Characteristic features of Kamysh
Reed (Scirpus) is a genus of annual and perennial plants belonging to the sedge family (Cureaceae). These plants live in the coastal part of water bodies or in the water itself. It should be noted that plants that actually do not belong to the genus Scirpus are often called Reed. These are cattail (most often broadleaf cattail) and reed.
Representatives of the Kamysh genus are distributed on all continents, but they prefer temperate and subtropical climates.
Reed is a tall plant, the cylindrical or triangular erect stem of which is usually 100-250 cm in height. Unlike cattail, Reed does not have full leaves extending from the stem, but is only extensive coastal thickets of twigs. The plant can often be submerged in water. Reed has a long creeping rhizome and small flowers (in the form of spikelets) light green, and towards the end of flowering - brown in color, which are collected in inflorescences about 10 cm long and bloom in mid-summer.
The number of species (according to different sources) varies from 54 to 300. The most decorative are:
Forest reed (Scirpus sylvaticus) - distinguished by a three-sided meter-long stem and umbrella-shaped green inflorescences that bloom in early summer;
Rooting reed (Scirpus radicans) - differs from the previous species by curved brown stems;
Lake reed (Scirpus lacustris) - characterized by a cylindrical leafless stem, sometimes reaching a height of three meters and distinguished by a green color. The inflorescence is corymbose-paniculate, with brown spikelets. Flowering occurs in May-June. Currently, several very attractive varieties have been developed, for example: “Albescens” (with yellow vertically striped stems), “Zebrinus” (with green horizontally striped stems);
Tabernemontana reed (Scirpus tabernаemontаni) - also has a cylindrical stem, but grows up to 150 cm in height and is distinguished by a gray-brown color. In some sources, Tabernemontana Reed is noted as a variety of Lake Reed;
Pointed reed (Scirpus mucronatus) - significantly lower than previous species (up to 70 cm), characterized by triangular green stems;
Sea reed (Scirpus maritimus) – 55-90 cm in height, distinguished by umbrella-shaped inflorescences of brown color;
Bristle reed (Scirpus setаceus) is a low-growing annual (5-20 cm in height) with thin stems and spikelets collected in a bunch;
Drooping reed, or Isolepis, or Cuckoo's tears (Scirpus cernuus) is an indoor plant, which is famous for the fact that its stems (up to 30 cm in height) hang down when there is a lack of light, which is why their appearance resembles a fountain. This plant is distinguished by small milky flowers located at the tops of the stems.
The use of Reed in various industries has been known for a long time. The roots of this plant contain starch; dried rhizomes were previously ground into flour and used in baking bread. Back in the 20th century, Reed was used in construction - reed concrete and material for coating walls were made. To this day, baskets, bags, and rugs are woven from dry stems. Dried shoots also look good in bouquets.
In the garden, reeds are usually grown near various bodies of water. Their frequent neighbors are egg capsules, water lilies and marigolds. However, Reed is famous not only for its attractive stems and inflorescences, but also for its ability to purify water, which is why it is ideal for planting in the coastal part of ponds or in shallow water.
Drooping reed is most often used as a hanging or ground cover plant.
Secrets of successful cultivation of reeds
Since in the wild Reed lives near bodies of water, in the garden this plant should also be grown in moist soil with neutral or weak acidity. Reed prefers sunny places, but some species can develop without problems in partial shade. It should be remembered that varietal forms are more demanding on growing conditions and can sometimes freeze without shelter in winter, so it is advisable to grow these plants in containers.
Reeds are grown not only along the coast. Lake Reed and Tabernemontana Reed can be planted directly in water to a depth of one meter, while other species grow best in shallow water (at a depth of about 20 cm). Reed is a fairly unpretentious plant, but it can often grow quickly (due to the presence of long roots) or reproduce by self-sowing, so you need to make sure that the plant does not fill the entire reservoir. In late autumn, the stems of the Reed must be cut off.
Indoor Drooping Reed requires more complex care than its wild-growing “brothers”. It requires good lighting or partial shade, abundant watering and moist air (spraying the plant with a spray bottle is a must). The pot for the plant must have a tray in which water will constantly be retained. Frequent fertilizing with calcium-free fertilizers will also not be superfluous.
Varietal forms of plants are propagated exclusively by vegetative means - by dividing the bush in spring or September, and species plants can also be propagated by seeds collected from spikelets, and the germination rate of seeds is very high, even with not very high soil moisture.
With the vegetative method, they dig up a bush, carefully divide it into several parts and plant it in a permanent place.
Isolepis can also be propagated by seeds and vegetatively. However, the seed method is a little more complicated, and the seedlings grow very slowly. Seeds must be sown in a container with a mixture of peat, sand and leaf humus. The container is placed in a room with a temperature of 17-20 ° C, the seedlings are periodically watered. Then the already strong young plants dive.
Possible difficulties
Garden forms of Reed, as a rule, do not get sick and are not attacked by pests, but drooping Reed can sometimes cause some trouble. This plant is often eaten by cats, so Isolepis rarely gets along with a mustachioed pet. Also, Drooping Reed is sometimes damaged by spider mites and aphids, which are controlled with the help of special insecticides.
Isolepis is susceptible to “baldness”, so it needs to be replanted every spring.
For full development, the plant needs at least 50 percent humidity and suitable lighting: in deep shade it stretches and droops, and in saturated light it can turn yellow and dry out.
However, by providing the Drooping Reed with proper care, you will be able to fully enjoy its unusual beauty.
Reed (lat. Scirpus) belongs to the genus of annual and perennial plants of the sedge family. In its natural environment it grows in the coastal water zone. It has a triangular or cylindrical stem. On average it reaches up to two and a half meters in height. Bisexual flowers are collected in inflorescences (paniculate, umbellate). There are about three hundred plant species in total. Prefers subtropical and temperate climatic conditions. More than twenty species of reeds are found in the temperate continental zone. At home, you can grow only one member of the sedge family - isopelis drooping, also known as drooping. People call it “cuckoo tears.” Let's take a closer look at how to properly care for ornamental crops.
During flowering, the reed is covered with small white dots.
Lighting
Indoor reed prefers well-lit places. Insufficient light may cause the leaves to become stretched. But exposure to direct sunlight also has a detrimental effect on decorativeness. The leaves are burning out. It is best to keep the flower pot in partial shade.
Watering
Insufficient watering can cause leaf tips to dry out. It is important to maintain “swamp” conditions. You should also constantly add a little water to the pan. For irrigation, it is better to use filtered or settled water. Take care of the material of the container. It is advisable to choose a plastic flowerpot. This way it will not deteriorate from excessive moisture.
Transplant technology
Indoor reeds are susceptible to rapid baldness. For this reason, the plant must be replanted annually. The procedure is best carried out in early spring. When changing containers and soil, you can also divide the plant into several parts. The resulting cuttings are best planted in a shallow, wide container. At the same time, you need to clean it of old, yellow leaves.
Proper pruning
Reeds tend to grow very quickly. Therefore, you will need to promptly clean the plant from wilted areas and roots. It is advisable to prune in late autumn.
Features of growing reeds in open ground
Growing reeds outdoors is not difficult. It is much more difficult to cope with an overgrown area. Reed is not a capricious plant. But you still need to adhere to several rules for its cultivation:
- Choose slightly acidic or neutral soil.
- It is advisable to prepare a sunny area. If you have prepared drooping reeds for breeding, you need to choose a darkened area. This species does not tolerate direct sunlight.
- The plant is very moisture-loving. Withstands wetlands very well. Can also grow in water. The average depth should be about 30 cm.
Lake reeds grow best on the site. If you want to plant the crop in a pot, prepare shallow containers. The diameter should be more than 15 cm. Be sure to take care of a thick layer of drainage. It is advisable to use compost, peat and garden soil as a soil mixture. Place the reed rhizome in the middle of the container and water it generously. Then add the required amount of substrate and moisten the soil well. You need to lay crushed stones or pebbles on top. A container plant can decorate a gazebo, balcony and any area of the site.
If you plant reeds outdoors, remember that they are an aggressor. There will be no problems with reproduction. It is capable of eradicating other water-loving crops. There are no special conditions for outdoor care. It is important to prevent overgrowth and divide the rhizome in a timely manner. On particularly hot days, you can spray the leaves with water.
You can find out detailed information about indoor reeds from the video review:
Growing in a container
Choosing a pot
Indoor reeds look perfect in hanging planters and pots. It is often used as an hanging plant. Florists also decorate the greenhouse with them. With its help you can recreate a swamp garden indoors.
Recently, in specialized salons, the plant is sold in special bamboo or plastic tubes. This helps add decorativeness. The culture resembles a small palm tree. The same design can be made at home. To do this, you will need a tube half the height of the crop. It is enough to stretch the indoor reeds through it. It is important to do this with your roots forward. The top part should remain free.
Priming
To grow indoors, you need to prepare a mixture of turf soil, leaf soil and clean, medium-grained sand.
Top dressing
To ensure uniform and proper development, the crop will need monthly feeding. It is advisable to use fertilizers without calcium.
Typical problems and diseases
Despite its unpretentiousness, the plant is still susceptible to external factors. Reeds are often damaged by spider mites and aphids. To get rid of pests, you will need insecticides.
If you move a pot with a plant indoors during the cold season, keep an eye on your pets. Cats love reeds very much. Sometimes they completely eat all the leaves.
To design a composition with indoor reeds, florists use a pipe.
Features of flowering
Flowering is difficult to notice. Tiny brown spikelets appear on the plant. They are no larger than the head of a pin. Formed at the ends of thread-like stems. In several plant species, pronounced fluff forms after flowering. It can cause an allergic reaction. There is a belief that if a plant is placed near the front door, it will help protect your home from ill-wishers.
Reproduction technology
One indoor crop can be divided into five to seven young plants. But don't overdo it. Otherwise, the reeds may die, or small bushes will take a long time to take root. Reeds are also propagated by seeds. To do this you will need filter paper or wet sand. After strengthening the seedlings, they can be planted in a regular substrate.
Reasons for slow growth
As a rule, reed flowering lasts all year round. Most often, a houseplant is covered with inflorescences from spring until the end of the summer season. The absence of flowers indicates unsuitable conditions.
Planting material
On the flower growers forum, a division of indoor reeds or drooping isopelis is sold for 50 rubles. In online stores you can find offers from 200 to 500 rubles.
Reeds love high substrate humidity. It can be easily grown indoors. It is enough to follow simple rules of care.
Reeds: description
Genus Reed (Scirpus) has about 300 species of perennial, rarely annual, grasses of the sedge family (Cyperaceae). Reeds are distributed throughout the globe, but most species live in the tropics and subtropics; in or, some species float on the surface of the water. On the territory of Russia you can find 20 species of reeds. The underground part is most often represented. The above-ground part reaches 2-3 m in height, but there are also miniature species (20-30 cm). The shape of the stems is almost cylindrical or triangular. The latter are usually covered with linear leaves, reminiscent of sedge leaves. The cylindrical stems are usually smooth and thick, devoid of leaves, but have scales up to 3 m long at the base. In some species, the leaves are thread-like, forming a basal rosette.
Often mistakenly called reed cattail . In the reed, at the top of the stem in mid-summer, inflorescences-spikelets appear, collected in an umbrella, head or panicle up to 10 cm long, or less often a single spike. The spikelets consist of several bisexual flowers, colored light green, turning brown towards the end of flowering. Some species have a bract leaf arranged in such a way that it appears to be a continuation of the stem. In others, it is thin, awl-shaped, and resembles a film. The fruit is a nut, flat-convex or triangular in shape.
Planting reeds
Reed is unpretentious to growing conditions, but grows and develops better in a sunny place. A little shading is tolerated forest reed And rooting reed . The soil is neutral or slightly acidic (pH 5.0-7.0), moist. Reeds can be planted directly into a pond. Species with leafy stems ( forest reed, rooting reed ) buried in water no more than 20 cm; species practically devoid of leaves ( lake reed, Tabernemontana reed ), can be submerged to a depth of up to a meter. Miniature species are used to decorate the shore.
Drooping reeds , grown indoors, needs a lighted place without access to direct sunlight. In a bright place, it forms a bunch of ascending stems and leaves, and with a lack of light, the bush becomes spreading. The optimal soil for planting is a mixture of turf, leaf or humus soil and sand (2:1:1). Grows successfully in hydroponics. You need a wide, shallow one.
Growing reeds
Reed is undemanding in terms of maintenance. Care involves controlling the growth of the plant. If necessary, it is limited to planting in containers. In late autumn, the above-ground part of the reeds is cut off. Forest reeds, rooting, lake reeds, Tabernemontana, bristly winter-hardy without shelter in central Russia. Pointed reed And sea reeds grown in open ground only in the south of Russia. The varieties are less resistant, so it is recommended to grow decorative forms of even winter-hardy species in containers and put them away in a frost-free room for the winter.
Drooping reeds
prefers summer temperatures no higher than +20°, winter temperatures no lower than +8°. In the warm season it is possible - on the terrace or in the garden. Drooping reeds
moisture-loving, in summer it requires abundant watering, it is desirable that there is a layer of water of 4-5 cm in the pan. In winter, when the temperature drops, watering is reduced, but the top layer of soil should always be moist. The plant does not have a clearly defined dormant period; when kept indoors, the reed is forced to “rest” due to low light. From May to September, during the period of active growth, it is advisable to fertilize with complex mineral fertilizer (without calcium) once every 10-14 days. The air humidity around the plant is increased by daily spraying and placing the pot on a tray with wet expanded clay. Drooping reeds are transplanted annually in the spring, since the plant tends to quickly lose its decorative properties. To stimulate the growth of new shoots, overgrown roots and old wilted leaves are cut off with pruning shears, and large bushes are divided.
Reed: application
Shallow waters, wet areas. Egg lily, susak, and marigold will be excellent companions for reeds. Sea reed is resistant to soil salinity, so it can be successfully used in areas with similar soil conditions. Reeds have the ability to purify water. Reed inflorescences are used to make winter bouquets. Soft stems of reeds have long been used in weaving baskets and mats; they are even used. Due to the high starch content in the rhizomes, in ancient times they were used to make flour. Drooping reeds
used in closed ground as a hanging plant, in open ground - for summer decoration.
Reed reproduction
Reeds are propagated vegetatively or by seeds, however, with the latter method, varietal characteristics are lost. The bushes are divided in April-May or September. Drooping reeds Divide in the spring when transplanting. The bush is dug up, washed, and then divided into several parts with a sharp knife or pruning shears, each of which should have 1-2 buds and developed roots. The delenki are immediately planted in a permanent place. For large plants, the distance between divisions is 40-50 cm, for miniature ones - 20-30 cm.
Seed propagation is more difficult. After 2 months of moisture at low positive temperatures, the seeds are distributed over the surface of moist soil (a mixture of peat, humus and sand in equal parts) in February-March. To maintain air and soil humidity, the container with the crops is covered with glass and placed on a tray with water. Keep at a temperature of +17...+20°C. Shoots appear quickly, within 5-7 days. After 1-2 months, in June, young plants are planted in a permanent place. Drooping reed seeds do not need stratification. Reeds often reproduce by self-sowing.
Pests and diseases
Reeds grown in open ground are not susceptible to attack by pests and are resistant to diseases. Drooping reeds
loses its decorative effect and is also affected when grown in unfavorable conditions: low air humidity, poor or excessive watering, cold conditions and drafts. In the shade, the plant fades and stretches, and direct sunlight burns the leaves, causing the latter to become faded. Reed reacts negatively to chemicals, so it is especially important to create favorable conditions for the growth and development of the plant, as well as periodically inspect it for the presence of pests.
Types of reeds with triangular stems
Forest reed (Scirpus sylvaticus). The stem is about a meter high and covered with alternate linear leaves with a rough edge. In June-July it is crowned with a dense panicle of numerous spikelets, each up to 5 mm long. Spikelets are collected in 2-5 pieces at the ends of the inflorescence branches. The perianth is formed by six stamens. The fruit is a triangular nut and ripens in July-August. The underground part is represented by a horizontal rhizome 2-4 mm thick.
Rooting reed (Scirpus radicans) Unlike the previous one, in addition to flowering shoots, it also has vegetative ones, which, bending arcuately towards the ground, take root at the tops. The spikelets are collected in a paniculate inflorescence, but at the ends they are not collected in bunches, but solitary. The leaf shape is narrower than that of forest reed. Both the leaves and stems are reddish in early spring; by summer they turn green.
Pointed reed (Scirpus mucronatus) forms a dense cluster of leaves and stems up to 70 cm in height and up to 8 mm in diameter. The spikelets are light brown, oblong, 1-2 cm in length, collected in a dense capitate inflorescence of 3-25 pieces. The bract leaf, up to 10 cm long, has a triangular shape and is colored light green. Blooms in June-July, bears fruit in July-August.
Sea reeds (Scirpus maritimus). The stems reach 50-100 cm in height, covered with alternate linear, up to 1 cm wide, leaves distributed evenly along the entire length of the stem or concentrated in its lower part. The rhizome produces spherical tubers about 3.5 cm in diameter. Light, less often dark brown spikelets up to 2 cm long and up to 1 cm thick are collected in a capitate inflorescence. Sometimes there is another one above the main inflorescence, with fewer spikelets. The perianth is most often absent. Blooms in June-July, bears fruit in July-August.
Types of reeds with cylindrical stems
Bulrush , or Kuga (Scirpus lacustris, Shoenoplectus lacustris)- a large plant. The powerful stem reaches 3 m in height, the root system is represented by a hollow shortened rhizome. The corymbose-paniculate inflorescence is formed by brown spikelets about 1 cm long, collected in 3-4 (less often 8) pieces at the ends of the peduncles. The bracts are subulate-shaped, slightly longer than the inflorescence, usually in the amount of 1-2. Blooms in May. There are forms with decorative coloring of leaves and stems: with yellow vertical stripes, bright yellow horizontal, plain yellow leaves in spring and lush green in summer.
Reed Tabernemontana (Scirpus tabernaemontani) It is distinguished by its smaller size (up to 1.5 m), bluish color of the stem, reddish color of the spikelet scales and numerous purple warts on them. A popular variety is with white horizontal stripes on the stems.
Miniature species of reeds
Bristle reed (Scirpus setaceus)- unlike the species named above, this is an annual. Very narrow, thread-like leaves and numerous thin stems are collected in a bunch up to 20 cm high. The inflorescence is a bunch of 1-4 small spikelets, the scales of which are dark purple with a green stripe. A single bract is much longer than the inflorescence and seems to be a continuation of the stem. Blooms in May-June.
Drooping reeds (Scirpus cernuus, Isolepis gracilis) grown as a houseplant. More often it is called isolepis graceful , or cuckoo tears . This is a perennial rhizomatous plant, whose thin leaves and stems are collected in a spreading bunch, resembling a fountain, up to 20-30 cm in height. In mid-summer, small single spikelets of milky color appear at the ends of the stems.
Reed is undemanding in terms of maintenance. Care involves controlling the growth of the plant. If necessary, it is limited by planting in containers.
The main condition for the successful cultivation of indoor reeds is moisture, because this is a marsh herbaceous plant that belongs to the sedge family. Scientific name - isolepis drooping(Isolepis cernua), sometimes also called drooping reed(Scirpus cernuus), drooping scirpus and popularly known as cuckoo tears.
Drooping Isolepis (Isolepis cernua), or Drooping Reed. © highdownnursery
This is a very unusual plant that cannot be confused with any other. The leaves of the indoor reed are long and thin, like hair, giving it elegance. The maximum dimensions of indoor reeds in cultivation are: height - 25-30 cm, diameter of the bush - about 30 cm, and its shape is fountain-like - it seems to shoot out of the soil with its numerous hairy leaves.
Growing indoor reeds
Isolepis can be grown in hanging pots as an hanging plant, as well as in winter gardens. Indoor reeds can also be used as a ground cover plant, planted around large plants. With it they create wonderful phytocompositions of the “swamp” type. Stores often sell scirpus, the lower part of the stems of which is enclosed in plastic or bamboo tubes, making them look very decorative, reminiscent of palm trees.
Indoor reed, or Isolepis drooping. © szkolka
This is easy to do at home. The length of the tube should reach about half the height of the plant. Indoor reeds are pulled through the tube with the roots forward, which, like the top, should be free. Keep in mind that isolepis is very fond of cats, which eat its leaves. Therefore, they can rightfully be considered pests of this plant, along with spider mites and aphids, which can sometimes infect isolepis.
Caring for drooping isolepis
The plant is characterized by rapid aging (baldness). Therefore, every spring, scirpus is divided and transplanted into a wide, shallow container, removing old yellowed leaves. Earth mixture - leaf, turf soil and sand (1:2:1). Young plants take root easily. From one indoor reed you can get 5-7 young ones. But you should not divide it into many parts, since the root system of isolepis is poorly developed, and too small bushes will take a long time to take root.
Drooping reeds (indoor), or cuckoo tears. © Xavier Bejar
It is better to place indoor reeds in a well-lit place, since with a lack of light the leaves become very elongated, but it tolerates light partial shade well. At the same time, when exposed to direct sunlight, the leaves fade.
When humidity is low, the tips of the leaves dry out. Do not forget to also provide the reeds with “swampy” living conditions, for which there should always be some water in the pan. By the way, it is better to choose a plastic pot for scirpus so that it does not deteriorate from water. Water the plant with soft, settled water.
Drooping isolepis (Isolepis cernua). © Exemplar Horticulture
For normal growth and development, the plant requires monthly fertilizing with fertilizers that do not contain calcium.
Many dachas and almost every cottage owner have artificial ponds. It is beautiful. How nice it is to sit in the evening near the lake, admire the fish and beautiful aquatic plants. It’s good to decorate a pond, a piece of wild nature created with your own hands - small thickets of reeds. This article describes how to plant and grow reeds on your site.
- Types of reeds
- Growing reeds
- The most suitable soil
- How to plant reeds
- How to propagate
- How to care
- Reed decor
Types of reeds
Reed and cattail are often confused. The three main types of reeds are:
- a plant with long stems up to 2.5 m, with a dense inflorescence up to 10 cm high, in the form of one or several spikelets, is called lake reed. Its rhizome is hollow and creeping;
- a reed with a triangular stem growing up to 1 m, with long rough leaves, crowned with a greenish panicle in mid-summer, is called forest reed. Judging by the name, one can assume that it grows in the forest, but in fact it can be found very rarely in the forest. It grows in large quantities in swamps and creates thickets on the wet banks of rivers and lakes;
- drooping reeds came to us from the tropics. It is also grown indoors. Its stems are thin and graceful, like hair, and its flowers are so small that you can hardly notice them. If the temperature drops below +12 degrees C, it must be brought into the heat, otherwise it will disappear. In the spring it will bloom indoors: small brown spikelets will appear, which will turn into tiny white fluffs closer to summer.
Lake reed deserves special attention. There are such varieties:
- green in summer and bright yellow in spring Golden Spears;
- the one and a half meter bright yellow striped stems of Albescens (Albescens) stand out among the lush greenery;
- a plant with horizontal yellow stripes on green stems is Zebrinus. The variety is the most decorative. Like all types of reeds, it perfectly purifies water. Here he is in the photo on the right:
Growing reeds
There should be no difficulties in growing reeds; it is much more difficult to regulate its quantity: it grows very quickly.
The most suitable soil
Even such a not particularly capricious plant as reeds has its own preferences. He loves:
- the soil is neutral or slightly acidic;
- sunny places. Except for the drooping reed, it does not tolerate direct sunlight, but grows well in the shade;
- not just moisture, but even a swamp. Reeds also grow in water where the depth reaches 0.3 m.
How to plant reeds
At the dacha, lake reeds are most often planted. Planting is not much different from planting other aquatic plants:
- before planting reeds, we prepare deep containers with a diameter of at least 15o mm;
- Be sure to place drainage at the bottom;
- mix peat and soil from the compost heap. Place this mixture on top of the drainage;
- we plant the reed rhizome and water it well;
- Place pebbles or crushed stones on top. Carefully lower it to the bottom.
How to propagate
It's easy to propagate reeds:
- If you planted it once, you will propagate it by dividing the rhizome in the fall or with the onset of spring. This completely applies to varietal types of reeds, and wild ones also reproduce by seeds. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that reeds by their nature are an aggressor;
- By planting reeds on the shore of a reservoir without a container, we doom ourselves to a serious struggle with it, otherwise it will crowd out all other plants.
How to care
Reed is not demanding and caring for it consists of:
- in preventing proliferation;
- timely division of rhizomes;
- checking adjacent containers with other plants. There may well be a creeping reed root there;
- In hot weather it is useful to spray the leaves.
Among the unpretentious species of this plant there is one sissy: the drooping reed requires special care:
- it can be visited by aphids and spider mites, then special insecticides will have to be used;
- Cats are passionate fans of drooping reeds. They love it so much that they are literally ready to eat it. So, if you brought the pot into the room for the winter, you will have to take some safety measures;
- if the drooping reed is not replanted annually in the spring, it will become bald;
- when placing a container with it in an open sunny area, it will not grow: it will turn yellow and then completely dry out;
- starting in March and throughout the summer, it is fed with fertilizers;
- It is better to propagate it by seeds, then it turns out stronger. Having collected the seeds from the spikelets, they are sown in a mixture as for ferns: peat, soil, coarse sand. The dishes are placed in a tray with water, and then the sprouted seedlings are placed in separate pots;
- Don't forget about humidity. For good development, it must be maintained at a level no lower than 50%. While it is growing in a garden pond, this condition is not difficult to comply with, but in winter, spraying every day will help. Its extraordinary beauty is worth the effort.
Interesting: it is believed that drooping reeds have a beneficial effect on representatives of such zodiac signs as Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, i.e. aquatic.
Reed decor
If you have reeds growing on your property, then you have an excellent natural material for decoration. A rug woven from lake reeds will add a special charm to the dacha. This type of reed is most suitable for weaving: 
And here's how it's done:
You can decorate a flower pot with reeds: 
Let's look at making this decorative element from reeds for your garden in a little more detail:
- take dry reed stalks;
- rope, preferably hemp;
- you can’t do without pruning shears;
- some suitable containers, for example: paint containers;
- paint and brush.
That's all, you can get started:
- cut the stems into segments, the length of which slightly exceeds the height of the container;
- we tie the stems into sheaves, about 8 each;
- we cut the rope in such a way as to cover the future flowerpot 4 times. Folding it in half, we tie the ends;
- We insert a sheaf of reeds into the resulting ring and twist the rope. We do the same with the following sheaves. The result should be something like a mat, but for now it is connected only at one end, so we cut another piece of rope of the same length and repeat the operation from the opposite end;
- paint and dry the container;
- We wrap our product around the jar and tie the ends.
This wonderful box is also made from lake reeds:
The most ordinary chain-link fence will look wonderful and unusual if you decorate it with reeds:
There are many interesting ideas for using reeds. Here is one of them: