The name cordillin was derived from the word cordylle, which in Greek means "knot", "nodule". This name was given to the genus due to its fleshy, swollen roots, which is characteristic of many plant species of this family. Cordillin can grow in the form of a shrub, half-shrub or tree. These plants are distinguished by a fleshy, white in the cut rhizome. Lancet and xiphoid leaves of the cordillins form a dense, dense crown. In science, this inflorescence is called panicle. The flowers of the cordillins are very beautiful - white, red or lilac, each of which subsequently forms a three-rope ovary.
Very often the cordolin can be confused with the dracene. But they have significant distinctive features: for example, the cordillins have white roots in the cut, and in the dracaena they will be orange-yellow. Cordillins, in contrast to dracen, give root processes.
Depending on the species, the cordillins can grow in both cold and warm rooms. However, since different kinds of cordillins grow in different climatic conditions, the conditions for their maintenance can also differ from each other.
At home, house plants cordillin grow to 1.5 meters in height, and very often they are formed as a tree with a thin trunk. Over time, the cordillin becomes like a palm tree, as its lower leaves die and fall off, exposing the trunk. Cordillina is very popular because of its bright decorative leaves. Mostly the cordillins grow slowly, but some species of these plants (for example, the cordillina southerly) can grow several meters in height. Such decorative trees can be found only in greenhouses and botanical gardens.
Caring for the cordillera.
Cordilina - plants that love bright lighting, but do not tolerate direct sunlight, so they try to pritenit. Shadow-leafy species are considered more shade-tolerant. They can be put where there is not much light.
The optimum temperature for the cordole in summer is about 20 ... 25 degrees. The temperature of the room during the winter for different types of cordillins will be different. So, for example, cordillin, growing in the subtropics, prefers a cooler temperature - about 5 ... 10 degrees. The tropical cordillin, more thermophilic, prefers a temperature of at least 18 degrees. Also, the cordillin should not be put on drafts.
The cordillins require constant watering, in the spring-summer period it should be particularly abundant. Do not use hard water for irrigation, as it is impossible to fill the plant. In winter, watering should be moderate, while monitoring the moisture content of the soil to avoid drying. With extreme caution, it is necessary to water cordolin in the winter if it is kept in a cool room.
An equally important condition for cordole is air humidity, especially when it comes to tropical species. In the summer, it requires copious spraying, but the water should not be stiff. In winter, plants should be kept away from radiators.
Water can cause rotting in places where the stem grows, so watering and sprinkling should be done with extreme caution.
In the period of active vegetation (in summer and spring), the plant should be fertilized once in 7 days. Fertilizer should be complex for deciduous plants. In winter, feeding should be less often - about once every 30-40 days.
Cordillin plants do not require frequent transplantation, enough once a year. Every 2-3 years the plants are planted, since during this time they grow very much. The best time for transplant is spring. We need to prepare the ground for transplantation: 1 part humus and sand and 3 parts of ordinary garden land.
On cardinals grown in the apartment conditions, flowers can be seen quite rarely.
Reproduction of cordillins.
These houseplants reproduce by cuttings or seeds, sometimes rhizomes.
Seeds are planted in early March. The soil should consist of 1 part of turf ground and 1 part of sand. Approximately a month later, the first shoots will appear, but the average duration of seed germination is about 2-3 months. However, in this way, only the original forms can be propagated, and varietal species are better to be propagated exclusively exclusively vegetatively.
Sprouts for reproduction use slightly lignified. Cuttings for reproduction can be taken both from the top of the plant, and from the middle part of the trunk. Cuttings are planted in prepared soil consisting of sand, peat and leaf earth, in a ratio of 1: 1: 1. Or it can be planted in sand. For the rooting of cuttings, a sufficiently high temperature (25-30 degrees) is needed. Care for young shoots is the correct watering and spraying. It takes about a month to root the cuttings, after which the plant is planted in a pot. Finished young plants are planted in a substrate in equal proportions consisting of leaf (humus) earth, from turf, peat and sand. More adult plants are transplanted into soil consisting of compost soil, humus and sand in equal parts.
All forms of cordillins can be propagated by dividing the rhizome, from which all roots must be previously removed. This procedure is best done in the spring. The rhizomes are planted in the same earth mix as is prepared for the cuttings. After rooting, they are planted in ordinary soil suitable for this type of plant.
Possible problems.
On the leaves, brown spots may appear, if there is not enough moisture.
If your plants fall off leaves, do not panic, drop leaves - it's natural for cordillins.
Excessive watering can cause decay of the stem at the base; in such a plant one must immediately cut off the top and root it.
If the light is too bright, there is a chance of light spots appearing on the leaves.
If the leaves of the plant become soft and twist, the room temperature is too low.
If there is insufficient humidity in the room, the leaves, namely the edges, can turn brown.
For the cordillins, the following pests are terrible: spider mite, mealybug, whitefly.