Aichrison is a beautiful plant from the family Crassulaceae. His homeland is about. Corsica and other areas of the Mediterranean. The flower forms a rounded bush with miniature, fleshy leaves. Emerald sockets look very decorative in hanging planters or desktop compositions. Adult aichrison have stronger shoots suitable for the formation of bonsai. In spring, the Aichrison flower is covered with bright colors. For abundant flowering and heart-shaped, soft leaves, he received an unusual name - "tree of love."
Botanical Description
Aichrison is a succulent evergreen perennial. It forms a spherical bush with a height of 20-30 cm. In the natural environment it grows on rocky cliffs, in the faults of stones. The rhizome is highly branched and located in the upper layers of the soil.
Juicy stems have a flexible base and are covered with smooth bright green peels. On each sprout many lateral branches are formed. Lignified shoots after many years. Thick leaflets are arranged in pairs or in groups at the ends of the stems. They have a pubescent dark green surface. Sometimes whitish, yellowish or red blotches are added to the main color. The shape of the sheet plate may be diamond-shaped, heart-shaped, oval or cylindrical. A juice containing volatile substances with a not very pleasant smell appears on the damaged leaf.
In late spring panicle inflorescences consisting of small star-shaped flowers bloom on the shoots of Aichrison. A highly branched peduncle is 10-20 cm long. Lanceolate petals can be painted in red, cream or yellow. The diameter of the sprocket of the correct form is usually 6-16 mm, it consists of 6-12 petals with a pointed edge.
Flowering requires a lot of strength from Aichrison, so it discards most of the foliage. Influencing this process is very difficult. After flowering, part of the shoot dies off along with the peduncle.
It is important to remember that all representatives of the family Crassulaceae are poisonous. When ingested, symptoms of food poisoning occur. The plant should be protected from animals and small children.
Plant species
In the genus Aichrison, there are about 15 species. Many of them are successfully grown at home.
Aichrison home. The bush consists of highly branched shoots and takes the form of a ball with a diameter of up to 30 cm. Dark green flat leaves are collected in rosettes at the ends of the stems. They are covered with thick whitish pubescence. On long peduncles, small yellow buds bloom. They exude an intense pleasant aroma.
Aichrison is clear-leaved. The plant has shortened shoots, the edges of which are densely covered with leaves. Smooth, sticky leaf plates resemble tightly pressed grapes with a pointed end. The skin is yellow-green in color with slight reddish stains. During flowering, large brushes with yellow flowers hang around the bush.
Aichrison prostrate. A wide, almost square bush up to 40 cm high consists of upright shoots. Opposite leaflets are located along the entire height of the branch. Dark green leaf plates are flattened and have a diamond shape. It blooms with small yellow stars.
Aichrison point. Shrub with thin reddish stems in height is not more than 40 cm. Rhombic pubescent leaves on long stalks are painted in bright green color. During flowering, it is densely covered with yellow inflorescences.
Aichrison is tortuous. A spherical bush with a height of 15-30 cm is covered with light green rhomboid leaves on short petioles. The entire surface of the sheet plate is densely pubescent with a silvery pile. Since May, beige flowers bloom on this variety, which last up to 6 months.
Signs about Aichrison
Aikhrizon is considered a very favorable plant for the home, not for nothing that it is called the "tree of love." He really is able to arouse love from his owners, especially during the flowering period. Very positive for a relationship is considered a sudden flowering. If aichrison bloomed in the house of a lonely person, this could mean an early meeting with the second half.
There are signs regarding affluence related to achichrison. The plant attracts financial well-being, promises a salary increase or a gain. However, it is undesirable to give it, so that the giver does not have problems with money. If a person presented Aichrison as a gift, he should be accepted, but give in return any yellow coin.
But from dry shoots and diseased plants should be disposed of. It is believed that the drying parts of Aichrison draw money and the happiness of their owners, and drain their feelings.
There is another theory. As if the plant does not attract, but only reflects the atmosphere in the house. If households are happy and prosperous, then the flower will actively grow and bloom, as if eating the energy of the people around them. However, he does not drink vitality, but only serves as an indicator of their presence.
Breeding methods
Aichrison propagation is carried out by the method of cuttings or sowing seeds. In small boxes with a mixture of sheet soil and sand, seeds are sown to a depth of 5 mm. The greenhouse is sprayed with water and covered with glass. It is kept at a temperature of + 16 ... + 20 ° C. Crops need to be aired and sprayed daily; seedlings appear quite amicably by the end of the second week. After the appearance of 3-4 leaves, they are dived into separate pots. Several plants can be planted in one container at once at a distance of 5 cm from each other.
Propagation by cuttings is carried out in March-April. It is necessary to cut the stems 7-9 cm long and dry them in the air for a day. Rooting is carried out in sandy or sandy peat soil. Otherwise, you can root the stalk in boiled water by adding activated charcoal. After 12-18 days, thin roots appear at the end of the stem and the plant quickly begins to develop. The grown seedlings can be moved to small soil pots for adult succulents.
All parts of Aichrison are suitable for reproduction. If it is impossible to obtain a stalk, it is enough to break off a leaf and press it into moist, fertile soil. He will start the roots pretty soon.
Plant transplant
Often there is no need to transplant Aichrison. Only when the roots become crowded in the old pot, they pick up a new container and transship the old earthen lump. The bowl is needed wide and shallow, with holes at the bottom and a thick drainage layer (pebbles, shards, expanded clay). Land for Aichrison should consist of the following components:
- soddy soil;
- leaf soil;
- deciduous humus;
- sand.
After transplanting, plants stop watering for 4-6 days.
Growing Features
Aichrison requires careful care at home. Of course, decorative leaves are preserved in almost any conditions, but abundant flowering is not always easy to achieve.
Lighting. Aichrison loves bright diffused light. It can be grown on the windowsill east or west, or at some distance from the south window. In the summer heat, it is recommended to shade it with a thin curtain. The daylight hours should be 12-14 hours.
Temperature. The optimum air temperature from April to September is + 20 ... + 25 ° C. On hot days, frequent airing is recommended. You can take the plant to fresh air, in a place protected from rain and drafts. In winter, move the flower to a cooler room (+ 8 ... + 10 ° C). If this is not possible, additional illumination will be needed, otherwise the shoots will be exposed and stretched very much.
Humidity. Aichrison tolerates the natural humidity in the room well and does not need frequent spraying. It is allowed occasionally to bathe shoots under a warm shower. However, during the rest period, such a procedure is contraindicated.
Watering. Water the plant with well-purified water. Like any succulent, Aichrison is sensitive to stagnation of moisture in the soil. It is watered 3-5 days after the earthen coma is completely dry to the bottom. Waterlogging is fraught with the development of root rot.
Fertilizer. From April to September, it is recommended to feed Aichrison with mineral fertilizers for cacti or succulents. The solution is applied to the soil monthly. During flowering, the plant should be fertilized twice a month. It is important to ensure that the proportion of nitrogenous fertilizers is minimal.
Pruning. To maintain the attractiveness of the bush, it is recommended to trim the shoots. This helps shape the desired shape. Pinching the tips stimulates the appearance of young shoots. And the removal of thin shoots leads to the formation of a powerful, tree-like stem. Immediately after completion of flowering, it is recommended to remove the peduncles, then the plant will be able to recover more quickly and grow new leaves.
Diseases and pests. Aichrison is very sensitive to fungal diseases. With stagnation of water in the ground, dampness or an excess of nitrogenous fertilizers, rot affects roots or ground shoots. Very often it is impossible to save the whole plant. It is only possible to cut healthy cuttings for rejuvenation. It is imperative to destroy the old soil and treat the pot well with a disinfectant.
A pest affects a flower extremely rarely. On hot days, spider mites or scale insects can be found. Treatment with insecticides ("Aktara", "Aktellik", "Karbofos") helps against parasites.
