Synadenium is a tall and beautiful evergreen shrub with powerful stems and numerous delicate leaves. The plant is unpretentious and viable, so both a novice gardener and a person with experience in cultivating indoor plants can care for it at home. An important nuance - synadenium is a poisonous crop, so you should be careful when dealing with it and if you have pets.
Synadenium Granta - description and features
The genus Synadenium is small in number, with only 20 species, including wild and ornamental representatives. The cultivated species Synadenium grantii belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. In places of damage, it secretes white milky juice. The flower reaches large sizes and is of African origin. Flowering indoors is extremely rare.
There are 2 most common decorative foliage forms:
- This is a plant with massive stems and long oval green leaves sitting on short petioles. It has a high growth rate; in a year it can grow 20-25 cm in length. Adult plants stretch up to 1.5-2 meters in height. In the tropics there are four-meter representatives. Young shoots are green at first, then woody bark forms on their surface. Flowering - small red flowers collected in tassels at the very top of the stems.
- This variety has large oval leaves, colored dark red. Sometimes the foliage is covered with reddish stains in the form of a pattern. The shrub is large with succulent fleshy stems. At home, he prefers well-lit window sills on the southeast side. The leaf is dense and shiny, it contains the moisture supply necessary for the flower. The milky sap is poisonous and often causes skin irritation and soreness.
Advice
“Miss Clean” magazine draws your attention: regular pruning will form synadenium into a small, voluminous shrub the size of a window sill. Growing freely, Synadenium grows into a tall tree with a powerful spreading crown.
Rules of care
Synadenium is a spurge plant and is therefore characterized by an erect, fleshy stem and succulent side branches. Its leaves are long and delicate in structure. A large amount of milky juice immediately appears on the cut. Stop it with warm water.
Conditions for a comfortable existence:
- Lighting. Synadenium benefits from diffused sunlight; direct rays can burn the leaves and stem of the plant. Lack of lighting makes the plant lethargic and weak, it loses its visual appeal. In the winter season, you cannot do without an artificial light source.
- Temperature. The optimal temperature range for good flower growth and development is between +20 and +26° C. Sharp fluctuations are undesirable for it.
- Humidity. Moderate air and soil humidity is what a flower needs at home. In summer, you should water the plant more often and more abundantly; by winter, moisture decreases.
Advice
Synadenium loves cleanliness, so pamper it more often by rinsing the leaves and stems. Water procedures will protect the plant from diseases and create a favorable microclimate around it.
Home care:
Soil. The ideal base for growing synadenium is light and nutritious soil with neutral acidity. To prepare it, take equal parts of humus, turf and peat soil, brick chips and coarse river sand. Interspersed with crushed charcoal will be beneficial for the flower. A generous layer of expanded clay is suitable for drainage.
Watering. The synadenium flower belongs to the category of drought-resistant plants. Therefore, it should be watered as needed: when the top layer of soil in the pot dries 1-2 cm. Stagnation of water at the base of the stem and in the roots leads to rotting and damage to the flower.
Feeding. According to the rules, fertilizing in the form of mineral and organic fertilizers should be applied in the spring. During the year, you should feed your indoor flower no more than once a week. Excess fertilizer in the soil leads to its drying out.
Trimming. Formative bush pruning is carried out at the request of the owner and as the branches grow. Sanitary pruning stimulates bush renewal and should be carried out regularly and in a timely manner.
Synadenium has a pronounced thickened main stem, lateral shoots are sparse. If you pinch the main trunk, this stimulates the emergence of side shoots. Thus, the flower will become more spreading and beautiful. In the green mass, the plant accumulates moisture, which it vitally needs in tropical conditions of existence. It is perfectly adapted to the living environment - it survives heat and drought in the tropics without problems.
Reproduction, transplantation, treatment
Synadenium Granta is characterized by resistance to external environmental conditions, is distinguished by high decorative qualities, unpretentiousness and intensive growth. The plant is replanted every 2-3 years, usually in the spring.
To propagate the flower, stem cuttings are used, which are placed in water for roots to grow, and then planted in suitable soil. For better rooting, the cuttings are kept for some time in greenhouse conditions - under a transparent cap.
Important
All work with the flower should be carried out with gloves, as its milky sap is poisonous. Getting on the mucous membranes, it leads to their irritation and inflammation. Causes poisoning if swallowed. If animals and milkweed live in the same area, you should be more careful.
The rarely ill and outwardly beautiful synadenium flower is called the “tree of love.” He responds gratefully to human care and attention. They can decorate the windowsill in the apartment and in the country, in the house and in the office. The only difficulty in growing this plant is creating favorable conditions around it - acceptable humidity and optimal light.
The genus Synadenium from the Euphorbiaceae family includes about 20 species of trees and shrubs of the succulent type, growing in almost all tropical and subtropical zones. But out of all the diversity in indoor floriculture, only one species is widespread - Synadenium grantii.
This tall shrub, reaching over 3.5 meters in its natural habitat, is native to the arid regions of South Africa. Its stems are juicy, fleshy, green, becoming covered with light gray bark over time. The leaves are alternate, short-petiolate, obovate, smooth-edged. The surface of the leaf blade is light green with pronounced dark green veins, creating a tree-like branched pattern. Its length can reach 15 cm with a width of 6 cm.
During flowering, from the upper leaf axils, synadenium produces short, thick, few-flowered, umbrella-shaped peduncles bearing small closed red flowers, resembling inverted caps with protruding tufts of “feather”-stamens. After flowering, the same small fruits are formed - burgundy three-segment capsules with seeds.
Caring for synadenium at home
Synadenium Granta is unpretentious and develops well in normal conditions of a city apartment, although it does not bloom. He requires the minimum from the grower.
Lighting. The succulent prefers bright, diffused lighting, so the best option for placing it would be windows facing east and west.
With a lack of light, the shoots begin to stretch out greatly, and the plant loses its attractiveness. And excess light and direct sunlight quickly burn the leaves, leaving brown burn spots on them.
Temperature. Synadenium is quite thermophilic, and the optimal summer temperatures for it lie in the range of 23 – 26 °C, which exactly corresponds to the values of central Russia.
In winter, it should be kept cooler, but at the same time ensure that the temperature does not fall below 10 ° C, otherwise the plant may lose its foliage.
It should be remembered that the higher the temperature in winter, the more light is required. If the maintenance regime is the same in both winter and summer, then the illumination should be the same, and here you cannot do without additional lighting. Otherwise, the plant’s internodes will become very elongated, and it may become somewhat bald, which will reduce its decorative qualities.
Watering. This shrub is accustomed to semi-arid life, so it should be watered very carefully. Between waterings, it is advisable to wait until the soil in the pot dries to a depth of about 1 - 2 cm. And under no circumstances should you leave water in the pan. If water stagnates in a pot, the roots and stem can quickly rot.
In winter, when the conditions are cool, watering is reduced, but, again, they are guided by the rate of drying of the top layer of soil.
For irrigation, use soft, well-settled water at room temperature.
Humidity. The plant tolerates the dry air of city apartments well and does not need to increase humidity by artificial methods. But it can be periodically rinsed under a warm shower, cleaning the leaves from dust.
Trimming. Synadenium is a fast-growing plant that can significantly increase the volume of green mass, giving an increase of more than 25 cm per year. It must be restrained by regular formative pruning, which, moreover, will increase the splendor of the crown due to the development of numerous side shoots.
Soil. For growing synadenium, light, nutritious soil with a neutral reaction is suitable. You can prepare a mixture of turf, peat, humus soil, coarse sand and fine brick chips, taken in equal parts. To prevent root rot, crushed charcoal should be added to the resulting mixture and a good drainage layer of expanded clay or broken clay shards should be created at the bottom of the pot.
If you cannot find the ingredients for a suitable soil, you can use ready-made succulents purchased at a flower shop and add the baking powder listed above to it.
Transfer. Young plants are transplanted every spring into larger diameter pots. Adults - once every 3 years.
Reproduction. Synadenium propagates well from stem cuttings. To do this, in March - April, a twig with three internodes is cut from the top of the shoot, dipped in a glass of warm water for a while to stop the milky sap, dried and then planted in a mixture of peat and sand for rooting, covering the cutting with a transparent cap. But you can also root it simply in a glass of water.
A more complex method of propagation is seed. Seeds are sown in spring in a mixture of sand and soil, and germinated in light at a temperature of about 18 °C. When sowing and caring for seedlings, you should follow the instructions on the bag of seeds.
Diseases and pests. The shrub is resistant to both diseases and pests, but when growing it, the gardener may encounter a number of difficulties caused by improper care, such as, for example, falling leaves due to too cold conditions or excess moisture, which, in addition, can lead to to root rotting. It should be borne in mind that the plant may partially lose its leaves when lighting conditions change: when moving the pot to a darker room or simply turning it around relative to the light source.
Carefully! Synadenium is a highly toxic plant. The entry of its milky juice into the esophagus can lead to serious poisoning, and in especially severe cases, death. In addition, the juice causes irritation and inflammation of the skin, so you should wear rubber gloves when working with the plant.
Synadenium is a lush evergreen shrub that grows in tropical African forests. It has a spreading green crown with amazing inflorescences. The small genus includes 20 species, of which only Synadenium granta is popularly called milkweed or tree of love. This plant does not require complex care; it has a pliable crown and an attractive appearance. It can be grown as a miniature bush on a windowsill or as a tall tree that reaches to the ceiling.
General description of the flower
Euphorbia synadenium Granta, which is quite easy to care for, grows in tall (up to 3 m) spreading thickets. Over the course of a year, it grows by about 20-25 cm. It is distinguished by branched, deep roots and succulent stems; the branches have sparse lateral shoots. They are erect and very thick. The stems have smooth, dark green skin. Thanks to this structure, the plant stores moisture and is able to survive even in severe drought.
The leaves are attached to the branches using very short petioles. They are located alternately or oppositely. The leaf blade has an obovate or oval shape. The leaves themselves are quite hard, leathery, dark green in color and have a shiny surface. Some varieties have reddish stains or spots. The leaves reach 25 cm in length and 12 cm in width.
Synadenium Rubra is considered more popular among gardeners, compared to Synadenium Grant. The young leaves of this flower are completely pink, then their color changes to dark green, and reddish spots of irregular shape appear.
In winter, small flowers with long elastic peduncles appear on the tree of love, which are collected in corymbose inflorescences. Small flowers look like tiny bowlers or bells, which have short and curved edges. In the center of each flower there are long stamens. After the flower, a small fruit remains in the form of a three-lobed achene with small black seeds.
If you break a stem or leaf, milky juice will be released. It is very poisonous. It causes irritation on the skin, and if swallowed, it can cause serious poisoning, even death. When growing this flower at home, you need to take precautions and keep children and animals away from it. When pruning Synadenium Granta, you must always use protective gloves.
Temperature and lighting when caring for a flower
Caring for Synadenium Granta is almost the same as caring for other succulents of the Euphorbiaceae family.
The plant feels good in diffused light both in winter and summer. When there is insufficient lighting, the flower begins to stretch and loses its appearance. Therefore, in winter it is necessary to provide it with additional lighting. If this is impossible to do for some reason, then it is advisable to reduce the temperature in order to temporarily stop the growth of the plant.
In the summer, a glazed, ventilated balcony is suitable for the flower - it will be as comfortable as possible there. The optimal temperature for Grant's synadenium is considered to be 23-26 degrees. The plant tolerates hot summer weather well and adapts to cool weather (up to +10 degrees). The temperature should not drop below, as this may affect the plant (high risk of root death).
Watering and humidity
The tree of love does not tolerate excess moisture; overwatering can cause the roots to rot. In summer, you need to water when the top layer of the substrate in the pot dries, and in winter, the soil is dried even more, by about half. If there is no need for watering, then it is better to wait. The plant tolerates drought well, but not for long. If the soil is very dry, then after a while the leaves of the flower will begin to fall off.
Air humidity is not of great importance for synadenium; it is not at all necessary to spray it. The flower adapts perfectly to the dry air of an apartment in winter. Of course, synadenium loves periodic showers - it washes away dust from the leaves. There is no need to wipe the leaves - they are covered with small hairs that can be damaged.
Fertilizers and fertilizers
The Synadenium Granta flower responds well to feeding, after which the pet looks much more impressive. The plant needs to be fertilized in the spring and summer; with the onset of winter, it is better to stop fertilizing, as the flower enters a dormant period.
You can feed with universal mineral, nitrogen fertilizers, and organic matter. There is no need to fertilize often; once every two weeks is enough, with the appropriate dosage.
Transplanting a plant
Adult specimens are replanted as needed. This flower grows quickly, so it has to be replanted about once a year. The size and shape of the pot is not particularly important. It is better to replant in spring (March-April). The flower has a fairly strong root system, so it tolerates transplantation well.
The tree of love loves loose but nutritious soil. The basis can be compost, dark peat, garden soil. The baking powder can be charcoal, expanded clay or sand. The substrate can be purchased ready-made in the store - it is best to use an earthen mixture.
Synadenium pruning
To maintain the beautiful appearance of the plant, it is necessary to carry out corrective procedures on time. Synadenium is no exception. How to trim it correctly is described below.
Formative pruning is carried out every year. The procedure allows you to renew the plant and give the bush a beautiful shape. It is carried out in the spring, before transplantation. Then the growing season begins for the plant. It is imperative to trim or completely remove very elongated and bare branches. This is done with a sharp knife or pruning shears.
All cuts must be processed to stop the release of milky juice. Crushed charcoal or activated carbon is suitable for this. If you are satisfied with the appearance of the flower and there is nothing to prune, you can simply pinch off the tops of the shoots - this way the bush will branch more strongly.
Propagation of synadenium
The tree of love propagates in two ways: by seeds and apical cuttings.
The first method is considered quite complicated. At home, synadenium rarely blooms, and you simply won’t get any seeds from it. In addition, this method is painstaking, but in the end you get a lot of plants at once. The seeds are sown in spring in sandy-peaty soil to a depth of 0.5-1 cm. The pot should be covered with film and placed in a warm, bright place.
After 10-12 days, the seeds will germinate, and when the sprouts reach a height of only 1 cm, they need to be planted in separate pots. The second picking is carried out at a height of seedlings of 3 cm in the soil for adult plants.
It is much easier to propagate from cuttings. When pruning, the tops of the stems remain; for planting, you need to choose long cuttings (up to 12 cm) with 4-5 healthy leaves. They need to be treated with charcoal and left to dry for 1-2 days. After this time, the cut will be covered with a whitish film, then the cutting can be planted in the soil to a depth of 2-3 cm. It takes root in 2-3 weeks.
Problems during cultivation
This flower does not cause much trouble. The plant is persistent, the main thing is to choose a place for it and water it correctly.
Sometimes the following problems occur:
1. Leaves are falling. This usually happens when the maintenance conditions change sharply: the temperature drops, cold water is used for irrigation, overflow or transplantation takes place. In this case, the flower itself quickly recovers. But if the leaves continue to fall, you need to inspect the roots - they may rot from cold or waterlogging. The flower is rehabilitated as follows: the bad roots need to be cut off and the flower replanted in new soil.
2. The leaves are falling. The flower requires watering. After watering, the plant quickly recovers.
3. Branches are strongly stretched. This happens due to a lack of light. Pruning and constant diffused sunlight will help restore the shape.
A low shrub with rich green foliage on strong shoots grows on many window sills; sometimes the owners of the plant do not really know its full name, they simply call it popularly - the tree of love, although its botanical name is Euphorbia synadenium. Caring for it at home is simple and not burdensome, which is why it is popular among beginners in indoor floriculture.
The plant is native to Eastern and Southern Africa. In nature, it grows on poor sandy or rocky soils, reaching a height of about 3 m. In the genus Synadenium of the Euphorbiaceae family, there are up to 20 species, but only one flower is grown indoors - Grant's synadenium (Synadenium grantii), named after the Scottish explorer of East Africa James Augustus Grant. The succulent was first described in 1875 by English botanist Daniel Oliver.
The shrub has succulent, fleshy stems that become woody with age. The leaves are large, obovate, with clearly visible veins, rounded at the apex. The color of the leaf blades of the species plant is light emerald, but a variegated variety with burgundy foliage, Synadenium Rubra, is very popular in cultivation.
The flowers are small, dark cherry, grouped in a corymbose inflorescence at the crown of the flowering stem. In indoor conditions, seeing synadenium bloom is extremely rare.
The plant intensively secretes milky sap in places where it is damaged or cut, which, when it comes into contact with the skin or mucous membranes, causes a burning sensation and allergic reactions.
Correct transplantation of synandenium
The plant is replanted in the spring once a year or every other season. Young specimens need annual replanting, adults - as the root ball enlarges.
Under natural conditions, synadenium is accustomed to poor soils, but the succulent develops much better in a fertile and loose substrate consisting of turf soil, humus, peat and river sand, taken in equal quantities. Store-bought soil for succulents and cacti is also quite suitable. At the bottom of the flower container, a layer of expanded clay drainage is required.
The pot for synadenium is chosen to be plastic or clay, there is no significant difference, the plant grows well in any container. However, the watering regime will be different, because the earth mixture dries out faster in a clay vessel.
Synadenium is a fast-growing succulent. If its owner, during transplantation, sets the task of restraining the growth of a flower, then he slightly trims the roots and plants it in an old container, changing only the substrate. Otherwise, choose a new pot with a 2-3 cm larger diameter.
Requirements for placement in the house
Lighting plays an important role in the development of synadenium. Bright diffused light is required to maintain the normal healthy appearance of the flower. A few hours of direct sunlight per day is allowed.
The plant feels great on a south-facing window sill, lightly curtained with a curtain at midday, as well as on well-lit eastern or western windows.
The lack of light affects the appearance - the shoots of synadenium stretch out and turn into long leafless sticks with a small tuft of leaves at the very top, like a palm tree. Although some gardeners like this succulent, and they deliberately try to create a plant with such a crown.
The temperature preferences of synadenium are rather high, and for its growing season the most suitable room temperature is 24-26 degrees Celsius. Winter maintenance allows lower thermometer readings in the room where the succulent grows, but not less than 10 degrees above zero.
Succulent care
Synadenium is considered an unpretentious houseplant to care for.
Watering and fertilizing
The main problems are caused by a violation of the watering regime: the succulent does not tolerate waterlogging and immediately reacts with drooping leaves, and as a result of constant overwatering, the root system rots.
Therefore, it is necessary to water the plant only after the top layer of the substrate has completely dried.
However, complete drying out of the soil mixture should not be allowed when growing this particular species from the Euphorbiaceae family, whose representatives easily lose and restore leaf turgor. In contrast, synadenium drops leaves that have lost their elasticity and no longer returns them to their previous state.
The foliage dries up and falls off, and in its place another, young one will grow, but subject to all the rules of care. Often, to restore an attractive appearance to a succulent, you simply have to trim off the leafless stems to stimulate the growth of young leaves.
Overfilling is also undesirable, especially in low temperatures. The root system in a waterlogged substrate easily rots. Air humidity is not significant in growing this flower.
Feed synadenium during the growing season once every 15 days with a mineral complex for succulents and cacti. In winter, the plant rests and feeding is stopped.
Trimming
A certain role in the decorative appearance of a succulent is played by pruning, which cannot be avoided when growing synadenium plants. The tops of young specimens are pinched to stimulate the growth of side shoots, and older specimens are pruned at the beginning of the growing season. Mature flowers older than 5 years of age will require radical rejuvenating pruning by cutting off 2/3 of the length of the stalks or “to the stump”, leaving 10-15 cm of the height of the main stem from the soil level.
Attention! All work with transplanting and pruning synadenium must be done with rubber gloves to avoid contact of milky juice with mucous membranes or skin.
Plant propagation
The most commonly used method of propagating synadenium is by cuttings left after spring pruning, although the shoot can be cut at any other time of the growing season; it will take root easily even in ordinary water.
The cut of the cutting is thoroughly washed under running water until the milky juice stops secreting. Then it is dried for several hours and buried in a peat-sand mixture. Some gardeners treat the rooted end of the cutting with a root formation stimulator, but many consider this procedure optional. The plant grows roots easily, and it is not at all necessary to cover the top with a glass jar or polyethylene.
New leaves that appear at the top of the cutting indicate that rooting was successful, and the young plant is transplanted into a substrate for growing adult synadeniums.
Growing succulents from seeds is much less common than cuttings. For sowing, a substrate is prepared from leaf soil and sand, taken in equal parts. Sow to a depth of no more than 5-10 mm. Bowls with crops are placed in a corner of the house where the air temperature is constantly maintained at least 18 degrees Celsius.
After 1-2 weeks, seedlings sprout. When they rise to a height of 1-1.5 cm and form 2-3 true leaves, they are picked for the first time. The second picking is done when the seedlings grow to a height of 3-3.5 cm, and they are transplanted into independent pots when they are already well established.
Possible diseases and pests
The main problem when growing synadenium is waterlogging, under conditions of which fungal and bacterial infections become more active. The succulent's root system and stem base rot. However, the lack of moisture also affects the health and appearance of the plant - the trunk wrinkles, the leaves wither, turn yellow and fall off.
Insufficient lighting also affects the decorative appearance of synadenium - the pagons are unnaturally elongated. A plant often reacts to errors in care by dropping leaves - with a sharp drop in temperature, using cold water during watering, an unexpected gust of icy air from an open window, a sudden change in light when changing the location of the flower.
Synadenium is a succulent plant from the Euphorbiaceae family. The culture comes from South Africa. In the wild it is found in almost all regions with tropical and subtropical climates. In everyday life it is also called the “tree of love.” Synadenium got its name from the Latin words “syn” and “aden”, which translated means “combination” and “gland”. This is due to the presence of small glandular hairs along the stem.
In indoor floriculture, the plant is valued for its decorative leaves. Also, unlike other exotic crops, synadenium is quite easy to care for. Simple care in the form of timely watering, fertilizing, and transplanting is enough for him.
Description of the plant
About 20 species of synadenium are found in the wild. But for indoor floriculture, only 1 species is used - Synadenium grantii. It is a fast-growing semi-deciduous shrub that in nature can reach 3 m in height. The annual growth of shoots is about 25 cm. They are green, fleshy, and over time become covered with light gray bark. The leaf blades are obovate, arranged alternately on short petioles. Their hue is light green, the veins are dark green. The length of the leaves can reach 15 cm.
The roots are branched and fleshy. Like other succulents, they are able to accumulate moisture and use it in case of drought. The inflorescences are corymbose, located at the tips of the shoots, and consist of small flowers resembling an inverted bell.
One of the most popular varieties of the species is Synadenium Rubra. Its leaves have purple spots. Young leaves are completely pink. In nature, the plant blooms in mid-winter.
Home care
Anyone can grow synadenium at home. Maintenance activities do not require much effort. More difficulties may arise due to the rapid growth of the plant, which often has to be restrained.
Location and lighting
The flower needs bright, diffused lighting. It is better to place it on the western or eastern side of the room. If it is placed on a window in a southern location, the plant needs to be protected from direct sun. This will protect the leaves from getting burned. If there is a lack of light, the shoots of synadenium will begin to stretch out and it will lose its decorative effect.
Soil and drainage
The soil for the plant is light, nutritious with neutral acidity. You can buy a ready-made mixture for succulents or make your own.
To prepare the soil mixture, you need to mix in equal proportions:
- leaf soil;
- peat;
- turf;
- peat.
To avoid root rot in the plant, add a little charcoal to the substrate. Place a drainage layer of expanded clay or broken shards at the bottom of the planting pot.
Planting and transplanting
Young synadeniums require an annual transplant, adults - once every 2-3 years. Since the crop grows quickly, in order to slow down the increase in its size, it is recommended to trim the roots when replanting.
The procedure is carried out in March according to the following scheme:
- Prepare a larger container. Line the bottom with drainage and sprinkle it with a little soil.
- Carefully remove the shrub from the old pot, if possible shake off the old soil (not all).
- Place it in a new pot. Fill the voids with soil, compact it and water it.
Warning! The milky juice of synadenium is poisonous and can cause irritation if it comes into contact with the skin. Therefore, all work with the flower is carried out with rubber gloves.
Air temperature and humidity
Synadenium loves warmth. In spring and summer it is better to keep it at a temperature of +23..26°C. The warmer the room, the more light the plant needs. In winter, it is better to provide the flower with cool conditions (not lower than +10 degrees). Sudden changes in temperature and drafts lead to leaf fall.
The crop is not demanding on air humidity. It can exist normally in the dry air of city apartments. But periodically, the plant can be bathed in the shower to wash off dust from the leaves, or wipe them with a damp piece of cloth. In extreme heat, you can spray water around the bush to prevent it from getting on the leaves.
Watering
Synadenium grows wild in semi-arid regions. Therefore, you need to be careful when watering it. You can moisten the soil only after it has dried 2-3 cm deep. After watering, drain excess liquid from the tray.
It is important to avoid stagnation of moisture in the soil, to avoid putrefactive processes. Succulents tolerate drought much more easily than waterlogged soil. But if it gets too dry, the leaves may begin to fall off. In case of cool wintering, the amount of watering is reduced.
Feeding and fertilizers
During the growing season, the flower needs additional nutrition to maintain its decorative appearance. Every 2 weeks it is fed with fertilizers for cacti or deciduous ornamental crops, alternating with organic matter. You can add them only after watering, so as not to burn the roots.
Trimming
The crop grows very intensively, quickly increasing its green mass. To control such growth, it is necessary to systematically carry out formative pruning. This stimulates the growth of side shoots and makes the bush more lush.
Bloom
The “tree of love” blooms in winter in nature. From the upper axils of the leaves emerge peduncles in which inflorescences with small red flowers bloom. Synadenium blooming at home has no decorative value, but the inflorescences give it an exotic appearance. House shrubs usually bloom in summer, during the growing season.
There is a version that the name “tree of love” appeared because of the shape and color of the flowers.
Reproduction methods
Synadenium can be propagated by cuttings and seeds.
Cuttings
Cut apical cuttings 12 cm long. They should have at least 4 leaves. Sprinkle the cuts with charcoal. Plant them in a peat-sand mixture and place them in a bright place with a temperature of at least +20°C. Within a few weeks, new leaves will begin to appear. This means that the cuttings have taken root. They can be planted in separate pots with nutritious soil.
Seed method
It is more painstaking compared to cuttings. But it allows you to get many new plant specimens. Fill the planting container with a mixture of peat and sand. Plant the seeds in it to a depth of 0.5-1 cm. Cover the crops with film and place in a well-lit place with a temperature not lower than +18°C. When the seedlings reach a height of 1 cm, they are picked. The second time they are planted in separate containers when they are 3 cm in height.
Features of seasonal care
Synadenium grows actively in the spring and summer. It requires warmth, good lighting, moderate watering and feeding. In winter, the plant enters a period of relative dormancy. It is better to spend it in a cool place. In such conditions, the amount of light is reduced and watering should become less frequent. If the succulent remains to spend the winter in a warm room, it needs to be provided with additional lighting with phytolamps. If this is not done, the branches of the plant will begin to stretch and become bare, and some of the leaves will fall off.
Care errors and their elimination
The table contains useful information for gardeners about frequently encountered problems when growing Synadenium and methods for eliminating them:
|
Problem |
Reasons |
Solution |
|
Dropping leaves |
A sharp drop in temperature, watering with cold water, waterlogging |
Do not overcool synadenium, water only with warm, settled water |
|
Drooping and wrinkling of leaves |
Moisture deficiency |