Indoor grapes - photo, description and instructions for growing
Content:
Among domestic flower lovers, such unpretentious ampelous culture as indoor grapes or cissus is deservedly popular. This climbing plant belongs to the grape family. Its other popular name is birch.
About three hundred species belong to cissus, sometimes with significant differences. But, as a rule, these are climbing plants suitable for growing in pots or for vertical gardening.
Grapes in the wild and at home
The distribution area of indoor cissus grapes in the wild covers the belt of tropical rainforests, as well as subtropics. Only a few varieties of cissus live in drier climates and have thicker stems than their tropical counterparts. Cissus vines climb the supports with antennae and are covered with beautiful dissected or solid leaves.
The flowering of this culture does not differ in splendor, and it does not happen too often. Flowers, as a rule, are pale in color and low-key in appearance and form false umbrellas of inflorescences. Therefore, the main advantage of cissus is its spectacular bright green leaves.
Tropical culture takes root well in hanging containers and serves as a gardening room. Homemade grapes are a houseplant that is undemanding to care for, so a novice florist can also cope with its cultivation. Due to its decorative qualities and the ability to climb vertical supports, this tropical ampel can be used to decorate living quarters, offices, sales areas, educational institutions, halls and recreation areas in business centers.
For indoor conditions, it is optimal to grow such types of cissus as:
Indoor plant grape antarctic
Diamond-shaped
Multicolored
Indoor grapes - home care
Temperature regime
Cissus is a tropical guest, so it loves warmth. During spring and summer, the preferred temperature for it is 18-25 degrees. In the summer months, the indoor vine can be taken out of the room into the open air. In winter and autumn, the optimum temperature is 18 degrees. Cissus is able to withstand short-term air cooling up to 10 degrees, however, it is not recommended to grow it in this way on a permanent basis.
The Antarctic species will survive even when the temperature drops to 5 degrees, which cannot be said about the multicolored cissus - this capricious ampel requires maintaining a constant temperature of 16 degrees throughout the year.
Sudden changes in temperature can lead to foliage falling, no less detrimental to cissus and drafts, which should be avoided when growing this tropical crop at home.
Choosing a location and lighting mode
It is best to place containers with cissus in well-lit places: the southern plant loves sunlight, scattered rays are especially useful for it.
Cissus Antarctic will take root in partial shade and is generally more resistant to conditions atypical for the tropics. Therefore, this variety is often used for landscaping offices, institutions, bathrooms.
The more delicate and heat-demanding multicolored cissus can also exist in partial shade, but still prefers bright sunlight.In this case, direct rays should be avoided on its leaves, especially if grapes on the balcony or an open windowsill in the summer.
The most light-loving variety is cissus rhomboid, but it also needs to be sheltered from the summer heat and the bright direct rays of the midday sun.
Watering schedule
Inhabitants of tropical rainforests, cissus plants need a lot of moisture throughout the spring and summer - water constantly evaporates from the surface of their leaves.
Meanwhile, excess moisture is undesirable, since it can lead to decay of the plant's root system. Do not allow overdrying of soil in pots and pots.
The frequency of watering depends on how quickly the topsoil dries up. With the onset of winter and in the autumn months, watering cissus should be less frequent and less abundant: the plant develops at a slower pace and does not require a large amount of moisture.
Air humidification
Creating conditions as close as possible to tropical rainforests will allow you to grow cissus without any problems. Therefore, the degree of air humidity plays an important role. Cissus does not like dry room air and needs regular spraying. The recommended frequency of irrigation in winter is twice a day.
If the air in the room is not too dry, you can do this less often. In the summer, you can also reduce the number of sprays, but still do them regularly - Cissus loves to take a shower. In the spring, you can periodically water the plant abundantly for hygienic purposes.
Top dressing
During the growing season, cissus needs fertilizers - mineral complexes for crops that do not give abundant flowering are suitable as top dressing. Fertilizers need to be applied from April to September, it is better to carry out this procedure weekly. There is no need to feed cissus in winter.
Transplant rules
Indoor grapes photo
During the first five years of cissus life, it is necessary to transplant a rapidly developing young plant to a new place annually. After this period, the transplant procedure can be carried out every 2 or 3 years, depending on the health of the ampelous vine.
The planting container can be filled with ready-made soil, but indoor grape growers who know a lot about growing a flower recommend making a nutritious soil mixture on their own.
The following components must be included in the substrate in equal proportions:
- sod land;
- sand;
- leaf humus;
- humus;
- peat mixture.
It will not be superfluous to place a drainage layer consisting of expanded clay in a container for growing cissus. This will save the plant from stagnation of moisture in the soil and prevent the development of putrefactive processes in its root system.
Pruning procedure
Indoor grapes need regular pruning and pinching. This will allow the cissus to retain its attractive appearance and not lose its decorative qualities. In spring, sanitary and rejuvenating pruning is carried out, when all dry and damaged leaves are removed from the plant. The upper part of the shoots must be pinched so that the cissus can branch more and grow faster. Cosmetic pruning is performed as the shoots elongate in order to give the cissus a beautiful shape.
Reproduction of indoor grapes
Indoor plant grapes: photo of shoots
Reproduction of cissus does not require much effort and skill. To do this, you can use the tops of the shoots remaining after trimming, which act as cuttings in the vegetative propagation method.
First, you need to soak the cut sites with a solution that stimulates the formation of roots, and then place the cuttings in water or a light substrate. To enhance the decorative effect, several cuttings with already formed roots are usually planted in one container.
Another method of reproduction of cissus involves dividing its bush at the time of planting and placing the divisions in different containers with soil mixture. Caring for them in general does not differ from caring for the parent bush.
How to form indoor flower grapes from cuttings. Pruning and rooting - video
Protection against diseases and pests
Indoor ampelous plants can also be affected by pests, like garden crops.
Most often, cissus is attacked by aphids or spider mites, which has an extremely negative effect on its health in appearance. At the first signs of pests, it is necessary to treat the plant with an insecticide, observing all instructions and safety measures. Cissus foliage is sensitive, too much chemicals can kill it.
Another fairly common problem faced by cissus owners is foliage deformation as a result of improper care. Moisture deficiency is expressed in the dryness of the edges of the sheet plates, which can also bend due to the dryness of the indoor air. In this case, the problem is solved with the help of more frequent and abundant irrigation.
Pale color of foliage signals a lack of nutrients in the soil, another symptom of micronutrient deficiency is the slow growth of decorative indoor grapes. The situation can be corrected by applying top dressing.
Despite the fact that indoor wild grapes came to our latitudes from tropical rainforests, it will not be difficult to grow it indoors. It is enough to take care of a sufficient level of moisture in the soil and air, as well as regular fertilization and pruning of ampelous vines. Compliance with these simple recommendations will allow you to plant greenery and effectively decorate your home or work space.
Indoor grapes - photo
