Description of korokia, creation of conditions for growing, breeding rules, pest and disease control during care, facts to note, species. Corokia is a plant that botanists classify as Saxifragaceae or Argophyllaceae. In room culture, this specimen of the green world of the planet is a rather rare visitor. The island lands of New Zealand are considered to be the native growing areas of this exotic; there are also three varieties from the representatives of the family.
The stalks of the crust are thin and have clear breaks, its contours are zigzag, since at each node the direction of growth changes. Because of this, the people call it a "zigzag bush" for this. Young branches are distinguished by pubescence, and over time it disappears, the color becomes dark, grayish and lignified over time. The leaf blades are very small with rhomboid or spatulate contours, and are usually arranged in a well-ordered manner. The surface on the reverse side of the leaf has a pubescence of a silvery sheen. The leaf is attached to the stem with a long petiole. From a distance, the plant looks pretty lacy and light, like a cobweb because of the foliage. It is interesting that in its appearance this exotic shrub with zigzag stems resembles a stick insect, which differs in a strange, but attractive way.
Because of its appearance, korokia is not loved by all growers; it is often used to form a tree in the bonsai style or when grown with its pristine outlines.
This plant periodically forms small buds with yellow petals, with their outlines they resemble small stars, but the flowers are not of particular interest. The flowering process takes place during the winter months. If the plant is grown, for example, in the UK, after the pollination of flowers is completed, then the zigzag shrub throws out fruits in the form of berries. Their surface color ranges from orange to bright red.
The growth rate of this exotic is quite high, since the growth per year is up to 15–20 cm. The total height of corokia stems can reach parameters in the range of 1, 5–2 meters. However, due to the fact that young branches are not always directed outward, sometimes the shoots that form begin to be directed after bending into the bush. Therefore, to maintain decorativeness, more elongated stems should be pinched regularly. Such a zigzag shrub is unpretentious, like all representatives of the Kamnelomkovy family.
Tips for cultivating corokia, plant care
- Lighting level and choice of location. This specimen of flora is quite photophilous and therefore he will gladly expose his leaves to the direct rays of the sun. A place on the windowsill of windows of a western, eastern or southern orientation is suitable. In the southern location, the korokia is gradually accustomed to ultraviolet fluxes, and then even in the sun it will not need shading. If there is not enough light, then the stems of the plant will stretch out very ugly and the bush will lose its decorative effect. Therefore, being on the window of the northern installation, the plant will need to carry out supplementary lighting with special fluorescent lamps or phytolamps.
- Leaving temperature for a zigzag-like shrub, it should not take values that go beyond 20 units in spring-summer, and with the arrival of autumn months, it is gradually reduced to 5–10 degrees, maintaining these values in winter. If there are jumps in temperature indicators or the crust will be exposed to a draft, then the result will be foliage. The plant does not feel bad if it is kept outdoors, you can transfer the pot with it to the balcony or terrace when the threat of morning frost has passed (towards the end of May). And although this representative of the saxifrage is able to withstand a short-term decrease in heat, up to frost, it is still not worth the risk and in October they move the pot to room conditions.
- Air humidity when growing this bushy exotic, it is kept moderate. Although, according to the stories of connoisseurs, korokia does an excellent job with the dryness inherent in residential or office premises. Spraying is recommended only in very intense heat, which occurs in the summer months, however, this operation should not be frequent. The same procedures are recommended in order to help the plant cope with the furnishings of rooms where heaters and central heating radiators work in winter. Only soft, settled and warm water is used.
- Watering korokii. It is necessary to moisturize the plant rather moderately so that the potted substrate is always left slightly damp - overdrying is not permissible. The guideline for watering is the condition of the soil; between waterings, it should only dry out halfway. With the arrival of winter, the owner of a bush with zigzag shoots must even more monitor the state of the substrate, here drying will be harmful. In the summer months, even in the heat, the soil in the flowerpot should not be brought to waterlogging. For humidification, only settled water with room heat indicators (about 20-24 degrees) is used.
- Fertilizers for a representative of saxifrage, it is necessary to bring in any flower, with a full set of minerals and organics, or solutions for decorative deciduous plants kept in room conditions. The regularity of feeding is once every 14 days, starting in March and ending in October. In winter, the owner of this bush with zigzag shoots can greatly reduce fertilization. It is necessary to dissolve the liquid formulations in the water used for irrigation, but if the dressing is in a dry consistency, then it is poured onto the soil under the bush.
- Transfer and selection of soil. This shrub with zigzag shoots is transplanted no more often than once a year, when the crusty one is young, but the pot and the substrate are changed for adult specimens once every 2-3 years. A layer of medium-sized expanded clay or pebbles should be poured onto the bottom so that the material acts as drainage - these conditions are vital for the comfortable cultivation of korokii. The thickness of such material should be at least 3-5 cm. Any soil can be used when replanting an exotic shrub: both sod and leaf substrate, peat or river sand is used. Also, the soil is mixed on the basis of coarse sand and humus, taken in equal parts.
- Breeding features. In the summer, the plant should be taken out into the open air; the crust also reacts well to the air in a smoky room. You can use this zigzag shrub as a bonsai. The stems should be pruned regularly.
Independent reproduction of corokia at home
To please yourself with a new zigzag shrub, you can sow seeds or carry out cuttings. Propagated in any way in the summer.
If seeds are sown, then the container should be kept in a mini-greenhouse, with high humidity and heat. To do this, cover the container with seeds with a plastic bag or cover with glass. It is necessary not to forget to air the crops and moisten the substrate when it dries from a finely dispersed spray bottle. One disadvantage of this method is that germination takes a long time. But when the seedlings grow and a pair of leaf plates appear on them, then transplantation can be carried out by transferring them into separate pots with a suitable substrate.
If cuttings are cut, then semi-lignified branches are used. The length of the cutting should not be less than 10 cm and contain from one to three leaves. The cut stalk should be pinched and planted in a pot with a sandy-peat substrate, then the twigs are wrapped in a plastic bag and rooted at temperatures up to 20 degrees.
Pest and disease control
A plant with zigzag stems is quite resistant to harmful insects and diseases. But if the conditions of detention are violated, then the corokia is affected by a spider mite, aphids, or a fungal disease can begin from the bay and moisture. When pests are identified, it is recommended to treat the foliage with insecticides and acaricides in accordance with the problem. If a fungus has appeared, then the affected parts should be removed and transplanted into a new sterilized substrate and take a new container. Before planting, they are treated with fungicides.
Troubles also happen, among which there are:
- when a deficiency of nutrients in the soil begins, the corokia immediately reacts by reducing the size of the foliage;
- when the light level is very low, then the shoots of the plant are stretched;
- if a spot of a colored color forms on the leaf plates, then frequent fillings of the substrate occur;
- leaf plates acquire a yellowed tint, and it begins to fly around in the lower part of the stems, in the absence of a verified soil moisture regime or with strong fluctuations in heat indicators;
- when the foliage dries up, it becomes evidence of a reduced dryness of the air.
Things to note about corokia
Scientists put forward the assumption that by twisting its shoots and as if "hiding" them inside the bush crown, the plant tries to protect young stems from animals that live in that territory and actively feed on them.
Types of corokia
Corokia buddlejoides has the outlines of a straight-growing bush, the shoots of which can reach up to 3 meters in height with a width of 2 meters. The leaf plates acquire elliptical lanceolate linear outlines, the surface is glossy with a dark green color, they stretch up to 15 cm in length. The flowers are small in size with yellow petals, drooping contours, their length varies within 2–5 cm. Their location on the shoots is finite. When fruiting, berries appear in a bright black color, with a spherical shape.
Corokia cotoneaster (Corokia cotoneaster) can bear the name Corokia star-shaped. It usually takes a shrub shape with rounded outlines. The branches are very confused, the height of the plant can reach a maximum of 2.5 m, the parameters are the same in width. The leaf plates are arranged in groups, also strongly intertwined. The shape of the leaf is broadly oval or obovate, sometimes even almost round, the edge is entire. The color of the foliage is dark green, the parameters of the leaf plate in diameter and length can be equal to 1.5 cm. The top has a blunt end or it can be notched, at the base is a wedge-shaped leaf. The upper surface is leathery, shiny. As soon as the leaf is straightened, it is covered with long pressed hairs, however, over time they disappear and the leaf becomes naked, only on the back side it retains a silky tomentose pubescence. The leaves are attached to the stems with shortened petioles.
The flowering process falls on May days. In this case, small enough flowers are formed, their petals are cast in a yellowish color, their arrangement is single, or the buds can be collected in racemose inflorescences of 4 units. Flowers originate in the leaf axils at the tops of the stems. Korokia flowers appear bisexual, with 4–5 petal members. The bud opens completely to a diameter of 1 cm. The flower-bearing stem is 2–4 mm in length, the sepals are triangular or broadly lanceolate, their parameters in length are equal to 0.7–1 mm with dullness at the apex. Their surface is silky-hairy, sepals remain on ripening fruits. The outlines of the petals are lanceolate, their parameters are 5–6 mm in length and up to 1.5 mm in width. On the outside, the petals also have silk hairiness, and inside there is a fringe-like scale. Filaments of stamens are bare, crowned with subulate or elongated-elliptical anthers.
Ripening fruits - drupes are cast in a reddish-yellow tone, their shape is oblong-elliptical.
The plant maintains its native territories of distribution on the islands of New Zealand, namely the North and South islands, as well as the Three Kings Island and the Stewart Island. The variety was introduced before 1875.
Large-fruited corokia (Corokia macrocarpa). It is a shrub representative of the flora, which can reach 2 meters in height with shoots, with the same width. Leaf plates with a leathery surface, their shape is lanceolate, the color from the upper part is gray-green, and the reverse is cast in a silvery color scheme. The length of the leaf can be equal to 8 cm. During flowering, small buds are formed, in which the petals are cast yellow. From the flowers, racemose inflorescences are collected, reaching 4 cm in length. Placing them in the leaf axils at the tops of the shoots. Ripening fruits take on an oblong-oval shape with a red tint.
Corokia virgata is a hybrid plant obtained by crossing Corokia cotoneaster or buddleiform. The height of this shrub can be equal to 3 meters in size and the same parameters in width. The leaf plates are spoon-shaped, obverse-lanceolate, and their surface is glossy. The color of the foliage is dark green from the top, and the reverse has a whitish color. The length of the leaf can reach 5 cm. The flowers, like those of other varieties, are smallish, but they have a pleasant aroma. From the buds, axillary inflorescences with outlines of brushes are collected, in which there are three units of flowers. The flowering process falls on the days of May. The fruits ripen in the form of an egg-shaped drupe, colored yellow or orange.
Corokia carpodetoides can be synonymous with the name Colmeiroa carpodetoides or Paracorokia carpodetoides, often popularly called Coroca. The variety carries a specific epithet because of its similarity to the genus Carpodetus, to the name of which the suffix - "-oides", which translates as "reminiscent", was added. With its branches, the shrub is able to reach a height of 2 meters, but if the plant takes the form of a tree, then the height parameters can reach 5 meters. When the twigs are still young, they are covered with matted short hairs. The leaf plates take elongated outlines, reaching narrowly elliptical. The length of the leaf grows up to 2–6 cm with a width of about 1–2 cm. The density of their location increases towards the apex of the shoot.
The formed inflorescences bear multiple small yellowish flowers. The main process of opening flowers occurs during the period from the beginning of winter to January. Fruits with one seed can reach 3 mm in length, ripening, they become dry, acquiring a brown color. This treelike saxifrage is endemic to Lord Howe's lands in Australia in the Tasman Sea. Locally, it can be found on the hills in the Leadbird and Gower mountain ranges, mainly these areas fall on the southern tip of the island.
How does korokia look like, see the video below:
