Wax myrtle

Wax myrtle is a rather unusual, atypical plant, which has rather bright decorative characteristics. The twigs are covered with very narrow foliage, which more closely resembles needles than the usual plant with typical leaves. The flowers, on the other hand, are more reminiscent of apple blossom, in combination with the deciduous part, they look quite original, and they look very delicate. Most likely, it is due to this that wax myrtle is so popular. When wax myrtle is in the flowering stage, it will certainly be able to conquer the hearts of absolutely any flower growers, even those who, in principle, already have experience in growing a wide variety of crops and plants and, it would seem, it is not easy to surprise them at all. In addition, wax myrtle is very easy and simple to care for, but the result is incredibly attractive - it delivers true aesthetic pleasure.

Wax myrtle: description and characteristics

Wax myrtle: photo

In this article, I would like to begin the description of wax myrtle with the fact that it belongs to the practically eponymous Myrtle family. The shrub is evergreen, and can also look like a small, almost dwarf tree. In nature, wax myrtle is quite widespread in the arid territories of southern Australia, but in general it is now cultivated in various states, and it has established itself as an ornamental and reliable shrub. His rhizome is strong and highly branching, it goes very deep into the soil, so this aspect should be borne in mind when the florist chooses some procedures for caring for the plant. The shoots of the wax myrtle are elastic and branched, but also quite strong. The branches of younger plants are covered with a greenish-grayish skin, but when the plant grows older, it becomes woody, a light brown, very rough bark appears on it. In general, the appearance of a plant is just a good indication of its age. The height of the wax myrtle tree can be thirty centimeters, and it can grow up to three meters, in principle, much depends on the type of wax myrtle, on the place where it grows, as well as on how much the rules for keeping and caring for this plant are followed.

Very dense foliage is located on the branches of wax myrtle, which more closely resembles needles in conifers. The leaf blades are also shrouded in a dense skin, which prevents moisture evaporation, especially due to the wax cover (it is also worth noting that due to this cover, myrtle got its name - waxy). In length, the leaves reach from 2.5 to 4 centimeters, are painted in a very bright, juicy green hue. Also, leaf blades secrete essential oils, which are sometimes very useful in medicine. You can lightly rub the leaves, and immediately the characteristic myrtle aroma will appear, which has many beneficial effects, in particular, bactericidal. Also, plants are often planted indoors in order to purify the air in them, since sometimes it is simply necessary, and artificial purifiers can make the air dry, which also negatively affects the general condition of a person. Therefore, wax myrtle is not only an ornamental, but also an extremely practical, useful plant.

The bloom of wax myrtle occurs in February, and is quite long - it stops only in June, if all the necessary and favorable conditions are created for the plant.Young shoots are covered with single axillary flowers, in diameter they reach from one to two centimeters, no more. Each flower has five rounded petals, which can be colored either snow-white or slightly pinkish. The core of the flower has a burgundy or dark purple hue, and a pistil is located in the very center. Around it, stamens are formed, which take a very active part in the pollination of this plant. When blooming, an incredibly attractive aroma emanates from the flowers, and the flowers are attached to elastic, but short peduncles. One way or another, they look very attractive when blooming, and in combination with rather unusual foliage, this is also a very decorative result, which is also often very much appreciated by flower growers in horticultural and landscape activities.

Wax myrtle: home care

Wax myrtle: video

Care for wax myrtle must be very careful and thorough. This is a beautiful shrub, but if the grower does not have a certain experience, then there is a great risk that he will not have enough of this very experience in order for the wax myrtle to grow exactly as it should be. The plant needs very long and intense lighting, daylight hours should not be less than 12 hours. In winter, it is worth using artificial lighting, fluorescent lamps, and the plant itself is best placed on windows that face the south side.

In the summer, you should not worry that the heat gives the plant some kind of discomfort, since this is completely wrong: initially, wax myrtle is the very crop that is sufficiently adapted to dry or sultry periods. In order for the crown to develop stably and normally, and the flowering is distinguished by its abundance, duration and decorative effect, right from September it is worth lowering the air temperature. By the end of autumn, it should be from 10 to 15 degrees, no more and no less - then the plant will be completely and completely ready for the winter period, and in the spring abundant and beautiful flowering will begin.

From about March to August, wax myrtle needs regular and abundant watering. But at the same time, it is worth monitoring the general condition of the soil - water should not stagnate in it, the soil should not become waterlogged, otherwise the root system risks getting sick with some rot or fungi. Only the topmost layer of soil can dry out, but moisture, which turned out to be superfluous, should immediately leave the pot. Therefore, it is always worth removing the water from the sump, and it is also best to install drainage at the bottom of the container, which will also help the plant very quickly perceive only the required amount of moisture, and all the rest of the water simply leaves. If the root system dries up, this will affect the appearance of the plant - the foliage will first dry out, and then crumble altogether, which will be a signal that the plant is missing something, and you should pay very close attention to this, it is advisable to do it's on time. For irrigation, use soft water at room temperature.

Experienced gardeners advise to acidify the water, for this you can use a small amount of citric acid or lemon juice. Such a solution has a beneficial effect on the green part of the wax myrtle, making it bright and attractive.

Wax myrtle: photo

Wax myrtle is a plant that enjoys drier air. Therefore, it can be safely placed in a room that is additionally insulated - this will not harm the shrub at all, and even benefit it. From excessive dampness or high humidity of the air, there is a high risk that the plant will begin to develop a variety of fungal diseases. It is also worth abandoning spraying, since this is a high risk of developing diseases such as phytosporosis and late blight.However, if you follow these rules, then you can not only preserve the decorative features and characteristics of the plant, but also enhance them.

It is worth feeding the plant in very moderate amounts. Approximately from the beginning of April to September, mineral fertilizers are applied under the shrubs in the form of complex mixtures, which are just intended for feeding indoor flowering plants. The feeding interval is from one to two times every 30 days, not more often. In general, it is worth focusing on the general condition of the plant and on its external characteristics, and only in this case it is worthwhile to understand whether it is worth prescribing fertilizing to the plant, or in a given period of time they are completely unnecessary.

When the bloom of the wax myrtle is complete, you can trim the crown, and usually do it quite abundantly. In this case, not only the buds that have dried up are removed, but also some twigs. It is also worth pruning old, painful, withered or withered shoots so that new branches form in their place. In order for the bush to become more thickened, it is recommended to pinch the younger shoots a little. Pruning wax myrtle transfers almost painlessly and easily, so the florist can give the plant absolutely any shape he wants. In order to decorate bouquets with wax myrtle, you can cut the branches on which the flowers are located. They will be able to stand in the water for a long time and delight the grower with their appearance and a very pleasant aroma. You can also use wax myrtle to decorate your room. In principle, this plant is in some way universal and, moreover, completely safe for health and the human body.

Wax myrtle is not afraid of any pests and parasites, since the essential oils that the plant secretes can be natural insecticides that scare away these pests and insects. But if the bush is in conditions of too high humidity, then there is a high probability that rot will begin to form on it. If the grower noticed any of its signs, then he should immediately treat the affected area with a fungicide, and if this is done on time, the plant will practically not suffer and will recover very quickly.

Wax myrtle: reproduction

Reproduction of wax myrtle is possible only in a vegetative way, so we will devote a certain part of our article to it. But at the same time, there are flower growers who say that sometimes this method can be completely ineffective, so it is worth stocking up on a large number of seedlings so that you still get a certain positive result and positive dynamics. So, in order to propagate wax myrtle, you need to pay attention to several conditions and rules:

• in the spring it is worth cutting the apical cuttings, and then placing them in water for rooting
• before the cuttings are sent for rooting, they can also be kept in a root solution and do this for a day. If there is no root, then any other growth stimulant that is used in accordance with the instructions will do.
• cuttings can be rooted not only in water, but also in soil. To do this, it is worth preparing a wet mixture, which consists of sand and peat. Saplings deepen by no more than two centimeters, otherwise it will be even more difficult for them to root under the soil.
• if this is a group planting, then a distance of 10 centimeters should be left between the seedlings. They are placed in a well-lit room, and the air temperature should be from 22 degrees to 25 degrees, no more and no less
• on average, rooting takes from five to six weeks, everything will depend on whether the grower followed all of the above rules
• when the seedlings of wax myrtle have grown, they should be very carefully transplanted into separate pots with soil, which will be intended accordingly for older plants.It differs in composition, contains nutrients, and can be purchased at any gardening store.

Plant transplant

Wax myrtle: photo

Wax myrtle transplant is another aspect that we will consider. In general, it is worth replanting wax myrtle only if such a need arises. This should be done no more than once every three years. The procedure is best planned in the spring. A drainage layer must be installed at the bottom of the new container, which can be made from expanded clay or pebbles, or you can simply crumble a brick. The substrate should be very light and slightly acidic, preferably generally neutral. A mixture that a florist can make on his own is also suitable. For this, sod and leaf land, leaf humus and sphagnum, peat and vermiculite are mixed. Also, if there is no vermiculite, then you can use coarse sand. All components are thoroughly mixed, after which a seedling is placed in them.

Before planting, wax myrtle should create an artificial greenhouse effect. You can cover it with a plastic bag and send the pot there. Keep the bush in a cool place, ideal for a windowsill. Wax myrtle is transplanted by the method of transshipment of an earthen coma; it is best not to shake off the earth from the roots at all, since the coma should remain intact. After the bush has been transplanted, it is better to keep it under the bag for a few more days, and then gradually remove it.

Types of wax myrtle

• Wax myrtle hooked - this species is most common in horticulture today. This bush is distinguished by its spreading and very attractive crown. Every year it can be noted that it increases in size, the height of the bush sometimes reaches two meters. In this case, it is possible to carry out formative pruning of the shrub, since it tolerates it almost painlessly. On young shoots of hooked wax myrtle, very young and very bright, attractive leaves in the form of needles are very densely located. Old branches can be exposed, so sometimes gardeners simply remove them by pruning. At the very beginning of spring, the very first inflorescences appear, sometimes they can be located in the racemes, but mostly they are single flowers. Depending on what kind of hooked wax myrtle, flowers can be of different shades - there are white and pink, purple and violet, bright red or romantic lilac colors. Also, the flowers may not be ordinary smooth, but also double, which makes the hooked wax myrtle even more decorative and attractive.
• Wax myrtle Matilda - the shrub is compact and the crown grows very dense, almost impenetrable. In the southern regions, this species can be grown without much hassle in the open field, since the plant can withstand sudden temperature changes, severe frosts, and calmly react to drought and heat. The flowering of the Matilda wax myrtle variety is very abundant, when the flowers are just opening, the flowers are snow-white in color with a very thin scarlet edging, which looks very delicate and cute. For all the time that flowers are blooming, they gradually turn into darker, purple or pomegranate shades, which is why this species attracts landscape designers from all over the world.

Wax myrtle: photo

• Darwin's wax myrtle - the maximum height of the bush is about half a meter. It is ideal for creating bonsai trees. At the same time, elongated leaves of a dark green, very juicy shade appear on the bushes. The flowering is incredibly beautiful - the flowers are bell-shaped, they are painted either in snow-white or in a light pink shade, the middle of the flowers is painted in bright yellow, canary or burgundy colors.This contrast looks incredibly appealing for these types of landings, so it's worth keeping in mind.
• Wax myrtle Ciliatum - the flowers on the shrub grow not only very beautiful, but also very large in size. They can almost completely cover the shrub of wax myrtle, which, of course, causes genuine delight and interest in any gardener or garden guest. Due to the fact that the plant tolerates pruning quite calmly, you can create absolutely any shape of it. You can also make the ciliatum wax myrtle bush very compact, and even a bonsai tree, which is very popular today, will also form. However, the choice of species and variety depends entirely on what the gardener is striving for, and what result he wants to achieve in planting.