Tetrastigma is characterized by rapid growth: in a short time the plant can occupy a huge surface. It is undemanding to the growing conditions, it is perfect for winter gardens and greenhouses. It can often be found in swimming pools, where it is used for gardening.
Representatives.
Tetrastigma vuain (indoor grapes) (Latin Tetrastigma voinierianum (Baltet) Pierre ex Gagnep.). The synonymous name is Vitis Vuinier (Latin Vitis voinieriana Baltet). This is a powerful liana, which can reach more than 50 meters in length. In natural conditions, its thick stem lignifies and eventually turns into a powerful curved trunk with fleshy felt-pubescent shoots of gray-green coloration.
The leaves are large, attached with long (5 cm) thick petioles, palchato or triple-complex, that is, they consist of 3-5 fleshy leaves. The edges of the leaf are edged with large teeth. The lower surface of the leaf blade is covered with brown hairs, the upper - naked. On the bottom surface there are point resinous glands. On young leaves they are light, on old - darkening. In the nodes of juvenile shoots against the leaf are spirally twisted tendrils, with which the plant is kept on the support. Small flowers of greenish color, collected in the inflorescence of the scute. In the room conditions the tetrustigma blooms extremely rarely. The fruit is berry-shaped, round in shape. In the people this plant is called indoor grapes.
Care rules.
Lighting. Tetrastigma vuane is a shade-tolerant plant, but loves bright diffused light. It is better to grow it at the western or eastern window, but it can normally grow in the north. At the window of the southern orientation, the plant should create diffused light, thereby protecting it from direct sunlight. To do this, you can use a transparent cloth or paper, such as tracing paper, tulle, gauze. Tetrastigma normally grows in artificial light. To do this, the plant is placed on the lamp at a distance of 50-60 cm.
Temperature regime. In spring-summer, the tetrustigma Vauanne prefers a temperature of 20-27 ° C. Beginning in the autumn, the temperature should be gradually lowered, in winter it is recommended 12-18 ° C. With careful watering, the plant can safely transfer a short-term temperature drop to 7-8 ° C.
Watering. From spring to autumn, tetrastigma should be watered abundantly, using soft standing water. The top layer of the substrate should dry during the time between irrigations. Beginning in autumn, watering is gradually reduced. In conditions of a cool content, watering should be done with caution, avoiding soil silt. Do not allow the substrate to overdry.
Tetrastigma normally carries dry air, but favorable conditions for it are conditions of high air humidity.
Top dressing. Tetrastigma (indoor grapes), as a powerful liana with strong roots, requires a good feeding. Therefore, it should be planted in large boxes or tubs, fed with organic fertilizers with a frequency of every 2-3 weeks. Every year, you need to change the top layer of soil in the tub. In the period of active vegetation it is recommended to feed the plant every week with organic and mineral fertilizers in turn.
Features of cultivation. For tetrustigma it is important to provide a strong trellis. In the room conditions, it is necessary to tie the shoots to the support from the very young age, cling them to the sticks, let them through the twine under the ceiling, otherwise they will become uncontrollable with age. During the whole year you can do pruning and prischipku.
Transfer. Transplant is performed every spring. Choose a large capacity for tetrastigma. Cuttings are often cut off. For very large plants, the transplant can be replaced with a pile of fresh nutrient soil. The substrate should be slightly acidic (pH about 6) and consist of leaf, turf, peat, humus and sand in equal proportions.
Reproduction. Propagation of indoor grapes cuttings virtually all year round. First cut cuttings with one kidney and one leaf and root them in pots at a temperature of 22-25 ° C. The roots are formed after 3-5 weeks. Note that when planting the cuttings, the kidney must be above the surface of the substrate, otherwise it will not germinate. Well-rooted cuttings (within a month) should be planted in 7-8-centimeter pots. For planting, use land consisting of humus, turf and sand in equal proportions. Young plants require abundant watering and maintenance in a bright place. Transshipment is done in 9-centimeter pots, and in spring the young plant is transplanted into 11-centimeter.
Difficulties of care.
- If the tetrastigma is stretched, then she feels a lack of illumination.
- If the leaves begin to fall off or brownish spots appear on the leaf blade, then the plant is kept at a low temperature.
- Pests are rare.