Description and types of plants, advice on growing it, recommendations for watering, feeding and replanting, reproduction, pest control, growing problems. Sitnik (Juncus) is included in a fairly large genus of the Sytnikov family, which sounds in Latin as Juncaceae, which also includes plants from 7 genera and about 400 species. Mentions of this representative of the green world are found in Virgil (the greatest poet of ancient Rome) and in various ancient Roman and Chinese authors. The sitnik bears its name from the Latin word “jungere”, which translates as how to knit, join or weave, as it was often used to make wicker mats, baskets and other products. The territory of the northern hemisphere of the planet is considered the homeland of the growth of the rump, and he chooses damp and swampy areas for his location, stretching from the deserts in the Arctic to the tropics.
The plant is a perennial with a large root shoot, in rare cases, the rush grows as an annual herbaceous growth. The root system is basically a creeping rhizome of short length with root processes in the form of long shoelaces. This whole structure is located, as a rule, in the upper layer of the soil and does not deepen much, but it is quite powerful. Since the rump grows on soils with weak aeration, the cavities that are on the roots and stems of the plant, filled with air, help it survive. They are easy to see without even looking closely.
Above the roots is a large number of upright spinous stems, which extend to a height of more than a meter. In the lower part of the stem, there are leaves in the form of scales, dark red or brownish-yellow in color. In the upper part, green leaves grow in the form of cylinders, stem-embracing (with open open sheaths). At first glance, they even differ little from the stem. The presence or absence of ears may occur. The color of the leaf flakes does not change throughout the year.
Blossoming at the rush begins in the second half of the month of May. The inflorescences take the form of spreading bunches (can be both in the form of simple heads and complex panicle formations), reaching 5 cm in diameter, and they grow from the leaf sinuses. The flowers that make up the inflorescences are brown or greenish in both sexes. If the inflorescence grows singly, then there are two bracts at the base. In the case when there are several inflorescences that twist into peculiar heads, then they are surrounded by a ring of bracts. Tepals are characterized by a filmy edge and are thinly leathery, but sometimes membranous are also found. The lower swollen part of the pistil (ovary) is in the form of one nest or three-nested. The sterile part of the pistil (column) is so small that it is practically invisible, it has a cylindrical shape. At the apex of the column there are stigma-formations serving to trap pollen, including 3 units, covered with long papillae that protrude slightly from the perianth.
After flowering, the rush bears fruit in the form of a box with three nests, which contains numerous seeds. They can be oblong or oval in shape. They have appendages in the form of long tails or films. Seed material is spread by the wind, but sometimes covered with mucus, it can cling to animals and be carried over considerable distances. A plant that grows from a seed begins to bloom as early as 2-3 years of development. The rump can also reproduce vegetatively, but this method is much inferior to natural seed reproduction. If the seeds of other plants are trying to grow nearby, then they have an inhibitory effect on the seeds of the rump. Their germination is simply amazing, they can wait in the soil for their hour, retaining all the properties of reproduction, until there is no more competition in growth - this time can take many years!
The rump does not possess any medicinal and special properties, but in the household it is often used for weaving utensils. However, in hungry years, people ate the rhizome of the plant in order to survive, since it is sufficiently nutritious and moisture-containing. In Japan and China, the stalks of the hermit are used for weaving mats due to their high density. The plant is also considered an excellent source of cheap fibrous material.
Creation of conditions for cultivation of rump in the premises
- Location for the sitnik. It is possible to grow this intricate bush on the banks of artificial ponds, they are often used in landscape design, but in winter it is better to move the herringbone indoors, since it can not stand strong drops in temperature.
- Lighting. The plant tolerates partial shade well, but can grow in soft diffused light. In natural nature, the sitnik mainly settles on the banks of reservoirs or swamps, so it is not particularly afraid of sunlight and, as a result, it can be placed on any of the windows of the room. Some flower growers, however, recommend arranging a small shade from light curtains in the hottest summer hours of the day. During the autumn-winter months, it is necessary to arrange supplementary lighting with the help of phytolamps.
- Content temperature. If the plant grows in a flower bed, next to or in a pond, then it must be covered for the winter, otherwise there is a risk of losing the bush. If the culture is grown in a pot, indoors, then they try to withstand warm thermometer readings, approximately 24-26 degrees. With the arrival of autumn days and throughout the winter, the temperature can be lowered to 15 degrees Celsius for the rump. It is important that the temperature does not drop below, as the squeegee cannot tolerate this. In this case, the bush stops growing, its stems become brownish or yellow-green in color. But at least once a year, the heat indicators must be lowered so that the sitnik can rest. The plant is very sensitive to drafts.
- Air humidity when caring for a rump. Since the bush grows in its natural environment on the banks of reservoirs and in marshy areas, it is important to withstand the same conditions when cultivating rump in rooms - warm and humid. It does not tolerate dry indoor air at all. The time becomes especially dangerous when the temperature starts to drop and the central heating batteries turn on. The plant must be often sprayed, and at low humidity it is placed in a container filled with expanded clay and a small amount of water is poured into it, evaporating, it can fill the air with moisture vapor. Even if the bottom of the pot is slightly covered with water, this will not harm the plant. Expanded clay or chopped moss can also be placed on top of the soil in a flowerpot, it will keep moisture in the pot from evaporation. An artificial fountain, humidifiers, or just containers filled with liquid are placed next to the hermit.
- Watering the plant. The rush is a very moisture-loving bush and it is necessary to moisten it abundantly and regularly, preventing the soil from drying out. Even if there was a gulf, then the sitnik will only be happy about it. If water accumulates in the pot holder, then its level should not exceed the level of the drainage layer in the flowerpot (that is, not higher than 10 cm). If it is impossible to ensure the availability of water in the pan, then humidification is carried out quite often and does not skimp on water. Even a slight drying out of the substrate in the pot will lead to the rapid death of the rump. If the plant is planted in a pond, then it must be immersed 5–10 cm deep. The rump should simply be planted directly in the soil of the pond or immersed in water without removing it from the pot.
- Fertilization for the rump occurs twice a week with complexes of mineral fertilizers, which are intended for deciduous ornamental plants. The concentration must be halved, since the rush grows in its natural environment on very sparse swampy soils.
- Recommendations for replanting and soil selection. The plant will require transplanting if the root system completely encircles the entire earthen ball in the pot. This operation is performed mainly in the spring. The capacity for the transplant must be chosen not too tight in relation to the previous one. Due to the fact that the plant has a powerful rhizome, it is not the width but the depth of the pot that is important. A sufficient layer of drainage material (for example, expanded clay or pebbles) must be poured onto the bottom of the pot. It is necessary that the size of the drainage fraction be large, otherwise it will fall into the holes for moisture drain.
The land for replanting is used with good acidity, since in its natural environment, the rump can settle in swamps (pH 6 or more). Also, by its properties, it should be loose and light, it should be good for air and moisture. You can make up a mixture of soil from the following components:
- garden soil, bog peat, well-dried grass compost (you can take sphagnum moss, fern root shoots, but it is best to use river algae), coarse sand (all parts are equal);
- sod land, leaf substrate, peat, compost and river sand (in proportions 1: 1: 2: 1).
Some gardeners recommend adding a handful of small sea or river pebbles to the soil mixture, and also add pumice.
Home breeding tips
You can get a new plant using seed or dividing the bush (vegetatively).
When transplanting the rhizome in spring, it is allowed to divide its rhizome. To do this, carefully remove the plant from the pot, shake off the soil around the roots, and then use a sharp knife to divide the rhizome into several parts. The main thing is to do this in such a way that each division has a sufficient number of root processes. After separation, the cut sites must be thoroughly sprinkled with crushed activated or charcoal, this will help disinfect the wounds in the rump. Then, each part of the plant is planted to a depth of no more than 10 cm in a pond or prepared pots with a moistened substrate suitable for further growth. Before the plants actively start growing, the pots with them are not placed in direct sunlight.
The seed material of the rump is small, dark granules. They are planted in the period from mid to late winter (sometimes you can capture several days in March). A substrate made up of sand and peat is poured into the container, then the seeds are slightly pressed into the ground and moistened from a spray bottle. Then the container must be wrapped in a plastic bag or film, to create conditions for a mini-greenhouse, where high temperatures and humidity will be maintained (heat and humidity are the main criteria for the normal growth of adult specimens of rump). The container should be kept in partial shade conditions. It is required to regularly ventilate the container and make sure that the substrate is always slightly damp. As soon as the first leaves of the seedlings appear, it is necessary to remove the polyethylene and gradually accustom the plants to the air. As you grow older, with the appearance of real three leaves, you can pick the parings in separate pots, it is recommended to plant several pieces in one container, in order to subsequently obtain a beautiful and lush bush in the future.
Problems with indoor cultivation
Of the troubles that can accompany the cultivation of a plant in indoor conditions, there are:
- If the leaves dry in the summer at normally kept temperature, humidity and watering, then it is necessary to conduct a study of the root system of the rump, perhaps it began to rot, and this happened due to the tightness of the pot, therefore, the plant needs to be transplanted into a new acidic substrate with preliminary removal of all affected root processes.
- If the yellowing and drying of the leaves began with a decrease in temperature and the duration of daylight hours, then this is a normal process, the plant goes to winter "dormancy" and the rush begins to grow again with the arrival of spring.
- Whitening of leaves occurs due to insufficient supply of food and air to the root system, most often this happens due to the fact that the substrate is too caked and the roots are compressed, they do not have enough air and moisture, an urgent transplant is required with the removal of damaged roots and those that have lost leaf color.
In case of violations of the keeping regime (with increased dry air), the rush can be affected by a spider mite, scabbard or aphids. If a plant has become a target for a spider mite, then it can be seen by a delicate and thin cobweb quickly spreading along the leaves. When a lesion occurs with a scabbard, then brown plaques become distinguishable on the leaves and stems and subsequently all parts of the plant begin to cover with a sticky plaque (these are the waste products of the scabbard). Aphids are more noticeable on the rump - manifested by the appearance of small green bugs, which quickly multiply and crawl along the stems and leaves. To combat these parasites, it is necessary to prepare soap or oil solutions. For soap, 30 grams are taken. laundry soap, rubbed finely and dissolved in 10 liters of water. Then the solution is infused for several hours, and then it should be filtered, the plants are processed with it. An oil composition is also prepared, only any liquid oil is used. It is recommended to remove pests by hand by wetting a cotton pad in an alcohol solution (for example, tincture of calendula). After these procedures, it is necessary to treat the rump with insecticide solutions for the prevention and consolidation of the result.
Types of rump
- The spreading herring or the spreading herring (Juncus effusus) mainly grows in the territories of Europe, the Caucasus, Siberia and Asia Minor. Selects wetlands or damp ditches in forested areas. A perennial with evergreen leaves and a short rhizome, reaching a height of 30–120 cm. At the base, the stems are covered with vaginal pale brownish, dull scales. Panicle-shaped inflorescence with twisted twigs of unequal length. Due to the cylinder-shaped bracts, it appears lateral. This petal gives the impression of an extension of the stem. There are usually 3 stamens available. The fruit is represented by an obovate capsule, which is slightly depressed at the apex.
- Curved rush (Juncus inflexus) most often settles along the banks of rivulets or streams in areas of deciduous forests, steppes and semi-steppes, which are located in Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Iran. The plant, like the previous species, has a fairly short rhizome. The leaves are distinguished by a gray-green tint. The rush can grow for many years, reaching a height of 30–90 cm. Its shape resembles dense pillows. The sheaths are dark purple, glossy. Inflorescences have the shape of a compressed panicle. Fruiting occurs in an elongated box with an elliptical and ovoid outline, there is a sharpening at the top. The flowering process extends to all months of summer.
- Sword grass (Juncus ensifolius). Homeland - America. The plant is the most interesting and exotic. The stems resemble iris leaf plates, flat in width up to 5 mm at half a meter in height.
For more information on growing rush grass, see this video:
