Dyschidia is a spreading vine that lives in the rainforests of Polynesia, Australia and India. It is an epiphyte and feeds on the juice of the plant to which it is attached. At home, dyshidia grows well in a mixture of moss and pine bark, delighting with long green threads and unusual, bubbly leaves.
Botanical characteristics
Dyschidia belongs to a large family in the Lastovnie family. Liana has many filiform roots, which are located at the base of the bush, and also side shoots are covered. The root system serves to consolidate, as well as to obtain nutrients from the air. Shoots have great flexibility and are colored green. Under natural conditions, they can reach a length of 5 m.
Dyschidia grows two types of leaves. The first are flat, have a rounded or elongated shape. They are mounted on short petioles and densely cover the stems along the entire length. The second ones are a kind of storage, they resemble a coconut or a jug in shape and reach a length of 5 cm. The leaves are a thick, oblong bubble with a cavity inside. Insects often make passages into the interior and collect various plant debris. Under the influence of moisture, accumulations begin to decay and form nutritious soil. Over time, air roots grow inside the bladder and the plant gains access to humus in its own bins.
Several times a year, the dyshidia blooms. It is covered with small axillary flowers in the form of bells. Petals come in red, pink, and white. The buds are grouped into small whorls of 2-4 pieces.
After the flowers fade, small pods with seeds form. Each seed has a tiny umbrella that looks like a dandelion.
Types of Dyshidia
In vivo, more than 120 varieties of dyschidia are found, but only a few of them are used in culture. All of them are suitable for indoor cultivation, although they require a lot of attention.
Ovate Dyschidia. The plant has long greenish-pink stems, covered with oval leaves. Young leaves first have a pink color, but gradually become light green. Whitish streaks are visible on the leaves, which increase the decorativeness of the plant. This species normally perceives drafts and slight cooling.
Russo-dyschidia (Russifolia). Very graceful form with long stems densely covered with heart-shaped small leaves. For such an appearance, flower growers often call it "dyshidia a million hearts." During flowering, small snow-white flowers appear in the axils of the leaves. Flowering is accompanied by an intense honey aroma.
Scalloped dyschidia. Creeping stems are densely covered with aerial roots and oval leaves. The shoots are painted in light green. Twice a year, the liana blooms with pink or cherry small flowers.
Vidalia dischidia. The variety has a bright green color and many rounded leaves. Light pink flowers appear 2-3 times a year.
Hirsut's dyschidia. A fairly rare variety with rounded, densely pubescent foliage. On each leaf, relief veins are visible. During flowering, a large number of small purple flowers are formed on short peduncles.
Raffleza Dyschidia. The plant grows long (up to 5 m) shoots, covered with oblong, dense leaves. It blooms in small yellowish flowers, which are collected in small umbrellas.
Dischidia apple leaf. It features more resilient stems and large foliage. Each leaflet resembles an apple in shape and is colored green with white spots.
Breeding methods
Dyschidia is propagated by sowing seeds or cuttings. Since it forms many aerial roots, the rooting process is very easy. It is enough to cut off the apical shoot about 10 cm long and root it. You can first put the stalk in boiled water for several days. The fluid is changed daily. It is allowed to immediately plant a shoot in the soil. For planting, use a moist sand and peat substrate.
The plant needs a warm room, not lower than + 20 ° C, as well as high humidity. During the first month, you can cover the shoot with a bottle or film, but be sure to ventilate daily. If a ripe leaf-bubble is next to the handle, it may have a root ready for planting. It is necessary to cut the leaf and transplant the shoot into a separate container.
When propagating dyschidia seeds, a wet mixture of peat and sand is used, into which seeds are deepened. The container is covered with film or glass and left in a bright and warm room. Shoots will begin to appear in a week, but plants are transplanted from the greenhouse only after 3 months. Young seedlings are gently watered and daily increase the duration of ventilation. Grown sprouts are neatly transplanted without diving together with an earthen lump. Any damage to the root system can lead to the death of the plant.
Care Rules
Dyschidia is considered a fairly demanding flower and not every grower manages to grow a large plant. In fact, she does not need so much attention, it is enough to choose the right habitat. Dyschidia prefers sunny and warm places with high humidity. It is better not to place it on the balcony, if at night the air becomes much colder. Liana feels great in rooms with eastern or western windows.
The optimum air temperature is + 25 ... + 30 ° C. When flowering is completed, it is necessary to ensure dyschidia dormancy period and transfer to a cooler room (+ 18 ... + 22 ° C).
For planting, use a light substrate for epiphytes. The necessary mixture can be composed independently of the following components:
- sphagnum moss;
- charcoal;
- chopped pine bark;
- sand;
- sheet earth;
- perlite;
- peat or rhizomes of fern.
Excess moisture is fatal to the root system of dyschidia. Between watering it is important to completely dry the substrate. Even in hot summers, it is enough to water the plant 2 times a month. In winter, the soil is watered monthly in small portions of liquid. You can combine the watering procedure with bathing. The pot is transferred to the bathroom and watered with a weak pressure of warm water. It is important to completely drain the excess fluid.
Of great importance is high humidity. If the room has dry air, next to the plant place cups with water or wet expanded clay. Some gardeners with a window in the bathroom place the plant in this room.
During the period of active growth, dyschidia is monthly fertilized with a composition for succulents. It is enough to make only half of the portion indicated on the label.
Juicy greens attract aphids, mealybugs and spider mites. Parasites can quickly kill even an adult plant, so you should immediately carry out treatment with insecticides (vermitek, sanmayt, acarin, arrivo, fitoverm).
