Houseplant Post - Characteristics, Types and Functions

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Introduction

Flower plants have not only aesthetic, but also great sanitary value and protect cities and towns from smoke, exhaust gases, dust, etc.

Many plants have phytoncidal properties. Parks, gardens, avenues and boulevards are special arteries that purify the polluted air of the city.

Planting trees and shrubs significantly smoothes out the amplitude of temperature fluctuations, increases air humidity on hot days, and also has reclamation and water conservation value.

Green spaces are especially important for combating various industrial and road noise.

A set of solutions for ecological construction includes the transformation of natural forest areas located near large settlements into landscaped forest parks. Great importance is attached to landscaping the areas of factories, farms, children's institutions, etc. New residential areas are accepted by the commission only after landscaping work has been carried out there. All this is one of the most striking indicators of the growth of the country’s cultural level.

Fresh flowers are needed all year round. They are used to decorate green spaces, as well as to obtain cuttings from open and closed ground, which are used for various types of arrangements (bouquets, baskets, compositions, etc.).

Many flowering plants have not only aesthetic, but also utilitarian value, i.e. they are used in the food, petroleum and medical industries.

Tales about houseplants card index (the world around us) on the topic

The cacti, arranged in tiny pots in the flower shop where Maria often visited, had the most bizarre shapes. Among them were green ribbed balls with curved spines and green columns, densely covered with white, yellow or reddish needles and from a distance reminiscent of birds and animals sitting in strange poses. Some looked like long, curved snakes hanging in different directions from their little pots. Others were in the form of flat, prickly cakes, growing from one another in different directions. Maria decided that there would be no cacti in her garden. These plants seemed ugly to her, and, on top of that, prickly.

“Why sell such prickly monsters? Do they really bring joy to anyone?!” - Maria was perplexed, glancing over these strange, as it seemed to her, plants.

But it just so happened that one day she was given a Cactus as a gift. Maria couldn’t refuse to accept the gift. So a pot with a small prickly dark green ball appeared on her window.

The flowers were very surprised to see this strange creature appear in their family. They started giggling at him. The first to speak was the velvety Coleus, the constant rival of the handsome Croton and a terrible bully:

- What kind of round midget is this, and even covered in needles?!

“I’m a houseplant, just like you, sir,” little Cactus answered quietly.

- Plant? - The blue bell laughed loudly, swinging in his hanging basket. - Where are your leaves and stem? The plant must have leaves and a stem. No, no, you are not a plant, you are something completely different!

-Maybe it’s a tiny hedgehog? “I once saw such a hedgehog - the neighbor boys brought it to show Maria,” Chrysanthemum suggested.

“Plants can’t be as ugly as you.” You're just a freak! — the proud Tea Rose said arrogantly.

- Yes, yes, you are not at all like us! - echoed the other inhabitants of the kindergarten.

“And yet I am a plant, no matter what you all say,” the prickly baby stubbornly insisted with tears on his needles.

A white cat came to the noise. As was his custom, he decided to sniff the new resident of the kindergarten to get to know him better. But as soon as he brought his pink, delicate nose to the green ball, he immediately recoiled and flew off like a bullet to the other end of the room. The cat meowed loudly with offense: the thorns of the Cactus pricked him painfully. The little cactus, frightened, in turn, shouted with all his might:

- I'm sorry, forgive me, please, I didn't mean to hurt you!

- Excuse me, forgive me, because my nose is not leathery, like the leaves of the handsome Croton, but very delicate. Maybe your thorn will remain in it forever now!” - the white cat grumbled.

- Why do you need these nasty thorns? Is it really impossible to live without them? - he asked Little Cactus, gradually calming down.

- Yes, yes, why do you need thorns? - the flowers who were watching this scene began to roar again.

Suddenly, the old Decembrist, who had recently become covered with pink buds that resembled fancy flying birds with elongated necks, stood up for the little Cactus. The first red flowers, similar to bells with pointed petals, have already begun to bloom from these buds. Decembrist said:

- Dear friends, don’t argue in vain. This prickly ball is also a plant, like the rest of us. Only he is the hardiest of us: even without roots he can live for a long time, and in the very sun he can easily do without any watering. This is someone who is truly unpretentious: he doesn’t need vitamins, watering, or shade. Know yourself, it grows on its own. Maria quite rightly placed it on the window under the hot rays of the sun. Besides, he is also a Cactus, like me. Only he and I are different Cacti. He is desert, and I am forest. His closest relatives still live well, bloom and smell in the waterless sandy desert, where not a drop of rain falls for nine months of the year. And my relatives were born and live in tropical rainforests. That’s why he and I have different habits and we look different.

- Yes, you are completely different, dear Decembrist. For example, you don’t have thorns, but you have leaves,” Chrysanthemum interrupted the Decembrist’s story.

- You are mistaken, madam. Let me tell you that I don’t have real leaves and never have. What you take for my leaves are flat, segmented stems that only resemble leaves in shape. I, like many of you, really love moist air and ask Maria to spray and water me more often - especially in the summer. “And I also love coolness,” the Decembrist patiently explained.

Everyone, listening carefully to the Decembrist’s story, began to peer closely at the little prickly Lilliputian, trying to discern in it features of similarity with the Decembrist and other plants. Meanwhile, the old Decembrist continued:

- Look how this baby is adapted to retain moisture. Thanks to its thorns, it does not evaporate it at all. Moisture is perfectly retained under its thick and dense skin even in the most intense heat. Plants with leaves evaporate a lot of water, so they need to be watered frequently. And our baby spends the accumulated water very sparingly, and always remains green and juicy. You are all surprised by its thorns and ask what they are for. Yes, this is his most precious treasure! With them he protects himself from enemies who would like to eat him in order to take advantage of the water reserves. But the prickly cactus is not for everyone!

So, my dears, do not judge prematurely. This little midget is also a real plant, in no way inferior to each of us. Leave him alone!

Then the Decembrist affectionately addressed the modestly silent Little Cactus:

- Don't be upset, baby. They haven't seen how beautifully you can bloom!

“Thank you for your kind words, dear Decembrist,” whispered the Little Cactus, and the tears on his thorns quickly dried up.

Maria's pets had nothing to object to. “We’ll wait and see,” they thought, and for a while they lost all interest in little Cactus.

Azalea, flaunting her new emerald outfit, said admiringly:

- How much do you know, dear Decembrist, you are a real flower encyclopedia!

“Thank you for the praise, I’ve been inquisitive since childhood, and this explains everything,” answered the satisfied Decembrist, blooming another bud.

The little cactus grew and gained strength very slowly. No one dared to offend him with an evil word anymore, and everyone gradually got used to his presence in Maria’s home garden. Days passed.

And then the long-awaited day came - the cactus blossomed. It blossomed in the morning, while all the inhabitants of the kindergarten were sleeping peacefully. When they woke up and saw a miracle flower growing from a cactus, they could not believe their eyes. And the proud Tea Rose fainted from surprise for three whole seconds.

An amazingly large, fabulously beautiful orange flower with golden tints sat on a small prickly ball, spreading the finest aroma around itself. The cactus bloomed for only two days. But these days he was the happiest Cactus in the world. All the flowers were in a hurry to express their admiration for the cactus, and they completely forgot how unfair they had been to it before. Even the white cat could not take his blue eyes away from this miracle. The room smelled fragrant - Cactus arranged a real holiday for everyone. What about Maria? Maria, seeing the golden-orange flower, regretted that she had underestimated cacti before. What surprised her most was the wisdom of this flower, which taught her patience. “Maybe the Cactus would bloom even more often if they believed in it more,” thought Maria.

Even when the miracle flower withered, the inhabitants of the kindergarten looked at the prickly ball with great respect, accepting it into their family once and for all. Now they knew what was hidden under the ugly and prickly Cactus needles.

“Never judge prematurely,” said the Decembrist, winking at the flowers.

And they immediately understood everything, because they were the smartest flowers in the world.

Questions and tasks

Do you love cacti? What do you find most unusual about cacti? Who or what do different cacti remind you of? Who did the cactus remind you of the different indoor plants from Maria's garden?

Draw the cacti from the flower shop that Maria went to.

What do you think is the character of cacti? What do cacti and other plants have in common? What is the difference?

Do you have a cactus at home? Tell us about it.

Have you ever seen a cactus in bloom?

Why do you think cacti so rarely delight people with their flowers? What could you compare a cactus flower to? Draw a cactus flower from a fairy tale.

Write an essay on the topic: “Why does a cactus need spines?” List non-thorny cacti and tell us about them.

Do you think that if the plants had not treated the cactus with such hostility, would it have bloomed earlier?

Did you like the story of the old Decembrist? What new things did you learn about cacti from it?

Do you think that if the cactus from the fairy tale had never bloomed, would other plants have fallen in love with it?

Why do you think the little cactus became happy when it blossomed?

What did Maria and the plants understand thanks to the baby cactus? Should you believe in flowers? Have you ever believed in certain flowers? How did this affect them?

::: ::: :::

THE STORY OF THE PIKE TAIL

One day Maria planted two strange striped leaves in the ground. She had never planted leaves directly into the ground before. Neighbor Rose told her that these leaves would sprout roots and grow into a plant known as Pike Tail. This name made Maria laugh very much. The inhabitants of Maria's home garden did not like the two gnarled leaves sticking out of the ground at all.

- What a rude creature - not a bit of grace. What a freak! — the queen of flowers, Tea Rose, thought indignantly.

And Geranium, spreading a dizzying aroma, said to her neighbor Chrysanthemum:

- Poor thing, no zest: no pleasant appearance, no fragrant smell.

“How unattractive he is,” even the kind Azalea decided, looking with sympathy at the rough, leathery leaves of the Pike Tail.

And all the other inhabitants of the kindergarten thought about him in much the same way. None of them, unfortunately, knew that Pike Tail, despite his rough appearance, was a sensitive creature. He could read their thoughts from the leaves of plants. These unfriendly thoughts made him sad and timid. He shrank all over from self-doubt, afraid to even look at his neighbors in the kindergarten.

But Maria had a different opinion about this unusual plant. She carefully looked after its leathery leaves, watering them whenever she saw that they were thirsty. She knew how to guess almost accurately! She washed the leaves of the Pike Tail with warm water, talking affectionately to him: “How quickly you are growing! Your leaves become strong and strong! Soon you will grow and become handsome.” The inhabitants of the kindergarten always listened to Maria’s opinion. But this time they didn't share it at all. After all, they found absolutely nothing in their new neighbor.

And Pike Tail, listening to Maria, thought bitterly: “I’m not handsome at all, she just feels sorry for me. I saw my reflection in the window!”

Every day he became more and more withdrawn into himself, like a snail hiding in its house.

Soon Pike Tail grew into a slender plant with many straight and stiff leaves sticking out of the ground. In terms of growth rate, he overtook many of his neighbors, but was still always silent. The light transverse stripes on its leaves were very reminiscent of fish scales, which confused the white cat, who was always not averse to eating fish. He often approached the Pike Tail, stood on his hind legs in fluffy trousers, sniffed its leaves and even licked them, purring under his breath: “It’s strange, it doesn’t smell like fish at all, but it looks so similar.” Yes, you are not a fish, but it’s a pity, it’s a great pity.” And the cat disappointedly turned away from Pike Tail to the general giggling of the inhabitants of the kindergarten. Pike Tail remained silent. He remained silent, even when the plants asked his opinion. At first they were offended by him, but then they got used to it and left him alone. Only the cocky Coleus pestered him sometimes:

- Please tell me how proud he is! Why are you still silent? Did you swallow your tongue?!

Indeed, why was Pike Tail so stubbornly silent? After all, he has long grown up and become handsome and attractive. The fact is that he was unusually modest. His uncertainty and timidity grew day by day. He never smiled, he was sad and sad. And to his neighbors he seemed a gloomy and unfriendly plant. How wrong they were!

Playful Tradescantia, sometimes hanging out of her hanging basket, tickled him with her cool leaves, trying to cheer up the stern silent one:

- Come on, laugh! Aren't you ticklish? Are you not even afraid of tickles? - the minx teased him.

But Pike Tail remained impregnable. Of course, he was ticklish, even very ticklish, but he bravely endured these playful attacks. Pike Tail was waiting for a miracle - he was waiting when he could finally decorate the garden with his flower and become worthy of all other plants.

And then one early spring morning the whole room was filled with an unfamiliar wonderful aroma.

- Ah! What a subtle smell! Who is it that smells so tender? — the fragrant Tea Rose was the first to notice. The plants began to look at each other and gasped in surprise, noticing a fragile, long-legged flower, shyly peeking out from behind the tall leathery leaves of the Pike Tail. Its leaves, like silent guards, guarded the newly born miracle. The flower was lucky: behind such a strong wall there was no need to be afraid of the hot sun and drafts.

On this day, everyone heard the quiet voice of Pike Tail for the first time:

“I’m the one who blossomed.” I give my flower to our kindergarten. Now I look like you!

- Why were you silent before and didn’t say anything about yourself? - asked Coleus, amazed.

“You wouldn’t believe me, because you were so hostile towards me!” I wanted to prove in practice that I am worthy of you. I am so happy today that I want to tell you my real name. My name is Sanseviera!

And an unusual silence reigned in the kindergarten.

>>

Questions and tasks

Show the children drawings of Pike Tail (Sansevieria) and other flowers mentioned in the story. Name plants that resemble animals, birds or fish in their appearance.

Do you know plants whose leaves can produce roots?

Do you think that if the plants knew that Piketail was a sensitive creature, would they laugh at him?

Which indoor plants seem to you to be fragile and sensitive creatures?

What was Pike Tail like from the fairy tale? Why did he consider himself unworthy of kindergarten? Draw Pike Tail at the beginning and end of the story.

Why did Maria fall in love with Pike Tail? Do you think a flower would have grown out of Pike Tail if Maria had not believed in it?

What did the flower born from Pike Tail think? Write a fairy tale about how the flower lived behind its strong leaves.

What did Pike Tail teach the plants? Write a fairy tale about how plants and Pike Tail became friends.

What do you think the white cat thought when a flower appeared from the Pike Tail?

::: ::: :::

MEDICINES IN FLOWER POTS

One afternoon, the inhabitants of Maria's indoor kindergarten were enjoying violin music broadcast on the radio. The plants loved music very much, and often Maria deliberately left the radio on when she knew that good music would be broadcast.

Aspidistra with fluttering dark green wide leaves reminiscent of flags on strong long petioles, comfortably nestled under the canopy of the feathery leaves of a tall Palm Tree, was talking in a low voice with a young red-yellow Tulip.

“I look at you, dear Aspidistra, and I’m a little jealous: what a big and friendly family you have!” How fun you all must be living together?! How many of you are in your glorious family? - asked the colorful Tulip, which grew from a bulb and recently blossomed to the wonder of everyone.

- At the moment there are seventeen of us: grandfather, grandmother, mother, father and us - thirteen children. “We are all very similar to the leaves of the Lily of the Valley, only we are several times larger than them,” Aspidistra answered proudly.

- Yes, yes, I see! And aren't you cramped in your pot? It’s amazing how you all get along in such a small living space?! - Tulip was surprised.

- In crowded but not mad! We are always very patient and do not interfere with each other, but, on the contrary, support the weakest and oldest. For this we were nicknamed “Friendly Family”. Aspidistra is our scientific name. We do not turn yellow, do not turn pale, are forever green and never fall off. We do not wither even if they forget to water us, and we can grow beautifully both in a dark corner and in the brightest sun. And we are not afraid of drafts, and we are not afraid of dust,” Aspidistra answered willingly.

- Really!? You are simply an exceptional plant in its unpretentiousness. “I don’t have enough words, madam, to express my admiration for you,” Tulip admired. - And I feel so sad alone.

- Well, what are you talking about, dear Tulip! You are the decoration of our kindergarten! Don't be sad, please! - Aspidistra said. At these words, the tulip joyfully opened its cup, from which curious antennae peeked out.

Their peaceful conversation was suddenly interrupted by someone shouting:

- Hush, they’re talking about our respected Centennial on the radio!

- Wake up, Grandfather Stoletnik! Listen to what they say about you,” the round Cactus baby woke up the peacefully dozing Agave.

Indeed, they talked about Stoletnik on the radio. The program was dedicated to traditional medicine, and the doctor of medical sciences spoke about the healing properties of Aloe (the scientific name of Agave). Everyone was surprised to hear that Stoletnik is a universal doctor who treats bronchitis, tuberculosis, inflammation of the gums, stomach ulcers, and even eye diseases. Its juicy, fleshy leaves contain healing juice - aloin, which is very useful, especially for inflammation.

The white cat, who had been listening attentively to the radio broadcast, immediately hurried to Stoletnik and meowed:

- Dear Stoletnik, I just have an inflamed gum, I can’t eat anything. Please allow me to bite off one of your healing leaves.

- For God's sake, at least two. Just chew it properly, my juice is quite bitter,” Stoletnik said good-naturedly, flattered by the doctor of sciences’ story from the radio broadcast.

The evergreen Kalanchoe, which wonderfully blossomed with small scarlet flowers, swayed its succulent stems and oval leaves:

— I may not be as famous as our respected Agave, but my juice is also used in medicine, especially in healing wounds and burns. It perfectly destroys the infection. It is especially effective for sore throat, gum disease and stomatitis. So my juice is no worse than yours, dear Agave. You can even buy it at a pharmacy. You, white cat, can chew my leaf too.

“I’m very grateful, dear Kalanchoe, I’ll definitely try it,” the white cat answered politely, without ceasing to chew the bitter leaf of the Agave.

Here the modest Ivy thought that it would be nice if everyone knew what he was capable of:

- I can heal too. Decoctions from my leaves are very helpful for coughs and headaches. I am used against calluses and tumors. I can even lower blood pressure and remove warts and...

What started here! The ivy excited the kindergarten inhabitants so much that they began vying with each other to boast about their healing properties. If Maria could hear them, she would stop going to the pharmacy for medicine once and for all! But, alas! She did not understand the language of plants. Only by their appearance and thanks to her kind and sensitive heart, she guessed about the moods and problems of her dear pets. Now Maria was lying with a painful headache that would not go away. She had already taken the medicine and was waiting for the doctor to arrive.

And the white cat, when he heard that Ivy could remove warts, was delighted and meowed loudly - after all, a huge wart had long been growing on the pink pad of his right front paw, which was causing him a lot of trouble. “First I’ll cure the gum, and then I’ll take care of the wart. How nice it is to have real doctors at home!” - he thought with joyful gratitude.

And at this moment Tradescantia entered the arena of boasting:

- Listen, dear friends! I am the most common houseplant, but can significantly lower blood sugar in diabetes. For dysentery and colds, there is no better remedy than a decoction of my leaves. If you apply my leaves to the tumor and hold it for a while, it will certainly resolve. I'm not bragging, but you all should know about my wonderful abilities. Maria needs this first of all - she seems to have high blood sugar.

I found out about this by chance when she was talking to someone on the phone.

“It’s not her who has high blood sugar, but her friend Sonechka,” the handsome Croton corrected Tradescantia. - You, as always, got everything mixed up.

- Just think, we've found another smart guy. Is this important?! Maria still needs to know what I’m capable of,” Tradescantia stubbornly insisted.

- Can you, Friendly Family, also heal? - Tulip asked his kind neighbor.

- Yes, in medicine, decoctions from our roots, stems and leaves are very famous, especially in the treatment of intestinal and gastric disorders. And when muscles hurt, they are simply a salvation. Our wonderful decoctions even remove kidney stones,” Aspidistra answered competently.

“That’s great, I need to wrap this around my head,” thought the white cat. — My bladder has been acting up lately, and I have a lot of different problems.

Good Azalea sighed and said sadly:

“I don’t have any healing properties, but I would like to help Maria now - she has such a severe migraine.” She can't even stand on her feet because of this. And the doctor never comes. He probably has a lot of patients.

After these words from Azalea, all the inhabitants of the kindergarten became sad and anxious. Each of them began to think intently about Maria and wish with all their hearts that the nasty migraine would quickly go away and never again torment their beloved mistress.

Old Agave, groaning, leaned towards Azalea and said:

“You, dear Azalea, heal with your kindness and tenderness. I am sure that not all of your properties have yet been studied. There is definitely something healing about you! And Maria will get better - we all want that.

At that moment the doorbell rang. It's the doctor. After a thorough examination, he said:

“You don’t have anything serious.” The blood pressure is slightly increased, which makes you weak. I will not prescribe you strong drugs. First, let's try to reduce blood pressure with the help of medicinal plants. Take infusions of cudweed, hawthorn, motherwort, clover flowers and calendula tincture for 10 days. Eat onions, garlic, beets, blackcurrant jam, lemon with peel. Drink weak green tea. Try to forget about coffee and strong tea, at least for a while. And don't overuse salt. And the most important thing for you now is good sleep.

As he was leaving, he looked into the room where Mary’s plants lived, and the wonderful home garden delighted him. Taking a closer look, he exclaimed:

- Bah, you have a lot of medicinal plants. Here is Ivy, for example! Did you know that it also perfectly lowers blood pressure?!

Then he pointed to Gardenia:

“And this beauty cures many serious diseases and is very effective against headaches.” Oh, you and Sansevier are growing. You probably don’t even realize that the smoke from burning Sansevieria leaves is like a headache reliever? Your plants will heal you very quickly, read about their properties,” the doctor advised at parting.

Maria felt much better after the doctor’s words. She looked at her plants with curiosity, trying to guess which of them had what properties and thought: “That’s what you are like, it turns out. I didn’t even know that you were all healing!”

>>

Questions and tasks

How do you think houseplants react to music?

Conduct an experiment: turn on music for a while every day for a week and observe indoor plants, and then write down your observations.

What other indoor plants resemble a family? Write a fairy tale about the life of the “Friendly Family” from Maria’s home kindergarten.

Do you think the tulip would like to live with this friendly family for a while? Write a fairy tale about how the “Friendly Family” invited a tulip to visit.

What indoor plants would you call the most unpretentious?

Draw the plants from Mary's garden mentioned in the fairy tale. What new have you learned about their medicinal properties?

What medicinal properties of indoor plants do you know? Have there been times in your life when indoor plants helped you heal?

Keep a notebook: “The healing properties of plants.” As you study certain plants, write down their medicinal properties in your notebook.

Which houseplant seems to you to be the most versatile doctor?

Do you agree with Stoletnik’s opinion that Azalea can heal with tenderness and kindness?

What was the doctor like who came to Mary? What did Mary understand and learn thanks to him?

Write a story about how Maria learned about the healing properties of her plants and used them in her life.

What would change if all doctors studied the healing properties of different plants and used them to treat people?

Game “Doctor and Patient”: A patient comes to the doctor and complains of this or that pain. The doctor must, using his notebook on the healing properties of various plants, prescribe the medicine he needs.

::: ::: :::

LASTING BALM

One day, a white cat, as usual, chased a sunbeam and accidentally knocked over a pot of Balsam that was standing on the windowsill. All the inhabitants of the indoor kindergarten gasped, frightened for their good friend, and held their breath. After all, the Balsaminchik could at any moment fall onto the tiled floor and break its fragile, juicy and transparent stems, swollen at the nodes and as if filled with water.

The white cat, trying to make amends for his guilt, tried to lift the pot from a horizontal position. Standing on his hind legs and resting his thick front paws on the windowsill, he kept awkwardly poking his pink nose into the pot of Balsam. But, alas, he only moved the pot to the very edge of the windowsill, thereby increasing the likelihood of it falling. Lowering his pink ears guiltily, the cat said quietly:

- Please forgive me. I'm so awkward. I would give my sharp claws or even my fluffy fur coat if only everything would be fine with you.

Meanwhile, the mustachioed Cissus and the muscular Ivy, clasping the overturned pot on both sides with their long and flexible stems, began to pull it up. They managed to lift him up, when suddenly something clicked in the Cissus stem, and from a sharp pain he released the pot of Balsam. Apparently, such an effort was beyond his strength. And Ivy, although he was young and full of strength, could not cope with the overturned pot alone, no matter how hard he tried. The upset Cissus, almost crying, muttered to himself:

- Oh, old age is no joy! Forgive me, buddy!

- Forgive me too, please. Such a shame! “I couldn’t help you in any way,” the terribly upset Ivy repeated after Cissus.

- Well, what are you talking about! “You did everything you could for me,” answered Balzamin, bursting into tears. Now most of his pot was hanging in the air, but for some reason it had not yet fallen to the floor.

The balsam seemed to hang in the air in a state of weightlessness and was only kept from falling to death by its roots in the ground at one end. “Just don’t fall,” the poor fellow thought in horror, straining all his strength to straighten up and stay on the edge of the window sill. From the incredible effort, beads of sweat appeared under its tender leaves, which had already begun to droop like rags. The red flower-lights—Balzaminchik’s greatest pride—now looked helpless and pitiful. Poor Balzamin was dizzy and was tormented by unbearable thirst. The plants, seeing drops of water flowing down the stems of Balsam, became completely alarmed:

“The poor thing is crying so bitterly, how can we help him?” - the tender, sensitive Violets groaned.

Only the wise old Ficus, as always, tried to calm his worried young friends:

- My dears, our little Balsam does not cry. These are not tears, but drops of sweat. After all, it is very difficult to reach up when you are lying down. This requires such willpower! A terrible misfortune befell him, but he does not lose heart. Look how he fights for his life!

The white cat immediately rushed to the Balsam and licked a transparent drop from its stem. And what? She was surprisingly sweet. And as you know, real tears can be very bitter and salty.

But it was too early to calm down. The balsam was still lying on its side. And Maria left for two days to visit her sick friend.

— Will Balzaminchik have enough strength? Nobody can help him! What to do?! — all the inhabitants of the kindergarten were worried.

- Stop being nervous. It is better for each of us to concentrate and think only about saving our friend. All our thoughts should be directed towards him. Then he will certainly feel our support, and this will give him strength,” the wise Ficus reassured everyone. Fortunately, the plants obeyed him. All night, without sleeping a wink, they thought about Balzaminchik and silently prayed for the poor fellow. Even the proud Tea Rose whispered to herself:

“I’m ready to give up my thorns, which I value so much, so that Balsam doesn’t die.” Please don't die! We all love you very much, and you will not die!

The colorful handsome Croton mentally addressed the unfortunate:

- Friend Balsam, hold on! I want you to straighten up so much that I’m ready to sacrifice your bright colors for this. Just hold on, we are next to you!

And the kindest Azalea, bursting into tears, repeated barely audibly:

- May I never bloom again, as long as you don’t die, Balsam is our Light. You won't die.

The next day, to everyone’s delight and surprise, the stems of Balsam, covered with droplets of sweat, began to rise.

“Look, how wet you are, it’s not for nothing that they call you Vanka the Wet,” remarked the mustachioed Cissus, but was immediately interrupted by the jubilant exclamations of the inhabitants of the kindergarten:

- Bravo, bravo! Well done! Hooray! He's straightening up!

Balsam, smiling tiredly, said:

- This is thanks to you, my faithful friends. Your love and faith in me helped me straighten up. I always felt that I was not alone in trouble.

When Maria returned, she was very surprised to see a pot overturned on its side, from which, as if nothing had happened, straight stems of Bazamin stretched out. It was impossible to water the soil in a pot lying horizontally. In addition, the overturned pot did not decorate the beautiful garden at all, and the earth from it fell onto the floor. Maria didn't know what to do. She was afraid of harming her sweet Fire, but still decided to put the pot in. And again the stems of the Balsam were in a horizontal position. Seeing Balsam in such an unnatural position, Maria, like her plants, was frightened and kept asking herself: “Will he have enough strength to straighten up? How can I help him?!” But in front of all the inhabitants of the kindergarten, Balzamin began to straighten up again.

- Yes, you are a real Vanka-Vstanka! - Maria exclaimed joyfully.

“They say it’s true that nothing can bend someone who stubbornly strives for the light,” said old Ficus.

Evening came. The room became dark. Maria turned on a large table lamp, which illuminated all the plants with a mysterious matte light. A beautiful patterned shadow grew on the wall from the leaves of the Date Palm. Maria wanted to sit a little among her favorites before going to bed, and she settled comfortably in a soft old chair. At that moment, the door quietly opened and a new fairy tale entered the room.

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Questions and tasks

Show children illustrations of houseplants mentioned in the story.

What was Balsam like? Why did the plants in Mary’s garden love him? Was he angry with the cat when it knocked over his potty?

What were Ivy and Cissus like? Why were they the first to rush to help? Draw how Ivy and Cissus tried to help Balsam.

What would you do in place of the different plants in the garden to help Impatiens?

Do you think that if it were not for the wise Ficus, would the plants be able to help Balsam? What advice did he give to plants?

What did the Balsam story teach you? What did she teach the plants?

Why was Balzamin nicknamed Vanka-Vstanka? Do you know indoor plants that, like Impatiens, can rise from any position?

What conclusion did the wise Ficus make? Do you agree with his opinion?

Which indoor plants do you think enjoy the evening the most, and which, on the contrary, do not like the evening?

Draw Mary's home garden in the evening, when she was sitting in an old chair, and a new fairy tale came to her.

Do you think houseplants sleep at night? Try this experiment: Wake up one night, turn on the light and take a close look at your houseplants. In the morning, look at them again and write down everything you noticed and felt.

We remind you of one of the golden rules of watering plants:

Plants should never be watered with cold tap water. This will slow down its growth and development.

General characteristics of evergreens

Houseplants are of great importance in ornamental gardening. They decorate rooms, contribute to a modern interior and have a positive effect on improving the microclimate. Houseplants relieve dryness, collect and bind dust, release phytoncides and enrich the air with oxygen.

Reproduction of evergreen plants usually occurs vegetatively, i.e. cuttings, dividing shrubs, grafting, etc., as well as seeds.

Herbaceous plants and all flowering plants need light the most. Plants with brightly colored leaves also need plenty of light. Light-colored plants with thick leathery foliage, such as Ficus, Aspidistra, Myrtle, Aucuba, Philodendron and others, are much less demanding. They can tolerate a slight lack of light. This may include ferns, which can burn and even die if exposed to direct sunlight.

Flowers grow best when the indoor air is not too dry. For humidification, it is recommended to install open containers with water. It is very useful to spray the leaves of plants, which also helps to humidify the air around them.

Root feeding plays a big role in the culture of potted plants. Unlike soil plants, their root system is in a limited amount of soil, which quickly penetrates the roots and is depleted. Therefore, plants growing indoors need to prepare soil mixtures and fertilize them, especially at the stages of increased growth and budding.

An important technique when growing houseplants is to transplant them into a larger container, accompanied by changing the soil and cutting off old, rotten roots, as the soil is depleted and accumulates salts that are harmful to health.

Houseplants can be grown in pots made of various materials (baked clay, wood, plastic), but the best ones are in clay pots.

The heat requirements of different installations also vary. From the point of view of heat supply, all house plants can be divided into groups:

1. Flowers for cool rooms. Winter temperature is 10-140 C. 1) decorative deciduous - aralia, aucuba, laurel, St. John's wort, aspidistra and chlorophyte, 2) beautifully flowering - oleander, myrtle, azalea, roses, hydrangea, fuchsia, pelargonium, primrose and hybrid kineraria, 3) ampel - asparagus, saxifrage, tridescantia, 4) climbing - ivy, ivy, etc. These include chamerops palm frond, cypress, oriental thuja, boxwood.

2. Flowers for warm rooms. Temperature 14-180 C. 1) decorative floral - antirium, ficus, philodendron (monster), begonia, etc., 2) decorative floral - antirium, bromeliad, gloxinia, hibiscus, etc., 3) ampullary - weeping begonia, weeping bell, 4) climbing - ivy, wax, climbing roses, kissus, etc... Palm trees grow well - coconut, date berry and kentia.

3. Flowers for rooms with south windows. Internal maple (abutilon), crystal, citrus, etc., cacti, echeveria, azalea, heliotrope, internal jasmine, camellias, oleander, Chinese roses, aucuba, begonia rex, myrtle, palms, amaryllis, antirium, calla lilies, clivia and etc.

4. Flowers for rooms with windows facing north. Aspidistra, Fern, Chlorophytum, Begonia, Ivy, Trudescanthia, Ivy, Cypress, Thuja.

Features of herbaceous evergreens

Evergreen perennials are the most commonly grown species for indoor use.

According to their purpose, they can be divided into deciduous and flowering ornamental plants.

All herbaceous plants are also classified according to their arrangement - from miniature (Saintpaulia, peperomia) to large (cock begonias, serpentines, etc.).

Evergreen herbaceous plants differ in their methods of propagation, duration of use, attitude to growing conditions, and most importantly, decorative value.

It is difficult to imagine how diverse the sizes, shapes, colors of leaves, and their position are. They change with growing conditions over the seasons and throughout life - from very short to long, depending on the type of plant. With appropriate knowledge of the range of evergreen perennials and taste, you can create original compositional corners, squares, etc.

Ferns

It belongs mainly to the centipede family, a class of ferns. They form a large family of about 3,800 species, most of which are found in the tropical zone. The following species can be successfully grown in greenhouses: Adianth, Asplenium, Nephrolepis, etc.

Many ferns reproduce by dividing rhizomes, for example, adiantha, spores - steris, seedlings.

For ferns, use a mixture of heather, leaf and peat soil with sand in equal quantities. If you don't have heather soil, you can use leaf and peat soil. You can add a small amount of humus, horn shavings or bone meal to this mixture. Most ferns overwinter at temperatures ranging from 10 to 150 °C.

Ferns generally love shade and moisture. They grow well in north or west windows, i.e. in a shady place or in diffuse light. Responsible for spraying, moist air and regular watering. Do not let the soil dry out as this will kill the leaves. Ferns should be kept clean to protect them from dust. Potted samples are replanted after 4-5 years, annually replacing the top layer of fresh soil 2-3 cm thick.

Fern leaves are used for various arrangements (bouquets, baskets, etc.), and plants are used to decorate rooms.

Sansiere, Sansieria or piketail

Plant of the lilac family. Presented from tropical regions of Africa and Asia. Several varieties have been developed.

Plants up to 1.2 m high with basal, erect, sword-shaped, rigid, multi-colored leaves and a thick rhizome reaching to the top. White, greenish, fragrant, but not very decorative flowers in loose, cluster-like inflorescences.

Spreads by dividing old plants and leaf segments. To do this, use well-processed leaves, cut into pieces 6-8 cm long, marking the bottom of the leaf (with a pencil, cut shape, etc.). Leaf cuttings take root well in clean river sand. As new leaves grow, the plants are transplanted into pots with a diameter of 7-9 cm.

Sanseviera grows and develops well in a spacious, wide dish with loose soil, consisting of a mixture of sand, leaves and peat in equal parts. Water is scarce in winter and slightly more abundant in summer.

It can be stored in both warm and cool rooms, in sunny or dimly lit areas. Transplantation and division should be carried out regularly every 2-3 years. For landscaping premises, winter gardens, compositions, etc.

Asparagus. Asparagus

Plant of the genus Lilidae.

Introduced from temperate and warm regions of the Eastern Hemisphere. The most common are Asparagus pinnatum (plum) and Asparagus sprengera.

Asparagus is very common among deciduous plantations. They are used both to decorate rooms and for various arrangements, for example, to decorate baskets, bouquets, boutonnieres, etc.

Propagation of asparagus by seeds, division of bushes and cuttings.

Sow the seeds as soon as they are ripe, as they lose their ability to germinate very quickly.

The soil mixture for sowing is made from 1 part humus and 1 part peat soil. It is desirable that the seeds are sown in clumps or rows, which makes it easier to care for the plants in the future.

Freshly harvested seeds usually germinate in 25-30 days at a temperature of 16-200 C. Shoots, like adult plants, should be stored in a bright greenhouse, but in the shade from direct sunlight.

The seedlings are then placed in boxes or shelves, in the same soil mixture as when sowing, at intervals of 4 x 4 or 6 x 6 cm.

Young seedlings grow better at high humidity and temperatures of 20-240°C.

One of the main methods of care is the regular application of organic or complete mineral fertilizers (with preference for nitrogen) in liquid form, in an amount of 30 g per 10 liters of water.

In the darkest months (November to February), irrigation is reduced and the temperature in greenhouses drops to 10-140 C.

Asparagus can be overwintered in pickling boxes or on a soil shelf; larger ones (winter varieties) can be overwintered in 9cm diameter pots, where they are planted at the end of the growing season (in August). The soil mixture consists of 3 parts humus and 1 part lawn.

In addition, per 1 m2 of this mixture, 3 kg of horn shavings, 1 kg of bone meal and 1 kg of potassium sulfur are added. When planting in pots, place the broken pieces in the drainage hole.

In early spring, transplant into pots with a diameter of 11 cm, since the lump of soil in pots with a diameter of 9 cm has completely taken root at this time. At the same time, seedlings that have overwintered in boxes and on shelves are planted in pots. After rooting of the transplanted plants, they are regularly fed with organic or complete mineral fertilizer in liquid form in the amount of 20-30 g per 10 liters of water. When plants grow stronger and their vegetative mass increases, fertilizers should be applied 2-3 times a week. Asparagus begins to bear fruit in the 3rd and 5th years of life. Adult plants are transplanted into pots of larger diameter after 3-5 years.

When propagating by dividing an asparagus bush, it is necessary that each separated part has at least 2-3 shoots and a well-developed root system. Cut off any damaged or old roots.

Flowers for the windowsill

It is better to place low plants on the windowsill so as not to darken the room. These are a variety of Saintpaulias (Uzambara violet), cacti, cyclamens, primroses, gloxinias, gerberas, and begonias. It is interesting to make a collection of different varieties of the same species.

Dracaena, aloe, clivia, zamioculcas, euphorbia can take place on the sides of the windowsill or on a table next to the window.

Rice. 1. Clivia.

At the end of winter and early spring, it is useful to move pets to south-facing windows to help them get stronger after the winter. At other times, southern windows will have to be shaded from the hot sun, since many plants have foliage drooping and burns from direct sunlight.

Hanging baskets and plants climbing on them.

In modern interiors, climbing and hanging baskets of plants are becoming increasingly important, characterized by the fact that their shoots do not grow vertically, but hang, creep or cling, and can be used for vertical gardening, that is, in wall-mounted or hanging vases (hanging baskets), in balcony boxes, on inclined or vertical walls (trellises, trellises).

These plants take up little space, do not block light from windows and effectively decorate rooms.

They generally require no lighting, are low maintenance and can be placed in many places where other potted plants cannot be used.

Climbing and climbing plants include Basking plants such as saxifrages, tridescans, chlorophytum, sprinkler asparagus and others - low-growing, undemanding vines such as kissus (indoor grape), wax ivy.

Growing vines requires supports or scaffolding, which are designed differently depending on taste, the capabilities of the gardening space and the materials from which the supports are made.

Ivy

Ivy is an evergreen plant in the Aralisi family.

Widespread ivy or European ivy, with large-leaved and multi-colored varieties.

The leaves are thick, stiff and five-lobed. The shooting reaches several meters in length. Rigid shoots have suction aerial roots that help the plant hold on and remain attached to the rhizome.

Ivy can propagate well using cuttings. The best time to cut is from March to June. Rooting is done in sand on greenhouse shelves or in a warm greenhouse. The root crops of the cuttings are planted in pots with a soil mixture consisting of equal parts of humus and light peat soil and sand.

Transplantation is done in the spring. Ivy grows well in both cool and warm places, if there is support in the form of a trellis, stairs, etc. Care requires abundant watering, application of liquid fertilizers and regular spraying and washing of leaves.

In winter, it is better to keep it at a temperature of 8-120 C and water less often. The plant is rarely shade tolerant. Used for vertical planting.

Tradescantia

Tradescantia is a plant in the Commelinace family. Very similar to Tradescantia setcreasia, callisia, zebriana.

Tradescantia is an evergreen plant with long, herbaceous, ascending shoots. The leaves are alternate, smooth-bodied, oblong, sharp, green, rarely speckled. The flowers are small, white, unsightly. Propagation of cuttings in spring. You can do felling at other times, but less successfully.

The plant is shade tolerant, but the speckled forms retain their decorative qualities only in bright rooms. Grows well in both cold and warm rooms. With insufficient care, the stems lose leaves and delicacy, and the plant disappears. After 1.5-2 years, the plants grow again, lose their decorative effect and are replaced by new ones.

Very undemanding in culture. Used as a hanging basket plant and for wall decoration.

Drug group

Lovers of indoor flowers notice their effects on health and mood. Some species have healing properties, so it is useful to place pots with such plants in work areas, bedrooms and children’s rooms.

Famous medicinal flowers:

• geranium;
• Sansevieria;
• Kalanchoe;
• aloe;
• Golden mustache.

Geranium occupies a leading place in floriculture. It attracts attention with bright caps of flowers, and the plant also purifies polluted air. Pelargonium with red petals has strong healing properties. It has a sedative and anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Medicinal decoctions from geranium normalize heart function, heal chronic diseases of the digestive tract, and lotions cleanse the skin of ulcers and boils.

Sansevieria is also called pike tail or mother-in-law's tongue. The plant kills infections that live in the air. A tincture on its leaves helps heal appendages, and decoctions strengthen the immune system during flu epidemics or other colds.

In Russia and neighboring countries, a particularly popular indoor flower is Kalanchoe, or homemade ginseng. It is used to treat fistulas, ulcers, boils and wounds. Juice is extracted from the leaves of the plant, which must be filtered and sterilized. Then a piece of gauze is soaked in it and applied to the sore spot. And to strengthen the immune system, you can eat one tablespoon of babies every day - growths that are cut from the leaves. They are also added to salads.

In the Russian botanical atlas there is another famous medicinal plant - aloe, or agave. Its juice heals wounds, softens corns, and cleanses the skin of acne. The liquid is added to face and hair masks, and whitening scrubs are prepared on its basis.

Golden mustache, or callisia, is also known for its healing properties. Decoctions and tinctures are prepared based on the leaves. They help with burns and lichen, speed up metabolic processes in the body and lower blood sugar levels. The golden mustache also eliminates the symptoms of heart disease, strengthens the immune system and normalizes the functioning of the gallbladder.

Chlorophytum

Chlorophytum is an evergreen, leafy ornamental plant of the lilac family.

The height of the plant reaches about 40 cm, and the ascending shoots are 80-120 cm. The leaves are long, linear, light green. The speckled form, which has white stripes along the midrib of the leaves, is the most decorative. The flowers are whitish, with sparse ornamentation. Propagated by rosettes of leaves formed on descending shoots soon after wilting, but after they have taken root, rarely when transplanted.

It grows and develops better at temperatures of 12-14 C and high air humidity, but can be grown at higher temperatures. It is a shade-tolerant plant, but lighter coloration of colorful leaves is innate in plants placed in a well-lit location. Water flows abundantly in summer; watering is reduced in winter.

It is used as a plant for hanging baskets, sometimes for arranging.

Blooming exotics

Gardeners enthusiastically read herbal books, encyclopedias with photographs and names of indoor plants in alphabetical order, but are afraid to buy exotic plants. In fact, some unusual flowers take root well in the apartment:

• sprekelia;
• Lachenalia;
• slipway;
• tuberose;
• tillandsia;
• Streptocarpus.

The rare sprekelia flower is a bulbous plant that blooms in the spring. It has unremarkable long light green leaves. But its flowers cannot be confused with others. The bright red petals are simply huge, the buds resemble an unusual elongated orchid. Lachenalia also looks unusual for Slavic countries. Its flowers are collected in large clusters, and in appearance they look like large tubes. The colors can be different - yellow, red or orange. The petals stand out with flame against the background of dark foliage. The flowering period depends on the variety - it can last from spring to autumn or from winter to March.

Stapelia surprises even experienced botanists with its size. She has huge fleshy flowers, their petals are covered with fluff, they resemble a starfish. Color - from golden to purple with small patterns. But the plant is not suitable for everyone - its aroma is quite unpleasant, similar to the smell of rotten meat.

Tuberose has the opposite effect. It is so fragrant that its pollen is used in perfumery and cosmetology. In the last century, the plant was very popular, but they did not have time to spread it, and now its time has passed - it is almost impossible to find it at home. The appearance of tuberose is also attractive - the snow-white flowers are very large, similar to lotuses.

Blue Tillandsia is distinguished by the original shape of its bract, which is often confused with buds. It is flat, elongated and looks like a Christmas tree, and is painted in a delicate lavender shade. Tillandsia petals are small and appear on the sides of the bract. They have a bright blue or blue color.

Streptocarpus is the result of many years of work by breeders. This plant is a hybrid of many flowers. When its buds bloom, they look like large bright butterflies. The petals are very bright - purple, blue, blue, yellow or pink. But on the outside they are white, as is the border around the edges. Streptocarpus blooms for a long time, only 5-6 buds appear, but they are very large.

There are other exotic plants that grow well at home. But some species scare off their owners with an unpleasant odor, while others are generally considered predators - they eat insects and small animals.

Characteristics of aquatic plants

A special group is formed by aquatic and marsh plants. Currently, they are very important for humidifying indoor air when using central heating systems. Most aquatic plants can be grown in aquariums in combination with aquatic animals and fish. Typically, aquatic plants reproduce by seeds, cuttings, root shoots and division.

Maintaining plants in an aquarium first requires maintaining the water level. For runaway plants, thinning by removing wilted and old plant parts first. Reboot in the spring. All aquatic plants grow well under optimal light and air conditions.

The following types of plants are grown in aquariums and ponds: Zaitsera, Elodea, Vallisneria, Cabomba, Ludwigia, Myriophyllus, Sagittarius, Salvinia, Aurus, rice, etc.

Cyperus, Papyrus, Sitovnik

Plant of the sedge family. Swamp plant.

A perennial plant with smooth stems reaching a height of 70-120 cm. The leaves are grouped into umbels at the ends of the stems. Green foliage and multi-flowered cyperosa are mainly cultivated. Flowers with small, unsightly, whitish flowers.

Propagated by cuttings, dividing old plants, and less often by seeds.

The soil should be loose, light, rich in nutrients - for green, for poor - for colorful. Can be grown at temperatures of 12-150 C.

It is used as an aquarium and a house plant grown in a pot, which must be in a bowl of water.

Can a plant communicate with people?

Yes! If you observe an indoor flower, you can see this:

• if it is very dry, the leaves begin to wither and fall off so it asks for watering;
• if the leaves turn yellow, it means there is a lack of some nutrients and additional feeding is needed;
• leaves curl up and are attacked by pests. They can be washed off with soapy water;
• when the leaves are green, elastic, healthy, it means the flower is doing well.

Everyone likes to be loved. So talk to your green friend, treat him with love and attention, and he will definitely shine with happiness and look great.

Here you can find reports on violet, aloe, indoor lemon.

Characteristics of Succulents

Succulents are plants of various families that grow well in dry soil and tolerate drought well thanks to the moisture stored in the succulent stems and leaves. Most succulents come from deserts and semi-deserts and are therefore tolerant of light, heat and drought.

Many of them are content with very little watering throughout their lives and cannot tolerate excessive humidity. They are undemanding and are therefore widely grown indoors, where they often grow better than in greenhouses, as they prefer dry air.

Many succulents are very decorative because of their shape, color and hairiness, and some species have beautiful flowers and brightly colored fruits.

The group of succulents includes not only cacti, but also agave, aloe, gasteria, thrush, thistle and other plants with succulent, watery stems and leaves.

Succulents can propagate by sowing, cutting, and grafting. Young plants are replanted annually, and older ones after 2-3 years.

When planting succulents, good drainage is essential. Soil nutrient content is not very important for these plants, as they grow naturally in thin, sandy soil. Store succulents in moderately warm rooms, on well-lit windowsills.

Aloe, centennial

Aloe is a plant of the lilac family. It grows relatively quickly and has branched stems. The leaves are without stems, oblong, curved, grooved, fleshy, light green, variegated in some species. The blade margins of the leaves are slightly spiny. Flowers sparsely, throwing a dart of small, tubular, fragrant, orange-pink flowers.

Spreads by cuttings and branches. The cuttings should be allowed to dry in the shade for two weeks before planting. Plants are transplanted and replanted after 2-3 years.

It is used as a house plant and has medicinal value.

cacti

Cacti are members of the cactaceae family.

All cacti grow very slowly; often plants of some species reach 40-50 cm in height only after several decades.

Cacti are decorative and varied not only in the shape of the whole plant, but also in hairiness, color, as well as very beautiful flowers and bright fruits. Due to their decorative qualities, compactness, and ease of cultivation, cacti are very widely used. During the flowering period, they should always be kept on one side, facing the sun, to avoid the flower falling off. After flowering, the plant should be regularly rotated very slightly around the axis of the pot so that it develops symmetrically.

Cacti reproduce by seeds, stem and root cuttings, shoots and grafting.

Use a small container for planting plants. The soil mixture consists of turf and leaf soil in equal proportions with the addition of a small amount of crushed moss, charcoal, sand, fine gravel and lime chips. Replant plants after 2-4 years, and to prevent rotting of the root system, water only on the 2-4th day after replanting.

For the growth of cacti, light, dry, well-ventilated rooms are required, regular but moderate watering in the summer; in winter, the plants are almost not watered. If there is too much moisture, cacti can die.

The following types of cacti are more common in culture: epiphyllia, phylocacta leaf, echinocacta, peiretia, prickly pear, cererus, echinopsis, aporocacta, astrophyte, hymnocalycium, lobivia, noctectacta, rebutia, ripalis, etc.

Used for landscaping, creating decorative corners, compositions, in vases, etc.

Fruits on the windowsill

Although the main function of indoor plants is to saturate the air with oxygen, you can select fruit-bearing species from an encyclopedia or catalog. Not all garden crops are adapted to live in a house, but some exotic plants tolerate the conditions of a city apartment or private house:

• citruses;
• pomegranate;
• banana;
• a pineapple;
• date fruit;
• olive.

How many books have been written about floriculture with descriptions and beautiful pictures, but still not all plant lovers know that citrus fruits can be grown on a windowsill. Lemons, limes, tangerines and kumquats are quite capricious; they can get sick and refuse to bear fruit. Sometimes they become covered with spider mites. But with proper care at home, you can get small, tasty fruits. Citrus fruits love moisture and warmth; they need fertilizing and replanting.

Miniature grenades appeared recently, but have already taken root in the CIS countries. In addition to small sweet fruits, the plant will delight the owner with beautiful fragrant flowers. In warm, sunny areas, you can grow an ornamental or edible banana. The first will only bloom, the second will produce small fruits. But they taste no different from store-bought ones.

Today, all information about indoor plants is available to any gardener. Many people already know that you can grow a pineapple from a leaf rosette at home. The fruit will be small, the leaves will be huge. And for rapid development, you need to periodically fumigate the pot with smoke and frequently water the soil. Pineapple is not capricious, it quickly takes root and rarely gets sick, but still requires proper care.

The date palm is only suitable for houses with high ceilings, because it reaches two meters in height. The plant will take root in cool climates; it does not like heat, but prefers humidity. By the end of summer, the palm tree will begin to bear fruit; it is better to dry the dates, since they are not particularly tasty when fresh. Breeders also bred the indoor olive tree. For your home, you can buy several different varieties that produce black and green fruits. But it is not only the edible qualities of the tree that attract gardeners. The plant itself is very beautiful, it is also suitable as a decorative one.

You can successfully grow feijoa, mango, avocado and even rambutan at home. Exotic plants easily take root if you provide them with native conditions - a lot of light, warmth and a high level of humidity.