remove dust.
In winter, it is desirable (but not necessary) to keep aspidistra in a room with a temperature of +15 … +17 degrees. It tolerates temperatures well down to +10…+12 degrees, but there is no particular need to create such conditions.
For a plant, strong currents of cold air are detrimental, so it is advisable to protect it from drafts. In general, given the origin of aspidistra, it can be noted that heat is more dangerous for it than a seasonal drop in temperature by10-12 degrees. Hypothermia can harm the flower if it is combined with excessive watering.
Irrigation requirement
In the warm season, the plant should be watered after the top layer of soil dries well. In winter, watering is carried out not immediately after drying, but after a few days. If at the same time the aspidistra is kept in a cool room, then watering once every 10 to 14 days is enough.
Water, as for other plants, should be soft - thawed, rain, or at least settled. The water temperature for irrigation is room temperature. Drying of the tips of the leaves indicates a lack of moisture.
Feeding aspidistra
It is carried out in the warm season (from April to October), using complex fertilizers for ornamental leafy plants. Bred it twice as much as indicated on the package.
Experienced flower growers do not recommend feeding variegated varieties. According to them, aspidistra may lose its decorative effect, as the leaves will turn their usual green color.
Transfer
Aspidistra's rhizome is quite sensitive, so it's best to transplant the plant by transshipment, leaving an earthen ball between the roots. The pot is chosen 3-5 centimeters wider, and new earth is added on the sides, around the roots.
The plant is picky about the composition of the soil, but it is desirable that it be light, with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. You can simply plant the aspidistra in an all-purpose potting soil mix. If you want to prepare the soil yourself, take turf, leafy, humus soil, peat and sand (2: 1: 1: 1: 1). A layer of drainage (for example, expanded clay) is necessarily poured at the bottom. This will help keep the aspidistra roots from rotting if over-watered. The upper part of the root collar should not be covered with earth.
Transplantation is usually carried out as needed, when the flower grows. Most often - once every three to four years, in the middle of spring. Aspidistra does not tolerate it very well, so care must be taken. After that, the flower can stay in one pore for a long time without showing signs of growth. If, by negligence, the roots were damaged, the plant may get sick.
Reproduction
Propagate this flower by dividing the rhizome (bush) or leaf. In the first case, the rhizomes are divided into several parts, each of which has three to five leaves. Cuts must be sprinkled with crushed activated or charcoal or ash. Parts of the bush are planted in separate pots.
When propagating by leaf, the procedure will be somewhat more complicated. It is necessary to choose a he althy fleshy leaf and cut it off together with an influx of reduced leaflets at the base. The sheet must be held for a couple of hours in the air to dry the cut. After that, the sheet should be placed in a wide bottle of water, which should be capped and sealed to prevent air from entering. A leaf needs heat and light to germinate. After the roots appear, the bottle is unsealed, the leaf is removed and transplanted.in loose leafy soil. From above it must be closed with a jar to ensure greenhouse conditions. It can be removed when the plant takes root and puts out a new leaf.
A situation is possible when the transplanted leaf begins to rot. Then you should cut it off above the affected part and close it again in a bottle of water until the roots appear.
It is better to propagate aspidistra, as well as transplant, in April - early May. It is desirable that during its rooting the temperature does not exceed +18 degrees. It is not recommended to fertilize the plant for a month after transplantation.
Diseases and pests
In a dry room, the plant can be affected by scale insects and spider mites. Soft larvae of scale insects, moving, move to the underside of the leaf and stick to it. After that, their body is covered with hard shields, which is why these pests got their name. Affected leaves begin to turn yellow and eventually fall off.
To combat the scab use a soapy solution, which is washed with the leaves. First you need to collect pests manually. In case of abundant infection, special preparations are used - Fufanon or Karbofos.
When affected by a spider mite, the leaves on the reverse side are covered with a thin cobweb. Gradually, they also turn brown and fall off. To combat this pest, the drug "Actellik" is used.
This is interesting
In China and Japan, the plant's homeland, it is traditionally used in folk medicine as an astringent, diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent. Traditional healers believe that a decoctionaspidistra leaves are an excellent remedy for diarrhea, kidney and bladder stones, and even seizures. Leaf compresses are used for bleeding gums. You can also simply chew the leaf into a fine slurry for ten minutes and then spit it out. This procedure is carried out to strengthen the gums daily for two weeks. It is also recommended to rub fresh aspidistra juice on the gums several times a day until a healing effect is achieved.
In conclusion
The article briefly described the necessary home care for the aspidistra flower (with photo). Its lush leaves are highly decorative, and it will definitely become a worthy decoration of a house, greenhouse or garden.
The aspidistra flower, which is quite easy to care for, is a fairly undemanding flower that can be recommended even for beginners.
