Nertera
Content:
Nertera belongs to the Marenov family. In various literature, it is specified that the genus contains a large number of species. In the wild, this plant can be found in areas where the tropical climate prevails. The name of this plant (nertera) comes from the Greek language, which means "small".
Nertera: description of the plant and characteristics
Nertera: photo of a flower
The Nerter flower is a herbaceous perennial, it belongs to creeping plants. The leaves are located opposite each other and have the shape of an oval. Leaf width reaches 5 mm. The flowers are collected in a funnel-shaped corolla. There can be both single flowers and five petals. The culture is not of decorative value because of the flowers, as they look unattractive.
The flowering period of Nertera begins in May or June. Then, after the flowering period, the berries ripen. The berries are red in color and small in size, about 1 cm in diameter. Thanks to these berries, this culture is so appreciated by flower growers and its second name is "coral moss". This plant is usually grown for only 1 season.
Experienced growers buy ready-made Nertera bushes before fruit is formed on them. After the fruits fall, the plant is removed from its windowsill. But if you follow some rules of care, then the flower can grow and amaze others for several years. In addition, there is a belief that the plant has a positive effect on the energy background of the room. It is very good to grow not one copy of this plant, but several.
Nertera: home care
Nertera: photo of a flower
The apartment requires good lighting, but it is better if the sunlight is diffused. The temperature in the room where nertera is grown should be about 20 degrees. In autumn and winter, the temperature must be lowered to 10 degrees. Like any plant, Nerter needs to be watered periodically and made sure that the soil in the pot does not dry out too much. Thus, you need to focus on the condition of the soil and water the plant after the topsoil dries out.
The Nerter plant grows well and develops in humid air. Therefore, during the flowering period, it is necessary to spray the bush with a sprayer. In this case, the water should be warm. In order to maintain a sufficient level of humidity, it is recommended to add wet expanded clay to the pallet.
It is necessary to feed Nertera flowers once every 30 days. Ready-made mineral complexes are perfect as fertilizers, and in winter and late autumn plant fertilization must be stopped, since the nertera begins a dormant period that lasts until the end of winter.
After the dormant period ends, if the need arises, the plant can be transplanted into a container of larger volume. In a new container, it is necessary to lay out a good drainage layer, and also select a suitable land, which will consist of sod land, leafy soil, humus, peat and sand, taken in equal proportions. This plant is propagated both by seeds and by dividing the roots.
Popular insect pests that can infect are scale insects, mealybugs, whiteflies, and spider mites. If you follow all the rules of care at the same time, then the plant will have a high immunity to various diseases that will not be afraid of it. Also, if you decide to grow nertera at home, you should remember that the fruits of this plant are poisonous.
Later in this article, you will be told in detail about the above rules of care.
Light and temperature
For Nertera, bright, but diffused lighting will be optimal. Therefore, it is best to expose the crop to fresh air before the fruit is formed. In this case, it is necessary to choose a light partial shade so that direct sunlight does not fall on the plants, and also so that it is protected from drafts and rain.
The optimal room temperature for nertera will be about 20 degrees. This applies to the entire spring and summer season. In other periods, it is advisable to lower the temperature even further so that it is not higher than 12 degrees, but not lower than 10 degrees.
The room where Nertera is grown must be ventilated throughout the autumn-winter period. This should be done regularly. With the arrival of spring, when a positive temperature of at least 6 degrees is already established on the street, the nerte can again be moved to the street, choosing for this a bright sunny place where there are no strong winds and precipitation.
It is important to cover the plant during periods of recurrent frosts, otherwise it may freeze, or rather, bring it back into the room. The same must be done when the ovaries of berries begin to form.
Watering rules
Nertera is watered regularly throughout the growing season, waiting about 2 days after the potted soil surface has dried.
It is necessary to change the watering regime downward in the winter season, when the plant is dormant and kept at a temperature of about 10 degrees. The previous regime is resumed only with the arrival of spring, when you see that new leaves begin to form. Further, the plants should be watered regularly until autumn.
From spring to autumn, it is also necessary to constantly humidify the air in order to maintain the required level of humidity. You can spray the leaves with a spray bottle. In this case, the water should be settled and at room temperature. You can use boiled water. These manipulations must be carried out before the flowering period begins. It is unacceptable for moisture to get on the flowers, as well as on the fruits.
So that the Nerter plant does not experience a moisture deficit, pebbles or expanded clay can be added to the pan and periodically moistened. Stagnation of moisture in the roots is also not allowed. Once a month, nerta is fed. Mineral compositions are used as fertilizer. Fertilizer must be applied during the entire growing season.
Nertera: how to transplant a plant
Nertera: photo of a flower
If Nertera has become cramped in the previous pot, then it is necessary to transplant the plant. The optimal period for this is spring before flowering. To do this, you should first select a sufficiently spacious container with low sides.
At the same time, it is important to organize a drainage layer and select the necessary soil composition, which will consist of peat, sand, humus, turf and leafy soil. After planting, the plants do not need to be tamped and compacted.
Nertera is grown only as an ornamental plant, since the berries of the crop contain poison. For the same reasons, care must be taken not to grow plants in a home with animals or small children.
Reproduction methods
Nerteru is propagated by seed and vegetative methods.
For sowing seed the optimal period is February. A sufficiently large container should be prepared, filled with peat, sand and leafy soil in equal proportions. It is also necessary to remember about the drainage layer at the bottom of the container. Further, the seeds are evenly scattered over the entire surface and covered with a small layer of the remaining soil on top. The surface can be lightly tamped.Next, you should water from a spray bottle and cover the container with glass or film.
Then the box with crops must be placed in a warm room, where the air temperature will be about 20 - 22 degrees. After the first shoots appear, and they appear unevenly with a difference of several weeks, the container must be placed in a well-lit, sunny place and closed from the scorching rays. If there is no such place, then it is necessary to create artificial lighting. They continue to look after the seedlings, periodically watering them.
To breed nertera division bush, you must wait for all the berries to fall off and divide the bush itself into two or more parts. The resulting delenki are planted in new pots, which are filled with suitable soil. The main components of the soil mixture are peat, sod, leafy soil and sand. As well as when planting plants, it is necessary to make drainage, which is perfect for small brick or expanded clay.
Pests
In order for the Nertera plant to be protected from pests and common diseases, it is necessary to follow the growing rules. If the temperature is not reduced during the dormant period of the plant, this will lead to the fact that all the foliage will fly from the bush, since the nertera will not go into the dormant stage. Also, if proper care is not followed, the plant can infect spider mites, scale insects, scale insects and whiteflies.
Nertera: plant species
Nertera Granadenzis. The homeland of this species is Mexico and America. The culture is characterized by thin, creeping stems. At the same time, the leaves are rounded and reach 5 mm in width. The length of the cutting is about 3 mm.
Nertera granadenzis: Photo of the variety
Nerter granadenzis begins to bloom around the beginning of summer, after which orange fruits ripen on it, which perform a decorative function all summer and almost all autumn. If the plant is in conditions suitable for it, the fruits are preserved throughout the winter period.
Nertera is pinned down. This plant is perennial and South America is considered its homeland. The stems are also creeping, on which small oval-shaped leaves are located opposite each other. The size of the leaves is 5 mm. The shade of the petals is light green here. This culture bears fruit all summer and early autumn.
Nertera pressed: Photo of the variety
Conclusion
Nertera is an unusual and very beautiful plant that is prized for its small, round, bead-like fruits that persist on plants for a very long period. It is necessary for the cultivation of Nertera to know the characteristics of the plant and create the necessary conditions for its growth and development. Only in this case, nertera will delight the eye all season.
It is also important to remember the toxic properties of Nertera berries and be careful. Animals and children should not be allowed to the flower.
