Description
The umbrella papyrus belongs to the genus Cyperus of the sedge family (Cyperaceae). Like almost all species of the genus, it loves water. In the wild it grows in swamps and on the banks of lakes and slow-flowing rivers. It likes to stand in water and does well in hydroponics.
The plant has characteristic radiating, downward-curving, strap-like leaves clustered at the top of a tall stem. Very interesting brown, spiky flower heads grow above the leaves. The plant flowers all summer.
It is most often available in summer, as the above-ground stems tend to die back in winter. When buying, choose a well-grown plant with no signs of yellowing or browning leaves. It is worth tying young plants to stakes, as their flexible stems can flop over and the leaves can be damaged irreparably. The plants grow fairly fast, producing 5–6 new leaves during the growing season.
Requirements
Umbrella papyrus needs very good light, but the position should not be in direct midday sun.
Propagation
The plants can be propagated by dividing well-grown specimens in spring. Carefully pull the root ball apart and plant the resulting pieces in separate pots. You can also take cuttings – leaf crowns cut from the mother plant after the flowers have faded – and stand them upside down in a container of water.
Care
In winter it is best kept at 12°C; it tolerates higher temperatures if the air is more humid. Keep the plants away from radiators.
In summer the temperature should be about 20°C, at most 25°C.
The compost must be kept wet – easiest if the pot simply stands in water. If the soil dries out, the leaves turn yellow within 24 hours. In summer feed with liquid fertiliser when watering, once every two weeks. It is good to mist the plants often, even daily. Do not use leaf-shine products. In summer you can put the plant outside in the rain. Umbrella papyrus grows well in loamy soil. It is best repotted once a year, in spring, into a not-too-large pot.
Umbrella papyrus plants live long, constantly producing new leaves to replace the old ones as they die. In winter, if the room is too cold, the stems may turn yellow and lose their leaves. If this happens, cut the stems off just above the soil – the plant will regrow in spring.