Pittosporum Is A Curly Miracle. Description. Home Care. Photo

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Pittosporum Is A Curly Miracle. Description. Home Care. Photo
Pittosporum Is A Curly Miracle. Description. Home Care. Photo

Video: Pittosporum Is A Curly Miracle. Description. Home Care. Photo

Video: Pittosporum Is A Curly Miracle. Description. Home Care. Photo
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Among the large indoor pets, shrubs or trees, the appearance of which would seem both exotic and classic, are not often found. This is what pittosporum looks like. From a distance, the dense crown seems just neat, but as soon as you get closer to the plant, the whorled arrangement of the leaves becomes obvious, giving it curliness, and the beauty of shades of greenery, and gentle flowering. This is a great and hardy soloist for those looking for originality even in landscaping.

Pittosporum Tobira (Pittosporum tobira)
Pittosporum Tobira (Pittosporum tobira)

Content:

  • Flower tree pittosporum
  • Types of pittosporum
  • Caring for pittosporum at home
  • Pittosporum transplant and substrate
  • Diseases and pests of pittosporum
  • Reproduction of resin seed

Flower tree pittosporum

Smolens are one of the most beautiful evergreens on our planet. They are quite compact: even in nature they grow only up to 2 m in bushy form (up to 5 m in the form of trees). The density and ornamentation of the crown of these plants is unmatched, and it does not change not only when grown in open ground in countries with a mild climate, but also in indoor or greenhouse culture.

Pittosporums are plants of dry subtropics, the conditions for which are quite easy to recreate. Japan and China are considered the birthplace of Pittosporum, which is easy to guess from the "eastern" appearance and picturesqueness of the plant.

Pittosporums are almost unknown under their real name. The Latin name is significantly inferior in popularity to the simple name of the resin seed. Plants are considered the hallmark of the entire Smolosemyannikov family.

Representatives of the genus resin seed, or pittosporum (Pittosporum) - evergreen shrubs, less often trees with a dense crown. Indoor resin seeds are limited to a maximum two-meter height, and even then they reach such sizes only in the absence of formation. The bush grows rather slowly, adult resin seeds grow only a few centimeters in length per year. Strong, flexible shoots of pittosporum with smooth bark are combined in a plant with densely arranged, glossy, leathery, obovate leaves. Shiny leaves at the ends of the branches are collected in whorls, which gives the plant a special ornamentation and elegance. The tops of the shoots with their “floral” leaf pattern are reminiscent of rhododendrons, as is the overall effect of the dense and curly crown.

Pittosporum flowers for indoor shrubs are large enough, up to 2.5 cm in diameter. When blooming, they change their snow-white color to creamy-light yellow, thanks to a gradual change in color in one inflorescence, you can admire flowers of different shades. Pittosporum surprises with a pleasant, delicate and delicate aroma reminiscent of oranges and sweet citruses. Pittosporum flowers are often used to obtain natural flavors and to make tea and alcoholic beverages. The plant does not produce single flowers, flaunting convex, dense inflorescences from April (and sometimes March) to the end of June. For the first time, flowering can be observed only at the age of five, and sometimes pittosporum blooms even later.

After flowering, you can observe the process of gradual ripening of the three-nested bolls. The seeds of pittosporum, covered with a sticky resinous secretion, are colored in a rather bright shade of orange.

Types of pittosporum

Of more than fifty species of resin seed, only two species are grown as a pot plant.

The most popular potted Pittosporum rightly called pittosporum Taubira (Pittosporum tobira, which is also known as Pittosporum ordinary and pittosporum fragrant) - a compact and amazingly dense evergreen shrub. The plant never reaches its natural height of many meters in room culture, limiting itself to a maximum of 150 cm. The shoots are strong and thin, forming a flat crown. Obovate, elongated, with a keeled base and a rounded tip, the leathery leaves of this pittosporum species adorn with a muted brilliant gray-green color, against which the central vein shines through with a light.

Pittosporum Tobir bloom starts in mid-spring and lasts until July. The apical shields attract the eye to the beauty of white or creamy, rather large fragrant flowers with a diameter of about 2.5 cm. In addition to the base plant, you can find variegated unnamed varieties of Tobir pittosporum on sale.

Pittosporum thin-leaved (Pittosporum tenuifolium) in everything resembles Tobir's pittosporum, but its leaves are much smaller and lanceolate, with a wavy edge. Flowers are inferior in size to competitors (only up to 1 cm), but they are painted in a unique cinnabar shade of red and seem precious against the background of the dark green of the bush.

Pittosporum Tobira (Pittosporum tobira), or common resin, or odorous pittosporum
Pittosporum Tobira (Pittosporum tobira), or common resin, or odorous pittosporum
Fine-leaved resinous plant, or fine-leaved pittosporum (Pittosporum tenuifolium)
Fine-leaved resinous plant, or fine-leaved pittosporum (Pittosporum tenuifolium)

Caring for pittosporum at home

Asterisks of pittosporum flowers against the background of elegant shiny foliage and dense curly crown seem to be a unique sight. But the extraordinary appearance does not mean at all that this plant is difficult to grow. Pittosporum does not like extremes; it needs careful watering, constant attention and care. But there is nothing difficult, except for a cool wintering, in caring for a plant. And the ease of formation and beauty compensate for the thoroughness of care. Pittosporum is best chosen by experienced growers who can provide constant monitoring and systemic care.

Lighting for pittosporum

It is difficult to call sun-loving resin seeds, but they are definitely light-loving indoor plants. Shading does not affect the attractiveness of foliage, but at the stage of budding and flowering, any reduction in light is reflected in the process of laying and developing flower buds and buds. The bush leaves should be protected from direct sunlight (too intense lighting causes them to curl), but it is still better not to expose pittosporum away from the windowsill.

The eastern and western windows are rightly considered the optimal place for the plant, but pittosporum will feel good on the north-facing windowsill. Light shading will not hurt, but in the middle penumbra, the resin seed will feel uncomfortable.

The resin plant should be evenly lit. It is better to turn the crown regularly in relation to the light source.

Variegated resinous plants are more sensitive to stability and light intensity than green-leaved forms.

Comfortable temperature

Pittosporums are indoor plants that prefer to grow and thrive in a cool environment. They do not tolerate heat, fluctuations in air temperature. In living rooms, they feel good enough, but only if the temperature does not exceed 23 degrees Celsius. Optimum temperatures are from 18 to 21 degrees.

Plants achieve their maximum decorative effect only if they provide a cool wintering. For the winter period, it is better to move pittosporums to rooms with a temperature from 10 to a maximum of 13 degrees Celsius. Deviation from the recommended parameters leads not only to the absence or deterioration of flowering, but also to a slowdown in growth. A drop in temperature below 10 degrees is detrimental to the root system, but the aboveground part can withstand even light frost. Therefore, during the entire dormant period for the resin seed plant, first of all, the temperature of the substrate is controlled and, if necessary, measures are taken against hypothermia of the pots, putting the plant on supports.

Pittosporum is very sensitive to stagnant air and lack of fresh air. The rooms in which this shrub is located must be ventilated regularly, protecting the plant itself from cold drafts.

Flowering resin seed, or pittosporum (Pittosporum)
Flowering resin seed, or pittosporum (Pittosporum)

Watering and air humidity

Pittosporums need moderate, moderate watering. They do not tolerate stagnant water and waterlogging of the soil, too abundant watering. In summer, at ordinary temperatures, pittosporum is often watered, but without excess, and in the winter dormant period, watering is significantly limited, reducing the moisture content of the substrate by half compared to summer. It is undesirable to allow the complete drying of the substrate for the resin seed plant. The approximate frequency of watering is once a week in spring and autumn, 2 times a week in summer and once every 1.5-2 weeks in winter.

Smoloseyans well tolerate dry air, but the decorativeness of greenery suffers significantly from this. It is best to grow pittosporum at least with moderate air humidity. At high temperatures or a drop in these indicators, spraying is carried out. Periodic scenting, in addition to the budding and flowering stage, has a positive effect on the attractiveness of the leaves. Greens can be wiped or washed from dust and use special polishes.

Top dressing for pittosporum

Smoloseyans need additional feeding throughout the year, even during the dormant period, to maintain stable characteristics of the substrate. Pittosporums can be fed only in spring-summer, but rare winter feeding maintains a high decorative crown all year round.

In the active period of growth, top dressing is applied with a frequency of 1 every 2 weeks. In autumn and winter, feeding is carried out once a month.

For pittosporum, you need to select complex fertilizers for flowering indoor plants. If desired, the usual dressing in summer can be alternated with top dressing with organic fertilizers.

Pruning pittosporums

Like many other indoor shrubs, the resin seed plant retains a high decorative effect only if it is regularly formed, supporting both the contours and the density of the crown. Over time, the lower leaves fall off, exposing the branches, and pruning also stimulates crown renewal. Plants tolerate almost any haircut very well, which makes it possible to expand the possibilities of their use in interiors of various styles.

Several types of pruning are carried out on the plant:

  1. pinching or pinching the tops of young twigs;
  2. easy shortening of branches knocking out of the contours of the crown;
  3. trimming up to 1/3 of the length of the shoots to give a more strict silhouette;
  4. cutting out side shoots and forming a central trunk to create standard and woody forms.

If desired, pittosporums can also be grown in bonsai form. A wire frame and frequent haircuts are used to shape and guide.

Pittosporum transplant and substrate

The resin seeds are transplanted regularly and often. Until the age of four, plants are transplanted annually, in early spring, after 4 years - every two years, changing the top layer of the substrate in containers every year, when the transplant is not carried out. If the plant does not need a transplant, the roots have not yet fully mastered the entire substrate, then it is better to transplant as rarely as possible. Resin seedlings react painfully to the procedure for changing the capacity, adaptation lasts a long time.

Pittosporum does not like peat and its content in the substrate should be minimal. A universal soil mixture is quite suitable for a plant. The optimum soil response is pH 5.5 to 6.0. If the substrate is mixed independently, then for pittosporum it is better to use one of the light earth mixtures:

  1. a mixture of sand, humus, turf, deciduous soil and peat in a ratio of 1: 1: 4: 2: 1/2;
  2. a mixture of equal parts of sand, turf and leafy soil.

For pittosporum, only one transplantation method is permissible - transshipment with complete preservation of the earthen coma. Contact with roots can kill the plant. A high drainage layer must be laid on the bottom of the new container. After transplanting, the plant should be placed in a mild, controlled environment with high humidity.

Diseases and pests of pittosporum

Pittosporums are one of the hardiest indoor plants. Only with a significant violation of care, the accumulation of dust on the leaves, improper lighting and excessive watering can they suffer from the spread of rot, spider mites or other insects that actively spread in dry air. It is better to start the fight against these problems with a simple correction of the care and removal of insects from the plant, resorting to insecticide treatment only when simple measures do not help.

Common growing problems:

  • shrinking leaves in insufficient lighting;
  • stretching, painful appearance in full shade;
  • curling and drying of leaves in direct sunlight;
  • loss of variegated color in variegated varieties with an excess of nitrogen or poor lighting;
  • natural loss of lower leaves.
Pittosporum thin-leaved (Pittosporum tenuifolium)
Pittosporum thin-leaved (Pittosporum tenuifolium)

Reproduction of resin seed

Indoor pittosporums are propagated mainly by cuttings, but if you managed to collect or purchase seeds, then beautiful plants can be grown from them.

For rooting, it is preferable to use not green, but semi-lignified summer shoots just beginning to woody in the lower part. Rooting can be done in a mixture of sand and substrate, or in clean sand in large shared containers. Cuttings are buried in the soil at an angle. Treatment with growth stimulants is desirable but not required (on average, this process takes just over a month).

Before rooting, a stable, light soil moisture should be maintained (for pittosporum, it is also necessary to create high air humidity by covering the container with cuttings with a glass or film cap, it is not necessary, but such measures will accelerate rooting). Immediately after rooting, the cuttings are planted in individual medium-sized pots, using a standard substrate for resin seeds. Caring for young plants is similar to caring for adult pittosporums, but the formation in the form of pinching the tops should be started from the first weeks of growing.

You can get resin seed and seeds. Sowing is carried out in standard peat-free substrates (soil mixtures containing only sand, sod and leafy soil). Sowing should be carried out immediately after collecting the seeds, as they very quickly lose their germination. Sowing is carried out superficially or with light sand cover, on a moistened substrate. Seedlings appear under film or glass for a long time, diving can be carried out only after the formation of a full pair of real leaves, in individual pots. Plants develop very slowly, in the first year they practically do not grow in the aerial part, growing roots.

Plants obtained from seeds and cuttings bloom almost simultaneously - in the third year after sowing or planting for rooting. Very rarely, cuttings are able to bloom after 2 years.

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