Pedilanthus (Pedilanthus) belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. Homeland – the tropics of America. It mainly grows in the Northern, Southern and Central regions of the country. Since the plant is common in different parts of the continent, the characteristics of some species differ significantly. Some species are successfully cultivated in room culture.
Such an indoor flower, like pedilantus , is a succulent shrub with branching dark green stems that form a broken line in the form of a zigzag. It can also be a tree plant.
Description of pedilanthus during dormancy and flowering
Bushes are characterized by very abundant branching.
Shoots have an elongated cylindrical shape. Their color can be dark olive or green-grayish. Like all euphorbias, it contains milky juice.
The leaves are small, slightly pubescent. In some species, the surface of the foliage, on the contrary, is smooth and glossy. It is egg-shaped and can reach 10 cm in length and 3 cm in width. Leaves sessile or placed on short petioles.
The color is green or light green, there are variegated varieties. During dormancy, the plant may shed its foliage.
With sufficient lighting and moisture, the plant throws all its strength into further reproduction, and flowering begins at the pedilanthus.
The flowers are small, like bird’s heads, usually collected in umbellate inflorescences. At their base there are 2 bright red pointed bracts. The diameter of the bracts is about 2 cm.
The length of the flowers themselves usually reaches 3 cm. The color varies from red to pink.
Types and varieties of flowering pedilanthus (with photo)
The photo shows that the blooming pedilanthus is a very exotic phenomenon due to the unusual and bright appearance of the inflorescences.
In floriculture, three types are most often used:
Pedilanthus tithymaloides (P. tithymaloides);
Pedilanthus titimaloid “Varnegata” (P. tithymaloides “Variegata”) and is much less commonly grown
Pedilanthus large-fruited (P. macrocarpus).
Pedilanthus tithymaloid (P. tithymaloides) . This species is very common in Central America, but is popular in cultivation. As can be seen from the photo, as a houseplant, this pedilanthus can have a variety of colors and shapes, depending on the conditions of detention. This is the most interesting characteristic of the flower.
For example, the foliage of a bush can have both pinkish and olive hues. This is especially true for the Variegata variety.
In the center and along the edges of the sheet plate, white blotches can be placed. This plant has variegated shoots, so another name has taken root for it – “devil’s ridge”.
Large-fruited pedilanthus (Pedilanthus macrocarpus).
As can be seen from the photo, the indoor flower pedilanthus outwardly differs somewhat from the previously described species.
Despite the fact that it is still a shrub plant, the flower does not have foliage at all. Instead, it has water-storing round shoots. This type of plant acquired due to arid environmental conditions. Sometimes the shape can change from round to flattened. The color of the stems has a grayish-green tint.
How to care for pedilanthus so that the flower does not drop leaves
Caring for a pedilanthus flower, like all succulents, is not very difficult – the plant is moderately demanding and, subject to the right microclimate, will delight the eyes of the owners all year round.
The bush is grown on a sunny windowsill, as it needs bright lighting. However, it is better to protect the flower from the scorching sun, as burns may appear on the leaves. The important thing is that leafless varieties survive hot weather and drought a little easier, but they also need more light. This is desirable to take into account when choosing the location of the flower. Pedilanthus can grow in living rooms all year round. However, in the summer, he will feel good on the loggia or balcony.
Thanks to this location, the plant will receive temperature differences between day and night, which will bring conditions closer to the natural environment. This will promote more abundant flowering. In this case, it is important to conduct more careful care, since the pedilanthus flower does not tolerate drafts well, and if precipitation enters the pot, it can lead to rotting of the root system. In winter, when daylight hours are not long enough for a tropical plant, additional lighting must be installed. This can be done with fluorescent lamps. The minimum intensive lighting time should be at least 12 hours.
In spring and summer, pedilanthus feels optimal at a temperature of 25 degrees. The temperature in the room in winter is not lower than 15-16 ° C. Do not leave the flower near heating devices, as this can lead to the dropping of foliage. But do not worry if in winter, when the temperature drops, some part of the leaves will fall off – this is quite normal.
Another feature is that this flower freely tolerates dry air, but musty rooms negatively affect its growth. Therefore, when caring for pedilanthus, such home conditions are necessary under which the room is regularly ventilated and there are no drafts. A warm shower will not harm the plant. However, this procedure should be carried out very carefully – the soil should be securely covered from moisture. Since the flower is unpretentious to humidity, this is done rather to remove dirt and dust. This is especially true for deciduous species. Spraying can also be carried out from time to time.
Caring for a houseplant like pedilanthus involves repotting regularly, so it’s important to know which soil will be most conducive to flower growth. The substrate is turf and leafy soil, humus, sand (1:1:1:1). The soil should be loose and well pass air with water. In heavy soil, the flower will grow very slowly and may begin to rot.
This video shows that when caring for pedilanthus at home, one of the most important requirements for good flower growth is proper, watering regulation.
It should be moderate, as the plant does not tolerate waterlogging. The soil should be moistened after the top layer of the earthy coma has had time to dry completely. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the pedilanthus does not shed its leaves, which can happen if the microclimate is too dry. In the hot season, it is necessary to water the flower about 3 to 5 times a week. In winter, when the air temperature drops, this procedure is carried out once a week.
Caring for a plant such as pedilanthus also includes regular top dressing from spring to autumn, which is explained by the need to saturate the soil with substances useful for the flower. It is necessary to carry out fertilizers about once every 3 weeks. Both organic and mineral substances can be used. As an organic fertilizer, a solution of mullein, or its dry part, is well suited. It is not recommended to carry out fertilizing with mineral components with a large nitrogen capacity. An excess of this substance will lead to a loss of leaf color. In the winter season, there is no need to carry out fertilizers.
Since the plant does not tolerate transplantation well and recovers after it for a very long time, this procedure should be carried out only in case of emergency. You can understand that the time to move to another container has come by the fact that the roots have braided the entire earthen lump and begin to bulge out of the drainage holes. Flower growth may also slow down, and flowering will not appear for a long time.
Transplantation should be carried out in early spring, before new shoots and leaves begin to appear on the pedilanthus. This flower does not need a large pot – you can take a container 2 – 3 cm larger than the previous one. A layer of drainage must be placed at the bottom, which will not allow moisture to linger in the soil. To do this, you can use expanded clay or pebbles. Drainage should fill a quarter of the pot.
It is not recommended to get rid of the entire earthy coma – this will damage the root system of the flower. Only the soil that crumbled on its own is separated.
Proper pruning when caring for pedilanthus at home (with video)
During transplantation, the plant should be carefully examined – perhaps the pedilanthus will need pruning, which is a must at home. First of all, this concerns the root system. If there are signs of decay on the roots, they must be cut off along with 3 cm of the healthy part. If you do not notice the problem in time and do not carry out this procedure, then the flower may die. It is necessary to do such pruning with gloves, since the juice that can stand out is poisonous. After that, the sections are processed with crushed coal. The soil for transplantation is used the same in which the flower was planted for the first time.
After completing the procedure, the pedilanthus should be watered and placed in partial shade for a while so that the flower has the opportunity to recuperate.
As you can see from the video , when caring for at home, pedilanthus needs proper pruning, which will keep the plant growing quickly and give it the most attractive look. Pruning is carried out in the spring – a third of the upper shoots are removed, leaving 2-3 buds on each.
How to root pedilanthus when propagated by cuttings
At home, it is not difficult to propagate pedilanthus – this plant is easy to root and grow using cuttings.
You can get cuttings by cutting off the apical shoots of 8–10 cm in size from the flower. Before planting, the milky juice is washed off from them and buried for some time in crushed charcoal, then planted in sand. All leaves are removed from the bottom of the cuttings. In order to root pedilanthus, you need to take care of the cuttings as closely as possible the entire process of the appearance of roots.
To begin with, after planting, the soil is slightly moistened and the stems are covered with a jar or polyethylene. Contain the plant at a temperature of about 24 degrees. Air and water from time to time. When propagating pedilanthus using cuttings, it is important to use protective gloves – we must not forget that the plant sap is poisonous.
After the appearance of 2-3 new leaves on the shoots, they can be planted in different pots.
The reasons why pedilanthus leaves fall: diseases and pests
Common diseases found in pedilanthus are fungal diseases, as well as root rot. You can detect fungi when brown spots and blackening of the stems appear on the leaves. If such symptoms begin to appear, it is immediately necessary to change the soil in the pot, and gently rinse the root system. A common problem is that the leaves begin to fall off the pedilanthus. The reason for this may be improper conditions of detention – too frequent or too rare watering, scorching sun. It is necessary to identify the cause of the disease and correct it.
Pests that can affect pedilanthus are spider mites and mealybugs. However, it is worth remembering that their appearance is also caused by improper care. You can get rid of these insects with the help of insecticides.