Le Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) is a pretty plant of the family of Cyperaceae very appreciated for its beautiful umbels made up of large leaves arranged in stars. We can without no difficulty grow a Papyrus or Cyperus indoors where it brings a note chart which does not go unnoticed. It is however a marsh plant who therefore likes the outdoors under certain conditions, and who absolutely needs a humid environment. Let’s take stock of its planting, its low maintenance needs apart from watering which must be particularly adapted and see when and how to repot a Papyrus.
Plant un Papyrus
The potted planting of a Papyrus or Cyperus preferably takes place in the spring, as follows:
- Fill out a pierced pot with a mixture of 50% garden soil et 50% leaf molda substrate that remains very moist.
- Plant the Papyrus in this substrate.
- Place the pot in a cache-pot.
- Pour water into the planter about 30% of its height so that the base of the other container is submerged.
Position the potted Papyrus in a very bright room, avoiding direct sunlight through a window as this can burn the leaves.
Note that we can plant a Papyrus in the garden provided that you live in a region with mild winters because this plant does not have a very high hardiness: a frost at -5°C is risky if it is episodic, and becomes extremely problematic when it is renewed for several days right now.
It is therefore better to grow the Papyrus in a pot wherever frost is rife in winter in order to be able to bring it in as soon as necessary. It can of course be grown in the ground at the edge of a pond or a pond, for example in the most southern regions where it never freezes. It can be associated with water lilies, rushes, irises, for a spectacular effect.
Maintaining a Papyrus or Cyperus
Papyrus is a plant semi-aquatic very easygoing which is therefore suitable for all gardeners, even beginners. It is simply necessary to take care that the Papyrus benefits from a sufficient temperature because if it is cold, its leaves turn yellow. It is a symptom that is also found when there is a lack of light or when the water supply is insufficient.
Fertiliser
A contribution ofliquid fertilizer for indoor plants required every ten days during the growth period.
Cut
He is perfectly no need to carve a Papyrus. On the other hand, dried or damaged leaves should be removed gradually. This preserves the beauty of the plant and promotes the development of new leaves.
Winter
The potted Papyrus likes to spend the beautiful season outside where it can enjoy a beautiful sunshine. It also likes to be installed in partial shade. The important thing is that he has always feet in the water. It is taken out as soon as the risk of frost is no longer to be feared, i.e. at the end of May or beginning of June. Be careful, however, to think about bring it in before the first fall frost which can unfortunately be fatal.
In winter, the potted Papyrus is content with a bright room, even unheated. In this case, the temperature maintained between 10 and 15°C suits it perfectly. You just have to think about reducing watering without drying it out. Its substrate must always remain moist.
Pests and diseases
The Papyrus is not attacked by any particular parasite (apart from a few red spiders, possibly in very hot and dry weather) and does not really fear disease. Finally, once it is in water, the Papyrus thrives without a problem.
Watering a Papyrus
It is absolutely essential to keep a Cyperus in full health, to meet their constant water needs. There is therefore no need to worry if its roots are submerged since this is precisely the condition sine qua non to keep this plant native to marshy areas alive. Grown in a pot, the Papyrus must be able to benefit from the same conditions as if it were planted on a bank or in a water garden.
We therefore take care to put our pot in a larger container in which there must always be water. This must be replaced very regularly so that it does not stagnate. In parallel, a foliage misting is essential. It can be sprayed once a week in the winter and more frequently in the summer.
Repot your Papyrus
It is absolutely necessary to repot a Papyrus every two years, in spring, in order to install it in a tank larger than the previous one because it produces many roots. If it grows particularly fast and the clump quickly gains momentum, repotting may even take place every year. When the foot takes on a lot of importance, do not hesitate to multiply your Papyrus by simply dividing the stump when repotting.
This perennial plant of tropical origin comes in several hundred species. One of the best known with Cyperus papyrus is the Alternate-leaved Tigernut (Cyperus alternifolius). All Papyrus or Cyperus have the same needs, namely light, a sufficiently warm temperature, feet always in the water and protection against frost. It is therefore almost impossible to see a Papyrus perish if these few cultivation conditions are respected.