Drimiopsis: growing and care at home

Drimiopsis - this houseplant will be loved by everyone who prefers beautiful bright green leaves to spectacular flowers. He does not require special attention, forgives mistakes made in care and is not picky about the conditions in which it is grown. Despite the fact that this plant is native to the tropics, it feels great in the microclimate in city apartments. Drimiopsis lives a long time, multiplies easily, has good endurance and is very beautiful, which is probably the reason for such a great popularity among gardeners who grow house plants.

Origin and history of Drimiopsis:

Drimiopsis is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the Hyacinth subfamily and the Asparagus family. The plant is native to the southern and eastern parts of the African continent. In natural conditions, it grows as a ground cover plant, forming a continuous deciduous carpet. When growing at home, rosettes are often formed.

From the Greek language, the name is translated as similar to drymiya. This is probably due to its similarity to the sea bow. The plant has another name - Ledeburgia, nicknamed Scylla. The fact is that the flower was discovered by Karl Friedrich von Ledebour, who is a naturalist and researcher of flora on the territory of African countries and thanks to whom the first flower growing school was founded in the Russian Empire. He also headed the first botanical garden in Russia. The flower was named after him. The nickname Scylla is not found in our time, but in the 19th century the plant was called so quite often, including in botanical books.

Description:

Drimiopsis became an example of a plant that, despite its African origin, can grow in apartments anywhere in the world without requiring special attention and care.

This species belongs to a bulbous plant, the bulb of which has an oblong shape, covered with brown scales. When grown, only a third of it is in the ground, the rest is on the surface.

Its bulbs should be kept separate from those that are eaten, since it is quite easy to confuse them.

The plant consists entirely of dense, thick, glossy leaves, which can be monochromatic, or they can have different patterns. Their shape may resemble the odds of a heart or an elongated oval, where the tip is sharply pointed. The leaf surface is colored olive, which is an excellent background for dark spots and irregular dots. At the edges, the leaves are corrugated, and when exposed to sunlight, they appear silver. The leaves grow on average up to 20 centimeters in length. Keep on elongated ten-centimeter petioles.

Drimiopsis leaves are what this plant is so prized for among lovers of leafy green plants.

The appearance of patterns on the leaf plates of a flower depends on the lighting in the room. If it is enough, then it will be clear and beautiful, but starting from the middle of autumn, it begins to fade and gradually disappears, reappearing only in spring.

Only in bright light can a motley color appear on the leaves.

Being in its natural environment, Drimiopsis blooms in spring or summer.If you grow at home, then flowering can be observed almost all year, the only exception is the state of vegetative rest. At the time of flowering, the plant is covered with pale green, pink, or creamy flowers of small size, they are collected in 10 or 30 in racemose or spike inflorescences. The diameter of the flowers is about 0.5 centimeters. Dissolving, they envelop with their delicate, light and very pleasant aroma reminiscent of lily of the valley. They open slowly, starting from the bottom and rising to the top, which makes flowering long.

The flowers are rather inconspicuous and do not attract much attention, but for a long time they allow you to enjoy their unobtrusive aroma.

Having planted a plant once, and creating comfortable conditions for it, it will be possible to decorate your home for 10 years. But not only as a decoration it can serve, but also as a plant that refreshes the air and disinfects it.

Drimiopsis, when not flowering, is very similar to eucharis, but during flowering the differences become apparent. The fact is that eucharis has larger leaves, and more spectacular flowering.

The advantage of Drimiopsis grown in apartments is its size. Its height rarely exceeds half a meter. It grows about slowly. When good conditions are created during wakefulness, no more than three new leaves appear.

Types of Drimiopsis:

Today there are about 22 species of this beautiful plant, but only 14 have a scientific description and official registration. For growing at home, only two types are used.

Drimiopsis Kirk, also called Ledeburgia bortiovidny. Plant height is about half a meter. Its bulb bears great resemblance to a common onion. Her color is white and round. Leaves with a leathery surface and lanceolate. They reach 40 centimeters in length and 5 centimeters in width. Starting from the central part, the leaves begin to taper towards their tip. The upper side of the leaf is bright light green and is covered with dark brown spots with a green tint. Lower part with a gray tint.

The embossed veins are clearly visible. The leaves are located on very short petioles. Flowering shoot 30 centimeters high. In its natural habitat, flowering begins in the middle of the spring season, and ends only with the beginning of the autumn. At this moment, the plant is covered with white-pink flowers. During the vegetative rest period, new leaves do not appear.

Drimiopsis spotted it is also called petiolate ledeburgia. During the vegetative rest period, foliage is completely absent on it, first losing its motley color. Heart-shaped leaves grow up to 12 centimeters long and 7 centimeters wide. This species has an elongated petiole and about 20 centimeters. Flowering begins in mid-spring and ends in mid-summer. The flowering shoots, on which beige-yellow flowers are formed, have a slight bend.

This species is fully consistent with its name.

In the summer, the plant will be comfortable in the garden or on the balcony, becoming a decoration.

Creation of optimal conditions:

Regardless of the fact that Drimiopsis comes from the southern countries of the African continent, it has already managed to fully adapt to our conditions, which are strikingly different from those in which they occurred.

Drimiopsis loves the sun and is drawn to it, therefore, so that it does not warp, every week, the vase must be turned towards the light in different directions.

Good conditions will be created if the plant is located on the south side, southeast or southwest. In the summer, it is best to keep it on a terrace, loggia or balcony. It is important not to expose the plants to drafts, but at the same time to provide constant ventilation.

Illumination:

In order for patterns to appear on the leaves that increase the decorative effect of the plant, it is necessary to provide it with bright diffused lighting.Drimiopsis will feel good in direct sunlight, but during a period of intense heat, especially in the daytime, it is necessary to create partial shade for it so that burns do not appear. It is important to remember that in the shade, the plant becomes less decorative. Also, leaving the plant in conditions of only artificial lighting will not provide comfortable conditions.

Temperature range:

When the plant is awake, the air temperature should be from +20 to +25 degrees. When vegetative rest begins, the thermometer should be between +12 and +16 degrees, a decrease to +8 degrees is permissible. When the heat is more than +30, the plant will not be comfortable, but it will not die.

Humidity level:

The moisture level is not important for Drimiopsis. If you provide him with proper watering, he will feel good even where the air is very dry, especially if he is not the only houseplant in this room. Spraying, douche and wipe the leaves is necessary only to maintain hygiene and in extreme heat, while the water should always be warm.

Exposing the plant to the north side, or where the plant will not see the sun, will not provide it with the conditions under which its decorative effect will remain, but it will continue to grow.

How and when to transplant:

Until the age of three, Drimiopsis needs an annual transplant, and each time the pot should be 3 centimeters larger in diameter. Those that have reached this age and under 5 years old are transplanted only once. Older adults should only transplant when the daughter bulbs can no longer fit in the pot, usually every 4 years. This procedure should be carried out from March to April.

The formation of daughter bulbs is very active, but the development of the root system is rather slow. Therefore, for Drimiopsis, you need to choose such a container so that it is low and wide, like a bowl or bowl. A container made of natural ceramics is best suited, since there is better air exchange in it, which will protect the bulbs from decay. A drainage hole must be made on it.

It is not necessary to choose a deep and large pot, as this can cause the development of rot, as well as the ground part will begin to grow slowly.

The flower loves soils loose, light and nutritious. To make it yourself, you will need to use humus, leafy soil, compost and river sand for cooking. All this is mixed in equal parts and charcoal is added there, which will serve as a useful additive.

It is possible to use a universal soil made of sand, vermiculite and perlite 3 x 1 x 2, as well as a universal soil that bulbous plants love, from peat chips and coarse sand 2 x 1.

When replanting plants, each time you must carefully examine all the bulbs and remove the damaged areas with a clean and sharp knife.

It is quite simple to transplant this plant, so even a novice florist can cope with this task. To do this, it is enough to follow simple rules.

First, you need to make a three-centimeter drainage layer of expanded clay, broken brick and charcoal at the bottom of the pot. Next, an earthen mixture is laid out, which will close the pot by 3/4 and water it without using too much water.

After that, you need to get the plant from its original place, peel the bulb from the ground and separate the daughters so as not to cause damage.

The next step is to clean the bulbs from damage and rotten areas. Having done this, it is necessary to process the wounds using activated carbon, chalk or wood ash. You can also lower the bulbs with a pale pink potassium solution or 1% fungicide for 20 minutes and let dry in the shade for an hour.

As soon as the processing of the bulbs is carried out, it is necessary to make a hole or several in a new place and plant the bulbs there.Make sure that half of the bulbs remain on the surface.

After that, you need to carefully tamp the soil and water. Follow-up care is no different from previous care.

Adult, overgrown plants often have daughter bulbs, which, with their number, push the mother bulbs to the soil surface. Because of this, she is deprived of proper nutrition, so the formation of leaves stops. If this happens, you do not need to get rid of it, you just need to transplant it to another place, in a container of a small size. This plant does not lose its ability to reproduce and release its flowers.

Care rules:

This type of tropical plant shows that even growing it in completely alien conditions, it will not take much time and effort to care for a beautiful plant. Drimiopsis is unpretentious and very hardy, which certainly delights.

When to water

From April to the first days of October, watering should be carried out after the soil has dried to a depth of 4 centimeters. If there is no great heat outside, then once a week is sufficient for watering. Pour the water so that it does not touch the bulbs.

Water should be used soft. Thawed or wet. It should always be warm.

If this is not possible, then it must undergo filtration, be boiled and tap, which has settled for at least 2 days. You can add citric acid to the water, this will help cleanse it of harmful compounds.

Despite the drought tolerance, it is not necessary to regularly dry out the soil, as yellowness will appear on it. Excessive watering for a plant is most dangerous, if you regularly pour it, then this will surely destroy the flower.

Fertilization

Fertilizing is necessary only when the plant is awake. For feeding, liquid complex fertilizers are suitable, which are applied at intervals of two weeks. You can also use fertilizers that feed cacti and succulents. Before preparing the solution, you must read the instructions and follow the instructions in it.

Since Drimiopsis loves fertile soils, it is not worth depriving the plant of fertilizing.

Drimiopsis in winter:

In winter, the plant enters into vegetative rest. At this point, it can shed all the foliage or they simply stop growing. It depends on the species being grown. As soon as October rolls around, watering should be gradually reduced, to once every two weeks. The lower the air temperature in the room, the less often watering is carried out. However, the earthen coma should not be allowed to dry out.

As for the light, everything should remain the same here. It is not required to shade the plant during this period, since the sun no longer has the activity that it has in summer. No fertilization is required.

Possible difficulties in growing:

Of course, drimiopsis, an unpretentious flower, but nevertheless, it is impossible to deprive it of its care or do it wrong. Such actions will lead to the plant losing its decorative effect.

If changes occur in the autumn, then do not be alarmed, the reason is in preparing the plant for rest. If changes occur during the spring-summer period, then most likely it is lacking in nutrients or it is cramped and needs to be transplanted.

Changes can be as follows:

The leaves lose their patterns and the color becomes monotonous, decreases in size, the stems become thinner and begin to stretch. This happens if drimiopsis lacks light or has only artificial lighting.

The petioles and bulb are slimy and begin to turn black. This suggests that the plant has begun to rot. This can be due to too frequent and abundant watering, as well as too low temperatures.

A whitish coating appears on the soil surface. This problem occurs due to the stagnation of the liquid in the pot.This can be due to poor air and water permeability of the soil and too thin drainage layer.

If light spots appear on the leaves and in this place they begin to dry, then the plant has received a burn.

If the leaves began to wrinkle, droop and lose their elasticity, then most likely it does not have enough moisture.

Disease and Pest Resistance:

Drimiopsis has good resistance to diseases, and harmful insects do not like it too much. What is really a threat to the plant is root rot and damage with a red burn, which is typical for all bulbs. It is not difficult to avoid these diseases; it is enough to carry out preventive measures.

First, when purchasing new plants, they must be quarantined for 21 days, and cut flowers in bouquets must be at a good distance from those grown at home.

Secondly, it is necessary to regularly ventilate the room so that the air circulation is constant.

Thirdly, it is necessary to inspect all indoor plants every week for the presence of pests or the appearance of any damage.

Fourthly, the plant should feel free on the windowsill, and not curl.

Fifth, it is necessary to use only disinfected tools, good soil and clean pots when working with plants.

When working with plants, everything must be done carefully, without haste, in order to minimize possible damage, and in case of an appearance, immediately treat the sections or wounds.

Carrying out sanitary measures is an integral part of plant protection. During them, you need to wipe the leaves using a damp sponge, spray it and send it to the shower every three weeks.

Carry out watering activities without overflowing the plant.

Apply fertilizer according to the recommendations and not more often, as this can cause more harm than good.

Signs of diseases and pests: control methods

Slimy, blackening on the upper scales of the bulb, on the petioles, at their base, and the appearance of a putrid odor, indicates a disease of the plant with root rot. If detected, you must immediately take action. Transplant the plant, removing all damaged areas even with the slightest signs of disease, change the soil mixture and the pot. While preparing the new soil, add a biological fungicide there, or dip the bulbs into it.

When thin red or crimson spots or cracks appear on the bulb, as well as dents of these colors, we can talk about the disease of stangoporosis. In this case, it is necessary to stop all watering activities for 30 days, remove all damage from the bulbs, and process the sections with iodine and activated carbon.

The appearance of scale insects on the plant is evidenced by the appearance of yellow-red spots appearing next to the rounded growths of a gray-brown color, as well as the color of the soil that has turned black. In order to cope with this pest, it is necessary to dissolve laundry soap in a small amount of water and apply this mixture to the surface of the leaves. Leave for an hour and rinse with a warm shower. After that, it is necessary to carry out the treatment with insecticides and place it in a plastic bag for three days.

The appearance of a spider mite can be determined by a thin web on the petioles, black spots on the inside of the leaf and yellow spots on the outside. You can get rid of it with the help of a soap-alcohol solution, which is applied to the leaves for 30 minutes, and then washed off with a warm shower. After the procedure, it is necessary to remove the plant in a bag for three days. You can use acaricidal drugs. They are applied four times at intervals of one week. It is better to change drugs each time.

Mealybugs can be identified by off-white lumps that form on the plant itself and on the scales of the bulbs, as well as by a whitish waxy coating on the substrate. For processing the leaves, you can use any alcoholic tincture from the pharmacy. After processing, you need to wash it off after 20 minutes. You will also need insecticide treatment 4 times at intervals of two weeks.

Aphids are not difficult to spot. It settles in colonies on the seamy side of the leaf plate. Because of them, the leaves are covered with small beige spots, and stickiness appears. If they are found before they had time to breed, then the use of garlic infusion will be sufficient. If the situation is running, then insecticides must be used, carrying out the treatment 3 times with an interval of two weeks.

It is important to know that root rot can be dealt with only at an early stage, if the plant already has a strong defeat, then it must be removed and destroyed.

Aphids are a pest that settles on almost all plants, including Drimiopsis.

Breeding methods:

Drimiopsis can be propagated using daughter bulbs, cuttings and seeds. This is not difficult to do, it is important which method will be suitable for the gardener himself.

Using daughter bulbs for propagation

This method is the most common, as it is considered the simplest. To do this, it is enough to separate the daughters from the mother bulb during transplantation and move them to separate pots. This can be done not only at the time of transplantation.

When carrying out these activities, it is important to separate the bulbs so as to cause as little damage as possible. If wounds appear, they must be treated with iodine and wood ash. Crushed chalk, cinnamon and colloidal sulfur are also suitable.

Before planting them, you need to prepare small pots by filling them with humus, leaf humus and coarse sand in proportions 2x1x1, and moistening it.

After planting, the pots should be moved to a place where there will be a lot of bright and diffused light. The air temperature should be +25 degrees and not fall below. Water it every three days using a moderate amount of warm water.

Rooting will take place in 21 days. When they reach 4 centimeters in length, they must be transplanted into their usual soil.

Cuttings

Only Drimiopsis Kirk can be propagated in this way.

To do this, carefully pull out the leaf, leaving a white base at the petiole. You can divide the planting material if it is not enough into parts, the length of which will be from 5 to 7 centimeters.

Before placing the petioles, it is necessary to prepare containers of small depth, filling them with peat and sand in equal quantities. It is not necessary to water the plant and moisten the soil. For rooting, you can use clean water or a root growth stimulator in which the petioles are placed. If water is used for rooting, then it should be changed every three days.

Containers must be kept in a greenhouse or under plastic bags, creating greenhouse conditions for them.

The temperature should not fall below +22 degrees. Every day it is necessary to ventilate the containers and spray the ground every 3 days.

For this method of reproduction, it is necessary to choose leaves on which there are no signs of disease or pests, as well as any damage.

If you create good conditions for them, then rooting will occur after 30 days, and after another two weeks, they can be transplanted into pots whose diameter will not exceed 10 centimeters. They should contain turf, leaf humus and sand in equal proportions.

Later, you will need another transplant in a container filled with an earthen mixture, in which adult plants should grow.

Seed growing method

Florists rarely use seed for growing. Drimiopsis... This is due to the fact that the fruit setting on the plant is rather weak, and the seeds, if they are not planted immediately, do not germinate.

Outcome:

Drimiopsis - belongs to the most unpretentious and hardy plants, which forgives flower growers mistakes.Subject to simple rules, you can grow a plant that will become a decoration of your home for a long time.