Differences and characteristics of common features of a representative of the flora, how to grow Protea on your windowsill, diseases and pests, interesting facts, species. Protea (Protea) is referred by botanists to the Proteaceae family, which includes representatives of the flora with two cotyledons located opposite each other in the embryo. All plants in this family are from the order Proteales. The artichoke protea (Protea cynaroides) is a typical species of this genus, which is even honored to represent the symbol of the country. If we rely on data from the general information base The Plant List from 2013, then in this genus there are up to 101 species of Proteus (about 70 genera, which contain more than 1400 species). The native growing area falls on the territory of the Australian continent and Africa, and the conditions in which the plant exists are more than Spartan (high temperatures and dry periods).
This exotic bears its scientific name thanks to Karl Linnaeus, whom he wanted to display all the variety of forms of the external outlines of this African flower, naming it in honor of the god Proteus, who also has the ability to change his face. The plant is a succulent and has the ability to accumulate a certain amount of moisture in its leaf plates and underground organs, which makes it possible for it to overcome the difficult arid conditions of its native places of growth. These underground organs are located on the stems of the plant. Basically, all proteas have the form of evergreen shrubs, reaching with their shoots up to a height that varies from one to three meters.
But it has been noticed that even plants of the same variety can be very different in appearance, shape of inflorescences and their size. The leaves of this exotic have a leathery surface, the color of both the upper and lower sides is the same and includes a rich green color. The shape of the leaf plate takes on an oblong-oval, but occasionally there are specimens differing in linear or needle-shaped outlines of foliage. It is interesting that on the bush there is an alternation of leaves and inflorescences, which have a special decorative effect.
It is the protea flowers that attract the general attention of all lovers of exotic flora. With its outlines in full disclosure, the flower resembles a star to someone, but someone sees a sea urchin in it, and the appearance of a burdock, artichoke or a giant thistle also comes to mind. Usually, during flowering, numerous buds are formed, which are collected in cone-shaped inflorescences. The flowers are hairy. The inflorescence of the largest specimen can measure 30 cm in diameter, and their smallest size is only 5 cm.
The inflorescences are surrounded by a dense wrapper, and all decorativeness is provided not by small flowers, but by peculiar bracts. They have a conical shape with protruding needle-like "petals". The color of the flower bracts is striking in its variety, there is an alternation of shades, and also impressive unusual bracts and sepals. They attract honey insects and small birdies with sweet nectar, which is hidden inside the "heads" of the inflorescences.
Protea fell in love not only with a florist, it is also popular with florists, since a cut flower may not deteriorate for up to three weeks, and neither the color nor even the shape changes, as the flower gradually dries up. Therefore, it is possible to make a wide variety of phytocompositions from live and dried plant inflorescences. Proteus also does not lose its properties when transported over long distances.
Rules for keeping Protea when grown indoors
- Lighting. Bright but diffused light. An east or west window will do, in winter additional lighting will be required, otherwise there will be no flowering.
- Content temperature. Protea can be kept at temperatures over 20 degrees in summer, and 5-10 degrees in winter.
- Humidity and watering. It is not worth spraying, the plant tolerates dry air. It is forbidden to overflow the soil, but complete drying is not needed either. In winter, watering only once a month. The water should be warm and soft.
- Fertilizers. Since Protea loves acidic soil, all dressings are aimed at renewing its acidity. To do this, once a month or one and a half, half the dosage of the top dressing recommended for azaleas and rhododendrons is added to the water for irrigation. Also, when watering, the water is acidified with oxalic or citric acid. Care consists in reducing the dose of nitrogen fertilizers by three times during the period of activation of the development of protea, or using special preparations for azaleas (the frequency of feeding will be once every 30 days). In early spring, systemic feeding should be replaced with a full portion of fertilizers, after a month after the transplant, and another fertilization operation is carried out after the protea has bloomed.
- Pruning Proteus is not particularly recommended. Only after the flowering process should the inflorescences be removed and the branches cut off by only 5-10 cm. If the bush is too wide in diameter, then it is necessary to shorten a third to a quarter of the plant height before transplanting in spring.
- Transplant and recommended soil. The plant is advised to change the pot and soil frequently. When Protea is young, this process is annual and takes place in the spring months. The transshipment method is used - an earthen lump, braided by the root system, is not destroyed at the same time. Only a little soil from the top can be gently peeled off if it comes off easily. An adult Protea is transplanted if all the soil in the pot has been mastered by the root system. A drainage layer is placed on the bottom of the new pot. The size of the pot increases by only 3-4 cm in diameter. The container is selected wide and not with great depth (for example, pots). It is best to make up the soil mixture yourself from high moor peat with the addition of river sand and pine needles. Or you can use a purchased substrate for rhododendrons and azaleas, to which sand or perlite is added. The acidity should be pH 5–5.5, and the texture of the soil should be rough and drained.
Diy Protea breeding description
In order to get another plant of African exotic, it is recommended to sow seeds or carry out cuttings.
It is recommended to sow Protea seed from the end of winter days to the end of April. It is necessary that the difference between the temperatures of day and night is no less than 12 degrees. Before sowing, the seeds must be soaked in warm water (about 38-40 degrees) for a day. There is also added a little wood ash for disinfection, at the rate of 100-150 grams of water 3 teaspoons of the drug. Before that, the seeds can be kept for 7 days in moistened sand on the lower shelf of the refrigerator (at a temperature of about 5 degrees), this is how stratification takes place.
For planting, you need soil with high acidity, for example, a substrate for azaleas, with the addition of river sand and perlite there. The soil is poured into a wide and not deep bowl, at the bottom of which a layer of expanded clay is laid (this will protect the plants from waterlogging). Drying is not as bad as filling the soil. The seeds are placed at a depth of twice the size of the seed itself. Then the crops are watered gently with warm soft water or sprayed from a spray bottle. The container is covered with a plastic bag or placed under glass - conditions for a mini-greenhouse are created. The germination temperature should be 20-25 degrees. It is required to regularly raise the glass or remove the shelter for ventilation and water the soil as it dries. After a month, you can see the first shoots.
When a pair of real leaves unfolds, the shelter is removed, and the pot with seedlings is placed in the brightest place, but protected from direct streams of sunlight. Fortified young proteas can be transplanted in separate pots with suitable soil. When leaving, the soil is only slightly moistened, since the sprouts can quickly rot from waterlogging. Bottom watering is often carried out. The growth of seedlings is rather slow - only 2 cm in height in a month, but with the arrival of summer, the intensity will slightly increase. The plant obtained in this way will bloom for 5-6 years. If it is noticed that the leaves have begun to change their color to yellowish, then watering with acidified water will be required.
When grafting, cuttings of twigs with a length of about 10 cm are used. They are planted in soil similar to seed propagation, or take a peat-sand mixture, cover the pot with a glass vessel or a cut plastic bottle (you can wrap it in a plastic bag).
Difficulties in indoor growing proteas
The plant, when grown, both in greenhouses and in rooms, is rarely attacked by pests and diseases, but if certain conditions of detention are violated, it is observed:
- Late blight, which occurs at high humidity and low temperatures (20-25 degrees). On the leaves, a grayish-brown spot is formed, which is surrounded by a ring of whitish mold or plaque imitating a thin cobweb. Fungicides are used to combat.
- Chlorosis. May occur due to a lack of iron in the soil or dressing. In this case, the color of the leaf turns pale, but the veins stand out in a bright green color. For cure, ferrous preparations (iron chelate) are added to the water during irrigation.
Black-legged or aphid lesions are rarely seen. In the latter case, a large number of green or black bugs can be seen on the leaves and branches, which leave behind a sticky sugary bloom (honeydew is a product of the pest's vital activity). A broad spectrum insecticide is recommended.
Curious facts about protea
Cut flowers protea perfectly withstand up to 2-3 weeks. If the color of the inflorescence is white, then it is used to form a wedding bouquet. However, florists believe that protea is a purely masculine flower, intended as a gift to people endowed with self-confidence. If a bouquet of protea flowers is in the room, then constant ventilation is required. When the inflorescence fades, it is recommended to cut it 5 cm from the stipules.
Since birds love to settle in inflorescences, which worship Protea because of its nectariness, by building their nests, birds help the plant to reproduce in natural conditions, as they scatter seeds around the area.
The famous botanist and flora taxonomist Karl Linnaeus named Proteus in honor of Proteus, the Greek sea deity. Since the shape and color of flowers and leaves in a plant is quite diverse, and Proteus had the ability to change his appearance at will, this pushed the scientist to an analogy with a changeable species of exotic. Since most of the Proteus species are found in the Cape Province (south of the African continent), it is no wonder that the flower of this plant has become the national symbol of South Africa.
Protea flower species
- Protea artichoke (Protea cynaroides). It is an evergreen shrub plant, the stems of which become thick and lignified over time. The leaf plates are leathery, hard to the touch, painted on the upper and lower sides in a rich bright green color scheme. This variety with inflorescences, the diameter of which is equal to 30 cm. The shape of the inflorescences is capitate and they are distinguished by a spectacular appearance, as if a fancy crown is worn on the head. All the beauty is made up of rather original variegated bracts in the form of wrappers, the color of which is diverse. Shades of white, yellow, orange color, as well as pink and lilac tones are noticed, and the named color variations can be combined. Since the flowers are distinguished by their high nectar content, in places of natural distribution it is called "a pot of honey". Traditional healers recommend using it as a cough remedy. When fruiting, nuts ripen, the surface of which is covered with hairy pubescence, which makes the fruits quite similar to artichokes, and because of this, the plant received its specific name. The most popular form is the King Protea, which has raspberry-silver bracts.
- Protea large-headed (Protea coronata) often previously met under the name Protea macrocephala. Shrub, with powerful stems lignified over time. They are covered with leaf plates of a bright dark green color, characterized by a bend along the central vein. During flowering, large inflorescences are formed, the diameter of which is more than 30 cm. They are effectively framed by orange-red stipules (wrappers) with a sharp top. Pollination takes place by means of birds, which are called sugar and nectar, and the first birdie tends to settle right in the protean thickets. This feathered one is used to building its nests, using dried bracts as a building material.
- Protea creeping (Protea repens) differs in its recumbent shoots (which gave rise to such a specific name). The foliage is also smaller, and the size of the inflorescences is much smaller compared to the previous variety. The handicap of the leaf plate is narrowed, in length the parameters can be equal to 5-15 cm. The color of the foliage is gray. During flowering, spherical or slightly elongated conical inflorescences are formed, which, due to the pointed bracts, seem to be prickly. Their color is made up of yellowish-cherry tones. It is the national symbol of the Republic of South Africa. It prefers to grow on very poor soils, with high acidity, mainly composed of gravel chips and coarse sand.
- Protea oleandroliferous (Protea neriifolia) presented in culture as a large bush with a rather decorative appearance, with a long flowering period. The flowers are large in size, painted in a variety of shades, which include halftones from creamy green to silvery pink and dark red. It stands well in cut and is intended for growing in the garden.
- Protea excellent (Protea grandiceps) or Protea magnificent, Protea duchess. This plant belongs to the vertical species of Proteus, the height of which is close to two meters, while its width varies within 40-60 cm. The heart-shaped leaf plate, painted in grayish-green or bluish-green color, reaches large inflorescences during flowering. Their color is pink or reddish-pink. The bracts are spatulate in shape, differ in dark crimson color, at the base this coloring is replaced by light green. The spherical head of the inflorescence, up to the middle part is light, but then it becomes more and more pink and at the very top there is already a maroon color. The plant can withstand temperatures down to -5 degrees below zero without damage.
- Protea exclusive (Protea eximia) also bears the name Proteus of the Duchess. The height of the bush can reach five meters, while the shoots can be both upright and creeping. The flowers are large, the inner bracts are elongated, resembling spatula in their shape. Also, the variety is frost-resistant up to -5 degrees.
More about Proteus in the following video:
