Dichorisandra is a flowering plant from the Commeline family. Brazil is considered the birthplace of this herbaceous perennial plant. Here, wild dichorizandra bushes live in the hot tropics. On the territory of the Russian Federation, the flower is grown as an indoor gardener or bred in greenhouses. The more famous name of the perennial is "golden mustache". Dichorizandra received recognition and respect among gardeners due to its medicinal properties and noble structure.
Description of the dichorizandra plant
The dichorizandra plant is characterized by attractive decorative leaves and dense inflorescences of bright colors. Fibrous rhizome with nodule outgrowths. An uneven smooth stem rises above the ground, which is covered with foliage closer to the crown. The form of the plastic sheet is ovoid, the edges have sharp corners. Adult bushes of the "golden mustache" reach a height of 20 to 25 cm. The width rarely exceeds 6 cm. Some varieties have variegated greenery, when the deciduous layer is painted in white or pink stripes.
The main part of the bush is occupied by the central shoot, devoid of lateral branches. The leaves sit in regular order and grow from internodes. In the wild, the plant height is sometimes 1 m. Indoor cultivars look much lower than plants grown in their natural environment.
The flowering phase begins in September. At this time, fragrant delicate inflorescences appear on the stem, which do not crumble for a month. A long inflorescence is formed from bright, voluminous buds. The skeleton of a flower consists of 3 sepals and 3 petals. The color scheme of inflorescences is presented in purple, blue or light blue tones. The petals are marked with white spots.
In place of dried buds, fragile achenes with transparent walls settle. Thorny rough grains are hidden inside the achenes. As the seeds ripen, they dry out. The wilted peduncle stalk also dies off and falls off.
Types and varieties of dichorizandra with a photo
The genus dichorizandra includes about 80 variations, including wild species found in Latin America. The group of indoor plants includes:
Dichorisandra white-bordered (Dichorisandra albo-marginata)
This species belongs to tall flowering forms and is considered the most popular "golden mustache" among gardeners. The advantages of white-bordered dichorizandra include, first of all, variegated greens. The lanceolate leaves are colored silvery, which is crossed by a bright green shading. Pyramid brushes are formed from blue inflorescences. The base of the petals is highlighted with a white spot.
Dichorisandra fragrant (Dichorisandra fragrans)
The length of the bush is no more than 40 cm. Lilac striped stems bear delicate lush lanceolate foliage. In the light, on the surface of the plates, you can see white stripes with a purple tint.Shading is especially relevant for young seedlings that have just begun to develop. Blue-white inflorescences adorn the tall peduncle.
Dichorisandra mosaic
Compared to other types of "golden mustache", the mosaic dichorizander is distinguished by its wide leaves. The length of each leaf does not exceed 18 cm. The blossoming arrow of the peduncle is shrouded in dense inflorescences twisted into a spiral. Outside, the color of the petals is preferably white or yellow. The core is striking with a rich blue.
Dichorisandra brush-colored (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora)
Massive, lush bushes up to 2 meters long are formed from straight knotty shoots. Most of the greenery is concentrated at the top. The leaves sit on petioles and are oval in shape. The size of the plate is about 25 cm. Both sides of the leaf are colored green. Purple flower stalks rise above the bushes and create a wonderful contrast against the backdrop of all the greenery. The length of the arrow with buds is about 17 cm. Exquisite bouquet compositions are made of dichorizandra brush-colored.
Dichorisandra royal (Dichorisandra reginae)
It somewhat resembles the previous species, but its bushes are inferior in size. Leaves up to 7 cm long stick out in pairs. The foliage surface is variegated with a red tint near the base. The sky-blue buds that fill the arrow of the peduncle contain a white core.
Dichorizandra care at home
Caring for dichorizandra does not require much effort. The plant adapts better in fertile, humus soil. The ideal blend is easy to mix on your own. To do this, take sand, peat, sod land and leaf humus.
Without regular watering and spraying, the seedlings will bend. To increase the moisture content, a layer of soil lying close to the surface is covered with moss. In the pots, drainage holes are provided so that excess moisture flows out freely and does not accumulate near the root zone.
Dichorizandra loves bright lighting. In the summer, for full development, the pots should be exposed to light for 12 hours. It is necessary to shade the culture only on the windowsills located on the south side of the building. The longer the daylight hours, the more abundant the flowering will be. The lack of sun is compensated by artificial lamps.
The southern representatives of the dichorizandra are afraid of drafts, so planting is carried out in warm places. In summer, the preferred air temperature is from +20 to + 25 ° C, in winter, after the end of the growing season, the culture prefers from +16 to + 18 ° C.
The rapid growth of greenery requires intervention in the form of mineral feeding. It is brought in 2 times a month.
"Golden mustache" is resistant to pests and rarely gets sick. It happens that the mealybug parasitizes on the bushes. To combat the uninvited guest, insecticidal preparations are used.
Dichorizandra breeding methods
"Golden mustache" is propagated through seeds or cuttings. It is better to harvest the cut in the spring. Having dug a bush, carefully cut the rhizome into pieces. The finished cuttings are placed in the ground while the roots remain fresh. Soon, the bushes adapt to a new place and begin to grow young foliage.
For cuttings, the tops of the shoots are cut off and lowered into wet soil. The shoot is bent in such a way that the underground part occupies a horizontal position. Then the chances of the appearance of root layers increase. From time to time, the soil is sprayed. Cover the top with transparent polyethylene. Rooting takes place after a couple of weeks. By this time, the side branches will already appear. It is recommended to cut them off so that the central stem can finally get stronger.
The seed material of dichorizandra successfully emerges under favorable conditions. Sowing activities are organized in a nutritious loose substrate.
Dichorizandra properties
The decorativeness of the plant is added by elegant and slender peduncles, which retain their freshness for a long time among indoor representatives. They are used in bouquet compositions.
In addition to the attractive external structure, dichorizander has a number of useful medicinal properties. Freshly squeezed juice contains flavonoids, phytosterols. "Golden mustache" is valued no less than ginseng root. Various preparations from dichorizandra are used to increase skin elasticity, stabilize the endocrine system and metabolic processes in the body. The medicinal benefits of the flower have been proven not only in folk medicine, but are also successfully used in official pharmacology. Decoctions and infusions based on plant parts are drunk in order to prevent neoplasms and vascular sclerosis.
To protect yourself from possible allergic rejections, you should consult with specialists before taking medications from the "golden mustache".
