Dichondra ampelous - growing from seeds at home

This spectacular ornamental plant began to delight amateur flower growers not so long ago. For the first time dichondra was presented at the “Flowers 2004” exposition. There, the plant won the hearts of spectators and judges, getting the second place. The name can be translated from Greek as "a pair of grains". So the flower was nicknamed because of the appearance of the fruit.

Dichondra is represented by ten species. Belongs to the Vyunkov family. In the wild, it is found in the tropics and subtropics. Prefers moist forests and wetlands of East Asia, Australia, America.

Dichondra in the garden

Care features

This plant grows well in urban apartments. But it can just as well be grown in the open field, thereby decorating your garden plot. The bindweed is unpretentious and undemanding to care for. It grows quickly and practically does not get sick, for which we are loved by many flower growers and landscape designers. The owner is required to regularly water, sprinkle and determine the correct planting site or position of the flower container.

Temperature

Dichondra ampelous prefers a temperature of 18-25 ℃ above zero. But it is quite capable of surviving and growing in colder or hotter conditions.

Important! Thermometer readings below +10 ℃ have a detrimental effect on the flower, as well as large temperature drops.

Registration of the boundaries of the site

Lighting

This representative of bindweed is not capricious in terms of illumination. It grows with equal success in the shade and in the sun. But still, if the primary goal is a decorative function, then the Silver Waterfall dichondra should be grown in a sunnier area. Under the influence of sunlight, the liana becomes more powerful, branchy, and the color of the leaves acquires saturation and depth. To a greater extent, this applies to varieties with silvery leaves. Since this shade can only be preserved in plants planted on the sunny side of the site.

Watering

The plant calmly refers to a short drought, but gratefully accepts regular watering, delighting the owner with a lush crown and large leaves. Watering is optimal in the pre-sunset time. This will help avoid possible burns to the surface of the sheet. In hot summer conditions, watering should be done every day. If the temperature does not rise above +20 ℃, then watering is permissible in a day or two. The dichondra flower does not like cold water. From hypothermia of the root system, the flower may die.

Spraying

In case of hot weather, the plant needs to be sprayed over the leaf. As well as watering, it is worth carrying out the procedure in the evening to avoid burns to the bush.

Sufficient moisture supply to the plant ensures its decorative effect

Humidity

Despite the fact that creeping dichondra tolerates drought well, it loves good moist soil and air. If in the area where the bush grows, the water is located close to the surface, then the plant itself will provide itself with moisture to the proper extent, although watering in this case is also necessary, but less often - once every seven days.When groundwater is located far from the root system, watering must be carried out with special care, otherwise the leaf will become smaller.

Priming

Dichondra loves loamy soils. It is better if they are drainage and balanced in terms of acid-base indicators. The plant does not feel well on acidified soil.

Top dressing

Fertilizer responsive. The first feeding should be after the appearance of the first leaf. The next time will come a couple of days before transplanting to a permanent place. After that, the compositions of potassium and nitrogen are applied every two to three weeks. When simple rules are followed, the plant will be lush and fast-growing.

Pot

When growing dichondra at home in a pot, it should be noted that the plant needs sufficient volume for full growth. In a small container, the decorative effect will not be fully noticeable.

A well-chosen pot is of great importance for a plant.

Features of winter care. Winter hardiness

Dichondra Flower Silver Waterfall or Silver Thread

Wintering bindweed must be provided in indoor conditions. If the climate is mild and severe frosts are not expected, then it is enough just to cover the plant for the period of cold weather. The room does not have to be warm, just the absence of a minus temperature is enough.

Note! If the dichondra was growing in the open field, then the stems should be pruned first. Thus, only the root along with a lump of earth is brought into the house.

The coolness and darkness immerse the bindweed into hibernation. With the onset of spring, children can be found at the root, they should be carefully separated from the adult plant and planted on the site. During the winter, the plant does not need to be fed, but it can be watered once every two weeks.

Transfer

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You need to transplant the plant to a permanent place in the evening. During the night, the root system adapts to new conditions, which will increase the survival rate of the bush.

Before planting, you need to form holes at a distance of 10 cm from each other. A peat mixture is laid at the bottom of each hole. And only after that, with care, so as not to damage the delicate roots, a bush is planted. The hole is covered with earth and well watered with warm, settled water.

Planting dichondra seedlings

Features of outdoor care

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Dichondra ampelous planting and care, cultivation - practically do not cause problems. Special attention should be paid to preventive measures. For example, in order to avoid the appearance of insects on the bushes, you need to:

limit watering in sufficiently moist soil, cool climates, as well as densely planted areas;
exclude mulching;
use only manual weeding, as you can damage the closely located root system;
planting plants on nitrogen-poor lands.

When it blooms

This representative of the bindweed is not a flowering plant. But, despite this, it pleases the eye with its decorative effect.

Decorative view of dichondra

Pruning

To give the bush a form and splendor, it must be pinched. This is done after the formation of the eighth sheet. In addition, for the same purpose, it is advisable to cut the stems every two weeks.

How does it multiply

Dichondra is grown not only from seeds, although this method is very popular with flower growers. In addition, you can propagate the plant by cuttings or by rooting cuttings.

Dichondra ampelous cultivation from seeds

The seeds of the plant are sown in the ground in early February. Before planting, the material should be soaked for a day in water, or in a growth stimulant solution, which will quickly wake up and start all the necessary processes in a small seed. The seeds are placed in a mixture of soil and peat to a depth of half a centimeter. It is more convenient to use small pots, planting 2-3 seeds. Then the container is closed with foil or glass.

Additional Information! Don't forget about the ventilation of the containers. Providing good lighting and an air temperature of about +23 ℃, you can grow a strong plant.

Often, dichondra ampelous is grown from seeds not in pots, but in special peat tablets. This solution has also worked well and is often a more convenient way to plant dichondra seeds. These tablets already contain the proper amount of nutrients, which provides plants with greater germination. In addition, further transplantation of grown dichondra seedlings into the ground is less traumatic for its root system.

Only one seed is placed in one tablet. But no matter how the dichondra planting and care is carried out, seedlings will appear in 7-8 days. Seedling growth is very slow. The film and glass can be removed when the seedling grows a little.

Planting dichondra in separate containers

The soil under the shelter should be regularly ventilated, loosened and watered. A young plant does not tolerate direct sunlight, as well as dusk. After the fourth leaf appears in the young plant, it is time to carry out the pick. If the plant has a place in a hanging planter, then it is advisable to immediately transplant it to a permanent place. When the plant grows in the garden, the sprout is temporarily transplanted into a large container. They are planted in open ground only if warm weather is established.

Planting and leaving dichondra in the open field involves the regular carrying out of the necessary manipulations and a beautiful bush will delight the owner throughout the growing season.

Important! Planting on a site in the middle lane is carried out two months after planting the seeds. Often the planting time of the grown offshoot is shifted to mid-June, as, for example, in Siberia.

Dichondra: propagation by cuttings

In the process of pruning vines, cuttings remain. This is an excellent planting material. By placing them in water and waiting for the roots to appear, cuttings can be planted. First, they are placed in containers under the foil. During this period, the plant needs sufficient illumination, an air temperature of 20-25 ℃ above zero, regular watering and ventilation.

After a short time, the trimmed stem will take root and grow. After that, it is planted in a permanent place.

Propagation of dichondra by layering

This method is the simplest and does not require any special skills from the grower. To propagate the plant by layering, you need to incline the stem to the surface of the ground and fix it in this position, regularly watering. After the root system appears in the place of contact with the soil, the daughter plant is cut off from the mother plant.

Possible problems

Dichondra is undemanding to care. An unpretentious plant copes well with difficulties. It is recommended to regularly spray the stems with special compounds during the growing season. This manipulation is justified with regard to pest control. Fleas and nematodes can cause significant harm to the bush, and fighting them will require more time and effort than prevention.

Worth knowing! The introduction of fluff-lime into the soil has proven itself quite well. For the same purpose, before planting in the garden, the plants are sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate.

Common varieties

On the territory of Russia, two out of ten varieties are widespread.

Emerald Falls

The Dichondra variety Emerald Waterfall is distinguished by the fact that it needs much more moisture for full-fledged cultivation. The leaves of the plant are colored deep green. Feels great in partial shade, while the lack of light has practically no effect on the color of the leaves. As a rule, this species is chosen when there is good soil cover. At the same time, the dichondra ampelous Emerald Waterfall also looks spectacular in hanging pots, thereby justifying its name.

Emerald waterfall in a composition with flowering plants

Silver Falls

This species has leaves with a beautiful silvery shade. Silver Falls dichondra stems are long, the plant needs sunlight to provide a silvery coloration. It is resistant to droughts. Resistant to pests and adverse weather conditions.

Typically, dichondra silvery falls are grown in containers and pots. Hanging silvery branches look unusual and adorn the design of any garden.

Dichondra silvery waterfall growing in a container

Dichondra in landscape design and as an ampelous plant for decorating facades

Often grown as an annual. In southern countries and in its historical homeland, it has been growing for several years and is a perennial. In Australia, it is considered an ornamental weed with a sanitary role. Usually dichondra is planted in hanging containers.

A green or silvery waterfall is fairly easy to form. Subsequently, you only need to monitor the shape of the "beard" by regularly trimming it. The Silver plant is found in independent plantings, as well as in compositions with other flowers.

Waterfall beard shaping

Repens is often used to form green canopy in an area. Moreover, if the land of the garden has differences in height, then this is beneficial. In this case, a dichondra carpet looks more spectacular. Liana looks beautiful on flower beds with gelichrizum and when decorating balconies of houses in combination with flowering plants.