Poliscias plant is native to distant Madagascar forests and the humid tropics of Asia. It can reach a very impressive height, and then it is placed in a greenhouse. However, some representatives of this kind of Aralievs look like a medium-sized shrub and feel wonderful on the windowsills in an apartment or a private house. Small polyscias species are ideal for bonsai formation.
Poliscias Fabian (helmet-shaped) - the owner of spectacular dark green leaves with a purple tint. No less impressive is its stiffened trunk of impressive size. Plant height can vary from 50 cm to one and a half meters. It can well decorate a spacious hall, if we exclude sudden changes in temperature and drafts.
Policias fabian
The most interesting are the following varieties:
- Poliscias Balfura - an unusual plant, which is appreciated by florists for special decorativeness. Unlike poliscias Fabian, the growth of this remarkable shrub does not exceed 50 cm. The leaves of this representative of the Aralievs have a rounded shape, pronounced lobation. The color of the leaves is saturated with pale green or white stains and bordering. With age, dissection into lobes increases, which adds decorativeness to the flower. Unfortunately, flowers at home breeding do not appear;
- poliscias Robert Vertact - an evergreen shrub-shaped plant that can grow up to 150 cm in height, although in the conditions of a greenhouse or at home most often there are medium specimens not exceeding 70-80 cm. The leaves of this wonderful plant are lobed, resembling geranium leaves;
- Guilfoyle, under favorable conditions, can easily turn into a three-meter giant, which is why he is a regular in winter gardens and spacious halls. The plant branches well. Light green jagged leaves are bordered by a white or yellow strip;
- poliscias shrubby - a flower that is distinguished by a lush light green crown. Leaves are lanceolate, unevenly serrated. Branches have a light brown dense bark;
Kinds
- fern poliscias is a very spectacular plant with strongly dissected pale green leaves. The flower is easily confused with fern. The length of the branch can reach 50 cm;
- poliscias Balfouriana is a plant resembling a tree rather than a flower. It has a thick trunk with a bark resembling woody. The leaves are dark green with a white border around the edge. Miniature tree lovers use it as a bonsai;
- curly polyscias - a bushy miniature plant, the leaves are painted in saturated green color. In rare cases, specimens with fringed leaves come across;
- polisstias stupidis is a wonderful representative of the Araliev family. He attracts florists with his glossy dark emerald leaves, remotely resembling oak. This poliscias, if home care is correct, can grow up to one and a half meters in height.
If there was a desire to acquire this unusual representative of the Araliev clan, then it will be most optimal to grow it from a shank. But, if this is not possible, you need to choose a young flower no higher than 30 cm tall. This is due to the fact that poliscias is quite difficult to transfer the movement from one place to another and the process of acclimatization.
Poliscias Fabian is not the easiest indoor flower to breed. He is very demanding of consecration, preferring bright, but at the same time diffused light. The best habitat for the plant will be a window facing west or east. In summer it must be shaded, and in winter provide additional lighting. Some gardeners use phytolamps for this.
For your information! Varieties with a variegated color are especially sensitive to consecration, since with a lack of light they can lose their decorative effect.
In order for the capricious polisias flower to feel comfortable, you need to be responsible in choosing the soil mixture. For this shrub-shaped plant, you need to choose a light soil with good air permeability. Universal soil is quite suitable, but you just need to add pebbles or small shards to it. You can prepare a land mixture for polisias yourself. To do this, take in equal parts humus, peat, turf soil and sand and mix thoroughly.
Poliscias Fabian does not require frequent hydration. It will be enough to water it as the surface layer of the soil dries. Water for irrigation should be taken soft or rain. Chlorine in irrigation water can harm the plant.
Poliscias Fabian, home care
Fertilizing and fertilizing polyscias is carried out once every 15 days during the period of active vegetation. For this, the usual fertilizer for deciduous plants is quite suitable. In the winter months, the flower does not need to be fed.
Like any houseplant, poliscias can suffer from both diseases and pests. If the flower dropped the leaves, then you need to immediately take measures to save. This phenomenon is most likely caused by the following:
- dry air
- violation of the watering regime;
- moving a flower to another place.
If the variegated representative of the Araliev clan suddenly turned white, this means that the plant suffers from an excess of light, and, on the contrary, the loss of variegation is a sign of its lack. If the flower slows down its growth, then most likely it lacks nutrients.
Pests can also bother this indoor plant. The scab, which attacked the stems and leaves, may not be noticed at first, since its carapace is like a piece of bark. The spider mite also goes unnoticed for a long time.
For your information! So that insects do not completely destroy the flower, you need to treat it with an insecticide as soon as possible, and then take care of it as usual.
Reproduction polyscias can be done in several ways:
- cuttings;
- by seeds;
- part of the rhizome.
Cuttings are not the easiest way to propagate this plant. If you do not create ideal conditions, the cuttings are unlikely to take root. What should be done? In spring, prepare the cuttings about 15 cm long, taking the apical part of the plant. The lower leaves must be removed, then treat the slices with phytohormone. If such a drug was not at hand, you can use charcoal. Next, you need to place the handle in a container filled with a mixture of peat and sand, and cover with a film. The optimum temperature for rooting is 25-26 ° C.
Breeding polyscias
You can try to grow polyscias Fabian from seeds. Since the plant does not bloom at home, planting material will have to be purchased at an agricultural supermarket. Seeds are placed in a container with nutritious soil mixture and covered with a film, thereby creating greenhouse conditions. As soon as the first shoots appear, the container should be moved to a source of scattered light, removing the film. Seedling of grown plants in individual pots is carried out when the seedlings are sufficiently strong.
To propagate polyscias Fabian with the help of rhizomes, it is necessary to carefully divide the roots of an adult plant into fragments of about 3 cm. After processing the cut-off site with phytohormone, it is necessary to carefully plant the divisions. Shelter is not required. This method of reproduction involves planting plants directly in individual pots, followed by continued care as adult plants.
Important! All manipulations with parts of the plant must be carried out with gloves, since poliscias is a poisonous plant. If its juice gets on unprotected skin, it can cause an allergic reaction. If contact with the juice of the plant could not be avoided, rinse hands thoroughly under running water.
Poliscias himself and caring for him is not a simple matter. This is a flower that requires constant attention. Most likely, he will never please the magnificent flowering. But do not despair, because the unusual and extremely decorative foliage of this wonderful plant is able to decorate the window sill or home greenhouse of the most demanding breeder.
