Faucaria

Faucaria description

The succulent plant Faucaria belongs to the Aizoaceae family. Homeland - arid regions of the south of the African continent. Faucaria translated from Latin means "faux" - "to fall" and from Greek "api" - "a lot." This is associated with the appearance of the faucaria itself. Its leaves end in spinous growths that resemble the jaws of a predator.

This culture is perennial. The plant has a shortened succulent rhizome and a short stem. Usually, over the years, it grows strongly, and whole clumps consisting of a large number of stems can form. The rosette includes three to six pairs of fleshy and rather thickened leaves arranged in the form of a cross. Their coloring can be different, and dark green, and light green, with a speck of whitish color or with streaks. The edges of the leaves have spinous growths or denticles that resemble hair. The flowers grow singly, they are quite large, in diameter they can be six to seven cm. The flowers contain many petals, painted in different tones of yellow color. Flowers bloom during the day, they close at night. Each flower stays on the bush for about six to eight days.

Faucaria home care

Illumination level.

The illumination should be bright, therefore, the bush is placed on the window with a south orientation. With a lack of lighting, the sockets with leaves will cease to be dense.

Temperature conditions.

The best temperature regime in summer is twenty five to thirty degrees. Don't forget that in summer, faucaria can withstand any temperature fluctuations. In winter, the plant needs a cool temperature (about ten degrees).

Humidity level of the air.

The plant can easily grow with low moisture content. There is no need to moisten it additionally. For hygiene, systematic wiping of the leaves is required.

Watering.

In the spring and summer season, watering is carried out in moderation. Watering is necessary only after the substrate is completely dry. Small amounts of watering are carried out in autumn. In winter, the plant is not watered.

Fertilization.

Faucaria is fed on April-August days once every four weeks. For this purpose, a complex for cacti is used.

Transplanting.

The bushes are transplanted once every couple of years. A suitable substrate should be loose and well breathable. To prepare a nutritious substrate, sod and leafy soil and river sand are combined in a 1: 1: 1 ratio. Store-bought potting soil is also suitable for succulent plants and cacti. The pot should be short but wide. At the time of planting, a good drainage layer is laid on the bottom of the container.

Reproduction.

Reproduction methods: using shoots, seed method.

Sowing seeds is carried out on the surface layer of coarse sand, and they are only lightly sprinkled with earth. The container is covered with glass on top. The optimal temperature regime is twenty to twenty five degrees. The sand should not dry out; for this purpose, it is sprayed in a moderate amount. The first shoots will appear in a week and a half. Plants dive after the first pair of true leaves has appeared. For planting, soil is used for cacti.

The stalk is separated, remains on the street for two to three days to dry out. After which it is planted in the sand, while maintaining a fairly high temperature regime - twenty-five to twenty-eight degrees. The plant will fully take root in three to four weeks.

Harmful insects and diseases.

Faucaria is immune to disease and harmful insects.If the bush is weak, then it may be attacked by aphids or root mealybugs. If it is illiterate to care for the plant, then gray rot may appear.

Problems.

The leaves turned pale, the shoots were stretched out - a warm winter, poor lighting.

Wrinkling, blackening of the leaves - too voluminous watering (especially in the winter season).

Fading, wrinkling, small size of leaves, cessation of bush growth - you need to feed the plant, the substrate is dry. But in the winter season, this is normal.

The surface of the leaves was covered with brown spots - a burn from the sun's rays.

Varieties

Faucaria "Cat" (Faucaria felina).

This succulent plant can grow up to ten to fifteen cm. The leaves stretch up to five cm in length and up to one and a half cm in width. The leaves are of a bright green color, oppositely located, in the form of a cross. Their surface has blurry dots of a whitish color, the edges have three to five bent teeth, turning into bristles. The flowers are golden yellow in color, five cm across.

Faucaria "Small-toothed" (Faucaria paucidens).

This succulent plant has pale green leaves that grow up to five cm in length and up to one cm in width. The surface of the leaves has dark green dots, the edges are distinguished by the presence of one or three teeth. The flowers are yellow in color, four cm across.

Faucaria "Beautiful" (Faucaria speciosa).

This succulent vegetation has succulent leaves that grow up to three cm in length. The edges have five to six large teeth, turning into bristles. The flowers are quite large, reaching eight cm in diameter. Their coloring is golden yellow, and the tips of the petals are cast with a purple hue.

Faucaria "Tigrina" (Faucaria tigrina).

This succulent plant grows up to five cm. The leaves are diamond-shaped, greenish-gray in color, their ends are pointed. The surface is strewn with a large number of dots of whitish color, which are arranged in stripes, and the edges have nine to ten pairs of bent teeth with tips in the form of hair. Flowers of a golden yellow shade are five cm across.

Faucaria "Tuberculosa" (Faucaria tuberculosa).

This succulent plant grows up to five to eight cm, its stem branches. Leaves are dark green in color, with denticles, juicy, oppositely located, they grow together at the bases. The leaves are in the form of a triangle or rhombus, and their surface has whitish warts. Flowers of yellow color in diameter grow up to four cm.