Clerodendrum Thompson: features, planting and care

Creating a cozy and comfortable interior in a living space, where all family members should not only relax, but also enjoy the beauty, is the task of every housewife. Even with high-quality repairs, expensive furniture and stylish decor items, an apartment can look dull and cold. To solve this problem, designers recommend organizing a small greenhouse or green area in the room.

In specialized stores, you can buy a large number of indoor flowers, which differ in appearance, country of growth and flowering period. For several years, tropical lianas have been very popular, which allow you to create amazing green sculptures. When choosing a plant, florists recommend paying attention to Thompson's clerodendrum.

Clerodendrum Thompson is a perennial tropical variegated indoor flower from the Verbenov family, which is native to West Africa. This vine is often called the "tree of happiness" or "the tree of fate." In natural conditions, the length of woody branches can reach more than 4 meters.

The dark green leaf plate of the flower has an oval pointed shape and is about 10 cm long. A distinctive feature is the presence of pronounced veins.

The inflorescences consist of 15 or more small flowers that form in the axils of the lateral shoots and are surrounded by bracts. Withering of corollas and stamens comes very quickly, and pink, white, burgundy and purple perianths delight their owners for a long period of time.

A feature of this flower is the presence of several stages of flowering:

• the formation of white sepals;
• the formation of scarlet petals;
• the appearance of stamens.

After flowering, the plant forms a seed basket, which contains one seed.

The most favorable time for planting is early spring.

Before planting, it is imperative to process the flower containers. It will be enough to put new pots in hot water for at least 1.5 hours, and old containers must be treated with a strong solution of manganese after washing. These manipulations will help prevent infection of a young plant with fungal and viral diseases.

To plant a flower, you need to take a loose and nutritious soil mixture with a low level of acidity. When using ready-made soil, you need to combine 4 parts of soil mixture for azaleas and 1 part of substrate for roses.

When making it yourself, it is necessary to combine sod and deciduous soil with peat, sand and humus (in equal proportions).

A list of the main activities when planting a clerodendrum:

• selection of the appropriate capacity;
• the formation of a drainage layer from gravel, broken brick or expanded clay;
• the formation of the lower earthen layer;
• reduction in the length of the shoots;
• removing a plant from an old pot;
• cleaning the root system from the ground;
• removal of dried and damaged roots;
• moving the flower to a new pot and compacting the nutrient soil;
• abundant watering with settled water.

Young plants need to be replanted annually, for adult plants, this procedure can be carried out every three years.

It is necessary to start a flower transplant only if the following factors are present:

• discrepancy between the volume of the pot and the size of the root system;
• the presence of a large amount of green mass;
• plant damage by fungal and viral diseases;
• depletion of the potting mix.

To get a healthy and beautiful plant, you need to read about it at home immediately after buying it.

The list of the main activities after purchasing clerodendrum:

• placing the plant in quarantine to prevent possible infection of other indoor flowers with dangerous diseases and pests;
• installing flower pots in a well-lit room;
• implementation of moderate and regular watering.

The new plant does not need additional fertilizing, and after 10-14 days it can be transplanted into a permanent landing container.

Flower pots should be placed on windowsills with windows facing east or trap. In the case of growing flowers on balconies and loggias on the south side, it is imperative to shade the premises and protect the leaves from direct sunlight. In rooms with a low level of illumination, it is imperative to install additional light sources.

The most comfortable temperature regime in spring and summer is + 25 degrees, and in the winter season, the plant needs a temperature of no more + 16 degrees. In case of violation of the temperature regime in winter, the plant will not be able to form a large volume of buds in the spring.

An unpretentious flower needs in moderate and regular watering, which must be carried out after the top layer of the earth has completely dried out. Excessive watering or prolonged drought can lead to the death of the plant. In winter, the soil can be moistened only after it is completely dry.

For watering, experienced gardeners recommend using only settled or spring water at room temperature.

In the summer, as well as during the heating season, it is necessary to regularly spray the plant with a spray bottle.

Clerodendrum responds positively to weekly application of mineral fertilizers. This procedure is mandatory during the period of intensive growth and flowering of the plant. Experienced flower growers recommend using granular mineral supplements in the form of sticks and balls, from which nutrients gradually penetrate into the soil structure.

In the fall, you can feed the flower once a month, and in the winter this process must be completely stopped.

Carrying out the correct pruning will allow the plant to give the necessary shape:

• lush bush - pinching the crown;
• tree view - removal of all lateral shoots, except for the central one, from which the crown is removed (the length of the central stem should be at least 50 cm).

Sanitary pruning can be done as needed throughout the year. It is necessary to cut off diseased, dry and yellow leaves in a timely manner. Only with proper and regular maintenance can the plant bloom.

The main factors that have a negative impact on the flowering of clerodendrum:

• high temperature during the rest period;
• complete absence of pruning or violation of the technology for shortening the stems;
• insufficient application of mineral fertilizers based on potassium and phosphorus.

Failure to comply with the care technology can provoke the following problems:

• shedding foliage - violation of the rules of watering, the introduction of an insufficient amount of nutrients;
• formation of yellow spots - sunburn;
• formation of dark spots - development of putrefactive processes of the root system, chemical burn of roots by uncontrolled application of mineral fertilizers;
• yellowing of the leaf plate - low air humidity, insufficient watering, the introduction of a large amount of fertilizers, low light level;
• shedding buds and inflorescences - lack of nutrients, low air humidity, the presence of drafts;
• stretching stems and reducing leaf size - low level of illumination.

To get a new plant, you can use two breeding methods:

• cuttings;
• seeds.

For the seed propagation method, it is necessary at the beginning of spring, prepare a small container with nutrient soil, consisting of peat and sand, and place seed material on its surface. The soil in the container should be abundantly moistened with a spray bottle and covered with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect. The planting containers should be placed in a warm and well-lit room. Young growers should not forget to regularly ventilate the container and moisten the soil.

Cutting is the most popular and easiest way to get a new plant. For its implementation, it is necessary to put the cut shoots in water, into which you can add an accelerator of the growth of the root system. After the last petiole has been formed, it can be rooted in small technical containers, the diameter of which should not be less than 60 mm.

Like any other plant, Thompson's clerodendrum is susceptible to a number of diseases and can be damaged by dangerous pests.

Among the most dangerous insects, biologists distinguish the spider mite, whitefly, scale insect and mealybug.

The main signs of the appearance of a whitefly are the wilting of the flower, from which the insect draws out all the vital juices, the appearance of a silvery plaque. Sometimes you can visually detect an insect that is located on the underside of the leaf.

If the plant begins to die very quickly and brown capsules appear on it, it means that the clerodendrum is affected by the scabbard. To destroy it, you need to remove the insect and its pustules from the leaves, rinse the plant with soapy water and wipe the leaves with alcohol.

If the plant stopped developing and began to discard the casting, and small dark balls appeared near the root system, it means that an urgent need to start fighting the mealybug. To destroy it, it is necessary to treat the leaves and stems with medical alcohol.

The most dangerous type of disease that can lead to the death of clerodendrum is powdery mildew. When a white bloom appears on the leaves, it is necessary to urgently remove the infected leaf plates and treat the flower with special fungicides.

If a flower has withered or leaves fall, urgent action must be taken.

The list of preventive measures that will prevent the appearance of pests and various diseases:

• carrying out regular spraying with warm water;
• maintaining a high level of humidity in the room;
• monthly washing of leaves and shoots with soapy water;
• moistening the soil only with warm and settled water;
• maintaining a comfortable temperature in the room.

For breeding, feeding and caring for Thompson's clerodendrum, see below.