Clusia - genus perennial plants family Clusiaceae. Representatives of the genus, shrubs, subshrubs and trees, in natural conditions found in the tropics and subtropics of America.

Majority known species Clusias are epiphytes by nature. The seeds of this plant are carried by birds and most often germinate not on the ground, but on trees or fallen trunks. Aerial roots stretch down and eventually reach the soil. Often the plant on which clusia has settled dies, suppressed by its powerful root system.

Clusia leaves are leathery, green, opposite, with short petioles. There are varieties with variegated colors. They can be 5-20 cm in length depending on the type. The leaves contain sticky juice.

The flowers are fragrant, most often white in color, but can be pale yellow or pink. Over time, the fruit ripens - a dense, leathery capsule with seeds. After ripening, it opens in the form of an asterisk.

One species that is popular as a houseplant is Clusia rosea. Under natural conditions this is large evergreen, bush or tree. Its leaves are oval, glossy, leathery, rich green, about 20 cm long. The flowers are located on the tops of the shoots and are white and pink in color. IN room conditions rarely blooms.

Clusia recently appeared on our market, but has already become a popular indoor plant. With its glossy, dense leaves, it resembles ficus, but differs in the color and texture of the leaves and the shape of the shoots, which allows you to create interesting compositions from these plants.

Clusia grows quite slowly, without losing its decorative appearance over several seasons. Thanks to attractive appearance and fairly high resistance to substrate drying out, it is often used for office landscaping. By pruning, the plant can be given the shape of a tree or bush.

Clusia has one interesting feature: It is often called the "autograph tree" because unusual feature its leaves retain marks for a long time. The damage is scarred, maintaining a light shade and the scratched text remains for a long time.

Lighting. Clusia is a plant of tropical forests, where the light is bright but diffuse. It is photophilous and prefers bright lighting, but it is recommended to cover this plant from direct sunlight. In winter you can keep it on a south window, and in spring and summer an east or west window is preferable. If there is not enough light in winter, the shoots become very elongated and the leaves are rarely located on them. In such cases, additional illumination with phytolamps is useful.

Temperature. Clusia is a thermophilic plant. Like ficuses, it does not tolerate cold drafts in winter. Optimal temperature for it within 25°C, in winter it can be lowered to 20°C.

Air humidity. In its natural environment, the humidity is high, but clusia adapts well to home conditions. To increase humidity, it is useful to regularly spray this plant with water at room temperature.

Watering. Water moderately after the top layer of the substrate has dried. Clusia tolerates slight drying out without problems, but overwatering will lead to rotting of the roots. It is better to water rarely, but abundantly, remembering to ensure that excess water can flow freely from the pot.

Fertilizer. It is useful to feed in spring and summer, but not too often. It is enough to water once every two weeks with complex fertilizer in half the dose indicated on the package. In autumn and winter you don’t have to do this, but if there is additional lighting and shoot growth is noticeable, you can feed it once a month.

Transfer. It is better not to replant the clusus unless necessary. She doesn't tolerate it well. If the plant does not fit in the pot, then carefully transfer it to a slightly larger pot without washing or shaking off the soil from the roots.

The soil. A light, breathable substrate consisting of leafy, coniferous soil, peat, vermiculite and sand is suitable for planting. Be sure to provide good drainage in the pot.

Reproduction. Clusia propagates by apical cuttings in spring and summer, although they do not always take root. Most often, failure occurs due to the fact that the temperature is low. Both air temperature and soil temperature should be at least 25ºС. For good rooting, cuttings can be planted in a mini-greenhouse, covered with glass or plastic bag. If it’s cold, the greenhouse will have to be heated. Before planting, cuttings are treated with root growth stimulants. It takes a long time to take root, about 3-4 weeks.

Diseases and pests. Clusia suffers little from pests when proper care. Scale insects, spider mites and mealybugs may appear.

Origin. Florida, Caribbean.

Description. A large genus of trees and shrubs, containing approximately 300 - 400 species, of which some are grown as indoor plants. Clusia is a semi-epiphytic plant that grows on another tree when young and then sends out roots that go into the ground. The leaves are hard, leathery, dark green or olive green, 5 - 20 cm long, collected in whorls, rounded, resembling a spoon. Autumn flowers are attractive, pink or white, cream, greenish, often two-colored - with a dark center and light edges, up to 8 cm in diameter, with rounded petals. After flowering, small, green, spherical fruits with a diameter of 5 - 8 mm are formed, which become black when ripe and burst. Plants are dioecious - male and female flowers develop on individual specimens. Variegated varieties have cream stripes and spots on the leaves.

Height. In nature, the clusia flower is a tree reaching 10 m in height. IN indoor culture maximum height is 150 cm, develops slowly.

Clusia care

Temperature conditions . Prefers tropical heat, enjoying temperatures around 25 in summer °C. At home, it should be kept warm all year round. Do not expose the plant to temperatures less than 13 ° WITH.

Clusia at home - lighting . Can grow in both partial shade and sun. In winter, place in the brightest place. At good lighting plants look stronger.

Care. A hardy plant that does not require much time and labor to care for. Long stems are pruned annually in early spring to maintain a beautiful compact shape. Clusia does not like heavy pruning - it is better to prune often, but little by little.

Substrate. Sandy, well-drained soil.

Top dressing. During the growing season, feed with liquid fertilizers at half the dosage. Do not feed the plant in winter. To make the plant bloom, use fertilizers high in phosphorus and potassium.

Purpose. Can be grown as bonsai; miniature varieties with lodging stems are used as ground cover.

Clusia flowering time . During the summer, in indoor conditions it blooms only when good care, quite rare.

Air humidity . To increase humidityUse a tray with wet pebbles or spray the leaves of the plant in the morning with soft water at room temperature.

Soil moisture . Young plants need regular watering. Adults are quite drought-resistant. The soil should dry out between waterings.

Transfer. Young clusias are replanted annually in the spring, adult plants need replanting every 2 - 3 years. For large tub plants, the top layer of soil is replaced annually with fresh one.

Clusia are perennial evergreen shrubs and subshrubs that grow in tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America. Tourists like to leave inscriptions on the leaves of the clusia; in the future, they become scarred and remain for a long time. In its homeland, clusia forms trees several meters high, and in our latitudes there are large and miniature varieties for growing bonsai. The plant pleases with lush greenery, beautiful flowers and amazing star fruits.

Description

Named after the Dutch scientist Carlus Clusius, Clusius is classified as a separate family, Clusius. Among the numerous varieties there are clusias growing in the soil and epiphytic forms. The root system is branched, the main roots gradually become woody and occupy a large area underground. New plants can form from spreading roots.

The stems are strongly branched from the base and along the entire length. The plant has greenish young growth, which is gradually covered with light brown bark. The milky juice of clusia has long been used for various purposes. It served to fasten parts in shipbuilding, and also helped get rid of calluses and other ailments.

The dense, leathery leaves have a short petiole and are arranged alternately on the stems. The surface of the leaf blade is smooth, bright green. The leaves are oval or lanceolate in shape with a solid edge and a pointed end. The length of each leaf can be from 8 to 20 cm, and the width - 5-8 cm. There are varieties with small foliage.

The clusia flower is interesting; its petals are slightly thickened and seem to be covered with a waxy coating. IN natural environment flowering continues throughout the year. The buds open at night and curl up in the morning. Each bud consists of 4-9 rounded petals, colored White color with pink or yellow streaks. The diameter of each flower is 4-5 cm.

After pollination, the fruit ripens in place of the bud. When closed, it resembles a round poppy box covered with light green skin. The diameter of the fruit is 5-8 cm. As it ripens, the skin turns dark brown and the fruit opens in the shape of a star. Inside there is red pulp and many seeds. Clusia fruits are inedible; the juice may cause irritation if it comes into contact with the skin.

Plant species

There are more than 150 varieties in the family, but there are not many clusias that you can keep at home.

Clusia rosea (rosea)- the most popular type. This is a tall shrub or low tree with strong shoots and elastic foliage. The fleshy leaves are located on shortened petioles and have a round or diamond-shaped shape. The maximum length and width of foliage is 20 cm. Coloring sheet plates plain, dark green. When young stems are damaged, a yellowish-green milky sap is formed, which becomes clear when dried. Single flowers appear on young apical shoots. Their petals are white or pink color, and the core has a bright yellow color. The diameter of each flower is 8 cm.

Forms a branched shrub or small tree up to 3 m high. The length of the lanceolate leathery leaves is 7-8 cm. Each flower consists of 4-8 rounded petals and reaches a diameter of 5 cm. Closer to the core, the flowers are painted red or burgundy, and the edges remain white.

Forms large shrubs up to 3 m high and up to 1.2 m wide. Oval or obovate leaves 8-18 cm long are attached to the stem with short, thick petioles. Flowers on young shoots are collected in small inflorescences of 3-5 pieces. The diameter of each white or cream flower is 5-8 cm.

Reproduction

Clusia propagates better vegetatively, using layering and rooting of apical cuttings. Cut stems about 15-20 cm long are rooted in water or moist sandy-peaty soil. It is recommended to treat their base with a stimulating solution (root, heteroauxin). During the rooting period, the plant needs a room with warm and humid air. The temperature must be maintained at least +25°C. Rooting can last about a month.

Aerial roots are formed along the entire length of the stems of adult clusia. They serve to obtain nutrients from the air and joining other trees. Upon contact with bark or fertile soil, thread-like roots begin to grow and acquire a more dense structure. After the rhizome has grown, you can cut off the shoot and transplant it into a separate pot.

Seed propagation is very labor-intensive and ineffective. The seeds quickly lose their viability, so sowing is carried out immediately after collection in a damp mixture of peat and sand. The plant needs to be supported high temperature soil and air humidity. The container is covered with film and left in a bright place. Within 4-6 weeks, rare shoots appear. They are ventilated daily, but kept under film until 4 true leaves appear, and only then they are very carefully accustomed to their natural environment.

Clusia care

To ensure that caring for your clusus at home does not turn out to be too difficult, you need to immediately select the right one for it. appropriate place. Buy clusia better in spring, then the process of transportation, transplantation and adaptation will go almost unnoticed. For planting, choose light, fertile soil. You can use a mixture of the following components:

• vermiculite;
• sand;
• peat;
• leaf soil;
• coniferous soil.

A drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the container. The pot is selected according to size or with a small margin. Each transplant is a great stress for the clusus, so it is not recommended to carry out this procedure often. If possible, use the transshipment method while preserving the old earthen clod.

Clusia needs long-term daylight hours and diffused light. It is best to place it at some distance from the window or use western and eastern window sills. In winter, lamp illumination is recommended. The bush needs a constant air temperature of +20…+25°C. In the summer, if there are no significant cold snaps at night, it is recommended to take the pots outside. Choose places without drafts.

Clusia prefers moist air and responds well to spraying with warm, settled water. Water the plant often, but in small portions. Drying of the upper half of the soil is allowed, but stagnation of moisture is unacceptable.

From April to October, clusia needs fertilizer. Can be used universal mineral supplements. To a healthy plant A half dose of fertilizer added to the water for irrigation is sufficient. In winter, there is no need to fertilize the bushes; watering is also reduced.

Possible difficulties

Clusia is resistant to most pests and diseases. The main problems are related to improper care. With a lack of light, clusia leaves turn yellow and fall off. Additional lighting will help correct the situation.

With excessive watering, a whitish fungal coating forms on the surface of the soil. It can spread to roots with above-ground shoots and lead to plant rotting. The soil should be regularly dried and loosened, and damaged areas should be completely removed.

In hot and dry weather, traces of spider mites, scale insects or mealybugs can be found on the clusus. To combat pests, it is better to immediately use insecticides.

Clusia care Clusia is a tree or shrub and belongs to the Clusiaceae family, so named after Carolus Clusius, a botanist from the Netherlands. The plant also has another name - “autograph tree”. If an inscription is scratched on the leaves of clusia, after the leaf surface is scarred, the letters will be visible for a long time. This plant is native to the American tropics and subtropics. Clusia is an evergreen plant. Most of its species are epiphytes. Birds carry seeds, which, falling into the plexus of branches, begin to grow. First, aerial roots are formed, which help the plant attach to the tree bark; gradually root system grows, reaches the soil and takes root in it. After some time, the host tree, heavily compressed by the clusus, dies. The leaves of the plant are short-petioled, bare, leathery, arranged oppositely; they reach twenty centimeters in length and up to ten centimeters in width. The flowers have from four to nine waxy petals, which have a faint aroma and are colored in soft shades: white, pink, yellow, greenish-white. The fruit of the clusia is represented by a greenish-brown capsule, leathery, with a diameter of 5-8 cm. When ripe, it opens in the shape of a star, where seeds immersed in red pulp are exposed inside. Caring for clusia at home Location and lighting Clusia is a light-loving plant and requires bright, but not direct lighting. When there is a lack of it, the internodes begin to become very elongated. IN winter period It’s a good idea to additionally illuminate the clusus for up to 12 hours. Temperature The flower feels best at temperature conditions at 25 degrees, at winter time indicators can be reduced to 20 degrees. Clusia loves an abundance of fresh air, but it should not be left in a draft. Air humidity Clusia requires an increased level of ambient air humidity, so the plant should be systematically sprayed with settled water. Watering The overseas beauty clusia absolutely does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. For this reason, you need to water moderately and only when almost the entire substrate has dried. The soil is moistened with soft, room-settled water or a little warmer. You can monitor the moisture level of the earthen clod using a special electronic meter. The soil of Clusia requires a light, well-aerated soil composition, which includes leaf and coniferous soil, peat, sand and vermiculite. Feeding and fertilizers Fertilize clusia in spring and summer at intervals of two weeks. Used for fertilizing complex fertilizer with microelements, diluted 50% more than the indicated dose. During the cold period, fertilizing is not required, unless with additional lighting. Transplantation The plant can hardly tolerate transplantation. To do this, use the transshipment method and, preferably, in the warm season. Containers should be taken according to the volume of the roots. Propagating Clusia Propagating Clusia is quite difficult. For this purpose, in spring and summer they use apical cuttings. Rooting should be done at a temperature of at least 25 degrees. It is best to do this in a greenhouse with bottom heating, covering the seedling with film or glass. The petioles are first kept in stimulants, for example, Kornevin. Rooting takes a long time, about 3-4 weeks. In addition, clusia can be propagated by seeds or aerial roots. It is advised not to delay sowing seeds, as they quickly lose their viability. Diseases and pests If a plant is cared for according to all the rules, it rarely succumbs to pests and diseases. Most dangerous for clusia mealybug, brings a lot of harm and spider mite. But plant diseases are most often provoked by excessive watering and low temperatures. Popular types of clusia Clusia rosea – pink look clusii. This is a perennial, represented by a tree or shrub, the large leaves of which reach 20 cm, round or diamond-shaped in shape, with short fleshy petioles, of a dark green hue. Actively growing shoots contain yellowish-green milky sap; when it hardens, it becomes transparent and hard. The flowers are located at the tops of the branches, they are pink or snow-white, composed of 6-8 wide round waxy petals and multiple golden-yellow stamens. The round fruit capsule, green in color, turns brown after ripening and opens. The seeds are in a massive red shell.