The evergreen perennial Dreamiopsis is one of the most popular and exotic indoor plants. He conquered the hearts of gardeners with his unpretentiousness and beautiful appearance. We will talk about the features of growing and propagating dreamiopsis at home today in the article.

Botanical description of the plant

Dreamiopsis is a flowering bulbous plant belonging to the Asparagus family and the Hyacinth subfamily. It differs in unpretentiousness, resistance to diseases and year-round flowering. With proper care and good conditions, the flower can live more than ten years.

Perennial is distinguished by its light and dark green leaves with characteristic small dark spots. The plant blooms in small light, almost white flowers, united by 20-30 pieces in spike-shaped inflorescences.

A part of the flower bulb is visible above the surface of the earth, and large petiolate leaves of an ovoid or heart-shaped form grow from it. Most gardeners love this decorative flower precisely for its unusual exotic leaves. Despite a common misconception, dreamiopsis is completely non-toxic and, as a rule, does not cause allergies in people and pets.

Main types

Of the more than two dozen species of this plant, only two have become popular as indoor flowers:

1. Dreamiopsis Kirk. Perennial growing from a light rounded bulb. The flower reaches a height of 40 cm. It differs in pointed leaves with a width of up to 5 cm and a length of up to 35 cm. The color of the top of the leaves is bright green with spots, the bottom is uniform light green. Petioles are very small or completely absent. It blooms from early spring to September with small flowers collected in ears.
2. Drimiopsis spotted or variegated. Bulbous perennial with elongated leaves with sharp tips and an expanding central part. The height of the plant is up to 35 cm. The color is identical to Kirk's primiopsis, but, in contrast to it, the spotted species has petioles up to 15 cm long. It blooms from mid-spring to July with small, grayish or yellowish small flowers combined into brushes. Flowers are distinguished by an unexpressed delicate aroma.

Microclimate

Many lovers of home flowers note the resistance and unpretentiousness of the plant in question, however, for good development and flowering, the rules for its placement and conditions of detention should be observed.

Important! Although the plant is safe for people, the juice of its bulb can cause skin irritation. Not for nothing translated from Greek “dreamiopsis” means “sharp”, therefore, all work on transplanting and breeding a flower is best done with gloves.

Location and Lighting

Unlike some indoor flowers, dreamiopsis loves the sun very much, including direct sunlight, so it is better to settle it on a well-lit window facing south. A young or newly acquired flower should be accustomed to the sun gradually, shading it with a light curtain. The same thing is best done on too hot days so that the drymsiopsis does not receive a leaf burn.

Temperature and humidity

The comfortable temperature for dreamiopsis is + 20–25 ° С; in the cold season, the flower prefers a cooler temperature in the region + 14–15 ° С. The plant is completely unpretentious to atmospheric humidity and can grow in any room, even with dry air.

However, during too hot a period, it is better to spray its leaves periodically, which will also help fight dust.

Home Care

Dreamiopsis is planted in a spacious pot with loose, fertilized and well-retaining moisture soil. Soil for bulb crops, which is sold in all flower shops, is well suited for this.

Watering

The flower is watered as the topsoil dries. The hotter and drier the room, the more often you need to water the plant. However, do not over-fill it with water, as this can lead to rotting of the roots.

For irrigation, you need to take clean, soft, settled water. In the autumn-winter period, when active growth and flowering cease, watering the plant is much less common and with less water.

Did you know? In the southern regions of the USA, dreamiopsis is named after the “American host” and is often planted in open areas as a groundcover. It not only withstands arid climate well, but also allows you to save moisture in the soil.

Fertilizer application

The flower is fed in the spring and summer with a frequency of twice a month. Since the plant’s vegetation occurs just at this time, top dressing allows it to develop properly and bloom well.

As fertilizers, special mixtures are used for bulb crops, which are sold in specialized stores. Also suitable for cacti and succulents. All dressings are applied according to the instructions for the drug.

Pruning

Part of the leaves of dryiopsis dies in the winter, becoming at first pale until transparent, and then falling off. Therefore, there is no direct need for pruning: the plant can take care of itself. However, some gardeners prefer to help their flower and prune old dried leaves. In any case, do not worry - in spring the flower will release new leaves and bloom.

Transfer

Young specimens need to be transplanted annually, adults - once every 2-3 years. This is due to the fact that as the flower bulbs grow, they are “pushed” outward, it becomes crowded in the old pot. The optimal period for transplantation is the beginning or mid-spring.

Important! Transplanting is the best time to plant bulbs and propagate the flower. Remember that the bulbs should protrude slightly above the surface of the earth.

For transplantation, wide and shallow peas are taken with drainage at the bottom. A pot with a diameter of 15–20 cm is sufficient for young plants. Further, the tank is filled with a loose and fertilized soil mixture for bulb crops, which has good breathability and excellent moisture retention.

You can also make the soil mixture yourself, taking equally:

• turf land;
• humus or compost;
• coarse river sand.

In the mixture, you can add charcoal (preferably birch) in an amount of about 6% of the total volume.

You need to transplant as follows:

1. At the bottom of the new pot, place a layer of expanded clay, brick chips or small pebbles. The height of the layer should be at least 3 cm. Next, pour the soil mixture, filling approximately 2/3 of the volume of the pot.
2. Carefully remove the flower from the old pot, brush off the ground and very carefully separate the offspring from the mother's bulb.
3. Using a clean knife, carefully remove all damaged and rotten roots and scales. Treat the slices with powdered activated carbon or wood ash or soak the bulbs for 15–20 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Allow the bulbs to dry completely.
4. Plant the bulbs all the way down into the prepared pots, digging a little more than half into the soil. To make the plant more luxuriant, you can simultaneously plant 3-5 bulbs at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other.
5. Gently compact the soil around the bulbs and water moderately. Next time, water no sooner than a week later.

Video: Dreamiopsis Transplant

Rest period

Dremyopsis rest period begins in the fall. The flower is preparing for winter, changing color to a plain color, and then dropping the leaves. During this period, it is better that the temperature in the room is + 14-15 ° C. You should also reduce the frequency and volume of watering and completely abandon top dressing. All this will allow the flower to relax and with renewed vigor to continue to develop and bloom next spring.

Breeding

The described plant propagates in three ways - bulbs, seeds and leaves. The first method is most often used because it is the simplest and most effective.

Bulb Division

Bulbs of Drimiopsis are propagated in spring at the end of the dormant period, during planting or transplanting of a flower. For this, the bulbs are separated from the mother plant, and the places of the slices are treated with wood or chopped activated carbon. New bulbs are planted in special soil for bulb crops.

Seed cultivation

This tropical plant very rarely forms seeds in the home, so this method is practically not used. However, if you got seeds of Drimiopsis, then you should sow them in a container with light, well-moistened soil and cover with a film, and then place them in a warm (about + 25 ° C) and bright room.

Seedlings should appear within 15-20 days. After seed germination, the film should be removed, and seedlings will need to be regularly watered.

Did you know? Some indoor flowers are very useful for people with insomnia, because they help to fall asleep. For example, aloe belongs to such: if you put it on the window of your bedroom, the plant will contribute to a sound and healthy sleep.

Leaf propagation

This method is mainly used for Kirim's Dreamiopsis. A healthy leaf of the plant is separated at the base and rooted in a mixture of peat with perlite or placed in water. You can also use a clean knife to divide the sheet into pieces of 5-6 cm and plant sand and turf in a mixture. Germination should occur in a warm and well-lit room without drafts.

Growing difficulties

The flower in question has a fairly good immunity and is rarely affected by diseases and pests.

However, sometimes some problems still arise, described below with a way to solve them:

• spider mite - spray the flower or rinse its leaves with a warm (about 50 ° C) solution of soapy water;
• scale and aphids - treat the plant with insecticidal drugs purchased in a specialized store;
• rot and fungus - adjust the irrigation mode, reducing its frequency and volume;
• withering - Strengthen watering, shade the flower from the hot direct sun;
• pale leaves stretching petioles - rearrange the plant in a more illuminated place or install an additional source of artificial light;
• light coating on the ground - the lack of drainage is eliminated by a flower transplant with a drainage layer device with a height of at least 3 cm.

In general, dryiopsis is one of the simplest in content and at the same time beautiful and original indoor plants. It will look good in any room, creating a special cosiness and allowing you to admire yourself for many years.