Family of Asteraceae. Homeland - Central and South America. There are about 450 species in nature.
Some species are highly ornamental and are beginning to be popular as houseplants.
Mikania threefold Mikania ternata is a perennial herb, first with erect, then laying stems. Grown as an ampel plant, in hanging baskets or wrapped around a support. The leaves are palmate-complex, made of 5 segments, each of which is rhombic in outline. The upper leaflet is larger about 5 cm long, medium about 2.5-3 cm long, the lower only 1.5-2 cm. Leaflets are notched at the edges on thin brown petioles, dark green, reddish along the veins, slightly pubescent. The reverse side of the leaves is purple. This plant received the popular name "plush vine," shoots grow 50-60 cm long, with sufficient lighting they have a beautiful purple shade of hairs.
Micania - Care and Cultivation
In its natural habitat, mycania grows easily and freely, it is considered a serious weed in tropical areas of South and Southeast Asia, including China and Malaysia. At home, mycania is also grown, growing easily and quickly if given a bright spot.
Temperature: Mikania loves moderate temperatures - in summer about 24 ° C during the day and 18 ° C at night, in the heat it needs to be rearranged in a place where it is cooler. It is advisable to take the pot to the balcony for the summer. In winter, within 16-18 ° C, but not lower than 12 ° C. From too high a temperature in winter leads to the fact that the plant degenerates - the stems are exposed, the leaves are grinding, the bushes are dying and gradually dying.
Lighting: Bright diffused light with some direct sun in the morning or evening. Preferably east or northwest window. In winter, you can also keep on the southern windowsill. In nature, it grows in open sunny areas, but it also tolerates light partial shade.
Watering: Quite plentiful in the summer, the soil should have time to dry out for the next watering in the upper third of the pot, the overflow does not tolerate mixing, the roots rot. In winter, especially with cool maintenance, watering is moderate, the soil should have time to dry well: about two-thirds of the top of the pot, but not completely dry out.
Air humidity: Micania requires very moist air, optimally around 40-50%, but does not tolerate spraying like most plants with pubescent leaves. Spraying is permissible only in summer in very hot weather from the smallest spray bottle with warm water. The rest of the time, it is better to keep the mycania on wide pallets with wet expanded clay or gravel. In winter, mixing is very difficult to tolerate central heating.
Transplantation: Can be transplanted annually into a mixture of 1 part turf, 2 part leafy, 1 part sand or pine bark. Loves slightly acidic soil. Mycania is also suitable for soil from the store, you can use universal or soil for senpoli, if its acidity is within 6.5.
Reproduction: With apical cuttings in spring, March and April they root well, just put the cuttings in the water and give them roots. It can be propagated by air extraction. Place a small pot of soil side by side, place an uncut branch of micania on the surface and sprinkle with soil. To hold, you can fix the escape with a paper clip curved in the shape of U. The earth in a pot with a branch should be constantly wet, and when roots appear, watering is more moderate.
