Ardisia - home care, reproduction and species

Ardisia is a plant native to the tropics, which has long won the love of flower growers in many countries. The attention of florists is attracted by handfuls of bright red fruits that appear all year round after flowering.

Botanical description

Ardisia crenata is an ornamental tree-like shrub with glossy leaves and red fruits. It belongs to the evergreen crops of the Mirsinov family. Leaves are oblong, smooth, serrated at the edges, growing alternately. The flowers are small, collected by umbrella-shaped inflorescences of pale pink shades. After flowering, in place of the buds, red berries are formed.

Indoor plant from the tropics with bright red fruits

Plant species

Ardisia-flower has more than 700 species. Few are home grown. Among them:

• Ardisia is crenate. It differs from other species in malachite leaves, bumpy at the edges.
• Ardisia curly. It grows up to 80 cm. It has elongated leaves and fragrant flowering.
• Low ardisia. The bush reaches 60 cm. When ripe, the berries turn black.
• Solanacea. A tree with red branches and pale green leaves. The pink flowers change to dark red berries.
• Elliptical ardisia with purple fruits. Used in folk medicine as an antiseptic.

There are several types of culture

Features of flower care

Ardisia home care assumes the presence of:

• bright lighting, but without direct sunlight;
• air temperature up to +26 ℃ with a winter drop to +16 ℃ (for setting buds);
• high humidity (sprayed before flowering);
• watering in summer - abundant, in winter - moderate;
• loose and light soil with the addition of peat and sand;
• dressings, which are applied in the summer 2 times a month with complex means;

Flowering and fruiting

The culture blooms from the end of May to the end of August, forming berries with a stone in place of the buds. With proper care, fruits can stay on the bushes for a whole year. Flower pruning is needed when forming the crown. In spring, weak, damaged shoots that break out of the crown are removed.

The plant blooms with pink flowers

Reproduction

Ardisia krenata propagates by cuttings and seeds. At home, growing ardisia from seeds is much easier than using cuttings. Step by step method:

1. Seeds are harvested in January.
2. Separate the bone from the pulp and dry it.
3. Planted in a container 1 cm deep into moist, light soil.
4. Cover with foil.
5. A young seedling is transplanted into a container by the transshipment method.

You need to be prepared that propagation by cuttings takes some time and does not always live up to expectations. The upper shoot is cut off, treated with a growth stimulant and waiting for rooting under the foil in a separate pot.

Ardisia propagates with the help of seeds and cuttings

Ardisia transplant

A young culture is transplanted annually in the spring by a transshipment method, an adult plant is transplanted as needed. The choice of the pot is of great importance. If it is too large, the flowers of the houseplant Ardisia crenate will not appear soon.

Possible growing problems

In ardisia, the leaves turn yellow and fall off in poor lighting or lack of nutrients. If the lighting problem is solved, and the leaf turns yellow, organic matter is introduced into the soil. The leaf plate often turns brown due to the dry indoor air. It is necessary to increase the humidity by spraying or installing a humidifier. The stem stretches out, the foliage brightens - the plant does not have enough light (especially in winter). The flower is moved to the south windows.

The plant can get chlorosis due to the low iron content in the soil. Bacterial diseases will arise from stagnant water at the roots and too humid air. Caring for ardisia is easy. Subject to the rules of agricultural technology, it will decorate any home.