Distinctive features and origins of alpinia, advice on care, transplantation and reproduction, ways to combat pests and diseases, interesting facts, species. Alpinia (Alpinia) is part of the genus of herbaceous representatives of the flora of the planet, which are ranked among the Ginger family (Zingiberaceae). It also includes 240 plant species that grow in tropical and subtropical climates. The native habitat of the alpinia is considered to be the territories of Southeast Asia and the islands of Oceania.
The plant got its name in honor of the traveler, botanist and healer from Italy Prospero Alpini, or as he was called Alpinus, who lived in the 17th century. Some of the works of this scientist were reflected in the botanical system of Carl Linnaeus (he was the first to classify all the information available at that time about the plant and animal world of the planet). Linnaeus and named the representatives of the Ginger family, Alpinia, perpetuating the name of Prospero.
The studies that were carried out on the DNA cells of the alpinia proved that the genus is polyphyletic - that is, that the development of this plant went in a certain direction, and that it could not go differently than it has gone on until now, the variations cannot be endless, their number is limited … And revealed some discrepancies in the classification of the genus according to Symt, requiring further research.
Alpinia is a herbaceous perennial with a tuberous rhizome, colored reddish-brown and with a strong odor. Each of these root ramifications is the source of one strong leafy stem. In one well-developed alpinia bush, the number of stems can reach 40 units. Their height is approaching one and a half meter indicators.
The leaf blades are arranged in two rows, differing in lanceolate shapes. The leaf is stalk-enveloping, it tightly wraps around the shoot, its length can be up to 30 cm. When the leaf breaks, a very peculiar smell appears.
From large flowers at the tops of the stems, inflorescences are collected in the form of panicles, brushes and spikelets. They are painted in shades of white, red and yellow. The direction of the inflorescences directly depends on the type of alpinia - they can lean towards the soil or grow vertically upwards.
After flowering, the fruit ripens in the form of a box.
Tips for taking care of your alpine at home
- Lighting. The plant prefers bright, but diffused light and you can put the alpinia pot on the windows of the south, east or west orientation. However, the south side is not so safe and you will have to shade the flower in the summer from 12 to 16 pm with light translucent curtains. But the north side, on which the windows are facing, is practically not suitable, since there will be little light for the plant, and constant illumination with phytolamps will be needed. But in order for the flower to begin to form and dissolve the buds, it is necessary to keep it in bright light for some time.
- Content temperature. The optimum temperature for keeping alpinas in spring and summer should be in the range of 23–25 degrees, and only with the arrival of autumn can its values be reduced only to 15–17 degrees Celsius.
- Air humidity. Since the plant is a resident of tropical places, dry air is harmful to it. It is necessary to spray alpinia leaves daily. You can use humidifiers or place containers of water next to the pot.
- Watering. In the summer, the soil in the pot should not dry out too much, it is better when the soil is always slightly moistened, but with the arrival of autumn, watering is reduced, and the substrate is moistened only if it is 2-3 cm dry on top. Water is used only soft, room temperature.
- Fertilizers for the alpine. As soon as the beginning of flower growth is observed in springtime, additional fertilizing will be required. In this case, the usual complex mineral solutions for indoor plants are used. Florists also recommend using a weak organic solution (for example, a highly diluted mullein is suitable). Alpinia shows excellent performance when applying granular complex mineral preparations with a long period of action.
- Transplantation and selection of soil. With the arrival of spring, it is necessary to replant the plant. If the bush has grown very much, then you can simply change the top layer (about 5 cm) of the soil for it. The pots are picked not very deep, but wide. At the bottom, there must be a drainage layer (expanded clay or pebbles). Alpinia is not very demanding on the soil, but it should be light. Since the root system is located close to the soil surface, air access is very important to the root processes. Ordinary garden soil mixed with river sand and peat or the following substrate may be suitable: leafy soil, humus, peat soil, coarse sand (in proportions 1: 1: 1: 0, 5).
Recommendations for self-propagation of alpinia
Alpinia reproduces successfully by planting seeds and dividing the bush.
When spring comes and it is necessary to transplant the plant, you can perform the division of the rhizome. It should be borne in mind that each of the divisions must have 1–2 points of growth and this process must be performed as carefully as possible in order to preserve a full-fledged root for each part. A well-sharpened and disinfected knife is used for cutting. Sections of plant parts will need to be powdered with activated or charcoal crushed into powder for disinfection. Then the delenki will need to be planted in wide and low containers with soil, which is used for transplanting adult specimens.
At the bottom of the pot, you need to pour a layer of drainage, then a layer of soil mixture, and then slightly moisten it. After that, a divider is installed inside and soil is poured on the sides and on top, at the end it is well moistened. Parts of the flower should be kept in an environment with high humidity and high temperature, approximately 22 degrees in a shaded place. You can put a plastic bag on the delenki - this will create the conditions for a mini-greenhouse. You will need to air the plant daily and make sure that the substrate does not dry out. After transplanting, alpinia begins to release new shoots and is actively growing. As soon as a new young sprout appears, the plant begins to gradually accustom itself to standard indoor conditions. To do this, gradually increase the airing time until the package is removed completely.
When using seed, it is necessary to select the time in the middle of winter. The seeds will need to be soaked in water at room temperature for a day. Planting is carried out into a moistened peat-sand substrate and the container with seedlings is covered with a piece of glass or plastic wrap. The germination temperature should also be within 22 degrees, and the place where the seedlings are placed should be warm and shaded. Regular airing and spraying of the soil in the pot is required, and the complete absence of a draft. As soon as the sprouts grow up and the first leaves appear, a pick is carried out in separate containers with soil for adult specimens.
Problems in alpine cultivation
Despite the fact that the plant is very resistant to disease and harmful insects, there are still unpleasant moments when growing this delicate flower. All this is due to the violation of the conditions of detention in closed rooms.
When the air humidity drops too low and this period lasts for a long time, the alpinia can be attacked by a spider mite. Symptoms that indicate the presence of this harmful insect are:
- punctures on the back of the sheet, which go along the edge (the mite sucks out the juices from the plant);
- yellowing of sheet plates and their deformation;
- shedding foliage;
- the appearance of a translucent cobweb, which is visible from the underside of the leaf or in the internodes of the plant.
If these manifestations are present, then it will be necessary to process the alpinia bush with a soap, oil or alcohol solution. The agent is applied to a cotton pad and, wiping the leaves, it is necessary to manually remove the pest and its excretion. If sparing non-chemical agents do not help, then it is necessary to treat the alpine with insecticides (for example, Aktara, Aktellik or other drugs with a similar spectrum of action will do).
Sometimes necrosis appears on the leaves of the plant, which is the cause of prolonged hypothermia of the flower. When the old leaf blade begins to turn yellow along the edge, this is a direct consequence of the lack of magnesium in the fertilizers. To solve the problem, you will need to add a pinch or two Epsom salts to the water for irrigation, then the alpinia will delight with healthy, rich green foliage.
Interesting facts about alpinism and its applications
It is the root of the alpinia that is considered a valuable part of the plant, since it contains up to 0.6-1% of essential oil, which includes sesquiterpenoids, as well as alcohols of sesquiterpenoids, zeonyl and eugenol. The pungent taste of alpinia root oil is due precisely to the presence of these elements and resins. This includes multiple tannins and flavonoids.
Alpinia galanga rhizome is actively used in the alcoholic beverage industry. And from parts of alpinia medicinal (seeds and rhizomes), oriental healers made drugs that were prescribed to be used in the treatment of malaria, cholera, indigestion, they help with heartburn and even toothache. The rhizome itself can be used in tinctures that treat enteritis (gastric or chronic - inflammatory processes of the small intestine), all kinds of dyspepsia, relieve stomach pains, help facilitate gas secretion, help with salivation and salivation, and can increase the functional activity of the stomach.
When a large one has a lack of appetite, or women have menstrual disorders or headaches, which may be accompanied by fainting, then they take drugs from the rhizome of alpinia. Tinctures or the same remedies help with an enlarged liver, the symptoms of seasickness and hypochondria disappear.
Alpinia is also included in the composition of tea collections, which are prescribed to be taken to enhance the action of other herbs or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
In many folk cuisines, it is customary to use the rhizome of the alpinia as a seasoning that stimulates the appetite, mainly for this they take the root of the alpinia wonderful. They especially try to use such food additives in the preparation of meat dishes. When using rhizome tincture on alcohol (tincture), fungal skin diseases can be cured. And taking the above means inside, the symptoms of rheumatism, diabetes of the second type (not insulin-dependent) are alleviated, or you can even use them as aphrodisiacs!
Although to date, no contraindications have been identified in the use of this plant, all healers recommend not to exceed the dosage of alpinia-based products with prolonged use, and also use it a little as a seasoning.
Alpine types
- Alpinia officinalis (Alpinia officinarum) or Alpinia officinalis. The plant has a perennial form of growth, large size and a highly branched rhizome, painted in a reddish-brown tone with a thickness of up to 2 cm. Ringed scars left by leaves are clearly visible on the rhizome. From each branch of the root, a stem grows. The plant has several of them (there are up to 20-25 units), they are measured in height up to one and a half meters and only some of them crown the inflorescences. Leaf plates of linear outlines, sessile, arranged in regular order. Their length reaches 30 cm. From the flowers, an inflorescence is collected in the form of a short spikelet, located at the top of the stem. The calyx of the bud is tubular, and the corolla is short-tubular with three lobes. The petal lip of this variety is painted in a whitish shade, and is lined with red stripes. The fruit ripens in the form of a box. The variety is actively used for medicinal purposes and in cooking as a spice to improve appetite.
- Alpinia sanderae or Alpinia vittata. In natural conditions, this species is found only on the island of Hainan in China, that is, it is endemic (a plant that grows only in one area on the planet). This type of alpinia is small in size, perennial. Its stems are well leafy, reaching a height of 60 cm. The leaves are linear in outline, and are measured in length of 20 cm, devoid of cutting, sessile, painted in green colors with snow-white stripes located obliquely on the plate. The color of the leaves directly depends on the lighting and the age of the foliage itself. At the tops of the stems, flowers of a crimson or pale crimson tone are collected in an apical panicle.
- Alpinia purpurea (Alpinia purpurata) is a perennial, reaching a height of up to 2 meters. It blooms in buds with snow-white petals, which are surrounded by red bracts. The homeland of this variety is considered to be the Malaysian lands (Papua New Guinea), New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands.
- Alpinia galanga. The height of this perennial plant is approaching one and a half meters. The rhizome is smooth and cylindrical with a diameter of up to 2 cm. The leaves have lanceolate outlines, with a solid edge, measure 30 cm in length. The flowers grow white, and a dense racemose inflorescence of a cone-like shape is collected from them. The rhizome is used as a spice.
- Alpinia vittata has a long life cycle, the leaf plates are elongated and painted in white and cream stripes. Blooming flowers have a greenish tint and pink bracts.
- Alpinia drooping (Alpinia zrumbet) is a large perennial plant, reaching a height of 3 meters. There is a synonymous name Alpinia zerumbet or Alpinia speciosa. The native habitat of the territory of China, Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, and this variety was originally grown in Vietnam and Malaysia. Leaf plates in the form of lobes, at the base with a narrowing, expanding towards the apex. From yellowish-white flowers, racemose drooping inflorescences are collected, with a length of 30 cm. The calyx of the bud has a ring-shaped shape. The outlines of the corolla lip are broadly oval, with three lobes painted in yellow color with pink spotting and stripes. The flowering process stretches from mid-spring to June.
There are several varieties with variegated foliage:
- Variegate Chinese Beauty, on the leaves there is a pattern of marble outlines with alternating parts of light green and dark green tones, has a height of 2 meters.
- Variegate, this plant has leaves with large sizes in width and decorated with yellow stripes, randomly located and of different sizes, the height indicators are one and a half to two meters.
- Variegate dwarf - the variety has dimensions reaching only 30 cm, deciduous plates are distinguished by a yellow-green tint and snow-white flowers. Very suitable because of its compact size for growing in rooms.
For more about alpinism, see this video:
