Stapelia: types and care at home

Houseplants today are presented in a wide variety of species, which allows growers to select a crop for growing based on their taste preferences. Very often, on the windowsills of residential premises and offices, you can find succulents, among which the compact flowering stocks stand out.

This culture is a perennial with fleshy shoots, as well as incredibly beautiful flowers, which, depending on the species, can have a different color. Thanks to the interesting shape of the blossoming buds, several more variants of the names of this plant have appeared among flower growers - "Order star" and "starfish"... Based on botanical features, succulent belongs to the kutrovy family. In nature, culture can be found in African forests under trees, on mountain slopes, as well as near water bodies. As for home care, the plant, which is a succulent, requires a minimum of attention from its owner, so even a novice florist will be able to grow a flower.

The culture does not stand out for its large size. Typically, an adult specimen can reach a maximum height of 50-60 centimeters. The staple has a superficial root system, and the stems themselves stretch into ribbed processes along the edges with smooth skin. Shoots can have a curved shape with several faces, the color of which is predominantly green interspersed with yellow and pink.

As for flowering, in most cases it falls during the summer and warm months. First of all, rather large airy buds begin to grow on the culture, which in size can reach a large chicken egg. Their establishment and formation occurs in the lower part of the shoots; in some varieties, flowers appear at the top. Flowers grow on separate peduncles each bud contains five petals, the bases of which form a kind of funnel inside... Often there is a fleshy ridge in the center of the bud.

The fact that the plant has entered the flowering phase can be guessed by the unpleasant odor emanating from the slipway. Such a feature is required for a culture for full development and pollination in the wild. It is this aroma that is able to attract certain insects that pollinate the slipways in their natural environment.

Florists who are engaged in growing succulents at home, in such cases, simply transfer the flower to the veranda or balcony. There are species of this perennial that, during flowering, exude a rather pleasant smell. The flowering period of the stocks is about two weeks.

Today, based on the international botanical classification, there are more than five dozen species in the succulent genus. The following stocks are especially popular among florists.

Shoots of this species have four faces, the main branching occurs at the base of the culture.Grandiflora forms buds at the bottom of the peduncle. In diameter, the opened bud will measure from 15 to 25 centimeters, depending on the age of the plant and the characteristics of the species.

Petal color - purple or burgundy with light villi... The flowering phase is rather short, usually from two to five days. The smell from the flower during this period is inexpressive.

The variety is distinguished by the peculiarity of the structure of its shoots, which in cross section have the correct circle shape. Small denticles are located along the edges of the stems. As a rule, the height of the shoots is about 15 centimeters.

Summer succulent blooms yellow or cream flowers with burgundy or brown blotches... The diameter of the flowers when unfolded is about 5-7 centimeters. This species exudes a rather strong odor during flowering.

The stems of this type of perennial have four edges, their height is 15-20 centimeters. The green color of the plant is complemented by pink or red stains, the teeth are very small. Flowers appear next to each other, creating small groups of 2-3 buds.

The expanded diameter does not exceed 10 centimeters. The petals stand out with a bumpy surface, the villi on them are concentrated from the sides. Stapelia of this species bloom with orange, red and yellow flowers.

The flower has a rather modest size, not exceeding 15 centimeters. The stems are colored light green. Usually, in the process of flowering, three buds are formed on a perennial at once. Flowers will have lemon color, their diameter varies within 5 centimeters.

This variety is characterized by fleshy stems, as well as very large flowers, the diameter of which will be 30-35 centimeters. Petal color - yellow with dark red blotches, the shape is slightly narrowed and elongated. The plant has a very strong odor during the flowering phase.

The stems reach a length of 10-13 centimeters, the formation of peduncles and buds occurs at the top of the staple, forming a small group of several flowers. Their diameter is 4-5 centimeters. When flowering, this plant will have flat flowers that resemble a starfish. Petal color - yellow or light green with minimal tubercles. A large number of villi are concentrated in the center of the bud.

The plant blooms with small brown-purple flowers, the size of which is no more than 10 centimeters. Petals decorate transverse stripes and lilac villithat allow the flower to acquire a visual resemblance to velvet. The stems of the culture do not have serrations, the teeth are placed only at the bottom. There are petals on the peduncles along the edges.

Large perennial, whose height reaches 30 centimeters. The stems are formed with four edges. The flowers have villi at the edges, as well as beautiful purple hue... The pink color of the pile has a positive effect on the decorative attractiveness of the indoor plant.

A variety that will be appreciated by true connoisseurs of unusual and very attractive succulents. The corolla of the flower is covered with a large number of villi, in the center of which there is beautiful star with bent petals. The plant itself reaches a small size: as a rule, the staple of this species grows up to 15 centimeters in height. Flowering is short, it can last from a week to two.

The culture has smooth stems, the length of which reaches 15 centimeters, it blooms with buds, which, when opened, are about 7 centimeters in diameter. The petals are yellow-green, decorated with burgundy stripes and blotches.

Crop care is pretty straightforward.The main nuance that will provide the stocks with productive growth and the possibility of flowering is well-chosen place for placement.

A succulent is very sensitive to light, with a lack of it, the plant often sheds its buds, and also changes the color of its stems. Intense light is an important feature, which will ensure good plant growth at home. It is recommended to place a flower on windows on the south, west or east side of buildings. However, during the summer months, it is worth using a shading net that will diffuse direct sunlight to avoid burns.

An overabundance of ultraviolet light appears on the stocks with brown spots. Another signal indicating a burn will be reddening of the stems. As for the crops that will grow from the north side, in the winter months, with a minimum duration of daylight hours, they need to organize additional lighting.

Thermometer readings suitable for perennials will differ depending on the season. So, in the warm months, the range of + 22-26 degrees will be a suitable temperature for the slipway. In summer, culture develops well on balconies and loggias, but drafts in such rooms should be excluded.

The succulent enters the resting phase closer to November, it lasts until February. At this time, it is worth lowering the air temperature for keeping the plant to + 14-16 degrees. However, the critical mark for the culture will be a drop to + 10-12 ° C.

As for humidity, the slipway, like a cactus, quietly develops in houses with low air humidity. It is not necessary to moisten it by spraying. However, flower growers recommend arranging a periodic warm shower for the culture, excluding such events during the flowering period of the stocks. When bathing, you should avoid waterlogging the soil in the pot in which it grows.

Succulent care at home comes down to a few mandatory activities.

In the process of humidification, it is necessary avoid flooding and stagnant water in a pot, since too much liquid in it can cause rhizome decay, as well as the development of fungal ailments. To protect the plant from such situations, during the planting process, it is imperative to put drainage in the pot.

Succulent, despite its unpretentious care, needs periodic feeding... Summer dressing has a beneficial effect on growth and flowering. They are carried out once a week using special nutritional formulations designed for succulents and cacti. Timely feeding the stocks with potash fertilizers has a positive effect on the plant's resistance to various ailments. In winter, the perennial will not need fertilizer.

Young flowers need to be transplanted regularly, and such a need is associated with an active increase in the size of the succulent in width. The procedure is performed in the spring months.

As for the adult stocks, then it can change the soil and the pot once every 2-3 years. To rejuvenate the culture in the process of transplanting, it is worth removing old shoots from the center, which are no longer capable of forming a peduncle and a bud. The transplant of perennials is sometimes allowed to be replaced by updating the topsoil.

The transplanting process is reduced to rooting a flower in a pot with a special substrate for succulents, which you can do yourself or purchase in a store.The soil for the slipway will consist of sod land and coarse sand. The drainage should take up 1/3 of the flower container.

There are two ways to propagate a succulent plant at home:

• cuttings;
• seeds.

To collect planting material, it is worth using a sharp knife, which must be additionally disinfected before work. After the separation of a part of the plant, the cut site is additionally treated with charcoal. When the stalk is detached from the mother plant, the specimen should be left on any surface for several hours to let it wither slightly.

Then the cuttings are rooted in the soil, consisting of sand and peat. Over time, when the cuttings are completely rooted, they should be planted in separate small containers, having previously made a substrate of sand, leafy earth, turf and charcoal.

The second version of the reproduction of the succulent is carried out using seeds that are collected from the fruit. The collected planting material is sown in sandy soil. Usually sprouts hatch after 2-3 weeks. The grown culture should be picked and planted in small pots.

After a year, succulents can be transplanted into a large container. For transplantation, a method of transferring a culture from one container to another is used.

All possible ailments that overwhelm the stockpile relate to errors associated with an excess of moisture during watering. This is manifested by black dots and soft stems near the flower. Most often, the plant develops root rot, from which it is almost impossible to cure a perennial. In such a culture, it is worth collecting planting material in the form of cuttings in order to preserve the stocks of this species at home.

Among pests, the greatest danger to the culture is aphids, spider mites and mealybugs. It will be possible to destroy insect pests with store-bought insecticides.

You will learn even more about caring for stocks in the following video.