Kalanchoe / kalanchoe

Refers to the family of Tolstoyans. Fatherland - South Asia and South America.

General description: This succulent plant is grown and as if decorative-blooming and as if a medicinal plant. It cleans the atmosphere in the building, has antibacterial and antiviral activity.

Usually in the room conditions the following species are bred:

Kalanchoe tomentosa (Kalanchoe felt) owns beautiful silvery-green, densely leafy leaves with brown edges.

Kalanchoe daigremontiana (Kalanchoe Degremona or Plant-Doctor) is a medicinal plant with leaves in the form of an elongated triangle, located on a long stem. The leaf paint is gray-green, with a purple speck on the underside. Along the edges of the leaves, babies are formed, which, flying around, themselves take root in the same pot.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Kalanchoe Blossfelda) decorative and flowering Kalanchoe. The leaves are rounded, with wavy edges. Small red flowers are collected in spectacular umbellate inflorescences.

Kalanchoe manginii (Kalanchoe Mangina). He has small lanceolate leaves and drooping bell-shaped red flowers.

Recommendations for the care of the Kalanchoe plant:

Illumination : photophilous, shading is needed only in the summer noon.

Irrigation mode : Moderate, by the measure of drying of the soil. In the winter, outlandish.

Humidity of air : Periodic spraying is desirable, but the Kalanchoe is not exacting to the humidity of the atmosphere. For the summer it is better to place on a fresh atmosphere (in the park or on the balcony).

Temperature regime : In summer the temperature should be moderate, in winter it is cool, but not below 8 ° C.

Soil : Drainage is mandatory. You can add charcoal and brick chips.

Recommended soil mishmash: 1 share of sod land, 1 share of leaf land, 1 share of peat and 1 share of sand.

During the growth period, one needs fertilizing once per moon with fertilizers for cacti and succulents.

Breeding : Babies are very easy to take root. Also seeds, cuttings and brood kidneys.

Transplantation : In the spring, annually.

Pests : It is infrequent.

Zamiokulkas / zamioculcas

Refers to the family of aroids. Fatherland - about. Madagascar.

General description: A large evergreen plant. Glossy fleshy dark green leaves, pointed at the ends. On the stem grow in turn, symmetrically. Roots are tuberous. Snow-white flowers in the cob. It is quite unpretentious for indoor breeding, it can grow up to 1.5 m.

Recommendations for the care of plants Zamiokulkas:

Illumination : Light-loving, but gives preference to diffused light. In the summer it is better to place it on the balcony or in the garden, in winter - closer to the window. From the defect of light, the stems are stretched, the leaves become smaller and thinner. Direct sunlight is similarly undesirable, burns may appear on the leaves.

Irrigation regime : Surplus moisture is dangerous, stems and roots rot, which can lead to the death of the plant. Therefore, it should be watered moderately even in the warm season, in winter - rarely, by the measure of the drying out of the earth.

Humidity of air : Spraying does not require, it is useful to periodically wash the leaves.

Temperature regime : Moderate, in winter 12-18 0 C.

Soil: It does not tolerate heavy clay soils, it requires benign drainage. Young plants are recommended to be planted in the following soil mixture: take equal amounts of turf, leaf land, peat and sand, add a little humus. In the warm season (from April to August), once every two weeks you need fertilizing. Suitable fertilizers for succulents and cacti.

Breeding : It is best to divorce shrubs, but it is allowed to use cuttings and leaves. In this case phytohormones and soil heating are used for successful root formation. Leaf before planting, it is desirable to slightly dry. Rooting long.

Transplantation : Very important is the proportionality of the pot with the root system, so the zamioculcas are transplanted every year (old plants once a couple of years) in the spring.

Pests : May be affected by a spider mite. At the same time a spider web appears on the stem, the leaves dry out. Occasion - extremely low atmospheric humidity. With a mild damage, it is enough to treat the plant with a soapy sponge and wash it with warm water. In more serious cases, spraying with an athletic (1-2 ml per liter of water) is used.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana - kalanchoe blossfeldiana