Eugenia is a plant native to the subtropics of Australia. In New South Wales, he is called Lilly Pilly. At home, needs careful care. Named in honor of the prince and commander of the Roman Empire, Eugene of Savoy.
Description
The flower of Eugene belongs to the evergreen shrub plants. It is considered an endangered species, since in the wild it is almost impossible to meet. What flower does Eugene look like? Indoors, its growth does not exceed 1.5 m. In natural conditions for it, it forms a full-fledged tree, whose height is 6 m. A powerful trunk is covered with spots. The length of the glossy narrow dark green leaves of the shrub is about 3 cm, but in the natural habitat they can reach 10 cm. They grow opposite and have an elliptical shape. The leaves contain healthy essential oils. The plant produces a pleasant aroma only if rubbed with your palms. The new growth has a red tint. Young branches are tetrahedral. Over the years, the bark of the bush peels off a little.
In warm countries, where the air temperature in winter does not drop below -4 ° C, the plant is grown to create hedges, which, if necessary, trimmed. The shape of the bush can be changed to any bonsai style. In addition, the direction of the branches is perfectly formed using wire. Previously, the bark of the tree needs to be protected from damage. Do not leave the wire on the branches for more than three months.
Soil preparation and watering Eugenia
Shrub propagated by cuttings, air layering and seeds, which germinate within a month. In March-April, processes of about 10 cm in size are rooted in moist vermiculite, sand or in water. From early spring to August, a flower planted in an ordinary pot should be fed every two weeks with complex fertilizer for deciduous ornamental plants. The approximate composition of the ideal soil for Eugenia contains an equal amount of sand, humus, sod and sheet land. The soil should be slightly acidic without any admixture of lime. Make sure that there is good air exchange in the ground. Excessive soil density is eliminated by the addition of peat or perlite.
If the leaves of the plant have lost their luster, this means that it is in dire need of water. In summer, it is enough to water the soil once a week, in the winter season - after 7-10 days. Water should be soft, boiled, without excess salt. Excessive watering is fraught with the development of root rot, and during drying, the flower of Eugene drops the leaves. Excessive moisture in the earth causes spots to appear on the leaves and, as a result, their falling.
Transfer
It is necessary to change the soil of a young flower every spring. It is enough to transplant an adult plant every 3 years. An old shrub needs to change only the topsoil. Also, a good reason for changing the soil is the appearance of a reddish or white coating. When planting or transplanting, it is impossible to deepen the root neck of the flower of Eugenia, even if some of the roots remain on the surface. A bush deep in the ground will die quickly.
The plant may be affected by a whitefly, scale insect, mealybug, aphid and red spider mite. The best seasons for pruning shrubs are spring and summer. Stems need to be shortened by 1-2 pairs of leaves. After the procedure, it is advisable to treat the shoots with garden varieties.
Lighting and air temperature
The flower of Eugene loves sunlight and a slight shadow in the hottest time of the day (from 11 to 16 hours). A greenhouse and a glazed balcony are the best places to grow shrubs. Every day, the flower needs direct sunlight for 3-5 hours. In winter, Eugene especially needs plenty of daylight at a temperature of 5-18 ° C. Artificial lighting has established itself as an effective substitute for sunlight. The flower loves high humidity (35-50%). It is recommended to spray the gravel in which the pot is standing. In the summer it is useful to take a tree to the garden. On hot days, the bush should be sprayed with boiled or distilled water a couple of times.
Cold drafts should be avoided, since the flower of Eugene, whose photo is located in this article, does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature. At the beginning of winter, it is required to insulate the pot with a large number of dry sawdust or foam rubber.
Fruit
From mid-spring to June, inclusive, the houseplant is generously strewn with creamy white flowers, which consist of four petals and many brushes. In autumn, 2 cm berries are formed that you can eat. The diameter of the flowers does not exceed 3 cm. Because of their color, Eugene the myrtle leaf was also called the Purple Cherry. There is another name for the shrub - Angina tree, which was given to him thanks to berries containing vitamin C and which have shown their effectiveness in the treatment of throat diseases. Based on the crispy fruit of the flower of Eugene, the Australian housewives prepare delicious jams to taste.