A perfect example of successful adaptation of tropical plants in our homes is a representative of the genus of evergreen or deciduous plants of the Verbenov family - klerodendrum, a favorite of greenhouses, which can also be cared for in a regular apartment.
In everyday life, the klerodendrum is sometimes called the "tree of destiny", so its name is translated, or "volkameria", as the flower was called in olden time.
Did you know? Seeing the flowers of Clerodendrum Thomson - the scarlet heart against the white petals of the pre-flowers, you understand how another name naturally arose - “innocent love”.
Description and biological features
Clerodendrum grow in the wild nature of the tropical latitudes of Asia, Latin America, Africa. These plants are valued for their decorative properties, thanks to bright green dense foliage, flexible shoots, and most importantly - for abundant flowering.
Flowers of a klerodendrum are collected in inflorescences in the form of panicles, brushes, shields, many species have a wonderful delicate aroma. For example, evergreen klerodendrum fragrant, with white and pink fragrant flowers, capable of blooming intermittently throughout the year. Or the rapidly growing Ugandan clerodendrum, its blue and purple petals, with elongated stamens look like delicate butterflies.
Did you know? The similarity of flowers with butterflies is a trick of nature for attracting pollinators: moths carry pollen from flower to flower, thinking that these are females of their kind.
We create optimal conditions in the house for a tropical plant.
Among klerodendrum there are quite unpretentious species, but most of the cultural representatives of this kind of demanding light, temperature, humidity, soil and watering.
Location and lighting
Coming from the rainforests, clerodendrum prefers a lot of bright enough, but diffused light. In the period of active growth is especially important. If the windows of the room face south, the flower is prune in the summer period, if it is north - you need to think about lighting.
Lack of illumination is one of the reasons why the cerodendrum does not bloom. In the period of rest, the flower can be placed in a place with a muffled light.
Did you know? In Southeast Asia, healing properties are attributed to the leaves of clerodendrum, and in ancient Rome, this plant was dedicated to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.Shoots of some species grow to 3 meters, so you need to take care of support for them. If the vine is located against the wall, you can pull a strong fishing line or thin wire. In the pot for support, you can insert special, including decorative props of metal, plastic or natural materials. They can be selected in stores and departments for gardeners. Spectacular vines form in hanging pots look spectacular.
Temperature
The most favorable temperature in the summer is from 18 to 25 degrees, while the flower during the rest period requires coolness. It partially (evergreen species) or completely (deciduous) loses leaves, the optimum temperature from November to March is 15-17 degrees.
If the winter temperature is higher, the plant will not come to a state of rest, and it may not bloom in the spring. At temperatures below 12 degrees, the plant may die.
Peculiarities of home care
To preserve the beauty of fast-growing plants at home, it is important to observe the following conditions when caring for them:
- sufficiency of moisture in the soil and air;
- regular feeding;
- crown formation;
- regular transplant.
Important! Clerodendrum responds to the change of seasons, moving from the active state to the resting stage. This feature also affects the care of it.
The abundance of irrigation
Water the flower as the soil surface dries. General conditions:
- Do not allow the ground to dry out, it should be slightly damp.
- Defend water for irrigation for at least 24 hours.
- The lower the temperature, the less need to water the plants, about 1 every 3-4 days.
- In the state of winter dormancy watered rarely and with a small amount of water.
- During flowering, the volume and frequency of watering increase.
- At the end of flowering the plant is watered less.
Air humidity
To maintain a comfortable level of humidity, spraying of the flower is carried out regularly, during the whole warm season using distilled water. The drier the air, the more water must be sprayed.
- At temperatures above 22 degrees and no rain, the plants are abundantly sprayed daily.
- In wet and cool weather, leaves are moistened 1 time in 2-3 days.
- For the rest period, the plant is removed from the heating devices, but is regularly sprayed.
Important! Spray the leaves in the evening, before sunset. This coincides with the moment of dew in its natural habitat.
Fertilization
During the period of active growth, flowering, the klerodendrum needs to be maintained by adding liquid fertilizers for indoor plants 1 time in 10-15 days. The amount of fertilizer is adjusted depending on the state of the plant:
- With too many leaves and no flowering, fertilizing is reduced by up to 2 months.
- If the plant has not been transplanted, to enrich the soil with minerals and fertilizers, the amount of applied top dressing is increased by no more than 10%.
Pruning
Clerodendrum forms inflorescences only on young shoots, it is pruned in order to:
- removal of dead leaves, weak, old, dry shoots;
- giving the plant a decorative shape.
Before the start of active growth, at the end of February - early March, old and weak shoots are removed. They are cut to 5-7 mm above the level where the wood was formed.
To create a shape pruning is carried out in spring or autumn, when flowering ends.
Clerodendrum shoots quickly condense and woody, which allows you to give the crown interesting forms. Regulating their growth, the bush is given a beautiful configuration:
- arches;
- ampelous;
- woody or stab form.
You can get the shape of a bush by cutting the tops of the shoots to 25% of the length.
Features care in a dormant period
In the last autumn month, the klerodendrum enters a resting stage. Inflorescences fall, partially or completely the plant loses foliage. During this period, it is transferred to a cool room and create conditions for wintering:
- temperature 14-15 degrees;
- rare watering;
- moderate humidity.
Did you know? The klerodendrum "bezkolyuchkovy" Inerme - while a rare flower among indoor species, as an exception, begins to bloom in November.
Transplant rules: choice of pot and soil
Transplantation of a klerodendrum is carried out every year, in the spring after cutting. Parameters of a new flowerpot for transplanting: 2-3 cm to the height and width of the old pot.
Drainage of expanded clay, gravel or shards from ceramic dishes is poured at the bottom of the pot. Drainage layer - from 3 to 6 cm.
Soil can be bought at a flower shop, adding to it up to 10% of washed sand. 
You can independently mix at 25%:
- peat;
- sand;
- leafy ground;
- loam.
Having placed the plant in a new pot, the soil prepared for transplanting is added to the voids, compacted and watered. If necessary, immersed in the ground support for the shoots.
Important! When buying plants in a store, transplantation is carried out in 10-14 days, when the plant adapts to the microclimate of a new home.
Breeding methods
Flowering ends with the formation of fruits, seeds ripen in them, which can be used for the propagation of klerodendrum. It can also be diluted with cuttings.
For the cultivation of seeds and cuttings use purchased soil or prepare the mixture for transplanting adult plants, but without clay soil. 
Growing from seed
Seeds are sown in a small container, covering 5-7 mm of soil. The distance from the upper edge of the tank to the level of the soil is 1.5-2 cm.
The container should be placed in a warm place and covered with a film or a transparent cap to form a greenhouse. From the available tools fit plastic cups from dairy products or desserts boxes with a transparent lid. In the evenings, crops are watered and aired for 25-30 minutes, removing cover material.
After 45-60 days, the first shoots appear. When 4 true leaves are formed, the seedlings are transplanted by picking into a large container, 1 or 3 sprouts each. The diameter of the tank - 7-12 cm, depending on the number of shoots.
Cuttings
When pruning the flower to form the crown cut enough young and strong shoots. Rooting these cuttings, you can get the saping of the clerodendrum, skipping the seed germination stage.
To cut the roots, they are placed in a glass with soft water, in a warm, well-lit and ventilated place.
It is possible to plant cuttings into the ground, if the roots are 3-4 cm long. Planted cuttings are covered with a transparent cap, which is daily removed for half an hour for airing. Transplantation of young plants is carried out at the beginning of the next spring.
Important! A sign of successful development of the seedling will be the appearance on the cuttings of new leaves and shoots. After that, a sapling with an earthen ball is rolled into a pot.
Ways to control pests and diseases
Clerodendrum suffers from typical pests and diseases for houseplants.
The whitefly, spider mite - from them spend spraying solutions of insecticides, 4 times with an interval of 72 hours.
Shchitovka, mealybug - with a small lesion the leaves are treated with a solution of alcohol 8-9%, the pests are removed mechanically. In case of more serious infection, insecticides are sprayed for houseplants.
Mealy dew is a fungus, its appearance indicates that the plant lacks heat. The flower needs to be treated with a fungicide preparation, transferred to a warmer place, use slightly warmed water for irrigation.
Important! Compliance with care recommendations, maintaining moisture and heat, timely transplanting and pruning will help prevent plant diseases and preserve their beauty.Clerodendrum, unlike other vines, signs and superstitions attribute the ability to bring good luck and happiness in love. One thing is for sure: with the advent of this flower, beauty and harmony settle in the house, undeniable companions of love!
