The ornamental asparagus is an undemanding houseplant and is very easy to propagate. It works fine through rootstocks and seeds.
The ornamental asparagus is an easy-care and undemanding houseplant that impresses with its filigree and feathery leaves. The flowers of the plant are relatively small and inconspicuous, but exude an intense fragrance. Due to the ease of care, the houseplant is particularly popular with beginners. If you would like to give one as a gift or if you want to plant an ornamental asparagus yourself, you can easily propagate an existing plant.
You have two options:
- by seeds
- by dividing the rootstock
Both variants are successful, although root division works a little faster. You need a little patience when sowing.
Split the rootstock of the ornamental asparagus
The ornamental asparagus forms numerous roots. If the pot gets too small, some of them will push up into the daylight. Then at the latest it is time to repot - ideally in spring. On this occasion you can share the root ball. Depending on how many new plants you want, once or several times. Put on work gloves before the action. Most ornamental asparagus species have sharp thorns that are barely visible but are painful to the touch when repotting. Carefully remove the plant from the pot. The roots are delicate and break easily.
It is important to have a sharp knife or saw so that you can make cuts that are as smooth as possible. The cutting tool must be absolutely clean. If you look closely at the rootstock, you can see where you need to cut: try to cut off individual, self-rooted tuber parts. It is ideal if you produce as little cutting area as possible.
The more even the cut surface, the better the divided rootstocks will thrive. Remove dead root parts after cutting. You can recognize old roots that are no longer functional by their brown color. He althy ornamental asparagus roots are light.
After dividing, remove as much of the old soil as possible. Then leave theDry the cut surface slightly. Additional dusting with charcoal dust has a disinfecting effect. Put the parts of the plant in normal, well-drained potting soil. Now just water and keep the plant moist. The ornamental asparagus needs a lot of water from spring to autumn.
Propagating ornamental asparagus by sowing
The plant bears small red flowers. After that, round fruits with seeds are formed. Sowing works well, the seed germinates quickly at room temperature. However, the young seedlings grow very slowly and not all develop well.
The best time for sowing is from January to March. Until then, keep the seeds harvested in the fall in a cool, dark place. Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water overnight, then do not drain them. Place the seeds in moist potting soil or cactus soil. Please do not use normal potting soil, the fertilizer it contains will affect sowing. Cover the seeds very thinly with potting soil, moisten everything slightly and place the pot in a bright, warm place.
It is better if you cover the container with a pane of glass or stretch cling film over it. The first sprouts appear quickly, keep the substrate moist during the germination phase. After about four weeks you can separate the seedlings and plant them in separate pots after another eight weeks. Normal potting soil, rose soil or a mixture with compost is now well tolerated.