Pilea Kadier - care and reproduction at home

It is difficult to confuse this ornamental plant with other flowers. The oval leaves of the Cadier pilea with a patchy-striped pattern resemble the rind of a watermelon. For its unusual color, this plant was nicknamed the silver or aluminum saw. Florists love it for its decorative properties, it is easy to care for it. For newbie flower growers, pilea is an ideal option for cultivation, because pilea almost does not require care at home. Placed in flower pots, hanging pots, in group flower arrangements. Growing in hydroponics is possible. In addition, Kadje saws can be grown in florariums (artificial ecosystems placed in glass containers). Today florariums are the favorite tool of designers.

Description of the flower

Perennial evergreen shrub plant 30-40 cm high. The most common species of the Pileum genus of the Nettle family. Stems are thin, flexible, and strongly branching at the base. Young stems are erect. With age, they bend, fall off, near the base they lose their foliage.

Spectacular leaf pattern

Leaves are oblong, long (10 cm long, 4 cm wide) with a pointed tip and base. Attached to the stem with short petioles. The surface of the leaves is glossy, uneven and bumpy. On the sides of the main vein, there are two convex wide intermittent silvery stripes. Two more stripes with the same inclusions run along the edges of the sheet plate. Against the background of lush green leaves, this pattern looks very impressive. The upper young leaves are lighter in color than the lower ones.

The Cadier pilea has a dwarf small-leaved hybrid of a compact form up to 10 cm high.

In nature, Pilea Kadje is found in the tropics of Indochina, grows in shaded areas, in the lower tier of tropical forests, protected from the sun.

Features of home care

When growing a flower at home, there are some rules to keep in mind.

Temperature

It is a thermophilic plant. He needs a temperature regime of 24-26 ° C. Avoid sudden changes in temperature and drafts, otherwise the plant may shed its leaves.

Lighting

Shade-tolerant, but not shade-loving plant. Prefers diffused light, partial shade, window sills of eastern, western and northern windows. On the south side, it is recommended to tidy up to the back of the room.

In winter, it can suffer from a lack of lighting, so you need to rearrange it closer to the window or additionally illuminate it with phytolamps.

Watering, spraying, maintaining moisture

It is easy to pour the Kadier saw or, conversely, dry it out. Therefore, in the summer it is necessary to water regularly as soon as the topsoil dries up. The frequency of watering depends on the temperature and light conditions in the room.

It is impossible to allow constant dampness of the earthen coma and waterlogging of the soil in order to avoid rotting of the roots. Therefore, the excess water from the sump must be drained.

Watered with warm water. When used cold, there is a risk of root rot and leaf fall.

In winter, during the dormant period, water should be watered once a week, keeping the soil slightly moist. Between waterings, the soil should have time to dry out.

The flower does not need spraying.

To maintain moisture, the pot is placed in a pallet with expanded clay and, if necessary, pour water there or lay out the surface of the soil with moss and moisten it.

Priming

The flower prefers slightly acidic and neutral soil types, loose and nutritious, capable of providing oxygen access to the roots.

When transplanting, you can use a universal soil for indoor plants or a soil mixture for decorative deciduous. If you cook it yourself from turf, leafy soil and sand (1: 3: 1), you can add a little charcoal, sphagnum moss or zeolite to improve the properties of the soil.

Top dressing

During the period of active growth, it is necessary to feed the plant once every 2 weeks. To increase the decorativeness of the leaves, it is necessary to choose universal complex fertilizers for indoor plants with a high nitrogen content. When preparing a plant for winter, the frequency of feeding should be reduced to 1 time per week.

Liquid, powder and solid (sticks) fertilizers can be used, but precautions must be taken:

• sticks should be placed as far as possible from the root system so as not to burn the roots;
• with liquid solutions, the Kadje saw is only watered, it is impossible to spray.

Bloom

At home, the pilea Kadje blooms extremely rarely, but if the conditions are matched perfectly, then flowers may appear in June-July.

The flowering of the pilea is inconspicuous, so it does not cause much interest in flower growers

The flowers are small, inconspicuous, pale pink or pale yellow, in shape they resemble stars that form in the axils of the leaf plates. Flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences. Against the background of large bright leaves, they are hardly noticeable.

Pruning

In one season, the stems of Kadier saws can stretch 20-30 cm.To stimulate the branching of lateral shoots, the stems are periodically (1-2 times a month) pinched, that is, the apical cuttings are removed or the most elongated shoots are cut off in order to form a decorative form.

Reproduction

It is convenient to propagate the Kadier saw by cuttings remaining after the planned pruning of the bush. 2 weeks after the cuttings are immersed in a container of water, root shoots form on the bases of the stems. These processes can be planted to the main bush, gradually rejuvenating it.

Propagation by cuttings is the fastest way to get another copy

For seed propagation, the planting material is planted in the ground, sprinkled, sprayed from a spray bottle and covered with glass (you can wrap the container with cling film). After emergence, glass or film is removed. After the formation of 2-3 leaves, they are planted. When it reaches 10 cm, it can be transplanted into a permanent pot.

An adult plant with a good root system can be propagated by dividing the bush.

Transfer

When choosing a flower pot, you should take a small one, since the root system of the Kadier saw is superficial and compact.

It is necessary to transplant a plant in the following cases:

• 1-3 weeks after purchase;
• as needed, when the root system is cramped in the pot. Signs for an urgent transplant: the roots are entwined with holes in the bottom of the pot; leaves begin to dry;
• annually, if pinching is not done in time;
• every 2-3 years with the aging of the bush.This operation is usually performed in the spring. The plant is cut to a height of 10-15 cm, taken out of the pot, the root system is divided and rooted again in the pot.

Growing problems and difficulties

During planting and care, flower growers may face the following difficulties:

• if the temperature is too high and the air is dry, pests can appear: spider mites, thrips. Insecticides work well against them;
• requires constant pruning and pinching. If this is not done, then the bush will become untidy;
• with a lack of lighting, the shoots stretch out, new leaves become smaller;
• with excessive lighting, the leaves wither, their pattern turns pale;
• if the leaves dry, then the air in the room is too dry;
• if the foliage is drooping, and the plant seems to wither, it is necessary to urgently reduce watering.

Pilea Kadje is an incredibly beautiful and unpretentious house plant that can decorate any home. Plus, it's very useful. At home, the Kadje saw requires minimal care, but that does not mean that you planted it and forgot it. You still have to make minimal efforts. In gratitude for this, the flower will present with its lush and unusual greenery.