Pilea (Pilea) - a herbaceous plant or shrub from the Nettle family. It unites about 400 species, can be both annual and perennial. Homeland - Southeast Asia and Vietnam.
Unpretentiousness, endurance, a variety of species and varieties, the luxury of small decorative foliage, ease of reproduction - all this characterizes the saw, the cultivation of which is even possible for beginner growers.
The height of pylaea reaches 35-45 cm. The intensity of its growth is very high: in one season the plant grown from the cuttings reaches the size of an adult. The stems of the flower are highly branched and can stalk. On shortened petioles, leaflets with pronounced veins alternately grow.
Depending on the type, they can be leathery and rough or miniature and smooth, velvety or glossy, have jagged or even edges. The color of the leaf plate varies from green and light green to brown and raspberry, with multi-colored veins, stripes and spots.
Pilea blooms with small nondescript flowers, collected in racemose inflorescences.
| Very fast growing. | |
| Blooms very rarely in the summer. | |
| The plant is easy to grow. | |
| Up to 4 years, then you should rejuvenate. |
Useful properties of pylaea
Pilea increases the humidity of the air, enriches it with biogenic stimulating substances. It has sound absorbing and phytoncide properties. For example, a monolithic pylaea reduces the number of staphylococcus in the air by 60-70%, Kadiei pylaea by 50-70%.
Caring for a saw at home. Briefly
| Temperature | In the summer of 19-23 degrees, in the winter of 15-17, but not lower than 10 degrees. |
| Air humidity | High. |
| Lighting | Pilea at home needs a bright, diffused light; east or west window. |
| Watering | Moderate; 2-3 times a week in the summer, once a week in the winter. |
| Priming | Mid-fertile with a neutral or slightly acid reaction, permeable. |
| Fertilizer and fertilizer | During the growing season 1 time in 2 weeks with liquid complex fertilizer. |
| Transfer | Once a year, in spring in wide pots. |
| Breeding | Stem cuttings. |
| Growing Features | It tolerates drafts poorly, needs pruning and pinching. |
Caring for a saw at home. In detail
Pilea care at home requires not too thorough. She does not notice accidental mistakes, but she will not forgive serious shortcomings. Therefore, in order to enjoy the lush decorative foliage as much as possible, it is important to create suitable conditions for it.
Bloom
In an apartment, pylaea blooms extremely rarely. Typically, buds appear in the summer.
Nondescript monophonic flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences in the axils of the leaves. They have no decorative value.
Temperature mode
The temperature maximum for pylea is 25 degrees, the minimum is 10 degrees. The optimal thermometer in summer is 19-23 degrees, in winter 15-17 degrees. If it is impossible to organize a cool wintering, it is important to take care of good lighting at this time.
Pilea is afraid of drafts and sudden changes in temperature - this is fraught with the death of the flower. The pot with the plant should stand away from the window leaves and the door to the balcony.
Spraying Pilae
Pilea at home prefers high humidity. However, it is not recommended to spray it, especially species with velvet foliage. Stains may remain on the leaves, they lose their decorative effect, wither or dry out.
To increase humidity, you can take the following measures:
- Use a humidifier;
- Put the pot in a tray with wet pebbles, moss or expanded clay. In this case, the bottom of the pot should not touch the water;
- Put a container of water near the plant: evaporating, it will increase humidity.
Lighting
For full development, the saw needs bright diffused light. The optimal place is the eastern or western windowsill. On the south side, the plant will need shading with a translucent curtain. Or the pot can be put on the bedside table near the south window. Otherwise, direct sunlight can cause burns on the leaves.
In winter, due to a lack of light, variegated varieties can lose the brightness of the leaves, and their stems can stretch out. With a short daylight, the plant can be rearranged on the southern windowsill. It will not be superfluous to illuminate the flower with phyto- or fluorescent lamps for 8-12 hours.
Watering
Pilea needs regular moderate watering in spring and summer (2 times a week) and rare (1 time in 7-10 days) in winter. Between moisturizations, the topsoil should dry out a bit.
If we talk about extremes, then pilea tolerates drought better than waterlogging. The latter is fraught with wilting and fading of leaves, and rotting of the roots. The plant responds better to frequent but scarce watering than to rare and abundant ones.
Water for irrigation should be defended for several days, it should be at room temperature.
Pilea pot
Since pylaea has a superficial root system, the pot should be shallow (not higher than 10 cm) and wide. Unusual flower pots or decorative pallets are suitable.
The pot should fit the size of the plant. If you select an oversized flowerpot, the likelihood of acidification of the soil and decay of the root system increases.
Pilea soil
Pilea grows well in fertile loose soil with medium or weak acidity (5.5-6 pH). Suitable store substrate for decorative foliage plants. If it is possible to prepare the mixture yourself, you can choose one of the options:
- sheet land, humus, peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 1: 1;
- greenhouse land, peat and perlite in equal parts;
- turf land, sheet land, peat, sand, expanded clay (1: 1: 1: 1: 1/2).
Before planting, it is recommended to disinfect the prepared mixture by spilling it with a weak pink solution of potassium permanganate.
Also, home sawmill grows well in hydroponics.
Fertilizer and fertilizer
Due to a lack of nutrients, pylaea slows growth, and its leaves become smaller and lose their decorative effect.
Feeding is recommended throughout the year: in spring and summer - 1 time in 10-15 days, in winter - 1 time per month. Complex liquid fertilizers for decorative deciduous plants are suitable. Concentration - according to the instructions.
Fertilizing should be applied after watering in moist soil, so as not to burn the root system.
Pilea transplant
The optimal time for transplantation is from the beginning of spring to mid-summer. Plants are transplanted once a year. If necessary, the bushes are separated. To preserve the decorative appearance and compactness, they cut off the sawlet before transplanting, and pinch the tips of the shoots.
When transplanting to the bottom of the pot, it is important to lay a 3-cm layer of drainage. For this purpose, crushed brick, expanded clay or pebbles are suitable.
Pilea quickly degenerates: it stretches out, loses its compactness, its stems are exposed. Therefore, it is recommended to update it by the Cherenkov method. Some carry out the procedure annually, others - every 2-3 years. The landmark is the appearance of the plant: if it has lost its attractiveness, rejuvenation is necessary.
Pruning
Since the pylaea flower at home grows rapidly and branches strongly, it needs annual pruning. The procedure is best done at the beginning or end of the vegetative period (early spring or autumn).
To make the plant lush and compact in size, the tops of the shoots are nipped regularly. The cuttings remaining after trimming can be used to propagate the flower.
Rest period
Pilea does not have a pronounced resting period. Like most indoor flowers in the winter (November to February) it suspends growth and development. Special care during this period does not require.
Propagation of pylaea
At home breeding saw propagated by cuttings.
The procedure can be carried out throughout the year, but the best time is spring: the sawfly roots faster and overgrows with young shoots.
Cuttings suitable for propagation are 7-10 cm long with 2-3 pairs of leaves. They should be planted in sand or a substrate for adult plants and covered with polyethylene or glass. "Greenhouse" is placed in a warm place, protected from direct sunlight, regularly ventilated and watered. When the cuttings are rooted and new leaves appear, polyethylene or glass is removed.
Freshly cut cuttings can be put in water, and when they have roots - already planted in individual pots. You can plant 2-3 cuttings in one container - such a bush will be more magnificent.
Diseases and Pests
Pilea is a fairly hardy plant. However, if you do not follow the basic rules for caring for her, difficulties may arise. Here are the main problems and the causes of their occurrence:
- The lower leaves of pylaea fall off - incorrect irrigation mode (excess or lack of moisture).
- Pilea leaves turn black - the temperature of the content is too low.
- Pilea leaves wilted - insufficient watering.
- Pilea shoots stretch out - lack of sunlight.
- There were drying spots on the leaves - This is a burn due to direct sunlight on the plant.
- The lower parts of the branches are exposed - the bush degenerates and needs rejuvenation.
Of the pylaea pests, aphids, scabies, spider mites, and thrips can be affected.
Types of homemade pilea with photos and names
Peperomioid Pilea (Pilea peperomioides)
It forms a compact bush up to 45 cm high. Rounded leaves on long stalks are oppositely placed on the stiff stalk. The leaf plate, with a diameter of up to 7 cm, is smooth, has a green color, slightly bent inward.
Pilea cadier, silver pilea (Pilea cadierei)
A bushy plant, up to 40 cm high. Young stems are erect, mature - they stretch to the soil, branch strongly. The leaves have an elongated-oval shape, up to 5 cm wide, up to 20 cm long. Two silver lines are arranged on a green leaf plate with three veins along. Small flowers are collected in axillary inflorescences.
Small-leaved Pilea (Pilea microphylla)
Perennial herbaceous plant, up to 15 cm high. Arcuate light green shoots strongly branch. A lot of miniature light green leaves up to 0.5 cm long are oppositely placed on them. The sheet plate is glossy, has an oval or rounded shape. In the axils of the leaves, tiny flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences, both single and bisexual.
Pilea filiform (Pilea numiralifolia)
Ampel plant with thin reddish shoots. On them alternately placed small rounded leaflets, up to 1 cm long. The lower side of the leaf plate is painted in purple.
Pilea wrapped (Pilea involucrata)
A herbaceous plant with erect or creeping stems up to 30 cm high. Opposite leaves have an oval shape and pronounced serrated edges. Their length reaches 7 cm. The leaf plate is tuberous, light green in color, in the zone of 3 longitudinal veins - brown. This species is used to create hybrids.
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