Needle: eliminate watering errors

Needle (ruskus) Photo

Well butcher's only one escape. Young sprouts emerge from the ground in spring, then turn black and die. What could be the reason?

Olga MARKOVA, r. Kirov

You have a rare and rather original plant.

And strange, what are you having problems, because needle, or ruskus (Ruscus), family Asparagus (Asparagaceae) suitable for "extreme" interiors. Grows in any lighting mode, except for the direct sun, relatively shade-tolerant, insensitive to dry air, undemanding to soil. Furthermore, butcher's broom has fungicidal properties and is practically not subject to rot.

And judging by your description, it is rhizome rot that causes failures, and this is due to errors during watering. Although the butcher needs sufficient moisture during the growing season, the soil should dry out between waterings, and in winter it is minimal.

Treat the soil with a soil rot preparation ("Maxim", "Healthy lawn"), but the main, normalize watering regime, not being afraid to "dry" the plant, - butcher's xerophytic properties are well developed. And remember: she prefers cool.