Soleyroliya: description, care and reproduction

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Gelksina Soleyrolya, or Soleyroliya Soleyrolya (Helxine soleirlii syn. Soleirolia soleirolii) – low-growing perennial herbaceous plant with creeping shoots from the Nettle family. Native to the Mediterranean.

The only species of the genus was found by Captain Soleyrol in the 19th century. in the humid forests of the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, and the genus and species of the plant were named after him.

Saltflower flower resembles a green fluffy ball, which looks unusual and very impressive, for which it was appreciated by many flower growers. Indeed, gelksina looks advantageous in any interior, adding a special zest to it.

Cultivate this culture in low, wide pots. Hanging pots are perfect for her, in which her grown shoots, intertwined with each other, go down. In the warm season, they are kept on the loggia or taken out into the garden for fresh air.

Description of the ground cover plant Soleyroliya

According to the description, this is an original ground cover ornamental plant with creeping branching shoots that form dense green carpets. The roots are small, thin, filiform.

The leaves are numerous, small, up to 0.6 cm in diameter, alternate, cordate-reniform, shiny, shortly petiolate. In the people, for the leaves of gelksina, it is called room duckweed.

The flowers are small (up to 1 mm), solitary, white or cream, without aroma.

In room conditions, it rarely blooms, does not bear fruit.

Under natural conditions, the saltirolia plant settles mainly on hills, in humid places, along the banks of reservoirs, in shaded areas. It can be found in large quantities on the island of Corsica and in Sardinia. Here gelksina grows in a wide carpet, capturing vast territories.

This individual does not need much light, on the contrary, she prefers shaded and semi-shaded areas, which must be taken into account when breeding her.

Varieties of the species Soleyroliya Soleyrol

There is only one species in the genus – S. soleirolii , but there are several varieties of this amazing plant.

At home, the Green variety is used with light green leaves about 2 cm in diameter. The miniature variety takes pruning well, thanks to which the flower can be given the desired shape.

One of the latest varieties of soleirolia is “Argentia”, characterized by leaves with a silvery sheen, as well as the variety “Aurea” with golden foliage.

The variety of saline “Variegata” looks spectacular with a thin white border along the edge of the sheet.

The photos below will help to consider the distinctive features of each variety of saline.

Growing saline at home

Despite its expressive appearance, the plant is not whimsical, therefore it can be successfully grown even by inexperienced flower growers. But for the successful growth and development of a flower, one should take into account some features of its content and familiarize yourself with what includes caring for saline at home. The main requirement of this culture is moderation in everything.
Location. A light-loving plant, however, needs protection from direct sunlight. Can grow in partial shade and shade. The best place will be on the eastern, northern and western exposition. It is noteworthy that helxinia can successfully grow in a slightly shaded corner of the apartment. Much more dangerous for her is direct sunlight, which adversely affects the foliage and general condition. In winter, it is recommended to use additional lighting, since with poor lighting the crown will lose its splendor, which means that the plant will lose its decorative effect. You can use artificial lighting when growing saline all year round.
Temperature. The optimum temperature for growing a flower is 25 -27 degrees. The temperature in winter is up to 8-10 °C. Does not tolerate extreme heat, as well as drafts. Both of these factors adversely affect the well-being and decorativeness of the plant, so they should be prevented in advance.
Watering. Saltwater at home responds well to watering and the grower should not neglect this feature of the culture. From April to September, watering should be plentiful, moderate in winter. It is impossible to allow the earthen coma to dry out, the root system of the plant will not withstand this. It is best if the water drains onto the pan, but its excess must be drained. For irrigation, soft settled water at room temperature is suitable.
Air humidity. Should be high – 60 – 85%. In summer, in hot weather, daily spraying up to several times a day is necessary. Damage to the flower brings dry and hot air, which must be remembered during the heating season and removed away from the battery.
substrate. You can use a ready-made decorative foliage mixture, as well as soil for palm trees. Many flower growers make their own substrate, which includes turf and leaf soil, humus, sand (1:1:1:1). In this case, the soil must be disinfected, a small amount of pebbles should be added to it so that the soil becomes moisture and breathable.
Be sure to lay a drainage layer about 2 cm thick at the bottom. To do this, you can take expanded clay, large pebbles or vermiculite.
Transfer. Soleirolia care also includes a transplant, which is carried out in the spring as needed. Usually this work is done only if the culture has grown strongly and requires more space. When transplanting, take a pot slightly wider than the previous one. Drainage is laid at the bottom, then transplanted by transshipment of an earthen coma. This must be done carefully, trying not to damage the root system.
Topdressing. Top dressing from March to August twice a month with liquid organic fertilizers, such as Peat Oxidate.

The photo below shows how home care for saline is performed correctly, taking into account all the requirements of this plant.

Methods of propagation of saline

Reproduction is carried out in several ways: seeds, cuttings, dividing the bush during transplantation.
The seed method is one of the simplest. Seeds are planted in pre-prepared soil, leaving them almost on the surface. Instead of watering, it is better to spray the soil with seeds with a spray bottle. Cover the container with glass or polyethylene and put it in a warm, lit or semi-lit place. Periodically, the greenhouse should be opened, ventilated and watered. After a while, the first shoots will appear. When they get stronger, they can be seated in separate pots.
Reproduction of saline by dividing the bush is carried out during the transplantation of an adult. From it you need to separate the part with several shoots so that a small piece of soil with roots remains. Plant this part in a separate container, slightly deepening. Carry out care as described above.
Propagation by cuttings is also widely used by flower growers. To do this, several shoots are separated from the gelxinia bush and removed into the water, or into the soil from peat and sand in equal parts. After 14 – 21 days, roots will appear, after which the rooted shoots can be planted in pots.

As seen in the photo below, soleirolia flower is successfully used in combination with other houseplants. Gelxinia looks beautiful and harmonious with pakhira, ficuses, hibiscus and other home flowers.

Spectacular compositions can be created by planting saline in one pot with low plants, such as coleus. But in this case, it must be taken into account that this ground cover grows rapidly and completely captures the soil in a pot. It can drown out small or immature plants.
It is believed that this culture takes away the negative radiation of electrical appliances, so it is recommended to place it near computers and TVs.

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