Antarctic Cissus (Cissus Antarktica) And Rhombic Or Rhombic Cissus (C. Rhombifolia) Are Beautiful Domestic Vines

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

According to the horoscope, the following plants correspond to the Virgo zodiac sign (August 24-September 23): Japanese fatsia, woody heptapleurum, monstera deliciosa, cross, syngonium, dracaena unbent, Japanese aucubus, scindapsus - "devil's ivy", philodendron, roicissus (birch).

Natural habitats of cissus (roicissus) (grape family - Vitaceae) - this evergreen plant - humid tropics, less often subtropics. In nature, he has almost 350 species. Cissus got its name from the Greek word "kissos", which means "ivy". Plants of this culture are frequent favorites in florists' apartments.

In indoor floriculture, only two species are most widespread: Antarctic cissus (Cissus antarktica) and rhombic or rhombic cissus (C. rhombifolia). The first of them (originally from Australia) has large (10-12 cm long, 5-8 cm wide), oval-elongated, light green leaves, the edges of which are serrated, and small greenish flowers, collected in racemose inflorescences. Under favorable conditions, an experienced florist will easily "drive out" it with a length of 2.5-3 m. The fruits of the Antarctic cissus are berry-like, edible. In the second species (native to Africa), the leaves are located on elongated petioles and consist of three diamond-shaped leaves. A single "tendril" grows in each node of the flexible stem. All parts of the plant are covered with brown hairs. He has small, nondescript flowers. This species also has several varieties with large dark green and lobed leaves.

For the plant, it is necessary to choose a well-lit window, but shading is also necessary, since cissus does not tolerate direct sunlight very badly, especially at midday in summer. It reacts negatively to sudden changes in temperature and low humidity. In the spring and summer period, abundant watering (every other day) and spraying are important, but without stagnant water in the pan. It is dangerous for the normal development of the plant and excessive drying of the soil substrate. During the period of active growth, every 10 days, water fertilization containing nitrogen (preferably liquid organic fertilizer) is required, as well as frequent spraying of the plant foliage. If brown spots appear along the edges of the leaf blade, it means that it lacks nitrogen.

In the summer, cissus can be taken out onto the balcony (preferably a temperature of 20 … 220C), protecting the plant from the direct burning rays of the sun. In winter, watering is reduced to a minimum (no more than 3-4 times a month), spraying and feeding is stopped, the optimum temperature is not lower than 120C. But if the relative humidity in the room is low and the steam heating batteries are actively working, spraying continues, but not as often as in summer. If watering is abused in winter, the cisus can "grow"; to form numerous thin and weak shoots, rather unviable.

In the spring (before the beginning of the active growing season), to form a cissus bush, pruning is carried out, pinching the top of the stem. This activates branching and favors good bushiness. The shoots of the plant remaining from thinning can be used for cuttings. They can be rooted in water and in a moist loose substrate, covering in the latter case on top with a glass jar to create 100% moisture. Cissus is best transplanted annually in the spring, making up a fertile substrate of sod, leafy, humus soil, peat and sand (taken in equal parts). A drainage layer is required at the bottom of the tank.

Cissus multicolored (C.discolor var.mollis) is very decorative, but more capricious, therefore the species of this culture is not so widespread among flower growers, although its use as an ampelous culture is of undoubted interest. It is especially good for decorating walls and windows. If you place it next to a decorative metal grate, it will quickly braid it with its shoots. In appearance, the multicolored cissus resembles Antarctic cissus, but the multicolored one has a more pronounced core base and reddish-purple stems. In addition, it has a very original color of leaves: on the upper side, against a reddish-green (or dark green) background, there are lighter silvery spots (located between the veins), the lower side is lilac-red. This species is more thermophilic:in winter, he needs a temperature of 18 … 220C. If the air is very dry, it can shed the leaves (although it then restores them), so they try to water and spray it regularly all year round.

Much less often, other species noteworthy for their original leaves are found: in striped cissus (C. striata), small leaves up to 2 cm in size, in cissus quadrangular (C. guadrangularis) they have a fleshy consistency. But round cissus (C. gongyloges) has long aerial roots, colored red. Among harmful insects, the greatest harm to cissus plants is caused by the scale insect and spider mite, which it is advisable to fight with the help of solutions of plant origin, since the leaves of this culture are quite tender, especially the tops of the stems.