Asparagus - care for the plant, what is it?

Asparagus (Asparagus) - a fairly common plant, numbering more than 200 different species. Being the descendants of the tropics and subtropics (Sri Lanka, India, South Africa), asparagus - plants, mostly unpretentious, but requiring certain conditions for successful growth. Many plants belonging to the genus Asparagus are light-loving and winter-hardy, but do not tolerate direct sunlight at all, preferring scattered light or partial shade.

Some of the asparagus, the so-called phyllocladia (slightly flattened, leaf-like thin branches) replace the leaves, others - especially valuable specimens have very beautiful light and filigree foliage - that is why they are widely used in ornamental floriculture, they are used in the interior to give ease and animation to the room.

In indoor floriculture, the most popular varieties are recognized as follows:

• Sprinter flower asparagus
• Mayer's aspergous asparagus
• Asparagus crescent
• Asparagus asparagus
• Asparagus pinnate

The most elegant of all asparagus is a feathery - in this half-shrub branching shoots cascade fall down, forming a lush, weightless bush, the plant fits perfectly into any interior, giving it a graceful extravagance. More heat-loving than other varieties, pinnate asparagus, the care of which is reduced to a fairly frequent spraying and keeping the earthen coma in a wet state, especially in the summer, otherwise does not cause any special trouble.

Asparagus. Care and reproduction

1. Asparagus under favorable conditions develops rather quickly, but it should be kept at a comfortable temperature, humidity, and avoid direct sunlight and drafts. Asparagus, home care is allowed, especially in a temperate European climate, to be grown in partial shade in the open air. The plant feels fine on the balcony or terrace in a warm period of time when it comes cold snap - it should be brought into the room.
2. Asparagus does not tolerate hot dry air, therefore it must be located away from the central heating batteries. The optimal temperature for comfortable maintenance of asparagus is the range from 15 to 18ºС, and in the summer period 25ºС - the maximum limit that asparagus can withstand, which precisely implies scrupulous compliance with the temperature regime, the minimum temperature for the plant in winter is considered 7-8 ° C.
3. Another condition that must be created for the successful development of the flower is the humidity of the air, which is easily achieved, one should spray the plant as often as possible or put the pot in a tray with expanded clay or pebbles.
4. Asparagus, care for which in the summer is abundant watering, requires this procedure approximately 2-3 times a week, in winter - to ensure that the soil does not dry out, do not allow waterlogging. In the period of active growth it is desirable to feed asparagus every week with liquid complex fertilizer.
5. Transplanted in the spring period, but only if the root system of the plant greatly expands and literally pushes asparagus out of the pot, use soil with a normal acidity level. Dust from the plant is removed by spraying, the use of lustrating solution is not allowed.
6. Propagate asparagus, most often, planting seeds in March-April, using a good soil mixture in which large sand is added to improve drainage. At the same time, the temperature is maintained within 20 ° C, the humidity is moderate, the room is recommended to be ventilated more often. After the seedlings have reached a size of 7-8 cm, they are dived, and in the summer (in July) they plant 8-10 cm pots. In the autumn or the next spring, finally transplanted. Another way to reproduce asparagus is to cut the rhizome of an adult plant with a sharp knife, which is carried out in March or April.
7. Asparagus, care for which is still to prevent the appearance of pests on the plant, requires maintenance of moisture, frequent ventilation of the room. In the case of pests, acaricides are used, rubbing the leaves with an alcohol swab and creating the necessary conditions.