Oplismenus

Family. Gramíneae.

Origin. Australia and New Zealand.

Description. Oplismenus is a small genus of annual or perennial herbaceous plants, which includes only 6 species. The stems are thin, often creeping, branched. The leaves are sessile, green or with contrasting stripes along the edge of the leaf blade, thin, flat, lanceolate, pointed, about 5 cm long. The edges of the leaf blades are often corrugated.

Height. Oplismenus grows quickly and fills the pot; its height can vary from 40 cm to 1 m.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

Suitable for growing at room temperature all year round. Do not expose the plant to temperatures below 10°C.

Lighting

Brightly lit location with direct sunlight in the morning and evening hours.

Care

An unpretentious plant. Trim old shoots and shorten plant stems that are too long.

Substrate

Suitable soil for cacti and succulent plants with excellent drainage. You can make your own mixture from garden soil, leaf humus, peat and coarse sand. Tolerates nutrient-poor soils. 

Feeding

Monthly, in spring and summer, with water-soluble fertilizers in half concentration.

Purpose

Oplismenus looks great in a hanging basket with its stems cascading down. Can be grown as a ground cover plant.

Flowering time

Flowers may appear throughout the year, but they are inconspicuous. 

Air humidity

The bushes can be sprayed periodically if the air in the room becomes too dry, but in general the flower does not require high humidity.

Soil moisture

Water deeply during the warmer months when oplismenus is growing. In autumn, watering is reduced and in winter the plant is kept in almost dry soil. 

Transfer

This species is often grown as an annual plant and does not require repotting.

Reproduction

Easily propagated by stem cuttings 5 ​​- 8 cm long, rooted in spring and summer. The cuttings are covered with a transparent plastic bag, rooting occurs within 2 weeks. 

Pests and diseases

If there is not enough light, the color of the leaves fades and the bush stretches out. The plant can get sunburned if it is not shaded during hot daytime hours. If there is an excess of nutrients, it can lose its attractive color. If there is a long drought, it can lose some of its leaves.

Pests sometimes include aphids and spider mites.

Note

Oplismenus is a perennial species, but with age it loses its attractiveness, so it is advisable to replace the plant with a new one every year.