Acalypha or fox tails

In the wild, acalypha meet a wide variety of species and varieties. The name they got from the shape of the leaves, resembling nettle with pointed and drooping stems. The plant began to cultivate at home and acalypha quickly and easily adapted to the home environment. Potted plants are not only beautiful in bloom, but the leaves and in some species are attractive.

Features plants

Akalifs belong to the family Euphorbiaceae and is represented in the nature of about 250 genera. Acalypha – large evergreen shrubs and herbaceous perennials that grow in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands. Of their type depends on the height of the plants, which can reach up to 2.5-3 m. The unusual-looking plant, derived on the basis of wild, began to be used in the interior. Representatives of indoor growers also called cat or fox tails for their funny flowers that resemble fluffy red tails.

foxtails

In floriculture home use cultivars that do not exceed 30-70 cm One attracted the attention of gardeners decorative leaves, others -. Their buds.

Decorative bushes conventionally divided into two groups:

  • with bright red fluffy inflorescences drooping (fox tails) of various lengths:
  • with beautiful leaves, despite the unsightly bloom.

Flowering varieties are more popular, they are in the flowering buds covered with beautiful fluffy, like fox tails.

On sale you can also find decorative and deciduous acalypha that value for variegated leaves. Decorated along the edge of teeth, they are different in size and color. It depends on the type of color of leaves: it can be green, red, bronze, with colorful spots and with a bright rim.

acalypha Vilkeza[/caption]

Acalypha hispida, schetinistovolosistaya or”fox tail” attracts primarily for its feathery inflorescences of bright red color. Acalypha schetinistovolosistaya (rough, bristly) grows up to 40-50 cm in height. In Bush leaves rough to the touch, egg-shaped with a serrated edge, a bright green color. Velvety, drooping earrings reminiscent of the”fur tails”

acalypha hispida

“Fox tail”, the name refers only to one species – acalypha schetinistovolosistoy. This type is most common in indoor tsvetovodstve.V sale you can find the types of Alba with white panicles.

acalypha schetinistovolosistaya

In acalypha dubravkolistnoy or Spanish – the most fluffy buds. In nature, this creeping ground cover, and bedroom culture can be grown as a neat basket plant, with flexible, drooping shoots which form lacy crown height of 35 cm. The fine and very bright leaves to 4 cm, with a typical toothed edge, give the whole plant elegance. Drooping fluffy spikes up to 10 cm in length and 3 cm in thickness.

& Nbsp;

Caring for indoor Exotics

These ornamental plants do not show special attention to clean. Caring for them does not take a lot of time and effort.

All kinds Akalif – light-loving culture. For the growth they need a well-lit place. On the bright colors zone grow well and bloom beautifully. With a lack of light shoots stretched out, and the representatives of brightly colored leaves lose their beauty. Nevertheless, they do not like direct sunlight, especially in the afternoon, they prefer bright diffused light. The flower should be at this time is being protected from direct sunlight. It is best suits them east or west window in the room.

Heat-loving plants Akalif – natives of the tropics, feel comfortable in the living quarters at 20-25 degrees. Cold drafts and sudden changes in temperature do not like. In the winter the air temperature should not fall below 18 degrees. They are suitable warmer conditions because they are better bloom at a temperature of 22 to 24 degrees,

Dry air adversely affects the leaves of the state and that the only difficulty in growing acalypha. In the dry air in the premises of the plant is not only loses its attractiveness, but also very exposed to disease, so maintaining the humidity, it is necessary for room types that have a flowering house plant throughout the year.

Measures applied for humidification:

  • constant hydration pallets with moss or pebbles;
  • a frequent and regular spraying the leaves.

New exotic acalypha grow very rapidly and requires a lot of moisture. They like stable but light soil moisture. Waterlogging of soil should not be allowed, as well as drying. At high temperatures, air soil in pots should be moist. Exotic pets have to regularly spray – summer abundant in winter is less.

Note!The excess water in the trays after watering in winter and summer is better to merge.

Food for acalypha</ h5>

Dekorativnotsvetuschie plants bloom for a long time, and they are constantly in need of food. They are fed, even in the cold season, but a small dose of fertilizer. Lack of nutrients for exotic plants is dangerous, but they also belong to the bad perekormkam. During warmer months, fertilizers are applied 1 time in 2 weeks, in the cold – 1 times 1,5-2 months. Fertilizing should be suitable for a particular type of flowering and decorative foliage plants.

Multiplication</ h5>

Foxtail is easy to care and breeding. To rejuvenate shrubs that grew cut, pot pour in the fresh earth. Transplanted houseplant spring as needed, if the roots are completely filled with the soil in the pot.

transplant acalypha

Instead, you can transplant the new rooting cuttings in a pot. As foxtail is easily propagated by cuttings, the plant can be updated every 3-4 years. Suitable grafting time in late spring, although they take root in any season. For cuttings taken semilignified shoots, cut into 7-8 cm of length.

Good to know!Decorative and deciduous species of root better than blooming.

Some species Akalif have long shoots, and in the summer they can be added dropwise into the soil for rooting, carrying pot with a plant in the garden. This – the simplest way to get new seedlings.

Acalypha can also be propagated by seeds. Sow them in a mixture of earth and sand sheet in March-April.

Propagation seeds acalypha

The soil for growing room types recommended weakly acidic and fertile, with equal parts of turfy earth, humus, peat and sand.

Diseases and pests</ h5>

Incorrect care home flower can be infected by pests and diseases, and lose their beauty quickly. If leaves room acalypha specks – it may indicate its defeat by a fungus. The plant should be a timely process fungicide.

The plant responds to micronutrient deficiencies: the lack of nitrogen the leaves become pale.

Pests and diseases acalypha:

  • aphids;
  • eriococcidae;
  • Jose scale;
  • spider mite;
  • whitefly;
  • leaf spot.

Possible problems in Akalif development caused by improper care:

  • with very dry air in the home may fall off the leaves:
  • at the wrong watering or too dense substrate leaves wither
  • in low light is lost leaf color;
  • with insufficient irrigation or low humidity dry leaf tips;
  • at low temperatures there are dark spots on the leaves.

Shrub species acalypha used as hedges. Their showy foliage can decorate the garden, replacing the beauty of flowers in the flowerbeds to the most frosts.

Feature room types – bloom all year round and always decorate its luxurious interior buds.