Golden mustache is also called fragrant callisia, the official name is Spironema fragrant. This is a plant of the Commeline family, which has more than 50 genera and ten times as many species.
The homeland of the golden mustache is South America, and its relative is Tradescantia. TO " home life“The plant began to be cultivated about 100 years ago; it came to Russia only a couple of decades ago and immediately gained fame as a folk doctor, standing next to aloe, geranium and Kalanchoe.
Features of the golden mustache
Many gardeners call dichorysandra golden mustache, not spironema. That's two different plants, which belong to the same family. They are similar in appearance, which causes confusion.
Dichorisandra has no “antennae” at all, and its flowers are purple rather than white. In addition, it does not have any healing properties and can only be used as decoration. Its growing conditions are also different.
The golden mustache can cope with a wide variety of ailments - it’s not for nothing that in ancient times it was called “ Living water" The names “Mexican mustache” and “Corn ginseng” also caught on. It is believed that the plant came to Europe through imported foreign goods, the path of which ran through the monasteries and temples of the East.
Local monks first used the modest flower to decorate their homes, and soon discovered it healing properties , after which its cultivation began. In their hands, the flower began to be called “Eastern Whiskers” or “Plant of the East.”
Appearance of a golden mustache
This is a large perennial plant that can grow up to a meter in height. True, it grows quite slowly; at home it grows up to 30 cm in height and up to 100-120 cm in width. If there is support, the stems creep up, otherwise they spread along the ground.
As you grow tubercles form on the trunk, gradually turning into separate shoots - “whiskers”. They, in turn, consist of several “joints” and end leaf rosettes. This is the first type of shoot that is suitable for propagation when the “whiskers” turn purple.
The second type is formed erect, developed leaves, which reach 20−25 cm in length and 5−6 cm in width. They are located alternately, their bases are quite close to each other, which is why many people believe that this is one socket.
In appearance, the foliage is similar to corn - the same meaty and dense. When broken, you can see thin, stretchy hairs, which is why the golden mustache is popularly nicknamed “Venus hair” or “living hair.”
Depending on care and climate, golden mustache may bloom. Small white flowers are formed on the tips of the shoots. They have a pleasant aroma that can be compared to lily of the valley or hyacinth.
The healing properties of the golden mustache
Golden mustache is an excellent and affordable remedy for many ailments, the cultivation of which will not cause any trouble. His track record is quite extensive:
Prepared from the plant ointments, infusions, decoctions, oil, compresses and much more. It is worth remembering that the use of a golden mustache can cause an allergic reaction and should be agreed with your doctor. Children are strictly prohibited from taking the plant in any form.
Read more about medicinal properties oh the golden mustache and recipes for health with it:
Home plant care
Growing a golden mustache is not difficult: it is quite unpretentious and requires only not to forget about it. Even novice gardeners can easily master its cultivation.
Golden mustache is unpretentious and can grow in the simplest soil. You can also use loam and add river sand and eggshells or make a mixture of greenhouse humus and turf, adding a little sand. As fertilizers, you can use organic options containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
Reproduction of golden mustache
For the first method of propagation, rosettes are used, which are formed at the ends of thin shoots. purple. them neatly cut and dropped into water by ¾ and leave for 1-2 weeks so that the roots can get stronger.
After this, the sprout can replant into soil, mixed with sand and eggshells. At first a small pot will be enough, but over time a larger pot will be needed. It is better to propagate golden mustache in spring or autumn.
Another method requires virtually no human intervention. Sometimes the shoots bend so much that the rosettes can reach the soil and settle down on your own. After they have settled in, the sprout can be dug up and replanted, or left with the “parent”.
Several golden tendrils look harmonious in a wide pot: together the bush looks more lush and colorful. If you decide to divide the plant, moisten the transplanted sprout generously with water and cover with a plastic cap for 3-4 days to create a greenhouse effect. Then the “young growth” is transferred to the room and watered abundantly for another couple of days.
You can also use long shoots by transplanting them into the soil. However, this method is less successful than the first and second: plants often do not take root.
You can plant golden mustache not only in a pot at home. It takes root well in summer cottages, in greenhouses and under film. It is recommended to fertilize open ground with ash and superphosphate.
Despite the fact that mostly home care behind a golden mustache does not cause any difficulties, there are several points worth paying attention to:
The golden mustache is practically not susceptible to harmful insects; it does not need to be protected. To get rid of thrips and red spider mites, you need to constantly ventilate the room and spray the leaves.
If prevention does not help, it is necessary spray leaves with insecticide, cover with a bag and leave for several days.
The second option for solving the same problem would be to spray the leaves with a mixture tobacco and laundry soap . This will help create an additional film on the leaves, through which pests will not pass.
An unpretentious golden mustache is perfect for both experienced gardeners, and for beginners. Observing simple rules watering and carefully choosing the optimal room for the plant, you can forget about the hassle associated with floriculture for a long time.
Callisia fragrant is the name of the golden mustache in scientific circles. This plant has medicinal properties no less than those of aloe and Kalanchoe. Unlike these plants, it is not approved by the Ministry of Health, and discussions continue to surround it. But lovers of traditional medicine do not pay attention to these discussions.
Medicinal properties
In recipes traditional medicine The use of the golden mustache is quite widespread. It is popularly called homemade ginseng. If you are concerned about ailments such as bronchial asthma, gastrointestinal tract, pulmonary diseases, gallbladder, spleen, then you can use this plant without worrying about negative consequences. There is a popular opinion that with the help of this plant you can relieve different types painful sensations. For example: relieve itching, healing burns, bruises, relieve lichen, ulcers. In order to use this plant in medicinal purposes, you don’t have to buy it, you can grow it at home.
Callisia fragrant is a very large indoor plant, reaching 1 m in height. It reproduces with the help of shoots, they resemble vines (whiskers). The mustache is made up of joints. They are purple-brown in color and have a broom of leaves at the end. A plant with nine and big amount joints on the shoots.
Having planted a golden mustache at home, you need to remember that regardless of the fact that it loves warmth and light, in no case will it accept direct sun rays.
Soil for the plant
To plant callisia, you need to mix several types of soil:
- greenhouse humus;
- turf land;
- river sand, preferably coarse.
It is advisable to make drainage at the bottom of the planting pot. You can use eggshells for drainage, preferably from raw eggs. To improve the effect, crush the shell with sand.
Caring for a medicinal plant
In the warm season, specifically in spring and summer, the flower needs to be watered every day. However, do not use a large number of liquids. Overmoistening of the soil can negatively affect plants and their development. In autumn and winter, callisia should be watered 3 times a week. Most optimal temperature For normal plant development, 26 ° C is considered, humidity will be preferable - 55%. In winter, a period of dormancy for most plants, it is recommended to reduce the temperature regime in which the plant is kept. After rooting, the flower is fed with liquid fertilizers. The leaves are sprayed with softened water every three days.
With good development and growth, callisia needs to be attached to additional support, because the plant may break under the weight of its weight and lateral shoots.
We can conclude that the golden mustache is not too finicky plant. It can easily grow and reproduce at home.
Reproduction
There are three methods of reproduction:
- You need to take the cuttings and place 3/4 of them in water. After 10 days, the appearance of roots will be noticeable. After which the plant can be planted. To speed up root growth, you can add epin to the container where the cuttings stand - it stimulates growth.
- Cuttings without roots are planted and sprayed with water. Then you need to cover plastic film and for 4 days put in a room with low lighting. When we remove the film, you will need to water it sparingly. After a day, move it to a place with normal lighting and water for another 4 days. During this time, the cuttings will take root in the ground and begin to develop normally.
- When a mature plant has sent out enough side shoots and is growing in a sufficiently large pot, then it is worth using the third propagation method. We attach the main stem of the plant to a support, and sprinkle the shoots with earth. After 5-7 days, the shoot is cut off from the main stem, then carefully dug up and replanted for independent development.
Fragrant callisia will not only decorate the room, but will also be useful for medicinal purposes.
Growing golden mustache at home is rapidly gaining popularity. First of all, this is due to the unique chemical composition leaves and shoots of a flower. The biologically active substances contained in them, flavonoids and phytosterols, are actively used for the preparation of ointments, tinctures and decoctions. Dosage forms based on extracts from golden mustache help get rid of skin rashes, high blood pressure, osteochondrosis and rheumatism.
Guest from the tropics: modest and graceful
Judging by the abundance of pots with golden tendrils on the windowsills, the plant originally existed on the territory of our country. But this is not at all true - the birthplace of the flower is rainforests South America. In its native expanses, the golden mustache can grow up to 3 meters high, its shoots wrap around tree trunks and fill the voids of rocky crevices. At home with proper care The shoots hanging from the pots grow up to 1.5-2 m long.
Important: if planting a flower is done to obtain medicinal infusions, you should conduct a test for allergic predisposition to avoid disappointment after using the drug.
If not practiced ampel growing, then the stems need strong support. Here distinctive features exotic plant:
- leaves are alternate, narrow, up to 30 cm long;
- the outer side of the leaf is light green, the inner side is dark green with a burgundy tint;
- thin brownish shoots (mustaches) with internodes sprout from the leaf axils;
- at the ends of the internodes there are rosettes of tiny leaves;
- the small flowers consist of three petals of a delicate lilac or pink color.
The Callisia genus from the Commelinaceae family has more than 10 species; in our country, only one of them is cultivated. Golden mustache blooms extremely rarely, only among diligent breeders; for this process it needs optimal conditions care But, if it blooms... Even a small group of blooming flowers can fill the room with a magical aroma with sweetish notes.
What do you need to know about the propagation of fragrant callisia?
After the golden mustache has finished flowering, the tiny seeds can be collected and sown. But at home, the formation of buds occurs extremely rarely, so this method is not common among breeders. The plant is easily propagated in the following ways:
- Layering using an adult specimen.
- Cuttings with rooting under film.
- Rosettes with rooting in distilled water.
When growing golden mustache in a greenhouse, the method of rooting long shoots is used. The “whiskers” of an adult plant are sprinkled with soil and watered abundantly. After two weeks, roots will appear on the shoot. Now you should carefully separate the rooted part of the flower and plant it in a permanent place.
Cuttings are obtained from a shoot, which is cut into pieces so that each piece contains 3-4 internodes. They are planted in a prepared soil mixture of peat and sand; Cover the growing containers with film and leave them at room temperature in a bright place. Rooting will occur in a couple of weeks.
Important: the cuttings must be watered as the soil dries, and the greenhouse must be ventilated daily and any accumulated condensation removed.
The golden mustache forms many rosettes at the ends of the shoots, which can be used for propagation at home. Healthy large rosettes with a short piece of stem take root well in glass cup with water. The water must be changed periodically to avoid stem rotting. After the flower grows a powerful root system, the seedlings are transplanted for further cultivation.
Secrets of proper care
A guest from the tropics is sensitive to deficiency sunlight. If the pot with golden mustache is in the shade, you should be prepared to pull out the shoots. The stems and leaves will fade, and flowering is out of the question. The plant feels great on windowsills located on the east side. South side also suitable for golden mustache, but when caring you will need to shade the flower.
The humid climate of its historical homeland made the plant demanding high humidity air. In the morning and evening, you need to spray the golden mustache with soft, settled water using a spray bottle. The pot can be placed on a tray with small pebbles and water can be poured in - this way you can do without constantly moistening the stem and leaves.
Important: when carrying out weekly cleaning We must not forget about the leaves of the golden mustache. They should be wiped with a damp cloth to remove accumulated dust.
Immediately after purchasing a seedling, you need to adjust the watering. Complete drying earthen coma unacceptable: the golden mustache may not recover from the stress suffered. You can water the flower according to the following scheme:
- from mid-spring to early autumn - 3-4 times a week;
- with the onset of cold weather - once a week.
The golden mustache likes it when the owner acidifies the water when watering. You can do this at home with a few grains citric acid or a couple of drops fresh juice lemon. Proper care consists of weekly loosening the soil under the plant. This must be done carefully, trying not to damage the delicate roots.
Soil and nutritional supplements
Suitable for planting golden mustache loamy soil with slightly acidic pH values. The soil can be picked up in a specialized store. A universal one will work well. It’s best to prepare the soil mixture yourself by mixing the following components:
- High peat.
- Leaf humus.
- River sand.
The soil should be light and nutritious. To prevent moisture from stagnating in the area where the roots lie, place 3-4 cm of any drainage material. Ordinary expanded clay, eggshells or pieces of sphagnum will do. Before adding sand, it should be calcined or generously spilled with a pink solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection.
Important: we should not forget that the soil collected independently under trees can be inhabited by the larvae of harmful insects, which are deadly to the roots of the golden mustache. An hour's baking in the oven will help solve this problem.
Over time, the soil flower pot becomes depleted, the plant slows down its growth. Golden mustache requires regular nutritional supplements. It responds well to the application of organic fertilizers, but this is not always appropriate in an apartment. That's why owners pamper their pets complex fertilizing. The main thing is that they contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In winter, it is not necessary to apply fertilizer more than once a month, and when the golden one begins to grow in the spring, the amount of fertilizing needs to be increased to once a week.
Diseases and dangerous pests
The flower can signal flaws when caring for it at home. If the leaves have formed brown spots, their tips have turned yellow and dried out, which means the owner is doing something wrong. It could be:
- excessively abundant watering, which caused rotting of the roots;
- insufficient watering;
- dry indoor air;
- poor application of fertilizers.
Having reviewed the rules for caring for a golden mustache, it is necessary to detect and correct the error.
Important: if the plant is grown as a medicinal plant, then high-quality care is necessary - only under such conditions does the maximum amount of biologically accumulate in the leaves active substances.
Pests are partial to the medicinal plant and willingly settle on its tender parts. Has the flower begun to lose turgor, the leaves wrinkle and fall off, and the shoots have lost their elasticity? It's time to look for unexpected guests on the golden mustache. The rule is:
- Thrips. They form colonies on the inside of leaves.
- Spider mite. Its red variety is especially rampant.
It's time to take drastic measures and go get insecticide. Actellik and Aktara, used for pest control, have proven themselves to be excellent. These drugs are for systemic use; the plant should be sprayed once a week for one month. A good preventative measure in pest control is regular inspections to detect them.
Golden mustache is a modest and very graceful plant. It is difficult to appreciate its beauty at first sight. Moreover, he is not used to attracting attention. It grows in a corner and responds gratefully to simple care, while the owner spends a lot of time on capricious flowers from his collection.
But the golden mustache brings enormous benefits. Perhaps the gardener initially did not plan to use the healing properties of the plant. But how can you not use them if your back hurts and the necessary medicine is growing on the windowsill? All you have to do is reach out, pick a leaf and throw it into hot water.
Tinctures, ointments and other drugs are prepared from the golden mustache. Considering that caring for this crop is not at all difficult, it is highly recommended to have it in every home.
What does a golden mustache houseplant look like: photo and description
The houseplant golden mustache belongs to the Commelinaceae family, genus Callisia. There are 12 species in the genus, growing in the tropics of Central and South America and Mexico. In culture, only one species is best known, which is called the golden mustache.
What does a golden mustache look like in the wild? This creeping grass up to 2 m long “crawls” along mountain slopes and clearings, taking root in the nodes. It has been cultivated in indoor floriculture for more than 100 years. In the 21st century they began to seat in winter gardens in combination with other ornamental or medicinal plants such as palm, tea rose, lemongrass, aloe, Kalanchoe, etc.
According to the description, the indoor golden mustache is not much different from the wild one. This crop got its name due to the presence of long shoots that extend from the axils of the leaves, like the “whiskers” of strawberries and take root in the same way. The length of these “whiskers” is up to 1 meter, they are bare, reddish-brown with long internodes and small rosettes of leaves at the ends (it is usually believed that only shoots no shorter than 9 internodes are suitable for treatment). Large, up to 30 cm, almost linear alternate leaves enveloping the stem develop only after rooting. When a sheet is torn, thin threads of rubber stretch between its parts. The stem of this plant, although long, is not capable of standing vertically, so it needs support in the apartment.
At good care at home, golden mustache sometimes blooms. Small flowers- less than 1 centimeter in diameter - collected in paniculate inflorescences. The flowers appear from the axils of the leaves and are collected in paired, hanging racemes on small peduncles.
As you can see in the photo, indoor plant golden mustache each flower has three white, pink or blue petals:
Despite the fact that the inflorescences themselves are inconspicuous, they attract attention with a strong pleasant smell, similar to the smell of hyacinth.
How to grow a golden mustache and how to care for it
Growing a golden mustache at home will not cause any trouble. It is necessary to create all the optimal conditions under which the plant will be comfortable. A ceramic pot with a diameter of at least thirty centimeters or a wide ceramic vase is suitable for planting.
They are grown not only in pots, but also in a greenhouse, in the country, and even under film. To do this, you need to use horizontal lateral shoots that are rooted on the stem in the soil. The main stem must be tied to a support, and the shoots from it are bent to the soil and earth is poured on them. As soon as the shoots take root, they are cut off for transplantation to another location.
In heated greenhouses, climate control or simple air conditioning systems are installed in combination with special fountains to humidify the air in the summer heat. In addition, it is recommended to spray the entire plant clean water- thawed water from the refrigerator or freezer, but not tap water containing chlorine, phenol and other harmful chemicals.
Proper care of golden mustache at home involves daily watering spring-summer period, but without waterlogging the soil, and less often in autumn and winter - two or three times a week. The soil in the pot should be moistened to the base. To prevent the stream from eroding the soil, it is better to use a watering can with a fine strainer or a kettle. An hour after watering, the water should be drained from the tray, and the tray and bottom of the pot should be wiped dry to prevent mold from appearing.
Growing and caring for golden mustache at home
The need for watering is determined simply: if the knock on the edge of the pot is loud, then the ground is dry, if it is dull, then the ground is wet, and upper layer When the soil dries out, it turns gray. Loves frequent bathing and spraying with a spray bottle. You can spray the plant in the morning and evening, provided that the apartment is dry warm air. Between waterings, the soil under the flower must be carefully loosened. The ideal temperature for flower growth is 25 - 27 °C, with a recommended humidity of 50 - 60%. In winter, the temperature can be lowered slightly.
Fertilizer or fertilizing is required. Liquid fertilizers You can feed the plant after its root system has developed. IN warm season Fertilizers are applied once a week, in the cold season - once a month. To feed this home plant, it is best to buy ready-made mixtures.
In the process of caring for golden mustache at home, do not forget that the plant loves light, but does not tolerate direct sunlight, especially hot evening ones. In this case, the plant becomes discolored and curls, and mustaches stop forming. After being transferred to the shade, it recovers quickly. Winter temperature should be within 16-18 degrees, otherwise the plants will stretch too much, reducing the number active ingredients. In summer you can take it outside to a shady place.
How to plant, transplant and propagate golden mustache at home
How does golden mustache propagate at home and how to transplant it correctly? The plant propagates by layering, pieces of “whiskers” and ordinary cuttings. The most favorable time for propagation is March and April, but if necessary, it can be propagated all year round.
From the mother plant, you need to cut off the top of the shoot with 2-4 nodes, remove the lower leaves, shorten the upper ones by a third. Dry the cuttings for 2–3 hours and then plant them in pots with abundantly moistened soil mixture. Moisten the cuttings and cover with a plastic bag for rooting.
A rosette of leaves is cut from a horizontal side shoot with a small piece stem and placed in a vessel with water. A powerful root system develops within 10 – 15 days. Then the young plant is planted in a pot with an earthen mixture and watered abundantly.
Before planting golden mustache at home, you need to make drainage from egg shells or sphagnum moss, adding river sand. The earth mixture is prepared from 2 parts turf soil, 2 parts greenhouse soil, 3 parts leaf soil and 3 parts sand.
Young plants are replanted annually, and adults once every two to three years. It is better to replant in spring or autumn.
Before transplanting golden mustache at home, the plant is first watered with a nutrient solution based on microfertilizers containing potassium, as well as nitrogen, phosphorus and microelements. In a new pot, the soil is prepared in the previously described way: fine dolomite crushed stone, expanded clay, or pumice in combination with mountain sand and wood ash are placed on the bottom.
For soil for replanting plants, take turf soil, without weeds, from under trees - linden, aspen, willow. In specialized stores “Sadovod”, “Dachnik”, “Garden World”, “Florist”, ready-made soil mixture for growing indoor plants of any kind.
Diseases and pests – thrips and red spider mites. At the first signs of damage, the plant must be sprayed with a systemic insecticide and covered with a plastic bag for 1 - 2 days. The best preventative measures are daily spraying and support. required humidity air.
Medicinal properties of the houseplant golden mustache
Back in the 19th century, American scientists began detailed studies of the plant. Many Spanish Catholic missionaries who visited the Mayan and Aztec Indians wrote about the medicinal properties of the houseplant golden mustache.
American scientists have found that the juice of this plant contains a large amount of biologically active substances. Russian scientists from the Irkutsk Medical Institute, Novosibirsk and St. Petersburg have established that the plant is not inferior to the famous ginseng in terms of its healing effects on the human body, and in some respects even surpasses it.
It is used in folk medicine for a wide variety of diseases: oncology, allergies, sore throat, stomatitis, varicose veins, radiculitis, pancreatitis, bronchial asthma, diabetes and many others. It is successfully used in the treatment of diseases of the eyes and joints; it has anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and antitumor properties.
Using golden mustache at home is effective in combating skin diseases, and is also actively used in cosmetology. It is used in the treatment of heel spurs, nail fungus, heart and lung diseases. In addition, the plant strengthens the immune system, blood vessels and perfectly treats the runny nose and many internal diseases.
How to prepare medicines from golden mustache at home: tinctures and ointments
It is not difficult to prepare medicines from golden mustache at home: stems, leaves, and side shoots of the mustache are suitable for this.
The simplest medicine is tincture. It is taken internally and used externally. Tinctures made with water are prepared from the leaves, while tinctures with alcohol or vodka can be made from all parts of the plant.
With vodka or alcohol. Pour a shoot of twelve knees with half a liter of vodka or diluted alcohol. If the tincture of golden mustache at home is intended only for rubbing, then the alcohol does not need to be diluted, and in addition to the tendrils, you can add crushed leaves and a trunk. Infuse in a dark place protected from light for two weeks, shake every day.
On the water. One large leaf- Brew at least twenty centimeters, or several smaller leaves, in a thermos with a liter of water and leave for a day. For the decoction, do not brew, but boil for five minutes. Indications: for stomach ulcers, diabetes mellitus, intestinal inflammation, pancreatitis. Take one hundred milligrams half an hour before meals three times a day.
Oil tincture. Grind the leaves, stem and shoots in a blender, pour in hot vegetable oil in a ratio of one (gruel) to two (oil). Infuse in a dark place protected from light for ten days.
Ointment. Grind the leaves, stem and shoots in a blender. Mix with cream, Vaseline or animal fat. It is better, of course, to use fat, since it does not contain foreign impurities.
Using golden mustache for treatment at home
For bruises. Rub the damaged areas with alcohol tincture, oil or ointment. If you use the tincture immediately after an injury, you can prevent the formation of bruises. Compresses relieve pain and swelling. In cases of serious injuries - fractures and severe bruises - it is recommended to undergo a course of treatment with alcohol tincture.
For osteochondrosis, radiculitis, diseases of the joints and blood vessels. At the time of exacerbation of pain in the spine (osteochondrosis), rub the area of the cervical vertebrae and inflamed joints with the tincture. You can use compresses - generously moisten a bandage folded in several layers and apply to the sore spot for 2 hours. Cover the top with compress paper and wrap warmly. Repeat 2 times a day. As a preventive measure, compresses are applied for another 2-3 days after acute pain has been relieved. During compresses, the tincture is taken orally, 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day an hour before meals. The course is no more than 7-10 days.
With thrombophlebitis. Fresh alcohol tincture is taken orally 2 times a day, 30 - 40 drops per 50 ml of water.
For skin diseases. Oil and ointment based on baby cream are used for cosmetic purposes for dry, sensitive skin. Alcohol tincture helps with acne, but for use on facial skin it is advisable to dilute the original tincture 2-4 times.
For a stroke. Use alcohol tincture for massage or rub the paralyzed part of the body.
For diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Chop one sheet of at least 20 cm in size and pour into glass jar liter of boiling water, wrap, leave for 24 hours, take 3-4 times a day 40 minutes before meals, 50 g warm.
This infusion cures many internal diseases, removes toxins from the body, small stones and sand from the kidneys and Bladder. As a result of comprehensive cleansing of the body, the general health of patients dramatically improves. They become more active, and many have improved vision. This is the most harmless recipe that can be used as a prophylactic.
Like any medicinal plant, it can cause allergies. Therefore, treatment with a golden mustache at home if you are prone to allergic reactions or if you have allergic diseases must be carried out very carefully. At high blood pressure tinctures are diluted in alcohol or vodka boiled water or replaced with decoctions.
Golden mustache is an amazing Mexican plant known for its unique therapeutic effect. It first appeared in Russia in 1890, and this is only thanks to the botanist and geographer, the founder of the Batumi Nature Reserve - Andrei Krasnov.
This plant has many names, the most famous of which are living hair, corn and homemade ginseng. IN Lately golden mustache is very popular due to the fact that many have learned about its medicinal properties and the fact that the plant can be grown on a windowsill without the need for special care.
The height of the stem reaches from 1 to 1.8 m, large bright emerald leaves are located on the fleshy main shoot in a spiral. When exposed to bright light, the leaves become pinkish in color. Flowering at home is extremely rare, but if this happens, it becomes possible to enjoy a pleasant fragrant aroma. small flowers, collected in a hanging panicle.
Golden mustache or callisia can be taken outside in the spring, you can even plant it in open ground, however, in this case there should be no other plants around within a radius of 70 cm. This is due to the fact that callisia spreads its side shoots in all directions and puts out roots when it comes into contact with the soil.
It is worth noting here that the golden mustache will grow quite quickly, and young sprouts contribute to the rejuvenation of old plants. The geniculate shoots of the plant contain the greatest medicinal value, despite the fact that each part, with the exception of the roots, has medicinal properties.
Beneficial properties of golden mustache and its use in folk medicine
The medicinal effects of the plant are due to the content of biologically active substances in it (quercetin, phytosterol and kemeferol). In addition, the composition contains chromium, iron and copper.
- The plant effectively copes with various infections, removes toxins, and inhibits natural processes aging, normalizes metabolism, and also strengthens the immune system and circulatory system.
- The plant is recommended for problems with the gallbladder and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Golden mustache is the best remedy for people who suffer from allergies and asthma, since the plant is able to fight an allergic reaction, preventing the appearance of rashes and itching.
- Yes, what can I say if this amazing plant from Mexico even found a use.
- It quickly renews the skin after wounds and burns. Unique composition plants are used to treat varicose veins, periodontal disease, periodontitis, mastopathy, lactostasis, liver problems, ischemia and even Parkinson's disease.
- A therapeutic and prophylactic course of living hair helps to cope with ailments such as hemorrhoids, anemia, rheumatism, anemia, osteochondrosis and vascular spasms.
- In the event of infections transmitted through sexual contact, for example, ureaplasmosis, dysbacteriosis, mycoplasmosis, trichomonas, treatment with a golden mustache will not interfere.
Depending on medical prescriptions, various parts of the plant can be selected for treatment and used to create the most unexpected medicinal mixtures. They can be used to prepare tinctures, ointments, decoctions, etc., but recommendations for their use should be agreed with the attending physician.
Alcohol tincture
When preparing medicines from plant trunks, you need to keep in mind what exactly the trunk contains great amount active biological substances. Therefore, preparations prepared from the trunk of the golden mustache are used only for external use. So, for example, an alcohol tincture of 5 joints and 500 ml of 70% medical alcohol is used for joint pain.
For alcohol tincture, you need to take those plants whose tendrils have formed at least 10 nodes. It is then that the concentration of medicinal substances is maximum. To prepare the tincture you will need 30-40 internodes and a liter of vodka. Cut the side shoots, pour vodka, and leave for 10-15 days. dark room, the tincture needs to be shaken periodically. You need to strain the tincture when it turns dark lilac. This tincture is stored in a dark and cool room.
If a mustache tincture is chosen for treatment, then it should be taken intermittently. For example, after taking the tincture for three weeks, you need to take a week break. Experts recommend cleansing the body with enterosorbents during a break.
Oil tincture
To prepare the oil tincture, you will need the following ingredients: leaves, shoots and stem of the golden mustache, as well as vegetable oil. Grind the leaves, shoots and stem using a blender into a paste, and pour in hot oil (at a ratio of 1:2). Infuse the oil tincture in a dark place for at least 10 days.
Expert opinion
Golden mustache belongs to medicinal plants that have a complex effect on the human body. Confirmed it positive influence on the immune system, having a general strengthening effect, there is evidence of the antitumor activity of this plant. However medicines based on the golden mustache must be used with some restrictions.
Alcohol tincture is used only as a rub or compress for the treatment of arthritis or arthrosis. This medicine should not be taken internally, since such a solution has a powerful nephrotoxic effect.
Infusion on water
Decoctions are prepared from all green parts of the plant.
- Chop the leaves, place in a saucepan, add water. Bring the mixture to a boil over low heat, remove from heat and leave for 6 hours. Strain the finished broth and store in a dark container, preferably glass, and always keep it cool.
- To prepare this infusion, the joints of the plant are used; you will need from 20 to 30 of them. The joints are poured with hot water and brought to a boil, after which the broth should steep for 10 hours. The finished broth should be filtered and stored in a cool place in a glass container.
Such infusions are suitable for both internal and external use.
100 g of decoction orally 3 times a day can cope with stomach ulcers, diabetes mellitus, intestinal inflammation, and pancreatitis.
For acne and various skin diseases, the decoction is used externally: compresses and washes.
Do not forget that the medicinal properties of the plant have not been fully studied at the moment and it is reckless to consider the golden mustache a cure for all diseases, completely abandoning drug treatment. Always use caution when using it at home, especially if this treatment method is chosen for children.
Plant type: perennial.
Homeland: Mexico.
Golden mustache - care
Caring for this plant is easy.
- Growing environment: home conditions, greenhouse or garden.
- Humidity level: moderate.
- Aroma: present.
Description: slow growing perennial with 15-25 cm waxy foliage arranged alternately. The bases of the leaves are very close and overlap each other, which creates the impression that this is all one rosette of foliage. Creeping stems grow on the surface of the ground or upward if supported. If the climate is mild, then the golden mustache is perfect as a plant covering an empty area. This perennial is often mistaken for a weed. The golden mustache grows up to 30 cm in height, and grows 60-120 cm in width.
Foliage: has a slightly purple tint to it inside, and on the outside this color appears in bright light.
Bloom: in the spring. Golden mustache has different flowering periods: it all depends on the climate of your region. The flowers of the plant are formed in groups and have a white tint. They often appear in groups of three at the tops of the stems. The most abundant flowering is observed in warm subtropical climates.
Temperature: When growing indoors, it is advisable that the temperature does not fall below 0 degrees. At moderate watering golden mustache tolerates dry, hot weather.
Lighting: partial shade or shade. If you want the foliage of the flower to have a purple tint, then place it in a place where it is full solar lighting. In bright light, the flower grows along the ground, and if the location is shady, it usually grows upward.
The soil: Golden mustache, which is easy to care for, grows best in well-drained soil. To ensure good drainage, add sand or perlite. Loams are excellent as soil.
Fertilizers: for spectacular flowering and more rapid growth Apply organic fertilizers to the soil regularly. If you purchase fertilizers, make sure they contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Watering: the soil should be moist, but not muddy. The most important thing is not to water too much, and also not to let the plant sit in water for a long time. It is best to water the flower in the morning.
Blooming golden mustache in natural environment on the picture
Reproduction: carried out by planting seeds or dividing. If you decide to reproduce golden mustache from seeds, then collect the seeds and store them in an envelope in a cool, dry place until planting.
When propagating a flower by division, you need to take several shoots, cut off the lower leaves and leave 3-4 leaves at the top. It should be planted in moist soil and the location should be sunny, but the rays should be indirect.
Landing: rooted plants need to be planted deeper than any other flowers by 5-7 cm. To avoid mistakes, plant golden mustache within 2 cm of the first leaves that appear. The fact is that this plant develops more roots along the entire length of the stem, and if you plant it deeper, it will be stronger and healthier. Golden mustache, which will be difficult to transplant, is best planted immediately in a large, deep container. But if you still decide to replant the plant, then this should be done in the spring.
Pests: Mealyworms, spider mites and plant aphids may appear.
Golden mustache - application
Mainly used for planting in containers and hanging baskets. The golden mustache, which is widely used, is also used in medicine. It is used for pharmaceutical purposes in Europe and Russia. Biological substances contained in the plant are able to fight many types of infection, stimulate metabolic process, and also increase the level of immunity.
Additionally: Mulching the soil with leaves or tree bark will have a positive effect. Golden mustache, which is not so difficult to grow, will grow quickly if overgrown stems are trimmed. Flowering will be more spectacular if you constantly remove dead flowers. Spray the flower with warm water, but make sure that it does not contain lime.
Golden mustache or fragrant callisia is a common perennial belonging to the Commelinaceae family. In the wild, the plant grows in South America. Its closest relative is considered to be Tradescantia. This unusual culture There are about 50 varieties.
The plant began to be domesticated about a century ago. It came to our country not so long ago, but at the same time it has already managed to win the hearts of not only flower growers, but also adherents of traditional medicine, thanks to its unique medicinal properties. We will tell you how to grow a golden mustache and properly care for it in this article.
Varieties and types
Golden mustache – The natural habitat of the plant is the tropical forests of South America. There the culture forms real thickets. At home, it looks much more attractive. Golden mustache has long creeping shoots with large dark green leaf blades reminiscent of corn. The inflorescences of the plant are white, small, racemose with a pleasant aroma. However, at home, golden mustache blooms very rarely.
Callisia Fragrant – in the wild, the plant can grow up to 3 meters. The domesticated crop has creeping shoots up to 2 meters long. The foliage of the plant is large, narrow and long, has a rich green tint. Callisia flowers are racemose, lilac or pink shade with a pleasant aroma. Flowering time is in summer. At home, the culture blooms extremely rarely.
Growing golden mustache at home
Callisia can grow both in the house and in open ground. It is best to grow the plant in a room with fresh air and good lighting. The kitchen is not the best place for a given culture.
The ideal option for a golden mustache would be a south window with artificially created shading. Despite the fact that the plant is very light-loving, it does not tolerate direct sunlight. It can grow in the shade, but in this case the culture will be weak and will lose its decorative effect. Its leaf blades will turn pale and the stems will begin to stretch. If the callisia is comfortable, the gardener will notice a slight lilac tint that will appear on the shoots and leaf blades.
Golden mustache is extremely thermophilic, so it is ideal temperature conditions for him the readings will be from 25 to 28 degrees. IN winter time the temperature should not fall below 16 degrees, otherwise the plant will get sick and die. It also does not tolerate temperature changes.
The optimal air humidity in the room where the flower is located should be at least 60%. In winter, it can be reduced to 50%.
Planting a golden mustache
It is best to plant a young plant immediately big pot, since the golden mustache has an extremely negative attitude towards transplants. It is also worth considering the fact that its root system grows very quickly, so transferring the flower to new pot it can be damaged.
It is necessary to plant young shoots deeply, as this will ensure better rooting and survival. Don’t forget about drainage, which will be fine expanded clay. The soil for the plant should be loose and nutritious, and after planting it should be fertilized with food for deciduous plants.
By following all the rules regarding planting and caring for a plant, you can grow a healthy and beautiful collision, which, in addition to its decorative effect, will help to effectively fight various ailments without visiting doctors.
Watering the golden mustache
In spring and summer, the golden mustache should be watered every day, but the soil should not be allowed to become waterlogged. IN autumn-winter period Watering should be reduced to twice a week.
However, if the room is hot, you should monitor the condition of the soil and prevent it from drying out. Flower growers recommend watering the crop in the morning.
As for spraying, it should be carried out once every three days, using warm, settled water for this purpose.
Primer for golden mustache
The soil for the plant should be loose and nutritious. However, its preparation should begin with drainage, which can be fine expanded clay or a mixture of coarse sand and eggshells. Such drainage will not only avoid stagnation of water, but will also supply the earth with silicon.
Soil for golden mustache can be purchased either at a flower shop and then mixed with forest soil, or you can prepare it yourself.
To prepare the soil mixture yourself, you should take soil from under deciduous tree(except birch) and mix it with sand and humus. But before mixing the components, they must be treated with a manganese solution in order to destroy fungi and pests. The acidity of the soil should be 5.5 pH.
Golden mustache transplant
The plant does not like to be transplanted, so when planting young callisia, you should choose a large pot so as not to disturb the plant for as long as possible. But sooner or later the chosen container will become too small for him and a transplant will be required. It will be necessary to replant approximately once every three years.
This procedure is carried out in the spring by transferring the plant to a new, larger pot along with a soil collector, which will protect the roots from damage.
A drainage layer should be made at the bottom of the pot, after which the plant can be transferred to it, adding the missing amount of the required soil mixture. After transplantation, the golden mustache needs to be fertilized and watered. Adaptation to new conditions will last about a month, after which the plant will go in height
Fertilizer for golden whiskers
Both organic and mineral fertilizers are used to feed the plant. In spring, the plant should be fertilized with organic matter, and in summer and autumn with mineral fertilizers with microelements.
It should be noted that microelements are absorbed through leaf plates, so to feed them they must be diluted in water and sprayed from a spray bottle. Feeding is carried out weekly. Starting from late autumn until spring, stop fertilizing the plant.
Blooming golden mustache
Even though callisia blooms rarely at home, it can still happen with good care.
Before flowering, the plant throws out a long peduncle, on which small inflorescences appear, collected in brushes. They can have a white, pink or pale blue tint. The inflorescences smell very pleasant and are reminiscent of hyacinth in aroma. Flowering time occurs in late spring or mid-summer.
Trimming the golden mustache
The plant does not need pruning, however, to preserve its decorative appearance, withered leaf plates and dried shoots should be removed.
If the plant is not grown in a pot, it should be tied up, since its tall and fragile stem cannot support the weight of the shoots and may break without support. A wooden peg is usually used as a support, tying the plant to it to avoid deformation and breakage of the trunk.
Preparing a golden mustache for winter
Like many representatives flora, callisia needs a period of rest, which occurs in winter. At this time, her care changes slightly.
Watering is reduced to three times a week, fertilizing is canceled and the temperature is reduced to +16 degrees. With the onset of spring, standard care resumes.
Golden mustache propagation by rosettes and layering
Callisia can be propagated using rosettes and layering. In the first case, you should use rosettes that appear at the ends of long branches. They must be cut off and lowered into ¾ of the water. In liquid planting material must remain for two weeks so that the root system can strengthen.
Once the young plants are ready for planting, it is necessary to prepare the soil with leaf turf, sand and eggshells used as drainage. Then you need to take a small pot and plant the plant there. After a few years it will be necessary to transplant into a larger container.
It is quite simple to propagate the golden mustache by layering; to do this, you need to tilt the shoot towards the soil, sprinkle the rosette with soil and wait until it takes root. After which the young plant can be carefully separated and transplanted into a new pot.
In order for young plants to take root better, and in the future to grow and develop normally, propagation should be carried out in the spring or autumn.
Diseases and pests
The plant is not susceptible to diseases, but it can be attacked by harmful insects represented by thrips and red spider mite . They settle on leaf blades and feed on their sap, which ultimately leads to their yellowing, drying and dying .
Regular ventilation of the room with a golden mustache, as well as spraying the leaf plates, will help prevent their occurrence. However, if pests have already appeared, callisia should be treated with the Actellik insecticide according to the instructions on the package.
Problems when growing a golden mustache
Although this plant It is quite easy to grow, but there are still some problems that gardeners have to face.
These include:
- Yellowing of leaves - most likely, the plant has been attacked by pests or the grower is not feeding it enough. Treating with insecticides and applying the required dose of fertilizing will allow you to get rid of the scourge.
- Drying of sheet plates - Insufficient moisture leads to drying of the leaf plates. Regular watering will eliminate this problem.
- Rusting leaves - the appearance of rusty spots on the leaves is nothing more than sunburn. To return the leaf plates to their former decorativeness, the golden mustache should be slightly shaded, but not deprived of light.
- Stopping shoot growth - the plant slows down in growth if there is a shortage mineral fertilizers and in too heavy soil. In this case, transplanting into a nutrient substrate and applying a sufficient amount of fertilizer will help.
With proper care of the plant, such problems will not arise, and the golden mustache will delight the gardener not only with its extraordinary decorative effect, but also with its beneficial properties.
Golden mustache medicinal properties and contraindications
The golden mustache is mostly known as a plant with medicinal properties. It is thanks to its healing properties that callisia is used not only in folk medicine, but also in official medicine.
The plant has immunostimulating, anti-inflammatory, choleretic, tonic, diuretic, antiallergic and bactericidal effects.
The culture received all the properties described above thanks to its constituent bioactive and chemical substances, which are found in it in high concentration. Golden mustache is rich in phytosterols, vitamins, pectins, microelements and flavonoids.
From various parts of the plant you can prepare healing teas, decoctions, tinctures and ointments. An extract from the shoots and leaves of callisia is used in medicinal preparations.
The plant is used for arrhythmia and cardiovascular diseases. To combat these diseases, juice squeezed from fresh leaf blades is used. Used for hypertension and joint disease alcohol tinctures based on leaf plates, branches and tendrils.
Contraindications
Allergy sufferers, children, asthmatics, expectant mothers and people with kidney problems should avoid treatment with drugs based on this plant.
For the rest, the golden mustache will only bring benefits. However, it should be noted that before using callisia remedies, you should consult a doctor.
Golden mustache decoction for diabetes
Decoctions from leaf plates are used for gastrointestinal diseases and diabetes. Ointments based on the juice of the culture are used for trophic ulcers and damage to the integrity skin. In general, this unique plant used in the treatment of many diseases; the most common recipes based on it are given below.
To prepare the decoction, you should take 4 tbsp. spoons of finely chopped leaf plates and pour 750 milliliters of boiling water over them. The decoction should be infused throughout the day.
It must be consumed twice a day, 250 milliliters for a month. It will help stabilize the glycemic index and improve the condition of diabetics.
Golden mustache tincture for joint diseases
To prepare the product, take 12 branches of the plant, put them in a dark jar and pour 100 milliliters of vodka. After this, the jar should be placed in a dark place for three weeks.
From time to time you will need to take it out and shake it. Keep ready-made product needs it in the refrigerator. Use the tincture to rub sore joints in the morning and evening until the desired results are obtained.
Conclusion
The information presented in this article will help you grow healthy and beautiful plant for both beginners and experienced gardeners.
He will also tell you about the medicinal properties of the plant and recipes for preparing infusions and decoctions based on golden mustache.
The plant has many medicinal properties. It is used in the treatment of diabetes, gynecological, oncological, eye, joint diseases, problems with the immune system, thyroid gland, gastrointestinal tract... MirSovetov will tell you how to grow this interesting plant.
What does a golden mustache look like?
The plant, classified as a member of the Commelineaceae family, was brought to our region from Mexico. There it grew in humid, shaded tropical and subtropical places. By the way, tradescantia and zebrina are close relatives of callisia.
At compassionate care fragrant callisia can grow to a height of more than a meter in a season. Its leaves are large, long (from 20 to 30 cm), wide (from 5 to 6 cm), somewhat similar to corn, so people came up with another nickname - “corn”. If you tear such a leaf, you will see thin fibers stretching from the torn parts, very similar to hairs. This is where other names came from - “living hair”, “Venus hair”. As it grows, swellings appear on the vertical trunk, from which shoots appear and grow intensively. These shoots consist of “joints”; there can be 12 or more of them. Such mustaches end with leaf rosettes. It is very interesting to watch their development. When exposed to sunlight, the mustache gradually turns purple. That's when they acquire healing properties. By the way, for its various abilities, people also call the plant “domestic ginseng.” Callisia flowers appear on the tops of the shoots; they are small and white. They are very gentle and pleasant aroma, similar to hyacinth or lily of the valley. But flowering at home is extremely rare. I have been growing this plant for many years, but none of my golden mustache flowers have appeared.
How to care for a golden mustache?
In order for more useful substances to accumulate in the golden mustache, it must be placed on the windowsill, where the light will be bright but diffused. Give preference to eastern or western windows, where there is both light and partial shade. The plant is unpretentious, but needs warm conditions content. For example, in the spring months and summer the room should be between 20 and 26°C, and in winter between 16 and 20°C. The golden whisker does not like a sharp drop in temperature. Water for irrigation should be taken soft and settled. In summer you need to “water” callisia more often than in winter. The top layer has dried, which means it’s time to moisten the soil. If the room is very hot in winter, then watering will be frequent, the plant will have to be sprayed, otherwise in dry air it will look worse and problems with leaves will appear. If you forget to water callisia at such a time, it may die.
IN favorable conditions When surrounded by care, the golden mustache grows quite quickly, so I always place a support for it in a pot (a decorative stick or post), and then periodically carefully tie the stem and shoots to the support. You can also leave some horizontally running shoots on the windowsill if there is free space.
When the soil in the pot is too poor nutrients, then from April to October add a little complex mineral fertilizer to the water for irrigation weekly. I read that sometimes it is recommended to add milk to the water for irrigation (a tablespoon of milk per liter of water). I did not find any visible improvements after such feeding. My plants liked it better when they were watered, where the shungite stones lay for a day or two.
Ventilate the room where you keep the golden mustache daily. In summer, it’s better to even put the pots on the loggia or take them to the summer cottage. And one more observation. It turns out that if you plant a rosette of golden mustache in a greenhouse or greenhouse in the spring, then by autumn you will see a large plant with a large number of powerful, long, intensely colored purple shoots.
About plant propagation and rejuvenation
Gradually, the shoots begin to become bare at the base and lose their leaves. Do not overexpose mature plants, but use them for medicinal purposes. Callisia is usually not transplanted, but rejuvenated. To do this, cut off the top or rosettes that have grown at the ends of the shoots and place them in a container with water. They give roots very quickly. But don’t rush to send them into the ground, wait another week or two, during which time the root system will develop well. It happens that a rosette on a large tendril itself reaches out to the soil, and then takes root next to an adult plant. Then it can be transplanted into another container. Pour a layer of drainage into the prepared pot, and then the substrate. Prepare it from turf soil, humus and sand. Moreover, everything is taken in equal shares. Another substrate option: turf and deciduous soil, sand, humus, peat. You can add a tablespoon of eggshells ground in a coffee grinder to this mixture. Provided that there is no excess of salts in the water for irrigation. After planting, be sure to moisten the soil well. By the way, the golden mustache looks more decorative if you put 2 or three cuttings in one pot. Experience shows that plants that have developed from rosettes produce more tendrils than those that have grown from the apical part. Rejuvenation is preferably carried out in spring or autumn.
Are there any difficulties when growing?
Usually callisia grows very well and brings many benefits without causing any trouble. The main thing is not to forget to water it, spray it if the air in the room is dry. If unsightly spots appear on the leaves, then the “homemade ginseng” was probably burned by the burning rays of the sun. From intense sun in hot weather it must be shaded or moved to another place. And if the tips of large leaf blades dry out and turn brown, then this is a clear sign that the climate in the apartment is too dry.
If you notice rotting of one or several lower leaves, then this can happen for two reasons: in the winter months - hypothermia occurs at night or excessive watering.
Thrips and spider mites can damage “living hair”.
Many medicinal potions can be prepared from parts of the plant. Pieces of leaves (3 cm each) are useful to chew for coughs or stomach diseases. And the juice can be used to lubricate wounds, scratches, and calluses. While in the room, the golden mustache releases phytoncides that have antiseptic properties.