Muraya care at home reviews. Muraya care at home, watering, transplanting, reproduction

Flower Muraya, or Murraya (lat. Murraya) belongs to the genus of evergreen shrubs and trees of the Rutaceae family, native to the tropical forests of Indochina, India, the islands of Sumatra and Java. The Muraya plant received its name in honor of the faithful student of Carl Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist Johan Andreas Murray. The genus includes 8 species, but Muraya paniculata, also known as exotic, is grown indoors.

Planting and caring for muraya

• Bloom: long-term, up to six months or longer, at any time. Dutch hybrids bloom only in the fourth year of life.
• Lighting: bright but diffused light, but 2-3 hours of direct sun will not hurt. The best place in the apartment is the eastern and western window sills.
• Temperature: from spring to autumn – 24-28 ˚C, in winter – 17-20 ˚C.
• Watering: during the period of active growth - abundant, but infrequent, after the substrate has dried by a third. The same principle is followed during the rest of the year, but due to the cool winter, the substrate dries more slowly at this time of year.
• Humidity: Spraying the leaves will only be needed on really hot days.
• Feeding: from spring to autumn every 2-3 weeks. In spring, nitrogen and potassium should predominate in fertilizers. It is advisable to alternate mineral fertilizers with organic ones. In the fall, feeding is stopped.
• Rest period: in the plant it is not clearly expressed.
• Transfer: Young murayas are replanted annually, mature ones - once every 2-3 years, but the top layer of substrate in pots needs to be renewed every spring.
• Reproduction: seeds, but more often from September to November, semi-lignified cuttings from one-year-old shoots.
• Pests: scale insects and spider mites.
• Diseases: fungal infections.

Read more about growing muraya below.

Muraya flower - description

In nature muraya paniculata, or Murraya paniculata (lat. Murraya paniculata) is an evergreen tree or bush up to 7 m high with a trunk diameter of up to 13 cm. There are also low-growing forms of the plant that grow no higher than 2 m. Muraya leaves are smooth, shiny, imparipinnate, complex, consisting of 3-9 leaf blades and have a pleasant aroma . When young they are pubescent, when mature they are smooth. Muraya flowers are white or cream, fragrant, up to 2 cm in diameter, with five petals bent back. The murayi fruit is a small red berry that takes about 4 months to ripen. At the same time, the plant can have buds, open flowers, and fruits. In nature, this species is found in India, South and Southeast Asia, Malacca, the islands of Sumatra and Java, the Philippines, Northern Australia, Southern China, Taiwan and the southern United States.

Caring for Muraya at home

Growing muraya from seeds

Muraya is easily propagated at home by seeds, which remain viable for quite a long time. Planting muraya is preceded by soaking the seeds for a couple of hours in warm water, after which they are laid out on the surface of a moist substrate consisting of peat and sand in equal parts. It is allowed to germinate seeds in a substrate of leaf soil and sand or in peat tablets. Muraya seeds are covered with a layer of substrate 5-10 mm thick on top, covered with film or glass and kept in a bright place where direct sunlight does not reach, at a temperature of 22-28 ºC.

Muraya germinates from seeds in 30-40 days, and when the seedlings develop three leaves, they are planted in separate pots.

Indoor muraya is not a capricious plant. How to care for Muraya? The room where the plant is located must be ventilated frequently. She needs diffused lighting, although 2-3 hours of bright sun a day will not harm her. It is especially important that the muraya receives enough light in winter. The best place for the plant is western and eastern window sills.

From spring to autumn, the optimal temperature for muraya is between 24 and 28 ºC, and in winter it is comfortable at 17-20 ºC, since the dormant period of the plant, like that of indoor citrus fruits, is weakly expressed.

Muraya does not need regular pruning or pinching, since it perfectly forms its crown itself, and only sometimes you will have to trim some shoot that is too long. To ensure uniform growth of green mass, periodically rotate the pot with the plant around its axis.

Watering muraya

Muraya is watered from spring to autumn abundantly, but infrequently, allowing the earthen clod to dry out by a third. The water must be purified from chlorine and soft; for this, citric acid is added to it. In autumn and winter, watering is reduced, but the principle remains the same: the plant is watered when the substrate dries to a third of its depth. As for air humidity, Muraya feels great in a city apartment and does not need daily spraying, although from time to time, especially on hot summer days, it will not harm it.

Feeding Muraya

Growing muraya involves adding fertilizer to the substrate from spring to autumn every 2-3 weeks. In spring, the plant needs nitrogen and potassium, which promote the development of green mass. It is best to alternate organic fertilizers with mineral fertilizers, trying to observe the measure. From autumn to spring, feeding is stopped.

Transplanting muraya

Young plants need to be replanted annually, and for mature plants one replantation every 2-3 years is sufficient, but every spring it is advisable to change the top layer of the substrate in the pots. The container should not be too bulky or too tight, and the plant needs a loose, nutritious substrate, for example, consisting of leaf and turf soil, sand and humus in a ratio of 2:2:2:1. Muraya and ready-made soil for citrus fruits are suitable. Be sure to place a thick layer of drainage material at the bottom of the pot. The plant is replanted by transshipment without destroying the earthen coma around its roots.

Muraya flowering

Blooming muraya, strewn with white or light cream fragrant flowers up to 2 cm in diameter, can decorate any home, especially since flowering can last six months or longer. Sometimes those who have just purchased this flower worry why Muraya does not bloom. What is the reason for this phenomenon? If you bought a Dutch muraya, you will have to wait 3-4 years for it to bloom. The reason for the lack of flowers on the plant may be that the pot is too small, and as soon as you transplant the muraya into a larger container, flower stalks will appear very soon.

Reproduction of Muraya

We told you how seed propagation of muraya is carried out. Another way to propagate this plant is by cuttings, but Muraya does not take cuttings very readily. Semi-lignified cuttings from one-year-old shoots, which are planted in perlite, wet sand, peat, or simply in water, are suitable for rooting. Keep the cuttings at a temperature of 26-30 ºC, covering them on top to create a greenhouse effect with a glass jar or a transparent polyethylene cap. It is also advisable to provide bottom heating for the cuttings. Cuttings are carried out from September to November. When the cuttings take root, they are transplanted into loose nutrient soil, not forgetting to place drainage material under it.

Diseases and pests of muraya

If watering conditions are not met, there is insufficient lighting and the air is too dry, muraya is affected by pests and diseases. For example, scale insects and spider mites - sucking insects that feed on plant cell sap, or fungal diseases. You can get rid of insects if you spray the plant 2-3 times at weekly intervals with a solution of an acaricidal drug - Actellik or Karbofos. And Muraya can be saved from fungal infections by treating it with fungicidal preparations - Fundazol, Fitosporin-M, Oksikhom or the like. But the most important thing is to correct mistakes in caring for the plant and change the conditions for keeping the muraya to acceptable ones.

Types and varieties of muraya

As we have already mentioned, only varieties of Muraya paniculata are grown indoors:

• Min-a-min is a fast-growing bushy muraya up to 1 m high, which is a compact form of the Smart Choice garden variety. In areas with warm climates, it is grown not only at home, but also in gardens as a hedge;
• Minima- a slow-growing miniature muraya 40-60 cm high, blooming in the first year of life. This is the best variety for pot growing;
• Dwarf Compact– dwarf muraya only 10-15 cm high with oval leaves 5 mm long. This is the most capricious plant variety.

Sometimes in advertisements for the sale of flowers you can find advertisements for the so-called Dutch muraya. In fact, this is an ordinary muraya paniculata, brought for sale from Holland.

Properties of muraya - harm and benefit

Medicinal properties of muraya

Medicinal muraya was known back in Ancient Egypt. The history of the plant is shrouded in mystery and accompanied by myths. What are the benefits of muraya, which is called the tree of Japanese emperors? The leaves of the plant contain hesperidin, a bitter glycoside that affects capillary permeability. The astringent, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing properties of muraya are used in folk medicine to treat diarrhea, gastritis, dysentery and other gastrointestinal diseases, as well as various wounds. As an external remedy, the leaves are used for aches and pain in the joints, and the juice from the leaves successfully copes with toothache and headaches.

Muraya is a plant from the Rutaceae family. There are approximately 10 different species in nature. In its natural environment, it is found in China, Taiwan, India, in general, in approximately most of the southern Asian area. This beauty also grows in Australia.

Muraya is an evergreen plant. It grows to the size of a small tree, or at most a bush. It has a fairly thin and flexible trunk with light gray bark. The leaves of Murraya are smooth, quite fleshy, and have a beautiful dark green hue. They have a round or oval shape; in this case, there are no curly maple-type cuts on the leaves.

The flowers are white and have an average diameter of 8-10 centimeters. Each flower has five distinct petals, like a star. The shape of murayi flowers resembles a lily. Just like a lily, their petals are gracefully bent back. After the plant finishes blooming, a small fruit is formed that has edible pulp and a small seed inside. It takes approximately 4 months for the fruits to ripen.

Keep in mind that under favorable conditions, muraya is quite capable of blooming and producing fruit all year round. Therefore, the plant has such an interesting feature when on the same specimen you can see buds, blossoming flowers, and ripened fruits at the same time. In the photo below, Muraya is blooming.

Species

There are two main types of muraya cultivated in our country.

• Muraya Koenig. This plant is found naturally in India. In its natural habitat it grows up to 4-6 meters in height. It has beautiful small feathery leaves. This species of muraya has very beautiful flowers. They are white in color with a strong aroma, originally collected in rather large inflorescences, which gives this plant a striking decorative and picturesque appearance. After flowering, Muraya Koeniga produces black fruits with a glossy surface; they have an elongated shape. Each such fruit of the plant contains one single seed.

Interesting fact: since Indians use the leaves of the plant as a component of curry seasoning, in their homeland it is also called curry tree. This plant begins to bloom and bear fruit at 2-4 years of age. It has one drawback: caring for this type of muraya at home is quite troublesome and not every gardener can do it. But there is also a plus, these are the medicinal properties of the plant. It helps treat heart diseases.

• Muraya paniculata (paniculata). This species is also known as exotic muraya. It is native to the jungles of Australia and the warm, humid tropical forests of South Asia. In nature it grows up to 3 meters, the plant is shaped like a shrub. It has fairly large leaves, up to 12 centimeters long, but at the same time they are very narrow. Flowers can be either collected in inflorescences or occur as single specimens. This plant has very interesting fruits; they are bright red in color with quite tasty pulp. The seeds in the pit are double. The flowers of this muraya have a very strong spicy aroma, for which the plant is sometimes called orange jasmine. Muraya paniculata begins to flower in the fifth to eighth year of life. Unlike Koenig's muraya, the variety is quite unpretentious, and this type of murray is easier to care for and easier to cultivate in the climatic and everyday realities of our country.

The dwarf-shaped Murray variety is very popular among gardeners. Its maximum height is half a meter. This plant can begin to bloom in the first six months of its life. This circumstance is very much appreciated by flower growers. Having reached a height of only 4-5 centimeters, dwarf muraya can already produce several full-fledged and quite decorative flowers. This variety of Murray is not artificially bred, as it might seem, the species arose as a result of a natural mutation.

Care

Muraya is not particularly whimsical when breeding at home, but some rules should still be followed. Let's look at the main and most useful of them:

Soil

Murraya likes the soil to be quite loose and slightly acidic. The ideal mixture for it is this: in a ratio of 2:2:2:1, mix turf and leaf soils, add humus and clean coarse river sand. Also, a good way out, if you are experiencing difficulties where to get all the necessary components for the substrate, is to buy ready-made soil for citrus fruits in the store. But you should definitely add some substance that has a leavening effect to the prepared soil for murray. It can be vermiculite or coconut fiber. Perlite is also perfect. Keep in mind that the younger the plant, the more loose the soil is suitable for it. Accordingly, you need to add more of this loosening agent to the pot with a young plant, this will ensure excellent and continuous flowering.

Top dressing

The plant should be fed approximately once a month. Moreover, you need to alternate organic and mineral fertilizers. A special composition for feeding bonsai is ideal as a mineral fertilizer for murray. It must be borne in mind that overfeeding this plant with nutrients is unacceptable. And it’s better to not give something to the plant than to feed it. If this happens, you should keep in mind that now its leaves will grow greatly, and flowering will become rare. But flowers are the main decorative decoration of the Murray.

Attention: fertilizers for muraya should not contain chlorine, since by nature the plant is very prone to chlorosis.

Watering

In warm and hot seasons, watering is necessary in copious amounts. But there are benefits and harms from watering. Severe waterlogging should not be allowed - the plant will not tolerate a stagnant swamp at home. In this case, rotting of the root system may begin, which usually leads to the death of the entire flower. You should know that in cool times and winter, watering must be reduced to prevent excessive moisture in the substrate.

In this case, only soft, settled water should be used. It should also not contain chlorine, so tap water is excluded. You can soften the water for watering muraya with a small amount of citric acid or apple cider vinegar. If watering conditions are not maintained properly, Murray leaves may begin to turn yellow. Subsequently, they will completely fall off.

Humidity

Despite the fact that the houseplant comes from the humid southern tropics, it tolerates dry air for a short time surprisingly well. The only thing that should not be done is to allow the plant to be in dry air, since in this case the tips of its leaves begin to dry out. Also, the flowers and buds of the Murray variety Min fall off prematurely. Therefore, if the room is hot and stuffy or if the radiators are running in winter, you should regularly spray the murray leaves with a sprayer. Experienced flower growers also advise placing the pot with the plant on a tray with expanded clay or other drainage submerged in water.

Lighting

Murraya, as a southern guest, loves sunlight very much. Therefore, it is necessary to grow it in a well-lit area. But at the same time, it is still better to shade it from the midday scorching direct rays. It would be ideal to provide enough diffused light for the plant.

In an apartment, a pot of muraya should be placed on the windows on the east or west side. If you placed it on a window on the south side, then do not forget to shade it during the midday hours. It is better not to grow murray on the north side of the house. There is little light there, so the muraya will begin to shed its leaves.

If the room is dark enough, then you can additionally illuminate the muraya with a fluorescent lamp; such a solarium will only benefit the plant. After all, the longer the daylight hours, the more comfortable she is.

Temperature

Although the delicate plant loves warmth, intense heat is not for the Murray - it does not tolerate the sizzling heat. In summer she will be most comfortable at 25 degrees Celsius, and in winter she needs about 17 degrees. It is impossible to either lower or greatly increase these temperature indicators. Black Murraya does not tolerate drafts well. The forum on our website will tell you all the secrets of growing this exotic beauty.

Transfer

While the plant is young, approximately the first 3-4 years, it is replanted every year. In this case, each subsequent pot for murray should be taken only 1-2 centimeters larger than the previous one, otherwise the leaves of the plant will fall off. An interesting approach to adult plants: they are transplanted every 2-3 years into the same container where they were before. By the way, a plant is considered mature if it has already bloomed at least 2-3 times. Muraya is replanted in summer or spring using the transshipment method. In this case, you need to shake the roots as carefully as possible from lumps of old soil and, if possible, remove the top layer of soil. Then transplant into the same pot, but with new soil.

Trimming

In this sense, you will have to tinker with Muraya. Indeed, in order to give the plant a lush shape, experienced gardeners recommend pinching literally every new branch in order to give it the right direction, namely in different directions. Do not allow murray branches to grow randomly, because in this case the decorativeness of the plant will decrease.

It is worth keeping in mind that if you are growing a dwarf tree, you do not need to pinch it. This plant itself is compact and initially grows as it should. But if you want to create a bonsai, then only in this case will you need to shape the bush and pinching it. Reviews from flower growers say that there is nothing complicated in forming a neat bush.

• Winter dormancy period. This plant does not have a specific, pronounced period of sleep. With proper care and favorable conditions, it is not difficult for it to bloom and bear fruit all year round. But if suddenly the conditions of its maintenance do not suit it, the first sign of this will be the fact that the plant sheds its leaves.
• Bloom. Each new Murray flower stays in place for one to two days, after which it falls off. But flowering continues continuously, so after the fallen flower, new ones will immediately bloom.
• Fruit. With good and suitable air humidity, Muraya bears fruit without much effort or help from the grower. But if there are difficulties, then you can help the plant set fruit by pollinating it. To do this, use a soft brush to transfer pollen from one flower to another. It should be borne in mind that the tender stigma of the murray quickly loses its vitality. And it can be affected by dry air, heat or insufficient watering. In this case, don’t pollinate; it won’t do any good until you create favorable conditions. Watch a video on how to properly care for a plant.
• Diseases and pests. Like most house plants, it is susceptible to major pests: scale insects, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Also, aphids pose a danger to murray seeds and leaves. From time to time it is recommended to wipe the leaves of the plant with a damp cloth, simultaneously brushing off dust and pests. A warm shower will also help her. When the first signs of infection appear, try to thoroughly spray the plant with a weak insecticidal solution.

Of the diseases, the main problem of this southern plant is chlorosis. The disease has the following symptoms: the leaves begin to become covered with ugly yellowish-brown spots, the growth of the bush stops, and the leaves very quickly turn yellow and dry out. Therefore, it is necessary to closely and carefully ensure that the water for irrigation does not contain chlorine. It is also important that the insecticides used are chlorine-free.

Reproduction

• Japanese paniculata murraya can reproduce by both seeds and petioles. But it is still preferable to plant with seeds, since the petioles of the plant take too long to take root, and in many cases do not take root at all. In general, their development is influenced by many factors.
• Dwarf muraya can reproduce exclusively by seeds. Keep in mind that its seeds will lose their viability very quickly, so it is advisable to plant them in a pot immediately after ripening on the mother tree. Under favorable conditions, a sprout from a seed will appear within one to two weeks. After this, you should plant the sprouts in separate small pots, the size of a glass is suitable. Also, the seeds of dwarf murray make an excellent healing tincture.
• Murraya Koeniga can reproduce by seeds and root shoots.

Mysterious Murraya Hollandaise

Often mentioned by many in conversations and on forums, Dutch Muraya. What kind of animal is this? Let's figure it out.

Some not very experienced flower growers, out of ignorance, mistake it for some separate variety of muraya. This is wrong. At its core, Dutch is an ordinary paniculate murraya. The only Dutch thing about it is that it was delivered to this store from the Netherlands. In this country, the plant used to decorate even mines. And there it is customary to plant several plant seedlings of different sizes in the same container. Its only peculiarity is its unusual openwork foliage and interesting fruits.

How not to get burned while shopping

It is impossible to buy dwarf muraya in stores, as well as a plant of the paniculata species. A florist can only purchase it from another florist. At the same time, the price of these murrays will be quite decent - for a tiny monthly sprout they ask for an average of 300-400 rubles. Keep in mind that if you come across a scammer, he can easily pass off an ordinary sprout of paniculata muraya as an expensive dwarf plant specimen. After all, the so-called Dutch Murraya costs 15-20 rubles per seedling in the store. And most often they are sold in groups - 150 rubles for about 15-20 pieces.

How to avoid falling for a scammer and with 100% probability of purchasing a dwarf muraya:

• Buy from a friend.
• Pay attention to the trunk of the sprout. The low-growing Murraya always has a slightly curved trunk, while the paniculate Murraya will have a straight posture.
• Dwarf Murraya will be sold with buds or flowers, despite its young age. After all, it begins to bloom very early - already in the second week of life. Therefore, the flowering of a young plant is a sure sign that this is a dwarf specimen and not an ordinary one.

Muraya is a representative of the Rutov family, in nature there are about 12 species. This perennial plant can add an exotic touch to any room.

Muraya leaves and fruits can be eat, and they contain substances that have a beneficial effect on health.

Types of muraya

Only 2 types of muraya are grown at home:

1. Muraya Koeniga(in Latin Murraya koenigii). It grows naturally in India. This plant reaches six meters in height. The leaves are narrow, feathery and very long - up to 22 cm. The flowers of this muraya are white, arranged in inflorescences of 30-80 in one. The fruits are oblong, shiny, black. One Muraya Koenig fruit contains only one seed. The leaves of this variety of muraya are used to make popular Indian curry seasonings.
2. Muraya exotic(in Latin Murraya exotica). It is also called “paniculate”. It grows in areas of Northern Australia, but is also found in Asia. Unlike Muraya Koenig, which looks like a tree, this species is a fast-growing shrub, sometimes reaching a height of three meters. The leaves grow no more than 15 cm in length, and the upper leaves of this muraya are larger than the lower ones. Special Interest This species does not have flowers, but bright reddish fruits, the aroma of which can only be compared with an orange.

The dwarf variety is often grown indoors paniculata muraya. This bush grows for a very long time and does not gain more than half a meter in height.

Caring for Muraya

Caring for this plant has its own specifics, although it does not present great difficulties. If you follow all the recommendations correctly, muraya will reward you with a lovely appearance and a wonderful aroma.

Lighting and temperature

Muraya loves good illumination, but does not tolerate direct sunlight, so diffused light is better suited for it.

Ideal Muraya Location- western or eastern window sills.

You can place a pot of muraya on a south window, but then you will have to shade it from the sun during the daytime. The main thing here is not to overdo it with protection from excess light - in low light, muraya begins to intensely shed leaves.

In the spring and summer months, this plant will feel good at a temperature of 22-25°C, but in winter the room should be a little cooler, but not lower than 15°C. If the temperature drops below these readings, Muraya will begin fade and get sick.

Irrigation mode and air humidity

During the warm months of the year, murayah is required a lot of moisture. You need to water it often at this time, but do not allow the soil in the pot to be too wet and, even more so, to stagnate. This is for education root rot.

Starting from September-October, at the first cold snap and until the end of winter, watering must be reduced and carried out only when the top layer of soil has dried well. Water for watering muraya must first be settled or boiled.

Dry air is not very bad for this plant, but in hot weather it is still better to moisten it so that the leaves do not begin to dry out and fall off. Recommended daily Spray the muraya with water at room temperature, or place the pot in a tray filled with wet expanded clay.

Fertilizer

Feed muraya too often not recommended, since it will produce abundant foliage growth while the flowers will almost cease to form.

Optimal mode– once a month, using mineral fertilizers and organic matter in order. Bonsai fertilizer is well suited for this purpose.

Can't be allowed make sure that the Muraya fertilizer contains chlorine, since this plant may suffer from diseases such as chlorosis.

In winter, Muraya is fed a little more often than in warm seasons.

Replanting and soil composition

Transplant this plant is necessary as her growth increases. Young seedlings require annual replanting, while older plants need this procedure much less frequently. It will be enough to sprinkle fresh soil on top.

First, a suitable pot is selected, which will be a couple of centimeters larger than the old one. Plant very neat removed from the pot along with the soil, slightly shaken and planted in new soil. To avoid damaging the roots during transplantation, it is advisable to use a special spatula to remove the plant.

Soil for muraya it is necessary to select neutral or slightly acidic. If you make the mixture yourself, you need to take turf, leaf soil and humus in equal parts, as well as half of the coarse sand.

You can use purchased soil intended for succulents, diluting it with any baking powder. At the bottom of the pot a thick layer of drainage must be laid.

Reproduction

Murayya is being bred cutting method And seed. Cuttings are taken only from adult plants, cut off and placed in a container with water, after which they wait for roots to form. When the roots appear, the cuttings are planted in separate pots.

With the seed propagation method use bones from the fruits of muraya. They are planted in the soil and wait for seedlings to emerge. This process usually takes about a month. Bushes are formed over 3-4 months.

Pests and diseases of muraya

This plant can be affected by, and. Regular rinsing of muraya with warm water in the shower can prevent the appearance of pests. And if they have already appeared, only insecticides will help.

Other common muraya problems include:

• Leaves turn yellow and wither– sudden temperature changes or drafts.
• The ends of the leaves dry out, the buds fall off– insufficient air humidity.
• Leaves dry out in the center or at the edges– prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
• Leaves are falling- lack of light.
• Muraya does not bloom, growth slows down– lack of nutrients, requires transplantation.

Medicinal properties

This plant has been famous since ancient times for its exceptional healing qualities. When flowering, it releases special essential oils into the air, which not only have a calming effect, but also help reduce the likelihood of heart attacks by almost 2 times.

In the fruits of muraya contains a lot of vitamins and antioxidants that delay the aging of the body. They are able to lower blood pressure, normalize blood sugar levels, and also improve the condition of all kinds of heart and vascular diseases.

The leaves of this plant have analgesic and wound healing properties, they are effectively used to treat diseases of the oral cavity, toothaches, sore throat, gastritis, stomatitis, gastrointestinal diseases, as well as joint diseases as a local remedy.

In recent years, an incredible number of all kinds of exotic flowers have appeared in flower shops.

They are often expensive and require close care. But how can you resist the brightness of colors, shapes and all sorts of semi-mystical properties that are attributed to this or that guest from distant countries!?

Very often, among the “overseas” plants, you come across a flowering tree with white bark and shiny, glossy, dark green leaves, which has healing properties.

Muraya (Murraya): a brief description of an exotic flower

The homeland of muraya, or murraya, is the tropical forests and mountainous regions of India, Indochina, the islands of Java and Sumatra. This plant was also very well known in medieval Japan. Muraya (lat. Murraya) is a shrub or rue family. It has many varieties, including paniculata, Himalayan, chokeberry, Dutch, dwarf, winged, etc. It should be noted that rutaceae are very close to. Like, the fruits of muraya are edible and healthy. Young shoots of muraya are pubescent, while adults are smooth. The dark green leaves are imparipinnate, with five or seven elliptical leaflets, leathery. In addition, they have a unique aroma.

Muraya flowers are white or light cream. Small, about two centimeters in diameter. Often with a very strong aroma. Sometimes collected in inflorescences. They are added to tea. Recent studies have shown that the aroma of muraya flowers has a beneficial effect during angina attacks.

When ripe, muraya fruits are most often bright red in color. They ripen for about four months.

What conditions should be created in the house for exotics?

Despite the fact that the homeland of muraya is tropical forests and mountains, this plant has adapted quite well to living in apartments. So, what is necessary for an exotic bush to feel good and give joy to its caring owner? Let's take a closer look at how to grow muraya.
Like all terrestrial plants, three components are important for muraya: light, water and. The temperature in an apartment or greenhouse should not fall below 17 °C in winter.

Important! Muraya loves fresh air very much. In summer, it is recommended to take it outside, into the shade. Protect the plant from the heat!

Location and lighting

Muraya is unpretentious to growing conditions. This is a light-loving plant, so the room where the flower is located must be sufficiently lit (the windows face the east, south and southeast sides). However, in the summer, you need to protect the delicate flower from direct sunlight. It is better if diffused light falls on it. Also in the autumn-winter period, the plant requires additional lighting. For example, fluorescent fluorescent lamps with a glow temperature in the range of 4000-5000 Kelvin (neutral daylight) are quite suitable.

Temperature

Muraya grows not only in tropical rainforests, but also in mountainous areas, which means it is prepared for some temperature changes. However, for its development, flowering and fruiting, the optimal temperature will be 18-25 °C. A decrease to 16 °C or less can lead to inhibition of tree growth. The leaves will begin to wither. Muraya will not bloom or bear fruit.

Important! Muraya can't stand the heat.

This must be taken into account when placing a flower on the windowsill.

How to care at home

Caring for Muraya is not at all difficult. You just need to understand and take into account some of her needs.

Watering and air humidity

Without water, plant life is impossible. Tropical forests have plenty of moisture. Muraya loves, but it should be remembered that an excess of the latter can have a bad effect on the root system. Based on this, you need to water the muraya abundantly, but not often.

It is necessary to allow the soil to dry out. The plant responds well to spraying, but you need to take moderation in everything. Air humidification also has a beneficial effect. This can be an ordinary aquarium with fish, which is located not far from the plant.
You can also place a container of water next to the plant and place expanded clay or moss in it. In this case, the gradual evaporation of moisture compensates for the dryness of the air. For spraying and watering, it is better to use soft boiled or settled water.

Soil and fertilizing

The soil for muraya must be nutritious. The plant is desirable. for muraya they need from spring to autumn - water once every two weeks with the addition of fertilizer for citrus fruits. There are many complex fertilizers in flower shops.

Choose at your own discretion. Somewhere in October, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to insert fertilizer sticks (two or three pieces) into the pot of soil where the tree grows. Also, when replanting, adding bark and to the soil will have a good effect.

Pruning and crown formation

Muraya does not require special pruning.

However, if you are a lover of the art of bonsai or penjing, feel free to practice on this tree. Muraya easily tolerates pruning. To form a beautiful crown from a young age, the growing points of actively developing shoots are pinched off the tree. You should also cut out excess branches. Otherwise, the tree may turn into a bush.

Flowering and fruiting

Flowers stay on the branches of the plant for one or two days. At suitable humidity, the fruits set on their own. But it’s still better to help the tree. Muraya is pollinated with a brush. It is enough to carefully transfer the pollen from flower to flower. The fruits, when ripe, acquire a bright red hue. The fruits ripen in approximately four months.

Important! With proper care, muraya blooms and bears fruit all year round. Moreoversimultaneously!

How to transplant muraya at home

Muraya is quite demanding when it comes to transplanting. An adult plant is replanted no more than once a year. Better - once every two to three years as it grows. Transplanted using the transshipment method.
The pot for muraya is not large. When replanting a plant, you should not bury the root collar. This can cause the cessation of flowering and fruiting.

It is advisable not to “trample down” the soil. It should always be loose. Muraya's root system needs air. The pot with the transplanted tree can be moved for several days to a room with dim light, for example, to a room with windows facing north.

This will help the plant to withstand stress more easily and recover from replanting faster.

Propagation of muraya by cuttings

Muraya is easily propagated and grown in two ways, cuttings and seeds.

Cuttings are cut from the tops of strong shoots. Leave two or three nodes on the cut cuttings with the lower leaves completely cut off. The top ones are cut to half. Plant in a pre-prepared pot with soil (you can use a regular plastic transparent glass). Sand mixed with is used as soil.

Did you know? This method cannot be called effective, since only a few cuttings will take root. It is much more effective to grow muraya from seeds.

After planting, the soil is watered and the plant is placed in a warm place. You can cover the top with a glass jar. It is advisable to shade the planted cuttings for a week. It is enough to cover the plant with loose material. Temperature - 20-25 °C. Unrooted cuttings should be watered rarely, but every day with soft water from a spray bottle. In two or three weeks the cuttings will sprout roots.

After this, the cuttings are transplanted into a pot filled with nutrient soil. Drainage is placed at the bottom of the pot, about one third of the container.

Difficulties in growing: diseases and pests

Muraya is a fairly hardy plant that has acclimatized well to our apartments, but it is still susceptible to disease. Its cultivation and maintenance has its own characteristics and difficulties. For example, it may not grow, dry out, or bloom.

Basically, all of the above problems are associated either with improper watering, or with a lack or excess of light. If Muraya sheds its leaves, the problem often lies in dry air. The reason for this is most often the battery under the windowsill. A solution to this problem can be moving the plant to another place or spraying it more frequently with a spray bottle. The cause of drying out can also be damage to the fragile root system during transplantation. In this case, you need to be patient and wait until the muraya grows new roots.
Growth inhibition - either the plant does not receive enough nutrients, or it is in a place where there is not enough light, or the pot is too small.

If the muraya does not bloom or bear fruit, then most likely there are not enough nutrients or the pot is too small.

The tree may also not be suitable for the fertilizers you feed it with. In this case, they need to be replaced. In addition, (whitefly, mealybugs, scale insects, etc.) may appear in the soil or on the soil or a fungus will appear. Today, specialized stores have plenty of antifungal and pest control products. Qualified advice can be obtained on site from the seller

Muraya's leaves turn yellow - most likely this is chlorosis, a non-infectious disease caused by the chlorine content in irrigation water. Prevention is simple. Make sure that the water for irrigation does not contain chlorine, or feed the plant with a chelated form of iron. The same reason and treatment method can help when Muraya leaves fall off.

Medicinal properties of muraya

When muraya blooms, a huge amount of aromatic essential oils and phytoncides are released into the air. The aroma of muraya flowers is soothing. Observations have shown that in those suffering from angina pectoris, the aroma of blooming muraya reduces the frequency of attacks by 60%. Provided that it is inhaled regularly. An infusion of flowers is used for washing. Helps cope with sagging skin.

Its fruits are endowed with tonic properties that can lower blood pressure, contain vitamins and many beneficial substances, including antioxidants. They have a hypotensive effect. Recommended for people with hypertension, coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. Muraya berries help lower blood sugar levels without the use of hypoglycemic agents.

The leaves of the tree have anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. Heals wounds. Juice from the leaves helps relieve headaches and toothaches.
As you can see, the benefits of muraya are quite noticeable. And even if it just stands in the room, the aesthetic appearance, the pleasant smell that stimulates work and relaxation - what else does a connoisseur need?

Important! Despite its numerous medicinal properties, its use should be treated with caution.nursing mothers, pregnant women, and children under twelve years of age. Since the leaves of the plant lower blood pressure, they should not be eaten by hypotensive patients.

Muraya is a magnificent plant, quite easy to care for and propagate; it will give a lot of joy to its owners, bring a feeling of comfort to the house, and fill the air with a delicate aroma. This plant can be safely recommended even to beginners. With minimal material and time costs, we get the result in the form of magnificent flowers and fruits within three to four months. Isn't this a miracle?!

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491 once already
helped

One of the closest relatives of lemons and oranges, which feel great on the windowsills of apartments and offices, is Muraya. This flower was brought from India to Japan, to the emperor’s garden, about half a century ago. The Japanese believed that by inhaling the delicate aroma of flowers, the emperor became healthier, wiser, and, most importantly, the emperor’s children would inherit his intelligence and health. Muraya, whose flowers have a stunningly delicate aroma, took pride of place in the royal garden and became known as the “tree of Japanese emperors.”

Soil for muraya

So, you have purchased an ornamental and medicinal plant - muraya flower. How to care for it so that it pleases you throughout the year? Since this tree belongs to the Rutaceae family, its care should be appropriate. And the first thing you need to pay attention to is the soil. You can buy it at the store (soil for citrus plants is good), or you can prepare the soil yourself. To do this, take in equal parts: river sand, humus and deciduous, turf soil. To destroy possible pests, the resulting mixture must be thoroughly poured with boiling water. The next thing to pay attention to is drainage. You can also try to make it yourself, but it is better to use medium-sized expanded clay: with it there is less hassle and more aesthetics.

Transplanting a plant

The roots are the weakest point of a wonderful plant whose name is Muraya flower. How to care for it to avoid damage to the roots? The bush is transplanted after the earthen ball is completely entwined with roots. When choosing a pot, pay attention to the size. The volume of the new pot should be one liter greater than the volume of the old pot. Most importantly, remember that damage to the earthen ball and roots during transplantation can have a detrimental effect on your flower. To avoid this, carefully remove the flower by tilting the pot on its side. Before replanting, it is necessary to prepare the soil and drainage. The drainage layer in the pot must be at least 4 centimeters, otherwise water stagnation may occur and, as a result, acidification of the soil.

Muraya. Plant care

Our article will help you understand this issue. You have successfully transplanted a Muraya flower. How to care for this beautiful plant? Caring for it is quite simple. The most important thing is proper watering. It should be carried out regularly; monitor the condition of the earthen clod so that it does not dry out. Also avoid over-wetting the soil. For irrigation, it is preferable to use water that has been standing for 24 hours at room temperature. Rapid growth can exhaust the beautiful plant - muraya flower. How to care for him in such a way as to avoid this trouble? It is necessary to carry out fertilizing correctly. This tree needs to be fed once a week in the summer, but in winter (from November to February) one feeding per month is enough. Fertilizer should be applied only in the evening after watering, but under no circumstances instead of watering! You can feed the plant with various organic fertilizers.

Reproduction

After the flowering period ends and the muraya fruits ripen, the seeds located in the core of the fruit can be used as planting material. Seedlings begin to bloom a couple of months after emergence. However, remember that muraya seeds cannot be stored for a long time as this negatively affects germination. As for propagation by cuttings, we have to disappoint you here. It is possible to grow a tree from a cutting, but it is extremely difficult even when using special equipment, such as a fogger.