Pachypodium is a succulent that is part of the Kutrovy family. The distribution area is the island of Madagascar and the arid zones of South America.
Pachypodium Features
The shrub plant has thick trunks that can store moisture in case of drought. The form is different - from bottle-shaped to cactus-like.
A characteristic feature is the presence of spikes, they are grouped in pairs or triples and placed in rings around the trunk. Formed in parallel with leaves and grow rapidly. The spikes are not able to recover, so when they are rubbed they gradually wear out.
This plant, like many other species belonging to the genus Adenium, secrete clear juice.
Popular varieties of pachypodium for home
In the apartment you can grow these types of pachypodium:
| View | Description Foliage | Flowers |
| Lamera (Mexican palm) | Erect, rarely branching spiny stem, grows up to 50 cm in the room. The spikes are located on the spiral tubercles. Dark green, located on top. | Diameter up to 11 cm, cream, light pink with a light yellow center. |
| Zhayi | Thorny thickened trunk reaches 60 cm in height. Narrow and pubescent, the color is dark green. | White, pharynx - lemon. |
| Short stem | After dumping the foliage resembles a stone. The stem is smooth, diameter up to 60 cm. Small. | Yellow, large size. |
| Lamera (variety - branched) | Branched bottle-shaped trunk with few spines. Elongated, not lowered, bright. | In diameter about 10 cm, form umbrella inflorescences. Color is white. |
| Saunders | The gray-green trunk in the form of a ball grows up to 1.5 meters, a small number of spikes. Wide, has a tapering base. | Reminiscent of the pachypodium Lamer, but with a pink trim. |
| Succulent | A large trunk buried in the ground looks like a cobblestone. Small, pubescent, there are several spikes. | Pink buds with a red center. They resemble bells in shape. |
| Densely flowered | Reaches a height of 45 cm, the thickness of the stem is about 30 cm. Shallow, directed up. | Bright yellow inflorescences. |
| Horombensee | A short plant with a thickened smooth trunk. Thin. | Large size. Yellow. Grow in clusters. |
| South | It reaches a height of 1 m. The trunk is silver-brown, smooth. Large, elongated. | Large, red in color, have a rich aroma. |
| Rosette | A short but thick stem. Shallow. | Light lemon. |
| Rutenberg | Barrel diameter up to 60 cm, prickly branches are present. Brilliant, dark green. | White, large. |
The content of pachypodium in room conditions
When leaving at home for pachypodium, you should focus on the time of year:
| Parameter | Spring Summer | Autumn winter |
| Location / Lighting | It prefers direct sunlight and does not require shading. They are located on the south, southeast or southwest windowsill. Can be moved to the garden or loggia. | Needs additional illumination. Placed next to the heater. |
| Temperature | + 18 ... +30 ° С. | +16 ° C and above. |
| Watering | Once every 1-3 days. Use settled water at room temperature. | Twice a month, as the topsoil dries. |
| Air humidity | It stores water well, therefore it is able to tolerate even 45-55%. | 40-50 %. |
| Fertilizers | Once every 14 days, apply fertilizer for cacti. | Do not contribute. |
Transplant, pruning
Due to the slow growth of the pachypodium, transplantation is performed every 2-4 years. The best time is spring, immediately after the wintering.
The pot is taken a little more than the previous one, and then a third is filled with a drainage layer consisting of expanded clay, pebbles or brick chips. The earth is picked up light, neutral. With the independent production of the substrate, turf and leaf soil, coarse sand are mixed in equal amounts. Before use, the soil mixture must be heated in a pan or in the oven, treated with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate.
To protect hands put on two pairs of gloves, and the trunk of the plant is covered with a dense fabric. Rhizome from the old soil is not released, so the flower is moved to a new container with a lump of soil.
With quality care, the pachypodium can grow almost to the ceiling and then you will have to take measures to trim it. To slow down the growth of the crown, shorten it if desired.
Basically trimming the pachypodium includes several actions:
- The stem is cut with a sharp blade at a height of 15-20 cm.
- Slices are treated with charcoal. Sulfur is often poured on top.
- The flower is moved to a room with good lighting and dry air, the application of water is stopped. Lateral sprouts occur after about a month.
- Form the top.
Pachypodium reproduction
A palm can be propagated by seed and cuttings.
The first growing option is quite complicated, but if the choice fell on it, then the planting material is buried in a suitable substrate by 5 mm, the top of the vessel is covered with polyethylene or glass. Next, the crops are moved to a well-lit room with a temperature of +20 ° C. After the formation of the first seedlings, the shelter is removed, but they do not do it right away, giving the palm tree the opportunity to get used to new conditions. After the seedlings enter into force, they are dived into different containers, and then provide care similar to adult plants.
When propagating by cuttings, difficulties with rooting are possible, therefore, they strictly follow the rules. First, cut off the upper part of the adult palm tree at a height of 15 cm, after which the process is planted in the soil mixture created for planting the mature pachypodium. The flower is placed in a well-lit place.
Diseases, pests, mistakes in the care of the pachypodium
When growing a pachypodium in room conditions, it can be attacked by diseases and insects, its condition worsens with improper care:
| Manifestation on the leaves and other parts of the palm tree | Cause | Elimination |
| Drying and yellowing of the tips. | Moisture deficiency. | Adjust the regime of watering the flower. |
| Loss of tone, rotting of the trunk and rhizome. | Excessive hydration. Low temperature. | Reduce the frequency of watering, the plant is transported to a room with higher temperature indicators. |
| Blackening and wrinkles, including shoots. | Drafts, temperature jumps. The use of cold water for irrigation. | The plant is protected from the cold movement of air, adjust the temperature. Use only warm, settled water during irrigation. |
| Mass drying and falling. | Moving pot. | After transplanting the flower, do not touch the container for some time. |
| Shrinking, thinning shoots. | Lack of lighting. | The palm is moved to a room with better lighting. |
| Brown-violet spotting, rotting of the rhizome and trunk. | Late blight. | The affected areas are removed, the sections are disinfected with activated charcoal. The flower is watered for 2-3 months with a solution of fungicides such as Skor and Previkur. |
| Gray-brown spots on the stem and shoots. | Anthracnose. | All affected areas are removed, sections are treated with crushed chalk. Palm trees have a warm shower. Once every 3-4 days for 2-3 months, the pachypodium is sprayed with solutions of Ridomil and Oxychoma. |
| Blurry yellowish spotting, thin white cobwebs throughout the plant. | Spider mite. | The palm and soil are treated with ethyl alcohol, and after 25-30 minutes they are placed in the shower. Use acaricides Actofit or Neoron. |
| Gray and brown tubercles. | Shield. | Kerosene or vinegar is dripped onto the shells of pests. After 2-3 hours, insects are harvested by hand. The plant is washed in the shower, and then sprayed with Actellic or Metaphos. |
| Silver-beige scars. | Thrips. | The palm is treated with a soap-alcohol solution, placed in the shower. Spray with solutions of Mospilan and Actara. |
Useful properties of pachypodium
Florists note the presence of a number of useful properties in the pachypodium:
- protects the home from negative energy;
- with inflammatory processes has an analgesic effect.
