Despite the variety of decorative indoor plants, flower growers are constantly looking for new options to decorate their home. Some plants attract with original leaves, others with a graceful shape, and others with fragrant flowers. And would you like a home plant to delight not only with flowering, but also with delicious fruits? Then, especially for you, there is a homemade carissa plum. Home care for her is completely uncomplicated.
general description
This is an evergreen plant that belongs to the coutra family. In natural conditions it grows in the form of a tree, at home flower growers form a crown at their discretion. Externally, the plant is very attractive, with large leathery leaves.
But the most surprising is the duration of flowering. From May to September, the shrub is covered with snow-white fragrant flowers from five petals. However, most plants delight us with flowers for no longer than a month. Their aroma is reminiscent of jasmine, but it is weaker and more refined. Flowering is not in vain. The plant bears red or purple fruits that resemble plums. The fruits can be eaten, while all other parts of the plant are poisonous.
Growing conditions
Karissa was brought to us from Africa. Today it is widely cultivated in Europe and almost around the world. The genus has more than 30 species, among which there are dwarf plants that normally coexist in room conditions. It must be borne in mind that this is a native of tropical latitudes. Therefore, if you take the pot out into the garden for the summer, then do not forget to take it back before the first night frosts occur. Even a slight drop in temperature can be fatal for an overseas guest. And in response to your concerns, carissa will definitely respond. Caring for her at home is not burdensome, but she has her own peculiarities.
Poison family
Almost all representatives of coutra contain poisonous milky juice. They are the most dangerous plants in the world. If you have children or animals at home, you need to take precautions. It is best to use tall stands to limit access to the plant. All work with him must be done with gloves. Do not ignore this rule, even if you are used to washing your hands thoroughly after working with your green pets. The poisonous juice contained in the stems of carissa can cause irritation and burns.
Home Care
Carissa is a flower for beginners. Even if you do not have deep knowledge or are not able to devote much time to your plant, it will grow well and even delight you with delicious fruits. And how interesting it will be for children to pluck berries directly from the home tree. However, with some difficulties you still have to face.
Lighting
This is one of the key points that must be taken into account. This plant is tropical and very thermophilic. At home, it bathes in the rays of the hot sun. Therefore, at home it is necessary to provide him with conditions close to natural. If you plan to grow carissa on the windowsill, then it must definitely go south. In an extreme case, western windows will do, otherwise it will be necessary to organize additional lighting. With a lack of light, the branches will stretch and the plant will take on a not too aesthetic appearance.
Temperature mode
The growth rate, as well as the splendor of caries, depends on this indicator. Home care will be optimal if you maintain the temperature regime within +20 degrees. In autumn and winter, she has a period of rest. The temperature will need to be reduced to 14-18 degrees. With the onset of spring heat, you can transfer the pots to a glazed loggia or balcony.
Watering and humidity
You need to water the plant regularly, but not too abundantly. Drought is not fatal for him, as for any native of hot countries. But an excess of moisture leads to decay of the root and stem. The fact that the plant needs to be watered is indicated by the complete drying of the soil.
It is important to remember that plants should only be watered with settled water. To do this, tap water should stand for several days in an open vessel. The ideal option is glass. At the same time, melt or rain water is the best option.
But large-fruited carissa is completely undemanding to air humidity, therefore, if the apartment has dry air, then it is not necessary to acquire a humidifier for it. On the other hand, it can be very useful to you too. Of course, it is advisable to bathe the plant from time to time in the shower or just spray it. This will wash the dust off the leaves and they will breathe freely.
Soil and fertilizing
Indoor plum carissa is not very demanding on the composition of the soil mixture. But she needs a nutritious and at the same time light substrate. Most often, the following mixture is made: turf, leaf and peat soil, as well as sand. All components are taken in equal parts.
It should be noted that the plant is quite loyal to the choice of soil mixture. It’s better to take a ceramic pot, but if it’s not, an ordinary plastic one will do. Drainage in a flower pot must be done so that excess moisture can freely go away. With each transplant, you need to choose an ever wider and deeper pot.
About the transplant. The flower grows very fast. Before reaching the age of three, it must be transplanted annually in the spring. After this, the plant is considered an adult, and the interval increases to once every three years. This is very important, because if the plant does not have enough space, small leaves begin to form in it and it stops growing.
Fertilizer selection
Each grower in this regard may have their own opinion. But today let's look at how to fertilize carisa from the point of view of specialists in this field. It is necessary to feed indoor plum throughout the year. The optimal frequency is once every two or three weeks. For abundant flowering, a tree needs a large amount of phosphorus. Therefore, from the moment of a set of buds, this need must be fully provided. At the beginning of the growing season, it is necessary to add iron, and during the winter time to feed indoor plum with minerals.
Today, there are complex fertilizers, but it will be difficult to find special compounds for the overseas beauty. Suitable complexes for roses and other representatives of this family. And the dosage can be calculated individually based on the size of the pot.
Plant propagation
The plant propagates in two ways. If there is an opportunity to get a carissa stalk, then we can assume that you are lucky. In this case, the plant will take root pretty quickly, and the growth will be noticeable. Literally during the year you will show off an adult tree. That is, this year you can already wait for flowering. The only thing you need is the presence of an adult plant in your friends and their desire to share branches.
Reproduction of caries will occur as follows:
- Sprigs for planting need to be prepared in advance, best from autumn.
- As the material for the future plant, the top of the shoot is selected. There are three internodes for the handle.
- Slice cuttings need to be treated with "Kornevin."
- The rooting substrate is different from the soil for constant germination. Usually, peat and perlite are taken in equal proportions for these purposes.
- After planting, the cuttings must be covered with a film or a glass jar to create a microclimate.
But the popular method of rooting in water for this plant is not suitable. Cuttings most often simply rot.
Seed propagation
Carissa retains germination for a long time, so you can try to grow a plant from seeds. They can be bought at the store or obtained from the owners of an adult plant. For sowing, usually choose the spring period. As a soil, a mixture of peat and sand is suitable. Consider the basic rules:
- Before planting, you need to fill the soil with a shallow bowl, which will become a seed box.
- Seeds the day before planting should be soaked in warm water.
- Plant to a depth of 1 cm.
- It is advisable to cover the cuttings to create the effect of a greenhouse.
Landings require mandatory ventilation. To do this, the film needs to be removed for a while. At the same time, it is recommended to spray the greenhouse. You can wait for the sprouts after about 2 weeks. After their appearance, it will be possible to remove the film. Studying the description of caries, it is necessary to emphasize that plants grown from seeds enter the flowering phase only at the age of two. That is, seed propagation is far from a quick way to grow.
Growing difficulties
If the florist makes a mistake in leaving, this must be reflected in the appearance of the plant. So, a flower signals you about its problems as follows:
- If the internodes are very extended, it means that you need to find another corner for the plant where it will be more comfortable. Most likely, this is a lack of light and heat.
- Too elongated branches and faded leaves indicate that the plant has little light. If the situation could not be corrected due to natural light, special lamps must be installed.
- Often, the plant showers buds. This most often indicates that the apartment is too hot. The plant needs to create cooler conditions by moving to another window or by frequent spraying. Some gardeners at the time of bud formation form ice around the pot. It cools and moisturizes the air around the pet. Of course, it needs to be constantly updated.
- Dropping foliage indicates that the plant does not have enough moisture.
As you can see, each ailment has its own reasons. It is necessary in time to recognize the symptoms of the disease and take appropriate measures so as not to start the problem. The sooner you adjust the content condition, the less decorative the plant will suffer.
Pest control
If the plant is strong and strong, it is much less susceptible to various ailments. Therefore, you should think about prevention and the formation of strong immunity. Succinic acid for indoor plants is both a growth promoter and top dressing, a means to build a strong root system and green mass. In addition, succinic acid promotes good flowering. As a result, the plant maintains decorativeness year-round, and also you get a large number of delicious fruits.
How to use succinic acid for indoor plants? This applies to all other cultures. It is necessary to dissolve one tablet in a glass of water and spray the plant. Repeat the procedure throughout the growing season once a week. When rooting, you can dip the stem into a crushed tablet of succinic acid. It is an excellent rooting and growth stimulant.
If preventive measures did not help, and you see a spider mite on a plant or a scab, aphid or whitefly, it is recommended to pay attention to broad-acting insecticides. But if the infection is not too strong, then you can repel it with improvised means. Pests can be collected by hand, and the leaves washed with soap and water. In some cases, this is enough.
Instead of a conclusion
It is not difficult to grow a room plum. It is enough to choose a suitable place for her and study the basic needs for care. To date, the popularity of the plant is only growing. This is not surprising, given the high decorativeness of the plant, its active flowering and fruiting in room conditions. If you are still thinking of how to diversify your collection with a flower, pay special attention to carisse. The plant is bright, interesting, distinctive. If you like ficus, then caries will definitely be a great choice.