How to care for clerodendrum at home and which varieties are the most popular

Clerodendrum Long known to flower lovers, it has only recently been cultivated as a houseplant. This ornamental plant, once established in homes, quickly gained popularity among both ordinary flower lovers and designers. This striking plant is versatile—it can be grown indoors, in the garden, and used in landscape design.

Description of the plant and where it comes from

Clerodendron, a member of the large Lamiaceae family, is better known as the "tree of fate" or "innocent love" (volkameria). The flower is considered a lucky flower. Its presence in the home is believed to bring good fortune to its inhabitants.

Clerodendrums are deciduous shrubs or small trees, growing primarily in the tropics and subtropics. They can be found on virtually every continent—Africa, Asia, America, and Australia. Most species grow in warm climates, and only a few in temperate ones.

Brief description and characteristics of clerodendrum:

1. The stems are long, flexible, and woody at the bottom.
2. The leaves are dark green, slightly rough, and up to 30 cm long. They are heart-shaped or oval. The presence of serrations along the leaf edges varies by species.
3. Flowers with elongated stamens, slightly double, usually white with a pinkish, red, or purple border, are collected in small inflorescences.

The plant is prized for the beauty of its blooms. Clerodendrum flowers are exceptionally beautiful. Their shape and coloring resemble moths resting on a green bush. Clerodendrum's flowers are not the only ones fragrant, but also its leaves, with each species having its own distinct scent.

Many signs and superstitions are associated with the clerodendrum. It is believed that the more profusely the flower blooms, the greater the luck that awaits the home's owners. In feng shui, the "tree of fate" is an essential attribute of a happy home. In ancient Rome, clerodendrum was considered a cult plant and was associated with Venus, the goddess of love.

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Types of Clerodendrum

There are approximately 400 species of Clerodendrum in the wild, but only a few are popular among gardeners. Two varieties of Clerodendrum—Brilliant and Thompson—are especially beloved by flower lovers. Below are the most popular Clerodendrum species, along with photos, care instructions, and brief descriptions.

Thompson

This variety has the appearance of a vine. It has smooth stems and leaves with dark or light spots. The flowers are white, with scarlet corollas, gathered in clusters. They bloom from spring to June.

In nature, the shoots of the vine grow up to 4 m in length. Caring for Clerodendrum thomsoniae It's easy to grow indoors. This houseplant grows rapidly and rarely causes problems for its owners.

Philippine

A vigorous and undemanding shrub with straight stems. In an apartment, it can grow up to 2 meters tall. It is considered one of the most fragrant clerodendrums. The flowers are white, tinged with pink, and scented with vanilla and jasmine. They are gathered in large inflorescences and are especially fragrant in the evening.

Ugandan

Clerodendrum ugandense is a fast-growing vine that can twine around any support within a few days. The shoots reach 2–3 meters in length. The flowers are blue-green, resembling fluttering butterflies.

Wallich

A decorative, compact shrub with drooping branches. The lanceolate leaves have serrated edges. The flowers are white and borne in lush clusters. Clerodendrum wallichii grows to a height of 1.5 m in the wild and 0.5 m indoors.

Inerme

This vine is rarely grown indoors. In southern regions, it is used as a hedge. This species of Clerodendrum has white flowers and bright purple stamens. The lime-green leaves have a marbled pattern.

Growing a flower

Clerodendrum care is not particularly difficult. This plant's unique feature is that it can be pruned into various shapes—bush, trailing, and standard.

Where to place the flower

Clerodendrum can grow in both full sun and partial shade. It does not tolerate scorching sunlight. An ideal location is a west- or east-facing window. It can also grow on a south-facing window sill, but it must be shaded during midday.

North-facing windows are not recommended for this plant. They lack light. Clerodendrums do not bloom on the north side, or their blooms become sparse. To avoid this lack of light and extend daylight hours, the plant is illuminated with phytolamps.

Temperature and humidity

The optimal temperature throughout the growing season is between 18 and 25°C. During the dormant period, keep the plant at 15°C. In winter, keep the plant away from radiators and other heat sources.

In summer, it's recommended to move potted plants outdoors, provided the nighttime temperature doesn't drop below 15°C.

The flower prefers to grow in high humidity conditions. In the evenings of spring and summer, it is sprayed with settled water.

Features of watering

There are drought-tolerant varieties of clerodendrum, but most prefer moisture. Water the plants as the top layer of the substrate dries out.

In winter, reduce the frequency and amount of watering. The lower the temperature, the less watering is needed. In winter, misting the above-ground parts of the plant is sufficient.

Top dressing

Fertilizers are applied during the growing season—from mid-spring to September. Fertilize every two weeks with a complete indoor plant fertilizer. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers with a low nitrogen content are preferred. Do not fertilize the plant in winter.

Flowering conditions

Flowering times vary depending on the Clerodendrum species. Typically, flowering lasts for several months during the spring and summer. If the plant refuses to bloom, it's important to identify the cause and eliminate it.

Conditions for flowering:

• decrease in temperature during wintering;
• sufficient and high-quality lighting;
• timely pruning and replanting.

Often the lack of flowering is explained by soil depletion caused by infrequent replanting.

Pruning and pinching

In spring, the flower shoots are shortened by about 1/3, and at the same time, damaged shoots - dry or diseased - are removed.

Features of pruning:

1. Pinching the tops makes the flower more lush.
2. To shape a clerodendrum into a tree, all branches are pruned except one—the strongest one. This is cut off at a height of 50–60 cm, and all its branches below the crown are removed.
3. Vines do not require significant pruning, but in spring it is recommended to shorten all shoots and pinch off the tops.

Soil and replanting

The flower prefers fertile and slightly acidic soil. You can use a general-purpose potting mix with a little sand. The soil mixture is prepared by mixing peat with coarse sand, leaf mold, and clay soil. The soil is disinfected in the oven.

Transplantation procedure:

1. Remove the root ball completely from the old pot. You can tap it, but never rinse the roots under running water.
2. Place drainage material on the bottom, add some soil and place the plant in the pot.
3. Cover the roots with soil and water it. When the soil settles, add a little more.
4. Treat the transplanted flower with phytohormones so that it takes root better and faster.

Reproduction options

"Tree of Destiny" is propagated by seed and vegetatively. Sowing begins in early spring or late February.

The order of propagation by seeds:

1. Fill the container with a mixture of peat, sand and turf soil.
2. Scatter the seeds evenly over the soil surface.
3. Cover the seedlings with a transparent lid and place them in a bright location. Ventilate and mist with a spray bottle daily.
4. The first shoots will appear in 1.5–2 months. Transplant the seedlings into individual containers once they have four leaves. Three seedlings can be planted in 10–11 cm diameter pots.

Gardeners who already have clerodendrum often propagate by cuttings. They use shoots left over from pruning. The cuttings should have at least two internodes.

The procedure for propagation by cuttings:

1. Treat the cuttings with stimulants and place them in water.
2. When the cuttings have roots, transplant them into pots approximately 7 cm in diameter.
3. Cover them with transparent caps on top.

When the young plants grow, they are transplanted into larger pots. Here, the plants remain uncovered until spring. A year later, the flowers are repotted into even larger containers.

How to combat diseases and pests

Clerodendrum is rarely affected by diseases and pests. However, if growing conditions are improper, it can be attacked by parasitic insects.

The most common pests are:

1. Spider mites attack leaves, causing them to dry out. The pest can be identified by the fine webbing on the underside of the leaves.
2. Whitefly. Tiny white butterflies settle on the undersides of leaves. Shaking the plant releases a cloud of tiny moths.
3. Scale insects attack any part of the plant. Control of this pest is difficult because it is protected by a tough shell.

If the pests are few in number, they can be controlled using available means. For severe infestations, insecticides such as Aktara or Actellic are used.

Methods of insect control:

• destruction of affected leaves;
• washing the above-ground part with a soap solution;
• use of sticky traps (against whiteflies).

Problems in growing

Serious violations of the rules for growing clerodendrum can lead to problems requiring immediate intervention:

1. Leaves and flower buds are falling off. This could be due to dry air or insufficient light. You need to mist the plant or move it closer to the light.
2. Yellow spots are appearing on the leaves. This is due to direct sunlight. The solution is to move the plant from a south-facing window or shade it during midday.
3. Small leaves. Cause: abnormal temperature conditions. Solution: ensure dormancy during winter.
4. No flowers. The cause is insufficient light, abnormal temperature conditions, or nutritional deficiencies. The solution depends on the cause—moving the pot closer to a window, normalizing the temperature, and adding fertilizer in the spring.

Despite its tropical origins, clerodendrum adapts well to home conditions and rarely causes problems for its owners. If the plant is provided with favorable conditions, it will reward its owners with lush and long-lasting blooms.