Variegated Araucaria is an evergreen coniferous tree from the Araucariaceae family. It is an endemic of the island of Norfolk, from where the plant was brought to Australia, where it successfully took root. This is the only species from the Araucariaceae family grown in indoor floriculture.
Under natural conditions, the tree grows up to 30 meters, and with a controlled growth at home - up to one and a half to two meters. It fits perfectly into spacious rooms and with proper care lives for several years.
Araucaria is a variegated native to the distant island of Norfolk, which is located near Australia. Here she was discovered by the famous James Cook during his second round-the-world trip. The plant also has a second name - Norfolk pine.
Araucaria feels most comfortable in a subtropical climate, growing up to 30 meters in height. The trunk of such a giant reaches one and a half meters in diameter.
External features
Variegated Araucaria has a symmetrical pyramidal crown. From the scaly trunk of gray-brown color horizontally branch its branches, which are arranged in tiers. Perhaps you are wondering why the araucaria has a multi-leafed name? It is explained by an interesting feature of the plant: on young trees (up to 30 years), the leaves have a different shape than on adults, and this makes them look almost different plants.
Initially, araucaria multifolia has slightly awl-shaped awl-shaped needles about 2 cm long. In adult specimens, scaly leaves appear on the branches. Young plants, namely they are grown at home, are very reminiscent of spruce, while adults growing in natural conditions are more like a pine tree. But, despite the apparent resemblance, neither pine nor spruce are close relatives of variegated araucaria, these are completely different conifers.
Due to its attractive appearance, the plant is gladly grown in many countries of the world with suitable living conditions. In colder climatic conditions, araucaria is multifolia - an indoor plant, which is most often grown in winter subtropical gardens.
Araucaria conditions at home
The plant perfectly adapted to life in offices and apartments. Often a indoor tree presents owners with requirements that differ from the conditions of its natural growth, for example, a pet can tolerate dry air or a higher temperature in winter. And now more about the features of the content.
The plant negatively refers to direct sunlight, especially at noon, prefers diffuse lighting or partial shade. It is desirable that the tree was placed in such a way that it was illuminated from all sides. Otherwise, it will have to be rotated from different sides to the light from time to time. If this is not done, your plant will lose its natural symmetry, and the shoots that lack light will begin to dry.
Perhaps one of the most important factors in caring for variegated araucaria at home, which affects the development of the plant. In summer, the indoor air temperature is comfortable for a room tree in the range of +18 ... + 24 ° C, in winter it should not rise above +14 ° C. Such a requirement forces owners to keep the Norfolk pine in the winter in a greenhouse or on a glazed and well-insulated loggia.
Keeping in a hot room for a long time will provoke yellowing and falling of leaves.
The multi-leaved araucaria does not tolerate dry air, especially at high temperatures, so you should spray the plant at least twice a day with rain or settled warm water. It should not be forgotten that under natural conditions, araucaria lives at air humidity up to 80%.
To grow araucaria at home, you will need special soil, which can be purchased in a specialized store or made independently from equal parts of turf land, peat, rotted conifer needles and sand. Too acidic soils can not be used, they are only added to the substrate. The soil should be breathable and loose with a good drainage layer (perlite, sand).
Araucaria: home care. Tips from experienced owners
- Araucaria requires timely watering. The plant does not tolerate either excess moisture or stagnation of water. The drying up of an earthen coma, as a rule, leads to irreversible consequences.
- Araucaria is watered only with warm settled, thawed or rainwater. In winter, when the air temperature drops, watering is rare.
- To create a more stable microclimate, put moss-sphagnum around the plant on the soil surface, which should always be moistened. This will help protect the surface of the soil from drying out.
- If you notice that the branches of araucaria are drooping, this may be a signal of excessive moisture in the soil or too high a temperature in the room. This situation can be easily corrected: tie the drooping branches so that they occupy a horizontal position, or create a support for them. The plant will quickly restore its shape, but subject to the basic conditions of detention.
- Airing a room of araucaria does not harm, because in natural conditions it is resistant to winds.
Transfer
Every four to five years, araucaria multiforum requires transshipment. Such an operation should be carried out especially carefully, since damage to the roots can be very dangerous for the tree. To prevent this from happening, the earthen lump is soaked in water before being removed from the pot and, without violating its integrity, is placed in a new container, adding fresh, fertile soil.
When planting, do not deepen the root neck. The tight capacity holds back the growth of araucaria. This should be followed when choosing a new pot.
Top dressing
Any plant needs timely fertilizing, not an exception and araucaria. Care at home for such a pet involves holding every three weeks (from April to August) fertilizing with mineral fertilizers for conifers. The rate indicated on the package is halved in order to prevent excessive horizontal growth of branches. In September, all feeding should be stopped. Thus, the tree is prepared for the rest period.
Pests
In dry air, spider mites can attack variegated araucaria, and in waterlogged soil, rot develops. In addition, mealybugs and thrips can pose a danger to the plant.
Reproduction of variegated araucaria
This is not the easiest procedure for caring for a plant. There are two ways of propagation: cuttings and sowing seeds. Experienced flower growers argue that araucaria, grown from apical cuttings, are more beautiful and thicker, have more attractive leaves than those grown from seeds. We will talk about this method in more detail.
In the spring, apical cuttings from an adult plant are cut and left for a day so that the slices dry out a little. After this, the cuttings are cleaned of juice and treated with charcoal or activated carbon, crushed into dust, or a root-forming agent. Then the cuttings are planted in a greenhouse filled with a wet mixture of peat and coarse sand in a ratio of 1: 1.
Seedlings are sprayed and aired daily, the optimum temperature for rooting is in the range of +22 ... + 24 ° C. If it is possible to organize the lower heating, be sure to do it. This technique will help accelerate root formation, which can last several months. Rooted cuttings are planted in individual pots with a diameter of 8 cm.