Pachyphytum - perennial leaf succulent plant. Belongs to the Families family. The name of the pachyphitum is formed by two Greek words: “groins” is thick, “phytum” is a leaf.
It is also translated as “thick-walled”. it drought-resistant, evergreen, long-lived, flowering plant.
Homeland of pachyphytum is Mexico, its areas with arid climate. It is also found in southern America. We owe Peter the First to the appearance of a succulent in Russia.
Description
Pachyphytum is an unusual plant.. It may consist of a rosette of leaves, and may be similar to a bunch of grapes.
A feature of succulent leaves. For their color and unusual shape, some species of pachyphytum are called "moonstone" or "candied almonds." They are thick, fleshy, covered with white scurf, similar to icing sugar.
Leaves located very close to each other. Depending on the species may be obovoid firm or with a pointed end. The color of the leaves is white-blue or gray-green. Because of the white bloom, their color may resemble silver.
Thick stems there are lodging or creeping up to 30 cm long. The leaves are located mainly at the ends of the stems. With an increase in the age of the plant, the leaves may fall off, and small recesses remain on the stems.
At the time of flowering on the plant appears long flower spikewhite, pink, red, light green bell-shaped flowers bloom on it.
The sepals of flowers, like the leaves, are thick, juicy, with a white coating.
Pachyphytum blooms from mid summer to mid autumn. During the winter, the plant continues to rest. At home, pachyphytum does not set seeds.
Kinds
Currently known more 10 species of pachyphytum. But not all of them are suitable for home cultivation.
For this, the following types are suitable:
- Oviparous.
- Bract (Brakteozum).
- Compact (tight).
Oviparous
Most often, florists are grown in the indoor environment of this type of pachyphytum.
Egg-bearing pachyphytum has a thick stem 20-30 cm long. On the stem are spatulate or obovate oval-shaped leaves with a width of about three and a length of about 5 cm. The thickness of the leaves is about 1 cm.
Stem egg-shaped pahyphytum straight at a young age. Over time, it grows up to 30 cm long and creeps along the surface. Leaves cover only its upper part.
Bloom starts in July. From the center of the stem grows a long peduncle, on which greenish-white bells gradually appear with splashes of pink.
Peduncle with flowers on it resembles a spikelet, which begins to bloom from below until all the flowers open. Flowering continues until September.
Pritsvetnikovy
Have bracts pahifituma the length of a thick stalk reaches a size up to 30 cm. Silvery, with a pinkish tinge, leaves of elongated shape and slightly flattened.
The width of the leaves is 5 cm, and the length is about 10. As the plants grow older, the leaves begin to fall off and cover only the upper part of the stem.
From August to November, bells of red color bloom on a peduncle grown to 40 cm.
Compact
Stem of compact pachyphytum does not exceed 10 cm. Thick leaves about 4 cm long have a pointed tip. Their coloring is unusual - on a dark green background silver stains are hardly noticeable. It resembles marble. The leaves are located along the entire length of the stem and form a rosette. In adult leaves, the edges sometimes turn red.
In the summer, on approximately 40 centimeter curved peduncle, orange-red flowers bloom with blue hues. They are surrounded by light blue sepals.
Care
Care for pachyphytum at home, quite simple. Even a beginner florist can handle it.
It can be in the hot sun, in a cold room, do without watering for a long time, spraying for pachyphytum is unacceptable, because it prefers a low percentage of air humidity.
Landing
Landingas pachyphytum transplant should be held in the spring, when the plant is still in a state of relative rest. The size of the pot must be determined by the size of the plant.
Succulent grows slowlyseveral centimeters per year. But with age it grows. Therefore, it is advisable to replant the pachyphytum every spring in a more spacious container.
At the bottom of the pot must be poured drainage. The soil should consist of a mixture of leaf, turf soil and coarse sand.
Sand can be replaced with brick dust. Peat is better not to make, because it will add looseness to the soil, and in order for the plant to grow more steadily, it is necessary that the soil be relatively dense.
Land should be neutral in acidity or slightly acid and low-nutrition.
The landing of the pachyphytum should be carried out as carefully as possible, without touching the leaves with the hands.If you erase the coating on them, the sheet may die.
Top dressing
Top dressing succulents should be carried out in the period of the active life of the plant - from spring to autumn.
To do this several times during this time, you need to make a solution of potassium-containing fertilizers under the root. The amount of nitrogen in them should be minimal.
Watering
Pachyphytum is a succulent plant, which means that a certain amount of water accumulates in its leafy tissues.
He is accustomed to the arid climate, so it is necessary to water it a little and infrequently: when the earth in the pot has dried out. In spring and summer it will be enough to spray the soil every two weeks with water. With a very hot summer, you can do it weekly.
In winter, it is enough to water the plant once a month. But if the temperature in the room does not reach 10 degrees, then it is better to refuse watering. This is fraught with the death of the plant.
Water one must also be very careful not to fall on the leaves and stem of the pachyphytum. From excessive moisture will begin decay of the plant. In no case can not water it abundantly.
Bloom
The bloom of the pachyphytum begins in the summer. From the center of the stem grows short or long, straight or curved peduncle smooth in structure. On it, surrounded by silver or light green sepals, bell-shaped flowers appear later - smaller or larger in size and different in color.
Succulent blossoms until the end of autumn, until there is a period of peace. The smell of pachyphytum flowers is almost not felt.
Lighting
Illumination for pachyphytum should be bright. It easily transfers direct sunshine. Plant shading is allowed in some cases.
In case of insufficient lighting, the leaves of the plant begin to lose their color, become dull, and flowering may not occur.
Air humidity
Air humidity for pachyphytum should be low enough.
In wet environments, the casting, stem and root of the plant begin to rot.
The plant dies. But in a very dry room at high temperature, the plant needs fresh air to form flowers.
In spring and summer, the pot in pachyphytum must be taken out on the balcony, loggia or on the personal plot. If this is not possible, it is necessary to air the room where the succulent is contained.
Air temperature
Most comfortable pachyphytum temperature - 20-25 degrees. Succulents, accustomed to the desert heat, will easily tolerate a hotter summer.
In winter, when the plant is at rest, it is necessary to provide it with a cooler microclimate.
A temperature of about 15 degrees will be the most suitable for him. At below 10 degrees pachyphytum may freeze. The leaves will fall off, there is a high probability that the plant will die.
A photo
"Moonstone" - pachyphytum:
Breeding
For breeding pachyphiteum use cuttings of shoots or leaf cuttings. Separating the stalk from the main plant, it is dried for several days, until the cut is prolonged.
Then the cutting is lightly added to the ground, providing it with some kind of support. You can water in a few days.
Pachyphytum takes root with difficulty, but if you do not pour the soil and do not create a high humidity to the plant, then after a while the cutting will take root. For a more successful rooting, fertilizing with phytoharmones is possible.
Diseases and pests
Pachyphytum resistant to fungal diseasesaffecting other indoor plants, but it can be damaged by an insect such as a mealybug.
Adults and larvae of this pest are sucking insects. They suck the juices from the leaves, buds and stems of succulent. When it appears on the plant, it is covered with a spider's web of white color.
Leaves start to dry out, the buds fall off. In addition, the sticky excretions of these pests are a favorable environment for the development of black fungi.
If there are signs of the appearance worm it is necessary to moisten a cotton swab in a soap solution and wipe the leaves of the damaged plant, removing the larvae and adult insects. Then it is necessary to spray the pachiphytum.
This should be done 3 times with an interval of one week. You can use the infusion of garlic, tobacco infusion, infusions of other strong plants. Well process the plant with alcohol or tincture of calendula, which is purchased at the pharmacy.
With a strong defeat of succulent pests It is necessary to use drugs - intecticides. These include "Admiral", "Aktellik", "Fitoverm", "Vertimek" and others. Do not forget that entericidal drugs are very toxic. Their use is not possible indoors.
Pachyphytum is very popular among growers of succulents and simple gardeners.Any novice cactus player can easily grow this plant at home - he has low system of care.
Experienced florists create mini-gardens out of succulents in room conditions. Due to its unusual appearance, pachyphytum occupies a worthy place in them.
it evergreen plant - long-lived attracts everyone's attention. Get pachyphytum and grow your "moonstone" on the windowsill.
