This plant has no stem, the leaves are dark green and arcuate, they can reach 30-36 cm in length and grow directly from the rhizome. Aspilistra in height can grow up to 80 cm.
Indoor plants of the aspidistra bloom quite rarely, usually this occurs between the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Flowers appear at the soil level, have a pale purple color and a star shape. In nature, they are pollinated by snails.
Aspidistra - plants are very unpretentious, with the help of which decorate and plant the premises. It grows rapidly and occupies the entire area of the container, so the people called it "friendly family".
Aspidistra high ( Aspidistra elatior)
This is a perennial plant, the rhizome of which is of various forms - thick, articulate, thin and long. Leaves are based on strong long petioles, have an oval shape and dark green glossy color. In addition, they are large enough and grow up to 50 cm in length and up to 20 cm in width. At the base of the leaf, on the rhizome, a pair of reduced leaves is often justified. There is a decorative form "Variegata", the leaves are with unusual yellow, cream or white stripes. Flowers are small, not prominent, are in the axils of leaves on a short pedicel.
Care for aspidistroy
Temperature. Aspidistra is perfectly grown at a moderate temperature. In winter it is desirable to create cool conditions, the temperature should not exceed 15 degrees, the most acceptable temperature is 10-12 degrees, the minimum temperature should not fall below 5 degrees. If such conditions can not be ensured, it is necessary to constantly spray the plant.
Lighting. Aspidistra prefers to grow in the penumbra, not taking out direct sunlight, and in winter it is desirable to provide this plant with good lighting.
Watering. From spring to autumn the aspidistre needs regular copious watering, and in winter it is quite rare if the plant grows in the cool.
Fertilizer. From mid-spring to early autumn, the plant is fertilized with liquid fertilizer for indoor plants every two weeks.
Air humidity. If it is not very hot, the aspidistra will normally transfer dry air. But for this plant it is desirable to constantly and regularly spray or even a "shower", this will bring more benefits to the plant.
Transfer. The aspidistra does not tolerate the transplant very well, so it should not be done more than once in 3-4 years in the spring. The soil should consist of a mixture of soddy land, humus, peat, foliage and sand.
Reproduction. The plant reproduces in the spring during transplantation by dividing the bush. If desired, the aspidistra can be propagated by a special method with a sheet. To do this, you need to cut a healthy leaf without a petiole, while retaining a fleshy thick incrustation at its base. When the slice dries, it needs to be placed in a bottle with a wide neck, filled with water. The bottle must be closed with a lid and covered with plasticine, so that air does not penetrate there. Then it should be left in a warm and bright place until the appearance of roots on the cut. If this happens, then the sheet can be removed and planted in leafy loose soil. It is advisable to cover with a jar and send it to a room greenhouse. If the leaf began to rot and deteriorate, and the roots did not appear, then you can cut the affected part in the place of thickening of the leaf and put it again in a bottle of pure water.
The most unpretentious plant is an aspidistra with dark green leaves, and the most beautiful species is an aspidistra with variegated leaves. But this kind is more whimsical in care, for example, he needs better lighting.
Aspidistra has such an advantage as good tolerance of polluted air. These houseplants are not very demanding for moisture and soil composition. Therefore, with aspidistra growing, even beginners of floriculture will be able to cope. Also, this flower is suitable for people who do not have time for painstaking care of the plant.
After transplanting, aspidistra should be given to her attention, since the plant after division may not grow for a long time or become ill, if the root is damaged.
Therefore, during transplantation, it is necessary to gently loosen an old clod of earth, to monitor the integrity of even small roots. Then, with a sharp knife, you need to separate the leaves so that they have roots. It is desirable to divide the plant into parts of 5-6 sheets. If the bush only 6-7 sheets, it is better to refrain and do not divide it at all. After conducting the division and transplantation, it is recommended that the aspidiste be kept warm for a while or at room temperature.
Therapeutic properties of the plant aspidistra
Aspidistra is used even in folk medicine. Decoction from different parts of this plant is used for urolithiasis, amenorrhea, muscle pains, diarrhea, gastrointestinal diseases and seizures.