Aucuba has become the decoration of many rooms. Golden blotches on the leaves make the plant especially attractive. These unusual spots gave him a second name - a golden tree. During the flowering period of the plant, among the marble leaves, small red flowers are visible, and then the same color of the berry appears. But which aucuba prefers home care? Caring for this unpretentious plant does not really require much work.
This flower is good in that it is suitable even for people who do not particularly like to mess with all kinds of plants. It fits into almost any interior and does not require the creation of special conditions. Of the several varieties of plants, the most popular is Japanese aucuba. Despite the unwillingness of the Japanese to share their green treasure, it still pleases the eye of residents of many countries today. Let’s talk in more detail what Japanese aucuba prefers and breeding at home.
Lighting
Aucuba Japanese is very unpretentious. The natural zone of its growth is the subtropical forest, which means that it is adapted to survive in deep shade. So what in terms of light regimes does aubub care at home? Plant care should include its provision with diffused light.
That is, the plant can be placed anywhere in the room, but taking into account access to at least some part of the sunlight. For juiciness of the color of the leaves, it is desirable that the flower still does not stand in the corner farthest from the window. But the direct rays of the sun can very adversely affect the golden tree.
Summer temperature
The only difficulty that the content of an exotic aucuba implies at home is the adjustment of the temperature regime. The plant simply does not tolerate very high temperatures. Moreover, such for him is a temperature that exceeds 20 ° C. Too hot air can cause early aging of the aucuba. This will manifest itself in the fact that she will begin to lose her marble leaves.
But in order not to lose the leaves, what does aucub care require at home? Care, if the room temperature cannot be reduced, should consist of transferring it to the street. If we are talking about an apartment, you can take out the flower for the whole summer on the balcony. If there is no balcony, it is time to move the pot to the farthest and darkest corner. It is better to let the leaves lose their color than completely crumble.
Winter temperature
Ideally, the temperature of the air surrounding the plant is best changed gradually. Aucuba tolerates winter well under thermal conditions, which ranges from 7 to 15 ° C. Temperature below 5 ° C is unacceptable. And if it is much higher than 15, it is quite possible that the plant will drop leaves.
It is clear that for a person +15 indoors - it is too cold. Try to at least position the golden tree as far as possible from the radiators and in the coolest room in the house. The rest is not so capricious aukuba Japanese. Even a child can take care of her at home.
Watering and feeding
And in terms of air humidity, what kind of aucub care should I get at home? Caring for it requires an unequal amount of moisture all year round. In winter, the flower must be sown occasionally, it is better to spray it with water more often. If at this time the aucub is heavily poured, the leaves will be covered with black spots. Instead of frequent watering during this period, it is better to try to moisten the golden tree through a sprayer more often. In winter, when the flower ceases to grow actively, it does not require top dressing.
In summer, aucuba, on the contrary, needs nutrients. It needs to be fed once a week. For a good effect, you can alternate organic fertilizers with mineral fertilizers. In summer, there is no particular need to spray the plant, but it is necessary to water it whenever the topsoil is dry.
Pruning and transplanting
The formation of the crown of aucuba is best started in the spring. In order for the bush to have a beautiful shape and sufficient splendor, pruning and grafting are carried out. Cut pieces can be used for propagation. In addition, the Japanese Aucuba flower also needs a regular transplant. Home care means choosing the right time for this and providing the right soil.
While the plant is young, it should be replanted in new soil every year. If you have to deal with a perennial flower (over 5 years old), change the soil should be somewhat less common. In this case, it is best to navigate the root system. When it penetrates all the soil in the flowerpot, a transplant is necessary.
Breeding
It is extremely difficult to get aucuba seeds, because to get them you need to have a female and a male plant. But there is an easier way to multiply it. This can be done with cuttings. The best time to cut them is August-September or March-April. It is better to stop your choice on a lignified shank with a few leaves and buds ready to open.
In order for the cuttings to take root, they need to be planted in sand or a sand-peat mixture. After this, it is necessary to build a so-called greenhouse. For this purpose, cover the stalk with a jar or plastic bag. Do not forget about watering, spraying and airing the handle. If everything goes right, then by the spring a good root system will develop. Around April, the flower can be planted in the prepared soil.
The soil
Aucuba, which is easy to care for at home, does not require any special approach to prepare the soil in which it will grow. It would be good to observe such approximate proportions: for 600 g of clay-soddy soil, take 200 g of leaf and 200 g of peat and add about 100 g of sand to the mixture. In such a composition, the aucub will feel great.
In another case, you can mix peat, leaf and humus soil and sand in equal amounts, and then add to them twice the amount of turf. Drainage is necessarily placed at the bottom of the flowerpot, since the aucuba, which is easy to care for at home and reproduce, does not like excessive humidity. Another possible option is to grow the plant in a nutrient solution without using soil.
It is important to be aware of the dangers posed by aucuba. Caring for a plant at home, in a garden or office is sometimes associated with a health risk. All parts of this beautiful and, at first glance, harmless flower are poisonous. If this poison enters the body, it can cause an inflammatory process in the stomach and intestines, diarrhea, and blood in the urine. It is very important to protect your children and pets from contact with him.
The pride of the Japanese, aucuba, can decorate any room. This flower is appreciated by designers and people who do not like to care for plants. All that is required for a golden tree to have a lush crown and beautiful leaves is to provide it with suitable soil, replant and prune it once a year or less, try not to expose it to temperatures critical to it, and do not forget to periodically water and feed it.