Strongylodon

The Strongylodon plant is a vine from the legume family. This genus includes about 14 species. The homeland of this exotic plant is the Philippines, although some species grow in Africa, on the island of Madagascar and in East Asian countries. Because of the unusual color of the inflorescences, Strongylodon is also known as "jade flower", "emerald (or turquoise) vine".

Strongylodon Description

Some varieties of strongylodon are in the form of shrubs, but most often they are vines of impressive size - about 20 m in length. Strongylodon foliage is trifoliate and shiny, but its flowers are especially remarkable. They are painted in a rare shade of turquoise and form large (up to 2 m) cluster inflorescences. Strongylodon begins to bloom in the spring and ends at the end of summer.

Liana has a fast growth rate. In ideal conditions, in just 10 days, its length can increase by almost 6 meters. But growing a strongylodon at home won't be easy. Usually only experienced flower growers succeed in this. The flowering of the creeper can be admired not earlier than the second year after its planting.

Interesting Facts

• Strongylodon is considered a very rare plant in its homeland. In warm climates, liana is planted to decorate gardens as vertical gardeners, but the active growth of strongylodon requires very strong and reliable support. The easiest way is to monitor the rate of development of a vine in a greenhouse.
• In the first year of life in a day, a young liana is capable of growing half a meter or even more.
• In natural conditions, bats that feed on nectar, wasps and butterflies are pollinators of spectacular liana flowers.
• Despite the amazing color and shape of the inflorescences, the vine is not considered poisonous.
• Strongylodon flowers are beautiful not only during the day, but also at night. Due to the presence of luminescent particles, they are able to glow slightly in the dark. At the same time, during the day, the flowers are often lost against the background of large lianas illuminated by the sun.
• As the flowers wither, the strongylodon flowers change color from greenish-blue to blue or purple.

Brief rules for growing strongylodon

The table summarizes the rules for caring for strongylodon at home.

Strongylodon home care

Strongilodon reacts sharply to negative changes in conditions, therefore, the fulfillment of plant requirements should be closely monitored. The main condition for its cultivation is considered to be the maintenance of a certain air humidity. Strongylodon's weak point is susceptibility to fungal infections.

Lighting

Adequate illumination is considered an important condition. Strongilodon prefers intense light, but in the afternoon it should be shaded from the scorching sun. To grow vines, you will need a strong support that can support both its shoots and heavy inflorescences. Timely feeding also affects the splendor of the flowering of the bush. The reason for the problems with the formation of buds may be a room that is too cramped for a vine. In inappropriate conditions, its branches will begin to stretch, and the foliage will thin out.

Temperature

Strongylodon does not have a noticeable rest period, so the vine is kept warm all year round - 22-28 degrees or a little less. But the temperature should not drop below 20 degrees, otherwise the risk of developing fungal diseases or damage to the roots increases.

Watering

Strongylodon requires systematic abundant watering, but it is carried out only as the soil dries. Moisture stagnation can become critical for the plant and result in the development of diseases.

For irrigation, soft, settled, as well as distilled, heated well, rain or melt water is suitable. The main thing is that the water is not cold, ideally its temperature should slightly exceed room temperature. Due to the fact that in winter the vine does not go into a dormant stage, the irrigation schedule for this time does not need to be changed.

Humidity level

Strongylodon needs the usual tropical humidity to grow indoors. The vine pot can be placed on a tray filled with moist sphagnum or pebbles. If such measures do not help, the leaves should be sprayed daily with moderately warm and well-settled water. Some modern plant varieties are considered more resistant to dry air.

Capacity selection

The impressive aerial part of the vine requires commensurate roots from it. Strongilodon quickly grows strong enough roots, so it should be grown in a wide and sturdy pot. It can be made of high quality durable plastic or ceramic. The main thing is that there must be drainage holes in the container for planting.

The soil

For planting strongylodon, a nutrient-rich substrate is suitable. You can use a mixture of humus with peat and sand. A drainage layer must be laid on the bottom, for example, expanded clay, shards or brick debris.

Top dressing

Fertilizing the vine is required during the period of its most active development - in spring and summer. Top dressing is carried out twice a month. You can use a universal mineral composition for flowering species, but its dosage should be reduced by about half. The fertilizer solution should be applied to the soil only after irrigation has been carried out.

Transfer

Until the strongylodon has gained green mass, it can be replanted annually - in the spring. It is inconvenient and rather risky to move large overgrown specimens to a new pot, so transplants are carried out only when necessary. Old plants are no longer touched, but simply try to replace the top layer of the substrate in the pot with them every year.

During transplanting, a strong support should be installed in the pot. The creeper inflorescences hang down, so for their correct location, the stems must be at the top.

Pruning

Vine pruning is carried out in the spring.During this period, you can slightly shorten its shoots, but you should not be zealous: inflorescences can appear on both young and old branches.

Bloom

The first flowering of strongylodon can be enjoyed in the second year of cultivation, but for this the plant must gain a certain green mass. In this case, the diameter of its trunk should be at least 2 cm. The brushes of the inflorescences are impressive in size - their average length is about 90 cm. Each can contain up to a hundred turquoise flowers. Each flower reaches 7-10 cm. In case of pollination, pods will form in their place. Only a liana, which is carefully looked after, can bloom profusely.

Dormant period

Due to the lack of a pronounced rest period, caring for strongylodon in the autumn-winter time will not differ from the usual.

Strongylodon breeding methods

Growing from seeds

Strongylodon seeds are formed after pollination of flowers. But they should be sown immediately after harvest, otherwise the seed will very quickly lose its germination. Before sowing, the seeds are scarified, slightly breaking the shell of each seed, and then they are slightly kept in a growth stimulant solution. At the same time, the water should be slightly warm.

Sowing is carried out in a container filled with a mixture of sphagnum and peat, and then placed in a greenhouse. If all conditions are met, seedlings appear in about 10 days. The foliage on the shoots does not appear immediately.

Cuttings

In springtime, strongylodon can be propagated vegetatively - with the help of stem cuttings. Before planting, the resulting segments should be processed: their lower sections are dusted with a root formation stimulator. To increase the percentage of root formation in planted cuttings, you should use the bottom heating and try to increase the moisture level.

Cuttings, like seeds, are placed in a mixture of peat and sphagnum. They should be kept in greenhouse conditions with light and warmth. As a rule, such seedlings take root in 1.5 months.

Possible difficulties

Improper care of strongylodon can lead to the following problems:

• Vine leaves darken from lack of moisture. This happens if the plant is not watered often enough.
• The leaves are covered with brown spots due to the fungus arising from the stagnation of liquid in the soil. A good drainage layer and the presence of holes in the bottom of the pot will help prevent overflow. Diseased bushes are treated with fungicides, and then transplanted into fresh soil.
• Pests can attack weakened plants. Typically, these can be worms, aphids, or spider mites. They should be treated with insecticides.

Strongylodon species with photos and names

Strongylodon macrobotrys

In its natural environment, this species lives near water bodies, in low-lying areas, as well as in other corners with a high level of air humidity. Strongylodon macrobotrys is often grown as a houseplant. The length of its shoots can also reach 20 m, and the maximum length of the inflorescences is 3 m.

This species has a trifoliate foliage of a rich green color. The flowers resemble the curved beak or folded wings of butterflies, but only appear on mature plants. After flowering, beans are formed, including up to a dozen seeds.

Strongylodon red (Strongylodon ruber)

A tropical species, it is considered endemic in the Philippines. Strongylodon ruber's stems are about 15 m long. Using neighboring trees as a support, this vine is able to climb to great heights. The peculiarity of this species is the red color of the flowers.