Pachystachys

Family. Acanthaceae.

Homeland of the plant. Tropical regions of South America and the Caribbean.

Description. The genus Pachystachys consists of tropical evergreen shrubs or subshrubs, consisting of 13 plant species.

The stems are erect, branched, and become woody with age.

The leaves are dark green, spear-shaped, up to 15 cm long, arranged oppositely. Some varieties have leaves with white veins. The leaf blades have slightly wavy edges.

The flowers have a long floral tube, are white, open sequentially from bottom to top, are short-lived and are not of particular interest.

The main attractiveness of the plant is given by the brightly colored bracts  of yellow, pink or red.

Height. Without pruning it can reach 90 cm.

Care at home

Reproduction 

Propagated by apical cuttings 8 to 10 cm long, taken during pruning.

1. The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings.
2. Dip the base of the cuttings into rooting powder.
3. Young plants are covered with glass to maintain humidity and kept warm - at a temperature of about 21 ° C.
4. Rooting occurs quite easily, within 1 - 1.5 months. 

Rarely reproduces by seeds.

How to care, pruning 

Stems that are too long or weak must be pruned.  Regular pruning helps regulate the height of the plant; without it, the pachystachys becomes elongated and untidy. 

The tops of young shoots are regularly pinched so that the bush branches abundantly and looks thicker.

In late spring and summer, if possible, place the flower pot outdoors in a place protected from wind and rain, such as a terrace or balcony.

When bloom? 

From late spring to autumn, flowering is very long.

Diseases and pests 

• Plants shed leaves and flowers when there is insufficient air humidity.
• The appearance of small, pale leaves indicates a nutrient deficiency. 
• Bushes lose their lower leaves when watered with cold water or at low temperatures.
• Leaf blades become soft and stems become thin when water stagnates - the plant rots.
• Pachystachys does not bloom in the absence of light.

Insects - pests - aphids, whiteflies, spider mites.

Soil

For pachystachys, a soil consisting of peat, leaf humus, and the addition of sand is suitable. Good drainage is necessary.

Transplant 

Sometimes representatives of the genus are grown as annuals and thrown away after flowering.

If you keep the bush as a perennial species, replant it every year in spring into fresh soil, increasing the volume of the pot if necessary. For large specimens, it is enough to replace the top part of the soil with fresh. Pachystachys blooms more abundantly if it is a little cramped in the pot.

Watering 

Watering should be done so that the top layer of soil dries out before the next watering to a depth of about 3 cm. The bushes do not tolerate drought, but they are also afraid of excess water. In winter, the soil should be almost dry. Do not use too cold water for watering.

Containment temperature

The optimum temperature range is 18 to 24°C. Do not expose the plant to temperatures below 12°C during the winter months. As the temperature rises, increase the humidity and water more frequently.

Light

Bright reflected sunlight, some direct sunlight may fall on the leaves in the morning and evening. Provide light shading during particularly hot daytime hours in spring and summer. In cloudy weather, which often occurs in autumn and winter, pachystachys should be provided with maximum light. Exposure to direct sunlight during the day can cause sunburn.

Feeding

With the beginning of growth, the houseplant is fed with liquid fertilizers with a high potassium content 2 times a month. In winter, fertilizing can be done monthly.

Spraying 

Pachystachys loves high humidity - use a room humidifier or a tray with wet pebbles. Flowers do not like drops of water and quickly lose their attractiveness; spray carefully, trying to get only on the shoots and leaves. Keep the bush away from windows and doors where there may be cold drafts.

Purpose

An ornamental flowering species with a very long flowering period. This small shrub will combine well with other indoor plants.

Note

Pachystachys can live for several years indoors, but with age they often lose their attractiveness. Replace such specimens with new plants.