Rules for growing and caring for pachypodium at home
Amateur flower growers appreciated the decorative uniqueness of shrubby succulents of subtropical zones. The popularity of plants is facilitated by their unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention. Caring for the pachypodium at home is reduced to maintaining a minimum level of humidity, which is important when the air is dry in the heating season.
Peculiarities of the plant
Pachypodium belongs to stem succulents, plants that can accumulate and retain moisture in a thickened stem. The habitat is the arid regions of Australia and the island of Madagascar. In the natural environment, some types of pachypodiums can reach 5-8 meters. These succulents outwardly resemble representatives of the subtropical zone and are called Madagascar palm.
In culture, pachypodiums grow up to 30-90 centimeters, can have:
- a barrel;
- with branching;
- several rods;
- with spikes;
- without thorns.
The plants are characterized by the presence of a rosette of leaves at the top. Thorns are collected in bunches of 2-3 pieces and are located around the trunk in rings or spirals. The juice is poisonous. Pachypodiums begin to flower when they are 6-7 years old.
With chamber aging, buds appear if the keeping conditions are close to natural.
Main varieties
Due to their decorative and unpretentious care, pachypodiums are becoming increasingly popular among amateur flower growers.
The sea
In indoor conditions, the height of the tree-like pachypodium does not exceed half a meter. The trunk is straight, bottle-shaped, bumpy. Each tuber has 3 long and strong spines. In the upper part, a rosette of large lanceolate leaves forms. 3 spines also grow under each leaf plate. The lamera is decorated with cream-white or white-pink flowers up to 5-6 centimeters in diameter.
Zhayi
A thorny tree grows up to 60 centimeters inside. Outwardly, the pachypodium resembles a lamer. The difference between the species is narrower leaf plates, a spiral arrangement of double spines, flowers with a white corolla and a yellow core.
Short shank
Pachypodium, endowed with the property of mimicry, looks like a piece of gray stone. The maximum size of a tuberous spiny trunk is 60 centimeters in height. During flowering, the plant sheds small dark green leaves collected in rosettes with peduncles. The flowers are bright yellow, medium in size.
Saunders
Pachypodium resembles a root vegetable: a rounded shape with sparse spines, light gray color, the top is densely covered with wide leaves narrowed towards the end. It blooms in lush white.
Succulent
Pachypodium resembles a sprouted potato tuber up to 15 centimeters in diameter. Thin branching branches grow from the top of the plant. Thorns, up to 2 centimeters long, are found only on the branches. Leaf shape - lanceolate, size - 5x1 cm. The flower buds look like pale pink bells with a bright red throat.
Dense flowers
Pachypodium looks like a shrub: spiny stems with spiny branches and rosettes of oblong grey-green leaves (the top is green veined with white, the bottom is grey). The height of the plant does not exceed 45 centimeters. The maximum thickness of the trunk can reach 30 centimeters. During the flowering period, the succulent is covered with bright yellow flowers up to 3 centimeters in diameter.
Horombense
The thick and low trunk of the pachypodium has outgrowths covered with powerful spines, at the top of which rosettes of oblong leaves are formed. Long stems with large yellow flowers rise from the central part of the rosettes.
Yuzhny
In indoor conditions, the pachypodium grows up to 1 meter. The arboreal succulent has a smooth gray-brown trunk; a dense crown of elongated green leaves covers the top. Large pink flowers with a red heart exude a pleasant aroma.
Rosette
On the fleshy trunk of the pachypodium, thick branches with numerous thorns rise vertically upwards. At the top of the branches grow dense, elongated leaves collected in a rosette or whorl. The inflorescences are collected in clusters of 2-3 tubular yellow flowers.
Rutenberg
Pachypodium in indoor conditions grows up to 60 centimeters. The bottle-like stem has a crown of many shortened branches. The whole plant is densely covered with thorns. The shiny rosettes at the ends of the branches are raised.In the inflorescences there are 3-4 large tubular white flowers.
Conditions of detention
Pachypodiums belong to plants that are not difficult to care for.
Lighting
Pachypodiums prefer bright sunlight, they are not afraid of direct sunlight. Resists plants and partial shade. Nuances to consider when breeding succulents:
- Plants should be taken out to fresh air and sun after winter so that they restore photosynthesis.
- Succulents should be exposed to radiation, gradually increasing the time spent in the sun.
- Pachypodiums, which are constantly in a shady place, thin out, do not bloom.
Pots with interior pachypodiums should be placed at the east, west, south and intermediate cardinal points.
Temperature regime
Pachypodium bushes like fresh air, but are sensitive to drafts. In spring-summer, the temperatures are favorable for them, ranging from 18 to 28 degrees.
watering mode
Under natural conditions, the pachypodium does not receive excess moisture. Therefore, if the soil is waterlogged, the succulent loses its foliage or grows, losing its decorative effect. Loss of foliage is characteristic of short-stemmed pachypodiums, elongation - for tree-like ones. A prolonged lack of humidity will also lead to dehumidification.
air humidity
Pachypodium does not require compliance with air humidity conditions. Dry air during the heating season has no effect on it.
top dresser
To stimulate growth, Pachypodiums are fed throughout the growing season once a month. Fertilizers are used to feed cacti. The nutrient solution is added to the soil after watering.
Priming
The optimal composition of the soil mixture for pachypodium is equal proportions of leaf, turf humus and quartz sand with the addition of peat and charcoal.
Dormant period
Pachypodium rests from November to February. During this period, watering is reduced to a minimum, lighting is reduced and feeding is stopped.
How to plant and replant correctly
Young pachypodiums are transplanted annually to stimulate the mass gain of slow-growing succulents. After 5-6 years, the procedure is carried out for the first time, repeated after 3-4 years. Change capacity and substrate before the start of the growing season. The most suitable soil is slightly acidic, similar to that of cacti. Broken brick and charcoal are added to improve aeration.
Pachypodium is transplanted by transshipment, with a moist clod, if there is no doubt about the state of its root system. Otherwise, the pachypodium is placed on a clean surface and the rotten, dried roots are removed with a sharp, sterilized instrument. Sprinkle the wounds with crushed charcoal.
Breeding methods
Pachypodiums are propagated at home by seeds or cuttings.
Seeds
Generative reproduction takes time. The seeds are pressed into the ground by 0.5 centimeters. The soil is watered to a depth of 2-3 centimeters. Cover the container with glass or film and put it in the sun, avoiding overheating above 20 degrees. When the sprouts hatch, they gradually get used to the fresh air, removing the protective covering for some time.
Cultivated pachypodiums dive into separate pots, followed by standard care.
Cuttings
As a cutting of the bushy pachypodium, the branching process is cut. From the tree-shaped pachypodium, 15 centimeters from the top are removed.Breeding success depends on the tool and the quality of the substrate. The slices are sprinkled with crushed charcoal. The stem is buried in the ground, watered and placed in a well-lit place.
Features of care during and after flowering
During flowering, the plant is fed not 1, but 2 times a month. The succulent needs more sun and fresh air during this time. With the end of flowering, seed formation begins. Pachypodium needs more soil moisture.
Solving Common Growing Problems
Errors in care, attacks of pests of indoor plants are reflected in the "well-being" of the succulent.
Diseases
Excessive waterlogging of air and soil leads to fungal infection of the flower.
mildew
Fungal spores thrive in a moist environment at temperatures up to 15 degrees. The first signs of the development of mycelium on the plant are the appearance of gray or brown spots on the leaves and stems. With the development of the disease, the shoots dry out, the foliage falls off.
To combat the pathogenic microorganism, folk and special remedies are used. At the initial stage, you can remove the plaque by spraying the trunk and wiping the leaves with an infusion of garlic, iodine and ash. In case of severe damage, use, according to the instructions, Metronidazole, Fitosporin.
Anthracnose
The infection becomes noticeable when brown, rounded spots with a black border appear. A humid environment favors the appearance of the disease. Subsequently, a dry and hot environment accelerates the destruction of the plant. The spots grow and deepen. Ulcers appear on the stems, holes on the leaves.If the Pachypodium is infected with anthracnose, the plant will need to be destroyed if the fungal infection has spread to the stems. The treatment consists of removing the damaged parts and treating the healthy parts with colloidal sulfur preparations or Bordeaux mixture.
pests
Succulents are susceptible to insect pests that prefer breathable soils.
root worm
The pest infects the roots of the plant. Its presence can only be reliably determined during transplantation. The fight against insects requires thoroughness and a long period.
The roots are washed from the ground. The affected areas are cut. Insecticidal treatment is carried out in 3 stages, throughout the month, in order to completely destroy the offspring of pests.
root nematode
The root system of the plant when attacked by nematodes becomes exhausted and dies over time, which leads to the death of the succulent. Worms can be found only when transplanting. Control measures: spreading soil with plant and chemical nematicides, spraying the roots in water up to 55 degrees.
Spider
Signs of a spider mite are drying out of the leaves, the appearance of cobwebs. The tick is removed by treatment with soap-alcohol, garlic solution, biological agents.
Shield
Small insects that have settled on the prickly shoots and leaf plates of Pachypodium can be eliminated only by timely treatment with enteric contact insecticides.
Thrips
The insects infect the lower part of the leaves by sucking the sap from the cells. Low humidity and high temperatures are favorable conditions. A temporary increase in the level of humidity in the air and soil will stop the spread of the pest. Chemical preparations for thrips: Vertimek, Evisect.
Care errors
To create favorable conditions for the development of succulents, avoid waterlogging the soil, especially in winter, the location of the pot under the draft, and shade.
Additional tips and tricks
The ground, prepared independently, must be sieved, steamed at a temperature of 55 degrees. The river sand is also washed, sieved and calcined. The pots in which the transplant will be carried out should be washed with warm water and detergents.