A beautiful myrtle flower can become a beautiful decoration of an office or a living room. This is an evergreen shrub with small (up to 5 cm long) leathery shiny leaves and gently pink or white, pleasantly smelling flowers.
In order for such a plant as a myrtle to feel well at home, it must create certain conditions.
How to care for a myrtle grown as an indoor flower, you will learn from this article.
Features of care of myrtle
To place myrtle is best in a cool room, as in the summer months it will be comfortable at + 18-20 ° C, and in winter - + 5 ° C-10 ° C. To put a pot with a flower stands in the place where there will be good, but diffuse illumination, without getting on its leaves of direct sunlight. The western and eastern windows are most suitable, but in winter it is possible to put on the southern ones.
The main care is to regularly water the flower and weekly fertilizer. Myrtle does not like excessive moisture, so to avoid swampiness in the pot, water it should be as the upper layer of the primer dries. For irrigation, it is mandatory to use standing water at room temperature. For fertilizing should apply a complex fertilizer for flowering plants. With the exception of the rest period (in winter), the myrtle should be sprinkled daily.
Also, the upper branches of myrtle need to be cut off or pricked. This will not only stimulate their growth, but also help create a beautiful shape of the crown: a ball, a cone, etc. This is something like a bonsai ficus .
An obligatory condition for growing myrtle is the organization of a cold wintering. During this period, it is required to reduce watering, and to stop feeding and sprinkling at all. Rest, depending on the location, should last in different ways: on the southern window - 1.5 months, and on the northern - 3 months.
Myrtle transplantation
One-year-olds and two-year-olds should be transplanted in the spring every year. In the future it is required to do this every 2-3 years. To do this, prepare a substrate from turf and peat soils, humus, sand, taken in equal parts. At the bottom of the pot must be placed drainage. Before transplanting, it is recommended to perform a good pruning, leaving 1/3 of the shoots.
Propagation of myrtle
Dilution of this plant can be carried out in two ways:
- seeds;
- apical cuttings.
Cuttings, obtained as a result of trimming the crown, are rooted in February in low boxes with a substrate of sod and leaf land, mixed with coarse-grained sand. Put them in a dark place and cover with a plastic wrap. About a month later the cuttings will take root, and they can be transplanted into pots. The main care for seedlings will be in abundant watering.
Planting of myrtle seed is carried out in April-May. For this, the planting material is spread over the surface of a moist substrate. We create conditions for the greenhouse, covering it with glass. The box must be kept at a temperature of + 20 ° C and moderate humidity, and
Pest and disease control
The main parasites affecting the myrtle are: spider mite, coccid and pemphigus. They are very easy to get rid of, washing the leaves under a stream of running water or a brush with soap-alcohol solution. The most vulnerable to them are old plants or those that are in a very hot place.
In total, there are about 70 species in the Myrtle family, but only the myrtle is grown at home. In addition to its decorative, this flower still acts as a disinfector. The phytoncides that they release kill a large number of pathogens.
Growing myrtle on your window, it should be remembered that even a slight violation of the recommendations for caring for him, can lead to his death.