Pedilanthus titimaloid - care and reproduction of a houseplant
Content:
Indoor flower pedilanthus arrived in Russia from the USA. Its exotic appearance has attracted flower growers for many years. It can grow as a shrub, succulent. Before you bring this unique tropical flower into your home, you should familiarize yourself with its characteristics and figure out how to properly care for it.
Pedilanthus - what kind of flower is it, what family it belongs to
Pedilanthus, or pedilanthus, belongs to the succulents of the Euphorbia family. The name of the species is of Greek origin and translates as "flower" and "shoe". When the plant is cut and damaged, a thick white sap appears.
Outdoor pedilanthus
Short description, history of origin
In its natural environment, the species grows in tropical and subtropical climates. The pedilanthus flower can be found in absolutely all states of America. The appearance of the plant directly depends on the region of its location.
Varieties of varieties
If the culture grows in an extremely dry climate, then it is a succulent species that does not have leaves on fleshy shoots. A flower can not only accumulate moisture, but also retain it for a long time.
In humid climates, the crop grows as a shrub that grows up to 2 m in height. It was from there that the well-known subspecies originated - titimaloid pedilanthus. Only he was able to "domesticate" the breeders.
The stems of the plant are thick, can reach 1-2 cm in diameter. The color of the leaves ranges from olive to gray. The shape of the leaf plate can be oval or ovoid. Feature - pointed tips and wavy edges.
Varieties of indoor plants with names, what they look like
In natural conditions, a huge number of species grow, but only a few have taken root in the conditions of the house.
Large pedilanthus (Pedilanthus macrocarpus)
The species is not endowed with foliage. Round branches can be green or gray. The color changes depending on the growing conditions. An interesting feature of the variety is that shoots can store water in themselves for a long time. Thickening of the stems is not uncommon.
Pedilanthus macrocarpus
Pedilanthus tithymaloides
The most curious of the species. Its flowers have an interesting shape and are somewhat similar to a tiny bird. The leaf plates are not only framed with white threads, but also have white specks in the center.
Titimaloid variety
The variety has another variety - variegated pedilanthus. A distinctive feature is wavy leaves with small petioles. The stems are zigzag-shaped, the appearance of each young leaf changes the direction of growth. In October, the species begins to bloom actively.
Pedilanthus finkii
This variety grows in tropical climates. Loose and light soil is suitable for him. Zigzag leaves are colored bright green. It has another name - variegated pedilanthus.
Pedilanthus Finca
How to care for pedilanthus titimaloid at home
The main reason why succulents are so loved by flower growers is their ease of growing and care. Pedilanthus is absolutely unpretentious to external factors, but one should not forget about the necessary measures. Thanks to competent care, he will amaze with his appearance for many years. For a pedilanthus plant, home care consists in fulfilling a number of conditions of detention.
Illumination and temperature conditions
For pedilanthus, care consists in choosing the most illuminated place. Direct sunlight is not recommended. At the peak of solar activity, it is advisable to shade the flower. Even in winter, during the dormant period, additional lighting is used for milkweed. Daylight hours should not be shorter than 12 hours.
Flower placement
In hot weather, fresh air has a beneficial effect on the plant. A great place to do this is a balcony or a street. During the dormant period, the increased air temperature leads to a change in the green color of the leaves.
The indoor plant pedilanthus is absolutely indifferent to temperature extremes. In summer, the temperature can easily vary from +20 to +28 ℃, in winter, it can drop to +14 ℃.
Watering rules and humidity
Watering is carried out only at the moment when the leaf plates begin to fall. Another guideline for soil moistening is the drying of the soil to a depth of 2-3 cm. During the dormant period, the species is watered no more than 2 times a month.
For humidification, use warm, settled water. Water directly under the root. When watering, it should not be allowed to get liquid on the leaf plates and the trunk.
The view does not require additional water procedures. It does not need to be sprayed or maintained at a specific humidity level in the room. An adult flower is able to do without water for a long time. If you keep the succulent for a long time without moisture, it will begin to shed its leaves, but it will not die.
Top dressing and soil quality
For the species, loose and drained soil is used. This allows you not to feed. As necessary, use liquid preparations intended for cacti or succulent crops. In winter, it is strictly forbidden to apply fertilizers.
Flower container size
The pedilanthus pot can be made of plastic, clay or ceramic. The size of the container should correspond to the size of the roots.
Young flowers are best planted in small containers. Expanded clay or gravel is laid at the bottom. The addition of charcoal to the drainage decontaminates the soil.
Pruning and replanting
After hibernation, the plant is pruned. This allows not only to form a beautiful crown, but also carries sanitary functions. During pruning, processes of at least 10 cm are left, each should have at least 2-3 dormant buds, which immediately grow.
You can transplant the plant 1-2 times a year. The operation is carried out as the volume of the pot is filled with roots. The next container should be several centimeters larger than the previous one. It is important to start transplanting at a time when the flower has already fully adapted after hibernation.
Transplant actions:
- The container is filled with a drainage layer.
- Part of the prepared substrate is poured.
- As carefully as possible, the flower is placed in a prepared pot.
- The root system is covered with soil.
- The top layer is carefully compacted.
- Produce strong soil moisture.
Features of flowering plants
Compliance with the rules of home care for the titimaloid pedilanthus leads to the appearance of beautiful and unusual inflorescences. Not every experienced florist can tell how pedilanthus blooms. This is due to the fact that even the slightest violation of the rules of care does not allow the plant to bloom.
Milkweed flowers
Flowering occurs from December to January. Paniculate inflorescences form at the very tips of the branches. The bracts are the most decorative, not flowers. The color ranges from pink to bright red.
A period of activity and rest
If the period of plant activity is too long, this can lead to a lack of flowering. When the temperature requirements are not observed during the growing season, this leads to "leaf fall". What to do if pedilanthus leaves fall at the moment of maximum activity? First of all, adjust the temperature in the place where the flower grows.
Types and shape of flowers
The flowering of pedilanthus is abundant, at the same time there can be from 50 to 60 unusual inflorescences on the plant. Pedilanthus flowers have an external resemblance to women's shoes. Because of this feature, the flower was named "Fairy Shoes".
Flower shape
Flower reproduction methods
How to propagate pedilanthus at home? There are only two ways to propagate pedilanthus: by seeds, cuttings.
Propagation by apical cuttings
For the pedilanthus species, propagation by cuttings is carried out in early spring. For this, the strongest and most powerful branches are selected. The procedure is performed in stages:
- the stalk is cut with the sharpest possible knife or blade;
- the future seedling is washed with cold water;
- the shoot is dried at room temperature for 24 hours;
- to root pedilanthus, use light soil; the resulting trim is planted in a perlite mixture or river sand;
- it is important to maintain the soil temperature around 22-25 ℃.
Division by cuttings
Often inexperienced growers resort to rooting pedilanthus with water. If you put a freshly cut stalk in a glass of water, then literally within 2-3 weeks you can see the first roots.
Seed propagation
Pedilanthus is also propagated by seed. The seeds can be harvested by yourself, or can be purchased at a specialized store. Before planting in the ground, the planting material must be soaked. For these purposes, a manganese solution has proven itself well. Planting is carried out in neutral soil to a depth of no more than 1 cm. With this method of cultivation, the varietal characteristics of the species are not lost.
Growing problems, diseases and pests
With this type of problems arise only due to a gross violation of the rules for caring for the plant:
- The shrub does not bloom.
- The plant sheds foliage.
- The lower leaves dry.
- The leaf plates change their color.
- The shape of the shoots changes, the stems lengthen.
The immunity of this species is strong. This is the main reason why practically no diseases "stick" to this plant. Sometimes pedilanthus is affected by fungal infections.
If you do not follow the rules of care, the succulent can be attacked by harmful parasites: spider mites, common worms, flower aphids, whitefly butterfly.
How to deal with them
Problems are solved with the help of competent adjustment of the conditions of detention: compliance with the rest regime, the availability of light and timely moistening of the soil.
Emergency treatment of the flower with soapy water and insecticides will save from the invasion of pests. Also, in the event of the appearance of insects on the plant, all areas damaged by parasites are removed.
Pedilanthus titimaloid
Pedilanthus is not just an unpretentious plant - it is an elegant representative of the Molochaev family. Placing in a well-lit area and creating a "tropical" environment will result in the exquisite flower blooming profusely.
