Content
- Pipe winch: care and varieties
- ancestry
- leaves
- blossom
- growth
- use
- Is a pipe winch poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- Which soil does the plant need?
- What is the best planting time?
- The right planting distance
- Pipe winds in the pot
- balcony
- Multiply pipe winch
- cuttings
- Pipe winds
- Feed the pipe winch properly
- Cut the pipe winch correctly
- How do I properly plant?
- Diseases
- pests
- hardy
- Tips
- sorts
The whistle is a juicy green climbing plant
Pipe winch: care and varieties
The whistle has many different names. It is known as a ghost plant or spirit flower. But these names got the climber wrongly, because it convinces with a lush leaf mass and a stately growth.
ancestry
The whistle wears the Latin name Aristolochia macrophylla. It is also known as the American whistle. This name indicates the original distribution area of the plant. It grows in the mountain forests of North America and climbs altitudes up to 1,300 meters. Its area stretches from Pennsylvania to Georgia. It occurs west of Minnesota and Kansas.
It was the American botanist John Bartram who discovered this plant. In 1761, he left seeds of the pipe winds to his English colleague Peter Collinson, who for the first time used to whistle his pipe. After this event, the creeper became increasingly popular as a ornamental plant.
leaves
Pipe winds develop alternately arranged leaves, whose leaf blade is simple. The foliage is colored dark green on the top and reminiscent in shape to a heart. The underside of the leaf appears bright green. The leaves have a four to six centimeters long stem. They can be between seven and 34 inches long and ten to 35 inches wide.
The leaves are one roof tile over each other. This growth form is used in the hot summer months as evaporation protection, because the foliage prevents the soil from drying out. The leaves are developed in May and remain on the plant until November. The foliage of older branches is larger than the fresh leaves of the first year.
blossom
The creepers develop solitary flowers that appear in the leaf axils. They are stalked and hermaphroditic. The flowers consist of three outer and three inner bloom cladding. While the outer bracts are colored yellow-green, the inner appear brown. All six leaves are fused together. The flower is reminiscent in shape to the shape of a tobacco pipe.
The flowering period begins in late spring. Depending on the weather, the flowers may appear in June or July. Until the summer, the inconspicuous flowers, from which only rarely develop fruits.
growth
Aristolochia macrophylla grows as a left-turning liana. It grows between ten and twenty meters high. Under central European conditions, heights of growth are typical around twelve meters. In the first years after planting, the plant invests a lot of energy in root development. During this phase, the annual shoot growth is low. When the whistle is well rooted, the growth spurts increase. Adult plants have an increase of two meters per year.
use
The creeper is used for greening of house walls, larger trees, pergolas and arbors or pavilions. She climbs up any trellis that is near her. This may be gutters or fixtures on windows. The plant is perfect for privacy because its dense foliage captures prying eyes. At the same time, the pipe winch develops into a shade dispenser.
Suitable planting partners are velvet hydrangeas, Japanese aralia, climbing hydrangeas, jewelry mahonia or various bamboo species. The whistle blends perfectly with rhododendron species and the trumpet tree.
Is a pipe winch poisonous?
Aristolochia macrophylla is poisonous in all parts of plants. It contains aristolochic acids, which are concentrated in leaves, roots, fruits and flowers at different levels. Animals should not eat the leaves, as the ingredients have a carcinogenic effect.
Possible poisoning effects in humans:
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Which location is suitable?
The whistle grows in a partially shaded to shady spot. It prefers moist conditions in the substrate. The higher the moisture content in the soil, the sunnier the growth location may be. If you plant the whistle in a sunny spot, the plant's foot should be in the shade. This prevents the sunlight from drying out the soil.
Pipe winches prefer a sheltered location as their large leaves could be damaged in strong winds. Give the plant ways to spread. Trellises are ideal supports on which the plant can climb.
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Which soil does the plant need?
A highly permeable soil ensures the plant ideal growth conditions. A humus-rich soil in which numerous microorganisms occur provides perfect properties. This soil life ensures a continuous loosening of the substrate, whereby the permeability is maintained. For very heavy and solid soils, mix some sand under the substrate before planting.
What is the best planting time?
Plant pipe winds between mid-March and late April. Wait until the last late frosts, as these could damage the delicate roots. Before placing the plant in its future location, place the root ball in a bucket filled with water. Wait until it's soaked in water.
Lift a planting hole and ensure optimal permeability. Set up a climbing frame so that the whistle can develop beautifully. Put the root ball in the planting hole and fill in the gaps with the excavation. Start the substrate gently and pour the plant through.
The right planting distance
Adult pipe winches can reach a width of up to four meters. If you want to plant several plants next to each other, you should pay attention to the spreading ability of the whistle. Place the plants at a distance equal to at least half of the desired length of the creeper.
Pipe winds in the pot
Pipe winches are perfect for cultivation in the tub. You need a large and deep pot that is at least 40 inches high. As long as you ensure optimum water supply, you can place the bucket in both sunny and shady locations. In the pot, the whistle turns out to be a mobile privacy screen for seats, gardens and courtyards. Small-leaved species are more suitable for use in the bucket because they require less water and do not cause damage even in windy locations.
balcony
As the whistle also grows in the tub, it is ideal for beautifying balconies. It also grows in the flower box when it has been provided with a stable climbing aid. When the planter is sufficiently deep, the creepers get along well with the limited space. In this way, the plant provides shade and acts as a screen.
Multiply pipe winch
Pipe winds rarely develop seeds because they do not bloom very abundantly in their original habitat. They focus on the vegetative propagation. If your pipe winds develop fruits, you can pick these and let them dry.
Use small pots that have been filled with a potting soil. Sprinkle the seeds on the substrate in spring and lightly cover with soil. So that the humidity remains constant, you should put a transparent bag over the culture container. In a bright and warm place on the windowsill, where temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius prevail, the seeds begin to germinate soon.
How to multiply pipe winches via sinkers:
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cuttings
More promising is the propagation through cuttings. Cut off 15 cm long shoots and remove the bottom leaves. Insert the shoots halfway in a planter with potting soil. Place the planter in a warm and bright place. Make sure that the earth remains constantly moist. It takes a few weeks for the cuttings to form roots. Once the plant is rooted, it will develop new leaves. Transplanting is possible as soon as the whistle has well rooted through the substrate.
Pipe winds
Pipe winches have a high water requirement, as they reach high stature heights and develop enormous leaf mass. On particularly hot days, the climber needs several times a day. Pour the plant pervasively and make sure that no waterlogging forms. In container plants, no excess water should remain in the saucer. Free-range plants must be in loose and well drained soil.
Feed the pipe winch properly
Aristolochia macrophylla thrives magnificently even without fertilization. It should only be fertilized if a growth spurt is desired or to support the vitality. In this case, the whistle gets a green plant fertilizer every two weeks between May and August. Alternatively, a supply of horn shavings or compost is possible. Do not use fertilizer from September so that the shoots can ripen. A nutrient supply in the fall causes the plant to continuously develop new shoots. These no longer mature sufficiently until the onset of winter that they are prone to frost.
Cut the pipe winch correctly
The climbing plants prove to be very good cut compatible. Light the plant every two to three years to counteract uncontrolled spread. If the plant gets too big, cut the shoots back to ten centimeters. This care measure stimulates the formation of fresh shoots and promotes branching.
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How do I properly plant?
Avoid this for outdoor plants as it inevitably causes damage to the roots. It may be that the plant does not grow well at the new location. If transplanting is necessary, you should greatly prune all tendrils before digging. Generously prick the root ball and lift as many roots as possible. The new location should already be prepared so that the roots do not completely dry out.
Diseases
Although the pipe winds are considered robust, they are haunted by suboptimal site conditions of diseases and pests. The sudden discoloration of the leaves from green to yellow indicates a fungal attack. This disease known as Aristolochia mosaic causes the leaves to dry up and die off. The spores preferably spread in humid weather. Cut off the affected shoots generously and pay attention to an airy but not too windy location.
If suddenly whole shoots dry out and die off, the Phytophthora root rot can be a possible cause. The roots begin to rot in waterlogging, which fungal spores find an ideal breeding ground. The plant is no longer able to absorb enough water and nutrients.
pests
Too low air humidity can lead to an infection by spider mites. The pests preferably spread in hot and dry conditions at locations off southern walls and suck with their mouthparts the sap on the leaf veins. They recognize an infection by fine cobwebs that pull themselves over petioles and shoot tips.
Untreated, the pest infestation causes the leaves to dry up. With a slight pest infestation, it is sufficient to remove the mites with a sharp jet of water. If the animals have spread strongly, you should cut off the affected leaves and shoots.
Pipe winches can be attacked by aphids. They feed on the sap and leave a sticky film on the leaves. These cripples with time until they eventually die. The aphids, recognizable with the naked eye, are shed with a hard jet of water. A broth made of nettlejauche has a preventative effect against infestation.
hardy
The climber is considered hardy and therefore does not need protection from the cold. If you cultivate your pipe winch in the bucket, you should protect the planter from frost. Place the pot on an insulating surface. This can be a Styrofoam plate or a wooden pallet. Wrap bubble wrap around the bucket. Alternatively, you can protect the pot with a garden fleece or a jute bag. Use hay in particularly cold winter months, which you can fill in the jute sack or layer between the layers of foil.
Make sure you have sufficient irrigation in winter as well, otherwise the plant may dry out. Water the root ball only on frost-free days, so that the water can reach the roots and be absorbed by them.
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Tips
Build the trellis vertically, as horizontally arranged struts improve the hold of the plant only slightly. The vertical struts should have a distance of 30 to 40 centimeters. Ideally suitable are wires, tension cords or bars with a rough surface. Wooden lattices are also suitable if they are not too heavy and massive. Braid the shoots in horizontal strands so that the plant spreads flat.