Coccoloba

Kokkoloba description and characteristics

The houseplant Kokkoloba belongs to the Buckwheat family. The plant owes its origin to Central America, Florida. Kokkoloba includes about 150 varieties of various evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Some varieties are deciduous. The stems are erect, branching. The foliage of the coccoloba plant has a glossy structure, has a round or heart-shaped shape, and is green in color. Young foliage can have a reddish tint, can be up to 20 cm in length.The flower is white in color, has a pleasant aroma, but at the same time does not differ in particular attractiveness, small in size, gather in large inflorescences that look like hanging brushes, the length of which can reach up to 25 cm. most often the veins are reddish and light green in color. Male and female flowers can appear on different plants. In order for the fruits to form, cross-pollination is needed. The fruits are large in size, can be eaten when ripe they become red or purple. In the wild, the height of a coccoloba plant can reach 15 m. Per season, the plant can increase in length up to 1.5 m. Growing the plant at home, the height will not be more than 2 m.

Kokkoloba berry-bearing: care at home and in the open field

Coccoloba sea grapes: photo

Temperature conditions. Throughout the year, the plant needs to be kept in warm conditions. The temperature regime should vary from +18 to +21 degrees. It can tolerate a temperature drop of up to +2 degrees for a short period of time.

Lighting mode. Coccoloba seagrass grapes can tolerate a little shade, but it is still best to grow the plant in a well-lit area. Foliage should be shaded in summer and spring. in autumn and winter, the plant may suffer from a lack of lighting, so you will need to use a special fluorescent lamp. Also, the plant tolerates the pruning process well. By pruning, you can control the size and shape of the bush. Long stems should be pruned at the end of summer.

Substrate preparation. Kokkoloba berry can tolerate a wide range of soils, provided they have a good drainage system. Also, the plant can grow well in soils that do not have too many nutrients.

Fertilizer introduction. Fertilizers need to be applied during the growing season, taking ordinary liquid fertilizers. Top dressing is carried out 2 times a month. in winter, when the plant is in a warm room, fertilizing is introduced every month. the plant gives particular preference to organic fertilizing.

Flowering period. Kokkoloba berry is well suited for growing in the Bonsai style. The flowering of coccoloba sea grapes rarely occurs in culture.

Air humidity level. It can grow in rooms with dry air, when heating devices are working in winter. To achieve a healthy appearance for a plant, it will be necessary to spray it. To improve the level of humidity in the air, the container with the plant must be placed in a tray, where water is poured and wet pebbles are added.

Soil moisture level. Throughout the year, the plant needs to constantly maintain an optimal level of soil moisture.If you add too much water to the plants, then you can leave it for one day, after which the water must be poured out. Also, from time to time, you need to take the container in which the plant grows and lower it into another container, inside which there will be water at room temperature, for about 30 minutes.

We make a transplant. Young coccoloba plants need to be transplanted every year into a container that will be larger than the original one. An adult plant is quite large in size, so the transplant can be replaced by changing the topsoil to a new one.

Coccoloba reproduction

Coccoloba sea grapes: photo

Propagation with seeds, which must be sown in springtime in loose and moist soil to a depth of about 2 cm. For propagation, only fresh seed should be used. this is due to the fact that seeds begin to deteriorate during long storage, as a result of which they may lose their germination. Half-ripe cuttings should be immersed in a powdery rooting mixture and sent to a warm room. The rooting process takes about 1.5-2 months.

Diseases and insect pests

If the air in the room in which the plant is grown is dry, then the plant will begin to weaken, the tips of the leaves will begin to dry out. Among insects, the plant can be attacked by aphids, spider mites, thrips.

It is important to note the fact that over the course of a certain period, the berry coccoloba can begin its attractive appearance. The fruits of the berry coccoloba can be eaten, namely, to create various confectionery products.