Kluzja (Clusia rosea)is a little known houseplant, but it has many advantages. It isresistant to unfavorable conditions in ourapartments, such as dry air and high temperatures. Recently, the possibility of buying it in IKEA stores has contributed to the increase in the popularity of clusters. Learnthe secrets of growing and caring forclusters and the rules of proper watering and fertilization. Find out what areclumping diseasesand how to propagate this plant yourself!
Closed pink - Clusia rosea
Fig. © Agnieszka Lach
The pink clusia (Clusia rosea) grows naturally in the Caribbean, the Bahamas and tropical regions of North America, where it reaches the size of a small tree. It isa very slow growing plant with shiny, leathery and rounded leaves, , reaching 5-20 cm in length. Leaves growing in pairs are set on short petioles, opposite each other on both sides of the stem. The side shoots of the flower pots grow horizontally, which gives it a tree-like shape in the first years of life. Older plants have a spherical shape.Kluzja is a dioecious plantIn the wild it blooms with white or pink, magnificent flowers (7-8 cm in diameter). In pot growing, this practically does not happen. "
Clousing in nature is a semiepiphyte , meaning it begins its life as an epiphyte, overgrowing the branches of other trees (similar to orchids or bromeliads). Over time, its roots reach the ground, creating strong supports, and the hatch becomes independent.When it is well rooted in the ground, its roots begin to tightly wrap around the tree trunk, harden and over time, as it grows larger, suffocate the parent tree. Despite its nature,kluzja can be successfully grown in pots as an ornamental plantwithout endangering other plants. In nature, clousia can also grow on rocks on the shores of the ocean.There are 3 varieties of clots in cultivation:
- 'Princess' clue- the most common, it has larger leaves than the species and forms more lush plants,
- clue 'Variegata'- with bright discoloration on the leaves
- kluzja 'Nana'- a miniature variety, most often grown as a bonsai tree.
This is worth knowing!
"1. The English common name for clovers is autograph tree. This name comes from the fact thatthe wordetched with a stick on the flower remains on it forever, even after the leaf has fallen and dried.In some countries, clove leaves are used to write short notes, and children make playing cards out of clove leaves. "
2.Growing clusters in the bedroom improves the comfort of our sleepbecause this plant has the ability to absorb carbon dioxide at night.
Kluzja - cultivation and care
Closing cultivation station
The cluzja grows best in full sun.Then the leaves reach large sizes and the plant has a compact habit. A red margin appears on the leaves in sunny locations. This potted plant with green leaves can also grow in partial shade, but then the internodes get too long, the shoots are slack and the leaves are small.
What kind of land for a hole?
The hatch requires a light, sandy, well-drained substrate. It is best touse a substrate for succulents . Too heavy a substrate causes the leaves of the clouss to turn pale yellow and fall off, which is a result of choking the roots.
Air temperature and humidity
The air temperature should be kept high during the cultivation , always around 23-25 ° C. The temperature should not drop below 16 ° C, otherwise the husk will start to lose leaves en masse.
Closed pink - Clusia rosea
Fig. © Agnieszka Lach
The hatch tolerates large fluctuations in air humidity . Although the hatch in nature occurs in places with high air humidity, when grown in a pot,is not disturbed by dry air and does not require moistening .
Resistance to dry air and the required warm temperature all year round, make the flower pot flower easy to grow, also doing well in winter, when many other potted plants suffer from too high temperature and dry air in heated rooms.
How to water the hatch?
A very important procedure iswatering the clusters in the right way . From this point of view, the life of a clue can be divided into 2 stages:
- In the first year of lifewatering the young seedlings of clove regularlyto keep the substrate constantly slightly moist,
- When the plant grows and takes root, reduce watering.Older kluzia can be grown like succulents- do not water until the soil is completely dry.Watering the valves too abundantly causes yellowing of the leaves and leads to root diseases .
Important!You can use tap water, acidified with 2-3 drops of lemon juice, for watering the valves.
Fertilization of patches
Fertilize the kluza 3 times a year : in spring, summer and autumn. We can use any fertilizer for potted plants to fertilize the closes. We use half of the dose recommended by the manufacturer of the fertilizer.Too intensive fertilization causes the leaves of the ditch to turn yellow .
Trimming the shoots of the hatch
Once a year, preferably in spring (March-April),cut the shoots of the flower spikes to give the plant a nice, spherical shape and thicken itcut the shoots just above the nodes. Gloves are advised to wear gloves when cutting, as the juice of the closes contains latex which can irritate the skin.
Dip leaf care
Dust and other debris should be regularly removed from the leaves.Young leaves are often stuck with juice, which dries up on contact with air, creating a shiny, flaky coating. Just wipe it gently with a damp, soft cloth. Once every 2-3 months, it is worth breaking the clue by taking a shower. The leaves can be sprayed with a rinse aid once a month.
How to reproduce a clue?
The breeding of clusters is very simple , albeit long-lasting.
For the propagation of clusters, use shoot cuttings , which are simply broken off from the mother plant in spring and placed in a vessel with water.Root the cuttings in a warm and bright place.The process of root formation can take up to 2-4 monthsWhen the first roots appear, plant the seedling in a pot with substrate and water it regularly.
Older specimens of clusters can be propagated by air-dumps.To make an air-dump, in spring from a woody shoot with no leaves in the lower part, remove a strip of bark 2-3 cm wide. Then we cover this place with moist peat and wrap it tightly in foil. We tie the ends of the foil with an elastic band or wire. Finally, the whole thing is secured with aluminum foil. After 8-10 weeks, new roots will form under the foil. Then the shoot with the roots is cut off from the mother plant and planted in a new pot.
Cluzja - diseases
Although the clove is considered to be very durable, it can be attacked by diseases of potted plants with a fungal basis.
The most commonproblem when growing clots is browning of leaves and shoots , which it is caused by root rot.Rotting of clove roots is the result of cold, lack of light and a wet substrate. These factors favor the growth of Pythium and Phytophtora fungi, which quickly attack the vascular bundles of plants. The course of the disease is usually very fast. Within a few days, the plant begins to die rapidly and can no longer be saved. In order to prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary toprovide the clue with appropriate thermal and humidity conditionsIn order to protect the clue against the above-mentioned fungi, it is worth watering it from time to time with the biological preparation Polyversum WP.
Anothercommon clusion disease isanthracnose, caused by fungi of the genus Colletotrichum. Infected by disease , the leaves of the tubercle gradually turn yellow, and a necrosis(dying tissue) develops at the site of infection, which spreads over the entire leaf blade. There is a distinct, thick red-brown areola around the necrotic spots. The development of the disease is favored by soaking the leaves as a result of splashing water on the substrate.Sick leaves should be removed immediately and the whole plant should be sprayed twice, 10-14 days apart, with a fungicidal preparation, e.g. Biosept Active.
The hatch can also be attacked by potted plant pests. Although the kluzja tolerates dry and warm air in our homes well, such conditions are favorable for the appearance of mealybugs and scales. In the event of the appearance of these pests, we can remove them with a brush or a stick, and the places after feeding them with a solution of gray soap. If there are too many pests or they recur, it is worth placing insecticidal sticks in the ground, such as the Ultra Shield, and spraying it with the natural insecticide Agrocover Spray.
Agnieszka Lach, MSc
