Many flower lovers and professional growers are trying to recreate the tropical thickets on the window sills. Some specimens do not need to create special conditions, but they do not have decorative qualities.
The opposite can be considered apelandru skurosa. Her bright inflorescences and colorful leaves will decorate your home all year round.
Unlike the tropical counterparts, the afendra is very fastidious, and it will not be so easy to care for her. But this is no reason to be upset. You just need to find out about the nature of the flower, so as not to leave it unattended and provide the necessary conditions.
What is this houseplant?
Apelandra skurosa or bulging is an indoor plant, an evergreen shrub, which Denmark is considered to be the birthplace of. In height, it can reach 2 meters. The leaves of the plant are large, they are opposite, shiny and smooth. Their color is quite variegated, and the flowers are collected in the pineal inflorescences. Their length is 15 cm.
Bracts are often large, with intense color. The corolla has an irregular shape - it is double-lipped, has 4 stamens and one pistil. It can be orange, red, lilac. Aflandra skurosa can bloom for 2-3 months. Despite the fact that aphelandra flowers are very beautiful, the greatest attractiveness can be achieved through bracts.
The plant can be used for exhibitions, temporary decoration, as well as to decorate this or that room.
Features care for the view
Such a plant loves small pots, so transplantation can be carried out in the spring due to the replacement of the soil with a new one. Do not forget about cleaning the leaves from dust. In this case, the plant will look well-groomed and neat. In addition, it can contribute to more active growth.
Lighting
The light in the room should be bright, diffused. Plants that have a place on the window sills, you need pritenyat. So you protect them from sun. As a screen, you can use a thin fabric.
Attention! Lighting should be 10 hours a day. In winter, when the sun becomes smaller, it is worth using fluorescent type lamps.
Air and temperature
The increased air humidity is the main condition for the existence of an apeland of bulging. Reaching a level of 90% is very difficult, because the air can be dry due to batteries and heaters. You it is necessary to spray the plant several times a day with a spray bottle.
At the same time, pebbles, peat, and expanded clay are placed in the pan. Ottopyrennaya kind of aplandry loves warmth. In the process of intensive growth, the optimum temperature can be considered as 23-25 degrees. In the rest period, it is 20 degrees. For the subsequent flowering of afelandra, it is important to ensure the temperature from 10 to 12 degrees.
The soil
The soil must be made independently. It is important that the ground is light, loose, breathable.
The composition will be as follows:
- Dry peat, turf, river sand of coarse grain in the ratio of 2: 1: 2.
- Universal soil, sand and peat in the ratio of 6: 2: 3.
- Peat, sand and earth in equal proportions.
Watering
Insufficient or over-irrigation can be detrimental to afelandra.. Your task is to find a middle ground. The soil should not dry out, but you should not allow strong waterlogging. In the phase of intensive growth, the plant needs watering every 3 days.
Water should be poured at the root, avoiding contact with the leaves. An hour later, the excess is drained from the pan. For watering need water at room temperature. You can also use thawed or rainwater.
Top dressing
In the process of active growth plant needs to be fed every 2 weeks. Organic fertilizers and top dressing are suitable for this. Homemade organics is an infusion of fresh manure, nettle, litter. All this - natural sources of nitrogen.
Cooking fertilizer is better in the country, because it has a strong "flavor". After preparation, it should stand for about 4 days, and after it is diluted with water and feed the plant.
Transfer
Young plants need to be transplanted every three years.. Thus, afelandra rejuvenates. The best time can be considered the period from March to April. You need to choose a close pot, because it will contribute to flowering. Pot for planting should have an average size. Obligatory condition - drainage holes. Having planted a plant in a big pot, it will develop very slowly.
Important! When planting you need to choose the right soil. Weak acid and neutral substrates will not work. If the soil is too acidic, the leaves may turn yellow and the flowers become small. Soil with a high alkaline reaction can lead to the death of a flower.
Breeding
Cutting is a reliable way of breeding a bulging apander. To do this, you can use trim cuttings or shoots. To root a plant, it is worth choosing cuttings that are 7 to 15 cm long. They must have several sheets formed. The cut is important to process Kornevinom or Zircon.
More details about the care and reproduction of afelandry can be found here.
Diseases and growing problems
Problems and diseases of the plant can be described as:
- The tips of the leaves witheredthat speaks of dry indoor air. It is important to stick to a humidity of at least 65% or do spraying the leaves.
- If the plant leaves lowered, it can speak about the lack of moisture or about its stagnation.
- Dark spot formation says that the root system is damaged.
- If the leaves began to fall offThis may be the cause of dry or waterlogged air, lack of light.
- Plant pests - shield and aphid. In the fight against them, the plant is treated with insecticides.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the bulging alandra is a plant that will conquer you with its beauty. But in order to grow it, it will take a lot of effort.
