Description of the type of plant, advice on growing pachypodium, advice on the choice of soil and fertilizers, independent reproduction, possible difficulties and diseases. Pachypodium. This succulent belongs to the Apocynaceae family, which includes 200 genera of plants and about 2000 species. It is a plant that has the ability to retain moisture in a thick stem. The main habitats are considered to be quite arid and hot regions of Africa, Australia and the island of Madagascar, therefore, its ability to retain moisture serves as a way of survival in these areas of the globe that are not adapted for life. Sometimes this plant is called "Madagascar palm" - this is associated with the appearance of the pachypodium, although it does not belong to the palm family.
The pachypodium is divided into subgroups using the parameters of its trunk:
- trunk about 8 cm in height with a diameter of 40 cm - a dwarf species;
- the trunk is branched, bushy, reaching a height of 4 m and differing in the shape of a bottle;
- trees that resemble cacti, growing up to 5 m, having single trunks or branching with a cigar-shaped shape.
Sometimes the pachypodium is called "thick leg" for the presence of a large and fleshy stem, which is completely covered by needle-like outgrowths. The derivative for the name is the Greek word thick - "????" and the leg is "??????" folded together. The top of this sturdy stem is decorated with a leaf rosette, which was the reason for the pachypodium to be classified as a palm tree. But it is also difficult to recognize it as a pure succulent, it is a mixture of a cactus and a palm tree, it is with its large size that it resembles giant plants of tropical regions. Under conditions of home cultivation, the pachypodium can reach a height of one and a half meter, although in the wild, its size can approach 10 m. The trunk of such plants resembles a column in shape, in indoor specimens it is a reduced copy. The thorns, which cover the entire trunk, are a protection for the plant, and confirm the relationship with cacti.
The leaves grow in a spiral sequence and, with the development of the plant, begin to die off, remaining only at the very top. The leafy crown of a rich malachite color looks very decorative, contrasting with the trunk, studded with sharp thorns. The leaf plates have an elongated shape of elongated knives varying from 20 to 40 cm in length and a midrib shaded with a lighter color. The petiole is so small that it gives the impression that the leaf is sitting on the trunk. The surface of the leaves is glossy, shiny and creates a counterbalance to the spiky surface of the trunk, it is distinguished by a velvety bottom. The leaf plate rests on a petiole, under which 3 expressive spines grow.
For the pachypodium, a period of hibernation (dormancy) is required, during which the deciduous mass is shed and then in appearance it becomes a worthy representative of the cactus family. This feature is an undeniable disadvantage for the pachypodium, since its decorative value decreases, and it cannot decorate the room properly, as it happens during the period of active growth.
In the process of flowering, the pachypodium dissolves the buds of delicate pastel shades (milky, white, pinkish, delicate beige, sometimes with yellow colors), from which umbrella inflorescences are collected. The flower has a tubular base and a graceful shape, the pharynx casts a pink tone and, when fully dissolved, the flower can reach up to 11 cm in diameter.
The plant is extremely poisonous! This must be taken into account when there are small children or pets in the room. The pachypodium even without its juice can injure the stem with thorns, but the very liquid of the stems and leaves, which are very easily damaged, will not cause skin irritation. But if a small amount of it gets on wounds or mucous membranes, it will cause poisoning, blindness if it gets into the eyes, or even tetanus or cardiac arrest may occur, so you should take care of the plant using rubber gloves. The plant is relatively easy to care for, since, unlike many representatives of cacti, it does not need low temperatures during the period of winter dormancy; during drought, the pachypodium sheds its foliage and they simply need stability in care. Even the presence of central heating batteries nearby cannot harm the succulents.
In indoor conditions, the pachypodium grows to a maximum of one and a half meters in height; under proper conditions, its life span can vary from 3 to 15 years.
Recommendations for growing pachypodium
- Lighting. The plant is very fond of bright sunlight, as it is a full-fledged inhabitant of desert areas. Therefore, if a pot with a plant is installed on a south-facing window, then this is only for the benefit of the pachypodium, you can also use windows in which the sun shines at sunrise and sunset. If the plant is located in partial shade, then this does not harm it much, but the cactus loses its decorative attractiveness, since the stem begins to stretch ugly, and the leaf plates lose their color saturation and the splendor of the crown decreases. But if the pachypodium is in a shady place for a long time, then when it is exposed to bright sunlight and when spraying, sunburn on the leaf plates is inevitable. The dormant period, as such, is not observed in the pachypodium, that is, it continues to grow year-round, therefore, a constant long daylight hours are very necessary for it. If with the arrival of autumn days the sun becomes less, then it is necessary to arrange additional lighting with the help of special lamps. In the absence of such light conditions, foliage can be completely shed by the plant.
- The temperature of the content of the pachypodium. This cactus simply cannot live without warm temperatures and in the summer it perfectly tolerates their significant increase (even above 35 degrees, but with such indicators, growth slows down very much). During the autumn-winter period, the thermometer should not fall below 15 degrees Celsius. If there is a central heating battery next to it, then with the arrival of cold weather the plant will only rejoice. But at the same time, being in hot temperatures, the pachypodium will not be able to withstand overheating of the soil, its roots can easily boil. To avoid this, it is necessary to cover the pot together with the soil with special reflective materials (for example, foil) or just a light cloth. Hypothermia of the root system is especially harmful for the pachypodium, while the plant dies almost immediately. The cactus is also not friendly with drafts, and if it is exposed to such an action, it reacts with the loss of leaves, therefore, the ventilation of the premises where the pachypodium is located is carried out quite carefully and carefully. It is important not to move the pot from place to place and not to twist it, the pachypodium cannot stand this at all and can react by completely dropping the foliage.
- Air humidity. A very pleasant property of the pachypodium is that it perfectly tolerates periods of drought or too dry indoor air, since it can save itself with the moisture that has accumulated in the stem. But still, if these periods become frequent or long enough, then the fall of the leaf mass is inevitable and the pachypodium will lose its decorative effect. Also, the plant is very grateful for regular spraying and wiping of leaf plates or warm shower procedures. For spraying, soft water is best suited - boiled, settled or rainwater.
- Watering. Only this condition for keeping the pachypodium is quite difficult for flower growers with little experience, since it is necessary to water it medium, moderately - the plant cannot stand the abundance and frequency of moisture. During watering, it is recommended to moisten the soil only at the walls of the pot, in small portions. This is characterized by the type of root system - it is very thin, in the form of long filaments and is able to obtain moisture even from hard-to-reach places of rock. If the moisture is insufficient, then the reaction of the pachypodium will be the shedding of leaves and until new shoots are formed, the soil in the pot is practically not moistened. Watering must be carried out when the earthen lump in the pot dries out by 2/3 of its volume; at low temperatures, watering is significantly reduced. Water for irrigation must be softened by settling or boiling, as well as using thawed or rainwater. The water temperature for irrigation should be in the range of 20-25 degrees or slightly higher.
- Top dressing for the pachypodium. The plant can be fed one-time at monthly intervals in the spring-summer months. For this, special fertilizers for cacti or feeding with a low nitrogen content are selected.
- Soil selection and transplantation of the pachypodium. The plant is particularly slow in growth, so it will need to change the pot no more than once every 3-4 years. The root system of the pachypodium is very delicate and delicate, it can be easily damaged, it is better to use the transshipment method without destroying the earthy coma. For young plants, you can change the pot annually. The transplantation procedure begins with the arrival of spring, when obvious plant growth is visible. A cactus pot must be chosen with well-made holes for the drainage of excess moisture and up to half of the volume of small expanded clay (pebbles) or crushed brick is placed in it. If the pachypodium was purchased in the winter time, then it is not recommended to touch it until the arrival of the spring heat. The soil for planting the pachypodium should be light enough and have good air and water permeability, with neutral acidity. You can use ready-made substrates for cacti or succulents, or you can make a soil mixture yourself based on sod and leafy soil, coarse river sand in one-to-one proportions. It is recommended to add finely crushed brick and charcoal to any soil, the latter serves as a prophylactic agent against possible root decay. Blooming of a cactus begins only when it reaches 6 years of age from the time of planting. Top dressing begins to be applied in the second month after changing the soil.
Self-breeding tips for the pachypodium
The plant propagates only by seed, cuttings are practically not used. It is extremely difficult to obtain seeds at home; they are sold in special flower shops. Seed material is sown during the spring months in any substrate that is suitable for cacti. It is not worth deepening the seeds too much. The container with seedlings is covered with foil or glass to create the conditions for a mini-greenhouse. And while maintaining constantly warm temperature indicators (about 20 degrees) and low humidity, germination can occur. Young plants must be very carefully transplanted into small containers with a diameter of no more than 7 cm.
Only the Lamer's pachypodium has the ability to grow lateral processes. You can try to divide the plant with the help of children, dry them for 3 days, and only then plant them. If the plant has undergone root decay, then it is possible to save it only by cutting off the leaf top and trying to root it in wet sand, but this operation may not bring good luck.
Pachypodium pests and cultivation difficulties
Like many succulents, the pachypodium is attacked by spider mites, thrips and scale insects. Due to the fact that the trunk is covered with sharp thorns, it is not possible to cope with pests using manual methods (for example, rubbing), therefore it is best to use special solutions of insecticides that are sprayed on the cactus.
All problems with the pachypodium arise against the background of improper plant care. Dropping the deciduous mass can provoke many factors - a change in the location of the cactus, low soil moisture, sharp cooling. Multiple putrefactive processes can develop during plant overflow or high humidity. If the leaf plates began to deform and turn black, this means that the plant was under the influence of a draft.
Types of pachypodium
- Pachypodium lamerei Drake. The most common of the indoor pachypodium varieties. It features a fluffy leafy crown, in which the leaf reaches 40 cm in length. Strong and thick trunk covered with thorns and bumps. When blooming, the buds are colored with delicate pastel colors (pinkish, milky, light beige). There are subspecies that have pubescence on the back of the leaves. This species is called the "Madagascar palm".
- Pachypodium saundersii. The stem of the plant is distinguished by the shape of a ball and a gray tint; it is covered with rather rare spines. A large leaf rosette, consists of wide elongated leaves, during flowering pleases with white flowers, speckled with pink strokes and stripes. Sometimes referred to as Lundi Stars.
- Pachypodium geayi. This variety has a compact stem, which reaches half a meter in height and resembles the Pachypodium Lamer, but has narrower leaf plates, when flowering, the buds are painted white and have a yellow center.
- Pachypodium dense-flowered (Pachypodium densiflorum). The stem reaches a height of 45 cm and is crowned with a lush rosette of short leaves. When blooming, the buds are painted in rich yellow shades.
- Pachypodium short-stemmed (Pachypodium brevicaule). The stem of this species has an unusual shape, resembling tubers or grayish stones, which reach 60 cm in width. The sheet plates have rounded shapes and are themselves small in size. Flowers of rather large calibers, painted in bright yellow shades.
- Pachypodium succulentum (Pachypodium succulentum). A plant with a relatively large bush, reaching 2.5 m in height. It features a wide main trunk that takes a turnip shape. The top of the trunk is very branched, characterized by multiple shoots, on which very narrow, belt-like leaves with slight pubescence grow. The length of the sheet plate is slightly less than 5 cm and has a centimeter width. Very thin two-centimeter thorns grow in pairs. The flower petals are pink and have burgundy stripes along the petals.
- Pachypodium horombense Poiss. The leaf plates of this species are arranged in a chaotic manner on the stem, the flowers are large and yellow in color.
- Pachypodium southern (Pachypodium meridionale). It features an elongated barrel, a small rosette of sheet plates. Flowers, which are painted in shades of pink and red, have a great decorative effect, the petals have a beautiful curled shape and a very pleasant aroma.
For more information on growing pachypodiums, see this video:
