Traits and origin of aichrizon, tips for cultivation, recommendations for transplantation, fertilization and reproduction, interesting facts, types. Aichryson is included in the Crassulaceae family and is a succulent plant that has the ability to accumulate moisture in its stems and leaves. This succulent can rightfully be considered its native land in the Canary and Azores Islands, as well as the island territories of Madeira, where it likes to settle in rock crevices. One of the varieties grows successfully in the Portuguese expanses, but there are species that live in the lands of Morocco. The number of all varieties of this representative of the succulent world reaches 15 units.
The people of Aichrizon are called "the tree of love" or "the tree of happiness", and so it was nicknamed for the leaf plates in the shape of hearts. But the plant got its name by merging two Greek principles: "ai" and "chrysos", which are translated, respectively, as "always" and "golden". Also, this bush is very similar to its close relative - the "money tree".
These are mainly annual and perennial succulents with herbaceous and semi-shrub forms of growth. The height of the plant is measured at 30 cm with a total diameter of 20–30 cm. Its stems almost never lignify and branch well, they do not even need to be pinched for this.
As mentioned above, the shape of the succulent leaf blades is very special, it resembles the shape of a heart, or their shape is round-ovoid or fusiform. Small rosettes are collected from them, which are located at the tops of the shoots. The leaves are fleshy, the color can vary from dark emerald to any of the shades of green with decorative splashes of white, gray, red and yellow tones. They are covered with short whitish hairs, as if they were wearing a fur coat. If the leaf is damaged, then it begins to emit a completely unpleasant odor.
When the plant is grown in rooms, with proper care, flowering can begin from mid-spring to the end of May days. An inflorescence appears in the form of a scutellum or panicle, which consists of small flowers and star-shaped outlines. The color of their petals is yellow, reddish or cream. As soon as the flowering process ends, the flowering stem dies off.
Conditions for growing aichrizon at home, care
- Lighting for the succulent. The plant prefers bright, but diffused light. It can be created by hanging a tulle curtain on the window or by making a curtain from gauze. Window sills that look to the east or west are suitable, you can also put the pot on the window of the southern location, only more shading is required to avoid sunburn of the leaf plates. In order for the crown of the bush to grow evenly, it is necessary to periodically turn the pot with aichrizon 15 degrees along its axis once a week.
- Temperature indicators when caring for the "tree of happiness" it is necessary to maintain it within 20-25 degrees (this applies to the spring-summer period). As soon as autumn comes and before the new growing season, it is necessary to reduce the temperature to 8-10 degrees Celsius. If this condition is not met, then the shoots of the plant will stretch out strongly and the leaves will begin to fall off. Also, do not put the aichrizon pot next to central heating radiators or heaters.
- Watering. The need for moisture is determined by the turgor of the succulent leaf plates, if they are, as it were, "inflated", then it is not worth watering. And when, with light pressure on the leaf, you feel lethargy, you will need to resort to moistening the soil, if the leaf is slightly "springy", then you should refuse watering. However, when the substrate was very dry, and the soil is abundantly moistened, this can lead to decay of the root system of the aichrizon. In winter, the plant is watered in small portions and very rarely.
- Content moisture. A succulent plant tolerates dry air very well in urban areas, so these indicators do not play a significant role in growing a plant. It is necessary to periodically arrange for aikhrizona shower washing under warm streams of water. Only in the autumn-winter period, such procedures are not carried out. It is not worth spraying the bush, since many species have pubescence on the leaves.
- Fertilizers. As soon as the succulent enters the period of activation of growth and during flowering, it is necessary to feed the aichrizon. To do this, every two weeks it will be necessary to apply complex fertilizers for succulent plants, since they have a low nitrogen content.
- Pruning and general care. You can grow the "tree of happiness" in two different forms: in the form of a bush or a standard tree. When aichrizon grows like a bush, then it does not require special molding, and if you wanted to have a plant in the form of a tree with a trunk devoid of branches, you will need to periodically clean the succulent trunk from weak branch formations. You will also need to pinch the tops of young twigs. This operation is carried out throughout the spring and summer. If the stems are too elongated due to warm wintering, then you need to rejuvenate the aichrizon by pruning and then planting cuttings.
- Blooming plant at 2–3 years of age, if there was a cool wintering, sparse watering and a slightly cramped pot.
- Transplantation and selection of a substrate. When the root system of the aichrizon has completely filled the provided container, then in the spring it will be necessary to change the pot and the soil in it. Since the root system is very shallow, shallow pots or pots should be used for planting. Best of all, when the container is made of clay, then the required porosity and air permeability will be provided. No special soil is required. You can make a substrate from sod land, or mix sod soil, leafy soil, humus and river sand in a ratio of 4: 1: 1: 1. It is recommended to use chunks of crushed charcoal or brick chips as additives. In the bottom of the container, it is necessary to make holes to drain excess moisture, and pour a drainage layer into the pot.
After 4-5 days have passed from the transplant, you can moisten the earth in the flowerpot, but this is done extremely carefully, in small portions, so as not to lead to decay of the roots.
Tips for self-propagation of aichrizona
It is possible to get a new young "tree of love" by planting seeds and cuttings.
- When propagating with the help of seeds, shallow containers (bowls) are used, which are filled with soil mixed from leafy earth and river sand (in a ratio of 1: 0.5). Having planted the seeds, the pots will need to be covered with a piece of glass or plastic wrap so that there is increased humidity and temperature in the container. At the same time, containers with seedlings are placed in a warm and lighted place, but without direct sunlight. You will need to air the seedlings daily and monitor the soil so that it does not dry out. It is better to spray the soil periodically. After two weeks, the seeds should hatch. When the seedlings grow up, a dive is carried out into the seedling boxes at a distance of 1 cm in length and width. The soil in containers should be composed of light turf soil, leafy soil and coarse sand (in proportions of 0.5: 1: 0.5). Then the container with the seedlings is placed close to the light source. As the sprouts grow, it will be necessary to transplant in separate containers with a diameter of 5-7 cm, one plant at a time. All parts of the new substrate based on the previous components are equal. In the future, it is recommended to grow young aichrizons with heat indicators of 16-18 degrees and daily watering.
- When grafting, you can use leaves or leaf rosettes. Before planting, you will need to slightly wither parts of the plant in a dark place for a couple of hours. In the future, planting is carried out in pots of suitable size with wet sand or vermiculite (material with a layered structure containing moisture). You can make a substrate from soil for succulents and river sand. When the cuttings take root, they are transplanted into separate containers with a diameter of 5–7 cm. The composition of the soil is the same as for seedlings.
Difficulties in growing aichrizone
If we single out the problems that flower growers face when cultivating aichrizon, then they can be called the following:
- When the shoots of a plant are too bare, this is evidence of very high temperatures during wintering. To rejuvenate the succulent, you will need to cut the rosettes and the top of the branches, and then try to root them.
- Leaf plates begin to wrinkle in case of insufficient soil moisture. It is important not to forget to water the plant at low temperatures rarely, but regularly.
- When the stems of the plant are stretched out, this serves as proof that the illumination of the aichrizon is not enough and if the situation is not corrected (do not move the pot closer to the light), then the plant will lose its decorative attractiveness.
- The leaves turn yellow, and the root system rots with excessive moisture.
- When the foliage begins to fall off profusely, it may be too much waterlogging of the soil in the pot, or drying out of the earthy coma, but the plant can still stay under the scorching sun streams for a long time. If leaf fall occurs in the autumn-winter period, then it indicates increased heat levels in the room. The plant will then need to be moved to a cooler place, but with good lighting and an optimal temperature within 8-10 degrees.
When Aichrizon is in the active growing season, in order to exclude decay of the root system, it is watered gently, but regularly, allowing the substrate to dry out by half. Leaf fall can also begin in some Aichrizon varieties at the end of the flowering process and this is normal, and not a disease or death of the succulent.
Interesting facts about Aichrizone
If the “tree of love” grows well in the house, then it brings harmony, harmony and warm feelings into this room. Apparently the similarity of leaves with hearts led people to the idea that aichrizon brings goodness to the family.
It is believed that when moving to a new home, a family needs to acquire such a succulent bush for happiness and take care of it. Energy experts noted that the plant has the ability to absorb all negative emanations, can cleanse the aura of the house and protect it from sorrows, troubles and hardships. And the inhabitants of Russia call aikhrizon “the tree of love”.
Also, in many nationalities, the association of this representative of the Tolstyankovs is not limited to happiness and love, according to many beliefs, aikhrizon removes health problems from all household members.
Aichrizon species
The genus, which includes aichrizon, has up to 15 such representatives. The largest number of herbaceous and shrub plantations of this succulent is found on the island territories of Palma.
Often aichrizon is confused with a plant called eonymum, mistakenly believing that it is one and the same representative. All this is due to confusion and incomprehensibility in the classification and characteristics of the external features of plants, and therefore it becomes difficult to determine to which specific species the presented succulent belongs.
The next problem is that the "tree of happiness" is attributed to the Tolstyankov family, whose representatives are mistakenly attributed to the Krassulov family. Since, if we take into account the word "crassul", which translates as "thick", then this definition properly reflects the distinctive features of aichrizon.
But of the whole variety of forms, five of the most popular species are presented here, which are usually grown by flower growers.
- Aichryson domesticum. A shrub representative with a height of up to 30 cm and almost the same size in diameter - 15–30 cm. The leaf blades are clavate and fleshy outlines. In size, they reach 2 cm in length and centimeters in width. Leaf rosettes are collected from them. There is leaf pubescence in the form of short whitish hairs. The color of the leaves is green without blotches. Interestingly, with proper care, the flowering process of this variety stretches for almost six months - from spring to autumn months. On an elongated flowering stem, 10–20 cm high, yellow flowers with a delicate aroma appear.
- Aichryson sedifolium. A plant that has a semi-shrub form of growth with dense shoots that look upright and thin. Reaches a height of 15–40 cm. Leaf blades measure one and a half centimeters in length, have a club-like shape and fleshy outlines. Of these, leaf rosettes are collected, which reach 13 cm in diameter. The surface of the leaves themselves is sticky to the touch, their color is yellow or light green with a spot of reddish color that appears on the edges and tops. No pubescence. The inflorescences are racemose and reach a length of 2–7 cm; they contain flowers of a golden-yellow hue. This variety differs from other Aichrizon varieties in that it partially sheds foliage, which falls off during the dormant period of the plant. If the substrate in the pot is waterlogged, then the plant will not tolerate it. The flowering process occurs in the spring months - roughly it will be April-May.
- Aichryson laxum Often found under the synonym of prostrate aichrizone. A succulent semi-shrub representative with the same parameters in height and diameter - about 40 cm. Rosettes are collected from leaves covered with short hairs. The leaf plate has a rhomboid shape and is attached to a long petiole, and its dimensions are approximately 1.5-3 cm in length and a centimeter wide. With the arrival of the spring months, a six-month flowering period begins. The length of a large racemose inflorescence can reach 30 cm. Flowers of a golden-yellow tint gather in them. As soon as the flowering period ends, this variety begins to shed almost all of its leaves, but the plant continues to grow.
- Aichryson tortuosum. This shrub is small in size. The height of its shoots and the size of the diameter are practically the same - about 15–30 cm. The diamond-shaped leaf plates are painted in light greenish tones, and the fleshy leaves are pubescent with transparent white hairs. The leaf is attached with a short petiole to a twig. At the same time, leaf sizes can reach 2 cm in length and 1 cm in width. Flowering mainly begins in the spring and also extends to six months.
- Aichryson punctatum. This succulent has a herbaceous growth with a total height of shoots up to 40 cm. Their color is greenish-brown, the branches are covered with transparent whitish hairs. The pubescence of the shoots is much denser than that of the leaf blades. Rosettes are assembled from fleshy leaves, which are attached with long petioles to the branches. The leaf resembles a rhombus in shape, its color is light green. The edge of the leaf blade is crenate. From small flowers, similar to bright yellow stars, inflorescences are collected in the form of a loose shield.
For more details on caring for Aichrizone at home, see here:
