Distinctive features of xanthosome, agricultural techniques during cultivation, recommendations for reproduction, methods of pest and disease control, during cultivation, species. Xanthosoma (Xanthosoma) is an exotic plant that is native to tropical South and Central America, and can also be found in the Antilles. Scientists have attributed this representative of the flora to the Araceae family, or in some sources it is referred to as Aronnikovs. In the genus of such specimens, there are up to 45 varieties, however, due to their large size, only some of them with xanthosis are common in home floriculture.
Since in ancient times people were more observant, the then Greeks named the plant, making up two words in the ancient Greek dialect "xanthos", which meant "yellow" and "soma" - translated as "body". This is all because the stigmas of the female flowers were yellow in color.
This perennial plant has a powerful rhizome and a fairly thick trunk, which has the peculiarity of rising above the surface of the substrate, but most of it is under the ground. The life form of this exotic is herbaceous; when grown in indoor conditions, the height of such a "raspberry" can approach the indicators of one and a half meters. The largest decoration of xanthosoma is its leaf plates attached to elongated petioles. The leaves have a fairly dense texture and a glossy shiny surface. Their sizes are quite large, the shape of the leaf is arrow-shaped at the top, and at the base it has a rounding. But of greater interest is the color of the foliage, which includes all sorts of shades of light and dark green colors. All the showiness of the leaf plate is created thanks to the mesh of whitish veins.
But if we proceed from the name, it becomes clear that this representative of the flora is not only a decorative leafy specimen of flora, but also a flowering plant. Although it is almost impossible to wait for the process of inflorescence formation under indoor growing conditions, in the natural habitat of life, xanthosoma flaunts with an inflorescence that has the shape of an ear, which has grown together with an elongated sheet-blanket. The shape of such a veil is ovoid or oblong-ovate. The flowers that make up the inflorescence are cast in yellow color. The plant has the ability to secrete milky juice. Below are the female buds, and above are the male ones.
The plant can be grown by novice growers, since xanthosoma does not show whims of care, like its direct "relatives" Dieffenbachia, Monstera or "dollar tree" with spathiphyllum and the like. The growth rate of xanthosoma is quite high and if you do not violate the rules of maintenance, then it will delight the owners for a rather long time.
Creation of conditions for growing xanthosome
- Lighting and selection of a place for a plant. Despite the fact that it is a resident of tropical lands, xanthosoma does not like to be in direct sunlight. It is recommended for her to arrange diffused lighting or grow a plant in partial shade. If the bush is under direct streams of ultraviolet radiation for a long time, then the color of the leaves will soon turn pale, and traces of sunburn will begin to appear on them. For the plant, the window sills of the eastern or western windows are most suitable, since in the southern location the owner needs to take care of shading, which is provided by light curtains, curtains made of light fabrics (gauze may work) or tracing paper (translucent paper) is attached to the window glass. On the north side, as practice shows, this variegated beauty is also good.
- Content temperature. Since xanthosoma comes from tropical territories, the content with sufficiently high heat values is comfortable for it. In this case, in the spring-summer period, it follows that the column of the thermometer does not go beyond 18-28 units, and with the arrival of autumn, the temperature can be lowered to a maximum of 15 degrees. The plant reacts rather poorly to drafts and temperature fluctuations. In the summer, you can take out the variegated bush to the fresh air.
- Air humidity when cultivating xanthosomes, it should be the same as for many tropical plants - more than 60%. In the spring and summer months, it is recommended to spray the deciduous mass about 3 times a week, but the owners of such aroid plants claim that carrying out such daily procedures has an excellent effect on the condition of the leaf plates. Only soft and warm water is used. If you do not adhere to such rules, then in the first case, whitish spots appear on the foliage, and in the second brown ones. During autumn and winter, when heating devices begin to work in the premises, the patterned xanthosoma leaves should be gently wiped with a damp and soft cloth or sponge. It is recommended to move the plant away from working heaters and batteries. Although the exotic can adapt to dry indoor air, then its development rate decreases and pests may appear.
- Watering the xanthosoma. This is the most important condition for growing a variegated bush, which the owner should pay priority attention to. In the spring and summer months, soil moisture should be abundant, about 2-3 times a week. With the arrival of autumn days, such procedures are reduced. But in such a way that the substrate does not dry out - up to once every 7–8 days. The soil in the pot between waterings should have time to dry out by 1 cm in the autumn-winter period. But if the plant at this time is kept at low heat, then it is better to keep it dry. Otherwise, violation of this requirement will lead to the onset of putrefactive processes of the root system. Water for irrigation of xanthosoma must be warmed up to room temperature - its indicators should fluctuate between 20-24 degrees. You can also use rain, melt and river water. But some growers are convinced that it is already difficult to guarantee its purity in urban conditions, therefore they use distilled or filtered, and then boiled and settled liquid.
- Fertilizers for such a variegated plant, it is necessary to introduce with the beginning of the growing processes, which in xanthosoma last from March to September. The frequency of such dressings is every 14–20 days. The preparations are used in a liquid consistency in half the dose specified by the manufacturer. Also, the plant responds well to the introduction of organic matter (slurry).
- Transplantation for xanthosoma at a young age, it is necessary in April days every year, and sometimes these manipulations are carried out twice a year, since the "young" can very quickly master the proposed substrate. When the plants mature, transplants are carried out only once every 2-3 years, when the volume of the pot is filled with rhizomes. If the xanthosis rhizome has grown strongly, then it is recommended to plant it in a separate container, and its smaller parts are placed several pieces in one pot. On the bottom of the pot, a layer of drainage material is required, for example, broken shards of medium size or crushed and sifted bricks, you can also use medium-fraction expanded clay or pebbles. In the bottom of the container, small holes are preliminarily made for the outflow of excess moisture.
The substrate for xanthosome transplantation should have an acidity of pH 6, 1–6, 5, as well as be nutritious and loose so that water and air can easily flow to the root system of the plant. Soil can be composed of the following options:
- leaf and sod land, peat and river sand (in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 0, 5);
- leafy soil, soddy soil, sand or perlite (in a ratio of 3: 1: 1);
- sod soil and coarse-grain sand or perlite are mixed in equal parts, with the addition of 3 parts of sheet soil.
Often, experienced flower growers recommend adding a small amount of crushed charcoal, horn shavings or chopped sphagnum moss to the soil mixture.
Since foliage has a peculiarity of aging and withering, it is recommended to remove it in a timely manner so that the plant does not waste its juices on the petioles of such leaf plates.
Steps for self-propagating xanthosome
Often this variegated plant is propagated by dividing its rhizome or planting its offspring.
In this case, it is recommended to combine the reproduction process with transplantation. To do this, you need to remove the xanthome from the pot, shake off the substrate slightly, and then cut the rhizome with a sharpened and disinfected knife. To avoid decay of the sections, it is better to sprinkle the sections with powdered charcoal or activated carbon powder. The planting of parts of the rhizome is carried out in previously prepared containers, with expanded clay and fertile soil placed on the bottom. When the delenki show signs of rooting, then they are transplanted into new pots, separately with a substrate more suitable for growing this representative of the aroid.
Over time, the overgrown xanthosoma bush has lateral offshoots - "babies". They need to be separated from the mother plant. This process requires increased care, since you can lose not only young "children", but also the xanthosome itself. It is recommended to plant the offspring in a suitable potting mix, which is poured into the seed boxes. The germination temperature is constantly maintained within the range of 22-24 degrees. When the offspring are successfully rooted, they are transplanted by transferring them into separate containers with a more suitable soil composition.
Pests and diseases in the cultivation of xanthosome
If there are violations of the conditions of detention, then the plant can be affected by the scale insect, aphids and spider mites. The last pest tends to become active when the room has constantly low humidity levels.
The following troubles may also be observed when growing xanthosome in a room:
- if fertilizing is not applied to the substrate where the plant grows or there is a strong lack of them, then the foliage turns yellow in xanthosoma;
- with an overabundance of the level of illumination, a pale shade of the vegetative organs of the plant is observed;
- in variegated forms, with a lack of lighting, the patterning on the leaf plates disappears;
- when the substrate in the pot is constantly in a waterlogged state and the air humidity is also greatly increased, then a brown spot appears on the dark green surface of the leaf plates, and the tips and edge of the leaves also turn brown; droplets on the tips of the leaves serve as a signal of high humidity.
If you ignore the recommendation not to overmoisten the soil in the pot, then rotting of the root system and subsequently of all parts of the xanthosoma inevitably begins.
Xanthosome Facts To Remember
It is important not to forget that xanthosome, like many members of the aroid family, has the poisonous properties of its parts. Therefore, you should take safety measures when working with this plant - wear gloves, and after working with it, wash your hands with soap and water.
Since this plant has a fairly large foliage size, it will successfully decorate any interior.
Leaf plates, like the rhizome of some varieties, are customary in countries where plants are naturally growing to be used in cooking.
Types of xanthosoma
- Xanthosoma violet (Xanthosoma violaceum Schott (Alocasia violancea hort.)) represents the most popular species among florists. Perennial, which in height can reach indicators from 0.8 to 2 meters. Naturally, a greenhouse is suitable for its cultivation. But in room conditions, the height of this plant will be more modest - only 1 m. An intense purple rosette is assembled from the leaf plates. The shape of the leaf is ovoid or arrow-shaped, the parameters in length reach half a meter with a width varying within 30-40 cm. On the upper side, the leaf has a blue-green color with a waxy bloom, and the reverse side is tinted with a matte green color scheme with a beautiful purple tint. The petioles are plump, strong, with a purple or purple color. During flowering, the cobs are laid in several units in the axils of 3-4 leaves. In the upper part of the cob inflorescence there are male flowers, and below them - female ones. The length of the bedspread reaches 20-30 cm, it has a yellowish tone. The rhizome has a tuberous form, in some countries, like foliage, it is customary to use them for food. Has a high growth rate, preferably grown in florarium conditions. By winter time, almost the entire aerial part dies off and only the rhizome remains, with the help of which reproduction takes place.
- Xanthosoma lindenii (Andre) Engle.). The leaf plates of this variety have arrow-shaped outlines, varying in length in the range of 25–40 cm. Their surface is glossy, painted in green or light green color, a wide central vein and those veins located on the sides are clearly visible. From above, the foliage is distinguished by a scattering of whitish stripes, which are in perfect harmony with the general background of the leaf plate, the reverse side is monochromatic. The leaves are crowned with elongated petioles, which can measure 50–75 cm, with vaginal outlines in the lower part. When flowering, the leaf is a blanket of white color, the inflorescence is cob-shaped with a cylindrical outline, short. The plant prefers to settle in its natural habitat in humid Colombian territories. In culture, it is customary to grow it in warm greenhouses.
- Xanthosoma powerful (Xanthosoma robustum Schott). This species is devoid of a stem at a young age, but in adult plants it can reach a meter in height. The leaves have arrow-oval outlines, in length they can reach from 50 cm to 2 m. The leaf plate is soft, painted in green color, there is a matte shade on the upper side, and the opposite is cast in a lighter color. The length of the petioles varies within 0.5–1.5 m, in the lower part they are vaginal, and the width there is equal to 10 cm. The native habitat falls on the lands of Mexico.
- Xanthosoma dark green (Xanthosoma atrovirens C. Koch et Bouche) is a perennial with a short cylindrical rhizome. The leaf plates have ovate-arrow-shaped outlines, reach 70 cm in length and about 60 cm in width. Their color is dark green, green along the edge, on the back of the leaf at the middle vein there is a bell-shaped formation. The petiole has a dark emerald hue, with a touch of bluish color. The sheet-cover at the top casts a lilac tone, from the outside at the veins it is reddish. The native territories of natural growth fall on the lands of tropical America.
- Xanthosoma arrowhead (Xanthosoma saggittifolia (Arum, sagittifolium L.)) grows in tropical America. Leaf plates can grow up to 90 cm in length, taking on a sagittal-oval shape.
What xanthosoma looks like, see the video below:
