How wonderful it is when there is a corner of a coniferous forest in the house. Needles provide clean, tart, healing air, as its volatile aromatic substances destroy harmful microorganisms. But for a person, the effect of needles is extremely useful.
A piece of coniferous paradise in an apartment can be provided by growing indoor coniferous plants, such as araucaria (also called a herringbone), cryptomeria, yew, thuja, sub-carpus, tuikvik or cypress.
Care
The conditions for growing these conifers are quite similar. They are located on the north or north-east windows. It is necessary to spray the crown with water 1-2 times a day, to avoid drying and yellowing of the needles. Evenly moisturize the com is always necessary. Do not over-wet or over-dry. For watering and spraying the most suitable water is 20-25 degrees.
Provide the plant a permanent place of stay and do not disturb it. It is permissible (and even recommended) for the summer to make a coniferous plant in the penumbra in the fresh air.
Try not to transplant indoor coniferous plants without special need. And if this should happen, then make a transfer in late April - early May. If you transplant in the last days of August - the first of September, then try to ensure sufficient humidity in this process.
The transplantation is allowed every two years and it must be done very carefully, protecting the root system from any damage. Such precautions are necessary to preserve the fungus-symbiont (mycorrhiza), which develops on the roots of conifers and is extremely important for their life.
After transplant, protect the plant from direct sunlight and watch for acidity of the soil. Different plants need different soil: some sour, some sort of alkaline.
At the bottom of a clay boiled or potted potassium permanganate solution, it is necessary to place drainage and washed sand. Such conditions are simply necessary, in order to remove the salt of aluminum that is harmful to coniferous houseplants in clay. With this purpose, charcoal can be added to the drainage. Pay special attention to the root collar. Drowning it, you destroy the plant.
Measures for adapting the coniferous plant after the transplant are as follows: regularly spray the needles with water for the first two to three weeks. Please note that experts recommend spraying in cloudy weather or in the evening, so as not to burn the needles. Mandatory and regular watering.
But truly the main reason for the death of indoor coniferous plants is improper care in winter. It is due to incorrect winter care, these plants often die. And that's why they are so rare.
Correct wintering of coniferous plants
The optimum temperature level in winter for coniferous trees is 6-12 degrees. In this regard, it is necessary to carry out some measures in advance to ensure wintering.
- Since the end of the summer to stop using nitrogen fertilizers, so as not to cause shoots of plants. By winter they will not have time to grow lighter.
- From the same period, do not cut off shoots. This can cause a new increase.
- To eliminate the hypothermia of the plant roots. Shoots and needles can fairly easily transfer a slight drop in temperature, but for the roots it is fatal. It becomes particularly dangerous, because it can not be detected in time.
Wintering options
Heated loggia. The presence of a heater, which will turn on periodically and turn off when heated to 10 degrees.
Please note that on winter sunny days, the temperature in the sun behind the glass balcony can reach high marks. Therefore, it is necessary to obscure the balcony with a mirror film or blinds.
During frosts, when you can not provide the necessary temperature regime - move the plant into a room, in the coolest place, protected from frost. But in this case, provide the necessary amount of light.
If there is no loggia, place a coniferous houseplant between the frames if there is sufficient space there.
You can also build a small frame from the box, fencing off the location of the coniferous plants on the windowsill and wrapping it with a film.
No less important is the way out of the wintering. Provide the plant with the required amount of light and avoid exposure to low temperatures. Even if your conifer plant woke up before the appointed time.