Murraya

Murraya belongs to evergreens and belongs to the Root family. India, the islands of Java and Sumatra are considered the birthplace of Murraya. A favorite habitat is tropical forests. The name of this plant comes from the surname of the Swedish scientist botanist Johan Andreas Murray. He was not just a scientist, he was one of the students of Karl Linnaeus. The genus contains a small number of species, namely eight. However, as a home plant, one of these species is grown, which is called murraya exotic or its second type is paniculata.

Paniculate red-fruited murraya: photo

Murraya: description of the plant

In the wild, Murraya paniculata grows as a shrub or as a tree. The stem can reach 7 m in height, while the diameter of the stem is very small relative to the height. There are also more compact species that grow up to 2 m in height. Murraya leaves have a shiny surface, a complex structure. Each leaf plate contains a large number of small leaves. In addition, the leaves have a pleasant aroma. The surface of the sheet plates is covered with fluffy pile. Murraya flowers are about 2 cm in diameter and have a pronounced aroma. They have a light creamy shade. Petals in the amount of 5 pieces are slightly bent at the edges. After flowering, fruits are formed, which are formed in the form of red murray berries. After a few months, Murray seeds form and ripen. Murraya flowers can appear at different times. Most often, this plant is found in the lands of South Asia, in Northern Australia in South China and other regions.

Paniculata murraya: photo

Murraya: growing at home

Murraya paniculata refers to plants that are easy to grow in the usual way. Murray seeds retain their germination for a long period, it will be enough just to pre-soak them for two hours in warm water. Then the finished planting material must be sown evenly in a special container filled with moist soil. The optimal composition of the soil will be peat and sand in equal proportions. You can buy ready-made soil mixture for this plant, as well as use peat tablets. You should not sow murray seeds too deep, it will be enough just to cover the seeds with a small layer of earth. After that, the container with seeds must be covered with foil or glass and placed in an open, bright place. However, you need to ensure that direct sunlight does not fall on the murray seeds. A comfortable temperature for seed germination is considered to be about 24 - 27 degrees. If all the rules were followed, then in about a month, maybe a little later, you can see the first shoots. After the formation of 3 real leaves on them, it is necessary to pick the seedlings in separate containers. Further, the plant is taken care of, which does not include any complex manipulations.

Red-fruited murraya: photo

Murraya: home care

It is necessary to monitor the lighting in the room where Murraya paniculata grows, and also to ventilate it regularly. Avoid direct sunlight for more than 2 or 3 hours a day. Adequate lighting of the murraya is necessary not only in summer, but also in winter. Therefore, it is best to arrange the plants on the windowsill, which is located on the East or West side of the apartment.During the period from spring to autumn, Murraya must be kept at an air temperature of 24 -28 degrees. In winter, the temperature must be lowered, since the plant will be in a dormant stage. Better if it is 18 - 19 degrees. Murraya exotic does not need regular pruning, since without intervention it forms a rather beautiful crown. However, if the need arises or you see that the shoots are too long, you can do this. To form a beautiful crown, it is necessary to turn the murray flower from time to time.

Watering should be done in the spring and summer. Let it be plentiful, but not so frequent as to prevent waterlogging of the soil. Here it is better to focus on the top layer of the earth and start watering the plant after at least half of the capacity of the earth dries out. Non-chlorinated and soft water is suitable for irrigation. Some experienced flower growers add a little citric acid to it. During the rest period, you should change the watering regime, reducing its repetitions. But here it is also necessary to focus on the condition of the soil.

Murraya paniculata is not very demanding on a certain level of humidity in the room. The level that is in the apartment is enough for him, so he does not need to constantly spray it from a spray bottle or install any additional artificial humidifiers. It is possible to process and spray the leaves only in the hot summer season.

Dwarf murraya: photo

Murraya exotic needs fertilization, which is applied in spring and summer regularly about once every 2-3 weeks. Nitrogen-containing and potassium-containing preparations are perfect as fertilizers, since they are involved in the active growth of leaves and stems. It is necessary to know in every way and not to overfeed the plants. It is best to alternate mineral and organic fertilizer complexes. In the autumn-winter period, fertilizers are excluded.

Transfer. The houseplant Murraya is transplanted into a new container annually. If the plant is already adult, then it will be enough to transplant once every 3 years. And the rest of the time, it will be enough just to replace the top layer of the earth. It is important to choose the optimal volume of capacity in which the murraya will grow. And also choose the soil necessary for the plant, so that it is light, loose and fertile. The ideal option would be a mixture of sod and leafy soil, humus, and sand. An equally good option would be to use a special soil mixture that is prepared for citrus plants. It is imperative to organize a good drainage layer at the bottom of the container and transplant using the transshipment method, preserving as much as possible the integrity of the clod of earth on the root system.

The houseplant Murraya blooms, forming a lot of flowers that reach 2 cm in diameter and have a creamy shade. At this moment, the culture looks very beautiful and can decorate any room. It should be noted that the duration of the flowering period lasts up to six months with proper plant care. And if the plant does not bloom, then this is for many reasons. First, the age of the plant. Thus, some murraya varieties begin to bloom only 4 years after planting. Also, the absence of murraya flowers may indicate an insufficient volume of the pot, therefore it is better to transplant the plant into a container of a larger volume.

Reproduction

Paniculata murraya: photo

This plant is propagated with the seed method according to the technologies that were indicated in the article above.

In addition to seed propagation, the cuttings propagation method is used, but this method is less reliable. It is necessary to choose healthy semi-lignified shoots from plants that are at least a year old. Cut off areas or cuttings must be placed in a container with wet sand, as well as in perlite or peat. You can just use a glass of water.The optimum temperature for rooting cuttings should be between 25 and 30 degrees. It is best to arrange a transparent cover on top with a bottle, jar or plastic bag. It will also be better if you organize heating from below.

The best time for Murraya to breed is in the fall. Cuttings that have already taken root must be planted in separate containers, which will also be filled with loose soil and equipped with a drainage layer.

Diseases and pests

Paniculata murraya: photo

Indoor murraya paniculata can infect any pathogenic microorganisms or insect pests. If the plant experiences a lack of light, as well as a lack of moisture, then spider mites, scale insects may appear on this plant, or some kind of fungal disease may develop. Insect pests feed on the sap of the plant, so they themselves harm it.

In order to get rid of these pests, it is necessary to carry out several treatments with acaricides. Suitable karbofos or actellic. Processing must be done at intervals of one week.

In case of a fungal disease, it will be necessary to treat the plant with some kind of fungicide solution. Fitosporin-m, foundationazol, or other similar preparations are well suited.

It is better to follow preventive measures and the necessary rules for caring for the plant. Then it will have a fairly high immunity to diseases.

Murraya: plant species

Paniculata murraya: photo

Earlier it was already noted that not all types of murray are grown at home. Below we will talk about the most popular of them.

Min-a-min... This variety is notable for its low size and reaches a height of no more than 1 meter. It grows fast enough, which is also a plus. If you live in a region with mild warm winters, then you can plant this plant on plot in open ground, as well as it is used when creating landscape design.

Minima. This plant has a height of about half a meter. However, unlike the previous variety, it grows slowly. The plant begins to bloom in the same year after planting, therefore it is the best option for growing as a houseplant.

Dwarf Compact. This indoor murraya belongs to the dwarf murrayas and does not exceed 10 cm in height. At the same time, the culture is characterized by a small size of leaf plates. Despite its size, this plant requires more attention to itself and is quite whimsical.

Murraya: medicinal properties and benefits of a houseplant

Dwarf murraya: photo

Murraya has been known for its healing properties since ancient times. Even then, people in Ancient Egypt used it.

At the same time, they told various mythical stories about the origin and origin of this plant. The plant was also called "the tree of the Japanese emperors". The fact is that murray leaves are composed of substances that affect the capillaries and are called hesperidin.

In addition, this plant is used as an anti-inflammation agent, an agent that promotes rapid tissue regeneration. This plant is used for diseases of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract, heals wounds. The benefits of murraya are also recognized for joint problems, and it is believed that this plant can relieve various types of pain.

Murray berries also have medicinal properties, since they contain useful active substances such as vitamins and antioxidants. At the same time, it is noted that the use of several Murraya berries will lead to a greater preservation of youthfulness of the skin and the whole body as a whole, since this plant has a positive effect on the heart muscle and is used for high blood pressure and other heart problems. In addition to all of the above, the plant has a positive effect on people with diabetes.

To prepare a tincture of murraya, you need to prepare the fruits and leaves of this plant: chop, peel. Pour vodka in a glass jar at the rate of a quarter of vodka for three tablespoons of the mixture. It is necessary to close the container tightly with a lid and place it in a cool room for two weeks. In this case, you must not forget to periodically shake the jar. The resulting tincture should be taken in a dosage of 30 drops two or three times a day.

Like any homeopathic remedy, the infusion has contraindications.

Although some pronounced undesirable phenomena have not been described, they note that the use of this tincture can reduce blood pressure, therefore not all people can use it, it is especially necessary to act with caution for people suffering from low blood pressure. Well, in everything you need to know when to stop.

Conclusion

Murraya is a very beautiful houseplant, which also has medicinal properties. Thanks to the unpretentiousness of the culture of this flower, it is a pleasure to grow.