What if the asparagus turns yellow and crumbles?

These elegant plants, reminiscent of air lace, were often found in homes, apartments and offices. Today, this beautiful flower, which improves the microclimate and relieves fatigue and stress, is much less common. Many beginning flower growers, despite the applied care efforts, face the fact that asparagus turns yellow and crumbles. What happened and how to improve the situation? In this article we will try to understand the features of asparagus and to find out what actions should be taken.

Botanical characteristics

The plants grown in homes and offices are actually close relatives of asparagus, which is also a representative of the Asparagus genus (you can see its photo on the left). Both these plants belong to the family of the Liliaceae. In this genus, there are more than 300 species of lianas, herbaceous half-shrubs and perennials growing in Europe, India, South America and Australia. Green fluffy branches with needles, which we consider to be leaves, are actually cladodia - the thickened stalk of this plant. The true leaves of asparagus are small scales, from which sinuses grow and the cladodia that perform the function of foliage. Its dioecious flowers are small and unattractive, in different species harvested in bundles or brushes. They form a fruit-berry of red color subsequently blackening, with 1-3 large black seeds.

Types of asparagus

In indoor culture, the following asparagus species are grown:

• Sprenger (gusto-flowering);
• pinnate;
• Meyer;
• crescent;
• The thinnest;
• Racemose;
• It is meadow-faced.

Among all listed species the most common in our indoor floriculture are asparagus Sprenger and pinnate. This is due to the fact that they are easier than other species to tolerate the increased dryness of air inherent in our apartments and houses during the winter.

Indoor asparagus

In indoor culture, aspragus Sprenger arrives to us from the humid subtropical forests of South America . This plant has long shoots, on which are located phyllocladia (leaf stalks) in the form of needles. This species blooms in late spring - early summer with small fragrant flowers.

Very popular in the 60's and 70's asparagus pinnate with lignified or straight erect shoots, on which are located thin dark green cladodia, today it is rarely found in homes.

Asparagus Meyer - decorative form of this plant, spindle-shaped stems of which are covered with rosette leaves, is very rare in the collections of flower growers. The variegated and undersized forms of the gusto-flower asparagus are no less decorative and undemanding to care, but they can only be found in enthusiastic collectors.

Features of winter maintenance and care

Asparagus, whose photo you see, refers to the Sprenger view and does not require any special care, but some nuances must be taken into account. The most difficult period is the heating season.

In winter, it is desirable to keep the plant at a low temperature, in the range of +12 ^о С ... +15 ^о С. Watering should be shortened, but it is impossible to overdry the soil. In the event that the room temperature rises, asparagus turns yellow and crumbles. Do not panic, enough to cut dry bare stems and reduce watering. At the end of winter and early spring, new phyllocidia will appear in the plant and it will again acquire a presentable appearance. Since the appearance of new shoots, watering the flower should be increased.

What to do in the summer?

With the onset of a steady warm weather asparagus can be sent to fresh air in the garden or simply moved to the balcony. In spring and summer, the plant needs to be fed with mineral fertilizers, best complex, once every two weeks. It happens that asparagus turns yellow and crumbles in the summer. The problem can be that this plant develops a very fast root system and the pot becomes small. Young flowers are required to be transplanted annually, but three-year and older plants - every two to three years.

The extended root system should be carefully trimmed and the bare branches removed to give an incentive for the growth of new ones. Both in winter and in summer, at a low humidity in the room, the plant should be sprayed. In addition, if asparagus crumbles in the summer, it is possible that he received a sunburn. It is important to remember that direct sunlight is capable of withstanding only one species - Spranger asparagus. All other asparagus like good, but diffuse lighting. If your plant was burned by the sun, then just move it to the penumbra.

Causes of yellowing

Thus, the answer to the question of why asparagus turns yellow and crumbles, one is a violation of the technique of cultivation. Violations include:

• Lack of light and moisture;
• Excess watering;
• Excessive illumination;
• Too dry air.

Eliminating the causes that caused yellowing and shedding, you can save the plant, which, if you create the right conditions for it, will delight you with its lush greenery.