The excellent decorative effect of silver acacia, better known as mimosa, has always inspired poets and artists. The refined Australian from the legume family has long conquered the southern regions of Russia, spread to the Caucasus and the Black Sea coast, and also very confidently mastered the south of the North American states. And although this is not mimosa, but silver acacia - a plant belonging to another family - the magnificent sight of its lush flowering is impressive: the gentle sunny trees leave no one indifferent. Let's talk about this interesting plant, its useful and decorative properties, agricultural cultivation technique.
Acacia silver: treatment, application
Light and heat-loving culture, widespread in the tropical regions of all continents, is used to decorate and landscaping park alleys. Garden interior designers consider it a fertile material for use in various compositions, both group and single.
Amazing decorativeness is combined in this plant with a very high healing ability. The healing qualities of the bark and the gum solution of the tree are different. With anti-inflammatory and enveloping effects, it is used for inflammation and ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract, neutralizing the irritating effect of drugs and significantly reducing the pain that always accompanies diseases of the stomach and intestines. Although in traditional medicine, infusions and decoctions made on the basis of acacia derivatives are not used, their beneficial effect on the human body has been proven.
Acacia silver: treatment methods, harvesting
Bark and gum from incisions made previously are harvested after fruiting in August-September. Raw materials should be harvested in dry weather, in the morning, until the sun is too hot.
Simple decoctions of acacia bark are used as a very effective astringent. Acacia oil used in home cosmetology is distinguished by excellent qualities. This is a good antiseptic that relieves irritations on the skin that occur both with errors in the diet and from any minor mechanical damage. The oil recommended for oily skin care perfectly tones and rejuvenates it. In addition, as decoctions and infusions, the oil has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and wound healing effect, so people who have problematic and excessively sensitive skin need it. The pleasant aroma of silver acacia is used in aromatherapy: being a natural antidepressant, it soothes and has a deep sleep.
View Features
Silver acacia, growing up to 10-12 m (and up to 30 m in the homeland), is a beautiful spreading tree, mesmerizing during the flowering period and striking with enviable fertility. Cirrus-complex leaves, graceful, as if cut by a cutter of a skilled craftsman, can reach 20 cm in length. A delicate silver coating on the foliage and young shoots of culture is a distinctive feature of this type of acacia, which is also noted in its name.
The flowering tree falls during the period from February to April - the Australian roots of the plant are affected, because this time falls there in the spring. Small yellow flowers are collected in small balls-inflorescences, forming large fluffy brushes with a delicate fresh aroma. High decorativeness of the culture is ensured by the duration of the flowering period: not every tree can provide such a festive spectacle for two, or even three months. Like all legumes, acacia fruits are somewhat curved oblate pods that reach a length of 8-10 cm. Silvery acacia seeds are medium-sized beans 2-4 mm in size, covered with a dense protective shell.
Acacia is unpretentious and hardy, and in addition, it has another valuable quality - it can be grown not only in parks and gardens, but also at home. It becomes a wonderful decoration of spacious winter gardens and bright greenhouses, surprisingly pliable for the formation of compositions in the famous bonsai style.
Creating conditions for growing crops at home
Given that silver acacia is a very thermophilic plant and is able to develop exclusively at positive temperatures and plenty of light, it is cultivated only in the southern regions.
But the florists of the whole world are granted the happiness to see this magnificent plant in their own home. Due to the high degree of adaptation, silver acacia feels excellent at home, as evidenced by its lush flowering.
Lighting requirements
Acacia is photophilous. The sun's rays are necessary for her, if they are lacking, the plant will not bloom. Due to its southern origin, silver acacia develops well even in direct sunlight, and in winter it requires additional lighting for 3-4 hours a day. The best place to place it indoors is by the window facing the south side.
Temperature mode
The plant has no special requirements for home growth. Nevertheless, you should be aware of some of its features. In summer, the optimal indoor air temperature for a comfortable tree should be 24-27 º. The action is indifferent to air humidity, and it does not need additional sprayings. In the summer, it is desirable to place the acacia on the balcony, it needs fresh air. You can dig it in the garden along with the container in which it grows by choosing a sunny light area.
In winter, silver acacia feels very confident at ordinary room temperature. It is necessary to ensure that the air in the room has been warmed up, it should not fall below 10-12 º. In this case, the development of the plant is suspended, and in fact winter is the time of flowering of acacia.
Seed propagation
Unpretentious silver acacia equally successfully propagated by seeds and cuttings. The plant loves light water- and breathable soils, therefore, for better germination, a mixture of equal shares of leafy soil and river sand with the addition of vermiculite is prepared, and the seeds are soaked in water heated to 60 º with the addition of 1-2 drops of a growth biostimulator (“Epin” is suitable or "Zircon") for 1-2 days.
You need to carefully monitor the seeds, avoiding acidification of the water. Seeds are planted, deepening them by 0.5 cm, abundantly moisten the substrate in the container and cover the plantings with glass or film. The containers are installed in a warm, bright place, with a constantly maintained temperature of 22-25 º. For germination, the seeds will need from 1 to 5 weeks. The amplitude in the timing is due solely to the quality of the seeds.
Sprouted seedlings grow intensively, as several true leaves emerge, they are dived into separate containers filled with a substrate consisting of leaf and sod land mixed with sand. The main role in the good development of the seedling is played by light and heat. With these two components, the seedlings quickly turn into young trees and can bloom in the 2nd year.
Acacia cuttings
Apical stem cuttings are cut after flowering or at the end of summer. Perfect for reproduction, shoots removed during the pruning process. The optimal length of the prepared cuttings is 10 cm. Before planting, they are stimulated in a solution of "Epina" or any other similar preparation for 6-8 hours.
It is very effective to use small mini-greenhouses for rooting. If the cuttings are planted in separate containers, then they are covered with a glass jar or plastic wrap. Such structures will create a constant moist and warm microclimate, contributing to faster rooting of the cuttings. The soil can be used universal, purchased in the store, adding a small amount of river sand.
The substrate is abundantly and evenly moistened, the cuttings are planted and either placed in a mini-greenhouse or covered with pots in each pot. In the process of rooting, they should not be removed. Plants do not need watering at this time - silvery acacia seedlings are moistened due to accumulating condensate.
Containers with landed cuttings set in a warm sunny place. The most comfortable temperature for quality rooting is 22-24 º. If heating is provided from below, its speed will increase. Typically, cuttings take root within two to three months.
The subtleties of care
A fairly unpretentious mimosa (silver acacia) successfully survives at home, pleasing with beautiful flowering and excellent decorativeness. There are usually no serious problems in caring for her. Plant care is to maintain moderate soil moisture, timely top dressing and transplants.
It grows quite quickly, so a young plant should be transplanted annually. Sometimes a very large culture may require unscheduled transshipment if the capacity becomes small. In this case, having prepared a larger pot in advance, the acacia is well watered and gently pulled out together with a lump of earth covering the root system. Set the plant in the center of the prepared container and add the missing amount of soil on the sides. It is necessary to periodically inspect the plant. Acacia is a whitish silver - a very suitable object of attack by pests. But it can simply be unwell from a lack or excess of nutrients.
Transplantation
Characterized by intensive growth, especially in the first years of life, acacia is transplanted into a wider and deeper capacity every year. Transplants are carried out after the plant fades. The soil is prepared from a mixture of turf and leafy soil with humus and sand, which will add nutrients to the composition and increase its breathability. In the process of transplantation, attention is paid to the condition of the roots, broken or decayed must be removed.
Having comfortably placed the plant in a container, it is gently filled with new soil, compacted the surface and generously moisturized.
Top dressing and watering
Active growth of acacia requires intensive watering with a regularity of 1-2 times a week, during the dormant period, the plant is watered once every 10 days. Nevertheless, you need to focus on the state of culture. In very hot weather, the frequency of irrigation is increased, if necessary, spray the acacia.
Throughout the entire period of activity, acacia is fed with solutions of complex fertilizers. She responds well to fertilizers of the peat-humic group. Top dressing is carried out once every 3 weeks. During dormancy, fertilizing the plant is not recommended.
Crown formation
All representatives of the legume family grow very quickly, and silver acacia is no exception. Cultivation and care, especially of high quality, give tangible results: for the spring-summer period, it gives a significant increase. To avoid thickening and giving the crown a beautiful shape, pruning is necessary. I must say that acacia tolerates this procedure well. Thickness of the crown is extremely harmful. The sun's rays do not penetrate the overgrown areas of the crown, flowering on them is noticeably reduced. However, the risk of various pathologies increases.
Therefore, after flowering, the plant is inspected, weak and growing branches growing inside the crown are cut. Shaping the desired volume, shorten the shoots, thereby increasing the decorativeness of the culture, at the same time sanitizing it.
A decorative and beautifully flowering culture does not give much care compared to the joy that acacia silvery fills your home. Growing it is not associated with a large expenditure of time and effort, but the pleasure is huge.