Clerodendrum (Volkameria)

Clerodendrum: plant description

Flower Clerodendrum: photo of a plant

Plants are native to West Africa. Belongs to the vervain family, otherwise it is called Clerodendrum.

In general, the Clerodendrum plant belongs to flowering vines, moreover, very beautifully flowering. In total, there are about four hundred species of Volkameria.

Clerodendrum is an amazing plant, it has a unique feature - fast growth. Most of the varieties are distinguished by oval or round leaves and flowers of incomparable beauty, which are collected in inflorescences.

Clerodendrum: home care

• What kind of lighting should be, and where is the best place to put a flower pot? Volkameria is a whimsical plant. It should be in a well-lit room, but at the same time, direct sunlight should not fall on the leaves and flowers. If it is not possible to place Volkameria in a well-lit space, then it is permissible for the plant to be in light partial shade. If it is completely dark, and Clerodendrum does not have enough sunlight, then this will have a bad effect on flowering. In order to maintain its vitality, the plant will grow small leaves.
• Temperature conditions. Temperature is an important factor for any plant. Volkameria requires special care and a certain temperature. In addition, there are highs and lows. So, in summer, for stable and healthy growth and abundant flowering of Volkameria, a temperature of +16 C to +25 C. In winter, of course, we cannot maintain such a high temperature, so the minimum temperature for the cold season is + 12-18 C.
  It is worth remembering that Volkameria is Liana after all. Therefore, if the air temperature drops to +10 C, Clerodendrum can fall into a kind of hibernation, a kind of liturgical sleep. Cases were recorded when the vine dropped its leaves at all.
• How and when to water? Vines are not whimsical plants for water. In the summer period, when the temperature regime in relation to it is quite loyal, warm, it needs to be watered once a week. The top layer of soil has time to dry out during this time. The winter period is stressful for the plant, watering becomes more rare. In colder temperatures, Volkameria requires less water, so in winter it is watered once every two to three weeks.
  

Flower Clerodendrum: photo of a plant

• How are things going with air humidity? But the air humidity should always be high enough. Therefore, the flower is sprayed daily with water.
  But everything is good in moderation. Therefore, spraying is best replaced as follows:
  - Place the flower pot in a container with damp pebbles. As a result of evaporation, Volkameria will receive a sufficient amount of moisture.
  - The second way is easier. You need to place the pot on a tray of water and periodically add fresh water.
  In winter, it is advised to keep the vine away from heaters and heaters. Otherwise, the plant may die.
• How and with what is Clerodendrum fertilized? Fertilizing for Clerodendrum plays an important role. For this type of vines, special liquid fertilizers are used. In the spring and summer, Volkameria is fertilized once every two weeks. This is important for proper, healthy growth and abundant flowering of the vine.

Clerodendrum: growing and transplanting at home

Flower Clerodendrum: photo of a plant

• How to transplant Volkameria? The transplant takes an important place in the life of Volkameria.You need to transplant vines annually. This is done in the spring, and using a special technology.
  A special substrate is used, consisting of equal parts of sod land, humus, peat, sand.
  It is worth noting that sand is added three times less than the total mass of the mixture.
• How to propagate a vine? Stem cuttings and seeds, it is with the help of them that Clerodendrum multiplies.
  There are several ways to propagate a vine, but the simplest one is:
  In spring or summer, cuttings are separated from the plant and placed in a wolf for further rooting. After the first roots appear, they are transplanted into separate pots.

Diseases and pests

Flower Clerodendrum: photo of a plant

What kind of pests does Volkameria have and how to deal with them?
Most often, Liana is affected by such pests as spider mites, whiteflies, and even common aphids.
Insects radically spoil the condition of the plant. This manifests itself as follows: there are more and more dry leaves, spots appear on them, the shoots are deformed, the plants completely stop blooming, and it is also bad that the plants begin to grow slowly.
What to do with such a misfortune? Elimination of pests is carried out in a standard way. The leaves are washed with a soapy sponge, removing all the cobweb, and then thoroughly washed with running water. This is important because the leaves have to breathe, and if you honestly don't wash them, the leaves will be under a soapy film. But this method is effective in the early stages of infection. If the plant is severely affected, it is treated with Acttellic.

Important! When the plant is severely damaged, all infected parts must be removed before treatment.

Flower Clerodendrum: video about growing at home