Traits and characteristic features of the plant, advice on growing paradrimonia in rooms, reproduction, difficulties in the process of leaving and ways to solve them, types. Paradrymonia (Paradrymonia) refers to perennial plants with an epiphytic type of growth (that is, they can grow on trees), they can also look like terrestrial grasses or take the form of dwarf shrubs. Their botanical scientists attributed them to the Gesneriaceae family. It is customary to grow some of the varieties of paradrimonias in the form of ornamental plants in a room. The native area of distribution falls on the territory of the southeastern lands of Brazil, as well as Colombia. Prefers mountain forest areas for "residence". In this genus, there are up to 30 varieties of plants.
The plant bears its scientific name thanks to the Greek word “para”, which translates as “Close, about, like” and part of the name of the genus from the Gesneriaceae family - Drymonia. That is, it turns out - like drimoniums. Paradrimonia in nature is a perennial that loves to grow using the surface of the branches and trunks of trees. There they, twisting their stems around the habitats, look like lianas, but can be attached to the outside in the form of half-shrubs by their roots, and can also take on a herbaceous appearance. Stems are either erect or ascending, or if paradrimonia grows in the form of a vine, then with its clinging shoots it "creeps" higher along the support.
The leaf plates are also quite varied, their outlines vary from isophyllic (a species in which the shape and size is the same) to pronounced anisophyllic (when plants of the same species have an unequal foliage size that grows on the upper and lower sides of the shoots). The latter form the so-called leaf mosaic. The shape of the leaves is usually lanceolate, and the thickness can also vary from fleshy to membranous. If the variety is terrestrial, then dense rosettes with a short stem are collected from the leaf plates.
During flowering, flowers are formed in the leaf axils, which are connected in inflorescences, which are a dense curl. The number of buds in it is multiple. The pedicel is short, it is rarely larger than the corolla in length. Inflorescences usually appear as a dense bunch, located near the surface of the soil, or may be hidden among a leafy rosette. The sepals are lanceolate or linear, or they grow free. Flowering in paradrimonia is distinguished by a special duration, and if conditions are favorable, it can become year-round.
The outline of the corolla is bell-shaped or it has the contours of a funnel. Its color is whitish or yellowish. The outer surface is often pubescent. The yellow throat can be decorated with strokes or specks of red or purple color scheme. The petals of the paradrimonia flower are of a lighter color, they often have a serrated edge, the lower petal has ciliated outgrowths. The spur is rather short, there are two pairs of stamens, they are not visible from the depth of the rim, the anthers are distinguished by splicing, their opening occurs along the grooves located longitudinally on the surface. Nectars have the appearance of one or two glands. The ovary of the flower is upper. The flowers have a pleasant and rather strong aroma.
It is curious that flowers are pollinated in places of natural growth of Euglossini paradrimony (Euglossini) or as they are also called by orchid bees, and also small hummingbirds help some species in the process of pollination. When fruiting, a fruit is formed in the form of a bivalve box.
How to keep paradrimony, room care?
- Lighting and location selection. This plant feels good on the windowsill, giving a lot of light, but shading from the direct rays of the sun. Such indicators can be provided by paradrimony on the east or west window. On the northern one, you will have to carry out constant illumination. Although with the arrival of winter and at the right location, they are recommended. In the southern location, this representative of the Gesneriaceae is shaded from the direct rays of the sun, otherwise the foliage will be sunburned.
- Growing temperature paradrimony in the spring-summer period should not go beyond 20-22 degrees. But with the arrival of autumn, they are recommended to be reduced to 16-18 units. This will be the key to abundant flowering. However, in this case, illumination with artificial lighting lamps is mandatory.
- Air humidity. Since the plant is a native of their tropical territories and "lives" in nature where it is warm and humid, indoor cultivation will need to maintain increased moisture levels in the air. It can be carried out in the spring-summer period of spraying, then if the variety has pubescence on the stems, leaves and buds, such procedures will lead to the appearance of brown spots on the plant, and maybe even to decay. Therefore, for paradrimony, it is recommended to increase the humidity in other ways. You can put the pot in a tray, where expanded clay is poured and a little water is poured, while its edge should not reach the bottom of the flowerpot. In addition, you can put vessels with water next to the plant or use household steam generators, air humidifiers.
- Fertilizers. Top dressing is applied regularly, during the period of growth activation: in the spring-summer months, once every 3 weeks. At the same time, they take liquid preparations for flowering indoor plants in a half dose.
- Watering for paradrimony, they must be regular, that is, one must focus on the condition of the soil in the spring and summer. If it starts to dry out, then it's time to water the plant. In this case, the water should pour out of the drainage holes into the pot holder. After 10-15 minutes, it is removed from there so that waterlogging of the soil does not cause the root system to decay. With the arrival of autumn and throughout the winter, humidification becomes moderate. Especially if the bush is kept at low heat indicators. It is recommended to remember this, since the combination of cold and waterlogged substrate will lead to gray rot disease. Water should be used only soft and warm, its temperature should be room temperature (20-24 degrees). Often, flower growers use collected from rain or thawed from snow, but this does not guarantee the purity of the liquid. Therefore, you can take distilled.
- Transfer and selection of soil. For paradrimonia during transplantation, it is recommended to use a substrate that is characterized by good looseness and nutritional value. It should also allow water and air to pass well to the root system. You can use ready-made soil mixtures for Saintpaulias, where vermiculite, chopped sphagnum moss and small pieces of charcoal are added. In a new pot, holes must be made in its bottom to drain excess moisture. Then a layer of 2-3 cm of drainage material is poured onto the bottom, which can be medium-sized expanded clay, pebbles or broken clay, ceramic shards. The transplant operation is recommended for paradrimony once every 2-3 years, when the root system completely encircles the earthen lump provided to it. The plant is removed from the pot and the soil is not removed from the roots (only that which has fallen off by itself), and then by transferring it is planted in a new container. The size of the new flowerpot should not be too large; it is increased by 2-3 cm from the volume of the old one. During transshipment, it is possible to avoid unnecessary trauma to the root system, and so the paradrimonia will sooner take root in the new place. The plant is removed from the pot, then a drainage layer is placed on the bottom in a new one and 2-3 cm of new soil is poured. They try to lay it in the form of a pea and moisten it a little. A bush is placed on this "hill" and soil is poured on the sides of the earthy lump. When it reaches half the capacity, you can water it a little again. Sprinkle the substrate until it reaches the edge of the pot. Watering is carried out again and the plant is placed in partial shade for adaptation.
- Period relative rest occurs at paradrimonia from mid-autumn to February. At the same time, watering is reduced, no fertilizing is applied, and the temperature should not exceed 16-17 degrees.
Steps for self-breeding paradrimonia
If you wanted to propagate this unusual plant, when transplanting, they perform division of a strongly overgrown bush or by cuttings.
In the spring, you can take leaf cuttings from the plant for planting. It is recommended to separate the workpieces from the very base of the stem. Then they are placed in a vessel with water for the formation of roots or planted in a pot in which a light substrate (for example, peat-sandy) is poured. The container with cuttings is placed in a warm place where it is necessary to organize the bottom heating of the soil. In this case, the temperature should be in the range of 22-24 degrees. Cuttings should be placed under a glass or plastic container or wrapped in plastic wrap. This will create the conditions for a mini greenhouse. At the same time, it is important not to forget about daily ventilation, and if the soil dries up, it is sprayed from a spray bottle.
If the cuttings are contained in a vessel with soda, then when the root processes reach a length of 1 cm, then the blanks are planted in pots with a peat-sand mixture. When for paradrimony they change the pot and the soil in it, and the bush has already grown too much, then it can be divided. In this case, the plant is carefully removed from the container, if possible, the soil is shaken off from the roots and the root system is cut with a sharply sharpened knife. At the same time, they make sure that the dividends are not too small. Each should have at least 2-3 growth points and a sufficient number of roots and leaves. Then the sections must be powdered with activated or charcoal powder. This is to prevent infection and disease. Then you can plant parts of paradrimonium in separate containers, at the bottom of which there is a drainage layer and nutrient soil is laid. At first, it is better to keep the plants in partial shade so that they quickly adapt.
Also, occasionally, the plant is propagated by seeds, which will require greenhouse conditions for germination. The bushes obtained in this way will delight with flowering in a year and a half from the time of sowing.
Fight against possible diseases and pests of paradrimony
Most often, the plant suffers from the same problems as the representatives of the family, for example, Hypocyrta or Epistia.
Of the problems that arise as a result of violation of the rules for care, one can single out:
- The flooding of the substrate and the content at low heat values will lead to the discharge of buds and foliage.
- With low humidity or an overabundance of fertilizers in the soil, the leaves of paradrimonia become faded and turn yellow, the same effect brings a prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
- Intense light levels will cause the leaf plates to turn yellow and curl.
- Watering with cold water will promote the formation of brown specks on the leaf plates. Also, the plant reacts to an unregulated irrigation regime (bays and dry soil).
- Poor application of top dressing to the soil, lack of light, or improperly selected soil during transplantation (clay substrate) lead to the fact that the plant stops growing and does not bloom at all. It is also characterized by low humidity or low temperatures during maintenance, the absence of planned spring pruning of too old stems. If there was a warm wintering without additional lighting, then flowering will not wait.
Of the diseases, powdery mildew (gray rot) can be distinguished, which is manifested by the formation of a grayish plaque on parts of paradrimony. The reason for this is frequent waterlogging. For the fight, fungicidal treatments are used.
If the humidity decreases, then the plant can be affected by aphids, scale insects or spider mites. The appearance of a whitefly is not uncommon. Each of the pests is characterized by certain features peculiar only to it:
- Shield. On the back of the leaf, brownish-brown small dots and sugary bloom are formed.
- Aphid. It is manifested by small bugs of brown, black or green color and the same sticky substance (waste products of the pest - pad).
- Spider mite. It can be identified by a thin translucent cobweb on the back of the leaf or in internodes and on stems. The foliage becomes yellow in color, dries out, the young one grows deformed.
To combat, spraying with insecticidal preparations of systemic action should be carried out. Repeat, if necessary, is performed after a week and so on until the complete disappearance of pests and their manifestations.
Curious facts about paradrimony
A little earlier, paradrimony was attributed to the genus Epistia, along with Columnea, Centrosolenia, Hypocyrta and Trichodrymonia were also included there.
Types of paradrimony
- Paradrimonia gold (Paradrymonia aurea) prefers to settle in tropical and subtropical humid forests growing on mountain slopes. It is distinguished by the golden or rich yellow color of the petals in the flowers.
- Paradrymonia binata (Paradrymonia binata) this plant is very similar to Paradrymonia hypocyrta and Paradrymonia fuquaiana, but differs in completely different colors. The petals are pure white in color, and their outlines are marsupials. In Paradrymonia fuquaiana, the flowers are also white, but they are spotty and not marsupial in shape. The leaves have elongated petioles, their shade is reddish. The foliage color is rich green, herbaceous.
- Paradrymonia campostyla is a relatively small and insignificant flower in comparison with other plants of this genus. On the outer side of the corolla tube there is a dense whitish pubescence in the form of hairs. There is an interesting yellow shading in the throat of the corolla.
- Paradrymonia ciliosa (Paradrymonia ciliosa). The plant is distinguished by large, showy flowers with a fringe. Flowers of this species look very beautiful against a bright green foliage background. The leaf plates are large, glossy. On the lower lobe (petal) of the flower corolla there are specific projections in the form of cilia.
- Paradrymonia densa. When this variety is young, but it is especially effective. Leaf plates of a dark red hue, on the surface of which there is a dark green pattern in the center, framed by a silvery-greenish environment. In adulthood, most of the variegation on the leaves is lost, the plant still retains its sculptural elegance.
- Paradrymonia fuquaiana plant. The plant is distinguished by quite interesting foliage, the color of the general background is rich, bright green, and a darker emerald color goes along all the veins. The shape of the leaf plate is oval-elongated with a pointed tip at the top. Flowers that form with snow-white petals and a brightly colored yellow throat.
- Paradrymonia pedunculata (Paradrymonia pedunculata). It is a strange plant because its flowers are at the end of a long peduncle (flower stem), instead of hidden, as usual, among the leaves.
