Chlorophytum chlorophytum - species, care, reproduction and growing problems

Asparagus family. The birthplace of chlorophytum is Africa and Asia (India). Naturalized (established in the wild) in Western Australia and South America. According to various sources, there are about 190-250 species in the genus.

Chlorophytum is one of the most common indoor plants, it can be found in every school, institute, office. This is not surprising: it is easily rooted, grows rapidly, suffers a lack of light and rare watering. At the same time, even in the most unsuitable growing conditions, it produces a mustache with new leaf rosettes.

Species and popular varieties

The crested chlorophytum ("Chlorophytum comosum") is a popular herbaceous perennial plant in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), widely known for its hardiness and unpretentiousness. The rhizome is fleshy, with characteristic fusiform thickenings-nodules about 5-10 cm long, which serve to store moisture and nutrients.

The leaves are narrow, linear, collected in a basal rosette. The average leaf length is 40-50 cm, width is about 1.5-2 cm, but with good care they can reach 60-70 cm. The most common form is Chlorophytum comosum f. vittatum - distinguished by a white or cream stripe running along the central vein.

During flowering, the plant forms arched peduncles up to 60-70 cm long. Small white star-shaped flowers bloom on them, collected in a loose panicle. After flowering in place of flowers, young rosettes are formed from vegetative buds - the so-called "babies" that easily take root. The fruit is a trihedral dry box, but fruiting is rare in indoor conditions.
Among the decorative forms and varieties are especially popular:

"Vittatum" is a classic variety with a broad white stripe down the center of each leaf.
"Variegatum" - leaves with pronounced light edges and a green middle.
"Bonnie" is a compact, miniature shape with decorative twisted leaves, great for hanging planters.
"Ocean" is a variety with narrow leaves, cream-green color and a compact rosette.
"Milky Way" - an elegant shape with almost completely light leaves and a thin green border, is less common.
"Hawaiian" is a variety with dense, mottled foliage and undersized compact shape.

Chlorophytum orchidastrum (Chlorophytum orchidastrum) is another type of chlorophytum, not so common in room culture, but very decorative. It is distinguished by fleshy tuberous roots and wider, oval-lance-shaped leaves collected in a basal rosette. Leaf length - about 20 cm, width - up to 7 cm. Petioles are cream, orange or bright orange, while the color smoothly passes to the central vein of the leaf. Thanks to this coloring, the plant looks spectacular even without flowering.

The height of an adult plant reaches an average of 30-35 cm. The leaves are located on petioles, the length of which is slightly shorter than the leaf blades themselves. The flowers are small, rarely appear, but even without them the plant is valued for its decorative foliage. Unlike C. comosum, it does not form "children" - it reproduces by dividing the rhizome.

A popular variety is "Fire Flash," also known as "Green Orange." It is especially effective due to the contrast between rich green leaves and bright orange petioles. This variety is often confused with "C. comosum" because of its name, but botanically refers specifically to "C. orchidastrum."

Chlorophytum care

Temperature

Normal in summer, optimal for chlorophytum 22-28 ° C. In winter, it is slightly cooler - optimally 18-20 ° С, at least 10 ° С. Although chlorophytums tolerate a decrease in temperature to + 2 ° C in nature, this is not worth the risk, such a decrease in temperature, especially with increased soil and/or air moisture, leads to rot decay, blackening of leaves from bacteriosis, and death of the plant. Unpretentious chlorophytum often survives both on cool stairwells and in dark corridors, but the bushes are small, with rare small leaves.

Lighting

Chlorophytum needs bright diffused light. Chlorophytums grow well on the east window, on the northwest window, in close proximity to the south and west windows. They can also grow on the north window, if it is not shaded from the street by houses and trees, otherwise, the plant loses its decorative attractiveness. More specifically, chlorophytum prefers direct sun in the morning or evening and shading from 11 to 16 hours from direct sun in spring and summer. In winter, chlorophytum can be safely kept right on the southern windowsill without shading (the sun is too low in winter and does not leave burns). Varieties with variegated leaves need brighter lighting, otherwise their decorativeness disappears.

Watering

From spring to autumn, chlorophytum requires copious watering. Moderate in winter. This means that you need to water the plant in summer at normal room temperature after the top layer of the earth dries, about half the depth of the pot, or the next day. As we remember, chlorophytum has nodules that store water, so it tolerates drying much easier than overflow. In winter, if the temperature drops below 18-20 ° C, it is necessary to water only after the ground in the pot dries completely (the pot will become noticeably lighter in weight).

Fertilizer

Fertilising chlorophytum is watered 1 times every 2 weeks from March to August with complex fertiliser for ornamental-deciduous plants. If your chlorophytum grows poorly, before feeding, make sure that it has enough light, the pot is not too tight, and do not rush to fertilize right away.

Air humidity

In summer, from time to time, chlorophytum leaves are useful to spray and arrange a warm shower to wash dust from the leaves. It is mandatory to spray if the plant is kept next to the heating system in winter, but it is better to hang the batteries with a wet sheet, or put a pot of chlorophytum (if the size of the bush allows) on a wide tray with wet pebbles (expanded clay), so that the bottom of the pot does not constantly drown in water.

Chlorophytum transplant

Chlorophytum is transplanted annually in February - March. Large plants or old plants are transplanted after two years, but fed annually. The soil is the 2 part of the sod, the 1 part of the humus, the 1 part of the leaf earth, the 1 part of the sand, the 1 part of the chopped pine bark. Chlorophytum prefers soils with acidity close to neutral pH 6-7.5. He does not like too acidic and too alkaline soils. The plant has large thick roots, if they grow, then the pot can crack near the bottom. Therefore, it is planted in spacious pots, but not too much - if you plant plants in huge containers, they grow very slowly.

Chlorophytum propagation

Chlorophytums are propagated by rooting daughter rosettes, as well as by dividing the rhizome with part of the rosette of leaves, during transplantation. All sections, especially thickened parts of the root, must be dusted with sulfur or crushed charcoal to avoid decay. You can plant immediately in separate pots in the soil the same as for adult plants. It is not necessary to spray or cover with a bag.

Problems growing chlorophytum

The tips of the leaves brown, on the border of green and brown yellow stripe - with improper watering, long drying of the ground (when the soil is too dense, clay, caked), frequent watering at low temperatures, with an excess of nutrients in the soil (excessive fertilization).
Variegated leaves lose their color and become evenly green - in low light.
Chlorophytum leaves are pale and soft in winter, turn yellow and fall - from drying out, when placed in intense light, at too high an air temperature. If the leaves are pale and rare (there are very few of them), this is a sign of insufficient lighting.
Brown spots and edges on chlorophytum leaves, dry tips - from overdrying, too high a temperature, especially in winter, which is aggravated by very low air humidity.
Chlorophytum is very fond of eating cats, even those who go for a walk outside are able to periodically gnaw leaves. You can save the plant only by rearranging it in a place inaccessible to the cat.

A few tips from flower growers

To prevent the leaves from drying out around the edges, water with soft water - standing, filtered or rain.
Spray regularly in the heat.
Do not put the plant directly above the battery - it does not tolerate dry air.
bathroom with natural light, chlorophytum feels especially good.
Transplant once every 1-2 years - it grows rapidly.

Chlorophytum pests

Scutes: similar to reddish, sometimes translucent (glassy) brown plaques (bulges) 2-3 mm in diameter, usually motionless, located on the surface of the leaves, most often along the central vein on the upper side of the leaf. Pests suck out cell juice. The leaves lose their color, dry and fall.

Control measures. For mechanical cleaning from pests, the leaves are wiped with a soap sponge or alcohol solution. Then the plant must be watered with a systemic insecticide, for example, actara.

Spider mite: small arachnid pests, only about 1 mm in diameter, are not always noticeable to the naked eye. Sometimes a web appears on the stems in internodes, but initially yellowish or whitish spots of irregular shape form on the leaves, gradually the leaves dry out and die off. The tick must be looked for, first of all, from the back of the leaves - you can see not the tick itself, but the skins left from the molting of the pests - white crumbs, similar to dandruff.

Control measures. The easiest way is to prepare a solution of acaricide (apollo, nisoran, actelic) in a bucket or basin, and dip chlorophytum in it upside down, i.e. actually rinse the leaves. Hold for 2-3 minutes, remove and leave in the bathroom to drain and dry. The windowsill and pot also need to be wiped with acaricide solution. But if there are children, pets or people with allergies or asthma in the house, then it is better to do without chemicals. Sponge a strong soap solution (green soap, tar or household soap) and apply a soap cap to the leaves. After 5 minutes, rinse with hot water (water temperature 40-45 degrees). Repeat the procedure after 3 days. Then repeat a week later, two weeks later. From now on, make sure that the air around the plant is moist enough.

Where to settle chlorophytum: room, kitchen, bathroom, office

Living room

In a spacious and bright room, chlorophytum becomes not just a plant, but part of the interior. It can be hung in a planter - it looks especially beautiful when long shoots with "kids" hang in a cascade. In a dry room, it is useful to put a humidifier or just a bowl of water nearby.
Tip: create a composition of several chlorophytums at different levels - this will add depth and "liveliness" to the interior.

Kitchen

In the kitchen, the plant helps clean the air from household odors and volatiles. However, it is better not to put it next to the stove or in a constant steam zone. The ideal place is on the windowsill or in a hanging planter away from direct jets of hot air.
Plus: due to the increased humidity in the kitchen, the tips of the leaves rarely dry out.

Bathroom

If there is at least a small window in the bathroom, chlorophytum takes root there perfectly. He loves high humidity, and tolerates temperature changes calmly. It is one of the few plants that can actually be grown in a bathroom.
Important: make sure that the water does not stagnate in the planter - drainage is required.

Office

In offices, chlorophytum is appreciated for its endurance and ability to neutralize harmful substances. It calmly tolerates dry air from air conditioners and lack of natural light. It looks great both on the windowsill and on the shelf or even on the closet.
Life hack: put the plant next to the computer - it helps the eyes to rest due to the green color and improves the microclimate.

How to combine chlorophytum in the interior

Chlorophytum looks good both alone and in composition with other houseplants. Most effectively - contrasting combinations in shape and color:

ficuses - vertical plants next to falling chlorophytum create balance;
peperomia - both are compact but differ in texture;
calathea or maranta - their bright leaves emphasize the tenderness of green or striped chlorophytum leaves;
zamioculcas - the strict shape of one and the soft lines of the other create an interesting combination;
sansevieria - both cultures are unpretentious, and together create an "indestructible" green zone.

Bonnie varieties with twisted leaves are especially suitable for hanging planters. In desktop compositions, colorful forms like "Vittatum" or "Variegatum" look impressive.