Diplomatic property (mandeville): species, care and reproduction

Dipladenia, or Mandeville, is very often compared with other plants - it is called, for example, Bolivian rose, Chilean or Brazilian jasmine, Brazilian balsam. If gardening is not alien to you, you probably understand that any of these flowers in the original could become a wonderful decoration for the garden, but here - all this together in one bottle!

Mandeville, and this is how it is correctly called in Latin, is a whole genus of the kutrov family. The genus includes approximately 120-190 species of plants, both annual and perennial, all of them flowering and necessarily climbing - vines, to put it simply. In recent decades, various lianas have become more and more popular ornamental plants due to their beautiful flowering, but diplodesia for its flower even received the proud title of "queen of indoor lianas". One of the reasons for this definition is the very long flowering time, which lasts almost all year round, except for the winter months.

The traditional habitat of species of this genus is Central and South America - this is understandable even from all these poetic names geographically referenced to a particular country. Of course, not all wild-growing species are ready to migrate into the garden or premises, but some species and varieties derived from them really have remarkable decorative effect.

Mandeville is one of the few plants that are named after a person but not a scientist. Its name is given in honor of Henry Mandeville, an English diplomat who was fond of gardening in his free time, and during his service in Argentina did a lot to popularize this plant as a garden crop. Another name - diplodenia - is of Greek origin and indicates the anatomical features of the vine, since it is translated as "the one with double glands."

Despite the significant variety of wild species of Mandeville, not all are suitable for artificial breeding. However, even among the available options, you can choose for a rather long time, therefore we will consider the most popular varieties of diploma in gardening.

Diplomatic property is brilliant it has a very beautiful color combination: on the outside, its flower is painted in a bright pink tone, but on the inside it is milky white. Such flowers are quite large, their diameter can reach 10 cm, while there are 6 lush flowers per inflorescence. Such a pet can grow up to 4-5 meters in height, while as the stem grows, the number of pointed leaves in the shape of a heart gradually decreases.

Bolivian Diplomatic considered to be the most common among the domesticated species of Mandeville. If you have ever seen such a plant, you will surely recognize it in the future thanks to well-visible elongated shoots dotted with rich green leaves in the shape of an egg 5-8 cm in diameter.The flower of this species is predominantly white, only the pharynx differs in shade - it is yellow. Bolivian liana blooms in brushes of 3-4 flowers, each of them is relatively small - usually no more than 5 cm in diameter.

Diplomatic property is excellent in terms of flowering shades, it radically differs from the two already described species, since the white color is not represented here at all, but the red-pink corolla turns into red petals. For this plant, in general, a certain love for red tones is characteristic, because even the stems have such a shade, and only rounded leaves up to 4 cm long remained the usual rich green color.

Sander's Diplomas - another variety of this vine, attracting gardeners with an unusual combination of tones: the petals are painted in a delicate but bright pink, while a yellow throat stands out against their background. The diameter of each flower can be up to 7 cm, usually 3-5 flowers are present in one inflorescence. Such a Mandeville is characterized by extremely rapid growth, it can be identified not only by flowering, but also by leathery oval-shaped leaves with a sharpness of up to 5 centimeters or more in length.

Dipladenia loose - one of the most demanding vines to the place, because this plant is characterized by strong lateral branching. The normal length for this mandeville is 5 meters, moreover, it is densely covered with emerald leaves up to 10 cm long. Each flower of such a vine has an emphasized white color. It is impossible not to highlight the splendor of the flowering of loose diplodemy - with a flower diameter of 9 cm, there are usually 5 to 10 of them in each inflorescence.

From these wild species, over the decades of breeders' work, many artificial varieties have been developed that differ in properties not found in the wild. For example, some varieties bloom in yellow, gold or cherry hues, have a well-perceived pleasant smell, or their flowers have a thick fleecy coating. A novice gardener should pay attention to varieties such as Allamandu, Red Hood, Cosmos Rose, Sun Parasol Crimson, Cosmos White, Scarlet Pimpernell, Classic Red, Fair Lady, Yellow, Laxa, Summer Snow "and" Pink Parfait ".

Mandeville is a visitor from distant lands, where conditions are very different not only from our street, but also from a typical apartment. On the one hand, this liana, like any other, cannot be attributed to the most whimsical plants, but on the other hand, it is very unusual for our region, and therefore the florist will have to thoroughly think about how to create adequate conditions for her. In fact, this task does not have any particular difficulty, but it is very important to adhere to all recommendations in strict accordance with the instructions, otherwise you should not be surprised if the plant disappoints the gardener in his expectations.

Please note that some conditions for keeping diplodemy are specific to lianas - for example, a plant definitely needs support.

Contrary to the beliefs of many of our compatriots, in humid equatorial forests, where diplomatic life grows in the wild, it is not very hot. It turns out that most people are afraid that Mandeville will freeze in winter, but our sultry summer actually poses a much greater risk for her. There can be no question of growing this liana on the street all year round in our country, but this tropical guest will even be too much of a normal room temperature in winter.

It is generally accepted that during the growing season, the best temperature range for a Mandeville will be only 18-26 degrees Celsius. In fact, a slight excess of the indicated values ​​will not become a disaster - on the contrary, the flowers can become brighter from the abundance of heat.

Closer to the end of autumn and in winter, a period of dormancy is observed in diplomatic possession - it is not very pronounced, but it does exist. At this stage, the liana needs a certain cooling, otherwise, due to the year-round active growth, we will simply deplete the plant. It is winter that can become a certain problem, because the optimal temperature for a Mandeville at this stage is only +12.16 degrees, which is chilly for a living room. If there is such an opportunity, it makes sense for the winter months to move the flower pot to a relatively cool place - for example, take it to the terrace or send it to the insulated loggia.

Equatorial forests are called wet for a reason: the local humidity can reach 90%, and many of our compatriots have never even encountered such conditions. It is not so easy to create such conditions in our climate, and many will find it uncomfortable to be in them, therefore Mandeville is often kept behind glass, in a special showcase. Alternatively, you can use any method to increase the humidity in the room. - for example, install a container with a diploma on a pallet with pebbles or buy a special fountain, in extreme cases - at least just install a wide open water reservoir somewhere nearby.

Mandeville is a jungle dweller who, in natural conditions, braids forest trees and spends her whole life in their shade. At the same time, the region of its traditional growth is distinguished by a sunny climate, therefore, in our understanding, there simply does not exist a really thick shade there. This is the basis for the requirements of the creeper for lighting: on the one hand, it should be quite bright, on the other, it must be diffused.

The best position for a vine pot would be a space near windows to the east and west. - there is quite a lot of sunlight, but direct rays do not enter the room in the middle of the day. There is even more light on the south side of the world - so much so that it may even be excessive, because experts admit the cultivation of Mandeville in this part of the house, but they advise to shade the plant with at least tulle after lunch.

Considering that Mandeville is very fond of fresh air, in the summertime it is permissible to take the pot with it to relatively open spaces - to the balcony or to the garden. At the same time, you need to constantly remember that the vine does not tolerate drafts well, therefore you need to find an angle where strong gusts of wind do not reach. Ideally, at least two places should be immediately allocated for the pot: one summer and one winter, with the conditions corresponding to those described above.

Caring for a diploma at home is not so much difficult as it requires constant attention to the plant, adherence to a certain schedule, and constant presence in the apartment.

Proper cultivation on the territory of Russia usually does not allow planting in open ground, but even in indoor conditions, as we saw, the temperature will not always correspond to the required indicators. Due to the fact that Mandeville curls, it is grown as a typical ampelous plant, suspended in a flower pot and allowed to fall down. A tropical guest is distinguished by a rather rapid growth, therefore, from time to time it must be transplanted into a new vessel, which will give more space for roots than the previous one.

Like many southern plants, diplodesia loves moisture, but there is no specific time for watering it - it all depends on how quickly the soil dries. The need for the next irrigation session usually arises when the topsoil has dried to a depth of about 1-1.5 cm.During the active growing season, this usually means watering twice or three times a week, but at the peak of summer conditions may be such that irrigation will have to be increased up to two times daily. Already in September, the intensity of watering can be greatly reduced, but be careful not to provoke a lack of moisture - this may cause the Mandeville to lose foliage.

Irrigation is carried out only with warm water, otherwise you risk catching a cold to the plant. In addition, the presence of lime particles in the moisture is also a big problem for creepers, therefore the water is pre-settled or filtered. Dipladenia requires a rather acidic soil, therefore, once a month, a little citric acid is added to the water for irrigation.

As mentioned above, high humidity is important for diploding, so a humidifying tray will come in handy. All that is needed is to install a pot with a flower in a pallet filled with expanded clay or pebbles. Such drainage is filled with a layer of water, but not flooded by it - the upper limit of moisture should not reach the bottom of the pot.

To improve the condition of the plant, it should also be sprayed daily with warm water. It is highly undesirable to ignore this procedure at the time of budding and flowering, when Mandeville's need for moisture is especially high.

Without fertilizers, this vine does not please the grower too much - it either grows too slowly, or blooms sparsely and dimly. Get ready for the fact that the diplopia will have to be fed often and quite abundantly, and the break is only made for the winter, when the vine is at rest.

With the awakening of the plant in early spring, nitrogen-based fertilizers should be actively applied to the soil., allowing you to quickly build up green mass. Without intensive photosynthesis, which requires an abundance of leaves, Mandeville will neither grow quickly nor bloom brightly. However, at the moment when the liana enters the budding stage, it is no longer possible to waste the plant's strength on new leaves, therefore the main emphasis in dressing moves towards potassium and phosphorus.

In general, the fertilizing season lasts from March to August, fertilization stops when most of the flowers have already faded - then the Mandeville is left alone.

Dipladenia is one of the fastest growing indoor plants, and therefore it is advised to cut it regularly, otherwise the house will soon become not yours, but hers. There is no need to spare the volume, since Mandeville will still not form flowers on last year's shoots, so they can be removed without fear.

Pruning is usually done in the fall, after flowering has finished. If the shoot does not have forks, only a third of the length is left from it; sometimes half or even two-thirds of their original size is left for small branches. Due to pruning, the plant gets the opportunity to fully rest in winter, and it will easily restore its last year's size next year.

Please note that in order for new shoots to grow normally, the Mandeville needs vertical and horizontal supports on which it can curl. It is necessary to foresee such a design in advance. Even if you grow a vine as an ampelous plant growing from top to bottom, remember that the considerable length of the shoots means their noticeable weight.

Mandeville can be bought in a special store even as an adult, then you don't have to bother with growing it - instead, you will receive a ready-made beautiful flower that will immediately begin to delight the new owner with its charm. Another thing is that such a purchase usually entails a significant investment of money, therefore for most gardeners it is easier to propagate a vine on their own. This is done in two main ways, each of which will be considered in detail.

If you already have at least one adult Mandeville, the easiest way to propagate it is by cuttings. Cuttings can be cut from about April to July, and in the spring they choose the tips of young shoots, and in the summer, the already lignified ones will do. Please note that diplodenia juice is poisonous, therefore, in order to avoid getting it on the mucous membranes and skin, you need to work at least with gloves, and also act carefully.

To root the stalk, you need to deepen it to the lower leaves in a moistened mixture of peat and sand, where sometimes a little sphagnum is also added. As is the case with many other vines, greenhouse conditions are needed for rooting, because the vessel is covered with glass or other transparent moisture-proof material, and also provide bright lighting, a temperature of at least 25 degrees Celsius and daily ventilation. Watering is advised to be carried out through the pallet, using the wick method - as in the recommendations on humidifying the air, only the soil in the vessel should be connected to the moisture layer by means of bundles of material that conducts water well.

You can also root a Mandeville stalk just in water - just as it is done with many other plants. The advantage of this method is that you control the process and see the scale of root growth, and when they reach 1-2 cm in length, the young diplopathy is ready for planting in the ground.

Despite the simplicity and efficiency of cuttings, it does not always work - many terry varieties stubbornly refuse to take root. The only way out of this situation is to grow them from seeds. This method is also good for those florists who are not looking for easy ways and like difficult tasks., or for those who simply decided to save money by compensating them with their own labor.

You can collect seeds yourself from an adult Mandeville or buy in any specialty store. For landing, a vessel with drainage holes is selected, the lower part of which is filled with expanded clay and other similar materials. The soil should be loose, guaranteeing easy passage of water and constant access of air to the roots of diplodenia, it is also desirable that the soil be slightly acidified. Lighting, as for an adult plant, should be bright, but diffused, the optimum temperature for germination is from 22 to 28 degrees Celsius. It is assumed that watering provides constant soil moisture, but water does not stagnate in it.

The difficulty of germinating seeds lies in the fact that even with the correct implementation of all the recommendations for the appearance of a sprout, you can wait for two or even four months. All this time, it is necessary to maintain adequate humidity in the mini-greenhouse, not forgetting about regular watering and constantly removing condensation from the coating. Only when the sprout forms at least two of its own leaves can it be dived into a separate vessel with a similar soil. However, she is also purely temporary, and as the vines grow, they are looking for a permanent pot for her.

Most of Mandeville's illnesses are caused by improper care by the gardener. For example, in diplodenia, leaves often turn yellow due to excessive dryness of the air in summer and too low temperature in winter. If the leaves fall off, this may indicate a too cool climate, and the vine also sheds foliage in case of any irregularities in watering, be it a lack, an excess, or simply a lack of uniformity. Of the diseases caused by the fungus, powdery mildew most often manifests itself, firsthand familiar to every experienced gardener. It is treated by rubbing the plant with a solution of colloidal sulfur.

Pests, by the way, also usually do not touch a completely healthy Mandeville - if they are, then the plant is weakened. This can occur from cold or low light, growing in non-disinfected soil, irrigation with unfiltered and unfiltered water, and even dust accumulation on leaves.

Whiteflies, mealybugs and spider mites feed on the sap and tissues of the vine, because it withers, its leaves dry, and as a result, the plant may die altogether. To combat the worm, you can even use folk remedies, for example, treat damaged areas with an aqueous infusion of garlic. Spider mites can be scared away by treating the infected plant with soapy water and increasing the humidity in the room.

Care and breeding at home diplomatic - look at the video.