Rules for caring for zhiryanka at home
A perennial houseplant that surprisingly combines external tenderness and fragility with an internal sinister content, this is a fatty plant. At its core, it is a real predator - and this gives a special charm to the flower, which is loved by flower growers precisely for such an exotic touch that adds an unexpected "sound" to any home collection.
Description
Chiryanka (Pinguicula) belongs to the pemphigus family. They call it that because of the fleshy, oily shiny, juicy leaves covered with tiny vesicular glands. They secrete a special secret that makes the surface of the sheet sticky. It gives the impression that it is really greasy to the touch. Florists can also call zhiryanka oily grass and blue zhiryanka. Despite the fact that it is an insectivorous culture, it also has real roots that allow it to survive in the most difficult situations.
Zhiryanka cannot boast of a particular showiness and brightness, but conquers with her ability to combine a pretty appearance with incredible ruthlessness. The sight of cute rosettes with neat rounded leaves, from which lovely flowers, similar to violets, peep out, leads to emotion and makes you forget about the tough nature of the plant. Moreover, this indoor predator does not require special care.
Habitat
The distribution area of Zhiryanka is quite wide: Asia, Japan, Europe, North America, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America. It is also found in Russia - out of 65 known species, 8 grow on the territory of our country. Most often you can find Pinguicula vulgaris in the northern regions.
Favorite places of this plant:
- peat bogs;
- banks of streams and small rivers;
- thickets of moss;
- floodplains of rivers and lakes.
Zhiryanka is especially sensitive to any changes; it is a kind of indicator plant. It reacts negatively to changes in living conditions, such as climatic fluctuations, environmental pollution, drainage of swamps, etc. All this has led to the fact that the fatty woman as a species is gradually disappearing. That is why the plant is listed in the Red Book, and the areas of its growth are taken under state protection.
How does zhiryanka catch insects?
Grease, by analogy with Velcro tape, helps to get rid of flying insects in any room. Unlike another carnivorous plant - sundew, which catches flies by abruptly folding the leaf, the fatty woman curls the leaf more smoothly. Or it can do without twisting, starting the digestion process immediately after the insect sticks. This happens if a small specimen of the midge type is caught.
A larger insect, such as a fly, bee, spider, trying to free itself from the sticky captivity, activates the smooth folding mechanism with its movements. The leaf curls up and the digestion of food begins. The predatory flower, sucking everything that is possible from the insect, provides itself with the nutrients necessary for existence.
How to take care of Zhiryanka in an apartment?
Lacking a striking appearance, like other predatory plants, Zhyryanka wins with its unpretentious care. And the flowering period is quite long, some hybrids can bloom for six months. Amazing endurance and adaptability to living conditions free the grower from unnecessary trouble. But all the same, some efforts will have to be made when growing a fatty woman at home.
- Correct lighting
Oil grass is undemanding to lighting - on the contrary, in direct sunlight, the flower may die. It is enough for her to stay under them 3-4 hours a day, and it is better if it is the morning or evening sun. It must be remembered that zhiryanka prefers swampy areas, therefore it is advisable to bring the conditions of its maintenance closer to natural ones.
Advice
You should put the pot with this plant in partial shade, where it is cool during the day.
A window sill facing west or east with diffused lighting is quite suitable. This crop does not require seasonal lighting correction, but deep shadow is not suitable. You should not often change the location of the pot with the plant, moving it away from the light source - the fat woman does not like this.
Advice
To prevent misalignment and maintain the correct position, mark the pot.
- Temperature and humidity
Zhiryanka does not tolerate heat. Air temperature above 30 ° C is destructive for her. Therefore, in summer, in hot weather, the plant should be shaded. In autumn and winter, a temperature of 10 to 18 degrees will be enough for him. Small temperature drops during the day and at night are welcome.
In order for the fatty to actively grow and develop correctly, it is necessary to maintain high air humidity - from 50% to 75%. But in no case should it be sprayed, so as not to harm its "oily" glands on the foliage. How to proceed? It's very simple: plant the plant in a special closed pot like a terrarium or aquarium (you can buy it at a flower shop).
- How and how much to water?
If the zhiryanka blooms systematically, then she is happy with everything. You need to water it regularly, but little by little, the soil in the pot should be moderately moist, excess moisture will harm the roots. The most optimal watering is through the pallet, then the plant will take as much moisture as needed. Water for irrigation is soft, better - distilled, rain or river water is also suitable. In summer, water should be done after two days, and in winter, reduce watering to once a week.
- How to feed zhiryanka?
Zhiryanka does not need feeding through water or soil. She gets everything she needs from the insects she hunts. But in the conditions of an apartment, the hunting process is complicated by a small amount of "prey".
Advice
How can you help an insectivorous plant to get food? This can be done with a slice of melon or banana placed next to the flower. After a short time, this piece will be covered with fruit flies, which will serve as lunch for the “green predator”.
Reproduction of Zhiryanka
There are three breeding methods:
- through the seeds;
- through the leaves;
- through root division.
All methods are effective - which one is more suitable, judge for yourself.
- Seed propagation
Sow seeds in a container with a moistened sand-peat mixture. Cover the container with glass or stretch plastic to create a greenhouse effect. Put in the shade, remembering to periodically ventilate and moisturize the substrate. It will take several weeks to germinate small fatty plants. After they grow up and get stronger, each should be carefully transplanted to a permanent place.
- Reproduction through leaves
This usually happens in the fall. Zhiryanka, preparing for winter rest, forms new small rosettes. They are divided into two or three parts and planted in prepared soil. It is important to carry out this operation before the active vegetation of the plant begins.
You can also root leafy cuttings by creating a greenhouse environment. After rooting, plant the cuttings in pots with suitable soil.
- Reproduction by division
This reproduction is perhaps the simplest. The right time is spring. Remove the adult fat from the pot along with the soil, carefully divide the root system into two or four parts. Plant each part in a separate small container, which should be filled with the necessary substrate (this can be a mixture of perlite and sphagnum).Then provide proper care as described above.
Zhiryanka growing on the windowsill will give the house coziness with its lovely appearance and will help get rid of various insects.
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