Nolina

Family. Agavoideae. 

Homeland of the plant. Southeastern Mexico.

Description. Nolina, bottle tree or beaucarnea is a unique evergreen beautiful plant with a thick trunk.

At the top of the trunk are long, narrow, flat green leaves up to 1.5 m long and 2.5 cm wide. The leaf blades are often prickly at the edges and grouped into dense bunches at the ends of the branches. With age, the trunk begins to branch closer to the top.

The inflorescences are large, spectacular, vertical, rising above the leaves.

Small white buds may appear on adult specimens, but flowering is very rare indoors.

The caudex is used to store water, which is very useful during dry periods.

Another name for nolina is "elephant's foot", apparently given for its thick trunk covered with gray bark.

Height. It grows slowly indoors, only mature trees over 20 years old reach a height of 2 m. In natural conditions, there are specimens up to 10-12 m high.

Care at home

Reproduction, growing from seeds 

It is propagated by seeds or cuttings, but both methods are quite difficult.

Nolina can be grown from seeds, but this is a lengthy process and is only suitable for patient gardeners who are curious to watch the development process from the very beginning.

It is not very easy to obtain fresh planting material, since flowering occurs extremely rarely in indoor conditions.

1. Sowing of seeds is carried out in the spring, using a wide and shallow container with a sufficient drainage layer in the form of river sand or fine expanded clay.
2. The seeds are quite large and have a hard shell, so before sowing they are soaked overnight in warm water with growth hormones dissolved in it - this measure will increase the percentage of germination.
3. The soil for planting is made up of humus, peat, with the addition of a large amount of river sand and perlite to improve drainage.
4. Before sowing, the soil is thoroughly moistened using a fine spray bottle.
5. Planting material is simply laid out on the ground at a distance of about 2 cm from each other, without sprinkling it with soil or covering it lightly with a small layer of sand. Too much deepening will reduce germination, because it becomes too difficult for young shoots to break through the thickness of the soil.
6. To create a greenhouse effect and maintain high air humidity from above, the container is closed with a transparent lid or glass and placed in a warm, well-lit place without direct sunlight.
7. To ensure that the seedlings are strong and do not stretch out, it is worth organizing additional lighting with phytolamps.
8. Crops must be kept in a room with a temperature of at least 22 - 25 degrees Celsius.
9. Every day, the seedlings are opened slightly and the condensation that appears on it is wiped from the shelter.

If all conditions are met, you may notice the appearance of the first sprouts within a month, but the final germination of all seeds may take several months.

With the appearance of sprouts, small holes are made in the shelter for ventilation.

As they develop, with the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, the bushes are pricked out, placing them in separate small cups.

Cuttings can be obtained from lateral shoots, but they rarely decorate this species, so for the density of the crown it is better to leave them in place.

1. Side shoots are separated from the mother plant with a sharp knife.
2. Before planting, the cutting site is dried in the open air for several hours so that the cuttings do not rot during planting.
3. You can dust the base of the cutting with rooting powder.
4. To reduce moisture loss, several leaves are removed from the cuttings or the length of the leaf plates is reduced by half using scissors.
5. Cuttings are rooted in perlite or vermiculite, in a place inaccessible to direct sunlight using bottom heating. The shoots are only slightly pressed into the soil surface, to a depth of 5 - 7 mm.
6. The seedlings are covered on top with transparent plastic or glass, from which condensation is removed daily.

It will be possible to speak about the successful completion of the rooting process when new, young leaves appear on the cuttings - at this time the cover can be completely removed.

Transplant 

Beaucarnea grows slowly and rarely needs replanting.

Young specimens are replanted annually, changing the pot size to a slightly larger one. You can tell that the tree has become cramped in the pot by the tips of the roots that appear in the drainage holes. The new pot should be only 3-4 cm larger than the previous one in diameter.

The pot for nolina should be heavy - since it can tip over under the weight of the flower, wide and shallow containers are more suitable for growing. In addition, planting containers should have sufficiently large drainage holes.

Planting an adult tree in fresh soil is done in the spring as needed.

The most suitable time for replanting will be the very beginning of new growth. Tight containers will restrain the growth of the flower, and it will remain compact longer.

The succulent feels good in fairly tight pots - do not immediately transplant it into a spacious container.

When growing in a pot that is too large, excess soil that is not absorbed by the root system will accumulate excess moisture, and the tree will rot.

Before planting, a generous drainage layer consisting of expanded clay, river pebbles or clay shards is laid out on the bottom of any pot. Brick chips can also be used as drainage.

The drainage layer is covered with a small layer of substrate and the plant is placed on it.

Instead of transplanting, it is better to use transshipment - transfer the flower to a new pot along with the old lump of earth, without destroying it.

Transplantation will only be necessary if signs of root rot appear - in this case, the root system is carefully shaken off from the old soil and, if necessary, rotten areas are cut off to healthy tissue. For trimming, use a sharp and sterile pruner.

The surface of the wound is treated with finely ground coal powder - this measure will help disinfect the scars and dry them.

If the root system seems too wet during transplantation, it is dried in the open air for several hours. Such specimens are planted only in fresh soil mixture, since pathogens may have remained in the old substrate.

When transplanting, the plants are placed at the same depth at which they were in the previous pot - deepening the trunk can lead to rotting.

After planting, the substrate around the root system is slightly compacted to remove air pockets.

Often after transplantation, the tree turns out to be unstable - you can lay small stones or expanded clay around its trunk during rooting, or put a small support.

After transplantation, watering should not be carried out for several days (about a week).

Transplanted specimens should not be exposed to direct sunlight - this will only increase stress.

Since the beaucarnea acquires impressive dimensions and weight with age, replanting it becomes difficult - just replace the top layer of substrate with a fresh one in the spring, every year. To replace, remove a 5-7 cm layer of soil and pour fresh soil into the tub.

Soil 

Well-drained, rich in organic matter - for example, a mixture of peat and leaf humus.  Nolina tolerates even nutrient-poor substrates, provided there is good drainage. To improve drainage, mix a sufficient amount of coarse river sand, perlite or vermiculite into the soil. 

In nature, representatives of the genus are often found on rocky soils that are very poor in nutrients. For growing, you can use ready-made soils for cacti and succulents. For loosening and as additional nutrition, a small amount of wood ash or coal is added to the mixture. You can also add small stones to the soil.

The ready-made soil mixture should have a slightly acidic or neutral pH.

Watering

Nolina is drought-resistant, its caudex stores water reserves, so a lack of moisture will not cause any harm. Always water the flower abundantly - until the earthen clod is completely soaked.

Allow the soil to dry to a depth of 5 - 7 cm between waterings, even during the period of active growth - in spring and summer. 

In winter, water very rarely - only to protect the soil from drying out completely. The need for regular watering at this time can be judged by the small wrinkles - grooves - that appear on the trunk.

A large amount of watering in the cool season often leads to the appearance of rot. 

During the growing season, water every 7 to 14 days. 

For irrigation, use only well-settled water at room temperature. You can also water the flower with filtered or melt water.

Be sure to drain excess moisture that appears in the pan after watering.

To prevent moisture from getting on the trunk, you can use bottom watering, immersing the flower pot in a large container of warm water for several minutes.

How to grow, prune 

Nolina is a relatively unpretentious, drought-resistant species. The most common mistake in care is excessive watering, especially in winter.

From time to time, wipe the leaves from dust with a damp sponge.

In the warm season, the pot can be taken out into the fresh air. When kept outdoors, it should be protected from direct sunlight, strong gusts of wind and excessive precipitation in the soil.

To get a very thick, spectacular trunk, several specimens are often planted in one small container so that the surface of the trunks touches the neighboring specimens. Over time, the trunks grow together, and as a result, one beautiful and powerful tree is obtained.

To form lateral shoots, you can cut off the top of an adult plant. Pruning should be done only with a sterile tool, and the wound should be covered with garden pitch. Unfortunately, sometimes this measure leads to the appearance of rot instead of the formation of lateral branches, so such pruning should only be done by experienced gardeners.

From time to time, old leaves at the base of the crown turn yellow and die off - this is a natural process, and such leaf blades should be trimmed in time to maintain an attractive appearance.

Do not place nolina near heating devices in the autumn and winter months, and when airing in winter, take it to another room.

Diseases and pests 

• When overmoistened, as well as during drought, the tips of the leaves turn brown and the nolina dries out. Such leaves can be removed.
• Insufficient drainage and excessive watering lead to rot - the foxes turn brown and fall off.
• Leaf blades lose turgor due to insufficient watering in hot weather.
• Nolina slows down its development during the winter months, as well as in too small a pot or with insufficient nutrition.
• Too high air humidity and constant moisture on the trunk can lead to the appearance of stem rot - do not immediately say goodbye to the tree, it can be saved. The rotten parts on the caudex will be soft to the touch. The affected areas of the trunk are cut off, and the wound is sprinkled with crushed charcoal.  Sometimes, over time, the wound heals so much that it becomes almost invisible and does not harm the attractive appearance of the bocarnea.
• When there is insufficient light, trees stretch out and do not develop a sufficiently thick caudex.
• New leaves become light and small in size when there is insufficient lighting.
• If there is insufficient air humidity, the tips of the leaves may become brown and dry.
• A light coating on the trunk or soil, as well as on the edges of the pot, can be noticed if unsettled tap water was used when watering.
• Cracks in the trunk appear when there is excess moisture or too much fertilizer. 

Spraying the leaves will help prevent spider mite infestations. Also sometimes pests such as scale insects, mealybugs and thrips appear.

When it blooms 

In culture it blooms quite rarely, in spring. In the natural environment, trees older than 15 years decorate themselves with buds.

It is very problematic to achieve flowering at home.

Temperature

Nolina grows well in a pot at temperatures ranging from 18 to 24 °C. The flower can easily withstand the strongest heat provided that the frequency of watering is increased.

In the winter months, when there is insufficient light, a dormant period is desirable, which the succulent should spend in a cool room with a temperature of 10 to 12 ° C. It should not be exposed to temperatures below 7 ° C.

A dormant period is not necessary, but welcome. The fact is that trees slow down their development when the temperature drops.

In the autumn and winter months, lighting leaves much to be desired, and new shoots that appear during this period will be loose and elongated.

Representatives of the genus do not like sudden changes in temperature - accustom to all changes gradually, over several days or even a week.

Conditions of detention - lighting

A brightly lit location with light shading only on the hottest summer days is suitable for maintenance. Shoots and leaves should receive several hours of direct sunlight daily - in the morning and evening hours.

In spring and summer, when solar activity is too high, you can organize a little shading during the day in the form of a tulle curtain.

In autumn and winter, it is worth choosing the most illuminated place for growing nolina.

South-eastern or south-western window sills are considered optimal for growing.

Every week, turn the pot a quarter of a turn around its axis so that the tree does not lean towards the light sources and develops symmetrically.

If there is a lack of natural light, artificial lighting with fluorescent lamps or phytolamps is successfully used.

For normal development, a daylight period of at least 12-14 hours per day is required.

Fertilizer

When kept in a pot, plants have a limited feeding area and will need additional nutrients.

Feed the nolina monthly in spring and summer with mineral fertilizers for cacti and succulents at half the dosage.

In autumn, the frequency of feeding is reduced, and in the winter months, fertilization should not be done at all. Resume feeding in the spring, when signs of new growth appear.

Fertilizers are applied only to moist substrate, after abundant watering.

Do not use nitrogen-rich fertilizers for feeding - succulents may develop cracks on the trunk, and it will become susceptible to rotting.

If a too concentrated solution gets on the root system in dry soil, it can cause a chemical burn.

Remember that succulents would rather have a lack of nutrients than an excess.

Spraying 

This native of the Mexican desert tolerates the dry air of heated houses well.

Spraying can only be used to prevent the invasion of pests such as red spider mites. Spraying is carried out only in the morning with water at room temperature. The moisture should have time to evaporate from the leaves before dark.

Instead of spraying, you can use a room humidifier or any vessel with water placed in close proximity to the nolina. 

Beaucarnea likes well-ventilated areas with good air movement, but without exposure to cold drafts. 

Purpose

A large, beautiful indoor tree that looks great both alone and when several specimens are placed in one pot. In appearance, young seedlings resemble yucca or dracaena.

Remember that over time, nolina will acquire impressive dimensions.

Beaucarnea is easy to grow as a bonsai 30-60 cm high.

Note

Proper care increases the lifespan of this indoor tree up to 50 years.

Nolina is able to clean the air from harmful impurities and saturate it with oxygen. Phytoncides are released into the atmosphere and kill viruses contained in it.

Cats may like the leaves - you can place the plant in a place inaccessible to them or scare away animals with citrus peels laid on the ground in the pot.

Nolina is poisonous - do not leave it in places accessible to children.

Do not place the pot in passages and corridors - leaf blades break easily.

Hydroponics

Grows well in hydroponics.

Types of nolina:

Beaucarnea recurvata

An evergreen perennial succulent that forms a caudex at the base of the trunk. In the natural environment, this subspecies reaches a height of 9 m and is a large tree with slightly branched trunks, at the tops of which there is a lush crown of light green, long, drooping leaves. The peduncles are erect, appear at the tops of the shoots, and bear large, branched inflorescences with small greenish flowers. Flowering in nature occurs 2-3 times a year. Currently, a subspecies has been bred for growing indoors - nolina curly. These plants are distinguished by beautiful, thin, curved leaves, reaching 1 m in length. 

Nolina stricta

Spectacular and large evergreen trees forming a flattened caudex at the base of the trunk. The trunks are strong, branching, covered with cracked light gray bark. The leaves are green, hard, narrow, straight, forming a lush crown on the tops of the trunks. In nature, this variety reaches 10 m in height.

Nolina nelsoni

In nature, this variety reaches a height of 3.5 m and forms weakly branched, strong, thick trunks covered with light brown bark. At the top of each trunk there is a lush cap - a crown, consisting of narrow, linear leaf plates. The leaves are green, in most cases covered with a bluish waxy coating. There are tiny teeth along the edge of the leaves.

Nolina microcarpa

An evergreen perennial up to 2 m high with narrow, green, hard leaves. Leaf blades are often straight or slightly curved. The leaf blades reach a length of 130 cm. With age, the plants form a caudex, which is located underground.

Nolina matapensis

A lush evergreen plant with straight, stiff or slightly curved leaves of a green or bluish hue. Adult specimens form a low trunk that resembles a cone. The height of the plants often does not exceed 1 - 2 m.

Nolina lindheimeriana

Young plants form grassy tussocks consisting of many narrow, linear, green leaves. As trees age, they develop a trunk, but it is not tall and often remains hidden by foliage. The leaf blades reach 75 cm in length and have very small teeth along the edge. Rarely found at home, this variety can be grown as an hanging plant.

Nolina Guatemalensis

Plants with a thick, weakly branched trunk - caudex, covered with smooth bark. The thickest part is the base of the trunk, due to which the stem has the shape of a bottle. In nature, the plants reach a height of 5 m and have gracefully arched green leaves. Some varieties have leaf blades that are red at the base. Currently, variegated trees with longitudinal white stripes on the leaf blades have been bred.

Nolina turnip

This type includes many species of nolina that do not have a trunk, for example Nolina gracilis, Nolina hookeri, etc. These plants store moisture reserves in a small, round caudex - a “turnip”, covered with a grayish, often cracked bark and resembling an onion. The leaves are green, flat or round in cross-section, green or with longitudinal light stripes in variegated varieties, emerging directly from the apex of the caudex. 

Nolina longifolia

A slow growing low tree, which even in nature does not exceed 3 m in height. The plants have strong, intricately curved, branched trunks covered with cracked gray bark. The leaves are green, long, thin, often hanging almost to the ground and forming a lush crown - a ponytail. The leaf blades reach a length of 2.5 m. 

Nolina Tiny Romy

A small evergreen succulent plant with a rounded caudex, the second name is bulbous nolina, since the caudex of young plants is flattened and resembles an onion. The leaves are long, dark green, collected in bunches at the top of the caudex.