Pedilanthus

Pedilanthus is a plant belonging to the Euphorbia family. Abundant formation of branches and shoots characteristic of this shrub. Pedilanthus grows in South and Central America, it is also found in its northern part.

The plant got its name from a combination of two Greek words meaning "shoe" and "flower". Pedilanthus is a flowering shrub. Its flower has a very unusual shape. It is thanks to the memorable flowering that pedilanthus has become a popular houseplant.

Home care for pedilanthus

Location and lighting

When purchasing this plant for home cultivation, it is important to remember some of the features of caring for it. The lighting should be bright. The plant prefers daylight, but not in direct sunlight. In summer, pedilanthus will be great outdoors - on a balcony, loggia or in the garden. An important condition is that it must be protected from the scorching summer sun and from atmospheric precipitation.

In winter, pedilanthus also requires a lot of light, therefore, on a short daylight hours, you need to resort to using additional lighting.

Temperature

The optimum temperature for normal growth and development of the plant in spring and summer is approximately +25 degrees. Fresh air is also important for pedilanthus. During dormant periods in autumn and winter, the comfortable temperature for the plant is about 14-18 degrees. It is important to protect the pedilanthus from heating devices (batteries, heaters), otherwise too hot air and high temperatures will lead to the plant dropping all the leaves.

Air humidity

An important positive feature of this indoor plant is its unpretentiousness to air humidity. Pedilanthus feels great in dry air.

Watering

But watering pedilanthus should be given more attention. In the summer, the soil in the pot should be regularly moistened, but not too damp, so that the root system does not begin to rot in the plant. In winter, the soil should also be moderately moist and not overdried, otherwise the plant will begin to shed its foliage.

The soil

When growing a purchased plant, special attention is paid to the composition of the substrate. For pedilanthus, loose, lightweight, water and breathable soil is needed. The ratio of two parts of the leaf mixture will be ideal. One part turf and two parts sand.

Top dressing and fertilizers

When feeding a pedilanthus, it is important to observe the following rules:

• Fertilizer is applied from spring to autumn inclusive.
• The frequency of top dressing is once a month.
• Suitable fertilizer for succulents with a low nitrogen content.
• An excess of nitrogen leads to decay of the plant root system.
• With the end of autumn, top dressing stops until the onset of spring.

Transfer

The plant needs replanting as the pot fills with the root system. This does not happen often, since the roots of the pedilanthus grow rather slowly and are compactly located. The transplant pot should have a diameter approximately equal to its height. A generous layer of expanded clay or other drainage material must be poured onto the bottom of the pot. Its absence will lead to decay of the root system and the death of the plant, which is very sensitive to stagnation of water in the pot.

Reproduction of pedilanthus

There are two ways to reproduce pedilanthus: with the help of seeds and cuttings-shoots (tops). Cuttings root best in spring or early summer. For this, the top of one of the shoots is cut off with a length of about 8-10 cm. At the cut site, juice will begin to stand out abundantly. To stop it, the cuttings are placed in warm water.

Then they need to be dried for 1-2 days and only after that it will be possible to plant them in a pot with a substrate. The mixture for rooting is sand or perlite. The optimum temperature for rooting is 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. In order for the plant not to rot, the lower leaves must be removed. Do not cover the container with pedilanthus. The first roots can be seen in 2-3 weeks.

It is important to remember that the juice secreted by pedilanthus is poisonous! Therefore, for any manipulation of the plant, it is important to observe precautions and work strictly with gloves.

Difficulties in leaving

• Due to improper care, pedilanthus leaves may turn yellow and crumble - in this case, it is worth adjusting the watering.
• If the plant is too stretched in length, this indicates insufficient lighting.
• It is worth protecting the pedilanthus from cold drafts, especially in the winter season - the plant will not die, but it can shed all the leaves.

Diseases and pests

Like any plant, pedilanthus is negatively affected by various diseases and pests. Fungal infection of the plant leads to the fact that the stems begin to rot. The only method of struggle here is to remove the affected parts.

Aphid often infects the leaves of the plant. They curl up and stop growing. This pest can be dealt with with a stream of warm water and an insecticide treatment.

If white insects are found on the plant, and its leaves began to turn yellow, stick when touched, then here we are dealing with such a pest as a whitefly. If a warm shower does not help, then you can resort to the help of an insecticide.

Popular types of pedilanstus

The genus pedilanthus shrub has a huge number of species. This is easily explained by the fact that the plant can take root in a wide variety of climatic conditions. By adjusting to a particular temperature regime, the level of illumination, the pedilanthus changes its appearance.

So for the tropical forests of South America, the titimaloid pedilanthus is characteristic. It is characterized by its compact size and densely covered with leaves. If the tropical forests become a little more arid, then in them you can find clawed pedilanthus, but not in the form of a bush, but a small tree. In the driest and hottest regions of America, large-fruited pedilanthus grows. In appearance, it looks more and more like a succulent, almost leafless, but with a well-developed system of water-storing tissues. In the humid tropics, the Finca pedilanthus can be found.

Large pedilanthus (Pedilanthus macrocarpus)

Large-fruited pedilanthus occupies a special place in this species. It is a leafless succulent, shaped like a bush. Its branches have practically no leaves, but the stems are large and well developed, which allows the plant to store moisture in them.

Pedilanthus tithymaloides

Titimaloid pedilanthus is an equally popular species. This shrub is highly regarded for its decorative features of both flower and leaves. The flower is miniature in shape and resembles a bird or a neat slipper. The color of the leaves is also interesting: green center, white edges and blotches in the center.Some types of pedilanthus are characterized by the transition of its tips to pink or red. The stalks of the pedylanthus titimaloid are zigzag-shaped due to the fact that with the growth of each new leaf, the direction of their growth changes. Pedilanthus blooms in late autumn. Inflorescences are covered with red leaves, located at the top of the stem.

Pedilanthus finkii

In humid and hot tropical forests, the Finka pedilanthus lives. It is a shrub that grows well on loose and light substrates.