Reo, or Reo - a flower that has long been known and extremely loved by many gardeners. Some know him under the epic name of the boat of Moses. Most likely, it is associated with an unusual appearance and arrangement of flowers. Bracts are usually located at the base of the leaf and resemble boats that are covered from above with leaves like blankets. Habitat reo - tropical forests of South America and Mexico. Under natural conditions, this flower prefers rocky riverbanks and moist forests, where it selects well-lit spaces.
Traditionally, the most grown among this type of indoor flowers is reo-vesicle, or, as it is also called, reo motley. It differs in saturated violet color of a back side of a leaf. In addition to the well-known reo-motley, today you can find other varieties.
Reo vesicular
Stripe in Pink, unlike its more common fellow Reo birch, has a pale pink color of the underside of the sheet and a pink-white front surface.
Note! In order for this variety of reo to feel comfortable and regularly bloom flowers, it is necessary to provide it with intense lighting. The brightness of the stripes on the leaves depends on this.
Vittata is distinguished by its miniature size and rich magenta or bright lilac color on the inside of the sheet. On the outside there are yellow or cream stripes. Like the previous variety, it is demanding of consecration. In case of insufficient amount of sunlight, the stripes acquire a pale poorly pronounced shade.
Hawaiian Dworf is loved by flower growers for their peculiar color, consisting of pale green, white and pink stripes, evenly distributed over the surface of the leaf.
Spathacea Vittata - sandy outside and pink on the underside of the reo. The exotic color of the flower is also extremely sensitive to sunlight, becoming either brighter or paler depending on their intensity.
Rheo vesicle is a rather unpretentious flower and is able to withstand the most Spartan conditions. However, if you do not pay due attention to him, he will lose his charm and gloss. The plant will feel good at home on the windowsill, where there is a lot of light. Nevertheless, from direct rays it is still worth shading. The best option would be windows with a location to the east and west. If it does not have enough sunlight, the stems of the plant will gradually stretch and the plant will take on a sloppy appearance.
Reo at home
As a rule, reo is a flower that is not very picky about the composition of the soil. The usual universal soil from a flower shop or a supermarket is quite suitable for him. However, some flower growers prefer self-prepared earthen substrate. For this, a mixture of sand, peat and turf soil is made. Charcoal can be added to prevent root decay.
Rio is an unpretentious flower. The roomman will feel great at a temperature of 20 ° C in the summer and not lower than 15 ° C in the winter months. It should be protected from drafts and sudden changes in temperature.
Despite the fact that the reo flower is able to withstand irregular watering for some time, you should still provide the plant with moisture in full. Moreover, the watering regime depends on the season. In summer, this should be done more often; in winter, the amount of watering should be reduced.
Note! Spraying is an important part of rheo care. Only a finely dispersed sprayer should be used, since if large drops remain on the leaves, this can lead to burns under the influence of the sun's rays.
The spraying mode also depends on the time of year. In summer, it is advisable to spray the plant more often, while in winter it is worth reducing the amount of irrigation. Still completely abandon the spraying in the winter months is still not worth it, as room radiators substantially drain the air.
All types of reo that are bred at home are extremely sensitive to water quality. It should be soft, well sedimented. Watering with rainwater will also benefit the bright inhabitant of the windowsill. But chlorine, which can be part of tap water, will be detrimental to reo.
To indoor plant reo did not lose its decorative appearance throughout the year, you should regularly fertilize the plant. Beginning in early spring, fertilizing should be done once every 2-3 weeks. Starting in August, the number of top dressings should be reduced, and stopped altogether in winter. There is no need to fear that reo will receive less nutrients in the winter months. In the cold season, the plant consumes significantly less nutrients, which contributes to their accumulation in the soil. An excess of fertilizers can adversely affect the flower.
Reo Care
Reo flowers do not need frequent transplants. It will be enough to transplant the plant once every several years. Nevertheless, once a year it is necessary to replace the topsoil with a fresh one, since there are practically no nutrients left in it.
Important! When transplanting, the transshipment method is used. Its essence lies in the fact that the old soil layer is not completely removed, but partially preserved in the form of a coma, where the roots of the plant are. This method of transplantation is the most sparing for the flower and can be carried out at any period of vegetation or dormancy.
Two days before starting the transplant, a flower should be shed well. This is done so that the lump does not crumble when removed from the old pot and thereby does not damage the root system of the reo. After removing the flower, along with an earthen lump, you should carefully examine the root system for rotten or damaged areas by pests. If any are found, then it is necessary to completely replace the soil.
A new pot for reo should be 2-3 cm larger than the previous one, but have the same shape. By the way, the choice of the pot is due to the fibrous (growing in breadth) root system. The pot should be large in diameter but not tall.
At the bottom of the pot, a drainage layer is laid out without fail. Expanded clay, ceramic pieces or glass balls, which are sold in specialized stores, can be used as drainage. After the drainage is laid, it is necessary to place a new soil mixture with a layer of at least 1 cm. After this, a root lump with a flower is placed in the pot and sprinkled with soil.
It is important to note that after planting and slightly tamping the soil, the distance to the edge of the pot should be approximately 3 cm. After the transplant is completed, the plant must be shed well, placed in its usual place and taken care of as usual.
Reo transplant
Usually reo flowers are not susceptible to disease. However, with poor or improper care, the roots of the flower can be affected by rot. In this case, they should be dried and not transfused in the first few weeks until completely cured.
Note! Sometimes the plant affects powdery mildew. This happens because water stagnates in the axils of the leaves. If a problem is found, you need to immediately remove the affected leaves and treat the plant with an antifungal composition.
In addition, in exceptional cases, the reo can be attacked by a scale insect, an extremely dangerous insect that can cause damage by seriously damaging leaves. Since the insect is reliably protected by the shell, it will not be possible to destroy it simply by spraying it with an insecticide. We'll have to collect the individuals by hand and only after that treat them with chemicals.
If the leaves of the rheo darkened or their tips dried out, then most likely this was caused by a sharp decrease in temperature or drafts. In this case, it is necessary to analyze the conditions of detention and eliminate the adverse factors.
Shield
Over time, an adult rheo plant grows, and even pruning, leaving unattractive stumps, is not able to return to it a decorative look. In this case, it is advisable to grow the plant again. There are three ways to propagate the rheo flower - by seeds, stem cuttings, and lateral shoots.
Note! Theoretically, reproduction by stem stalks is possible year-round, however, it is still worthwhile to combine this process with the planned transplantation of the parent plant into a larger pot. Planting material can be taken anywhere in the plant between the buds.
If you put the separated process in the water, then after 10 days the roots will appear. But you can plant without waiting for the formation of roots. In this case, you should leave the cut stalk for a day, so that the cut point is dry. This will avoid rotting of the planting material when it is in the ground. The planting of the dried-up cuttings is very simple: you need to deepen the plant into the soil above the lower bud, lightly compact the soil, and then water it.
To obtain planting material, you can use side shoots. They usually form at the base of the flower if the main stem of the plant is stopped.
Breeding with reo seeds is not practiced, however, it is quite possible. Step by step it looks like this:
- in early April, the seeds are planted in a box filled with peat-sand mixture (it is advisable to distribute them throughout the area evenly);
- to create a greenhouse effect, the top of the box is covered with plastic wrap;
- Crops need to be aired and sprayed daily.
Shoots appear rather quickly and grow without any problems. As soon as they get stronger, young shoots should be planted in separate pots.
Seeds Reo
Not many people know that rheo leaves can help with some diseases, as they have healing properties. Mexicans are known to use rheo leaves to relieve rheumatic pains. Compresses from crushed leaves can stop bleeding, and a decoction is used for intestinal disorders. However, the juice of this plant is considered poisonous and can cause a severe allergic reaction in the form of urticaria, redness or swelling. It must be remembered that traditional medicine methods also have contraindications, which means that a doctor’s consultation is required.
Rook of Moses
The wonderful reo flower is perfect for a beginner who wants to try himself as a grower. Since rheo is a flower, home care is not difficult, you can invite your child to grow a collection of different species. With proper care, the reo flower at home feels great, which means that this venture is doomed to success.
