Characteristics and distinctive features, rules for caring for ledeburia: temperature regime, watering, transplantation, reproduction, diseases and pests, facts, types. The genus, which bears the name Ledebouria, unites about 40 varieties of plants with bulbs. They can be either evergreen or semi-deciduous flora. The native area of distribution falls on the territory of open plains and dry floodplains of river arteries located in the lands of South Africa, which have the peculiarity of being flooded during the rainy season. All these plants grow in different areas of this part of the African continent, and only the Ledeburia hyacinth variety can still be found in India and the island of Sri Lanka.
Ledeburia owes its name to the 19th century botanist, originally from Germany, Karl Friedrich von Ledebur (1785–1851), who was also engaged in pedagogy and travel, and was in the service of the Russian state. At the same time, he studied the vegetation of the Altai Territory and the flora of vascular plants. Even one of the mountains in Altai bears his name in memory of this explorer.
In the culture of flower growers, Ledeburia is valued because of the attractive color of the spotted foliage and inflorescences in the form of bunches, consisting of small flowers that have the shape of barrels. All species are perennials with bulbs, which, while gradually expanding, create dense clumps (groups of the same type of plants) through the formed colonies of daughter bulbs. The color of the bulb is pale purple, but chocolate or purple tones may be present. The shape of the bulb takes on an elongated elliptical, elliptical or spherical shape. The bulb in some varieties is completely hidden under the surface of the soil, while in others it is on top of it. Thin whitish roots extend from the bulb itself. The height of the entire plant rarely exceeds 20 cm.
Sheet plates with a smooth surface, upright. They can take lanceolate, broad-lanceolate or elliptical contours. A rather dense near-root (root) rosette is assembled from them. The leaves are shaded in a bright silver, silvery-greenish color scheme. The entire surface is decorated with a pattern of dark specks, which also have a purple to dark green tone. Sometimes there are stripes on the surface that run along the entire sheet plate. The typical color becomes more intense depending on the light level. The color of the lower leaves is most often purple, while the upper ones are cast in silver with greenery, there may also be an olive or purple tint. The length of the leaf usually ranges from 10-13 cm with a width of about 5 cm.
In the process of flowering, a flower arrow forms in Ledeburia, which rises 25 cm above the rosette of leaves. The flower-bearing stem is usually non-leafy. The peduncle is crowned with a racemose inflorescence, which can be composed of 20-50 buds. The shape of the flowers themselves is bell-shaped or in the form of a barrel. Occasionally they resemble lily of the valley flowers. The petals in the corolla are fused, their color is pink, lilac or purple. The flower length varies from 4 to 6 mm. The flowering process takes place in the spring and summer. Regardless of the color and type of flowers, the flowering itself is of little value.
The growth rate of Ledeburia is rather low. So every year she has only 2-3 new leaves. However, if you do not violate the rules for caring for this South African plant, then it can delight with its foliage up to 10 years.
Tips for growing ledeburia, home care
- Lighting and location. The plant is most suitable for bright, but diffused lighting, which can be provided on the windows of the western and eastern locations.
- Temperature when caring for ledeburia should be moderate: in spring and summer time within the range of 18-24 degrees, and with the arrival of winter, the indicators are reduced to 14-17 units.
- Air humidity. The plant perfectly tolerates the dry air of apartments, although it is recommended to periodically spray at least once a week, or you need to wipe the leaf plates from accumulated dust with a soft damp sponge.
- Watering. Ledeburia is probably one of the few plants that can be watered with tap water. It contains many salts that the plant loves so much. Throughout the year, watering is moderate, the soil in the pot should not dry out, but the bays are dangerous, as they will lead to rotting of the bulbs. In the summer, the soil in the pot is moistened every 5-7 days, and in the winter, watering is reduced to once every 10-15 days. If the moisture is insufficient, then the leaves of the ledeburia begin to soften and the general turgor is lost.
- General care. The plant needs to be pruned periodically to remove dried leaf plates and flower stems. After a period of 8-10 years, the decorative appearance of the bush begins to decline and rejuvenation is recommended.
- Fertilizers for ledeburia, they are introduced from the beginning of spring activity until autumn days. It is recommended to feed the flower monthly with mineral preparations with a full range of trace elements. You can use mixtures for decorative or bulbous representatives of the flora grown indoors. But if you water the plant with tap water, then it will calmly endure the complete absence of fertilizing, since such a liquid contains a sufficient amount of salts that help it grow normally.
- Transplantation and selection of soil. This plant has a very slow growth rate and therefore does not need frequent pot changes. Such an operation is performed only once every 3-4 years. It is not recommended to completely bury ledeburia bulbs in the ground, as this will lead to their decay. A layer of drainage material is poured into the pot before laying the soil, this will help prevent stagnation of water. The container for planting can be taken both ceramic and plastic. Holes must be made in the bottom to drain excess moisture.
The soil for this variegated plant should be light and nutritious, and retain moisture well. The soil is selected with an acidity in the range of pH 6, 1–7, 8. Store-house universal soil compositions are suitable, but sand or perlite with peat is added to them. You can also compose the substrate from the following components:
- leafy earth and humus in a ratio of 2: 1;
- garden soil, coarse sand or perlite, peat and humus (leafy soil) - all parts are equal.
You can also use a turf-based substrate.
How to carry out independent reproduction of Ledeburia?
It is possible to get a new plant with variegated foliage by dividing the mother bush (separating the bulbs) or sowing seeds.
Seeds should be sown immediately after harvest as they may lose their germination capacity. It is recommended to carry out this operation in the springtime - in March, when the growth of vegetative activity begins. A peat-sand substrate is poured into the container and slightly moistened with a spray bottle. Then the seed is spread over the top. You do not need to cover the seeds. It is recommended to cover the pots on top with a piece of glass or wrap them in a plastic bag. Then the container with the crops is placed in a warm place. The first shoots will appear in 2-3 weeks. The growth rate of seedlings is very slow and they will be ready for the next transplant only after 1–2 months.
A simpler way of reproduction is considered to be the separation of onion babies from the maternal ledeburia. It is possible to carry out such an operation, regardless of the season. After the bulbs are carefully separated (a sharp knife or blade is used for cutting), they are planted in separate pots in a soil suitable for the plant. It is recommended to deepen them by only 1/3. After 12-16 days (maximum in a month), baby bulbs take root successfully. If you want this process to be accelerated, then the pot with "young" should be placed in a warm place with a heat of about 22 degrees. It is also necessary to create the conditions for a mini-greenhouse by wrapping the pot in a plastic bag or placing the plants under a glass vessel. It is recommended not to forget about daily ventilation and, if necessary, moistening the soil. The formation of young leaves is a signal of successful rooting. After that, the shelter is removed and the plant is accustomed to indoor conditions.
Sometimes the plant is propagated by dividing an overgrown bush.
Difficulties in cultivating ledeburia and methods of dealing with them
If the conditions for keeping the plant are violated, then the following troubles arise:
- Multiple dry leaves are formed when there is not enough space in the pot, when the ledeburia has not been transplanted for a long time and its baby bulbs have grown strongly. In this case, it will be necessary to divide the mother plant and plant the delenki in separate containers, while the dried foliage is removed.
- Drying of the tips of the leaf plates indicates a lack of phosphorus or potassium in the dressing. To eliminate this problem, it is necessary to water with water, in which a little potassium permanganate is dissolved, so that the product has a pale pink color. After a couple of days, superphosphate diluted in water is added, at the rate of 3-4 grams of the drug per 1 liter. If necessary, the procedure is repeated. Then you need to regularly feed the ledeburia.
- The plant began to stretch ugly, the color of the foliage acquires a monochromatic shade, and flowering does not occur when the light level is very low. It is necessary to rearrange the pot with the plant to a more illuminated place or carry out additional lighting.
- If brown spots formed on the leaf plates, which quickly become dry, then this is evidence of sunburn.
- With an excessive flooding of the soil, the leaves of the ledeburia become sluggish, and it itself loses its turgor, growth stops, and the bulb begins to rot.
- The foliage of the plant falls off, with insufficient soil moisture.
Of the pests, fruit midges, mushroom mosquitoes can be distinguished, which arise when the substrate is excessively moistened and this can lead to rotting of the bulbs. Anti-camarine agents are used, dichlorvos - against flying representatives, or Aktar and Bazudin - to destroy the larvae in the soil.
Also, harmful insects that cause trouble for ledeburia are: aphids, scale insects, spider mites or mealybugs. If signs of these pests are found: green or grayish small bugs, sticky plaque on foliage (pad is a product of pests' vital activity), a thin cobweb or whitish lumps that look like pieces of cotton wool, then insecticidal treatment is required to destroy these insects and their manifestations.
Ledeburia facts for the curious
This genus of plants was described for the first time in 1821 by Roth, although there is information about Ledeburia in even more distant sources, and the authors of these robots attribute it to different genera.
In the natural habitat of this South African representative of the flora, porcupines dig up and eat its bulbs.
Botanical scientists have put forward a theory that the "camouflage" of the leaf blades of ledeburia is associated with hiding them from herbivores. Some varieties show excellent properties for ecological adaptation (leaves are sticky or hairy-pubescent), adapting to life in specific natural niches.
Ledeburia is widely used by phytodesigners to create rather original clumps (wide low stands) in rocky gardens (rockeries) in the southern regions, devoid of frosty winters. The plant has long been known to flower growers when growing it as a pot culture, or a ground cover in winter greenhouses and gardens.
Types of Ledeburia flower
Although the genus is small, it contains only a few of the most popular varieties used in floriculture.
- Ledeburia public (Ledebouria socialis) it is also found under the name Ledebouria violacea. This bulbous plant has an evergreen deciduous mass and a long life cycle. The bulb is placed completely under the soil surface, constantly forming many young children, from which whole colonies of ledeburia are then formed. In height, they do not exceed 5–10 cm. A basal rosette is usually collected from the leaves. They are the decoration of this green inhabitant of the planet. The leaf plates are erect, curved, their surface is fleshy. Leaves are painted in a light silver shade. The length of the leaf reaches 10 cm. On the upper side, it is decorated with dark green specks of various shapes running across the leaf surface, and on the back they have a purple tint. During flowering, a long flowering stem forms, bearing an inflorescence. Up to 25-30 buds are collected in inflorescences. The shape of the flowers is bell-shaped, their petals are painted with a greenish-purple or violet-greenish tint. They are very similar in shape and size to the flowers of a lily of the valley - rather small. The flowering process occurs in the spring and summer. The native territories of growth are in the lands of South Africa.
- Ledeburia Luteola (Ledebouria Luteola) is the smallest plant in the genus, with upright leaves. A dense root rosette is collected from them. The color of the foliage is greenish-yellow and there is a pattern of dark green speck on the surface.
- Ledeburia Cooper (Ledebouria Cooperi) has a compact shape and small size. Such bushes rarely exceed 5–10 cm in height with a width of about 5 cm. The foliage located in the root zone forms a dense rosette. Leaves grow erect, oval or slightly oblong in outline with a pointed edge. Purple or violet stripes, contrasting with the general olive color, are put on the entire length of the leaf. The inflorescence is formed quite dense and can reach a height of 25 cm. Flowers are collected in it (there can be up to 50 of them) with bright pink or pinkish-lilac petals, which open very widely during the flowering process. The surface of the petals is decorated with greenish specks and strokes. Elongated stamens are present inside. The size of each flower can reach 5–6 mm in diameter. The plant is a semi-deciduous perennial native to South Africa.
- Ledeburia viscosa (Ledebouria viscosa) has sticky leaves that allow grains of sand to adhere to their surface. This, according to scientists, makes the leaves unattractive to herbivores.
- Ledeburia Marginata (Ledebouria marginata). The leaf blades of this plant have an abundant amount of hard fibers in their tissues, which also make the foliage less attractive to herbivorous fauna.
- Ledeburia hypoxidiodes (Ledebouria hipoxidiodes) differs in foliage densely pubescent with hairs. This is possibly a case of mimicry (imitation), where this species "tries to become" similar to the species of flowering plants belonging to the Hypoxidaceae family. This helps to reduce the loss of moisture from the sheet plates.
What ledeburia looks like, see this video:
