An interesting tropical plant that simultaneously resembles a palm tree and a cactus is the pachypodium. Care at home for him is not difficult, the flower looks interesting and unusual. Flower growers call it the Madagascar palm. It blooms beautifully, does not lose its decorative effect after the flowers fall. This article describes the basics and subtleties of its cultivation.

Tree-like succulent with a massive stem. Belongs to the Curt family. The stem is covered with narrowed long leaves and thorns. By winter, some of the leaves fall off. In nature, it lives in arid regions of Africa and Madagascar. As an indoor flower, the pachypodium is distinguished by its endurance to adverse factors, unpretentiousness and ease of care.

The trunk is massive, thick, with spines. The leaves are thin, long, concentrated at the top. In the wild, some varieties of succulents reach 7-8 meters in height. In an apartment, they grow no more than a meter.

In a thick stem, the plant stores moisture. It can do without watering for a long time, it does not wither from the dry air of apartments. On the fault, it secretes milky juice, which is why it is often confused with milkweed.

Pachypodium is a slow growing plant. The lifespan depends on the growth conditions, averaging 3 to 15 years. To see the Pachypodium bloom, the plant needs to be properly cared for. Adult plants bloom at least 7 years old. The flowers are beautiful, large, fragrant in some varieties. The colors are different - white, pink, yellow, red.

Important information! The sap of the plant is poisonous! Work with him in gloves. At hit of juice on skin carefully wash away it with soap. It is not recommended to grow a flower in a house where there are children.

Most popular varieties

There are a lot of plant species. All of them have original appearance. The following varieties are considered especially popular among flower growers.

• Pachypodium Lamer. It is also called the Madagascar palm. One of the most common types. Long oblong leaves are concentrated at the top of the stem, a little lower - sharp spines. There are two varieties - with branching and without branching. Delicate cream flowers.
• Pachypodium Sanders. A succulent with a gray-green almost spherical stem. Several short shoots sprout from the stem. The leaves are elongated, olive hue. It blooms with delicate white-pink flowers. The number of spikes is moderate.
• Pachypodium brevicaule. The second name is short stem. The stem is low, wide, tuberous, gray. The maximum width is 60 cm. Without leaves, it resembles a gray stone of irregular shape. Flowers are yellow, elongated.
• Pachypodium rosulatum. Another name is socket. Fleshy low caudex succulent. Vertical branches of a cylindrical type are strewn with thorns. The trunk is grayish-green in color, thickened at the base. At the tops of the branches rosettes of oblong leathery glossy leaves are collected. Color - neutral green with a light streak in the center. Tubular flowers are collected in few-flowered racemes on elongated pedicels. Color - different shades of yellow.
• Pachypodium horombenze. Differs in modest size, massive trunk with extension at the base. At the tips of the branches, rosettes are formed from small, narrow leaves of an inexpressive green hue. Green with a silvery sheen, a smooth trunk is covered with stems, sometimes growing straight from the base. Large yellow flowers are attached with long stalks.

Interesting! The plant is characterized by a compact rhizome and endurance. It fits perfectly into flower arrangements. Not afraid of neighbors. Together with him, ground cover plants, letniki and other indoor carpet-type flowers are planted in a pot.

Pachypodium Care

The succulent is completely picky in care. Grows well in an apartment. Florists have to deal with one problem - it is difficult to achieve flowering. Pachypodium cactus blooms only when favorable conditions are created.

• Temperature. The flower is kept at room temperature. The optimum temperature in summer is 18-28°C, in winter it is not lower than 16°C. Care is simplified by the lack of a dormant period.
• Humidity. The thick stem contains its own moisture reserves. Painlessly tolerates dry air. Succulents are not sprayed, do not artificially increase humidity.
• Lighting. Likes good lighting. Grows on any window except the north one. In hot weather at noon, the flower is shaded.
• The soil. Use fertile, well-drained soil. In equal proportions, leaf, soddy soil and perlite are mixed. Instead of perlite, the use of coarse-grained sand is allowed. Soil characteristics are improved by adding pieces of clay, coal, brick crumbs.
• Drainage. High-quality drainage prevents stagnation of fluid in the root system. Expanded clay, pebbles are used. Pour them at least 1/3 of the volume of the pot. It is acceptable to fill the pot with drainage halfway.
• Watering. Water abundantly, but rarely. One watering once every 3 weeks is enough. Make sure that the soil dries out completely in between. In winter, water even less often - once every 4-5 weeks.
• Top dressing. Use fertilizer for cacti. The concentration is taken half that recommended by the manufacturer. Feed once a month from May to September.
• Pachypodium transplant. Does not need frequent repotting due to slow growth. It has a delicate root system. Plants are rarely transplanted, in case of emergency once every 3-4 years.

Plant Features! Pachypodium does not like drafts, but prefers well-ventilated areas. In summer, they take it out to the street or to the balcony. Do not be afraid of partial leaf fall at the beginning of winter - this is a feature of the pachypodium.

reproduction

The apical cuttings rarely take root, so the pachypodium is grown from seeds. Before sowing, they are soaked for a day in warm water. The best substrate for planting is wet fine sand. Seeds are sown to a depth of 0.5 cm, covered with a film. The temperature is maintained at least 22 °C. Periodically moisten the sand from the spray gun - it should always be slightly damp. The timing of seed germination depends on their quality, storage time, germination conditions. They can hatch in a few days or “sit” in the soil for up to six months.

The peculiarity of Lamer's pachypodium is that it is propagated by the separation of branches growing at the base. The cuttings are cut off in the summer, dried for about a week and placed in a sand-peat mixture. Choose a bright place, maintain stable humidity. Cuttings take root slowly, some never take root.

Diseases and pests

In the process of growing succulents, one has to face a number of problems. The flower is affected by pests, with improper care it loses its decorative qualities.

• Red spider mite. The leaves turn pale, a yellowish tint appears. Whitish spots form on their surface. Over time, the affected leaves fall off. A reddish bloom forms on the stem. The red mite infects plants with excessive dryness of the air. A sick flower is recommended to be sprayed with Fitoverm, Actellik, Derris preparations.
• Thrips. On the underside of the leaf, the pest lays colonies of larvae. On the upper side, light spots appear in their place. To combat thrips, the plant is repeatedly treated with insecticides. The drugs "Inta-vir", "Decis", "Fitoverm" have proven themselves well.
• Rot. Excessive watering leads to the appearance of rot. For resuscitation, the plants are transplanted, watering is limited, maintaining moderate soil moisture. Treated with fungicides.
• Stem thinning and leaf fall. Unfavorable microclimate - drafts, low air temperatures, waterlogging of the soil.
• Blackening and dropping of young leaves. Talks about watering with cold water and lack of light.

Any of the types of pachypodium will be a worthy addition to the collection of home flowers. It can be grown in a separate pot or combined with other plants.

Botanical name: Pachypodium.

Pachypodium flower - family . Kutrovye.

Origin. Madagascar, Africa

Description. The Pachypodium genus consists of 13 species of attractive, perennial, succulent shrubs or trees. The stems are thick - they store moisture reserves, in most species they are covered with strong straight spines, reach a diameter of 60 cm, light gray or light brown. With age, the stem sometimes forms lateral processes. The leaves are green, xiphoid, gracefully curved, arranged spirally or alternately, at the top of the stems, forming a crown. The flowers are funnel-shaped, appear in summer, fragrant, white, yellow or pink, with 5 rounded petals, reminiscent of fragrant tobacco. The appearance of the plant resembles a palm tree.

Height. In nature, it reaches 8 m, in room culture it grows slowly and often does not exceed 120-180 cm.

2. Caring for the pachypodium at home

2.1. Reproduction

It is possible to grow from seeds, but this is a rather lengthy process. Seeds should also be fresh, they are pre-soaked for a day in warm water. Propagation by cuttings should be accompanied by the use of growth hormones and bottom heating.

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2.2. How to transplant a pachypodium

Mature plants are transplanted only every 3 to 4 years. When transplanting, remove dead and diseased roots with a sharp pruner. In large tub plants, the top layer of soil is changed to fresh annually. Since the pachypodium has very sharp spines, use thick protective gloves when working with it. For planting, it is advisable to use a heavy clay pot with large drainage holes, the walls of which will allow moisture and air to pass through.

2.3 Diseases and pests

Spider mites can occur on leaves and branches. They are extremely harmful. To prevent their occurrence, it is important to remove old and damaged leaves in a timely manner, to ventilate the room with the plant well. Mealybugs suck sap and nutrients from plants and are usually the main cause of slow growth. However, they are easily removed by strong water pressure. If the content is too wet and cool, the plant may rot.

From harmful insects, mealybugs, spider mites, scale insects, thrips, root bugs, nematodes can appear.

Insects - pests

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2.4.How to care

Pachypodium indoor can live indoors for many years with minimal care. This plant tolerates a wide range of temperatures and light. You can take the pachypodium out into the fresh air during the warmer months. During the winter months, the plant may lose some or even all of its foliage - this is quite normal.



2.5.When it blooms

Spring. Pachypodium rarely blooms indoors, only with proper care and abundant lighting.

2.6. Watering the pachypodium

The frequency of watering depends on the temperature of the content. Daily watering is necessary only on hot summer days. Allow the soil to dry out to half the depth between waterings. In the winter months, watering is reduced to a minimum, trying simply not to dry out the soil. With the advent of spring, and the appearance of new leaves, watering is increased.



2.7.Ground

Need a very porous, well-drained soil, with a slightly acidic pH. As a top layer, it is better to surround the caudex with small pebbles or coarse sand to avoid rotting.

2.8 Content temperature

Choose a place with a temperature range of 16 to 24°C. In the winter months, the content is cooler, but not below 10°C.



2.9. Fertilizer

When growing, use fertilizers with a high content of phosphorus and potassium (or balanced), feed every 2 weeks. During the dormant period, feeding is stopped.



2.10 Lighting

These plants require a lot of sunlight to develop properly. In the morning and evening, direct sunlight can hit the pachypodium for 3 to 4 hours daily. Please note that the caudex (the base of the stem) is very susceptible to sunburn. The base of the plant should be shaded.

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2.11 Spraying

With the onset of warm weather, high humidity will be required - regular spraying is necessary. Place a room humidifier near the plant or surround the pot with a layer of damp sphagnum moss. In autumn and winter, the air around the plant should be dry.



Appointment.

2.12 Note

Pachypodium contains a milky sap that is poisonous - wash your hands thoroughly after handling the plant. Since most species of pachypodium bear sharp spikes, it is unlikely that children or pets will get to the juice of the plant.

Hydroponics.

3. Varieties:

3.1. Pachypodium lamer - Pachypodium lamerei

Perennial succulent plants from 60 cm to 5 m high in their natural habitat. With age, these succulents form a thick, juicy, rarely branched dark green or brownish trunk with numerous tubercles. At the tops of the tubercles are thick, short, sharp needles. In length, the needles can reach from 2 to 6 cm. At the tops of the trunks there is a lush crown, consisting of oblong, narrow leaves, slightly bent along the central vein. The lower surface of the leaf plates has a lighter shade. During the flowering period, large, white, attractive flowers with a diameter of 5 to 8 cm appear in the crown. The flowers have a pleasant aroma, but appear only in adult plants with a height of 180 cm and above.



3.2. Pachypodium Sanders - Pachypodium saundersii

Perennial succulents with thick, turnip-shaped caudex at the base. The caudex is covered with greenish, brown or silvery-gray bark and reaches a diameter of 1 meter. The stems are rarely branched, curved, reaching a length of 1 m. The leaves are green, lanceolate, glossy, bent along the central vein, 3 to 8 cm long, on short petioles. The edges of the sheet plates can be corrugated. The spines are short, straight, sharp, located on the stems of plants. The flowers are large, showy, fragrant, white or pinkish.



3.3. Pachypodium geayi - Pachypodium geayi

An unusually attractive succulent with a thick, juicy, bottle-shaped stem that can reach 4 - 8 m in its natural habitat. The stems are glossy, silvery-gray or light green, abundantly covered with thick, straight spines. The leaves are dark green, glossy, entire, narrow, linear. The central vein is highlighted in a lighter shade. The leaves form a lush crown on the tops of weakly branched stems. The flowers are white, with rounded petals, fragrant.



3.4. Pachypodium bispinosum or two-spined - Pachypodium Bispinosum

A relatively compact shrub with a round, thick caudex at the base, reaching a height of 120 cm. The caudex is covered with brownish or gray bark. Stems are branching, curved, often located at the top of the caudex. Leaves, glossy, green, long, on short petioles. The stems of the plant are abundantly covered with long, brownish, straight spines. The flowers are attractive, bell-shaped, up to 1.5 - 2 cm in diameter, solitary, pink, appear at the tops of the stems.

3.5. Pachypodium rosulatum - Pachypodium rosulatum

Attractive, slow growing succulents with thick stems branched at the base. The stems bear short, thick, straight spines. At the top of the stems is a crown formed from glossy, belt-like, dark green, entire leaves. Young leaves may have a burgundy hue. The central vein is highlighted in a lighter shade. The flowers are very large - they can exceed 7 cm in diameter, yellow, collected in small inflorescences on the tops of long, thin peduncles. There is no fragrance of flowers.



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Handsome Pachypodium, famous for its extravagant appearance, is a truly unique plant. Many flower growers dream of getting such an exotic pet in their home collection.

Why not? This plant is not so whimsical. And possible difficulties are easy to overcome if you deal with all the nuances of care and replenish your arsenal. little tricks.

Description and various types

Pachypodium- this is an amazing plant that combines in its appearance the features of a cactus and a palm tree: a powerful stem and a spreading crown. That's why they call him "fat leg" and "Madagascar palm tree".

However, the pachypodium has nothing to do with palm trees. The Latin name of the plant is Pachypodium. As a member of the kutrovy family, Pachypodium is a succulent plant found in arid regions of Africa, Australia and Madagascar.

Fleshy stalk of pachypodium covered with needles, which makes it similar to cacti, and long leaves, which makes the plant look like a palm tree. During wintering, the long and narrow leaves of the pachypodium most often fall off.

In nature, the pachypodium grows up to 8 meters in height. In indoor floriculture, the plant reaches a maximum of 1.5 meters in height and blooms very beautifully. Pachypodium growth is very slow. The life of the plant is from 3 to 15 years, depending on the care.

It's very important to remember that the juice of the pachypodium is extremely poisonous, and its spines are very sharp.

Therefore, you need to take care of the plant with caution and with rubber gloves. It also does not hurt to place the pachypodium away from children and pets.

There are many types of pachypodium that are successfully grown at home:

• Pachypodium Lamera or Madagascar palm, called in Latin Pachypodium lamerei Drake- the most popular species with a lush crown and an impressive trunk, decorated with tubercles and powerful spines. The leaves of the plant reach 40 cm in length, and the flowers are painted in a soft cream or pinkish color. Subspecies Typica characterized by pubescence on the back of the leaves.
• Pachypodium Lamera branchy (variety), called in Latin Pachypodium lamerei var. Ramosum- a variation with wider leaves and large white flowers in umbellate inflorescences.
• Pachypodium Saunders, also called Pachypodium saundersii- a species with an almost spherical stem and a bunch of wide leaves, blooming with beautiful white flowers with pink stripes.
• Pachypodium Jaya or in Latin Pachypodium geayi- compact appearance, very similar to pachypodium lamer and reaching a height of only 50 or 60 cm. It also differs in narrower leaves and white flowers with a yellow center.
• Pachypodium densely flowered, also called Pachypodium densiflorum- species with a lush crown of wide leaves and bright yellow flowers, reaching 45 cm in height.
• Pachypodium short stem, called in Latin Pachypodium brevicaule- this species is interesting in that its short stems are very similar to gray stones up to 60 cm wide, the leaves are small and rounded, and the beautiful yellow flowers are quite large.
• Pachypodium succulent or Pachypodium succulentum- a species with a turnip trunk, reaching a fairly large size, and wonderful pinkish-red flowers, similar to bells.
• Pachypodium horombenze, called in Latin Pachypodium horombense Poiss- a species with a large number of randomly arranged leaves and large yellow flowers.
• Pachypodium southern, called in Latin Pachypodium meridionale is a species with a long trunk, a small crown of leaves and very unusual pinkish-red flowers, the petals of which are gracefully curled, and the aroma is beautiful.
• Pachypodium rosette, called in Latin Pachypodium rosulatum- a species with a powerful caudex (reservoir of water) at the base and branches with bunches of leaves on them, releasing flower stalks with beautiful yellow flowers.
• Pachypodium rosette graceful (variety), called Pachypodium rosulatum var. Gracilius- a variation with a more elongated stem, a rosette of long leaves and bright yellow flowers.
• Pachypodium Rutenberg also called Pachypodium rutenbergianum- a plant that can grow up to 8 meters tall, resembling a palm tree, with glossy leaves, caudex and large white flowers.

Features of care

Pachypodium care is not difficult, but requires certain rules to be followed.

Site selection and lighting

Pachypodium is a plant that needs a lot of light. The lack of sun will inevitably lead to thinning and curvature of the stem.

The perfect place for him it is a sunny window, including with direct rays of the sun. It can be a window sill on the south, southeast or southwest side.

In summer, you can expose the pachypodium to fresh air. In this case, immediately after purchase or after cloudy winter days, you need to accustom the plant to the sun gradually in order to avoid burns on leaves. However, pachypodium can also grow in partial shade.

Flower growers will be pleased with the fact that the pachypodium does not require special conditions for wintering. During rest period the stem of the plant can become bare and shift the growing point of the leaves higher and higher.

For pachypodium, a very important condition is the warmth of the air and soil, as well as placement away from drafts. Optimal summer temperature- from 25 to 30 °C and more, and winter - not less than 16 °C.

Unlike most plants, the pachypodium will be delighted with the close proximity of the battery.

Pachypodium does not tolerate a change of place- even a slight turn of the pot is enough for the plant to shed its leaves.

Watering and humidity

Nice feature pachypodium is that it is able to store moisture in the trunk, which means that it is not afraid of drought and dry indoor air.

However, with excessive drying of the earth, the plant losing leaves and becomes opaque. On the other hand, if you overdo it with watering, the stem of the pachypodium will stretch ugly.

In spring and summer, watering should be moderate. It is necessary to ensure that the soil in the pot is always slightly damp. Perfect option- water when the top layer of soil 1 cm thick has dried out. If, nevertheless, watering turned out to be insufficient, and the pachypodium dropped its leaves, it is very rare to water the plant until new ones grow.

In autumn and winter, watering should be reduced. However, if the Pachypodium sheds leaves, stop watering for 5 or 6 weeks until new leaves appear. Short stem pachypodium meager watering throughout the year is most suitable.

Pachypodium is able to feel good in dry air. However, he doesn't mind regular rubbing of the leaves damp cloth or spraying with a spray bottle. This will protect the plant from attack by thrips or spider mites. Water for irrigation and spraying should be settled and at room temperature.

Transfer

A good solution for pachypodium is to use universal cactus soil. Can make a soil mixture from soddy, leafy soil and coarse sand in equal parts. It is highly desirable to add brick chips and charcoal to the mixture.

Also it is important not to forget provide the plant with drainage about a third of the pot high. From above, the soil can be sprinkled with a layer of fine gravel.

Young plants need to be repotted every spring, and adults - every two or even three years. When transplanting, it is necessary act carefully so as not to damage the delicate roots of the pachypodium.

Feeding and flowering

In the spring, when new shoots grow at the pachypodium, you can fertilize it once a month with liquid cactus food, adding it to the water for irrigation. During the first month after transplantation, the plant cannot be fertilized.

due to slow growth pachypodium bloom occurs only 6 or 7 years after planting. With improper care, the plant may not bloom at all.

reproduction

Pachypodium can be propagated:

• seeds subject to the creation of a "greenhouse" with a sufficient amount of light;
• top rooting in case of root rot.

Parts of the pachypodium stem do not root.

Common problems and pests

With improper care of the pachypodium, the following problems may occur:

• Leaves fall and turn black and the trunk becomes thinner- drafts, excessive watering, cold air.
• Leaves wither, stem shrivels or lower leaves fall off- insufficient watering.
• stem rot- excess moisture at too low a temperature. The solution is to provide heat, dry the soil and apply a fungicide.
• Young leaves turn black and fall off- cold water for irrigation and little light.

Why pachypodium sheds leaves and how to water it - see the advice of professionals in the video below:

Pests that can infect the pachypodium:

Beneficial features Madagascar palm:

• it is believed that the pachypodium protects the house from negative energy;
• it is believed that the presence of pachypodium in the house protects against severe pain during various inflammations.

As we see, exotic handsome pachypodium- this is not only a decoration of any flower collection, but also a real pet that can please the eye and be useful. You just need to get used to caring for this amazing plant - and Pachypodium will delight you with its bright appearance and beautiful flowering for many years.

Pachypodium (in Latin Pachypodium) is a typical representative of the Kutrov family (lat. Apocynaceae). Twenty-five species of Pachypodium are known to science. Belongs to the family of dicotyledonous flowering plants, whose representatives are widespread in temperate climates (mainly grasses) and tropical. Its name comes from the fusion of two words of Greek origin: thick and leg, respectively "παχύ" and "ποδιυμ".

Pachypodium can grow in cracks and crevices formed on the surface of bare dry hills, low mountains. It is interesting that pachypodium grows in the countries of the African continent, located south of the equator and the island of Madagascar. Individual specimens are found in Australia. The plant is so undemanding to the soil that it can grow on its different types. There are unique ones who prefer one type of soil for growth, but there are not so many of them.

Not very dependent on external climatic conditions. In arid, desert places, the roots of the pachypodium are so extended that they get the necessary mineral components and moisture from the depths.

In more humid places, the pachypodium can look like a giant tree, 5-8 meters high. The diameter of the trunk of the widest part can reach one and a half meters. Often there is its shrub, in the form of an oval, a type of 3-4 meters in height. Dwarfs are not rare among pachypodiums.

Absolutely all types of pachypodium are succulents, with a thick and fleshy trunk of gray, or with a hint of silver, in color. Spikes are located along the entire column of the trunk, which can break or wear out from the friction of the branches on the surface of the tree. Therefore, it is possible that “non-studded” specimens can also be found in nature. Spikes are an important link in the complex chain of extracting moisture from dewdrops or fog.

The main purpose of a thick fleshy trunk is to store water along with nutrients for the period of the upcoming drought. This is a forced measure and it is associated with environmental conditions.

Some species even have underground trunks with a thickening. They are also called caudex.

All representatives of the genus are famous for their very unusual beauty flowers. The top of the tree is crowned with narrow and thin leaves.

Due to the ability of pachypodium to exude white milky juice when damaged, it is often confused with euphorbia, better known as spurge. This juice is poisonous. But when in contact with it, the skin does not burn.

How to Care for Pachypodium Growing Conditions

1. Light intensity

Preference is given to bright sunlight, so that there is not even a hint of shadow. In certain circumstances, it can also grow in partial shade. In search of more intense light radiation, it is strongly drawn out, becoming unattractive.

To cultivate a plant at home, it is necessary to choose a room so that the windows face south or southwest (southeast). In the summer, it is transferred to the air, to open space, but at the same time it is gradually accustomed to the sun.

With the onset of the spring period, when the intensity of solar radiation becomes stronger, it is necessary to carefully open the access of rays to the surface of the succulent. He might get burned.

2. Ambient temperature

All types of pachypodium come from hot regions. Therefore, maintaining a high temperature is the most important factor. Temperatures above 30 ° C in summer are not a vice for him. In winter, if the temperature drops below + 16 ° C, the plant may die (for the species Pachypodium Lamer, this figure is + 8 ° C).

Therefore, in winter it is better not to find a place like on the windowsill next to the heating radiator. You also need to consider that the plant does not tolerate drafts. Some types of succulents shed their leaves for the winter.

3. How to water

Regular watering is usually practiced from March to September, during the active growing season. Water for irrigation should be warm, well settled. An indicator that the plant is sufficiently moist is a slightly wet soil surface.

Pachypodium does not tolerate strong waterlogging of the soil because of the threat of rotting of the root system, the lower part of the trunk. In winter, watering a crop that sheds foliage is generally stopped for a period until the foliage resumes again.

Other types of pachypodium that do not shed their leaves for the winter are watered very sparingly to slightly moisten the top layer.

4. Humidity

Humidity is not a vital indicator. It is not necessary to specially maintain it by spraying the plant with water. Dry air is easily tolerated by them. But it is still necessary to wipe the leaves from dust.

5. Top dressing

Pachypodium suitable fertilizer for cacti. Therefore, twice a month (spring-summer period) they are fed with this fertilizer. If the pachypodium has just been transplanted, top dressing is suspended for a period of 1 month. When applying fertilizers, it should be taken into account that the amount of the trace element nitrogen in the fertilizer mixture should be minimal.

An excess of nitrogen affects the state of the root system, causing it to rot. The optimal ratio of the fractional content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the fertilizer is 9:18:24. Organics are generally excluded from the list of fertilizers for plants.

Pachypodium transplant

If the pachypodium has grown strongly, it is transplanted. They do this not often, 1 time in 3 years. As for young plants, they are transplanted annually and are very careful about the delicate roots of the culture.

How to transplant a pachypodium, look at the video:

Only a moderately acidic substrate, composed of equal parts of coarse sand, leafy and soddy soil, will allow you to grow any kind of pachypodium at home without any problems. You can buy a substrate for cacti. It is advisable to add crushed brick and charcoal to the substrate. Be sure to lay drainage at the bottom of the pot.

Pachypodium is also grown as a hydroponic culture.

Pachypodium from seeds

• The main method of propagation of pachypodium is seed. Seeds germinate at a temperature not lower than 20°C.
• Land for planting can be taken as usual, for cacti.
• Before planting, the seeds should be thoroughly soaked, leaving in warm water for about three hours.
• After the seeds are planted in the ground, at a distance of 3-4 cm, the embedment depth is up to 1 cm.
• Water occasionally, but do not allow overdrying of the soil substrate.
• You can cover seed containers with bags to speed up germination, but you need to ventilate every day. When shoots appear, the shelter is removed.
• When 3-4 leaves appear, the plants are planted in separate containers, be sure to arrange a drainage layer at the bottom. This simple action will prevent putrefactive diseases.

The video will tell about growing pachypodium from seeds:

Difficulties with picking young plants should not arise if you are careful not to damage the roots. The seedlings are doing well. From the seeds you can get a lot of high quality planting material.

Propagation of Pachypodium by cuttings

If the lower part of the succulent is very rotten, you can try to grow the plant from a stem fragment. To do this, cut off the non-rotten top, dry the cut with charcoal and plant it in a new, prepared according to all the rules, substrate. The trunk can be divided into two or three cuttings. To successfully root them, you need to perform simple steps:

• The cut sites are washed well with water to wash off the secreted milky juice.
• Next, the cuttings are slightly dried in the air, until a light dry crust forms. This is necessary so that the succulent does not rot when planted.
• Planted in a light substrate, you can even sand. Moisten only occasionally, so that the soil only slightly retains moisture. The roots of the succulent will start up at the expense of internal reserves, and therefore excess moisture is not needed.
• The temperature is maintained at room temperature, 24-25 °C.

Rooting usually takes a long time, so be patient. This is the case when your participation is required at a minimum. The plant will do everything on its own, the main thing is not to overdo it with watering.

Difficulties in cultivation and disease

When rare, the succulent can shed its leaves. The plant does not like a sharp drop in temperature. Therefore, if the pachypodium is outdoors during the day, it should be brought into the house at night. Excessive watering at temperatures below 20 ° C (this applies to the winter period of time) can lead to wilting of the leaves, rotting of the roots. This warning primarily applies to the species "pachypodium short stem" due to the increased sensitivity of the plant to cold, waterlogging.

Drafts, especially cold ones, cause the leaves to turn black, fall off, wrinkle and rot the stem. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to rearrange the plant to a place where there is a lot of light, heat and there are no drafts. And watering is carried out only with warm water. Sometimes rearranging the culture or simply turning it around the axis leads to blackening and drying out of young leaves.

Pachypodium pests

Damaged by scale insects and spider mites. It is also required to observe precautions when working with the plant. The milky juice of the succulent is poisonous, although the skin does not irritate if there are no wounds or cuts on it. After any work with the pachypodium is completed, it is necessary to wash your hands!

Varieties of pachypodium with descriptions and photos

Pachypodium geayi

This is a tree that reaches 8 meters in height. On average, the height of this species is from 3 to 6 meters. It has a thick spiny trunk, and narrow leaves with a light edge. Light gray young spines at the end are painted black.

Blooming flowers - boiled white, which is diluted with yellow in the center. It is also grown at home. Here it reaches a height of just over half a meter.

Pachypodium lamerei

Homeland is the island of Madagascar. This species is also called the Madagascar palm. In those places where limestone rocks predominate in the relief of the island, you can find this tree growing up to 6 meters in height. It has a thick, erect, spiny trunk, which has a slight thickening below. Throughout the height, you can see tubercles arranged in a spiral.

On each tubercle sits 3 spines of an impressive size. Stems growing in the upper part of the tree are prone to lignification.

In its apical part there are rosettes with elongated-lanceolate hairless leaves of deep green color. Leaves sit on petioles 3-5 cm long. They themselves are from 15 to 30 cm long and 4 to 10 cm wide and have a rounded end with a small point. 3 bare spines are located above each individual leaf.

When blooming, it produces creamy white flowers with a pinkish tinge. They have yellow throats. The diameter of the flower can reach 10-12 cm. The green fruits of Lamera have an elongated oval shape.

Pachypodium brevicaule

Found in central Madagascar. His ability for mimicry, i.e., merging in color and shape with the surrounding elements of wildlife, is a complete delight. Despite the fact that this species has a very juicy, prickly, tuber-like stem, reaching 60 cm in width, in the absence of leaves, it can easily be confused with nearby stones. Its elongated flowers, with a diameter of 2 to 5 cm, are painted yellow.

Pachypodium densiflorum

It occurs in the arid regions of the island, it is distinguished by a fleshy, gray-green trunk, the maximum diameter of which is 30 cm. Only in the upper part of the trunk there are leaves. If the light is not enough in winter, then it can drop all the leaves. Grows very slowly.

Only when it reaches a certain barrel diameter. It is also grown in pots. The maximum height of a home-grown crop is 90 cm.

Sanders' Pachypodium saundersii or Lundy's Star

Star Lundi or Pachypodium Saunders Pachypodium saundersii home care

The gray-green trunk has a spherical shape, from which small, up to 1.5 cm tall, shoots depart. There are small and few, up to 2.5 cm long, spines. Broad lanceolate leaves. It is characterized by abundant flowering. The flowers themselves are white with a pink stripe.

Pachypodium succulentum

The plant is native to the South African Cape.
The trunk of the plant is clearly pronounced, reaches a height of 30-50 cm. The diameter of its thickened lower part reaches 15 cm. The trunk is deeply immersed in the ground. Lateral branched shoots located above the ground are fleshy. Their length reaches 60-90 cm. On the branches there are spines in pairs, up to 2 cm long, and lanceolate pubescent leaves.

The maximum length of the leaves reaches 6 cm with a centimeter width. In summer, you can observe the flowering of pachypodium succulentus. Only adult plants can please with pink bell-shaped flowers with a bright red throat (their diameter is about 4 cm).

Pachypodium horombense Pachypodium horombense

Pachypodium horombenze - pachypodium horombense photo

This is a small plant with a wide, smooth silver-green trunk with a thickening at the base. At the end of each branch there is a rosette of small, narrow greyish-green leaves. Branches appear early and run straight from the base. During the flowering period, large yellow flowers appear in clusters on rather long pedicels.

Pachypodium Horombese grows very slowly, and in winter, when daylight hours become short, sheds leaves. With the seed method of reproduction, it begins to bloom almost in the 4th year after sowing.

From Madagascar and this view. On a short, gray-green trunk, which has a very wide thickening at the base, branches are arranged vertically. Small, narrow leaves emerge from rosettes located at the ends of these branches.

During flowering, you can enjoy lemon or pale yellow flowers. This period starts from mid-spring and lasts until mid-summer.

Pachypodium Southern Pachypodium meridionale

In its homeland, in Madagascar, it grows in height by 2-3 meters. If you grow it in a flower pot, you can get a specimen up to 1.2 m. This smooth-bore species has a silver-brown trunk. The color of its large and very fragrant flowers is soft pink on the inside, while on the outside the corolla of the flower has a pink-red hue.

Also in nature grow such species as the Two-thorn Pachypodium, Pachypodium Leela, which was nicknamed the bottle tree for its visual resemblance to this object, Pachypodium Namakvansky, Pachypodium Rutenberg.

Pachypodium lamerei, also known as the Madagascar palm, is one of the most cultivated Pachypodium species belonging to the Apocynaceae family. This plant is native to Madagascar, where it can often be found in rocky limestone valleys.

This succulent is characterized by a tall, thick spindle-shaped trunk, covered with long 6 cm spikes, collected in 3 pieces at the tops of pronounced, tightly seated tubercles. In young plants, the surface of the trunk is dark green; in adults, as it becomes lignified, it becomes covered with a silver-gray scaly film. The spikes are also silvery gray to the middle, and then dark brown. Long, short-leaved, belt-like leaves grow from the same tubercles as the thorns, and only on the upper part of the trunk, giving the plant a resemblance to. The length of the leaf plate can exceed 30 cm with a width of 9 cm. Its surface is leathery, dark green, with a prominent central vein. Large, up to 10 cm in diameter, flowers are collected in small umbellate apical inflorescences protruding above the leaves on low thick peduncles. The corollas have a narrow tube opening into five wide creamy-white petals with a bright yellow throat.

In addition to the main species with a non-branching even trunk, reaching a height of 6 meters, its variety is also known - Pachypodium Lamera branching (Pachypodium lamerei var. ramosum).

Caring for Pachypodium Lamer at home

In culture, the Madagascar palm is not exactly an easy plant that requires some attention from the grower. For his well-being, a number of important conditions must be observed.

Lighting. The succulent needs a high level of illumination all year round and calmly tolerates direct sunlight. When placed in a room, the best choice for him would be the windows of the south, southwest and southeast directions. In warm weather, it is recommended to take the plant out into the fresh air, into the garden or onto the balcony.

There is no dormant period, the growing season continues all year round, therefore, in winter, in the dark, the plant should create a long daylight hours using. Otherwise, the trunk of the succulent will stretch out a lot, the leaves will become rare and pale. And under more unfavorable conditions, they can partially fall off.

Temperature. Comfortable summer temperatures correspond to the values ​​of central Russia and can even exceed 30 °C. In winter, with natural light and reduced daylight hours, it is recommended to lower the temperature to 15-18 °C.

Watering. In the warm season, Pachypodium Lamer is watered abundantly with soft, well-settled water at room temperature. The soil in the pot should always be slightly damp, but not wet. Excessive waterlogging will quickly lead to rotting of the roots and the base of a thick trunk, and a lack of moisture will cause the leaves to drop.

With a cold content, watering is greatly reduced, since in this mode the plant slows down all processes, and it does not have time to evaporate the water received.

Air humidity. For the Madagascar palm, low air humidity is more preferable, so the conditions of a city apartment in this regard are acceptable for him. But the foliage can be periodically washed under a warm shower to wash off the accumulated dirt from it.

The soil to grow this succulent, it must be neutral, with good water and air permeability. You can prepare such a soil mixture yourself by taking equal parts of soddy and leafy soil and coarse-grained river sand. It is also desirable to add brick chips and charcoal here, for the prevention of rot. And be sure to create a good drainage layer at the bottom of the pot to prevent stagnant water.

fertilizers. The plant is fed very carefully, once a month, with mineral fertilizers with a low nitrogen content. For these purposes, you can use ready-made liquid fertilizers for cacti.

Transfer. Young specimens are transplanted annually into larger pots. It should be remembered that the pachypodium has very fragile delicate roots, so you need to be very careful with them and it is better not to damage the earthen lump by loosening it, but to completely transfer it into a new pot.

Adult plants are transplanted every 5 to 6 years.

reproduction. At home, Pachypodium Lamera is propagated by seeds, which can now be purchased at some online stores.

Cuttings root very rarely.

Diseases. So many problems with the Madagascar palm arise due to improper care:

- With a lack of watering, a sharp drop in temperature, a change in location, the plant sheds leaves.
- With an excess of moisture in the soil and air, various rots develop (on roots, stems, leaves).
- In a draft, the leaves turn black, wrinkle and fall off.

Pests. The succulent is susceptible to the invasion of the spider mite, and scale insects. Due to the increased prickliness of the stem, it is rather problematic to deal with pests manually, so the plant is easiest to treat with insecticidal preparations, for example, Actellik or Fitoverm.

Carefully! Extreme care must be taken when working with the Pachypodium, as all of its parts are poisonous.