The conversation will focus on representatives of the genus Cyperus (Cyperus) from the sedge family (Suregaseae). It has about 600 plant species, which are widespread in marshlands and water bodies in the tropics, subtropics and temperate zones. We will only touch on those that can be grown in rooms.
The most homely
In nature cyperus alternate-leaved (Cyperus alternifolius) grows along river banks on the island of Madagascar. Here, its stems reach a height of 2 to 2,5 m (in the room, only 1,2-1,7 m). From above they are crowned with umbrellas made of narrow leaves. Over time, inflorescences appear from the axils of the leaves, but they are so inconspicuous that they can hardly serve as decoration.
It is most often grown at home, since it is unpretentious and equally well tolerates both relatively low and high temperatures of air and water. And besides the main species, several beautiful forms are also grown. Firstly, it is a variegated (Cyperus alternifolius f. Variegatus) with white stripes along the leaf, and secondly, a dwarf (Cyperus alternifolius f. Gracilis) with a height of only up to 50 cm. The variegated form has its own characteristics: it needs intense lighting, in Otherwise, the pattern on some shoots may partially disappear. However, it is quite easy to restore the “status quo”, it is enough to cut out the pure green shoots.
ะฆะธะฟะตััั (Cyperus)
Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Forest & Kim Starr
Cyperus sprawling (Cyperus diffusus) is a perennial herb. Its stems are few in number, no more than 80-90 cm high, even with perfect care. Leaves are numerous, in the total mass are basal, rather long and wider than in other species (0,5-1,5 cm). Distributed in the tropics.
The plant has a compact shape, which is convenient for small spaces. Small brown spike-shaped inflorescences, towering above the whorls of the leaves, are very decorative. This species, unlike the previous one, does not require to be kept in water, but it needs constant abundant watering.
Grew, grew – and grew …
Content… Cyperuses are deservedly considered “light” plants. The substrate for them can be different, the main thing is water and air permeable. I use a 1: 1: 1 mixture of peat, leaf humus and sand.
ะฆะธะฟะตััั (Cyperus)
Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com KENPEI
Plants are usually watered from above. But Cyperus, water-loving coastal dwellers, lack this, at least in summer. Therefore, during the active growing season, I recommend keeping the pot in an additional container filled with water so that the lower third of the pot is in water. In winter, you can limit yourself to watering from above, so that the lump is moist all the time. The temperature of the irrigation water should be 2-3 ยฐ C above room temperature.
Spraying cyperus is optional. But in the fall, when the batteries are turned on and the air humidity in the apartment drops below 40%, it is highly desirable.
Since cyperus grows rather quickly and gains weight, it needs to be supported by feeding. It is better to give them from mid-February to September inclusive, it would be good to use mullein infusion diluted in a ratio of 1:10.
As far as lighting is concerned, Cyperus is a very plastic culture. He equally puts up with the scorching rays of the sun, and with a lack of light. Ideal illumination is bright diffused sunlight, and therefore, preference should be given to southeastern windows.
ะฆะธะฟะตััั (Cyperus)
Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Forest & Kim Starr
Reproduction… The most common method is the division of rhizomes (this is done with plants at least 2-3 years old and only in spring).
They often resort to cuttings (also in spring). As a cutting, take the upper part of the shoot, cut it off under the whorl, leaving a part of the stem 4-5 cm long. The leaves are shortened by 1/3.
Then there are two ways. The first is to root in wet sand. The stalk is inserted into the sand with the left part of the shoot so that the whorl is tightly pressed against the ground. The substrate should be constantly moist, its temperature should not be lower than 25 ยฐ. It is also desirable that the air around the cutting be humid, which means that it is useful to cover it with a jar or film. Soon, roots appear from the center of the whorl. And then young plants are formed.
The second way was suggested by nature itself. At home, cyperus forms impenetrable thickets along rivers, approximately in the same way as we have reeds and cattails. Many species of fish living in rivers feed on cyperus stems, and the upper part of the shoot (whorl with leaves) often falls into the water, losing contact with the main rhizome. While the whorl floats on the surface of the water, small daughter plants begin to form in its center, which will subsequently nestle on the shore and get stronger. And let’s say it occurred to someone to do something similar at home. But there is one peculiarity here. In order for new plants to form faster on the whorl, it should be placed upside down in the water. At a temperature of 2-5 ยฐ, roots form very quickly.
By the way, it is cyperus, and not at all a cactus, that is useful to put next to a computer. It does not protect from radiation (no plant is capable of this), but it increases the humidity of the air and reduces the concentration of dust near the screen, which is at least twice as high as in the entire room.
ะฆะธะฟะตััั (Cyperus)
Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Linรฉ1
Cyperus seeds are rarely propagated at home. Sow them in shallow bowls, after keeping them for 2 hours in a pink solution of potassium permanganate and drying them a little so that they stick to the fingers. The soil is almost the same as for adult plants: peat and leafy soil, sand, only the proportion is different (2: 2: 1). Seeds are embedded in the soil finely and the bowl is covered with glass.
The temperature of the substrate should not fall below 20 ยฐ, and he himself should be constantly wet. Direct sunlight is destructive for seedlings. As soon as the seedlings get stronger, they can be cut down, they tolerate this procedure well.
vermin… The most vicious enemy of the Cyperus in the room is the spider mite. Usually, its appearance passes unnoticed, it is discovered later. An alarming symptom is when the leaves of the plant begin to dry out, or even dry out altogether. Take a close look at your pet, especially the underside of the leaves. If a sheet under a magnifying glass looks like it was poked with a thin needle, it seems sprinkled with dust from the inside, then the tick has settled down firmly. And if you also see a cobweb, things have gone very far.
You can advise, without waiting for the complete infection of the plant, once a month to treat it with appropriate preparations (Aktelik, Fito-verm, Kinmiks, Fufa-non). Offense (prevention) is the best way to defend yourself.
ะฆะธะฟะตััั (Cyperus)
Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Michael Becker
Pharaonic legacy
There is a very interesting type of cyperus – papyrus. It has been known since ancient times. Already at the beginning of the III millennium BC in Egypt, material was made from it, which was used for writing. Ancient Egypt was the only country that produced papyrus and exported it to the Mediterranean countries.
The name of the plant comes from the ancient Greek “papiros”, which means “royal”. As a writing material, it lasted until the XNUMXth century AD, when it was finally superseded by the paper invented in China.
But the use of papyrus was not limited only to the “office”. Strong and watertight boats and rafts were built from its mighty stems.
So what is this plant? Cyperus papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) is a perennial herb up to 5 m high. The papyrus in a pot resembles an oasis with miniature palm trees. Stems are straight, strong, triangular in the upper part, ending in a very dense rosette of hanging long leaves. Unfortunately, huge umbrella-shaped inflorescences with a diameter of 90 cm, familiar to us from ancient Egyptian images, are not formed in rooms.
ะฆะธะฟะตััั (Cyperus)
Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com cliff1066โข
In tropical East Africa, papyrus occupies vast areas along the banks of rivers and lakes. Often decorates gardens and parks in Egypt, Brazil and other countries with a suitable climate.
Now let’s move the papyrus from the tropics to our apartment, on the windowsill. It is treated in much the same way as the rest of the Cyperus species. You just need to take into account some features:
- papyrus requires an elevated temperature of the soil and ambient air (25-30 ยฐ C);
- place the plant under the scorching rays of the sun;
- to stimulate growth, yellowing shoots are cut in advance;
- papyrus does not propagate by floating rosette of leaves (only by seeds and division of rhizomes);
- at home, papyrus is accustomed to drought, so at the beginning of winter (November-December) it is taken out of the water and the substrate is watered rarely and in moderation;
- it is necessary to make not only nitrogen fertilizing (mullein); given the strong growth and large vegetative mass of the plant itself, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements should be added.
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