Aloysia

Aloysia is a plant that belongs to the vervain family. Aloisia is native to Argentina, and some say that this plant first appeared in Chile. One way or another, this is a rather exotic plant, which we will talk about within the framework of this informative article.

Aloysia is a shrub with shiny green lanceolate leaves. They give off a very strong and persistent lemon aroma, while they also taste like lemon. The leaves are arranged in a whorled pattern, three pieces each. Some note not the whorled, but rather the opposite arrangement of the leaves on the plant. The flowers look incredibly decorative and spectacular, they give off a persistent aroma, they can be white or slightly lilac, much mainly depends on the age of the plant, as well as on how the grower himself takes care of it. Aloisia leaves are commonly used for culinary purposes, teas and desserts, fruit salads, or jams. Also, leaves and flowers are very popular in the manufacture of cosmetics and perfumery, and due to their properties, they can also be used for medicinal purposes.

Shrub description

Aloysia is a shrub that first appeared in Argentina and Chile. It has dark green leaves, which are distinguished by their glossiness. They are oblong in shape and have a pronounced lemon aroma. When viewed, the leaf blades can be identified as decorative, as they are covered with a network of branched veins, which also look incredibly attractive. If the leaf is broken or simply rubbed, then a bright and very pronounced lemon aroma will begin to emanate from it. The flowers are painted in a snow-white or slightly lilac shade, while they are not single, but collected in inflorescences that look more like very neat brushes.

The height of one bush in the wild reaches three meters. But since the plant is now cultivated by gardeners in their personal plots, as well as at home, in this case, the height of the shrub is from one to two meters. Much depends on the climatic and territorial conditions and the characteristics of the area where the bush is planted, as well as on how the gardener himself looked after this plant, how he followed the planting rules and all agrotechnical requirements that are put forward in particular when growing this crop.

Of course, in general, the external characteristics of aloisia are very attractive, but gardeners also say that aloisia is very popular also due to the fact that the plant is very multifunctional - we have already mentioned the use of leaves and flowers a little above. Next, we will tell you in more detail about how you need to take care of aloisia at home in order to get an equally attractive and worthy result. This part of the article will be of interest, perhaps, to experienced gardeners, and just to those who have never dealt with aloisia, and he will have to grow this shrub for the first time.

Aloysia home care

Let's start with what the temperature conditions must be in order for aloisia to grow successfully. The shrub usually hibernates in a bright and rather cool place, its temperature should be from three to ten degrees. At the same time, at this time, it is best to water the plant as little as possible, since the shrub can shed its leaves indoors and, in general, is in a state of complete dormancy, so that, in principle, it is possible not to excessively moisten the soil and the shrub itself.Aloisia withstands a drop in temperatures to about ten degrees, while remaining completely untouched and does not freeze. If the temperature suddenly drops below, then in this case the plant will already need additional support and, most importantly, additional protection. As for the issue of lighting, in this case, aloisia just feels great in direct sunlight, while on hot and especially sunny days you can place a bush in partial shade, it will feel comfortable there. But do not forget that it is better to leave such a thermophilic plant under the sun once again, then the appearance of the bush will be fresher, livelier and, of course, decorative.

Aloysia is a plant that does not have any special requirements in terms of grooming activities and general measures. If the gardener decides to cut the bush, then thanks to this, a distinctive shape of the bush itself will be created, and its bushiness and compactness will also be maintained. In the summer, aloisia can also be taken out to sunny areas, outside, it will feel great.

As for the composition of the soil and substrate, in this case, the plant is suitable for a moistened soil in which drainage is established. The soil should be loamy or sandy, in this composition, aloisia feels great, takes root and gives unsurpassed results in growth and development. At the same time, if we talk about the level of acidity, then in this case the plant is absolutely not demanding on it. Thus, it is worth taking care of choosing a place for planting aloisia, but at the same time, the soil can be prepared at the gardener's own request. In care, you should also pay attention to plant feeding - during the growing season, more experienced gardeners recommend feeding aloisia about twice a month, not more often. To do this, you can use mineral dressings, as well as take a certain amount of organic matter. In general, it cannot be said that in this regard the plant shows excessive whimsicality, but nevertheless, its general condition should be monitored, and then the results will certainly delight the gardener himself.

The purpose of the plant is also quite an interesting aspect. This plant is distinguished not only by its attractive properties and decorative properties, but also by its aroma. As a tub plant, aloisia is ideal to be planted as part of a winter garden. The leaves can also be safely used as an ingredient for salads, as well as for preparing cold refreshing drinks, since the leaves have an amazing lemon aroma and pleasant taste. In addition, they are generally very beneficial for the human body, so these properties should not be ignored.

Flowering begins in July and ends in September. The seeds of the plant ripen from September to October, they can also be harvested in order to further plant aloisia and its subsequent reproduction. As for humidity, there are no specific requirements for air. If we talk directly about soil moisture, then during the period of plant growth, it is necessary to provide it with regular watering. At the same time, closer to winter, it is best to reduce it so that only the earthen lump is not unnecessarily dry. In winter, the plant is dormant, so it is recommended not to water it at all and not to apply any fertilizers or fertilizing. During the winter, the plant should have a good rest, and only after that it can receive sufficient moisture and feeding. If you follow these rules, then you can not only improve the general condition of the plant, but also increase its lifespan.

Transplant - it is best to schedule it in the spring as needed. It is better to replant the plant if it is necessary to change the general composition of the soil in which it grew before, and also in that case.If the plant shows very active growth, and the previous place becomes simply not enough for it. If these circumstances do not appear, then it is best, in principle, not to touch the plant, not to transplant it once again, since in general aloisia does not need this, and cannot always respond positively to such a thing.

Reproduction - it is best to propagate aloisia using seeds, and this is usually done at the end of spring. Seeds should be scattered, and lightly sprinkled with soil on top. Also, the crops should be located in a well-lit area, while the gardener should add compost to the soil and be convinced that the compost does not dry out. When the cuttings are half ripe, rooting is quite successful. They take root very quickly, and this happens already in August. It is best to follow all the rules and requirements of agricultural technology, and in this case, the plant will give back excellent inflorescences, and in general it will become an ideal ornamental plant.

With insects and various diseases, this plant rarely has any problems at all. sometimes, foci may nevertheless appear on which aphids and whiteflies breed, as well as mealybugs or spider mites. It is enough to use soap solutions to treat the plant, and in rare cases, if there are too many pests, then you can use insecticides and chemicals. The main thing is to follow the instructions for use and observe safety precautions, then the treatments will be completely safe for the person himself, and will not cause any harm to the plant.

Aloisia flower is a part of the plant that is very often used by gardeners for culinary purposes - for preparing salads and drinks, as the flowers emanate a very attractive lemon scent. If you dry the leaves of the plant, they will still retain their incredibly attractive lemon scent, and it will not last for a short time, but for many years. Then it will be possible to prepare delicious and healthy tea from them, since aloisia contains a very large amount of vitamins, antioxidants, useful substances, which, of course, can have a positive effect on the nervous, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems of a person.

Seven Secrets to Successfully Planting and Growing Aloysia

Of course, we want to summarize this article and present seven secrets to successfully planting and growing this plant on the site or at home.

• in summer, the temperature should be from 18 to 25 degrees, but in winter, when the plant is at a dormant stage, the temperature should vary from 3 to 10 degrees. In such conditions, aloisia feels very comfortable and gives the most positive growth result.
• slightly shaded areas are ideal for the plant, which are protected from too strong and scorching sunlight, especially in the spring and summer during the daytime. So you can avoid too much drying out of the leaves or even their burns.
• the gardener should regularly maintain soil moisture, especially during the growing season. In the winter months, the soil should also be slightly moistened, but you should not allow too much moisture, otherwise bacteria can develop in the root system that will provoke various dangerous diseases
• pruning is best suited for this formative type. Also, young shoots can be regularly pinched, then it will be possible to preserve the attractive shape of this plant.
• as for the soil, in this regard, aloisia is completely unpretentious, and it can perfectly tolerate a wide range of soil conditions. Of course, ideally, you can make a fertile loose soil that will allow oxygen and moisture to pass through.
• in spring and summer, it is worth feeding about twice a month.In the autumn and winter periods, it is best not to feed the plant at all, since it is at rest, and unnecessary interventions will not become a positive element in this case.
• Aloisia reproduce mainly by stem cuttings, which are planted in the spring and summer. You can also use the seed method of reproduction, in general, aloisia responds well to this method. Thus, if you follow all the conditions, you can get a decent and excellent result, and it is for this that gardeners and gardeners love aloisia - because it is unpretentious, but the result is incredibly attractive. In addition, aloisia, or rather its leafy part and flowers, have a huge number of positive qualities and properties that are very useful for the human body, its health and immunity. So it is still worth evaluating this plant not only as an ornamental, but also as a plant that is widely used in medicine, culinary and cosmetic fields.