- origin
- leaves
- blossom
- growth
- use
- ground cover
- houseplant
- Is Muehlenbeckia poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- floor
- Multiply Muehlenbeckia
- The right planting distance
- What is the best planting time?
- Pour Muehlenbeckia
- Fertilize Muehlenbeckia properly
- Cut Muehlenbeckia correctly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hibernate
- Diseases
- Losing leaves
- sorts
Mühlenbeckia species are popular shrubs that are often planted outdoors. But not every representative of this genus is suitable for the conditions of Central Europe. The plants originally come from completely different climate zones. Each species has adapted its growth form to different climatic conditions.
The Mühlenbeckia is a beautiful groundcover
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- leaves
- blossom
- growth
- use
- ground cover
- houseplant
- Is Muehlenbeckia poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- floor
- Multiply Muehlenbeckia
- The right planting distance
- What is the best planting time?
- Pour Muehlenbeckia
- Fertilize Muehlenbeckia properly
- Cut Muehlenbeckia correctly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hibernate
- Diseases
- Losing leaves
- sorts
- round to ovate
- shiny green
- pointed
- stalked
- light penumbra
- permeable soil with sand content
- Radical pruning possible with a lawnmower
- several cuttings in one pot for particularly dense arrangements
- division of the plant possible in spring
- Propagation of cuttings indoors possible all year round
- autumn magic: Develops large leaves and strong shoots. Grows up to 50 centimeters high. Suitable for a sunny location.
- Maori(R): Creeping to hanging shoots. Conditionally hardy.
- Muehlenbeckia axillaris: Flat-growing ground cover. Small round leaves, change color in autumn. Grows between five and ten centimeters high. hardy.
- Muehlenbeckia complexa: ground cover, suitable as a houseplant. Small leaves on wiry branches. Grows up to 15 centimeters high. Not hardy.
origin
Mühlenbeckia is a genus of plants that includes more than 20 different species. Their main distribution area extends from Australia to New Zealand. They are found in New Guinea and are distributed mainly in the Neotropics. Some species grow in South America. Mühlenbeckia species are also known as wire shrubs. The most commonly used ornamental plant is Muehlenbeckia complexa, known in German by the trivial name Mühlenbeckia.
leaves
The leaves of the species are arranged alternately. They are divided into petiole and leaf blade for most representatives. Your leaf blade is drawn out linearly or circular with an attached tip. They can be triangular to lanceolate. The leaf margin is slightly wavy or smooth. At the base of the stem are either tiny stipules or a sheath developed from the stipules, which is transparent and usually falls off at an early stage of development.
Leaf shape of Muehlenbeckia complexa:
blossom
Mühlenbeckia species have terminal or lateral inflorescences that appear spiked or in clusters. The wire shrubs develop hermaphrodite flowers. Some plants form both unisexual and unisexual flowers on an individual. The small, inconspicuous individual flowers consist of a whitish to greenish colored perianth. It consists of five fused bracts. Petals are not developed. The male stamens often appear yellow or pink to purple in color.
growth
The plants grow as deciduous shrubs that can assume erect, decumbent or climbing habit. They develop dense branching and an underground rhizome. The twigs are very thin and may be downy, glandular or glabrous. Their bark is dark in color.
use
Due to the different growth forms, Mühlenbeckia species have numerous possible uses. They are ideal as ground covers and green up unsightly areas in the garden. The shrubs can be used for planting hanging baskets. Here they are suitable for the outside area, as the branches hang expansively over the edge of the pot. The climbing species decorate trellises and gates. Upright-growing specimens can beautify entrance areas and balconies as pot plants.
Wire shrubs are used for extensive greening of rock gardens or for decorating graves. In small gardens they are cultivated as a lawn substitute. Some species are suitable for culture in side bowls. Wire shrubs can also be cultivated as houseplants.
ground cover
Not every Mühlenbeckia is suitable as a ground cover. Muehlenbeckia complexa (wire vine or white-fruited wire shrub) and Muehlenbeckia axillaris (black-fruited wire shrub) are deciduous shrubs with branches creeping flat over the ground. While the wire vine is only partially hardy and should hibernate in a frost-free place if possible, the black-fruited wire shrub is also suitable for areas with frosty winter months. This groundcover can easily overwinter outside.
You should pay attention to this:
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houseplant
Muehlenbeckia complexa and Muehlenbeckia axillaris are popular indoor plants. Their climbing shoots decorate hanging baskets or pots equipped with climbing aids that are in an elevated position. The wire wine feels particularly comfortable in the room, as it mainly needs mild temperatures in winter. An airy and bright location can promote flowering. Avoid a location in the blazing sun. A light place in the penumbra is more suitable. A cool and well-ventilated room ensures healthy growth.
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Is Muehlenbeckia poisonous?
The plant parts and berries of the wire shrubs are considered non-toxic. There are no known indications of intolerance. However, you should discourage children from eating the fruit, as little is known about the ingredients in these plants. No negative effects have been described after eating leaves and fruits in animals either. The green leaves are eaten in small amounts by chinchillas. Muehlenbeckia hastulata is a popular change on the menu for guinea pigs.
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Which location is suitable?
Wire shrubs prefer a location with moderate to good light. They like a partially shaded spot where bright conditions prevail. Too much sun damages the shrubs. Mühlenbeckia species are adaptable and also thrive in warm places in the shade. The plants feel just as comfortable outdoors as they do in a well-ventilated room. In winter, Muehlenbeckia complexa needs temperatures between five and ten degrees Celsius. Muehlenbeckia axillaris is frost hardy.
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floor
The soil should be well drained because the shrubs do not like wet feet. Make sure the root ball is kept evenly moist. An airy potting soil is recommended as a substrate. A mixture of potting soil and sand is ideal. Alternatively, perlite (37.51€) is suitable to increase permeability. The substrate should be pH-neutral.
Multiply Muehlenbeckia
Mühlenbeckia species can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. Sowing requires a soil temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius for the seeds to germinate. A heated greenhouse is ideal for this method as it gives you more control over the conditions. If you own a mini greenhouse, you can place it on the windowsill. You can get seeds from specialist shops or from your own plant.
Propagation from cuttings is easier than the seed method. Cut off the shoot tips from the plant so that the cuttings have at least three leaves. Put the cut shoots in a planter filled with potting soil and put a transparent plastic bag over the pot. This will ensure high humidity. You should moisten the substrate regularly so that it does not dry out. Air the planter daily to prevent mold growth. In a bright and warm place with temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius, the cuttings form the first roots after a few weeks.
Propagation tips:
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The right planting distance
Make sure that there is a distance of 20 to 30 centimeters between two specimens. There is space for ten to twelve plants in one square meter. Smaller specimens can be planted more densely at 20 plants per square meter.
What is the best planting time?
Wire shrubs can be planted between February and October. Note that young plants of hardy varieties and species are sensitive to sub-zero temperatures. A thick layer of insulation is recommended for freshly planted plants in the first year. In particularly cold winter months, you should also protect outdoor plants with brushwood or fir branches in the following years.
Pour Muehlenbeckia
Provide regular watering to keep the root ball evenly moist. Regular watering is important in a particularly warm location. Make sure that the soil in potted plants does not dry out. Outdoor shrubs need a new watering when the top layer of substrate has dried. If the plant is too dry, it loses its leaves. Waterlogging damages the roots. Make sure you have a well drained substrate before planting. In winter you should reduce watering. Give the plants enough water to keep the root ball from drying out.
Fertilize Muehlenbeckia properly
In the growing season between April and October, wire shrubs enjoy regular fertilization, which provides them with nutrients. Fertilize the plants about once a month. A liquid fertilizer that you add to the irrigation water is ideal.
At the beginning of spring or just before summer, you can alternatively supply the shrubs with a long-term fertilizer. This gives the plants nutrients until autumn. If you have just repotted your wire shrub, you can mix some compost under the substrate. As a result, you do not have to fertilize the plant for the first few months.
Cut Muehlenbeckia correctly
As soon as a few shoots disturb the overall appearance of the wire bush, you can cut back the plant. Indoor plants can be pruned all year round. Outdoor shrubs should be pruned in the fall. Powerless and colorless shoots on which no leaves grow, usually appear in winter in locations that are too dark. Remove these branches in spring. They rob the plant of additional energy. If you discover other dried or diseased shoots over the course of the year, you can cut them off immediately.
To avoid unnecessary injuries during this care measure, you should use a clean and sharp knife. Mühlenbeckia species have proven to be very tolerant of pruning. Large areas that are overgrown by ground cover can be cut off with the lawn mower if necessary. This encourages densely branched growth. The ideal time for this measure is spring. Set the lawn mower to the highest level.
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How do I plant correctly?
Indoor plants should be repotted every one to two years. Mühlenbeckia are fast-growing shrubs that have rooted through the pot substrate within a short time. You will then need a larger planter so that your growth does not suffer from the lack of space. The ideal time for transplanting is in spring, once the flowers have withered.
hibernate
Each Mühlenbeckia species is differently adapted to winter conditions. There are some species that survive freezing temperatures without any problems. Other representatives within this genus must be overwintered in a frost-free place. If you're not sure what species you have, winter the shrub indoors in a cool spot just to be safe.
Muehlenbeckia axillaris is one of the frost-tolerant wiry shrubs that survive low minus temperatures. Protect the plant with a layer of brushwood or fir branches. Muehlenbeckia complexa does not tolerate sub-zero temperatures. This wiry shrub is not suitable for outdoor cultivation. Planting in a pot allows you to quickly relocate as soon as winter is around the corner. A frost-free winter quarters is important. Before transporting, you should shorten the plant a little.
Make sure that the root ball does not dry out. On frost-free days, you should water the shrubs outdoors. Potted plants are watered regularly as soon as the substrate dries out. Fertilization is not necessary during the winter months.
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Diseases
Wire shrubs are extremely hardy plants that are unaffected by disease or pests. Damage to the plant can be traced back to incorrect care measures or unsuitable locations. In places that are too dark in winter, the leaves do not get any light. The lack of light causes the shrubs to lose their leaves. If the roots are too wet, they tend to rot. Rotten roots can no longer absorb water, which can also lead to leaf loss.
Make sure the soil has good permeability. Mix the substrate with sand and ensure good drainage from potsherds or expanded clay when cultivating in a tub.(19.73€) After watering, no water should remain in the saucer. Use a clean and sharp tool for cutting measures, as cuts serve as entry points for pathogens.
Losing leaves
As a deciduous species, the shrubs growing outdoors shed their leaves just before winter. In spring, the plants sprout again and develop fresh foliage. Not all Mühlenbeckia species are equally frost hardy. When the ground freezes, the roots are damaged. The plant is then no longer able to sprout fresh leaves.
If a houseplant's leaves suddenly turn brown and fall off, this indicates a suboptimal location. Mühlenbeckia need an airy and light location. The optimal temperatures are between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. Too hot a place on the windowsill will cause the leaves to dry out. Due to the dense foliage, the water requirement is very high, especially in summer. You should check soil moisture daily and water the plant deeply. Otherwise there is a risk that only the upper layer of soil will be moistened and the water will not penetrate to the root ball.
Temperature and light conditions also play an important role during the winter. If the plant is in too dark a place, there will be a lack of light. The plant cannot photosynthesize and sheds its leaves. The first remedial measure is to relocate to a different location. Normally, the shrubs quickly regenerate from the loss of leaves and sprout again.
tips
Wire shrubs create a nostalgic charm. Its creeping shoots are dark brown in color and shimmer slightly dark red in the light. The light green shiny leaves form the ideal contrast to the bark. The shrubs are perfect for planting in hanging pots.