Acantostachis
Content:
The word Akantostakhis consists of two words, which literally mean a thorn and an ear. This is a rosette plant, which belongs to perennials, which are large in size, the edges of the leaves with a narrow shape, have a large number of thorns. Flowers emerge from leaf rosettes. In order to properly grow Acantostachis, the room must be cool, you can also grow in a greenhouse and garden. Growing as an ampel plant is allowed.
Acantostachis: plant care
Akantostachis: photo of a flower
Light mode.
The Acantostachis plant needs diffused lighting. Slight shading is allowed. The plant needs protection from direct sunlight to avoid various burns that can appear on the leaves in the form of pale brown spots.
Correct temperature regime.
In the spring and summer period, the temperature regime of +20 +25 degrees is ideal for the Akantostakhis plant. When the autumn season comes, the air temperature should be lowered, but this should not be done immediately, gradually. In winter, the plant should be placed in a cool place with a temperature of +14 +18 degrees.
Humidity level.
The Acantostachis plant needs a high degree of air humidity. It is for this reason that many experts put forward the opinion that the plant needs regular moisture using a sprayer. Water the plant with soft water at room temperature.
Watering.
In the spring and summer, it is necessary to water Akantostakhis systematically. When autumn comes, watering should be reduced, and in winter, watering should be moderate, only after the top layer of the soil dries out. On the growth and development of plants, they pay little attention to the drying out of the soil, and its waterlogging. For watering, it is strictly necessary to take soft water at room temperature.
Fertilization.
Fertilizers are applied in the spring and summer - 2-3 times a month. it is good to use mineral fertilizers as a top dressing. In the winter season, it is strictly forbidden to apply any kind of fertilizer.
Acantostachis: plant transplant
Akantostachis: photo of a flower
Acantostachis transplant should be carried out only in crisis situations. In the wild, the plant can grow directly on the bark of a tree. At home, you can use a piece of tree bark. A lump of soil is wrapped in sphagnum, after which it is necessary to fix the plant with a wire on the surface of the tree bark. Can be grown as a potted plant. to do this, you need to take a small pot, add a soil mixture there, which will include humus (2 parts), leaf earth (4 parts), small expanded clay (1 part), bark of coniferous trees (1 part).
Acantostachis: reproduction
Akantostachis: photo of a flower
Suitable for propagation with lateral stems, as well as by seed. To begin with, the seeds must be placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for a certain period of time, after which they should be dried. Sowing should be done in chopped moss. The pot must be closed with glass and sent for storage to a place where the temperature will be from +20 +22 degrees. It should be systematically ventilated and humidified from a sprayer. As soon as you notice the appearance of the first leaves, the shelter can be gradually removed. It is possible to plant Acantostachis in small containers after 2-3 leaves appear.Lateral stems must be carefully separated from the mother bush. They are processed with charcoal and given time to dry in the open air. Then they are planted in a pre-prepared substrate, which includes peat, leaf earth, sand. They are sent to a room with a temperature of +20 degrees. The foliage needs frequent spraying, and watered after the topsoil dries.
Diseases and insect pests
Most often, the Acantostachis plant is attacked by the scale insect and mealybug. Diseases of the plant most often occur as a result of improper care. Specks of a brownish tint appeared on the ends of the leaves - this sign indicates low humidity, watering is carried out using hard water.
The foliage of Acantostachis begins to dry out - a sign that indicates a low level of humidity, water the plant using hard water. Specks of a pale brown hue appear on the surface of the leaves - this indicates a burn that resulted from exposure to direct sunlight.
Varieties of Acantostachis
Akantostakhis: photo of a plant
- Acantostachis is pineal. The variety belongs to herbaceous rhizome plants, is a perennial plant. The height of the plant can reach up to 100 cm. The drooping leaves have a narrow shape, are an integral part of loose rosettes, and have a greenish-silver color. A large number of thorns can be seen on the edges. It has a large number of side shoots, for this reason, the plant tends to grow rapidly. The flowering period is July-October. The fruit-formed compound fruit has a reddish-orange color, pineal shape. Outwardly it resembles a pineapple.
- Acantostachis pitkairnioides... the variety belongs to perennial plants. The leaves are dark green in color. On the edges, you can see the presence of large red spikes. From the base of the leaf rosettes, blue flowers are subsequently formed.