Can dichondra be grown as a houseplant?

Dichondra silvery is an attractive ampelous plant, the silvery stems of which hang very elegantly over the edge of the flowerpot.

Dichondra: growing from seed

When using this method of propagation, seeds are sown in the second half of winter. At the same time, a universal soil for potted plants is used, into which the seeds do not go deep, but only press against it. After sowing, to create optimal conditions for germination, the container is covered with glass, a temperature of 22-25 degrees is provided.

Seedlings appear in 1-2 weeks, at first they are green, characterized by slow growth. But after 3-4 months, young plants will acquire their decorative appearance.

Reproduction of dichondra

An easier way to propagate such a plant is by cuttings. For this, stems are suitable that are cut from the plant during pruning. You can plant such cuttings in any land, covering the container with a film to create greenhouse conditions. They take root very quickly, after which young plants are transplanted into separate containers.

Also, for reproduction, you can use a growing shoot, which is pressed in several places to the ground. Soon, roots will appear in these places, after which the shoot is cut into several parts and planted in a separate pot.

Dichondra: growth pattern

Dichondra silvery is a vigorous plant, its height usually does not exceed 10 cm, but drooping stems grow up to 1 meter in length. These stems branch out, expanding strongly to the sides.

On the stems of dichondra, small round leaves that are covered with silvery hairs grow.

Dichondra: features of care

The main requirement for growing such a plant is that it must be in a hanging basket, which is filled with a mixture of peat, clay soil and sand. There must be drainage at the bottom of the container.

In the summer, the plant needs abundant watering, especially if it has a large number of leaves. All summer, once every two weeks, it is necessary to make top dressing. In the fall, this plant is usually cut to obtain cuttings, everything else is thrown away. In winter or spring, a new dichondra is grown from cuttings.

Dichondra silvery thrives best in a sunny place, but it can grow in a partially shaded place. At home, it feels good at normal room temperature.

Possible problems

In case of insufficient watering, the leaves of the plant begin to turn brown, and their edges dry out. In this case, the container with dichondra is placed in a bucket of water for a while, after which its watering is slightly increased.

The appearance on the leaves of faded spots and sticky plaque is a sign of aphid damage to the dichondra. In this case, an insecticide treatment is needed.

Dichondra is a herbaceous perennial plant that belongs to the Bindweed family. In wildlife, dichondra is found in fairly wide areas of America, Australia and East Asia. The plant lives in swamps and tropical rainforests. Dichondra takes its name from the Greek language. It translates literally as "two grains" and is due to the special structure of the fruit.

Dichondra has beautiful creeping stems, amelly, which can be easily rooted. The leaves are round, opposite. Petioles reach a length of 3 cm. It blooms with small flowers about 3 mm in diameter. The color is lilac, greenish or white.

When grown indoors, the most common dichondra is silvery (creeping), which has two varieties - dichondra emerald waterfall and dichondra silver waterfall.

Dichondra care at home

Location and lighting

The lighting level for dichondra depends on the color of its leaves. So dichondra with a green shade of leaves can grow well in the shade and in the sun, but with a silvery shade - only in a well-lit place.

Temperature

At any time of the year, the temperature in the room should vary between 18 and 25 degrees. In winter, it should not be lower than 10 degrees, otherwise the plant may die.

Air humidity

Dichondra can grow in rooms with low levels of air humidity, but will respond well to regular leaf spraying.

Watering

The pot in which the dichondra grows must contain a generous layer of drainage, since it does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil. Watering should be abundant, but it is important to ensure that the root system does not rot. If the substrate dries up, then the plant can spend some time without water. After watering, the dichondra will quickly recover.

The soil

Dichondra is not at all demanding on the substrate. Universal soil for decorative deciduous plants will be optimal for planting.

Top dressing and fertilizers

Dichondra 2 times a month Dichondra needs feeding. The feeding period is from April to September. To do this, use top dressing for decorative deciduous plants. In winter and autumn, the plant is dormant and does not need feeding.

Transfer

Dichondra is an annual plant, therefore, the process of cuttings is carried out every spring.

Reproduction of dichondra

There are several ways to propagate dichondra: seeds, layering and stem cuttings. Seeds are sown in the ground in late winter and early spring, the container is covered with glass and left at a temperature of 22-24 degrees. The greenhouse is periodically moistened and ventilated. The first shoots will appear in 1-2 weeks. They grow slowly, and they will become similar in structure to an adult plant only after 3-4 months.

A simpler method is to propagate dichondra with stem cuttings. The shoots are about 5-6 cm long. They need to be rooted in an impromptu greenhouse.

Propagation by layering is the simplest of the propagation methods. To do this, take a shoot and press it to wet ground in several places at once. Rooting occurs in about 7-10 days. After the appearance of an independent root system, the stem is divided into processes.

Diseases and pests

Dichondra is very rarely affected by both pests and viral and fungal diseases.

Dichondra "Silver Falls" (video)

More recently, a spectacular, decorative leafy ampelous plant called dichondra creeping or silvery (Dichondra argentea, Dichondra repens).

The first time she was seen by a large number of flower growers at the International Exhibition "Flowers 2004". Then this plant received a silver medal. This plant, of which there are about 10 species, is related to the bindweed family.In the wild, it can be found in subtropical and tropical rainforests, as well as swamps in Australia, East Asia and America.

This ampelous plant is not capricious and undemanding to care for. The dichondra has thin lashes, the length of which can reach 2 meters (and in places with a mild climate and a long summer period, they grow up to 6 meters). These shoots, on which there are many very small leaves of a rich green or silver color, can travel along the surface of the earth or hang down, waddling over the edge of the pot. Its flowers do not represent any special decorative value.

This flower has been recognized as one of the best decorative leafy plants that can decorate hanging baskets or pots. It is popular with phytodesigners, as its unusually spectacular leaves serve as an excellent backdrop for other flowering plants.

Also, in the winter garden, using dichondra, it is quite possible to create the effect of a waterfall, a running stream or a lake. The branches falling down, touching the surface of the ground, take root. The flower then grows like a groundcover.

This plant looks incredible in the garden in the shade of trees and other shaded areas where simple lawn grasses do not grow. Dichondra is also often sown in the patio, where it grows between the slabs of the footpaths.

For growing at home, most often 2 types of this plant are used, namely:

Silver Falls

The leaves are silvery and the shoots are very long.

Emerald Falls

The green leaves are rounded, and this plant also has a branched stem.

Dichondra care at home

Illumination

Dichondra with green leaves can grow well both in sunny and shaded places. Moreover, in the shade, larger leaves grow in her. A plant with silvery leaves prefers sunny places, but feels good in partial shade.

Temperature regime

For normal growth and development, such a flower needs a temperature in the range of 18 to 25 degrees. For dichondra, it is undesirable for the temperature to be less than 10 degrees.

Humidity

It can grow in any humidity. But it should be borne in mind that the plant feels much better in high humidity. Good for humidification from a sprayer.

How to water

Since this plant prefers wet places in the wild, it should be watered systematically. However, this simply requires a good drainage layer in the pot. It was noted that when grown as a ground cover plant, dichondra died in places where there was stagnant water. But she has resistance to drying out of an earthen coma. Apparently, excess moisture does harm to it when combined with rather cool nights.

Top dressing

Top dressing is carried out 2 times a month during the period of intensive growth with conventional fertilizers. During wintering in the apartment, fertilizer should not be applied to the soil.

Pruning

In order for the crown to be thicker, the plant needs systematic pruning. During the transfer of dichondra to the room for the winter, long shoots must be cut off.

Earth

There are no special requirements for the soil. The only acidity should be pH 6.6-8.

Reproduction methods

For propagation, stem cuttings and seeds are used. Sowing of purchased seeds is carried out in January or February in a small container, which is then covered with glass. Placed in a warm place (22-24 degrees), and also maintain high humidity. After 7 days, green shoots will appear (regardless of the species). These plants differ in slow growth. So, they acquire a more or less spectacular appearance by 3–3.5 months.

It is easier to propagate such a plant with stem cuttings.The cuttings remaining after pruning are easily rooted in the greenhouse. It is also recommended to spread the growing twig over the surface of the moistened substrate and press it down in several places. After the roots are formed in these places, the shoot is divided. For successful rooting, you need to maintain a fairly high temperature (22-24 degrees).

If desired, it is recommended to cut off an adult dichondra and transfer it to an apartment for the winter. Grow up at this time, she won't. With the beginning of spring, young stems form in the plant, which are perfect for cuttings, for example, if you want to plant such a flower in a hanging basket or flowerpot.

Pests and diseases

Resistant to various diseases and pests.

Video review

Among all ampelous plants, the beauty dichondra is the most extraordinary and attractive. Cascades of emerald or silvery-green leafy shoots resemble a waterfall in shape, which is reflected in the name. Dichondra is widely used in the design of gazebos, terraces, balconies, but it looks most impressive in separate groups in hanging pots. The plant propagates better by layering and cuttings, but if desired, it is not difficult to grow it from seeds.

Dichondra flowers

Description and types

Dichondra belongs to bindweed - a family of perennial evergreen herbaceous vines. She was brought from tropical latitudes, where she took a fancy to wet marshlands and forests. In the wild, the plant is found most often in eastern Asia, northern America and Australia. Curly stems reach 1.5 m in length, and the surface roots that develop in internodes take root very quickly and easily, thanks to which dichondra is also used as a ground cover crop. The leaves on the vines are small, kidney-shaped or round, slightly pubescent. It is the leaves that give the plant a decorative look, since its flowers are small, inconspicuous, pale yellow in color.

Dichondra repens

There are 10 known varieties of dichondra, but only two are cultivated for decorative purposes - Dichondra argentea and Dichondra repens (creeping). The first species is more light-loving and drought-resistant, easier to grow, looks great in hanging containers. The second type of plant is picky about moisture, develops well in partial shade, is grown in containers and as a ground cover crop. The most popular varieties of dichondra are Emerald Falls and Silver Falls.

Dichondra argentea

The "Emerald Falls" has small round leaves of rich green color. In Australia and New Zealand, it is a well-known weed that is being ruthlessly destroyed by the owners of their backyards. But on the European continent, it is recognized as one of the best plants for ampel design. Most often, this variety is grown in hanging pots, decorating walls, balconies, arches and other architectural forms, and some gardeners replace lawn grass with it. This variety grows well in partial shade and can cover unsightly empty areas between trees, spreading out in a thick emerald-colored carpet.

Dichondra on the lawn

"Silver Falls" is distinguished by the color of the leaves and longer stems. This variety does not tolerate shading well; with a lack of light, its decorative properties are reduced. It is less demanding on moisture, it recovers well after a short drying out of an earthen coma in a pot.

Dichondra for decorating a waterfall

Dichondra in a garden interior

The most advantageous dichondra "Emerald Falls" looks on elevated flower beds and in hanging containers that allow vines to hang freely and form characteristic compositions in the form of a waterfall. The plant is also great for group plantings, in which it usually acts as a background for flowering crops.

Dichondra goes well with bright colors

The most common combinations are:

• dichondra and ampelous begonia;
• dichondra and lobelia;
• dichondra and ampelous petunia;

  Dichondra combined with bright petunia

• dichondra and fuchsia.

Dichondra in composition

Some hang pots with a plant under the eaves of the roof, then the emerald waterfalls stand out beautifully against the background of the white walls. Creeping shoots along garden paths and around flower beds also look very good, especially when combined with contrasting crops such as bright red salvia or sunny marigolds.

Flower arrangement using dichondra

Growing by seeds

When propagated by seeds, dichondra is grown by a seedling method.

Dichondra Seed Packets

Seedlings grow very slowly, and in order to admire the emerald cascades of shoots in summer, it is necessary to sow seeds in winter. In mid-latitudes, the optimal time for this is mid-January - early February; for the northern regions, sowing dates are postponed to mid-February - early March. Seeds do not require pre-sowing treatment, and therefore you can immediately start the main process.

Conditions for growing dichondra

Step 1. For sowing, you need small containers no more than 5 cm high.

Micro greenhouse for seedlings

A drainage layer of expanded clay or fine gravel is laid in them, then filled with a soil substrate. The substrate is spilled with any available growth stimulant, for example, "Epin" or "Zircon". You can also use a humate solution.

Epin

Step 2... Seeds are evenly scattered over the surface of the substrate, lightly pressed. You can sprinkle them with a layer of earth no more than 5 mm, but this is not necessary, the seeds germinate so well.

Step 3... The containers are covered with polyethylene or glass and placed on the windowsill so as to exclude direct sunlight.

For germination of dichondra seeds, a temperature is required within the range of 18-25 degrees Celsius, therefore, boxes cannot be placed in a cold room. On the 7-8th day, the first shoots should appear, and mass shoots appear approximately 10-14 days after sowing.

Sprouted seeds

The hatched seedlings need more air, which means that the film should be removed from the boxes. During this period, the seedlings are very sensitive to temperature changes, and even small drafts can destroy the seedlings. On cloudy days, backlighting is imperative, because with a lack of lighting, the plants will begin to stretch unnecessarily.

Dichondra shoots

Watering is carried out using a spray bottle and only as needed. Despite the fact that dichondra loves moisture, excess water is destructive for small seedlings. The seedlings should be thinned out after the first two true leaves appear. All weak sprouts are discarded, leaving a distance between the remaining about 2-3 cm. After that, it remains only to maintain the optimal temperature in the room and moisten the soil in a timely manner.

For a very long time, the plants will be thin and weak in appearance, but by mid-May they will noticeably grow up. As a rule, the maximum decorative effect of dichondra appears 100 days after seed germination, but only under favorable conditions. When side shoots are formed and the plant gets stronger, you can plant it in a flower bed or in hanging baskets. The soil in the flowerbed is loosened well, holes are made for each plant separately, leaving gaps of 25-30 cm between them. The soil around the bush does not need to be strongly compacted so as not to damage the roots, it is enough to spill abundantly with water after planting and sprinkle with mulch.

When transplanting into pots, it should be borne in mind that to create a lush crown, 4-5 seedlings must be planted in a pot with a diameter of 10 cm. If the amount is reduced, it will not be possible to form a waterfall from the vines, and if you plant more, the roots will not have enough space and nutrients.

Recommendations for diving and forming a dense bush

In open ground, seeds are sown to create a lawn, but only in warm regions where the winter temperature does not drop below minus 3.5 degrees. The sowing process is very simple: the selected area is loosened, moistened, and then the seeds are evenly scattered. The seed consumption is 10 g per square meter. Then the soil is rolled up, watered again, and kept moist until shoots appear. Sowing is possible throughout the season - from April to October. The grown dichondra seedlings are fed with nitrogen liquid fertilizers. Such a lawn is highly decorative and resistant to trampling, it tolerates shading well.

Plant care

Dichondra "Emerald Falls" is quite undemanding to care for, and therefore it is not at all difficult to take care of it.

Pruning	To form a beautiful bush, special efforts are not required, because the plant itself creates a neat crown with densely hanging stems. Periodically, the upper lashes are shortened to emphasize the "waterfall" shape, damaged shoots that are knocked out of the total mass are removed. After wintering, pruning is done without fail, leaving shoots up to 8-10 cm long. This promotes the formation of new lashes in the sinuses of the leaves.
Top dressing	They are fed twice a month with special formulations for decorative deciduous crops. The last feeding is carried out at the beginning of September, subject to wintering in a cool room. If dichondra is transferred to an apartment for the winter, the bushes are fed once a month with minimal doses. In order for the foliage to be thick and have a rich color, nitrogen and potassium should prevail in fertilizers.
Watering	The plant loves moisture, but does not tolerate stagnant water, therefore, when planting, it is important to have good drainage. In addition to root watering, it is necessary to spray the leaves 2-3 times a week, in dry periods - daily

Of all the varieties of dichondra, "Emerald Falls" is the most resistant to diseases, and is extremely rarely damaged by garden pests, especially if it grows separately from other crops. Proper watering, loosening, removal of weeds and dry lashes, as well as adherence to the recommended doses of fertilizers is the key to the health and normal development of the bush.

Wintering dichondra

In our latitudes, dichondra is grown more often as an annual, because the plant does not tolerate frost. But if you have the opportunity to provide the necessary conditions in the apartment, "Emerald Falls" will delight the eye even in the cold season. A pot with a plant is brought into the house somewhere in mid-October, before the onset of stable cold weather. Too long lashes are cut off, abundantly moisten the earth, put the container on a raised place. Dichondra looks very beautiful in openwork forged flowerpots. Winter care is reduced to periodic watering and feeding once a month. After turning on the central heating, the leaves should be sprayed with water every day.

Growing dichondra at home

If it is not planned to keep dichondra in the house, before the onset of cold weather, all shoots are cut off, the rhizome is carefully dug up and, together with a lump of earth, transferred to the basement. To prevent the roots from drying out over the winter, they are covered with wet peat or sprinkled with a thick layer of sand. In the spring, new stems with root shoots will begin to form on the mother plant. They are carefully separated and planted in separate pots or beds around the beginning of May. The main root is also transplanted into open ground or a hanging basket, be sure to feed it. Such plants begin to branch much faster, and after a month they form a lush crown.

Pest and disease control

Propagation by layering and cuttings

In summer, dichondra bushes are easily propagated by layering.To do this, the soil is well loosened around the plant, a strong long shoot is chosen and added dropwise in several places, spilling it with a root formation stimulator. To preserve moisture, it is advisable to cover the layers with a film or non-woven material. Very soon sprouts with the same varietal characteristics will appear. When 4 true leaves have developed, the plants are transplanted.

Another option is propagation by cuttings. In September, several well-developed stems are cut from the main bush and cuttings with 3-4 internodes are cut from them. Cuttings are planted in individual pots with a nutrient substrate, watered abundantly, covered with foil or cut bottles. With the onset of cold weather, pots with cuttings are brought into the house, the soil moisture is constantly maintained.

Photo of dichondra

Video - Dichondra emerald waterfall: growing from seeds