Dichorisandra - Dichorisandra

Dichorizandra: description

Dichorizandra: photo

Dichorisandra royal is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Kommelin family. In the wild, it grows in the tropical forests of the southeastern part of Brazil, in Russia it is grown indoors as a pot culture. Since dichorizandra is an evergreen plant, it retains its decorative qualities throughout the year.

Dichorizandra: characteristics

As a rule, dichorizandra bushes cannot boast of a fast growth rate and outstanding size: their maximum height is about 0.6 m. This plant is characterized by the presence of strong straight stems that do not have branches. Long (up to 15 cm) oval-shaped leaves with pointed tops are spirally attached to the stems. A dark green leaf color is typical, but some varieties have leaves with a purple underside and a dark purple speck in the center of the leaf. There are species with variegated foliage, which are characterized by the presence of longitudinal stripes of white, creating a contrast with the background.

The flowering period of dichorizandra royal falls on August and early September. At the tops of the stems, inflorescences (about 20 cm long) are formed, consisting of small flowers of delicate shades of blue, purple and pink. Each of them includes 3 petals and 3 sepals, in the core are stamens of a bright yellow hue. A characteristic feature of flowers is their ability to respond to bright sunlight by closing in the afternoon. This does not happen in cloudy weather.

Dichorizandra: leaving

Dichorizandra: photo

Dichorizandra does not require much effort associated with caring for her. This plant is characterized by the ability to quickly recover after pruning, even if during this procedure the entire ground part of the bush was removed. With a radical pruning, the new bush begins to grow on the old root system. There are a number of easy-to-follow recommendations that will avoid any problems when growing this crop.

Temperature regime

A resident of tropical forests, royal dichorizandra feels great in indoor growing at temperatures normal for living quarters. In winter, she is not at rest. It is important to ensure that the thermometer in the room where the dichorizander is located does not drop below 16 degrees.

Lighting mode

Since in the wild, dichorizandras grow in tropical forests, they are used to a little diffused lighting. When choosing a place for a pot with this plant, you should choose a corner that is well lit, but at the same time sheltered from direct sunlight. In this case, excessive shading is also recommended to be avoided, since the lack of light causes the stems of the plant to stretch out. In winter, you need to take care of additional light sources.

Soil composition

Dichorizandra prefers acidic and well-drained soils. The nutrient substrate can be prepared independently by mixing peat, leaf humus and coarse sand in equal parts.

Fertilization

During the growing season, the royal dichorizander needs additional fertilizing every 14 days. This crop gives preference to organic fertilizers.

Air humidity

Since the tropical forests of South America are characterized by high air humidity, it is necessary to take care of regular humidification of the air in the room where the dichorizandra is located. Dry indoor air, typical for the heating season, is dangerous for tropical plants. Drafts and temperature fluctuations associated with the winter months are no less a threat. For this reason, it is not recommended to place pots with dichorizandra bushes too close to windows, but it is also better to remove them away from batteries and heating devices. You can increase the humidity of the air using a room humidifier, or in a simpler way - by placing a pot of dichorizandra on a tray filled with wet pebbles. Also, one should not forget about regular spraying of the plant with water at room temperature.

Watering mode

Throughout the year, watering dichorizandra should be moderate. During the break between moistening procedures, the soil in the pot should dry. Excessive soil moisture in the winter months can lead to a decrease in the growth rate of the plant, in which case the dichorizander should be watered less often.

Transplant recommendations

Due to the rather slow growth rates of the dichorizander, it does not require frequent transplantation. This procedure is carried out in the spring, no more than once every 2 years.

Some growers prefer to change the old dichorizandra bush for a new one every one and a half to two years, since the plant loses its attractive appearance as it grows. The foliage begins to crumble gradually, the crown of the bush becomes less dense and compact. However, if the necessary care recommendations are followed, one copy of dichorizandra can safely live in room conditions for many years.

Reproduction

Dichorizandra: photo

In the wild, dichorizander successfully reproduces by self-seeding and can create large colonies. In indoor conditions, you can use the seed method of propagation, when the seeds are sown in containers with soil in the spring. The most popular method is cuttings. To do this, cuttings about 8 cm long are cut from the bush, each of which must have at least 5 leaves. The lower pair of leaves is cut off, and the cuttings are placed in a container with a nutrient substrate - 2-3 pieces per pot. Then the cuttings should be covered with a plastic or glass cover and the containers should be placed in a warm place where the constant air temperature will constantly be kept at 20 degrees. It is important that the direct rays of the bright sun do not fall on the cuttings. In a month and a half, the cuttings will form an independent root system - they do not need to be watered all this time. After 6 weeks, you can safely remove the shelter and start moderate watering. At the same time, additional fertilizing is introduced, contributing to the growth and development of young bushes.

Protection from pests and diseases

Dichorizandra: photo

Among harmful insects, the greatest danger to dichorizandra is spider mites and aphids. You can get rid of them with insecticides.

Diseases of this tropical plant, as a rule, are the result of improper care of it. Below are the most common problems and their causes:

• The twisting of the sheet plates along the edges indicates a lack of moisture in the air of the room where the dichorizander is located. This problem occurs especially often at a sufficiently high air temperature.
• The elongation of the stems of the royal dichorizandra and the faded coloration of the foliage and variegated varieties are a sign of a lack of lighting.
• Rotting of the root system and the base of the stem of the royal dichorizandra signals excessive soil moisture and stagnation of moisture.