Description of the general features of the plant, rules for caring for muhlenbeckia in indoor cultivation, advice on reproduction, difficulties in cultivation, interesting facts, types. Muehlenbeckia (Muehlenbeckia) is attributed by scientists to the genus of deciduous and evergreen plants, which can take a shrub or semi-shrub form of growth. All of them are part of the Buckwheat family or, as it is also called, the Polygonaceae, which is an association of dicotyledonous representatives of the flora, in which a pair of cotyledons is formed in the embryo. All areas of the Australian continent, New Zealand and the territory of South America are considered the homeland of Mühlenbeckia, it is not uncommon in the lands of New Guinea and the western coastal lands of Africa. There are up to 20 varieties in the genus, but when growing in rooms, the growers stopped only at the more popular - Muehlenbeckia complexa.
The name of this representative of the flora is in honor of a physician from Sweden who lived in 1798-1845 - H. G. Mühlenbeck.
Muhlenbeckia is, as mentioned earlier, a shrub or semi-shrub with non-flying foliage or shedding it. It has a large number of climbing shoots, so it is often grown as an ampelous culture, but in nature this representative of the flora is a ground cover, creeping or climbing plant, in which reddish stems become lignified over time. The branches are thin, have a brownish or brown tint, which tend to intertwine with each other. The length of the shoots can vary between 15-60 cm.
It is thanks to its lacy foliage that Mühlenbeckia attracts attention and has gained popularity among flower growers. The size of the leaf plates is very small, the shape is rounded, broadly ovate, sometimes in the form of lobes with truncation at the base or rounding in this place, usually they reach no more than 2 cm in diameter. The sheet is dense, the surface is glossy. The arrangement on the branches of the leaves is alternate on short petioles. Where the petiole is attached to the branch, a thin film funnel is formed slightly higher, covering the stem. Often, when grown indoors, Mühlenbeckia can partially shed foliage.
The plant does not differ in the decorativeness of flowers and it is not they, but the leafy "hair" serves as a decoration for the muhlenbeckia. Inflorescences are formed in the leaf axils, they are collected from a small number of flowers in the form of brushes. The buds can grow both same-sex and both sexes. The petals in the corolla are painted in a whitish color; when opened, they reach 0.6 cm in diameter. There are five petals in the corolla. There is a delicate pleasant aroma and if the shrub is exposed to the open air, then during flowering, the buds, opening, will attract butterflies. After the pollination has passed, the plant produces a large number of seed-fruits. In nature, when they ripen, they open up, and the seeds fall out, promoting reproduction.
Caring for Mühlenbeckia is not difficult, and because of the branching stems and lacy foliage, it is customary to grow it as an ampelous culture or use it in the design of phytowalls, enveloping trellises with climbing shoots, since the branches have sufficient plasticity, and they can be given a wide variety of shapes using as vines … The growth rate of Mühlenbeckia is quite high, but annual rejuvenation is required.
Recommendations for growing muhlenbeckia, home care
- Lighting. It is recommended to place the plant pot on the window sills facing east or west.
- Content temperature. In order for Mühlenbeckia to feel comfortable, a temperature of 20-25 degrees is required during the period of growth activation. In the winter period of rest, it is preferable to reduce heat indicators to 10-14 degrees. The plant should be protected from drafts.
- Air humidity when growing muhlenbeckia is not an important indicator, it perfectly tolerates the dry air of living quarters. If in the spring-summer months the heat values exceed 23 degrees, it is recommended to carry out daily spraying with warm and soft water. If this is not done, then the deciduous mass of Mühlenbeckia will rather quickly lose its decorative effect and attractiveness. In winter, when the heat decreases, spraying is not necessary. In dry air in winter, it is recommended to increase the humidity by spraying, installing a number of air humidifiers or vessels with water.
- Watering. The root system of Mühlenbeckia reacts very sensitively to waterlogging of the substrate, so much attention is paid to irrigation. All the water that is glass in the stand under the flowerpot must be immediately removed, otherwise its stagnation can lead to the onset of decay. However, drying the soil for the plant is harmful, otherwise the leaves immediately dry out and the shoots fly around. Optimum humidification will be in such a mode that the upper layer of the substrate dries out and is watered immediately, that is, the soil should always be in medium humidity. The recommended frequency of watering in the spring-summer period is 2-3 times a week. Water is used only soft and warm, with heat indicators of 20-24 degrees.
- Fertilizers for Mühlenbeckia, it must be applied from May until the end of summer days. The frequency of such dressings should be at least once every 14 days. It is recommended to use preparations containing mineral complexes intended for indoor flowering plants. It is strange, although this shrub is distinguished by a lush leafy cover, but trace elements are most suitable for it, intended for those representatives of the flora in which the formation of flowers is taking place.
- Muehlenbeckia transplant. It is recommended, regardless of age and size, to transplant this plant annually. For this operation, the time is selected in April. When changing the pot, it is important to remember that the root system in Mühlenbeckia is quite vulnerable, and it does not tolerate all kinds of contact with it, even if they do not relate to injuries and damage. Therefore, the transplant is carried out by the transshipment method - they try not to destroy the earthen lump.
In this case, the bush is carefully removed from the old pot and installed in a new container, at the bottom of which a layer of drainage material of about 2-3 cm is already poured and the same amount of selected soil is placed on top. Then, on the sides of the earthen coma, soil is poured up to the middle of the flowerpot and watering is carried out along the walls, then the remaining earth is laid to the top and it is moistened again. The new capacity is increased by 2–3 cm annually. You can choose pots that differ in the ratio of height and diameter, since this indicator is not particularly important for muhlenbeckia.
The most common substrate for this plant is suitable and its acidity parameters also do not matter much. However, experienced growers recommend that the pH is in the range of 5, 8-6, 2 units. It is important that the soil is fertile and has sufficient looseness. You can use purchased soil mixtures for decorative deciduous plants or any universal substrates.
If the soil is compiled independently, then it is mixed from equal parts of humus earth, sod and garden soil, peat and river sand. You can also mix equal parts of peat and coarse sand, leaf and sod soil. Often, Mühlenbeckia is used as a rootstock for large plants that are grown in tubs and pots with a shrub and woody form of growth. Since its stems have the property of creeping along the ground, they are used to decorate the soil in flowerpots. Mühlenbeckia looks beautiful as a ground cover next to ficuses and palms, pomegranates and ferns, as well as dieffenbachia and laurel trees. However, plants growing in large and spacious containers can withstand such a "neighbor", since a highly developed root system of Mühlenbeckia can take away "living space" from the main culture. If such plants are transplanted, then it is performed simultaneously.
Steps for self-breeding muhlenbeckia
To get a new "lace" bush, seed is planted, cuttings or propagation using layering.
Seeds are often sold in flower shops, but you can get such planting material yourself by artificial pollination. After a month, achenes are formed on the Mühlenbeckia. Such seeds do not lose their germination for several years, so you can save the material for later planting. Seed planting is carried out in the middle of spring. A peat-sandy substrate is poured into a pot and seeds are immersed in it to a shallow depth. It is recommended to cover the container with a film or put a piece of glass on top. The germination pot is placed in a warm place with good lighting, but devoid of direct sunlight.
Seedlings appear almost simultaneously, but until 2-3 true leaf plates are formed on the shoots, the seedlings are not touched. After that, by transshipment (without destroying the earthen lump), it is recommended to dive young Mühlenbeckia into separate pots, and several specimens can be placed in one container. The substrate and care should be the same as for adult plants.
When the plant propagates by cuttings, then for the blanks it is necessary to cut from the apical shoots. You can cut them during the entire period of activation of growth, the branches are picked up stronger and a stalk is cut from their top. It is best when the length of such a workpiece is about 10 cm, but if this is not very convenient, then the length can be slightly increased - up to 15–20 cm. The workpiece is cut at an angle. Cuttings are rooted both in water and in the substrate. If the planting goes into the ground, then it should consist of equal parts of sand and peat. In this case, the rooting time takes about 14 days. To make rooting more successful, a container with cuttings is placed under a glass vessel or wrapped in a plastic bag - this will create the conditions for a mini-greenhouse. Then you need to remember about periodic ventilation.
When the first root shoots are formed on the cuttings, they are transplanted into separate pots with a suitable substrate for the Mühlenbecky. Several pieces of cuttings can be planted in one container.
To propagate by layering, the operation can be carried out in the same way as for propagation of ivy or chlorophytum. Since the shoots of Mühlenbeckia are rather thin, no incisions are made on them. A new container filled with soil is placed next to the pot of the mother plant, and the shoot is bent to it, it can be fixed in the ground with a hairpin or wire and sprinkled with earth a little. Plant care (maternal and young) will be the same. From the fact that the twig is in contact with the moistened soil, after 14 days it will form its own roots. Then the young muhlenbeckia can be carefully separated from the mother bush. The plant is sometimes transplanted from this container, but is often left until the next scheduled pot change.
Pests and diseases arising from the care of muhlenbeckia
If we talk about the problems associated with the cultivation of muhlenbeckia, then they all relate mainly to violations in care:
- if the substrate in the spring-summer period has undergone overdrying or flooding, then foliage is dumped;
- often, with the arrival of autumn, the leaves partially fall off, but do not worry - this is normal for muhlenbeckia, since it is a semi-deciduous plant;
- if the direct rays of the sun illuminate a bush at noon, then the leaves dry out and the branches fall off;
- with increased heat and dry air, the foliage begins to acquire a yellow color;
- when the wintering was carried out incorrectly, the humidity is low or there is a very strong shading, then the liana loses flowering.
If the substrate is often flooded, then Mühlenbeckia is affected by root rot. You will need to remove the plant from the pot, remove the damaged roots and treat with a fungicidal preparation. Then the bush is planted again in a new sterilized pot and substrate. After this, watering is recommended to be carefully verified.
When planting, it is important not to damage the root system, since Mühlenbeckia does not tolerate such "violence" over itself.
It happens that with low humidity, the plant is affected by a spider mite, while a thin cobweb becomes visible on the leaves and shoots, the foliage turns yellow, deforms and flies around. In this case, it is recommended to wipe the leaves and branches with a sponge dipped in a soapy solution from laundry soap. After that, treatment with an insecticidal preparation is performed.
Interesting facts about muhlenbeckia
When grown indoors, Mühlenbeckia has a calming effect on the human nervous system and can also help reduce nervous tension.
Mühlenbeckia species
Muehlenbeckia platidados is a native of the Solomon Islands, and the foliage in the process of evolutionary processes was replaced by flat, segmented ribbon-shaped shoots, which are called phylloclades. The species is distinguished by its original outlines, but a little decorativeness, therefore, it did not gain popularity among flower growers.
Muehlenbeckia complexa is also called Muehlenbeckia covering. The most common variety. The plant is a deciduous shrub. The native distribution area is the Australian continent, the islands of New Zealand. The shoots of the bush reach 3 meters in height, creating a real "green lace" with their weaves. Branches are thin with branching.
The leaf plates are rounded, small in size, reaching 0.5–2 cm across. The color of the foliage is bright green, but the young leaves are much brighter than the old ones, so one plant has foliage of a wide variety of shades of green color. The foliage surface is leathery, the leaves are plump, arranged in regular order on the shoots. In winter, the plant enters a dormant mode and at this time the muhlenbeckia partially loses its foliage.
When growing, it is imperative to build a support for the branches. Since in natural conditions, climbing shoots cover rather large territories. The color of the stems is reddish brown.
When the time of flowering comes, the plant is forming axillary panicle inflorescences, consisting of 1–5 flowers. They are collected in bunches, emerging from the leaf sinuses. The color of the petals is whitish-green, there is a delicate aroma. Because of this scent, the plant attracts many butterflies, which aid pollination. When fully opened, the bud can reach no more than 0.6 cm in diameter. After pollination, the seeds ripen.
This variety has been used in culture since 1842. It has several popular varieties:
- Nana differs in the smallest foliage;
- "Microphylla" has medium-sized leaf plates;
- "Large-leaved" (Grandifolia) this variety can boast of the largest foliage parameters.
Muehlenbeckia "Maori" has oval-shaped leaf plates with a length of up to 2 cm, the petiole casts a reddish tone, the base of the leaf is also marked in the same color.
Mühlenbeckia tribolata chees has leaves with pronounced three lobes on the leaf.
