Even against the background of other moisture-loving indoor plants, Cyperus is a real king. This is a true bog plant, beauty, growth rates and showiness of which directly depend on one factor – humidity. But at the same time, cyperus is also rightly called one of the easiest indoor plants to grow. If you “see through” this not so exotic, it will quickly replenish the list of your favorite unpretentious indoor plants. Why it is worth taking a closer look at Cyperus, I will tell in the article.
Tsiperus – unpretentious, but very moisture-loving
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Description of the plant
Indoor Cyperus are better known under the legendary name “papyrus”. It is the best possible way, conveys both the appearance and the character of the plant, albeit in a much more compact indoor format. But the popular garden name “sat” and the botanical name “cyperus” are also popular.
Tsiperus (Cyperus) Is a beautiful perennial evergreen cereal from the sedge family, which grows in the form of dense sod. In height, cyperuses, depending on the species, reach from 30 cm to 2 m. Graceful or huge, cyperus clumps consist of hollow, rounded in cross section, slender and straight herbaceous stems. At their top, a flat whorl of closely knit leaves, which resembles an ideal umbrella, develops.
The plant often appears to be a large bunch of green umbrellas with thin legs spreading out to the sides. Cyperus leaves are linear, with a strongly pointed tip. The color is dark, rich.
Cyperuses bloom charmingly, although this feature of the plant is often underestimated. Air-lace inflorescences of spikelets of small white flowers bloom right in the middle of the umbrellas.
Types of indoor cyperus
Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) – the most famous “paper” species with huge, up to 3 shoots. The plant is bulky and massive, requires large tubs, appropriate in very large greenhouses and conservatories.
Cyperus alternate-leaved (Cyperus alternifolius) Is a powerful and sprawling species. Stems with umbrellas rise to a height of 1 m.
Tsiperus wrapping (Cyperus involucratus) Is a large, one meter high and higher species with wider leaves and massive whorls.
Cyperus the graceful (Cyperus gracilis), which we like to call dwarf, is the most compact species with stems up to 40 cm in height and miniature rosettes of linear leaves.
Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Megan Hansen
Cyperus alternifolius (Cyperus alternifolius). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com 86 ร 94
Growing conditions for indoor cyperus
Unpretentious Cyperus will not grow anywhere. They are perfectly adaptable, endure some carelessness, but still require rich lighting to reveal their beauty. But you can hardly worry about temperatures.
Lighting and placement
Cyperuses are light-requiring. It is better to grow them on windowsills or directly near them, in sunny places or choosing diffused bright lighting. The shade is unacceptable, young plants can be gradually “accustomed” to partial shade. Usually, there is no need to adjust the lighting for the winter (unless the cyperus itself signals the opposite by changing the color of the leaves).
Temperature control and ventilation
Cyperus loves stability. Ideally, its growth does not stop even in winter. All that cyperus needs is a stable temperature from 20 to 25 degrees. The heat has a detrimental effect on the tips of the leaves, but when the humidity rises, the cyperus easily cope with it.
But cold is the main enemy of the plant. Cyperus can only withstand drops to 12 degrees Celsius, but it is better not to allow 14 degrees, maintaining the same room temperature even in winter.
Cyperuses love airing, react well to fresh air, but plants cannot be taken into the garden, it is better to leave them in rooms. Only light drafts are permissible and without temperature fluctuations. The proximity of heating devices leads to accelerated drying of the tips of the leaves.
Cyperus wrapping (Cyperus involucratus). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Forest and Kim Starr
Care for tsiperus at home
If you recreate the correct “swampy” environment with the help of watering, then there will be no problems with the plant. Cyperuses hardly get sick and always signal their problems with leaves.
Watering and air humidity
Cyperuses love marsh humidity, constant and high. The soil should not dry out, droughts are catastrophic – all or almost all of the stems of the plant turn yellow. It is appropriate to grow the feed with a tray filled with water or in double containers. The water level in the outer container will create an optimal regime.
But you can get by with abundant classic watering. Soil moisture is reduced only when temperatures drop, without completely drying the plant, but changing the irrigation schedule or lowering the water level in the sump.
Cyperus is very sensitive to water quality. Neutral, not just settled, but purified or rainwater is the ideal choice for a moisture-loving star.
High air humidity is preferable, in heat it is necessary. If it is possible to create a more stable environment, spray cyperuses or install humidifiers, then the beauty of greenery will be revealed much more fully. Cyperuses are very good to place in rooms with naturally high air humidity (for example, in a bathroom) or in groups with tropical moisture-loving exotics.
Top dressing and composition of fertilizers
Cyperus prefer poor soil. In the first year after transplanting, you can refuse feeding. In spring and summer, fertilizers are applied in a half reduced dose every 2-3 weeks. If growth does not stop and cyperus remains warm, then even in autumn and winter, rare, but regular feeding is carried out (once a month).
Pruning and shaping the cyperus
Cyperuses are easy to rejuvenate and hold back. It is enough to cut off the oldest umbrellas or thin out the crown – and the plant will completely transform its appearance. The stems are cut off entirely to the base.
Read also our article My Houseplant Placement Tricks.
Transplant, containers and substrate
Cyperuses are transplanted when the plant has mastered the previous capacity (in the horizontal plane). They want large, very wide pots with good drainage holes.
The soil for growing cyperus must meet the requirements for a marshy environment – be resistant to acidification and compaction, allow regularly waterlogging the substrate and retain water well. For cyperus, only a soil neutral in acidity with a coarse texture is suitable. It is better to improve the universal substrate by adding coarse sand, perlite, coconut soil, vermiculite. The addition of charcoal and sphagnum will eliminate the risk of rot development.
Tsiperus is ideal for hydroculture, containers with automatic irrigation, experiments with florariums.
Plants are transplanted by transshipment, if necessary, they are separated. It is important to place the plants at the same level without deepening. The top of the soil can be mulched with moisture-consuming materials.
Diseases, pests and growing problems
Cyperuses have various problems only with the wrong humidity – both air and soil – or watering with too acidic or hard water. Cyperus quickly signals in the form of brown leaf tips.
Very rarely, neglected cyperuses can attract aphids, spider mites or felt mites. The increase in humidity is usually enough to fight, but if the infestation is severe, it is better to apply insecticides.
Cyperus graceful (Cyperus gracilis). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Rare Plants
Reproduction of cyperus
Only chlorophytum reproduces more simply than cyperus. Each whorl of leaves at the top of the stem is a potential new bush. Sometimes cyperus will release aerial roots directly on the umbrellas, but any not too old umbrellas of the plant will do for rooting in water or soil. They are simply cut off with the entire stem, the leaves are shortened to about half their length and placed in moist soil or dipped in water until roots appear.
Old Cyperus bushes are easy to separate when replanting. At the same time, it is better to cut out or separate the dry parts of the bushes, and plant the young ones with new shoots as independent plants.
Cyperus seeds are rare on sale, but sprout quickly and easily. Sow them superficially. High humidity and warmth are key parameters.
