Foxtail is a beautiful exotic plant from the family Euphorbiaceae. It lives in the tropics of Polynesia, Australia and Southeast Asia. The Latin name of the foxtail - akalifa - is translated from Greek as "nettle". This is due to the similarity of the shape of the leaves of two completely different plants. It is still difficult to find an Akalif in Russia, but its amazing inflorescence in the form of colorful tails is so beautiful that there are more and more fans of the foxtail every year. To achieve flowering and maximum development of the foxtail, you should adhere to some rules in the care. The plant is capricious enough and suitable for experienced gardeners.
Plant description
Akalifa is a genus of evergreen perennial shrubs that grow up to 3 m in height in the natural environment. Indoor foxtails are compact and rarely grow above 50 cm. Flexible branched shoots are covered with a reddish bark with a dense pile. Petiole leaves are opposite. They have an ovoid or oval shape with a pointed end. The sheet plate may have smooth or serrated sides. The length of the sheet is about 10-20 cm, and the width is up to 15 cm.
Foxtail inflorescences are very beautiful. They can replace each other throughout the year, but bloom most abundantly in the summer. Long (5-15 cm, and sometimes up to 50 cm), drooping peduncles form dense inflorescences. They consist of many miniature bristle flowers and resemble fox tails or earrings in shape. Most decorative varieties have a bright color of scarlet, terracotta, burgundy flowers. Plants with white and cream flowers are also found.
Growing Akalif, it should be remembered that the plant is poisonous. After contact with it, you need to thoroughly wash your hands, and also limit access to the flower to children and animals.
Popular views
More than 450 plant species have been recorded in the foxtail genus. At home, most often you can meet only 2 of them.
Akalifa is bristly-haired. The plant forms a lush bush about 50 cm high. It is covered with ovoid serrate leaves of a bright green color. Throughout the year, this species pleases with large bright red inflorescences. There is an Alba variety with snow-white flowers.
Foxtail Wilkes. This evergreen shrub is more famous for its beautiful foliage. Opposite petiole leaves have a bronze-green color with large reddish spots and a pink border. The leaf length reaches 20 cm with a width of about 15 cm. Oval or ovoid leaves have a very elongated sharp edge. Spike-shaped inflorescences of a dirty pink or cream shade grow only 5-10 cm in length and bloom in June-August. Decorative varieties:
- Godseffiana - ovoid leaves have a golden border and a thick silver pubescence;
- Marginata - pink-red narrow strip runs along the edge of the olive-brown leaf;
- Mosaika - wide-oval leaves are painted in different shades of orange and terracotta colors, they are covered with mosaic spots.
Breeding methods
At home, the most convenient ways to propagate a foxtail are cuttings and sowing seeds. In March, fresh seeds are distributed in sandy peat soil to a depth of 5-7 mm. They are sprayed with water and covered with a film. Plants grow under diffused light and soil temperature + 20 ... + 22 ° C. With lower heating, seedlings will appear sooner. When the seedlings reach a height of 2-3 cm, they are dived in separate pots or plastic cups.
Rooting cuttings is even faster. Ornamental and leafy varieties can be cut all year round; they are propagated into plants with large inflorescences in early spring. Semi-lignified apical stems are cut and rooted in sandy peat soil or in wet sand. Cuttings are covered with a film and maintain the air temperature within + 20 ... + 25 ° C. Plants should be ventilated daily and sprayed as needed. The rooted foxtail is transplanted into small pots and grown as an adult plant.
Transplant Features
The best time to transplant Akalifa is spring. The plant needs to pick up a small pot, in a cramped container the foxtail feels more comfortable, and flowering is more plentiful. The soil for it is made up of turf land, sand, peat and leaf humus. The soil should have a slightly acidic reaction, be light and fertile enough. In order not to disturb the roots of the plant, you can replace only the top layer of earth in the pot.
Home Care
Foxtail is capricious and has high demands on the conditions of detention. To enjoy its amazing flowers or graceful foliage, you will have to make some efforts.
Lighting. Akalifa develops well in bright, diffused light. It must be protected from direct sunlight. In summer, plants are exposed to fresh air under a canopy and protected from strong gusts of wind and cold drafts. In winter, you need to put the flower on the southern windowsill or use phyto-lamps. With a lack of lighting, variegated leaves lose their charm, and the stems are stretched and exposed.
Temperature. Throughout the year, the foxtail needs to be kept warm. The optimum air temperature is + 22 ... + 25 ° C. In winter, you can lower it to + 18 ° C, but this is not necessary.
Humidity. Near a flower it is necessary to maintain high humidity. At the same time, it is undesirable to spray velvety leaves, so the air is humidified with the help of pallets with wet expanded clay and pebbles. You can use humidifiers.
Watering. Watering the Akalifa abundantly. The soil should always be slightly moist, but not wet. The higher the temperature, the more water the plant needs. Water should be thoroughly cleaned and acidified. Excess fluid from the sump is poured immediately.
Fertilizer. In March-October, the foxtail needs regular feeding. Fertilizer solution is applied to the soil twice a month. It is recommended to alternate mineral and organic complexes. In winter, watering is reduced, and fertilizers are stopped completely.
Pruning. Adult foxtail bushes need pruning. Without this procedure, the lower part of the stems stretches over the years and loses attractiveness. In spring, the branches are cut to a height of 20 centimeters. In order for young shoots to form more likely on them, the plants are covered with a film, regularly sprayed and aired.
Possible difficulties
In violation of agricultural technology, the foxtail can suffer from fungal diseases. Leaf dappiness develops in damp areas (wet dark brown spots form on leaflets).
With insufficient lighting, the leaves become pale, almost white. If the tips of the leaves dry out, it means the air is too dry in the room. The appearance of dark spots on the leaves at moderate humidity indicates drafts, or too low temperatures.
Sometimes aphids, whiteflies and spider mites inhabit akalifa. If parasites are found, the crown is treated with an insecticide.
