Perekzya spiny: photo, description, care and reproduction at home

Thorny spindles belong to the family of Cactus, which includes 17 species of various plants. It belongs to the simplest and most ancient cacti, which still have leaf plates. The current cacti also had once habitual leaves for us, but under the influence of waterless and hot conditions of deserts, they gradually changed, after which they became thorns, while the leaves began to perform the duties of the leaves. To date, this genus is calculated by species taking deciduous shrub forms, a tree species capable of growing to 10 meters, as well as a climbing plant. The habitat is tropical and hot areas of both Americas.

Pereskya spiny, photo of which can be seen in this article, received its name in honor of N.-K. De Peiresco, a French botanist. Mention of it is found for the first time in the beginning of the XVIII century in the notes of Charles Plumier. The plant can also be found under the following names: "cactus-rose" (thanks to flowers resembling a tea rose or rosehip), as well as "leaf cactus" (due to the presence of real leaves and stems that are covered with spines).

Description of the thorns

It is an evergreen perennial that preserves the shape of a forked bush. She has a rather massive rhizome. The standing stems eventually become lignified, covering with a brownish-red, shiny crust. Throwing spiny in height can grow to 10 meters, while the annual growth of new shoots is approximately 20 centimeters. On the branches are long, hard thorns and sessile, petiolate or alternate leaves.

The leaf plate is oval or ovoid in shape and has a pointed end and a solid edge. The leaves along the central vein are slightly folded, they are colored green. The leaves of the leaves are covered with shiny dense skin, which protects them from excessive moisture evaporation. The sheet has an average length of 3.5 cm.

During flowering, a large number of axillary flowers appear at the ends of the shoots. Flower pereski, unlike the rest of the cactus tube, does not. It includes 8 lanceolate, wide-open petals and resembles more rose hips. At the same time, in the center of the bud, there is a lush core of a large number of yellow stamens. It is interesting that the flowers exude a citrus intense flavor.

On pereskii after flowering ripe juicy fruits of a cone-shaped or rounded form. They are inedible! At the same time, the skin of the fetus is yellow or beige, shiny. Inside the berries there are several black seeds of large or medium size.

Kinds

In total, there are 17 species of spiny thorns. They all grow under natural conditions sufficiently large, although in the case of indoor cultivation, these are very beautiful, compact bushes. The most popular among florists is the resplendent spiny. This plant forms a sprawling, tall bush. The stems are covered with hooked, short thorns and are sufficiently branched. In short-petioled leaves, the length is 9 centimeters, while the width is 4 centimeters. The foliage is bright green, quite stiff. The plant blooms with large flowers, which have a strong aroma. In this case, the fruit resembles a gooseberries berry, as already mentioned above.

Pereskia Godseffa

This plant has thin stems, densely covered with bundles of black long thorns. Oval-shaped leaves with a pointed edge to the stem are fastened with short petioles. The length of the sheet reaches six centimeters. The leaf plate is a green color with a saturated central green part. On the reverse side of the leaf there are purple or pinkish tones. Small flowers are painted in cream or white.

Grandiflora retakes

This plant forms a fairly high shrub, densely covered with large, saturated green foliage. This species at the cooling off most of the foliage resets. Large flowers of pink hue at the ends of the branches form the capitate inflorescence.

Pereskaya orange

This plant has a weakly ligh, high growth with large leaves. They can see a picture made of veins. Bright red large flowers resemble poppy heads 5 cm in diameter. The plant fructifies with yellow cone-shaped berries, which exude an intense pineapple smell.

Pereskie Weber

This plant forms small bushes that are suitable for creating bonsai. It is distinguished by a rich flowering that occurs throughout the summer. Small white flowers young shoots cover very thickly.

Cultivation

Reproduction of prickly thorns is carried out by rooting cuttings and seeds. For the latter method, boxes with a peat-sand mixture are prepared. It is better to sow in early spring. To do this, the seeds are buried 1 cm into the ground, watered, and then covered with a film. At the same time, the soil temperature should not drop below 20 ° C. After 2 weeks, the first shoots begin to appear. Above them shelter is removed, seedlings can be transplanted into separate pots when four real leaves appear.

But for the rooting of cuttings you need to use stronger, yet neodrevresnevelshie branches. This procedure is usually carried out in the spring. Cuttings cut with a knife. Each of them should have 1-2 nodes. After cutting, they are rooted in a mixture of perlite with peat and hide under the film. The best air temperature during rooting is 25 ° C. After 2-3 weeks, roots appear, after which they can already grow without shelter. Very carefully, the seedlings are transplanted into pots so that the fragile roots do not damage.

Features of care

For resignation prickly, care at home is not very difficult. This light-loving plant loves the southern window sills. In summer, a cactus creates a light shadow or from the window sill to the interior of the room. Also help the foliage to protect from sunburning airing. Pereskya drafts are not afraid, therefore, it can be carried out in the summer to the garden or to the balcony. In addition, it is necessary to provide protection against showers.

When caring for a spiny crook, it is worth considering that the ideal air temperature for it is 24 ° C. In the summer, the room should be ventilated as often as possible. The temperature from the middle of autumn is reduced to 16 ° C, thus providing the plant with a rest period. It should be remembered that for a flower cooling below 10 ° C will be fatal.

Perekishu in the summer watered often enough. It is allowed to dry completely only the upper layer of the earth. All excess fluids should be allowed to leave the pot freely. Also, water stagnation in the pan is undesirable, because it causes active multiplication of the fungus. Irrigation with a decrease in air temperature is produced somewhat less often. In the event that the overflow begins to throw off leaves abundantly, this may indicate a shortage of water.

Perekie prickly is resistant to dryness, while a warm shower or infrequent spraying does not cause harm to it. For irrigation, use purified, soft water.

In the period of active vegetation and flowering, the flower needs various fertilizing. Use formulations suitable for cacti. Each month, irrigation is combined with the application of fertilizer. It is necessary to control to minimize the nitrogen components, in the opposite case, probably rotting roots.

Perekrya prickly has a fairly powerful root system, therefore, it will often have to be transplanted. The procedure is carried out in the summer or spring by way of transshipment of a coma of land. Pots should be taken deep with a large layer of drainage. In this case, a mixture of:

• Clayey-turf ground;
• Leaf earth;
• Sand;
• Leaf humus.

Pereskiya has excellent immunity, while it can suffer from rotting roots, which occurs when excessive humidity and incorrectly selected irrigation regime. Moving to a more dry environment and reducing the frequency of watering will help the plant to save from certain death. In addition, it is recommended to use effective antifungal drugs.

Periodically, the attack is attacked by spider mites, thrips and mealybugs. The treatment with various insecticides will help to cope with pests quickly.