Description and types of plants, recommendations for growing ivy, watering and fertilizing, soil selection options, replanting, problems with cultivation, pests. Plectranthus is a member of the Lamiaceae family, which includes 200 to 400 plant species. This ivy can be annual or perennial. The native habitat is mainly the territories of Africa, the islands of Madagascar, Indonesian areas and some Pacific island zones, where the climate conditions of the tropics and subtropics allow. The plant never sheds its leaf mass, which does not change its color depending on the year. It is a semi-succulent plant, it can accumulate moisture in its shoots and leaf plates. The name is a fusion of two Greek words plectron - spur and anthos - flower. It is also associated with the type of ivy flowers, the corolla in the form of a tube have a spur-like swell. There are also such names as "cock's spur" or "fly-eater", since this type of ivy can drive away insects of the same name. Some varieties are famous for their ability to scare away even moths and they are called in the common people "molar tree". This plant is very beloved by the inhabitants of the Scandinavian countries, where it is grown in pots (hanging flowerpots) and this gave rise to another name for plectrantus - "Swedish ivy".
Plectranthus can take on the form of shrubs, dwarf shrubs, or herbaceous, with shoots that can grow straight or creep over surfaces. In length, the stems of the plant can reach 30 cm to one and a half meters. But basically, these plants are preferred to grow as a climbing ampel or ground cover. The stems are distinguished by four edges, they can be smooth or slightly covered with fluff.
The leaf plates are located opposite, have an elliptical, rounded or slightly ovoid shape, growing on small petioles. Sometimes the leaves sit directly on the shoot, may have a smooth or glossy surface, but may differ in pubescence. The leaf edge is solid and wavy-crenate. The main feature is the scent of the foliage. The leaf plates have a beautiful rich emerald hue, many species differ in patterns on the leaves.
In structure, the flowers of all types of plectrantus are similar: the corolla has two-lipped petals, the upper lip is bent to the top and is quite short. 4 blades are visible on it. The lower lip is in the form of one blade and takes the form of a narrowed rook. There are also 4 stamens, which are divided into pairs, 2 short and 2 longer. Inflorescences are collected from a large variety of such flowers. The plant has flowers of both sexes, capable of pollinating each other. The flowering stem grows from the axillary buds of the leaves or separately from the shoots and leaves. It spreads in the upper part of the plant. The color of flowers can vary from white, blue to purple hues. Against the background of the foliage of the plectrantus, the flowers look quite pale. And there is an opinion of flower growers with experience that the inflorescences must be cut off so as not to spoil the attractive appearance of ivy and not to weaken the plant.
There are types of plectrantus that are grown for eating their edible foliage or tuberous roots (as a spice). This plant is also used in medicine. In some countries, due to the scent of leaf plates, ivy is used to make linen or clothes smell good. If you crumple an ivy leaf, you can catch a light mint scent or a pleasant and fresh herbal perfume.
Many species have similar names and therefore today there is a slight confusion in their definition, but from the point of view of botanical descriptions, those to which flower growers are already accustomed to using are considered correct.
Recommendations for growing plectrantus indoors
- Lighting. For this ivy plant, windows with bright but diffused light are most suitable. These can be windows of western or eastern exposure, where the sun shines only sparingly in the morning or evening. If the plectrantus is on the window sill, in which the sun's rays shine all day, then you will have to arrange a little shading during the day when the sun is most aggressive (from 11 to 16 hours), light curtains or gauze draperies are suitable for this. In winter, if the plant is located on the windows of a northern orientation, then additional lighting with special phytolamps is organized for it. If this condition is neglected, then the internodes of the plectrantus begin to stretch, the stems quickly become bare and the leaves lose their rich color, while the ivy loses its decorative beauty. With the arrival of constant warm temperatures, it is recommended to move the plant to the open air (balcony, garden or terrace). If this is not possible, then regular ventilation is necessary for ivy. But the plant is very negatively affected by drafts.
- Air humidity for bristle flower. This plant is not at all picky about the humidity in the room and heating devices or air conditioners do not negatively affect it. And although ivy does not require spraying, but if this procedure is carried out, it responds with gratitude, since the plant is still a resident of tropical and subtropical areas.
- The temperature of the content of the plectrantus. Despite the fact that this is a resident of humid areas with high temperatures, ivy is very fond of heat indicators that fluctuate between 20-22 degrees. With the arrival of cold weather, the indicators noticeably decrease, but do not drop below 15 degrees. If the temperature values drop below, then the plant will begin to fall out with leaves, and growth points may die off.
- Top dressing. With the arrival of the first spring days, the plant begins to actively grow and during this period, until the very autumn, it is necessary to apply fertilizers. With regularity, twice a month, the plectrantus is watered with liquid solutions of fertilizers with mineral complexes, which are intended for indoor plants. It is recommended to reduce the dosage by half. In winter, the plant is very rarely fed - once every 2 months. The plant responds well to organic fertilizers and improves its appearance from them.
- Watering ivy. Watering should always be regular and moderate, but moisture is more abundant in warmer seasons. It is necessary not to allow the entire earthen lump in the pot to dry out. The signal for watering is a slight wilting of the foliage. In winter, watering is reduced, since at low temperatures, excess moisture can lead to the beginning of decay of the root system of the plectrantus. If the watering regime is not maintained, then the plant will react by dumping the deciduous mass. Soft water is used to moisten the soil - it can be collected from rain or melt in winter. If this is not possible, then tap water can be filtered, boiled or defended for several days.
- Features in the care of plectranthus. With the arrival of the spring period, it is necessary to strongly cut off old shoots from the plant, leaving only up to 10 cm in length from the base. Sometimes the bush is even thinned out, cutting out excess branches from the depths. This will lead to the subsequent improvement of ivy and its bushiness. Young stems also need periodic pinching (removal of the tops). The plant has a high growth rate, in one season it can stretch up to 20 cm in length.
- Soil selection and plant transplant. While the plant is young, it requires a yearly pot and soil change. If the ivy is already five years old, then this procedure is performed only once every 2-3 years. But many growers, when the plant reaches a significant life span, no longer transplant it, but grow it anew from cuttings. As soon as the plant is brought from the store, it needs to change its pot and substrate. The container is selected large in diameter and the transplantation takes place without disturbing the earthen coma (transfer method). The plant can also be grown outdoors during the warm months in the garden, choosing a place for it so that the midday sun rays do not fall on the plectrantus. If ivy is planted in a pot, then its depth should be slightly greater than the width, this is due to the powerful root system of the ivy. Also, a drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the container, and holes must be made in the pot itself to drain excess moisture.
The plant does not require any difficult soil, but it will not thrive in heavy clay substrates. It is possible to use any universal soil that will be nutritious and with neutral acidity. You can add a little sand and baking powder to it for relief. If the soil mixture is compiled independently, then it must have good air and water permeability, it is prepared on the basis of the following options:
- leafy soil, coarse sand, any baking powder (for example, perlite or vermiculite), peat soil (proportions 2: 1: 1: 1, respectively);
- sod land, leafy land, river sand (1: 3: 1);
- leafy earth, humus, turf, river sand (3: 1: 1: 1).
Reproduction of plectrantus at home
Sparrow is a plant that takes root with ease both in the substrate offered to it and in the water. For propagation, the cuttings method is used. It is advisable to perform this procedure during the active growing season of the plectrantus. In this case, the upper parts of the shoots are selected. The length of the workpiece should not exceed 5–6 cm. Each stalk should contain several nodes with leaves. To plant the cutting, its lower leaf plates are removed, it is advisable to dip the cut into any root growth stimulator.
The cuttings are then planted in a prepared substrate from 1 part of humus, 2 parts of leaf land, 1 part of peat land, 1 part of coarse sand. Planted plants are best wrapped in a plastic bag or placed under a glass jar. This method makes it possible to create mini-greenhouse conditions for cuttings with constant sufficient humidity and room temperature. Plants are placed in a brightly lit place, sheltered from direct sunlight. The formation of roots is quite fast; after almost 7-10 days, the cuttings are already taking root. If the cut shoots were placed in water, then after a week you can see the root shoots that have appeared. When they reach 3-5 cm in length, young plectrantus can be planted in the above-described soil.
To make the ivy bush more lush and spreading, several specimens are planted in one pot.
Possible difficulties and pests of plectrantus
Of the problems in caring for plectrantus, the following can be distinguished:
- if ivy began to shed its leaf mass, then this indicates that there has been a difference in temperature indicators;
- when there is not enough lighting for the plant, then the shoots are ugly bare and greatly elongate;
- blanching of the color of the leaves and subsequent wilting indicates too bright sunlight on which the plectrantus is located;
- if the leaf plates acquire a yellow color and fall off, most likely the ivy pot has been in a room with low temperatures for a long time and has been flooded with water;
- when three unfavorable factors are combined, namely: low temperature, excessive watering, low lighting - this can provoke the onset of rotting of the stems and root system;
- drooping leaf plates show that the plant is kept at elevated temperatures and poor watering;
- the appearance of gray spot on the leaves indicates the defeat of ivy with downy mildew, and it is a consequence of the increased moisture content of the substrate.
The pests that have to be dealt with when caring for the plectranthus are whiteflies, aphids, scale insects, nematodes, and spider mites. Almost all harmful insects are clearly visible on the leaf plates, and the defeat of many of them is characterized by a sticky bloom on the leaf plates. A soap solution (based on laundry soap dissolved in water) or oil solution (any dishwashing gel diluted with water) could help, but since the leaves are covered with villi, the treatment becomes problematic. Modern insecticides are used for the fight.
Types of plectrantus
- Fragrant Plectranthus (Plectranthus amboinicus). It is a bush-shaped perennial plant that can grow up to 2 m in height. The stems are completely covered with small hairs, have 4 edges and are colored in green-purple shades. The leaf plates are characterized by a wide-ovoid shape; there is a sharpening or rounding at the top. At the base, the leaf plate can repeat the shape of the heart or also be rounded. The leaves are located opposite each other. The reverse side is completely glandular with a predominance of a light purple color. The petioles are completely hairy. The calyx of the flower is also covered with glands and covered with hairs. The flowers have a pleasant aroma and grow up to 5-13 mm in length.
- Plectranthus oertendahlii. The plant has been growing for many years. It features hairy creeping stems that can take root in the nodes. The shape of the stem is 4-sided, the shade is red-violet. The leaf plates are located opposite, have an ovoid shape and pubescence, the edges are distinguished by large notches. The leaves are painted in a bronze-green color, a silver stripe runs along all the veins. The reverse side of the leaf is rough to the touch, there is a pubescence of a red tint. The inflorescence with whorls is 20 cm long. The corolla of the flower is white in the form of a tube. After the flowering process, the cup usually remains on the ivy and continues to grow with the fruit.
- Shrub Plectranthus (Plectranthus parviflorus). The plant has straight-growing stems that reach a meter in height and are pubescent with small hairs. The main feature is a specific aroma that can scare away moths. Therefore, the second name is "molar tree".
- Southern Plectranthus (Plectranthus australis). This plant has curly stems, for which it received the nickname Swedish or Scandinavian ivy. The leaf plates are rounded and there is a waxy coating on them.
- Plectranthus koleusovidny cultivar "Marginatus" (Plectranthus "Marginatus"). The shoots of this type of plectrantus are distinguished by a pink-red tint. The leaf plates have a crenate edge, the color is green with a white edging.
- Plectranthus verticillatus (Plectranthus verticillatus). There is a slight resemblance to Ertendahl's plectrantus, but pubescence is absent and the color of the leaf plates is paler. Flowers of a white shade with purple mottling outside the petals.
- Plectranthus madagascariensis (Plectranthus madagascariensis). Climbing and creeping shoots. They grow up to a meter in length. The leaf plates have crenate edges, the length reaches 6 cm, there is a slight pubescence.
- Plectranthus hadiensis or felt variation (Plectranthus hadiensis var.tomentosus). The plant takes the form of a bush, but as it grows, the shoots begin to creep. There is a mint aroma. The leaf plates are pubescent, the edge is crenate, the color is light green. Loves bright lighting and can grow in direct sunlight.
For more information on growing plectrantus at home, see this video:
