Among evergreen perennials, few plants can compete with ophiopogon. And not only in gardens, but also as a houseplant. The unique textures of its broad, metallic leaves give dense sod such a distinctive appearance that Ophiopogon is often confused with cereals. But even more amazing is the flowering of the ophiopogon, for which he received the nickname of the Japanese lily of the valley. Touching clusters of inflorescences and even brighter fruits seem very exotic. But this is not the simplest plant that has many requirements for conditions and care.
Indoor ophiopogon is either a lily of the valley or a cereal. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com esenevran
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Description of the plant
The appearance similar to ornamental grasses often makes one compare ophiopogons with herbs, although this plant is completely different in everything. And although the texture and effect of the neat, fountain-like and living fur-like sod in garden ophiopogons is misleading, this plant can surprise with almost any of its characteristics.
Ophiopogon, or Lily of the valley (Ophiopogon) Is an evergreen perennial native to a tropical climate, representing the Asparagus family (Asparagaceae). Forms a powerful, but short and complex rhizome, in which shortened rhizomes are intertwined with long and thin adventitious roots.
Ophiopogon produces dense and lush bunches of basal leaves – narrow, linear, with a blunt edge, arcuate or lodging, ribbon-like or grass-like. With a length of up to 50 cm in indoor ophiopogons and up to 90 cm in garden plants, they reach only 7-12 mm in width.
It is worth taking a closer look at the color of the leaves, because even green ophiopogons flaunt with interesting shades and a metallic sheen, and among the varieties there are striped, variegated or purple-colored plants.
Ophiopogon bloom traditionally covers July and August, but often shifts depending on conditions. It is no coincidence that it is compared to lilies of the valley. On strong, thickened, fleshy peduncles, the length of which is much shorter than the leaves, brushes of neatly shaped inflorescences up to 15 cm long bloom, in which each flower is clearly visible. Growing together at the bottom into a short tube, the perianth flaunts with diverging lobes at the apex. Bell-shaped flowers are painted in lilac-pink, purple, and sometimes white, tones. The stamens of the plant are short, always in the amount of 6 pcs.
After flowering, three-nested ovaries develop. Non-cracking, berry-like, often blue or purple-colored fruits look very bright.
Ophiopogon, or Lily of the valley (Ophiopogon). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Country life
Types of indoor ophiopogons
While in our gardens, ophiopogons are more often a dream available for southern regions and mild subtropical or tropical climates, indoor ophiopogons are becoming more and more popular. Garden lilies of the valley are valued more for variegated varieties and species, and indoor lilies are also good in the simplest monochromatic versions.
Only two types of ophiopogons are grown as a pot plant.
Ophiopogon yaburan, or White Japanese lily of the valley (Ophiopogon jaburan) forms whole stolons, densely bushes and flaunts with wide, leathery, ribbon-like leaves. Lilac or white cluster inflorescences are replaced by dazzling blue-violet fruits. In room form, compact, specially bred varieties are grown, most often with wide leaves and stripes – slow-growing and undersized plants. The names usually indicate the main traits of the variety (“Silver Dragon”, Compactus), but more often the plants remain unnamed.
Japanese ophiopogon (Ophiopogon japonicus) – tuberous, more graceful appearance with narrow dark, often almost inky leaves up to 35 cm long with very short clusters of white or lilac bells and almost black, blue berries. The rooms are also represented by unnamed varieties with a height of 10-25 cm.
Ophiopogon yaburan, or White Japanese lily of the valley (Ophiopogon jaburan). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com planti8
Japanese ophiopogon (Ophiopogon japonicus). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com ornamental.plants
Growing conditions for indoor ophiopogon
Ophiopogon prefers coolness and does not bloom in winter without a low temperature (and it also gets sick more often, aging and degenerating faster). For wintering, it is enough to find a place with at least a cool temperature – about 15 degrees, although a colder room will allow the plant to bloom more luxuriantly (ideally, from 5 to 10 degrees Celsius). The plant will survive a warm wintering subject to an increase in air humidity.
It is better to protect ophiopogons from heat by choosing rooms with temperatures no higher than 25 degrees or by moving plants to the open air in summer. The minimum permissible temperature during the active growing season is 18 degrees. If ophiopogon is kept in a cool foyer or lobby, lobby, room with climate control, then its moisture content is significantly reduced.
This is a partial shade-loving culture, which in a room format should be allocated a place on the northern or eastern windowsill, at some distance from the western and southern windows (here they will be too hot on the windowsill, the direct daytime sun will damage the leaves).
If the variety is mismatched and without an unusual shade, it will be able to tolerate stronger shading. In winter, there is no need to rearrange the plant, but only if the ophiopogon is cool: with a warm winter, the lighting is increased.
Ophiopogon is a plant with a distinct oriental character, even in indoor culture. It looks great in Japanese and Chinese interiors, or in a modern setting with minimalist and hi-tech elements.
For ophiopogon, taking it to fresh air is desirable from mid-spring to late summer. The plant is not afraid of drafts, and it tolerates temperature fluctuations well.
For ophiopogon, taking it to fresh air is desirable from mid-spring to late summer. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com 11299883
Home care ofiopogon
Ophiopogons prefer consistently moist soil. In a room format, they do not tolerate drying out of the substrate and dampness. To avoid the risk of waterlogging, it is worth not only draining the water from the pallets immediately after watering, but also not letting the top few centimeters of the soil dry out. Too zealous watering and waterlogging quickly cause rotting with rhizome.
In winter, the soil is dried a little deeper. For ophiopogon, settled or soft water is used.
The need for increasing air humidity directly depends on the temperature of the content. In the cool, ofiopogon puts up with the conditions of living rooms. If the temperature exceeds 21 degrees, it requires average values, in the heat – very high humidity. Spraying can be carried out only with a foggy method, but it is better to limit yourself to the installation of a humidifier (industrial or at least a pallet with wet pebbles).
Ophiopogon is fed only during active vegetation – from mid-spring to late summer, stopping feeding with flowering. Ophiopogon is suitable for standard complex fertilizers and a classical frequency (once every 1-2 weeks).
Dry leaves are removed regularly, to the base.
In the room format, ophiopogons do not tolerate the drying out of the substrate and dampness. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com mygardeningarchive
Transplant, containers and substrate
Ophiopogon is most often transplanted annually, removing dry parts of the sod, but if the plant develops slowly, the transplant can be postponed. It is advisable to carry out this procedure only during the period of the beginning of growth, but with an increase in air humidity, it is possible to separate ophiopogons during the entire active growing season. Ophiopogon requires wide, squat, low pots.
Ophiopogons can be grown as a single plant or in large containers, mixed in groups with other light-loving plants. It is actively used in landscaping winter gardens and their imitations, complex versions of indoor gardens and in complex landscaping of offices.
For this plant, it is worth choosing light, neutral or slightly alkaline substrates containing perlite or other loosening additives. A universal soil without peat, into which any baking powder was added, is suitable. The drainage layer should be at least 4-5 cm. Mulching of the substrate is encouraged.
Ophiopogons thrive in hydroponics and alternative substrates, including coconut fiber.
Read also our article Oplismenus – a variegated indoor cereal Ostyanka.
Diseases, pests and growing problems
Any misses in leaving immediately affect the leaves. Errors in watering (in any direction) are easy to recognize by spots on the leaves, mistakes with the selection of lighting and temperatures – by growth rates, color of greenery.
This plant rots very easily when overflowing, and even a one-time stagnation of water in the pallets may be enough.
It is not uncommon for indoor ophiopogons and pests. Spider mites are not easy to remove from dense sod, and thrips quickly inhibit plant growth. Fight insects immediately with insecticide treatments.
Indoor ophiopogons are simply shared. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com bitkiliakvaryumtasarim
Read also our article Ornamental sedge is one of the most graceful indoor plants.
Reproduction of ophiopogon
Indoor ophiopogons are simply divided – into not very small divisions, during transplantation.
Plant seeds for sowing must be freshly harvested. They are rarely found on sale, and vegetative propagation is preferable due to the shorter waiting period for maximum decorativeness. Sowing of ophiopogon is carried out in early spring, in containers, shallow, kept in moderate heat.
Plants can be dived only when at least a small bunch of leaves is formed, therefore, it is better to sow not thickly.
