Pseudoerantemum (Pseuderanthemum) is a perennial ornamental plant from the acanthus family. In total, there are more than 120 species of various plants in the genus. Representatives of this genus are semi-shrubs or shrubs that are found in tropical latitudes around the world.
Description of the pseudo-erantemum
Pseudoerantemum, distinguished by rich dark purple foliage, is suitable for home breeding. Wild bushes can be seen on the islands of the Pacific Ocean. The height of the stems is often about 1.2 m. Lateral shoots are directed towards the top. On the surface of the shoots, shortened leaves with a petiolate base are located opposite each other. They are characterized by large sizes, the shape of an ellipse or a wide oval. The skin of the leaves is covered with tubercles, convex veins are felt. The ends of the leaf blades are curly. In bushes that have lived in one place for several years, the length of the leaves reaches up to 15 cm, and the width is up to 10 cm. The color of the ground part is pink-green, alternating with silvery specks.
The flowers, painted in a white-pink hue, stretch into tubes and gather in loose spike-shaped panicles that crown the tops of the stems. The flowering of a crop growing in the wild is long lasting. The same cannot be said about domesticated varieties. It is very rare to observe flowering in a room pseudo-erantemum. It is bred, as a rule, as an ornamental deciduous plant.
Caring for pseudo-erantemum at home
Pseudoerantemum has many requirements for care. To grow a healthy and attractive flower, florariums or "tropical windows" are used. Of course, it is not always possible to create such conditions, so first you should familiarize yourself with the basic rules of growing.
Location and lighting
The pseudo-erantemum plant develops stably under diffused bright light, therefore, flowerpots are advised to be placed nearby with window openings directed to the east or west. Placement on the south side of the building is also acceptable, but care must be taken to hide the foliage from the direct scorching sun.
In the winter and autumn months, the need for lighting is the same as in June-August. As a backlight, special phytolamps are used. The length of daylight hours for a flower should be at least 12-14 hours.
With a lack of light, the foliage loses its intense color, and the spots fade. Conversely, excess sun causes the plates to redden. The greenery stops growing and the development of culture is disrupted.
Temperature
Pseudoerantemum is grown year round at moderate temperatures, namely 20-25 ° C. Low temperatures cause leaf fall. Lowering the thermometer to 15 ° C can lead to the death of the plant.
Sharp changes in daily temperatures and exposure to drafts negatively affect the growth of perennials.In winter, when the heating devices are turned on, the flowerpots are removed from the windowsills. During the airing of the room, the flower is transferred to another room.
Watering mode
The pseudoerantemum plant consumes a lot of moisture. Watering the soil is carried out often, but carefully, without overflowing the roots. As soon as the top layer of the substrate dries well, the soil is moistened again. They take settled soft water without chlorine impurities.
You should adhere to the timing of watering, since even a short drying out of the soil can cause leaves to fall. The accumulation of water in the pot leads to the formation of rot on the root layers.
Moisture indicators
Culture requires the creation of such conditions in the room when there is high humidity. Dry air, which occurs due to operating heating devices, negatively affects the growth of the flower. You can increase the humidity by installing pallets with pebbles or expanded clay next to the bushes, where a little water is poured. Twice a day, the foliage is sprayed with soft filtered water from a spray bottle.
Pruning
As they grow older, the decorative properties of the pseudo-erantemum are lost. The leaves of the lower layer fall off, and the stems are bare. To preserve an attractive appearance, the tops of the shoots are periodically plucked, which allows the bush to form a lush and spreading crown. The frame of well-groomed plants looks more proportional.
Another way to improve decorativeness is to change the direction of the upright stems with a string. The branch is tied to a string and folded down. The plant needs to be fixed in this position. The garter is removed when the stem begins to grow on its own in the desired direction.
The soil
For planting a pseudoerantemum, a light substrate with a high humus content and a slightly acidic or neutral medium is prepared. A part of the leaf, peat and sod land is combined in equal amounts and a little coarse sand or verkulite is added. The substrate is thoroughly mixed and filled with a flower pot, and drainage material is placed on the bottom.
Top dressing
Fertilizers are applied relatively rarely. For the full development of the culture, it is enough to feed the soil once a month. It is recommended to fertilize the soil with potash fertilizers, which give the foliage a rich color. At the same time, the introduction of nitrogen into the soil is limited, since this substance modifies the color of the ground part and makes it uniform.
For the autumn-winter period, the bushes are left without feeding.
Transfer
Pseudoerantemum is rapidly growing greenery. A year later, the young plant needs to be transplanted into a new pot. If you leave the seedling in the old container, as a result, the leaves will be discarded. The new pot should be one size larger than the previous one. When transplanting, it is advisable to prune the roots.
Reproduction methods of pseudo-erantemum
The fastest and most effective way to propagate a pseudo-erantemum is to plant cuttings. For these purposes, the tops of non-lignified branches are harvested, which are then stored in any container filled with water, or in moist soil.
Diseases and pests
A spider mite, scale insects, worms or whiteflies may appear on the leaves of the pseudoerantemum. If insects are found, you should immediately rinse the foliage under a hot shower and treat with special chemicals.
