Juncus: home care
Dzhunkus (chitnik) is an unusual houseplant resembling twisted wire. Some of its varieties are perennials and are actively used in landscape design. Others are grown in indoor floriculture. In the article you will find some tips for caring for this original plant.
Botanical description of the plant
The leaves of the junkus curl as they grow, making them look like living sculptures from long twisted springs. Indoors is used to decorate the living room, kitchen, cabinet. Its gray-green leaves are in perfect harmony with almost any color scheme and any shape of the pot. The garden is used to create wet flower beds.
Sitnik was first described by James Ebenezer Bicheno in 1819. Scourge found the plant unattractive and not worthy of attention. Junkus grows in most temperate regions, including North America, Europe and Asia. It can also grow in mountain and tropical areas.
| Root system | Bushy, composed of well-branched fibers |
| Stem | Multiple stems curving in a spiral (15–20 pieces) about 20 cm long. Some types of stems reach a length of 1.5 m |
| Leaf shape | Thin and narrow, grassy |
| Flower shape | Small paniculate flowers of 3 sepals. About 40 peduncles bloom simultaneously on a bush |
| Leaf color | Gray green |
| Flower color | Pale brown, light beige |
| Fruit shape | Elliptical seed box |
| Fruit color | Yellow brown |
Comfortable conditions for growing a house
Junkus grows well in any light, including under the bright sun and in the shade. Since the plant is water, it needs moist soil and regular maintenance of moisture. Almost does not need fertilizers, so it can be fed 1-2 times a year.
Did you know? Junkus is used to weave light and cheap mats in Iran and Afghanistan. And in Japan it is used in the manufacture of high-quality tatami.
Lighting
Give the plant as much sun as you can. A flower pot will feel equally good on the east, west and south windows. Juncus may live in the shade, but in this case he stops growth.
Ventilation
Dzhunkus is a wild plant, so in summer it needs to be taken outside. This procedure is both firming and hardening.
Temperature and humidity
The average indoor temperature should be + 18–27 ° C. If you take the pot outside in the summer, you need to bring it into the room as soon as the night temperatures begin to drop below +15 ° C. Frost can destroy the plant.
Important! Junkus is not intended for human or animal consumption.
Home Care
Moist soil guarantees good plant development. Some varieties of junkus tolerate dry weather well and can grow in arid soils. But there is no need to specifically create such conditions. The plant needs soil rich in organic matter. An ordinary daylight and a sunny windowsill for the development of a flower will be quite enough.
Watering
Junkus needs a lot of moisture. The soil in the pot should always be moist. To increase humidity, place the pot in a pan with water and pebbles. Evaporating, water will provide the junkus with the right microclimate. In winter, 1-2 waterings per week are sufficient, in summer - 3. It is advisable that warm water with a temperature of + 30–35 ° C be used for watering.
Top dressing
Dzhunkus grows well on acidic, clay soils with poor drainage. It needs to be fed periodically. The composition of the classic fertilizer includes nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium in equal proportions for improved leaf development. This is enough for the junkus. Top dressing can be done 1 time per season or 1 time per month from March to October.
Did you know? Juncus effusus has proven itself in landscape design. This perennial can grow both vertically and horizontally.
Pruning
Most junkus varieties form seed bolls at the end of summer. To prevent seeds from crumbling, the boxes are cut before the seeds fall into the soil. Dying leaves from garden specimens are removed after they begin to turn yellow.
Before cutting, wipe the scissors with a cloth dampened with alcohol to prevent the spread of pathogens. Sick or damaged leaves are removed immediately. Indoor junkus species do not need leaf pruning.
Transfer
A healthy plant all the time increases the root system and grows, therefore, every year in April it is divided into separate bushes and transplanted. For transplantation, use any mixture for indoor flowers. In the lower part of the pot place drainage, add earth, install a bush and water it.
Important! The depth of landing of the junkus should remain the same as it was in the old pot.
Breeding
In the spring, when transplanting, the junkus bush can be divided by dividers or grow new plants from seeds. For indoor floriculture, the first method is more often used.
Cuttings
Plant the seeds in a separate container, like any other seeds. Pour and cover the container with a film to create a greenhouse effect. This will contribute to faster seed germination. Formed bushes will grow in this capacity until next year, when they need to be transplanted.
Division
When dividing an earthen coma, it is necessary for each part of the bush to have several dividends. The cutting site is sprinkled with activated carbon. Delenki planted in separate pots.
Did you know? One of the smallest and most unique junkus is Juncus pygmaeus. In early summer, its leaves acquire a very beautiful pink-purple hue.
Possible growing difficulties
Junkus is not damaged by pests, but is susceptible to certain diseases.
The main ones are:
- drought (improper watering conditions);
- root rot (improper drainage).
Drought causes the death of the leaves immediately, and if it lasts for quite some time, the roots begin to die. The cause of death may also be root rot. Moisture-loving plants like moist soil, but this does not mean that they must be constantly in the water.
Junkus is a fairly unpretentious plant that can be kept at home. Organize the plant with proper watering, and it will delight you with its magnificent appearance.
