How to care for a ctenant: what is the originality of its leaves, and what species take root in an apartment

Ktenanta is a tropical plant native to South America. Belongs to the family of arrowroots. Of interest are its variegated, unusual, very beautiful leaves.

Botanical features

The genus is small - it includes only about 15 herbaceous perennials. The leaves are large, oblong ovoid or linear in shape. They are evenly green or colorful.

The average height of the bush is from half a meter to a meter. Foliage is different in color, often has the correct geometric pattern. Background color from white to deep green, optional - contrast. The pattern consists of stripes, spots of a triangular and oval shape. Sometimes the picture is complemented by distinct white or pink streaks. The leaves are thin, translucent.

Popular varieties

Not all types of ktenanty suitable for growing in cramped conditions of the apartment. Among the popular varieties, hybrid varieties predominate. The most interesting are six species.

1. Oppenheim. A herbaceous plant up to half a meter tall. The leaves are dense, bright green in color, with pronounced white stripes. The back side is saturated red. The leaves are large, very decorative. It is considered the most hardy variety, it can stand the dry air of apartments and the short-term absence of watering more easily than others.
2. Burle-Marx. A miniature variety, not higher than 40 cm. The leaves above are variegated, gray-green, and purple below. The shape of the leaves is obovate.
3. Lubbers. The plant is medium tall. The leaves are green, with a pattern in the form of large strokes of yellowish-white or grayish color. Strokes are located along the veins. It retains its characteristic color even with a lack of light.
4. Brant leaf. It differs from other species by oblong leaves. The shape of the bush is harmonious, oval. The main color of the foliage is green, the spots are yellowish.
5. Compressed. Large plant, reaching a meter in height. The leaves are large, with a smooth surface, intense green color.
6. Pleasant. It grows rapidly in width. The leaves are oval, silver-green. The peculiarity of care is that it needs more water than other types.

Caretaker

Ctenantha is not the easiest plant to grow. To preserve the decorative and bright colors of the leaves, you need to create a favorable microclimate, choose the optimal lighting. How to care for a potted ctenant?

• Lighting. At any time of the year you need a full diffused lighting up to 16 hours a day. In the summer they shade from the direct sun so that the leaves do not burn out, do not lose their motley color.With a reduction in daylight, the ctenanta is placed under fluorescent lamps. The optimal location is east or west windows. In winter, you can rearrange the plant to the southern window.
• Temperature. Ktenanta does not tolerate sudden temperature changes, does not tolerate drafts. Hypothermia of the root system leads to the death of the plant. Even in winter, soil temperature should not fall below 17 ° C. In spring and summer, the plant is kept in warm rooms at 22-25 ° C, during wintering 18 ° C is enough.
• Watering. Watering the ctenant should be plentiful after drying the soil surface by 1 cm. In the fall and winter, watering is moderate, taking into account the temperature of the content. Water is pre-sedimented or softened with additives for aquarium water. It is undesirable to skip irrigation or flood the plant.
• Humidity. It grows well only with high humidity, at least 70%. The main way to increase humidity is by spraying. A pot with a ctenanta is put in a pan with filler and water. At night, the plant is covered with polyethylene. The atomizer is chosen with the finest possible spraying - large drops leave traces on the leaves.
• The soil. Of the finished substrates, preference is given to formulations for arrowroot, but it is advisable to plant in self-prepared soil. Two halves of peat and coarse sand are taken on two parts of deciduous land, crushed birch coal is added.
• Transfer. Until the age of three, every spring is transplanted, adult specimens - every three years. It’s easier to transplant the ctenant by transshipment - without destroying the earthen coma. Pots use small but wide. Simultaneously with the transplant, wilted, deformed leaves are cut off by the ctenants.
• Top dressing. In winter and during the first month after transplanting, fertilizers are not applied. The rest of the time they fertilize regularly - every 10-15 days. It can be fed with standard mineral fertilizer for deciduous plants. But the dosage is halved compared to the recommendations of the instructions.

Breeding methods

You can propagate the ctenant by cuttings and division of an adult bush. Both methods are effective, give good results.

Dividing the bush

The division of the bush is performed simultaneously with the transplant. The best time is early spring, even before the start of intensive growth. The ctenanta is carefully removed from the pot, the roots are freed from soil residues. With a sharp, sterile knife, cut the bush into two or three parts. A developed root system should remain on each dividend. Slices are treated with activated carbon powder.

Delenki planted in a light moist substrate, consisting of sand and peat. Watering moderately - excess moisture will lead to rotting of the roots. Plastic bags are put on pots with newly planted dividers. They do not need to be tied tightly - they leave room for fresh air. Keep warm, the greenhouse is not removed until the appearance of new leaves.

Apical cuttings

Growing chtenants at home from cuttings is a simple and effective way. Cuttings are cut from spring and throughout the summer. A good stalk has a length of up to 10 cm, several young leaves. Cut off just below the sheet, put in a glass with water, cover with a plastic bag on top.

To speed up the process, a little root stimulant is added to the water. The first roots appear after about a month and a half. After the roots grow back, the cuttings can be planted in glasses with a light substrate of sand and peat. After full rooting, plants will need a transplant into a full-fledged nutritious soil.

Growing difficulties

Unsuitable conditions of detention, a systematic violation of the rules of care, poor-quality soil - all this can lead to a loss of decorativeness. Florists often encounter situations where the ctenantas dry, leaves turn yellow, the shoot rots, and brown spots appear. Problems and solutions are described in the table below.

Table - Problems in growing ctenants

Pests and diseases

Pest invasion is a fairly common problem when growing ctenants. Attacks of insects are more susceptible to weakened plants. Their active development is affected by the conditions of detention - dry air, elevated temperature. The signs by which pests can be identified, and ways to combat them are described in the table.

Table - Pest Ctenants

Ktenanta is resistant to most diseases of indoor plants. Florists have to deal only with gray rot and decay of the root system as a result of waterlogging. Treatment in both cases will be approximately the same. The flower must be transplanted into sterile soil with the removal of all decayed sections of the roots.Damaged shoots are cut off completely. Sections are treated first with a fungicide solution, then with carbon powder. The first time watering is minimized so as not to provoke further decay.

Knowing how to care for the ctenant, you can prevent the occurrence of problems, achieve a beautiful decorative look of the plant. Before buying, you need to evaluate your skills in floriculture, allocate free time to “get acquainted” with a tropical flower. With proper care, the Brazilian beauty will delight the owner with its variegated leaves for a long time.