Soleoli is a beautiful herbaceous perennial with small leaves on long shoots. The genus of the plant contains only one species and belongs to the Nettle family. His homeland is about.Corsica and some areas of the Mediterranean. Soleirolia (or gelxin) looks great as an ampel plant or forms a continuous carpet on the soil. Caring for him is quite simple. It is enough to follow simple rules and emerald cascades will cover all the free space.
Botanical Description
Soleirolia is a perennial plant with drooping, translucent stems. It has a thin superficial rhizome. Also, air roots form in the internodes. The height of the ground cover does not exceed 10 cm.
The stems are covered with miniature petiole leaves, which are arranged in pairs. The bright green leaf plate has a rounded or ovoid shape with relief radial veins. The diameter of glossy leaflets does not exceed 5 mm. For this, salinolysis is often called home duckweed or baby tears.
Occasionally, single flowers bloom from the internodes. They are a pestle and a bunch of silver stamens. After flowering, tiny seed bolls are formed. At home, salinity seeds are extremely rare.
Varieties
In the genus of salinolemia (gelksins), the only species is registered - Soleirolia soleirolii. Its bright green leaves with a shiny surface are found most often. In order to at least slightly diversify the assortment, breeders have brought out several decorative varieties of saltworks:
- argentea - different silvery color of leaves;
Gelksina argentea - variegata - leaflets have a thin snow-white border;
Gelksina variegate - aurea - has yellowish or golden foliage.
Gelksina aurea
All varietal differences are manifested in bright light, otherwise the plant acquires its original emerald appearance.
Reproduction and transplantation
In a culture, salinity is propagated vegetatively, since it can be very difficult to obtain seeds. Vegetative propagation is considered the simplest and allows you to save varietal features.
To get a new bush, it is enough to cut off a young shoot with 2-3 internodes and root it. You can put the shoots in water until the first roots appear or immediately plant them in moist soil. After 12-20 days, the plant becomes completely independent and actively starts growing. You can dig in part of the shoot without cutting it off from the mother plant. In this case, the rooting process will go even faster.
After rooting, it is advisable to transplant the seedlings of salioli in a wide and shallow pot. To make the plant more likely to form a dense hat, it is recommended to plant several copies together.
The transplantation of salinolysis is carried out as necessary, when the rhizome becomes crowded in a pot. It’s better to plan the procedure for spring. You can divide the bush into several parts or choose a larger container. In order not to damage the thin roots, the flower is transplanted by transshipment of an earthen coma.
The soil for saltworks is composed of the following components:
- turf land;
- greenhouse land;
- peat;
- sand;
- pebbles.
The pot should have large openings for water drainage, and a thick layer of drainage materials is poured into the bottom. After transplantation, it is important to keep saline in a non-hot room so that it does not dry out much.
With seed propagation, it is important to acquire quality material. For planting, flat containers with moistened peat soil are used. Sow seeds to the surface, to deepen and sprinkle with soil they do not need. The container is covered with a film. Airing is carried out daily and, if necessary, sprayed from the spray gun. Shoots appear after 7-15 days. The grown seedlings dive into separate pots.
Care Features
At home, the flower of salting does not require painstaking care. It is enough to choose a suitable place for the plant, periodically moisten the air and water it.
Lighting. Soleoli grows under deciduous trees in bright forests. She prefers bright ambient light for 12-16 hours daily. From direct rays of the hot summer sun, it is better to shade it, otherwise the leaves will quickly fade and dry out. In winter, the northern rooms may need to be illuminated with fluorescent lights. Without it, the stems are stretched and exposed.
Temperature. The optimum air temperature is + 18 ... +25 ° C. On hot days, it is recommended to water and spray the plant more often. In winter, you can lower the temperature to +8 ° C, but you do not need to do this on purpose. Soleoli does not need a rest period.
Humidity. The plant likes rooms with high humidity. The more often it is sprayed or bathed, the brighter and juicier the greens will be. If there is an aquarium in the house, it is useful to put a flower of saltworm near it. For spraying, you should use well-purified water so that limescale does not appear on the leaves. When the air temperature drops below +20 ° C, spraying is less common and gradually stops. In a damp and cold room on the shoots, rot may develop.
Watering. From the beginning of spring to the end of the warm season, saltworks need abundant watering. The water should be well purified and have room temperature. The procedure is carried out daily or every other day. All excess fluid should freely leave the pot. The pan should also be emptied. In autumn and winter, watering is reduced so that the soil dries by a third.
Fertilizers Soleirolia needs to be fed all year round. A solution of mineral fertilizer is applied to the soil during irrigation. In spring and summer, fertilizers for ornamental deciduous plants are applied twice a month. In winter, it is enough to fertilize the plant monthly. If cold wintering is expected (less than +10 ° C), then top dressing is stopped.
Pruning. The stalks of salinolysis are able to greatly stretch and expose, therefore, periodically have to rejuvenate it. To extend the life of the bush, it is recommended to cut the shoots. Every year, in early spring, should be removed up to half of the old shoots. This stimulates the formation of lateral processes and a thicker crown.
Diseases and Pests
Excessive watering is susceptible to fungal infections. If the stems begin to grow brown and become soft, then root rot has developed. Poor lighting and low temperatures can aggravate the disease. Damaged areas of the plant should be removed, soil should be changed and fungicide treatment should be carried out.
With excessive air humidity, brown or ashy spots may appear on the stem and leaves. This indicates a rot. Damaged parts should be removed immediately, and the room should be ventilated more often. So that moisture does not accumulate on the shoots, it is recommended to switch to ascending or wick watering.
Juicy greens of salinole love whiteflies, spider mites and aphids. Typically, damaged leaves turn yellow, brown, curl or become covered with a thin layer of cobwebs. At the first signs of damage, you need to wash the growth well with warm water and a soap solution. The earth is covered from excess moisture or carefully drained after the procedure. If it was not possible to get rid of the insects, they are treated with insecticides:
- intavir;
- Vermitec
- actophyte;
- actar;
- phytoferm.
The substances are quite toxic, so you should observe safety precautions and keep pets away from the treated plant.
Using
Gentle and pliable solyoli is an ideal material for creativity. If you simply plant the plant in a pot, it quickly forms a magnificent cap under which the container will completely disappear. Many people like to plant it under houseplants or large plants to hide unsightly soil. This neighborhood is beneficial if plants prefer similar living conditions.
With the help of various types of saltworks in the garden or on the balcony, you can create a carpet with a pattern of any complexity. It is only important to maintain the boundaries between plants. It is also used for planting in the shade of garden trees or off the coast of water bodies.
Also, shoots easily braid any support and look great in decorative pots in the form of figurines. If you plant in them a saltoleil in advance and give it time to grow, you can get a wonderful and unusual gift for a lover of indoor flowers.
Soleirolia is suitable for decorating aquariums and terrariums, but can not stand the constant presence in the water. A small pedestal is usually created for the pot. Thanks to the miniature foliage, small plants are used for bottle gardens.
