Philodendron, or leaf tree

Send

The philodendron, or leaf tree, comes from Brazilian forests, where it grows like a vine. The best view for indoor culture is the philodendron pertuzum, or perforated. The correct scientific name for this plant is Monstera delidiosis. The name "delitsiosis" characterizes the excellent taste of the fruits of this plant in the homeland, where they are eaten.

He is bred in the rooms for the sake of beautiful ornamental cutout lobed lower and perforated upper dark green leaves. This plant has a stalk growing to the side, round and green, with huge and heavy leaves. To maintain it, it is necessary to put a support. The leaves are distinguished by the ability to predict the weather. In moist air and before cloudy and rainy weather, and in winter, large drops of water appear on the leaves of the philodendron before the thaw. Therefore, the philodendron is also called "crybaby."

On the underside of the stem, air roots grow against each leaf. You can’t cut them off, but you need to lower them into the ground of a pot or box or, having gathered in a bunch, put them in an additional pot with nutrient soil. These roots form many fibrous roots and significantly improve the root nutrition of the plant.

Experiments conducted with the additional nutrition of an adult philodendron plant by the Laboratory of Plant Physiology of the Ukrainian Research Institute of Fruit Growing in Kiev showed that rooting of aerial roots in a separate tub and plentiful dressing of the plant with solutions of complete mineral fertilizers promoted flowering and the formation of large fruits. The plant began to grow rapidly, formed a lot of large leaves, two years later gave large inflorescences, and subsequently the fruits.

Plants require transplantation depending on the strength of growth. If it grows soon, many roots grow, it must be replanted annually in the spring. Usually young philodendrons are transplanted into new dishes after one to two years. The land for it is given from a mixture of clay-turf, well-rotted peat and sand.

Philodendron is undemanding to light, and even in winter it can grow far from windows. He tolerates high temperature and dry air well, gets used to the conditions of living rooms and develops well in them. It is kept in rooms throughout the year. In the summer he loves plentiful watering and daily spraying.

In the fall, watering is reduced by half, then the water is given even less - one third, and in the winter it is significantly reduced.

This plant is propagated by lateral processes that appear in the lower part of the stems, apical cuttings or stem cuttings (a piece of stem with a leaf). Rooting cuttings can be carried out in a room under glass or in a hotbed.

Better rooted cuttings that have at least small airy roots. Cuttings are rooted in pots or in separate pots, but to create air humidity they are covered with glass jars or glasses. A layer of broken shards (drainage) is applied to the bottom of the dishes, then a layer of 2 cm of peat or humus soil is given, and 2-3 cm of coarse sand is poured on top. After root formation, the plants are transplanted into separate pots in the nutrient soil.

In the rooms, the following method of propagation of philodendron can be recommended: large plants usually lose their lower leaves and become ugly. Then one or two of the uppermost aerial roots are tightly wrapped with wet moss, tied with a washcloth or twine and attached to the trunk. Aerial roots form many roots and let them into the moss. Then the top with one or two leaves is cut and planted in a pot so that the roots and the slice are covered with earth. The slice must be covered with charcoal powder. This way beautiful young plants are obtained, and the stems of the old plant will soon form new side shoots. The old plant becomes branched, rejuvenated.