Leptospermum (Leptospermum), or fine-seeded paniculata, belongs to the myrtle family. Another name for the plant is manuka. It can sometimes be called the New Zealand tea tree. It is Australia and New Zealand that are the natural areas of growth of leptosperm. This is an unpretentious evergreen shrub that often decorates gardens in warm climates. Residents of more northern regions can grow this type of fine-seeded plant as a tub or pot culture. But in room conditions, leptoospermum will require some care.
The decorative properties of the leptozpermum are very high. Regular formative pruning can turn a bush into a small, slender tree. Many of its closely spaced branches are strewn with small lanceolate leaves. They contain essential oils, which is why rubbing one of the leaves fills the air with a rich lemon scent.
The bright fragrant flowers of Leptospermum with a dark eye in the middle are also worthy of attention. They can be white, red, or pink; both terry and simple. Despite its small size (up to 1 cm), due to their large number during the flowering period, the thin-seeded plant looks especially festive.
Caring for leptoospermum at home
Location and lighting
Leptospermum is very light-requiring. Lack of illumination can lead to flying around its leaves. In the summer, the plant can be taken outside: even direct sunlight will not frighten it there. One has only to remember that strong overheating of the soil can negatively affect the well-being of the seedling.
Watering rules
Like most members of the myrtle family, Leptospermum reacts sharply to errors in the watering regime. Stagnant water is also undesirable for him, as well as overdrying. Lack of proper drainage and removal of excess moisture can result in root rot. On the other hand, even a short period of drought can lead to the death of the plant. Ideal ground condition: moderately damp bottom and slightly dry top.
For irrigation, it is recommended to use only rain or soft settled water. Additionally, a few citric acid crumbs will help soften it.
Temperature
Unlike the level of moisture in the soil, leptoospermum is undemanding to temperatures and can tolerate heat. The only condition is that in winter it should be moved to a cooler room. A bright place is suitable for this, the temperature in which does not rise above 10 degrees. This will allow the flower to rest and gain strength before the upcoming flowering. At the beginning of March, it is returned back to the warmth.
Air humidity
The thin-seeded plant loves humid air, it can be sprayed both in summer and in winter. Even the flowering period will not be an obstacle for this. Excessive dryness of the air can lead to foliage falling off.
The soil
The shrub will do well in acidic or slightly acidic soil. From the purchased options, soils for rhododendron, heather or azalea are suitable. Those who want to prepare the ground for a flower with their own hands can take 2-3 parts of turf and one part of peat, humus and sand.
Required fertilizers
Top dressing will be required only during periods of active growth of the bush. To maintain health, two servings of fertilizer per month will be sufficient. A weak solution of azalea fertilizer can be used: a full dose can burn the roots of the plant.
Pruning
The pruning procedure for this shrub allows it to form a beautiful crown of literally any shape. If you do this in a timely manner, this will not affect the health and abundance of flowering. Moreover, it will increase the number of branches on which flowers will appear.
There are two optimal periods for pruning the leptoospermum. The first is before the start of active growth. The second, most optimal, is at the end of flowering. Otherwise, you can accidentally touch the branches of the current year, on which the buds are tied. Pruning this deep will prevent the bush from blooming.
How to transplant
The procedure for transplanting leptoospermum should be carried out very carefully. The roots of the bush are quite sensitive. Even if the thin-seeded plant is grown as bonsai, it is advised to prune them as rarely and as little as possible. For the same reason, it is not recommended to loosen the soil in the pot: you can touch the roots located near the surface of the soil.
If the bush still needs to be transplanted, it is better to use the transshipment method, moving the specimen to a new, slightly more spacious container along with a clod of earth and maintaining the level of deepening.
Flowering period
Subject to all conditions of detention, leptoospermum will delight the eye with its bright colors for 2-3 months. Usually this period occurs in the spring or early summer. Some specimens by the beginning of June may already stop blooming, but in the case of such an early start, in winter they sometimes begin a second wave of flowering. True, in this case it will no longer be so abundant.
The plant is self-pollinated and does not require any additional measures to obtain seeds. They can even be tied at home. The fruits of leptoospermum are dense capsules, tiny seeds in which ripen for almost a whole year.
Reproduction methods of leptoospermum
For the reproduction of leptoospermum, cuttings or planting of seeds are used. Cuttings for planting are cut in summer, in July. To speed up their rooting, you can use root growth stimulants. In this case, they can appear in a few weeks.
The seeds can be planted at any time of the year. They are carefully sown into the soil and covered with glass. Despite the rapidity of the emergence of seedlings, after a couple of weeks, the sprouts stop development. Some of them may never recover during this period. The rest later resume their growth. But such seedlings turn into a flowering bush only for 5-6 years.
Diseases and pests
Thanks to the leaves rich in phytoncides, most harmful insects bypass the bush. Sometimes a spider mite can pose a threat to leptoosperm. To prevent the appearance of pests, it is worth treating the shrub with phytoverm or another similar drug as a preventive measure.
Indoor plant varieties
Leptospermum paniculata is the most popular species found on the market. In addition to it, in stores you can see the thyme-leaved variety with white flowers. Another option is the creeping leptoospermum, which is grown as a ground cover in the southern regions.
Tips for Buying Leptospermum
When purchasing an adult leptoospermum in a gardening store, you should carefully study the appearance of the bush. This will allow you to select the healthiest plant. The appearance of the leaves may be alarming: if they fall off or have a matte rather than glossy sheen, they are probably already dried up.The state of the branches matters too. Healthy ones should have a red color, while dried ones acquire a gray tint. If the bush looks bad already in the store, you should not buy it - it will not be possible to revive such a plant.
At the purchase stage, you can not only stumble upon a wilted specimen, but also accidentally confuse the desired plant with another. It is worth knowing about the difference between the "New Zealand tea tree" (manuka) and the "Australian tea tree" (malaleuka). These are related species, slightly similar to each other, but different in their properties.
