Asparagus is an elegant and very decorative flower resembling lace. The spectacular plant is used both for landscaping the home, and for the design of office premises. After all, home care for asparagus is so simple that it does not take much time.
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Types and varieties of flower
The asparagus genus from the Asparagus family has more than 200 species found in the natural environment in various climatic regions of Europe, Asia, the African continent and both Americas. In the middle lane, the plant is cultivated, as a rule, as a pot culture, which, with a large species diversity, is very popular with florists.
The most popular types in cultivated floriculture are:
Cirrus asparagus.
A semi-shrub plant from tropical African forests with highly branched shoots, the graceful bend of which gives the species a special decorative effect. Shoots, the lateral part of which creates similarities with fern leaves, are covered with scaly leaf plates up to 5 mm in length.
Asparagus Sprenger.
A creeping species that grows in nature on the South African mountainsides. Non-leafy stems 1.5 m long are covered with scaly leaves surrounding 3-4 pieces of cladode each. During flowering, pink or white flowers bloom with a strong aroma. Fruits are represented by dyed red berries.
Asparagus Meyer.
The variety, represented by single stems up to 50 cm in height, which are densely covered with claddings directed in different directions. Externally, a single shoot resembles a fluffy brush.
Asparagus is sickle-shaped.
A species that develops as a liana. Lignified shoots with thorns, which make it possible for asparagus to easily climb the support, can reach a length of up to 15 m in the wild. And this despite the fact that their diameter does not exceed 1 cm. If the plant is cultivated as an indoor plant, the maximum length of the stems is 4 m. The species is named after its sickle-shaped cladodia, which are formed in the upper part of the lateral shoots. Liana easily tolerates pruning.
Asparagus - growing characteristics
Growing asparagus in an apartment, you must consider the following nuances:
- For creeper plant forms in the third year of life, a solid support is established.
- For the full development of the spreading shoots of asparagus, which negatively refers to frequent contact with anything, a spacious area in the room is selected.
- Culture does not require special care, which makes it indispensable for landscaping premises for various purposes.
Home Care
The asparagus flower practically does not bloom at home, decorating the premises with lush, bright green thickets.
However, with the organization of competent care, flowering can occur, although in comparison with bright openwork shoots, inflorescences do not differ in special decorativeness.
Lighting and location
Growing in rainforests under the crowns of trees, asparagus needs diffused lighting. The window sills of eastern and western orientations will become the optimal place for placing culture. If this is not possible, the flower can be placed deep in the south room. With the establishment of stable heat, the asparagus moves to fresh air, where protection against direct sunlight, drafts and precipitation is organized.
Temperature mode
The plant is perfectly adapted to room conditions and develops without problems at normal room temperature, which is in the range of 20-25 ° C. If the optimum value is exceeded, the flower is provided with additional ventilation, if it is not possible to move it to the street. In winter, when daylight hours are greatly shortened, the best temperature will be a value of 15 ° C, which will prevent the shoots from stretching out.
Attention! Lowering the temperature below 10 ° C can cause asparagus to drop leaves.
Soil requirements
The substrate for cultivation of asparagus can be used either purchased in a store or prepared independently from sand, leaf and turf soils in equal parts. Before use, the soil is calcined in an oven for half an hour to eliminate the possibility of infection of the root system with various pathogens.
Watering and humidity
The representative of the rainforests loves air and soil moisture.
The plant needs regular and plentiful watering, between which the soil will not dry out much.
In winter, the volume and frequency of humidification are reduced, but irrigation does not stop completely. To ensure a high level of humidity, asparagus is sprayed with a warm shower to prevent the occurrence of certain pests and remove dust.
Fertilizer and fertilizer
To form a beautiful, branched plant with bright greenery, the crop is provided with regular fertilizing with liquid complex mineral fertilizers:
- during the period of intensive vegetation - weekly;
- with the onset of the fall season - twice a month;
- in winter - monthly.
How to prune asparagus?
The peculiarity of the development of most species of perennial makes it impossible to trim to form a crown: the development of the shoot comes from an underground bud, therefore, if the stem is cut, the side shoots and cladodes cease to form,And the bookmark of a new kidney is marked. Only crescent asparagus can undergo formative pruning.
Attention! The old bush is subject to sanitary pruning, in which dried out or injured shoots are removed.
Transfer
The rapid pace of development of the root system of the plant necessitates an annual transplant in the first 5 years. An adult bush replants with an interval of 3-4 years.
The procedure carried out in the spring is as follows:
- A wide pot is selected that will not burst under the pressure of the growing asparagus root system.
- A drainage layer of broken brick or expanded clay is placed at the bottom.
- In the extracted plant, the whole earth is shaken from the rhizome.
- The roots are slightly shortened, and those damaged or affected by the disease are removed altogether.
- The plant is placed in a container and sprinkled with prepared soil, which is then compacted.
Pests and possible plant diseases
Asparagus is considered a culture resistant to damage by harmful organisms. However, in violation of the conditions of detention, consisting in overflows and lowering the temperature, the development of root rot is noted. If a disease is detected, the affected roots are removed, and the plant is transplanted into a new substrate.
Among the pests, a spider mite stands out, the settlement of which occurs as a result of dry air. As a protective measure at the initial stage, a hot shower is organized. With strong population, it is worthwhile to treat the plant with an insecticide.
Reproduction of asparagus
Culture is propagated by generative and vegetative methods. However, due to the laboriousness of the first at home, vegetative techniques are usually used - cuttings and dividing the bush.
Cuttings
A popular method for the implementation of which the following steps are taken:
- With the advent of spring, cuttings 10 cm long are cut from shoots.
- Cuttings are placed in a container with moistened sand for rooting.
- Landings are covered with a film and moved to a warm, well-lit place.
- After a month, during which the plantings are aired and watered, roots form on the cuttings.
- Young plants are seated in individual containers.
Bush division
During the transplant procedure, the plant multiplies by dividing the rhizome. Wherein:
- The rhizome extracted and peeled from the ground with the help of a sharp, processed tool is divided into parts, each of which should have several roots and shoots.
- Places of cuts are sprinkled with an antiseptic in the form of crushed activated carbon or wood.
- Delenki are seated in separate containers with good drainage and a special substrate.
So, a spectacular tropical plant, whether it be Sprenger or Meyer asparagus, which is unpretentious, with minimal care it will give the room bright summer colors regardless of the time of year.
