Sternberg's herb(Chlorophytum comosum), also called crested herb, is one of the most commonly grown potted plants. It is an ideal plant for amateurs due to its low requirements and easy cultivation. There are variousvarieties of herbaceous herbwith picturesquely colored leaves in cultivation. See whathome cultivation of herbaceouslooks like and learn about the amazinghe alth properties of herb , why it is worth having this plant at home!
Sternberg's Chlorophytum comosum
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Sternberg's Herb - he alth properties
Sternberg's herb is a great houseplant that cleans the air in the apartment. It acts as a filter, removing harmful substances and pathogenic bacteria from the air. At the same time, it increases the amount of oxygen and moisturizes the air. It is worth using theseproperties of Sternberg's herbif we want to live a he althy life.
Chlorophytum has the ability to catch dust and toxic substances from the air , such as: formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, carbon monoxide, acetone, ammonia and heavy metals.Chlorophytum reduces harmful electromagnetic radiation, so it is worth placing it near a computer or TVOne medium-sized plant can clean the air up to 200 m²!
The he alth properties of the herbare also related to the fact that this plant is very active in producing phytoncides, i.e. substances with antibacterial, protozoal and fungicidal properties.They limit the viability of 80% of pathogenic microorganisms. That is why the herb is a must-have plant in the homes of allergy sufferers and people with lung diseases. Herbaceous plants are also good potted flowers for a child's room.
Sternberg's Chlorophytum is a good plant for a child's room
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Sternberg's Herb - varieties
The basic species of herbaceous plants has uniformly green leaves. The commercial offer includes interestingvarieties of herbaceous herb with two-color leaves . The most common varieties are:
Variegatum- this is the basic, most commonly cultivated herb variety. The leaves are dark green with white margins, the inflorescence shoots are green.
Ocean- light green leaves with white edges. Herbaceous variety very sensitive to overflow and insufficient light.
Vittatum- leaves are greenish-gray, with a wide white stripe in the center of the leaf blade, white inflorescence shoots
Zebra- dark green leaves with yellow stripes on the edges,
Bonnie- this is a compact variety of herbaceous plants whose leaves curl and bend fancifully, the leaves are dark green with a narrow white stripe in the middle, the inflorescence stems are yellow
The most popular varieties of herbaceous plant are striped leaves. Photo depositphotos.com
Sternberga's herb - cultivation and care
1. Herb growing station and temperature
Chlorophytum very easily adapts to the light conditions in the place where it is grownChlorophytum grows very well in partial shade, but in a well-lit place the stripes on the leaves of two-colored varieties are better visible. In the deep shade, the leaves of the herbaceous plant turn green, practically devoid of a bright pattern. In too strong lighting, the leaves of the herbaceous plant become faded. Herbaceous plants should not be grown in a place where it would be exposed to direct sunlight , because its leaves are easily burned.
Chlorophytum tolerates a wide range of temperatures - from 6 to 30 ° C. However,the optimal temperature for growing herbaceous plants is in the range of 15-20 ° C . In winter, the herb leaf cannot stand next to the radiator, because hot, dry air causes the leaves to dry very quickly.
Good to knowIn summer the herbaceous plant can be grown on the balcony or in the garden as a bedding plant. However, she must return to the room in autumn.
2. Watering the herb and air humidity
The herbaceous plant should be watered quite often(even every 2-3 days in summer) but moderately. The herbaceous plant is not harmed by a slight drying of the substrate, because this plant has fleshy roots that store water.
Short-term drying of the herbaceous plant stimulates it to create more runners and flower faster. In winter, we reduce the frequency of watering the herbto once a week. Too much watering can lead to rotting of the roots and the inside of the rosette.Water for watering the herb should be free of chlorine and fluorideOtherwise the leaves will start to turn yellow and dry.
Chlorophytum reacts very badly to low air humidity. With dry air, the tips of the leaves dry quickly. Thereforein herb cultivation it is necessary to fog it every dayDuring the heating season, however, fogging may not be enough, so try to increase the level of humidity in the entire room (e.g. by hanging wet towels on radiators or using air humidifiers) ).
3. Substrate and fertilization
Universal potting soil is suitable for growing herbaceous plants. The soil can be slightly loosened with sand, gravel or vermiculite in a ratio of 1 handful to 3 handfuls of soil. Perlite, which contains fluoride intolerant to herbaceous plants, should not be used for loosening the soil.Chlorophytum works very well in hydroponic cultivation.
Fertilize the herb every 10-14 days , from March to October, during watering. You cannot overdo fertilization, because despite the high demand for nutrients, the herbaceous plant does not tolerate the salinity of the substrate. It is best to use natural vermicompost. The herbaceous plant can also be fertilized with a universal fertilizer for potted plants, but then we fertilize the herbaceous plant once a month, using half of the dose recommended by the fertilizer manufacturer.
4. Transplanting herbaceous plants
Chlorophytum grows very quickly, so it requires frequent replanting. Young herbaceous plants require replanting 2 times a year (in spring and autumn). Adult plants are transplanted once a year in spring.The herbaceous plant should be repotted when the roots start sticking out of the pot holes
Chlorophyllum is easily multiplied from legs
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Sternberg's herb - reproduction
Chlorophytum is very easy to reproduce with the help of seedlings at the ends of long inflorescence shoots.The seedling is torn off the stem and planted directly into a pot with soil. If the plantain does not have fully developed roots yet, place it in a dish of water in a bright place for it to root. When the roots develop, plant the seedling in the ground.
Older,strongly overgrown herbaceous plants can be multiplied by dividingThe plant is taken out of the pot, and then gently removed from between the roots of the remains of the old soil. We carefully tear the root ball apart with our hands. For each seedling created in this way, shorten the leaves and plant the plants in pots.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
