Fatshedera is a hybrid plant that was obtained at the beginning of the 20th century in France. Its ancestors were ivy and Japanese fatsiya. The resulting plant is excellent for indoor cultivation and forms a tree-like, slow-growing ivy with beautiful leaves and flowers. Today, you can buy Fatsheder ivy in many flower shops. It will be a wonderful backdrop for brightly flowering compositions in the room and will appreciate the lush greenery.
Plant description
Fatsheder flower is a grassy, evergreen perennial. The root system is fibrous with gradually lignified roots of a dark brown color. Above the surface of the soil is a long, creeping vine. It gives few lateral shoots, but is able to grow up to 5 m. Annual growth is about 30 cm. Over the years, smooth dark green stems are covered with a brown rough bark.
Large petiole leaves, depending on the variety, are divided into 3-5 lobes. They have a glossy dark green surface. In addition to varieties with plain leaves, variegated species are found. The sides of the leaf plate are smooth or slightly wavy, and the edge of each lobe is pointed.
In August-September, in the axils of the leaves, umbellate multiple inflorescences from nondescript flowers are formed. The buds are yellowish green or cream colored. Fatschedera fruit is a juicy, rounded berry of violet or dark blue color. It contains several small seeds.
Varieties of Fatshead
There is only one species in the Fatschedera family - Fatshedera Lise. The plant is a creeping vine with a gradually lignified stem. Along the entire length of the shoot are the next long-leaved leaves of a palmate-lobed form. Leathery, dense foliage glistens in the sun and has a beautiful bright green color. In length, the leaf can grow by 20 cm, and in width - by 30 cm.
Creamy yellow flowers form by the end of summer. They are collected in umbrella inflorescences on elastic, short peduncles. Buds with hard, short bracts have a dense bulging core of whitish or yellow hues.
Based on this species, the following decorative varieties of fatsheders were derived:
- Variegata - along the edges of large leaves are wide white stripes that surround the green core. The plant is more susceptible to disease and grows crown more slowly.
Fatshedera Variegata - Pia - leaves on short petioles are painted in dark green color and have wavy edges. They are pressed tightly against the vine. Young stems are erect, drooping over time.
Fatshedera Pia - Silver prince - On the edge of the sheet is a narrow silver border.
- Golden - It has a large yellowish spot in the center of the leaf plate.
Breeding methods
Fatsheder propagation is carried out vegetatively. Apical petioles and mature leaves can be used. Cuttings root in water at a temperature of +25 ° C. You can immediately plant shoots in moist peat-sandy soil and cover with a bag. The rooting process is very slow, it will last at least a month. Seedlings that are rooted in water are planted in the ground with the appearance of short roots. Within a week after transplantation, they are also kept under the film in a moist, warm environment.
Rooted cuttings are carefully transplanted into pots of 2-3 seedlings together. This method of planting will allow you to get more magnificent growth.
Transfer
Ivy is transplanted in the spring after 1-3 years. The pot is selected deep and steady. A layer of drainage material is poured at the bottom (expanded clay, pebbles, broken brick, clay shards). Neutral or slightly acidic soils are preferred. The composition of the land of Fatsheder is undemanding. You can use garden land with the addition of peat and river sand. When transplanting, the transshipment method is used.
If Fatshedera grows at home in a large outdoor tub and is difficult to transplant, it is recommended to remove the top layer of the earth every 1-2 years and replace it with fresh. Periodic loosening regardless of the season will also be useful. It will allow the roots to receive the necessary oxygen.
Care Features
Fatsheder home care is not too complicated. By creating this hybrid, breeders have achieved excellent immunity and vitality. Fatshedera Lise is especially strong and fast-growing. Home ivy prefers bright places. Most of all you need a bright sun with variegated forms. Without it, the crown loses its bright color. It is preferable to place the pot in bright rooms at some distance from the window so that direct sunlight does not burn the foliage.
Fatshedera does not tolerate heat. The room needs to be ventilated more often, and in the summer it is useful to expose the plant to fresh air. Drafts will not damage the Fatsheder, but a strong wind can tilt the support and confuse the vines. The optimum air temperature is + 16 ... +20 ° C. In winter, cooling is allowed up to + 6 ... +8 ° C, but it is better not to cool variegated varieties below +16 ° C.
Fatsheder is watered with small portions of soft warm water. Between watering, the topsoil must have time to dry. Liquid stagnation is not allowed, otherwise a fungus will develop on the roots. The amount of liquid directly depends on the air temperature: the colder the less often the flower is watered and sprayed.
Fatshedera needs high humidity. Leaflets need to be sprayed several times a week. Once a season, they bathe a liana under a warm shower to get rid of dust. If the air temperature does not drop significantly in winter, then spraying is continued throughout the year.
For Fatshedera to grow well, she needs mineral supplements. Twice a month from the beginning of spring to the beginning of November, fertilizers for deciduous houseplants are applied to the soil.
To form a beautiful crown, it is recommended to regularly trim and pinch the tips of the shoots. On old vines, the leaves gradually thin out or completely crumble. To rejuvenate the fatsheder, the branches are cut in half. You can give the crown a shape with the help of decorative supports. Today in a specialized store you can buy not only arches and standard vertical supports, but also the basics for green sculptures. Shoots remain flexible for a long time, so it’s easy to build complex shapes out of them.
Possible difficulties
This hybrid is disease resistant. A number of problems can be associated with improper care:
- leaves turn pale and lose their variegation - lack of sunlight;
- the leaves turn yellow and curl - soil filling;
- the edges of the leaves dry out - low humidity;
- roundish brownish spots are formed on the foliage - a burn.
On juicy shoots, a spider mite, aphid and mealybug are periodically found. First of all, you should wash the vegetation under a plentiful warm shower and wipe the leaves with a soapy solution. If the parasites have not disappeared within 2-3 days, they are treated with an insecticide.
