PLANTS – "Werewolves"
Plants without winter dormancy
When most cultures go to rest or sleep, some species grow and actively vegetate. The dormant period in plants with an "inverted" life cycle falls on other periods, this is why such green pets are interesting for flower growers.
«СЛОНОВЬЯ НОГА»
Dioscorea elephant (Dioscorea elephantipes) wakes up in autumn, releasing a vine with leaves in the shape of a heart from the tuber.
Growth during the growing season - up to 3 m, so the shoots need support.
Excellent tolerance to dry air in the house, no spraying required.
The best place is the east window. Good, when early in the morning direct rays hit the caudex.
Water the plant regularly with warm water., without getting on the stem and avoiding overdrying of the soil.
Once in 2 weeks you need to add fertilizers for cacti or potassium humate - 1/2 doses.
By the way
Dioscorea begins to prepare for the rest period at the end of March, gradually losing leaves.
The plant can wake up in summer, if, eg, there will be a period of prolonged rains or cool weather.
LITHOPS "LIVING STONES"
Since the beginning of autumn (after limiting watering in August and a short rest period) Lithops begin to grow actively. The plant blooms all September and captures October, after which he goes to rest.
From September to April, the succulent is not watered and kept at a temperature +8-15 city, in a bright place. In winter, in dry season with short day, inside the old pair of leaves a new one forms and grows. You can start watering at the end of May..
Top dressing is practically not needed, although you can pamper the plant with cactus fertilizer, dose in 2-3 times less than the recommended.
Brave Decembrist
In September, the Schlumberger is still in full swing (from mid-March) growing season.
At this time, it is advisable to keep the plant on a ventilated windowsill., balcony, in the yard, so that there is always an air flow.
Water as the topsoil dries up.
Feed only with nitrogen-containing fertilizers - once every 2 weeks.
The plant rests and prepares for flowering in October: need to reduce watering (moisturize, only when the shoots begin to shrivel) and daylight (to 9-10 hours a day), keep cool (+10-15 city.) and fresh air.
No need to rush to bring into the house (withstands temperatures up to + 3-5 degrees.).
Water for irrigation can be replaced with tea (1 ч.л.. pour the tea leaves 1 Art. boiling water, insist and add water to 1 l), after which even the Decembrists, who have not delighted for a long time, bloom.
Closer to November, start feeding with fertilizer for flowering. In late October-early November, bring into the house and put in a permanent place. Start watering with plenty of tea, make potassium – phosphorus mixtures or potassium nitrate. Buds will appear in a week.
After flowering, unscrew the top segments, to form a thick, lush bush.
More flowers – "Werewolves"
- Azalea
- Poinsettia
- Camellia
- Begonia Elatior
- Cyclamen
- Kalanchoe in Blossfeld
WHAT CACTUS FLOWER IN WINTER?
Our favorite cacti rest cool and dry in the dead of winter., but some of them can't sleep, and it is at this time of the year that they bloom. The reason is primarily in the genetic memory, that is, in the "internal clock", which tell plants about the onset of the next phase.
PLEASE IN THE WINTER
Some natives of the Southern Hemisphere strive to bloom from late autumn to mid-winter. for example, the so-called group of "Chileans": it's neoporteria, non-healing, eriosice - originally from Chile and surrounding areas.
The baton is picked up by individual mammillaria: cirrus (M. penisinosa), Carmen (M. carmenae), ever-living (M. I have always lived). AND, sure, mammillaria pinnate (M. feathery). Her flat, heavily indented spines resemble the shape of a snowflake, they are fluffy and not spiky at all..
From the second half of winter, and even earlier, bright colors add rebuses, eg, popular R. violet-flowered (rebutia violaciflora).
With an increase in daylight hours, turbini-carpus buds are immediately formed..
Yes, many others!
These cacti bloom in winter
HOW TO CARE
The most important, what is important to remember, care for cacti blooming in winter does not need to be changed. This happens with them at the expense of previously accumulated resources., so water it, and even more so, you can not feed them in any case. If they want to bloom, let them bloom! Better not get involved. In addition, watering out of "good intentions" can lead to drying out of the buds or their degeneration into children - some specimens can "change their mind" and start growing..
So just watch and enjoy, how these beautiful plants with their humble (compared to summer) flowering brighten up our expectation of spring.
© Author: Natalia GUBANOVA, Member of the Minsk Club of Cactus Lovers. Photo by the author
