Skimmia: Rubella and other varieties of Japanese skimmia. Home care

Growing and care

Like any other houseplant, skimmy bushes need proper regular maintenance.

Watering

The plant can grow and develop well in a city apartment with insufficient air humidity. However, regular watering is necessary for him.

This is especially important in spring and summer. The soil in the pot should not dry out during this period, since the skimmia is actively growing and blooming

In the autumn-winter period, the frequency of watering is reduced.

Top dressing

From the beginning of spring to the onset of autumn (April - September), skimmy needs to be fertilized 2 times a month with a composition intended for flowering plants.

Lighting

Skimmia grows well in areas with an abundance of light. But, it must be borne in mind that direct sunlight is harmful to her. They can burn leaves.

There are 12 species of this shrub in total. But, in decorative floriculture, various varieties of Japanese skimmy and some others are most often used.

Japanese skimmia

In nature, a bush of this species can grow up to 1-1.5 meters. It is a dioecious plant. On its basis, breeders have bred several hybrids:

Rubella is a male hybrid. The bush is compact, the leaves are dark green with a red border.
Foremanii is a female hybrid. After flowering, forms large beautiful clusters of berries.
Fructo Alba - differs from other hybrids in berry color. They are completely white.
Magic Merlot has small leaves. Inflorescences in the form of silvery balls.
Smits Spider. Berries on this hybrid become mango color by autumn.
Fragrans is a male species. The color of the inflorescences is white. The aroma is reminiscent of lily of the valley.
Skimmia reevesiana (Reeves) is a self-pollinating plant. Its white inflorescences contain both male and female flowers. The berries are slightly oblong, crimson in color.
Brocox Rocket. On the large globular inflorescences of this hybrid, the flowers are initially green. By autumn they gradually turn white.

Skimmia laurel

The berries of this type of shrub are colored black. Leaves are elongated, lanceolate. Inflorescences are spherical, composed of small greenish flowers. It grows up to 90 cm in height.

Doubtful Skimmia

This is a male bush. In nature, it grows up to 3 meters high. The crown can be up to 1.5 meters wide. Inflorescences are globular cream shade. During flowering, it exudes a strong pleasant scent.

Skimmia creeping

The bush is cylindrical in shape. Its branches have no leaves at the base. Dense inflorescences consist of unusual white triangular flowers. In autumn, rather large red berries ripen in their place.

Soil and fertilizer

Skimmia belongs to the acetophilic plants. This means that the reaction of the soil for it must have a weakly acidic or acidic reaction. If the acidity decreases, then over time, interveinal chlorosis appears on the leaves.

In addition, the soil should be nutritious, medium-heavy, permeable to water and air. It is recommended to replant young skimmy plants once every two years in the spring.

Older specimens can grow in one tub for a long time if the topsoil is renewed.

For planting, prepare the following mixture:

sod land (2 parts);
peat (2 parts);
sand (1 part);
perlite (1 part).

Fertilize skimmia once every three to four weeks with universal liquid organic fertilizers, which are applied along with irrigation. The concentration is half that recommended by the manufacturer.

Cryptomeria - plant features

Cryptomeria is an evergreen tree with a pyramidal crown. The bark exfoliates in long stripes, it is distinguished by a brown-red color. The buds grow densely, arranged in a spiral in 5 rows, small, consist of three leaves, without scales.

The needles live for about seven years, very tough, five-row, pointed, 15 to 25 mm long, growing in a spiral, yellow-green in summer and dark green in winter. The needles are flattened on the sides, rounded-triangular, the tips are bent inward, stomatal stripes on both sides. Male spikelets at the ends of the shoots are twisted, the stamens are scaly, oval, anther sacs are located on the underside, the pollen has no air sacs.

Female spikelets are located at the end of the shoots and at the base are surrounded by leaves, which also cover and the seed scales are almost completely fused at the base. Each scale may contain from 2 to 5 ovules. Cones are located at the ends of the shoots, clavate or round-ovoid. Seeds are triangular, flattened, oblong, have 2 wings.

It grows in China and Japan, withstands a short-term drop in temperature to -28 °, the normal climate is humid subtropical. It grows quickly enough under suitable conditions.

Cryptomeria belongs to exotic types of plants and in our climate requires special care. She loves the sun and warmth, but excessive heat can be very harmful to her. The best growing conditions will be at a constant temperature in a slightly shaded area with well-drained soil. Since the plant is not resistant to prolonged frosts, which are typical for our climate, it is customary to plant it in deep ceramic containers that can be placed in the winter garden or outdoors.

Cryptomeria needs regular and abundant watering from spring to autumn, only for the winter you need to reduce the amount of liquid, but complete drying out of the soil is unacceptable. You also need to make sure that excess water does not stagnate at the bottom of the pot. In addition to regular watering, sprinkling should be carried out twice a day. A sure sign of a lack of moisture is yellowing and falling of the needles. Young seedlings can be fed with organic fertilizers twice a month, a large one will be enough once.

Planting cryptomeria

The most suitable time for transplanting is early spring. The potting mix consists of equal parts of turf, deciduous soil, sand and peat.

A layer of small stones is placed at the bottom of the ceramic container to ensure good drainage. Young plants need to be replanted every year, older trees every three years. Reproduction of cryptomeria

Cryptomeria is propagated by cuttings, cuttings or seeds. When propagating by cuttings, only young shoots are used. For the initial formation of the root system, they are left for some time in a container with water. Then they are planted in a proportional mixture of river sand, turf and foliage.

For germination of seeds, a proportional mixture of peat and sand is used.

Certain types of cryptomeria are used to create bonsai. Decorative forms are often used for landscaping parks. The alleys look very beautiful if these plants are planted along them. Dwarf forms feel good on terraces and balconies, serve as an excellent decoration for a winter garden.

Negative oxygen ions and coniferous aroma create a healing microclimate in the apartment, filling it with the smallest particles of antiviral and bactericidal oils.

Pests and diseases

"Skimmia" is affected by spider mites, scale insects and aphids. When signs of infection appear, the plants are washed with warm water, you can additionally add a soap solution. Then they are treated with insecticides.

Important! The plant signals the appearance of pests with brown spots on the leaves.

The most common disease of Skimmia is powdery mildew. With it, the leaves are covered with a white bloom. For the prevention of the disease, treatment with fungicides is carried out.

When a bush is infected with a fungal infection, black spots appear on the leaves. Another problem with Skimmia is chlorosis. The plant is sick with it, which does not have enough iron sulfate in the soil.If the leaves turn yellow, this mineral must be added.

Many ornamental plants, like skimmia, are bushy. Among them are asparagus, zamioculcas, pomegranate, ginger, oxalis, coleus, nightshade, shefflera and fittonia. You will learn about them on our website.

Unpretentious in care, but at the same time surprisingly ornamental plant "Skimmia" will become a real decoration of your home interior.

Skimmia: planting, transplanting and breeding

It is necessary to plant skimmia in suitable soil. If you plan to grow indoors or in a greenhouse, the plant is purchased already in a container with a land mixture that is suitable for growing before transplanting.

When cultivating in open ground, it is necessary to select areas with loamy or soddy soil with good aeration and moisture permeability. On the open ground, skimmia can be grown in regions where the temperature in the winter season is not lower than -23 degrees. Skimmia has good frost resistance and such climatic conditions are quite suitable for long-term cultivation of shrubs.

Skimmia transplant is carried out as needed. At first, skimmia is transplanted once every two years. If the plant is purchased in a too small container or grows very quickly, you can replant once a year.

The transplant is carried out in early spring, preferably before flowering. To make the plant easier to endure changing conditions and quickly take root in a new place, it is necessary to transplant it correctly.

For this, the following soil mixture is prepared: turf soil, peat, cleaned sand and perlite are mixed in a ratio of 2: 2: 1: 1. You can also add a small amount of charcoal. Drainage is poured at the bottom of the flowerpot. It can be pebbles, broken brick or clay shards.

Skimmia grown from cuttings

One of the conditions for the good development of a plant is a properly selected flowerpot. Its size should increase by 1.5 times with each transplant. If you transplant the plant immediately into a large and deep flowerpot, the bush will give all its strength to the development of the root system, and the aboveground part will not grow.

Also, in such conditions, the flower can quickly die. The material of the garden pot also affects the development of flower culture. For young plants, it is advisable to use clay pots.

Planting in glass, metal, plastic containers is unacceptable. Mature plants can be planted in baked clay tubs or made of wood.

Regardless of the age of the skimmy, it is recommended to grow it in pots with a water tray. The culture loves abundant watering, but does not tolerate waterlogging. Using such containers can prevent souring of the soil in the pot.

When transplanting a flower, you cannot completely clear the roots from the ground. Adult plants are recommended to be transplanted together with an earth lump, and voids in a new flowerpot are filled with a new earth mixture.

After planting, abundant watering and mulching of the topsoil with clean soil is required. In order for the moisture to evaporate more slowly, beautiful shells or pebbles can be laid out in the flowerpot. This will also serve as an original flower pot decor.

To become the owner of a large number of skimmy bushes, it is not necessary to purchase new plants in stores and garden nurseries. This plant can be propagated independently.

Reproduction of skimmia is carried out in the following ways:

Seeds
Apical cuttings

Only stratified seeds are suitable for sowing. They are planted in a cold greenhouse in a mixture of peat and sand. The acidity of the soil is not more than pH5.5. Sprouted seedlings are transplanted into separate small containers and kept in greenhouse conditions until the sprouts are fully grown. More they can be grown indoors.

For propagation by stem cuttings, they must be cut in the spring or summer season. Length 8-10 cm.Further, the bottom is cleaned of leaves, the cut is processed with a root formation stimulator and the cuttings are planted in a prepared peat-sand mixture. Cover with foil on top. After complete rooting, the cuttings are planted in separate containers or on an open land plot.

While watching the video, you will learn about skimmy.

Exotic skimmia is becoming a very popular herb. Especially appreciated for its decorative appearance and unpretentiousness. This plant is used for festive decoration of premises, decoration of parks, garden plots. Its inflorescences and fruit clusters can be used as an element of flower arrangements. But it is worth remembering that this is a poisonous plant.

Therefore, when caring for it, you should take precautions.

Attention super FLY!

Flowers and flower beds

Skimmia forms compact bushes with tough foliage and beautiful inflorescences, which eventually give way to clusters of scarlet berries. This beautiful flower resembles an exotic bouquet all year round, so it will be a worthy gift for avid flower growers. The beautiful plant belongs to the Rutaceae family. It is found at the foot of the Himalayas, in Japan and other countries of East Asia.

Skimmia japonica or Japanese skimmia

Japanese skimmia or false pepper is a medium-sized evergreen ornamental shrub native to Japan. It has dark green glossy oval foliage. Flowers are white, or cream, flower buds with a reddish tinge are laid at the end of winter. These shrubs are easy to grow, they tend to be compact and rounded and can grow up to one meter in height, the hybrids remain below 50-60 cm. Japanese skimmia is a slow-growing plant.

If you live in an area with fairly mild winters, planting skimmia in your garden is a great idea. She is not afraid of the cold and can withstand a short-term drop in temperature to -15 ° C. It will decorate the garden throughout the year and delight in the spring with beautiful flowering, in the summer with bright berries and all year round with evergreen leaves. Both the leaves and flowers are fragrant, and the intensity of the scent varies from species to species. It is not uncommon to see buds, flowers and last year's berries on skimmy at the same time.

Most skimmias are dioecious (with the exception of the Japanese Reeves skimmy, which is polygamous. The male skimmias, although they do not form berries, are very good for their lush inflorescences, which form on them in large numbers. Female skimmias are attractive for their beautiful berries that look especially spectacular. in winter at home, on the terrace or in the garden (skimmia hibernates in the garden in warmer regions).

Attention! If you want your skimmy to have not only flowers, but also berries, you will need to grow 2 plants side by side - male and female. An exception to this rule is Japanese Reeves skimmy.

Skimmia berries are drupes containing one single seed.

Lighting. Due to their forest origin, skimmies do not like direct sunlight. In direct sun, skimmia leaves fade to a light yellow color, and ugly burns can appear on them. Skimmies prefer partial shade, they can put up with full shade, however, in this case, they can stretch too much.

Priming. Skimmies thrive on moist loamy soils, but plants need good drainage. To ensure good water permeability and soil structure, when planting skimmy, rotted manure, garden compost and leaf humus should be generously added to the soil.

Watering. Regular.

Top dressing. At the end of winter, granular fertilizers for acidophilic plants.

Pruning. After flowering (male plants) or fruiting (female plants), you can trim the skimmy a little. Haircuts keep the look compact and prevent the skimmy from being unnecessarily exposed.

Reproduction. Cuttings.

Varieties

Japanese skimmia (Skimmia japonica) is the most popular species, on the basis of which many hybrids have been created. Plants grow up to 1.5 m in height.Varieties of Japanese skimmy:

Skimmia japonica Rubella (Skimmia japonica Rubella) - short male plants with dark green leaves bordered with reddish. These charming crimson buds appear on these skimmias in autumn and last all winter, while fragrant flowers open up in spring.
Skimmia japonica ‘Nymans’ is a female variety with narrow, slightly aromatic leaves and white flowers that appear on the plant in winter. The plant reaches 1 m in height and 2 m in width;
Japanese skimmia ‘Fragrans’ (Skimmia japonica ‘Fragrans’) - male variety;
other varieties of Japanese skimmy: Emerald King, Keessen, Kew White, Rubinetta, Ruby Dome, Wanto, White Gerpa, Veitchii
Skimmia japonica reevesiana is the only polygamous skimmia. The berries that form on the plant in large quantities are well preserved all winter and spring, therefore, on this Reeves skimia you can often see the berries of the last year with the buds and flowers of the current one at the same time. Reeves' skimmy berries are brighter in color, but slightly smaller in size. The plant reaches 90 cm in height and forms a domed crown. The leaves are narrowed, weakly fragrant. Reevesam Ruby King is popular.
Doubtful skimmia (Skimmia x confusa) is a large male hybrid (up to 3 m in height and 1.5 m in width) with fragrant leaves. In spring, dubious skimmia is covered with heads of large creamy flowers that have a strong odor. A popular variety of dubious skimmy Kew Green
Laurel skimmia (Skimmia laureola) differs from others in more elongated leaves and black berries.

Using materials from the site Zagorodnaya Zhizn

How to care at home

Skimmia prefers to grow at home, it does not tolerate cold. Direct sunlight also negatively affects it, so it is better to keep the plant in a small shade in a temperate climate, otherwise, wounds in the form of burns will appear on the leaves.

Soil moisture is of paramount importance with the obligatory addition of drainage. Peat soil, coarse sand or loam are ideal for wood.

Care rules:

Choose a place where there are no direct rays of the sun, but not a complete shadow;
The air should be cool;
Protect from strong drafts;
Water frequently, but in moderation;
The liquid for irrigation should be settled (12-15 hours), without chlorine;
Wipe dust off the leaves;
Ventilate the room;
Feeding complexes for flowering plants in April and September;
Cut off dried shoots and flowers.

The shrub tolerates shearing well and does not allow it to grow much. Skimmia grows better at home, but when the warm season comes, it is often taken out into the fresh air.

Transfer

When the root system becomes cramped, then it is time to transplant skimmia, since the plant very quickly depletes the soil. The ceramic pot should not be too large to avoid rhizome rot. It is recommended to put ceramic chips or expanded clay on the bottom. The acidity of the soil must be sufficient.

In no case should there be lime in the soil, this will destroy the shrub. River sand, peat, humus will be an excellent addition to the main soil. In order to avoid further disease of the plant, it is recommended not to bury the roots too deeply.

Diseases and pests

With an excess of moisture in the soil, root rot can overcome skimmia. If you find this problem, try drying the soil and applying fugicides.
Chlorosis is another "sore" of skimmia. With this disease, the leaves lose their brightness. Apply fertilizer with ferrous sulfate, then your plant will delight you with its beauty for a long time.
Scabbards, spider mites and aphids love to feast on juicy skimmia leaves. In this case, it is recommended to treat the trunk and leaves with special solutions.

Reproduction

Scimmia is bred with seeds and cuttings. To begin with, the seeds must be treated with a low temperature, then planted in a peat-sand mixture (pH 5-5.5 - soil acidity). The pots are placed in a cool room.

Cutting takes place from August to February. During planting, the cut of the cutting is treated with a mixture for rapid growth and planted in the sand. Cuttings should be kept at an air temperature of 18-22 degrees.

Botanical characteristics and types

Skimmia is an evergreen shrub of medium growth rate, spreading.The height of an adult plant in natural conditions does not exceed 7 m.When grown in a greenhouse or, in indoor conditions and in open areas in temperate latitudes, the bush is formed in the form of a dome or ball, up to 1 m in height and up to 1.5 m in diameter.

Lat. Skimmia

Medium-sized leaf plate. The leaves are in the shape of a narrow oval with a pointed end. Length from 7 to 12 cm. Externally, they are very similar to the cast of laurel. The structure of the leaf plate is dense, fleshy.

The surface is glossy, the edge is even, smooth, without chipping. The color is rich, dark green. The brightness of the sheet plate depends on the type of skimmy. Lighter leaves in varieties with white or cream colored flowers. Sometimes a red stripe appears on the edge of the leaf.

The flowers are very small and are collected in a brush. The color of the petals is from white to light pink. Bloom is observed in April and May. Closer to autumn, clusters of small fruits are formed, bright red, black, beige or white. The berries are fleshy, contain one small bone. The diameter of one fruit does not exceed 10 mm. Berries are able to stay on the plant throughout the winter season.

Often on the bush you can see last year's bunches of fruits and new buds and flowers. This gives the plant a special originality and attractiveness.

It is a dioecious crop and both female and male plants are required to reproduce the skimmia. How can you tell them apart? Berry clusters form only on female plants. Males are characterized by the presence of multiple, lush inflorescences.

Despite its attractiveness, skimmia is poisonous. Poisonous substances are found in all parts of the plant. It is also characterized by an expressive specific aroma. It manifests itself if you lightly rub a leaf or break off a twig.

Due to its strong spicy aroma of flowers, skimmia is a good honey plant. During the growing season and flowering, a large number of bees and insects constantly gather around the plant.

The homeland of the skimmy is the Himalayas. It is also often found in East Asia, Japan, China.

There are about 10 types of shrubs. The following types are most popular in cultivation:

Japanese
Rubella
Skimmia at home
Laurel
Fragance
Reeves
Dubious

There are also many hybrids bred on the basis of Japanese skimmy that are suitable for growing with the tub method.

Regardless of the species, skimmia is an unpretentious crop and with proper care it adorns its place of growth throughout the year.

Botanical description

The genus Skimmia (Latin Skimmia) is a member of the Rutaceae family (Latin Rutaceae) and is an evergreen shrub or small tree.

Skimmia is grown in pots or large tubs. The height of the plant also depends on this: up to 30 cm or up to 2 m, respectively.

Leathery, shiny, ellipsoid, oblong skimmia leaves, which reach a length of up to 20 cm, look decorative.

The upper part of the leaf plate is colored dark green, the lower one is light.

A distinctive feature of the leaves is the presence of glands, which are located on their lower part and exude a pleasant smell when touched.

Skimmia flowers smell as good as leaves. They are small, colored pink or red, collected in an inflorescence - a panicle.

Closer to autumn, after the spring-summer flowering of skimmia, white, black, red or beige fruits appear. It is undesirable to eat them, since they contain, like the entire plant, the substance skimminin. In culture, Japanese Skimmia (Latin Skimmia japonica) is most often found.

1.Skimmia home care

1.1 Temperature conditions

The optimal temperature range is from 18 to 24 ° C. At a higher temperature of the content, it is necessary to increase watering and air humidity. At temperatures below 12 ° C, plants slow down their growth and fall into a dormant period, in which they remain throughout the winter.

1.2 Lighting

Well lit place without direct sunlight.The pot with the plant must be turned about ¼ turn every week so that the skimmia develops symmetrically.

1.3 Skimmia - home care

When starting to grow, prune shoots that are too tall or weak to stimulate lateral shoots. By trimming the plant, you can give it a nice round shape. Skimmia can be placed outdoors during the summer. Remember that all plants should be moved gradually - so that they get used to the new conditions of existence.

1.4 Substrate

Skimmia requires nutrient soil with a high organic content and good drainage. The soil can be composed of peat, leaf humus, perlite or vermiculite to improve drainage and have a slightly acidic pH.

1.5 Top dressing

Every 2 weeks in spring and summer. In the fall, feeding is stopped and resumed only with the beginning of new growth, in the spring.

Appointment.

1.7 Air humidity

If the air in the room becomes too dry or the temperature of the content is high, increase the humidity with a room humidifier or by placing the plant on a pallet with damp pebbles. Make sure that the water in the tray does not touch the bottom of the plant pot. You can spray the leaves with water at room temperature. Skimmies love well-ventilated rooms with a constant flow of fresh air, but no cold drafts.

1.8 Soil moisture

The soil should be evenly moist, but not waterlogged. Between watering, the top layer 3 - 5 cm thick is slightly dried. In the fall, the frequency of watering is slightly reduced. For irrigation, it is advisable to use softened water at room temperature.

1.9 Transplant

Young plants are replanted annually as they grow into larger pots. Mature plants need replanting every 2 to 3 years. For large tub plants, they simply change the topsoil to fresh every year.

When planting, it is important to maintain such a depth that the graft is at ground level. When deeply buried in the ground, skimmia will not bloom

1.10 Reproduction

Stem cuttings about 10 cm long, in spring and summer, using growth hormones. Rooting is carried out under cover of a transparent plastic cap or glass for 6 to 8 weeks. Seeds sown in spring.

1.11 Pests and diseases

Red spider mites. Mealybugs prefer young trees. Whiteflies hide on the underside of leaves, sucking out the sap. Aphids cause the leaves to curl and become corrugated. Foliage can be burned by prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Skimmia grows slowly and young leaves are smaller with a lack of nutrients in the soil. Fungal diseases occur when there is insufficient drainage and maintenance in swampy soil.

1.12 Note

With proper care, skimmia can grow successfully in indoor culture for many years.

Hydroponics.