The tropical houseplant ardisia attracts the attention of flower growers primarily due to its bright red fruits. Small peas collected in a brush appear on it year-round and in appearance are more effective than previous unprepossessing flowers. In indoor floriculture, the most common is the towny ardisia (krenata). Growing and caring for it does not cause difficulties even for beginners.
Biological description of the genus
With its appearance, ardizia resembles a tree of paradise with beautiful glossy foliage and alluring fruits of a saturated red color. Representatives of the same genus indeed belong to tropical woody plants from the Mirsinovy subfamily. Their natural habitat is the subtropical regions of America and Asia. For all representatives of the genus Ardizia, a regular arrangement of oblong-lanceolate leaves, wavy along the edge, is characteristic. Pink or red flowers are collected in panicle or corymbose inflorescences located apical or in the sinuses. Fruits - berries, inedible, bright red, sometimes with shades of orange.
Tropical ardizia, which is quite simple to care for at home, grows in the shape of a small tree, reaching a height of up to 2 m (sizes depend on the species). In nature, the varieties are represented by trees, shrubs or shrubs up to 8 m in height and leaves up to 25 cm in length. The genus Ardisia has about eight hundred species. Since 1816, only a few of them were introduced into indoor cultures: curly, Wallich, and small-town (or roll).
Choosing a place and lighting for a plant
Ardizia is a native of subtropical forests. It grows under the cover of centuries-old trees, on the edges, where sunlight is present in sufficient quantity, but it is not bright, but diffused. This feature should be taken into account when choosing a place in the house for the ardisium plant. Home care involves limiting direct sunlight during the hot midday hours. You can choose any window for the flower, but be prepared to shade it regularly. It will be best developed on the east side. The plant is responsive to winter exposure when the day is getting shorter.
Humidity and air temperature
Subtropics are characterized by very high humidity, therefore, at home you should provide this aspect if you want the plant to grow, bloom and give original fruits. Experts recommend the use of special indoor air humidifiers. They will provide a sufficient percentage of moisture (at least 60%), which requires ardizia. Home care for it also involves regular spraying, at least 2-3 times a day, you need to take breaks only during the ripening of the berries.
The plant is heat-loving, so it will be quite comfortable both in urban apartments with central heating in the winter and on summer sundecks flooded with sunlight. The most optimal temperature range is 20-27 ° C in the summer months and not lower than 15-18 ° C in the winter.
Substrate for ardisia
As mentioned above, three types of plants are most common in indoor culture. However, we hasten to note that, for example, care for Ardisia krenata at home or for the Wallich variety is absolutely identical. The rules for selecting soil for plants are no different either. One of the advantages of ardisia for indoor floriculture is its absolute unpretentiousness in terms of the choice of substrate. The main requirement for it is a good throughput for water. Be sure to require drainage with a thickness of at least 1.5-2 cm. You can safely use the universal purchased soil for indoor plants of various types. Or make a substrate yourself. To do this, in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 2 mix pre-disinfected sand, peat, leaf and turf soil. The plant is transplanted annually in the spring, increasing the diameter of the pot by 2-3 cm.
About care for ardisia at home: watering and feeding
Ardizia is quite demanding on watering and loves a moistened, but not flooded substrate. At the beginning of the growing season and until autumn, it should be moderate and regular. Do not allow the earthen coma to dry out. Before watering, make sure that it is really needed. To do this, about 2-3 cm immerse your finger in the substrate. If the earth has dried out at the indicated depth, then you can safely water the plant. In winter, ardisia is at rest. At this time, you need to water it no more than once a week. However, with one condition - this is the observance of low temperatures. In the photo above, by the way, the ardisium of the roll is presented.
Home care also involves regular dressing of the plant with complex fertilizers. The procedure is carried out in the phase of the most active growth, that is, in the spring-summer period. Use complex mineral fertilizers, observing the dosage strictly indicated on the package. Frequency of top dressing - once every two weeks.
Very often, in order to give the plant a compact miniature shape and decorative appearance, they use special chemicals - retardants that inhibit growth in height. They should not be abused, but regular pruning of the plant will not harm, moreover, it will naturally give it a beautiful shape.
Many difficulties will disappear by themselves after you find out what kind of plant you need for ardisia, care. Growing a tropical plant will not cause much difficulty. Ardizia will delight you with a beautiful view and fruits. Perhaps there will be a need for its reproduction. This can be done in two ways: vegetative (layering or cuttings) and seed.
Propagation by cuttings
Cuttings take root poorly and require certain conditions. Partially lignified shoot tips should be cut. The slice must be dried, then experts recommend dipping it in a solution with a root stimulant. Next, place the cuttings in the prepared substrate and provide them with greenhouse conditions with high air humidity and a temperature of at least 25 ° C, and best of all - 30-35 ° C. In a couple of months you will already have a new small ardiziya. Caring for young plants at home is similar to caring for adults.
Seed propagation
Seed propagation of ardisia is a fascinating process that has a high probability of a successful outcome. A plant obtained in this way turns out to be stronger, with distinct features of the species, large leaves and berries, it is less susceptible to disease. Seeds can be bought or taken from home specimens. They are quite large (up to 0.5 cm in diameter), in a hard shell, so it is recommended to carry out scarification before landing, that is, damage to the outer layer. To do this, lightly file each seed.
For planting, prepare a light substrate, moisten it in advance slightly. Sowing to a depth of 1-1.5 cm, then close the container with a glass jar or drag the film to create greenhouse conditions. Maintain soil temperature at the level of 18-20 ° . The most optimal time for landing is March. Seedlings are planted in separate pots at the stage of 3-4 real leaves.
Diseases and Pests
Spider mites, mealybugs are pests to which ardisia is most susceptible. Home care with all the rules and recommendations will help to avoid many problems. Optimum humidity, the absence of drafts and temperature drops, moderate watering - these are its main aspects.
The presence of a spider mite or mealybug can be determined by the state of the flowers on the plant, which immediately lose their attractiveness. The leaves are covered with a characteristic coating and lose turgor (elasticity), which makes them seem slightly wilted. Insects are visible to the naked eye, just look at the inner surface of the greenery. The first step is to isolate the diseased plant from the healthy one. Then it should be treated with special preparations, and severely damaged areas should be removed.
Tips for maintaining ardisia at home
- Ardizia grows rather slowly both at home and in natural. Do not try to accelerate its development by abusing fertilizers, because you risk destroying the plant. Let it grow at your own pace.
- Store plants are often watered with the addition of stimulants or growth inhibitors to give maximum decorativeness. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that new shoots may differ in length from the internodes.
- In order for budding to take place in ardisia, it needs to lower the temperature in the winter to 15-18 ° C, and for the formation of fruits - air humidity of at least 60%.
- If a plant has leaf chlorosis (lightening of individual areas), then this indicates that it lacks iron.
- With too dry air, insufficient watering, the ends of the leaves begin to dry.
- If you notice small seals along the edges of the leaves, then do not worry. These are not pests and not a disease. The plant is characterized by symbiosis with a certain type of bacteria that develop in these thickenings. It is proved that their destruction slows down the growth of ardisia.