Plectrantus is an unpretentious plant, first discovered in South Africa. Later it spread to many countries and acquired new names. For example, in the Scandinavian countries it is called Swedish ivy, and in Russia - room mint.
Main types
Plectrantus is annual or perennial. This is an ampelous plant characterized by drooping branches. Therefore, it must be planted in hanging pots. Non ampelous plants are also found, but their distribution is not so wide. Plectranthus species differ not only in leaves, but also in inflorescences. In some plants, they are completely unattractive, others are in demand only due to unusual flowering.
Plectranthus
Mint leaves differ in texture and shape, have different edges and colors. For instance:
- Plectranthus south grows in a horizontal direction, its leaves are green and covered with wax. Therefore, they are dense and smooth;
- Forster also grows horizontally. The plant is used to decorate loggias and balconies. The leaves of its ovoid shape, have a pronounced relief. White stripes on the edges contrast with the green color.
- The leaves of the plectrantus dubifolia are covered with pile, so they are fluffy. If you touch them, a coniferous aroma appears. Their shape is identical to oak leaves, which is reflected in the name;
- Plectranthus variegate is characterized by heart-shaped leaves. They are painted green and have a white border around the edges.
Plectrantus Ertendahl
Plectranthus Ertendahl, or Shporotsvetnik, is a perennial shrub, the height of which does not exceed 20 centimeters. Its leaves are ovoid, even almost round, green. They have a bright pattern along the streaks of silver tint. On the reverse side, the color of the leaves is red, they are rough to the touch.
Plectrantus Ertendahl
Inflorescences form at the apex of the plectrantus. They reach a length of up to 30 centimeters. They consist of several large flowers of white color. The plant reacts to light by changing the shade of the leaves. Redness on the reverse side with an excess of sun goes to the front. This species requires constant pinching to create bushiness.
Plectrantus is felt
Felt plectrantus, or hadiensis, is characterized in that its light green leaves are covered with short down. Color is usually monophonic, but motley plants are also found. At the same time, there are different shades, they can be yellow, mint and dark green.
Hadienzis is common in India, where it is used as one of the ingredients in cooking. At home, the plant looks compact, branches strewn with small leaves hang from the pot. In vivo, plectrantus can reach 70 centimeters in height. This is one of the most photophilous representatives of room mint. During flowering, beautiful blue flowers appear.
Plectrantus Mona Lavender
The stalks of the Monect Lavender plectrantus are long, solid, covered with down. Their color is brownish brown. The leaves of the plant are glossy, dense, the surface is serrated. On the other hand, a purple pile is noticeable.
Plectrantus Mona Lavender
Peduncles form at the top of the stem, leaves on them do not grow. They are also slightly covered in down. The flowers themselves resemble elongated bells and may have a different color. In nature, there are white, lilac, purple, lavender shades. Due to its attractiveness during flowering, this species has gained the most popularity among plant lovers. In addition, the duration of this colorful period attracts. With proper care, the plant can please with a bright view from February to November.
Home Care
When acquiring plectrantus, home care should be designed to ensure that the plant comes from a subtropical climate. It is characterized by long daylight hours, warmth and high humidity.
Watering
The plant requires abundant watering, especially during the growth period. Spraying is also welcome as a way to create conditions of high humidity. This is especially true in the hot season, when the room temperature is above 22 degrees.
Note! It is important that the earth in the pot does not completely dry out. Although, while maintaining this state for a short time, nothing will happen to the plant. Water for irrigation is used at room temperature, it is previously defended.
Sometimes a warm shower is arranged for the plant, previously covering the pot with a film so that the liquid does not enter the soil. The procedure will help get rid of dust accumulating on the leaves.
With insufficient humidity, pebbles or expanded clay can be used. For this, the drainage material is immersed in water, poured into a container on which a flower pot is placed.
In winter, the flower almost does not grow, so the frequency of watering is reduced. Once every 4 days is enough. At this time, on the contrary, excessively waterlogging is dangerous, which can lead to stagnation of water and decay of the root system.
The soil
The soil for the cultivation of plectrantus should not be too dense. You can buy the finished mixture or make it yourself. To do this, you will need:
- humus - 2 parts;
- sod - 2 parts;
- sheet land - 1 part;
- sand (river) - ½ part;
- peat - ½ part.
Top dressing
You need to feed the plant with fertilizers from the beginning of spring to the end of summer. You need to make them once every month. To do this, use fertilizers intended for flowering representatives of the flora. You can alternate organic and mineral products.
Temperature
Mint plectrantus comfortably exists at an average temperature, that is, at 20-22 degrees. In winter, it does not bloom, there is no active growth, so it needs cooler conditions.
Important! The main thing is that the temperature does not fall below 15 degrees. Otherwise, the plant will begin to wither, the leaves will fall, in the end this can lead to death. If you can’t arrange a flower in a room with a cool temperature in the cold season, you need to provide him with additional lighting.
Lighting
Mint loves bright, but diffused sunlight, is bad for direct rays. It is ideal to place a flower pot on a windowsill facing southwest.
Plektrantus in sufficient light
If there is a lack of sun, artificial illumination must be provided, otherwise the color of the leaves will become dull, which will affect the attractiveness of the plant.
Plant transplant
The transplant is carried out once a year, in the spring, until the plant reaches five years of age. Then the procedure is performed if necessary, it depends on the growth rate of the flower.
After buying plectranthus mint, you can transplant immediately. To do this, you need to purchase a pot several centimeters larger in diameter than the previous one. The day before the procedure, the plant is abundantly watered so as not to damage the roots when removed from the container. The earthen lump is not destroyed, immediately transplanted into a new pot, filling up empty places with prepared soil. At the bottom, it is recommended to put drainage in order to exclude the possibility of root decay.
Note! Pots should be used high, since the plectrantus is characterized by a powerful root system, which requires a lot of space.
Breeding methods
It is not difficult to propagate plectranthus homemade mint, the main thing is to follow the sequence of actions and do everything carefully so as not to damage the plant.
Cuttings
In winter or spring, the plant is pruned. This is necessary to create a plant shape, get rid of weak stems, remove old leaves. At this time, you can prepare the shoots for transplantation.
The sequence of actions when propagating by cuttings:
- Harvesting shoots on which there are at least three buds;
- Drainage and prepared soil are poured into the pots. It is necessary to disinfect and moisten it in advance;
- Cuttings are placed in the soil, making small holes with a pencil. You can plant several shoots in one pot, then the bush will turn out more magnificent;
- Young plants are watered as the topsoil dries.
Rooting in water
After 1-2 weeks, the plant usually has roots. This is evidenced by new leaves growing on the stem. You can also root cuttings in water or sand.
Dividing the bush
Reproduction by dividing the bush is carried out during plant transplantation. After the flower is taken out of the pot, the roots are gently brushed off and cut with a sharp knife. It is important to sanitize it in advance to prevent infection of the plant.
Slicing locations are processed:
- ashes;
- activated carbon powder.
New plants are placed in a pot and fill the empty seats with soil. Before planting, moisten the soil.
Useful properties of the plant
Aromatic plectranthus (Plectranthus amboinicus) spreads a pleasant smell when you touch its leaves. He has proven himself in folk medicine. Tea is brewed from the leaves, which is capable of:
- relieve the patient from heat;
- normalize bowel function.
The plant is considered an anti-inflammatory and analgesic, it has diaphoretic and choleretic effects, and also has a laxative effect. In addition, it is used for the manufacture of expectorant preparations. Chewing the leaves of the plant will improve health, relieving nasal congestion and coughing. It is also believed that the flower helps fight asthma attacks.
Tea made from room mint leaves will be useful for impressionable people suffering from nervous strain. It can help with insomnia, as it has a calming effect.
Plectranthus aromatic is also used to combat skin diseases. It relieves itching caused by insect bites. To do this, crush the leaf and attach to a disturbing place. Helps to cope with skin rashes, allergic reactions.
To combat enuresis, medicinal baths with flower leaves are prepared. The recipe for rescue solution is quite simple. To create it, half a tablespoon of crushed raw material is poured with a liter of boiling water. The solution is infused for two hours, then, after straining, pour into a warm bath. In such water you need to lie about 15 minutes.
Plectranthus fragrant
Note! The use of the plant should be agreed with the doctor, as there are contraindications. For example, it is not recommended for pregnant women, as well as during lactation. In addition, use with caution in children, especially until they are three years old. People with sensitive skin may experience allergies in contact with the plant.
Plectrantus in Russia is often called a muhogon, since it is able to clean the room of annoying insects. Essential oils of a molar tree can scare away an unpleasant resident of apartments after a single touch. So called shrub plectrantus, this is a plant with heart-shaped leaves and a uniform green color. He has practically no rest period. In summer, the molar tree grows actively, from mid-winter to spring blooms. This is one of the longest flowering periods among all types of plectrantus.
Plectrantus, whose home care is intended to repeat the climate of the subtropics, looks spectacular in hanging pots. Some species differ not only in attractive leaves, but also in abundant flowering. In addition, the plant has medicinal properties and is famous for its widespread use in traditional medicine. Plectrantus is used not only for the treatment of diseases, in the kitchens of some countries it is added to soups and drinks. In Indonesia, they are used as a preservative for meat and fish.
