The Araliev family belongs to the genus Scheffler (in a different way to Shefler) and has about 200 plant species. Homeland of this kind consider the tropics, anywhere in the world. This genus is distinguished by inflorescences, they are paniculate or racemose, somewhat resembling tentacles. Appearance of this plant is very beautiful, but, unfortunately for the flower growers, in the room conditions it blooms very rarely.
Plants of this genus are bushes or small trees with a leaf shape, which is peculiar to rosette trees. The leaves resemble a palm with their outlines, which are widely spaced. The leaf has a dissection from 4 to 12 lobes. Sometimes this plant is called an umbrella because the bases of its leaves come from the same place as the spokes of the umbrella.
The house plant of the sheffler, for the most part, is grown because of the leaves, which are very beautiful. Scheffler admirably looks like a decorative element in a large area and a bright room. Its leaves can be covered with liquid wax.
Care for the sheffler.
Lighting. This houseplant is very photophilous, so it should be kept in bright light, but not under direct sunlight, otherwise the plant can get burned. Although a small amount of direct sun it is still able to move, but not in the summer. For cultivation, the western and eastern sides are suitable.
In winter, the plant needs the most light position in the room. If the temperature in the room is above + 18 ° C, then it is necessary to put in addition fluorescent lamps, if, of course, there is the possibility. It can grow in the open air, but it should be placed in the penumbra.
Temperature regime. In summer, the temperature of the content is + 20 ° C. The plant responds well to a drop in temperature at night. If we talk about the minimum temperature, then in winter time it is + 12C, and the desired temperature is + 14-16C. In no event should the plant be placed near the battery.
Watering. Watering the sheffler requires a moderate spring and summer, it is necessary to orientate yourself on the substrate, on its upper layer, it should be slightly dried and the next day it can be watered. The water is soft and steady. Do not overdry the land. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced. At any time of the year, plants can not be allowed to overflow and soil silt. Since the temperature of the soil should be room or higher, it is also watered with water at a temperature not lower than room temperature.
Air humidity. As for air humidity, it should be increased. It is also desirable to regularly spray the plant with water or put a pot on a pallet with wet claydite, you can peat. This is especially important if the plant hibernates at high temperature.
Top dressing. A universal fertilizer for indoor plants, the sheffler can be fed a couple of times a month during an active vegetation period (this is the period from spring to autumn).
Decorativity. As pruning spoils the appearance of the plant, then to create a pleasant decorative look the sheffler is planted several times in a pot.
Transfer. Transplantation is not required often, in two years it needs to be done once. Pot for transplantation should be larger in volume. Soil is necessary for easy, with low acidity (ph 6). If you put a turf mixture (2 parts), humus earth (1 part) and sand, also 1 part, then such soil will be just right. At the bottom of the pot, quality drainage is needed. The plant of the sheffler can be grown by the method of hydroponics.
Reproduction. As for reproduction, this is a rather complicated process. This can be done by seeds, cuttings or air layers.
Sow seeds should be in the middle or late winter. To do this, use peat with sand on one part of each, or a mixture of leaf and sod land with the addition of sand, all ingredients equal quantity. Before planting, the soil must be disinfected. If desired, the seeds are soaked in warm water with the addition of epine or zircon. Sealing should be equal to two sizes of seed. After that, the substrate is watered and put in a warm place. The temperature should be maintained in the region of + 20-24 ° C. It is also necessary to ventilate the container with seeds and spray. After the appearance of leaflets on the seedlings, they must be dived into pots and so keep three months with a temperature of + 18-20 degrees. When young plants have roots and fill them with an earth lump, they must be transplanted into pots about 8 cm in diameter. The room with the pot should be well lit and cool, about + 14-16C. Young plants are actively growing and by the autumn they can be planted in pots with a diameter slightly larger. The substrate is suitable for a similar mixture for planting seeds.
Reproduction by cuttings. Cuttings, which are almost desalinated, must be treated with stimulants to form roots (for example, radiopharm) and plant in a mixture of peat and sand in an equal proportion. Next, put a container with them on the bottom heater, but the battery is not recommended. The temperature should be + 20-22C. The container with cuttings should also be periodically sprayed and ventilated. The container can be covered with polyethylene, thereby dissipating light. After rooting, the temperature is reduced to + 18-20 ° C. After the roots fill the container, cuttings can be transplanted into pots and put in a cool place (+ 14-16C) and where there is a lot of light.
If the plant specimen is large, then it can be propagated by layers. To do this, it is necessary to make a small incision on the trunk in spring and wrap it with wet moss, which is impregnated with phytohormone or nutrient solution; then cover with a film. The moss must be periodically moistened so that it is always moistened. After a few months on the place of the cut will be the roots.
After the formation of the roots it is necessary to wait a couple of months and then cut off the top with roots below the formation of roots, and then plant in a separate pot. The trunk remaining should not be discarded, even if it does not have leaves. It should be cut almost to the root, and the resulting stump should be watered (or covered with damp moss), and after a while, there may appear shoots that will grow actively.
Precautionary measures.
Scheffler - the plant is to a small degree poisonous (all its parts), on contact can cause dermatitis.
Difficulties in growing.
- If the temperature is very hot in summer or vice versa, if it is low in winter, if the plant has an excess of moisture, it can discard the leaves.
- If the sheffler lacks light, then the leaves lose their luster. And if the light in excess, then they are bright spots.
- With high soil moisture, roots can begin to rot.
- If the air is not moist enough, or insufficient watering, the tips of the leaves will be brown.
- The plant can be damaged by aphids, scabies or spider mites.