Delightful aspidistra decorate every corner of your home. Care for this perennial dark green beauty is so simple that even a novice grower can handle it.
Optimal conditions for growing aspidistra
The plant is a broadleaf (about 15 cm), it looks like a star. Aspidistra blooms quite rarely, and if she gives you a delicate pink flower, consider yourself lucky.
Flowering aspidistra - an unusual phenomenon. At home it happens in winter or early spring. Aspidistra produces axillary sessile flowers in the form of a star, which grow directly from the rhizome, between the scales. Perianth - short, brownish-purple hue. It is also possible with the help of artificial pollination to obtain fruits - pear-shaped berries.
Did you know? Under natural conditions, an aspidist pollinates slugs and snails.
Aspidistru called still "iron lady", because it has an unpretentious nature and is quite simple in home care, or "friendly family" for closely growing leaves. The plant can grow without regular watering, tolerates cold and sufficient shade-tolerant.
Lighting
Since aspidistra grows in the wild in tropical forests, it can be content with the minimum amount of light. In addition, the direct sun can damage the plant by burning its leaves.
Most comfortably, the plant will feel on the east side - in the morning the sun is no different here with burning rays. If you have an aspidistra on the south side, then you need to take care of shading. An ideal place for this flower is partial shade.
Important! If there is very little light, the aspidistra loses the variegation of its leaves.
Aspidistra needs good lighting only in winter, so it can create additional lighting with lamps.
Temperature
Room temperature (+ 20 ... +22 ° C) is sufficient for an aspidistre, and in winter it is necessary to create cooler conditions for it - + 12 ... +15 ° C. A lower temperature in winter time makes it easier for the aspidistre to survive the dormant period and accumulate strength for active leaf growth.
In the summer it is recommended that the plant "walk" on the balcony, terrace or garden. It will be wonderful to feel a flower in the shade of trees.
Did you know? In Japan, aspidistra leaves are actively used in making ikebana, and in the European territory they prefer to grow it in winter gardens and decorate living rooms and lobbies with little sunshine.
Peculiarities of home care
In the wild, aspidistra loves wet forests, and in its homeland (Southeast Asia) there are about a hundred species. But only one - aspidistra high (Aspidistra elatior) - can be grown as a houseplant. The variegated aspidistra (Aspidistra Variegata) is considered the most popular form. Its leaves are distinguished by yellowish, white or cream stripes along dark green leaves.
Watering and spraying
As already mentioned, aspidistra does not tolerate heat and needs, at high temperatures, high humidity. When the temperature is comfortable for the plant from spring to autumn, it should be watered regularly and abundantly (as soon as the topsoil dries out), and in winter it is moderate (several days after the topcoat dries out). For irrigation, use soft, separated (at least a day) water.
Important! If you dry out a little or re-moisten the ground, the aspidistra may die.
It is not necessary to spray the plant, but in hot weather it is just necessary. In addition, it is desirable to wipe the leaves of aspidistra several times a week with a damp cloth - this has a positive effect on its growth.
Top dressing aspidistra
Aspidistra needs to be fed only during the vegetative period - from April to September. At this time, the flowers "friendly family" should be fertilized at least once every two weeks with a special liquid top dressing for indoor plants. In winter, the plant does not need to be fed.
Important! The aspidistra with variegated leaves is not fed at all - fertilizers can lead to leaf discoloration.
Diseases and pests of aspidistra: how to get rid of them
Sometimes small cracks can appear on healthy green leaves of aspidistra - this is the result of an excess of fertilizers. In this case, feeding is stopped until the next season.
In addition to diseases aspidistru The following pests can affect:
- spider mite;
- aphid;
- worm;
- aspidistral shield.
There is a more dangerous disease - infectious chlorosis. If you notice a slow growth of aspidistra, massive yellowing of the leaves and a rapid change in their color, the affected plant should be destroyed.
Basically, the change in the state of aspidistra is due to errors in its care:
- If the tips of the leaves turn brown, then the place is too dry for it. Should increase the humidity.
- If the flower grows slowly, perhaps it lacks nitrogen. You can feed aspidistra urea.
- Aspidistra wilted and yellowing of the leaves is observed - the plant lacks light. Although, if individual leaves become yellow, it may just be their physiological aging.
- There were brown spots on the leaves - the result of direct sunlight. The pot must be moved to another place.
- If all deciduous mass began to wither and turn black, this indicates the presence of excess moisture. It is necessary to change the air humidity in the place where aspidistra is grown, and choose other rules for how to water it.
Did you know? Aspidistra is so hardy a plant that even in a smoke-filled room can not only die, but also bloom.
Aspidistra transplantation and reproduction
It is often not necessary to replant the plant, it is recommended to do it once every 2-3 years. In addition, if an aspidistra is not transplanted in time, then it will grow so much that it may even split the pot.
Like all lily plants, the “iron lady” has a developed root system. Therefore, when transplanting need to check that the roots of aspidistra were completely covered with soil.
"Iron Lady" grows slowly: for the year she adds 4-5 new leaves. However, creeping strong rhizome takes much more space.
Did you know? Its name aspidistra received from the words "aspidis" (snake) and "tra" (pointer). This name is due to the fact that the leaves of the plant are swaying when a snake creeps between them and warn people of impending danger.
If aspidistra has grown, before you transplant it, you need to choose a wider pot and pour boiling water over it or calcine (for disinfection). Drainage is laid at the bottom of the tank (pebbles, pebbles). The soil before planting also need to be sanitized by treating in a water bath. 
You can simultaneously propagate aspidistra with transplant
Important! Aspirator should be planted separately from other flowers - so it will look more advantageous.
In order for an aspidistra to become well established during reproduction, the temperature in the room should not be below 18 ° C. Therefore, the procedure is preferably carried out in the spring. Also, when transplanting it is necessary to ensure that there is no excess moisture - this may cause the roots to rot. Fertilize a young plant can be no earlier than one month after transplantation.
Can aspidistra breed and leaves. For this summer, the leaf is cut without a stem, dried slightly and put in a glass container. The container is tightly closed to prevent air from entering, and placed in a warm, well-lit room. After the roots appear on the sheet, it can be planted in the ground. Top sapling covered with a jar, creating a kind of greenhouse.
Important! The roots can give only a thickened part of the sheet.
For aspidistra can come up and universal soil, and cooked yourself:
- 3 parts of sod land, 1 part of sand, 3 parts of leafy land;
- 2 parts of sod soil, 2 parts of leafy ground, 2 parts of humus soil, 1 part of sand;
- sod substrate - 2 parts, peat soil - 1 part, leafy ground - 1 part, humus soil - 1 part, coarse-grained sand - 1 part.
Important! When transplanting a lot of attention should be paid to the root system - in case of damage the aspidistra stops its growth for a long time.
Useful properties of aspidistra
At home aspidistra people have long been aware of its benefits. Today, this plant is part of many herbal teas that are used to treat diseases:
- viral or infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- periodontal disease;
- inflammation of the bladder;
- tonsillitis and tonsillitis;
- violation of the menstrual cycle;
- inflammatory processes of the female reproductive system;
- skin damage.
