Saltirolia: care and growing recommendations

Saltirolia is an ornamental plant that in its natural environment covers the surface of the earth, and at home looks like a fluffy ball thanks to the small leaves. There will be no particular difficulties in caring for the plant if you follow all the recommendations.

Content:

• Saltirolia: description of the plant
• Preparing to plant a plant
• Conditions for growing soleirolia
• How to care for a plant
• Possible problems during care

Saltirolia: description of the plant

This is an ornamental ground cover plant of the Nettle family with creeping shoots. Grows in natural conditions near lakes, rivers, swamps and reservoirs. The stems of soleirolia are fragile and thin and their shoots are covered with small green leaves. Their size reaches 5 ml. The leaves have a round or oval shape. The plant blooms in the spring, but the small white flowers are lost in the green fabric of the leaves.

The plant almost never blooms at home. Quite often this flower is confused with Nerthera. These two plants are similar to each other, however, Nertera blooms profusely and has bright red berries. Soleirolia can be used to decorate aquariums, winter gardens, terrariums, or simply planted in hanging flowerpots.

This plant can be grown separately, or complement other flowers or make various compositions. Several varieties of plants have been developed with leaves of silver and yellow color, as well as those bordered by a white stripe. After 3-4 years, the decorative effect decreases noticeably, so it is recommended multiply plant. This can be achieved in several ways: seeds, dividing the bush, rooting a shoot, cuttings.

Preparing to plant a plant

To increase the vegetative mass, it is necessary to properly plant and care for the plant. To plant soleirolia, you need to use neutral soil. The soil should be loose and moisture-permeable. You can prepare the soil mixture yourself or buy it ready-made at the store.

Take turf and leaf soil in equal proportions, add peat and sand. If it is not possible to prepare the soil mixture yourself, then you can buy soil for palm trees or violets in the store. After purchase, the soleirolia must be replanted. This is usually done after 12-14 days.

This time is enough for the plant to adapt to home conditions. The pot should be chosen wide. It is necessary to make holes at the bottom of the container to drain moisture. Next, pour small stones in the form of expanded clay or pebbles.

Then pour the soil mixture into the pot without reaching the edge. Next, lightly moisten and carefully place the plant on the surface and press the roots. Cover the roots with the remaining soil mixture. Escapes must be located on the surface. You can spray the plant until new shoots appear. Then water as usual.

Conditions for growing soleirolia

Decorative nettle is very easy to care for at home. Therefore, for the plant to develop well, the necessary conditions must be created. The plant loves diffused light. The air temperature should be within 20 degrees. The maximum temperature can be 25 degrees, but then it is necessary to frequently moisten the soil.

Do not place the container with the pot on a windowsill in direct sunlight. The leaves will begin to dry out. Sun rays negatively affect plant development. Soleirolia does not tolerate hot weather, low temperatures, and will not grow without daylight. In winter, you should take care of additional lighting in the form of phytolamps or fluorescent lamps.

The air humidity in the room where the soleirolia is located should be 60-80%. It is necessary to spray the plant every day. Listed above are the basic recommendations that must be followed when growing soleironia. at home.

How to care for a plant

Saltirolia is a moisture-loving plant. If the earthen ball is too dry, then most of the shoots will dry out. It is not recommended to place the pot next to radiators. Dry air has an adverse effect on the plant. The plant should be sprayed daily. It should be remembered that the procedure cannot be carried out under the scorching rays of the sun.

It is recommended to grow soleirolia at a temperature of about 20 degrees in summer and not lower than 10 degrees in winter. At the same time, watering the plants is reduced. It is better to water saltirolia through a tray. Pour water into the tray and leave the container for several hours. The remaining water must be drained, but not left, as the plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture.

It is recommended to use water at room temperature only. Young bushes should be watered every 2-3 days. Increase watering in hot weather. Fertilizers are applied in liquid form during the period of active growth. It is enough to apply 1-2 times a month. As a top dressing, use a universal complex fertilizer for ornamental plants.

The concentration should be 2 times lower than indicated in the instructions. In autumn and winter, feeding is stopped. It is important not to forget about timely spring pruning. The strongest shoots are left and the rest are cut out. This way the growth of the plant is stimulated, the new stems will be strong and leafy. Saltirolia is well tolerated pruning, so you can give the plant the desired shape.

Possible problems during care

Even experienced gardeners may have problems caring for saltwater plants. If the plant begins to wither and the leaves dry out, then the problem is insufficient watering or dry air. If there is elongation of the stems and slow growth of the plant, this indicates an insufficient amount of nutrients and poor lighting.

When the leaves dry out and silvery-brown spots appear on them, the plant should be shaded. This occurs due to excessive exposure to sunlight. It is necessary to place the pot in another place. If the leaves turn yellow and fall off, you should reduce the number of waterings and do not leave excess moisture in the tray.

These are the main problems that may arise when growing soleirolia. It is important to follow the recommendations listed and not violate the rules of caring for the plant, then it will be possible to prevent the occurrence of possible problems with care.

Soleirolia on video: recommended care: