Faucaria is a miniature compact succulent belonging to the Aizoaceae family. It was brought from the hot and sandy regions of southern Africa. Faucaria is successfully grown indoors.
The name of the plant reflects the peculiarities of its "appearance": the edges of its leaves have rigid outgrowths or teeth. If you look at the plant from above, you get the impression that it resembles the mouth of a predatory animal. Several shoots have a somewhat frightening appearance. This feature is enshrined in the name formed from "faux" (Latin) - mouth and "αρι" (Greek) - a lot.
Description of the flower
This is a low-growing perennial succulent, "decorated" by nature with speckled leaves and spectacular single flowers. The root is a short, succulent and fleshy rhizome. The stem is shortened. Over time, the shoot branches out, forming clumps. The leaves are thick, juicy, paired, arranged in rosettes, paired and crosswise.
The color of the leaves varies from light to dark green with mottling or dots, sometimes wartiness. Along the edges of the leaves are hard and thin outgrowths that resemble the "teeth" of predators.
The flowers are single, in comparison with the plant itself, large, multi-petal, painted in numerous shades of yellow, white. The flower buds close in the evening and invariably open in the morning. Flowering lasts 1-2 weeks.
Faucaria care at home
Location and lighting
Faucaria - just loves bright sunlight, so it is better to place it on the southern windows. With prolonged exposure to the scorching rays of the sun, burns are possible, manifested by brown or brown spots on the leaves. With a lack of light, the rosettes of the leaves become loose, the leaves are highlighted, the shoots are excessively stretched.
Temperature
Faucaria is thermophilic. In summer, she is comfortable at temperatures from 25 to 30 degrees. The plant is not sensitive to summer temperature changes, but in winter it prefers coolness: no higher than 10 degrees! From the "warm" wintering faucaria "leaves" weakened: with pale leaves and an elongated stem. After such a "warm" winter, the plant does not bloom.
Air humidity
Succulent grows well in rooms with dry air. Faucaria does not need spraying or additional moisture. With high air humidity, blackness and wrinkling may appear on the leaves.
Watering
The plant does not require frequent watering and does not tolerate waterlogging. In winter, watering is stopped. In case of excessive moisture, brown spots appear at the base of the leaves, which are a harbinger of decay.
The soil
For planting, ordinary purchased land for succulents and cacti or a self-prepared mixture consisting of identical parts of leafy and turfy land and coarse (river) sand is suitable.Loose soil with good water and air permeability is preferable.
Top dressing and fertilizers
In the spring, from the beginning of April to August, once a month, fertilizing is carried out using fertilizer for cacti. With a deficiency of nutrients, the growth of the plant slows down, the leaves become smaller and light up. Fed specimens bloom better and longer.
Transfer
Faucaria is recommended to be transplanted once every 2-3 years. Transplanting is best done in the spring. Wide and flat pots are ideal for placing the plant, on the bottom of which drainage is laid out.
Reproduction of faucaria
Faucaria is usually propagated by seeds and shoots.
Reproduction by shoots
At home, Faucaria easily and quite simply propagates by shoots (stem cuttings).
They are "taken" from an adult plant, carefully cutting off the shoot with a leaf. Within 2-3 days, the cuttings are dried and then rooted in the sand, placed in a warm (at least 25 degrees) shady place. In a month, new leaves will appear, indicating that the shoots are rooting.
Seed propagation
Faucaria seeds are obtained through artificial pollination. This is not easy, therefore, seed propagation by amateur flower growers is rarely used.
Sowing is carried out with coarse river sand, shallow, lightly sprinkling. Greenhouse conditions are created for seedlings. The container with crops is periodically ventilated and slightly irrigated, the condition of the sand is monitored: it should not dry out. In a week, two shoots will appear. We are waiting for the first pair of leaves and dive the seedlings using soil for cacti.
Diseases and pests
With good maintenance, Faucaria does not get sick and is not affected by pests. Weakened specimens get sick gray mold and can be attacked by felters, aphids, root mealybug.
Popular types
Cat faucaria
Very effective, has large (up to 5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide), opposite and cross-like leaves of bright green color with indistinct light specks. On the edges of the leaf blades, there are several teeth bent back and ending in a bristle. The flower is large, golden yellow.
Faucaria small-toothed
The specific name of the plant reflects its main feature: a small number of teeth along the edges of light green leaves with dark green specks.
Faucaria beautiful
It has short leaves, the edges of which are dotted with large teeth ending in bristles. The flowers are large (up to 8 cm), with golden yellow petals, with a purple tint at the ends.
Faucaria tiger
Differs in the shape and color of the leaves. They are diamond-shaped, with pointed tips and accrete bases, gray-green, with white speckled stripes. The edge of the leaves is generously covered (up to 10 pairs) with strong teeth, each of which is bent back and ends with a hard hair. Tiger faucaria grows very quickly, filling the entire pot.
Faucaria tuberous
Received its specific name for the peculiar light outgrowths on the leaves, similar to tubercles or warts. In addition, it is distinguished by a high, in comparison with other species, a branching shoot that rises 5-8 cm from the surface of the earth and fused at the bases, rhombic-shaped leaves resembling triangles. The plant blooms with yellow single flowers, the diameter of which does not exceed 4 cm.
