Velvichia
Welwitschia amazing (lat. Welwítschia mirábilis) is a relict gymnosperm plant, the only modern species of the order Welwitschia of the Gnetaceae class. Velvichia grows in the southwest of Angola and in Namibia - within the rocky Namib Desert, stretching along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
Basically, its distribution area is limited to a narrow coastal strip along the western coast of Africa - from the vicinity of the city of Mosamedis in southern Angola to the southern tropics of Namibia. The plant is rarely found further than a hundred kilometers from the coast. This roughly corresponds to the limit reached by fogs, which are the main source of moisture for Velvichia, since precipitation here is extremely irregular and very little falls.
Only isolated specimens of Welwitschia are found in the interior regions of the Namib Desert, settling in the upper reaches of dry beds of temporary watercourses, where there is more precipitation. Here, after heavy rains, water collects in wide shallow depressions and the ground is moistened to a depth of 1.5-2 m. The leaves of the plant grow extremely slowly, growing up to 8 meters over centuries.
Peculiarities
Houseplants never fail to attract people of all ages. Green pets can decorate almost any environment, regardless of style and color combinations. That is why they are so often installed at home, in offices, and in various institutions.
House flowers, decorated with spectacular leaf blades of impressive length, are found in many homes. They rarely go unnoticed, since clearly visible leaves are the details that are often the first to catch the eye. These living decorations look expressive, and with their help you can fill a variety of interior compositions with life and color.
Many of the flowers with long leaves can reach impressive heights. Often these green pets reach enormous sizes, and more free space has to be allocated for them.
Types of flowers on a long stem
There are many domestic plants with a long stem, they are divided into:
- ornamental flowering;
- decorative flowering pot plants;
- decorative deciduous;
- succulents (plants without branches or leaves).
Amaryllis/Amaryllis
The basal leaves of this plant are arranged in two rows and reach a length of 50 cm and a width of 2.5 cm. The leaf blades are dark green.
An umbrella-shaped inflorescence blooms on a long arrow, which can contain from 4 to 12 flowers. Their color can vary: from white to crimson, depending on the variety. Amaryllis blooms from April to May, approximately 6-7 days.
Alocasia/Alocasia
An indoor plant with wide leaves with pronounced veins. The leaves are dense and can have different shapes depending on the species. It blooms very rarely, with white and pink flowers.
Vallota
Wallota has large orange-red flowers and a long stem. One pot can contain from 2 to 5 stems.
Dieffenbachia/Dieffenbachia
A herbaceous plant with large dense leaves. Dieffenbachia has a thick, straight stem with green leaves branched in different directions with light patterns.
Licuala
The leaves of this plant resemble a fan. Likuala requires abundant watering, otherwise pests may appear on it.
Leea guineensis/Leea guineensis
A flower with numerous small leaves, often a meter-long trunk of a burgundy-colored leia.
Ctenanta/Ctenanthe
This is a plant with very interesting leaves; the upper and lower parts of the leaves can have contrasting colors.
Clivia
Clivia blooms with bright flowers. She lives a long time, with good care she can live up to 40 years.
Ficus/Ficus
The most popular plant among gardeners. It has large dark green leaves. It grows more than 2 meters in length.
Dracaena
The name is "dracaena" female dragon. In indoor conditions it can grow up to 3 meters long.
Coconut palm
Coconut palm (lat. Cōcos nucifēra) is a plant of the Palm family (Arecaceae); the only species of the genus Cocos. The scientific name of the genus comes from the Portuguese word coco ("monkey") and is given because of the spots on the nut that make it look like a monkey's face.
The species name nucífera comes from the Latin words nux (“nut”) and ferre (“to carry”). The origin of the coconut palm is unknown; it is believed to be native to Southeast Asia (Malaysia). Now it is widespread in the tropics of both hemispheres, both in cultivated and wild forms.
In the Philippines, the Malay Archipelago, the Malay Peninsula, India and Sri Lanka, it has been bred since prehistoric times. Coconut is a plant of sea coasts that prefers sandy soils, so the first place in production volumes by a large margin is occupied by a multi-island state with a vast coastal area - Indonesia (see below).
The expansion of its range occurred with the help of humans and naturally: coconuts are waterproof and float freely on the water, they are carried far by ocean currents, while maintaining vitality. Tall (up to 27-30 m) slender palm tree.
The trunk is 15-45 cm in diameter, smooth, ringed with fallen leaves, slightly inclined and widened at the base. There are no lateral branches, but supporting roots often develop below. The leaves are pinnately dissected, dense, 3-6 m long. There are from 20 to 35 leaves in the crown.
Features of care
Guzmania is an epiphytic annual plant. This means that it dies after flowering and takes moisture mainly from the air due to a poorly developed root system. All this is important to consider when caring for a flower.
Although guzmania is relatively unpretentious, in order to prolong its flowering, you need to follow some care rules. It blooms in spring and summer for several months, depending on the variety and type.
Care Tips:
- Tropical guzmania does not particularly like light and does not need it much, because it originally grew in the shade of trees. But for the greatest richness of flowers, place the guzmania under diffused sunlight. Direct rays can burn leaves. You can keep guzmania in the shade, but under no circumstances on the windowsill. In summer, the sun will damage its leaves, and in winter, a scorching radiator will kill the plant with drought.
- There is no need to think that if it is a tropical plant, then it loves the heat. The temperature in summer should be a little more than 20 degrees, and in winter a little less. Then Guzmania will feel great. But too low a temperature is undesirable. Cold is not always destructive, but it can cause delayed flowering and various diseases.
- Guzmania loves high humidity. It needs to be sprayed as often as the temperature is high. In summer you can do this twice a day. You can also humidify the air in winter when the heating is on using special humidifiers. They will delight both flowers and people with their coolness. Leaving water in the pan is also not prohibited, but it should not stagnate, otherwise the root will begin to rot. If you have just sprayed a flower, do not place it in the sun, otherwise the burns on the leaves will be even worse.
- It is not recommended to water guzmania in the standard way, through the soil, since this flower is not used to taking moisture from the ground. Occasionally and very carefully you can moisten the soil, but it is better to prefer spraying that is usual for plants.
- Do not plant Guzmania in a large pot. It doesn’t need an abundance of soil for the same reason as a poorly developed root. But the drainage must be good so that excess moisture does not stagnate.
- During flowering, guzmania needs to be fed with mineral and organic fertilizers. To save time and effort, buy a ready-made solution for feeding bromeliad plants. It is advisable to fertilize once every 2-3 weeks. If you forget the last time you fertilized your soil, create a schedule that prevents you from being late or over-fertilizing.
Indoor plants with a thick trunk
The following varieties with a thick trunk are grown at home:
Bokarneya, or bottle tree. This flower is native to Mexico. It is very popular among gardeners because of its wide trunk and long thin leaves, which give it a very original appearance. The cortical trunk can grow up to 1.5 m, and in natural conditions - up to 10 m. The leaves are gray-green in color and reach 60 cm;
Crassula
- pachypodium, or thick leg. It has a wide trunk that resembles a cactus because the flower is covered with spines. At its top there are thin leaves that resemble a palm tree. Under natural conditions, the spines protect the pachypodium from wild animals; they drain the poison. To avoid troubles in the apartment, it is better to avoid this plant and not touch its spines. If you take good care of the pachypodium, then in the fifth year of life the plant will have large white flowers;
- money tree, or crassula. The plant got its first name due to the fact that its leaves look like silver dinars, and the second one arose due to its wide trunk. The flower can reach a height of 1.5 m. Pale inflorescences appear at the top of the tree. This happens extremely rarely; it is believed that a flowering tree brings good luck and helps fulfill desires.
Finding out the name of a house plant with large green leaves turns out to be not so difficult, the main thing is to approach this issue correctly. After that, all that remains is to study the information about his needs and preferences, and then it’s a matter of small things.
Names and brief descriptions of indoor flowers with long narrow leaves
What is the name of an indoor flower with red leaves?
There are many houseplants with long narrow leaves. Many of them are found in apartments and houses; they are quite popular and well-known. Similar crops include:
- Dracaena. The most popular indoor palm tree. This plant is suitable for any home, not too demanding on maintenance. Does not like stagnant water, direct sunlight, or drafts. Regular pruning is required for rejuvenation and better development of the plant.
- Yucca. It also belongs to the palm species, similar to dracaena, but has wider leaves without veins. The indoor flower is particularly resilient, so it can easily withstand various adversities. It is worth remembering that yucca can grow up to 2 meters even at home.
- Chlorophytum. Many people remember this plant from their school days. Due to its unpretentiousness, it can grow in almost any conditions. The pot must have drainage; you should not overwater the flower, but it also does not like drought. Dried leaves must be removed to preserve their decorative appearance. Chlorophytum can be propagated by shoots that appear on the plant after some time.
- "Mother-in-law's tongue." The plant does not require special care; it is necessary to provide a sunny place, although the flower will develop normally in the shade. It is better to avoid excessive watering to prevent rotting of the root system.
- Nolina or bocarnea. The flower is well suited for growing at home due to its low demands. To maintain normal development, overwatering is avoided, dry thin leaves are periodically removed, and dried ends are cut off. In winter, leave at a temperature of at least 10 degrees in a room with dry and cool air. Nolina does not like moving and drafts.
Dracaena is a very popular palm tree
These are the most popular plants with narrow leaves, which are most often found in apartments and houses.
Exotic care
Pandanus care at home involves simple
This does not mean that you don’t need to pay attention to the plant at all. The florist should know that the palm tree with prickly leaves prefers freedom
For it it is necessary to allocate a corner with an area of at least 1.5 square meters. If the apartment is small, then as they grow, the long leaves will get in the way of the owners. In addition, other care points should be taken into account. Among which:
- soil composition, annual fertilizing;
- irrigation scheme, air humidity in the house;
- optimal temperature and lighting.
Soil composition, annual fertilizing
Typically, purchased soil marked “for palm trees” is used. It is allowed to prepare the substrate yourself. To do this, mix turf soil, leaf soil, sand, and humus. Each ingredient comes in equal quantities to the rest.
Annual feeding takes place over four to five months. In April, when the bush leaves the dormant period, it is fed with a mineral mixture. After 15 days, organic matter is added. It is allowed to use preparations that indicate “for palm trees, ficus”. Suitable organic materials include compost, humus, tea leaves, etc.
Fertilizers are applied twice in April, May, June, July, and August. The procedure is stopped in September.
Important! A pot for a screw palm should be made of natural materials. Its height is equal to its width
The container must be heavy and stable, due to the special power and weight of the exotic plant.
Watering, humidity in the apartment
The bush will grow well if it is watered in a timely manner. Due to its fleshy foliage, the indoor pandanus flower loves moisture.
Watering is carried out every 5-7 days. Settled water is used. The plant should not be watered with cold water.
During the dormant period, watering is carried out once or twice a month. The main thing is to prevent the soil mixture from completely drying out.
Exot should not be sprayed with water from a spray bottle.
The optimal humidity in the house is 60-80%. To do this, it is recommended to spray the air near the pandanus. This is done in the summer. You can place a container of water next to the tub. As it evaporates, it will humidify the air next to the tropical pandanus palm tree. Do not spray the plant itself with water from a spray bottle. In this case, moisture accumulates on the foliage. This can cause mold or a disease such as rot.
Optimal temperature and lighting
Pandanus also requires care regarding temperature conditions.
For good growth and health, the temperature should be +19...+27 degrees. Despite not being capricious, the plant will not survive if the temperature at home drops to +10 degrees.
Lighting for exotics should be moderate. It does well in a room with little shade. Pandans are not kept in complete darkness. Due to lack of light, its leaves lose their elasticity and rich color.
Note! Pandanus indoor plant definitely needs cleaning procedures. Dust accumulates on sheet plates
Every week you should remove dirt using a slightly damp cloth or sponge. Showering the plant is contraindicated due to the possibility of rotting.
Indoor flowers that bloom all year round
Nothing will decorate the interior more than plants blooming all year round. They clean the air well, benefiting their owner.
Hibiscus
A very demanding plant. With a lack of sunlight, it can drop all its flowers. It needs to be fed once every 3 weeks. Hibiscus needs to be replanted once a year. This plant blooms well with abundant watering, and it also requires spraying its leaves almost daily.
Anthurium
Plant with heart-shaped flowers. A very delicate flower, it is better to spray its leaves with purified water and feed it with good fertilizers. For year-round flowering, it is better to keep the anthurium on a southern windowsill.
Geranium
A plant that was popular back in the USSR. Unpretentious, loves abundant watering. To make the flower look lush, you can plant several seedlings in one pot.
Koleriya
Koleria prefers moist air, moderate watering and partial shade. It needs to be watered through a tray, and once a month the flower needs to be fed with liquid fertilizers.
Ruellia
The plant blooms all year round, but drafts or dry air can cause the flowers to drop. It is better to protect ruellia from direct sunlight. Requires high air humidity. It is also worth understanding that all flowering plants need a break from time to time, and for the new flowering of Ruellia you will need to gain strength. If you are a beginner gardener, you can have only one plant. Caring for it should be made a habit. Even the most unpretentious flower can feel bad in unreliable hands. The growth and well-being of flowers is influenced not only by watering and light, but also by the attitude towards them. Plants are alive, they can feel both pain and love from their owner. Growing flowers can become a hobby that brings peace and satisfaction. We wish you good luck!
Transfer
The orchid is characterized by intensive growth of the root system, so the orchid needs to be replanted regularly. The container for transplantation should be chosen not deeper, but wider.
The transplant procedure takes place in several stages:
- Remove the orchid from the old pot and remove the old soil from the roots, cut off the rotten sections of the root system without damaging the healthy ones;
- The resulting sections need to be treated with charcoal or cinnamon;
- Place the flower in new soil.
After the transplantation procedure is completed, the plant should not be watered for the next 2-3 days.
Photo of the Cymbidium transplant process.
Reproduction methods
Propagation of an unpretentious plant is best done in the spring, when nature comes to life. Among the types of propagation that involve rooting are:
- cuttings;
- removal of sockets.
Cuttings
Cuttings must be at least 18-23 cm in length. They have aerial roots. This side shoot is cut off and immediately placed in the prepared soil.
Recommendations for propagation by cuttings:
The shoot is separated from the mother specimen with a knife wiped with alcohol. A large pot is being prepared. Drainage is laid out in the pot, and soil mixture for palm trees or peat soil mixed with sand is placed on it. The cutting is placed in the ground. The roots should not be completely in the soil. A pot with young pandanus is covered with a bag
It is important that there is a greenhouse temperature - about 30 degrees. Every day the sprout is opened and ventilated. Water once every 2 days. Rooting will occur in 50-80 days.
Removing sockets
Rosettes are formed on the mother plant in abundance. The collection takes place when the length of the daughter is at least 18 cm.
Rosettes in pots
Rosettes do not root right away
It is important to wait 12-18 hours so that the roots dry out a little. Afterwards they are placed in a pot of soil, as in the case of cuttings
Covering with film is also mandatory.
Seeds
Pandanus can also be propagated by seeds. This method is suitable for the Useful type. Seeds are sown in a substrate of river sand and high-moor peat. The planting is watered and covered with film. Ventilate and water once every 24 hours. The sprouts sprout within a month. After another 40-80 days, they can be transplanted into a separate container.
Evergreen spreading pandan will decorate a spacious apartment. Even a beginner can cope with its cultivation. Pandanus care is simple. The main thing is not to expose it to bright sun, not to overwater it or overdry it, and to feed it on time.
The most unpretentious indoor flowers
Some plants can be very difficult to care for: you need to monitor the ratio of light and shadow and regulate the intensity of watering. For lazy gardeners, we have compiled the top 10 plants that do not require careful care.
- Cactus. Cacti need to be watered once every 2 weeks in winter, and once every 2 days in summer. These plants are almost never replanted.
- Aloe is a plant for real lazy people. It can survive almost everything: shadow and light, cold and heat, high humidity and drought. Housewives value this flower for its medicinal properties and unpretentiousness.
- Kalanchoe can easily survive drought because it stores water in its fleshy leaves. It blooms often and serves as an excellent home decoration.
- Spurge. Sometimes milkweed is confused with a cactus. It can survive for many years without being replanted, but if you decide to replant it, you should be careful because milkweed leaves contain a toxic substance. If it gets on the mucous membrane, it can cause burns and even poisoning.
- Decembrist. This plant blooms in winter, usually with bright red flowers. The big plus of this plant is that it does not need bright light and feels great a few meters from the window.
- Begonia is a very beautiful flower with a branched stem that loves water. This is a shade-tolerant plant, it grows very quickly, so it will have to be trimmed often.
- Sansevieria – you can often hear the name mother-in-law’s tongue. It easily tolerates drought thanks to its fleshy leaves that retain moisture.
- Hoya. It can be seen in almost every home. Hoya grows quickly and often serves as decoration for a wall or balcony. It also does not need bright lighting and a lot of moisture.
- Ivy is one of the top 10 most beautiful and popular indoor plants. It grows very quickly, but if you do not want to decorate the walls with ivy, it will have to be trimmed often.
- Chlorophytum is unpretentious to light; it needs to be watered about once a week. Sometimes white flowers appear on it.
It is useful to water indoor plants with water remaining after boiling certain products: potatoes, pasta and eggs. It will fill the soil with nutrients. Before watering, the water must be cooled to room temperature.
Is it possible to keep a palm tree at home?
Pandanus is surrounded by myths and interpretations, and many people wonder: is it possible to keep a flower at home, what benefits or harm does it bring?
There is an opinion that keeping a palm tree in the house is harmful. Since ancient times, this plant was called a vampire - because of its thorns and curled leaves. Allegedly, they absorb energy, and allowing such a guest in your home is harmful for the whole family. The opposite opinion is that it is precisely due to its structure that the plant creates a protective barrier around the house and does not let in negative energy, cleansing the space.
There is a belief that evil people near such a plant become even more aggressive.
Contrary to this, there is a sign: if you want to stimulate an apathetic person to activity or develop a sharp mind in a child, give him a pandanus.
In nature, pandanus leaves are even used for medicinal purposes - they are chewed to relieve toothache or reduce gum inflammation. It is interesting that the owners of palm trees noticed: if they are transferred to another house, to another family, the plant immediately dies.
The only thing is that it is better to keep it away from pets, the thorns are unsafe for them.
What flower growers find particularly charming is the asceticism of pandanus. The flower does not require special care or constant attention, and pleases the eye like a real tropical miracle. True, you won’t see fruit in the interiors, but there will be plenty of lush greenery.
Famous house flowers with small leaves
What is the name of an indoor love flower that brings happiness to the house?
House leaf plants are quite varied. There are species that have small leaves, but they are also charming and beautiful:
- Hypocyrta. A plant with small leaves, yellow and orange flowers located throughout the trunk. Loves bright diffused light, spraying, abundant watering in summer, less moisture in cold periods.
- Abelia. An evergreen bush that loves light, but not direct sunlight. Do not overly moisturize, because the root system may rot.
- Kufeya. Gardeners really like the shrub for its long flowering period - from the beginning of spring to the end of autumn. Does not require special care, no need to overwater.
Hypocyrta is a beautiful plant with small leaves and bright flowers
Care and cultivation of pandanus at home
An adult screw palm usually takes up a lot of space in a room, so it must be grown in a spacious and high room. Both the plant and the inhabitants of the apartment should not feel any inconvenience.
Location and lighting
When choosing a place for this indoor flower, remember that it is negatively affected by direct sunlight and lack of light. Windows facing west or east are ideal. Pandanus needs bright, but diffuse lighting.
During the season with short daylight hours, artificial supplementary illumination can be carried out using a fluorescent lamp, placing it about a meter from the plant. Additional lighting can be left on for at least 6 hours. It is also recommended to rotate the palm flower pot from time to time. This will help the plant grow and develop evenly. But you shouldn’t take indoor pandanus out into the wild.
Temperature
You need to grow pandanus in a fairly warm room with a temperature in winter of at least 16 degrees, and in summer more than 20 degrees. This heat-loving plant does not like cold drafts, but does well with short and regular ventilation.
Watering and air humidity
To water the screw palm, use only filtered or settled water. In the warm season, one watering every second day is enough, and in the cold season, the plant is watered every 3-4 days. Watering should be moderate and timely (only after the soil has dried). Excess moisture will cause harm.
Air humidity does not matter much for indoor palm trees. She perceives dry air normally. Spraying is carried out only twice a month, but so that water does not collect in the axils of the leaves. They may begin to rot.
Soil and fertilizing
The soil for indoor pandanus needs to be nutritious with a small clay content. You can purchase a ready-made soil mixture specifically for palm trees, or you can prepare it yourself. To prepare the mixture you will need humus, sand, leaf and turf soil - all in equal quantities.
Pandanus at home requires regular feeding. In the warm season, fertilizers are applied twice a month, and in cold times - once. You can use different liquid fertilizers designed for such indoor plants.
Climbing indoor flowers
Some experts believe that climbing indoor plants remove negative energy, negative emotions and experiences. These flowers also create coziness in the apartment and enrich the air with oxygen.
Morning glory
Morning glory needs bright lighting and abundant watering. The length of the stems can reach 30 centimeters.
Tradescantia
Tradescantia has very beautiful leaves - dark green with burgundy veins. But with a lack of light, the leaves may turn white. This plant loves abundant watering and spraying of leaves.
Cissus
It is often called indoor birch. The flower loves water and spraying. Cissus is a shade-loving plant.
Ficus creeping
The advantage of this plant is that it can thrive in both bright light and partial shade. In summer, water this plant well, and in the cold season, give preference to spraying.
Philodendron climbing
A very unpretentious plant. Its leaves in the shape of an elongated heart will decorate any room. Can even grow under fluorescent lamps.
Eschynanthus
A very unusual house plant. It does not tolerate a lack of moisture and needs regular spraying. The plant has beautiful flowers, usually red.
