Reminder for plant care

Young plants - annually, adults - once every 3 years In summer 22-27, in winter 16-18 In summer - when the top layer of soil dries out, in winter - less often Only in dry and hot weather, at temperatures above 25 in the room Shade-tolerant plant It is advisable to wash it in the shower monthly

Lighting

Cissus is a shade-tolerant plant; it lives in partial shade and even in the shade without visible changes in the condition of the leaves.

The optimal lighting for cissus is diffused light and partial shade..

If a flower is taken out into the garden in summer, it should be placed under the cover of large trees.

Do not place the flower in direct sunlight: this can lead to burns. But most often the sun does not burn the leaves, their color simply fades.

Temperature

In summer, cissus grows well at 22-27ºС, the usual air temperature for our latitudes. But it can also tolerate heat of more than 30ºС.

You should not leave cissus in a draft: cold air will cause dark spots to appear on the leaves.

In winter, the air temperature can be reduced to 16-18ºС. But if it is not possible to organize a cool winter for the plant, you can keep it at room temperature in winter.

In the cold season, the temperature can be reduced to 10 degrees. This applies to all species except cissus bicolor and rhombifolia. For these heat-loving species, the winter minimum is 16 degrees. The most cold-resistant is the Antarctic cissus - it can withstand temperature drops of up to 5 degrees.

If possible, in the warm season, indoor grapes can be taken out into the fresh air: onto a balcony, loggia or veranda. It is important that it is not in a cold draft.

Watering

In hot weather, the plant needs to be watered abundantly. However, soil moisture should not be excessive.

Water the cissus when the surface of the soil in the pot dries out.

In winter, watering should be reduced. However, even at low temperatures the soil should not be allowed to dry out.

The plant is not picky about the composition of water; it can be watered with both hard and soft water. Tap water is allowed to stand for at least 3 days.

The soil

Indoor grapes are not picky about soil composition. It grows equally well in both alkaline and acidified soils.

Cissus can be planted in ordinary soil brought from the garden.

It is advisable that the soil contains sand or other leavening agent. so that water does not stagnate in the pot after heavy watering.

You can also buy ready-made soil for cissus. It is better to purchase a universal soil mixture for deciduous plants. To mix the soil yourself, you need to take humus, turf soil, leaf soil, sand and peat in equal parts.

Fertilizer

Feed the cissus indoor plant from mid-April to the end of October. Liquid mineral mixtures are suitable for fertilizing the soil. The procedure is carried out every 2 weeks. Fertilizers are diluted with water to the consistency specified in the instructions., and applied to moist soil.

At the end of summer, feeding is gradually reduced. In September and October, the plant is fed once a month. Then feeding is stopped until spring.

Since indoor grapes grow very quickly, they actively use nutrients, thereby depleting the soil. If you want the plant to develop quickly, it needs high-quality feeding twice a month. Any mineral fertilizers for decorative foliage indoor plants are suitable for this purpose, for example, “Pokon”, “Etisso”, “Flower Paradise”, “BonaForte”.

From time to time, mineral fertilizers can be alternated with organic ones. The rhombifolia cissus especially needs additional nutrients, since it grows a very lush green mass.

Humidity

Cissus does not require air humidification at room temperature. Only in very hot weather do its leaves begin to dry out. At this time, it is useful to humidify the air by spraying.

During a cool winter, high humidity can lead to fungal infections of the plant. If the flower is in a heated room, the air near the plant should be humidified.

Spray the plant only in very dry and hot weather. At room temperatures below 25ºC, spraying is not required.

Cissus should be washed in the shower monthly.

Showering is done for hygienic reasons. Grape leaves get dusty, and you can clean them well from dust only under running water at room temperature.

Trimming / Support / Garter

Indoor grapes are needed annually. This procedure stimulates the appearance of many new side shoots. Prune the plant in mid-April before active growth begins.

When cissus shoots are located on a vertical surface(on the wall) trim the tips of the shoots. Usually several cuttings are planted in a pot.

After the shoots reach 30-50 cm, they are pinched. This is how 10-12 main lashes are formed. Then every year they are shortened by 10-15 cm so that they form side shoots.

If the plant is grown in an ampelous manner in a hanging pot, there is no need to leave very long vines. All branches should be no more than 50 cm in length so that the entire bush looks compact and lush.

Every year, the long shoots of such a plant are cut by half, the rest by 1/3, so that they hang beautifully around the pot or flowerpot. Then, after pruning, additional side shoots are formed, making the bush more beautiful and lush.

Diseases

Cissus is a very disease-resistant plant. It can only be affected by root rot, but this occurs due to improper watering regime and poor soil composition.

You should follow the plant’s watering schedule and plant it in loose, fertile soil. Excess water should flow into the pan through the drainage holes in the pot.

The indoor cissus vine is very popular among gardeners. And they appreciate its spectacular leaves, and also the fact that it grows very quickly. Also, the advantage of such a culture is its unpretentiousness. That is why both an experienced florist and a beginner can decorate their home with such a vine.

Cissus is a vine that belongs to the Grape family. At home it is grown as an hanging plant. People also call it “home grapes” or “birch tree”. This genus includes about 300 species that can be found in natural conditions. Most species in nature grow in areas with subtropical and tropical climates. The cissus grows antennae with which it clings to support. The shape of the foliage depends on the variety and can be whole or dissected.

When grown at home, flowers rarely appear on the vine. Umbrella-shaped false inflorescences include small, faded flowers that have no decorative value. The liana is valued for its beautiful foliage. They grow it in hanging pots. Cissus can be used to decorate both offices and apartments, as well as glazed balconies.

Florists have noticed that if such a vine is created with favorable conditions, it will grow very quickly. The plant quickly twines around the support, while it grows a large number of lushly leafy stems. Often the vine is grown in winter gardens.

If you decide to grow cissus at home, then you need to consider that it does not need any special care. However, in order to grow the most spectacular vine, you need to know in what conditions it is most comfortable to grow. Moreover, proper care and suitable conditions for growth will be an excellent prevention of various diseases and pests.

Temperature

Cissus is a heat-loving plant, and therefore for normal growth and development it requires: in summer - from 18 to 25 degrees, and in autumn-winter - about 18 degrees. Make sure that the room where the vine is located is not colder than 10 degrees, and it also needs to be protected from sudden changes in temperature and drafts, otherwise all its foliage may fly off.

Illumination

Needs bright sunlight, but it should be diffused. As a rule, each variety has its own lighting requirements. For example, Antarctic cissus can be grown in shaded areas, so it can be grown in a bathroom or in a hallway with poor lighting. At the same time, rhomboid cissus needs a lot of light.

Since this is a fast-growing plant with many shoots and lush foliage, special attention should be paid to watering. They should be plentiful, but do not allow fluid to stagnate in the root system. Make sure that the substrate in the pot is slightly damp at all times. The bush is watered immediately after the top layer of the soil mixture dries. From about mid-autumn, watering should be reduced.

Humidity

It needs high air humidity, so the bush needs to be moistened with a sprayer quite often. In winter, this is done twice a day, and in summer - once a day. If the bush is not very large, then you can give it a warm shower. For voluminous vines growing on a support, you need to wipe the foliage with a damp cloth from time to time.

Fertilizer

The liana responds well to feeding with any complete complex mineral fertilizer. It is added to the substrate once every 7 days throughout the entire growing season. In winter, the plant does not need a lot of nutrients, so it is not necessary to feed it. However, it should be taken into account that if a rest period was not organized for the cissus during the cold season, then it continues to be fed, but once every 15 days and a nutrient mixture of lower concentration is used.

Young bushes are replanted annually by transferring them into new pots. From the age of five, transplants are performed less frequently, namely, once every 2 or 3 years. At the bottom of the pot, do not forget to make a good drainage layer, and fill it with a substrate consisting of sand, good humus, peat, turf and leaf soil, which are taken in equal parts.

Trimming

It is recommended to prune the vine in spring. To do this, they shorten old lashes that have become less attractive. To improve branching, young shoots are pinched. The plant tolerates pruning well and after it begins to grow actively.

Reproduction methods

Since cissus grows quickly, it is very easy to propagate. There are several ways to do this.

Cuttings are taken either in summer or in winter. 3 or 4 cuttings are planted in one container for rooting, and it is filled with fertile light substrate with a high content of peat and sand. Water them systematically and keep them warm (20 to 22 degrees). If young foliage forms on the cutting, this means that it has grown roots.

Dividing the bush

If an adult cissus has grown greatly, it can be divided during transplantation. During planting, it is recommended to shorten the shoots of the divisions; in this case, they will take root much faster.

Growing from seeds

Arctic cissus is mainly grown from seeds. Seed sowing is carried out in spring. To do this, take a small box and fill it with a substrate consisting of peat and sand. Moisten its surface and spread the seeds on it. Sprinkle them with a thin layer of soil mixture, cover the container with film (glass) on top. Crops need regular ventilation. Seedlings are picked into individual pots up to 70 mm in diameter after the formation of two true leaf blades. In the future, transplants are carried out as the bushes grow.

If you systematically inspect the cissus and care for it properly, then you will be able to avoid many problems that may arise when growing it indoors.

1. If the leaves of the plant bend and begin to dry out, which means the air in the room is very dry. Initially, you need to moisten the space around the vine and spray the leaves with water.
2. Leaves dry and fly off this occurs due to the high temperature in the room. It is necessary to move the flower to a cool room, and in the summer it can be taken out into the air.
3. If the leaves turn pale or light spots appear on them, this signals that the lighting is too bright, the leaves have sunburn. The plant should be shaded.
4. Brown spots on Cissus due to severe waterlogging of the soil. It is necessary to stop watering so that the top layer of soil dries out by 2-3 cm.
5. If Cissus is actively shedding leaves, it must be moved from a cold room and protected from drafts. And also create the desired temperature regime for Cissus.
6. The leaves wither and fade, the plant slows down its growth. Cissus lacks nutrients. The appearance of black spots indicates a lack of phosphorus, brown spots indicate a lack of nitrogen. It is necessary to select a fertilizer with a balanced composition and feed the vine in a timely manner.
7. Cissus stops growing, young branches do not appear. The plant has taken up the entire space of the pot; it needs to be transplanted into a larger pot.

Types of cissus with photos and names

There are approximately 300 species of cissus in total, but only a few of them are cultivated by gardeners indoors. Moreover, each of these species has several varieties that differ from each other. They have very high unpretentiousness and endurance.

Cissus rhombifolia

This species was named so because its foliage is diamond-shaped. It belongs to fast-growing plants. If you take good care of it, then during just one growing season it can gain up to 200 cm in length. This vine is highly resilient, and it also grows well in places with unfavorable conditions.

Cissus discolor

This species is valuable because it has variegated, showy foliage, with the main color being pale red. There are specks of silver color on the entire surface of the plate, while its reverse surface is purple.

Cissus striata, or striped

This highly decorative species is more demanding in care. When there is poor lighting, the growth of the bush slows down, and it may also suffer due to excessively low air humidity. The foliage color is green, monochromatic.

The most decorative of all cissus grown at home is the variegated cissus. It stands out among other species with its spectacular and unusual color. However, you need to be prepared for the fact that growing it is not so easy. In nature, such a plant is found in the tropics. Therefore, in order for the vine to grow and develop quickly, the air temperature in the room must always be at least 25 degrees, and it also needs high humidity. Local residents of the island of Java cut the shoots of the vine and drink its juice.

It grows naturally in Vietnam and is found in India, New Guinea, Malaysia, and Australia. This liana is a good representative of hanging plants.

Cissus striata.

Cissus species:

• Cissus rhombifolia(Cissus rhombifolia).
• Cissus Antarctica or Kangaroo Liana (Cissus antarctica).
• Cissus Versicolor(Cissus discolor).
• Cissus quadrangularis(Cissus quadrangularis).
• Cissus Striped(Cissus striata).

About caring for Cissus:

Temperature: The optimal temperature for cissus in summer is 18-25°C, and in winter the temperature should not fall below 16 ºC. It is unacceptable to place the plant near heating devices or under the flow of cold air from an air conditioner. Cissus is very sensitive to temperature changes and various types of drafts. In summer, the plant can be taken out into the fresh air.

Cissus discolor.

Lighting: Cissus needs soft, diffused lighting and does not tolerate direct sunlight, which can cause leaf burns. A western or eastern window sill will suit him well, and a northern one is a good option. Cissus is shade-tolerant and can easily be placed at some distance from windows. In general, the plant is not particularly whimsical in terms of lighting and gives complete freedom of action in choosing a place of growth. The plant responds to favorable growing conditions with rapid development, bright color and large leaves.

Watering: Cissus needs regular and abundant watering. It is necessary to water with soft, settled water; it is not permissible to use tap water, as this affects the beauty of the leaves. The water should be at room temperature or warmer. Watering with cold water, even just once, can cause foliage to fall. The frequency of watering depends on the temperature of the content. Water should not stagnate in the pot, but at the same time it should be constantly moist. It is necessary to constantly monitor the degree of drying of the soil, and watering should be done when the top layer has dried by 1-2 cm. The water from the pan must be drained after watering. If in winter the room temperature is low, it is necessary to reduce watering and maintain light moisture in the substrate, but if the cissus is warm, do not reduce watering and do it in the same way as in summer, when the top layer of soil 1-2 m has dried out.

Cissus Rhombifolia.

Air humidity: Cissus needs high humidity and its daily procedure should be light spraying of the leaves twice a day in the morning and evening with soft, settled water, especially in the summer. Spraying in hot weather has a beneficial effect on the plant. It is necessary to regularly clean the leaves from dust and periodically give the plant a shower. The use of sprays to add shine to leaves is not recommended.

Crown formation: Cissus responds well to shaping, which can be done either by pruning or pinching to give the desired shape. During plant replanting, it is necessary to inspect the shoots and remove old, thinned, bare shoots down to the stumps.

Fertilizers: It is necessary to fertilize Cissus during the period of active growth from spring to autumn once a month with fertilizer for decorative deciduous plants in a half dose. In the fall, all fertilizer applications are stopped.

Cissus antartica.

The soil: For Cissus it should be light, loose and nutritious. Suitable soil for decorative foliage plants, a universal substrate. Good drainage at the bottom of the pot is necessary. It is recommended to add perlite and charcoal to the substrate. Grows well in hydroponics.

Transfer: It is necessary to replant a young specimen of cissus only when necessary, when the roots have completely mastered the earthen ball. Large plants can be replanted by transferring them into a larger pot every 3-4 years. The pot must be selected high and wide, about 3-4 cm larger than the previous one. The support is installed before planting the plant itself. After transplantation, the plant needs adaptation; it is placed in a shaded place for 2-3 days and is not fertilized for a month. If replanting is not carried out, it is necessary to change the top layer of soil annually.

Cissus. May be attacked by , and . Insecticides are used very carefully when controlling pests, since the leaves of this plant are very sensitive.

Reproduction of Cissus:

Cissus propagates by cuttings, layering and dividing the bush.

In order to propagate Cissus by cuttings, you need to cut it off and treat the cut area with crushed coal. The cuttings should have 2-3 internodes. It takes root easily both in the ground and in a container of water. If spruce is rooted in the ground, planting must be done so that one of the buds is above the level of the substrate and a greenhouse must be installed. The greenhouse is ventilated daily and the humidity level is monitored, and spraying is carried out if necessary. The cuttings must be treated with root formation stimulants. The main thing is to provide it with stable heat of 20-25 ºC and humidity.

Cissus Rhombifolia.

When propagating by layering, part of the stem is buried in the ground in the same pot or immediately in a separate one and wait for roots to appear. When roots form on the shoot, the stem is cut off and planted in a separate pot.

The division of the bush is carried out during transplantation.

Cissus. Growing problems:

• Dry ends The plant is said to have very dry air in the room.
• Leaves become arched due to the lack of humidity in the air, it is necessary to spray the plant more often.
• Slow plant growth with a lack of nutrients in the soil.
• Pale color of leaves indicates that the plant does not have enough fertilizer or is exposed to excessively bright light.
• curling leaves with a lack of oxygen in the soil. It is necessary to loosen the soil.
• Leaf crinkling, the appearance of spots indicates that the plant lacks moisture.
• Mass leaf fall indicates that the plant is exposed to drafts and sudden temperature changes.
• Curling leaves in combination with the appearance of brown spots, it means that the soil is waterlogged.
• Leaves fall in combination with drying out of shoots occurs when the soil and air become waterlogged.

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Cissus (indoor grapes, grape ivy, birch) is an evergreen shrub with elastic, elastic, climbing stems. The name of the plant is translated from Greek as “ivy”. Belongs to the Grape family. Lives in the subtropics, tropics of Asia, Africa, Australia, South America. It is grown decoratively as an ampelous plant. Cissus is beautiful, easy to care for, and is very often found in homes, offices, and various institutions.

The plant has a spectacular appearance. Thin shoots of a reddish hue are covered with leaf plates shaped like birch or grape leaves. The leaves are glossy, dark green in color, there are varieties with a spotted pattern.

In indoor conditions, flowering occurs very rarely. It is not particularly decorative, so the flower stalks are disposed of when they appear. Flowers of a creamy, greenish hue are collected in umbrella inflorescences.

Propagation of cissus by cuttings

How to cut cissus photo

At home, cissus is most often propagated vegetatively (by cuttings, dividing the bush).

• Cut apical cuttings 10-15 cm long, with at least 2 growth buds, at any time of the year.
• Root in water with a rooting stimulator at an air temperature of about 18 °C or in a sand-peat mixture, covered with a jar or cut plastic bottle.
• In the latter case, maintain the air temperature within 22-24 °C, ventilate daily, and periodically moisten the soil.
• replant in a separate container with soil for adult plants.

The video will tell you how to prune and propagate cissus by cuttings:

How to divide a cissus bush

Carry out during transplantation. You can divide at the age of 3-4 years. Remove the cissus from the pot, carefully divide it into parts (2-3), each of which contains a full share of the rhizome and an adult shoot. Place in separate containers.

Growing cissus from seeds

Antarctic and Cissus quadrangularis can be propagated by seeds. Sow in spring in pots with loose soil. Moisten and cover the crops with film. Ventilate daily and spray the soil periodically. At the stage of appearance of 2 true leaves, plant in separate containers with a diameter of no more than 7 cm.

To make the bush more lush, you can immediately plant 2-3 young plants in one pot. The container should not be large - cissus grows better in close quarters.

How to replant cissus

Young plants (up to the age of 3 years) need annual planting, then replant every 3-4 years. For adult plants, replace the top layer of soil with a new one (5-8 cm thick). Carry out all procedures in early spring.

Handle it together with the earthen lump: remove the plant from the pot, move it to a new container with a slightly larger diameter, add fresh soil.

If the roots are rotten, they need to be cut off, treated with a fungicide, and in this case, replace the soil completely.

Be sure to lay a drainage layer consisting of expanded clay and pebbles at the bottom of the pot. This way the water will not stagnate at the bottom, which will protect the plant from rotting. Drainage should occupy 1/5 of the container.

The plant requires loose, air- and water-permeable soil with a neutral reaction. You can use a universal substrate or, if possible, prepare a mixture of the following composition: 1 part each of leaf soil, turf soil, peat and 0.5 parts sand, add charcoal bushes.

How to care for cissus at home

The plant is quite unpretentious in care.

Lighting

Lighting needs to be diffused, without direct sunlight. The ideal place would be windows facing east and west; you can place them in the back of the room on interior items - the cissus will adapt to such conditions. The south window will require shading. It can grow in completely artificial light, but the daylight hours must be at least 16 hours.

Air temperature and ventilation

Cissus can withstand a temperature range of 10-25 °C, even a short-term drop to +5 °C is possible. Variegated species are thermophilic: they require a temperature range of 18-25 °C.

In the summer, move the plant to fresh air (balcony, veranda, terrace, garden plot). If this is not possible, ventilate the room more often. It should be protected from cold air currents, otherwise the vine will shed its leaves.

Watering and air humidity

Like most indoor plants: more abundant in summer, moderate in winter. Water as the earthen ball dries out. In summer it should dry out by half, in winter - by 2/3.

Lush greenery intensively absorbs and evaporates moisture; the air in the room should not be too dry. Spray the plant daily, place an aquarium or any container with water nearby. Periodically place the pot with the vine on a tray with damp expanded clay, moss, and pebbles. Bathing in a warm shower has a beneficial effect on the condition of the plant. In winter, place it away from heating systems.

Trimming and pinching

To limit the growth of the vine, it is necessary to trim and pinch the tips of the shoots. Old, long shoots begin to become bare: shorten them by 2/3. Typically pruning is done in the spring.

Top dressing

In spring and summer, apply complex mineral fertilizers for decorative deciduous plants every two weeks. In winter, the plant slows down all processes, so it is not needed during the cold period.

Diseases, pests, other difficulties

Diseases

Interveinal chlorosis- a disease that occurs due to lack of nutrients. Between the veins the leaves turn yellow. It is necessary to apply iron-containing fertilizer or a complex of mineral fertilizers in half the dosage recommended by the manufacturer.

Leaves and stems turn black, leaves become spotted and fall off- this is how root rot manifests itself, caused by waterlogging of the soil. It is necessary to carry out an emergency transplant of the plant, cutting off all damaged roots. After transplantation, the plant is sprayed and watered with a phytosporin solution.

Possible pests:

1. Mealybugs (round insects covered with a whitish coating).
2. Scale insects (insects with brownish shells).

Mealybugs and scale insects are located on the leaves of the plant. First, remove them mechanically: moisten a cotton pad with soapy water and wipe the leaves. Then treat with an insecticide.

1. Podura (small white insects located on the surface of waterlogged soil).
2. Spider mite. It is necessary to carry out preventive treatments with actara every two weeks if you notice pests in your apartment. Their presence is manifested by yellowing and drying of the leaves, and a barely noticeable cobweb is visible on the reverse side.

It is necessary to treat with an insecticide. Adjust watering.

Why do cissus leaves dry out and fall off?

• The leaf plates curl, dry out, fall off - the air temperature is too high. Move to a cool room or spray more often.
• The stems became woody, the plant stopped growing - the root system completely filled the pot, it was time to replant.
• If young plants grow slowly, the container is most likely too large.
• Leaves become smaller and fall off due to excessive watering or high humidity.
• Due to lack of moisture, the lower leaves will begin to become covered with yellow spots, and over time they will fall off.
• The leaves curl, become covered with a gray coating or brown spots - the soil is waterlogged.
• Growth rates are slowed due to lack of nutrients.
• Too intense lighting causes the color of the leaves to become pale.
• The leaves become covered with brownish spots due to a lack of phosphorus and nitrogen.
• The leaves become smaller, their shape becomes distorted, black spots appear - there is not enough phosphorus.

Types and varieties of cissus with photos and names

There are about 350 species of cissus, but only a few are cultivated with developed varieties.

Cissus rhombifolia or rhombifolia

Cissus rhombifolia or rhombic Cissus rhombifolia variety Ellen Danica Ellen Danica photo

The name is given due to the shape of the leaf plates. The shoots are long, flexible, curly, green in color, covered with brownish hair. The leaves are glossy, dark green in color. This species grows very quickly, the shoots are attached to the support with tendrils.

Varieties:

• Ellen Danica – dissected leaf blades;
• Fionia – carved leaf plates.

Cissus mandaiana Cissus mandaiana

A variety of rhomboid cissus with dense leathery leaves with a glossy sheen and red-brown shoots covered with short hairs. It has larger leaf blades and is resistant to temperature changes.

Antarctic cissus or kangaroo vine Cissus antarctica

The leaf blades are oval-shaped with jagged edges, colored green, reaching a length of 12 cm.

Cissus discolor

The leaves are oblong, whole, the surface is dark green with silver spots, the reverse side of the leaf is lilac-red.

The following species are rare and are mostly seen in botanical gardens.

Cissus quadrangularis photo

It has thick tetrahedral shoots with a diameter of about 1 cm. The leaves are small, oval in shape, and quickly fall off.

Cissus cactiformis

Cissus cactiformis photo

It has articulated tetrahedral stems. The leaves are few and small.

Cissus rotundifolia

Liana with rigid stems. The leaf blades are round in shape with jagged edges, have a green-gray color, and their surface is covered with a waxy coating.

Cissus adenopoda

A fast-growing vine-like plant. The leaf blades are divided into 3 lobes, heavily pubescent, the surface has an olive tint, the reverse side is burgundy.

Cissus striata Cissus striata

Beautiful with three-toed or five-toed bright green leaves and red-brown shoots. The leaves are miniature, the vine itself grows up to 10 m in length. The name was obtained due to the pronounced veins that line the leaf plates in stripes.

Useful properties, signs and superstitions about cissus

The plant is able to purify indoor air, providing antibacterial and antifungal effects.

Some believe that the energy of the plant drives men out of the house. Other Feng Shui experts claim that placing a plant in the house helps increase vitality and relieves fatigue.

In folk medicine, cissus quadrangularis is used as an analgesic and tonic, for the regeneration of bone tissue, tendons, and cartilage. Contraindications for use are individual intolerance, childhood, pregnancy and lactation.

1. Growing temperature: summer - 20 - 25 ° C, in winter some varieties of cissus require a cool dormant period, while other plants are grown throughout the year at room temperature.

2. Lighting: green-leaved plants can easily tolerate partial shade; variegated plants will need fairly bright lighting.

3. Watering and air humidity: dry the substrate between waterings by 2 - 3 centimeters in depth between waterings during the growing season; in winter, reduce the frequency of watering in accordance with the room temperature. The frequency of watering will also depend on the specific variety of cissus. Air humidity is quite high.

4. Trimming: formative pruning to create a lush crown, sanitary pruning to remove old and weak shoots.

5. Priming: Well-drained, high in organic matter, easily permeable to moisture and allowing the root system to breathe, with a neutral or slightly acidic pH.

6. Top dressing: mineral fertilizers for flowering plants in spring and summer every 2 weeks. In the fall, fertilizing is reduced, and in winter it is not carried out at all. If the plant is in a warm place. then fertilizing can be done once a month even in the winter months.

7. Reproduction: by division during transplantation, vegetatively - by cuttings, air layering, sometimes a flower is grown from seeds.

Botanical name: Cissus.

Cissus flower - family . Grape.

Homeland of the plant. South America.

Description. Cissus, indoor grape or indoor birch, is a very extensive and diverse genus, consisting of vines and shrubs.

Stems creeping, drooping, branched, with age they become woody at the base and are covered with brown bark.

Different types of cissus also differ from each other in size, shape and color. leaves. Some plants have simple lanceolate or heart-shaped leaves, while others bear palmate or compound leaves - consisting of several oblong or rounded segments with jagged edges.

The leaves of most plants are green, glossy, variegated varieties They are distinguished by the presence of contrasting white spots on the leaf blades.

Lianas climb the support, clinging to it antennae. Some plants have long aerial roots.

The flowering of cissus is not of interest - small branched racemes bear small greenish or pink flowers.

If the flowers are pollinated, the plant will form clusters of round, black or reddish berries.

2. Cissus care at home

2.1.Reproduction

Cissus is propagated by division during transplantation, vegetatively by cuttings, air layering, and sometimes the flower is grown from seeds.

Vegetative propagation is carried out by half-ripe stem cuttings of length 8 - 12 cm.

Rooting is carried out mainly in spring and summer, when the plants are ready to develop. In autumn and winter, the percentage of successful rooting will be lower.

The cuttings are separated from the mother bush with a sharp knife so that the lower cut is oblique.Each cutting should have 2 - 3 internodes.

1. The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings and dusted with growth hormones.
2. The bases of the cuttings are immersed in a well-moistened substrate to a depth of 1 - 2 cm.
3. Rooting is carried out in a container under a glass or transparent plastic cap, shaded from direct sunlight.
4. The seedlings are kept in a warm place with a temperature of at least 21 ° C, rooting occurs within 4 - 6 weeks.
5. After new growth appears, when it can be said with confidence that there are roots under the surface of the soil, the cuttings are planted 3 to 4 pieces in one pot so that the flower appears denser and more lush.

The rooting process will take 1.5 - 2 months.

Rooting of cissus rhombifolia goes well in plain water. The cuttings are processed as indicated above and placed in a glass of water, immersing only the lower part of the stem in water.

Add an activated carbon tablet to the water for rooting and cover the glass with an opaque material - it is believed that roots appear faster in the dark. The first roots can be seen within 3 - 4 weeks.

When the roots at the base of the cutting reach length 1 - 2 cm., you can plant in the ground.

If after planting the cutting does not develop for some time, it’s okay. Underground at this time, its root system adapts to new conditions.

Adult large cissus bushes can be divide when transplanting into several parts.

If necessary, the root system is cut with a sharp knife and the cut areas are treated with crushed charcoal.

The resulting divisions should have their own roots and a well-developed green ground part.

The delenki are seated in separate pots, thoroughly watered with warm water and shaded from direct sun. 7 - 10 days.

The air humidity around the plants is kept high all the time - in such conditions the flowers quickly adapt to new conditions and begin to grow.

Maybe obtaining cissus from seeds- to do this, they are sown in the spring in loose, moist, nutritious soil, covered with transparent plastic or glass to maintain uniform humidity and placed in a warm place without direct sunlight.

Most often, Antarctic cissus reproduces by seed.

The seeds have hard outer shell, so sometimes they soak for several hours in warm water with the addition of epin or zircon or scarify- lightly scratch with a file.

You can simply try to remove the hard outer layer with your hands, but this must be done carefully - without damaging the sprout and root.

1. At the bottom of the sowing container there should be drainage holes and a drainage layer 2 - 3 cm high.
2. Before sowing, the substrate is thoroughly moistened with water from a spray bottle.
3. The seeds are laid out on the surface of the soil and sprinkled with a small layer of soil.
4. The top of the crops is moistened again and covered with a lid.
5. Place the container with the seedlings in a warm (temperature 20 - 25 degrees Celsius) and well-lit place, but protected from direct sun.
6. After 3 - 4 weeks, the first shoots will appear - at this time, remove the lid from the container for a few minutes a day, gradually increasing the ventilation time.
7. The last shoots may appear already 4 - 5 months after sowing the seeds.

With the appearance of the first 2 - 3 true leaf blades, they are carried out on each bush seating in separate small pots.

Through 7 - 10 days after the pick for the first time feed flower with a weak solution of mineral fertilizers.

1. To propagate cissus by air layering, another small pot filled with nutritious and loose soil is placed next to the mother plant.
2. A half-ripe shoot is taken into this pot, pinned to the surface of the soil and lightly sprinkled with earth on top. The tip of the shoot should be above the ground.
3. During the entire rooting period, the soil in the small pot is kept evenly moist.
4. After some time, young shoots will appear from underground, where the leaf nodes are located.

Rooting is usually successful within 3 - 4 weeks. A couple of months after new growth appears, the cuttings can be separated from the mother plant and planted separately.

The advantage of this method is that from each layer you can immediately get several daughter bushes, completely copying the varietal characteristics of the parent flower.

The measles system can be formed right on an adult bush- to do this, the shoot area is lightly scratched, then wrapped in a layer of well-moistened sphagnum moss and this layer is hermetically covered with transparent plastic film.

The film is secured to the plant at the top and bottom with an elastic band.

From time to time, water is squirted into this bag from a syringe, keeping the moss evenly moist.

Through 1 - 1.5 months under the film you can see first roots.

2.2. Diseases and pests of cissus

• Leaves fall with prolonged drying of the soil, they turn yellow and fall off due to excess moisture.
• In case of insufficient air humidity the edges of the leaf plates dry out and turn brown - the leaf blades often become curled.
• Plants slow down development with a lack of nutrients.
• Prolonged exposure to sunlight leads to the appearance of burns in the form of brown spots on the leaves.
• Leaf blades fade and become pale, become covered with light spots when exposed to direct sunlight during the daytime.
• Brown spots on foliage indicate a large amount of moisture in the soil - the plants are rotting.

• Powdery mildew with insufficient air movement and high humidity.
• Leaves dry and fall off if the cissus is kept in a too stuffy and hot room.
• Keeping things too cool or exposed to cold drafts will affect the plant. falling leaves.
• Leaves lose turgor and become lethargic with insufficient nutrition. If the leaf blades are covered with black spots, then the plant does not have enough phosphorus; if they are brown, then there is not enough nitrogen.
• Keeping a pot too tight leads to developmental delay plants.
• Sharp curling and falling leaves can be observed when the flower is kept in too dense soil, which does not allow the root system to breathe.

From harmful insects The plant can be attacked by aphids, spider mites, and scale insects.

Insects - pests

Insect name	Signs of infection	Control measures
Spider mite	Inconspicuous cobwebs on the leaves, yellowing and falling leaves with extensive damage. The surface of the leaf plates becomes dead and covered with small cracks. Plant development slows down.	Traditional methods. Plants can be washed in the shower and left in the bathroom in a humid atmosphere for half an hour. Irradiation with an ultraviolet lamp every week for 2 minutes. Chemicals based on pyrethrum, sulfur powders, Fitoverm, Actellik.
Aphid	Sticky droplets appear on the leaf blades, the leaf blades curl and become deformed, tender buds and young leaves wither. Colonies of insects can be seen on the tips of shoots, buds or the underside of leaf blades. The flowers of plants affected by aphids may become deformed.	Traditional methods: infusion of nettle, decoction of rhubarb leaves, wormwood, soap solution, infusion of tobacco and dandelion, onion, marigold, yarrow, tansy, dusting with virgin ash. Chemicals: Sulfur powders, treatment of green mass with green potassium soap without getting into the ground, Decis, Actellik, Fitoverm.
Scale insect and false scale insect	Sticky droplets on the leaves, small yellow spots on the surface of the leaf blades. When scale insects become widespread, they cause leaves to dry out and fall off. Flowers slow down their development	Folk methods of struggle. Spraying with soap and alcohol solution. Scale insect larvae do not like garlic infusion; they also use pyrethrum-based products. Chemicals. Fitoverm, Aktellik, Fufanon.

2.3.Soil

It is preferable to use soils with close to neutral or slightly sour pH.

This species thrives in nutrient-rich soils with good drainage. The soil for cissus should not only have good drainage, but should also allow the root system to breathe, allowing air to pass through.

To improve drainage, coarse river sand or perlite and vermiculite are mixed into the soil.

As an organic feeding component, you can add humus, a small amount of well-rotted cow or horse manure.

2.4.How to care for cissus

Spend early spring formative pruning in order to maintain a compact shape.Carry out pruning with a sharp and sterile tool - a garden knife or pruning shears.

Pruning is carried out during spring and it is often done during transplantation.

Weak and elongated stems that the flower may have sprouted during the winter in insufficient light should also be cut off. Apical buds young shoots regularly pinch so that the bush develops more densely.

The flower easily tolerates pruning and quickly recovers after it.

Old copies rejuvenate using a radical haircut, shortening long shoots by 2/3 or even 3/4 of the length. During pruning, you can obtain cuttings that can later be used for propagation.

Long stems of vines stand provide support.

Cissus at home will be grateful for your placement outdoors in summer. Take the flower out for several hours during the day and gradually increase the time spent outside.

Outdoors, place the pot with the plant in a place inaccessible to direct sunlight, heavy rainfall and strong gusts of wind.

Bring the plant indoors in the fall once night temperatures drop. below 12 degrees Celsius.

Wipe glossy leaves from dust with a damp sponge.

2.5.Flowering time

Summer, flowering does not attract attention.

Cissus has buds rarely appear at home, but the plant is grown as an ornamental foliage and does not lose its attractiveness in the absence of flowering.

2.6. Cissus transplant

Since cissus growing rapidly– it needs an annual spring transplant.

Young bushes are planted annually in slightly larger containers - the new pot should exceed the diameter of the old one by 2 - 3 cm in diameter. Planting directly into a large container will lead to root rot, since an excess amount of substrate will retain moisture in the soil after watering.

The need for replanting will be indicated by the tips of the root system that appear in the drainage holes of the pot. The size of the container directly affects the development of the plant - in a cramped pot it slows down.

Adult plants are planted in fresh soil and a new pot of approximately every 2 - 3 years. Pot diameter for an adult cissus can be about 30 cm.

For large tub specimens, instead of replanting, it is enough replace the top layer of the mixture 5 - 7 cm thick on fresh soil in spring.

Since adult plants have an impressive crown, it is advisable to use heavy and stable- for example clay pots.

The best time to repot is when new growth begins.

Since the soil in an old pot can be completely entwined with roots and will adhere tightly to the walls of the container, before replanting the plant soak for 1 hour in warm water.

1. To grow cissus, it is worth choosing pots with sufficiently large drainage holes.
2. When replanting, you should immediately install a support for the plants.
3. The first layer is poured drainage onto the bottom of the flower pot. Drainage can consist of foam pieces, expanded clay of the required fraction, clay shards or broken bricks. You can also lay river pebbles as a drainage layer.
4. A small layer of soil is poured onto the drainage and the plant is placed in the center of the pot.

You can move a flower in 2 ways - transplanting and transshipment.

At transplantation the root system is cleared of the old substrate and the flower with straightened roots is placed in a new pot.Replanting should be done if there are signs of root rot or other problems with the roots.Affected areas of roots during transplantation trimmed to healthy tissue.

At transshipment the flower is removed from the old container along with the root ball and also transferred together with it to a new pot. Transplanted plants are less stressed and tolerate the procedure more easily.

When planting, the soil surface should be 1 - 2 cm. is located below the level of the walls of the pot.

After transplantation, the flower is watered with warm water and placed in a moderately warm place without direct sunlight.

If after watering the ground sag and holes appear, they are filled with fresh soil.

Later 3 - 4 weeks After transplantation, you can carry out the first feeding. You should not start feeding the plants too early - they have enough minerals contained in fresh soil.

2.7.Watering

Wet the soil completely during each watering. Dry the soil in spring and summer several centimeters deep between waterings.

Be sure to drain excess moisture from the pan without allowing the water to stagnate in the soil.

In winter, the frequency of watering will depend on the ambient temperature - when kept cool, water extremely rarely - just so that the earthen ball does not dry out.

Also rarely watered deciduous plants in winter - their moisture evaporation is sharply reduced and excess water in the pot can kill the bush.

Resume regular watering in the spring, when the plants show the first signs of new growth - young shoots and leaves appear.

Water for irrigation should be room temperature or slightly above it. Tap water is left to settle for 24 hours before watering - during this time, chlorine will evaporate from it and limescale will settle.

If the water is hard, then before watering, place a fabric bag filled with peat in it and thus maintain the moisture for 24 hours.

Cissus can be watered with filtered or bottled drinking water.

Can be used for irrigation rain or melt water, but it must be collected away from chemical plants and busy highways.

In spring and summer, you can periodically immerse the pot with the plant for a few minutes in a large basin of warm water and allow excess moisture to drain.

Quadrangular cissus water much less frequently than other varieties - this plant stores sufficient reserves of moisture in thick, juicy stems.

2.8. Fertilizer of cissus

During the growth period - from early spring to late autumn, feed the plants liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks. If the flower stands in a warm place during autumn and winter, then reduce the frequency of fertilizing to 1 time per month.

If plants are given a cool dormant period, then gradually reduce feeding in the fall, and then stop completely until spring. Resume fertilizing with the appearance of young shoots in the spring.

Feeding is carried out after watering, since contact of a mineral nutrient solution with dry roots can cause a chemical burn.

Cissus will react positively How on root and foliar feeding. When foliar feeding, the fertilizer solution is applied directly to the green mass of the plant using a fine spray bottle.

2.9.Temperature

Indoor cissus is thermophilic and prefers temperature during the growth period above 18° C. During the growing season, when the plant is actively developing, it is kept in rooms with a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees.

Green leafy plants prefer a few weeks of cool weather during the winter months at temperatures 8 - 12° C, but variegated ones do not need a rest period and are kept at room temperature all year round.

Bright varieties of cissus should not be exposed to temperatures below 12 - 14 degrees Celsius.

Cissus discolor (painted) and Amazonian are considered the most heat-loving - they are kept at a temperature at least 18 °C , varieties such as cissus antarcticus and striata should not be exposed to temperature below 12 °C .

Cissus does not like sudden changes in temperature - the plant may lose all its leaves.

With the onset of intense summer heat, it is worth placing the flower in the coolest place, increasing the frequency of watering and air humidity, otherwise the plant may begin to shed its leaves.

2.10.Lighting

Depending on the type of indoor plant tolerates a wide range of illumination. Specimens with monochromatic green leaves can be grown in partial shade, while variegated leaves lose their attractiveness if there is a lack of lighting.

Exposure to direct sunlight during the day should be avoided in any case.

Rhomboid cissus loves well-lit rooms and will be happy to sunbathe in the morning and evening hours. Antarctic cissus can be successfully grown in fairly dark rooms.

During the daytime, especially in spring and summer, the flower should be protected from direct sun.

Windows facing the street are well suited for growing cissus. northeast or northwest. When placing in the north plants will need additional lighting. If the location is selected south window sill, then the plant should be protected from the sun with a curtain or placed on a bedside table or table located in the back of the room - at a distance of 1 - 2 meters from the window,

For illumination, you can use both special phytolamps and ordinary fluorescent daylight lamps.

2.11.Spraying

To maintain humidity, it must be placed near the plant. room humidifier.

Spraying You should only use soft water, as hard water will leave whitish spots on the leaves. WITH try to spray in the first half of the day - in In this case, droplets of moisture will have time to evaporate from the surface of the shoots and leaves before nightfall.

Placing several plants in a small room increases air humidity well.

You can also put some kind of pot next to it open vessel with water or grow cissus on tray filled with wet pebbles. When using the latter option, you should ensure that the surface of the water in the pan does not reach the bottom of the pot.

The flower prefers to be located in well-ventilated areas with sufficient air circulation. The flower should be protected from the effects of cold drafts - when ventilating in winter, take it to another room.

If a flower stands under open windows with a flow of cold air, it can shed its leaves.

In summer you can bathe cissus in the shower- cover the surface of the soil in the pot with plastic wrap and place the plant under soft streams of water at a temperature of 35 - 40 degrees Celsius.

After water treatments, you should not immediately take the plant into the room - leave it in the bathroom for half an hour to enjoy the humid atmosphere.

You should not additionally moisten the atmosphere for Cissus quadrangularis and also do not bathe it in the shower.

2.12.Purpose

Cissus are suitable for vertical gardening bright rooms.

The flower can be used as hanging plant- its long stems will hang over the edges of the pot in a beautiful cascade.

Cissus variegated can be grown as epiphytic plant by attaching it to a block or piece of bark.

2.13.Note

Cissus or indoor birch is very picky and willingly grows indoors for many years.

If left unpruned, plants may expose the lower portions of their stems.

The plant has phytoncidal properties and is capable of killing airborne pathogens.

A flower grown indoors can cleanse the atmosphere from harmful impurities such as formaldehyde.

With age, some varieties lose lower leaves and expose the stems - if such specimens have lost their attractiveness, then they are replaced with new plants obtained using cuttings or subjected to a radical haircut.

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• Indoor ivy - caring for the plant at home, types of ivy, reproduction, flowering time, soil composition for planting indoor plants in pots

  2.14.Hydroponics

  Cissus grows well in hydroponics, especially Antarctic.

  3.Types of cissus:

  3.1. Cissus quadrangularis - Cissus quadrangularis

  A perennial evergreen plant - a liana with very long stems reaching 15 m. An interesting feature of this species, due to which it got its name, is the presence of tetrahedral thickenings on the stems. With age, the stems of the plant become woody at the base and become covered with brown bark. The leaves are green, resemble ivy leaves in shape, and have branched veins. Each leaf is equipped with a tendril, with the help of which the plant climbs the support. The inflorescences are branched, axillary, and bear many small flowers of white, yellow or greenish hue.

  

  3.2.Cissus tuberose or caudex - Cissus tuberosa

  A very attractive subspecies that is grown as a succulent plant that forms a green caudex. In the upper part the stems remain thin and flexible and grow quickly. There are aerial roots on the stems of plants. The leaves are palmate, deeply cut, dark green in color.

  

  3.3. Rhomboid or rhombic cissus - Cissus rhombifolia

  An attractive vine with glossy, green, compound leaves on long petioles. The shape of the leaves is variable - some resemble oak leaves (for example Cissus Ellen Danica), then others are more like maple or grapes. Young leaves have a bronze tint, the stems are often burgundy. Flowering is inconspicuous and rarely occurs in indoor culture.

  

  3.4. Antarctic cissus - Cissus antarctica

  One of the most famous types of cissus is a perennial evergreen plant - a vine with stems up to 3 m long, growing quickly. The leaves are green, oblong-heart-shaped, pointed, 5-8 cm long. The edges of the leaf blades have large denticles. Young leaves have a bronze tint. This species develops well in partial shade.

  Each compound leaf consists of 3 or 5 oblong, glossy, green leaves connected in a circle by short petioles. The stems of the plant can reach 10 m in length.

  

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