Sickle asparagus is a very attractive houseplant that looks very similar to a wild fern. It is for this reason that these two cultures are often confused with each other. To grow sickle-shaped asparagus at home, a number of certain rules must be observed. The plant itself is very unpretentious in care, so the cultivation of asparagus will not be a troublesome task even for beginners in the field of floriculture.
General Description of Crescent Asparagus
This variety is usually referred to as decorative varieties. The shoots of the plant are decorated with elongated leaves with small cloves and hooks. In the natural habitat, the sickle-shaped asparagus clings to nearby trees with the help of these hooks, so it is pulled up. These plants can reach a height of more than 1 m, so they can be tied up and create an exposure in the form of an attractive green wall. It is worth noting that the sickle-shaped asparagus is very unpretentious in care, since this species is quite hardy and can grow at an air temperature of 10 degrees.
The root system hardens over time, and looks like a radish root crop. Flowering of sickle asparagus is accompanied by a very pleasant smell. In place of white inflorescences, small fruits of a brown hue form over time.
Features of care and maintenance
When growing this type of asparagus, it is necessary to regularly ventilate the room where it is contained. In winter, asparagus needs cool air, and this is very problematic during the heating season. This feature is the only difficulty regarding the care and maintenance of sickle asparagus. Home care requires an air temperature of 10 degrees or more. If the temperature drops below this limit, the plant will die.
Caring for sickle asparagus at home requires regular and plentiful watering. During this procedure, do not allow stagnation of moisture in the pot. It is also necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out. In the hot season, the crown of the plant is recommended to rinse under a cold shower.
As for fertilizer, the culture should be fed only during the period of active growth, 2 times a month. For this, special complex fertilizers are used for deciduous houseplants.
It is also worth remembering that after trimming, the green pet may stop growing. However, this is absolutely normal, as new shoots begin to grow, due to which the crown of the asparagus becomes even more dense.
The plant must be protected from direct sunlight on the leaves. If this is not done, then the stiff foliage may become stained with burns, after which it will begin to fall off. Poor lighting and dry air can also cause this problem.
Breeding methods
Reproduction of sickle asparagus at home can be done in several ways. Each of these methods has its own characteristics. You should familiarize yourself with them in more detail.
Seed cultivation
The strongest grow those plants that were grown from seeds. It is best to use your own seeds for this, rather than those that were purchased at the store. Typically, on a houseplant, seeds begin to ripen from January to March. They must be planted in well-moistened soil, which should consist of equal proportions of peat and sand.
After sowing, the container must be removed in a warm, fairly well-lit place, and on top it must be covered with transparent plastic wrap. If a layer of condensate forms under the film, the greenhouse must be periodically ventilated. The substrate in the sowing container should be constantly slightly damp. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly monitor the level of soil moisture.
As a rule, the first bores appear a month after sowing. When their height is about 10 cm, the sprouts must be transplanted into disposable plastic containers. Young plants should be transplanted to a permanent place in pots that have already grown stronger with the onset of June.
Cherenkov method
It is necessary to grow sickle-shaped asparagus from the stem in early spring. It was at this time that the plant was quite strong after hibernation. In order to propagate asparagus by the cuttings method, it is necessary to cut the cuttings, the length of which should be at least 10 cm. Germinated cuttings need to be germinated not in water, but in moistened coarse river sand. Thanks to this, the most powerful root system in young plants can be formed.
The capacity of the cuttings must be covered with a transparent plastic wrap, and then cleaned in a bright room, where the air temperature is from 20 to 22 degrees. Twice a day, such a greenhouse must be ventilated, and make sure that the sand in the container is constantly moistened. As a rule, after a month, the root system should form on these cuttings. After this, young plants can be planted in a permanent place in separate pots.
Rhizome division
The simplest method of reproduction of sickle asparagus is the separation of rhizomes. In this way, plants can be propagated each time during transplantation. For this, the rhizomes must be carefully divided into several parts so that each of them contains at least one stem with leaves. After that, each part is separately planted in a new pot.
Possible problems
Speaking about what problems can arise during the cultivation of asparagus at home, first of all, it is necessary to note various pests. Most often, this plant is attacked by a spider mite and aphids. To overcome these pests, the plant must be treated with special means, but before that you need to carefully read the instructions, and also do not neglect the observance of proper care.
Shedding and yellowing of the leaves is mainly provoked by high air temperature or excessive dryness. In this case, the plant is removed as far away as possible from the heating devices, the amount of spraying increases, and if possible, the temperature decreases.
If sunburns appeared on the leaves, then the flower must be removed from direct sunlight.
If the leaves turn pale, then the reason for this is the insufficient amount of light in the room.
If the flower fades, then the reason for this may be an excess of moisture in the soil. Because of this, the root system can also begin to rot. In this case, just let the soil dry. If no changes have occurred, then the flower should be transplanted into new soil, removing all rotten roots.
Other decorative varieties of asparagus
There are also many other varieties of decorative asparagus, which are very picky in care. These varieties include the following:
- Common Asparagus. The plant has smooth and straight stems, the maximum length of which can be one and a half meters. The plant blooms with beautiful white flowers, after which red round berries form in their place.
- Cirrus asparagus. Branches of this variety are somewhat similar to a small Christmas tree. Tall shoots form a small bush, which during flowering forms small yellowish flowers on itself. After that, dark blue berries appear on the site of inflorescences.
- Asparagus Meyer. The shoots of this variety are strewn with a large number of leaves in the form of needles, which is why the branches look very similar to the fluffy tail of an animal. During flowering, small white inflorescences are formed. After flowering, the fruits look like small red berries with a black seed inside.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the crescent asparagus is a very unpretentious indoor plant, and those people who have just started to breed indoor flowers can easily grow it.