Representatives.
Muraya exotic (Latin Murraya exotica L.), or M. paniculata (L.) Jack. Homeland of this plant are the islands of Sumatra, Java, Philippine, the Indochina Peninsula, Malacca and India. Muraya exotic is a densely branched tree up to 4 m high. However, in the indoor environment it is an evergreen shrub (30-50 cm high) or a bushy tree (about 1.5 m). The bark has a grayish or yellowish white hue. The branches are fairly thin, young at the young age covered with small hairs. The stems are fragile, so the plant needs support. The leaves are unpaired, pinnately complex, arranged alternately. Leaflets (3-5 pcs.) Are wide-lanceolate, have a single edge. Due to the fact that the largest (3-5 cm in length) leaf is located on top, and the smallest (1 cm) - from below, the crown of the tree looks airy and delicate.
Often the pairs of leaves are shifted relative to each other. The leaves are dark green, glossy, have the aroma of lemon when rubbed, so they are used as a spice in cooking. The flowers are funnel-shaped, up to 1.8 cm long, collected in the inflorescence of the scutellum, located on top, possess the aroma of jasmine. Red fruits are edible, round or oval in shape, 2-3 cm in diameter.
Care rules.
Lighting. The house plant of the muraia loves bright diffused light. Grow it should be at the east or west window. The northern window of the plant may not have enough light, due to which the flowering will be weak. At the southern window for murai it is necessary to do shading with the help of translucent fabric, gauze or tulle. In summer, the plant should be taken to the open air, leaving it in a shaded place.
After winter, when there were few sunny days, it is necessary gradually to accustom Murai to more intense sunlight in the spring, because the duration of daylight also increases.
Temperature regime. In the warm period of the year, the optimal temperature for murai is 20-25 ° C. From autumn, it is preferable to slightly reduce the temperature of the plant's content. In winter it is recommended to keep it in the range of 16-18 ° C.
Watering. Muraya is a plant that loves copious watering, especially from spring to autumn. In the autumn-winter period, watering should be reduced to a moderate one. In any case, do not allow the soil to dry out, because the root system will not be lost due to this. Water should be followed by soft standing water.
Humidity. The plant is capricious to humidity, prefers increased humidity. A mandatory rule of care for the murai is daily spraying. Once a week, it is recommended to wash the leaves with warm water or put the plant under a warm shower. Sometimes a pot with a tree is placed on a pallet filled with moist peat or claydite.
Top dressing. You need to feed the muraiya every 2 weeks, from spring to autumn.
To do this, use top dressing from organic and full mineral fertilizer, changing them alternately.
The muraia plant normally tolerates pruning that forms the crown.
Transfer. Young plants are recommended to be transplanted every year, adults - at least once in 2-3 years. For a transplant, you need to use a loose nutrient substrate. Its composition for young plants is as follows: sod, leaf, humus and sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 0.5: 1. For transplantation of adult murai, it is recommended to use a substrate with a higher proportion of leaf land. It should be provided at the bottom of the pot good drainage.
Reproduction. This indoor plant reproduces vegetatively (cuttings) and seeds.
Seeds are sown at any time of the year, their germination is high.
Vertical cuttings are used for vegetative propagation. They should be planted in the spring packs and kept in elevated temperature (26-30 ° C). Cuttings with the formed roots are transplanted into 7-centimeter pots. For the transplant use a substrate of the following composition: leaf ground - 1h, humus - 0.5h, sod - 1h. and sand - 1h.
Difficulties of care. If the leaves of the muraiya begin to wither in the center and along the edge, this means that the plant has received a sunburn. If the tips of the leaves become dry or the peduncles fall off, the plant is kept in very dry air.
Pests: scab, spider mite, whitefly.