Another Himalayan miracle. Does the Mahameru flower really bloom once every 400 years?

In modern bouquets, an exotic flower with an unfamiliar name protea is often found. For Russia, Europe, North America, protea is an exotic flower.

Protea

(
Protea
L.) grows naturally in South Africa, it is an evergreen shrub with leathery leaves up to 3 meters high.

The name of this plant was given in 1735 by the Swedish naturalist Karl Linnaeus in honor of the character of ancient Greek mythology Proteus, who was famous for his ability to change his appearance. The fact is that protea has a wide variety of external forms.

Proteus grows in South Africa, south of the Limpopo River. More than 90% of all proteas grow in the Cape region, this is a unique ecosystem in southern Africa, one of the floristic kingdoms of the earth, is a specially protected natural area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Flower of royal protea or artichoke protea (Protea cynaroides

L.) is the symbol of South Africa.

In many countries with tropical climates - in South Africa, India, Australia and the Hawaiian Islands (USA), protea is a favorite flower of brides. It is often used to compose bridal bouquets. Protein in these countries is called Blushing bride flower

(Shy bride).

In the second half of the 20th century, Protea flowers were so popular in South Africa that this plant was endangered in the wild. Protea is now grown in sufficient quantities in nurseries and farms in South Africa.

Protea royal

or artichoke protea (
Protea cynaroides
L.) has large flowers with a diameter of 12 to 30 cm.One plant usually has 6 to 10 flowers per season. Although some large bushes can produce up to 40 flower heads per season.

In the photo on the right is a royal protea bush. Photo: Skier Dude.

The color of the flowers of the royal protea varies from creamy white to dark crimson. The most valuable are proteas with delicate pale pink flowers with a silvery sheen.

Protea royal.

Photo: Fir0002 / Flagstaffotos, Stan Shebs, Winfried Bruenken.

Cape sugar honey plant feeds on nectar from the royal protea flower bowl.

Proteus (Protea
)–
it is a bright representative of the Proteaceae family. These representatives can only be admired for a very long time. This species includes more than 400 types of excellent handsome men, which are very different in nature.

South Africa is home to this beautiful plant. Protea is also one of the symbols of the Republic of South Africa, and there this flower is very popular. This amazing plant has not only hardiness to harsh climatic conditions, but many varieties of this flower can be found in Africa and Australia.

The first wave of Protea's popularity swept in the nineteenth century, where it was grown for kings and the highest nobility. In today's time, fashion is gradually returning and it is worth taking a closer look at the Proteus today. This shrub retains its evergreen color and its stems grow rapidly only upward. Protea leaves are very tough in structure, their color is dark green and they are located either in a spiral or in turn. A cone-like inflorescence, depending on the species, reaches 5-20 cm in diameter. The bracts can be simply pink, red or white.

Protea: growing from seed

Protea can be propagated by seed. Before sowing, they are soaked in warm water for a day. Sowing is carried out on the surface of the peat-sand mixture, sprinkled on top with a thin layer of sand. After that, the container is placed in a bright place with a temperature of 15-18 degrees.

The soil should be kept slightly moist at all times. The seeds will take about 3 months to germinate. When the first shoots appear, the container is transferred to a warmer place. When the seedlings get a little stronger, they are seated in separate pots that are filled with soil for heather.

Protea habitats

The Proteus flower is a "resident" of areas characterized by poor soil, as well as a monsoon climate characterized by constant droughts. The Cape province, located in southern Africa, is rich in varieties of this species, where there are about 400 representatives of this genus. They can also be found in the outskirts of Australia and South America.

The natural habitat provided the plant with Spartan conditions in which a lack of moisture and nutrients is the problem that the flower copes with with dignity. He stores his vital energy in special organs located on a stem located underground.

Protea: features of care

Protea is not a very difficult plant to care for. The main thing is to provide him with a suitable air temperature and lighting. A transplant is recommended every spring.

In the warm season, watering Protea should be done sparingly, keeping the soil slightly moist. In winter, watering is reduced. Top dressing is required only in the summer - once every 3-4 weeks.

Protea feels best in the lightest place in the whole house. In summer, the usual room temperature is suitable, in winter it should be kept at 10-15 degrees.

Watering and feeding mode

Between scarce watering in the spring and summer, the soil should have time to dry out, because in natural conditions, Protea grows in dry soil. In winter, the breaks are increased and watered once every 3-4 weeks.

Excessive moisture will lead to the death of the plant. Add 2-3 drops of lemon juice or citric acid crystals on the tip of a knife to soft water for irrigation. Protea loves hot air, and moisture can spoil the attractiveness of the inflorescences.

Top dressing is carried out in order to maintain the acidity of the soil from April to September, once a month with fertilizer for azaleas and rhododendrons, mixing half the dosage into the water for irrigation. Proteas are accustomed to poor soils and an excess of nutrients can destroy them.

Possible problems

Such plants are often affected by a disease such as black leg. The reason for this may be high air humidity or strong soil moisture. To prevent this, you should not water the plant too abundantly, you should always ensure normal air circulation.

Proteus can sometimes infect aphids. You can get rid of it by manually removing the pests or using an insecticide.

The Proteus plant belongs to the large Protein family. There are about 1400 species. In its natural environment, it lives in the subtropics and tropics. Homeland - South America. Proteus is considered one of the most beloved and beautiful cultures. Therefore, she was chosen as the symbol of South Africa. It got its name from Karl Linnaeus. It is associated with the ancient Greek sea god Proteus. It has the shape of a shrub evergreen. Protea neriifolia and Protea cynaroides are especially decorative. In the wild, the height of one representative reaches about two meters. Indoors, the plant does not exceed seventy centimeters.

The plant is used to create exquisite bouquets and flower arrangements.

Location

Protea responds well to brightly lit areas. Therefore, it can be safely kept on the windowsill in direct sunlight for several hours a day.

Temperature regime

The plant loves warmth. Sensitively reacts to sudden changes in microclimatic conditions. In the warmer months (from late April to mid-autumn), proteas need to create an optimal regimen. The room temperature should be at least +20 degrees.

In autumn, you need to gradually reduce the temperature in the room. Proteus should be kept cool in winter. The optimal value of the thermometer for rest is from +5 to +10 degrees. Otherwise, the plant will bloom again and lose its decorative effect. It is almost impossible to restore culture.

In addition to temperature, it is also necessary to provide the flower with access to fresh air. The plant does not develop well when stagnant. Unlike most representatives of the flora, it is not afraid of drafts. But in the climatic conditions of the middle lane, the flower can only be taken out on a glazed loggia or balcony.

Proper watering

In the spring and summer, you need to water the soil regularly. But make sure that the top layer of the substrate has time to dry completely between waterings. In the winter season, the frequency of watering can be reduced.

Transfer

The container and substrate should be changed once every two years. In this case, the pot should be chosen one size larger than the previous one. The average adult plant will need a flowerpot with a diameter of 35 centimeters.

Cutting technology

For compactness, the branches of the shrub need to be pruned by one fourth each year. Also clean the flower from wilted and dried areas.

Flower transplant

The shrub requires frequent replanting. Young plants are transplanted once a year in spring, before the onset of a period of active growth. An adult Protea should be transplanted after the root system is completely encircled by an earthen ball. She, like most succulents, needs a wide, low pot with large drainage holes. As drainage, you can use small pebbles, brick chips or expanded clay.

The soil mixture should consist of equal parts of peat, coarse sand, pine needles. The shrub can also be planted in ready-made soil for rhododendrons and azaleas. The soil should have a rough texture and an acidic reaction, moisture and air permeable well.

Features of growing in a container

The composition of the soil mixture

To grow Proteus, you need an acidic substrate. The pH should be between 5.0 and 5.5. A store-bought substrate made for azaleas is ideal. The soil must be breathable and rough. At home, the mixture can be prepared from sand, peat, perlite, pine needles, heather soil.

Top dressing

The plant grows well in poor soils. Therefore, frequent feeding is not needed. It is enough to periodically increase the acidity of the soil. It is undesirable to use drugs with fluoride. Nitrogen fertilizers are excellent. They need to be divided into 3 uses. Experienced florists also recommend preparations made for azaleas for proteus. The concentration must be halved.

Container parameters

A small and wide flowerpot is suitable for growing. A drainage layer should be laid out at the bottom.

Growing Protea

Proteas are successfully grown by flower growers in Africa, the USA and Australia, they are planted everywhere in parks and plantations. Their main advantage: a long standing period both fresh and dried, for which florists and designers respect it.

In the conditions of the middle lane in the open ground, this flower cannot be grown, because the plant is used to living in an arid and hot climate, and it cannot stand frosts in winter. However, many experienced flower growers successfully grow them in greenhouses, where the protea flower reaches a height of up to 60 cm. How to take care of him?

the soil is used in the form of mixtures of pine needles with brown peat or sand with peat;
long-term lighting is required, but no direct sun (east or west windows);
temperature regime: in summer + 20… + 25 ºС, in winter - + 5… + 10 ºС to maintain a dormant period, which is necessary for good flowering;
watering is small, the soil should not be overdried and without excess moisture, the water is taken soft, slightly acidified, tap water must be passed through filters;
the air must be hot and dry, no spraying is needed;
for fertilization, you can apply in small quantities a mixture for azaleas or rhododendrons.

Bloom

The main value of culture is bright, gorgeous flowers. Their diameter can range from five to thirty centimeters. There are varieties with a sugary sweet aroma. Protea is grown in greenhouses and greenhouses around the world.

Amazing flowers are used to create original bouquets, including wedding ones. They are able to maintain their freshness for up to twenty days.

Protea can also often be found dried in a variety of compositions. After wilting, you need to cut the stem a few centimeters below the inflorescence. All parts of the flower are not poisonous. But for allergy sufferers during the flowering period, it is better not to keep the plant in the bedroom.

To stimulate flowering, you can supplement the Protea with artificial lamps.

Protea in floristry

Florists fell in love with Protea for its exotic decorativeness. A bush with glossy leaves is beautiful even without flowers. Protea keeps freshness in a bouquet for 2-3 weeks. After drying, it does not lose color brightness and shape. Dried flowers are used to decorate flower arrangements.

Protea is popular in wedding decor to decorate a hall, an arch, and a bridal bouquet. The flower looks elegant and solemn, it only needs to be supplemented with greens.

In combination with other colors, protea will be a leader. It is combined with lush peonies, hydrangea, stately roses.

Watch also a video on the topic:

Reproduction methods

Apical cuttings are used for distribution. On average, their length should be about ten centimeters. For rooting, you need a mixture of perlite and peat. It is important to maintain the temperature from +22 to +24 degrees.

Protea can be propagated by seeds. But in this case, you need to take into account that the first inflorescences will appear only after five or six years. It is necessary to sow the rudiments at the end of winter. To speed up germination, you can use the stratification method - place the seeds in the refrigerator (in a container with wet sand). The temperature should be about +10 degrees.

The next day you need to hold the seeds in water at room temperature. The sowing depth should be two and a half times the size of the bud. To create a greenhouse effect, you need to cover the container with glass on top.

Germination will occur at temperatures from +22 to +25 degrees. The appearance of the first shoots depends on the quality of the seeds and the conditions created. It may take one or several months.

After the formation of the first full-fledged leaves, you need to remove the cover and transfer the plant to a room with diffused sunlight. It is important to be very careful when watering. The liquid should not get on the sprouted culture. You can dive after the formation of three leaves.

Reproduction and flowering

Reproduction is carried out by seeds, which are planted to a depth of double the size of the seed, moistened and covered with a film, germinated at + 20 ... + 25 ºС for about 1.5 months. To accelerate growth, it can be placed in wet sand in the refrigerator for 2 months. (+ 7 ... + 8 ºС).

After the appearance of the sprouts, the film is removed, when the leaves appear, they are transplanted into separate pots. Watering should be done in moderation and with care.

Every spring, young proteas can be transplanted, preserving the old clod of earth, adults - only when necessary, once every few years. The pot is selected wide - up to 40 cm, but not high. Drainage with a thickness of up to 10 cm is laid down.It should be watered with filtered and settled tap water.

Proteus is resistant to diseases, susceptible only to late blight.

The plant begins to bloom only in the 5-6th year of life.

Choosing a culture

Protea can often be found on sale in bouquets. It is not so easy to find planting material for self-breeding. Cuttings are sold on specialized forums by amateur flower growers. Professional seeds can be bought on foreign sites with delivery to Russia. The average price of one package of 20 seeds is 800 rubles.

In the life of every grower, sooner or later there comes a moment when you suddenly want to tame some obstinate exotic. And the strength of desire, as a rule, is such that no reasonable arguments about the impossibility of this venture stop. And now, next to the simpleton geraniums and balsams, ginger is important and decorous, a feijoa blooms or a luxurious protea reigns ...

This wondrous flower is named after the ancient Greek sea deity Proteus. According to legend, he could change his appearance and had the gift of a fortuneteller, thanks to which he easily achieved his goals. And there is also a legend that before honest people Proteus appeared in the form of water, and to the unkind he was an insidious avenger.

The history of the name of the flower

Proteus is a flower, the meaning of the name of which symbolizes change in appearance, the name of the plant was given by Karl Linnaeus in honor of the many-sided ancient Greek sea god Proteus. According to an ancient legend, he could not only change his appearance, but also had the gift of a predictor, which he used to achieve his goals. In their homeland, plants are very diverse in color and species, they are found almost everywhere.

Beginning in the 19th century, proteas were grown at the palaces of kings and nobles in Europe: one of the London merchants, Hibbert, was able to collect a collection of 150 species of protea plants. In the 21st century, such an outlandish flower has become available to all amateurs and those wishing to join the cultivation of exotic plant species.

In the European part of the territory, the most popular species is the artichoke protea (Protea cynaroides), which is the symbol of South Africa. In her homeland she was nicknamed "the pot of honey" for the sweet nectar that is widely used as a cough medicine.

Color options for flowers - white, yellow, pink, orange, lilac in various combinations.

Another popular type, the telopea, is considered a symbol of one of the states in Australia.

By tradition, the protea flower is brought as a gift to confident and successful people, therefore it is very popular in bouquets intended as a gift for business partners or bosses.

Protea flower description

Protea has become popular in the past few years thanks to florists who use it extensively in their floral arrangements. This flower miracle grows in South Africa and Australia, from where it is brought to our stores. In South Africa, it has become a symbol of the country and is called the African rose. The flower makes a strong impression, and many people want to try to grow Protea at home.

In the photo from left to right: Protea King, Protea Little Prince, Protea Pinkke

The Proteus family is quite extensive and diverse, and all of its members have spectacular flowers in the shape of a star or sea urchin. Interestingly, even plants of the same species differ in appearance, shape and size of the inflorescence.

In addition, Protea flowers not only keep perfectly in cut for up to two to three weeks, but also perfectly keep their shape and color when dried.

For this ability, the plant is very fond of florists, making compositions and bouquets of both live and dry flowers. This is an amazingly beautiful blooming dried flower that practically does not wilt and is well transported around the world.

The most original appearance of the artichoke protea. It is also called a pot of honey due to the fact that in its large inflorescence (about 30 cm in diameter) there is always a lot of sweet nectar, which is not only tasty, but also curative (Africans use it to treat coughs), a great admirer of this flower is also honey-bearing miniature bird. She loves him so much that she even builds a nest for herself from old dry petals, which, by the way, helps the plant multiply by scattering its seeds.

In their natural habitat, all species of Proteus live in Spartan conditions, regularly experiencing a lack of moisture and nutrients.These natural circumstances force us to store vital water in special underground organs located on the stems.

In modern floristry, protea is often used in compositions and collages as the main character. This is due to the amazing color and shape stability of the flowers and the strength of the stems. But the plant looks most impressive in its living form, and due to its restraint and severity, it will perfectly fit in a man's bouquet.

Needless to say, having seen such a floral curiosity, I want to try to grow it at home.

Description

Under natural conditions, Protea forms a shrub reaching 2 m. When grown indoors, the plant height does not exceed 60-70 cm. The bush with long and strong, reddish shoots is covered with dense, leathery leaves. They have an oval-elongated, sometimes linear shape and a dark green color.

Protea blooms with large heads of an unusual shape, reaching 20-30 cm in diameter when blooming. Needle-shaped petals frame the cone-shaped bowl. The structure and color of the bracts and sepals is striking in its variety.

Appearance

Flowering begins in late spring, when beautiful, large inflorescences bloom on tall peduncles and lasts for several weeks. The color of flowers varies from pink to red in all shades.

There are beige and silver tones. One bush covers several dozen inflorescences, which can be compared with burdock, cones or artichoke.

Protea species

The most famous types of proteas are:

artichoke
(
Protea cynaroides
) - with a huge pink flower up to 30 centimeters in diameter. The flower opens over a long period of time, which makes it so stunning in the garden for several weeks and also very hardy to cut.
large-headed protea(Protea macrocephala)
- a flower with a felt core surrounded by red, pointed petals. The outer part consists of the petals of smaller scales with a smoky color.
black-bearded(Protea lepidocarpodendron)
- not as attractive as her cousins, but very exotic. The inside is usually creamy white, occasionally pink, oblong, with rounded tips. They are densely covered with straight, purple or black hairs that become sparse and silvery towards the base. Fields bordered with long white and black hairs resembling a beard.
creeping(Protea repens)
Are actually inflorescences with a collection of small flowers in the center surrounded by large colorful bracts. The shape of the flower heads is very characteristic, it looks like an inverted ice cream cone.

Conditions of detention

It takes a lot of effort to grow a protea. A heat-loving flower in temperate climates grows only in a room and a greenhouse. He will need a place with bright lighting and the obligatory hit of direct sunlight on the bush for several hours. Additional lighting is required during the winter months.

Stable hot conditions with temperatures from + 20 ° C are comfortable for Protea. In winter, the flower is kept at a cool temperature of 5-10 ° C. In the absence of a cool winter, there will be no flowers next year.

Bright lighting needed

The plant needs fresh air and good ventilation. You can take out a flower only on a glazed balcony.

To give decorative effect, the stems of the shrub are shortened by 1/4 of the height in the spring. After flowering, the stems are cut 10 cm.

Growing conditions

Protea requires a well-aerated soil with adequate drainage with a pH of about 5.5. The best substrate for sowing plants is a mixture:

2 parts peat,
2 parts of acidic soil,
1 part perlite.

It is important that the soil is well permeable. Water should flow through it easily, but the ground should never dry out.In addition, sowing must be sterile, disinfected, free of fungi, larvae and pathogens that can damage the plants.

Seed preparation

- soak the seeds for 24 hours before sowing;
- before sowing, treat with a fungicide;
- sow seeds to a depth equal to their size and water well;
- keep in the shade, spray regularly;
- do not close the seed pot.

Watering

The quality of the water for irrigation has a great influence on the germination of plants. Protea is sensitive to saline water and alkaline reactions. Water from a well or lake may contain fungi that kill plants. Fungal diseases are the most serious threat to plants and usually cause death when they reach the roots. To avoid this, the plant should be watered only in the morning and not in the evening. It is also better to use less water, more often but in small quantities.

Germination lasts from 1 to 3 months, depending on the variety. When leaves appear, the plant can be transplanted and moved to a sunnier location. When transplanting, be careful not to damage the roots as they are very delicate. The transplant soil is similar to the soil in which the plants germinated, but with a lot of perlite. The soil should also be supplied with additional nutrients in the form of peat and compost. There should be a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot - for example, pebbles.

Lighting

Protea tolerates wind well. She needs a place with constant air circulation. The flower grows best in the sun. The more light, the more buds it produces. Does not tolerate frost. However, some varieties can withstand up to -2 ° C.

Fertilizer

Protea needs slow-acting fertilizers. Fertilizers and manure can burn off her delicate root system. It also does not tolerate phosphate fertilizers. From time to time, you can sprinkle the ground with ammonium nitrate and then irrigate abundantly. It supports the slightly acidic reaction of the substrate and also provides nitrogen.

What not to do

do not allow seeds to dry out during germination - due to sensitive roots.
do not water the seeds with a large stream of water, only spray. Large droplets of water can move soil around the plant and destroy roots.
do not keep sprouting plants under cover, glass, or foil. High temperature and humidity can cause fungal infections. Continuous circulation of fresh air is recommended.
do not fertilize plants with compost or manure, or fertilizers containing phosphorus. In nature, plant roots develop in soil that is poor in organic components.
do not loosen the soil around the plant - this can destroy their roots.

Popular types

The most popular among gardeners are the following types of protea flowers:

Artichoke, or Royal, - has large (30 cm) inflorescences, surrounded by needle-like wrappers.
Thistle is a rare species that grows in nature in a bush form, has original abilities in nature to survive after a fire, its seeds inside the inflorescences remain viable and are able to germinate on bare ground.
Large-headed - has inflorescences and wrappers in the form of a bowl, is very popular with birds who know how to drink nectar from them using a long beak, these birds build nests from dry Protea leaves.
Creeping - has lying stems, smaller leaves and small balls of inflorescences with spines.

Planting proteas from seeds at home

Protea seeds can be bought online or ordered from a nursery.

The main thing: it is best to sow Protea from the end of February to April inclusive. And for better germination, it is necessary to ensure the difference between day and night temperatures of at least 12 °.

Before sowing, I put the seeds for a day in warm water (38-40 °) with the addition of wood ash (3 tsp.half a glass of water). And before that, they lay for a week in wet sand in the refrigerator, stratified.

For planting, I took ready-made soil for azaleas (it is just acidic enough, which is what Protea needs) and added sand and perlite to it. I chose a shallow and wide pot. She put a layer of expanded clay at the bottom, since the plant does not like strong waterlogging and tolerates overdrying better than overflow.

She put the prepared seeds in a depth, twice the size of a seed, poured warm water, covered it with glass on top and waited. As the soil dries up, I sprayed the ground with warm water and regularly lifted the glass. Seedlings appeared almost a month later, two of three seeds emerged.

As soon as the first two leaves appeared, I took off the glass and put the pot in the brightest, but protected from direct sunlight, place. I watered it very carefully, slightly moistening the soil, since the still immature sprouts are very afraid of moisture and die. The seedlings grew slowly - in a month they added a little more than 2 cm.With the onset of warm days, they accelerated somewhat and by the end of summer they grew to 12 cm.

Protea care

Protea is very demanding on lighting. Therefore, all year long I keep a pot of plants in a sunny place, and on cloudy days I turn on the lamp for them.

The most important thing in care is the watering process. This must be done very carefully.

From spring to autumn, the soil in the pot should always be slightly damp, and in winter it should be watered no more than once a month. As for fertilizers, Proteus almost does not need them - it is enough just to water it monthly with slightly acidified water.

I cannot boast of the flowering of my African woman yet, but she grows well, does not get sick, she is almost three years old. I have King Protea - pink royal. At home, subject to all her wishes, it blooms only after 5-6 years. But for the sake of such a rare exotic beauty, you can wait. I believe and hope for a miracle.

V.P. Semenova - florist with 20 years of experience

Protea flowers are of exotic origin, grow in hot climates and are a symbol of the Republic of South Africa. In recent years, they have gained popularity not only in European countries, but also in Russia due to their beauty, originality and the possibility of their use in the form of dried flowers.

Useful properties of rdesta

The plant contains a large amount of carotenoids, tannins, therefore pdest is an effective bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic agent. Due to the fact that the plant contains ascorbic acid, you can strengthen the immune system.

It has been proven that the herb will help thin the blood, due to the fact that the plant contains flavonoids, pdest is used to treat the pancreas, with the help of it, the level of enzymes in the body can be normalized.

Flower meaning

The name of this extraordinary plant was given by Karl Linnaeus. Fascinated by the variety of shapes and colors, he called it "protea". The flower, the meaning of the name of which the Swedish naturalist connected with the sea god Proteus, who took different forms and appeared either in the form of strange birds and animals, or in the form of water and fire, is striking in its beauty.

Indeed, even in one copy of this plant, you can find leaves, different in color and configuration. Therefore, these exotic representatives of the flora, thanks to their yellow, pink leaves, similar in shape to fancy bowls and starfish and hedgehogs, were associated with Linnaeus with

Types of ruttia for home content and their photos

In total, there are no more than 7 species in this genus, all of them differ in the shades of the inflorescences. Not everyone is grown as a houseplant, but there are those that can decorate a room, since ruttia is not a finicky plant. In addition to home keeping in areas with mild climatic conditions, you can grow this shrub even outdoors.The only thing that should be attentive to it during the wintering period, it is necessary for a perennial, but it may simply not endure our harsh winters. But, we will talk about leaving a little later, but for now, let's still look at the photo of which species are popular among breeders of indoor plants.

The most popular type of ruttia with yellow flowers, in Russia it is the most common indoor flower. Flowers are formed from a black head at the base and petals "ears", as shown in the photo below. It is quite easy to grow such a plant at home and form a neat bush from it by cutting off the cuttings. By the way, this is also done for abundant flowering in the summer. Among other things, yellow ruttia can be grown at home or outdoors as a vine. Some species with yellow flowers may require special support as the stems of the ruttia are very flexible and can sag. As an ornamental plant for the garden, growers often grow pink or white ruttia, which are considered a symbol of tenderness and purity. Most often, such a plant can be seen in flowerpots or on cornices. It is ampelous and will easily complement the interior. But, pink and white ruttia at the moment are very rare plants, their seeds are sold in 2-3 pieces per 1 pack, so you need to be as careful as possible during their cultivation. There is quite a bit of information in Internet sources about this amazing tropical plant for growing at home, but you can often see photos of ruttia with pink, red and white flowers. Although the most popular species at the moment is Ruttia fruticosa, this indoor perennial has bright orange inflorescences, sometimes with a tinge of red.

Types of pond

1. Floating, it is easy to recognize, it has a branched stem. Floating pond is completely immersed in water, the leaves are under water, they are short-peaked. The inflorescence is noticed above the water, may appear in early summer. In autumn, the leaves may turn yellow, completely collapse, while the stem at the bottom begins to take root, so the pond is reborn.

2. The curly look has a tetrahedral, reddish stem, has alternate lanceolate sessile leaves, they can be wavy, small denticles can be seen at the edges. A small number of flowers are collected in an ear, pollination occurs with the help of the wind, the plant can be seen above the water level.

3. Pierced-leaved pondweed belongs to the rhizomatous species of the plant, it is distinguished by branched, long stems. Has rounded leaves, translucent color, their edges are wavy. Flowers are collected in a dense ear. When the shoots break off, they begin to develop anew in the water, so a new plant appears. The leaves are rich in carotene, lutein, and a large amount of neoxanthin, violaxanthin. Dry pond leaves are used in powder form, with the help of it you can heal wounds, burns, skin rashes, fungus.

4. Shiny pond has oval-shaped leaves with shine. Are bright green and wavy. The plant is widespread in running water, it is also found in a reservoir and in a river.

5. The comb pond has a filamentous and branched stem, the leaves are thin. Grows in lakes, ponds, rivers.

It is recommended to collect all types of pondweed throughout the summer. Be sure to wash it under cold water, dry it in a shady place. Store in a cool place.

An exotic with a non-standard appearance and its representatives in garden and room culture

Succulents from the Protein family with a non-standard appearance, water-accumulating leaves and underground organs conquer flower growers all over the world with non-standard flowering. "Spiky", bold-looking heads of inflorescences resemble artichokes, then giant thistles and burdocks, then bottle brushes, but in their colorfulness and exoticism they will more than give odds to any other plant.Proteas are far from easy to grow crops, but they will become the most original touch in the collection of plants, and then will replenish the collection of the most original dried flowers.

Protea (Protea) is a genus of plants of the Protein family. The type species of the genus is Artichoke Protea (Protea cynaroides).

Proteas combine hard oblong-oval (less often linear or needle-shaped) leathery leaves with capitate inflorescences reaching 5 to 30 cm in diameter. The inflorescences are surrounded by a dense wrapper, they do not flaunt with small flowers, but with surprisingly unusual bracts. Conical, with protruding needle-shaped "petals", they are distinguished by the original alternation of colors, and unusual differing forms of bracts and sepals, and sweet nectar, attracting honey plants and hiding inside the "heads".

Proteins are not only diverse - they are inimitably multifaceted. It is no coincidence that this culture even got its name in honor of the son of Poseidon Proteus, who can take any guise. At home, in Australia and Africa, where proteas are found literally at every step, these plants can really boast of an extraordinary variety. In our country, proteas are represented by a much more modest number of species.

Protea artichoke (Protea cynaroides).

The main representative of proteas in our climate is the artichoke protea (Protea cynaroides). Its inflorescences reach 30 cm in diameter. The capitate inflorescences are not only large, but also spectacular. They are made variegated by the original wrappers of the bracts, painted in different tones. At home, this protea is known under the name "pot of honey": its nectar is used as a unique healing remedy for coughs. White, pink, orange, yellow, lilac tones of colors in Protea are sometimes combined in the most variegated variations.

Protea creeping (Protea repens).

Also, occasionally you can find on sale:

large-headed protea (Protea coronata, formerly known as macrocephala) with bright large heads decorated with peculiar stripes of wrappers;
creeping protea (Protea repens) with lying shoots, smaller foliage and smaller "prickly" balls of inflorescences.

Protea large-headed (Protea coronata).

Application of pdesta

In ancient times, Arab doctors used the leaves to treat diseases of the stomach and intestines. Rdest is harvested at the beginning of summer or at the end. Preparations based on rdesta are recommended for use as an external agent for the treatment of malignant tumors, furunculosis, abscess, ulcers. It can help relieve itching from the skin. It is recommended to take the infusion inside, for cooking you need leaves and stems, with the help of it you can get rid of diarrhea. Take dry grass - a tablespoon, pour 300 ml of boiling water, leave for up to two hours. Take three times a day.

This type of aquatic plant is used as food for fish, mollusc, insects. After the shoots die off, settle at the bottom of the reservoirs, it begins to turn into silt.

The herb has a healing effect, with the help of it you can anesthetize dislocation, fracture, sprain. If, with rheumatism, arthritis, severe pain is disturbed, you need to moisten a gauze bandage in a previously prepared broth and apply to the affected area.

An infusion based on the leaves will help to cure intestinal disorders, for its preparation you need dry, pre-crushed grass - 10 grams, water - 300 ml, leave for two hours. Consume no more than 25 grams. With diarrhea, it is recommended to use a decoction three times a day, for it you will need 4 grams of grass, 150 ml of water, boil everything and insist for up to 4 hours.

The form

To create a non-trivial form, you should play with an exotic type of protea.

The powerful woody stem allows you to create a magnificent scepter-like composition. Even a single flower looks interesting, since it is comparable in size to a small bouquet from something more traditional.

A cascade is also possible. In this case, the protea is placed on top, like a crown, and below in a waterfall of winding foliage, the rest of the composition is hidden.

The round shape also looks fabulous whether you leave the top flat or hemispherical.

Advice! Protea is an expensive plant, so in order not to spoil a single bud, it is better to entrust the preparation of the floral composition to a professional.

If you decide to create a bouquet yourself, then it is worth remembering some points:

When trimming the stems, be sure to use a pruner. A knife or scissors will dull at best, and at worst break on thick stems;
Remove all but the topmost leaves, and trim the stems from the bottom, literally by a centimeter;
Store the bouquet in a warm and well-lit place both before and after the holiday., while the height of the water in the vase should not exceed 2 cm. It is better to change the water every day - then the protea is guaranteed to stand for about a month;
If you want to leave the protea as a dried flower, then it is better to dry it by hanging it with the inflorescence down, otherwise the petals may deform. The flower dries about 3 weeks. Keep in mind that the shade of the dried flower will become significantly darker than that of the fresh plant.

Which brides are suitable for?

An exotic flower looks exclusive, so it looks rather strange at an ordinary classic wedding. But if you add original details that go beyond the stereotypes, then the plant will fit into both the classic bouquet and the general floristry of the hall, since the buds are very hardy to any conditions. It is even better to use Protea at themed weddings - boho, rustic, gypsy, Hawaiian, fabulous.

First of all, the flower is suitable for a self-confident extraordinary girl who lacks ordinary beauty, who is looking for the best, unique and suitable for her. The flower perfectly emphasizes the strength and fragility of the bride, her delicate taste. A huge palette of shades allows you to choose the right bud for any color type.

As for the wedding season, the protea, due to the peculiarities of the place of growth, is distinguished by ideal endurance. It does not need a lot of moisture and can do without it for several days without any particular problems. At the same time, a hot summer wedding and a frosty winter celebration will not spoil the beauty of the petals in any way. You can touch the bouquet without fear with your hands, but you should still be careful when throwing it to your friends, because the hard leaves that have fallen from a height will almost certainly break.

Tips for self-propagation "moonstone"

To obtain a young plant, cuttings, lateral cuttings and seed material can be used. The whole procedure is carried out in the spring and summer.

For rooting, choose the tops of the stems with leaves 5–7 cm long. They must be carefully separated from the stem and must be dried well beforehand for a week. This is due to the fact that the cut parts of the plant contain a very large amount of moisture and if parts of the pachyphytum are planted without drying, then the cuttings can rot. After the liquid ceases to ooze, the leaves are placed on the sand-peat mixture, practically without deepening. They are installed next to the supports or the edge of the container so that they are always in an upright position. The soil is lightly sprayed during the entire period of rooting. As soon as the stems show signs that the plant has begun to grow, the young succulents are transplanted into separate pots with a substrate that is suitable for the growth of adult plants. Plants are placed in a place with diffused illumination and are looked after, as well as for adult pachyphytums. It is important to remember that plants should never be covered with a film or glass vessel during the formation of roots, since high humidity will provoke further decay.

If a decision was made to propagate pachyphytum with the help of seeds, it must be remembered that this method is very unreliable, since the germination rate of seed is rather low. With the arrival of spring time, the seeds should be placed in the soil and withstand heat indicators of 22 degrees. The soil mixture is made up of coarse-grain sand and leafy soil, taken in equal volumes. The substrate is slightly sprayed and seeds are placed on its surface. After that, the container with the crops is covered with a plastic bag or a piece of glass. The container should be ventilated regularly, daily and the soil should be lightly sprayed. As soon as the first shoots appear, the film or glass is removed, and the plants are periodically sprayed from a fine spray bottle. As soon as the steams get stronger, they can be planted in separate containers with soil suitable for further growth. Care is provided as for adult specimens.

Types of pachyphytum

Pachyphytum oviferous (Pachyphytum oviferum).

Pachyphytum bracts (Pachyphytum bracteosum).

The place of growth is Mexican territories. The plant, which has lived for many years, has an erect stem with a height of 30 cm. It can grow up to 2 cm across and along its entire length it differs in scars from fallen old leaves. At the top, a rosette is formed, made up of obovate leaf plates. If the plant is adult, then the length of the leaf is measured by ten centimeters at 5 cm in width, and a centimeter thick. The shape of the leaf blades is somewhat flattened. Their surface is covered with a strong waxy bloom, if the sun's rays illuminate the plant for a long time, then the bloom acquires a pinkish tone. The flowering process extends to late summer, early autumn. A long 40 cm peduncle is pulled out of the leaf sinuses. Blossoming occurs in small bell flowers, in which the petals are painted in a red tint.

Compact pachyphytum (Pachyphytum compactum).

It is also called Dense Pachyphytum. Mostly found near Hidalgo in Mexico. The stem of this species extends only 10 cm in height. Leaf plates grow evenly on it. They cast a whitish-grayish color or light green tint. Their length reaches 4 cm, they are distinguished by a pointed top and a small cut. The entire surface seems to be covered with a marble coating. A long peduncle, reaching 40 centimeters in height, is covered with about a dozen bell-shaped flowers. The color is notable for its beauty - a pinkish background with yellow tints, a pale greenish kayomka goes from the edge of the petals.

Pachyphytum light purple (Pachyphytum amethystinum).
The stems of this succulent species are shortened. Leaf plates measure 6–7 cm long and only 3 cm wide. Their shape is rounded or obovate, but in their cross-section they resemble a rectangle. The color of the leaves is grayish with green, but there is a lilac bloom. The flowers are very small in size, painted in a dark pink shade, there is no smell.

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For more interesting and informative about pachyphytum, see here:

Botanical description of ruttia and photos of the species of these evergreens

Evergreen shrubs of some species have been discovered in African countries, where they grow as flowering evergreens. For gardeners, ruttia is attractive not only for its beautiful appearance, but also for the variety of shades of inflorescences, which can be pink, red, white or yellow, as shown in the photo below. Let's first read the botanical description of ruttia and see a photo of its species:

An exotic houseplant in the tropics can reach 2-3 meters, at home it rarely exceeds 1.5 meters in length. Quite often, ruttia can be grown as an ampelous indoor flower, and taken out into the garden in the summer. Rutic stems are very flexible, often creeping, semi-lignified. Leaves with a glossy smooth surface are located on them. But, as gardeners notice, alternately located ovoid leaves are found only on less thin shoots extending from more elastic stems, as shown in the photo below. The stems are often so flexible that ruttia at home can be grown at home, running along a string as a vine.

Ruttia flowers are very original and have an irregular and unusual shape, remotely resembling the head of a hare or rabbit. The beautiful bloom can be observed all year round. It can be yellow, pink, white and red inflorescences. A black head is formed at the base of the flower, and the petals are upturned to form "hare ears". After the ruttia fades, a two-celled capsule is formed, the seeds from which spill out through the cracks that form over time.

In general, this houseplant is rather unknown in Russia, so if you want to surprise your household and neighbors, you can safely start one of the popular species. In addition, none of the species are finicky in nature. And flowers of various colors and shapes look quite decent in a room interior. Let's talk about them further and see their photos.

Composition ideas

Protea looks great on its own, in one large exotic flower. To give the flower freshness, it is enough to add a few large leaves or fluffy flowers - peonies, roses, hydrangea. But remember: if the protea will withstand any blows of bad weather, then you should be careful with the rest of the plants.

An exotic flower already looks unusual in itself, so a good option is to add other unusual companions to it, for example, powdery, as if dusty succulents.
Such a composition will perfectly fit into a loft or modern wedding.
Idea! If you like bright colors, then dilute the ensemble with echinacea or scabiosa.

A more gentle, romantic mood can be created by surrounding a large pastel royal protea with roses or peonies of the same shade.

Protea in flower collections and floristry

Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens

, located near Cape Town, has the most extensive collection of these amazing plants in the wild.

Protea can be found in the wild on the African continent, south of the Limpopo River. African rose is common in India, Australia, Hawaii. It is from these countries that the tradition came to us to decorate a wedding bouquet with these flowers.

The exotic beauty was brought to Europe in the 19th century, where it became widespread in private collections of connoisseurs of unique flora.

In the northern countries, the African rose is grown on an industrial scale, in closed greenhouses. The beautiful flower is widely used in modern floristry.

The pineal buds can be used to create a masculine composition, delicate flowers traditionally complement the exquisite bridal bouquet.

In the homeland of his plant nectar is used for food, and medicinal properties are attributed to it

... It is quite possible, because not only insects, but also local birds like to feast on the nectar of large flowers.

Artichoke protea is gaining popularity in indoor floriculture

... You can grow it on your own window from seeds, or buy an adult plant.

Flower Shop - Protea:

Diy Protea breeding description

In order to get another plant of African exotic, it is recommended to sow seeds or carry out cuttings.
It is recommended to sow Protea seed from the end of winter days to the end of April. It is necessary that the difference between the temperatures of day and night is no less than 12 degrees. Before sowing, the seeds must be soaked in warm water (about 38-40 degrees) for a day. There is also added a little wood ash for disinfection, at the rate of 100-150 grams of water 3 teaspoons of the drug. Before that, the seeds can be kept for 7 days in moistened sand on the lower shelf of the refrigerator (at a temperature of about 5 degrees), this is how stratification takes place.

For planting, you need soil with high acidity, for example, a substrate for azaleas, with the addition of river sand and perlite there. The soil is poured into a wide and not deep bowl, at the bottom of which a layer of expanded clay is laid (this will protect the plants from waterlogging). Drying is not as bad as filling the soil. The seeds are placed at a depth of twice the size of the seed itself. Then the crops are watered gently with warm soft water or sprayed from a spray bottle. The container is covered with a plastic bag or placed under glass - conditions for a mini-greenhouse are created. The germination temperature should be 20-25 degrees. It is required to regularly raise the glass or remove the shelter for ventilation and water the soil as it dries. After a month, you can see the first shoots.

When a pair of real leaves unfolds, the shelter is removed, and the pot with seedlings is placed in the brightest place, but protected from direct streams of sunlight. Fortified young proteas can be transplanted in separate pots with suitable soil. When leaving, the soil is only slightly moistened, since the sprouts can quickly rot from waterlogging. Bottom watering is often carried out. The growth of seedlings is rather slow - only 2 cm in height in a month, but with the arrival of summer, the intensity will slightly increase. The plant obtained in this way will bloom for 5-6 years. If it is noticed that the leaves have begun to change their color to yellowish, then watering with acidified water will be required.

When grafting, cuttings of twigs with a length of about 10 cm are used.They are planted in soil similar to seed propagation, or take a peat-sand mixture, cover the pot with a glass vessel or a cut plastic bottle (you can wrap it in a plastic bag).

Protea use in floriculture

Protea is one of the most original plants for winter bouquets. When the inflorescences are dried, the protea heads retain their shape well and practically do not change color. They can be considered as one of the exotic dried flowers with a long shelf life.

Protea looks great in live bouquets. With frequent water changes and good lighting, its inflorescences can last longer than any other flower. Today this plant is recognized as one of the most fashionable for wedding bouquets. The undoubted advantage of the protea is the ability to compose compositions intended as a gift for men.

Photo

Large and bright buds of protea are a great addition to a lush "disheveled" boho-style wedding bouquet or a classic bridal bouquet of roses, and blossoming flowers - pale pink, burgundy and even greenish shades - will become a special accent of luxurious flower arrangements... For example, as in the photo:

African rose

In chapter Houseplants on the question of how to care for the cut protea? how long does a cut protea cost? given by the author Catherine the best answer is Cutting resistance: high (more than 2 weeks) 1. Almost all leaves are removed from protea stems; - only pure water is used; -It is recommended to add a special feeding for Protea to the water; -Do not use chlorine (tap water is not good). 2. Resistance of Protea in cut is not surprising: in the wild, this plant of arid plains is able to extract moisture from great depths and accumulate it until the rainy season. That is why it is necessary to monitor the water level in the vase where the protea stands: she can "drink" all the water, leaving other flowers in the bouquet without life-giving moisture. P.S. The excellent preservation of the dried proteas (strong stem, shape and persistent color) allows them to be widely used not only in living, but also in dry bouquets.

Answer from Lapo4ka[guru] Proteus

The representatives of the Proteaceae family can only be admired. Almost 400 species, and all excellent beauties, but so different that the great taxonomist Karl Linnaeus remembered the sea god Proteus, who could, at will, take on a different appearance.

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So are the proteas: some look like a bright pot filled with sweet nectar, others like a silvery tree, and others like leathery pin pads. The first peak of fashion for proteas was observed in the 19th century; they were grown at the courts of kings and nobles. Now fashion is back, and if you want to keep up with it, take a closer look at Proteas. It is difficult to grow them, but it is possible.

For my birthday, my friends gave me a gorgeous bouquet. All the flowers were nice, but one just shook the imagination - imagine an orange brush used to wash bottles, or a huge painted thistle. In addition, the flower turned out to be a dried flower and stood with me all winter.

The curiosity was called the artichoke protea - this is the most famous of the proteas. I was not too lazy to measure the diameter of the flower. 30 cm, but how bright! It turns out that with such paints the plant attracts the attention of birds, bats, which pollinate its flowers. And inside these exotic flowers, sweet nectar.

What a miracle of nature! Of course, I wanted to have such a flower at home, but it is not so easy to grow it, the plant is capricious. For indoor culture, excellent Protea, or duchess, is best suited. It looks like an evergreen bush, the leaves are heart-shaped, and the flowers are large, red-pink or pink.

She looked after the plant carefully: proteas are very demanding on lighting, ventilation and humidity. In their homeland, the climate is arid, so all plant organs are adapted to retain moisture: both leathery leaves and a dried flower. I keep the soil a little moist all the time, but do not fill it. In winter, at rest, I limit watering.

As for the temperature, I adhere to the rule: in summer not lower than 20 °, in winter 8-10 °, although protea can withstand short-term cooling down to -2. Grows on a sunny window, shade with a curtain. I still can't boast that I admired the flowering of my protea, but it grows, does not get sick.

• Artichoke protea (P. cynaroides).

Large capitate inflorescences are surrounded by bright wrappers. It is not for nothing that they call her the protea-king. Another name is a pot of honey, because its large inflorescences are filled with sweet nectar.

• Thistle protea (P. scolymocephala) - one of the rare endangered species of proteas, grows in a compact neat bush. This plant is unusual: in the event of a fire, when all the vegetation in the area burns out, the seeds in the inflorescence remain viable and germinate on the bare ground after rainy seasons.

• Large-headed protea (P. macrocephala).

The wrappers of the inflorescences of this protea form a kind of bowls, from which the birds extract nectar with the help of a long beak. Birds nest here, in the protea bushes, using old flowers and leaves of the protea wrapper to build nests.

Protea is ideal for creating dry bouquets and collage paintings. She gives them originality and exoticism. Almost all types of proteas dry well, they are perfectly preserved in a dried form: the stem holds strength, the flower does not lose its shape, and the color does not fade over time.

A cut protea flower needs fresh air, not too low temperatures and a change of water every two days. Protea flower looks great in a man's bouquet, which is traditionally performed in a rather strict and restrained manner.

1. Almost all leaves are removed from the protea stems; - only pure water is used; -It is recommended to add a special feeding for Protea to the water; -Do not use chlorine (tap water is not good).

2. Resistance of Protea in cut is not surprising: in the wild, this plant of arid plains is able to extract moisture from great depths and accumulate it until the rainy season. That is why it is necessary to monitor the water level in the vase where the protea stands: she can "drink" all the water, leaving other flowers in the bouquet without life-giving moisture.

Symbolism

The original interpretation of the African flower is courage and power. There are about 400 varieties of plants with a wide variety of buds, large or small, needle-like or more rounded, but the vast majority of the species, in particular, the most popular royal protea visually resemble a crown or royal scepter.Interesting! The teeth of the crown are not actually petals. These are very dense, brightly colored leaves, resistant to any touch.
The name of the flower comes from the name of the ancient Greek god Proteus, famous for his ability to change appearance. The meaning of a wedding flower can be read as a willingness to accept any problems and solve them with honor, staying close to your soul mate, back to back or shoulder to shoulder.

When decoding the meaning of the floristic composition, the color is also taken into account:

white proteas talk about innocence, purity and the beginning of a new life;
pink - about romantic love, boundless tenderness and respect for each other;
red - a symbol of passion, impossible mutual attraction;
yellow symbolize well-being at all levels, from material to spiritual happiness and kinship;
orange proteas mean unrestrained joy;
blue - nobility, especially if you pick up a look that looks like a crown;
purple symbolize the mystery and creative nature of the bride.

Recommendations for the care of pachyphytum in indoor conditions

Lighting and location of the succulent.

The temperature of the pachyphytum content.

Although the plant is native to arid regions, it will be able to tolerate very hot heat readings painlessly, but oddly enough, it likes moderate temperatures more. Thermometer readings in summer should not go beyond 20-25 degrees Celsius. But if the thermometer has exceeded the permissible maximum, then it is necessary to ventilate the room and increase the air humidity. In winter, the so-called "rest time" or "rest period" begins, during which it is best for the succulent to withstand lower rates, for example, 15 degrees Celsius. If the thermometer drops to 10 degrees, the pachyphytum will begin to shed its leaves and may simply freeze. As soon as the spring temperatures allow (the main thing is that the night does not fall and there are no changes in the heat of the day and night), the plant is taken out into the fresh air - in the garden, on the balcony or terrace. If this is not possible, then the room where the plant grows must be often ventilated.

Air humidity

when growing "moonstone". This indicator does not play a role at all in the maintenance of pachyphytum in the house, since it firmly tolerates the dry air of human premises. It is important that, even when humidifying the air, drops of moisture do not fall on the leaf plates of the succulent. Spraying and shower procedures are not recommended, as you can accidentally break off plump leaves or wash off the wax coating. All this will not enhance the decorative appearance of the plant.

Watering for the succulent.

Pachyphytum does not require abundant soil moisture, it is necessary to focus on it for irrigation. The soil must necessarily dry well between waterings (by almost a third of the volume). With the arrival of April and until the end of summer, it is recommended to moisten the pachyphytum once a week, in March and October it is watered only once a month, at other times the soil in the pot does not require moistening. Moisture, which is glass when watering into the pallet, must be removed immediately. Flooding a plant is extremely dangerous, since not only the roots begin to rot, but also the stems and leaves, oversaturated with moisture.

Top dressing.

As soon as the plant begins its active growth (from April to mid-autumn) fertilization is carried out into the soil - you can limit yourself to only 3-4 times. Fertilizers are suitable for cacti, where there is a mineral complex with a minimum nitrogen content. Top dressing must be chosen containing potassium. The dosage indicated on the pack can be slightly reduced.

Recommendations for changing the substrate and replanting.
The plant will require a transplant if its root system develops so much that it will master the entire earthen lump. It is best to start changing containers or soil when the pachyphytum is still dormant, that is, in the month of April. You can, of course, change the soil and pot annually, while the succulent is still small enough. At the bottom of the container, holes are made for the outflow of not absorbed moisture, and powerful and high-quality drainage is placed in the pot (broken brick or expanded clay, pebbles).

The soil for the change must be neutral or slightly acidic, have a low nutritional value and have sufficient looseness and air and water permeability. You can use ready-made commercial soil for cacti and succulents. Also, the preparation of the soil mixture is carried out independently from the following components:

soil for cacti, river coarse sand, fine gravel (proportions are maintained at 3: 1: 1);
clay-sod soil for indoor plants (or soilless soil) is mixed with a third of its volume with sand or gravel;
coarse sand, sod, leafy soil (humus), peat soil (in accordance with 3: 2: 2: 2), with the addition of broken bricks into crumbs.

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The plant must be touched as little as possible with your hands, as this leaves traces on the leaf plates.

Plant varieties

Currently, more than 400 species of protea are known. They all differ in size and shape of flowers and leaves. The most common are the following shrub varieties:

Protea royal or artichoke. A tree-like shrub with thick shoots. Leaves are hard, dense. The flowers are capitate. The outer shell looks like a crown. The petals can be white, lilac or pink. The flower has an original appearance. The inflorescence resembles a pot of honey, filled with nectar and attracting insects. Some small birds build nests inside dried flowers. After flowering, nuts ripen on the plant, covered with fine pubescence. Outwardly, they look like artichokes, thanks to which this variety got its name.
Protea large-headed. A shrub-shaped plant with thick, sturdy stems covered with tough bark. The elliptical leaves are colored deep green. The leaf plate is smooth, covered with veins on the outside.During the flowering period, large inflorescences are formed with stipules of a bright red-orange color.
Protea creeping. A distinctive feature of this variety are long creeping shoots, abundantly covered with small leaves. The leaves are slightly elongated and bluish-green in color. The flowers are small, collected in inflorescences-shields. Bracts are formed by pointed yellowish-cherry petals, which resemble thorns from a distance. The main condition for the maintenance of this type of protea is acidic sandy or gravel soils, since in the wild it grows on rocky slopes.
Protea oleandroliferous. It is a very large ornamental shrub with long flowering. The inflorescences are rather large, colored cream, greenish, pink or burgundy. It is very often used to decorate personal plots.
Proteus excellent or excellent. Tall, spreading plant. Leaves are elongated, heart-shaped, grayish-green or bluish hue. During the flowering period, the shrub is covered with large round inflorescences, formed by flowers of a rich crimson color. Over time, their color changes to a pale pink near the base. The variety is resistant to frost up to -5 °.
Protea is exceptional. Under natural conditions, the height of the bush can reach 5 meters. Stems are straight or creeping. The flowers are large, with long, scapular-like petals.

Flowers: main varieties and their names

Curious facts about protea

Cut flowers protea perfectly withstand up to 2-3 weeks. If the color of the inflorescence is white, then it is used to form a wedding bouquet. However, florists believe that protea is a purely masculine flower, intended as a gift to people endowed with self-confidence. If a bouquet of protea flowers is in the room, then constant ventilation is required. When the inflorescence fades, it is recommended to cut it 5 cm from the stipules.
Since birds love to settle in inflorescences, which worship Protea because of its nectariness, by building their nests, birds help the plant to reproduce in natural conditions, as they scatter seeds around the area.

The famous botanist and flora taxonomist Karl Linnaeus named Protea in honor of Proteus, the Greek sea deity. Since the shape and color of flowers and leaves of the plant is quite diverse, and Proteus had the ability to change his appearance at will, this pushed the scientist to an analogy with a changeable species of exotic.

Since most of the Proteus species are found in the Cape Province (south of the African continent), it is no wonder that the flower of this plant has become the national symbol of South Africa.

Pests and diseases

This plant does not have a tendency to private diseases, and can only be affected by late blight fungi (brown rot), which fungicide chemicals will help to overcome.

Also, the African rose often suffers from diseases caused by a lack of chlorophyll. This happens when the wrong water is selected for irrigation.

Also, the possibility of aphid damage is not excluded, which can be eliminated by manually removing it. However, a more effective way would be treatment with a preparation designed to kill harmful insects - an insecticide.

All the beauty and grace of a plant cannot be described in a few words, just by seeing a photo of a flower. Protea evokes different emotions for every lover and admirer of flora. Surely you will have an irresistible desire to grow this magnificent creature, pleasing everyone around.

Care

After about 5-7 weeks, the seeds will germinate, and when two small leaves appear, the shelter is removed and the pot is placed in a place where there is a lot of sunlight. Now that your protea flower has sprouted, how to care for it?

The main thing is not to overmoisten it, as this can lead to the death of immature seedlings.Water should be used only settled and slightly acidified. Proteus does not need fertilizers.

Now, having provided the flower with light and airing the room, you need to wait until it grows up, and this happens rather slowly.

Growing a protea flower is a long and laborious process. But those who show enough patience will end up with beautiful flowers from the African rose. A protea flower grown from seeds at home will begin to bloom in 5-6 years.

Protea flower belongs to the huge family of Proteaceae, which has more than 1400 species that grow in the tropics and subtropics.
In its homeland, South Africa, Protea is considered one of the most beautiful and beloved plants. It is no coincidence that one of its magnificent species, the royal protea, was chosen as the symbol of South Africa.

The meaning of the flower The name of this extraordinary plant was given by Karl Linnaeus. Fascinated by the variety of shapes and colors, he called it "protea". The flower, the meaning of the name of which the Swedish naturalist associated with the name of the ancient Greek sea god Proteus, who took different forms and appeared in the form of strange birds and animals, then in the form of water and fire, is striking in its beauty.

Indeed, even in one copy of this plant, you can find leaves, different in color and configuration. Therefore, these exotic representatives of the flora, thanks to their leaves of yellow, pink, lilac color, similar in shape to fancy bowls and starfish and hedgehogs, Linnaeus associated with the son of Poseidon.

Features of Protea Since the natural conditions in which the Protea flower lives are rather severe - the monsoon climate, depleted soil and frequent droughts - this was reflected in the appearance of the plant. All Proteaceae, both small trees and shrubs, have leathery or needle-like leaves. It is common for them to form fairly large groups. Thus, they are protected from strong winds, and the shade allows the soil not to overheat, retaining moisture, because it is worth its weight in gold here. This is why many species have special underground stem organs capable of storing and holding moisture.

The main features of the protea are exotic, chic flowers, distinguished by the brightness of the colors, and the diameter of some of them reaches 30 cm. Some species of protea The protea flower, whatever species it belongs to, always arouses admiration. However, there are some species that truly amaze with their exotic beauty.

Artichoke protea is deservedly considered the most spectacular specimen. Thanks to the very large inflorescences, dressed in bright leaf wrappers, the locals call it "the protea-king", and since the flowers are filled with sweet nectar, another name was stuck behind it - "pot of honey".

Protea large-headed differs in that the wrappers of its leaves form inflorescences similar to large bowls. Moreover, it is surprising that this type of protea is pollinated by the so-called sugar bird, which feasts on the nectar of a flower.

Protea "Blackbeard" has a very rare color, which is reflected in its name. Inflorescences of a white-pink shade are framed by a black-purple edging, which looks like a real "beard".

Cultivation In South Africa and Australia, proteas are successfully grown in gardens and used to decorate parks. But the climate of the Northern Hemisphere is not suitable for growing Proteas outdoors. They can be found here only in greenhouses and botanical gardens. Nevertheless, now our lovers of exotic plants are engaged in these flowers.

It is difficult to grow proteas at home, since they must be provided with comfortable conditions, namely: an abundance of sunlight; light on cloudy days; well ventilated area; air temperature in summer is not lower than + 25 ° С (+ 5 ° С is allowed in winter).

Proteus flower propagates by seeds, and stratification is recommended for good germination: the flowers are placed in wet sand and kept in the refrigerator for several weeks. Before sowing, the seeds are placed in warm water for a day.

For planting, ready-made soil is suitable, which is used for azaleas. If you add sand and perlite to it, then this will only benefit the protea.

Pots should be wide and not very deep. It is advisable to place expanded clay at the bottom, and pour soil on top. The planting depth of seeds should be 2 times their size. The planted seeds are watered with boiled water and covered with polyethylene film or glass. The shelter must be periodically removed for ventilation.

Leaving After about 5-7 weeks, the seeds will germinate, and when two small leaves appear, the shelter is removed and the pot is placed in a place where there is a lot of sunlight. Now that your protea flower has sprouted, how to care for it?

The main thing is not to overmoisten it, as this can lead to the death of immature seedlings. Water should be used only settled and slightly acidified. Proteus does not need fertilizers. Now, having provided the flower with light and airing the room, you need to wait until it grows up, and this happens rather slowly.

Growing a protea flower is a long and laborious process. But for those with enough patience, this exotic African rose will end up with beautiful flowers.

A protea flower grown from seed at home will begin to bloom in 5-6 years.

Pachyphytum: description, types, cultivation

Pachyphytum (Pachyphytum) is a member of the Crassulaceae family, which also includes about 10 species of succulent plants - representatives of the flora that can accumulate moisture in their stems or leaf plates and with its help survive dry periods. Basically, all plants of this genus have chosen arid Mexican and South American regions as their homeland. The pachyphytum got its name due to the fusion of two words of the Latin language - thick means "pachys", and the leaf sounds like "phyton". And it turns out a thick-leaved succulent. But all types of this plant differ in the general properties listed below.

This plant is a perennial, which is practically devoid of a stem, it can crawl on the surface of the earth or be lodging and stretch to a length of 15 to 50 cm (only rare species reach half a meter in height). The leaves are mainly located at the tips of the shoots. When the plant grows long enough, the leaves begin to fall off from the bottom of the stems and a small notch remains in their place.

The leaf plates have the shape of an inverted egg of an elongated appearance, and sometimes they can differ in pointed tops, their length fluctuates about 4 cm.The color is quite interesting - grayish-whitish or greenish, whitish-blue. Because of this, pachyphytum bears several more synonyms for the name "moonstone" or "candied almonds" - the white bloom on the leaves is associated with powdered sugar, which is covered with oriental sweets. Because of this, the leaves seem to be of a silvery tint. Usually, the leaves of the plant create a dense rosette, and sometimes their appearance is very similar to a bunch of grapes. The nodes between the leaves are very short and they are arranged in a spiral order with such density that they give the impression of a whorled structure. There may be a waxy coating on the surface.

Related article: Cold gentian - useful properties, description

As soon as the time comes to bloom, the plant begins to stretch out a flowering stem with a length of about 20–40 cm, which originates from the axils of the leaves located at the top of the shoots. Inflorescences are collected from a small number of buds, in the form of spikelets. Flowers have a bell-shaped appearance, they seem to droop down, measured in a centimeter diameter. Each bud has five petals, which are colored in shades of white, pinkish or red.Sepals have the same fleshiness as the leaves and the same "waxy" bloom. After the flowering process, the pachyphytum forms pod-shaped fruits.

This plant is often used for joint cultivation next to cacti. Pachyphytum rosettes on colored pebbles look very impressive. Its growth rate is low, during the season the stems are extended by several centimeters. It is quite easy to grow this succulent, it is only important not to violate some conditions for the successful growth of an exotic "moonstone".

Description of rdesta

Flowers gather in spikelets, they can be seen on the water. The fruit of the pond is a nut, a drupe. The stem of the plant is lanceolate, longitudinal and cord-shaped. Likes to grow in a body of water where the water is stagnant or flows slowly. Not afraid of low air temperatures and shady places. Some plants are specially bred at home.

The plant contains a large amount of lime, so it is often used as a fertilizer. On the pond, you can often see caviar, which is laid by mollusks and fish. Some varieties like to use muskrats, beavers, birds. Please note that if a large amount of pondweed grows in the reservoir, this will lead to the fact that it becomes covered with silt, then overgrows. Therefore, it is regularly necessary to cleanse the reservoirs from the plant.

Some plant species prefer to grow in shallow, flowing and stagnant waters. A pond can overwinter at the bottom of a reservoir, it does not need to be specially covered, it normally remains at a low temperature. Propagated in spring using cuttings in late spring, early summer. Also with the help of root cuttings, by seed method. It is necessary to collect the seeds when they have already completely separated from the plant, then mix them with clay, lower them into the necessary reservoirs.

Protea cynaroides - Artichoke protea

Description Reviews Images

Protea, "African rose" is a compact evergreen shrub with stunning bizarre flowers up to 25 cm in diameter, growing in nature up to 3 m in height, of the Protein family. A native of Proteus from South Africa. Grows in sandy and rocky areas up to 600 m above sea level.
Artichoke protea (Protea cynaroides) is the national flower of South Africa. The size of the flower is up to 30 cm in diameter! On the outside, it has many narrow, rigid and pointed bracts, or petals. The lower half of the petals are cream or yellow, turning into pink or velvety red on the upper half. Inside, many white stamens 3-5 cm long, inclining towards the center. The leaves are thick and tough, with a rounded appearance. Since the flowers of this species are distinguished by high nectar content, in places of natural distribution it is called "a pot of honey".
In the 19th century, Proteaceae were very popular in Europe: they were grown in the winter gardens of kings and in the homes of the nobility. The London merchant Georg Hibbert, whose name was later named to a new genus of Proteaceae from New Zealand, Hibbertia, collected in his garden a collection of 150 species of Proteaceae!
CARE
Lighting. Bright sun with direct rays. Optimal side: south, southeast or southwest. In summer, it is recommended to take it out into the open air, slightly shading from the scorching sun.
Temperature. In winter, they are kept at a temperature of + 8-12 ° C. Withstands short-term frosts up to -2ºС.
Watering. Moderate and careful, adding a little citric acid or juice to the water. The earth is kept slightly damp. In winter, during dormancy, watering is limited, but the substrate should not dry out completely.
Humidity. Does not need spraying.
The soil. Poor and acidic, PH 5.5-5.0, suitable soil for Azalea or Gardenia with the addition of river sand and vermiculite (up to 30%).
Transfer. The transfer container should not be taken deep. Lay the drainage in a thick layer on the bottom of the container. The transplant is carried out annually in early spring.
Fertilizers.Proteus is not fed, it is especially sensitive to phosphorus. It receives all the nutrients from the soil, therefore it is recommended to replant the plant annually.
Pruning. After flowering, shortening the shoots by 10-12 cm.
Bloom. Protea grown from seeds blooms in the 3rd year of life. Bloom lasts from April to August.
SOWING SEEDS
Soak the seeds for 12 hours in warm water with the addition of stimulants (HB-101, Zircon, Ribav-Extra Epin, etc.). Sow in light, breathable, acidic and moist soil (PH 5.5-5.0), deepening by 1 cm, and spread the seeds horizontally. The soil is suitable for Gardenias or Azaleas with the addition (up to 30%) of inert leavening agents: perlite, vermiculite, river sand, etc. The container with crops is covered with foil, small ventilation holes are made and placed on cold stratification for 6-8 weeks at a temperature of + 4-5 ° C (the lower shelf of the refrigerator will do). Then the seeds are germinated in the light at a temperature not lower than + 23 ° C. Watch for constant soil moisture. The first shoots appear from 2 weeks to 3 months after stratification. Seedlings dive in the phase of 3-4 true leaves.
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Protea is an evergreen shrub with long shoots and unusual flowers that resemble ocean dwellers. The plant got its name in honor of the sea god Proteus, who can change his appearance. Under natural conditions, the shrub grows in southern Africa - it is no coincidence that it is a symbol of South Africa. The flower was first described by the botanist Carl Linnaeus, who noted the various forms of flowers and leaves.

Problems in the cultivation of pachyphytum

This plant is practically not interested in pests, only occasionally a mealybug defeat can occur. In the axils of the leaf plates, a whitish bloom appears, resembling pieces of cotton wool. It can be carefully removed with a cotton swab wrapped around a match and moistened with any alcohol solution (for example, a pharmacy calendula tincture). To combat the pest, treatments with modern insecticides are also used.

Most of the problems in the cultivation of pachyphytum occur due to violations of irrigation regimes and high environmental humidity. If the leaf plates began to deform, wrinkle or fade, then this indicates too much drying of the earth in the flowerpot. If the temperature is lowered, and the plant is very moisturized, then this can lead to rotting of the succulent root system. When the shoots began to stretch ugly, and the leaf plates are rarely located or their size is smaller and the color shade turns pale, then it is necessary to transfer the pachyphytum pot to a more illuminated place.

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