Common hops and its cultivation on the balcony
Common hops are found under the names hops, khmil, khmelitsa, and bitterweed. It belongs to the section of sedative plants, as well as passionflower, motherwort, and evasive peony.
Common hop is a perennial dioecious, creeping plant from the hemp family. The stem of the plant is climbing, hollow, lined with hooked thorns, and reaches 5–7 m in length.
In female plants, the inflorescences are dense cones collected from 20-60 flowers.
In the lower part of the cones, lupulin glands with bitter substances are formed in the cells.
Male inflorescences are highly branched leafless panicles.
The pollen is very light and can be carried by wind up to 3 km.
The fruit is a single-seeded, brown, flattened nut, covered at the base with the remaining perianth. Common hops reproduce by seeds and vegetatively (offshoots).
Life expectancy is 15-20 years or more. Distributed in almost all regions of the European part of the CIS, the Caucasus, Western and Eastern Siberia.
Grows on moist and damp fertile soils in black-alder and oak-ash forests, along bushes and ravines. Prefers humus-rich soils. The plant is poisonous!
Common hops and its cultivation on the balcony.
Many of us consider the balcony an extension of our apartment, because flowers and all kinds of plants can be grown there. However, not all plants thrive in a polluted urban atmosphere.
Therefore, if your balcony overlooks a busy highway, then you should choose unpretentious species, such as common hop.
Common hops and growing them on the balcony will not only bring you joy, but will also give a spectacular appearance to your home.
Growing Tips:
- Since common hops have large roots, you should initially choose a large pot.
- After the first sprout appears (after about 2 years), it is necessary to place a support around which it will subsequently curl. Common hops climb counterclockwise.
- This plant needs to be watered 3 times a week.
- Every year you need to prune the shoots.
Growing hops on your balcony will save you from trips to the pharmacy. After all, in the fall the green cones turn yellow, then they are cut off, dried and made into a wonderful pillow that will help you get rid of insomnia.
Common hops are used to strengthen hair. To do this, rub the decoction of the cones into the scalp.
As you can see, growing hops at home has many positive aspects.
