Cordillins are a kind of deciduous perennial tropical plants, belonging to false palm trees. Cordillas are unpretentious, so they can be easily recommended even for beginners. In natural conditions, cordillins grow into large trees or shrubs up to 12 m in height, but at home they grow very slowly and reach 1.5-2 m. An grown-up house plant resembles a small palm tree: the lower leaves die off, exposing the trunk. The decorative part of cordillins are leaves, green with red, crimson or pink stripes and spots, forming a dense crown. There are about 20 species of these plants that occur in nature in different climatic zones. Therefore, it should be remembered that different types of cordillins require different conditions of maintenance and care. Consider these features on the example of the most popular for indoor cultivation varieties.
Types of Cordillins and Care
Cordylina apex - a small tree with variegated or purple leaves up to 50 cm long. In the cordillanic room, the apical for a long time does not lose the lower leaves and remains compact enough. This species refers to the heat-loving, the temperature in the room should not fall below 18 degrees, and needs abundant watering with warm water. In the summer, the cordillinum apical requires regular spraying.
Cordillina Australian or southern - the most unpretentious species of these plants, it easily tolerates a cool content (5-10 degrees) and moderate watering. This variety is distinguished by the absence of an expressed trunk and long (up to 1 m) saber-like leaves.
For good development all kinds of cordillins need good lighting without direct sunlight.
Cordilina: diseases and pests
Cordillin can be damaged by scutes, spider mites, thrips and aphids. Methods of fighting these pests are standard for all types of indoor plants: mechanical destruction of colonies and spraying with drugs. In case of severe damage, it is necessary to remove the infected leaves of the cordillin, the diseases can spread rapidly to the entire plant.
Cordillina: reproduction and transplantation
Young plants must be transplanted once a year, usually in the spring. Transplantation of adult cordillins is carried out only when the roots come out, approximately every 2-3 years.
The cordillin multiplies simply: by cuttings and by the division of the rhizome. The segments of the unseparated shoot with nodes or parts of the rhizome are laid in moist warm sand or substrate, after the appearance of the roots of the cordillin is ready for planting.