Sollya

Family. Pittosporaceae.

Origin. Australia.

Description. Sollya is a perennial, evergreen climbing plant with very thin shoots that become lignified with age. The shoots bear aerial roots, with the help of which the plants cling to support. The leaves are green, narrow-lanceolate, glossy. The flowers are bell-shaped, collected in few-flowered drooping inflorescences, white, pink or blue, up to 2 cm in diameter. After flowering, the liana decorates itself with blue berries up to 2.5 cm in diameter.

Height. The stems reach a length of 1.5 - 2 m.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

Prefers moderately warm conditions at temperatures not exceeding 20° C in spring and summer. At higher temperatures, the frequency of watering and air humidity should be increased. In the winter months, it requires a cool dormant period, but the temperature should not fall below 5° C. Adult plants tolerate short frosts. 

Lighting

Well-lit location without direct sunlight. Grows well in partial shade.

Care

Long shoots require support to grow. Trim off too long or old shoots to keep the plant looking tidy.

Substrate

A soil rich in organic matter and well-drained based on peat, garden soil, and leaf humus is suitable.

Feeding

In spring and summer, feed the sollya with water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks. In autumn, stop feeding and resume only in spring, with the first signs of new growth.

Purpose

Excellent for vertical gardening of spacious and bright rooms.

Flowering time

Summer.

Air humidity

The air should be sufficiently humid during spring and summer. Spray the leaves with water at room temperature in the morning or place the pot on a tray of damp pebbles. In autumn and winter, when plants are kept cool, the air should be dry. 

Soil moisture

As new shoots and leaves develop in the spring, keep the soil evenly moist; only the top layer of about 1 cm of substrate should dry out between waterings. In the fall, watering is gradually reduced, and in the winter months, simply protect the soil from drying out completely.

Transfer

Transplantation is done in early spring. Young seedlings are transplanted annually; transplantation of large tub vines is difficult, so they simply replace the top layer of soil about 5-7 cm thick with fresh soil every year. After transplantation, water carefully.

Reproduction

Stem cuttings in spring and summer. Seeds are sown in spring, seedlings are kept at normal room temperature.

Pests and diseases

Among the harmful insects,  spider mites sometimes appear.