Rheo houseplant with purple leaves. Proper home care for a rheo flower. You might also be interested in

Rod Reo (Rhoeo) has one type of plant - Reo vellum, of the commeline family. The homeland of the plant is the tropical rainforests of Mexico and the Antilles. The origin of the name of the genus Reo is unknown, but this plant has a different name, which has become widespread among flower growers - the Boat of Moses.

The plant blooms almost all year round, has very decorative deep purple massive leaves, loves bright lighting! What is not an ideal plant? The flower is able to decorate any interior, be it a living room or a respectable office, and it will ask for a minimum of time to take care of itself: water and feed it periodically, and sometimes transplant and divide it. Actually, here are the basic wisdom and a few tips if trouble happens to him ...

In appearance, Reo is a bit like dracaena or cistern plants from the bromeliad family. An adult plant is often confused with bromeliads, because the lower leaves die off, and the upper ones have the appearance of a rosette. As decorative foliage plants widely cultivated in the tropics of both hemispheres, it runs wild easily. It is also widely cultivated in rooms, especially recently. Although rheo can bloom throughout the year under favorable conditions, it is grown for its beautifully colored, dense, shiny leaves.

There are two more fairly well-known synonyms for this species.- Rhoeo discolorand Tradescantia spathacea.

Rhoeo spatula Rhoeo spathacea or Reo variegated Rhoeo discolor - the name is outdated, now this plant is considered one of the representatives of the genus Tradescantia and its correct name Tradescantia spathacea Tradescantia spathacea... This is a herbaceous rhizomatous plant with a short fleshy erect stem, from which fleshy leaves densely planted to each other of a linear-lanceolate dark green color, red-violet below, about 30 cm long, practically forming a rosette, extend. There is a form "Rhoeo spathacea Vittata"with leaves covered with yellow stripes on top and purple-red underneath.

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Reo "Sitara Gold"

The Rheo flower is ideal for beginner florists. First of all, Reo is not whimsical in leaving and therefore you will not need to worry too much if, gaining experience, you do something wrong. This is an undemanding flower, like a cyperus, cactus or sansevier. But on the other hand, it is outwardly original and beautiful as dracaena. Often this houseplant is credited to one of the types of tradescantia, although this is a controversial issue. Reo is actually a close relative of Zebrins and Tradescantia, they all belong to the Commeline family. But some botanists believe, and it would be more correct, that such a flower forms its own separate genus Reo.

Rheo plant releases flowers almost a whole year. Rheo flowers are white and small, inflorescences are collected on short pedicels.Small white flowers of rheo hide scaphoid opaque purple bracts, due to which rheo got its popular name "Moses in a basket".

In order for the flower to have a decent look and grow as a lush bush, it is necessary to regularly pinch the shoots, while you can plant the cut off shoots in one pot. The lower leaves die off over time, the stem is bare and the plant takes on a sloppy look. You can simply cut off the ugly trunks, over time, side shoots will appear on the rheo, and the plant will again look worthy.

What is an unrepresentative flower? This plant will serve as a decoration for any interior: be it a respectable office or just a living room. And to care for him it will take very little time, only an hour from an hour Reo needs to be watered, sometimes fed, and after a while divided and transplanted.

The plant is very fond of light, the south window is the most suitable place for it. But in the summer heat, Reo still needs to be shaded a little, otherwise the leaves will suffer from the rays of the sun.

The flower likes the constantly moist soil, so it's okay if someone mistakenly water it again. Handsome Rheo grows remarkably when the earth is wet all the time in the warm season. But in the winter with watering, you need to be careful, you need to reduce them a little, but there should be no drying out. Watering is desirable with settled water, rainwater is even better suited for this. In winter, the flower must be watered with warm water. And yet, the flower does not like very much when water gets into the places on the stem, where the leaves are attached (internodes), you need to try to prevent this from happening.

Well, it is understandable that if the plant is good at moisture, it develops well, accordingly, if it is regularly sprayed. An outdoor shower is a great way to keep the flower toned and clean.

In the summer season, from May to August, it is good to use complex fertilizing, a classic mineral fertilizer for decorative deciduous. In rare cases, organic matter can be used: tincture from egg shells and onion husks.

Reproduction of the Reo flower.

The only and probably the most correct is the way of dividing the bush. If properly cared for, Reo grows very quickly. This makes it possible to get new plants at any time of the year. Alternatively, the rooting of cuttings on the sides, they are there all the time, appear at the base. So there should be no problems with reproduction. Throughout the year, light small flowers appear, although they do not carry an important decorative value, but this is how anyone. The flower has no seeds.

Plant transplant... A similar flower grows in a group from time to time, children sprout from the soil. So Reo needs to be replanted every year. For this purpose, it is better to use a pot wide rather than deep. You can prepare the land for planting yourself. To do this, you need to take: a part of the earth is clay-turf, the same amount of leaf and peat mixture, the same parts of sand and humus.

There must be drainage at the bottom. Although Reo is a moisture-loving plant, there is a possibility of root rot from an excess of water or root mites can damage them. If you cannot make the mixture yourself, then you can purchase ready-made soil for decorative deciduous flowers.

Signs of flower disease... The leaves turn brown at the tips and then dry out. This is a 99% high probability that the reason is dry air. This mainly happens in the winter, when the central heating is turned on in the apartments. At this time, the flower must be very often sprayed or placed next to dishes with water. This will help not only Reo, but all the plants that are nearby.

The edge of the leaf becomes brown, the leaf itself curls and eventually dries up from the lack of moisture. This can also happen from cold watering in winter. It is necessary to water only with warm water and then the flower will be in complete order.

If the plant stretches strongly upward, the leaves have become few, and they are rarely located on the stem, then most likely there is not enough lighting. Another reason for this state of the flower is a lack of nutrients.

With abundant lighting, the motley color of the leaves fades, the stripes along the leaf are barely visible. We urgently need to rearrange the flower where there is a little less light. The stems of the plant turn brown and become soft due to excess moisture. This happens most often in winter. In order not to lose the flower at all, not to let it die, you need to cut off the healthy part and put it in water or soil for rooting. Do not be afraid to transplant Reo in winter, if the flower is in danger, you need to save it.

Having familiarized yourself with these simple rules, you can successfully cultivate such a beautiful indoor flower as Reo!

Reo is a decorative and unpretentious flower that will look great as a single plant or in combination with other potted crops. Its dense leaves of deep purple or variegated color will enliven any interior. Growing reo will not cause much trouble, so it can be recommended even for novice growers. To ruin this hardy plant, you need to try hard, however, its attractive appearance depends on proper care.

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Description

The official name was given to the flower in honor of the nymph Reo, so it is correct to speak of it in the feminine gender. Until now, botanists are arguing about the systematization of the plant: some distinguish it into a separate monotypic genus, others refer to the genus Tradescantia. One of the names of the rheo is sheath tradescantia. It testifies to the close relationship of the flower with the unpretentious representatives of the Kommelinov family: tradescantia, zebrina and callisia (in the folk way - golden mustache).

The homeland of reo is the tropics and subtropics of the American continent with a warm, humid climate. However, the plant is perfectly adapted to the harsher conditions that it can create in an apartment. In the natural environment and indoor culture, rheo is grown as a perennial. Its thick, fleshy stems are capable of reaching 0.5 m in height. With enough light, the shoots grow straight, forming dense thickets, and when illuminated from the side, they tilt to the sides and create bushes of arbitrary shape.

The xiphoid pointed leaves are close to each other and grow up to 25-30 cm in length. Their color depends on the variety; leaf plates can be plain or covered with a pattern in the form of longitudinal stripes or streaks of white, yellow, pink or burgundy. With age, the lower leaves die off, part of the stem is bare, and the plant takes the form of a false palm.

The flowering of rheo is rather inexpressive: its white small flowers are hidden by scaphoid bracts, due to which the plant was named the Rook of Moses. Under favorable conditions, the plant can bloom all year round.

There are few species cultivated at home, but all of them are highly decorative:

• The striped rheo has light longitudinal stripes on the outer part of the leaf.
• The color of rheo pink corresponds to the name - its foliage is decorated with stripes of pink color.
• Rheo multicolored Compacta is a compact, low-growing bush.
• Rheo multi-colored Vittata differs from its "congeners" by the presence of longitudinal yellow stripes.

Thanks to the work of breeders, new spectacular varieties appear. So, the multi-colored rheo Stripe in Pink will become a worthy adornment of any interior, because its white-pink stripes on a purple-silver background are not inferior in attractiveness to expensive exotic cultures.



Rheo multicolored Vittata



Rheo multicolored Compacta



Tsiperus - features of care and reproduction

Care

Rheo perfectly adapts to any room temperature and light, undemanding to the composition of the soil and moisture. But in order for the flower to please with a healthy appearance, it is desirable to create conditions for it that are close to natural.



Lighting

For growing the Rook of Moses, lighting plays a leading role - the more sunlight the plant gets, the richer the color of its leaves. The most successful for the location of the flower are the eastern or western windowsill. When placing a bush on the south window, care should be taken that a translucent curtain is located between it and the window, which protects the leaves from the burning rays of the sun and the formation of burn spots.

By the appearance of the plant, it is easy to determine whether natural light is enough for it: stretching of shoots, pale leaves and a change from purple to green are a signal to rearrange the flower in a more illuminated place. In the cold season, which is characterized by short daylight hours and the prevalence of cloudy weather, the rheo may lack lighting. In this case, you can help the flower by illuminating it with fluorescent or LED lamps. The total duration of daylight hours should be at least 10-12 hours, but only on condition that the temperature in the room is above +20 ° С.



Temperature and humidity

Despite its tropical origins, the Moses Rook does not tolerate high temperatures. Optimal parameters in spring and summer are +20 ... + 24 ° С, in winter +14 ... + 18 ° С. Placing a flowerpot with Tradescantia covered, you should take care of the complete absence of drafts - their effect will negatively affect the state of the flower.

But there are no special requirements for air humidity: reo normally tolerates dry air in apartments, but to maintain its decorative effect, it must be periodically sprayed with purified (filtered) water. In spring and summer, you can bathe the plant under a weak stream of warm water (+30 ... + 35 ° C), but this procedure is not recommended during the flowering period.

Watering and feeding

You need to water the reo carefully. The flower loves that the soil inside the flowerpot is always slightly moist, but excess moisture can destroy it. When watering, you need to focus on the state of the top layer of soil in the pot and water it only on the third day after it dries.

To prevent the spectacular foliage from acquiring a brown tint, it is necessary to use soft, settled water at room temperature or 2-3 degrees warmer. It is advisable to pass it through a household filter or a reverse osmosis system - only in this way will it be possible to cleanse the liquid from harmful mineral salts and lime impurities.

Water the rheo at the root so that water drops do not fall into the leaf axils.

During the active growing season (from March to September), feeding should be carried out 2 times a month, using any universal fertilizer for indoor decorative deciduous crops. With the onset of autumn, when the air temperature in the room decreases and the length of daylight hours decreases, feeding should be stopped. But if the temperature of the content remains the same and the plant has enough light, it is recommended to apply fertilizer once a month, adding it to the water for irrigation.

Pruning

The reo does not need special trimming. As the old leaves dry out, spoiling the general appearance of the bush, they should be carefully cut off, and for better tillering, pinch the tops of the shoots. In the warm season, using pruning, you can give the plant the desired shape, and use the cut cuttings for propagation.

Tradescantia vernacular secretes sap, which on contact with the skin can cause irritation in the form of redness or itching. Therefore, during pruning and planting work, it is advisable to protect your hands with waterproof gloves and protect your eyes.

Soil and transplant

Rheo is not demanding on the composition of the substrate, therefore, for planting or transplanting it, a universal soil for decorative deciduous plants, which can be purchased at any flower shop, is suitable. If you have leafy, sod, humus soil, peat and sand at hand, they can be mixed in equal proportions and the resulting soil can be used instead of the store one.

It will be necessary to transplant the Rook of Moses every spring, acquiring pots of larger diameter. The process is simple, so even an inexperienced florist can handle it. Transfer from an old pot to a new one should be carried out by the transfer method, trying not to destroy the clod of earth surrounding the roots. Adults or highly overgrown specimens are best transplanted every 2-3 years and do it together, so as not to break fragile stems.

Rheo transplant step by step:

1. 1. At the bottom of the new pot, lay a drainage layer at least 2-3 cm thick using expanded clay, river pebbles or broken red brick. Top with a little fresh potting mix.
2. 2. Carefully remove the bush from the old container and transfer to the center of the new flowerpot. To prevent the soil from crumbling from the roots, the plant must be watered several hours before transplanting.
3. 3. Fill the voids between the soil clod and the walls of the pot with a fresh substrate, tamping lightly with your hand. The soil should not be strongly pressed down, so as not to worsen the air and moisture permeability of the soil.

When planting a rheo, it is worth considering that its rhizome grows in breadth, located in the upper layers of the soil. Therefore, it is advisable to plant a flower in wide, but shallow pots.

Reproduction

The indoor flower rheo reproduces quite simply: cuttings, parts of an adult bush, or seeds can be used to obtain young specimens. Each of the methods will not cause any particular difficulties, but it has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Cuttings

Propagate rheo by apical cuttings or root suckers, preferably in the warm season. For better rooting and to prevent decay, leaves should be removed from the bottom of the planting material, which will be submerged in soil or water. You can root the plant in a container with water or in a moistened mixture of peat and sand, consisting of equal parts.

Cuttings set for rooting should be kept in a warm (+20 ° C or slightly higher), well-lit place. After the roots grow up to 1.5-2 cm, they can be planted in a permanent place. If they are in the ground, the formation of young leaves is a sign of successful rooting.

To make the future bush look more attractive, several cuttings need to be planted in one pot at once.



Cuttings with full roots are ready for planting

Dividing the bush

The reproduction procedure is best carried out simultaneously with the next spring transplant:

• remove the adult bush from the pot;
• using a sterile knife, divide the mother specimen into 2 or more parts, so that each of them has strong, well-developed roots and several shoots;
• plant each piece in an individual pot, following the recommendations set out above.

This method is very convenient - in a short time you can get several attractive bushes at once. However, this breeding option is available only to those who already have a fairly adult plant in their home collection.

Seed reproduction

Sowing rheo seeds can be carried out at any time of the year, provided that the apartment is warm. However, with seed reproduction, it is not always possible to obtain the desired result: most often, the varietal characteristics inherent in the mother plant are not transmitted. So, the seeds of spectacular varieties with a striped leaf surface give shoots with a nondescript monochromatic color, and varieties with a purple tint turn green.

You need to germinate seeds in a moist sandy-peat substrate, cover with glass or a bag and ventilate daily. When shoots appear, the transparent cover can be removed and the shoots can be looked after as usual, moistening the soil as needed. Fresh seeds usually germinate well and sprout amicably.

Growing problems

The state of health of Tradescantia vellus is evidenced by its appearance: a healthy flower has strong, juicy stems and bright leaves with a rich color. Drying or withered foliage and drooping shoots should be cause for concern. Typical mistakes that can lead to illness are listed in the table.

Description of symptoms	The reasons	Treatment
The lower leaves dry and fall	In adult plants, this is a natural process, as with age, the lower part of the shoots is exposed.	No special measures required
Reo sheds young leaves	Waterlogging of the soil	Reduce watering. In advanced cases, replace the soil in the pot and water more carefully in the future
The tips of the leaves turn brown and dry	Insufficient watering Dry indoor air	Adjust watering schedule Spray the flower periodically with a fine spray
The color of the leaves has become pale and less expressive	Watering with water with a high content of chlorine and calcium compounds Lack of lighting	Use purified or boiled water for humidification Rearrange to a brighter place, in winter turn on fluorescent or LED lamps next to the flower
Shoots are strongly stretched, internodes are lengthened	Lack of lighting	Provide the required level of illumination. Do not put a pot of rheo on the north window
Slow shoot growth, shrinking foliage	Lack of nutrients in the soil	Feed the flower according to the fertilization schedule
Sluggish, drooping leaves and stems	Low air temperature	Move the pot to a warmer place, remove the flower from the cold windowsill
Yellow spots on leaf plates	Burns from direct sunlight	Shade the bush with a translucent curtain or mesh tulle.

Of the pests, the greatest danger to Moses' boat is the scale insects. Having found insects on a flower, it is necessary to treat all the leaves with soapy water. Preliminarily remove adults from them. With a strong infection, it is easier to remove the damaged leaves, and spray the entire bush with an insecticidal preparation (Aktara, Fitoverm, Aktellik).

Frequent waterlogging of the soil can provoke the development of root or stem rot. At the first signs of a dangerous disease, it is necessary to remove the bush from the pot, examine the roots and cut off all diseased fragments. Healthy parts should be planted in a fresh bush, and if the root system is in disrepair, the apical cuttings should be cut and rooted.

Conclusion

It is possible to keep a reo in the house not only to decorate the home, because the flower has a lot of useful properties: it endows the residents of the apartment with creative energy, neutralizes the waves of aggression, and helps to find a solution in a dead end situation. Some experts in occult sciences use the magical power of the Rook of Moses to perform various rituals, and in the homeland of the flower, its leaves are used as a medicine.

Reo (or reo) is an indoor flower belonging to the Kommelinov family. It is also a distant cousin of Tradescantia, which are particularly unpretentious houseplants. Therefore, it is ideal for those people who do not yet have sufficient experience in caring for indoor plants.

Naturally, it grows in South and Central America. Most often it can be found in tropical forests on the banks of rivers or on the edges, where the level of humidity is highest. Also, this flower is seen on the slopes of the rocks, which just speaks of the unpretentiousness of the plant.

The plant is perennial. Its length reaches a maximum of 40 cm. It has beautiful oblong two-colored leaves of green on top and purple on the bottom. The leaves are xiphoid, rather fleshy, up to 35 cm in length, grow from a thick trunk in different directions from its very base to the top. On some types of rheo, there are thin white stripes on the upper side of the sheet.

For a more lush appearance, reo is often planted several plants in one pot. Also, to make it look like a bush, you can pinch the top, after which side shoots will appear.

Main varieties

The flower has several varieties that are grown at home. Among indoor plants you can find the following types:

• Vittata - this type of rheo is characterized by long stripes on the leaves of a beautiful yellow shade.
• Compacta - the variety is rather low, making it very suitable for the formation of a bush. It has purple and green leaves.
• Stripe in Pink - dwarf type of rheo. It is attractive for its unusual color - the top is a silvery leaf with pink stripes, while the lower part of the leaf has a pink-purple hue. It also looks very nice in the form of a bush.

Reo: home care

Landing

Reo at home can be planted in two ways.

Location and lighting

Rheo is a very light-loving plant, therefore it is best to keep it on the south side... However the summer midday sun is best avoided... The leaves of a relative of Tradescantia are very delicate, and direct sunlight can burn them. In winter, the flower may suffer from a lack of sunlight, so during this period it is better to provide it with additional light using lamps. With a lack of light and excessive shading of the room, the rheo is strongly stretched, and the color of the leaves dims greatly. During the flowering period, it is better to avoid frequent rearrangements regarding lighting, since the flower does not like this.

Pot size

In rheo, the root system is arranged in such a way that roots grow in width, not in length, therefore, select plant pots not too high and wider. The size of the pot depends on the number of reos planted together. If this is one flower, then a pot with a diameter of up to 20 cm is enough for an adult flower, and if there are several plants, and they form a bush, then the pot can reach 35-40 cm in diameter. If the growing shoots begin to droop, then a hanging pot or using a pot stand is ideal.

The soil

The rheo plant must be constantly kept in moist soil, so before planting or transplanting a flower, it is necessary to form a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot. Expanded clay is ideal. But water should also not stagnate to avoid soil acidification. Usually, rheo is not too whimsical in choosing a soil, but for the best growth it is still worth following some rules regarding the composition of the soil.

It should consist from leaf and sod land, humus or peat and sand... All types of soil are mixed in equal amounts. Also in specialized stores you can purchase a ready-made substrate for decorative deciduous plants.

Transfer

The best way to transplant in late spring or early summer... A young rheo flower is transplanted annually, while an adult plant is transplanted every 3-4 years. The size of the diameter of the pot should differ from the previous one by 2-3 cm, while the pot should be wide, not deep due to the peculiarity of the root system, which grows in breadth, as mentioned earlier.

Fertilization and feeding

As a rule, most indoor flowers need additional minerals and other nutrients. A relative of Tradescantia most of all needs feeding in the summer, since it is at this time that the active development and growth of the flower falls. An indoor plant at this time must be fed at least once every two weeks.

Used for feeding complex fertilizer, which contains various minerals. It is specially designed for decorative leafy plants. You can buy it in specialized stores. Mineral dressing can also be alternated with organic. In autumn and spring, plant feeding is reduced to once a month. In winter, fertilization should be avoided altogether.

Watering

As mentioned earlier, reo requires keep the soil constantly moist, therefore, the flower requires abundant watering, especially in spring and summer. When the top layer of the substrate dries up, the plant must be watered. Overdrying the soil in two days can already harm a houseplant.... In winter, rheo is watered after three days of drying of the topsoil.

The substrate should be moderately moist in winter. For watering, it is better to use soft and infused water. After half an hour after watering the flower, the remaining water in the pan must be poured out. It is very important to avoid excessive moisture in the soil to prevent acidification.

Temperature

The temperature at which the rheo is contained should be moderate. In summer, it can reach no more than 24 degrees. In winter, the houseplant should be kept in a room where the temperature does not drop below 16 degrees. The plant does not like drafts, especially in winter, so they should be avoided. However, the reo is quite tolerant of the included air conditioner in summer. And heating in winter also does not affect the health of the flower. If the plant is overexposed in the cold, then its leaves will lose their attractive appearance, become lethargic and lose their elasticity.

Humidity

Due to its tropical origin, reo is very likes high air humidity... Air humidity of 70-80% is the most ideal for a flower. In winter, when the heating in the premises is turned on, the air becomes especially dry, so at this time the plant must be sprayed daily. For spraying used settled water at room temperature... Also, to increase air humidity, a pot with rheo can be placed in a pallet, into which wet expanded clay or pebbles are poured. If they ate the plant to deprive the necessary moisture, then the tips of the leaves will begin to dry out. During the flowering period of rheo, it is better to avoid abundant spraying, since its inflorescences are very delicate, and jets of water can harm them.

Pruning

Over time, rheo loses its attractive appearance due to the loss of the lower leaves. But pruning, as a rule, does not return its attractiveness, but only leaves ugly and thick hemp. Basically a plant does not need constant pruning... To maintain the appeal of the reo, its simply needs to be renewed approximately every 4 years, planting again.

To bring a flower of a more bushy look, it is enough pinch a couple of times a month... The appearance of a houseplant can also be spoiled by faded rheo flowers, which dry out over time and look quite ugly. Dried flowers have to be removed by pinching off by hand or carefully cutting with scissors.

Pests and diseases

• Even with the most common plant care, reo is very rarely exposed to various diseases and pests... Perhaps the reason for this is the bactericidal qualities of the flower. Only occasionally on a houseplant can you notice the presence scabbards... In this case, it is enough to place the rheo under a warm shower and simply wash off the formed sticky coating with water. If the lesions are strong enough, then the damaged leaves of the flower should still be removed.
• Also, in very dry air, leaf tips may dry out... In this case, it is necessary to provide the plant with sufficient air humidity using a spray bottle.
• If a leaves start to dry more intensively and several pieces at once, this indicates insufficient soil moisture.
• Decay of the stem at the base rheo indicates an excessively low air temperature. Cutting and rooting the top of the plant will save the day and renew the flower as a whole.

Bloom

Rheo inflorescences due to their unusual shape were named "Moses' Boat". This is what the plant itself is often called.

Flowers form in the axils of the leaves at the very stem of the plant. The inflorescences are presented in white, rather small in size, have only three petals. They are covered by a certain purple bract, which in appearance is very similar to a rook.

Rheo bloom continues throughout the year, subject to all the necessary conditions for plant care. Otherwise, with a lack of trace elements or the wrong air temperature, rheo may not please with its flowering at all.

Plant toxicity and beneficial properties

Currently, the chemical composition of the plant is not fully understood, but in many places it is used in folk medicine. Its flowers are used in some countries for bleeding into the intestines and dysentery. When various wounds and tumors occur, a decoction is made from the leaves of plants, from which compresses are made and applied to the problem area. In extreme heat, it is used for a stronger excretion of fluid from the human body.

In Mexico, the juice of the rheo plant is used to produce blush. Cubans use flower juice for severe bleeding, and in case of respiratory diseases, a decoction from rheo leaves saves. The hot leaves of the plant cope very well with rheumatism. However, before using rheo for various diseases, it is still worth consulting a specialist first. There have been cases when rheo juice caused severe allergies. Its juice is very pungent and irritating to the skin. May also cause dermatitis.

Rheo is a perennial plant with a developed rhizome and a straight stem, which lengthens due to dying lower leaves. This is an extremely unpretentious plant in care and reproduction. Rheo multiplies easily and quickly, you can use apical cuttings, side shoots or seeds.

Stem cuttings

Reproduction of Rheo in a home environment can be done all year round, but it is better to combine this process with an annual planned spring transplant, since when optimal conditions are created, the rheo flower grows very quickly.

Reproduction by cuttings is the easiest and most affordable way to quickly grow new specimens in the right amount and without any problems. Places for cutting can be chosen anywhere in the trunk between two buds, wherever you cut the stalk, it will take root in any case. You can put it in water, with or without rooters, you can immediately bury it in the ground above the lower bud. The only condition is that immediately after cutting, the stem must dry out within 24 hours. Any manipulations with cuttings do not require special professional skills, since reo takes root very easily without the use of any stimulants or additional funds.

Lateral shoots grow actively after pinching the top of the plant, therefore, after cutting off the apical cuttings for rooting, you automatically get many new shoots for subsequent reproduction. Most often they appear at the base. When transplanting, you can use the division of the bush as one of the types of reproduction.

Seeds

Seeds are planted in spring, preferably in April, first in containers and then dive into individual pots. The room temperature should exceed 20 C, humidity does not matter much. A mixture of peat and sand is used as sowing soil; more nutritious soil is used for further growth. Fresh seeds, as a rule, produce friendly shoots.

If the task is to grow the seeds yourself, you can only use the rheo flower with green leaves. In variegated varieties, color is not transmitted during seed propagation. The inflorescences appear from the axils of the xiphoid leaves, at the very trunk, and are tightly converging bracts in the form of a boat with small white leaves hidden inside. They dry out over time and can be carefully separated from the trunk and used on seeds.

Breeding conditions

In bright light, the plant grows leafy very quickly. In this regard, it is not necessary to wait for the appearance of numerous roots; with the correct selection of soil, a flower, even with single roots, will quickly grow. As the lower leaves die off, the trunk becomes higher and higher, with a lack of light, it can bend and even hang down, like a tradescantia. Therefore, for cuttings, it is better to choose trunks of sufficient thickness so that the young plant initially has a margin of safety.

It is advisable to choose pots that are wide and shallow. The flower forms one or more lush bushes, and under good conditions, it can grow very tall before the next transplant.

For greater stability and proper root formation, the width-to-height ratio of the pot should be approximately 2: 1. This will avoid unscheduled transplanting, as well as overturning the pot with too rapid growth.

Sudden changes in temperature, as well as drafts, must be excluded.

Watering abundant until the soil is completely dry, it is better to use soft water, the plant will thank for such attention with bright expressive two-colored leaves and abundant flowering throughout the year, although, as a rule, flowering occurs in summer.

It is imperative to use large drainage, which facilitates the removal of excess moisture, its stagnation in the pallet is also unacceptable.

After rooting, the plant does not require maintenance of special parameters of temperature and humidity, and it tolerates well the usual conditions of a city apartment or office. You can completely do without spraying the leaves or humidifying the air; it is enough to occasionally bathe the plant in a shower at room temperature. In this case, you need to ensure that excess water does not stagnate in the leaf axils.

After planting rheo in the soil, after two weeks, you can fertilize with any nutrient mixture for decorative leaf plants. The flower is very responsive and undemanding, there is no need to carefully select mineral components, any universal fertilizer option will do to preserve the color of the leaves and stimulate growth. Souring of the soil is unacceptable.

The soil should be rich in humus, moderately light and loose. An arbitrary mixture of leaf, clay - sod, humus and peat land with a small addition of coarse sand to improve drainage properties is suitable.

Young plants - annually, adults - every 3-4 years In summer 20-25, in winter at least 16 In summer - abundant watering so that the earthy clod is always moist, in winter - cut watering Only in dry air Moderate ambient light

Lighting

The flower loves moderate diffused light. If the light is too bright, its leaves lose their saturated colors; if they are exposed to direct sun, burns may form.

You shouldn't keep the reo in partial shade... From a lack of lighting, its stem will stretch, and the plant itself will weaken.

Also, with insufficient leaves turn pale. Therefore, in winter, the flower must be rearranged on the most lighted windowsill. The winter rays of the sun do not harm the plant.

Temperature

Reo doesn't like extreme heat. The optimum temperature for it is from 20 to 25 ° C. In summer, if the temperature in the apartment rises strongly, the plant needs to be watered abundantly, otherwise it may die or lose foliage.

Winter temperature for Rheo must be at least 16 ° C... If it is not possible to lower the temperature in winter, you can keep the plant at normal room temperature, but away from radiators and in good natural light.

Watering

In summer, the plant is watered abundantly. Do not allow the earthen lump in the pot to dry out.

The soil must be constantly moistened... However, stagnant moisture in the soil has a negative effect on plants, causing root rot.

In winter, the frequency of watering should be reduced, and the plant should be watered with warm water. The water should be soft, rainwater is best.

But if this is not possible, tap water should be defended for at least 5 days. When watering, you need to try so that water does not enter the internodes and cause rotting of the leaves and stem.

Spraying

Spraying rheo should be done carefully and only if necessary

The flower is sprayed only in dry air. This procedure is carried out in the summer heat and during the heating season. Use a finely dispersed spray of moisture so that water does not drain from the leaves into the internodes.

In hot weather, it is useful to put the reo under a warm shower... This not only increases moisture, but also removes dust and dirt from the leaves. After the shower, the flower must be turned over and shaken off so that there is no water left in the axils of the leaves.

The soil

The soil for planting rheo should be nutritious, loose and light.

From purchased potting mixes suitable for light or medium soil for decorative leafy indoor flowers... It is very good if it includes peat.

In order to mix the soil yourself, you need to take peat, turf soil, humus, leafy soil and coarse sand. All components are taken in equal parts. Perlite can be used instead of sand. It is useful to add charcoal or activated charcoal to the mixture to avoid root rot.

Fertilizer

The plant is fed from early May to late August. At this time, liquid mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil for decorative deciduous crops. They need to be applied only to wet soil every 2 weeks.

Since the beginning of September, the plant is fed once a month, and in November, the fertilization of the soil is stopped. Feeding is resumed only with the onset of the spring growing season.

Humidity

The flower tolerates the usual humidity in a city apartment well. It is necessary to increase it only during extreme heat. It is also useful to humidify the indoor air during the heating season.

Spraying with a water spray is used to increase the humidity... You can use a tray with a damp substrate in which the pot with the plant is placed.

Trim / Support / Garter

Different instances of rheo branch out differently. Sometimes they easily form side shoots. In this case, they are not cut or pinched.

It is only necessary to sometimes remove the dried lower leavesso that the plant does not lose its decorative appearance.

If the shoot does not branch, pinch its top. This stimulates the formation of lateral processes. The bush becomes lush and very dense.

Diseases

Rheo is extremely rare. Root rot can sometimes begin with improper watering or poor drainage. Usually, drying the soil, and then gently wetting it, can defeat this disease.

Powdery mildew affects the plant if water remains in the leaf axils during spraying or watering. It is necessary to cut off all affected leaves, and treat the entire bush with a fungicidal solution.

The scabbard most often settles from on the rheo, although this also happens extremely rarely. If harmful insects are found, all adult scale insects must be removed immediately, and the bush must be treated with an insecticidal preparation.

Problems

Rheo is an unpretentious plant. However, with significant errors in the content, even with such a flower, numerous problems can arise:

• If the shoots are stretched, the color fades, and the leaves become smaller - this is a sign of a lack of light, and small leaves may appear due to a lack of nutrients;
• The appearance of yellow spots on the leaves indicates too strong lighting - these are sunburn;
• The lower leaves of the plant can turn yellow and dry out due to stagnant water in the soil with abundant watering, while the growth of the flower slows down;
• The leaves of the plant drop and dry out with insufficient watering in hot weather;
• The plant can suddenly drop leaves with a sharp drop in temperature or in a draft;
• The tips of the leaves darken and dry out only in very dry air.

Reproduction

Rheo seeds and cuttings. Usually, the first method is not used in room conditions. It is very laborious and ineffective, and plants grown from seeds do not retain varietal characteristics.

When propagated by cuttings, you can get a beautiful large plant in a short time.

Varietal characteristics when growing plants from cuttings are preserved... This propagation method is very simple, usually 100% of the prepared cuttings are rooted.

Cuttings are cut in the spring in mid-April. They should not be very short, at least 10 cm in length. Root them in water or soil. In boiled water, they take root in 1-2 weeks.

For rooting in the ground, they are planted in separate pots with a mixture of peat and sand in equal parts. Water them sparingly 1-2 times a week. After 7-10 days, they take root and grow.

Transfer

Young, actively growing specimens slow down their development without annual growth. They are transplanted into fresh soil in the spring.

Large adult rheos need a transplant every 3-4 years.

For a flower, it should not be deep. Choose low and wide containers so that the roots grow freely in width. The pot for the transplant should be 4-5 cm wider than the previous one. The material of its manufacture does not matter.

A drainage layer 2-3 cm thick from pebbles or brick chips is laid on the bottom of the pot. The plant is removed from the old pot along with a lump of earth. Only the top layer of soil is removed, the rest of the earth is left on the roots. The flower is transplanted by the transshipment method, and fresh fertile soil is poured from above and from the sides.

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