Flower myrtle - balm, myrrh, elixir of youth

The name "myrtle" is familiar to everyone from childhood and immediately evokes associations with ancient Greece and Rome. From the Greek language, the word "myrtle" is translated as balsam, myrrh. Its leaves contain many essential oils and phytoncides, which have a therapeutic effect - primarily antibacterial. In addition, in ancient times, the cosmetic effect was noted and widely used to clean and improve the structure of the skin. Infusions of leaves were used as lotions, wine, infused with fruits, drank like an elixir of youth and beauty. Plants must be planted at the temple of Aphrodite, Venus as a symbol of unfading beauty.

Description

The flower myrtle comes from the Mediterranean, is thermophilic and hygrophilous, therefore in our latitudes it is often grown as a houseplant. In the southern areas it can be used for landscaping gardens and homesteads, but more often they are decorated with greenhouses, as well as winter gardens. This is an evergreen shrub with small, dense, shiny leaves. They have vacuoles visible in the light, with essential oils, which are filled with a pleasant smell all around. But the most fragrant part of the plant - white or pink flowers, decorated with golden stamens, on long pedicels. The flower myrtle is ripening, it turns into a blue pea, inside of which there are 10-15 seeds. Fruits are edible, but not tasty. The shrub grows up to 3-5 meters in nature, when cultivated, as a rule, low, rarely reaches 1 meter.

Planting and care

When growing, for proper care, it is necessary to know the characteristics of the plant. The flower myrtle loves moist air and requires periodic spraying if you grow it at home. Very demanding for lighting and fresh air, but does not tolerate a draft. That is the place in the garden, the greenhouse should be in the sun, far from the strongly smelling plants, and at the same time protected from the wind. When landing in a pit or pots, drainage (small pebbles) is made, then sand, humus and turf earth (mixture) are laid. The soil must always be moist, the drying of the earth is unacceptable. In summer, watering is combined with spraying. Water is required soft, it is better - filtered, especially when caring for indoor plants. In winter, the temperature should not be below 8-10 ° C. Sprinkled bushes in winter less often. If the fall leaves fall, then in the spring the bush again turns green.

Bonsai from myrtle

Flower myrtle with the help of trimming can have the most bizarre shape, but more often it is given to the classical: spherical, cylindrical, pyramidal. You can create compositions in Bonsai style from myrtle. However, he blossoms after scrapping scantily.

Reproduction and transplantation

Gardeners cultivating myrtle, propagation is carried out in spring or summer, seeds or cuttings. For cuttings, half-aged branches are taken, cut 6-8 cm long and planted in sand or very loose soil. Abundantly watered, covered with glass and only after rooting is planted.

Young seedlings are transplanted in spring gently, leaving the trunk base at the ground level. Then, in 3-4 years, the transplant is less frequent.