Chlorophytum

Today we will tell you about an amazing, ornamental plant with an amazing and beautiful name - chlorophytum. This culture belongs to liliaceae, there are more than 200 species in the genus. As you understand, plants have a lot of varieties. In its natural habitat, this culture grows on the African continent. Many subspecies can be found in the tropical zone. As you may have guessed, in translation the name of this culture means green plants. And this is not in vain, the foliage of this flower is amazingly green, for which flower growers love this culture.

Chlorophytum description and characteristics

Chlorophytum is considered a herbaceous perennial plant. He has rather short stems, and the root system is nodule. The foliage is oval, lanceolate. In the middle, the leaves are collected in an outlet. In length, each sheet can reach a half-meter mark. When chlorophytum blooms, not very attractive little white flowers form on the shoots. However, this culture is valued not for flowers, but for decorative foliage. This plant is considered surprisingly beautiful, they are both grouped in various flower arrangements and placed on the windowsill alone. It is believed that the foliage of this plant purifies the surrounding air from various harmful substances, therefore this culture has a beneficial effect on the surrounding atmosphere. That is why many experienced flower growers put these plants in the kitchen.

Chlorophytum cultivation

This culture is prized for its beautiful ornamental foliage. If we talk about illumination, then this plant needs a fairly bright light. However, direct sunlight should not fall on the foliage, otherwise the plant will get burned, it is advisable to choose diffused light. It is believed that this plant can be grown in a darkened place. The decorativeness of this culture will not be lost. If we talk about the temperature regime, then chlorophytum does not make any special requirements. In the spring and summer, it is desirable that the room be slightly more than plus 20 degrees, but during the rest period, in winter and autumn, the air temperature in the room should not fall below + 10. The irrigation regime is also quite traditional. In spring and autumn, it is advisable to water this plant quite intensively, in summer this flower is watered more abundantly. But in winter, the intensity of soil moisture will need to be reduced. Usually, the soil is moistened when the top layer of the earth dries out by about a few centimeters. And if we talk about the level of humidity in the room, then it should be medium. It is advisable to feed this culture only in spring and summer, and this is done once every 2 weeks. In order for the balance of nutrients in the soil to be at an optimal level, it is advisable to alternate organic and mineral fertilizers. But in autumn and winter, the plants are at rest, so it is undesirable to disturb the flower during this period. The bushes are usually transplanted either in early spring or late winter. It is advisable to replant young plants annually, and mature bushes once every few years. It is not recommended to replant very old plants at all, plant species are not demanding on the composition of the soil, however, it will be necessary to add sand, a little sod and leafy soil, and humus to the soil. Plants reproduce, both by layering and with the help of seeds. These plants do not have a high enough immunity, therefore, sometimes spider mites, worms, and other pests settle on the leaf blades.If you take the wrong care of the flower, then rot may appear on the leaves and roots, and the foliage may well lose its decorative effect, therefore, certain agronomic rules are still needed.

Chlorophytum care

It is best to put this plant on a windowsill, and from the west or east side. The plant does not need too bright light, it is desirable that the sun's rays are diffused. If the sun heats the bushes too intensely, the foliage may get burned, but do not forget that some varieties of these plants also like bright enough light. If you put chlorophytum in the shade, then the decorative color may be lost. As we noted earlier, plants are not demanding on temperature conditions. In spring and summer, chlorophytum can even be taken out to a flower bed. It is believed that this indoor flower grows well in both cool climates and hot conditions. However, you should protect this plant from strong winds and heavy rainfall if you take the pot of chlorophytum outside for the summer. As we noted earlier, in winter the air temperature should not drop below + 10. But too high a temperature can also harm the plant. In spring and summer, watering the culture will need to be abundant enough. This plant needs a lot of moisture. If there is not enough water for chlorophytum, then a thickening will form at the outlet. In the autumn-winter period, the irrigation regime should be adjusted, the plant will not need to be watered very intensively, but the earthen lump should not dry out completely at rest. But there should also be no stagnation of liquid in the pot. Very often, flower growers spray foliage with a spray bottle, thanks to this event, the bushes grow and develop. It is better to fertilize plants in spring and summer about once every 2 weeks. Moreover, it is best to alternate organic and complex mineral fertilizers.

How to transplant chlorophytum

As we noted earlier, young plants are replanted annually. But adult bushes are recommended to be transplanted no more than once every few years. You should not disturb completely mature bushes, it is best to transplant the plants either in February or in March, April. Each time, the new pot should be slightly larger and deeper than the previous one. The containers are filled with either the purchased mixture or the prepared one. It is best to add a little humus, sod and deciduous soil, as well as sand to the garden soil. At the bottom of the container, it is advisable to lay out the drainage so that excess moisture can drain well.

Chlorophytum reproduction

This plant can be propagated in several ways, for example, using seeds. Chlorophytum is usually planted in this way in February or March. Before planting, it is best to soak the seeds in warm water for several hours, you can use a damp cloth or cotton wool for this. However, it is recommended to change the fluid every two hours. Seed pots should be filled with humus, leafy soil, peat and sand. The soil mixture must first be moistened, the seeds are distributed evenly over the soil surface. From above, the planting material should be sprinkled a little with loose soil, and the seeds will first need to be slightly pressed into the ground. In order to create a favorable climate, containers with seeds will need to be covered with foil or glass. In order for the seedlings to play well, the box should be approximately + 20-25 degrees. Remember to ventilate the container and also moisten the soil, and it is best to do this with a spray bottle. The first shoots begin to appear within a month, after that you will need to start opening the container, accustom the plants to their natural habitat, without shelter. When several leaves appear on each plant, they can be dived into separate containers.When the seedlings are fully grown, they can also be planted in large pots designed for adult plants. It is easy enough to propagate this culture by rooting cuttings. Usually, at home, a lot of leaf rosettes are formed on each plant. They are easy to cut and root in new pots. Do not forget to water the layers, moisten them with a spray bottle. In individual pots, leaf plates take root well, so plants usually grow and develop intensively.

Possible problems

Of course, in the process of growing chlorophytum, you may encounter some difficulties. Very often, the foliage of these plants begins to hurt, rot, turn brown. Therefore, it is advisable to inspect the plants in time and carry out preventive treatments, as well as adjust the conditions for growing the culture. If you notice that the foliage of the plant has become brown, then this usually speaks most often about the insufficient content of fertilizing in the soil, the plant needs a lot of nutrients for growth and development. However, brown foliage also becomes if the air humidity in the room has become too high, it is possible that the air temperature negatively affected the development of the bush. Adjust the care rules in order to normalize the life cycle of the plants. From stagnant moisture in the pot, spots begin to appear on the foliage. If the room is hot enough, then this also leads to plant diseases. When the foliage becomes nondescript, wilted, then the temperature regime needs to be adjusted. Usually, the leaves begin to fade when it gets hot enough in the room, and the plant, on the contrary, does not have enough light. Sometimes such signs indicate a lack of mineral elements in the soil. If you notice that your plant has begun to rot, then this most often indicates over-watering. Moreover, this usually happens during the rest period. If the soil is too dense, then the moisture is absorbed worse, which means that the stagnation of the liquid in this case is not uncommon. Sometimes the leaves of this plant become monochrome, one-color. This usually indicates that the bushes do not have enough light. If the sun's rays are not frequent guests on the windowsill, then you can arrange additional lighting. Sometimes chlorophytum does not bloom, but this does not always indicate a problem, young seedlings should not bloom, so do not be alarmed. However, when adult plants do not bloom, this most often indicates that the chlorophytum in the pot has become cramped, so it is better to transplant it. Sometimes various pests settle on the bushes of this culture, and this is largely due to the fact that chlorophytum is affected by some kind of disease, and perhaps you are simply not properly caring for the plant. Therefore, do not forget about preventive examinations and treatments, make sure that, for example, ticks do not appear on the foliage, these insects have a bad effect on the growth of the plant, because these pests suck the juice from the leaves, which means that the plants eventually die from a lack of moisture and nutrients. substances.

Varieties

This culture naturally has its own varieties. Chlorophytum remarkably cleans the surrounding air from many harmful substances, so flower growers often put these plants in the kitchen. The first type of chlorophytum with which we want to introduce you is Cape. In this culture, the roots are similar to tubers, the plant also has long leaves that are collected in rosettes. The leaf plates are lanceolate, pale green, smooth. Towards the top, the foliage begins to taper, and at the base it thickens. In width, the foliage reaches several centimeters, but in length - half a meter mark. When the plant begins to bloom, a long peduncle grows from the outlet.The flowers are usually not as attractive as the foliage, they are collected in bunches, after the culture has faded, a box, fruit is formed on the peduncles, it is there that the seeds ripen in the future. Winged chlorophytum has very wide leaf plates, the color of the plant is quite attractive, the foliage is both pink and reddish orange. At the base and at the top, the leaves are tapering, the petioles are unusual, orange. In order for the foliage to have a beautiful decorative appearance, it is best to remove the peduncles. But in Crested chlorophytum, the stems are short, the leaves are pale, greenish. The leaf plates are lanceolate, elongated. Shoots develop quite intensively, and the flowers are star-shaped. Branched roots, white.