Kinds.
Drimiopis Kirk (Latin Drimiopsis kirkii Baker), still known as the iceberg bortioid. It grows in the tropics of East Africa. In these evergreen plants the bulb is white, round in shape. The pointed leaves are 40 cm long, and 5 cm wide in the wide part of the leaf. The upper part of the leaf is light green, covered with dark green spots, the lower surface of the leaf is greyish-green. The height of the peduncle reaches 20-40 cm. It blooms from March to September with small, white flowers.
Drimiopsis spotted (Latin Drimiopsis maculata Lindl. & Paxton), is also known as petioled petiolation (Latin Ledebouria petiolata JC Manning & Goldblatt). It grows from the province of Natal to the Cape in South Africa. These are perennials, deciduous, belonging to onion plants. Heart-shaped oval leaves grow to a length of 12 cm, and in the wide part of the leaf to 7 cm, green, with spots of dark green color. The stem is 15 cm long and blooms from April to July with small, white flowers. In the autumn-winter time there comes a period of rest, leaves the leaves. This decorative plant is adapted to the climate of warm rooms.
Care rules.
This plant needs bright lighting, it is when observing the rules of illumination that the impressive appearance of the leaves opens. This plant is well tolerated by sunlight, so it can be located near the southern windows, but at noon it is necessary to shade from the direct sun. That the plant does not receive a burn it must be gradually accustomed to bright lighting after its acquisition or with the onset of sunny days.
Favorable temperature for the plant drimiopsis in the autumn-spring period from 20 ° C to 25 ° C, with the onset of cold weather, the surrounding temperature is best reduced to about 14 ° C.
In the autumn-spring period, during active growth, watering is done regularly, with standing water, with a slight drying of the upper soil layer. With the onset of autumn, watering is reduced. In winter, drip marks are occasionally watered, care must be taken when watering, if the plant is kept in a cool room. However, the soil must not be completely drained.
Drimiopsis - plants that perfectly transport dry air in the room, but in summer it is allowed to spray, in order to maintain normal ecological conditions.
In spring and autumn, during a period of rapid growth, it is necessary to fertilize every 14 days with fertilizers intended for bulbous plants or for cacti.
In winter, the rest of drimiopsis should be kept in a cool light room, the temperature should not exceed 14 ° C. You should water the plant not often.
Every year there is a transplantation of young plants into more voluminous pots, and adult plants once every two to three years, according to bulb growth. For bulbs, children need extra space, so the capacity for planting is taken wide. Soil composition should be nutritious, loose consistency. This composition includes humus, sand, leaf and turf ground in one part. It is useful to supplement the soil with charcoal. The bottom of the pot must be drained.
These houseplants are propagated by seeds and with the help of the onion branch.
Bulb division occurs when plants are transplanted after the winter rest period. The place of damage to onions is treated with powdered charcoal. In the mixture of land for planting plants must include a turf and leaf land in 2 parts, with the addition of one part of the sand.
Drimioptrus Kirk can be propagated by means of leaf cuttings. Cuttings are prepared from 5-6 cm slices of leaves. Plant the shank in the sand. The temperature should be at least 22 degrees. After the appearance of roots, the cuttings are transplanted into pots, the height of which is 7 cm. Soil composition: leafy, soddy soil, 1 part, with one part of sand added.
Possible difficulties.
Drimiopsis in winter loses some of the foliage, which is a normal process for this plant.
With a lack of light, the leaves turn pale, the spots disappear, the petioles are lengthened, which reduces the decorative beauty of the plant.
With excessive moisture bulbs rot.
The plant can be infected with a scab and spider mite.