This plant amazes with luxurious foliage and rich flowering. The long hanging inflorescences resemble wisteria brushes, and the asymmetrical white flowers resemble fluttering butterflies. The picture is completed by a beautiful delicate aroma with notes of jasmine, for which it is called "nodding jasmine" in China.
The scientific name of this plant is Wallich's Clerodendrum(Clerodendrum wallichiana), synonym clerodendrum nodding (Clerodendrum nutans). It is also found in different transcriptions under the names Clerodendrum Wallich, Clerodendrum Wallich. It is native to the mountainous regions of India, Nepal, Bangladesh and southern China (from an altitude of 100 to 1200 m), with a subtropical climate.
The plant was named after the Danish surgeon and botanist Nathaniel Wallich, who managed the Calcutta Botanical Garden in 1817-1842, with whose support many botanical expeditions to India, Nepal and Burma were made over the years, as a result of which many new plants were sent to England. In Europe, and then in America, it began to be grown in greenhouses, and in countries with a suitable climate and in gardens. But only in 1999 the industrial cultivation of this plant began, which made it more affordable. This plant remains rare in our country, although recently its variety “Prospero” has been on sale.
In nature, these are evergreen shrubs or small trees up to 2-4 m tall, with typical representatives of the Lipocystae family (Lamiaceae), slightly 4-sided branched stems.
In indoor conditions, a varietal plant reaches a height of no more than 50 cm. It is distinguished by very beautiful glossy, wavy along the edge, lanceolate dark green leaves up to 15 cm long. From the end of August, the ends of the shoots are crowned with lush hanging inflorescences, sequentially opening the buds for 1.5-2 months. Quite large (up to 3 cm in diameter) flowers have 5 oval petals and long, far protruding stamens and pistil. The petals are surrounded by a swollen stellate calyx, characteristic of clerodendrum. In the variety "Prospero", unlike the natural species, it is not coral-red, but green, which does not violate the whiteness of long, more than 20 cm, inflorescences. Having seen this plant once, you will definitely want to have it, especially since it is less capricious than the more common clerodendrum of Mrs. Thomson (Clerodendrum thomsoniae).
Plants often come on sale in bloom in autumn, from September, because they lay buds with a short day, such as chrysanthemums. Buds and flowers crumble easily during careless transportation and temperature changes, so do not immediately unpack the plant at home, let it stand for 2-3 hours.
Wallich's Clerodendrum is quite picky about lighting, but does not tolerate direct sunlight, preferring diffused light. The plant is thermophilic, even at night the air temperature should not drop below +18 degrees. An increase of up to +24 degrees is permissible, but at the same time it is difficult to maintain the required air humidity. Spray the plant regularly, the flowers do not suffer from this. If the air in the room is too dry, place containers with water next to it or put wet towels on the heating batteries, otherwise the bloom may end in 3 weeks.
Keep the soil moderately moist, allowing it to dry only slightly between waterings, otherwise the leaves will begin to wither. During the flowering period, fertilize the flowering plants twice, this will also prolong flowering.
When all the flowers have withered, remove their remnants from the peduncles. After about a month, they will also dry out and should be cut off and the plant transplanted. In poor purchased soil, this plant, which is demanding on soil fertility, should not be left for a long time. When transplanting, try not to damage the roots, they are fragile in clerodendrum.Do not take the size of the pot more than 15-20 cm, the plants do not bloom in a spacious container, and the roots do not have time to cope with moisture.
For planting, a rich loose substrate is required, therefore it is good to add Vermicompost or compost to the universal soil, as well as river sand and perlite. The reaction of the soil should be slightly acidic. After transplanting, keep the plant in the same conditions, and in December gradually reduce the temperature to + 150C for a period of relative dormancy, which should last 2 months. With a lack of light during this period, the plant may partially shed its leaves. At this time, feeding should be stopped and resumed in the spring, with an increase in the amount of light, with a frequency of 2 times a month. In spring and early summer, it is useful to occasionally use organic fertilizers for top dressing - a purchased liquid mullein, Biohumus or Lignohumate, but try not to overdo it with organic matter - fattening plants form very large leaves, but bloom reluctantly.
Wallich's clerodendrum tolerates formative pruning, which is done in late February - early March, so that young shoots can grow and inflorescences have time to grow by the flowering period. Use the pieces of stems remaining from pruning for propagation. Cuttings with 2-3 leaf nodes taken from the lower lateral shoots are best taken. Rooting is carried out in a mixture of equal parts of peat and sand at a temperature of + 210C. 3 cuttings are planted in a pot with a diameter of 15 cm. A plastic bag cap is put on top to maintain moisture. Under natural light, rooting is difficult, for 4-6 weeks, but preliminary treatment with stimulants - Kornevin, Heteroauxin or Zircon - speeds up the process. If you organize the backlight, even in winter, the rudiments of the roots appear quickly, already on the 7-10th day. With the appearance of young shoots, feeding begins, and after 4 months the plants can be transplanted. In autumn, they bloom, but not abundantly for the first time.
Pests rarely affect clerodendrum, although when dried it is vulnerable to sucking pests - spider mites, whiteflies, mealybugs. To combat them, use spraying and double watering, with an interval of 10 days, with Aktara. Remove the mealy plaque first with a cotton swab dipped in 70% alcohol and green soap.
But the main problem that everyone will surely face when growing this plant is yellowing of the leaves, or chlorosis, which can begin even during the flowering period. The cause of chlorosis can be a lack or, on the contrary, an excess of light, nutritional deficiency, alkaline soil reaction, hard irrigation water. It manifests itself especially often in winter, when it is difficult to create optimal conditions for the plant. It is imperative to fight chlorosis and try to preserve the leaves. Try to identify and eliminate the cause - check the acidity of the soil, pick up another place. As an "ambulance" spray on the leaves with iron chelate or a solution of trace elements, for example, "Ferrovit". The effect of such treatment is quick, but temporary, so it is better to make regular application of trace elements as part of liquid mineral fertilizers. Yellowing of leaves can be caused by other reasons - sunburn, excessive or insufficient watering, exposure to ethylene, tobacco smoke, gases, so a kitchen with a gas stove may not be the best place for this plant.
Wallich's Clerodendrum is so beautiful that it deserves to be soloed in the most prominent place. Due to the hanging shape of the shoots, young specimens look great in hanging pots. In many countries it is considered a wedding plant, because the word clerodendrum translated from Latin means “tree of fate”, and this species was also dubbed “Bridal Veil” for its tenderness, whiteness, and the flowing shape of the inflorescences.
