The name "clerodendrum" has an interesting translation from Greek - "the tree of fate". It is difficult to say reliably about how a plant really affects a person, but the fact that it will make your home more comfortable and bring a little tropical exoticism into it is a fact. In indoor floriculture, three species are most common, forming lush bushes and pleasing to the eye with bright flowers. Read the article about what kind of care is required for a plant called clerodendrum at home. The photos below will help you understand the types of plants.
Description of the plant
Under the generic name Clerodendrum united about four hundred species of shrubs, vines, trees growing in the tropics and subtropics. Plants belong to the Lamiaceae family, but previously they were mistakenly included in Verbena. Natural habitat - Africa, America, Australia, Asia (Japan, Philippines, China, India, Indochina and Korea).
In the bulk, clerodendrums are climbing shrubs that form in nature shoots longer than4 m, the total height of the plant at the same time reaches 2.5 m. In this regard, like some other home flowers, klerodendrum requires pruning. Flexible shoots adorn large, opposite leaves of rich dark green color with prominent venation. The size of the leaf blade reaches 12 cm in length, the edges are most often smooth, the tip is slightly elongated.
One of the main advantages of a plant is flowers. Clerodendrum blooms twice - in spring and autumn. It is abundantly covered with clusters of buds on long peduncles (8-20 each). Color and shape depend on the type of plant. In room culture, three species are especially widespread: Wallich, Thompson's clerodendrum, Ugandan.
Clerodendrum Wallich
The plant is native to the subtropics of Bangladesh, India, Nepal and South China. It grows at an altitude of 100 to 1200 m above sea level. It got its name in honor of the Danish botanist and surgeon Nathaniel Wallich, who was the owner of the botanical garden and often made scientific expeditions to India. Tropical flowers are among his many discoveries. Clerodendrum Wallich at room conditions grows up to 50 cm in height. Its distinctive feature is large glossy dark green leaves with wavy edges up to 15 cm long. Large white flowers are collected in a brush.
Clerodendrum Thompson
This species (in the first photo) is the most common and can often be found already blooming on store shelves. Evergreen liana at room conditions letsshoots up to 2.5 m long, which is often used for vertical gardening of space. Flexible shoots are covered with large leaves. Flowers of an unusual shape consist of a snow-white five-lobed bract in the form of a flashlight and a corolla of a rich red hue, which is slightly smaller in size. Clerodendrum Thompson blooms flowers twice a year. Corollas quickly wither, and bracts last for several months.
Ugandan Clerodendrum
The species comes from the mountainous regions of East Africa. It is a rather rare guest in our apartments and houses and one of the brightest representatives of the family. In the people, he received the name "blue butterflies" because of the specific shape of the flowers. The plant is a liana with thin semi-woody shoots up to 2.5 m long. Large five-petal flowers have a pale blue hue and are collected in a paniculate inflorescence.
Lighting and air temperature
When choosing a place for a plant and to ensure the best conditions for it, you should first of all take into account information about where it comes from. According to this principle, all indoor flowers should be placed. Clerodendrum grows in the humid tropics on rich soil, under the cover of large trees that diffuse natural light.
In this regard, the plant requires bright lighting, but without direct sunlight. Provide him with diffused light. For this, the western and eastern windows are best suited. On the south side, shading will be required, and on the north, on the contrary, there will belack of light, and the plant simply will not bloom.
Clerodendrum is thermophilic, so it is quite comfortable in our climate in summer. The most optimal air temperature range is +18 … +25 °С. The winter period should be cooler, around 16 °C. Therefore, it is best to remove the plant away from heating radiators.
Soil
Clerodendrum soil should be light and nutritious. In order to prepare it, take peat, sand and ordinary garden soil, pre-treated and disinfected in a ratio of 1: 1: 3. If it is not possible to do it yourself, then the best option would be to purchase ready-made special soil. A slightly acidic nutrient substrate with a pH of 5-6.5 is what the clerodendrum “loves”. Home care (the photos used in the article show what a green pet looks like when he does not need anything) is not too laborious, but it should be constant.
At the bottom of the flower pot, a drainage layer 2-3 cm thick from expanded clay or broken brick should be poured. It is recommended to transplant adult specimens every 2-3 years, and young plants annually after the flowering period.
Air humidity and watering
High humidity, warmth and regular watering are one of the main conditions for the successful cultivation of clerodendrum at home. A classic tropical plant does not tolerate dry air at all. Spraying is carried out often (especially if heating radiators are located nearby) and inthroughout the year, avoiding water droplets on the flowers. Clerodendrum can drop leaves during the dormant period, in which case it is enough to protect it from heat sources.
Watering in the summer and during flowering periods should be regular and plentiful, in autumn and winter - moderate. Despite the love of moisture, the plant does not tolerate its stagnation at all. Water for irrigation is recommended to take soft: rain or settled.
During the period of active vegetation and flowering, it is necessary to feed the plant with mineral complex fertilizers. Frequency - once every two weeks.
Clerodendrum: pruning
Adult plant needs regular sanitary and rejuvenating pruning. It is carried out until the moment when the clerodendrum starts to grow - in early spring. To activate the growth of lateral branches, the shoots are cut to 1/3 of the entire length. In addition to the aesthetic factor, there is also a practical one. Flowers are formed only on young shoots, so you will stimulate the plant. Young specimens can be simply pinched to enhance bushiness.
Some species, in particular, Thompson's Clerodendrum, can be grown as a beautiful ampelous plant or used in vertical and horizontal gardening using stretched strings or threads. The growth of a bush can be directed, for example, in a spiral or ring, or to form a small tree.
Plant propagation
This question is especially relevant for lovers of indoor floriculture, due to the fact that thisvery showy and beautiful flower. Clerodendrum, which can be propagated in two ways (vegetative and seed), very quickly increases its voluminous green mass. In this regard, obtaining a new specimen of the plant from lignified apical cuttings does not cause any difficulties. Planting material is more than enough after pruning.
Cuttings are brought to a length of 20 cm, the lower part is freed from leaves. Then they are placed in an opaque jar of water. Roots appear very quickly and develop well. Young specimens of some species bloom in the first year after planting.
Clerodendrum seeds are quite large, so there are rarely problems with them. Nevertheless, seed propagation is relevant for rare species or varietal hybrids, when it is simply not possible to get a cutting. This process is more labor intensive. Seeds are sown in a mini-greenhouse or greenhouse, lightly sprinkled with soil and wait for seedlings, periodically ventilating the container and moistening the soil as it dries. After the appearance of the second true leaf, the seedlings are seated in separate small pots.
Diseases and pests
Clerodendrums are quite resistant to pests and diseases, this is explained by the presence of essential oils in leaves and shoots. However, it should be borne in mind that the plant is most vulnerable to whiteflies, aphids, spider mites and scale insects. If there are signs of damage, then you should immediately treat the bush with special preparations and for a whileisolate from other indoor flowers.
The cause of diseases most often lies in the improper care of the plant. So, high soil moisture in combination with low air temperature can provoke the appearance of powdery mildew and the development of various rots.
Why doesn't the clerodendrum bloom?
Clerodendrum is an ornamental plant whose green powerful shoots are already good in themselves. The effect is enhanced at times when the most beautiful flowers with a delicate aroma appear on it. If this does not happen for a long time, then the problem lies in improper care. The reasons may be as follows:
- no pruning, while inflorescences are formed only on young shoots;
- non-observance of the winter dormancy period (for abundant flowering, the plant must "rest" at low temperatures and reduced watering);
- lack of light - North facing windows or shade will result in dull foliage, sprouting and lack of flowers as Clerodendrum requires at least 2-3 hours of diffused sunlight per day.
