Lapageria (Lapageria rosea) is quite rare in flower shops or even in large botanical park complexes. Basically, this representative of the flora lives only in the natural environment. To begin with, let's figure out how this representative of the Filesian differs from other creeping dwarf shrubs.
At the first acquaintance with Lapageria, lovely bell-shaped inflorescences are striking. It takes a lot of effort to grow a beautiful and healthy flower. The culture is considered very capricious and reacts quickly to the slightest changes related to conditions of detention. In the wild, it can only be found in the countries of the Southern Hemisphere.
Lapagerie care at home
Lapageria, or Chilean liana, will be a wonderful decoration for any apartment. However, before you get such a green "pet", you need to familiarize yourself with the fit and care rules.
It will be difficult to find an adult bush, so you will have to start seed-growing crops. Below we will dwell in more detail on the stages of sowing.
Sowing
The seed material of the Chilean vine is pre-soaked in warm water. While the seeds are swelling and saturated with moisture, they begin to prepare the soil. A light and loose substrate is chosen, which is filled with a container for planting. The seeds are spread in a thin layer over the ground and pressed lightly. The embedment depth is no more than 1 cm.
To speed up germination, the container is covered with foil, creating greenhouse conditions for the seedlings. As a rule, young shoots appear in 1.5 months after the seeds are in the soil. Plants do not bloom right away either. This usually takes about 3 years from the date of sowing. Despite the long and painstaking process, the result will exceed all expectations.
Growing tips
It should be remembered that Lapagheria is a finicky plant. Spraying the leaves is repeated every day. The room where the flowerpot is located is regularly ventilated. Every year, the bushes are transplanted into a more spacious pot, since the culture has a powerful rhizome. The root system quickly grows in size and fills the free space inside the flowerpot.
In addition to transplanting, it is important to remember about watering and feeding. Fertilization is especially important during the transition to the flowering phase, since a lot of effort is spent on the formation of inflorescences.
The stable development of lapageria is ensured by observing the rules of care. If you pay little attention to the flower, serious problems arise, up to the death of the plant.
Location and lighting
Chilean liana grows well in bright and spacious rooms that are well lit by the sun during the day. Leaving the flowerpot in direct sunlight at noon is not recommended. The optimal location for a lapageria is the semi-shaded corners in the apartment.
The plant is preferable to grow in an apartment, but it is also allowed to take out flowerpots to fresh air.Lapagheria feels good on the veranda, balcony, where direct scorching rays are not directed at it. In the garden, it is better to place the bush in the shade of trees, where there is a slight coolness in the summer. Here, the culture will be able to bloom annually and receive the necessary nutrients directly from the soil.
Temperature
The flower of the Lapagheria tolerates hot summer days calmly. There are no strict temperature restrictions. With the arrival of winter, it is better to rearrange the bush on the veranda or in another room where the air temperature does not exceed 15 ° C.
Watering
Water the vine as the soil dries up in the pot. The signal for watering is the formation of a thin dry crust on the soil surface. Air with low humidity is contraindicated for Lapageria seedlings, therefore foliage is sprayed with settled water at least once a day. It is better to purchase a spray bottle in advance. Use only soft water. The containers with water are preliminarily defended at room temperature. The most ideal option is to water the flower with filtered water.
Top dressing
Without nutrients, the flowering of lapagheria will be scarce or even stop altogether. Chilean liana is fed during the active growth of vegetative terrestrial parts. This happens, as a rule, in the first half of the year. Special complex mineral additives are used as fertilizers. They are sold at any flower shop. The frequency of fertilization is 1 time per week.
Thin and fragile processes resemble a creeping vine. They are very easy to damage. Even in perennial plants, the ground part is not exposed to desalinization. To prevent the stems from breaking, support posts are installed. The strengthened processes are tied to the support in advance.
Pruning
Despite the slow growth of the Chilean liana, after a few years, it is able to reach up to 2 meters in height. If you do not take care of strengthening the frame in advance, the stems will begin to deform under their own weight. Shoots will not break if you build a reliable support under them.
The garter and support posts guarantee the formation of a slender bush with a lush crown. Another secret is to periodically pinch the longest stems. Then the plant will develop evenly.
Lapagheria needs a regular haircut. As a result, the bush is updated. Dried and old leaves are removed to allow new greenery to grow. Pruning helps maintain the overall health of the seedling.
Flowering period
The flowering of the Chilean liana cannot be predicted. Flowers can be born in both summer and winter. The timing of budding depends on the conditions of detention and compliance with the rules of care. Only in this case, the efforts of the owners will be rewarded, and beautiful flowers will appear against the backdrop of greenery.
Reproduction of lapageria
The lapageria flower multiplies in different ways. A more reliable way is seed growing. Some florists use cuttings or root cuttings.
Only young and healthy stems are suitable for rooting, which are tilted down and carefully secured with wire. The area of contact between the soil and the layering is sprinkled with a small amount of earth. In this position, the layers are left until the roots appear. The process is quite long. Rooting ends in a few months. However, it is not recommended to immediately separate the rooted layers. This is resorted to only after the formation of a pair of green leaves.
Cuttings are also considered a successful breeding method. Cuttings are harvested in early or mid-summer. Then they are placed in moist soil, providing greenhouse conditions. It is more advisable to start transplanting into a permanent flowerpot no earlier than a year later.
Lapagerie varieties with photos
Although lapageria rarely makes it to flower shops, the cost of seed is quite affordable. The species diversity of the culture is very scarce. The breeders managed to breed only a few varieties.Popular varieties among florists include Albiflora with delicate creamy inflorescences and Nesh Kurt with pink flowers.
Diseases and pests
The main threat to Lapageria is aphids. It often accumulates on young stems. It is possible to remove insects with the help of chemical preparations. However, chemical treatment is safer to carry out on the balcony. Outdoor specimens are sprayed from aphids at the first sign of infection. A flower that is sick with aphids and grown in an apartment is cured with garlic tincture.
The garden method of breeding lapageria is sometimes accompanied by external attacks from the side of snails. These pests will only have to be dealt with manually. As practice shows, it is practically impossible to cope with them by other methods.
If you are guided by the advice of experienced florists, taking care of the lapagheria will not cause serious trouble.
