The Acidic family (Oxalidaceae) consists of 800 species of shrubs, perennials and annual herbs. It is the trefoil of these plants, and not the clover leaf, as is commonly believed, that is the state symbol of Ireland. As a gift for Christmas, indoor acid, the care of which is simple, is given in Catholic countries.
In Russia, many types of sour acid have been perfectly adapted and are successfully used in landscape design. Beautiful ornaments form from undersized ground cover plants: pillows on lawns, compact compositions on flower beds, are used to create alpine hills.
Home Oxalis
Among the huge variety of representatives of this family, there are perennial and annual representatives. More common are grassy species that are grown as ampelous or ornamental-deciduous plants. In most species, three to four-lobed leaves are much less likely to come across specimens with five to six and nine lobes located on long petioles. The leaves have a characteristic sour taste.
Depending on the species, the plant can be with a tuber, rhizome or bulb. Modest and not too expressive flowers can be painted in yellow, white, pink, purple. They are collected in elegant umbrella-shaped inflorescences. Many species at night, before the rain, in bright sunshine fold the leaves.
Since time immemorial, some types of oxalis have been consumed. In Indian tribes, sour acid was even specially grown and its boiled tubers were eaten, which contain a large amount of starch. As an indoor culture, sour acid became known in the 17th century. Since that time, she conquered her unusual appearance and unpretentiousness in the care of the hearts of lovers of home flowers in many countries of the world.
Most often, at home, domestic violet oxalis (Oxalis triangularis) and four-leafed oxalis (Oxalis tetraphylla) are grown.
Triangular acid (purple)
This plant attracts lovers of indoor plants with beautiful velvety leaves in the form of butterfly wings. They are located on long petioles. Due to the unusual shape of the tri-lobed leaves of maroon or purple, this variety is often called Madame Butterfly.
Bell-shaped small flowers painted in cream, pinkish or lilac color do not represent special decorative value, but at the same time they look quite impressive against the background of purple leaves. This room acid, the photo of which you can see in the article, has an interesting feature for which flower growers appreciate it. In inclement weather or with the onset of night, the plant folds its beautiful leaf-wings, and it seems that a flock of beautiful butterflies has sat down on a bush to rest. In clear weather, the leaves open again.
This picky plant - indoor violet acid. Home care for him is extremely simple, but we will talk about this later.
Four leaf sour
A photo of a four- leaf sour indoor flower can be seen on the pages of publications on floristry and in our article. The plant is often used to decorate rock gardens, flower beds and other objects in landscape design, for growing in gardens. In recent years, it can often be seen on window sills in apartments, because this easy-to-care plant feels great at home.
In this bulbous perennial, the four-leaf leaves are painted light green with a maroon spot located in the center of the plate. Raspberry-red flowers are collected in an elegant inflorescence. Designers often use this variety when forming a green zone in the interior of an apartment.
Succulent acid
From other species, the plant differs in the form of complex leaves and the presence of delicate pink inflorescences. A bush about 40 cm high, flowering continues until the very beginning of winter. This kind of acid can be grown both in open ground and at home.
Hedisaric acid
Small evergreen shrubs about 25 cm high. The plant has shoots of brown color and triple leaves. The axillous peduncle is crowned with several yellowish flowers. Perhaps growing at home as an ornamental plant.
Kislitsa room: home care
Acid purchased in the store must undergo a weekly acclimatization in the new house. After that, it should be transplanted into another pot. It is advisable to do this in early spring, when the plant wakes up. In an adult plant, lightly shake the ground and carefully remove the old dead roots. In winter, when the plant stopped growing and entered a dormant period, the roots can be disassembled without problems. After transplanting into the new soil, room acid will bloom in a month.
Rest period
The acid tree blooms all December, which is why it is often called the Christmas flower of happiness. Later growth stops, the leaves wilt. The plant enters a dormant period. With its onset, it is necessary to cut the cuttings, leaving small stumps not more than one and a half centimeters high. The pot is rearranged in a cool dry place, the temperature in which does not rise above + 15 ° C.
During this period, the acid is watered no more than once a month. A plant is exposed to a bright place only after the first shoots appear on it.
Where to put the flower?
Caring for room acid requires choosing a place with soft diffused lighting. The southeast and southwest side of the room will do. At the same time, the plant develops normally on the north side, and even in the back of the room. Try to arrange the plant so that the sun's rays do not fall on it. On hot sunny days, window glass should be shaded.
Temperature mode
In winter, house acid comes into a period of rest, when the plant must be rearranged away from heating appliances. The optimal winter temperature is in the range from +15 to + 18 ° C. On warm spring days and in summer, the flower can be taken out to the garden or to the balcony, but always at partial shade. In summer, a temperature of about + 25 ° C is allowed.
Air humidity
For the successful cultivation of room acid, both moderate and high humidity (up to 60%) are suitable. It is not recommended to spray the plant during dormancy, but if the room is very hot and dry, put a container of water near the flower. In summer, the acid is regularly sprayed with soft, warm water.
Watering
As with every plant, caring for room acid (photos you can see in this article) requires regular watering. For this, warm, settled water is used. In spring and summer it should be plentiful - the soil should not dry out. Remove water draining into the drip tray.
Closer to fall, watering is reduced to one or two times a week. In winter, it is enough for the plant to receive moisture once a month.
The soil
Indoor acid grows well and develops in a universal mixture for decorative and deciduous plants. If it is not possible to purchase the finished composition, the soil mixture can be made independently. To do this, mix in equal parts:
- turf land;
- sheet earth;
- coarse sand ;
- peat.
Fertilizer
At a time when the plant is actively growing and developing, it needs regular fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers. They are made every two to three weeks. Experienced growers recommend reducing the concentration of the solution in half from the recommended manufacturer.
Transfer
Room acid is transplanted annually in the spring. When transplanting, give preference to wide ceramic or plastic pots. At the bottom of the pot pour a layer of drainage (expanded clay, fine gravel) with a layer of about three centimeters. This is necessary so that excess moisture does not stagnate. In one pot you can plant several bulbs at once.
Breeding
Indoor oxalis can be propagated in various ways. Let's consider some of them.
- Tubers (daughter onions).
In early spring or at the very end of winter, several healthy tubers are selected and planted in a common container. Do not deepen the bulbs too: sprinkle them with soil, a layer of one and a half centimeters. Until the bulbs start the roots, the plant is kept in a cool room (+8 ... + 11 ° C), periodically moistening the soil (moderately). After about 30-40 days, the air temperature is increased.
This procedure is more convenient to carry out during a plant transplant. Using a knife or scissors (disinfected), the root must be divided into several pieces, which are planted in different containers.
Another way to spend in early spring. Small seeds of sour acid are sown on the surface of the soil and with the help of a spray gun gently moisturize the substrate. The small size of the seeds allows them not to sprinkle with soil, during irrigation they will be slightly immersed in the substrate on their own.
Carefully peel the stalk with two or three leaves with a sharp garden knife and place it in moistened sand. Within a month, the seedlings are kept in this position at a temperature of about +25 ° C. Protect them from sunlight. By the end of the month, cuttings will take root.
Acid pests and diseases
With proper care, indoor acid (we posted a photo in this article) is resistant to insect attacks and most diseases. Otherwise, red spider mites, scabies or aphids may appear on the plant.
- You can get rid of the spider mite with the help of actresses who spray the plant.
- By spraying the acid with a solution of two tablespoons (tablespoons) of liquid soap and two glasses of water, aphids can be destroyed.
- In the fight against scale insects, it is first necessary to collect all the parasites from the plant, and then treat it with Aktara solution. If, after the first treatment, the pests have not been completely eradicated, the procedure can be repeated in a week.
- With excessive watering, especially if you have not provided the plant with a good drainage layer, the acid can be affected by fusarium or gray rot. In the initial stage, both diseases are successfully treated with foundationazole.
Do not forget about the precautions that should be observed when working with drugs:
- the plant must be processed outdoors;
- the soil surface must be protected from drugs on it;
- a soap solution applied to the leaves and branches of the plant should be washed off with water after a few hours; in this case, the soil must be covered with a film so that soap does not get into it.
Room acid can be an exquisite decoration of any interior, without requiring special attention and complicated care. Observing the simplest rules, you will surely achieve the active development, growth and flowering of the plant.