Characteristics of the plant, rules for growing duvalia, recommendations for flower reproduction, pest and disease control, interesting facts, species. Duvlia (Duvalia) belongs to a small genus of plants included in the Kutrovy family, or as it is called the Aslepiadaceae. Another 19 species of perennials are also included there. These representatives of the flora chose the lands located in the southeastern regions of the African continent, as well as in Saudi Arabia, as the place of their comfortable growth.
This exotic plant got its name thanks to the botanist and physician from France - Auguste Henri Duval (1777-1814), who for the first time described and presented to the scientific community not only this representative of the flora, but also Hawortia, Gasteria and Buzulnik. But due to the fact that the flowers of duvalia can be a rather unpleasant and fetid smell, the people called it a "rotten flower".
Duvalia is a succulent plant, that is, it has the ability to accumulate moisture in the stems and leaf plates in order to survive dry periods, which are not uncommon in places of its natural growth. The root system of this exotic is superficial, not large in size. In some varieties, shoots can reach 4 meters in length, since for the most part they are creeping along the surface of the soil and can form whole green rugs - curtains. But for the most part, the stems of duvalia fluctuate at parameters of 6 cm and a thickness of up to 2.5 cm. They have ribbing, good or weak, there are 4–6 ribs. The ribs may have teeth with a sharp or blunt apex along the edge, they often resemble small tubercles. With each goth of the plant's life, the number of shoots increases. The outlines of the shoots are oval, ovoid or cylindrical, the color is usually green, but there are cases with a brownish tone of the shoots.
During the summer-autumn period, the flowering process begins at Duvalia. At the base of young shoots, a flowering stem appears, which is crowned with a cone-shaped bud or an inflorescence, consisting of 2-3 flowers. When a flower opens, it resembles a starfish in its outlines. The diameter of the flower does not exceed 3-4 cm. The petals are often elongated and pointed at the apex. The color of the petals of such an unusual flower can vary from a reddish-brown color to a rich dark purple, almost black. The petals, including 5 units, are wide open and folded along with a fold along the edges. The middle of the flower looks bulging and there are large stamens in the same place. The corolla usually has pubescence.
Since the flowers have a very unpleasant smelly smell, in nature the plant is pollinated by dung flies or scavengers. But not only this aspect attracts insects, they are attracted by the glossy surface of the petals gleaming in the sun, covered with thin villi. When a fly or a beetle constantly flies from flower to flower, they carry pollen on their paws, which allows them to produce an ovary of fruit. Duvalia fruits are like little horns. Inside there are multiple seeds, the surface of which is covered with detached hairs, thanks to this pubescence, the seed material rises driven by the winds and spreads over very long distances and the duvalia will conquer more and more territories at the same time. The plant does not put forward particularly high demands on care and even a beginner can cope with it, the main thing is to violate the established rules for agricultural technology "rotten flower". Let's consider them.
Duvalia care tips, growing at home
- Lighting and location selection. Since the "rotten flower" grows in areas where the illumination is high enough, even when grown indoors, they provide quite bright lighting for it, but it is advisable to protect the duvala from direct streams of ultraviolet radiation, so sunburn of the stems can occur. However, the plant will not tolerate complete shading - the shoots will begin to stretch towards the light source and the bush will lose its decorative effect. Therefore, when cultivating this exotic representative of the planet's flora, it is better to put the pot on the windowsills of the windows "looking" to the east or west sides of the world. If the duvalia is placed on a window with a southern location, then you will need to hang light curtains or curtains that scatter the direct midday rays of the sun.
- Content temperature. Since it comes from rather warm natural conditions, the plant will feel comfortable at room temperatures, when the heat indicators fluctuate between 20-25 degrees. But with the arrival of autumn days, it is recommended to carry out a gradual decrease in temperature to 10-14 degrees. This will help the plant go into winter rest mode. The minimum temperatures that the duvala endure without damage to themselves is 5-7 degrees. If the plant is exposed to frost even for a short time, then it will die. It is recommended to carry out frequent airing of the rooms where the "rotten flower" is grown, but make sure that it does not come under the influence of a draft. If the temperature is not reduced, then this exotic will also be able to exist normally, however, it will not work to wait for the flowering and ripening of the seeds, since the rhythm of natural growth will be disrupted.
- Air humidity. When growing duvalia, this indicator is not significant, since the plant easily tolerates dry air in urban areas. Humidity should only be kept within 40–45%. Spraying the "rotten flower" is not worth it even with a strong increase in summer temperatures.
- Watering duvali must be performed abundantly and regularly in the spring-summer period, and with the arrival of autumn and in the winter months, when kept at low temperatures, it is greatly reduced or the plant is completely moistened, since the fleshy stems can begin to rot. In the summer, the regularity of watering is once every 14 days, and in the winter - once a month. For humidification, use only soft water with heat indicators of 20-24 degrees.
- Fertilizers for the "rotten flower" are brought in from the beginning of the spring period and only once a month. It is recommended to apply fertilizing for succulents or cacti. In the composition of such preparations, the nitrogen content should be reduced, and it is better to let more calcium. If you do not adhere to this rule, then an excess of nitrogen can lead to the beginning of rotting of the stems.
- Transplanting and soil selection. The plant will normally tolerate this procedure in the spring. It is better if the transplant is carried out every two years. Before pouring soil into a new container, a third of the total volume of drainage material, which can be medium-sized expanded clay or washed pebbles, is placed on the bottom of it, and flower growers also use crushed ceramic or clay shards. The new pot should not be too deep, since the root system of the duvalia does not have a large volume and, if possible, is ceramic or clay.
The substrate must be used strongly sandy or it can be composed of turf soil and disinfected coarse river sand, in proportions of 2: 1. Or river sand and humus soil are mixed in equal parts. If you don't want problems with the soil, you can use ready-made soil mixtures for succulents or cacti.
Recommendations for self-breeding duvalia
You can get a new "rotten flower" by planting seed or cuttings.
For vegetative propagation, adult stems are cut, and they need to be dried for 2-3 days. Since the duvalia is a succulent, liquid will ooze from the slices, which can interfere with rooting. The stems are planted in a moistened sandy-peat substrate, but some put the shoots in a glass of water and so wait for the roots to appear. As soon as the stems show signs of rooting, they are planted in separate containers with a suitable substrate for succulents.
During seed reproduction, germination also takes place in sandy-peat soil, which is poured into a container. The container is covered with a bag to create the conditions for a mini-greenhouse. The first shoots will appear in 3-4 weeks, but it is recommended not to forget to moisten the soil with a spray bottle and ventilate the seedlings. The growth rate of such duvali is less than that of plants obtained by cuttings.
Duvalia pest and disease control
The plant is rarely affected by pests due to the toxicity of the leaf blades. Only in case of violation of the conditions of agricultural technology is it possible to be damaged by putrefactive processes (if often the soil in the pot turns out to be flooded). If such a nuisance happened, then you will have to re-root the plant, since the cuttings take root very easily. The root system can begin to rot if cold water was used during watering or there is no drainage layer in the pot. In case of the beginning of decay, you can still save the "rotten flower", but if this process affects the stems, then it is easier to cut the cuttings and then plant them after 2-3 days of drying.
In the case when whitish lumps are visible on the back side on the leaf plate and in internodes, which are somewhat reminiscent of cotton wool, then this is a sign of the appearance of a mealybug. And if you do not take action, then soon all the leaves and shoots will be covered with a sticky sugary bloom - pad (pest secretions). It is necessary to carry out the treatment with soap, oil or alcohol solution. If these funds do not give the desired result, then it is recommended to carry out the treatment with an insecticidal agent (for example, Aktara, Aktellik or Fitover or similar in their action).
If the plant is in a dormant period and is not watered for a long time, the stems of the duvalia may dry out. However, do not worry, as with proper care and regular watering, the plant will quickly restore its previous appearance. If the duvalia is under direct streams of sunlight for a long time, then the stems acquire a reddish tint. Also, if sufficient shading is provided, the natural color will soon be restored.
Since the process of flowering in a "rotten flower" begins when it reaches one and a half or two years of age, it is not worth expecting that flowers will appear in a young specimen. Also, there will be no flowers if conditions with low temperatures were not created for duvalia in winter.
Interesting facts about Duvalia
Duvalia is a close relative of such a plant as Stapelia, since the flowers are very similar to the latter, only inferior in size, and the shoots have similar outlines. These exotic species are pollinated by dung flies.
Duvallia species
- Duvalia pillansii is a low-growing plant with shortened stems, the height of which reaches only 2.5 cm with an almost centimeter thickness. The outlines of the shoots are tetrahedral to almost cylindrical, the color is green, and there is a reddish tint from the sides. Single thickened teeth are present on the edges. During flowering, numerous small buds are formed, reaching 2 cm in diameter. The petals of the flowers are triangular in shape, and there is a deep groove on the surface. The color on the outside is greenish, and on the inside they are shaded with a purple-brown color scheme. Up to half of the petal of a reddish tone is pubescence along the edge. The native habitat is the dry regions of South Africa, namely the Cape Province.
- Radial duvalia (Duvalia radiata) can be found under synonymous names - Stapelia radiate or Stapelia replicate. As well as the previous view, it does not differ in height. Shoots grow recumbent and in length can reach 4, 5–5 meters with a thickness of up to 2, 5 cm. They have 4–5 facets, and the edges are decorated with large plump teeth. When flowering, buds appear, located on young shoots from their very base, singly or in pairs. The size of the corolla is small, a flower can reach 2-3 cm in diameter. The petals in it have arcuate outlines and are directed upward, their color is brownish with a glossy surface. For its habitat, the species "chose" areas of the Cape Province (South Africa).
- Duvalia modesta differs in shoots measuring 1, 2-4 meters in length, with a thickness of up to 2 cm. Their outlines are ovoid or oblong, they have 4-5 units of denticles with a blunt surface. Their surface is bare, the color is dark green. The leaf blades are greatly reduced (rudimentary) and their size is only 1.5 mm in length. At the base of young shoots in the process of flowering, there is a pair, and sometimes more flowers, have a strong fetid odor. Pedicels reach 8–20 mm and have a bare surface. The sepals are 2–4 mm long, their outlines are lanceolate, the apex is pointed, the surface is bare. Corolla diameter reaches 12-25 mm, color varies from dark chocolate to brownish-violet tone. the length of the lobes at the rim is 5–9 mm, the width is 3–6 mm. The lobes have a curvature of the contours, the edge is decorated with cilia.
- Duvalia Corderoyi has stems that do not differ in great length, their outlines are tetrahedral, the color is greenish or grayish-green. Their surface is covered with tubercles. When blooming, buds appear with reddish-brown petals. From other varieties, this one differs by the presence of dense pubescence on the outer surface of the flower with a lilac tone.
- Duvalia andreaeana is a low-growing plant that forms green living rugs with its stems. Creeping shoots, low-branched, with fleshy outlines and dark green color. They have 4–5 edges. The ribs are small, their surface is hidden by fine serration with blunt tops. The leaves are reduced, early flying around from the stems. Only one flower usually develops in an inflorescence. Its petals are yellow-pinkish, fleshy and in its appearance the flower is very similar to a starfish, since the petals have elongated and pointed outlines.
- Duvalia narrow-lobed (Duvalia angustiloba). The height of the shoots of this species reaches 0.8-3 cm with a thickness of up to 0.8-2 cm. There are 4-5 ribs and ovoid-cylindrical outlines of the shoots, their color is dark green or grayish green. The leaves reach 0.2 cm in length, rudimentary, at the top they have a very strong pointedness. The inflorescences have up to 5–20 dichasia (inflorescences that have a division on the axes (branching - dichasia), recumbent. In sepals, the length is measured 0.3 cm, the corolla of the flower opens to 1, 5–2, 2 cm, very in its outlines resembles an arachnid, its color is chocolate brown, in rare cases it can be a light green tone with brown specks.
- Sod duvalia (Duvalia caespitosa). The plant is small in size, with creeping shoots, their segments are succulent with ovoid forms. In diameter 1, 25-1, 9 cm, length - 1, 25-5 cm. The color is green, there are 6 ribs. There are no sheet plates. In flowers, the corolla is divided into 5 narrow, pointed lobes, its diameter is 1, 25–2, 5 cm, the shade of the petals is purple.
