Pachypodium is a plant that has been gaining popularity among gardeners in recent years. Although its most common appearance is known as the Madagascar palm tree, it is in no way associated with palm trees. While the spiny columnar trunk indicates a cactus, the leaves are more like palm leaves. The trunk, like many succulents, serves as a reservoir for water. Caring for the pachypodium is simple, even beginners will cope with it.
Varieties of Pachypodium
Pachypodium of the lamerei species, or Madagascar palm, is the most commonly found in the Pachypodium culture from the Kutrov family. This plant is native to Madagascar, where it can often be found in rocky limestone valleys.
Pachypodium in nature
The succulent plant has a tall thick spindle-shaped trunk, covered with long 6-centimeter spikes, collected in 3 at the tips of clear tight-fitting tubercles. In young plants, the trunk surface is dark green; in adults, it is covered with silver-gray scales.
The thorns are also silver gray in the middle and brownish at the ends. Long leaves grow from the same tubercles as the thorns, only on the upper part of the stem. The peculiar shape is the reason to call Lamera a cactus with leaves on the top of the head.
Pachypodium lamerei
The length of the leaf blade can exceed 30 cm with a width of 9 cm, its surface is leathery, dark green, with a bright central vein. Large, up to 10 cm in diameter, flowers are collected in small umbrella inflorescences protruding above the leaves on low thick stems. Flower crowns have a narrow tube with a bright yellow inside that opens with five wide creamy white petals.
Interesting. Pachypodium Lamera in their homeland can reach up to 6 m in height, in conditions of indoor breeding, usually grows about 1 m.
There are at least 20 types of pachypodium. The most popular of them:
- Pachypodium geayi (Jaya). It is very similar to Pachypodium lamerei. It differs only in narrower and less dense leaves. When grown at home, it reaches 60 cm;
Pachypodium geayi
- Pachypodium brevicaule (with a short stem). Originally from the center of Madagascar. An unusual appearance, the trunk resembles a stone covered with thorns. Gray shades give it in nature the maximum resemblance to the surrounding landscape. The yellow inflorescence against such a background is very impressive;
Pachypodium brevicaule
- Pachypodium saundersii. The spherical stem of gray-green color up to 1.5 m long is covered with small spikes. The leaves are wide, with a tapering base, the flower of such a pachypodium is decorated with a white border;
Pachypodium saundersii
- Pachypodium succulent (Pachypodium succulent). Occurs from southern Africa. A tree trunk, like a cobblestone, buried in the ground, small pubescent leaves and needle fumes. Bell-shaped buds with pink and red sparks converging to the center on the petals;
Pachypodium succulent
- Pachypodium densiflorum (densely flowered). It has rich yellow flowers. It grows very slowly. Flowering begins when the stem reaches a 30-centimeter diameter. Maximum height - 45 cm;
Pachypodium densiflorum
- Pachypodium horombense Poiss. Belongs to undersized species with a strong smooth stem. Thin leaves in rosettes at the ends of shoots and large yellow flowers growing in clusters.
Pachypodium horombense poiss
Care for Pachypodium Lamer
Pachypodium plant care at home is not particularly difficult, however, a number of mandatory conditions of detention must be observed. Pachypodium grows relatively quickly and can reach significant sizes in just 2-3 years. On average, growth is 15-30 cm per year, so you can start with a small plant. Flowering begins in adults about the age of 5 years.
Care Features
Habitat selection
If possible, it is good in the summer to take the plant to the balcony or to the garden. But this can only be done in the absence of night frosts. The room is an ideal place for a representative of exotic flora - a south, southwest or southeast window. In winter, it is quite possible to be near the heater, dry and warm air is easily transported.
Humidity and watering
When caring for the pachypodium at home, creating high humidity is not required, which makes it easier to grow. In the wild, the plant tolerates both dry and rainy periods. Therefore, you need to know how to water the pachypodium.
Since it accumulates water in its trunk, pouring must be quite restrained. However, the plant requires more water than most other succulents. Soft fiber inside the trunk absorbs water and acts as a kind of reservoir for its storage.
At the same time, stagnant moisture can damage this unusual plant. Root rot appears and the trunk simply collapses. The palm does not require spraying, but this can be done in order to wash off the dust.
Interesting. Under natural conditions, the pachypodium tolerates long dry periods. Although with regular water supply, it grows much faster.
Basic watering requirements:
- wait for the soil to dry after each irrigation;
- For irrigation use rain or well-maintained tap water.
Tip. It is advisable to plant a Madagascar palm tree in a clay pot, because, unlike plastic ones, it regulates humidity well.
Temperature and lighting
The favorite habitat of the pachypodium cactus is as warm as possible, with good lighting.
Important! The warmer the habitat of the plant, the more light it should provide. However, areas that are in partial shade are also acceptable.
Pachypodium grows best at temperatures from 20 ° C to 24 ° C, while it easily tolerates even 30 degrees heat. But it is necessary to ensure that the temperature does not fall below + 18 ° C.
There is no rest, the growing season lasts all year, so in winter you need to try to extend the daylight hours, creating artificial lighting. Otherwise, the trunk expands greatly, leaves become rare and pale. Under the least favorable conditions, they may partially fall.
Feeding and transplanting
To cover the need for nutrients, a single monthly top-dressing is sufficient, starting in April and ending in September. Fertilizers are administered 2-3 weeks after the appearance of young shoots. Specialized formulations for cacti are suitable which are added to irrigation water in a low concentration.
Pachypodium transplant
To optimally care for the pachypodium, a transplant is necessary, in which the following aspects are taken into account:
- change time - spring;
- regularity - every 2 or 3 years, young - once a year;
- in a new pot, lay out good drainage;
- immediately after transplantation, it is not recommended to fertilize the plant.
The transplant should be carried out very carefully, given that the plant has delicate roots. A plant with an earthen lump is neatly placed in a new pot, slightly larger than the previous one, on a layer of drainage and substrate. Then the soil is filled up so that at least 2 cm remains to the edge, and is pressed. Suitable type of soil - special for cacti. If it is prepared independently, then the sheet and turf land mixes with river sand. Everything is taken in equal shares. After planting, abundant watering is performed.
Important! Not only because of sharp thorns, but also because of the toxicity of the plant, it is necessary to wear thick gloves when transplanting.
The trunk and leaves of the pachypodium contain poisonous milky juice, which is harmful not only to humans, but also to animals. Symptoms of poisoning - diarrhea, impaired urination, in severe cases, high fever and breathing problems.
For the pachypodium, trimming the top does not make sense. Only broken or otherwise damaged leaves should be shortened or removed with a clean cutting tool. This procedure reduces the risk of penetration of pathogenic microorganisms.
Due to the irritating and toxic effects of the plant, the cutting tool must be thoroughly cleaned before and after contact with the palm.
Growing problems
If the Madagascar palm tree is in a suitable place and with proper care, it rarely suffers from diseases. However, errors in content lead to symptoms of various diseases.
Why do young leaves turn black
Typical errors are:
Pachypodium with blackened leaves
- lack of light;
- too cold place (the plant reacts especially negatively when standing on a cold floor);
- very rare, but excessive watering;
- irrigation with cold water, which leads to darkening of the leaves.
A weakened palm is especially susceptible to infection with fungal spores. Then, at the pachypodium, young leaves turn black and dry. Means of control can be an immediate transplant and limitation of watering.
Important! Sometimes poor watering can also be a problem. If there is little fluid, cracks appear in the trunk, where spores and pests can easily penetrate.
Pests on the pachypodium appear nevertheless quite rarely. They can be a scab or a spider mite. In case of their appearance, the plant must be treated with insecticides.
Why the palm tree does not bloom
Many florists are worried about why the pachypodium does not bloom. This plant generally rarely blooms at home. Sometimes, with regular feeding and careful care, plants older than 5-6 years old delight their owners with charming flowers.
Breeding
Vegetative
It is not easy to grow a young pachypodium; reproduction is carried out mainly with the help of lateral shoots. Cuttings are prepared from them. The difficulty is that the lateral shoots of the palm tree give only after a few years. Cuttings can be cut from the top of the plant. If, for example, the pachypodium is damaged by root rot, this way you can save it.
Pachypodium cuttings
Stages of vegetative propagation:
- A healthy and strong shoot is selected, cut with a clean knife as close to the mother plant as possible;
- To prevent decay and increase the likelihood of rooting, the cut must dry. The optimal time is 24 hours, but 12 hours is enough;
- After drying, the cut is treated with charcoal;
- Then the stalk should be planted in a pot with a substrate to a depth of 4-5 cm;
- The soil should be saturated with moisture, but not wet;
- Placed in a bright and warm place, the stalk is covered with a transparent film and ventilated daily.
Root formation can take several weeks. Propagation of the pachypodium by cuttings will bring success if they are regularly watered and are in a warm place.
Seed cultivation
From a houseplant, you can get seeds only after artificial pollination during the flowering period. Since the Madagascar palm tree does not always bloom, seeds can be purchased at the flower shop.
The main stages of obtaining young Lachaera pachypodium plants from seeds when grown at home:
- Immediately before the start of the procedure, immerse the seeds in warm water and leave there for 2 hours;
- Sow them on a substrate mixture, sprinkle lightly on top with soil;
Growing pachypodium from seeds
- It is good to moisten the soil and cover the container with seeds with a film;
- Place in a warm and bright place, for example, on a sunny windowsill. Germination temperature - from 24 ° С to 26 ° С;
- Watering is not too plentiful as the soil dries slightly;
- When the sprouts rise to 10 cm, they can be transferred individually to the pots.
Important! To avoid rotting under the coating, it must be lifted daily for half an hour to ventilate.
The Madagascar palm tree is very easy to care for, so it is suitable for any amateur grower, regardless of experience. It is important to use optimally supported, well-dosed irrigation, and the plant will give any interior an exotic look.
