In ancient times, Cyperus Papyrus, commonly known as Papyrus, grew along the Nile River. The Egyptians had many uses for the plant, including making baskets, furniture, boats, and ropes.
Also known as “King Tut” grass, today we most often associate the Papyrus plant with its role in the making of a medium used for Egyptian writing.
After harvesting, the Egyptians removed the green outer covering of the stems and cut the inner pith into long strips, which they soaked for several days. The strips then were arranged in alternating vertical and horizontal layers atop a piece of cotton cloth.
Excess water was removed by pressing the strips, which were then allowed to dry completely. The cloth was removed and the resulting paper was polished to make the surface smooth enough to write upon.
A GRASS-LIKE PLANT
Papyrus is a grass-like plant usually grown in shallow water. The Giant Papyrus has tall stems that develop from rhizomes that can reach 10 to 16 feet in height. They produce numerous umbrella-shaped clusters at the tips of their stems.
If you cut off one of these clusters and float it upside down in the surrounding water new plantlets will be formed. In the same manner, a bent stem that touches the water also will produce roots. A cross-section of a Papyrus stem is triangular in shape.
Papyrus is grown primarily for its unusual foliage, as opposed to its flowers. The plant will bloom in late summer with a cluster of green flowers. In our area, we can grow a dwarf Papyrus as an annual; it makes an excellent accent plant in a small pond or tub. If grown in a pond, it’s best to plant your Papyrus in a pot with a layer of gravel on the top of the soil.
A dwarf Papyrus will have stems that can reach up to 30 inches tall, and needs to have its roots constantly moist. Be sure to keep the root mass wet with filtered or distilled water if possible; hard water can cause the plant to turn brown.
A Papyrus plant will die if temperatures fall below freezing, but it can be grown indoors easily over the winter as a houseplant. Remove the plant from its pot and cut back the roots a bit. Spray the plant with soapy water before bringing it indoors, to eliminate any pests.
Papyrus grows out from the center; as time goes by, the center will turn brown and die out. In spring, you can divide the plant by taking a sharp knife and cutting out the old dried section. Repot in a good, all-purpose potting soil.
Several years ago Dolly Smith, a member of the Staten Island Garden Club received a Papyrus plant from a friend in Connecticut.
She’s growing it in a plain flower pot with ordinary potting soil. This pot is placed within a decorative container filled with about 4 inches of water.
Dolly observes that her Papyrus plant needs more water than any other plant she’s grown. With our heating systems going full force this winter to combat the bitter cold, many homes have as much humidity in them as the Sahara desert. Dolly has had to be vigilant about ensuring her Papyrus plant doesn’t dry out.
Her plant is now a bit overgrown and Dolly’s noticed roots coming through the bottom of the container. She also reports recently discovering tiny white flowers on the plant.
The garden club member, who’s planning on giving Papyrus clippings to members of her club at their next meeting, recommends that the cuttings be turned upside down with the stem sticking up and planted in moist potting soil.
Last year, when she needed a centerpiece for a dinner party, Dolly cut off one of the umbrella-like umbrels and placed it in a bowl of water at the center of her dining room table. She purchased a small potted plant, cut off the flowers and floated them around the Papyrus cutting. Easy to do, impressive and a real conversation piece!
If you notice dust on the leaves of your houseplants, go over them with a soft duster or bring your plant to a sink and hose it off with lukewarm water. Larger plants that are too big to be given a bath will appreciate having their foliage wiped with a damp cloth. Dust on the leaves blocks light and reduces a plant’s ability to photosynthesize. For fuzzy-leaved plants like African violets, use a soft brush to gently sweep dust from the center outward.
Lee Gugliada is past president of the Great Kills Garden Club and past director of First District Federated Garden Clubs of New York State.