Dyschidia (Dischidia) belongs to the family of epiphytes Lastovnievy. The habitat of this plant in the wild is the rainforests of India, as well as Australia and Polynesia. Dyschidia is attached by aerial roots to the trunks and branches of another plant, braids it and thus is attached quite firmly.
When caring for dyschidia at home, you need a reliable support to which it will cling to aerial roots and grow like a vine. This plant is interesting in that it has two different types of leaves. The first are oval, thin, light green in color; the latter are dense, fleshy, can coalesce with each other and form something like a container for collecting and storing water.
Under natural conditions, ants and other insects can be found in such water lilies. The plant can feed from the axils of the leaves with water, launching part of the aerial roots in them. It blooms 3-4 times a year with white, red or pink small flowers. The peduncle has three flowers, it grows from the leaf sinus. The ampel method is used to grow dyschidia.
Dyschidia care at home
Location and lighting
Dyschidia fully grows and develops only with good lighting. It is worth shading the plant from direct sunlight, otherwise burns will appear on the leaves.
Temperature
Since dyschidia grows in humid hot tropics, it will actively grow in room conditions at sufficiently high air temperatures - from 25 to 30 degrees in summer and at least 18 degrees in winter.
Air humidity
Dyschidia grows well only under the condition of constant high humidity, therefore it needs to be sprayed every day. For additional moistening, the pot itself can be placed on a pallet with wet expanded clay (sand), but provided that the bottom of the pot does not touch the water. A greenhouse, conservatory or terrarium is ideal for growing a plant.
Watering
In summer and spring, watering dyschidia should be moderate and carried out as the topsoil (2-3 cm) dries out completely. For irrigation, only soft, settled water at room temperature or slightly higher is suitable. In autumn and winter, watering is reduced, but not stopped at all.
The soil
For planting, a special soil for bromeliad plant species is suitable. It should be well moisture and breathable. Also, at home, dyschidia can be grown as an epiphytic plant: on the bark of a tree or special blocks filled with pine bark, sphagnum and pieces of charcoal. The container with the substrate must have a good drainage layer.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Dyschidia needs fertilization in spring and summer. The frequency of feeding is 1-2 times a month. For the subcortex, fertilizers are used for decorative deciduous plants.
Transfer
Dyschidia is best replanted in spring. A young plant needs a transplant every year, and an adult - as the pot is filled with roots.
Reproduction of dyschidia
The plant can be successfully propagated both by seeds and cuttings.For propagation by cuttings, the stems are cut off about 8-10 cm. The sections are smeared with root and placed in a wet mixture of sand and peat. From above, the container is closed with a bag or glass. The temperature of the content of an impromptu greenhouse should be at least 20 degrees. The soil should be regularly moistened, and the greenhouse should be ventilated.
After flowering, seeds appear in the pods. They look like dandelion seeds. The soil for planting them should be light and nutritious. From above, they are slightly covered with earth, and the container is closed with a bag or glass and left at a temperature of about 20-25 degrees.
Diseases and pests
The pests that most commonly affect dyschidia include mealybugs and spider mites.
Growing difficulties
- If the root system of the plant has begun to rot, then this may indicate an excess of moisture in the soil.
- Due to the overabundance of lighting, the leaves begin to change their color from green to red.
- At low air humidity, the antennae of the plant acquire a brown tint, and the bubbly leaves cannot fully develop.
