The modest soleirolia belongs to the category of plants that do not shine with bright beauty, but will certainly catch the eye - a cap of thin stems strewn with soft green small leaves stands out against the background of other indoor plants.
The flower is grown at home in flowerpots, pots, florariums, terrariums; it can be given a rounded shape by pinching or trimming the tops of the stems. Care is based on natural characteristics - a native of the tropics loves moderation in everything.
General description of indoor plant
Gelksina is a low-growing plant with densely branching thin shoots that spread along the ground and intertwine with each other, thus forming a carpet. Small teardrop-shaped leaves grow on the shoots.
Gelksina leaves grow up to 6 mm in diameter. The surface of the leaf is smooth and light green . The flowers bloom small, about 1 mm, solitary, axillary.
GOOD TO KNOW! Saltirolia is often planted in pots with large plants. She covered the entire soil with her shoots, leaving no gaps. Planted in one large pot, Gelksina and a large plant look original and add zest to every interior.
Gelksina should be added to young plants with caution. Since this ground cover flower grows very quickly, it can “crush” only a developing plant.
Photo gallery
The flower can be placed in the bedroom of adults and children, as it purifies the air and protects against smog.
Thanks to its cleansing properties, soleirolia has even been called the “queen of industrial areas.” The plant does not emit any toxic substances.
Photo
You can visually familiarize yourself with the helxina (soleirolia) plant in the photo below:
Home care for Helxina (soleirolia)
Gelksina will not cause any trouble for the owner when growing. The plant is unpretentious .
Is it possible to keep Saltirolia at home? It can be grown in winter gardens. Flower pots are also placed in residential areas. They can be planted in hanging vases, small pots or, conversely, in large flowerpots with other large plants.
The main thing is to choose a comfortable place for the plant. There should be enough light in this place , but without direct rays. Gelksina can grow without harm for about a year and develop well under artificial light. also be ventilated periodically .
PAY ATTENTION to other representatives of the liana family: the ideal plant for alpine hills Saxifraga, the wonderful flowering liana Clerodendrum, the well-known Ivy, the magnificent plant Reo Variegated and the incredibly fast-growing Tradescantia.
Trimming
does not need
pruning as such . Using sharp scissors you can shape the bush. The plant is also rejuvenated by pruning.
Watering
Gelksina needs frequent watering . The soil in the pot should be constantly moist. But the main thing is not to allow water to stagnate both in the pot and in the pan.
IMPORTANT! Insufficient watering causes the leaves to yellow and fall off. As a result, the shoots become bare.
Water for irrigation should be soft. And its temperature should not be lower than the air temperature. Saltirolia loves spraying , which can be done daily.
Landing
To plant Gelksina, it is advisable to purchase small but wide pots - bowls. The soil mixture should be loose and allow water and air to pass through well. You can prepare it yourself. Mix in a 1:1:1 ratio:
- clay soil,
- leaf soil,
- sand.
Place fine expanded clay on the bottom of the bowl as drainage.
Transfer
Saltirolia can be replanted in early spring .
But the transplant procedure is quite complicated.
The flower has very thin and fragile shoots that are easy to break.
If there is a need for transplantation, first of all, you need to shorten the long shoots.
And only after that transplant it into a new pot.
Watering
Saltirolia is a moisture-loving plant. In spring and summer, watering is done abundantly and daily, in the autumn-winter period - as the soil dries out.
Bottom watering is preferable; to do this, you need to fill a container with water, place a pot of gelxin in it and leave until the soil is saturated.
IMPORTANT! Excess water must be drained from the pan, since stagnant moisture provokes fungal infections in the root system.
In summer, spraying is carried out daily or twice a day, at air temperatures below +20 °C - once a week. It should not be sprayed in winter.
IMPORTANT! For watering and spraying, soft, settled water at room temperature is used.
Problems during cultivation
Saltirolia is rarely attacked by pests or diseases; most often, its diseases are a consequence of improper care.
Benefits and harms
Helxina is a harmless plant . Its juice does not contain toxins. Therefore, this flower can be kept in the living room. There is no need to worry if your child tastes the small leaves.
This plant is extremely beneficial. His appearance is uplifting. Gelksina can be combined when planting with other plants, thereby decorating the house. This composition will become the highlight of the house.
Application
Quite often, Saltirolia is used to create unusual compositions in bottle gardens. You can decorate an aquarium or terrarium with this flower.
Reproduction
Under natural conditions, adult specimens of Hepxina self-sow. At home, soleirolia propagation is most often carried out by dividing the bush into parts.
Dividing the bush
The delenki, together with a lump of earth, are moved to a new flower container and placed in the center. A new substrate, prepared for growing adult plants, is poured around.
Saltirolia bushes divided into parts and planted
Cuttings
Saltirolia is easily propagated by cuttings. In the spring, small pieces of pagons with several internodes are cut and laid out on top of the peat. The containers are placed in a tray and watered from below to constantly maintain the required humidity. The plant quite quickly develops tender roots in the internodes under the influence of moisture, and new shoots grow in the axils of the leaves.
Saltirolia cuttings
Seeds
Propagation by seeds is not very common among gardeners, probably due to difficulties in obtaining planting material and reluctance to bother with seedlings that are too miniature. However, this method has found application among the most patient.
Saltirolia seeds are laid out on the surface of a loose substrate consisting of peat and sand, and they are practically not sprinkled on top . Cover the container with the crops with a glass lid or plastic wrap and regularly spray it with a spray bottle. Keep containers with crops in a warm place with moderate lighting. They do not forget to ventilate the mini-greenhouse, and when the shoots appear, they gradually accustom them to the external environment, leaving them ajar for a short time at first.
Soleirolia shoots
Diseases and pests
Gelksina is very rarely exposed to disease . Pests can rarely be found on it.
If there is insufficient humidity, Saltirolia can be affected by mealybugs or mites. In case of pest damage, the entire plant must be treated with insecticides.
If the temperature regime is not observed, Gelksina leaves may shrink and die. Leaves can also fall if there is insufficient moisture in the soil.
In a dark room, the stems stretch. The leaves become almost colorless. As a result, Gelksina becomes unattractive.
Information! If brown spots appear on the leaves of Soleirolia, then most likely the plant has received a sunburn.
Our experts have prepared a series of materials about climbing plants and vines such as Cyanotis, Cissus, Epipremnuma, Dichorisandra, Thunbergia, Episcia, Aeschynanthus, Raphidophora and Philodendron.
Why doesn't it bloom?
With a lack of nutrients, Gelksina's growth slows down and flowering stops.
In order for small flowers to appear on the bush again, it is necessary to add liquid fertilizer to the soil . In spring and summer, fertilizer should be applied every 2-3 weeks.
Gelksina is an unpretentious shrub. It can be planted in small bowls and decorated with bookshelves or a coffee table. Can be planted with a large flower in one pot. Its curly shoots will cover the entire surface of the pot and there will be no dark gaps left. The bright and juicy greenery of Gelksina will decorate any home.
