Home doctor Golden mustache: plant care. Golden mustache - medicinal properties, recipes and methods of application, contraindications
Golden mustache is also called fragrant callisia, official name- Spironema fragrant. This is a plant of the Commeline family, which has more than 50 genera and ten times as many species.
The birthplace of the golden mustache is South America, and the tradescantia is a relative. The plant began to be accustomed to "home life" about 100 years ago, it came to Russia only a couple of decades ago and immediately won the fame of a people's doctor, standing next to aloe, geranium and Kalanchoe.
Features of the golden mustache
Many flower growers call the golden mustache dichorizandra, not spironema. It's two different plants that belong to the same family. They are similar in appearance, which causes confusion.
Dihorisandra has no "antennae" at all, and its flowers are purple, not white color. In addition, it does not have any healing properties and can only be used as decoration. Her growing conditions are also different.
The golden mustache can cope with a variety of ailments - it was not for nothing that in ancient times it was called " living water ". The names "Mexican mustache" and "Corn ginseng" have also taken root. It is believed that the plant came to Europe through imported foreign goods, the path of which ran through the monasteries and temples of the East.
Local monks first used a modest flower as a decoration for their dwellings, and soon discovered it healing properties , after which its cultivation began. In their hands, the flower began to be called "Oriental mustache" or "Plant of the East."
The appearance of the golden mustache
It's big perennial capable of growing up to a meter in height. True, it grows rather slowly, at home it grows up to 30 cm in height and up to 100-120 cm in width. If there is support, the stems creep up, otherwise they spread along the ground.
As you grow tubercles form on the trunk, gradually turning into separate shoots - "whiskers". They, in turn, consist of several "joints" and end with leaf rosettes. This is the first type of shoot that is suitable for propagation when the "whiskers" turn purple.
The second type is formed upright developed leaves, which reach 20-25 cm in length and 5-6 cm in width. They are located alternately, their bases are quite close to each other, which is why many people think that this is one outlet.
By appearance foliage similar to corn - the same fleshy and dense. When broken, you can see thin stretching hairs, because of which the people nicknamed the golden mustache "venus hair" or "living hair".
Depending on the care and climate, the golden mustache may bloom. small white flowers formed at the top of the shoots. They have a pleasant aroma that can be compared to lily of the valley or hyacinth.
The healing properties of the golden mustache
Golden mustache is an excellent and affordable remedy for many ailments, the cultivation of which will not cause trouble. His track record is quite extensive:
Prepared from a plant ointments, infusions, decoctions, oil, compresses and much more. It is worth remembering that the use of a golden mustache can cause an allergic reaction and should be agreed with your doctor. Children are strictly forbidden to take the plant in any form.
More about the healing properties of the golden mustache and health recipes with it:
Home plant care
Growing a golden mustache is not difficult: it is quite unpretentious and requires only not to forget about it. Even novice growers can easily master its cultivation.
Golden mustache unpretentious and can grow in the simplest soil. You can also use loam and adding river sand and eggshells, or make a mixture of greenhouse humus and turf, adding a little sand. Can be used as fertilizer organic options containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
Reproduction of the golden mustache
For the first method of reproduction, rosettes are used, which are formed at the ends of thin shoots. purple. them neatly cut and dipped in water¾ and leave for 1-2 weeks so that the roots can get stronger.
After this, the sprout can transplant into soil mixed with sand and eggshells. First it will be enough small pot, but over time you will need a larger tub. Propagate the golden mustache better in spring or in autumn.
Another method requires little or no human intervention. Sometimes the shoots bend so much that the rosettes can reach the soil and settle down on your own. After they settle down, the sprout can be dug up and transplanted, or left with the "parent".
In a wide pot, several golden mustaches harmoniously look: together the bush looks more magnificent and more colorful. If you decide to divide the plant, moisten the transplanted sprout with plenty of water and cover with a plastic cap for 3-4 days to create the effect of a greenhouse. Then the "young growth" is transferred to the room and watered abundantly for a couple more days.
You can also use long shoots by transplanting them into the soil. However, this method is less successful than the first and second: plants often do not take root.
You can plant a golden mustache not only at home in a pot. He adapts well to summer cottages, in greenhouses and under the film. open ground it is recommended to fertilize with ash and superphosphate.
Despite the fact that mostly home care behind the golden mustache does not cause any difficulties, there are several points that you should pay attention to:
The golden mustache is practically not susceptible to harmful insects, it does not need to be protected. To get rid of thrips and red spider mites, you must constantly ventilate the room and spray the leaves.
If prevention does not help, it is necessary spray the leaves with insecticide, cover with a bag and leave for a few days.
The second solution to the same problem would be spraying the leaves with a mixture tobacco and laundry soap . This will help create an additional film on the leaves through which the pests will not pass.
An unpretentious golden mustache is perfect for both experienced gardeners as well as for beginners. By following the simple rules of watering and carefully choosing for the plant optimal room, you can forget about the troubles associated with floriculture for a long time.
Fragrant callisia is the name of the golden mustache in scientific circles. This plant has medicinal properties not a little less than in scarlet and Kalanchoe. Unlike these plants, it is not approved by the Ministry of Health and continues to be debated. But amateurs don't pay attention to these discussions. folk medicine.
Medicinal properties
In traditional medicine recipes, the use of a golden mustache is quite wide. It is popularly called homemade ginseng. If you are concerned about such ailments as bronchial asthma, gastrointestinal tract, pulmonary diseases, gallbladder, spleen, then you can use this plant without worrying about negative consequences. There is an opinion among the people that with the help of this plant, various types of painful sensations can be alleviated. For example: relieve itching, heal burns, bruises, relieve lichen, ulcers. In order to use this plant in medicinal purposes, it is not necessary to buy it, you can grow it at home.
Callisia fragrant is a very large houseplant, reaching 1 m in height. Propagated by shoots, they resemble creepers (whiskers). The mustache is made up of joints. They are purple-brown in color and have a broom of leaves at the end. Medicinal can be safely considered a plant with nine and big amount joints on the shoots.
Having planted a golden mustache at home, you need to remember that no matter what he loves heat and light, he in no case accepts direct sunlight.
soil for the plant
To plant callisia, you need to mix several types of soil:
- greenhouse humus;
- sod land;
- river sand, preferably coarse.
At the bottom of the pot for planting, it is desirable to make drainage. For drainage, you can use eggshells, preferably from raw eggs. To improve the effect, crush the shell with sand.
Caring for medicinal plants
In the warm season, specifically in spring and summer, the flower needs to be watered every day. However, do not use a large number of liquids. Waterlogging of the soil can adversely affect plants and their development. In autumn and winter, callisia should be watered 3 times a week. most optimal temperature for the normal development of the plant, 26 ° C is considered, humidity will be preferable - 55%. IN winter period, the dormant period of most plants, temperature regime, which contains the plant, it is recommended to reduce. After rooting, the flower is fed with liquid fertilizers. The leaves are sprayed with softened water every three days.
At good development and growth, callisia needs to be attached to an additional support, because the plant can break under the weight of its weight and lateral processes.
It can be concluded that the golden mustache is not a very fastidious plant. It can safely grow and multiply at home.
reproduction
There are three ways to reproduce:
- You need to take the cuttings and place them in water by 3/4. After 10 days, the appearance of roots will be noticeable. After that, the plant can be planted. To accelerate the growth of roots, you can add epin, a stimulating growth, to the container where the stalk stands.
- Cuttings without roots are planted and sprayed with water. After you need to cover plastic wrap and put in a room with low lighting for 4 days. When we remove the film, it will be necessary to water sparingly water. After a day, move to a place with normal lighting and water for another 4 days. During this time, the stalk in the ground will take root and begin to develop normally.
- When a mature plant has put out enough side shoots and at the same time it is growing in a sufficiently large pot, then it is worth using the third method of reproduction. We attach the main stem of the plant to the support, and sprinkle the shoots with earth. After 5-7 days, the shoot is cut off from the main stem, then carefully dug up and transplanted for independent development.
Fragrant callisia will not only decorate the room, but will also be useful for medicinal purposes.
Growing a golden mustache at home is rapidly gaining popularity. First of all, this is due to the unique chemical composition leaves and shoots of a flower. The biologically active substances contained in them, flavonoids and phytosterols, are actively used for the preparation of ointments, tinctures and decoctions. Dosage forms on the basis of an extract from a golden mustache, they help get rid of skin rashes, high blood pressure, osteochondrosis and rheumatism.
A guest from the tropics: modest and graceful
Judging by the abundance of pots with a golden mustache on the windowsills, the plant originally existed on the territory of our camp. But this is not at all the case - the birthplace of the flower is tropical forests. South America. In its native expanses, a golden mustache can grow up to 3 meters high, its shoots wrap around tree trunks and fill the voids of rocky crevices. At home, with proper care, shoots hanging from pots grow up to 1.5-2 m long.
Important: if a flower is planted for the sake of obtaining medicinal infusions, an allergic predisposition test should be carried out in order to avoid disappointment after using the drug.
If not practiced ampel cultivation, then the stems need a strong support. Here distinctive features exotic plant:
- leaves alternate, narrow, up to 30 cm long;
- the outer side of the leaf is light green, the inner side is dark green with a burgundy tint;
- thin brownish shoots (whiskers) with internodes sprout from the leaf axils;
- at the ends of the internodes there are rosettes of tiny leaves;
- small flowers consist of three petals of delicate lilac or pink.
The genus Callisia from the Kommelinov family has more than 10 species; only one of them is grown in our country. The golden mustache blooms extremely rarely, only from diligent breeders, for this process he needs optimal conditions care. But, if it bloomed ... Even a small group of blooming flowers can fill the room with a magical aroma with sweetish notes.
What you need to know about the reproduction of fragrant callisia?
After the flowering of the golden mustache is over, tiny seeds can be collected and sown. But at home, the formation of buds is extremely rare, so this method is not common among breeders. The plant propagates easily in the following ways:
- Layering using an adult specimen.
- Cuttings with rooting under the film.
- Rosettes rooted in distilled water.
When growing a golden mustache on the territory of a greenhouse, the method of rooting long shoots is used. The "whiskers" of an adult plant are sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly. After two weeks, roots will appear on the shoot. Now you should carefully separate the rooted part of the flower and plant it in a permanent place.
The cuttings are obtained from the shoot, which is cut into pieces so that each segment contains 3-4 internodes. They are planted in prepared soil mixture from peat and sand; with the help of a film, the growing containers are covered and left at room temperature in a bright place. Rooting will occur in a couple of weeks.
Important: cuttings must be watered as the soil dries out, as well as ventilate the greenhouse daily and remove accumulated condensate.
The golden mustache forms many rosettes at the ends of the shoots, which can be used for reproduction at home. Healthy large rosettes with a short piece of stem root perfectly in a glass of water. The water must be changed periodically to avoid stem rot. After building a powerful root system with a flower, the seedlings are transplanted for further cultivation.
Secrets of proper care
A visitor from the tropics is sensitive to lack of sunlight. If the pot with a golden mustache is in shading, you should be prepared to stretch the shoots. The stems and leaves will fade, and flowering is out of the question. The plant feels great on the windowsills located on the east side. The south side is also suitable for a golden mustache, but you will need to shade the flower when leaving.
The humid climate of the historical homeland made the plant demanding on high humidity air. In the morning and evening, you need to spray the golden mustache with soft settled water using a spray bottle. The pot can be placed on a pallet with small pebbles and poured with water - this way you can do without constantly moistening the stem and leaves.
Important: when carrying out weekly housekeeping we must not forget about the leaves of the golden mustache. Wipe them with a damp cloth to remove accumulated dust.
Immediately after acquiring a seedling, watering needs to be adjusted. Complete drying of the earthy coma is unacceptable: the golden mustache may not recover from the stress. You can water the flower according to the following scheme:
- from mid-spring to early autumn - 3-4 times a week;
- with the onset of cold weather - 1 time per week.
The golden mustache likes it when the owner acidifies the water when watering. You can do this at home with a few grains. citric acid or a couple of drops of fresh lemon juice. Proper care consists in weekly loosening of the soil under the plant. This must be done carefully, trying not to damage the delicate roots.
Soil and nutrients
For planting a golden mustache, loamy soil with slightly acidic PH values \u200b\u200bis suitable. The soil can be picked up in a specialized store. Good for universal. And it is best to prepare the soil mixture yourself by mixing the following components:
- Horse peat.
- Leafy manure.
- River sand.
The soil should be light, nutritious. So that moisture does not stagnate in the area of \u200b\u200bthe roots, 3-4 cm of any drainage material should be laid on the bottom of a wide pot. Suitable ordinary expanded clay, eggshell or pieces of sphagnum. Before adding sand, it should be calcined or poured abundantly with a pink solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection.
Important: we should not forget that the soil collected independently under the trees can be inhabited by larvae harmful insects, which are deadly for the roots of the golden mustache. Baking in the oven for an hour will help solve this problem.
Over time, the soil in the flower pot is depleted, the plant slows down its growth. Golden mustache requires regular nutritious top dressing. It responds well to application organic fertilizers, but this is not always appropriate in an apartment. Therefore, the owners pamper their pets with complex top dressing. The main thing is that they contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In winter, it is not necessary to fertilize more than once a month, and when the golden mustache starts to grow in the spring, the amount of dressing needs to be increased to once a week.
Diseases and dangerous pests
A flower is able to signal flaws when caring for it at home. If the leaves formed brown spots, their tips turned yellow and dried up, which means that the owner is doing something wrong. It could be:
- excessively abundant watering, which caused rotting of the roots;
- insufficient watering;
- dry indoor air;
- poor fertilization.
Having revised the rules for caring for a golden mustache, it is necessary to detect and correct the error.
Important: if the plant is grown as a medicinal plant, then quality care is necessary - only under such conditions the maximum amount of biologically active substances accumulates in the leaves.
Indifferent to medicinal plant pests that willingly settle on its tender parts. The flower began to lose turgor, the leaves shrivel, fall off, and the shoots lost their elasticity? It's time to look for unexpected guests on the golden mustache. The rule is:
- Thrips. form colonies with inside leaves.
- Spider mite. Its red variety is especially raging.
It's time to take drastic measures and go for an insecticide. Actellik and Aktara, used for pest control, have proven themselves to be excellent. These drugs are systemic, the plant should be sprayed once a week for one month. A good prevention in pest control is regular inspections to detect them.
Golden mustache is a modest and very elegant plant. It is difficult to appreciate its beauty at first sight. Moreover, he was not used to attracting attention. It grows in a corner, gratefully responds to simple care, while the owner spends a lot of time on capricious flowers from his collection.
But the benefits of the golden mustache are colossal. Perhaps, initially the grower did not plan to use the healing properties of the plant. But how not to use them if your back hurts, and the necessary medicine grows on the windowsill? One has only to reach out, pick a leaf and throw it into hot water.
Tinctures, ointments and other drugs are prepared from the golden mustache. Given that caring for this crop is not difficult at all, it is highly recommended to have it in every home.
What does a golden mustache indoor plant look like: photo and description
The houseplant golden mustache belongs to the Commeline family, the genus Callisia. There are 12 species in the genus, growing in the tropics of Central and South America and Mexico. In culture, only one species is best known, which is called the golden mustache.
What does a golden mustache look like wild nature? This creeping grass up to 2 m long "creeps" along the mountain slopes and clearings, taking root in the nodes. IN indoor floriculture cultivated for over 100 years. In the 21st century, they began to seat in winter gardens in combination with other ornamental or medicinal plants such as palm, tea rose, lemongrass, aloe, kalanchoe, etc.
According to the description, the indoor golden mustache is not much different from the wild one. This culture got its name due to the presence of long shoots that extend from the axils of the leaves, like the "whiskers" of strawberries, and take root in the same way. The length of these "whiskers" is up to 1 meter, they are bare, reddish-brown with long internodes and small rosettes of leaves at the ends (it is usually believed that only shoots no shorter than 9 internodes are suitable for treatment). Large, up to 30 cm, almost linear alternate leaves covering the stem develop only after rooting. When the sheet breaks, thin threads of rubber stretch between its parts. The stem of this plant, although long, is not able to stand upright, so it needs support in the apartment.
At good care at home, the golden mustache sometimes blooms. small flowers- less than 1 centimeter in diameter - collected in paniculate inflorescences. The flowers appear from the axils of the leaves and are collected in paired, hanging racemes on small peduncles.
As you can see in the photo, in a houseplant, a golden mustache, each flower has three white, pink or blue petals:
Despite the fact that the inflorescences themselves are inconspicuous, they attract attention with a strong pleasant smell, similar to the smell of hyacinth.
How to grow a golden mustache and how to care for it
Growing a golden mustache at home is not a hassle. It is necessary to create all the optimal conditions under which the plant will be comfortable. A ceramic pot with a diameter of at least thirty centimeters or a wide ceramic vase is suitable for planting.
They grow not only in pots, but also in a greenhouse, in the country and even under a film. To do this, you need to use lateral horizontal shoots that are rooted on the stem in the soil. The main stem must be tied to a support, and the shoots from it are bent to the soil and earth is poured on them. As soon as the shoots take root, they are cut off for transplanting to another place.
In heated greenhouses, "climate control" or simple air conditioning systems are installed in combination with special fountains to humidify the air in the summer heat. In addition, it is recommended to spray the whole plant clean water- thawed from a refrigerator or freezer, but not tap water, containing chlorine, phenol and other harmful chemicals but.
Proper care for the golden mustache at home involves daily watering in the spring and summer, but without waterlogging the soil, and less often in autumn and winter - two or three times a week. The soil in the pot should be moistened to the ground. To prevent the jet from eroding the soil, it is better to use a watering can with a small strainer or a kettle. An hour after watering, the water must be drained from the pan, and the pan and the bottom of the pot should be wiped dry so that mold does not appear.
Growing and caring for a golden mustache at home
The need for watering is determined simply: if the knock on the edge of the pot is loud, then the earth is dry, if it is deaf, then the earth is wet, and the topsoil, when it dries up, turns gray. He likes frequent bathing-spraying with a spray bottle. You can spray the plant in the morning and in the evening, provided that the apartment has dry warm air. Between waterings, the soil under the flower must be carefully loosened. The ideal temperature for flower growth is 25 - 27 ° C, with a recommended humidity of 50 - 60%. In winter, the temperature can be slightly reduced.
Fertilization or top dressing is necessary. liquid fertilizers You can feed the plant after the development of its root system. In the warm season, fertilizers are applied once a week, in the cold season - once a month. To feed this home plant it is best to buy ready-made mixtures.
In the process of caring for a golden mustache at home, do not forget that the plant loves light, but does not tolerate direct sunlight, especially hot evenings. In this case, the plant becomes discolored and twisted, the mustache ceases to form. After being transferred to the shade, it quickly recovers. Winter temperature should be in the range of 16-18 degrees, otherwise the plants stretch a lot, reducing the amount of active substances. In summer, you can take it outside to a shady place.
How to plant, transplant and propagate a golden mustache at home
How does a golden mustache reproduce at home and how to transplant it correctly? The plant propagates by layering, pieces of "whiskers" and ordinary cuttings. Most auspicious time for breeding - March, April, but if necessary, you can breed all year round.
From the mother plant, you need to cut off the top of the shoot with 2 - 4 joints, remove the lower leaves, shorten the upper ones by a third. Dry the cut sections of the cuttings for 2 to 3 hours, and then plant them in pots with a richly moistened soil mixture. Moisten the cuttings and cover plastic bag for rooting.
A rosette of leaves with a small piece of stem is cut from a horizontal lateral shoot and placed in a vessel with water. Powerful root system develops within 10-15 days. Then young plant planted in a pot with an earthen mixture and watered abundantly.
Before planting a golden mustache at home, you need to make drainage from egg shells or sphagnum by adding river sand. Ground mixture is prepared from 2 parts sod land, 2 pieces of greenhouse land, 3 pieces leaf ground and 3 parts sand.
Young plants are transplanted annually, and adults once every two to three years. Transplantation is best done in spring or autumn.
Before transplanting a golden mustache at home, the plant is first watered with a nutrient solution based on microfertilizers containing potassium, as well as nitrogen, phosphorus and trace elements. In a new pot, the soil is prepared in the previously described way: small dolomite crushed stone, expanded clay, or pumice in combination with mountain sand and wood ash are placed on the bottom.
For soil for transplantation, plants take soddy land, without weeds, from under trees - lindens, aspens, willows. The specialized stores "Gardener", "Dachnik", "Garden World", "Florist" are currently selling ready-made soil mixture for breeding indoor plants any kind.
Diseases and pests - thrips and red spider mite. At the first sign of damage, the plant must be sprayed systemic insecticide and cover for 1 - 2 days with a plastic bag. The best preventive measures are daily spraying and maintaining the required air humidity.
Medicinal properties of a houseplant golden mustache
As early as the 19th century, American scientists began detailed studies of the plant. Many Spanish Catholic missionaries who visited the Mayans and Aztecs wrote about the healing properties of the houseplant.
American scientists have found that the juice of this plant contains a large amount of biologically active substances. Russian scientists from the Irkutsk Medical Institute, Novosibirsk and St. Petersburg have established that the plant is not inferior to the famous ginseng in terms of its healing effect on the human body, and even surpasses it in some parameters.
It is used in folk medicine for a variety of diseases: oncology, allergies, tonsillitis, stomatitis, varicose veins, radiculitis, pancreatitis, bronchial asthma, diabetes mellitus and many others. It is successfully used in the treatment of diseases of the eyes and joints, has anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antitumor properties.
The use of a golden mustache at home is effective in the fight against skin diseases, and is also actively used in cosmetology. It is used in the treatment of heel spurs, nail fungus, heart and lung diseases. In addition, the plant strengthens the immune system, blood vessels and perfectly treats the common cold and many internal diseases.
How to prepare medicines from a golden mustache at home: tinctures and ointments
It is not difficult to prepare medicines from a golden mustache at home: stems, leaves, side shoots mustache.
The simplest medicine is tincture. It is taken orally and used externally. Tinctures on water are prepared from the leaves, and all parts of the plant are suitable for tincture on alcohol or vodka.
On vodka or alcohol. Escape from twelve knees pour half a liter of vodka or diluted alcohol. If the tincture of the golden mustache at home is intended only for rubbing, then the alcohol can not be diluted, and in addition to the antennae, you can add chopped leaves and a trunk. Insist in a dark, dark place for two weeks, shake every day.
On the water. One large leaf - at least twenty centimeters, or several smaller leaves, brew in a thermos with a liter of water and leave for a day. For a decoction, do not brew, but boil for five minutes. Indications: for stomach ulcers, diabetes mellitus, intestinal inflammation, pancreatitis. Take one hundred milligrams half an hour before meals three times a day.
Oil tincture. Grind leaves, stem and shoots in a blender, pour hot vegetable oil in the ratio of one (slurry) to two (oil). Insist in a dark, dark place for ten days.
Ointment. Grind leaves, stem and shoots in a blender. Mix with cream, petroleum jelly or animal fat. It is better, of course, to use fat, since it does not contain impurities.
The use of a golden mustache for home treatment
With bruises. Rubbing alcohol tincture, oil or ointment damaged areas. If you apply the tincture immediately after a bruise, bruising can be prevented. Compresses relieve pain and swelling. In cases of serious injuries - with fractures and severe bruises - it is recommended to undergo a course of treatment with alcohol tincture.
With osteochondrosis, radiculitis, diseases of the joints and blood vessels. At the time of exacerbation of pain in the spine (osteochondrosis), rub the region of the cervical vertebrae, inflamed joints with tincture. You can use compresses - moisten the bandage folded in several layers abundantly and apply to the sore spot for 2 hours. Top with compress paper, wrap warmly. Repeat 2 times a day. Preventive compresses do another 2 - 3 days after the removal of acute pain. During compresses, tincture is taken orally, 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day one hour before meals. Course - no more than 7-10 days.
With thrombophlebitis. Fresh alcohol tincture is taken orally 2 times a day, 30-40 drops per 50 ml of water.
At skin diseases. Oil and ointment based on baby cream are used for cosmetic purposes with dry, sensitive skin. Helps with acne alcohol tincture, but for use on the skin of the face, it is desirable to dilute the original tincture 2-4 times.
With a stroke. Use alcohol tincture for massage or rub the paralyzed part of the body.
With diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Grind one sheet of at least 20 cm in size and pour into glass jar liter of boiling water, wrap, leave for a day, take 3-4 times a day 40 minutes before meals, 50 g warm.
This infusion cures many internal diseases, removes toxins from the body, small stones and sand from the kidneys and bladder. As a result of complex cleansing of the body, the general state of health of patients improves dramatically. They become more active, many improve their vision. This is the most harmless recipe that can be used as a prophylactic.
Like any medicinal plant may cause allergies. Therefore, treatment with a golden mustache at home with a tendency to allergic reactions or in the presence of allergic diseases needs to be done very carefully. With increased pressure, tinctures on alcohol or vodka are diluted boiled water or replace with decoctions.
Tinctures, ointments and other drugs are prepared from the golden mustache. Given that caring for this crop is not difficult at all, it is highly recommended to have it in every home.
What does a golden mustache indoor plant look like: photo and description
The houseplant golden mustache belongs to the Commeline family, the genus Callisia. There are 12 species in the genus, growing in the tropics of Central and South America and Mexico. In culture, only one species is best known, which is called the golden mustache.
According to the description, the indoor golden mustache is not much different from the wild one. This culture got its name due to the presence of long shoots that extend from the axils of the leaves, like the "whiskers" of strawberries, and take root in the same way. The length of these "whiskers" is up to 1 meter, they are bare, reddish-brown with long internodes and small rosettes of leaves at the ends (it is usually believed that only shoots no shorter than 9 internodes are suitable for treatment). Large, up to 30 cm, almost linear alternate leaves covering the stem develop only after rooting. When the sheet breaks, thin threads of rubber stretch between its parts. The stem of this plant, although long, is not able to stand upright, so it needs support in the apartment.
With good care at home, the golden mustache sometimes blooms. Small flowers - less than 1 centimeter in diameter - are collected in paniculate inflorescences. The flowers appear from the axils of the leaves and are collected in paired, hanging racemes on small peduncles.
As you can see in the photo, in a houseplant, a golden mustache, each flower has three white, pink or blue petals:
Despite the fact that the inflorescences themselves are inconspicuous, they attract attention with a strong pleasant smell, similar to the smell of hyacinth.
How to grow a golden mustache and how to care for it
Growing a golden mustache at home is not a hassle. It is necessary to create all the optimal conditions under which the plant will be comfortable. A ceramic pot with a diameter of at least thirty centimeters or a wide ceramic vase is suitable for planting.
They grow not only in pots, but also in a greenhouse, in the country and even under a film. To do this, you need to use lateral horizontal shoots that are rooted on the stem in the soil. The main stem must be tied to a support, and the shoots from it are bent to the soil and earth is poured on them. As soon as the shoots take root, they are cut off for transplanting to another place.
In heated greenhouses, "climate control" or simple air conditioning systems are installed in combination with special fountains to humidify the air in the summer heat. In addition, it is recommended to spray the entire plant with clean water - melted water from the refrigerator or freezer, but not tap water, which contains chlorine, phenol and other harmful chemicals.
Proper care for the golden mustache at home involves daily watering in the spring and summer, but without waterlogging the soil, and less often in autumn and winter - two or three times a week. The soil in the pot should be moistened to the ground. To prevent the jet from eroding the soil, it is better to use a watering can with a small strainer or a kettle. An hour after watering, the water must be drained from the pan, and the pan and the bottom of the pot should be wiped dry so that mold does not appear.
Growing and caring for a golden mustache at home
The need for watering is determined simply: if the knock on the edge of the pot is loud, then the earth is dry, if it is deaf, then the earth is wet, and the topsoil, when it dries up, turns gray. He likes frequent bathing-spraying with a spray bottle. You can spray the plant in the morning and in the evening, provided that the apartment has dry warm air. Between waterings, the soil under the flower must be carefully loosened. The ideal temperature for flower growth is 25 - 27 ° C, with a recommended humidity of 50 - 60%. In winter, the temperature can be slightly reduced.
Fertilization or top dressing is necessary. You can feed the plant with liquid fertilizers after the development of its root system. In the warm season, fertilizers are applied once a week, in the cold season - once a month. To feed this home plant, it is best to buy ready-made mixtures.
In the process of caring for a golden mustache at home, do not forget that the plant loves light, but does not tolerate direct sunlight, especially hot evenings. In this case, the plant becomes discolored and twisted, the mustache ceases to form. After being transferred to the shade, it quickly recovers. Winter temperature should be in the range of 16-18 degrees, otherwise the plants stretch a lot, reducing the amount of active substances. In summer, you can take it outside to a shady place.
How to plant, transplant and propagate a golden mustache at home
How does a golden mustache reproduce at home and how to transplant it correctly? The plant propagates by layering, pieces of "whiskers" and ordinary cuttings. The most favorable time for breeding is March, April, but if necessary, you can breed all year round.
From the mother plant, you need to cut off the top of the shoot with 2 - 4 joints, remove the lower leaves, shorten the upper ones by a third. Dry the cut sections of the cuttings for 2 to 3 hours, and then plant them in pots with a richly moistened soil mixture. Moisten the cuttings and cover with a plastic bag for rooting.
A rosette of leaves with a small piece of stem is cut from a horizontal lateral shoot and placed in a vessel with water. A powerful root system develops within 10-15 days. Then the young plant is planted in a pot with an earthen mixture and watered abundantly.
Before planting a golden mustache at home, you need to make drainage from egg shells or sphagnum by adding river sand. The earth mixture is prepared from 2 parts of soddy soil, 2 parts of greenhouse soil, 3 parts of leafy soil and 3 parts of sand.
Young plants are transplanted annually, and adults once every two to three years. Transplantation is best done in spring or autumn.
Before transplanting a golden mustache at home, the plant is first watered with a nutrient solution based on microfertilizers containing potassium, as well as nitrogen, phosphorus and trace elements. In a new pot, the soil is prepared in the previously described way: small dolomite crushed stone, expanded clay, or pumice in combination with mountain sand and wood ash are placed on the bottom.
For soil for transplantation, plants take soddy land, without weeds, from under trees - lindens, aspens, willows. The specialized stores "Gardener", "Dachnik", "Garden World", "Florist" currently sell ready-made soil mixture for breeding indoor plants of any kind.
- And . At the first signs of damage, the plant must be sprayed with a systemic insecticide and covered for 1 to 2 days with a plastic bag. The best preventive measures are daily spraying and maintaining the required air humidity.
Medicinal properties of a houseplant golden mustache
As early as the 19th century, American scientists began detailed studies of the plant. Many Spanish Catholic missionaries who visited the Mayans and Aztecs wrote about the healing properties of the houseplant.
American scientists have found that the juice of this plant contains a large amount of biologically active substances. Russian scientists from the Irkutsk Medical Institute, Novosibirsk and St. Petersburg have established that the plant is not inferior to the famous ginseng in terms of its healing effect on the human body, and even surpasses it in some parameters.
It is used in folk medicine for a variety of diseases: oncology, allergies, tonsillitis, stomatitis, varicose veins, radiculitis, pancreatitis, bronchial asthma, diabetes mellitus and many others. It is successfully used in the treatment of diseases of the eyes and joints, has anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antitumor properties.
The use of a golden mustache at home is effective in the fight against skin diseases, and is also actively used in cosmetology. It is used in the treatment of heel spurs, nail fungus, heart and lung diseases. In addition, the plant strengthens the immune system, blood vessels and perfectly treats the common cold and many internal diseases.
How to prepare medicines from a golden mustache at home: tinctures and ointments
It is not difficult to prepare medicines from a golden mustache at home: stems, leaves, mustache side shoots are suitable for this.
The simplest medicine is tincture. It is taken orally and used externally. Tinctures on water are prepared from the leaves, and all parts of the plant are suitable for tincture on alcohol or vodka.
On vodka or alcohol. Escape from twelve knees pour half a liter of vodka or diluted alcohol. If the tincture of the golden mustache at home is intended only for rubbing, then the alcohol can not be diluted, and in addition to the antennae, you can add chopped leaves and a trunk. Insist in a dark, dark place for two weeks, shake every day.
On the water. One large leaf - at least twenty centimeters, or several smaller leaves, brew in a thermos with a liter of water and leave for a day. For a decoction, do not brew, but boil for five minutes. Indications: for stomach ulcers, diabetes mellitus, intestinal inflammation, pancreatitis. Take one hundred milligrams half an hour before meals three times a day.
Oil tincture. Grind the leaves, stem and shoots in a blender, pour hot vegetable oil in a ratio of one (slurry) to two (oil). Insist in a dark, dark place for ten days.
Ointment. Grind leaves, stem and shoots in a blender. Mix with cream, petroleum jelly or animal fat. It is better, of course, to use fat, since it does not contain impurities.
The use of a golden mustache for home treatment
With bruises. Alcohol tincture, oil or ointment rub the damaged areas. If you apply the tincture immediately after a bruise, bruising can be prevented. Compresses relieve pain and swelling. In cases of serious injuries - with fractures and severe bruises - it is recommended to undergo a course of treatment with alcohol tincture.
With osteochondrosis, radiculitis, diseases of the joints and blood vessels. At the time of exacerbation of pain in the spine (osteochondrosis), rub the region of the cervical vertebrae, inflamed joints with tincture. You can use compresses - moisten the bandage folded in several layers abundantly and apply to the sore spot for 2 hours. Top with compress paper, wrap warmly. Repeat 2 times a day. Preventive compresses do another 2 - 3 days after the removal of acute pain. During compresses, tincture is taken orally, 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day one hour before meals. Course - no more than 7-10 days.
With thrombophlebitis. Fresh alcohol tincture is taken orally 2 times a day, 30-40 drops per 50 ml of water.
For skin diseases. Oil and ointment based on baby cream are used for cosmetic purposes with dry, sensitive skin. With acne, alcohol tincture helps, but for use on the skin of the face, it is desirable to dilute the original tincture 2-4 times.
With a stroke. Use alcohol tincture for massage or rub the paralyzed part of the body.
With diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Grind one sheet of at least 20 cm in size and pour in a glass jar with a liter of boiling water, wrap, leave for a day, take 3-4 times a day 40 minutes before meals, 50 g warm.
This infusion cures many internal diseases, removes toxins from the body, small stones and sand from the kidneys and bladder. As a result of complex cleansing of the body, the general state of health of patients improves dramatically. They become more active, many improve their vision. This is the most harmless recipe that can be used as a prophylactic.
Like any medicinal plant, it can cause allergies. Therefore, treatment with a golden mustache at home with a tendency to allergic reactions or in the presence of allergic diseases must be carried out very carefully. With increased pressure, tinctures for alcohol or vodka are diluted with boiled water or replaced with decoctions.
The beneficial qualities of this popular plant and its unpretentiousness attract home plant lovers. No remedy can be considered a panacea, but a golden mustache helps to cure many diseases.
Scientifically, the golden mustache is called fragrant callisia (Callisia fragrans). The name of the green pet came from the structure of the leaf, which is pierced by yellow vessels. This unusualness is noticeable when the sheet is divided into parts. Mustaches are called long shoots, at the end of which a new plant is formed, as it were, in the air.
Golden mustache is a perennial plant for indoor greenhouses and indoor conditions. Depending on the maintenance and care, it can reach a height of a meter or a half. But this is the maximum that is achieved only under ideal conditions. Leaves are arranged in a spiral on the main straight shoot or trunk. Wide at the base in length, they can reach 30 cm. The leaf ends with a pointed tip.
The plant is distinguished by its rich luscious green glossy color. The adjective "fragrant" is applicable because of the flowers. The golden mustache blooms in an exceptionally favorable environment with fragrant small white or pink flowers. In addition to the life-giving force contained in its parts, this plant has the ability to purify the air around it.
earth question
Golden mustache loves nutritious loose earth. There are several ways to prepare the land for planting this plant:
- Make your own with 3 ingredients
- Buy potting soil at a garden center
- Mix purchased soil with forest land
- The composition of the mixture for self-production:
- Forest land from under deciduous trees, except birch
- Humus prepared from rotted manure and plant residues
- river sand
Each of the ingredients must be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate. Land from the forest should be free of mold and diseased leaves. From under spruce and birch, the land is not suitable for planting. Humus has been prepared for at least two years. For this, fresh cow dung, each layer of which is sprinkled with plant residues of healthy plants:
From spring to autumn compost pit or the heap is padded with new layers, and then it's all left intact for the next season. In the fall of the next year, the compost soil is ready for use.
Sand can be taken from the river, after washing it from clay and calcining it in a pan or oven. A mixture for planting a golden mustache can be purchased at the garden center. This is a universal land for home flowers, since the golden mustache does not impose special requirements on the composition of the earth.
The soil mixtures offered for sale are often too airy with a lot of peat.
To improve the structure of such soil, land from the forest is added to it. The requirements that the golden mustache makes when planting:
- Loose fertile land
- Acidity about 5.5 pH
- good drainage
The initial observance of simple rules will ensure a long and healthy life plant.
Care
The birthplace of callisia is Mexico with its humidity and tropical climate. Plant care involves:
- Indoor air temperature in summer 22-26 °C
- Air temperature in winter not less than 15 °C
- Abundant watering from spring to autumn. The ground should be moist, but not wet.
- Moderate watering in winter time. Do not allow the soil to dry out or become waterlogged. When the top layer dries up with watering, you should not rush. It's better to wait another day.
- Watering with soft slightly acidified water. Water for irrigation should be at room temperature. You can add a few drops of lemon juice as an acidifier.
- Daily spraying. The high humidity of tropical forests predetermined the nature of the plant.
- It is ready to tolerate a slight drying of the soil, but low humidity is detrimental to the plant. Daily water procedures will help to avoid this.
- Regular feeding. In spring and early summer, calissia must be fed full complex fertilizer. The golden mustache reacts well to ash dissolved in water. For one liter of water, one spoon of wood ash is needed. combustion products hard coal or other materials contain harmful substances and are not suitable for quality.
- Sufficient amount of light. The golden mustache is not very picky about light, but its complete absence will have a bad effect on the health of the plant.
The plant will respond to proper care with juicy green foliage and numerous shoots - its main carrier of healing properties.
unhealthy look
Symptoms to take action on:
- Leaf yellowness
- Withering
- yellow spots
- The presence of insects
- The presence of insects on the plant
During the period of low temperatures, abundant watering leads to yellowing and falling of the leaves. In this case, you need:
- Remove all fallen leaves
- stop watering
- give a lot of light
- Provide ventilation
- loosen the soil
In summer, the danger lies in the overdrying of the soil and dry air: the leaves wither or turn yellow.
Urgent watering and irrigation under the shower can put the flower in order if the case is not very neglected. To retain moisture in the soil when planting in the soil mixture, it is desirable to add vermiculite.
The bright direct sun can leave yellow burn spots on the leaves. In this case, it is necessary to hide the flower from the scorching rays of the sun and treat it with a biostimulant such as HB-101.
The enemies of the golden mustache are thrips and red spider mites. When any unwanted insects appear, the plant must be treated with one of the following preparations:
- Spark
- Actellik
- Fufanon
- Aktara
The best cure for all adversity is prevention. Keeping a flower in favorable conditions gives the plant immunity.
Reproduction methods
To propagate callisia, flower growers use several methods:
- cuttings
- mustache
Reproduction of the golden whisker by seeds is a very time-consuming and unreliable process. Only the most patient flower growers can achieve success in this matter. But that makes it even more interesting.
It is much easier to propagate in two other ways.
The fastest and most painless way for a plant is to propagate with a mustache.
The rosette with leaves formed on the additional shoot is removed along with part of the stem. Next, it is placed in a container with a nutrient liquid:
- Kornevin
- Zircon
After a few days, the water must be replaced with clean and settled. After 10 or 15 days, the root system will allow you to plant a new plant in a pot. Sometimes the socket is placed in the soil immediately after cutting. In this case, the planted specimen must be watered daily.
For rooting cuttings you need:
- From the shoot, cut off the top with two knots
- Remove bottom leaves
- Cut off remaining leaves.
- The cut must be powdered with root and held outdoors for about two hours.
- Plant the prepared cuttings in pots with well-moistened soil.
- Spray the whole plant with warm water
- Provide a greenhouse effect by closing with a transparent lid or bag
The fact that the plant is rooted will be prompted by new leaves that appear in two weeks.
Any method of reproduction will sooner or later give the grower a beautiful specimen of a golden mustache.
What is it grown for?
Initially, calissia was introduced into culture many years ago as a plant with beautiful emerald leaves. Thanks to the mustache and rosettes, it was used as a plant.
- Only decades later, after many studies, its healing properties were evaluated.
- This plant contains a lot of useful trace elements and minerals.
- The golden mustache is also valued as a good natural biostimulant that improves immunity, stimulates metabolic processes in organism.
You need to prepare healing tinctures and decoctions when the shoot turns brown.
While watching the video, you will learn about growing a golden mustache.
A real pharmacy on the windowsill can be a golden mustache. Of the many houseplants, it definitely deserves a place in the home collection.
Therapeutic is not only growing in the fields but in protected areas. Take a closer look! Natural healers grow on window sills like ordinary houseplants. And it's not just aloe or. There is another plant - a golden mustache. Although indoor flower growers it is more familiar under a different name - venus hair or fragrant callisia.
Getting to know the plant
Admit it, who has a golden mustache flower growing at home? His photo is definitely familiar to you. This is a creeping plant. In nature, its height reaches 2 meters. At home, it grows up to 1 meter. Fragrant callisia has long and wide leaves, outwardly resembling corn. These leaves are located on a vertical stem, from which tendrils extend - cranked shoots. At the ends of the antennae are rosettes of small leaves. Antennae reappear from the sockets, rosettes form again at the ends.
It was these tendrils that gave the name to the plant. And gold - the golden mustache is very much appreciated by folk healers, the healing properties and contraindications of which have been studied for more than one decade.
Green leaves, when exposed to direct sunlight, change color and become reddish. The plant rarely blooms, but when it does, the golden mustache looks very beautiful: massive main leaves and suddenly it shoots with twigs strewn along the entire length with small translucent flowers with white petals. And these flowers smell very nice.
Because of this aroma and the size of the leaves, you will not confuse fragrant callisia with its namesakes: graceful callisia and creeping callisia. The first leaves are small with white longitudinal stripes, grow on long stems. The second leaves are even smaller, like a heart.
We need a golden mustache, its use has been known since the 80s of the last century. And the plant came to us from South America.
We study the properties of the plant
Homemade ginseng, also called the golden mustache, has the ability to stop the development of cancer cells. This was found out by American and Canadian scientists after a series of studies. These valuable substances are found in callisia juice. These are steroids and flavonoids.
- Plant steroids are called phytosterols. Their action is antitumor, as well as antisclerotic and antibacterial. Phytosterols are used to normalize metabolism, treat the thyroid gland and prostate.
- responsible for the state of blood vessels, healing of wounds, bruises, burns, removal of inflammatory processes, are friends with. Because of this, they are called a couple of vitamin C2.
Together with phytosterols, flavonoids fight the development of tumors and promote the outflow of bile. There are two types of flavonoids in the golden mustache: kaempferol and. These substances are similar in their action to each other, and therefore we list the spectrum of their action:
- anti-inflammatory;
- vascular strengthening;
- tonic;
- remove toxins and sodium salts;
- diuretic;
- antiallergic;
- decongestant;
- antioxidant;
- from diathesis and rheumatism;
- from jade and some heart diseases;
- inhibit age-related changes in the body;
- cope with eye diseases (aging of the cornea);
- from arthritis and atherosclerosis;
- from bronchial asthma and arthrosis, etc.
Having analyzed useful substances and their actions, it was found that in many ways the golden mustache - medicinal properties, reviews of the application - is similar to ginseng. It's nice to know that you have such a flower on your window. Now you can give odds to the Tibetan monks.
Healing, but with caution
Based on the results obtained after the research, the healing properties of venus hair were confirmed. And since these properties are very versatile and powerful, we find out not only what benefits the golden mustache has, but we will also clarify its contraindications. And let's start with them.
Uncontrolled use of ointment, juice, decoction and other types of drugs from the golden mustache can harm the vocal cords, cause swelling and an allergic rash, headache, poisoning. You should not give it to children under 7 years old, pregnant women, nursing mothers, with prostate adenoma.
And homemade ginseng will help to cope with a whole list of diseases:
- normalization of the gastrointestinal tract and acid-base environment;
- bronchitis and asthma;
- slagging of the body;
- boils - we make poultices from the leaves;
- osteochondrosis, joint pain, sciatica - we make compresses, as with sore throats;
- normalization of digestion and metabolism;
- and restoration of cells responsible for protecting our body from bad microflora;
- the work of the kidneys, spleen, pancreas;
- problems with the stomach, gallbladder and small intestine;
- periodontitis and varicose veins;
- Parkinson's disease and periodontal disease;
- mastopathy and impotence;
- glaucoma and vasospasm;
- hemorrhoids and helminthic invasions;
- colic, mycoplasmosis, anemia, dystrophy;
- urethritis, trichomoniasis, cystitis, tonsillitis, rheumatism;
- cosmetic problems: acne, skin inflammation, acne, etc.
For the treatment of the above diseases in different types a golden mustache is used, read the recipes below.
Cooking potions
If you have venus hair growing at home, you are lucky - you always have the tendrils of the plant at hand. After all, it is they and the leaves that are valued for their properties.
Juice
We wash fresh leaves, cut into pieces and squeeze out all the juices from them. Do not make stocks, only fresh is suitable for treatment.
Juice helps with skin diseases, skin cancer, burns, corns, bumps on the bones of the legs, heals wounds, removes cystic neoplasms, and soothes sore joints.
External use: compresses, poultices. Well-strained juice can be instilled into the eyes.
Ointment
You can make an ointment, you will also need a fresh golden mustache. Let's cook it according to one of two recipes:
- We mix fresh juice with any baby cream (1 part juice, 3 parts cream).
- Grind the stems and leaves of callisia to the state of gruel, mix in a ratio of 2 to 3 with baby cream.
Instead of a cream, you can take. We store the ointment in the refrigerator and lubricate it with bruises, frostbite, ulcers, lubricate the body with arthritis, sciatica, arthrosis, colds and even hypertension.
Decoction
For the decoction, you will need the main leaves - the very ones that are so similar to corn.
Cook a leaf with a length of 20 cm in three glasses of boiling water over low heat for about 3 minutes. Pour into a thermos along with the leaves, leave for a day and drink the strained broth during the day half an hour before meals, 50 ml each.
Helps with pancreatitis, diabetes, allergies, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, removes “building materials” from the bladder and kidneys, toxins and simply improves health.
Butter
The whole flower is used for oil. The golden mustache, the medicinal properties of which depend on the parts of the plant used, is turned into oil like this.
- The antennae are crushed, put in a glass or ceramic form, any vegetable oil is added so that it covers the antennae. Simmer in the oven for 8 hours at a temperature of 40 degrees. Then strain into a jar and chilled store in the refrigerator.
This oil will relieve headaches. Just rub your whiskey with it like an asterisk balm. To enhance the effect, mix it with sandalwood or clove oil.
- Extracting juice from fresh stems and callisia leaves. The cake is not thrown away, but dried and poured with any vegetable oil. 3 weeks cake is infused in oil. The finished product should be strained into a jar and put in the refrigerator.
This oil is good for skin conditions.
Any of the described oils is used to treat arthritis, dermatosis, arthrosis. It is also used for massage, adding other essential oils.
Lotions from the sheet
Steamed leaves of the golden mustache are applied for furunculosis. To do this, several large leaves are washed, kept in boiling water for 30 seconds. The leaves are pulled out, wrapped in 2 layers of gauze and applied to places affected by furunculosis.
With honey and pepper
Mustache in combination with pepper, lemon and honey treats an inflamed throat.
Pour 1 teaspoon of honey with lemon juice (not acid), add a pinch of red pepper. Mix and leave for 2-4 hours. Add 1 tbsp golden mustache and take it as medicine. Number of times per day - 3. The indicated volume is a single dosage.
The secret property of the golden mustache
Infusion, tea and decoction of the golden mustache treats alcoholism. Reception scheme: 21 days drink a spoonful three times a day, a break of 5 days, 21 days I drink a 5-day break. And so on, until the treatment is successful. With the second and subsequent courses, the dosage is gradually reduced. The only "but"! Do not drink alcohol and medicines containing alcohol.
Do you have a golden mustache growing at home?
Not! Then we go to you. Among indoor flowers there should be a golden mustache; growing at home is no more difficult than other flowers.
Perennial plant, loves large pots, drainage from river sand and. She loves to soak up the sun, but not under the very rays, and drink water to her heart's content.
To prevent the stem from breaking, it should be tied to a vertical base.
Propagated by cuttings or shoots - those at the ends of which are a panicle of leaves.
In order for the cuttings to take root, they are cut with a knife at an angle and placed in water for 40 days. Once the cuttings have appeared, they can be planted in the ground. Shoots roots appear much faster
Grow a golden mustache. And you will have your own green pharmacy on the windowsill.
Growing a golden mustache at home is rapidly gaining popularity. First of all, this is due to the unique chemical composition of the leaves and shoots of the flower. The biologically active substances contained in them, flavonoids and phytosterols, are actively used for the preparation of ointments, tinctures and decoctions. Dosage forms based on extracts from the golden mustache help get rid of skin rashes, high blood pressure, osteochondrosis and rheumatism.
A guest from the tropics: modest and graceful
Judging by the abundance of pots with a golden mustache on the windowsills, the plant originally existed on the territory of our camp. But this is not at all the case - the birthplace of the flower is the tropical forests of South America. In its native expanses, a golden mustache can grow up to 3 meters high, its shoots wrap around tree trunks and fill the voids of rocky crevices. At home, with proper care, shoots hanging from pots grow up to 1.5-2 m long.
Important: if a flower is planted for the sake of obtaining medicinal infusions, an allergic predisposition test should be carried out in order to avoid disappointment after using the drug.
If non-ampel cultivation is practiced, then the stems need a strong support. Here are the distinctive features of an exotic plant:
- leaves alternate, narrow, up to 30 cm long;
- the outer side of the leaf is light green, the inner side is dark green with a burgundy tint;
- thin brownish shoots (whiskers) with internodes sprout from the leaf axils;
- at the ends of the internodes there are rosettes of tiny leaves;
- small flowers consist of three petals of delicate lilac or pink.
The genus Callisia from the Kommelinov family has more than 10 species; only one of them is grown in our country. Golden mustache blooms extremely rarely, only with diligent breeders, for this process he needs optimal care conditions. But, if it bloomed ... Even a small group of blooming flowers can fill the room with a magical aroma with sweetish notes.
What you need to know about the reproduction of fragrant callisia?
After the flowering of the golden mustache is over, tiny seeds can be collected and sown. But at home, the formation of buds is extremely rare, so this method is not common among breeders. The plant propagates easily in the following ways:
- Layering using an adult specimen.
- Cuttings with rooting under the film.
- Rosettes rooted in distilled water.
When growing a golden mustache on the territory of a greenhouse, the method of rooting long shoots is used. The "whiskers" of an adult plant are sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly. After two weeks, roots will appear on the shoot. Now you should carefully separate the rooted part of the flower and plant it in a permanent place.
The cuttings are obtained from the shoot, which is cut into pieces so that each segment contains 3-4 internodes. They are planted in a prepared soil mixture of peat and sand; with the help of a film, the growing containers are covered and left at room temperature in a bright place. Rooting will occur in a couple of weeks.
Important: cuttings must be watered as the soil dries out, as well as ventilate the greenhouse daily and remove accumulated condensate.
The golden mustache forms many rosettes at the ends of the shoots, which can be used for reproduction at home. Healthy large rosettes with a short piece of stem root perfectly in a glass of water. The water must be changed periodically to avoid stem rot. After building a powerful root system with a flower, the seedlings are transplanted for further cultivation.
Secrets of proper care
A visitor from the tropics is sensitive to lack of sunlight. If the pot with a golden mustache is in shading, you should be prepared to stretch the shoots. The stems and leaves will fade, and flowering is out of the question. The plant feels great on the windowsills located on the east side. The south side is also suitable for a golden mustache, but you will need to shade the flower when leaving.
The humid climate of the historical homeland made the plant demanding on high humidity. In the morning and evening, you need to spray the golden mustache with soft settled water using a spray bottle. The pot can be placed on a pallet with small pebbles and poured with water - this way you can do without constantly moistening the stem and leaves.
Important: when carrying out weekly cleaning, one should not forget about the leaves of the golden mustache. Wipe them with a damp cloth to remove accumulated dust.
Immediately after acquiring a seedling, watering needs to be adjusted. Complete drying of the earthy coma is unacceptable: the golden mustache may not recover from the stress. You can water the flower according to the following scheme:
- from mid-spring to early autumn - 3-4 times a week;
- with the onset of cold weather - 1 time per week.
The golden mustache likes it when the owner acidifies the water when watering. You can do this at home with a few grains of citric acid or a couple of drops of fresh lemon juice. Proper care consists in loosening the soil under the plant weekly. This must be done carefully, trying not to damage the delicate roots.
Soil and nutrients
For planting a golden mustache, loamy soil with slightly acidic PH values \u200b\u200bis suitable. The soil can be picked up in a specialized store. Good for universal. And it is best to prepare the soil mixture yourself by mixing the following components:
- Horse peat.
- Leafy manure.
- River sand.
The soil should be light, nutritious. So that moisture does not stagnate in the area of \u200b\u200bthe roots, 3-4 cm of any drainage material should be laid on the bottom of a wide pot. Ordinary expanded clay, eggshells or pieces of sphagnum will do. Before adding sand, it should be calcined or poured abundantly with a pink solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection.
Important: we should not forget that the soil collected independently under the trees can be inhabited by larvae of harmful insects, which are deadly for the roots of the golden mustache. Baking in the oven for an hour will help solve this problem.
Over time, the soil in the flower pot is depleted, the plant slows down its growth. Golden mustache requires regular nutritious top dressing. It responds well to the application of organic fertilizers, but this is not always appropriate in an apartment. Therefore, the owners pamper their pets with complex top dressing. The main thing is that they contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In winter, it is not necessary to fertilize more than once a month, and when the golden mustache starts to grow in the spring, the amount of dressing needs to be increased to once a week.
Diseases and dangerous pests
A flower is able to signal flaws when caring for it at home. If brown spots form on the leaves, their tips turn yellow and dry, then the owner is doing something wrong. It could be:
- excessively abundant watering, which caused rotting of the roots;
- insufficient watering;
- dry indoor air;
- poor fertilization.
Having revised the rules for caring for a golden mustache, it is necessary to detect and correct the error.
Important: if the plant is grown as a medicinal plant, then high-quality care is necessary - only under such conditions the maximum amount of biologically active substances accumulates in the leaves.
Pests are not indifferent to the medicinal plant, which willingly settle on its tender parts. The flower began to lose turgor, the leaves shrivel, fall off, and the shoots lost their elasticity? It's time to look for unexpected guests on the golden mustache. The rule is:
- Thrips. They form colonies on the inside of the leaves.
- Spider mite. Its red variety is especially raging.
It's time to take drastic measures and go for an insecticide. Actellik and Aktara, used for pest control, have proven themselves to be excellent. These drugs are systemic, the plant should be sprayed once a week for one month. A good prevention in pest control is regular inspections to detect them.
Golden mustache is a modest and very elegant plant. It is difficult to appreciate its beauty at first sight. Moreover, he was not used to attracting attention. It grows in a corner, gratefully responds to simple care, while the owner spends a lot of time on capricious flowers from his collection.
But the benefits of the golden mustache are colossal. Perhaps, initially the grower did not plan to use the healing properties of the plant. But how not to use them if your back hurts, and the necessary medicine grows on the windowsill? One has only to reach out, pick a leaf and throw it into hot water.