Cissus belongs to ampelous species of plants and is a vivid representative of the Grape family. He has long won the love of gardeners. They know this plant as house grapes. In nature, cissus is common in tropical and subtropical zones. In total there are 300 types of indoor grapes, the most common will be this article.
Description
Cissus is presented in the form of a vine on which the antennae grow. With the help of their plant clings to various supports on which it stumbles. Leaves, depending on the species, are dissected and intact. As for flowering, here grapes are much inferior to other indoor plants. Its flowers are quite nondescript, have a rather pale shade and are collected in small umbrella inflorescences. However, indoor grapes have something to boast about - these are its leaves, which are valued above all in this plant.
Grapes are grown exclusively in hanging pots to give him the opportunity to weave. Caring for this flower is very simple, so even beginner gardeners can safely plant such a plant for themselves. Cissus will be a wonderful decoration not only for an apartment, but also for an office or other workplace. At home, you can often find such types of indoor grapes as colorful, rhomboid and Antarctic.
Kinds
As already mentioned, in the world there are about 300 species of this flower, but about the most common I want to say separately:
- Antarctic. These are vines covered with small leaves that have a heart shape, and their edges are slightly jagged. Leaves are not too large. They are only a centimeter long and about eight millimeters wide. It can bloom, but the bloom is not too bright in the form of small inflorescences of green color.
- Quadrangular cissus. Pretty unusual plant. On the vines grow thick tetrahedral shoots covered with three-lobed leaves. This flower is also different in that it grows more slowly than other species.
- Two-tone grape. In the collection of gardeners is quite rare. It has a fairly noticeable difference from all other domestic species. First of all, these are large leaves up to ten centimeters in length and eight in width. But their color is especially striking. The leaves below are very dark, the hue is very close to the burgundy, and the top is dark green, covered with silver spots. It also has unusual yellow inflorescences that gather in small umbrellas.
- Rhomboid. One of the most popular types of indoor grapes. For normal growth, this liana needs openwork support, which among dense thickets will not be noticeable. Beautiful green leaves have a rather complex shape. The sheet has three parts, each of which has the shape of a rhombus. Also, this species is distinguished by the presence of long shoots, which, with good care, reach one and a half meters in length. Antenna located on them, which serve as a mount to the supports. On the cuttings and stalk, you can see an attractive reddish pubescence. This view can act as room trellis. After all, the length of its vines allows you to fill entire walls.
Temperature mode
Cissus will feel more comfortable at high temperatures, since, as already mentioned, the tropics and subtropics are considered his homeland. In summer and spring, the temperature in the room where the indoor grapes stand should not fall below 18 degrees, but it is better if the thermometer is at 25 degrees. In winter and autumn, it is not worth achieving such high temperature indicators, and it will be quite enough if the air temperature in the room is 18 degrees. In addition, in the summer it is recommended to take out pots with this flower outside, where they will feel much better.
Despite the fact that the plant is thermophilic, it can easily withstand a temperature drop of up to ten degrees. But for a long time the flower should not be in such conditions. Much depends on its variety. Since the Antarctic cissus will not suffer much at a temperature of five degrees, but the multi-colored one needs a constant indicator of at least 16.
It is also worth noting that drafts are strictly contraindicated for this plant, since they can lead to leaf fall.
Where to put
Indoor grapes love not only warmth, but also a lot of light. But direct sunlight is best avoided. If you have acquired Antarctic cissus, then it can be put at partial shade, where it will also feel normal. Multi-colored cissus also loves light, but no more than rhomboid. However, no matter how light-loving this plant is, it cannot be placed in direct sunlight and should be hidden in the shade on especially hot days of summer.
Features of watering
The period of active growth in cissuses falls on spring and summer, so at this time special attention should be paid to watering. Indoor grapes have a large deciduous mass, which requires a lot of moisture. Therefore, watering should be plentiful. But in this matter one should be more careful, since the plant can be poured, and then its roots will begin to rot, the flower will simply die. Drying the ground is also not recommended. It is necessary to monitor the state of the upper layer of the earth, if you find that it has dried up, then you can safely water the flower. When the cold comes, the amount of watering is greatly reduced. Especially in the winter, cissus needs little moisture, as its growth is slowed down. Experienced growers recommend using automatic watering for indoor plants. This is a convenient way to water the plant on time and not spend your own time on it.
Indoor air
Cissus is an indoor plant, ivy-shaped grapes from the tropics and subtropics, and there, as you know, the air is quite humid, and it should be the same in the room where the pots with this flower are located. Multi-colored cissus is especially demanding on high levels of humidity. Therefore, it must be sprayed often. This is especially true for the winter period. Florists argue that in the winter months, multi-colored cissus should be sprayed at least twice a day. In summer, the procedure can be shortened, but you can not abandon it at all. Indoor grapes should also be wiped with a damp cloth.
Top dressing
When indoor grape begins a period of active growth, it is extremely necessary to feed. To do this, it is better to choose a high-quality complex mineral fertilizer for non-flowering plants. You can buy it at any flower shop. Fertilizing begins in April and continues until September. You need to feed a flower every week. In winter, fertilizers do not need cissus.
Transplant Rules
Indoor plant ivy - this is a flower that grows and develops at an incredible rate. That is why in the first five years of his life, transplants should be done every year. Then they become more rare, and one procedure every two or three years will be enough.
Land for planting can be bought at the store, but growers recommend preparing it yourself. Moreover, it is not so difficult. It is enough to mix equal parts of sand, sheet, humus, peat and sod land. And we must not forget that every plant needs a good drainage layer, which is necessary so that the water does not stagnate in the roots, which leads to decay. Expanded clay will be good drainage in this case.
How to trim
In the spring, two types of pruning are performed: sanitary and anti-aging. If you want room grapes to branch better, you should pinch the tops of its shoots. You can even give the grapes the shape you would most like to see.
Types and features of reproduction
Each grower must know how this or that plant propagates. Decorative indoor grapes have two types of propagation: cuttings and division of the bush. Both of these methods are considered quite good and almost always have a positive result.
Propagation of indoor grapes by cuttings is quite simple. It is enough to cut off the top of the shoot you like and place it in water until it takes root. This process is fast. In a week, good roots will appear.
The division of the bush is carried out during the next plant transplant. The bush can be divided into several parts, but you need to do this very carefully so as not to damage the root system.
How to plant
First of all, it is necessary to find out in advance in which place the planted plant will stand. Then prepare containers for planting, lay out the drainage layer and fill the flowerpots with half the soil prepared according to the technology described above. If you plant several cuttings in one pot, then you should choose a larger diameter.
Indoor grapes (cissus) are recommended to be planted and transplanted in the spring. Caution should be planted in the winter, and if possible this is generally better not to do. This is due to the fact that in winter the flower comes to rest, and its growth is greatly slowed down. There is a risk that cissus will discard leaves or not at all.
Reproduction by seeds is also possible, but this method is mainly applicable only to Antarctic cissus. Seeds are planted in common containers, then picked and planted in separate pots.
Diseases and Pests
Even the best home care for indoor grapes will not be able to protect it from various pests and diseases. But if you study the symptoms of diseases, then you can help your beloved plant in time.
So, note that if the leaves of the grapes are covered with brown spots, and the plate becomes wrinkled, then this is clear evidence that the plant does not have enough moisture.
It so happens that the flower "stops" in place and does not grow at all. In such cases, you should completely replace the earth and transplant the flower into a more spacious flowerpot.
If direct sunlight falls on the leaves, then they quickly become pale. The green part may dry out. This means that the plant does not have enough water, and it is also recommended to irrigate daily. Especially often this problem occurs in the summer, when the plant is especially hot.
It is also worth noting insects that can harm indoor grapes:
- Shield. Mainly attacks the leafy part of the plant. You can get rid of it with the help of a special treatment of the plant with insecticides.
- Spider mite. It is not difficult to detect its presence, as thin cobwebs appear on the leaves. And after some time, spots can be found in their place. Fighting spider mites is also better with insecticides.
- Aphid. This is a rather dangerous insect, because it sucks out the juice from plants, which provides them with normal vital functions. The flower begins to dry, the leaves become covered with yellow spots, dry and fall off. If you do not take up treatment in time, then soon the flower will completely die. Here, insecticides will come to the rescue.
Conclusion
Decorative room grapes are quite simple to grow at home. This task is within the power of even a novice grower. It is worth noting that the main thing here is to choose the right place for the location of the pot and water the plant on time. At home, cissus does not require any special conditions for maintenance and care, which makes it even more attractive for gardeners. After all, unfortunately, modern people do not always have time for their favorite plants. Unpretentious flowers are also valued in offices and various institutions, since there is also not always time for caring for them. And to further ease your work on cissus, you can use automatic watering for indoor plants.