Skimmia: description and care at home

Garden and indoor plants are very popular today. With their help, even on a small piece of land, you can create a real paradise evergreen blooming corner. Skimmia is a prime example of such a plant. Further in the article we will talk about its varieties and intricacies of cultivation.

Japanese skimmia is a small evergreen shrub that the dimensions of which do not exceed 1 meter. Its main decoration is small but fleshy leaves that are dark green throughout the year.

In the spring, from about April-May, beautiful pink buds appear on the bush, which then turn into white flowers. If the shrub is of the female type, then in their place towards the end of summer small berries appear, which sometimes persist until spring. Inside these fruits are seeds that can later be used for sowing.

Skimmia is a dioecious plant, that is, the flowers on it are either male or female. However, Japanese skimmia is a special crop on which both types of flower stalks can grow.

The most beautiful and popular skimmia shrub has many varieties, each of which is unique in its own way.

• Japanese skimmia "Rubella" - This is a shrub with dark red buds, which eventually turn into snow-white male-type flowers. Leaves are glossy green with a wide burgundy border. Stamens in flowers are bright yellow, abundantly covered with pollen. A distinctive feature of this variety is that it can also be grown in tubs indoors. In this case, the height of the Rubella skimmy can reach 1.5 m.

• "Foremani" - this shrub is characterized by delicate pink buds and beautiful white flowers. Leaves are oval in shape, no more than 4 cm in size. Peduncles of the female type, after their flowering, large berry clusters of bright red color are formed.

• "Magic Merlot" - has mainly male flowers, painted in a delicate beige color, the tone of the buds themselves is bronze. The leaves are small - up to 3 cm in length, have thin pointed edges. A distinctive feature is strongly pronounced yellow stripes, which are located in large numbers on the upper surface of the leaves.

• Brokoks Rocket is a compact shrub with both female and male flowers. They have a green tint and are collected in large clusters. The color of the leaves is light green, they have no peculiarities.

• Fregrens. The size of the shrubs rarely exceeds 90-95 cm, the leaves are dark green, smooth. The flowers are small, collected in small tassels. Their color can range from pure white to pale beige. A distinctive feature - during flowering skimmia exudes a delicate aroma of lilies of the valley.

• "Fructo Alba". This variety of Japanese skimmia differs from all the above-described varieties in the presence of white fruits, which replace the flowers painted in the same color.

• Smits Spider Is another popular Japanese skimmia shrub. Leaves are small, oval, their color is rich green. The buds are painted in a pale green color, and when they bloom, they turn into small flowers, painted in the color of ripe mango. Can be both male and female.

As you can see from this short description, There are quite a few varieties of Japanese skimmy today, and they all have unique differences. This makes it possible to choose a shrub for almost any site or greenhouse in such a way that it fits into it as beautifully and organically as possible.

In order to refine your site with Japanese skimmia, you must first plant it. And this can be done in two different ways.

• Cutting of the upper shoots. Select stems with 5-7 leaves released this year. The operation is performed in spring and early summer. They are rooted in a mixture of peat and sand, taken in equal proportions. The substrate must always be moist. Plastic caps are installed on top. Leave for rooting until autumn. At the same time, the cuttings are regularly aired and shed.

• Sowing seeds... First, the seeds are stratified, for which they are left in a room with a low temperature for 2-3 weeks. Then they are planted in a mixture of soil and peat (1: 1) to a depth of one and a half centimeters. The containers are placed in a room with a temperature of +22 degrees. Crops are watered if necessary. When the first three leaves appear, the plants are picked. They are planted in a permanent place of growth in early spring or autumn.

In order for this amazing evergreen plant to truly delight you with its healthy and beautiful appearance, it must be regularly and properly looked after at home.

Caring for this beautiful shrub begins precisely with choosing the right place for its further growth. It is best if the site is well lit, but the plant itself will not be exposed to direct sunlight.

At the same time, too heavy clay soil will slow down the growth and development of the shrub. If necessary, you can additionally use a special soil, or dilute the soil for planting with peat.

This is one of the most important factors in plant care. At temperatures above +20 degrees, Japanese skimmia begins to die. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly moisturize its leaves and branches. For this reason, it is almost impossible to grow this shrub in too hot regions of our country.

Fresh air and regular access to it are an integral part of your care. If Japanese skimmia is grown indoors, it is best to plant it outdoors in summer.

For the normal laying of buds and the further flowering of the plant, the shrub needs a temperature of +8 to +10 degrees in the period from November to March.

This shrub is extremely demanding on moisture, the surface of the soil should always be slightly damp. The higher the ambient temperature, the more abundant the irrigation should be.

Only soft, purified water. You cannot use tap water - the abundance of lime and chlorine in it has a detrimental effect on the plant.

It is necessary to feed skimmia once every 14 days during the laying of buds and abundant flowering. The rest of the time, fertilizer is applied once a month. The best choice would be a special feed for rhododendrons.

Japanese skimmia is pruned in early spring. The crown is not formed, but only diseased or dried stems are removed.

If we are talking about the regular transplanting of Japanese skimmy growing indoors, then the pot should each time be of a larger diameter than the previous one. Drainage at the bottom of the container is required. The substrate should consist of equal parts of soil and peat.

Japanese skimmia is a beautiful and unique shrub that can decorate both a personal plot and living quarters. The rules and basics of caring for it are similar to those that are followed when growing rhododendrons. This means that with proper minimum care and strict adherence to the recommendations, everyone can become the owner of such a shrub.

For information on how to trim Japanese skimmy for the winter, see the video below.