Pandorea

Pandorea (Pandorea) is a perennial herbaceous shrub that retains green leaves all year round. The variable names of the plant are tekoma and podrania. The shrub belongs to the Bignoniev family. Pandorea lives in tropical regions of Asia, Australia and Africa. In European countries, the pandorea shrub is grown only at home.

According to various sources, there are from 6 to 8 types of flowers in the genus. Cultivated species include jasmine pandorea, Ricasola and Variegata. The last representative is distinguished by the rich variegated color of the leaf blades.

Pandorea got its name from the mythical creature - Pandora, which Zeus endowed with a divine gift. Soon the woman was attracted by the casket. Unable to resist and opening it, Pandora did not even suspect what troubles she would bring down on people on earth. When the woman slammed the chest, only Nadezhda remained at the bottom. Since that time, "pandora" in translation means "gifted".

Description of the pandorea plant

Wild plantings of pandorea bindweed can grow up to three meters in length. Every year the shoots lengthen by 20 cm. The leaves of the plant are oval and have sharp ends. Cirrus leaf blades are colored dark green. In the light, the surface of the leaves is reflected in gloss. During flowering, funnel corollas with petals of various colors and an expressive bright pharynx are dissolved.

Plant lovers are attracted by the fact that the shrub has a long, abundant flowering, which begins in February and ends in July. Some pandorea species are able to bloom again. The opened corollas are fragrant with a wonderful aroma.

Caring for pandorea at home

Location and lighting

Caring for a pandorea at home is not difficult, only a few rules must be followed. Shrub pots are best placed in a well-lit room near east or west facing windows. On the south side, where there is an excess of scorching sunlight at noon, flower pots are shaded or placed away from the window. In winter, the plant needs additional artificial lighting.

Temperature

The optimum temperature for growing pandorea should be kept between 20 and 25 ° C. In winter, the shrub is transferred to a cooler room, where the temperature is maintained within 15-18 ° C. Otherwise, you won't be able to see the pandorea bloom.

Watering

The plant needs moderate soil moisture. Excess and stagnation of water near the roots leads to putrefactive processes. As soon as the topsoil dries up, you can start the next watering. In winter, the need for water decreases, but the complete drying out of the earthy clod has a detrimental effect on the growth of the shrub.

For watering pandoreas, only filtered or settled water is used. Rainwater will nourish the roots even better.

Air humidity

Air with a constant humidity of 60% is considered a favorable environment for the development of the vegetative parts of the flower. During the summer, it is important to spray the leaves every day with a spray bottle and hold the pots over trays containing damp moss or pebbles.

Pruning

The tops of the shoots are pinched from time to time, then the seedlings will begin to bush. The faded stems of the pandorea are cut by a third.

Transfer

Pandorea bushes are transplanted annually with the arrival of spring. A wide and deep pot is suitable for these purposes. The bottom is covered with drainage containing expanded clay, pebbles or small stones. The pot is filled with loose, breathable soil. You can mix sand, humus and perlite in the same ratio.

Diseases and pests of pandorea

Over-saturation of the soil with moisture provokes the development of putrefactive processes. If the root system begins to hurt, you should immediately transplant the pandreya into a pot of new soil. Sore areas of the bush are cut out, and the wounds are treated with a fungicidal solution, the soil is also disinfected.

Often, pandorrhea becomes infected with chlorosis, as a result of which photosynthesis is disrupted. The cause of the disease is a lack of nutrition and soil depletion.

Dangerous pests of pandorea are ticks, scale insects, and aphid raids. To destroy pests, the leaves of the plant are carefully wiped with a swab soaked in alcohol and treated with an insecticidal preparation. Poor lighting leads to reduced budding.

Reproduction of pandorea

Growing from seeds

Growing a perennial using seeds is easy enough. However, you can enjoy the flowering of your plant pet only a year after planting the pandorea. The seeds are sown in boxes filled with peat and sand or any other mixture recommended for indoor flowering perennials. The sowing depth is not more than 1 cm. The seeds are spread over the soil surface and pressed a little. The soil is sprayed with water through a spray bottle.

To create conditions like greenhouse, crops are covered with glass or plastic. Crops are regularly ventilated. Store at room temperature and under diffused light. Periodically watered when the topsoil dries up.

As soon as the shoots appear, the protective shelter is removed and the containers are transferred to a room with an air temperature of about 20 ° C, then the shoots will develop evenly and not stretch. After the formation of a pair of strong leaves, the seedlings are transferred to different pots.

Propagation by cuttings

Reproduction of pandorea in a vegetative way is no less successful than seed. For cuttings in the spring, renal apical shoots are harvested, the length of which should be 10 cm. To accelerate growth, the cuttings are treated with a stimulating agent and deepened into sand mixed with perlite and loose fertile soil.

Containers with cuttings are placed under a jar or bottleneck. During the rooting process, the standard temperature and lighting parameters used in the seed method are adhered to. When the cuttings are overgrown with green leaves, they are transplanted into new pots.

Types and varieties of pandorea with a photo

Pandorea pandorana

The plant is distinguished by thick, strong leaf blades that resemble a cherry tree in their shape. The flowers stretch out like tubes. Of these, loose panicle inflorescences are formed as a result. This perennial blooms with buds painted in yellow or pink, depending on the variety belonging.

Pandorea jasminoides

One of the most attractive pandorea species, characterized by long, lush flowering. Fragrant inflorescences resemble jasmine, which predetermined the name of the species. Long lanceolate leaves are arranged in opposite order.

Pandorea Ricasoya (Pandorea ricasoliana)

No less decorative type of perennial with massive loose tassels, like mallow funnels.Each inflorescence contains from 30 to 50 corollas.