Diseases and pests
This vine is one of those plants whose diseases (or rather, the only disease) are caused by non-compliance with the rules of care, even if these very rules seem extremely simple. It is not for nothing that we paid so much attention to drainage - with waterlogging of the soil, gray rot will become only a matter of time. If you notice the problem in time, it will be easier to solve it - for this you have to remove all damaged parts of the plant, treat both the cuts and the soil with fungicides, and, of course, normalize the dosage of moisture so that the phenomenon does not recur.
If for some reason you have ignored the problem for a long time, you cannot do without an urgent transplant. To do this, the columnea is removed from the vessel and even the roots are shaken off from the earthen coma, which is not done even with a conventional transplant. The damaged parts, including the roots, are removed, the plant is carefully treated with a fungicide, and the vessel should be disinfected with it, if you decide not to change it.
This vine has much more pests than diseases - there are aphids, and thrips, and scale insects, and spider mites. It is generally accepted that with proper care of the vine, uninvited guests should not appear at all. The same aphid, which looks like tiny greenish-black bugs, is clearly visible on the surface of the leaves, so you can quickly respond to its appearance. A spider mite is determined by the presence of a cobweb on a plant, since the spiders themselves are usually not interested in liana. The scale insect is easy to recognize by its characteristic shell, but the consequences of their activity are more striking - characteristic tubercles on the stems in dark colors. Thrips are called elongated bugs in brown and black tones.
Regardless of the name of the enemy, the columnea reacts with slow growth and oppression of foliage - twisting, yellowing and falling off. The problem is solved with the help of most of the known insecticides, but be prepared that success does not always come after the first treatment. Remember that "chemistry" can harm the plant, so read the instructions.
For information on how to grow and care for a columnea, see the video below.
Diseases and pests
Caladiums, like many plants, are susceptible to various diseases and pests.
Bacterial rot
The tubers of the plant are exposed to Fusarium and wet rot. If damaged areas are found, the tubers are cut to healthy tissue using a sterile knife, and the cut sites are sprinkled with powder fungicides.
Mold on sheet plates
One of the possible reasons for the appearance of mold on the aboveground part of the caladium is waterlogging and drafts. To eliminate it, it is necessary to remove the damaged parts of the plant, reduce watering and move the pot to a place protected from drafts.
Twisted leaves
This sign may indicate a lack of watering or high air temperature. To correct the situation, increase the intensity of watering and use spraying.
Pale leaves
Very often, the pallor of the leaves is accompanied by a loss of contrast in patterns. This is usually due to a lack of sunlight. Moving the plant to a brighter place or using special lamps will help to correct the situation.
Insect damage
Aphid damage is indicated by sticky and deformed leaves. And also caladium is affected by spider mites and mealybugs. To get rid of these pests, it is necessary to use insecticides.
For caladium and caring for it, see the next video.
Care features
In nature, columnea usually grow on trees without parasitizing them.As an epiphyte, the houseplant Columnaea receives most of the substances and moisture necessary for nutrition from the air.
Temperature
In the warm season, the colum needs a moderate temperature - 18-20 ° C, in winter the plant must be taken out to a cool place (10-12 ° C). A similar "wintering" of the plant should be arranged for 45-50 days, protecting it from drafts. It activates the bookmark of flower buds. Their appearance will signal that the "awakened" colum needs warmth.
Humidity
Columnea does not tolerate dry air. It should be sprayed regularly with soft warm water. In summer, moisture should not get on the flowers. In the cold season, it is not the flower that is sprayed, but the air next to it. The foliage is recommended to have a shower twice a month, then drying it in a warm, dark place. Any measures to humidify the air around the columnea are appropriate:
- florarium device;
- placement above the aquarium;
- equipment of a pallet with moistened expanded clay;
- location among other plants.
Important! It is not recommended to spray columneas with pubescent leaves. Water is sprayed next to them
Lighting
The plant likes reflected light, direct sunlight often causes leaf burns. In summer, the column from the windows on the south side of the building should be removed or provided with effective darkening. In winter, on the contrary, it must be placed on the southern windowsills - here the flower will receive the required amount of light. When there is a lack of lighting, a phytolamp is used.
The soil
Loose lightweight soil enriched with nutrients is suitable for columnea. A self-prepared mixture should contain an equal amount of compost (turf) soil and deciduous humus. It is necessary to add a little peat and charcoal (bone meal) to it. There should be no lime in the components of the mixture. The dishes are used wide and low, with an obligatory drainage layer.
Watering
Moderate watering is recommended. The water should be soft, settled (ideally, filtered). Watering frequency is related to air temperature. In the spring and summer, the columnea is watered twice a week. In autumn and winter, three waterings per month are enough. The top layer of soil in the pot should dry out between waterings.
Fertilizer
In the period from spring to autumn, columnea carry out complex feeding every 14 days. If additional lighting was used in winter, and the flower continues to grow actively, top dressing is carried out every 21 days. When the flowers of the columnea bloom, liquid fertilizers enriched with potassium and phosphorus are used. A special condition is that there should be no lime in the fertilizers.
Important! Columnea is transplanted after flowering, no more than once a year. Before transplanting, cut the stems
Plant care technique
Compliance with the basic requirements for the care of the column will allow you to achieve the greatest decorative effect from it. All measures and recommendations are relevant for the period of plant activity, from March to October. With the autumn cold, the columnea goes to sleep at a reduced temperature. Watering at this time exotic is needed in minimal doses. And feeding and other manipulations should not be carried out at all.
Watering technique
The more the flower has grown, the more water it needs. Keep the soil ball in the pot slightly damp. Only a thin top layer of soil should dry out. This amount of water will be more columned. Due to the intense evaporation in summer, more moisture is needed. Use only settled soft water, but avoid stagnation in the container.
Top dressing and fertilizers
During the period of activity, the columnea is fertilized with a standard mixture for flowering crops. Usually, the fertilizer is mixed with water for irrigation and applied at the root. Dosage - according to the instructions of the complex mixture. Intensity - every 1-1.5 weeks.
Important! Contact with greens is highly undesirable.
Annual pruning
For columnea, pruning is a rejuvenating procedure.Carry it out after each flowering. Cut off a third or half of the vine. In addition, remove dried buds, foliage and shoots. The annual procedure will help to maintain the neat decorative appearance of the columnea for up to 7 years. After that, experts advise to update the bush by reproduction.
Transfer
The root system of the culture is thin and vulnerable. Therefore, a flower transplant is relevant only in case of emergency:
- a newly acquired plant needs a spacious permanent pot;
- the young specimen has grown so much that it became cramped in its dishes.
The procedure itself is carried out by the transshipment method. Try to keep as much of the old earthy coma as possible
Handle with care to avoid damaging fragile roots
Exotic diseases and pests
Spider mites, scale insects, aphids and thrips are more threatening than other domestic flowers. In the fight against them, special insecticides help. From diseases, greens can be affected by gray rot. Its cause is stagnation of moisture at the roots. If you notice the appearance of an ailment, immediately cut off the affected areas, treat the aerial part and root with a fungicidal solution. Transplant the crop into a pot with a new earthy mixture.
Description of the columnea plant and its photo
Tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and rich in yellow, orange, or red. In outline, they sometimes resemble fish. Just because of its unusual shape, the flower got its second name "flower - a flying goldfish". A description of the columney flower and its photos are offered, which are published in variety on this page.
Stems are usually ascending, spreading, or solitary. Some of them can stretch up to two meters or more, hanging from the basket. The corolla of two lips with a hood is formed by the fusion of the two upper petals.
The bright red color is very common among the species found in this family, but they can also be yellow or orange, and sometimes pink. Four stamens, anthers from one dorsal gland. The ovary is superior and has the shape of a ball. The fruits are also spherical, well, or almost spherical, usually white.
A distinctive feature of the columnea plant is its corolla (the most distinctive, but not the only one).
The most common problems
Columnea belongs to tropical epiphytic plants, so it is important to comply with all the conditions for its maintenance. If any factor does not match, the plant instantly shows deficiencies in the state of foliage and shoots.
The most common symptoms of disorders are:
- Yellowing of the leaves, their gradual folding and subsequent subsidence indicates dry air and insufficient watering.
- The general sluggishness of landscaping, gradual yellowing and subsidence speaks of irrigation with cold water, its excessive or insufficient.
- Withering of the tip of the shoots indicates dryness of the soil during the hottest periods.
- Lack of lighting, on a tropical inhabitant, also affects the yellowing of the leaves.
To eliminate all problems, it is enough to review the care and provide the required conditions.
Of diseases and pests, the greatest difficulties are caused by:
- Gray rot - mold, grayish color covers the foliage and shoots of the columnea - it is required to remove the affected parts of the plant and treat with special agents.
- Whitefly is a pest that looks like a whitish midge.
Insects are located on the back of the leaf plates. To eliminate it, you need to treat the bush with an insecticide and hang a fly trap next to the plant.
- Spider mite - determined by the formed cobweb with small pellet inclusions (mites).
Pests should be washed off the plant and treated with drugs.
The most common method of growing a columnea is ampelous.In this position, the exotic looks more advantageous and releases its own shoots up to a meter in length.
Provided that several plants are densely located in one vessel during the flowering period, a wonderful decorative element is obtained.
Landing
Rooting a columnea is not so difficult, especially since it is usually sold in stores already in a pot. Another thing is that after the purchase, the plant is recommended to be transplanted without delay.
The root of this vine is relatively small, but very sensitive, therefore it should be handled very carefully. A medium-sized vessel is enough for a young plant, while deep pots do not make sense - the rhizome of this tropical miracle still does not go far into the depths. A prerequisite for the container is the presence of drainage holes at the bottom.
The bottom part of the vessel should be occupied by a solid layer of drainage material, no matter what - it can be broken brick and other similar materials that do not contribute to the accumulation of moisture. If you are a supporter of buying a ready-made soil mixture, be interested in the product for semi-epiphytes, but many gardeners "collect" the substrate on their own
The proportion is as follows: they take 4 parts of sod and leaf land, as well as 2 parts of peat and only one - a mixture of three components at once, which includes charcoal, sphagnum and simple sand.
7photos
Since the roots of the columnea are very thin and fragile, the transplant is performed by the transfer method - do not try to shake off or clean the roots from the ground, just move the plant to a new place directly with an earthen clod.
Reproduction of columnea by cuttings
In home growing, the most common method of flower propagation is cuttings. As a rule, the process is carried out in the spring using apical cuttings 8-10 cm long and at a temperature of 24-25 ° C. For reproduction of the columnea plant, healthy shoots with several leaves on them are selected. After cutting them, it is necessary to root them in the nutrient substrate for 2-3 weeks. At the same time, regularly water with soft, settled water and cover with a greenhouse. It can be made using heavy-duty polyethylene or a cut plastic bottle. To do this, simply cover the scion pot with one of the previously listed materials. During the entire germination time, the container with shoots should be in a warm, illuminated place, but not under the influence of direct sunlight. Thanks to this method of reproduction, the possibility of growing healthy flowering offspring over time is highest.
How to propagate the columnea plant in indoor conditions is shown in detail in the images below. Take a look for a reference.
Reproduction of columnea
Reproduction of columnea is carried out by rooting apical cuttings or sowing seeds.
Reproduction of columnea by cuttings
Reproduction by cuttings is carried out at the very beginning of March.
- Cuttings are cut from the tops of the shoots, the length of which is about 10 cm. The cuttings should have up to 5 leaves.
- The cut points are sprinkled with charcoal powder.
- Cuttings are planted in a mixture of universal soil with sand and peat, deepening by 1.5 cm. Water and mulch.
- Cover with a foil, on which holes are made, so that condensation does not accumulate.
- At + 24 ° C and diffused light, leave to germinate.
- The film is removed for airing and watering.
- When new leaves appear, the cutting is transplanted into a separate container.
- You can root the cuttings in water. Water is often changed, activated carbon is added to it.
Growing columnea from seeds
They rarely practice at home: point seeds germinate poorly, many seedlings die. If you decide on this method of reproduction, you need to be patient. The seeds are kept in a solution of potassium permanganate, then evenly distributed over the moistened soil, without deepening. Lightly sprinkle with substrate on top. Cover with glass or foil. Germinate at + 24 ° C.The crops are aired and sprayed. After 3 weeks, when the seedlings appear, the shelter is removed. Seedlings grow under illumination. When 3 true leaves appear, the seedlings dive into separate containers.
The vegetative method of reproduction of the columnea is more convenient, with it all the varietal characteristics of the mother plant are preserved. At home, it is used more often.
Types and varieties of columnea
Numerous species and varieties of columnea are represented, which differ in the color of flowers and leaves. Descriptions of some varieties of columnea are offered, which are most popular with florists.
Columbus Consanguine
Columnaea consanguina is a flowering plant of the Columnaea genus. They are endemic to Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panama. They are distinguished by the presence of a red, translucent heart-shaped marking that serves to attract their main pollinator, the hummingbird.
Columnea consanguina is a shrub-like grass with an unbranched light brown and hairy stem, the maximum growth of which reaches 1-1.5 meters in height. The leaves on the trunks are arranged in the opposite direction of the pattern along the stems. However, one leaf in each pair is much smaller than the other, thus giving the impression that the leaves are alternating.
The petals are pale yellow and the calyx can be green or red.
Columnea Krakatoa
Columney Krakatoa is a flower of the Gesneriaceae family and comes from the tropics of America. These are epiphytes, that is, they do not have roots and actively grow on other crops. The flower is one of the most picturesque, therefore it is very often used for decorative purposes. The plant is completely covered with small leaves on an upright or drooping trunk. Flowers are usually very bright in color.
Most often, kolumnea krakatau is used for landscaping residential buildings and offices, for this reason we can often contemplate it in hanging baskets, and not slides on the floor. The soil for planting is the same as for the main variety - peat, turf and leaf land. They feed the plant very rarely and then only together with water. Pruning is required only when the flower begins to actively grow erratically.
The flower needs a lot of light and heat, but not direct rays, especially during the growing and flowering period. In other periods, a bright window without winds will do.
Temperature - in summer not lower than 20 ° С, and in winter not less than 16. If you maintain an abundant level of humidity, then the storage temperature of the plant can be higher.
Columbus Carnival
A profusely blooming plant cultivar Columney Carnival with bright yellow flowers with red edges, which are located just above the small dark green foliage with pointed corners. Compact plant. Blooms all year round.
Conclusion
In this article, we looked at different types of columbus. But no matter how many species it has, this is an excellent plant with beautiful densely growing flowers. Perfect for any decor. To grow it at home, you just need to learn how to properly care for this plant. That, believe me, does not constitute a huge effort and cost. But in the future, the columnea will constantly delight your eyes.
And not only yours, but also guests who come to you. After all, not everyone succeeds in taking their eyes off the splendor of the blooming columnea. It is highly recommended for decorating offices, large apartments, houses and landscapes.
