Schizobasis - strange appearance and simple character

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Among the strangest houseplants, schizobasis is not at all accidental. Thickened bulbs, almost completely visible above the substrate, thin filiform shoots and reduced greens, creating fancy lace on the supports, immediately attract attention. This plant is almost succulent in nature, although it retains some of the onion habits to the fullest. This exotic species is not for everyone, but it is not at all as difficult to grow a plant as rumor has it. To inexperienced gardeners, it may seem too bizarre. But it will fit into the collection of fans of original wonders without much effort on the part of the owners.

Content:

Schizobazis is a strange competitor
Conditions for growing indoor schizobasis
Home care for schizobasis
Diseases, pests and growing problems
Propagation of schizobasis

Schizobazis is a strange competitor

One of the strangest bulbous plants in the world is schizobasis. We are very fond of calling him in a German-speaking manner - schizobasis. A strange appearance and no less bizarre character, and the truth, seem complicated in its understanding and analysis. But it is worth taking a closer look at this exot and its true nature - not so capricious, surprisingly long-lasting onion - becomes obvious.

The botanical name schizobasis received from the Latin "split base".

Schizobasis belong to a bright family that presented room collections with more than one dazzling star - Asparagaceae. The homeland of this bizarre bulbous, like many of his relatives, is South Africa, although this plant is found in some neighboring countries on the west coast of the continent.

Schizobasis is often spoken of as an almost monospecific plant genus. Previously, only two types of schizobasis were distinguished, but today four completely independent and well distinguishable varieties are included in the genus. True, only one species is of decorative value.

Intricate schizobasis (Schizobazis intricata)formerly known as schizanthus makovani - bulbous perennials, constantly growing in volume and undergoing a full development cycle with a stage of pronounced dormancy. By the nature of growth and structure with schizobasis, only one houseplant is similar - bovea. But the differences between them are still significantly noticeable.

The bulbs are constantly growing in diameter and size, they surprise with a powerful, releasing strong accessory roots. In young schizobasis, the bulbs appear almost glassy - translucent, greenish, they cause bizarre associations. The older the schizobasis becomes, the less transparency appears and the stronger the bulb grows green, acquiring a rounded, slightly flattened shape.

Bulbs of a plant are capable of photosynthesis and must remain in the light. It is thanks to them that schizobasis are at the same time both bulbous and caudex succulents. A single leaf develops only in young plants. Narrow, elongated, it seems to precede the emergence of shoots. The scales are arranged in a tiled pattern. Bulbs of plants are edible; in Africa they are considered one of the valuable fodder plants.

Each bulb of a schizobasis produces only one shoot - but far from typical or straight, but branching strongly at the apex, strikingly thin, almost filiform in comparison with other bulbs. The shoot grows right only in the lower part, and then begins not only to branch out into dozens of branches, but also to curl.

With age, the shoots wilt and creep, but in young plants, green lace is held by a weightless cloud over transparent bulbs. Climbing, flexible and at the same time resilient, shoots of schizobasis resemble a thin green wire and seem to be something man-made. It seems that they are divided to infinity, forming a kind of weightless and graphic lace. On branches of the final order, single flowers develop. The dark green color of the shoots of schizobasis is so intense that it completely compensates for the absence of leaves.

The flowering period of schizobasis covers the whole summer. Usually you can admire the touching flowers of the plant from June to mid-late August, although the temperature of the content can affect the flowering period in the direction of reducing its duration.

Unlike bovea, schizobasis has far from boring and nondescript flowers. Maybe they can not boast of size, but their shape is very elegant. The corolla consists of six perfectly symmetrical petals, elegantly bending backwards. The color palette of schizobases is delicate light pink shades that look amazingly fresh against the backdrop of greenery. Light flowers with a translucent texture of the petals seem to be ornaments strung by a skilled craftswoman. When the fruit ripens, the perianth falls, leaving “berries”, which is considered the main difference from a similar in nature growth of the beauvais.

A distinctive feature of schizobasis is pollination only at night - special insects, which in a room can only be replaced by a brush.

Conditions for growing indoor schizobasis

It is quite easy to select conditions for a schizobasis. This onion makes it possible to change the development cycle and sacrifice flowering or longevity in favor of stable decorativeness all year long, although when grown with the stage of complete rest, when the shoot is allowed to die every year, the bulb does not lose its decorative effect for many years.

Despite the fact that the schizobasis feels great in rooms and can be considered as an ordinary onion, the plant is rarely used for flowering, shifting the timing of flowering. This bulb is grown with a classic summer bloom. The rest period with this approach begins in October and lasts until lash shoots begin to grow.

Lighting and placement

Schizobases are photophilous plants in which the bulbs participate in photosynthesis. You cannot grow them in a strong shadow, but you can freely experiment with placement in the interior. Within the penumbra and bright places, the schizobasis will feel quite comfortable.

The bizarre form of schizobases requires setting them apart from the collections. Schizobases look best in places where the abundance of decor or objects will not distract them from them, i.e. against the background of clean walls. If the shoots are drooping, the plant can be planted with drooping stems like an ampel. But even in this case, the schizobasis is placed so that the bulbs are visible.

Temperature and ventilation

Schizobasis feels good at ordinary room temperatures. During the period of active development, the minimum acceptable indicators are 18 degrees heat. It is better to protect this onion from heat, but with good care and stable substrate moisture, the plant retains its beauty even in extreme conditions.

If you want to admire the plant for many years and reveal all its beauty, you should not sacrifice a period of rest. Schizobases should winter in coolness, but the acceptable range of indicators is so wide that you can find a suitable place for a plant in almost any house or apartment.

The schizobasis does not tolerate a temperature drop below 8 degrees of heat, but any indicators from 8 to 15-16 degrees are quite suitable for it at the stage of a dry rest period. The drying of the shoot depends on the temperature. Sometimes the branches remain even during wintering at 15 degrees Celsius. If the plant spends the dormant period at ordinary room temperatures, then the shoots are preserved, the dormant period does not occur, the bulbs quickly break up into families and the schizobasis degenerates.

Home care for schizobasis

Schizobases are not as simple onion and succulents as it might seem at first glance. They are extremely dependent on watering, and although they are among the hardy plants, they quickly lose their beauty with irregular watering. There is no need to spray, crop and even often feed them. This is an interesting plant that is suitable for experimentation and most of all will appeal to those who like to watch exotic crops that require attention and care.

Watering and humidity

Unlike the beauvais similar to them, schizobases cannot grow for a significant part of their development cycle on a dry basis. They are extremely sensitive to inadequate and excessive watering, bulbs, when the soil dries, begin to lose their decorative effect, which is especially noticeable on young, translucent plants. Puckering, drying out, stunting spoil the whole effect of the exotic appearance of schizobases. Therefore, it is better not to allow complete drying of the soil, allowing only the top layer of soil to dry.

Watering is carried out abundantly during active growth, and in winter they are guided by the stem of the plant. If it stays for the winter, then watering does not stop, but makes them more accurate. If schizobasis is grown according to the classical method, with a complete rest period, then the plant is kept dry in winter. Watering slowly, gradually increasing soil moisture, begins to be carried out only when the plant begins to grow shoots, the first few centimeters of the future whip appear.

During the entire period of growth, flowering and fruiting, the plant is watered generously, but very carefully, preventing the soil from drying out completely in the pots. Between watering, the upper part of the soil is dried. When carrying out irrigation, it is necessary to ensure that the water does not remain in the pallets even for several minutes, and that drops of water do not fall on any part of the plant. Watering is carried out along the very edge of the pot. With high drainage and high-quality drainage holes, the lower watering method can be used. Schizobazis feels rather well in hydroponics and in tanks with automatic irrigation systems.

Fertilizing and fertilizer composition

Schizobasis do not need complex feeding schemes. Having selected high-quality fertilizer for succulents, plants provide additional nutrients only in spring and summer, completing feeding with the end of flowering. For schizobasis, conventional top dressing with a frequency of 1 time in 2-3 weeks is perfect. The dose of fertilizers is halved compared to the standard.

Cropping and shaping

Schizobasis can be left to grow freely, allowing the shoots to rush up or down. If a upright form is desired, supports should be installed for the plant. Highly decorative and elegant options are worth choosing.

Transplant and substrate

Schizobasis is transplanted only when the plant has mastered the previous capacity. This species does not like contacts and frequent transplants, just 1 transplant in 2-3 years is enough. If transplantation is not carried out, then the contaminated substrate layer at the top of the pot is carefully removed and replaced with fresh soil.

The substrate for schizobasis is selected very carefully. He needs light, loose soil. The universal substrate can be improved by adding sand or inert soil, but it is better to immediately select special substrates for the plant for succulents or caudex plants. Drainage at the bottom of the tank is required even when using a qualitatively permeable soil.

When planting a schizobasis, the most important thing is to maintain the correct depth. The bulb is set so that only the lower part, the bottom of the bulb, is immersed in the substrate, and at least 2/3 of the height remains above the soil line.

For schizobasis, it is very important to correctly “present” the bulbs: decorative and catchy, they are the decoration of the plant. But to evaluate their beauty against the background of a bare substrate does not work. Decorative mulching - with crushed stone, bark or colored sand — not only reduces the risk of waterlogging of the soil, but also creates a beautiful background.

Diseases, pests and growing problems

Schizobases are one of the most persistent indoor bulbs. Apart from using infected plants and growing in a poor-quality substrate without treatment from nematodes, the plants practically do not suffer from diseases or pests. Waterlogging can lead to the development of rot, especially if watering is carried out inaccurately.

Propagation of schizobasis

The simplest method of propagation of schizobasis, and the most popular, is growing from seeds. This is one of the most interesting plants for sowing, because young sprouts also look like fancy pearls or transparent water bags from which long leaves and shoots stretch. Sowing can be carried out at any time of the year, if it is possible to sprout seedlings, or in February-March, if the plants will be grown on the windowsill.

Sowing is carried out in greenhouses, under a film or glass, in a sandy or inert substrate, superficially or slightly sprinkled with sand. Schizobasis seeds germinate at a temperature of about 22-23 degrees, with light soil moisture. Plants develop very slowly, they must be handled carefully. Small schizobasis are transferred to other containers as they grow up, growing in clusters before they reach at least several centimeters in diameter.

Over time, in schizobasis, as in bovys, which do not pass the dormant period every year, quickly enough, adult bulbs crack into daughter ones and break up into peculiar colonies. Small onions separate and root, gradually growing as independent plants or in small groups.