Description of the costus, advice on the content, recommendations for plant propagation, methods of pest and disease control, facts for the curious, species. Costus (Costus) was attributed to the genus of perennial representatives of the green world, which are part of the Costaceae family, in which monocotyledonous flowering plants (that is, there is only one cotyledon in the embryo) of the order Zingiberales. This genus is quite extensive, as there are up to 90 varieties. The native growing areas are in the lands of forest regions, which are located in tropical climates on the continents of America, Africa, Australia, and can also be found in Asia. Although initially scientists believed that the homeland of the costus is the rainforests that cover the regions of India and the Himalayan mountains, and the usual heights at which this exotic was found ranged from 1500 to 3000 meters above sea level. Therefore, initially this plant was called "came from the east" and only over time it began to be found in the above-mentioned territories.
Costus takes on a fairly large size, often its height parameters reach two meters, and some specimens stretch up to six. Possesses a herbaceous form of growth. The rhizome has a large number of adventitious root processes, which end in rounded thickenings. These formations help the plant to accumulate moisture and wait out unfavorable dry periods. The stem can grow up to 12–20 cm in length. The leaf plates are linear, but some species differ in foliage with broadly elliptical and almost rounded contours. The color of the leaves is bright green, the central vein is clearly visible on the surface, which seems to be pressed into it. The arrangement of leaves on the stem is spiral, this is especially visible if you look at the plant from top to bottom. It is for this peculiarity that the costus is popularly called "spiral ginger", which is not surprising, because these flora samples are close "relatives". This arrangement of leaves allows them to receive more sunlight, which is important when growing in dense tropical forests.
The flowering process begins towards the end of spring days. In this case, small buds are formed, the corolla of which resembles a tube, the flowers are three-petaled, their size is almost the same. Inflorescences (several buds) are collected from the flowers, since due to the large number of bracts, they very much resemble a cone. The location of the inflorescences is apical. The color of such a cone is green or yellowish, and there are varieties with a bright orange or reddish color scheme - it depends on the type of costus. The duration of flowering also depends on the variety, so the flower can show off in the inflorescence for just one day. But even changing its color, "spiral ginger" does not lose its spectacular appearance - it is decorated with not fallen bracts.
With the arrival of winter, the costus sheds its foliage and goes into rest mode. Some tall varieties fell in love with flower growers and it is customary to grow them in greenhouses and not only.
Agrotechnics for indoor growing costus, flower care
- Lighting and site selection. Most of all, for this "relative" of ginger, window sills facing the west or east are suitable, in the southern location the plant will have to be shaded from direct ultraviolet streams, and in the northern direction it will be illuminated.
- Growing temperature "Spiral ginger" should be roomy, that is, the plant is thermophilic and a heat range of 18-25 degrees is suitable for it. In the summer, you can take the pot with the costus out into the fresh air, for this a loggia, balcony or terrace is suitable, you can take it out into the garden under the trees. In any case, the place should be shaded from the direct rays of the sun at noon.
- Air humidity is an important criterion when growing a costus - it must be high. Therefore, you should increase the humidity indicators in all available ways: by frequent spraying the foliage with warm and soft water and air next to the plant from a spray bottle, installing air humidifiers next to the pot and you can put the flowerpot in a deep tray, on the bottom of which expanded clay is placed and a little water is poured. The bottom of the pot should not touch it.
- Watering. This plant is distinguished by its great love for increased moisture content in the soil, like its "relative" ginger. Drying out immediately negatively affects the costus. A sure signal for watering is a slightly dry top layer of soil in a pot - it crumbles in a pinch. In the winter months, watering is reduced, but they are still carried out regularly. Water for humidification is used only soft (well-separated or boiled), with heat indicators of 20-24 degrees. After watering, it is recommended to remove the remaining water from the sump after 10-15 minutes.
- Fertilizers for costus, they are introduced only in the spring-summer period, when the plant is actively developing; in other periods, it is not recommended to disturb it with top dressing. When deciduous mass begins to grow at the costus, complex mineral agents are used for decorative deciduous plants, and when buds begin to form, the dressing is changed to a preparation for flowering samples of room flora. It would be nice if the amount of sodium, potassium and phosphorus in the composition of fertilizers was equal, and the costus likes preparations with a large amount of microelements. The regularity of feeding is once every two weeks.
- Transfer "Spiral Ginger" is held annually, but the method is used without breaking the earthen ball, called transshipment. With such an operation, they try not to disturb the root system, but only slightly remove the soil, which itself falls off from above and below. The size of the pot with each transplant should increase by size, a drainage layer of expanded clay or pebbles is laid on the bottom, but in the absence of such, broken shards or broken bricks will do. It is also good to make small holes in the bottom of the container so that excess moisture during watering can freely flow out of the pot.
For the costus, a substrate is made from sod soil, leafy soil, humus and coarse sand (in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1).
DIY costus breeding steps
Despite the fact that this plant is quite rare in indoor floriculture in our country, it is easy to propagate it, while you can sow seeds, divide the rhizome of an adult specimen, or carry out cuttings.
The fastest way to get a viable young costus is to split the rhizome of the mother plant. It is necessary to carefully remove the bush from the pot and cut the root system with a sharpened garden tool (you can use a simple knife), but in such a way that each division has at least one young shoot. Then the parts of the costus are planted in prepared pots with drainage and a substrate that is suitable for adult specimens.
If you are a patient person, then try to grow "spiral ginger" from seeds, as this is a long and troublesome business. On spring days, a substrate consisting of leafy soil and sand is poured into the container, seeds are distributed on its surface (it is unnecessary to cover them). Then the conditions for a mini-greenhouse are created for crops - the container is covered with plastic wrap and placed in a warm place with diffused lighting. It is required to regularly spray the soil when it dries out, and also to ventilate the crops daily. When the first leaves appear on the shoots, the shelter is removed. If a pair of true leaves is formed on the seedlings, then transplant is carried out in separate pots.
When grafting is performed, the blanks for planting should be cut at the end of winter. The cuttings are planted in moistened sand or peat tablets (the second method is more convenient, since the root system of the rooted cuttings will not be injured during the next transplant). Just as when growing a costus from seeds, greenhouse conditions will be needed - the branches are wrapped in a plastic bag or placed under a glass cap. Sometimes the cuttings are simply placed on the surface of the soil, where they successfully sprout.
It is also possible to reproduce the "spiral ginger" with the help of processes, which are called "bulbilla". These processes germinate and develop directly in the leaf sinuses. They, like cuttings, should be rooted after separation in the sand from the end of winter to April. Increased humidity will be required, and temperature readings are about 20-24 degrees. When young costus take root, then transplant their substrate, made up of leafy soil, top peat and river sand.
Costus pests and diseases
Although it is believed that this "spiral ginger" is quite resistant to diseases or harmful insects, but if the above-mentioned maintenance rules are violated, the plant is attacked by spider mites or mealybugs. If pests or products of their vital activity are found (cobwebs, cotton balls or honeydew), you should immediately treat with a broad-spectrum insecticide.
However, as practice shows, even such chemical methods of dealing with mealybugs sometimes remain ineffective and only strong shortening of all shoots can help.
Before treatment with an insecticide, if a spider mite is found on the bone, then it is worth trying to wash the leaf plates under the shower, sometimes such a simple remedy can help your plant, since the pest appears when the air humidity is low.
With the arrival of winter, foliage begins to fly around the costus - this is a natural process for the plant, but if this happens in the spring or summer, then probably the "spiral ginger" suffers from a lack of nutrients or lacks light.
Costus plant facts for the curious
A variety of Costus is beautiful, is a natural aphrodisiac and serves to tone the entire body. This plant is well known to healers in India and China. It was used to cure diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract (asthma or cough). Also, tinctures are used to eliminate gas or spasms, can be used as an antiseptic, since the costus has anti-inflammatory, wound healing and anthelmintic properties. This representative of the flora is well known to perfumers and cosmetologists, because it can give the skin of the face smoothness and radiance, remove age spots and whiten or exfoliate the skin well.
On the territory of natural growth of this "spiral ginger", he found application as an incense in religious ceremonies and in everyday life. For its excellent aroma in India, costus is called "surabhi", which means "a plant that has a good smell." Also, the "relative of ginger" is also used in the food industry, since it is added in the manufacture of confectionery products, as a flavoring agent or in the production of non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages.
Costus types
- Costus ignes it is highly decorative due to the bright orange color of the flowers, which stand out against the background of leaf plates of a dark emerald color. The plant is valued by flower growers due to the fact that the flowering process falls in autumn, when there are practically no other flowers. Native places of growth are in the forests of southern Brazil. It takes a herbaceous form and has a rhizome, the stem reaches 50 cm in height. The shape of the leaf is oblong-ovate, there is a sharpening at the apex, there are no petioles (sessile), with a well-developed sheath. Shoots are straight-growing from the very beginning, but over time they begin to lie down, leaves are placed on them in a spiral order, and the closer to the top, the smaller the internodes become, and a large leaf whorl flaunts at the very top. When the end of summer comes and until November, flowers begin to form from the leaf axils of each apical leaf in the next order. Their diameter is equal to 6-7 cm, the color is bright orange. The elongated tube is formed by fused petals, at their base, the surface is slightly corrugated. Good quality seed. This variety is popular with flower growers and it is customary to grow it in home collections, greenhouses, display cases, conservatories or in small office rooms.
- Paper costus (Costus chartaceus) perennial plant, reaching a height of about 90 cm. The shape of the leaves is elliptical, they are attached to straight stems, the color of the foliage is from light greenish to dark emerald. The color of the bracts is bright red, the flowers have tubular outlines, they are painted in a pinkish or red tone.
- Red-leaved costus (Costus erythrophyllus) has a long lifespan, it can grow up to 1.5 m in height and width. The stems are distinguished by reed-like outlines with a red-brown tone. The contours of the leaf plate are broadly lanceolate, their color is dark green on top, and the reverse side is colored, like the stems, in a red-chestnut shade. The shape of the flowers is tubular, their color is white, but there is a pinkish tint inside.
- Guyana costus (Costus guanaiensis). This variety has the shape of a bush, and it has a high growth rate, while reaching parameters in height of 1–2, 5 m. The stems are bamboo type. The number of leaves is multiple and they are arranged on elongated shoots in a spiral order. The shape of the leaf plate is oblong-elliptical or obverse-lanceolate, the color is medium or dark green. A narrowing goes to the base, a short sharpening is present at the apex. The size of the leaf reaches 20–60 cm in length and about 5–15 cm in width. The flowers in their outlines are quite similar to orchids, but the petals here are red bracts with many flowers of yellow or white color, sometimes their color inside is reddish. The inflorescence itself is cone-like or ovoid, measuring 15 cm in length, reaching 6 cm in width, but at the same time the length of one flower approaches 10 cm.
- Reed costus (Costus ligularis). Herbaceous perennial, reaching a height of 1, 2 m. The leaves have oblong obovate contours, with a sharpness, the length can vary within 15–20 cm, with a width of about 20 cm. At the base of the leaf outlines are wedge-shaped, the color is dark green with a slight grayish tint, while the central dark emerald vein is quite noticeable. The number of flowers is large, of which sessile clusters of inflorescences are collected, located at the ends of the stems or in the leaf axils. The bracts are 0.5 cm wide, the apex with teeth. Corolla measures 2.5 cm in length, its lip can grow up to 5 cm, both in length and in width, with a pinkish color.
- Beautiful costus (Costus speciosus) has a fairly large size, which is 2 meters. The leaf plates sit on the stem, their shape is oval, whole-edged, the color is green and with spectacular narrow whitish stripes and the same narrow border of the same color. It grows in South America and is considered a medicinal plant.
More about costus in the video below:
