Drimiopsis

Asparagus family. Homeland - tropical Africa (sub-Saharan countries). 14 species have been officially recorded.

• Drimiopsis spotted "Drimiopsis maculata" is a small deciduous shrub native to Tanzania. With oblong bulbs, heart-oval leaves narrowed at the end, olive green and dark bright spots and dots on them. Leaves up to 15 cm long with a slightly wavy edge, on long petioles, about 20 cm long. Inflorescences are racemose with small flowers of white, gray or cream color with a slight sweetish aroma. Dormant period in winter. A characteristic feature of the plant is a change in the color of the leaves, dark spots usually appear in early spring and summer, and from autumn to the dormant period they gradually disappear completely.

• Drimiopsis bortiform Drimiopsis botryoides is a deciduous bulbous plant native to East Africa (Kenya, Zanzibar). With dense oval-shaped leathery leaves, narrowed at the end, on short petioles, bright green with dark rounded spots and specks. The peduncle is long with a spike-shaped inflorescence of small flowers up to 4 mm in diameter, white or cream-colored flowers. Dormant period in winter. If Drymiopsis spotted is often confused with eucharis, then bortiform drymiopsis is somewhat similar to precious orchids. The bush is formed with the formation of a rosette - the leaves, practically without a petiole, wrap tightly at the base one around the other as they grow, the leaves stretch out and petioles appear.
• The well-known Kirk's Drimiopsis kirkii (or Ledebouria bortiform Ledebouria botryoides) is merely a synonym of the subspecies Drimiopsis botryoides subsp. botryoides - see the photo on the right.

Drimiopsis - home care

Drimiopsis is considered a simple plant to care for. They write that it grows both in the sun and in the shade. In fact, we always lack light and sun, and a plant from Zanzibar is the very place on the southern windowsill. By purchasing a drimiopsis for the north window or attaching it on a table in the middle of the room, you will never get a beautiful plant:

• firstly, the variegation of leaves will not appear, namely, the leaves decorated with spots ennoble the plant, make it unusual, similar to precious orchids
• secondly, petioles of plants that do not have enough light will be too long, from which the bush falls or "falls apart" to the sides - no beauty!

Temperature: normal indoor in summer, cool content is desirable in winter at a temperature in the range of 13-14 ° C. During the rest period, with a decrease in temperature, watering is reduced. Drimiopsis can grow all year round in normal home conditions, but in winter, in the heating season, you will need additional exposure and humidification of the air.

Lighting: bright light, shading only from the beginning of spring to mid-summer in the afternoon (from 12 to 15 hours). With a lack of illumination, the leaves of the drimiopsis lose their spotting, acquire a light green color, the petioles stretch out.

Watering: plentiful during flowering and growth period, with drying of the top layer of the earth. Drying to the state of dust and weightlessness of the pot is not allowed! Very limited watering during the period of rest in the cool - the soil should dry out in the upper half of the pot, but not dry out completely. To avoid overflow and decay of the roots, make the right soil, with a large number of drainage particles, do not use garden clay (loamy) soil.

Humidity: From time to time, drimiopsis leaves are washed with a dust sponge and periodically sprayed with boiled water. In the heating season, put the pot on a wide tray of water (on the grill).

Transplant: annually or as needed. The planting containers are shallow, but wide, with good holes at the bottom and drainage of shards, coarse expanded clay, foam plastic. Approximate soil composition: 1 part of turf, 1 part of sheet, 1 part of humus and 2 part of small river pebbles (2-5 mm size of pebbles). It is good to add 2-3 pieces of charcoal per pot and peru tablespoons of vermiculite.

Reproduction: Dividing daughter bulbs in spring when transplanted and leaf. The sheet is cut into parts - strips 5 cm wide, then stuck at one end into the substrate (sand and sheet earth or universal soil in equal parts). The soil should not be dry or wet, but slightly moistened. Therefore, it is not watered, but sprayed. You can not drop parts of the sheet, but put on the surface and press with a paper clip. Rooting occurs at a temperature of 22-25 ° C, in good lighting for 1-2 weeks. Then the plants can be planted in small pots.

Growing problems

Drymiopsis comes from hot and humid places, although it tolerates dry air quite well, but watering must be monitored. Excessive dampness in the pot leads to decay of the bulbs. Therefore, vermiculite or expanded clay chips, as well as birch coal, are added to the soil for planting. From the time when the leaves begin to turn yellow and fall, watering is reduced, actually leaving the plant without watering.

For pests, drimiopsis is not the most delicious plant, but sometimes it is attacked by a scale or tick. From the shield, the right remedy is actara or confodor, moreover, it is necessary to simultaneously water the soil with an insecticide solution and spray the leaves. To get rid of the tick, you need to wash the leaves on both sides with a sponge with foam from green soap. You can additionally or instead of soap arrange a hot shower with a temperature of about 50-52 degrees, avoiding waterlogging the ground, water on the leaves on both sides for about 2 minutes. After 3-5 days, repeat soap rubbing and shower.