Akalifa (fox tail) is a perennial ornamental plant with dark red fluffy flowers. Growing acalypha is possible even for a beginner grower - caring for the crop is quite simple.
What does Akalif look like?
Akalifa is a bush plant about 1 meter high. In nature, the shrub can reach more than 2 meters. There are two groups: with bright inflorescences, and with leaves of different colors. The first group is more popular due to beautiful inflorescences-tails. The second is distinguished by bronze-green foliage with copper-red spots and small (5-10 cm) flowers.
The beauty of akalifa lies in unusual inflorescences similar to birch "earrings"
Important! The fox tail contains toxic substances. The plant must be placed so that it is out of reach for children and animals.
Care Features
At home, Akalifa does not require special care. The most important thing is regular watering.
Temperature mode
The optimum temperature in summer is +22 ℃, in winter -15 ℃. Sudden changes in temperature and drafts are harmful to the plant.
Lighting
Akalifa prefers diffused light. In the shade, the leaves turn pale and lose their attractive appearance. Direct sunlight leaves burns.
The flower is best placed on a southeast or southwest window
Moisturizing
Akalifa is a tropical flower; it needs timely plentiful watering and frequent spraying. It is advisable to put the pot in a pan with wet pebbles. In summer, water at least 2 times a week, in winter - as the topsoil dries.
Moisten the soil with warm (about + 30 ℃) filtered or settled water. For disinfecting, it is useful to add a little citric acid to the liquid.
Feeding and transplanting
In winter, the plant does not need to be fed. With the advent of spring, fertilizers for flowering indoor plants are added every 10-14 days.
Transfer
Young flowers are transplanted annually, adults - once every 3 years. In order not to harm the roots, you can only update the topsoil. Work is best done in the spring. The soil mixture should contain the same amount of turf, humus, river sand, peat chips.
Rest period
In winter, you should transfer the flower to the southern window, reduce watering, refuse to feed.
When Akalifa Blooms
With optimal care, the Fox tail blooms from March to October. Over the years, the inflorescences become longer. In adult plants, they can reach 50 cm.
Important! When the tails are brown, they should be removed. This helps the plant save energy for new inflorescences.
Pruning
Akalifa is rapidly growing and stretching. To give the flower a more magnificent shape, you should trim the tops of 3 buds 2 times a year. Once every 5 years, the bushes are cut to a height of 30 cm. After pruning the hemp, it is advisable to spray with zircon.
How to breed Akalifa
The flower propagates in the following ways:
- The seeds. The right time for sowing is the beginning of spring. For seedlings create a greenhouse effect. Under such conditions, the seeds germinate faster. A pick is carried out when the sprouts reach 3 cm.
- Cuttings. Variegated varieties are cut all year round; the bristle-haired Akalif is only in spring. Slices are best treated with agents that stimulate root growth. Cuttings are rooted in the soil mixture. After 1.5 months, the tops of the shoots are cut off.
- Air layering. Work should be carried out in the spring. The shoot area (10 cm) is freed from foliage. Make a shallow annular incision. Wrap the cleaned area with wet sphagnum moss or coconut fiber. Cover with a film on top, fix. After 3 months, the stalk with roots is transplanted into a separate container.
Moss must be wet at all times
On a note! The roots of Akalifa are developing rapidly, so the flower needs to be planted in a spacious pot.
Diseases and Pests
Improper care may cause the following problems:
- The leaves turn yellow and fall off - a clear sign that the plant lacks moisture.
- Leaves turn pale - in the soil contains insufficient nitrogen, fertilizing is necessary.
- Brown spots appear - a symptom of a fungal disease. The flower should be treated with a fungicidal preparation.
- Leaves wither and fall - low temperature.
- Plant growth slowed down - lack of nutrients.
- Akalifa does not bloom - lack of lighting.
Damage to the plant can be caused by aphids, spider mites, mealybugs. Aphids (beige dots) settle on the top, buds and back of the leaves. If the shoots are braided with thin threads, and light spots formed on the underside of the leaves, the plant was attacked by a spider mite. You can detect a mealybug by dirty white lumps resembling cotton wool. To control pests, resort to insecticides for indoor plants.
Varieties of Akalifa
Florists opt for the following varieties:
- Akalifa Wilks (wilkesiana). Evergreen shrub can reach more than 1.5 meters in height. The plant is famous for its rich color scheme of leaves. In some subspecies, they are decorated with multi-colored stripes and spots. Others foliage is plain with a contrasting edging. Shrubs need abundant watering and plenty of light. Indoor plants should be updated annually by cuttings.
Southern Akalifa is a weed that clogs crops in the Far East
- Akalifa bristly-haired (hispida). If you remove the tops of the shoots, the shrub can be grown in hanging pots. Velvety purple inflorescences resemble fur lashes. Akalifa hispida, with proper care, blooms throughout the year.
- Southern Akalifa (australis) is an annual plant with a straight stem covered with hard hairs. It grows on sandy and clay soils. Prefers light shading or open areas.
- Akalifa Indian (indica). The shrub plant has a thin stem and small jagged leaves. Spikelets are nondescript, composed of small light pink flowers.
On a note! There is an opinion that Indian Akalifa has healing properties. The plant is used in folk medicine for the treatment of respiratory diseases.
The main requirements for growing akalifa are diffused light, timely hydration, and the absence of drafts. To prevent poisonous juice from causing burns or poisoning when working with a flower, gloves and special tools must be used. Glasses protect against splashes on the mucous membranes of the eyes.
