Almost every indoor plant lover has indoor vines. Amateur flower growers cannot refrain from hanging several pots on empty walls. But not only the walls are decorated with climbing plants. Compositions also look very original when indoor vines are wrapped around special stands. For this, the plant needs to be shaped in a special way.
There are many types of indoor vines. But they take care of them, adhering to general universal rules. They differ in some way from the recommendations for growing other indoor plants. Therefore, before purchasing home vines, find out exactly how you need to care for them.
Similar but different
Almost all species of lianas come from the tropics, where the weather is warm and humid. They grow intensively, and also easily reproduce by cuttings. Rooting of the plant is also fast. Thanks to this advantage, such indoor plants have gained such popularity. For example, Kvamoklit, which is also called cypress liana, can grow more than 2 m during the growing season.
The general characteristics of vines are similar to each other, but still these plants are quite different. They are flexible, may have a herbaceous stem, and sometimes lignify over time. There are also annual, perennial indoor vines. Some species are evergreen and some are deciduous.
But most of the species are evergreens as well as perennials. This is due to the fact that for home cultivation, species were initially chosen that can be admired throughout the year, and which do not need to be planted again every year. Herbaceous species are grown indoors, and on the plots you can often find vines with flexible stems, or those that grow stiff over time.
Indoor vines are also distinguished by classes. The separation takes place in accordance with the way the plant is attached to the surface. Cornelizing vines are distinguished by the fact that they are attached during growth by roots. Plants that are attached with tendril shoots or branches are called climbing, and also tendrils. Leaning vines will be attached with suction cups.
The most common option among florists is curly. Sometimes the plant is twisted so that it wraps around a decorative support. The result is a spiral plant.
Flowering varieties such as Ivy are very popular. Passionflower, Monstera and others. It is noteworthy that there are lianas among the cacti.
Caring for indoor vines at home
These plants are similar in that they require high humidity and like diffused light. Direct sun is dangerous for them. If the air is dry, the plant will be very decrepit.
Location and lighting
Almost all types of vines grown at home grow well in partial shade, and sometimes even in the shade. But some of them prefer bright light. As a rule, these are plants that have not monochromatic, but multi-colored leaves. For example, Cissus, Ceropegia... But it is important to remember that direct rays of light are still contraindicated for them. Real burns will appear on the leaves. It is important to unwrap the plant pot periodically so that the plant receives light from all directions and grows and develops evenly. Can be placed in a dark room Monstera, Cissus or Ivy.
Vines grow well in the fresh air. But it is important to remember that drafts are also contraindicated for them. Therefore, the ideal place for such a plant is under the wall. Here, the air currents will only slightly refresh him, but they will not harm.
Temperature
In addition to lighting for indoor vines, other conditions play an important role. These plants thrive in moderate temperatures. They like high humidity, but the room should also be well ventilated.
In winter, the temperature should not be less than 16 degrees. If the room is colder, you can turn on the heater, but it should not be too close to the plant. In summer, you need to make sure that the air does not heat up to more than 22 degrees. If it gets too hot, spraying is necessary. Cool water will save the plant from the heat. In winter, such spraying will also be useful, but the water should be warmer.
Watering
Watering is recommended either in the morning or in the evening. Spraying is done at the same time. It can be done twice a day. When the top layer of soil in the pot is dry, the plant needs to be watered. Waterlogging can be harmful, so you need to make sure that moisture does not stagnate under the leaves. These plants cannot be watered with cold water. This can lead to disease and decay of the root system, which will cause the vine to die. If you live in an apartment with central heating and the air dries up too much, you will most likely have to give up growing vines. After all, the plant in such conditions will simply wither. You will not be able to keep it in good condition.
Air humidity
A common feature of all types of lianas is their love for humidified air. After all, their homeland is the tropics. As already mentioned, they need spraying, but in addition to this procedure, it is also recommended to arrange a shower. This procedure is done monthly. It is very difficult to remove the settled dust from the foliage, so it is simply washed off with water. This is done not only for beauty, but also as a prophylaxis against spider mites, which can easily start on a dusty vine. The shower for the creeper should be warm. But the water pressure should not be too intense. To keep the plant from breaking.
The soil
Vines grow well in fertile soil. Moreover, it should be light, sour or neutral. It is recommended to mix leaf, turf and humus soil. There are also ready-made mixtures in which the home vine will grow very well. For example "Cactus Plus" or "Saintpaulia".
Some types of vines grow in such a way that it is very difficult to see the ground under them. But they all love loose soil. Therefore, it is recommended to loosen it with a long stick.
Top dressing and fertilizers
In order for the vines to develop well, they need feeding. After fertilization, they grow quickly, the leaves develop better. If the substances are lacking, the plant will become "bald". Cow dung is an excellent fertilizer. It is diluted 1:10. Mineral fertilizers also help a lot.
Transfer
If you purchased such a plant in a temporary pot, you have 2 weeks to transplant it. At the same time, it is important to know that it is advisable not to transplant the vines in the usual way, but simply transfer them along with the earth from the pot. With this method, the roots will not be damaged.Since the shoots are fragile, they must be handled carefully so as not to break. It is better to ask for help from a second person.
Formation
It is very important to shape the plant so that it looks aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, the first step is to purchase a support. It can be potted or wall-mounted. The plant itself will curl, but in order for it to be beautiful, you will have to intervene. If you want some branches to sprout, you need to pinch them at the tip of the shoot.
To form one branch, it must be twisted and fixed. If the vine itself curls with the help of antennae, the process must be controlled, and the excess must be cut off so that growth occurs in the desired direction.
Pruning
Lianas can often shed their foliage, leaving about 10 leaves only at the end. This is the case with herbaceous species in the spring. Such a plant needs to be rejuvenated. To do this, cut off the apical stalk of the plant, and then root it. And the old plant is cut to about half the length. After that, it will start branching well. To avoid infection, all cut is treated with potassium permanganate.
Reproduction of indoor vines
The cut stalk can be placed in a container of water for roots to appear. But Ivy and some other species can be immediately planted in the ground. Since they have aerial roots.
To make rooting faster, the cut can be processed. There is a special tool - "Kornevin". But you can also use folk remedies. For example, aloe juice.
Sometimes lianas are propagated using seeds. Grows very well from Passionflower seeds. The shoot turns out to be pretty strong. Difficulties may arise with other species, therefore, it is not recommended to propagate them by seeds.
Sometimes for breeding indoor vines, a method such as dividing a bush is used.
Diseases and pests
Almost all diseases that indoor vines can get sick are caused by the fact that the water balance is disturbed.
When the liana weakens before our eyes, its leaves fall, most likely, its roots began to rot. This happens with too much watering, when the water in the pot constantly stagnates. Another reason is the change in pH when the soil becomes too acidic for the plant.
But the leaves can also fall off due to the fact that the air in the apartment is too dry. In this case, the leaves will dry out before falling off.
Lack of moisture in the air often leads to the fact that pests begin to start in the plant. That could be aphids, scale insects. Spider mites also appear frequently. Removing these pests is not easy. You will have to spray with insecticides several times. Excellent drugs for this are Fitoverm and Actellik. Therefore, it is best to avoid the development of vines disease than to eliminate its consequences later.
If you follow all the recommendations for caring for vines, you can grow an excellent climbing plant, which will become a decoration of an apartment and a real pride of any florist.
