Description and types of russelia. Tips for cultivating at home. Watering and feeding. Recommendations for replanting, soil selection and reproduction. Russelia (Russelia) is a member of the Scrophulariaceae family, in which up to 40 species of green representatives, or sometimes it is placed in the Plantaginaceae family, which has 45 more plant species. The native habitats are subtropical Mexican, Cuban and Colombian regions. The plant gets its name from the 18th century botanist from Scotland who first described it, Alexander Roussell. There are often synonyms for the name of this bush - "coral necklace", "coral spray", "coral fern", "fireworks plant", "flower waterfall".
Basically, all plants of this genus have a herbaceous or shrubby form of growth. The length of the bush varies from 90 cm to 1.8 m in height. Stems are thin, hanging to the ground, distinguished by good density, similar in shape to a panicle. Sometimes they have leaf plates in the form of scales, with an oval-lanceolate shape, which are located opposite or whorled. If the air is dry, they immediately fall off. Many of the representatives are epiphytes (plants that lead a parasitic lifestyle, growing on the trunks or branches of trees or bushes).
The inflorescences are located at the ends of the shoots and can reach a length of about 90 cm. A bud opens on the main axis of the inflorescence, but the lateral axes also bear a flower, outgrowing the main one - such an inflorescence is called cymoid. The buds are tubules with open petals at the tops. The bud is 2–3 cm long and has 4–5 petals. They are located on elongated pedicels. Their color range varies from white, passing pink to red. Due to the bright color and smell of nectar, the buds attract many insects (such as bees) or birds that feast on the nectar of the flower. The inflorescences are so numerous that they can cover the entire plant. If conditions permit (warmth and sufficient illumination), then Russelia can open buds throughout the year. And the brighter the lighting becomes, the more flowers are revealed on the bush.
In closed rooms, russelia is used as an ampelous plant and with its help they decorate rooms or furniture. It is also recommended to tie the stems to supports, giving them an upright look. In the garden, if the climate permits, this plant, often growing rapidly, covers with itself hedges and unattractive fences.
Recommendations for keeping russelia at home and in the garden
- Lighting of the "flower waterfall". The plant loves bright light, and even direct sunlight will be the key to a good and long-lasting flowering of Russellia. Therefore, if the plant is grown in a garden, then it is worth choosing a place so that the bush is always illuminated by the sun. In the premises, it is necessary to install the pot on the windows, which often receive warm solar streams - windows facing the southwest, southeast and, of course, the south sides of the world are suitable for the location of the pot. If the bush is on a window facing north, then for a normal type of flower it is worthwhile to arrange supplementary lighting with special phytolamps. Although Russellia will transfer a small penumbra stoically.
- Content temperature. The plant prefers moderate heat temperatures, which range from 18-24 degrees. However, there are varieties (for example, horsetail russelia) that tolerate a decrease of up to 8 degrees. When the spring-summer period comes, the plant can be taken out into the fresh air, however, it must be remembered that as soon as the temperature drops, it must be immediately returned to the room - the plant does not like the cold. For winter, it is necessary to adhere to indicators of 13-18 degrees.
- Moisture content of the "coral fern". The plant prefers a moderate humidity of the environment, the indicators should not fall below 50%. If the temperature begins to rise above moderate, then it is recommended to carry out daily spraying of Russelia. With the arrival of winter, any moisturizing procedures stop. For spraying, soft water at room temperature is taken.
- Watering russelia. The plant needs moderate soil moisture in the pot. The signal for watering is the drying of the topsoil in the flowerpot. If the temperature indicators began to exceed the permissible limits in the summer, then the soil is moistened 2-3 times a week. As soon as the temperature drops, with the arrival of autumn and winter, you can water the plant once every one and a half to two weeks. But nevertheless, it is important to monitor the condition of the soil, it should not be very dry, although for adult specimens it is even recommended to arrange some "drought" and the soil should already be not so much wetted with water. Water for humidification needs to be taken soft, rain or thawed, you can settle tap water for several days, also pass it through a filter or boil it - this will help remove the hardness of the water and the salts and suspended matter present.
- Introduction of dressings for russelia. During the activation of plant growth, it is necessary to carry out top dressing, for them it is required to choose well-balanced liquid fertilizers with a mineral complex or liquid fertilizer for indoor plants. It is recommended to reduce the concentration by 2 times. These fertilizers are irrigated with two-week regularity. With the arrival of the winter months, this procedure is performed monthly.
As for replanting and choosing the soil for the "coral fern", it is necessary to change the pot and the substrate for Russelia annually, preferably in the spring, when the plant is still young enough, but over time, this procedure is performed only once every 2-3 years. It is advisable to choose flowerpots, so that the stems of the plant have the ability to hang down. For transplants, you can use ready-made universal soils. The main condition for the soil is that it must be loose, with good air and water permeability. You can make up a soil mixture yourself from the following components:
- sod, leafy earth, humus, coarse sand (in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1);
- garden soil mixed with river sand or perlite (proportions 2: 1), where a small amount of humus soil is introduced.
The plant requires frequent pruning and removal of fallen and dried leaf scales. If this is not done, then Russelia will eventually acquire a very sloppy look.
Tips for self-breeding russelia
A new plant can be obtained by dividing the bush, layering and cuttings.
The process of grafting Russelia can be performed almost throughout the whole year, but spring time is preferable. For cutting, you need to choose an apical branch that is still young enough so that its length is not less than 8–10 cm. The cut is made near the base of the leaf plate. Next, you need to remove all the leaves from the bottom of the cutting, and treat the cut with any root stimulator (for example, "Kornevin"). The cut cutting is buried in a substrate based on mixed peat and sand. The seedling must be installed at an angle, then the pot with the plant must be wrapped in a plastic bag (to maintain high humidity around the future Russelia) and put in a warm place. For rooting, it is preferable to withstand heat indicators in the range of 16-20 degrees. It is important not to forget to ventilate and moisturize the substrate in the pot.
As soon as the cuttings begin to show signs of rooting (start to grow), then young Russelia are transplanted into small pots with a diameter of about 9 cm. The substrate must be chosen that is suitable for permanent growth and start caring for the plant as usual. Also, when the stems of the bush are strongly bent to the surface of the soil and lie on it, then independent rooting occurs - by air layers. But you can create such a layer yourself - bend the shoot to the soil (or another pot with prepared soil), fix it there with a hairpin or a hard wire, sprinkle it with a substrate and care for the plant in the same way as for the mother bush. After a while, the roots will appear at the layer and then the shoot can be carefully separated from the mother Russellia. If such an shoot is in a pot next to an adult specimen or in a flower bed, then, as soon as active growth is noticeable, it is necessary to separate the stem and transplant the young plant into a separate container. The soil and care of the bush is normal.
You can get a new plant by dividing the bush during a planned transplant. It is necessary to carefully divide the root system following the following rules:
- the separated part should have an adult shoot with several roots and some buds;
- it is not necessary to divide the bush into very small parts, since the plants will turn out sluggish and it will take a long time for them to acquire a sufficient decorative appearance;
- you cannot divide the plant if it blooms, but if you have to do division during the flowering period, then you should remove all flowers and flower buds from the entire plant (including the mother plant);
- it is necessary to remove all bare and spoiled shoots;
- the roots should be divided, trying to cause the least damage to the russelia, but if the root system does not divide well, then using a sharpened knife it is necessary to cut it;
- the places of the cuts are sprinkled with crushed charcoal or activated carbon.
After that, all the delenki need to be planted in separate pots with a substrate suitable for the growth of adult Russelia. Look after as usual.
Possible problems when growing Russellia
The plant is good because practically no diseases and harmful insects can harm it. Very rarely, due to the increased dryness of the air, damage from a spider mite occurs. In this case, russelia can be treated with soapy water. To do this, take 100 grams. household (tar or green) soap, finely crumbles and dissolves in a bucket of water. This solution needs to be infused for several hours. Then the mixture is filtered and the plant can be sprayed. To consolidate the effect of fighting the parasite, you can use a modern insecticide.
If the plant does not bloom, then this means that there was no dormant period - too high temperatures accompanied the winter rest. As soon as the air humidity drops too much, then the discarding of leaf plates begins in Russellia. With the passage of time, the plant grows very much and rather narrow window sills of the premises are not suitable for it.
Types of russellia
- Horsetail Russelia (Russelia equisetiformis). A plant characterized by a long-term growing cycle, low growth. Shoots have a peculiarity to bend in an arc under their own weight, have a thin stem shape that resembles a horsetail (hence the name of the species). It can grow up to one and a half meters in length. Abundant branching. Leaf blades are tiny in size, more like scales. The flowers bloom scarlet, the bud has a tube-like structure, with a length of 2.5 cm to 5 cm. They are placed in drooping brushes, which extend to a length of up to 90 cm. These brushes, like a cascade, completely cover the Russelia bush. Reproduction by cuttings, offspring, children, dividing the bush of the mother plant.
- Russellia sitnikovaya (Russelia juncea). The plant has the shape of a shrub, the stems are very branching. The height of this variety can measure 120 cm. The shoots are curving, marked with 4 to 12 edges. The leaf plates are arranged in a whorl or opposite. Their shape can be oval or elliptical. The edge is almost always serrated. Leaves are measured 2 cm in length, but most often they are reduced to the size of scales. Flowers of a red hue are located on long pedicels. The shape of the buds is tubular, reaching a length of 2.5 cm, the presence of 5 petals-segments.
- Russelia sharlakhovaya (Russelia coccinea). The form of the plant is shrubby. The stems are reed-like and green in color, often confused. The leaves are scaly, the flowers are painted in red shades.
- Braided Russelia (Russelia sarmentosa). The homeland of growth is the territory of Mexico. A plant that has a bushy growth. Flowers are small, painted in red tones. The temperature of the content in winter should vary between 5-12 degrees.
Learn more about growing russelia in the following video:
