Aichrison is a succulent plant that, under natural conditions, grows in the southern territories of Europe, in the Canary Islands and in Morocco.
The peculiarity of this amazing plant is the shape of the leaves, resembling hearts. They gave rise to its popular name - the tree of love. Aikhrizon (photos, home care are presented in the article) is very decorative.
general information
This is not really a tree. Most of the species are herbaceous plants. There are many bushes among them.
The connection of this plant with love is quite clearly traced. Many signs about him endow him with the ability to predict important changes regarding the relationship between lovers. This plant is often called both the "tree of happiness" and the "money tree".
This low, highly branched succulent belonging to the family Crassulaceae, is unpretentious in its care and growth conditions, is decorative, easily propagates and grows quickly. Beautiful bonsai are obtained from this unusual plant, since it is easy to form.
This article provides information about the love tree Aichrison: signs, reviews. Here you can also learn about the features of caring for this amazing plant.
Description
The plant belongs to the genus Aichryson, which in total includes 15 varieties.
Aichrison love tree is a low plant (up to 40 cm) with fragile stems. The base has a lignified form only in adult plants. Smooth small leaves with the presence of slightly noticeable pubescence on them are painted in grayish-green or green shades. Depending on the type, their shape can be rhomboid, heart-shaped, spade, etc.
Most often, the tree blooms in April-May. The inflorescence, located on a not very long peduncle (height up to 20 cm), has the form of shields or loose panicles. Star-shaped flowers are predominantly yellow in color.
Growing conditions
This plant is easy to care for at home. Aichrison tree of love is unpretentious and prefers moderation in everything. And it is not picky about growing conditions. A place suitable for him is bright, but without direct sunlight. This condition is necessary in order to avoid the appearance of a burn on the leaves. However, even when it is in the sun, the tree will live, but will cringe a little. In a very shaded place, it will lose its compactness and become loose.
Flower containers for Aichrison should not be selected "for growth" due to the fact that it has a meager root system. It is necessary to provide for the presence of drainage at the bottom of the pot. It feels great on light nutrient soil (preferably neutral). You can add crushed brick or coarse sand to the soil . Suitable for this plant and the soil mixture intended for cacti.
Aichrison grows well indoors all year long. Ideal conditions are warm summers (temperature + 21-25 ° ) and cool winters (+ 8-12 ° ). Under such a regime, the plant will be able to rest in the fall, and bloom in the spring.
Regarding watering, moderation should also be taken into account: in summer this procedure should be carried out as needed, and rarely in winter. This succulent is able to easily tolerate temporary drought. For the plants, the humidity inherent in ordinary apartments is sufficient.
Kinds
Below are some varieties of achichrison.
- Home. This kind of love tree Aichrison (see photo in the article) is a hybrid obtained from a sinuous and dotted Aichrison. This is a low shrub with a rounded crown. The fleshy leaves have a slight pubescence and a white border around the edges. The flowers are yellow fragrant.
- Loose or outstretched. The leaf rosettes of this species are more friable than that of home achichrison. And the leaves are longer, and they have white short hairs. The peculiarity of the leaves is the ability to change color depending on the lighting. The leaves appear bronze in bright light, dark green in weak light. The flowers are golden. When flowering, which lasts about 6 months, many leaves are discarded.
- Winding. Strongly branched shrub and not very tall (no more than 20 cm). Rhomboid pubescent fleshy leaves are covered with white villi. Long flowering - up to 6 months.
- Clear-leaved. Very beautiful variety with leaves of a light green hue, decorated with reddish stripes. The height of the bush reaches 40 cm. Its flowers have a golden yellow hue.
- Point. The bush is about 40 cm high. The leaves are dark green in color. Yellow flowers are shaped like stars.
- Shrubby. This is a rather rare dwarf species, growing in height up to 15 cm. Under natural conditions, it is found only in crevices of rocks located in the south of Portugal. Leaves with a slight pubescence have an interesting property - the ability to change color when changing lighting (from bronze to dark green). Flowering duration - up to six months. The flowers are golden.
Rules for home care
Aichrison - a barometer of family relations. Such an important plant needs proper care, although it is not particularly demanding on it.
- Watering the plant, as noted above, should be infrequent. This is due to the fact that it has the ability to accumulate moisture, and abundant watering can provoke root decay. In order to understand whether the plant needs moisture, touch the stem. Elasticity suggests that watering is not necessary yet. If it is sluggish and squeezed, it means that water is urgently needed.
- Periodic showering will allow the plant to free itself from accumulations of dust and restore its normal form. But this should be done only during the period of its development or flowering. Aichrison love tree cannot be bathed in moments of peace.
- Water for irrigation should be soft and settled.
- You can fertilize the plant once a month with funds intended for succulents.
- In the presence of fungal diseases, it is necessary to immediately cut healthy fragments to obtain a new plant using the vegetative method of propagation. It is impossible to completely save him in this case.
- To control pests, special chemical solutions are used. Although this is quite rare. Only in hot weather can a scab and a spider mite appear.
One more important point should be noted. One of the characteristics of the plant is the content of poison in its juice. It can cause poisoning, and in this regard, the flower should be kept away from small children and animals.
More on fertilizer application
Once every 2-3 weeks, during the active vegetation of the plant, you should water it with a solution of special fertilizer for succulents and cacti. If it is difficult to find such top dressing, then it is not worth making anything at all.
Such products differ from universal fertilizers in the lowest nitrogen content. Aichrison and other succulents treat him badly.
Breeding
It is very easy to propagate the Aichrison tree of love (see photo in the article). It is able to give air roots.
Cuttings for propagation should be taken during the formation of the bush. It is enough to stick them into the soil at any time of the year, after which they quickly take root. Rooting also occurs well in water with pieces of coal added to it. But this method can lead to decay of the cuttings, especially small ones.
Formation
Aichrison love tree looks beautiful and exotic in the room. Caring for him includes the mandatory formation of a bush. Without such a procedure, fragile overgrown branches with an asymmetrical crown can break under the weight of their branches and leaves.
As noted above, this plant is great for creating bonsai. You can give it the shape of a miniature tree, from it you can create a ball and bizarre silhouettes. In addition, pruning stimulates the growth of new young branches. This procedure should be carried out several times a year. Growers should not be afraid of the gradual fall of leaves after they dry. This is a completely normal phenomenon that occurs during the growth of the bush and during flowering.
Under the natural conditions of growth, Aichrison is a sprawling shrub. When keeping his house, regular pruning can transform it into a kind of miniature tree.
How it's done? During the period of intensive plant growth, the tops of newly forming shoots need to be nipped about 2-3 cm. You should also get rid of unsuccessfully located (sticking out) and weak branches. And after a period of rest of the plant, if you lose your good shape, it is best to re-root the cuttings cut from it. You should not spend time on any attempts to return decorativeness to the old plant. A new tree will grow quite quickly.
Signs
According to some beliefs, the Aichrison love tree will bloom only in the house where there is mutual understanding and harmony. The flower does not feel well in an atmosphere of hostility. Flowering in such an environment stops, the leaves wither and begin to dry and fall off. It is important to notice the deterioration of the plant in time and try to prevent the situation from worsening and establish normal relations.
According to superstitions, only the restoration of good relations at all levels (emotional, spiritual and sexual) will help return the plant to its former fragrant appearance. The blooming of its flowers will indicate that nothing threatens marriage anymore.
There are signs that interpret the flowering of indoor Aikhrizon not as an indicator of the situation in the family, but as a way to strengthen relations. We can say that even if this tree is just in the house, it will always contribute to peace and harmony in the family.
Signs for prosperity
There are beliefs according to which the tree of love is able to increase the income of the owner of the plant. Aichrison, growing in a house where they carefully care for him, is also able to help the owner. Possible unexpected bonuses, winnings and finds.
However, some experts say that only purchased plants bring financial assistance, and donated plants can cause losses and unforeseen expenses. Therefore, for the tree of love received as a gift, one should give a coin in exchange (pay off from the forces of the dark).
Signs for the lonely
According to some indications, the Aichrison tree of love should be brought to people who dream of a serious and strong relationship. A plant located in the house is able to prompt its owner about the presence of a person next to him, suitable for living together. The beginning of the flowering of the plant suggests that the only one loved by him appeared in the life of the owner, destined for him. In this situation, you should not miss your chance. And if the flower withers and dries, you should not count on the next marriage.
This plant can help girls who dream of getting married, but do not notice worthy partners near them. Similar observations can be made during a romantic relationship. If Aichrison is fresh and cheerful, then a relationship with this lover can bring happiness. If, on the contrary, the condition of the flower worsens, you should take a closer look at the person.
It is important to remember that signs only work if the plant is properly taken care of. That is, to use the unusual capabilities of the tree, you need to make every effort for the comfortable growth of Aichrison.
Opinions of gardeners about the plant
Almost all flower growers about this plant give the most positive reviews. Aichrison love tree perfectly survives in any conditions. And this is one of the most attractive moments. Many people think that it should be in every house, because they call it a tree of happiness and love. Is it bad to grow love and happiness?
And it looks like a real small tree with a good thick crown. This flower can be called grateful and sweet. It looks great with any room design. The only slight drawback is the falling of leaves during the flowering period. Pretty soon, new young leaves appear, thanks to which the plant is quickly restored.
The compactness of the plant is another important advantage of it, thanks to which many flower growers grow it in their homes.
Conclusion
It just so happened that ahichrison is a guarantee of well-being and peace in the house. He retains love, so he is often given to new settlers, newlyweds and spouses who celebrate anniversary dates. This is the best assistant in finding the only and beloved person. The most reliable indicator of excellent relationships and "weather in the house" is the flowering of Aichrison. And best of all, if it will be long.