Well-groomed and healthy plants can decorate any interior. They not only create comfort in the apartment, but also perform the function of natural air purifiers, enriching it with oxygen. Among the variety of indoor plants , chlorophytum enjoys well-deserved popularity. Everyone will be able to take care of this unpretentious flower, and its bright green stems will delight the eye all year.
Chlorophytum. Homeland of the plant
The birthplace of the first species of chlorophytum is South Africa. The earliest mention of this plant, which has survived to this day, is dated 1794. Chlorophytum received wide distribution from the second half of the 19th century, after being exported to Europe. Currently, in natural nature, a flower can be seen in the tropical regions of our planet. Chlorophytum is found in Africa, South Australia, the island of Madagascar, South America. Such a distribution is an obstacle to the accurate calculation of plant species belonging to its genus. According to rough estimates there are about 250 of them.
The appearance of the plant
What genus does chlorophytum belong to? The genus of herbaceous plants has long been decided by scientists. However, in the definition of a family in scientific circles there is no such unanimity. It is generally accepted that it belongs to the family of liliaceae, but there is also an opinion about its belonging to the family of asparagus. Chlorophytum (chlorophytum) got its name from the merger of the words "chloros", meaning "green", and "phyton" - "plant". The flower fully justifies it, as it is a perennial grass with leaves of a juicy green color. The roots of the plant are thickened, sometimes in the form of tubers. The stem is very short, quickly passes into the outlet, from which oval-shaped green leaves with a white rim rush. Their length is about 50-60 cm. In the corresponding period, small white flowers appear on the plant, then turning into a box with three faces - the fruit. Sometimes during flowering, buds appear on chlorophytum, from which new leaves grow. These daughter leaflets can be separated from the flower and rooted.
Plant species
In nature, there are more than 200 species of flower chlorophytum. The birthplace of the plant is South Africa, a place where you can see most of them. But in all the variety of chlorophytum species, several main ones can be distinguished that can be found among indoor plants in the houses of our country:
- Chlorophytum crested. Its leaves are narrow and small, lanceolate. Their color is not too saturated, most often they are light green. In the middle of the bunch of leaves, long shoots appear with small white flowers in the shape of stars. The flowering of crested chlorophytum ends with the appearance of many small plants, which are a cluster of leaves and several large roots. There are decorative forms of this species. A white stripe in the middle of the leaves adorns the variety of vittatum. Chlorophytum maculatum is characterized by the presence of longitudinal yellow stripes. On the leaves of a plant of variegatum variety, white stripes located at the edges are visible.
- Cape chlorophytum looks like crested chlorophytum. Indoor plants and flowers of this species are practically identical. Long leaves of light green color taper at the base and apex. Their length is about 60 cm, width - about 3 cm. The flowers are white, small. The main difference between the species is the absence of daughter rosettes with leaves appearing in the vegetative period in Cape chlorophytum.
- The winged chlorophytum is distinguished by wider and shorter dark green leaves. They are located on long petioles of a reddish color. There are very beautiful varieties of chlorophytum winged. The leaves of such plants are equipped with long orange stalks.
Easy care
Chlorophytum is the most unpretentious house plant. It does not require special locations and temperature conditions. The flower will grow well in a fairly bright place, while the shadow tolerates well. However, dimming leads to a loss of color brightness in variegated leaves. Direct rays of the sun can carry for several hours. Maintaining the necessary air temperature for the flower’s life will also not create difficulties. In summer, the plant will feel great in the open air, it should only be protected from strong winds and precipitation. In winter, chlorophytum can tolerate a decrease in room temperature to 10 degrees without difficulty. Diseases are rarely scary for this flower. Only with other adverse environmental factors is it damaged by aphids, mealy mites.
Water is the source of life
Chlorophytum needs a lot of moisture, especially during flowering. In winter, the number of irrigations and their volume can be reduced, while the land should not dry out. If the plant does not have enough moisture, many tuberoid thickenings form on it. In winter, the plant can be sprayed, because the air in the heating season is very dry. Irrigation with water will make the flower fresh and blooming, however, without this procedure, chlorophytum will not die. The plant’s homeland, South Africa, belongs to the regions of the planet with both a desert and a humid subtropical climate, so the adaptability of chlorophytum to the external environment is very high. Fertilizing is advisable during the flowering period. Feeding twice a month will be sufficient with mineral and organic fertilizers.
Plant transplant
Young representatives of chlorophytum need an annual transplant, adult plants are transplanted once for two to three years. Do this in early spring or even in February. Chlorophytum is distinguished by a branched root system, so the pot into which the plant moves must be wide. The roots grow more and more over time, while their appearance can determine whether chlorophytum receives enough moisture. If there are a lot of tuberous thickenings on the roots, you need to water more abundantly. The soil should be loose, the top layer is soddy ground, then leafy, then there is a layer of humus, followed by sand.
Breeding methods
The method of reproduction is selected depending on the species to which a particular chlorophytum belongs. The homeland of the plant is rich in many varieties of flower, and nature provides for several ways of their reproduction. The same methods can be applied in the conditions of dilution of chlorophytum in the apartment. The most common is the rooting of daughter sockets formed on the leaves of a plant. Chlorophytum propagates by seed, but this method is not found very often and relates, first of all, to winged chlorophytum. Large instances of the plant can be divided. Outlets with aerial roots are either immediately transplanted into the soil, or first placed in a container of water for root growth.
Propagation of chlorophytum by seeds
Plant seeds are planted in the spring, the soil should be loose, enriched with oxygen and moisture. Seeds before planting are soaked for a period of 8 to 24 hours in water, which must be periodically changed. Then they, slightly indenting, are distributed over the surface of the soil moistened and warmed up to a temperature of 21 degrees. The dishes are covered with a glass jar or bag so that they do not touch the ground. Seeds will germinate in a period of 3 to 6 weeks. During this period, it is necessary to ensure regular spraying and ventilation of the planted seeds, as well as to maintain the optimum temperature. With the appearance of the first leaves, the shoots are left in the open air for several minutes. When the number of leaves reaches two or three, seedlings can be replanted in a suitable place.
Growing chlorophytum at home, it is difficult to find out everything about indoor plants, because the flower is very unpretentious and does not require extensive knowledge in crop production. He will simply delight the owners with his beautiful green leaves and lovely white flowers.