Nertera Grenada. Home Care. Photo

2023 Author: Ava Durham | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 07:13

In indoor culture, ground covers are far from being as loved as in garden culture, and they are less common. But on the other hand, all the plants that have replaced the fertile soil of flower beds and colorful reliefs of rock gardens for small pots are really unique stars. Nertera Granadskaya has been fighting for the status of the brightest indoor ground cover plant for several decades. She is rare, but so beautiful that it is impossible to forget her appearance. It forms a lush and bright cushion bush, on which round fruit beads seem to be generously scattered. This amount of berries is not produced by any other houseplant. Nerta is not easy to grow, but it is well worth the effort.

Content:

• Nertera is a catchy baby with a cheerful character
• Grenada nerta care at home
• Pests and diseases of nertera
• Reproduction of nertera grenada

Nertera is a catchy baby with a cheerful character

Nertera is a strikingly spectacular plant. Bright, colorful and festive, she seems to be all wrapped up in a festive outfit. Some unconventional practices even endow nertera with magical properties, but it's hard to say whether nertera really increases activity and energy. But the fact that one type of pots with juicy greens and a bright scattering of berries brings a smile - no doubt.

Nertera granadensis, we know not under the specific name as the Grenada or Granada nertera, but under the popular nickname "coral berries" or "coral moss" - a ground cover of traditionally small height. Lush cushions form long, flexible shoots that hang elegantly from the edges of the pot. In length, they are limited to a modest 20 cm, but they are so densely located that they fully compensate for their modest size.

The greenery of nertera seems curly and elegant, incomparably fun. Leaves are rich herbaceous, rounded, about 0.5 cm long and wide. And the height of the plant itself will never exceed 10 cm (and even then in very elongated specimens).

Nertera blooms in April and May, but it is not grown for the sake of inconspicuous miniature stars of flowers. The main show of this baby begins after the end of flowering, when magnificent, perfectly round and glossy fruits begin to form on the plant, and then change color. They really seem to be beads, coral, bright and extremely ornate. Charming beads keep on nertera bushes from August until winter, while a lot of elegant berries perfectly enliven the autumn and winter, rather boring interior.

And after the change of color from white and cream to yellow and orange of various shades, and then - to the "final" red, it is impossible not to follow the admiring gaze. Due to the fact that berries of a completely different color flaunt on the plant for several months, nertera seems even more bizarre. The berries reach 1 cm in diameter, and their distinctive feature is not so much a bright color as a glossy sheen.

Nerters, despite their beauty and friendliness, contain poisonous and explosive substances. So, it is better to refuse the temptation to run your hand over the curly pillow and touch the berries. True, these plants are not so aggressive as to transplant them in a mode of enhanced protection.

Note: In addition to the Granada nertera, you can also find the pressed nertera on sale. Her main thing is greenery, and berries are only "piecewise" decorated with variegated bushes.

Grenada nerta care at home

Different strategies for growing nertera

Nertera Granadskaya does not belong to indoor centenarians, it needs to be constantly updated and divided. And the conditions for the wintering of this culture should be specific, cool, and watering should be abundant, but unusual. But even such whims pay off in full with the beauty of nertera. If you can give it extra attention, nertera will become one of the most ornate plants in your collection.

Only experienced growers can grow nerter. After all, she will need not only a systematic approach to leaving, but also the ability to notice the needs of the plant and be sensitive to the signals given by it. Due to the difficulty of ensuring proper wintering and the tendency to degeneration, it is easiest to grow nertera as a seasonal, annual plant.

Buying nertera with already formed berries at the very beginning of fruiting, it is grown until the moment when the last berry falls from the bush. And then they just throw it away. But if you have the opportunity to create the right regime, be sure to use it: nertera is worth playing with.

Coral moss-friendly lighting

Finding a place for nertera in the house is easy. It will adapt well to a bright place (but without direct sunlight), and to any partial shade. So this culture can be used not only on windowsills, but also in the lightest locations inside rooms as a touching and bright decoration. For example, a unique optimist looks wonderful on a kitchen or dining table, a work table by the window. Even the largest pieces of furniture will be completely transformed in the company of this not so modest crumbs.

Changing lighting is not recommended for nertera, even in winter. When moving to colder conditions, be sure to make sure the plant is getting enough light. If the nertera is accustomed to diffused bright lighting, then in the cold season it is better to light the bushes. As a rule, the plant signals the need to move to a new place or install fluorescent lamps on its own - by stretching, thinning branches, pale leaves. At the first signs of a violation of the growth of shoots, immediately rearrange the nerta.

Temperature regime for nertera

The temperature regime for nertera throughout the warm season cannot be called anything other than standard. Nertera feels great in our usual room conditions - in temperatures from 18 to 22 degrees or slightly higher. But such loyalty does not apply to the cold season: from October to February, the nertera Granada will need a completely different regime of detention.

This culture is quite capricious for wintering. It is better to keep a small ground cover in rather cool conditions, about 8-10 degrees Celsius, while lowering temperatures should be combined with good air circulation.

No matter how fragile nertera may seem, this plant is hardy and not afraid of drafts. In the summer (or rather, from spring, as soon as the weather permits and until the berries appear), the nerter can be taken out into the fresh air and displayed on balconies, terraces, in recreation areas. Of course, the bushes should be moved to fresh air before the ground cover blooms, and be sure to shade it from direct sun, winds and precipitation.

Watering and air humidity

Irrigation for nertera is quite standard. The plant needs to create conditions under which soil moisture will be medium and constant. But where the nertera stands out for sure is in the irrigation technique. It is strictly forbidden to water this ground cover by the classical method, when water is poured onto the substrate. Nerteru is watered through trays, carrying out the following procedure only when the top layer of the substrate is dry. Complete drying out or severe waterlogging must be avoided: they are equally dangerous for nertera.

Winter watering is directly dependent on temperature. But even if the nerter was moved to cool conditions, then it is not worth allowing the substrate to dry out, but it is better to regulate the frequency of watering according to the rate of evaporation of moisture from the soil.

Coral berries can only be watered with soft water, because it will not stand the lime content. It is best to filter the water. Also make sure that its temperature is equal to the room temperature.

Loves coral moss and high humidity conditions. During the active growing season, until the beginning of flowering, it is better to regularly spray the nerter with the same water that is used for watering - soft and high-quality. As soon as the buds appear, the procedures must be stopped and not resumed until spring, because accumulations of moisture cannot stand not only nertera flowers, but also its fruits. If you want to simplify the care of nertera, instead of spraying, use pallets with wet moss and pebbles, humidifier devices.

Top dressing for nertera

Nertera has strict requirements for fertilizers. This ground cover does not tolerate excess nitrogen, therefore, only mixtures of complex or mineral fertilizers with a high phosphorus content are chosen for it. But if your nertera is accustomed to ordinary complex mixtures, feed her with them (check with the seller for this information). Top dressing is applied only from March to September, with a frequency of 1 time per month with a full dose recommended by the manufacturer. From October, the plant is transferred to winter mode without fertilization.

Coral moss transplant

You can transfer the beautiful nertera to a new container both immediately after fruiting and after a dormant period. Repotting in February and March is preferable, especially if you are going to divide the plant. But it will perfectly tolerate nerter and change of capacity immediately after the last fruits fall. It is very important not only to carefully handle the plant itself, without damaging the sod and roots, but also not to compact, not to crush the substrate. For nertera, it is imperative to lay fine-fraction drainage on the bottom.

Substrate: light, sandy, with increased water permeability. In the soil mixture, the proportion of sand should be equal to or greater than the proportion of sod, humus, leafy soil and peat.

Tanks for nertera: this ground cover needs specific pots - wide, but shallow, because the plant develops mainly horizontally.

Pests and diseases of nertera

Of the pests for Granada nertera, the greatest danger is aphid. Nerter bushes rarely get sick and, with proper care, will not cause trouble. It is better to fight the ubiquitous insects with the help of insecticides.

Reproduction of nertera grenada

Nertera reproduces very easily. Fluffy and fancy pads can be divided with each transplant, and other methods for this beauty can also be used.

Separation of the bushes is easy: like all ground covers, nertera is perfectly divided by hand, without any tools. The main thing is not to divide the plant into too small parts - and you will definitely achieve success. After planting the parts, you need to put containers with them in a cool place and partial shade. Only after the adaptation process is completed, the start of active rooting and growth can they be transferred to the conditions typical for nertera.

Nertera seeds can be sown at the end of winter, in January-February, in large and wide boxes with high-quality substrate. They are not buried in the soil, but are rarely laid out on it after moistening, sprinkled with a thin layer of earth and slightly compact the soil with a plank.

Immediately after sowing, it is imperative to spray and cover the containers with glass or film. Nertera seeds will be able to germinate only after 1-3 months, and even then at a temperature of 20 to 22 degrees Celsius. Young plants should be kept in a bright place with diffused lighting, providing uniform moisture and thorough care.