Seasonal changes in myrtle careAnd today, flower growers are not averse to seeing a myrtle in their collection, care at home for which a beginner can master. In a pot culture, two varieties of this evergreen are most often found. These are the common myrtle, or Myrtus communis, and the small-leaved myrtle, Myrtus microphylla. In nature, the diversity of species is much wider. Today, botanists have about a hundred varieties of this culture, found in subtropical and tropical regions on both sides of the equator.
Evergreen myrtle in pot culture
Since ancient times, myrtle has been respected in the countries of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Respectful attitude has survived to this day. But if in regions with a warm climate, myrtle is one of the favorite garden and park plants, then in countries with a temperate climate, shrubs or small trees, up to 2 meters high, are planted in greenhouses or room pots.
Taking care of a myrtle tree at home will not be a big deal, and the plant will thankfully respond to flowering and even fruiting. Myrtle flowers are reminiscent of Chinese camellia flowers. Due to the large, protruding stamens, they seem fluffy and perfectly decorate the house in the first half of summer.
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If in the process of caring for myrtle to conduct artificial pollination, by the autumn the shrub will be covered with blue-black berries. Seeds that are inside the ripe fruit, germinate and can be successfully used for reproduction room culture.
Culture is valued as a source of essential oil, the aroma of which is easy to feel, stretching a pair of small leathery leaves densely covering the shoots in your fingers.
Cultivation of an evergreen myrtle will bring the grower many interesting observations and pleasant moments. But how to care for myrtle at home? What are the content requirements of this Mediterranean look?
How to care for myrtle?
In the indoor environment, the myrtle showed itself to be a rather uncanny, grateful plant responding to care. With proper care of myrtle, regular shaping of the crown and proper selection of a place, pot culture pleases with thick greens, a compact form and the absence of diseases.
The plant is light-requiring, beautifully related to watering and spraying, but it is not advisable to place a myrtle pot in hot, stuffy rooms. In the cold season, a green pet needs cold wintering.
The best place for myrtle where the plant will be under the bright but not scorching sun for a long time. If the pot is exposed to the south window, it is useful to shade the bush during the midday hours. But on the north side the plant feels uncomfortable, the foliage loses brightness, growth slows down, and flowering in conditions of lack of light can hardly be expected.
How to care for myrtle at different times of the year? From spring to mid-autumn, while there are no frosts, the pot can be kept on the balcony, loggia or in the garden, only slightly sheltering from the wind and the sun. Here the plant is watered, fed and protected from pests, because the risk of their attack outside the premises increases significantly. In winter, home care for myrtle changes, which is caused by the natural development cycle of the plant and the change of season.
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Seasonal changes in the care of myrtle
How to care for myrtle flower with the onset of autumn and winter? At this time, the plant slows down growth, rests on the active growing season and lays the foundation for future flowering. The optimum temperature for the maintenance of myrtle in winter is 6–10 ° C.The coolness does not contribute to the rapid evaporation of moisture and its consumption by the myrtle itself, so watering is reduced, making sure that the soil and roots do not dry out completely.
Gulf of soil in winter is extremely dangerous because of the risk of losing the entire bush, which inevitably rot in the cold wet ground.
If the plant remains to hibernate at normal room temperature, it needs regular watering and mandatory krone irrigation. Such a measure will help myrtle cope with staying in a dry room atmosphere. A sign of lack of moisture and discomfort experienced in this case are fading and falling leaves. If you do not take urgent measures and do not arrange care for myrtle, your pet will remain without foliage until spring, and will refuse to bloom in summer.
Top dressing, pruning and transplantation of indoor myrtle
Top dressing of indoor myrtle bush is done in two weeks and combined with ordinary watering. Maintain mineral supplements and organic plant should be in spring and summer. In winter, this measure of care is no longer needed.
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Evergreen has long deserved the love of flower growers who are keen on bonsai. The small-leaved form of the plant is ideally suited for these purposes, allowing for several years of painstaking care to get the most bizarre outlines.
Mirth easily tolerates pruning. But it is best to conduct it in the spring, when it has not yet begun active growth. In the summer, a radical change in the shape of the bush is not carried out, but during this period it is very effective to nip young shoots, which causes the stems to bush.
Early spring is not only the optimal time for pruning, but also for transplanting myrtle indoor tree.
The root system of this crop is not distinguished by its rapid growth, but once every 3–4 years an adult plant is still transferred to a larger pot, and it is useful to replant young seedlings annually. Myrtle feels good in light, loose soil of moderate nutritional value. A universal mix for ornamental crops and a homemade substrate made of sod land, peat, sand and humus will also work for him. With proper care, the myrtle at home grows and pleases the owner over the years, becoming a living symbol of well-being, love and peace.
Interesting Facts About Myrtle - Video