Clerodendrum: growing and caring at home

Clerodendrum (tree of fate) is a perennial plant from the Verbenov family. Homeland in the tropical climate of Asia, Africa and southern America.

In some sources, clerodendrum is called "volcamery", which translates as "innocent love."

Description

Clerodendron is a representative of deciduous and evergreen plants. The stems are long, highly branched, in length can reach 4 meters. Given the variety of shrubs, the trunk is either lianoid or tree-like.

The bark is thin and smooth, the color is light green or red-brown. Opposite foliage with short petioles of emerald or dark green color. Leaves are heart-shaped, ovoid or oval, the edges are carved. Length - up to 20 cm, indentations running along the veins are clearly marked.

Flowers externally resemble bells collected in inflorescences-scutes or panicles, located in the axils of the foliage or on the shoots. The shape of the flowers is complex, they have 2 corollas: the first is 25 cm in diameter, the second is slightly smaller. Long and thin stamens are placed in the center of the corolla.

Flowering of the tree occurs from mid-spring to late summer, there is a delicate aroma that emit not only flowers but also foliage. Each type of clerodendrum has an individual smell. The flower belongs to the pollinated species.

Types for Home Growing

There are several types of clerodendrum, which can be grown indoors:

Home Care

Caring for clerodendrum at home varies depending on the time of year:

Location, lighting, watering

Most varieties of clerodendrum prefer diffuse lighting, and exposure to direct sunlight can cause burns and leaf fall. The best place to place a flower pot is considered the western and eastern window. You can put the plant on the south window, but then you need to use a light-scattering curtain.

The frequency of watering is directly related to the season of the year and the period of plant growth. In the spring-summer season, clerodendrum needs abundant watering, but only after preliminary drying of the soil surface. After flowering, watering volumes are reduced. During winter dormancy, watering is minimized, the main thing is that the earthen lump remains in a wet state.

Air humidity should also be controlled, it should always be high, since dryness is harmful to the plant. In the absence of a humidifier, regular spraying can be carried out using filtered room temperature water.

Pot, soil, transplant

The plant develops well in fertile soil with a weak level of acidity. The easiest option is to buy a universal mixture and add a small amount of sand to it. In addition, the soil can be made independently by mixing the following components in different proportions:

• peat;
• sheet and clay earth;
• coarse sand.

To prevent the appearance of diseases and pests, the soil must be decontaminated. To do this, it will be enough to heat it with an oven or microwave.

It is better to take a ceramic pot as a container, as it allows air to pass through and ensures the maintenance of an optimal level of humidity. In addition, ceramics are more stable and heavy, which plays an important role during the growth of massive shrubs. When transplanting a plant, it is recommended to choose a pot that is about 2 cm wider in depth and width than the old container.

Plant transplantation must be performed carefully using the transshipment method.

1. The earthen lump is completely taken out of the tank, so that it is easier to clear, you can tap on the walls of the pot. It is strictly forbidden to flush the roots under running water.
2. A 2-3 cm drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the new pot: expanded clay, brick chips, small stones are used. A little earth is poured onto it, and then a transplanted plant is placed in the center of the tank, after which voids are neatly filled up.
3. After filling, the earth is watered, after its shrinkage, more soil is added.
4. After replanting the plant, it is recommended to use phytohormones, this will improve the rooting process.

Top dressing

In most cases, the flowering of clerodendrum occurs from March to October and during this period the plant requires the introduction of nutrients. It is recommended to alternate different types of fertilizers - mineral and organic humic.

Among minerals, Agricola is considered quite effective. High-quality humic fertilizers include FlorGumat. It is possible to produce root and foliar top dressing.

Pruning

In the spring, plant shoots are shortened by about a third of the length, dried and diseased branches are removed. In addition, during the trimming process, the following actions are performed:

1. Growing tops pinch to give the flower splendor.
2. To form a clerodendrum in the form of a tree, all branches are removed, only the strongest shoot remains, which is cut off at a height of approximately 0.6 m. Branches located below the crown are removed from the shoot.
3. Lianas do not need significant pruning, but in the spring, you still need to shorten the ends of the branches and pinch the plants.

Rest period

The rest period begins with the advent of autumn. At this time, you should refuse to fertilize. It is recommended to remove all dried branches and leaves, and then place the pot in a cool place.

Breeding

Reproduction of clerodendrum is possible by seeds and cuttings.

Cuttings need to be made in the spring. The following step-by-step instructions will help to propagate the plant correctly:

1. Cuttings are harvested. Lignified branches are divided into parts having 3-4 internodes. All lower leaves are removed, it will be enough to leave a few on top, if they are large, then shortening should be performed. These actions will prevent the loss of large amounts of moisture.
2. The bottom of the selected cuttings is processed with root and planted in a flowerpot. At the bottom of the tank, a drainage layer in the form of small stones and expanded clay is laid out in advance.
3. Pots are filled with a mixture of fine sand and peat, taken in equal amounts, and placed in a greenhouse.
4. Every day they check their condition, if necessary, they are sprayed with a substrate.
5. After the appearance of the roots, the plant must begin to harden, for this the ventilation time increases daily.
6. At that moment, as clerodendrum can do without a greenhouse, you can transplant it to a permanent place. Planting must be done carefully, as the plant has brittle roots.

For propagation by seeds, the following manipulations are made:

• seeds are planted in small containers filled with a mixture of coconut substrate and peat taken in the same amount;
• greenhouse conditions are created and the pots are installed in a well-lit place; it is required to ventilate daily;
• strong plants are planted in a permanent place.

Mistakes at leaving and their correction

When caring for clerodendrum, certain errors may occur that require immediate correction:

Diseases, pests and their control

In the process of growth, clerodendrum can be affected by various diseases and insects that need to be identified in a timely manner in order to save the plant from death:

Mr. Summer resident recommends: Clerodendrum - tree of happiness

Clerodendrum positively affects a person’s mood, improves the general condition, provides a favorable atmosphere in the walls of the house and gives love.

There is a legend that in ancient Rome there was a special cult of this plant, it was dedicated to the goddess of love Venus. Each member of this cult met his true soul mate.

But there is also a belief that clerodendrum brings grief, reducing success at work and in the personal sphere. Feng Shui experts categorically oppose this opinion, claiming that any flower brings joy to the house. The price of 150-200 rubles is not a reason to refuse this.

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