Radermachera (Radermachera) is an indoor evergreen tree that gained fame in Europe at the end of the last century, and has since become very popular among flower growers. It was brought from Asia, from the island of Taiwan, where it grew in natural conditions. The plant is named in honor of the botanist J. Radermacher who first described it, who studied new types of flowers back in the 18th century.
Radermacher belongs to the Bignoniev family and is distinguished by decorative foliage, blooms extremely rarely at home. In nature, radermacher grows up to 30 m, with a trunk width of about 1 m. People call it the "Chinese doll" and "Snake tree", for the glossy foliage of a beautiful dark green hue - "Emerald tree".
Caring for a radermacher at home
Location and lighting
For good development and growth, a Chinese tree needs a bright place, excluding too active sunlight. Western or eastern window sills are preferred. On the south side, it is necessary to create partial shade to avoid foliage burns, which can lead to the death of the plant. In the winter months, you need to ensure that the amount of light is sufficient, otherwise the radermaker may lose its decorative shape.
In addition, it is necessary to rotate it around the axis for uniform symmetrical growth. This is especially true for the first year of life. The lack of light can be compensated by using fluorescent lamps or phytolamps during daylight hours.
Temperature
The air temperature in the room with the radermacher should be at the level of 20-25 degrees, in the winter months at least 10-14 degrees. The plant prefers fresh air without drafts, so do not place a pot of Chinese wood near air conditioners, vents and balconies.
Air humidity
Air humidity is not important for a radermacher - it adapts well to dryness, although moderate humidity is still preferable for it. To maintain it, the plant is sprayed; in the summer, even bathing in the shower is possible. Palletizing damp expanded clay, moss or pebbles will also maintain optimum moisture.
Watering
The radermacher should be watered abundantly and regularly with settled water at room temperature. By winter, watering is gradually reduced, without overdrying, but not overmoistening the soil in the pot. The substrate should be slightly damp at all times.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Fertilizers are applied to the soil about 1 time in 2 weeks, using complex fertilizers for decorative deciduous flowers. It is advisable to apply fertilizing after watering, so as not to harm the roots.
The soil
The soil for a radermacher should be fertile; a mixture of sod and leafy soil, peat and humus (1: 2: 1: 1) with the addition of sand is suitable. Or, you can use regular purchased land for ornamental plants and flowers.
Transfer
Transplanted to the radermacher in the spring, every year, or as needed, if there is not enough room for roots in the pot. This can be determined by the change in the color of the leaves and the general sluggish appearance of the plant. The new pot should be more voluminous, and always with a good drainage layer, about 3 cm.
Reproduction radermacher
Reproduction of Radermacher Radermacher is possible by cuttings, layering and seeds. Cutting is carried out at the beginning of summer, cutting off the top of the shoots of about 10 cm, and placed in a container covered with plastic wrap with sand and peat. The temperature under the film is maintained in the range from 22 to 25 degrees, the plant is periodically sprayed and ventilated.
For reproduction by layering, the stem is cut and wrapped in cellophane and moss, which is moistened from time to time. Roots will appear soon, and then you can separate the stem for planting in a separate pot. In order for the plant to take up well, it is necessary to wait for the entire package to fill with the roots, then the new tree will grow faster.
The seeds of the radermacher germinate for about 10 days, sow them in well-fertilized moist soil and cover them with cellophane wrap. The seed method is rarely used, because it is quite difficult to grow them, and they are extremely rare on sale.
Diseases and pests
The Chinese tree is not susceptible to frequent diseases, but sometimes it can be affected aphids and mealybugs, as well spider mite... When these pests appear, an insecticide is used, diseased shoots and leaves are removed, and not heavily damaged parts can be treated with alcohol. After a week, the procedure is repeated.
Growing difficulties
Arising problems with the plant arise mainly when the conditions of detention are violated:
- From excessive watering, the tops of the shoots begin to rot, the leaves turn yellow.
- Lack of lighting affects the shape and beauty of the radermacher - the leaves become small, the crown is elongated. It is even possible to shed the foliage, sometimes completely. It is urgent to rearrange the pot, and the tree will recover.
- Dryness and insufficient watering will affect the beauty of the leaves - they become lethargic and lifeless.
Popular varieties and types
For breeding in apartments and offices, only one representative of the radermacher is known:
Radermacher Chinese (Radermachera sinica)
A small evergreen shrub, about 1.5 m tall, a straight trunk strongly branches from below, slightly drooping, with many leaves, branches. Leaves are usually bright dark green in color, large, although variegated specimens are also found.
I'll add my own five kopecks но I accidentally saw seeds in the store and bought them, if I knew that it is considered difficult to grow it from seeds, I would not try! but! I didn't know that :))) and almost all of them ascended without problems in the universal soil. Radermacher, the more light, the more luxuriant the foliage! It is important! Because in August, I went on vacation and left him under the supervision of my family on the western window and my tree was very elongated 🙁 And now in winter it is in my southern window and it feels good. In the summer, too, in the south, but behind the tulle. In winter, at night, I remove all my flowers from the windowsills so that the soil is not cold, because 8 degrees is at the bottom of my windowsill at night.