How to grow a beautiful crested chlorophytum bush?

In total, there are more than 200 species of chlorophytum, but chlorophytum comosum, a classic representative of its genus, is especially popular. He is familiar to many from kindergarten or school, where these plants are regulars.

Chlorophytum properties

Chlorophytum is not for nothing that it is actively used in the interiors of various institutions and living quarters: it is able to effectively absorb all sorts of toxins from the air:

• formaldehyde, which almost any modern furniture exudes;
• carbon monoxide penetrating through the vents and open windows;
• nicotine, acetone and a number of other harmful compounds.

The benefit of this plant is also in the disinfection of the air due to the release of phytoncides: there will be much less allergens and fungus in the room. It is believed that the most active species are those that form spreading bushes.

Cats are very partial to crested chlorophytum, chewing its leaves with pleasure. This is done not at all in order to fortify the body - in this way animals cleanse the stomach. Don't worry that chlorophytum is dangerous for cats - it is not. Vomiting following eating leaves is not a sign of poisoning. It is enough to provide the animal with access to fresh water.

Varieties

Chlorophytum crested is a native of the subtropical forests of America and South Africa. Under natural conditions, it clings to trees and other supports, but can creep along the ground like a ground cover. The flower of the plant resembles a tiny lily, for which it was nicknamed the daylily.

The crested chlorophytum family includes several varieties. Let's list the most popular ones.

• Vittatum, which is characterized by a wide white stripe in the center of the leaf plate (leaf up to 70 cm long).
• Ocean (recently bred hybrid) has white stripes along the edge of the leaf, the rosette grows in a spiral, rather than in one plane. The leaf plate is up to 30 cm in length.
• Variegatum the color of the leaves is similar to Ocean, their length is about 40 cm.
• Mandaianum is the smallest of all ornamental forms of chlorophytum - the leaves are only 15 cm long with a wide yellow stripe in the middle.
• Mboyeti - a variety characterized by a wavy sheet plate at the edges.
• Curty Locks, Bonnie - varieties of crested chlorophytum with leaves curled downward or in a spiral.

Advice

When choosing varieties of chlorophytum, it should be borne in mind that if there is insufficient lighting, it loses its decorative qualities: the stripes will disappear, the leaf plate will become pale, uniformly colored. For this reason, in a number of stores, the declared varieties often do not correspond to the regulatory appearance.

Growing conditions

Indoor chlorophytum is unpretentious, it does not need special care, however, in order to fully reveal its decorative qualities, it will need suitable lighting, nutrition and balanced watering.

It is better to put a pot with a plant on those windows where there is no aggressive sunlight. Diffused natural light is ideal, but chlorophytum develops well under artificial light.

Watering

Chlorophytum should be watered only when the soil dries up, and water pours along the perimeter of the container, not into the core of the bush. This plant is not as hygrophilous as many sources indicate. Nature has endowed him with the ability to store water. Chlorophytum roots have thickenings similar in shape to bean pods. These are a kind of cans with liquid and nutrients that support the viability of the bush during a drought.

Important!

Tuberous formations on the roots of crested chlorophytum are a feature of the plant, and not a consequence of irregular watering. It is not necessary, having discovered them during transplantation, to strive to correct the "oversight" by greatly waterlogging the soil.

Regular overflows for chlorophytum are much more dangerous than underfilling: the topsoil turns sour, becomes moldy, and leaves rot at the base. In this case, you will have to turn the plant out of the pot, cut off the dead roots to healthy tissue, and then dust the wounds with charcoal or cinnamon.

If the tips of the leaves began to dry en masse, then additional moistening of the soil or air is required.

Soil and fertilizers

Chlorophytum is suitable for neutral or slightly acidic soil. Ready-made primer can be purchased. Suitable for universal or specialized: for roses, begonias, palm trees.

A variant of the optimal composition of the soil mixture:

• sod land - 2 parts;
• leaf land - 2 parts;
• humus - 1 part;
• sand - 1 part.

You can add some crushed coal.

With regard to the choice of capacity, chlorophytum does not need a deep pot. Its root system fits comfortably in crockery with extended edges. A drainage layer must be laid on the bottom during planting.

Crested chlorophytum is undemanding for additional feeding. In the spring, you can water it several times with universal fertilizer for indoor flowers... To preserve the decorativeness of the leaf plate, it is recommended to spray the plant with the "Bud" preparation.

Advice

An excess of nitrogen has a detrimental effect on the development of crested chlorophytum: the leaves begin to blacken and dry out.

Reproduction

Chlorophytum crested can be propagated by dividing the rhizomes, by seeds, but the simplest way is to root "children". During the flowering period, the plant throws out a long arched mustache, on which daughter rosettes are subsequently formed. "Children" already have the rudiments of roots, but for their activation and full development, you need to place the bush in a container with water for some time.

The socket may not be separated from the mother plant, but simply dig into a pot with earth placed next to it. When the young bush takes root and begins to release new leaves, the mustache is cut off.

If the crested chlorophytum is on a dais, then the daughter rosettes can be left - they form a spectacular green cascade. However, in this case, the plant will need more nutrition.

Adult chlorophytum, even with proper care, has its own decorative period, after which the plant loses its appearance, the leaf plate becomes smaller and weakens. Division and transplantation will help to update the appearance of the bush and improve it. The procedure is carried out in the spring. In a few hours, chlorophytum spills well to make the root system more elastic. On a previously spread piece of polyethylene, a bush is carefully shaken out along with an earthen lump. A "family" is selected from above, which is carefully separated by fingers and a sharp knife. Then the resulting bushes are planted in separate containers.

Advice

Chlorophytum cannot be called sensitive to damage to the root system, but the roots should still be untangled with care.

Reproduction by seeds is a very difficult and painstaking method, practically impossible to implement at home.

Diseases

Chlorophytum crested is resistant to many types of diseases. The main attack is root rot arising from overflows. For the same reason, a fungus develops on the leaves, as a result of which they become stained, gradually die off. At the initial stage, you can use the drug "Fitosporin" by treating the plant itself and the soil under it. But sometimes more effective measures are required in the form of fungicides (usually Topaz is used).

Of the pests, chlorophytum is most often attacked by thrips.These small dark insects, similar to moving lines, cause great damage to the plant: the leaf plate is covered with whitish longitudinal spots, on which you can see black dots of excrement.

Scabbards and spider mites infrequently attack chlorophytums. Both are found on the back of the leaves. Scabbards look like small brown plaques, and ticks are produced by a plaque of cobwebs and light crumbs on it (faded skin).

You can get rid of thrips and scale insects by treatment with a solution of green soap, insecticides ("Acrobat", "Vitaros"). Against ticks, acaricidal drugs will be required: Apollo, Nisoran.

Even if severely damaged by pests or cats, the tenacious crested chlorophytum will recover. It is enough just to provide him with lighting and adequate watering.

This unpretentious and easily propagating plant is suitable for both avid flower growers and those who are not a fan of home flora. The natural air purification provided by chlorophytum significantly reduces the frequency of exacerbations of chronic lung diseases and allergic reactions.