The Basella plant is a perennial ornamental vine from the Basellaceae family. It is native to Southeast Asia where it is grown as a leafy vegetable and is known as Malabar spinach. It is a thermophilic fast-growing plant with 10 m long shoots and fleshy leaves, alternate, heart-shaped with a pleasant odor and slimy structure. For home care, decorative varieties of Basella with variegated leaves painted in reddish shades are especially appreciated.
Caring for basella at home in conditions
Lighting
Bright lighting is necessary, the flower easily tolerates direct sunlight, so shading is not required. To preserve its decorative effect in winter, the plant needs additional lighting.
Temperature
In summer, the optimum temperature for growing basella is 22-25 degrees, in winter - 15-17. The plant reacts calmly to a violation of the temperature regime.
Air humidity
High humidity is required. The plant needs constant spraying with warm water. To increase the humidity, the pot can also be placed on a pallet with damp pebbles or sphagnum moss. Especially the flower needs spraying in winter when the heating devices are on.
Watering
Under natural conditions, basella easily tolerates mild drought, but when grown indoors, it must be watered regularly. In summer, the soil in the pot should be constantly moist, although stagnation of water at the roots should not be allowed. In winter, watering is reduced, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
The soil
The optimal composition of the soil for planting should be light and nutritious; you can take a ready-made universal soil or substrate for citrus fruits.
Top dressing and fertilizers
During the growing season, from March to September, the plant is fed every 2-3 weeks with complex fertilizers with a high nitrogen content.
Transfer
The pot must have good drainage. In a pot culture, the plant is transplanted every 2-3 years in the spring. In summer, a container with a flower can be taken outside and even planted in the ground. In winter, the plant is dug up and brought into a heated room. Outdoor shading is not required.
Reproduction of basella
It is very easy to propagate basella using seeds or cuttings. Tuberous varieties can be propagated by tubers during transplantation.
Growing from seeds
The seeds are soaked in water for about a day and sown in April in a light substrate. The container with seeds must be covered with glass or foil and kept in a warm place with a temperature of 18-22 degrees. The soil must be constantly moist. When the seedlings grow up, they are planted in separate pots.
Propagation by cuttings
Cuttings root well in water for 5-7 weeks. After the roots have formed, they are planted in pots or in the ground.
Diseases and pests
Basella practically does not get sick with proper care. Very rarely, it can be affected by aphids or whiteflies.Treat the plant with a laundry soap solution. If you do not eat the leaves, the flower can be treated with an insecticide.
Types and varieties of basella with photos and names
Basella white (Basella alba)
It is the most common type and is a climbing vine with a stem up to 10 m long. Leaves ranging in size from 5 to 12 cm, dark green, heart-shaped. White flowers with crimson tips of petals are collected in inflorescences. The fruit is a juicy purple-black berry, round, up to 5 mm in diameter, similar to grapes.
Basella red (Basella rubra)
It is similar to the previous plant, only its stem is red, and the leaves are red-veined. It blooms with white flowers.
Basella tuberosus (Basella tuberosus)
Liana with a curly stem, succulent heart-shaped leaves. It has tubers that are located on underground shoots. Tubers are very similar to potatoes, but due to the mucus content they taste worse.
