Maranta, which came to our latitudes from the Brazilian tropics, arouses interest in the diversity of foliage and a bright spectrum of green-red color. As a sign of gratitude for the proper care in the home conditions, the plant, although rarely, throws out inflorescences. In fact, they are inconspicuous and not as attractive as broad linear-lanceolate leaves with a clear pattern and multicolored veins. In addition, not only their appearance, but also their behavior is striking. In this article we will tell you all about the flower of arrowroot: from legends and beliefs to requirements and whims.
Did you know? The flower got its official name in honor of the Venetian doctor-discoverer of most of its species. - Bartolomeo Maranta. At the same time, the British named the Prayer plant, a low-growing forest bog plant, which means "a praying plant". And all because of the leaves, which in the evenings resemble folded hands in prayer. Among the Slavs, there is another adverb - "Ten Commandments", and its appearance is due to the number of small spots on the leaves.
What conditions to create for arrowroot in the house
To make the whimsical flower comfortable in your abode, take care of the correct temperature, moisture and lighting conditions, do not forget to fertilize it and transplant it to the best of growth. Maranta does not forgive mistakes when growing at home, which means that the more you love it and bother it, the brighter it will glow with chic foliage, but it is worth it to cool down a bit - the plant will die (it’s not for nothing that got into the list of Caprials). However, do not let this fact scare you. The main task in care is to bring room cultivation as close as possible to the native culture environment. Having got used, you learn to please the beauty.
Lighting
The "praying grass" has special requirements for placement, and where to put the pot, you will understand by observing its leaves. Their mobility complements the uniqueness of an exotic flowerpot. During normal development, plants, in the evenings and on rainy weather, the arrowroot leaves curl up in a tubule, rising slightly, and in the mornings and on bright sunny days, they are widely stretched to a horizontal position.
If the old foliage turned pale and began to wither, and the new one grows shallow, has lost its juiciness and sank down very much, it means that the flower is uncomfortable due to an excess of light. While the loss of the pattern on the leaves, their constant torsion, on the contrary, speaks of poor lighting.
An ideal option for placing a flower would be the northern windows, where there is always partial shade and there is no burning direct sunlight. If this is not possible, east-west sides are acceptable. In extreme cases, the flower can be placed away from the window, somewhere on the table or on the floor stand. The irreparable mistake of many flower growers lies in the fact that they push the arrowroot into dark corners. In such conditions, it cannot develop and perishes.
Did you know? For arrowroot grown in the apartment, a better place than the living room simply can not be found. In addition, there is a perception that the bush attracts money to the house and cleans it of negative energy, protecting the whole family.Flower need partial shade. The diffused light can be created with the help of fluorescent lamps, provided that they daily work at least 14 - 16 hours. By the way, artificial lighting is gaining relevance from November to February, when there is not enough natural light or heat.
Optimal temperature
In its natural environment, the plant grows in heat and moisture. Therefore, low temperatures will adversely affect the tropical guest. The permissible limit is +15 ° C, and if you do not water the plant abundantly. Do not forgive "praying grass" drafts, sudden changes in temperature and heat. In the summer, she is comfortable at + 22 ... +25 ° C, and in winter, the thermometer should not fall below +18 ° C. With increasing temperature, the need to increase the humidity of the air increases.
How to care for arrowroot at home
The leaves of the culture, often act as an indicator of the correctness of its cultivation. Therefore, they are regularly sprayed and wiped, and it is important to ensure that the water does not leave untidy spots (it is best to use a spray bottle and a soft brush). Be aware, arrowroot is a fragile representative of the flora that is easily damaged.
In summer, it is advisable to take a flowerpot to the balcony, and even better to the garden, but not in the sun. You should also take care of protection from wind, exhaust or industrial gases. Fresh air is necessary for the full development of the plant, but at the same time it can be destroyed by airing near a busy road.
From time to time the bush should be cut. Dry stalks of a nondescript inflorescence and dead leaves do not look aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, they are carefully trimmed with sharp scissors, which should be disinfected before work. Also come with strongly elongated shoots, distorting the form of green scenery. With a favorable content, the annual growth of the pot is from 4 to 6 leaves. With age, arrowroot, of course, will lose the decorativeness and pomp of "hair", but this problem can be solved by cutting.
Important! Many flower growers, in order not to deplete fastidious culture, it is advised to break the stalks with buds in advance. Some types of arrowroot completely bloom foliage after flowering and hibernate for 5 months.
Watering and humidity
The most important requirement of the arrowroot flower for home care is to moisten the soil and air. It can be carried out simultaneously or alternated. Usually, tropical plants need abundant watering in the summer and moderate in the winter. Also make sure that the potted earth does not dry out, but you should not turn it into a swamp. In both cases, the culture risks getting sick and dying.
Water for moistening should be soft, room temperature. In snowy weather, you can use the thawed. If you take water from the tap, leave the container for a few nights to properly settle.
The number of irrigations depends on the temperature conditions that contain the pet room. Some growers are advised to fill the tray under the tank with a plant with gravel or moss, and only after that pour water there. Naturally, there should be a hole in the bottom of the pot.
Elegant maranth requires daily spraying. In the cold season, when central heating or other heating devices are active in the apartments, the procedure should be repeated in the morning and evening. A naughty flower and a warm shower will invigorate, just remember to cover the ground in a pot with a polyethylene patch. This procedure is recommended once a month, and the water should not be warmer than 40 ° C. Keep in mind that in rooms with overdried air, all humidifying procedures will be in vain, which you can identify from the dry, rusty tips of the leaves.
Top dressing and fertilizer
The exhausted maranta begins to be fed in early spring, and the approximate feeding period covers the time from April to August. Fertilize the plant twice a month, introducing in turn organic and mineral complex fertilizers. The latter is diluted to light concentrations.
Of organics, the most valuable fertilizer is chicken manure. It contains large quantities of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium necessary for the flora. These beneficial substances are absorbed gradually. Nevertheless, in some cases, beginners of room pottery lovers are afraid to overdo the proportions and bring only purchased mineral dressing, adhering to clear instructions. When preparing fertilizer from chicken excrement, it is important to consider the following recommendations:
- Never use fresh manure as a feed, as it contains uric acid, which can burn the roots.
- In order to reduce excessive concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, leave litter at night in the open air.
- To prepare a liquid feed dilute the collected excrement with water in the ratio of 1:20. The mixture should be more than a week on the street. Do not pour it under the roots. In addition, for the beginning it is necessary to water the plant abundantly with ordinary water.
Important! Young arrowroot transplants need to be transplanted annually, and mature - every 2-3 years.
How to transplant
For the transplant of arrowroot, in the spring they are looking for a shallow container (a few centimeters wider than the previous one) and preparing the substrate. In the absence of the necessary components, you can use the purchase soil for arrowroot. At home, it is prepared from coarse sand, garden soil and peat in a ratio of 1: 3: 0.5. If desired, you can add charcoal. Another way is to mix equal parts of humus, leaf and peat ground.
Regardless of the option you choose, the soil should be loose and slightly acidic. You can check the acidity with a special decoction: in a glass of boiling water, a couple of leaves of black currant are brewed, and when it is well drawn and cooled down, throw a small earthen ball there. Observe: if the reaction results in a slightly reddened water - the soil is sour, the green tint indicates a slightly acidic environment, and the bluish one indicates a neutral one. Now, when everything is ready for transplantation, let us examine in detail how to transplant the arrowroot. To begin with, lay a layer of expanded clay on the bottom of the pot, carefully roll over a moist earthen tuber with a rosette from the previous tank and sprinkle it with fresh substrate. Take care not to damage the root system. At the end of the procedure, water the plant and spray it with a spray bottle. It will need increased attention until rooting.
How to propagate arrowroot at home
This process plays a key role in the rejuvenation of the bush. Looking at the delicate foliage of the flower, many do not even realize how simple the arrowroot in reproduction is. (there are two ways, both of which are successful and often used).
Reproduction by division
To get a second copy of the plant, it is enough to cut off part of the root when it is being transplanted: An earthen tuber is simply cut in half and planted delenki in different containers. If the planted parts with poorly developed shoots, they are watered, covered with a plastic bag and sent to a warm place, creating greenhouse conditions. When the bush goes to growth, sheltered remove, continuing to regularly spray the leaves.
Important! It will take at least a month to root the young rosette of arrowroot.
Reproduction by cuttings
This method interests a lot of people, but based on the number of questions frequently asked in various forums, it can be concluded that there is a lack of knowledge in this direction. Many scientific articles have already been written on how to propagate arrowroot cuttings, but in order not to go deep into scientific terminology, we only note that the technology is simple and accessible to everyone.
Planting material taken from the annual shoots in summer or autumn (cut the tips of the shoots must have at least 4 leaves). Then, for several months they are placed in water, and when the roots appear, the cuttings are deepened 6 cm into the substrate, the preparation of which we mentioned above. Further care for the young pot is the same as when dividing the rhizomes.
Solving possible problems when growing arrowroot
Do not even doubt: the slightest error in the care will be obvious. The appearance of "praying grass" often deteriorates due to inappropriate conditions that lead to diseases. Besides maranth is very sensitive to pests. Her love to "squat" spider mites, thrips, scale insects, often taking up the entire inside of the sheet. This usually happens with dry indoor air.
In the fight against harmful parasites insecticides have an impeccable reputation. At home, you can try to wash the healthy and infected foliage with a solution of soap and a weak extract of tobacco. However, proceed with extreme caution so as not to tear the perennial. Processing plants with crushed sulfur also helps. 2-3 hours after the procedure, put the pot under a cool shower. Be prepared: it will all have to be repeated several times, right up to the complete disappearance of the hated bugs. There are cases when it is no longer possible to save a copy.
In order to avoid pests, diseases of arrowroot and to avoid possible treatment, increase the humidity of the air and water the soil.
When it is sour, the roots will begin to rot, which will result in the appearance of nematodes. You will learn about this by education on the leaves of brown spot. Salvation will only cut off the damaged parts on the living edge. It is important to process slices with potassium permanganate. Only after that the root socket can be transplanted into fresh soil and further follow the rules of watering.
Seeing that the arrow has dropped the leaves, do not exhaust yourself with the thought “what to do?”. To start, inspect the pot and check it for pests. If you find nothing, pay attention to the lighting. Located near the battery or in direct sunlight flower immediately relocate. However, at the same time, too much moisture, dryness and total darkness are also useless.
Pay attention to the leaves:
- if they twist and begin to fall off - increase moisture;
- dried and brown on the tips - review the mode of irrigation, there may be an excess or lack of moisture;
- became yellow and faded slightly - water more often;
- lost the picture and acquired a pale lifeless color - rearrange the pot in partial shade.
Did you know? The roots of some types of arrowroot are widely used for the preparation of healthy dietary flour.Often, when a maranth dies, not knowing what to do with it and how to save, novice growers throw out a lost bush and later refuse to grow a crop, assuming that they will not be able to overcome all the whims of a tropical beauty. Do not rush to conclusions. With proper care, the "praying grass" will pleasantly surprise you and amuse you with its variegation.
