Tolmia (Tolmiea) is a fairly compact plant belonging to the Saxifrage family. The place where tolmiya grows is North America. Of all the variety of species of this plant in indoor conditions, only Tolmiya Menzies survives.
Tolmia Menzies Is a plant that covers the surface of the soil. The height is usually no more than 20 cm, and in diameter it can reach 40 cm. From adult leaves, shoots with young shoots and their own root system can form. Tolmia blooms with light green flowers with red blotches, collected in spikelets. In open ground conditions, tolmia is used by gardeners to cover the soil, and in indoor conditions - as an ampel plant.
Caring for tolmia at home
Location and lighting
The plant prefers diffused light. The best place for tolmiya will be a bright room, but without direct exposure to hot sunlight on the leaves. Tolmia is best placed on the northern windows, but it can be placed on the eastern and western windows, the only thing is that you will need to shade the growth in spring and summer. If tolmiya is grown near the southern window, then it should always be protected from direct sunlight.
Temperature
The optimum temperature for keeping a plant is between 15-20 degrees. Tolmia tolerates winter well at low air temperatures - about 10 degrees. The room with the plant must be constantly ventilated, since the plant does not tolerate stagnant air and constantly needs an influx of fresh air.
Air humidity
Tolmia prefers high humidity air. But you should not spray the leaves from a spray bottle. It is best to humidify the air with a tray of water or place the plant pot in wet expanded clay.
Watering
Watering for the plant should be regular and abundant, as it does not tolerate dry substrate. In winter, watering is reduced, but the soil in the pot should not dry out. It is worth watering with soft, settled water at room temperature.
The soil
Loose and light soil is suitable for growing tolmiya. The optimal soil composition for tolmiya should be mixed in equal parts of sand and leafy earth.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Tolmia responds well to the introduction of complex mineral fertilizers. In spring and summer, they must be applied to the soil at least twice a month. In autumn, feeding is gradually stopped, and in winter it is completely abandoned.
Transfer
You can transplant a plant at any time of the year as needed. Place a thick layer of drainage material at the bottom of the pot.
Reproduction of tolmiya
It is quite simple to propagate tolmiya - with daughter rosettes with leaves. Each adult leaf has several rosette shoots with its own root system. It is them that should be transplanted into a new pot. You can root young shoots at any time of the year.
Diseases and pests
A common disease that tolmia is prone to is the so-called powdery mildew.Outwardly, it manifests itself in the form of a fluffy layer of white that appears on the leaves. The stems can also be affected by it. A sick plant can be cured with sulfur or special preparations against powdery mildew.
If the leaves of the tolmiya are pale, wither or fall off, then it is important to adjust the lighting or watering. And then the plant will delight its owner with a beautiful view and flowering.
