Clerodendrum is a perennial lignified liana or a sprawling shrub in the Verbena family. In the natural environment, it is found in Asia, Africa and Latin America, mainly in the tropical zone. Florists often call the plant "bride’s veil", "innocent love", "tree of fate" or valcameria. Although in the culture of clerodendrum, it has long been gaining popularity in home floriculture, but it is doing so at an accelerated pace. Already today, many flower shops present a variety of species. However, so that after buying the flower without a hitch, you need to create favorable conditions for it.
Plant description
Clerodendrum is a genus of evergreen or deciduous plants with branched shoots up to 4 m long. Vines prevail among life forms, but trees and shrubs are also found. The stems are covered with smooth olive-green or reddish-brown skin. On them opposite are petiole simple leaves of dark green or emerald color. The heart-shaped, oval or ovoid foliage with whole or fine-toothed edges grows in length by 12-20 cm. Depressions along the central and lateral veins are clearly visible on the surface.
On the tops of the shoots and in the leaf sinuses are corymbose or paniculate inflorescences, consisting of small, but very beautiful flowers. They grow on a long peduncle and resemble amazing bouquets. The bell-shaped calyx is divided into 5 parts. Its diameter reaches 25 mm. Then follows a finer corolla of a contrasting shade, and a bunch of long (up to 3 cm) thin stamens peeps out from its center.
Flowering continues from mid spring to early fall. Bracts usually have a lighter or pure white color, and in the color of the petals acquires a pink, lilac or scarlet hue. The flowering of clerodendrum is accompanied by a delicate pleasant aroma. It also comes from the leaves. Moreover, each type of plant has its own unique smell. Corollas fade much earlier than bracts.
After pollination, oblong fleshy fruits of an orange tint appear. Their length reaches 1 cm. Inside the only seed is hidden.
Klerodendrum Types
In total, more than 300 varieties are registered in the genus, but not so much is used in indoor floriculture.
Clerodendrum of Madame Thompson (Thompson). The most popular species is a deciduous lignified liana with thin, smooth shoots. Dense foliage of a dark green color grows to 12 cm in length. The leaf plate swollen between the veins is oval with a pointed end. In March-June, loose brushes on long peduncles rise above the vegetation. White bell-like bracts surround scarlet small buds. Long white or cream stamens peek out from the center. Externally, the flower is very similar to a moth with long antennae.
Clerodendrum Uganda. The evergreen vine grows shoots up to 2 m in length. They are covered with broad-lanceolate dark green leaves, between which loose panicles grow with bluish-purple small flowers. The stamens on these colors are particularly long and painted blue. The lower petal is enlarged, it has a darker shade. The variety requires brighter lighting and plentiful watering.
Clerodendrum brilliant. Evergreen shrub with long curly stems. The leaves on it grow opposite or in whorls of 3 pieces. An almost rounded sheet plate reaches 8 cm in length and 6 cm in width. The edges of the leaf are wavy, the base resembles a heart. Short peduncles with dense tassels of scarlet-red buds grow from the sinuses of the foliage. In favorable conditions, blooms all year.
Clerodendrum Wallich (Prospero). On the long flexible branches of a reddish-green hue, large dark green oval-shaped leaves grow. Their length is 5-8 cm. Between them large inflorescences bloom with snow-white flowers. The bush itself is quite compact, but moody. He needs a long daylight hours and high humidity.
Clerodendrum Filipino. The variety, still rare for our country, has an intense aroma of flowers, in which notes of vanilla and jasmine are mixed. By evening, the smell intensifies. A dense corymbose inflorescence blossoms on a long peduncle. The buds look like tiny (up to 3 cm in diameter) roses. The width of one inflorescence reaches 20 cm, so it really resembles a bouquet. Shoots are covered with dark green velvety leaves of a wide oval shape. Flowering begins in the second year of life.
Clerodendrum bunge. The Chinese species is growing especially fast. The plant grows light green broadly oval leaves, which are collected in whorls. Beautiful spherical inflorescences from small pink buds bloom on the stems. From a distance, the flower is like a firework. Flowering continues throughout the summer.
Clerodendrum specosum (the most beautiful). A sprawling bush up to 3 m high consists of branched tetrahedral shoots. This evergreen plant is covered with large leaves in the shape of a heart with a short soft pile. They grow on reddish petioles. From June to September, purple inflorescences with a darker, lilac-red corolla delight.
Clerodendrum inerme (unarmed). An evergreen shrub with long vines is covered with oval emerald leaves with a relief central vein. It blooms in white, moth-like flowers with long purple stamens. Variety variety is interesting. It is distinguished by lighter (light green) spots on the leaves, which create an exquisite marble pattern.
Clerodendrum Schmidt. A shrub or small tree is distinguished by dense shoots and bright green oval leaves with a wavy edge. During flowering, many brushes form on drooping peduncles. They carry snow-white flowers. They exude a pleasant sweetish aroma.
Breeding methods
Clerodendrum propagates equally well by seeds and cuttings. Sowing seeds is usually practiced when there is no way to get a stalk. Shallow boxes with a mixture of sand and peat soil with turf soil are used. Doing it better at the end of winter. The container is covered with foil and left in a warm room with good lighting. Condensate should be removed daily and the soil sprayed. Before the appearance of the first shoots, 1.5-2 months will pass. When the seedlings grow 4 leaves, they are dived into separate pots. Typically, 1-3 plants are placed in a pot with a diameter of 6-11 cm. After adaptation, the seedlings will quickly grow.
If you managed to get a clerodendrum stalk with 2-3 knots, then it is first put into water with the addition of activated carbon. Cuttings develop best during March-July. With the appearance of small white roots, plants are moved into small pots. At first they are covered with a plastic bottle or can. After adaptation, transshipment is carried out in larger containers. To get branched bushes, sprouts should be pinched several times.
Care Secrets
At home, the main difficulty in caring for clerodendrum is to create comfortable conditions that are close to natural.
Lighting. The plant loves bright diffused light for 12-14 hours daily. It can be placed deep in the southern room or on the eastern (western) window sill. At noon, shading is required. On the northern window of light, the clerodendrum is not enough and phytolamps will have to be used. Without it, flowers can not wait.
Temperature. Clerodendrum refers to plants with a pronounced dormant period. From April to November, the optimum air temperature for it is + 20 ... + 25 ° C. On too hot days, you need to ventilate the room more often or put a flower in the open air, but protect it from drafts. In winter, you need to provide the plant with a cool content (about + 15 ° C).
Humidity. High humidity is vital to the plant. It should be sprayed several times a day, regularly bathe and wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. For water procedures, well-purified, settled water is used so that ugly stains do not appear on the leaves. In winter, clerodendrum should be placed as far away as possible from the radiators.
Watering. Indoor flowers need regular, but moderate watering. At one time, a small portion of soft water at room temperature is poured into the soil. In spring and summer, only the topsoil should dry out. In winter, the land is allowed to dry half, but no more.
Fertilizer. Clerodendrum is fertilized from March to flowering three times a month. A solution of a mineral complex fertilizer intended for flowering plants is poured into the soil.
Transfer. The root system of clerodendrum is quite fragile, so the transplant is carried out by the method of transshipment. For the root rhizome, a deep pot is needed. At the bottom there is a 4-5 cm drainage layer made of fragments of red brick, pebbles or expanded clay. The soil is made up of:
- sheet soil;
- clay soil;
- river sand;
- peat.
Pruning. Even in room conditions, the plant can reach impressive sizes. Fortunately, it tolerates pruning well and can take any form (bush, tree or flexible vine). In spring, cut to a third of the length of the stems and pinch the tips of the sprouts. The benefit of pruning is also that the flowers bloom on young shoots. The resulting material is convenient to use for cuttings.
Possible difficulties
Clerodendrum has excellent immunity and is extremely rare, with prolonged improper care, suffers from fungal diseases. Other ailments are not afraid of him.
Of the parasites, the plant is attacked by a spider mite and whitefly. Most often, insects breed when the air is too dry. Modern insecticides will help get rid of them quickly. Processing is carried out in batches of 2-3 times with an interval of 4-7 days.
Sometimes the appearance of clerodendrum becomes unsatisfactory due to errors in care:
- leaves turned yellow and wilted - insufficient watering;
- brownish spots on foliage - sunburn;
- the leaves dry from the edge and fall off along with the buds - the air is too dry;
- internodes are too long, and bare shoots - lack of lighting.
Sometimes flower growers can not wait for fragrant buds on the clerodendrum for a long time. Lack of flowering is usually associated with an improperly organized dormant period (warm wintering). Also, a lack of fertilizers or an excess of nitrogenous fertilizing can become a problem. It is only necessary to transplant the flower into the correct soil, and in the winter it should be kept for several months at a temperature of + 12 ... + 15 ° C and at the beginning of spring the first buds will be noticeable.
