A relative of the popular money tree is the flower Aichrison - a plant that belongs to the family Crassulaceae. This flower is a low bush-succulent, which reaches a height of up to 30 cm and a diameter of up to 20-27 cm. The stems are highly branched and almost not lignified.
Plant description
Indoor Aichrison was popularly nicknamed very romantic and elegant - a tree of love. This is directly related to the fact that its leaves, which are covered with a little white fluff, resemble the shape of hearts, which are collected in typical sockets.
Ahichrison - tree of love
The birthplace of such an unusual plant is Madeira Island, which is located in the Atlantic Ocean. From time to time, Aichrison (Tree of Love) grows in the Canaries or the Azores, in Portugal. Currently, it is grown by many lovers of indoor plants.
With this houseplant there are a lot of different signs.
It is interesting: many believe that a plant can only bloom in a place where there is complete understanding between husband and wife and they love each other.
Therefore, the name of the tree of love appeared among the people. It was believed that if the relationship in a couple deteriorates, becomes difficult, then Aichrison falls ill. With quarrels in the family, it stops blooming, the leaves fall, and the root system rots.
Popular views
Today, gardeners know a lot of species of ahichrison. Their breeding has certain nuances that should be taken into account. The genus Aichrison has 15 varieties of succulent plants, some of which are considered perennials, while others are annuals. Among all types of ahichrison, the most famous are the following.
Aichrison home
A small shrub can grow up to 30 cm. The diameter of the crown often reaches 25-30 cm.
This is a hybrid variety, which was obtained by crossing point and winding aichrison, has leaves in the shape of a club. They are small in size, up to 2 cm long and up to 1 cm wide. Assembled in small sockets. Their coloring is a deep green color.
The flowers are small, yellow in color, with an intense odor. Home Aichrison can bloom for a long time: this period from time to time reaches 6 months.
Aichrison home
Ahichrison laxum
Aichrison is loose, it is also open (Aichryson laxum) - a small succulent shrub of a square shape: height and diameter can reach 40 cm.
Leaves are covered with snow-white small hairs and picked up in sockets. Diamond-shaped leaves on a long stalk are 1.5-3 cm long and up to 1 cm wide.
The six-month flowering period begins in the spring. Inflorescences are large brushes, the length of which reaches up to 30 cm. The flowers have a golden yellow color. For aichrison loose, it is inherent to discard most of the leaf mass after a complete flowering cycle. The indoor flower itself does not die.
Ahichrison laxum
Ahichrison tortozum
The indoor flower Aichrysone is tortuous, it is tortoiseum (Aichryson tortuosum) - a small ornamental bush in which the diameter of leaf rosettes and the height of the shoots are the same - 25-30 cm.
The leaves have a light green color and a diamond shape. As with other species, leaf mass is endowed with a white edge.
A distinctive feature of this species is short petioles. Succulent flowering begins in early spring and lasts up to 6 months.
Ahichrison tortozum
Aichrison variegate
The evergreen shrub type succulent has branched shoots on which leaf rosettes are already formed.
At the edges of the leaves of the decorative tree there are pinkish, beige or even white stripes, which distinguishes aikhrizon variegated from other species.
Houseplant blooms with small yellowish flowers. Inflorescences are small.
Aichrison variegate
Home Care
If the plant is still young, then periodically during the growing season, it is necessary to transfer it to a larger container.
To grow aichrison, you can not choose too large pots, because his root system is not sprawling. In addition, the plant looks much prettier in the case when the crown is larger than the pot.
The last transshipment should be carried out no later than the end of August - the flower needs time for its roots to master the additional volume of land. If we talk about the correct development of the flower of Aichrison, home care is described below.
Temperature
The optimal temperature for the vegetative development of Aichrison tree is from +20 to +25 degrees. The average temperature of winter content is from +10 to +20 degrees. The minimum average temperature is +8 degrees.
Aichrisone content in autumn / winter at higher temperatures will lead to an increase in the length of internodes. As a result of this, the succulent will quickly stretch and lose its attractiveness and decorativeness. With an increase in the temperature of flower growing above +30 degrees, the plant falls into a state of summer dormancy, that is, stagnation.
Lighting
Optimal lighting for normal flower development:
- from October to March - direct sunlight;
- from April to September - in the morning - direct sunlight and after - diffused sunlight.
With a decrease in illumination, the likelihood of flowering is reduced. The plant should receive a minimum of 6 hours of continuous sunlight.
Important! To form a bush of the correct form, a houseplant is rotated around its axis every week by a quarter of a turn.
Variegated forms of culture are most sensitive to light intensity.
Soil and fertilizing
The optimum acidity of the soil mixture: pH 6.1-6.5. The ideal soil mixture is the following composition:
- in equal parts of turf and leaf land, perlite;
- 10% of charcoal and humus;
- bone flour.
Watering
Frequency of watering a houseplant called "Tree of Love":
- in the spring and summer seasons - with easy drying of an earthen coma between waterings;
- in the autumn and winter seasons - with moderate drying of the land, where aichrison grows, between waterings.
Aichrison is watered when grown in the room with top watering. Bottom watering for this plant is unacceptable. Excess water that drains into the drip tray must be continuously removed. It is best to water the plant with soft and well-defended water at room temperature. It is important that the water is not too cold.
Note! The need for watering can be determined by slightly pressing on the leaves of the plant in the region of the growth point: if they are elastic, then you need to wait with watering, if the leaf is slightly sluggish - it's time to water.
Breeding methods
Aichrison can be propagated in three main ways, the descriptions of which are given below.
Cuttings
Cut off the cuttings from a non-flowering plant. Parts of a flower that are taken during or after flowering will be virtually impossible to root.
Important conditions for growing sprouts:
- irrigation frequency - with easy drying of the earth between irrigations;
- the rooting period is 14 days;
- temperature: from +20 to +25 degrees;
- lighting - diffused sunlight;
- rooting medium is a soil mixture whose composition is as for adult plants.
Leaves
Aichrison propagation by the leaves of the flower is carried out in the same way as by cuttings. Young and strong leaves from the top of the plant are cut. So that the leaves can take root, wet sand or a usual substrate for succulents is used as a soil mixture.
Flower propagation
Seeds
Please note that seed germination is maintained for 5 years. Unused seeds are best stored in the refrigerator.
Conditions for a plant to reproduce by seed:
- germination period: 5-10 days;
- air humidity: 100%;
- soil: standard, as for an adult plant;
- the substrate must be constantly moist throughout the germination period;
- ambient temperature: from +18 to +20 degrees;
- Lighting: diffused sunlight or even partial shade.
Flowering aichrison
The Aichrison flower of love blooms only with the correct content, both in the previous dormant period and in the current vegetation period.
The beginning of flowering is April or May. The duration of flowering is up to six months. During flowering, an indoor plant loses up to 90% of its leaf mass. After flowering, Aichrison can be disposed of. To preserve the plant, flower stalks should be removed immediately at the beginning of their development, not allowing the plant to go to this stage.
Reasons why it does not bloom
The appearance of color directly depends on the conditions under which aichrison is grown. If a lover of exotic plants provides proper care for the Aichrison flower, then it begins to bloom in early spring.
The plant at the time of flowering, in spite of proper care, throws off the leaf mass, from which it loses its attractiveness. However, this process is not launched by all owners of exotics and then the question arises as to why Aichrison does not bloom. Experienced flower growers say - it means that it is developing in the wrong conditions.
It is necessary to transplant it into a narrower pot and change the care:
- put the flower pot in a cool but bright room;
- change the frequency of watering.
Note! This species is resistant to a variety of diseases, if you take care of it correctly. However, minor changes in the conditions of detention, more often, the high humidity of the earthen coma, can contribute to decay of the root system and processes of plants.
Actually, this situation leads to the spread of scale insects and spider mites.
