Drimiopsis or ledeburia - a flowering plant of the asparagus family and the hyacinth subfamily - blooms all year round, is unpretentious in care, lives in good conditions for more than 10 years. It is a perennial with spotted light and dark green leaves, widespread on the African continent. It blooms with white flowers, collected in an ear or a brush, 20-30 pieces each. This is what makes it different from the eucharis, which is very similar to it, which blooms in a completely different way.
Popular types of Drimiopsis
Drimiopsis has more than 20 species, but only two are popular among indoor plants: Drimiopsis Kirka and Drimiopsis spotted.
Drimiopsis Kirk or Ledeburia bothrioid
Bulbous plant, perennial with a round white bulb. Leaves are wide, pointed - up to 5 cm wide and 35 cm long. Above are bright green speckled, below are plain, light green. The petioles are very small or absent. It blooms from March to September with small spike-shaped flowers. Grows up to 40 cm in height.
Drimiopsis spotted or petiolar ledeburia
Bulbous plant, perennial. The leaves are elongated, cordate, wide in the middle and sharp at the ends. They have the same speckled pattern as the previous species, but its petioles are long, up to 15 cm. It blooms from mid-spring to July with white, grayish or yellow small flowers with a faint pleasant smell. During the dormant period, it sheds part of the foliage in autumn and winter, having changed the color to a single color before that. On this basis, you can determine that the fall of leaves will come soon. In the spring, new leaves will grow with the same color.
Drimiopsis care at home
Location and lighting
Lighting is a prerequisite for good growth and beautiful leaf color. The brighter it is, the better. Drimiopsis tolerates direct sunlight well, but in summer, on especially hot days, it is better to shade it. You should not put the plant immediately after purchase or a long absence of proper lighting in the sun, smoothly accustoming it to active sunlight.
Temperature
The comfortable temperature for Drimiopsis is the usual room temperature, within + 20-25 degrees, in autumn and winter it is desirable to lower it to 14 degrees Celsius.
Watering
During the period of active growth and flowering, the plant needs to be watered as needed so that the soil in the pot does not dry out. Too frequent and plentiful watering is undesirable due to possible rotting of the bulb. In the autumn-winter months of the dormant period, drimiopsis needs a small amount of moisture, so it needs to be watered less often, but not overdried.
Air humidity
Wet air or dry - indoor types of Drimiopsis are equally well tolerated by both. Additional moisture is not required, but you can spray or wipe the leaves to remove dust.
The soil
The soil for Drimiopsis should be loose and nutritious.In stores, you can buy a ready-made mixture for bulbous plants - it holds moisture well. If the soil is not dense enough, sand or peat with perlite is added to it. Sod soil is fine too. The pot must have a drainage hole.
Top dressing and fertilizers
You can apply fertilizers to the soil 1-2 times a month, in the spring and summer months. Potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen and calcium salts are used as top dressing - the same as for cacti.
Transfer
Plants are transplanted every year - young, and once every 2-3 years - adults. Containers for Drimiopsis are taken shallow and wide, a drainage layer must be placed on the bottom.
Susceptibility to disease and pests.
Drimiopsis reproduction
Drimiopsis can be propagated by dividing bulbs and seeds. The bulbs are removed just before the plant is transplanted. The bulbs damaged during dividing should be treated with charcoal.
Drimiopsis can also multiply with leaves. They are separated at the base of the bulb, together with the base of the petiole, and rooted in water or in a peat mixture with perlite. You can cut the leaf into small pieces of 4-5 cm and plant it in a soil mixture with turf and sand.
Diseases and pests
This plant is extremely rarely affected by diseases, only sometimes a scale insect or spider mite can attack it. You can get rid of the tick with soapy water, wiping the leaves with it, or by spraying with water heated to 50 degrees, insecticidal preparations will help from aphids or scale insects.
Problems with growing Drimiopsis
In case of serious violations of the conditions of detention of Drimiopsis, the following problems may arise:
- Excessive watering - the petioles turn black, which means that the bulb has begun to rot and an urgent transplant is required.
- Weak lighting - the petioles are stretched, the leaves become pale. It is necessary to enhance the quality of light by moving the pot to a brighter place or use an additional source, for example, a fluorescent lamp.
- Insufficient drainage layer - white deposits on the ground. Eliminated by transplant.
- Insufficient watering - leaf wilting.
Indoors, Drimiopsis grow well and look great, giving the room individuality, purifying the air and creating coziness.
