Pachypodium care at home. Growing Pachypodium Lamera at home: features of planting and care. Photo gallery: pachypodiums grown at home

Indoor flower Pachypodium (lat. Pachypodium) is a very unusual plant. Translated from Greek, its name sounds like a thick leg or thick-legged. Indeed, this flower has a rather thick stem, and only at the top are thin leaves. In appearance it resembles a palm tree, only with thorns. In this article we will introduce you to different types of Pachypodium, their places of distribution, growth characteristics and proper care of this exotic flower at home.

This flower belongs to the Apocynaceae family. Its appearance depends on the external factors of the area in which it grows. In nature, there are about twenty-five species of Pachypodium, the sizes of which start from a few cm in height (much larger in width) and end with cactus-like trees up to eight meters in height and one and a half meters in diameter. Shrub species of Pachypodium with bottle-shaped trunks grow up to 4 m in height. In indoor conditions, the flower grows slowly and stretches to a maximum of one meter.

Instances of the plant are found in crevices and cracks in dry hilly areas in the mountains of Australia, Madagascar, as well as in some countries of continental Africa with the driest climate: Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa and other countries. Some types of Pachypodium prefer a certain type of soil, while others tolerate different types of soil.

The trunks of Pachypodiums usually have long, thickened spines. In some species they cover the entire surface of the trunk, while in others they cover only near the leaves. Supplies of moisture and nutrients are replenished by the plant and accumulated in the trunk at any opportunity (for example, during the rainy season) and are used during long periods of drought. In addition, some types of Pachypodium have thickened underground trunks (caudexes) that serve the same purpose. During drought, the plant's thorns are capable of extracting moisture from fog and dew.

At the top of the trunk there are thin narrow leaves that grow in a spiral pattern. As the plant grows, the lower leaves die off, the trunk becomes bare, and the crown of leaves rises closer to the top. The leaves are located on short petioles and have different shapes: obovate or linearly rounded. Their surface is painted dark green with a pronounced gloss. The midrib is lighter and clearly visible. The back side of the leaf is velvety to the touch and slightly lighter than the front.

Wild species of Pachypodium bloom with very beautiful large flowers. Their shape is regular, with five petals overlapping each other. The color is white, pink or yellow, there are variations. The flowers emit a strong aroma. At home, unfortunately, it is very difficult to achieve flowering, but it is possible. Most often, the flower is purchased exclusively as a decorative foliage exotic with a non-standard, original appearance and unassuming character.

Popular types of Pachypodium

Jayi

Pachypodium geayi

This tree looks like a cactus with a thick prickly trunk, reaching a height of 8 m in nature. Its trunk is voluminous, thick, gray-green in color, all covered with silver-gray spines, which grow from one bud in two or three pieces. Narrow leaves grow on the top, not exceeding 3 cm in thickness. They are slightly pubescent and end with a sharp tip. There is a light stripe running down the center of the leaf plates. Young spines are light gray, pubescent, with a black tip. The bell-shaped flowers have white petals and a yellow spot in the middle. When grown indoors, the flower reaches 60 cm in height, no more.

Lamera or Madagascar palm

Pachypodium lamerei or Madagascar palm (Pachypodium lamerei)

This type of Pachypodium is very similar to Jaya, especially when young, only its leaves are larger and not pubescent. It comes from the island of Madagascar, where it was discovered and still grows on limestone rocks. A tall tree, up to 8 m in height, has a thick, lignified trunk, sometimes cylindrical, and sometimes curved, on which lateral shoots sometimes form. In the lower part the stem thickens slightly. The trunk of Pachypodium Lamera is covered with slightly protruding, spirally arranged tubercles, each of which usually has 3 powerful spines sticking out. Rarely branches.

At the top of the head a dense leaf rosette is formed of dark green leaves of an elongated lanceolate shape with a sharp tip. The leaves of the Madagascar Palm are attached to petioles of 3-5 cm, have a length of 10 to 30 cm and a width of 4 to 9 cm. (In indoor floriculture, these dimensions are much smaller). The apical leaves are rounded, with a small point. Under each leaf there are 3 bare spines. The Madagascar palm tree blooms with creamy white or pink-tinged flowers with a yellow throat and a diameter of up to 11 cm. Their aroma is fragrant and pleasant. Green fruits have an elongated oval shape. In indoor conditions, with good care, adult specimens (from seven years old) can delight you with their flowering.

Ramosum

Pachypodium lamerei var. ramosum

A variety of Pachypodium Lamera is Pachypodium lamerei var. ramosum. This is a short-stemmed plant native to central Madagascar. Has longer and wider leaves. The inflorescences are large and snow-white. The stem is short, thickened below.

Short-stemmed

Pachypodium Brevicaule

This dwarf variety of Pachypodium is native to the island. Madagascar. Prefers sandy soils, good lighting, moderate humidity and warmth. It has a tuberous, without a definite shape, light gray stem. An adult plant is no higher than 10 cm, although the stem grows up to 60 cm wide. Many shoots form on the stem in the form of small tubercles, from which rosettes of bright green small leaves on short petioles protrude. The leaves are oblong, smooth, with a light vein in the center. There are also soft conical thorns and unusually shaped flowers (their diameter is up to 5 cm): five round petals of yellow-lemon color open from an elongated cone-shaped bell.

This species of Pachypodium is a striking example of mimicry. In its leafless state, its spiny, flat, tuberous stem closely resembles the surrounding gray rocks.

Dense-flowered

This plant is from the same island. Madagascar, from its driest regions. It has a thick, fleshy, gray-green trunk up to 30 cm in diameter. In pot culture it reaches 90 cm in height. It is also strewn with spines, but, unlike other species, its spines are more like rose thorns than the long needles of cacti. The leaves are located only at the top of the trunk. They are elongated with a rounded tip. A pronounced vein runs through the center. It grows slowly.

The plant is able to bloom in adulthood, when the plant trunk reaches 30 cm in diameter. Bright yellow flowers are located at the top. The inflorescences have petals wavy at the edges, and in the middle there is a white-green cone, similar to an unopened flower. In winter, due to lack of light, the Gustotsvetny sheds its leaves.

Sanders or Lundi's Star

Pachypodium saundersii

This species has a shortened, almost spherical stem, gray-green in color, which over time can branch into three to four shoots. The thorns are few, long, brown in color, growing only on the shoots, but in a cluster, two or three at a time. The leaves are broadly lanceolate, with a light vein in the middle, with a sharp tip, growing at the ends of the shoots. They have a glossy surface, slightly wavy or jagged edges, and are painted a dark olive green color. Sanders blooms beautifully. Its flowers, although not numerous, have white, pink and reddish petals. Prefers low humidity, bright light and moderate temperatures.

Succulent

Pachypodium succulentum

Pachypodium succulent is native to the Cape Province of South Africa. This is a shrub, quite large for indoor keeping. It has a pronounced turnip-shaped trunk, wide, woody, with a diameter of up to 15 cm. In nature, it is more or less immersed in the ground. The aerial part is fleshy and branched into several shoots, each up to one meter long. On young branches, mostly bare, there are thin paired yellowish spines 1-2 cm long and at the tops there are slightly pubescent lanceolate leaves, up to 6 cm long and 1 cm wide, dark green. In summer, bell-like flowers, up to 4 cm in diameter, pinkish or with a purple tint and with a bright red throat, bloom on the tops of adult plants.

Rosulatum

Pachypodium rosulatum

Rosulatum has a short, gray-green stem with a wide thickening at the base. The branches are vertical. Small narrow leaves form rosettes at the ends of the branches. Blooms with pale yellow flowers. Flowering period from mid-spring to mid-summer.

Horombenze

Pachypodium horombense

It is distinguished by its slow growth, small size and wide trunk, thickened at the base. The leaves are gray-green, small, narrow, forming a rosette at the ends of the branches. The trunk is smooth, silver-green. Branching begins early, and branches can grow straight from the base of the trunk. The flowers are large, yellow, collected in clusters, located on long stalks. Plants grown from seeds are able to bloom 4 years after sowing. In winter, it sheds its leaves.

Southern

Southern Pachypodium (Pachypodium meridionale)

In nature it reaches 2-3 m in height. In a potted culture, about a meter. The leaves are green, narrow, long. The trunk is smooth, silver-brown. The flowers are large, very fragrant, with a reddish corolla and pink petals. Fast growing variety.

Bispinosum or Bispinosum

Pachypodium bispinosum

The two-spined Pachypodium grows up to one meter in height on the plains of South Africa. Its thickened above-ground formation looks like an overgrown turnip. It is smooth, without thorns or spines, and light brown in color. From the top of this unusual trunk grow strong but thin, gray-green shoots, up to 80 cm long. The leaves are lanceolate. They are small, dense, glossy, and have a bright green color. Brown spines are located in pairs at the base of the leaves. The flowers come in pinkish or lilac-violet shades. Leaves fall off in winter due to lack of light and moisture.

Rosette

This variety is distinguished by its unique trunk shape. It looks like a silver-gray vessel with several necks, and greenery sticks out of each. The surface of the trunk is smooth, and the green stems are densely strewn with sharp thorns. The name of the species speaks for itself: the leaves grow in rosettes. The leaf blades are elongated, with a shiny bright green surface. A lighter stripe runs down the center of each leaf. The compact bush grows up to half a meter. The inflorescences of this type of Pachypodium bloom in the form of yellow bells, 3-4 flowers on one long peduncle.

Namaquan

Pachypodium namaquanum

Pachypodium namakwanii has a thick column-like trunk. It grows slowly. A bunch of wavy leaves is located at the top of the trunk.

Caring for Pachypodium at home

Like all succulents, Pachypodiums are distinguished by their great endurance, unpretentiousness and adaptability to urban living conditions. It does not need to be watered hourly, it is not afraid of direct sunlight, and does not need constant feeding. But, if you want the flower to be not just alive, but also beautiful, so that it blooms over time, you will have to follow some rules for caring for it.

Precautionary measures

Sometimes Pachypodium is confused with, since when damaged, white milky sap is released from the tissue of both plants. Please note that this juice is extremely poisonous, although it does not burn the skin upon contact. It contains toxic substances - glycosides and alkaloids, and is considered a strong plant poison that can cause irritation, vision problems, and even blindness if it gets into the eyes.

The consequences of ingesting plant juice are even more dangerous - tetanus and cardiac arrest are possible. Therefore, all work with this succulent should be carried out extremely carefully and only with gloves, even if you decide to wash the leaves from dust. If you have small children living in your apartment, we advise you to avoid growing Pachypodium.

Lighting and location

A native of Africa and the southern islands, Pachypodium tolerates heat and midday sun. It bathes in the sun's rays, so calmly place the pot on south-facing windowsills. If the house does not have windows facing south, place the flower pot on a windowsill facing southeast or southwest. The flower can grow in partial shade, but in this case its stem and shoots will stretch, and the appearance of the plant will become less decorative.

Advice! In winter, the flower will adapt to the lack of sunlight, and with the arrival of spring you will have to gradually accustom it to sunbathing, gradually increasing the time it spends in the sun. A sudden change of location and lighting can cause undesirable consequences (for example, burns on the leaves).

Pachypodium is suitable for the dry air of our apartments, even in the winter season. It can easily be placed on the windowsill next to heating devices.

Temperature

The flower easily adapts to room temperature. In summer, at an air temperature of 20 - 30 degrees. and above, it can be taken out to a balcony, loggia or veranda, where it can be located around the clock. It is not worth growing Pachypodium outdoors - in the garden, at the dacha, even in the hottest months of summer, since this flower does not tolerate drafts, windy and inclement weather. Decrease in summer air temperature below 15 degrees. heat is critical for most Pachypodium species. The first sign of hypothermia is the blackening of its leaves, softness and lethargy of the stem. If this happens, the plant will not be saved. It's a different matter in winter. Succulents are dormant at this time and often shed all their foliage. At this time, you can place the flower in a cooler room with an air temperature of about 16 degrees. But do not allow sudden changes and drafts.

Watering

Pachypodium needs regular but moderate watering. Both excess moisture and its absence are fraught with consequences. The beautiful appearance of the flower will depend on your ability to balance between periods of drought and watering. We advise you to determine the need for the next watering using an ordinary dry match: before pouring water into the pot, pierce the top layer of soil with a match. If grains of soil remain on the match, it means it’s too early to water. That is, the top layer of soil should dry well a couple of cm deep into the soil.

Water the flower with well-settled water at room temperature (or a little warmer in winter) at temperature, generously, so that the water moistens the entire earthen lump in the pot and appears in the pan. It is important that there are drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, and that the tray itself is deep. After half an hour, drain the excess water from the pan.

Possible problems with improper watering:

If the soil between waterings is wet all the time, the leaves of your flower will begin to fall off, the trunk, instead of being round, will become ugly elongated, soft and sluggish. There will be a threat of root rot.
If you do not water the flower for a long time, it will lose some of its gorgeous leaves, although it will not die. The leaves will begin to fall gradually, starting from the lower ones.
If you use cold tap water, the young greenery on the flower will turn black and fall off.

In winter, water the plant with extreme caution and only with warm water, since the flower drinks little at this time, and the base of the stem can rot due to damp soil.

Top dressing

In nature, succulents grow on nutritionally poor, rocky and sandy soils, so frequent and excessive feeding can be disastrous for Pachypodium. But still, experienced flower growers, in the hope of waiting for the succulent to bloom magnificently, recommend occasionally pampering Pachypodium with suitable fertilizers in the spring and summer. For example, once a month, feed with Bona Forte liquid fertilizer for cacti and succulents. Organics and other natural fertilizers, in the form of manure and fish remains, are strictly prohibited. You will ruin the appearance of your exotic, its stem will wrinkle or become covered with cracks.

In the first month after planting or replanting the plant, as well as in winter, it is not fed.

Transfer

Pachypodiums usually grow very slowly, growth is about 5 cm per year. Therefore, they do not need frequent transplants. A young bush can be transplanted a year after planting into a slightly larger pot, and after that two or three years will pass when it may need the next transplant. It is performed before the onset of cold weather or in early spring.

It is better to purchase soil for a flower in a special store, suitable for cacti and succulents. If you decide to prepare the soil yourself, then you will need humus, sand, leaf and turf soil. It is advisable to add pieces of charcoal and brick chips to all substrates. All components must be disinfected (spilled with boiling water or manganese). At the bottom of the pot, a third of its height, place a layer of clean expanded clay or other drainage material (small pebbles, aquarium soil, pebbles).

What to do with thorns?

Replanting Pachypodium is not so easy, because its stem is sometimes completely strewn with sharp thorns. Thick gloves won't help here either. In nature, succulents need spines both as protection from insects and herbivores, and as water collectors. Any atmospheric moisture, be it fog or fallen dew, is absorbed by the thorns, replenishing moisture reserves in the fleshy stems of the plant. In indoor conditions this is not so important. If you want to protect yourself from injury when caring for a thorny flower, trim the sharp thorns with clean scissors, making them blunter and safer.

After this, putting on thick gloves on your hands, you can remove the flower from the old pot and, together with a lump of earth, carefully move it into a new pot prepared for replanting. Please note that Pachypodium roots are very delicate and can easily break. Therefore, try to handle them carefully during transplantation. Sometimes the soil surface is covered with gravel or decorative stones.

Reproduction of Pachypodium

Pachypodiums can be propagated in different ways. We will describe some of them, and you choose the most suitable one for your flower.

Propagation by cuttings

If your Pachypodium is too long, you can shorten it to the desired height, and then cut a cutting from the top for propagation. It is better to do this in the spring. The instrument must be disinfected and very sharp. Cut the cutting from the apical part of the trunk, approximately 15 cm long. Blot the sections of the cutting and the mother specimen with a napkin and sprinkle with crushed activated carbon. After an hour, use something, such as a clean brush, to wipe away the remaining coal and sprinkle the wounds with sulfur. Under no circumstances should wounds be wetted with water. Place the old flower in its original place. If it is too sunny, it is better to shade it for a while. Lateral shoots will appear in about a month.

Now let's talk about rooting the cuttings. Prepare a pot with soil suitable for succulents. Place a thick layer of drainage material on the bottom. First make sure the bottom has good drainage holes. Now plant the cuttings in the pot, sprinkle it with substrate, and compact it a little. Don't cover it with anything! And do not water on this day - let the cuts dry out properly and tighten. Place the pot in moderate sun for rooting. In the future, regularly water with warm, settled water as the soil dries onto the floor of the pot. If rooting is successful, begin to accustom the flower to the sun's rays gradually; do not immediately place it in the open sun, so as not to burn the young leaves.

Reproduction using lateral shoots

Some types of Pachypodium have lateral shoots. So, you can try to propagate Pachypodium Lameri using its lateral shoot. To do this, carefully separate the selected shoot from the main trunk. Dry the released milky juice with a napkin. Powder the wound with crushed activated carbon. Treat the wound on the mother specimen in the same way. Plant the well-dried shoot in a small pot with moist soil for succulents. Do not water the substrate during the first 24 hours. Place the seedling on a sunny windowsill. Observe carefully how he feels. Do not allow the soil to be too dry or too wet. Both of these can ruin your idea. Sometimes the shoots stand in pots for a long time and die without ever taking root.

Propagation using seeds

In nature, Pachypodiums of any type reproduce using seeds. You are unlikely to be able to get seeds from your Pachypodium. At home, these succulents bloom reluctantly and extremely rarely in adulthood. But in the store you can buy the seeds of the plant you like. Only then there is no guarantee that they will sprout. If you have great desire and patience, try it. Sow the seeds a short distance apart in a container with a lid. Prepare a light, loose substrate. Do not plant the seeds deeply; press them slightly into the moist soil. Close the lid of the container and place it in a sunny place to germinate the seeds. Seeds germinate slowly and unevenly. When they finally hatch, begin to open the lid of the container for ventilation. In another week you will remove it completely. Let the babies grow in the sun, just make sure that the substrate does not dry out. Interestingly, even the tiny sprouts of Pachypodium have their own spines.

Diseases and pests of Pachypodium

This succulent gets sick, like other indoor plants, mainly when treated poorly.

If the flower is watered frequently or the house is too cold, the leaves on the top of the Pachypodium will turn yellow. The same will happen if you use tap water for irrigation. Salts dissolved in such water will spoil the composition of the soil for cacti, and the flower may get sick. From excess moisture, the plant can develop root rot, which is very difficult to cure.

Also does not like the flower:

frequent spraying;
changing the location of the pot;
turning the pot relative to the light;
drafts;
sudden change in temperature between day and night.

Conclusion

If you are a fan of this kind of exotic plants, then you will like the Pachypodium indoor flower. Many people find him attractive and interesting. It is only important to properly care for it, and it will delight its owner with its unusually outstanding appearance for many years.

I am pleased to present to your attention an excellent plant that can become an extraordinary decoration for any garden - pachypodium.

Pachypodium ( lat. Pachypodium)- genus of plant family Cutraceae (Apocynaceae).

The name of the plant comes from the Greek. «παχύ» - “thick” and «ποδιυμ» - "leg".

Pachypodiums grow in crevices, cracks, and crevices in dry outcrops of hills and mountains in Madagascar, Australia, and continental Africa (Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland). Pachypodiums can grow in a variety of soil types. While some species grow only on a certain type of soil, others can grow on several. Also, these plants do not particularly pay attention to external climatic conditions, even if these are desert places, because... their roots, penetrating deep into the soil, find mineral salts, humus and moisture there.

The appearance of pachypodium is quite varied and depends on the external factors of the area in which it grows.

So this plant can be found in the form of a tree, the height of which can reach 5-8 meters and a diameter of 1.6 meters. In the form of an oval-shaped shrub up to 4 meters in height, and also in a dwarf form.

At home, pachypodium grows up to 1 m in height.

Despite the diversity of ecological forms, all pachypodiums are succulents and have thick, fleshy trunks, colored silver-gray. Also, the trunks of pachypodiums are usually equipped with thorns, but bending of the branches and friction can lead to the appearance of plants without thorns at all.

The thickened trunk of pachypodiums allows them to replenish water and nutrients during periods of drought associated with seasonal or permanent environmental conditions, and are an adjunctive response of these plants. Some pachypodiums have developed underground thickened trunks, or caudexes, for this purpose.

Pachypodium spines also serve as an adaptation mechanism to dry environmental conditions: in different species they are adapted to varying degrees to obtain moisture from fog and dew.

At the top of the pachypodium trunk there are thin narrow leaves.

Pachypodium blooms with very beautiful flowers.

Sometimes pachypodium is confused with milkweed (euphorbia): when damaged, both plants secrete white milky sap. This juice is extremely poisonous, but does not burn the skin.

The genus Pachypodium has about 25 plant species.

Types of Pachypodium

. Tree 3-6 (up to 8) m tall, with a thick prickly trunk. Very similar to Pachypodium Lamera, especially when young. The leaves are narrower (1-3 cm wide) and pubescent rather than bare; young spines are light gray with a black tip. The flowers are white with a yellow center. When grown in rooms it reaches a height of 50-60 cm.

Pachypodium Lamera or Madagascar palm (Pachypodium lamerei) . Homeland - the island of Madagascar, grows on limestone rocks. Tree 3-6 (up to 8) m tall, with a thick prickly trunk. The stem is woody, erect, branches rarely, slightly thickened in the lower part, covered with slightly protruding, spirally arranged tubercles, each of which usually has 3 powerful spines. A dense rosette of dark green leaves forms at the top of the stem. The leaves are elongated-lanceolate, 3-5 cm long on the petiole, 13-30 cm long and 4-9 cm wide (in cultivation much smaller), rounded at the apex with a small point. There are 3 bare spines above each leaf. The flowers are creamy-white or with a slight pink tint, with a yellow throat, up to 11 cm in diameter. The fruits are elongated oval green. This pachypodium has pubescent leaves;

Pachypodium Lamera various. Ramosum (Pachypodium lamerei var. ramosum).

. Homeland - Central Madagascar. A plant that shows a striking example of mimicry. In the leafless state, its succulent, flat, tuberous, spiny, low stem reaches 60 cm in width and is very reminiscent of the surrounding gray stones. It blooms with elongated, 2-5 cm, yellow flowers.

. Homeland - arid regions of the island. Madagascar. The trunk is fleshy, gray-green, up to 30 cm in diameter. In pot culture it reaches 90 cm in height. The leaves are located at the apical part of the trunk. Blooms with bright yellow flowers. It grows slowly and is capable of flowering when the plant reaches 30 cm in diameter. In winter, due to lack of light, it may shed its leaves.

. Other names: Lundi Star. The stem is gray-green, almost spherical, together with shoots about 1.5 cm in height. The spines are few, up to 2.5 cm in length. The leaves are broadly lanceolate, somewhat pointed at the ends. The flowers are numerous, white with a pink stripe.

. Homeland: Cape Province of South Africa. A plant with a pronounced trunk. The stem is woody, thickened at the base, up to 15 cm in diameter, in nature more or less immersed in the ground. The aerial part is fleshy and branched, reaches a height of 60-90 cm. Young branches have paired spines 1-2 cm long and slightly pubescent lanceolate leaves, up to 6 cm long and 1 cm wide. In summer, bell-shaped flowers with a diameter of up to 4 cm bloom on adult plants , pinkish with a bright red throat.

. Homeland - the island of Madagascar. The plant is small in size with a wide trunk thickened at the base. The leaves are gray-green, small, narrow, forming a rosette at the ends of the branches. The trunk is smooth, silver-green. Branching begins early, and branches can grow straight from the base of the trunk. The flowers are large, yellow, collected in clusters, located on long stalks. Plants grown from seeds are able to bloom 2-4 years after sowing. Slow growing variety. In winter, due to lack of light, it may shed its leaves.

. Homeland - o. Madagascar. The trunk is short, gray-green, with a wide thickening at the base. The branches are vertical. Small narrow leaves form rosettes at the ends of the branches. Blooms with pale yellow flowers. Flowering period from mid-spring to mid-summer.

. Homeland south o. Madagascar. In nature it reaches 2-3 m in height. In pot culture 1-1.2 m tall. The leaves are green, narrow, long. The trunk is smooth, silver-brown. The flowers are large, very fragrant, with a reddish corolla and pink petals. Fast growing variety.

Pachypodium lealii or bottle tree .

Pachypodium care

Lighting. Pachypodium prefers bright direct sunlight, without shading, but can also grow in partial shade (in this case the plant stretches out and becomes less decorative).

Windows with southern, southwestern and southeastern exposure are well suited for growing plants. In summer, the pot with the plant can be exposed to fresh air, in a warm, brightly lit place by the sun, gradually accustoming it to the new lighting.

If there were few bright days in the autumn-winter period, then in the spring, with increasing illumination, it should be gradually accustomed to direct sunlight in order to avoid sunburn, and the same should be done with the purchased plant.

Temperature. An important condition for growing pachypodium is sufficient air and soil temperature and the absence of drafts. In summer the temperature can be even higher than 30°C, in winter – not lower than 16°C (for pachypodium Lamera not lower than 8°C). Window sills above radiators are well suited for the plant.

In the autumn and winter months, the trunk of a number of plants may naturally become bare (leaf fall) and the tuft of leaves moves higher and higher along the trunk.

Watering. From March to October, plants are watered abundantly; the earthen ball should always be slightly moist. Water carefully - pachypodium does not like excessive waterlogging of the soil; if it is overwatered, the roots and part of the stem can rot. Always water with warm and well-settled water.

Watering in winter is reduced, especially for species that shed leaves; for others, the earthen clod is not allowed to completely dry out.

From October to March, watering for plants that shed leaves is very limited to avoid root death. When leaves fall, it is recommended to stop watering for several weeks and resume it only after new foliage appears.

Air humidity. Air humidity does not play a significant role. Pachypodiums normally tolerate dry air; it is not necessary to spray the plants (except to wash off dust from the leaves).

Fertilizer. Fertilizing in spring and summer once every two weeks with fertilizer for cacti. During the first month after transplantation, the plant is not fed. It must be remembered that in mineral fertilizers the level of nitrogen should be less than other elements, since excess nitrogen can cause root rot; normally, you can adhere to the following ratio: nitrogen (N) - 9, phosphorus (P) - 18, potassium (K) - 24. It is better to refrain from using organic fertilizers.

Transfer. Overgrown plants are replanted no more than once every two to three years, young ones annually. When replanting, you need to handle the roots carefully - Pachypodium's roots are very delicate. A permeable and nutritious substrate of peat with sand and a small amount of turf soil (pH 5-7) is suitable for replanting. Although in their homeland pachypodiums often grow on limestone, they can be cultivated in moderately acidic substrates, which can be composed of equal parts of turf and leaf soil with the addition of coarse sand. You can use a ready-made substrate for cacti.

It is advisable to add charcoal and brick chips to all substrates.

Good drainage is necessary (at least a third of the height of the pot).

The plant is suitable for hydroponic culture.

Reproduction. Pachypodium is propagated by seeds at temperatures above 20°C. Unlike many succulents, pachypodium stem pieces have difficulty rooting. However, you can try to root the upper part of the plant if the lower part is irreversibly rotten, after drying it and sprinkling it with charcoal.

Possible difficulties

If watering is too infrequent, the plant may lose its leaves.

Pachypodium is sensitive to a sharp drop in temperature, so if it stands on a balcony or in the garden in the summer, when it gets colder it is better to bring it indoors at night.

With excessive watering and cold maintenance (especially in winter), the pachypodium leaves first wither and then fall off, then rotting of the roots and stem may occur. Short-stemmed pachypodium is especially sensitive to this.

In a cold draft, the leaves turn black, wrinkle and fall off, the stem shrinks, and rotting is possible. Move the plant to a warm place with bright light, without drafts, water only with warm water.

It is possible that when rearranging or rotating the plant, new leaves may blacken and dry out.

Damaged

Precautionary measures

When damaged, the plant secretes a very poisonous milky juice, which, however, does not cause an irritating effect on the skin, like milkweed juice, but only burns the mucous membranes and wounds.

After working with a plant, you must wash your hands, even if you did not damage it.

An interesting tropical plant that simultaneously resembles a palm tree and a cactus is Pachypodium. Caring for it at home is not difficult; the flower looks interesting and unusual. Flower growers call it the Madagascar palm. It blooms beautifully and does not lose its decorative effect after the flowers fall. This article describes the basics and intricacies of its cultivation.

Tree-like succulent with a massive stem. Belongs to the Curtaceae family. The stem is covered with narrowed long leaves and thorns. By winter, some of the leaves fall off. In nature, it lives in the arid regions of Africa and Madagascar. As an indoor flower, pachypodium is distinguished by its resistance to adverse factors, unpretentiousness and ease of care.

The trunk is massive, thick, with thorns. The leaves are thin, long, concentrated at the crown. In the wild, some varieties of succulent reach 7-8 meters in height. In an apartment they grow no more than a meter.

The plant stores moisture in its thick stem. It can do without watering for a long time and does not wither from the dry air of apartments. When broken, it produces milky sap, which is why it is often confused with milkweed.

Pachypodium is a slow-growing plant. The lifespan depends on growth conditions and averages from 3 to 15 years. To see pachypodium bloom, the plant needs to be properly cared for. Adult plants no younger than 7 years old bloom. The flowers are beautiful, large, and some varieties are fragrant. Different colors - white, pink, yellow, red.

Important information! The sap of the plant is poisonous! They work with it wearing gloves. If juice gets on your skin, wash it off thoroughly with soap. It is not recommended to grow a flower in a house where there are children.

The most popular varieties

There are many types of plants. All of them have an original appearance. The following varieties are considered especially popular among gardeners.

Pachypodium Lamera. Another name is the Madagascar palm. One of the most common types. Long oblong leaves are concentrated at the top of the stem, and just below there are sharp spines. There are two varieties - with branching and without branching. The flowers are a delicate cream color.
Pachypodium Sanders. Succulent with a gray-green almost spherical stem. Several short shoots radiate from the stem. The leaves are elongated, olive in color. Blooms with delicate white and pink flowers. The number of thorns is moderate.
Pachypodium brevicaule. The second name is short-stemmed. The stem is low, wide, tuberous, gray in color. The maximum width is 60 cm. Without leaves, it resembles a gray stone of irregular shape. Flowers are yellow, elongated.
Pachypodium rosulatum. Another name is rosette. Fleshy low succulent with caudex. The vertical branches of the cylindrical type are strewn with thorns. The trunk is grayish-green, thickened at the base. At the tops of the branches there are rosettes of oblong leathery glossy leaves. The color is neutral green with a light streak in the center. Tubular flowers are collected in few-flowered racemes on elongated pedicels. Color: different shades of yellow.
Pachypodium horombenze. It is distinguished by its modest size, massive trunk with an expansion at the base. At the tips of the branches, rosettes of small, narrow leaves of an inexpressive green hue are formed. The smooth trunk, green with a silvery tint, is covered with stems, sometimes growing straight from the base. Large yellow flowers are attached to long stalks.

Interesting! The plant is distinguished by its compact rhizome and endurance. It fits perfectly into flower arrangements. Not afraid of "neighbors". Together with it, ground cover plants, annual plants and other carpet-type indoor flowers are planted in the pot.

Pachypodium care

The succulent is completely unpretentious in care. Grows well in apartment conditions. Flower growers have to face one problem - it is difficult to achieve flowering. Pachypodium cactus blooms only when favorable conditions are created.

Temperature. The flower is kept at room temperatures. The optimal temperature in summer is 18-28°C, in winter - not lower than 16°C. Care is simplified by the absence of a rest period.
Humidity. The thick stem contains its own moisture reserves. Tolerates dry air painlessly. The succulent is not sprayed or the humidity is not increased artificially.
Lighting. Loves good lighting. Grows on any windows except the north one. In hot weather at midday, the flower is shaded.
The soil. Use fertile, well-drained soil. Mix leaf soil, turf soil and perlite in equal proportions. Instead of perlite, coarse sand can be used. The characteristics of the soil are improved by adding pieces of clay, coal, and brick chips.
Drainage. High-quality drainage prevents stagnation of liquid in the root system. Expanded clay and pebbles are used. Pour them into at least 1/3 of the volume of the pot. It is acceptable to fill the pot halfway with drainage.
Watering. Water abundantly, but rarely. One watering once every 3 weeks is enough. Make sure that the soil dries out completely in between. In winter, water even less often - once every 4-5 weeks.
Feeding. Use fertilizers for cacti. The concentration is half that recommended by the manufacturer. Feed once a month from May to September.
Pachypodium transplantation. Does not need frequent replanting due to slow growth. It has a delicate root system. Plants are rarely replanted, if absolutely necessary, once every 3-4 years.

Features of the plant! Pachypodium does not like drafts, but prefers well-ventilated rooms. In summer it is taken outside or onto the balcony. Do not be alarmed by the partial fall of leaves at the beginning of winter - this is a feature of pachypodium.

Reproduction

Apical cuttings rarely take root, so pachypodium is grown from seeds. Before sowing, they are soaked for a day in warm water. The best substrate for planting is damp, fine sand. Seeds are sown to a depth of 0.5 cm and covered with film. The temperature is maintained at least 22 °C. Periodically moisten the sand with a spray bottle - it should always be slightly damp. The timing of seed germination depends on their quality, storage duration, and germination conditions. They can hatch in a few days or “sit” in the soil for up to six months.

The peculiarity of Pachypodium Lamera is that it is propagated by separating branches growing at the base. The cuttings are cut in the summer, dried for about a week and placed in a sand-peat mixture. Choose a bright place and maintain stable humidity. Cuttings take root slowly, some never take root.

Diseases and pests

In the process of growing a succulent, you have to face a number of problems. The flower is affected by pests and, if not properly cared for, loses its decorative qualities.

Red spider mite. The leaves turn pale and a yellowish tint appears. Whitish spots form on their surface. Over time, the affected leaves fall off. A reddish coating forms on the stem. The red mite infects plants when the air is too dry. It is recommended to spray a sick flower with Fitoverm, Actellik, and Derris.
Thrips. The pest lays colonies of larvae on the underside of the leaf. On the upper side, light spots appear in their place. To combat thrips, the plant is repeatedly treated with insecticides. The drugs “Inta-vir”, “Decis”, “Fitoverm” have proven themselves well.
Rot. Excessive watering leads to rot. To resuscitate the plant, it is replanted, watering is limited, maintaining moderate soil moisture. Treat with fungicides.
Thinning of the trunk and falling leaves. Unfavorable microclimate - drafts, low air temperatures, waterlogging of the soil.
Blackening and falling of young leaves. He talks about watering with cold water and lack of light.

Any type of pachypodium will be a worthy addition to the collection of home flowers. It can be grown in a separate pot or combined with other plants.

Pachypodium (lat. Pachypodium)- a genus of tree-like plants of the Kutrovaceae family, which grow in the arid regions of Madagascar, Africa and Australia. There are 23 species in the genus. Translated from Greek, “pachypodium” means “thick leg”: the plant has a voluminous, fleshy and prickly trunk. In nature, pachypodium can reach a height of eight meters and a diameter of one and a half meters, but at home this tree does not grow above a meter.

Planting and caring for pachypodium

Bloom: in the spring, the first time - in the sixth or seventh year of life.
Lighting: bright diffused light.
Temperature: in summer – from 20 to 30 ºC, in winter – 16-18 ºC. Protect the plant from drafts!
Watering: in spring and summer - moderate, when the substrate dries to a depth of 1 cm, in winter - sparse and meager. After dropping the leaves, stop watering. The short-stemmed species requires scanty watering throughout the year.
Air humidity: ordinary.
Feeding: from early spring to mid-autumn once a month with fertilizers for cacti.
Rest period: from approximately November to March.
Transfer: young plants - every spring, adults - once every 3-4 years.
Reproduction: seeds, less often - cuttings.
Diseases: fungal rot.
Pests: spider mites, thrips.
Properties: The plant has poisonous sap!

Read more about growing pachypodium below.

Pachypodium plant - description

Pachypodiums are succulent shrubs or trees, the characteristic feature of which, despite the many differences between species and varieties, is a thick trunk that retains a supply of water in case of drought. Otherwise, the appearance of Pachypodium species is varied and ranges from bottle-shaped dwarfs to cactus-like trees. Almost all types of pachypodium are equipped with spines, which are grouped in triplets or pairs and arranged spirally or in rings around the trunk. Branching is also characteristic of plants of this genus, but among pachypodiums there are species that do not form branches. Unlike other representatives of the Kutrovye family, the juice of pachypodiums is not milky, but transparent, although just as poisonous.

In indoor culture, the pachypodium plant grows from 30 to 150 cm, and its lifespan is from 3 to 15 years.

Growing pachypodium at home

Pachypodium needs a lot of light, and it is not afraid of sunlight. In the summer, he will feel great on the balcony or in the garden, but he needs to be accustomed to the open air. It is better to keep the flower indoors on a south, south-west or south-east window sill. When spring comes after short winter days, the pachypodium also needs to be gradually accustomed to exposure to direct sunlight.

Pachypodium loves fresh air, but does not tolerate drafts. Temperature in the summer does not play a special role for the plant: pachypodium grows and develops well at both 20 and 30˚C. In winter, the plant requires cool maintenance: Pachypodium spends its resting period at 16-18 ˚C.

Watering pachypodium

Caring for home pachypodium is easy. In spring and summer, watering should be moderate so that the soil in the pot is slightly moist all the time. If the plant lacks water, it will shed its leaves and lose its attractiveness, and if there is a lot of moisture, the pachypodium at home will begin to stretch painfully, which will also not add decorative value to it. Water the plant when the soil in the pot dries to a depth of 1 cm. Short-stemmed pachypodium requires scanty watering throughout the year. If the plant has dropped its leaves, stop watering altogether, and after 5-6 weeks the leaves will grow back.

The plant does not need high air humidity, but it will favorably accept your care if you wipe its leaves with a damp sponge from time to time and spray it with settled water at room temperature from a spray bottle. By the way, water for irrigation also needs to be settled.

Pachypodium fertilizer

The pachypodium plant is fertilized from early spring, when new shoots begin to grow, until mid-autumn. Fertilizer in the form of a fertilizer solution for cacti is applied to pre-moistened soil once a month.

You cannot fertilize pachypodium for a month after transplantation and when it is sick.

Before entering the dormant period, feeding is stopped and resumed only next spring.

Pachypodium transplantation

Young pachypodiums need to be transplanted into a larger pot every spring, and adults once every three or even four years. Moderately acidic soil for cacti is optimal for the plant. If you can’t find it in the store, you can make a substrate from equal parts of coarse-grained river sand, turf and leaf soil. To improve drainage qualities, brick chips or charcoal should be added to the substrate. However, this does not eliminate the need to place a layer of expanded clay in the pot when replanting, filling the container to a third of its volume.

When replanting indoor pachypodium, try to act carefully so as not to damage the root system of the plant. If the succulent is healthy, simply transfer it from the old pot to the new one and fill the remaining space with potting soil. Free a plant with diseased roots from the old soil, remove rotten or dried areas, treat the wounds with charcoal powder and only then complete the replanting.

Pachypodium flowering

The indoor pachypodium flower grows very slowly, so you have to wait six or seven years for its first flowering, but if the plant is poorly or improperly cared for, it may not bloom at all. Follow the rules for caring for your succulent, avoid drafts in the room, make sure the plant gets enough food and light, and then one day you will be lucky enough to see pachypodium flowers.

Pachypodium toxicity

Pachypodium secretes poisonous juice, which irritates mucous membranes and corrodes wounds on the skin, so it should be washed off immediately with plenty of water.

In the photo: How pachypodium blooms in an apartment

Reproduction of pachypodium

Pachypodium is propagated by seeds, which you will have to buy, because it is difficult to obtain them yourself at home. Sowing is done to a depth of half a centimeter, the container is covered with glass or film and kept in a bright place at a temperature of 20 ˚C. When seedlings emerge, the covering is removed, but not suddenly, giving the seedlings the opportunity to gradually adapt to the conditions of the room. Strong seedlings are planted in separate pots and cared for like adult plants. However, it should be remembered that pachypodium grows from seeds very slowly.

Propagation of pachypodium by cuttings rarely produces results, since parts of its stem do not form roots well, but there have been cases of successful rooting of the top of a plant whose base has rotted. It was only necessary to cut the pachypodium at a height of 15 cm with a sharp sterile instrument, treat the cut with charcoal powder, plant the top in a substrate for an adult plant and place it in a well-lit place.

Pests and diseases of pachypodium

Pachypodium diseases and their treatment

Pachypodium at home is very sensitive to excess moisture, therefore it is susceptible to various rots. To prevent the plant from suffering from fungal diseases, its watering must be balanced. Keep in mind that this succulent tolerates a lack of moisture more easily than excessive moisture, which causes its stem to thin and rot, and the leaves to turn black and fall off.

If a flower shows signs of rotting, immediately stop watering, place the plant in a warm place, treat it and the substrate in which the pachypodium grows with a fungicide solution and review the watering regime to avoid relapses in the future.

In the photo: Pachypodium flowering at home

Pachypodium pests and their control

In a room with dry air, pachypodium can be affected by spider mites, which suck cell sap from plants. Due to their small size, it is difficult to notice these pests, but if you find a thin cobweb on the plant, immediately begin to fight the mites: wash the flower in a warm shower and try to slightly increase the humidity in the room so that the mites become uncomfortable. This is achieved by spraying the pachypodium every evening with warm, settled water. If the pests have multiplied, you will have to destroy them with an acaricide: Aktara, Aktellik, Akarin or Fitoverm.

Or madagascar palm - a tree up to six meters high with a prickly, thick trunk. Mature plants resemble a palm tree in the arrangement of leaves at the top of the trunk, which is why this species received its second name. The stem of the Madagascar palm is erect, thickened and woody in the lower part and covered with protruding tubercles arranged in a spiral, each of which contains three powerful spines. At the top of the stem, a rosette is formed of elongated lanceolate petiolate leaves of a dark green color, which can reach from 20 to 40 cm in length. Under each leaf there are three bare spines. The flowers of this pachypodium are pinkish or creamy-white, with a yellow center, up to 11 cm in diameter. The fruits are green and oval. At home, Pachypodium Lamera can reach a height of no more than half a meter. The plant has the following varieties:

typica– pachypodium with leaves pubescent on the underside;
ramosum- a form with a branched trunk, leaves with a pronounced midrib and white flowers collected in umbrellas with a diameter of up to 10 cm.

In the photo: Pachypodium lamerei

This is a tree with a thick and thorny trunk, reaching a height of 3 to 6 meters. This species at a young age is very similar to Pachypodium Lamera, but its leaves are narrower, only 1-3 cm wide, and pubescent. Young spines are colored light gray, but their tips are black. The flowers are white with a yellow center. In indoor culture, the plant reaches a height of 50-60 cm.

In the photo: Pachypodium geayi

When there are no leaves on it, it resembles the gray stones that surround it in nature: the stem of the plant is flat, tuberous, spiny, up to 60 cm high. This species blooms with elongated yellow flowers.

In the photo: Pachypodium brevicaule

A succulent with an almost spherical gray-green stem, reaching a height of one and a half meters. The plant is equipped with a few thorns up to 2.5 cm long. Its leaves are broadly lanceolate and pointed at the ends. Pachypodium Saunders produces many white flowers with pink stripes on the petals.

In the photo: Saunders Pachypodium (Pachypodium saundersii)

This is a plant with a turnip-like root, gradually turning into a thickened tuber with a diameter of up to 15 cm, which above becomes a woody stem with age, fleshy and branched, reaching a height of 60 to 90 cm. On young branches there are paired spines 1-2 cm long and slightly pubescent lanceolate leaves up to 5 cm long and up to 1 cm wide. In the summer, bell-shaped pinkish flowers with a red throat, reaching a diameter of 4 cm, open on the plant.

In the photo: Pachypodium succulentum

It is a slow growing succulent shrub up to 45 cm tall. It has a fleshy, prickly gray-green trunk up to 30 cm in diameter, in the apical part decorated with a rosette of leaves, green on the upper side and gray felt underneath. The flowers of this pachypodium are up to 3 cm in diameter, bright yellow, tubular, with a widened end and yellow anthers forming a cone.

In the photo: Pachypodium densiflorum

A low succulent with a wide, smooth, thickened silver-green trunk at the base and small, narrow gray-green leaves forming a rosette at the ends of the branches. The plant's large yellow flowers are located on long stalks.

In the photo: Pachypodium horombense

Southern Pachypodium (Pachypodium meridionale)

Under natural conditions it can reach 3 m, but in potted culture its growth is limited to 120 cm. The leaves of this pachypodium are green, long and narrow, the trunk is silvery-brown, smooth, up to 60 cm in diameter, and large flowers with pink petals and a reddish corolla have a pleasant smell.

It is a fleshy succulent with cylindrical, vertically arranged branches and a caudex. The trunk of the plant is short, thick at the base, and gray-green. The branches are densely covered with thorns. Glossy, leathery, tapered-oblong green leaves with a light midrib are located at the ends of branches in whorls or rosettes. Greenish-yellow or yellow tubular flowers are collected in few-flowered racemes on long stalks.

This plant has a variety:

graceful (Pachypodium rosulatum var. Gracilius)- a shrub 40-60 cm high with a gray or light brown caudex, round and slightly laterally compressed, smooth or covered with dense spines. The branches of the plant are short, twisting, sometimes smooth, sometimes prickly. The leaves are collected in rosettes on the ends of the branches. The flowers are tubular with a widened end, bright yellow, collected in groups on long stalks.

In the photo: Rosette Pachypodium (Pachypodium rosulatum)

also a caudex plant, reaching a height of 8 m in natural conditions, but in culture its growth is limited to 60 cm. The branches of this succulent are short and covered with spines up to 1 cm long. Glossy dark green oblong leaves with a light midrib are formed at the ends of the branches into rosettes . They reach a length of 15 and a width of 4 cm. Large white flowers with a tube widened towards the end are collected in groups of 3-4 in terminal inflorescences.

In the photo: Rutenberg's Pachypodium (Pachypodium rutenbergianum)

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Pachypodium (in Latin Pachypodium) is a typical representative of the Kutrov family (Latin Apocynaceae). Twenty-five species of Pachypodium are known to science. Belongs to the family of dicotyledonous flowering plants, whose representatives are widespread in temperate climates (mainly grasses) and tropical ones. Its name comes from the merger of two words of Greek origin: thick and leg, respectively “παχύ” and “ποδιυμ”.

Pachypodium can grow in cracks and crevices formed on the surface of bare, dry hills and low mountains. Interestingly, pachypodium grows in the countries of the African continent located south of the equator and on the island of Madagascar. Some specimens are found in Australia. The plant is so unpretentious to soil that it can grow on different types of soil. There are unique ones that prefer one type of soil for growth, but there are not many of them.

Not very dependent on external climatic conditions. In arid, desert places, the roots of pachypodium are so extended that they extract the necessary mineral components and moisture from the depths.

In more humid places, pachypodium can look like a giant tree, 5-8 meters in height. The diameter of the trunk at its widest part can reach one and a half meters. It is often found as a shrubby, oval-shaped species, 3 to 4 meters in height. Dwarfs are not uncommon among pachypodiums.

Absolutely all types of pachypodium are succulents, with a thick and fleshy trunk of gray or silvery color. Along the entire column of the trunk there are thorns that can break or wear out from the friction of the branches on the surface of the tree. Therefore, it is possible that “non-spiked” specimens can also be found in nature. Spikes are an important link in a complex chain of extracting moisture from droplets of dew or fog.

The main purpose of the thick, fleshy trunk is to store water along with nutrients for the upcoming drought. This is a necessary measure and is related to environmental conditions.

Some species even have thickened underground trunks. They are also called caudexes.

All representatives of the genus are famous for their very unusually beautiful flowers. The crown of the tree is crowned with narrow and thin leaves.

Due to Pachypodium's ability to exude a white milky sap when damaged, it is often confused with Euphorbia, better known as Euphorbia. This juice is poisonous. But it does not burn the skin upon contact with it.

How to care for pachypodium Growing conditions

1. Light intensity

Preference is given to bright sunlight, so that there is no hint of shadow. In certain circumstances it can also grow in partial shade. In search of more intense light radiation, it stretches out greatly and becomes unattractive.

To cultivate the plant at home, you must choose a room with windows facing south or southwest (southeast). In the summer, it is transferred to the air, to open space, but at the same time it is gradually accustomed to the sun.

With the onset of spring, when the intensity of solar radiation becomes stronger, it is necessary to extremely carefully open the access of rays to the surface of the succulent. He may get burned.

2. Ambient temperature

All types of pachypodium come from hot regions. Therefore, maintaining a high temperature is the most important factor. Temperatures above 30°C in summer are not a problem for him. In winter, if the temperature drops below +16°C, the plant may die (for the Pachypodium Lamera species this figure is + 8°C).

Therefore, in winter, there is no better place than on the windowsill next to the heating radiator. You also need to take into account that the plant does not tolerate drafts. Some types of succulent shed their leaves for the winter.

3. How to water

Regular watering is usually practiced from March to September, during the active growing season. Water for irrigation should be warm and well settled. An indicator that the plant is sufficiently moistened is a slightly wet soil surface.

Pachypodium does not tolerate severe waterlogging of the soil due to the threat of rotting of the root system and the lower part of the trunk. In winter, watering a crop that sheds its leaves is generally stopped for a period until the foliage returns again.

Other types of pachypodium that do not shed their leaves for the winter are watered very moderately to slightly moisten the top layer.

4. Humidity

Humidity is not a vital sign. There is no need to specially maintain it by spraying the plant with water. They can easily tolerate dry air. But it is still necessary to wipe the leaves from dust.

5. Feeding

Fertilizer for cacti is suitable for Pachypodium. Therefore, twice a month (spring-summer period) they fertilize with this fertilizer. If the pachypodium has just been transplanted, feeding is suspended for a period of 1 month. When applying fertilizers, it must be taken into account that the amount of the microelement nitrogen in the fertilizer mixture should be minimal.

An excess of nitrogen affects the condition of the root system, causing it to rot. The optimal ratio of the proportional content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the fertilizer is 9:18:24. Organic matter is generally excluded from the list of fertilizers for plants.

Pachypodium transplantation

If the pachypodium has grown greatly, it is transplanted. This is not done often, once every 3 years. As for young plants, they are replanted annually and the delicate roots of the crop are treated very carefully.

How to transplant pachypodium, look at the video:

Only a moderately acidic substrate, composed of equal parts of coarse sand, leaf and turf soil, will allow you to easily grow any type of pachypodium at home. You can purchase substrate for cacti. It is advisable to add crushed brick and charcoal to the substrate. Be sure to place drainage at the bottom of the pot.

Pachypodium is also grown as a hydroponic crop.

Pachypodium from seeds

The main method of propagation of pachypodium is by seed. Seeds are germinated at a temperature not lower than 20°C.
You can take regular soil for planting, for cacti.
Before planting, the seeds should be thoroughly soaked, leaving them in warm water for about three hours.
Afterwards, the seeds are planted in the ground at a distance of 3-4 cm, planting depth up to 1 cm.
Water occasionally, but do not allow the soil substrate to dry out.
You can cover containers with seeds with bags to speed up germination, but you need to ventilate them every day. When shoots appear, the shelter is removed.
When 3-4 leaves appear, the plants are planted in separate containers, making sure to arrange a drainage layer at the bottom. This simple action will prevent putrefactive diseases.

The video will tell you about growing pachypodium from seeds:

There should be no difficulties with picking young plants if you are careful and do not damage the roots. The seedlings are taking root well. From seeds you can get a lot of high quality planting material.

Propagation of pachypodium by cuttings

If the lower part of the succulent is very rotten, you can try to grow the plant from a stem fragment. To do this, cut off the non-rotten top, dry the cut area with coal and plant it in a new, prepared according to all the rules, substrate. The trunk can be divided into two or three cuttings. To successfully root them, you need to follow simple steps:

The cut areas are washed well with water to wash off the released milky juice.
Next, the cuttings are lightly dried in air until a light, dry crust forms. This is necessary so that the succulent does not rot when planted.
Planted in a light substrate, even sand. Moisten only occasionally so that the soil retains only a little moisture. The succulent will take root using internal reserves, and therefore excess moisture is not needed.
The temperature is maintained at room temperature, 24-25 °C.

Rooting usually takes a long time, so be patient. This is the case when a minimum of your participation is required. The plant will do everything on its own, the main thing is not to overdo it with watering.

Difficulties in growing and diseases

When rare, the succulent may shed its leaves. The plant does not like a sharp drop in temperature. Therefore, if the pachypodium is outdoors during the day, it should be brought indoors at night. Excessive watering at temperatures below 20°C (this applies to the winter period) can lead to leaf wilting and root rotting. This warning primarily applies to the species “short-stemmed pachypodium” due to the plant’s increased sensitivity to cold and waterlogging.

Drafts, especially cold ones, cause leaves to turn black, fall off, and stems to wrinkle and rot. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to move the plant to where there is a lot of light, warmth and no drafts. Watering should only be done with warm water. Sometimes rearranging the crop or simply turning it around its axis leads to blackening and drying out of young leaves.

Pachypodium pests

Damaged by scale insects and spider mites. It is also necessary to take precautions when working with the plant. The milky sap of the succulent is poisonous, although it does not irritate the skin if there are no wounds or cuts. After completing any work with the pachypodium, you must wash your hands!

Varieties of pachypodium with descriptions and photos

Pachypodium geayi

This is a tree that reaches 8 meters in height. On average, the height of this species is from 3 to 6 meters. It has a thick, prickly trunk and narrow, lightly pubescent leaves. Light gray young spines are colored black at the end.

The blossoming flowers are boiling white, which is diluted with yellow in the center area. It is also grown at home. Here it reaches a height of just over half a meter.

Pachypodium lamerei Pachypodium lamerei

Its homeland is the island of Madagascar. This species is also called the “Madagascar palm”. In those places where the island's topography is dominated by limestone rocks, you can find this tree growing up to 6 meters in height. It has a thick, erect, prickly trunk with a slight thickening at the bottom. Along the entire height you can see tubercles arranged in a spiral.

On each tubercle there are 3 spines of impressive size. Stems growing in the upper part of the tree are prone to lignification.

In its apical part there are rosettes with elongated, lanceolate, pubescent leaves of a deep green color. The leaves sit on petioles 3 to 5 centimeters long. They themselves are from 15 to 30 cm long and 4 to 10 cm wide and have a rounded end with a small point. There are 3 bare spines above each individual leaf.

When flowering, it produces creamy white flowers with a pinkish tint. They have a yellow throat. The diameter of the flower can reach 10-12 cm. The green fruits of Lamera have an elongated oval shape.

Pachypodium brevicaule

Found in central Madagascar. His ability for mimicry, that is, merging in color and shape with the surrounding elements of living nature, causes complete delight. Despite the fact that this species has a very juicy, prickly, tuber-shaped stem, reaching 60 cm in width, in the absence of leaves it can easily be confused with nearby stones. Its elongated flowers, with a diameter of 2 to 5 cm, are painted yellow.

Pachypodium densiflorum

Found in the arid regions of the island, it is distinguished by a fleshy, gray-green trunk, the maximum diameter of which is 30 cm. Only in the upper part of its trunk are there leaves. If there is not enough light in winter, it can drop all its leaves. It grows very slowly.

Only when it reaches a certain trunk diameter. It is also grown in pots. The maximum height of a crop grown at home is 90 cm.

Pachypodium saundersii or Lundi's Star

Lundi's star or Pachypodium Saunders Pachypodium saundersii home care

The gray-green trunk has a spherical shape, from which small shoots, up to 1.5 cm high, extend. There are small and few spines, up to 2.5 cm long. Wide lanceolate leaves. Characterized by abundant flowering. The flowers themselves are white with a pink stripe.

Pachypodium succulentum

The plant is native to the Cape Province of South Africa.
The trunk of the plant is clearly defined, reaching a height of 30-50 cm. The diameter of its thickened lower part reaches 15 cm. The trunk is deeply buried in the ground. The lateral branched shoots located above the ground are fleshy. Their length reaches 60-90 cm. On the branches there are spines in pairs, up to 2 cm long, and lanceolate-shaped pubescent leaves.

The maximum length of the leaves reaches 6 cm with a centimeter width. In summer, you can observe the flowering of pachypodium succulent. Only mature plants can delight you with pink, bell-shaped flowers with a bright red throat (their diameter is about 4 cm).

Pachypodium horombense

Pachypodium horombense photo

This is a small plant with a wide, smooth silver-green trunk with a thickening at the base. At the end of each branch there is a rosette of small, narrow grayish-green leaves. The branches appear early and extend straight from the base. During the flowering period, large yellow flowers appear on rather long stalks, collected in clusters.

Pachypodium horombeze grows very slowly, and in winter, when daylight hours become short, it sheds its leaves. With the seed propagation method, it begins to bloom almost in the 4th year after sowing.

This species is from Madagascar. On a short, gray-green trunk, which has a very wide thickening at the base, branches are located vertically. Small, narrow leaves emerge from rosettes located at the ends of these branches.

During flowering, you can enjoy lemon or pale yellow flowers. This period begins in mid-spring and lasts until mid-summer.

Southern Pachypodium Pachypodium meridionale

In its homeland, Madagascar, it grows 2-3 meters in height. If you grow it in a flower pot, you can get a specimen up to 1.2 m. This smooth-bore species has a silver-brown trunk. The color of its large and very fragrant flowers is soft pink on the inside, while on the outside the corolla of the flower has a pink-red hue.

Also in nature grow such species as Double-thorned Pachypodium, Pachypodium Lila, which is nicknamed the bottle tree for its visual similarity to this object, Pachypodium Namaquan, Pachypodium Rutenberg.