Ardizia is an exotic plant with a luxurious green crown. The name can be translated as "arrow". Its tips resemble miniature flower cores. Ardizia belongs to the Mirsinovy family. It grows in Japan, South Asia and the Pacific Islands. In open ground, shrubs can only be grown in the tropics. But these slow-growing plants feel great indoors. Ardizia abundantly bears fruit, covered in clusters of red berries. "Coral beads" appear for the winter and serve as a natural decoration for the holidays.
Plant description
Ardizia is an evergreen perennial shrub with beautiful dense foliage. In the natural environment, its height is 2-8 m, but the annual growth is not more than 10 cm. Branched shoots are covered with a rough brown bark. From the base, they gradually lignify and are characterized by high strength and flexibility.
Oblong dark green leaves on short petioles are arranged alternately or in whorls of three. Shiny leathery sheet plate has serrated or wavy edges. Its length is on average 11 cm. Often at the edges of the leaves swellings form. This is not a plant disease, but a natural formation containing bacteria useful for ardisia. Scientists also found that the roots of the plant exist in symbiosis with some types of mushrooms.
At the age of over three, the ardisia blooms. Miniature star-shaped flowers with white or light pink petals bloom in May-June. The diameter of the open corolla does not exceed 1.5 cm. It consists of 5 narrow petals. Flowers are collected in loose racemose or paniculate inflorescences. They exude a delicate, pleasant aroma. Each plant has male and female flowers, so even a single copy will bear fruit. Pollination occurs with the help of insects and wind.
As a result of pollination, spherical orange or red berries (drupes) ripen. Today there are varieties with snow-white and cream berries. Their diameter is 8-13 mm. Inflorescences, and subsequently fruits, are grouped below the bulk of the leaves, which is why they are called "beads."
Types of Ardisia
The genus Ardisia is very numerous. It has several hundred species. Most Popular:
Ardisia is a town. This variety is most often used in culture. It can be found on the mountain slopes of Korea and China. The height of a houseplant usually does not exceed 90-120 cm, although five meter shrubs are found in nature. The main decoration is dense glossy leaves of malachite color. They are covered with tubercles along the edge and grow up to 10 cm in length and 2-4 cm in width. Root inflorescences are formed in the upper part of the shoots under the leaves. Later, bright red spherical berries ripen.
Ardiziy Malouyan. Low-growing variety with long (up to 25 cm), narrow leaves. Whitish longitudinal stripes are visible on the surface of the sheet, and the lower part is painted in pink.
Ardizia is curly. The plant grows to a height of 80 cm. It forms a thick, spreading crown. Leaves are more narrowed and have a sharp edge. In June, creamy inflorescences bloom under a heading of foliage, and by November the berries begin to redden. Thick panicles of flowers exude a particularly intense and pleasant aroma.
Ardizia is Japanese. Dwarf bushes up to 40 cm high are covered with dark green oval leaves. The leaf is 5 cm long and 1-4 cm wide. Pale inflorescences attract little attention. After pollination, black-purple berries ripen. The plant can be used to make a bonsai composition.
Ardizia is low. A bush up to 60 cm high is covered with large bright green leaves. The length of the oval leaf plate can reach 18 cm. Tiny pink flowers gather in racemose inflorescences. The berries are first colored red-brown, but when ripe they turn black.
Breeding
Ardisia is propagated by cuttings and sowing seeds. Although grafting is difficult, it allows you to quickly get a flowering bush and preserve varietal characteristics. Cuttings are cut from the tops of shoots in April-May. Before rooting in the soil, they are soaked for 2-3 days in a hormonal preparation ("Kornevine"). Sand and peat land is used for planting. Seedlings must be watered with care. Put them in a well-lit and warm place. So that the roots appear sooner, it is recommended to warm the soil to 25-28 ° C. Root formation can take several months. The successful completion of the process is indicated by the emergence of new shoots. After this, the sprouts are transplanted into small pots with loose, fertile soil.
In January, when the berries are fully ripe, you need to choose some of the largest. Bones from them are freed from the pulp, washed and planted in the ground to a depth of 10 mm. The container with seeds is covered with a film and kept in a bright place at a temperature of + 18 ... + 20 ° C. Shoots appear after 4-5 weeks. Seedlings with 3-4 leaves are planted without diving in separate pots. You do not need to pinch them, the ardizia branches perfectly without it. Flowering is expected in 2-3 years after planting.
Landing rules
Ardisia transplantation is performed when the roots completely cover the earthen lump and begin to be visible on the surface. In spring, a larger pot is sought after for the plant, to the bottom of which a drainage material is necessarily poured. Planting soil should have neutral acidity. It can be composed of garden earth, sand and pieces of charcoal.
The transplantation is carried out by transshipment. It is important not to damage the roots and preserve at least part of the old earthen coma. In order for the flower to grow better, annually the top layer of earth in the pot is replaced.
Home Care
Despite its amazing beauty, ardizia is not capricious. Caring for her at home is quite simple.
Lighting. The plant loves bright but diffused light. It is best to place it on the eastern or western windowsill. In summer, it is recommended to take the flower out to the street, but pritenit against direct sunlight and protect from drafts.
Temperature. The optimum air temperature is + 20 ... + 22 ° C. In order for the ardisia to better tolerate the summer heat, it must often be watered and sprayed. In winter, the plant is kept in a cool room (+ 14 ... + 16 ° C, but not lower than + 10 ° C). It is cooling in the dormant period that will provide abundant flowering in the new season. Ardizia does not tolerate the proximity of heating appliances and can drop lower leaves.
Humidity. A resident of the tropics prefers high humidity. It needs to be sprayed several times a week and put in trays with wet pebbles. In this case, the soil should not be in contact with water. Due to the dryness of the air, brown spots may appear on the leaves. During the flowering period, humidity should be increased so that the fruits are tied. If ardisia is in the room, then artificial pollination with a soft brush is necessary. She takes turns in all colors.
Watering. Many large leaves intensively evaporate moisture, so water the ardisium abundantly. The soil should be slightly moist constantly. In winter, the soil surface can dry by 1-1.5 cm. If the flower is kept in a cold room, then the soil is allowed to dry by half, otherwise root rot cannot be avoided.
Fertilizer. In March-November, Ardizia is fertilized with complex mineral compounds. Diluted top dressing is poured into the soil. Fertilizers are carried out twice a month.
Diseases and pests. Ardisia is extremely rarely affected by plant diseases. Most often, these are fungal diseases due to improper care. The most common plant pests are spider mites, scale insects and mealybugs. At the first sign of parasites, it is necessary to spray the plant with an insecticide and etch the soil.
