Some plants are acquired by lovers of home flowers due to the attractiveness of the leaves, others because of the colorful flowers. And the plant, which will be described below, can please almost any grower. It attracts the attention of absolutely everyone. This is an amazing exotic plant native to America.
In this article, everything will be presented with regard to a flower called pedilanthus: home care, types and varieties, what are the differences and many others. other
And the pedilanthus attracts attention first of all with its apparent artificiality. It is very similar to a plastic tree, and in different forms: variegated (white-green), ordinary (green).
Pedilanthus: photo, general information
The plant belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. These are, as a rule, abundantly branching shrubs, mainly growing in the wild in Central, North and South America.
This genus is characterized by significant differences in habitat, so pedilanthus are quite different in appearance.
For example, titymaloid pedilanthus is a small shrub that grows mainly in the dry forests of the tropics. Spur pedilanthus and Finca, inhabitants of dry and moist forests, respectively, may look like a small tree. A large-fruited pedilanthus (photo below) is essentially an almost leafless succulent, a feature of which is the presence of water-retaining tissues in it.
As for the name of the genus, it arose from 2 Greek words: “pedilon” (translated as “shoe”) and “anthos” (translated “flower”), which confirms the original shape of the flower of this plant.
The unusual shape of the flower in the form of shoes is a characteristic difference between pedilanthus from other plants. In this connection, these flowers became popular as indoor.
Description
The pedilanthus flower, born in the tropical dry forests of America, has several more features, the main of which is thick white juice (flows from the stem when it is damaged). Most pedilanthus are shrubs in shape, but at home, especially in tropical forests with a large amount of moisture in the air, they take the form of a small tree.
As for those species that are grown in the middle zone, these are mostly large shrubs, moreover, they take root well in home gardens (in summer) and in apartments.
An interesting and peculiar plant pedilanthus. Its flowering, as noted above, is quite unusual. As a home ornamental plant, it began to be used because of its exotic appearance. In addition to the peculiar shape of the flower, the leaves of some instances of the plant are turned into thorns and rather small rudimentary forms, while others have different colored leaves - a dark green core with a white border, etc.
Due to the fact that pedilanthus belongs to a group of plants whose shape and appearance depend rather strongly on the growing conditions, even with its unpretentiousness, it can grow completely different in appearance if the same cuttings are planted in places with different growing conditions.
And what factor affects this plant to a greater extent? Humidity of the soil and air: with an excess of it, the plant stretches upwards, and with a deficit it becomes like a dwarf one.
Pedilanthus: types
- Large-fruited pedilanthus - leafless succulents of a bush-like shape, having round stems (water storage) of a grayish-green color. It has the ability to change the shape of part of the stems from round to more flattened.
- Titimaloid pedilanthus is a bush-shaped plant with an unusual flower shape, similar to a bird or shoe. It also has spectacular variegated foliage, the colors of which vary from white to dark green with small white patches in the center of the leaf.
- Variegatus of this species has wavy, variegated leaves with short petioles and an uneven rim of porcelain-white color with a transition to pink or carmine-red. The fleshy green stem has a zigzag shape, due to the fact that with the process of growing the leaf, it changes direction. Usually, flowers appear in his autumn, forming at the tops of the stems inflorescences with shiny red covering leaves.
- Finca in nature grows in humid tall trunk rainforests, in undergrowths. The plant is bush-shaped, preferring mainly light and loose substrates.
Growing conditions
How to grow pedilanthus at home? Home care has certain features.
This plant prefers brighter places, but without the presence of direct rays of the sun. In summer, pedilanthus can be taken out to a personal plot, where it must also be protected from rain and direct sunlight. In winter, you must use additional lighting.
The preferred temperature for pedilanthus in spring and summer is approximately + 25 ° C, and the influx of fresh air is not bad for him. Autumn indoor temperature should be + 14-18 ° C. In such conditions, the plant feels quite comfortable, and therefore the plant does not very strongly discard the foliage.
Watering
Pedilanthus is not capricious, he does not need any special mode regarding air humidity. And the soil should always be moderately moist. In the case of its drying, the pedilanthus indoor, as a rule, begins to shower the leaves.
In winter, it should also be watered sparingly, avoiding severe waterlogging or, conversely, prolonged drying of the substrate.
To choose the right watering regime, you need to pay attention to the leaves. Lowering turgor (leaves wilting) is the surest signal for watering. If there is insufficient moisture, the plant may begin to discard foliage.
Soil and fertilizer
The best for pedilanthus is a substrate that is light, neutral, water- and breathable. A mixture of sand with leaves and turf is well suited.
It is advisable to feed pedilanthus every month from spring to autumn with fertilizers with a low nitrogen content, due to the fact that from its excess the plant can rot. It is necessary to stop feeding from the autumn, and in winter do not do this.
Transplantation and reproduction
And it’s not difficult to transplant pedilanthus. Reproduction and transplantation do not require much effort.
Like all plants, pedilanthus is best replanted in the spring, but only as necessary, that is, when the roots completely fill the volume of the pot. The root system of this plant is quite compact. The height of the pot should be approximately equal to its diameter.
For a more successful cultivation of the plant in question, it is necessary to put a claydite layer on the bottom of the pot due to the sensitivity of the substrate to acidification.
In general, we can say unpretentious pedilanthus. Home care for this plant is not complicated.
And how does it breed? Pedilanthus can be propagated by seeds, but the main method is apical cuttings.
The plant is cuttings in spring or early summer, for which the tops of shoots up to 10 centimeters long are cut off. And in order for the juice to completely flow out, the cuttings are lowered into warm water, and then dried. Moreover, before planting, the cuttings must be dried for 2 days, depending on their size. The container with planted cuttings does not need to be covered with polyethylene or a lid, as they may rot.
Root should be in sand or perlite at an air temperature of 20-25 ° C. The lower leaves of the cuttings are removed during rooting to prevent rotting. Under good conditions, rooting occurs in about 2-3 weeks.
In the process of plant transplantation, precautions should be observed, since caustic sap of the plant can adversely affect the skin condition.
About Diseases
Subject to various diseases, like many plants, pedilanthus.
Diseases are all associated mainly with fungi. If a cuttings are darkened, and subsequently rotting it, damage should be removed immediately. To a greater extent, various insects do much damage to this plant.
Pests
- Aphids especially love the young leaves of the tops of the stems, which is why they cease to grow and twist. It is necessary to wash off the pests with a strong stream of water or treat the whole plant with an insecticide solution, and remove the damaged deformed leaves.
- Vital activity of the spider mite leads to yellowing of the leaves with their subsequent withering. A thin cobweb appears on their lower surface. In this case, the plant should be treated with acaricide, and then maintain the appropriate humidity.
- The mealybug contributes to the appearance on the stems and sinuses of the leaves of a sticky cotton-like gun, after which the plant also stops growing. It is necessary to remove the pest with a cotton swab wound on a stick and soaked in alcohol.
- From whiteflies, pendilanthus leaves turn yellow and become sticky. In addition, white small midges fly off the plant in contact with it. Wash them off with a strong water jet. Particularly severely affected areas should be treated with an insecticide solution.
Plant features
- If the pedilanthus drops the leaves, then there has been a violation of the irrigation regime, or there is not enough light, or, conversely, an excess of it.
- If in winter the plant is very stretched, it means that there is not enough light for it or the conditions are too warm.
- Yellowing of the leaves and their drying is associated with too dry air and hot sun.
- The development of smaller whole-green leaves (instead of large and variegated) and rapidly falling leaves indicates a lack of light.
- If the petioles do not develop, and the leaves turn green, it means that the soil contains an excess of nitrogen.
- The rapid falling of leaves indicates a plant undercooling during ventilation in the winter. If the stems did not have time to freeze and remained green, then the plant will not die. And if it is seized with frost, then you need to cut off the dead parts and wait for the emergence of new young shoots.
Conclusion
Original and unique plant pedilanthus. Home care is not complicated, and the flower is good by itself.
This plant is considered one of the most ideal for growing at home. Simple and patient care for him will help to get a wonderful exotic addition to the design of the apartment, especially since it does not take up much space in the room.