Clerodendrum is rarely seen on the windowsill. This plant managed to fall in love only with connoisseurs of ornamental plants. Among the advantages over traditional types of indoor flowers - a unique shape and elegant flowering. From the article you will learn about the main features of the Wallich clerodendrum, as well as get acquainted with the principles of its cultivation.
Botanical description of the plant
Clerodendrum of Wallich is a sprawling perennial shrub from the clear-headed family. The homeland of the plant is considered to be the tropical zone of the Hindustan Peninsula. In the natural environment, a shrub is found in the Nepalese highlands, at an altitude of about 1 thousand meters. The name was not chosen by chance - in honor of the Danish botanist and physician Nathaniel Wallich. The naturalist has contributed to the development and distribution of exotic plants throughout Europe and the world.
It is a branched plant, with the main semi-herbaceous stem and several lateral shoots. They differ in dense structure and have the shape of a regular tetrahedron, and are also covered with dense, bare skin. In wild conditions, the shrub grows to 1.5 m, in a room environment - no more than 50 cm. Large lanceolate leaves of emerald color with a characteristic serrated ornament along the edge are formed on the stem. In an adult plant, their length is about 15 cm, and their width is 5–10 cm.
Did you know? Indoor plants were first grown in Ancient Egypt, in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. e.
Care after purchase
After purchase, the flower creates a special microclimate and care for quick and painless adaptation to new conditions. Otherwise, the bush may get sick and even die.
Adaptation
The official season for Wallich’s active sale of Clerodendrum lasts throughout the summer. At this time, the bush is covered with large racemose inflorescences, on which elegant flowers develop.
However, at this time, the plant becomes vulnerable, even the slightest jump in temperature and a short-term change in the microclimate are detrimental. The bush can throw off all the flowers, until the next season, and with serious neglect of the requirements may die.
To avoid this, quality adaptation to a new home will help. For this, the packed plant is kept in the room for 60–90 minutes. During this time, the shrub will gradually get used to the temperature of the environment, which will help it adapt to new conditions.
Transfer
After successfully adapting to the new microclimate, they begin to move the bush to a new pot. Often, the standard purchased container and substrate in it do not always meet the needs of the plant. In addition, transplantation will help to avoid depletion of the substrate, which affects the growth of the flower. However, it is carried out no earlier than 30 days after the purchase of the flower, and only before or after flowering.
To do this, choose a container 2 cm larger in diameter than the previous one. It can be made of any material, but preferably plastic, such pots are inexpensive and easy to care for. There should be a drainage hole in the bottom of the pot, and a drainage layer of gravel, pebbles or small stones about 3 cm thick should be laid inside.Important! Transplant is performed in the first year after the acquisition of the flower, and then - annually, after flowering.
The transplant is carried out by transshipment. To do this, the flower is removed from the old pot along with a root lump of earth. If possible, excess land is separated, however, this must be done carefully so as not to damage the root system of the plant. Plant the plant in a flowerpot pre-filled with soil up to 1/3, fill all the cracks with new soil and condense well.
Any purchased loose soil additionally enriched with river sand or vermiculite (1: 1) serves as a new substrate. You can also cook it yourself by mixing sheet, soddy ground, peat, river sand and vermiculite (2: 1: 1: 1: 1).
Further care
Clerodendrum is demanding on care and maintenance, so the plant is surrounded by daily attention. The bush needs proper lighting, watering, top dressing and other procedures to ensure its growth. In addition, environmental conditions should be brought as close as possible to the tropical zone, otherwise the bush will not bloom.
Seat selection
The flower does not like shade, so it is placed in a well-lit place with bright and diffused natural light. Windows on the west and east sides are suitable for this. When planting on the south window, the flower is slightly shaded, otherwise direct sunlight can cause burns to the foliage. The bush should be protected from drafts - even a short sharp temperature drop caused by a draft inhibits the growth of clerodendrum and the formation of buds.
You will be interested to read about the features of caring for other decorative-flowering plants:
Temperature mode
Since the species came from hot tropical regions, it should create a special, warm microclimate. In winter, the temperature should not fall below + 13 ° C, otherwise the bush will freeze. In summer, the temperature of the plant should be in the range +20 ... + 25 ° С. The seasonal increase to + 30 ° C is not fatal for clerodendrum.
Air humidity
Like all tropical species, clerodendrum loves high humidity (90–95%). Regular hydration of foliage is the main condition for its rapid growth. In the natural environment, the plant is able to absorb water through a leaf plate, so periodic spraying is more important than regular watering of the substrate. Spray a bush 1-2 times a day, in winter and during the summer heat, their frequency can be increased, but only if a sharp decrease in humidity is observed in the room.
Watering
Water the plant moderately and in small portions. Between each watering, as they dry up, a small dry crust is formed on the soil, about 1 cm thick. Only after this, the substrate is once again moistened. In summer, the frequency of procedures is 2-3 per week, in winter they are reduced to 1-2.
Watering is carried out by horseback method, under the root, often the procedure is combined with moistening the foliage, which only improves the growth of the bush. To moisturize, use only clean, settled or filtered water. The fluid is heated to ambient temperature to avoid overcooling the root system.
Did you know? For several centuries, the cultivation of indoor plants was the privilege of kings and nobles. And only in the XIX century, with the growth of the general social level, this occupation became available to the rest.
Top dressing
Periodic top dressing provides not only intensive growth, but also the flowering of clerodendrum. Use for this any universal mineral fertilizer for flowering species. "Agricola" and "Pokon", as well as the organic-mineral mixture "Emerald" have proven themselves positively. Feeding is carried out throughout the growing season, from early March to the end of flowering, in the winter they are not fertilized.
Pruning
Clerodendrum needs periodic pruning to give the plant a decorative effect, as well as for sanitary purposes. The procedure is carried out in the first half of March, decorative shortening is done as necessary, but not more than 1 time per month. During the period of active flowering, pruning is not carried out, as this will lead to falling flowers.
During sanitary pruning, the following items must be removed:
- old and dry parts of the plant;
- shoots that thicken the crown;
- all parts older than 1 year, they are shortened by about 1/3.
If the goal is to grow a tree, a stand-alone shoot is grown in a flowerpot, as it grows, extra branches are removed and a spherical crown is formed.
Preparation for flowering and dormancy
Clodendrum blooms profusely for 50–65 days, from the first half of June to early September. At this time, numerous irregularly shaped flowers develop on it. They gather in large racemose inflorescences of many flowers. Each flower consists of snow-white petals, with emerald stamens and pestle, as well as a star-shaped cup.
To prepare plants for flowering, you must:
- correctly and timely cut;
- provide the necessary lighting, watering and humidity;
- fertilize regularly with complex fertilizers;
- protect against pests and specific infections.
After trimming, the pot is placed in cool with a temperature of about + 15 ° C. This will imitate a natural decrease in temperature in the habitat of the bush, which in the future will positively affect its spring vegetation and flowering. The pot is transferred to an insulated loggia or other, well-lit place. The bush is kept in a dormant period for several months, until the end of February.Important! Clerodendrum transplantation is carried out no earlier than 25-30 days after the end of the flowering phase, otherwise the procedure will affect it destructively.
How to propagate a flower by cuttings?
A plant can propagate by seeds and cuttings. Planting cuttings is considered one of the most acceptable ways to obtain new specimens of this species, since in order to obtain their seedlings in artificial conditions, it will take a lot of time and labor.
To carry out the cuttings correctly, you must:
- During spring pruning, prepare cuttings - they are lateral shoots with 3-4 leaf nodes. The cut is performed at an angle of 45 °, this will accelerate the formation of the root system.
- Soak cuttings in growth stimulants “Zircon” (1 g per 5 l of water), “Kornevin” (1 g per 1 l of water) or “Heteroauksin” (1 tablet per 5 l of water). To do this, they are dipped into a working solution for 6–8 hours with a cut-off point of 1-2 cm.
- Pour a mixture of turf soil, peat and sand (1: 1: 1) into a shallow garden container with a diameter of about 15 cm, and then moisten it well.
- Dip the cuttings (3-4 pieces per container) in a damp substrate, cover with dense transparent polyethylene and provide intense lighting for 12 hours a day. To do this, they are highlighted with a garden or table lamp.
- After about 2 weeks, the rooting of the cuttings will take place, after which the protective dome must be removed and the plants transplanted into individual pots. Subsequently, they are grown in the same way as adult specimens.
Important! An artificial light source must be at least 30 cm from the cuttings, otherwise they will get burns.
Growing difficulties
Clodendrum Wallich is a whimsical plant, so problems with it arise, especially in beginning gardeners. Often this is the result of errors in care, including non-compliance with transplantation and irrigation techniques. As a result of this, not only the growth and flowering of the plant is inhibited, but also its immunity, which creates favorable conditions for the appearance of diseases and pests.
Why doesn’t bloom?
A sharp cessation or inhibition of the growth of buds indicates a violation:
- the frequency of top dressing;
- amount of fertilizer applied;
- watering and humidification regimes;
- principles of transplantation (untimely performance of the procedure) and pruning (shortening of shoots by more than 1/3);
- neglect of wintering, this causes inhibition of the natural metabolic processes that ensure flowering.
Flowering is often not observed in young plants under the age of 1 year, especially those grown by cuttings. This is the norm, as the seedlings are still weak and not prepared for the appearance of buds. The formation of flowers occurs in the second year of vegetation.
Diseases and Pests
Despite the good immunity, the defeat of diseases and pests is considered an equally common problem when growing clerodendrum. Often this is due to the high humidity required for the growth of this species, which is also a favorable environment for the development of diseases. But often this is a consequence of improper care and careless attitude to the bush.
Diseases and pests of Carlodendrum Wallich and methods of control:
| Title | Symptoms | Ways to fight |
| Root rot | Lethargy and oppression of the bush, on the roots appear point or massive putrid foci | The plant is transplanted, during the procedure, the affected parts of the root are removed. The aboveground and underground parts are treated with Bordeaux liquid. |
| Chlorosis | Yellowing foliage | Green mass 1-2 times a week until the disappearance of signs is sprayed with aqueous solutions of ferum chelate. To do this, 10 g of iron sulfate (ferum sulfate) and 20 g of ascorbic acid are dissolved in 1 liter of water. |
| Aphid | Withering and twisting of leaves, small insects develop on the bottom of the leaves | The affected foliage is removed, the plant is treated twice, with an interval of 14 days, treated with a solution of the Fitoverm preparation (1 ml per 5 l of water). |
| Spider mite | Withering of the plant, a white cobwebous coating appears on the reverse side | The flower 2 times, with an interval of 14 days, is treated with the Fitoverm insecticide (1 ml per 5 l of water). |
| Whiteflies | Small insects or caterpillars on the back of the leaves | Green mass 2 times, with an interval of 14 days, is treated with the preparation "Aktara" (1 g per 10 liters of water). |
Clerodendrum Wallich is a whimsical and unpredictable plant that requires special attention from the grower. Its growth requires high temperature, humidity, regular feeding, as well as pruning and transplanting. Only with strict observance of the requirements can one achieve abundant and long flowering of the bush for several months.
