Colline.

Collinia is best known by another name - hamedorea graceful. This is a low-growing woody plant belonging to the genus Hamedorea, the Palm family. Under natural conditions, chamedorea grows in tropical, equatorial and subtropical climates, especially in Guatemala and Mexico. In our country, chamedorea is cultivated only as a highly decorative indoor plant. In addition to its attractive appearance, chamedorea is not demanding on growing conditions and care, and therefore, the plant is often used in the design of halls, halls and other premises of various institutions, hotel complexes. For this reason, another name for hamedorea is used - "salon palm".

Description of hamedorea.

Hamedorea is one of the woody plants that develop in the form of a shrub. It has many thin, densely spaced stems, growing up to 2 meters in height. Each stem forms at least 6 long-petiolate leaves. Leaves are pinnate, with 12-16 pairs of narrow and elongated leaflets. Hamedorea belongs to flowering plants, it forms paniculate inflorescences with many very small spherical flowers, light yellow, orange. However, it is the leaves of the plant that are more decorative, while the inflorescences are practically invisible in the green mass of the bush. Hamedorea is a dioecious plant. Fruits are small, berry-like, no more than 6 mm in diameter. Each fruit contains one seed. By the end of the ripening period, the fruits turn black.

Growing conditions and care.

For normal growth and proper development of the palm, lighting is not important. Hamedorea grows quite well in partial shade conditions. This quality allows you to use the palm tree in the design of rooms where there is only artificial lighting. And this is another reason for such a high popularity of hamedorea. Also, when deciding on the location of the plant, it should be borne in mind that the bright midday sun can injure the bush, leaving burns on the leaves.

In the room where the palm tree is located, it is advisable to exclude sharp fluctuations in temperature. When ventilating, especially in the autumn-winter period, do not allow the flow of cold air to enter the plant. In spring and summer, the optimum temperature for a plant is + 20 ... + 26 degrees. In winter, the air temperature in the room must be lowered to + 12 ... + 15 degrees.

Watering is especially important for chamedorea during the period of its active growth. At this time, watering should be done regularly and abundantly. In general, the volume and frequency of watering is regulated taking into account the temperature and humidity level in the room. It is important not to allow the earthen clod of the container to completely dry out. This can suspend the development of the plant for a long time, and in some cases lead to its death. However, there should be no stagnation of moisture in order to avoid the appearance of rot in the roots of the plant. For irrigation, it is necessary to use settled water at room temperature.

If possible, the plant should be provided with increased air humidity, especially in the autumn-winter period, when heating devices dry the air very much. For the same reason, you cannot put a container with a palm tree near the batteries. Such placement will only contribute to the rapid evaporation of moisture from the surface of the soil and leaves.

The easiest and least time-consuming way to get the right level of humidity is to use a humidifier. Also, you can spray the bush every day, and also water the palm tree from time to time using the sprinkler method.Insufficient humidity will quickly affect the appearance of the plant, the tips of the leaves will begin to turn yellow and dry.

For growing hamidorea, ready-made soil is quite suitable, which can be found in any specialized store. However, practicing flower growers recommend, if possible, compose the soil yourself. The composition of the soil mixture should include sand, deciduous and sod land, as well as peat. The constituent mixtures are taken in one part, with the exception of sod land, it is applied in three parts. The addition of deciduous soil, in this case, is aimed at increasing the moisture capacity, air permeability and nutritional value of the soil mixture. Excellent qualities are observed in the soil collected from birch, linden, walnut. But the soil from under the oak is not at all like for these purposes, since it contains a large amount of tannins, to which most plants react poorly. Additionally, a little charcoal can be added to the mixture.

Without fail, a drainage layer should be poured at the bottom of the planting tank using expanded clay, small clay shards or broken brick.

From spring to mid-autumn, at least once every 15-17 days, you need to make top dressing. For these purposes, ready-made liquid fertilizers are suitable, containing complexes of the necessary mineral and nutrients, intended for growing palm trees. Fertilizers used for feeding decorative deciduous plants are also suitable. However, to prepare the working solution, it will be necessary to take only half of the recommended dosage. It should be noted that the plant reacts especially well to fertilizers, in which nitrogen predominates.

Hamedorea grows rather slowly and, nevertheless, young plants are recommended to be replanted annually. This is primarily due to the need to maintain the quality of the soil mixture, from which, over time, the substances necessary for the normal development of the palm are washed out. In addition, it is necessary to transplant the plants into a slightly larger container each time. Mature bushes are transplanted much less often, about once every four years.

Reproduction of hamedorea

Chamedorea is propagated in several ways - by seeds, offspring and dividing the bush.

Seeds are sown in a seedling container and covered, thereby creating greenhouse conditions. The container with seedlings is transferred to a room with an air temperature of + 22 ... + 25 degrees, they provide moderate soil moisture and regular ventilation. The first shoots will appear no earlier than a month later. And, possibly, in a few months. Subsequently, the plants are planted in separate pots and provide the same care as adult plants.

Reproduction by dividing the bush is suitable for well-developed large plants. However, in a closed environment, chamedorea rarely grows to such a size that the bush can be divided.

It is much easier to propagate a palm tree by root suckers. Young plants with a well-developed root system, you just need to carefully separate from the mother plant, transplant into a separate container and follow the same recommendations as for caring for an adult palm tree.

Diseases of chamedorrhea and their causes.

In most cases, plant disease is the result of improper or untimely care.

So, with a strong waterlogging of the soil, root rot begins to develop. Penetrating first into the root system of the plant, and then into the conductive system, they can lead to its complete death. Signs that a plant is affected by rot is an unpleasant odor coming from the soil, as well as traces of mold on it.

If there is a large amount of calcium in the soil, the foliage will begin to turn yellow. In the future, there is a possibility of plant disease with chlorosis.

A sharp temperature drop, to values ​​below +12 degrees, can cause the plant to wilt.The foliage, at first, will turn dark green, and in the future, it will completely fall off. If the foliage of the lower part of the bush darkens and falls, then you should not worry, this is a natural process for a palm tree.

The plant is rarely affected by insects - pests, since in a closed room they practically have nowhere to come from, except from newly acquired plants. If pests are found, it is necessary to immediately treat the plant with insecticidal preparations in order to prevent their further spread.

Thanks to the bright green leaves and the spreading shape of the bush, chamedorea is in no way inferior to other luxuriantly flowering, ornamental plants. With minimal maintenance, at any time of the year, the room will be decorated with a small piece of the tropics.