Ylang-ylang

 
Иланг-иланг

Family of announced. Homeland: Philippines, Indonesia, Madagascar .

  • The Ylang-ylang tree "Cananga odorata" has a straight trunk about 3 m tall or more, with grayish-silvery bark. The branches are a little drooping, well leafy. The leaves are dark green, up to 20 cm long, oblong in shape, pointed at the end with a wavy edge. Flowers in axillary inflorescences in natural conditions appear year-round. Flowers about 8 cm in diameter, very fragrant, first greenish-yellow, then bright yellow. Forms greenish fleshy fruits resembling olives, about 2 cm in diameter. The dwarf variation Ylang-ylang Fruticose Cananga odorata var is grown at home. fruticosa.

Ylang Ylang: Home Grown

Originally from the Pacific Islands, this tree is a tropical plant, and therefore grows well in high humidity. You need to plant it in a spacious pot, always with good drainage. Ylang-ylang loves fresh air, and its growing conditions should be as close as possible to greenhouses. Therefore, if you have a conservatory or a well-insulated balcony, this is the best option for this exotic plant.

Temperature: in the spring-summer period in the range of 22-26 ° C during the day and 18-22 ° C at night. In winter, within 12-14 ° C, but not lower than 10 ° C - it is advisable to observe a rest period of at least 2 months. Ylang-ylang likes daily temperature fluctuations to make it 5-6 ° C cooler at night.

Lighting: bright sunlight, partly direct sun. In winter, additional lighting is possible using lamps (fluorescent or LED).

Watering: plentiful in summer, as the top layer of the earth dries up. In winter, with a decrease in temperature - moderate or limited, the soil should have time to dry out thoroughly.

Top dressing: from March to August once a month top dressing with fertilizer for flowering plants.

Humidity: It is best to put the pot on a wide tray with wet pebbles or moss-sphagnum. Optimal humidity is 60-70%. The plant is especially badly affected by the dry air of heating systems in winter.

Transplantation: annually in a mixture of the 1 part of the sod earth, the 1 part of the humus, the 1 part of the sheet earth (or peat) and the 1 part of the small gravel. Also add chunks of charcoal and a handful of pine bark. A ready-made soil mixture for palms or ficuses can be used, but gravel (2-3 mm) or vermiculite can be added to it at the rate of 1 liter of baking powder per 5 liters of soil. The acidity of the ylang-ylang soil is quite tolerable, but it is better if it has a slightly acidic reaction. Choose a deep pot, since the root system of the plant is tapered.

Reproduction: cuttings (if brought from a tourist trip) and seeds. Fresh seeds should take care. Seeds stored for about 5-6 months have the best germination. Before sowing, it is better to soak the seeds in hot water and bubble. You can soak them in a zircon solution.

   

Growing problems

Most often, trying to create maximum moisture in the air and soil in the summer, flower growers forget that this tropical plant requires very good lighting. If there is no south window, then in autumn and winter it will be necessary to install lamps, but you need to teach gradually to the spring sun after winter.

Ylang-ylang is a tree-like culture; it tends to grow a trunk and a good leaf mass. Rooted cuttings, like plants grown from seeds, grow quite vigorously, but with age (especially if it is very hot in winter), the lower leaves are gradually lost - this is normal.

Pests and diseases in ylang-ylang like other houseplants. It can be affected by tick, mealybugs, shield.

By the way

Flowering can be achieved at home on a tree aged 3 years and older, subject to all conditions of maintenance.

In nature, ylang-ylang reaches 2 meters by the age of 2 and blooms. The flowers do not smell green at first, but become very fragrant when they turn yellow.