"Skimmy" - evergreen shrubin nature reaching a height of 2-3 meters.
In Russia, grown as an ornamental houseplant.
Plant description
Homeland "Skimmy" - Himalayas. It also grows in Japan and China.
The representative of the family rutovyh. It has a sprawling dome-shaped crown, one and a half meter in diameter.
The leaves are shaped like laurel, their surface is smooth, dense structure, color - dark green with red edging.
"Skimmia" is an amazingly ornamental shrub that can serve as a decoration of the garden and the interior of the apartment. Cut stems with inflorescences and beautiful fruits are used in various floral compositions.
Blossoms in March-April, small cream, white or pinkish inflorescences, emitting a pleasant aroma. After flowering, the plant is covered with red berries that adorn the bush for a long time. A feature of this shrub is the presence of male and female varieties.
Reference! "Skimmia" grows very slowly, so it is often used in group cultivation in containers.
Types of "Skimmy"
The plant has about 12 species, here are the most popular ones:
- Japanese (naimans). It has dark green, shiny leaves, white paniculate inflorescences. Fruits are red, some varieties are white. In the cultivation of the tub, the bush reaches a height of 1.5 m.
- Laurel. Distinguished by elongated leaves. Flowers - white-green. Her berries are black.
- Reeves. Differs from other species in smaller sizes. Flowers are white, cream berries.
- Doubtful. A hybrid of male type of flowering, flowers have a strong smell. The highest of all species. Berries do not form.
- Frahrans. Subspecies of Japanese skimia. Flowers have a lily of the valley scent. Male variety.
Home care
For the cultivation of skimia need partial shade.
The place should be well lit, but not direct sunlight.
From sun exposure, the leaves will start to turn pale, get burned.
But at the same time, if the bush doesn’t have enough light, it will stretch and become bare.
Temperature
"Skimmy" does not like the heat, at temperatures above 30 degrees may die. Growing temperature is necessary moderate. In hot conditions, it is necessary to constantly humidify the air.
The plant needs fresh air, so in the summer it can be kept outside or on a balcony. In the presence of suitable conditions, it is desirable for the summer to land in open ground. The conditions of its maintenance coincide with the rules for growing rhododendrons.
Wintering for a plant is necessary at low temperatures (8-10 g). In such conditions, there is a bookmark flower buds.
Watering and feeding
"Skimmy" is sensitive to soil moisture in the summer, so you need to water it regularly. For irrigation, soft, settled water is used. Lime in the water should not be, as it deoxidizes the soil, and "Skimmia" loves the soil with a small acid content.
Reference! Fertilizer must be applied once every two weeks.
For better absorption of minerals by the roots, fertilizing is carried out in moist soil. For "Skimmy" suitable for any fertilizer for indoor plants. The most suitable fertilizer is a mixture for rhododendrons.
Transplant and pruning
Transplantation is carried out in the spring, in the acidic soil.
In addition, the soil should be loose and with plenty of nutrients.
Peat, loam is used as a substrate for planting; a small amount of sand is added to them.
Pot for each transplant need to take a few inches more than the previous one. When transplanting the root sheikun need to leave on the surface.
In the opposite case, the plant will stop its growth. At the bottom of the pot be sure to lay a large layer of drainage. "Scimmy" does not tolerate overwetting, and its roots can rot with an excess of water during irrigation.
Important! There should not be lime in the soil - “Skimmia” does not tolerate it.
The formation of the crown "Skimmy" is not necessary, it independently forms a neat dome-shaped bush. Pruning is to remove damaged and dried shoots. Sanitary pruning shrubs carried out in the spring.
Breeding
"Skimmia" multiplies by cutting and seed method:
Cuttings
As blanks for reproduction, apical stem cuttings are used. Cutting is carried out in spring and summer. 8 cm long billets are cut and rooted in the peat-sand mixture. Before being placed in the substrate, the lower leaves are removed from the workpiece, the cut is processed by a root formation stimulator.
Greening conditions are needed for rooting, so the cuttings are covered with transparent caps.
Seed method
Before planting, a seed stratification procedure is required.
Prepared seeds are planted in separate containers.
Depth of landing - 1,5 cm.
Proshivaniye should be carried out at a temperature not lower than 22 degrees, otherwise it will not rise.
Preparing the soil for sowing, mixing peat and soil in a 1: 1 ratio.
Pests and diseases
"Scimmy" is affected by spider mite, shield and aphid. When signs of infection appear, the plants are washed with warm water, you can additionally add a soap solution. This is followed by treatment with insecticides.
Important! About the appearance of pests plant signals brown spots on the leaves.
The most common disease of "Skimmy" is powdery mildew. The leaves when it is covered with white bloom. For the prevention of the disease, fungicides are treated.
When a bush is infected with a fungal infection, black spots appear on the leaves. Another problem of Skimmy is chlorosis. They are sick of a plant that is not enough iron sulfate in the soil. When the leaves turn yellow it is necessary to add this mineral substance.
Unpretentious in care, but at the same time surprisingly decorative plant "Skimmia" will become a real decoration of the interior of your home.
