The piston thread fits in the living room as well as in the office and, in addition to creating tropical flair, can also improve the room climate. Tips for care from A to Z can be found here.
Characteristics
- belongs to the arum family
- is called Aglaonema in botanical terminology
- reaches heights of growth between 50 and 100 centimeters
- evergreen plant
- not hardy
- poisonous in all parts
- decoratively patterned leaves
- positive influence on the indoor climate
- originally comes from the tropics
- requires little water
Location
As a plant of tropical origin, the cob filament needs a warm, sunny and sheltered location. So places near a window facing south or alternatively the use of a plant lamp are ideal. During the summer, the plant can also be on the balcony or in the garden. However, only when frost or temperatures of less than 10 degrees Celsius are no longer to be expected. The plant should also not be exposed to heavy rain or wind.
Protected corners near the house wall on the balcony or terrace are ideal. The plant can also be grown indoors all year round. The maintenance can be adjusted accordingly in any case, but it is easy.
Substrate
Aglaonema need a substrate that fulfills certain factors. These are:
- loose, permeable texture
- moderate water storage
- medium nutrient content
For example, normal potting soil or palm soil to which coconut fibers are added is ideal. In addition, there should be a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot. This can consist of potsherds or coarse gravel, for example. A three to five centimeter high layer is ideal to prevent waterlogging and rot
to prevent.Tip: An alternative to potting soil and coconut fibers is potting soil with perlite.
to water
There are only four factors to consider when soaking the cob thread:
- the water should be room temperature and not cold
- Soft water with little lime content is preferable
- in summer the soil should be kept slightly moist throughout
- in winter the substrate is allowed to dry out on the surface
It therefore makes sense to only pour a little at a time and use soft water for this. For example, the following are well suited:
- stale or soft tap water
- Aquarium water
- filtered tap water
- Rainwater
- Pond water
The advantages of aquarium water or pond water are that it contains important nutrients. However, this only applies as long as no chemical agents have been used to kill algae, for example.
Tip: If you don't know whether the tap water is hard or soft, you can ask the regionally responsible waterworks. The degree of hardness can often be found out quickly and easily via the respective homepage. Another possibility is to determine the lime content using strips of text.
Fertilize
A liquid complete fertilizer for house plants should be given from March to October. When dosing, the manufacturer's instructions must be observed. As a rule, one dose every four weeks is sufficient. It is important that the fertilizer is dissolved directly in the irrigation water. In this way, on the one hand, an optimal distribution is achieved. On the other hand, it prevents so-called chemical burns on the roots
develop. Because if the components are too concentrated, they can cause unfavorable reactions.Multiply
The aglaonema can be propagated in three different ways. By:
- Offshoot
- Cuttings
- division
Offshoot
Offshoots appear in mother plants after several years and grow out of the earth next to them. When repotting, they are separated from the adult plant in the area of the roots with a sharp knife or scissors. The interfaces should then be able to dry off, the young plant is placed in the substrate and watered.
Cuttings
In the spring after the first shoot, strong side branches that are at least 15 centimeters long and have at least three leaves are cut off. The leaves are removed except for the top leaf. The cutting is placed three to five centimeters deep in nutrient-poor soil, moved to a warm, partially shaded place and the substrate is kept moist throughout. For example, potting soil is suitable as a substrate. The fact that the rooting is successful can usually already be seen after a few weeks when new shoots grow back.
division
If the aglaonema is very large and spreading, it is advisable to multiply it by dividing it. During repotting, the root ball is cut through in the middle. The interfaces at the roots should be allowed to dry for a few hours before the two daughter plants are moved into the fresh substrate.
wintering
From around November or December until the following February or March, the Aglaonema is in a dormant state. If there is little incidence of light, the plant should be correspondingly cooler. 16 to 18 degrees Celsius are ideal. However, the location does not necessarily have to be changed. In heated rooms, however, the lighting should be adjusted accordingly. A UV lamp can help. It is important during winter that the watering is adjusted accordingly. The earth should never dry out completely. Small but regularly administered watering is useful.
Repot
The substrate can be changed in spring. Repotting is also advisable with increasing growth and an insufficiently large planter. The following procedure should be observed:
Adjust time
Repotting should be done before new shoots appear in spring. Even after the first new shoot, the soil can still be changed.
Thoroughly remove the substrate
Thoroughly removing the substrate has several advantages. On the one hand, this allows the roots to absorb nutrients more directly. Damage
are recognized and can be removed. On the other hand, diseases and pests that could spread via the substrate are prevented.Remove dead plant parts
Wilted leaves or dead shoots, rotten roots and otherwise damaged parts of the plant should be removed when repotting.
Planting
After removing withered parts and drying the interfaces briefly, the plant can be planted in fresh substrate and, if necessary, in a larger container. It is important to ensure that the plant pot is stable and stable the larger it is. In addition, the plant should not be covered with soil any higher than before.
Pouring on
In order to accelerate the growth of the roots, the cob thread should be poured on well. It is advisable to pour on the water, but waterlogging should be avoided.
Waste
A waste is only necessary in special cases when caring for the aglaonema. These include, for example:
- damaged plant parts
- dried up or withered flowers
- Sections affected by disease or pests
Regardless of the reason why the plant has to be pruned, some basic rules must be followed in any case. These include:
- disinfected cutting tools
- sharp blades
- Let the interfaces dry off
Caution: poisonous
The cob thread is poisonous in all parts. Therefore, some precautionary measures must be followed when handling the plant. This includes:
- Wear gloves when cutting
- Avoid direct skin contact with leaking sap
- Place out of the reach of children and pets
- Clean cutting tools after removing plant parts
Diseases, pests and care mistakes
Pests usually stay away from the cob thread. Fungal diseases and rot, on the other hand, are not uncommon. These are often due to mistakes in maintenance.
For example, choosing the wrong substrate can lead to the soil compacting and waterlogging. Watering too often or too much can also cause mold to grow on the soil.
If the cob thread is warm but dark, growth can suffer and parts of the plant can wither. In addition, it is usually noticeable that the leaf color is fading. However, the reason for this can also be found in the lack of nutrients in the substrate. Regular fertilization and repotting every three years at the latest can help.