How to grow clerodendrum at home?

Several hundred species of clerodendrum grow in nature, although only a few of them are grown at home. Caring for Clerodendrum is not very difficult, even beginner growers can achieve abundant flowering if they adhere to simple rules.

Unpretentious liana

Plants of the genus Clerodendrum are flowering shrubs. In nature, they mainly grow in the humid tropics of Asia, Africa and South America. The name of the flower comes from the Greek words kleros - fate, dendron - tree and literally translates as "tree of fate." People call clerodendrum "innocent love".

The leaves of the plant are bright green in color, the leaf blade is heart-shaped with jagged edges and a rough surface. The leaf length is 20–30 cm. Clerodendrum has flexible shoots, which quickly grow woody in their lower part. Clerodendrum is popular among flower growers for its charming butterfly-like flowers, with flowers collected in brushes or shields, depending on the type of plant.

A feature of clerodendrum is that both flowers and leaves exude a delicate, pleasant aroma. The smell of clerodendrum differs from one species to another.

Such a different and unique clerodendrum

Breeders have bred a variety of plant varieties, including:

1. Clerodendrum Prospero.This variety has expressive snow-white inflorescences, thanks to which it received the nicknames "bridal veil", "bridesmaid veil", and even amateur flower growers call Prospero's clerodendrum "Cleopatra's tears". Compared to clerodendrum of other varieties, this plant is quite compact and graceful, taking up very little space on the windowsill.
2. Wallich's Clerodendrum. A distinctive feature of this clerodendrum is drooping shoots and glossy leaves with a slightly wavy edge. The flower shape has a swollen red calyx and white petals and stamens.
3. Clerodendrum Filipino, the second name of the species is fragrant. The flowers of this plant exude a delicate violet-citrus aroma, which is especially pronounced in the evening and morning hours. The plant quickly grows green mass and is quite decorative even during the dormant period.
4. Clerodendrum Ugandan is still rarely found in the collections of florists. Although this look has many advantages. Unlike most indoor clerodendrum, it can grow in sunny locations and is tolerant of moisture deficiency. The flowers of the clerodendrum are Ugandan blue and resemble a butterfly, and its stamens are the antennae of an insect. This is a fairly large liana, the shoots of which in the open field can reach three meters.
5. Clerodendrum Thompson can be found more often than others at home, it is a climbing shrub with large flowers, with a red corolla and snow-white petals, while after wilting, the calyx changes its color to lilac. Usually grown in ampelous form, but with the help of pruning Thomson's clerodendrum, it is possible to give a bush or standard shape.
6. Clerodendrum Inerme (thornless) begins to bloom in November with snow-white flowers with purple stamens. In indoor culture, this is still a fairly rare plant, but in warm countries it is widely used to create green hedges.
7. Clerodendrum Bunge naturally grows in China. This is a plant with fragrant flowers of a pale pink hue, collected in corymbose inflorescences.
8. Clerodendrum the finest has bright scarlet tubular flowers with stamens resembling the antennae of insects.
9. Clerodendrum paniculata or "pagoda plant" is a large shrub up to 150 cm high. The plant is very spectacular, with huge orange flowers, collected in conical inflorescences.

Photo gallery: popular plant varieties

Table: conditions for growing clerodendrum at home

Features of planting and transplanting a plant

Clerodendrum grows very quickly, a vine can grow shoots up to two meters a year, so young plants are transplanted annually into a larger pot (about 3 cm). When the clerodendrum has reached what you think is sufficient, plant growth can be inhibited. For this, the flower is grown in a cramped pot, preventing the root system from developing. An adult liana is transplanted every two to three years in a pot of the same size.

Step-by-step description of planting clerodendrum:

1. Plant and transplant plants in early spring, when the plant has just started to grow and the first leaves have appeared on the shoots. The rest of the time, if there is a need to transplant the plant (for example, you just purchased it), do it using the transhipment procedure.
2. Make up the soil mixture. The substrate for planting a flower needs a light, fertile one. The soil can be slightly acidic or neutral in composition. It is preferable to compose the soil yourself. To do this, you need: leaf humus (forest land), peat, coarse river sand, perlite; to extinguish excess acidity in the soil mixture, it is recommended to add a little dolomite flour (1 teaspoon per 5 liters of soil is enough).

   The soil for the vine should be loose and nutritious.

3. If it is not possible to create a substrate, you can use a ready-made soil for flowering plants (pH 5-6). For greater breathability, add 5% sand to such a soil.
4. In the pot, you need to make good drainage, since the clerodendrum does not tolerate stagnant water, which can rot the roots of the plant. Use clean gravel, broken brick or expanded clay for drainage.

   Drainage should be good, as clerodendrum does not like stagnant water

5. Pour 1/3 of the volume of the substrate into the container.
6. Shorten the shoots of the clerodendrum that you are planting or replanting by a third. If they are too long, then tie them together so as not to break when planting.
7. Remove the flower from the pot and shake off the soil, rinse the roots under running water and trim them lightly.

   After planting, the plant quickly takes root and begins to actively vegetate.

8. Place the plant in a pot and cover with substrate. Tamp it lightly and moisten it with warm, settled water.

Clerodendrum care

Watering and feeding rules

During the period of active growth and flowering in spring and summer, water the clerodendrum abundantly, with soft, settled water. Instead of standing water at room temperature, you can take warm water from the tap and pass it through a filter. Clerodendrum responds very well to watering with melt water. Although finding snow in spring and summer is problematic, experienced flower growers have figured out how to get melted water. To do this, you need to draw water from the tap and put it in the freezer. After a while, take out the ice and thaw it.

There are no definite rules for what should be the interval between waterings. The need will tell you the state of the substrate, its top layer should dry out. After flowering, limit watering, and in winter, during the "sleep" period, water very carefully and rarely. In this case, it is better to underfill than overflow.

It is very useful to combine watering with top dressing. The required amount of mineral and organic substances contributes to the active growth of the plant and lush flowering. It is necessary to carry out top dressing from the beginning of April to the end of August. Use complex preparations with a high phosphorus content for flowering plants as fertilizers. These fertilizers are produced in a convenient liquid form and are sold in specialized stores. A good effect is given by drugs Zelenit, Agricola, etc. The plant receives enough organic matter from the soil, provided that the soil is completely renewed with an annual transplant.

Feed once every two weeks. Dilute the solution according to the instructions, a lower concentration of fertilizer is acceptable. Be careful as too much concentration can burn the clerodendrum roots.

How to form a beautiful bush?

Clerodendrum can be grown as a small bush, in ampelous or standard form. To get the desired look, you need to form it correctly:

1. The first pruning of vines is carried out in early spring. All lignified shoots should be shortened by 1/3 part. This technique will stimulate flowering. The following trimming and pinching will help shape the desired plant appearance.
2. To get a standard tree, choose the strongest shoot, and cut all the rest to the base. As the side shoots grow, cut them off as well, do the same with the root shoots.
3. Tie the stem to the support. When it reaches a length of 0.6-0.7 m, begin to pinch the shoots that appear on the crown, breaking off the part with one or two buds. This should be done regularly to stimulate the growth of new branches.
4. To form a bush, leave three strong, lignified shoots, and cut the rest. Shorten the remaining shoots by a third. When green twigs appear, pinch their tops. This will promote tillering. Do not cut root shoots to make the bush more lush. If the plant is very thick, cut out some shoots in the middle of the bush.
5. Clerodendrum is a liana, therefore it is able to form an ampelous form on its own.For good growth, shorten the shoots before the dormant period, when the plant has shed its leaves, or in early March.

Photo gallery: different flower shapes

Flowering period and how to make clerodendrum bloom?

For lush flowering, several conditions must be provided. First, the plant needs a dormant period. It starts in September and lasts until February. During this period, the clerodendrum must be rearranged from the window to a cooler place. Watering should be very sparse and sparse.

Secondly, in the spring, when green leaves appear, you need to increase the amount of watering, cut off the branches and put the plant on a light window, where it is usually grown.

The flowering time of clerodendrum is from early spring to September. If the plant rested during the "sleep" period and gained strength, then the buds begin to appear in March, they cover the bare stem and bloom for quite a long time, retaining decorativeness even when the flowers wither.

If your clerodendrum does not want to bloom, then you did not provide it with the necessary conditions during the dormant period. In the spring, you can put it in a dark, cool place for two to three weeks, then cut off the shoots and transplant it into fresh nutritious soil. Such treatments can make the clerodendrum bloom.

Clerodendrum Thompson bloom lasts 3-5 months

Dormant period

In the fall, the vine begins to shed its leaves, and the shoots seem to dry up, which often frightens inexperienced gardeners. The plant thus prepares for the winter dormant period. At this time, it is very important to create suitable conditions for the clerodendrum for winter sleep.

Tie up the shoots so they don't break (they become brittle in winter). Move the flower to a cool place where the temperature does not rise above 10-15 degrees. Stop fertilizing the flower and cut back on watering. Moisten the soil only if the clod is completely dry.

Reproduction nuances

Cuttings

Cuttings are the main breeding method of Clerodendrum. It is best to prepare cuttings (apical or stem) in early spring, then they will take root easier and faster. However, be prepared for the fact that the grafting process is quite lengthy and can take several months, and besides, not all seedlings take root in the end. One nuance is very important: depending on the type of flower, the reproduction process takes place in different ways. Regardless of the type of plant, rooting must be carried out in water or in moist soil at a temperature of at least 22 degrees. If rooting occurs in the soil, then the substrate is prepared from equal parts of sod land, sand and humus. Cover the container with cuttings with a foil. Young plants are planted in 3-4 pieces in pots with a diameter of 7-11 cm. It is important to remember that cuttings must be watered abundantly during growth and during rooting.

Seeds

Seed propagation is a more time consuming method. The material should be sown in early spring - in March, preferably in the middle of the month. Land for planting is mixed with peat and water. Seeds are quite demanding on lighting, air temperature and regular watering. Seedlings will appear in a few months, after which they must be dived and transplanted into larger containers.

Table: how do clerodendrum care errors manifest themselves and how to fix the situation?

Table: plant diseases and pests

Video: growing clerodendrum at home

Florist reviews

Clerodendrum is a spectacular and unpretentious liana that can add uniqueness to the interior of your home. Create good conditions for her, and she will delight you with her flowering.

I am fond of many things. Handicraft, gardening, floriculture and cooking are just a few of my hobbies. I am constantly discovering something new and learning something interesting. I am ready to share all my knowledge with my readers. Rate the article:

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In indoor floriculture, the tree of fate can look like a bush, liana or a small tree, as in the photo. Clerodendrum home care requires complex, but will reward you with beauty and aroma. Any deviation from the tropical climate in the apartment creates problems in growing a flower. In home breeding, the most common varieties are brilliant and Thompson's clerodendrum.

How to care for clerodendrum at home

There are no trifles in the agricultural technology of a flower. Compliance with the conditions of detention for a beautiful flowering is mandatory. But they are all doable and the caring owner will be grateful to the clerodendrum for their care, admire the photo!

To grow such beauty, you need to create conditions:

1. Place the plant on an east or west window so that there is enough light, but the direct rays do not burn the tree of fate.
2. Water often, but so that the ground above is damp, there was no stagnation of water. In winter, watering is reduced.
3. The temperature in summer should be 18-25 degrees, and in winter 13-15, and this is very important for abundant flowering.
4. Create a damp area around the flower with a drain pan in water poured below the level for placing the planter. Frequent spraying of the plant on the leaves helps to rehydrate it.
5. Feed once a week in summer and once a month in winter with a special liquid composition for flowering indoor plants.
6. Pruning is one of the methods of caring for the clerodendrum of preserving the shape of the bush and its decorative effect, twigs are material for reproduction.
7. Transplant the flower regularly, preferably by transshipment.

At each stage, the florists noticed the peculiarities of the care and worked out techniques on how to create tropics in the apartment on the windowsill.

Home care for the clerodendrum is determined by the shape, as in the photo.

You can create a bush by shaping that is easy to care for. A liana-like plant, in which thin branches diverge in different directions, at the behest of a florist, is no less picturesque. The shape is created by cropping.

When and how to prune

In favorable conditions and with good care of the clerodendrum at home, a vine can grow up to four meters in length. Therefore, pruning is carried out in several stages.

In winter, when the plant has shed its leaves, shoots are removed by a third, this stimulates subsequent branching and flowering. In order to create a bush, at the beginning of a set of green mass, young twigs are shortened a little more. To get a stem, you need to leave one shoot, constantly clearing it from emerging branches. Root shoots are also plucked out.

The plant itself is capable of regulating its growth. In winter, some of the twigs dry out, which is normal. And in the summer, if the flowers have withered, the twig needs to be cut off and new shoots will grow, on which the buds will bloom.

For summer bloom, it is important to provide winter coolness. In this case, the leaves can turn yellow and crumble, and this is not a problem, the physiology of the plant. In early spring, in the photo, the clerodendrum looks like this when caring for home.

Transplant and reproduction

Transplantation and reproduction are important operations in the care of the Clerodendrum flower. After five years, the flowering of the bush decreases and it is important to grow a replacement for it. To do this, you can use cuttings obtained during pruning.

The root system of the flower does not like to be disturbed. Therefore, the transplanting method should be transhipment into a large container with a prepared drainage layer. The substrate is prepared in equal parts:

• clay turf;
• leafy land;
• peat;
• sand.

The plant is transplanted in early spring before the start of sap flow. Before that, trimming is done. The transplanted clerodendrum is watered with fertilizer and placed in a warm place, giving a signal that it is time to wake up.

The cut branches can be placed in water, and later rooted in the ground. If the cuttings are rooted in a peat-sand mixture, then lower heating and a greenhouse are required. Transplant rooted cuttings after a year.You can grow a new plant from the collected seeds.

If the home flower did not have the conditions for a dormant period, it may not bloom. It does not bloom if the land is old, irregular fertilizing. Violations of the conditions of detention in the summer will lead to yellowing and leaf fall.

Diseases and pests of clerodendrum

With insufficient care, ordinary indoor insects and plant pests can settle on a weakened plant. These include:

• spider mite;
• whitefly;
• aphid.

Only urgently taken measures can protect the entire bush from the whitefly settling. It mines leaves under the top layer and the larvae are difficult to enter.

Spider mites are found with punctures on the leaves and yellowing. When there are many of them, the cobweb is visible to the naked eye.

If home remedies do not help in the fight against insects, you should use Actellik, Fufan or Fitoverm. Repeat the treatment several times at intervals of 3 days.

If the leaves of the flower begin to turn yellow in the summer, then it is necessary to carry out foliar feeding with Ferrovit, and then look for the cause of chlorosis. It lies in the non-observance of the agricultural technique of the flower.

It is not so difficult to create conditions for an indoor Clerodrendum flower, it just requires constant attention, and the flower will endow it with wonderful flowering and aroma.

Conditions for the care of clerodendron - video

Almost everyone knows Clerodendrum. This plant with unusual flowers is often found in the foyers of various institutions. It is quite unpretentious, so it is also suitable for novice florists who want to grow it at home. The variety of flowering species is a great opportunity to compile a collection, which will be simply impossible not to notice during flowering. Read about all the features of planting and caring for this plant in our article.

What does Clerodendrum look like and where does it come from?

Clerodendrum is a genus belonging to the Verbenaceae family. It is very diverse. Among more than 400 of its representatives, there are trees, low shrubs, vines dropping leaves for the winter and evergreen species.

His homeland is tropical rainforests around the world. It is found in Southeast Asia, Oceania, Africa. Slightly less common in South and Central America.

The name of the plant is translated from Greek as "tree of fate". This is due to the old belief that it can change your life for the better. It is not known exactly where the legend came from, but most consider it to be its homeland on the island of Java.

Where the climate permits, clerodendrum is widely used in landscape design.

Florists sometimes, implying clerodendrum, say "innocent love." Perhaps this popular name is associated with the combined red and white colors.

In nature, Clerodendrum grows up to 3-5 m in height. But you can "shorten" it to a potted plant, up to about 1.5 m. You only need a regular formative pruning of the shoots.

Most clerodendrum does not have a well-defined stem. Instead, they have a lot of quickly lignified shoots at the base of approximately equal length and thickness. If the trunk is still there, then most often it is hollow. In nature, ants will almost inevitably settle inside.

Clerodendrum leaves, depending on the species, are located opposite each other or in groups of three. Their shape is always heart-shaped, with a pointed tip. The length, depending on the species, is 7–15 cm. The surface of the dark green leaf is uneven, causing associations with a quilt. The "bulges" are located between the veins. The edge can be either smooth or jagged. The leaves are thin to the touch, but dense and harsh.

Even a non-flowering clerodendrum looks pretty impressive.

The main thing that attracts florists to the clerodendrum is flowers. In suitable conditions, the plant blooms very profusely, literally covered with inflorescences in the form of a shield or panicle. Each inflorescence has 4–20 flowers.They are small (2–3 cm in diameter), but this is more than offset by their quantity.

In nature, the plant blooms from mid-spring to autumn. But at home, especially in winter gardens, greenhouses, greenhouses, you can achieve almost year-round flowering. Most species have a very special smell of flowers and leaves, characteristic only of this clerodendrum.

The fruit of the clerodendrum is similar to a berry, although from the point of view of botanists it is a drupe. There are always 4 nests in it, in which 2–4 seeds ripen.

If you do not need clerodendrum seeds, cut off the faded inflorescences

The non-flowering plant can also be used in design. This is an excellent material for trellis. It grows very quickly along the guides (supports, wire), creating a continuous carpet of leaves.

The most beautiful and popular home-grown varieties

Of the many clerodendrum in indoor floriculture, 15–20 species are most often found.

Clerodendrum of Mrs. Thompson (Thomsoniae)

This species is a climbing vine with shoots rapidly lignifying at the base. The leaves are pubescent, with smooth edges. Sometimes the upper side of the leaf plate is covered with vague spots, darker or lighter than the main tone. Panicle-shaped inflorescences. Flowers with a white, creamy or greenish calyx, similar to the "lantern" of physalis, and a scarlet corolla, which falls off before the calyx. In captivity, it blooms in early spring, sometimes a second time in autumn. A variety with lime-colored leaves was bred. Superstition widespread on the islands of Oceania does not recommend growing this species for girls who want to get married. It is believed that the flower "attracts" loneliness to them.

Mrs. Thompson's Clerodendrum is the only one named after a woman

Shiny or gorgeous (splendens)

Low, evergreen shrub with creeping shoots. The leaves are rather small, corrugated along the edges. Inflorescences in the form of scutes or short racemes, each with 30–40 flowers. They are very beautiful, dark pink, greenish calyx. The stamens are bright scarlet, curved.

The color of the petals of the brilliant clerodendrum is known to artists as scarlet.

The most beautiful (speciosissimum)

Also called prickly (fallax). Evergreen erect shrub, grows up to 3 m in nature. A characteristic feature is tetrahedral shoots and reddish petioles of leaves covered with "pile". From below it is short, like wool, from below - like down. The shrub blooms all summer. Panicle-shaped inflorescences are located at the tops of the shoots. The outer calyx is purple-violet, the corolla is rich scarlet, almost the color of blood. Unlike most species, it does not have a dormant period.

Clerodendrum the fairest is sometimes called Javanese by its place of origin

Fragrant (fragrans) or Filipino (philippinum)

Low (1.5–2 m) evergreen shrub with pubescent shoots and leaves. The edge of the leaf plate is strongly serrated. Inflorescence scutes are formed at the tops of the shoots. The pink-white flowers have a strong aroma that intensifies in the evening and night. It resembles a mix of violet, jasmine and orange blossom.

A distinctive feature of fragrant clerodendrum is very long stamens

On its basis, a hybrid was bred with double flowers that appear regardless of the season.

The terry variety of fragrant clerodendrum looks even more impressive

Paniculata (paniculatum)

Also known as the Pagoda. Tree up to 12 m high. Suitable only for greenhouses and conservatories. The characteristic bulges are almost invisible on the leaves, the petioles are dull red. The flowers in the inflorescences are arranged in clear tiers, evoking associations with the roofs of pagodas.

Due to its size, Clerodendrum Paniculata is almost never grown in apartments.

Ugandan (ugandense)

A very fast growing evergreen shrub with creeping shoots. The maximum height is 2 m. The inflorescence has no definite shape. Flowers with five petals look like butterflies.The upper and side ones are sky blue, the lower one resembles a boat and slightly shimmers with lilac. The long, outwardly curved stamens are pale blue. Flowering with short interruptions continues throughout the year. Even direct sunlight does not harm him. An additional plus is easy reproduction.

Blue butterflies of Ugandan Clerodendrum are worth trying to grow

Video: description of the Ugandan clerodendrum

Wallichiana's Clerodendrum

Other names: Veil, Veil of the bride. The plant got its official name in honor of the Danish botanist and researcher of Indian flora, Nicholas Wallich, who ruled the Botanical Garden of Calcutta for 25 years in the 19th century. In nature, it is a bush, but with the help of pruning, you can form a kind of tree about 0.5 m high. It blooms for 1.5-2 months starting from the end of summer. The calyx is greenish, the petals and stamens are snow-white. There is his breeding hybrid - Clerodendrum Prospero, which differs from the parent in coral-orange cups.

Clerodendrum Wallich's nickname is associated with beautifully flowing clusters of inflorescences

Bungei

This variety is also called Bouquet of Kashmir. Under natural conditions, the shrub grows up to 3 m, at home - about half the size. The flowers are small, pastel pink.

Spherical inflorescences of Clerodendrum Bunge from a distance very much resemble hydrangea

Inerme or thornless (inerme)

An erect shrub up to 3 m high. The flowers are snow-white, with pale lilac stamens and pistil. There are 3 of them in each inflorescence-umbrella.

Unlike other species, Clerodendrum Inerme survives even in saline soil, for example, on the seashore

Indicum

Another name: Spray of champagne (sahelangii). It is still little known in Russia. The plant owes its unusual nickname to small white flowers on long pedicels, similar to droplets flying in different directions.

Due to the very successful nickname, the official name of clerodendrum indicum is almost never used.

Clerodendrum Schmidt (Schmidtii)

Also known as Chains of Glory. The edges of the leaves are slightly corrugated. Inflorescence is a very long (up to 50 cm), falling brush of small white flowers, reminiscent of a waterfall.

Flowers of Clerodendrum Schmidt, a tropical plant, stubbornly resemble snowflakes

Fireworks (quadriloculare)

The only one with burgundy leaves on the back. The inflorescence is spherical, each flower is located on a long stem. It blooms from the beginning of winter, for 2-3 months.

Clerodendrum inflorescence fireworks - a kind of hybrid of a sea urchin and a volley of fireworks

Musical notes

Another variant of the name of this variety is Morning Kiss (incisum Macrosiphon). Leaves with serrated edges. The flowers are white, with dark pink or crimson stamens. Flowering continues almost continuously.

Unopened clerodendrum buds Musical notes really look like quarter notes

Clerodendrum calamitosum (calamitosum)

Compact, low bush (0.6-0.75 m). Both the petals and the stamens are snow-white. It has a characteristic aroma that intensifies in the dark.

A distinctive feature of clerodendrum calamitosum is snow-white petals and stamens

Video: types of clerodendrum

How to create optimal conditions?

Clerodendrum is a fairly hardy and unpretentious plant. But if you want to see blooms on a regular basis, take care of optimal conditions.

Table: optimal conditions

Support option for clerodendrum

Transplant procedure

The optimal time for transplanting Clerodendrum is early spring, when the flower "wakes up" after a dormant period. Plants under 5 years of age are transplanted annually, each time increasing the diameter of the pot by 2-3 cm. For adult clerodendrum, one transplant is enough every 3-5 years.

Simultaneously with the transplant, it is advisable to cut off each shoot by a third to make the flower more decorative and "bushy".

If you purchased Clerodendrum from a store, give it 10-15 days to get used to the new environment, then transplant. The universal soil used by indoor plant growers does not take into account the specific needs of the flower.

The pot should have a large drainage hole. At the bottom, pour a layer of drainage (expanded clay, pebbles, crushed stone, brick chips, ceramic shards) 3-4 cm thick.

Ready-made primer can be purchased at specialized stores. Look for one that is designed for roses and azaleas. They must be mixed in a 4: 1 ratio.

When preparing it yourself, remember that clerodendrum prefers slightly acidic soils, light and breathable. When collecting soil in your own garden, check the acidity level. A potting mix might look like this:

• Fertile turf, ordinary land, dry peat, coarse river sand, humus in equal proportions.
• Leafy soil, powdered clay, coarse sand, dry peat. The first component needs to be taken twice as much as the rest.

The fragile roots of the clerodendrum should never be disturbed during transplantation. It is strictly forbidden to shake off the soil and / or rinse with running water. The whole earth ball is removed from the pot and placed on the substrate layer in a new pot. The prepared soil is poured and compacted along the edges. The transfer method is known as transhipment.

The support (if needed) is placed in the pot at the same time as the earthen lump, and not stuck later. Otherwise, there is a great risk of injury to the roots.

Necessary care

Clerodendrum only needs abundant watering. If you want to make the plant more decorative and neat, an annual formative pruning is necessary.

Watering

In the phase of active growth, water the clerodendrum abundantly every 3-4 days and spray the leaves daily with soft water at room temperature, which has settled for at least a day. The plant is especially demanding for moisture during flowering. Ideally, you need to use rain or melt water, but not everyone has this opportunity. Mains water can be softened by adding 3-4 citric acid granules to a 10-liter bucket and letting the sediment settle.

But it is also undesirable to arrange a swamp in a pot. After watering, wait 15–20 minutes and drain excess water from the pan. So you will gradually determine the norm.

A clerodendrum that lacks moisture can be easily identified by drooping leaves.

Top dressing

Fertilizers are applied only at the stage of active growth every 12-15 days. The first feeding is carried out immediately after transplantation, coupled with pruning. After flowering, clerodendrum does not need fertilizers until next spring.

The flower accepts both organic matter and store-bought liquid fertilizers for flowering indoor plants (especially with phosphorus in high concentration). If possible, alternate between them.

Natural organic matter is an infusion of fresh cow dung or bird droppings. It's best not to cook it in the apartment. Even under a tightly closed lid, the smell is very specific. The selected container is filled with raw materials by about a third and topped up to the brim with water. Then close tightly. After 3-4 days, after the appearance of a characteristic odor, the contents are vigorously stirred. For irrigation, the fertilizer is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:15.

If you notice that the leaves turn pale, become, as it were, translucent, spray the underside with a solution of complex mineral fertilizer.

Bloom

Clerodendrum blooms profusely and almost continuously from May to October. If you want to get flowers by a certain date, try to "trick" the plant. Move it to the darkest corner of the room, stop feeding, spraying, and reduce watering. After 20-25 days, the lower leaves will droop, turn yellow and fall off, but on the tops of the side shoots in the axils of the leaves, buds will form. Wait for this moment and return the plant to its original place, providing it with optimal conditions.

Dormant period

Most varieties of Clerodendrum need a dormant period. This is a prerequisite for flowering next year.

After the plant has faded, stop feeding and gradually reduce watering. When the lower leaves begin to fall off, transfer it to a bright, cool (15-18 ° C) room.

Clerodendrum cannot do without water, even in winter. One watering every 3-5 days is enough. The rate in comparison with the summer is reduced by about half. Do not bring the flower to the point where the soil begins to move away from the edges of the pot. In this case, water the plant immediately outside of the schedule.

Pruning: how to shape a bush, tree, and other options

Pruning is a necessary procedure for clerodendrum. Otherwise, it will look very messy, it will take up the entire window sill, and it will also hang down.

Long vine shoots provide growers with a wide range of options for giving the plant a wide variety of shapes. The easiest option is to run the shoots up along the guides (thin wire or twine) tied to the curtain rod or fixed to the ceiling. You will soon receive a solid green wall. An alternative option is hanging planters. Then you can do without tying. Each year, shoots need to be cut by about a third, while simultaneously getting rid of dried, broken, dead lashes. This stimulates the flower to form new shoots.

If you want to form a bush from the clerodendrum, cut off all the shoots to 50 cm every year. For young shoots of last year, pinch the tops by a quarter at the same time. Ideally, you should get a shape close to spherical.

You can give the clerodendrum the appearance of a tree, living up to its name. Choose 2-3 most developed shoots, cut them to a height of 60-70 cm. Cut the side branches on them in half. In the lower part, to a height of 10-15 cm, cut off all the greens on the main shoots, leaving bare trunks. In the future, annually pinch young shoots 8-10 cm, remove all the shoots at the roots.

With the help of pruning, any varieties of clerodendrum can be brought to an acceptable size

Pruning should be done only with sharply sharpened disinfected scissors so as not to damage the shoots and not to infect.

Video: care of Mrs. Thompson's clerodendrum

Common mistakes made by florists

Clerodendrum, of course, is undemanding, but the mistakes of inexperienced growers often negatively affect the decorativeness of the plant.

Table: Frequently Asked Questions When Growing Clerodendrum

Pest control

Inspect the plants regularly for characteristic damage and take appropriate action immediately.

Table: the most common pests of clerodendrum

Many acaricides are toxic, so treatment is best done outdoors.

Photo gallery: pests of clerodendrum

Reproduction methods

Clerodendrum, like most houseplants, propagates by seeds (generatively) and cuttings (vegetatively).

Rooting cuttings

Clerodendrum cuttings root quickly even in plain water

The easiest way to grow a new clerodendrum is by taking a cutting from the old one.

Apical cuttings 8-10 cm long with 2-3 leaves are cut at the beginning of spring and the lower third is dipped into a solution of a root formation stimulator - Epin, Kornevin, Topaz, potassium humate. After a day, the cuttings should be rooted in individual pots with a diameter of 7-9 cm in a mixture of sand with peat or humus in equal proportions.

It is best to root the tops of the shoots of clerodendrum

To create a greenhouse effect, the pots are covered with plastic bags or glass jars. Cuttings need abundant watering and bright light. After new leaves appear, gradually accustom them to the environment.

After 4-5 months, repot the clerodendrum in the soil for adult plants, pinching the shoots by a quarter. Groom in the usual way.

Young clerodendrum will bloom this year

Germinating seeds

Clerodendrum seeds are definitely among the ten most unusual indoor plants.

Clerodendrum seeds ripen at the end of winter. They are planted in early spring in a mixture of fertile sod land (or humus), dry peat and sand in equal proportions. The containers are covered with glass or foil, maintaining a constant temperature of about 22 ° C and high humidity. Ventilate for 3-5 minutes once a day of planting. You will have to wait for seedlings for a long time: 45-60 days.

Clerodendrum seeds take a long time to germinate

When 3-4 true leaves appear, the seedlings are seated in separate pots and looked after as if they were rooted cuttings. They will bloom next year.

Florist reviews

This species is very fond of moisture and water. Moreover, this flower is immediately noticeable when it is “thirsty”. Its wide, slightly rough leaves of an emerald color, droop and hang like rags. Clerodendrum in nature is a vine. Therefore, it intensively produces shoots that need support. If you want to form a tree, then the shoots must be cut off. In the summer, I take my clerodendrum to the balcony (he really likes it there) and allow it to sprout along special ropes. Also, pruning of shoots is needed in order for your flower to bloom. This happens, as a rule, closer to March. It blooms for a very long time, several months.

ElFeYa

Clerodendrum is an excellent houseplant. The flower was grown from a shoot, roots appeared in a glass of water, I stuck 3 branches into the pot and under the jar until signs of growth appeared. It grows quite quickly, spreads its mustache in different directions. I wrapped this mustache around a flower on a stand. It did not bloom for a long time. I was prompted to cut off that mustache as much as possible. I made a haircut, and almost immediately my clerodendrum began to gain color. No special care is required, just water abundantly. For the summer I put it on the balcony (closed). Feels great. Novice growers should try it from the clerodendrum: it blooms magnificently, beautifully, for a long time and requires a minimum of care - a haircut and good watering.

Lubovsm

The most striking feature of the clerodendrum is the beautiful flowers of an unusual shape that appear on the tops of the shoots with dark green foliage. This is a great plant for light rooms or for trellises in the conservatory. By pinching the plants, you can give them an ampelous shape.

Ax

Indoor clerodendrum is a very beautiful plant, even if it does not bloom, and if it has bloomed, then there is absolutely no way to move away from it. Flowers are like lights, so bright and contrasting (white and red) that it's even strange how nature comes up with such fantastic shapes! My clerodendrum did not bloom in my apartment. It turned out that the optimal winter temperature for him is 10–12 ° C. The flower rebuilds at rest, thinks that winter has come, prepares for summer, lays buds. And in the spring, a rise in temperature and abundant watering is necessary. I don't know how and who watered it, but by the end of July it was blooming like before the carnival! If you want the clerodendrum to take on the shape of a ball, for example, install studs during the winter, pull the trunks to the ground, you will be pleasantly surprised how quickly it will release roots.

ek9345

Clerodendrum is undemanding to care for and extraordinarily beautiful. This is a great combination for those who are not too experienced in floriculture. Spend a little time and effort to create suitable conditions for the plant, and it will regularly delight you with beautiful and unusual flowers, reminiscent of tropical forests.

27 years old, higher education in law, broad outlook and interest in a variety of topics.

Many varieties of clerodendrum, thanks to their beautiful flowering, sophistication of leaves, and unpretentious care, have become quite popular in indoor floriculture.To avoid common mistakes when growing at home and enjoy the view of blooming clerodendrum as long as possible, you need to get to know the plant better.

Origin and habitat

Clerodendrum is a perennial plant of the vervain family.

Translated from Greek, clerodendrum is a tree of fate (cleros is fate, dendrum is a tree).

The genus contains about four hundred species of herbaceous and woody plants, as well as lianas and shrubs. Clerodendrum is found in the subtropics and tropics of South America, Asia and Africa.

Thompson's Clerodendrum is one of the most popular varieties

The leaves of the clerodendrum are large and shiny, the flowers, depending on the variety, are white, pink or blue, graceful in shape, reminiscent of a butterfly.

Home care

Clerodendrum, like all flowering plants, has its own requirements for the content. Caring for him is simple, but in order to achieve flowering, you will have to provide him with good lighting, humidity and winter peace.

Table: conditions of detention depending on the season

Humidity requirements

Since Clerodendrum is a tropical guest, it is very sensitive to humidity. It is easy to increase the humidity - you need to put the flower pot on a tray filled with pebbles. Pour water into the pan so that it barely reaches the surface of the pebbles.

In summer, daily spraying is desirable, special thanks for the shower, and in winter, it is enough to wipe the leaves once a week with a damp cloth and do not put the flower near the heating appliances.

How to water

Clerodendrum grows very quickly, its leaves are large, the evaporation surface is large, so watering should be abundant.

It is best to water with settled, soft water.

In the summer, you need to monitor the soil in the pot, preventing it from drying out. You may need to moisturize it every day. To reduce evaporation of water, you can cover the soil surface with pebbles. In winter, watering is reduced, and if the plant has dropped the foliage, then it is watered very rarely and little by little, maintaining the moisture of the soil.

Features of dressings

To prepare clerodendrum for flowering, fertilize should be applied once every two weeks. Clerodendrum blooms, as a rule, from spring to autumn, therefore, from March to September, the plant needs feeding. It is better to alternate top dressing - mineral complex for flowering plants and organic humic.

Agricola is available as a liquid concentrate, granular powder and long-acting sticks.

Of the mineral fertilizers, Agricola can be recommended. The method of application and consumption rates are indicated in the instructions. From humic ones it is recommended to choose FlorHumate for decorative flowering. The breeding method depends on the method of feeding - root or spraying. The instruction for the drug contains a detailed description of the application.

Organic fertilizers are not only a source of nutrients for plants, but also significantly enrich the soil with humus, improve its biological activity and physical properties, and protect against acidification, which is impossible when applying only mineral fertilizers.

Lighting is an important condition for flowering

Like most flowering plants, Clerodendrum loves bright, diffused light. In insufficient light, it will not bloom and may shed some of the leaves.

The plant should also be protected from direct sunlight, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow and flowering will be short-lived.

Temperature requirements

For the flowering of clerodendrum, it is very important to observe the temperature regime. In summer, the optimal temperature for him will be from +20 to + 25 °, from October to March it is necessary to provide him with a dormant period - reduce watering, lower the temperature to + 12 °. At the same time, air humidity and lighting should not be reduced.

Note! If you do not provide winter peace to the clerodendrum, then it will not bloom.

After the clerodendrum has faded (usually in late August-early September), you need to cut off all flower stalks, reduce watering and stop feeding. By gradually lowering the temperature, prepare the plant for winter dormancy.

Table: care errors

The nuances of trimming

Clerodendrum is also interesting in that it can form a plant of the desired type from it. It can be a lush flowering bush, a free hanging vine, or even a small tree. All of this is achieved with proper pruning. In the spring, with the beginning of growth, you need to shorten the shoots by about 1/3 of the length, remove all dried and weak branches.

1. The growing tops must be pinched to give the plant the shape of a lush bush.
2. To form a plant in the form of a tree, that is, to give it a standard shape, you need to remove all the branches, leaving one strongest shoot and cut it off at a height of about 60 cm.Also remove all branches from this shoot that go below the crown, and pinch as it grows tops and get rid of excess sprouts.
3. Lianas do not need strong pruning, but by shortening the ends of the branches in the spring and regularly pinching the shoots, you can get a luxurious plant.

Timely and skillful pruning will not only give the clerodendrum the desired shape, but will also promote vigorous growth and flowering.

Options for the formation of clerodendrum - photo gallery

Table: diseases and pests

Transfer

With the beginning of growth, in the spring, the clerodendrum needs a transplant.

If you bought your plant in a store, then a transplant is simply necessary, since it does not have soil in a pot, but a transport mixture, and the plant will not live in this substrate for a long time.

A young plant needs to be transplanted annually, each time increasing the pot by a couple of centimeters in diameter. It will be enough for an adult plant to replace the top layer of the earth, and a transplant should be carried out every three years.

Clerodendrum does not have special requirements for the soil, but it must be slightly acidic, nutritious, breathable. You can take a ready-made soil for flowering plants or make a substrate yourself from 2 parts of leafy soil, 1 part of peat or coconut substrate and 1 part of coarse river sand.

When transplanting, you should take care of the drainage. Expanded clay, chipped brick, gravel will relieve your plant from stagnation and acidification of water. The thickness of the drainage layer for the clerodendrum should be about 1/5 of the pot.

Propagation by cuttings and seeds

Clerodendrum propagates well by cuttings and seeds.

Cuttings can be started in spring.

1. During the spring pruning of the mother plant, cuttings should be prepared:
   • lignified twigs divided into parts with three to four internodes;
   • remove the lower leaves, it is enough to leave a couple of the upper ones; The leaves are shortened by half
   • if the leaves are large, they need to be shortened by about half so that the plant does not lose moisture.
2. Powder the lower part of the prepared cuttings with root root and plant in pots, on the bottom of which you must first lay the drainage - expanded clay or small pebbles.
3. Fill the pots with a mixture of equal parts peat and sand and place them in the greenhouse. A clear plastic container is a great solution.
4. Ventilate the greenhouse every day and spray the cuttings and substrate if necessary.
5. After about a month, when the roots appear, start accustoming the plants to normal conditions. To do this, increase the airing time every day.
6. As soon as the plants can do without a greenhouse, they can be transplanted to a permanent place. This must be done carefully, since the roots of the clerodendrum are fragile and easily break.

Cuttings root easily in water. For this:

• fill the jar with settled or boiled water about 1/3 and put the cuttings in it.
• change the water every two to three days;
• keep the cuttings in the light, but not in direct sunlight.

When propagating by seeds, you can collect seeds from your plant, letting them ripen, or buy your favorite variety in the store.

1. Plant the seeds immediately in separate small pots filled with a mixture of peat or coconut substrate and sand in a 1: 1 ratio.
2. Make a greenhouse and put it in a warm, bright place.
3. The greenhouse must be ventilated every day.
4. With the appearance of sprouts, gradually increase the airing time.
5. Plant the grown plants in a permanent place in a mixture of 2 parts of leafy soil, 1 part of peat or coconut substrate and 1 part of coarse river sand.

Clerodendrum varieties

Clerodendrum Ugandan, Thompson, Wallich, Filipino, Inerme, Bunge, Prospero and other plant varieties - photo gallery

Video: the most popular varieties of clerodendrum

Reviews

If you have clerodendrum, try to make friends with him. It's easy to look after him. If you create good conditions for him, he will thank you with his lush and long flowering.

Hobbies play an important role in my life - floriculture, gardening, traditional medicine, pets. I love nature and all living things very much, so I read many articles on various phenomena and laws of life, everything that brings harmony.