The papyrus plant was already known in ancient times for its versatility and resilience. The African perennial was still used by the ancient Egyptians as a building material and for the production of writable documents. In our latitudes, Cyperus papyrus is now one of the popular ornamental grasses, but it is extremely sensitive to incorrect husbandry conditions and lack of water.
Table of Contents
Location and soil conditions
The real papyrus is a moisture-loving plant, which makes certain demands on the hobby gardener. In summer, the plant, which originally comes from Africa, prefers a location in full sun, in winter it can be a bright room with temperatures around 15 ° C. If the planting sites are too dark, the growth of new shoots suffers and the ornamental grass takes care of it. Strong gusts of wind can damage the perennial, so make sure you have a place protected from the wind.
Use a humus-rich, well-drained substrate for planting. In its original home, the papyrus plant can often be found in swampy landscapes and close to the shore. In your own garden, the Cyperus is therefore suitable, for example, as a decorative border for the pond. If the soil has too much sand, you should enrich the planting hole with clay, humus and peat. This binds the moisture in the soil and ensures optimal growth conditions.
Watering and fertilizing
Cyperus papyrus is not only an extremely versatile crop, but is also used in many places in our latitudes as an ornamental grass. In order to promote the growth of the long petioles with the pinnate leaves, however, the moisture requirements of the plant must be met. Real papyrus needs a constantly moist soil, waterlogging does not cause any damage to the grass. If you cannot cultivate the plant in a garden pond, you should use large planters with saucers. 1/3 of the saucer must be filled with lime-free water, as soon as this amount of water is completely used up, it is refilled. Even in the cold season, the substrate must by no means dry out.
Make sure there is also high humidity. Because part of the required liquid is also absorbed through the leaves of the plant. Spray all of the ornamental grass with a water atomizer at regular intervals. With this measure you also prevent an infestation with spider mites.
Not only the amount of water plays an important role for the successful cultivation of the ornamental grass. Because the nutrient consumption of the plant is high in the main vegetation season. Fertilize regularly with universal liquid fertilizer from April to September. Special fertilizer sticks have also proven their worth. In autumn you can enrich the substrate with compost, but you should then refrain from additional fertilization in the winter months.
planting
Real papyrus is not hardy, which is why year-round cultivation outdoors for the African ornamental plant is out of the question. As soon as the temperatures rise permanently above 15 ° C, you can relocate the perennial to the garden. Planting in pots has the advantage that you can intentionally create waterlogging and thus fully meet the moisture requirements of the papyrus.
Cultivation in pots
The perennial can reach a height of up to 3 meters. Choose an appropriately large and sturdy planter that can withstand the strong roots of the plant. For the substrate it is sufficient if you prepare conventional potting soil with compost and a little loam. Planting can be done indoors all year round.
Cultivation in the field
Papyrus plants are sensitive to cold and large temperature fluctuations. If you want to plant the ornamental grasses directly in the garden, the best time to do so is around the end of April. Prepare a planting hole that is twice the width and depth of the Cyperus rhizome. Move the perennial and carefully fill the hole with the excavated earth. Papyrus is not only watered extensively immediately after planting, but must also be watered regularly. The plant thrives best in close proximity to water.
Hydroculture
The plant’s enormous need for water and a high level of humidity is best met by cultivation in hydroponics. The planter does not contain a conventional substrate, but materials such as perlite, gravel or expanded clay. Use suitable vessels for hydroponics; a special inner pot is not required due to the size of the ornamental grass. A special fertilizer supplies the roots of the plant with the important nutrients.
Before you hydroponize Cyperus papyrus, you should do some preparation. The permanent contact with water ensures the formation of special roots. Completely remove any remaining substrate residues and caring shoots. You can best achieve this if you put the ornamental grass in a bucket of water for several days and continuously rinse out the remaining soil by changing the water. Prepare drainage in the planter using a material suitable for hydroponics. Then insert the papyrus and carefully fill it up with the rest of the substrate. Fill up with lukewarm water until the float on the water level indicator has reached the maximum mark.
Under no circumstances should hydroponic plants be left to their own devices. Here, too, you should regularly check the water level and ensure a constant supply of nutrients. As soon as the roots completely fill the planter, this must also be repotted. Foreign materials such as bark mulch or coffee grounds have no place in hydroponics and only damage the plant.
To cut
A special cut back is not necessary for real papyrus. Just remove dead stems and leaves to prevent rot and encourage the plant to produce new shoots.
Repot
As soon as the tub is completely penetrated by the roots of the plant, it is repotted. The best time for this measure is early spring, before the fast-growing ornamental grass has started to shoot. Use a larger and sturdy planter. Due to the size of the Cyperus, the help of another person may be necessary for the transfer.
Carefully loosen the plant from the old container, often the destruction of the old container cannot be avoided due to the strongly intertwined roots. If necessary, you can multiply the ornamental grass directly during repotting by dividing the root ball with a sharp ax.
Multiplication
Cyperus papyrus is relatively easy to propagate: by dividing the massive roots and growing seeds.
Division of roots: Carefully cut through the roots of the African ornamental grass with an ax or a spade. The freshly divided plant parts can be converted directly into a humus-rich substrate. Plant several separated papyri side by side to encourage the bushy appearance of the perennial grass.
Sowing: Prepare a planter with ordinary potting soil. The perennial belongs to the so-called light germs, which is why the seeds must never be covered with substrate. Distribute the seeds evenly in the prepared container and carefully spray the soil with a water atomizer. To increase the humidity, you should cover the whole thing with a previously perforated, transparent film. This accelerates the germination of the seeds and ensures even sprouting. Place the planter in a bright, warm place.
The first blades of grass should show up after about two to three weeks. From a size of around 15 centimeters, you can move the individual plants into separate flower pots if necessary. However, if you prefer a bushy habit, you can leave the perennials in a container.
Overwinter
The African beauty loves warmth and is sensitive to temperatures below 15 ° C. Papyrus can be cultivated permanently in the room or winter garden, but is also suitable for a sunny place outside in the warm summer months. Older, healthy plants are quite able to withstand brief frosts undamaged. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t risk it and move the ornamental grass to winter quarters in late summer.
A bright room with a temperature between 12 – 15 ° C are ideal conditions for the successful wintering of the real papyrus. The direct proximity to heat sources is tolerated as long as the planter is filled with sufficient water and a high level of humidity has been ensured. No additional nutrients should be given to the plant during hibernation.
Care tips
Do the tips of the leaves discolor and dry out? A visible indication of a lack of water. Check the water level in the planter and pour more immediately if necessary. Regularly spraying the papyrus plant with lime-free water is also important.
Caring stems
The African ornamental grass is an extremely sensitive plant. If the temperature is too cool, the papyrus will increasingly fade. Worrying shoots could also be due to too much lime in the substrate. Therefore, even in winter, water only with lime-free, lukewarm water.
Rotting roots
Do not refill the planter with water until the previous one has been completely used up. This means that important oxygen reaches the roots for a short time and no putrefactive bacteria can multiply in the container. If the roots of the papyrus plant are already affected, you should “dry out” the ornamental grass for a few days and also replace the substrate.
Fight pests successfully
Diseases are hardly known in Cyperus papyrus, but harmful insects are often found on the plant.
Mealybugs
Due to the cotton-like appearance of the pests, they are also visible to the naked eye. Brown, dried-up leaves are also an indication of the type of lice, which feeds on the nutritious cell sap of the host plant by sucking and stinging. The following measures have proven to be effective against mealybugs and prevent further damage to the papyrus tree:
- Spray cigarette tobacco brew for several days.
- A detergent solution is also suitable.
- Remove and destroy severely affected parts of the plant.
Spider mites
Hot summer days and dry indoor air in winter encourage infestation with these voracious insects. Spider mites are among the most widespread pests worldwide and weaken the plant. Therefore check the entire ornamental grass at the slightest discoloration of the leaves and act immediately in the event of an infestation with the mites. Briefly increase the humidity by wrapping the entire papyrus with foil. While the African perennial does not suffer any harm from this treatment, it does kill the spider mites.
Conclusion
Real papyrus has a very distinctive appearance and can be used as a decorative eye-catcher in the garden or in your own four walls. However, the African ornamental grass is not easy to care for and requires a lot of effort from the hobby gardener.
