Who is Zantedescia?

Send

Under the exotic name "zantedescia" is hiding calla well known to all. This plant is from the Aroid family, a relative of Anthurium, spathiphyllum, monstera and the nondescript marsh wingfly plant.

Description of Zantedesia

In nature, zantedesci grow on moist swampy soil, so when compiling a soil mixture for planting, river sludge is added to it as much as possible (up to the entire volume). In addition, the pallets under the pots should be deep enough, containing a layer of water 5-7 cm.

Typically, flower shops sell blooming zantedescans in pots, as well as tubers, which can be found on sale from January to April. Of these, as a rule, grow healthy and durable plants. Acquired tubers should be resilient, with lively apical buds and fresh yellowish skin without mold spots and damage. Until March, planting material is stored in a cool place, sprinkled with peat or sawdust.

Landing of Zantedesk

For planting tubers, a nutritious mixture of turf, leaf soil, peat and sand is used (1: 1: 1: 0.5, respectively). The mixture is filled with spacious pots. Such containers are best suited for highly growing plants. The tubers are planted to a depth of 10 cm and carefully moistened. After 2-3 days, watering is increased, water is added to pallets. After the appearance of young leaves give weekly dressing with complex flower fertilizer.

In October-November, plants are set on a light windowsill, but do not change their initial position, otherwise the zantedesci will react with poor flowering. In the room they bloom not so abundantly and for a long time as in the greenhouse.

One or two blossoming flowers do not fade for more than a month. After flowering, watering is sharply limited. In mid-late July, lumps of soil are taken out of the pot, plants are cleaned of leaf residues and planted again in a pot without deepening the rhizome. When transplanting the old land is completely replaced with new. The size of the pot does not change.

Division of Zantedesia

Once every 3-4 years, the zantedesia, having a tuberous rhizome, is divided. This is necessary both for the propagation of plants and for the plants to bloom annually. Tubers can be gently broken by hand or cut. Each separated part must have at least one kidney. Fresh wounds are sprinkled with crushed coal or treated with a raspberry solution of potassium permanganate.

Then they are dried for 3-4 days on the windowsill. Only after that they land, but watered exclusively in a pan. After the appearance of the first sprouts, they are watered in the usual way and sprayed. Divided plants with one bud will bloom no sooner than after 1-1.5 years. Mandatory fertilizing with complex fertilizer.

Cultivation of Zantedesia

Varieties suitable for cuttingZantedescian Ethiopian. They are propagated from the baby, and only then young plants are grown to produce flowers. In a greenhouse per square meter should be no more than 10 plants. They begin to bloom profusely only after 1-1.5 years after planting. For planting, use pots with a diameter of 15-18 cm and a soil mixture consisting of humus, peat, sawdust in a ratio of 2: 1: 1, having a neutral pH of 5.5-6.

Plants are sprayed daily and watered so as to create a humidity of 90% in the greenhouse. After rooting, they are well ventilated. Pots are installed in deep pallets, which can then be filled with fine gravel. There should always be settled water per day. Two inflorescences are formed in the bosom of the leaf: one blooms, the other only grows. Therefore, the peduncle should not be cut off, but pulled out, previously slightly (5-10 cm) freeing it from the vagina by tilting.

If the peduncle cannot be pulled out, it is cut off at the level of exit from the leaf sheath. After 3-4 weeks, when the second inflorescence becomes visible, the remainder of the first inflorescence is pulled out. The leaves of zantedescia are also used for bouquets. Without damage, you can cut 2 leaves in the place where the inflorescences are not laid. And here the leaf from the vagina of which the peduncle has come out must be protected: it provides nutrition to the lateral inflorescence. The time of inflorescence development from its appearance to readiness depends on temperature: at 13-15 ° C it takes 45-55 days, at 20 ° C it takes 25-30 days.

Caring for the Zantedescu

With proper care, plants bloom from October to March, in December-January - especially abundantly. In May, the summer period of rest begins. Then the plants are watered no more than once a week and are not fed. The greenhouse is actively aired and shaded from the sun. The dormant period of zantedesia can be different, the minimum - for one month.

Feed, sprinkle abundantly and water the plants begin in late August and early September. At this time, normally developed leaves open and young roots grow. These processes actively occur at a low temperature: at night 12 ° C, in the afternoon 12-16 ° C. In winter, the plants are kept cool - 12-15 ° C during the day and 16-18 ° C - at night, but for 7-10 days the greenhouse can be heated to 20-25 ° C. In this "warm week" inflorescences begin to bloom actively.

On a note

Calla is characterized by its unpretentiousness and high environmental plasticity - it grows and blooms with significant fluctuations in light, humidity and temperature. The location in the house for calla lilies is chosen from sunny to half-shaded: in summer it is better in partial shade, and in the fall it is closer to the window.

In a warm, dry room, calla leaves are periodically sprayed, otherwise a spider mite and aphids may appear on them. At a very high temperature or lack of light, calla lilies are elongated, easily broken, acquire a light green color, and the number of flowers decreases sharply.

Materials used: