Lantana is an exotic tropical flower, successfully adapted to the local climate in the criteria of modern apartments. Fans of domestic plants appreciate it because of its abundance and slow flowering. Blossoming buds change colors evenly, hence lanthanum looks very special. Some gardeners do not dare to create a similar exotic, fearing problems in the care, but in fact the plant is surprisingly undemanding for the surprise.
Lantana looks like Lantana is a family of perennial plants that is part of the Verbenaceae family. It is widely distributed in South and Central America, some future ones are found in Africa and South-East Asia. According to different data, the family totals 140 before 170 species.
Lantana in nature grows very vividly
The name of the plant was given to the most famous Swedish system designer Carl Linnaeus."Lantana"the oldest Romans called kalina. Apparently, the appropriate shchitkovidnaya kind of inflorescence influenced the election of the botanist. Lovers of indoor plants appreciate lanthanum because of the unusual flowering.
style="text-align: justify;"In addition, which is long (from April to October), the petals evenly change the color. This happens literally for eyes, in the course of 2-3 days. At the same time for a bush it is allowed to create red, orange, bright yellow, snow-white flowers. They are collected in numerous dense inflorescences in the form of an umbrella or an almost regular ball. A flattering incense is characteristic. If the lanthanum is quite light, it can bloom constantly almost a year's curve.
The inflorescence of lantana in the form of an almost regular ball
After flowering, small rounded berries appear, each corresponding to two seeds. Immature fruits are green, they can not be eaten, they are poisonous. Mature berries where lanthanum grows are eaten, in most cases added to different desserts. The style resembles mulberry.
Immature fruit lanthanum is poisonous
The plant is actively branching. In nature it is a shrub or tree, reaching 3 m in height. Lanthanum has a growth rate, therefore, in domestic conditions, it needs constant pruning. It is allowed to shorten it approximately in front of a 30-50 cm high. The sternly located leaves are slightly pubescent. The average length is about 4-5 cm. For the touch, they are rather stiff, rough, as if made of plastic. Consistent with the shape of the leaves resemble nettles. The outskirts seemed to have been carved out of teeth by reason. The veins are clearly marked.
Leaves also spread a special tart incense that few people like. The notes of peppermint, lemon, camphor, and some feel the onion"ambre". So that it spreads in accordance with the room, quite easy touching the flower. However, others like the spirit very much. Dry leaves of lantanes are even used for the production of sachets.
The leaves of the lantana are also beautiful,
For the style of leaves, too, not very pleasant, give bitterness. The plant produces a special toxin that covers them with a narrow film. This exception safely protects lanthanum through the encroachment of pets.
In countries where lanthanum is not an endemic plant, it is a real disaster. It is very vividly expanding, mastering new places without a break and displacing the local flora. Against an alien"invader", countries are obliged to take harsh measures. For example, in Australia and South Africa it is officially forbidden to plant lantana in parks and gardens, even personal ones.
Where the climate allows and where it is not forbidden, Lantana has an abundance of nicknames. It is called"nettles"(because of the corresponding shape of the leaves),"maiden word","changeable rose","switchable flower"(because of the"impermanence"of the coloring),"eggs with bacon","Spanish flag"(because of a similar color palette) . Other unofficial names are"shore rose","big sage","small berry".
Lantana petals change the paint literally for eyes
Future, popular with amateur growers Mixing the substrate is allowed without the help of others:
A peaty child, a common land for the blooming houseplants, large river dust or perlite (1: 2: 1); It is quite difficult to find a special land for the sake of the Verbenovs, but the lanthanum is also suitable substrate for the sake of budding house plants
If to transplant the lanthanum because of its dimensions is problematic (the plant is problematic to extract from the pot), limit the substitution of the upper a layer of substrate 5-7 cm wide. In other cases, the transplant is carried out by a transshipment method, a piece of land according to the method is also preserved a whole.
Lanthan easier to remove from the pot,
During the transplant, do not forget about the book that for the day of the new pot you need to make a full (4-5 cm) drainage and respond with a sharp, clean, no knife 2-3 mm roots, in a continuous"pile". The transplanted lanthanum is evenly watered and sent to the light penumbra for 3-5 days in order to minimize the stress acquired by the plant.
Experienced gardeners are advised to plant in a single pot according to 2 -3 bush of the lantana. Firstly, if they are of different types, such an inflorescence looks very elegant and original. Secondly, according to an unknown reason, this provokes branching - the plants grow in volume by a factor of 1.5-2.
For the sake of the tropical exoticism of lanthanum, it is absolutely undemanding. In nature, this is a real weed. Through the gardener there will be no need to undertake"dances with tambourines"near the plant. And it's not easy to put a pot for a window sill and you will not be able to neglect it.
Watering
A burgeoning lantana needs abundant watering. Yes, and to change the soil in a pot in the swamp is impossible - the rottenness develops rapidly. Wait until the substrate dries to a depth of 1-2 cm. Lantana, which has little water, quickly releases buds. If the street is not hot, enough for the first watering in 3-5 days. After 35-40 minutes, you must certainly drain excess water from the pan.
Do not forget about other aqua procedures. Their lantana loves them very much. While the plant does not paint, it can be cleaned near the shower, the rest is time - to wipe the leaves with a moistened sponge or a soft cloth, removing the dust.
The abundant flowering takes abundant strength from the lantana. Therefore, it needs constant feeding. Suitable at least some universal fertilizer for the sake of budding houseplants. Once in 12-15 days it is watered with the prepared substance, lowering the dose of the product twice according to the recommended manufacturer. It is not necessary to use top dressing if it starts to actively increase the green mass to the detriment of flowering.
Lanthanum needs constant feeding, the universal fertilizer is suitable for the sake of budding house plants.
Lantana certainly responds and for natural organic. It is allowed to extract, for example, the infusion of fresh cow dung, diluted with water 1:15. Such feeding is better to live before flowering. Nestlings of nitrogen can prevent the formation of buds.
Crop
Constructive pruning lantans spend first of spring, according to the end of the rest period. It is allowed to cooperate with her with a transfer. First get rid through the old side shoots, ugly stretched and"bald"from the bottom. Of the remaining individual pinch for 2-3 upper leaves - this certainly affects the abundance of flowering. Fans of bonsai art successfully miniaturized the lanthanum
During the flowering period, do not forget to wriggle out through the dried buds. For their place, new ones are formed.
The lanthanum crone can be freely formed. Here the gardener is limited only by his imagination. The most common options are:
A spherical bush. Shorten the shoots by creating the desired configuration. Then, take a year off about a third of the length, also dispose of through unsuccessfully located shoots, apparently coming out of the selected essay.
A slab tree. It is formed from plants at the age of three years, in which lignified shoots. Choose one upright stronger sprout, without the other, located below the desired hill"trunk"cut off in front of the base. Certainly useful protection. The crown is formed in accordance with the chosen configuration. The"trunk"is cleaned through the emerging lateral growth.
The ampel plant. Choose varieties of lantana with thin creeping shoots. It is enough to put the plant in a hanging pot and sometimes reduce the whips before the desired length. For the sake of greater"bushiness"in the spring, trim a separate 3rd branch by half. The"tree"from lantana looks very beautiful
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Very beautiful look"tree", in the crown of which is grafted fairly sprouts of other species. The extraordinary abundance of colors attracts reverence for a long time.
The rest period
Video: exterior and principal aspects of plant care
Common mistakes of the beginning gardener
Most of the unintentional errors of the gardener will not be destroyed by the lanthanum. However, they have a bad effect on her decorativeness. The plant can all turn away bloom. This is a real trivial sign - something does not suit him. However, eating and other anxiety symptoms that you need to know to interpret.