Pachypodium

Family. Apocynaceae.

Origin. Madagascar, Africa.

Description. The genus Pachypodium consists of 13 species of attractive, perennial, succulent shrubs or trees. The stems are thick - they store moisture reserves, in most species they are covered with strong straight spines, reach 60 cm in diameter, light gray or light brown. With age, the stem sometimes forms lateral shoots. The leaves are green, sword-shaped, gracefully curved, arranged spirally or alternately, in the upper part of the stems, forming a crown. The flowers are funnel-shaped, appear in summer, fragrant, white, yellow or pink, with 5 rounded petals, reminiscent of fragrant tobacco. In appearance, the plant resembles a palm tree.

Height. In nature it reaches 8 m; in indoor culture it grows slowly and often does not exceed 120-180 cm.

Caring at home

Reproduction 

Growing from seeds is possible, but this is a rather lengthy process. The seeds must also be fresh; they must first be soaked for a day in warm water. Propagation by cuttings should be accompanied by the use of growth hormones and bottom heating. 

How to transplant

Mature plants are replanted only every 3 to 4 years. When replanting, remove dead and diseased roots with sharp pruning shears. For large tub plants, the top layer of soil is replaced with fresh one every year. Since pachypodium has very sharp spines, use thick protective gloves when working with it. For planting, it is advisable to use a heavy clay pot with large drainage holes, the walls of which will allow moisture and air to pass through.

Diseases and pests 

Spider mites can occur on leaves and branches. They are extremely harmful. To prevent their occurrence, it is important to promptly remove old and damaged leaves and to ventilate the room with the plant well. Mealybugs suck sap and nutrients from plants and are usually the main cause of slow growth. However, they can be easily removed with strong water pressure. If you keep your pachypodium in too damp and cool conditions, the plant may rot.

Harmful insects may include mealybugs, spider mites, scale insects, thrips, rootbugs, and nematodes.

How to care 

The indoor pachypodium can live indoors for many years with minimal care. This plant tolerates a wide range of temperatures and light levels. You can take the tree outside during the warmer months. During the winter months, the plant may lose some or even all of its foliage - this is completely normal.

When it blooms 

Buds appear in the spring months. The succulent rarely blooms indoors - only with proper care and abundant lighting.

Watering 

The frequency of watering depends on the temperature of the content. Daily watering is only necessary on hot summer days. Allow the soil to dry to half depth between waterings. In the winter months, watering is reduced to a minimum, just trying not to dry out the soil. With the arrival of spring and the appearance of new leaves, watering is increased. 

Soil 

You need very porous, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH. As a top layer, it is better to surround the caudex with small pebbles or coarse sand to avoid rotting.

Containment temperature

Choose a place with a temperature range from 16 to 24° C. In the winter months, keep it cooler, but not lower than 10° C. 

Fertilizer 

When growing, use fertilizers with a high content of phosphorus and potassium (or balanced), feed every 2 weeks. During the dormant period, feeding is stopped. 

Lighting

These plants require a lot of sunlight to grow properly. Direct sunlight can reach the pachypodium for 3-4 hours a day in the morning and evening. Note that the caudex is very susceptible to sunburn. The base of the plant should be shaded.

Spraying 

With the onset of warm weather, high air humidity will be required - regular spraying is necessary. Place a humidifier near the plant or surround the pot with a layer of damp sphagnum moss.  In autumn and winter, the air around the plant should be dry.

Note

Pachypodium contains milky sap, which is poisonous - wash your hands thoroughly after handling the plant. Since most types of pachypodium bear sharp thorns, it is unlikely that children or pets will get to the sap of the plant.

Varieties:

Pachypodium lamerei

Perennial succulent plants with a height of 60 cm to 5 m in their natural habitat. With age, these succulents form a thick, succulent, sparsely branched trunk of a dark green or brownish color with numerous tubercles. At the tops of the tubercles there are thick, short, sharp needles. The length of the needles can reach from 2 to 6 cm. At the tops of the trunks there is a lush crown, consisting of oblong, narrow leaves, slightly bent along the central vein. The lower surface of the leaf plates has a lighter shade. During the flowering period, large, white, attractive flowers with a diameter of 5 to 8 cm appear in the crown. The flowers have a pleasant aroma, but appear only on adult plants with a height of 180 cm and above. 

Pachypodium saundersii

Perennial succulents with a thick, turnip-like caudex at the base. The caudex is covered with greenish, brown or silvery-gray bark and reaches a diameter of 1 meter. The stems are sparsely branched, curved, reaching a length of 1 m. The leaves are green, lanceolate, glossy, bent along the central vein, from 3 to 8 cm long, on short petioles. The edges of the sheet plates may be corrugated. The spines are short, straight, sharp, located on the stems of plants. The flowers are large, showy, fragrant, white or pinkish.

Pachypodium geayi

An unusually attractive succulent with a thick, succulent, bottle-shaped stem, which in its natural habitat can reach 4 - 8 m in height. The stems are glossy, silver-gray or light green, abundantly covered with thick, straight spines. The leaves are dark green, glossy, entire, narrow, linear. The central vein is highlighted in a lighter shade. The leaves form a lush crown at the tops of weakly branched stems. The flowers are white, with rounded petals, and fragrant. 

Pachypodium Bispinosum

A relatively compact shrub with a round, thick caudex at the base, reaches a height of 120 cm. The caudex is covered with brownish or gray bark. The stems are branching, curved, and are often located at the top of the caudex. Leaves, glossy, green, long, on short petioles. The stems of the plant are abundantly covered with long, brownish, straight spines. The flowers are attractive, bell-shaped, up to 1.5 - 2 cm in diameter, solitary, pink, appearing on the tops of the stems. 

Pachypodium rosulatum

Attractive, slow-growing succulents with thick, branching stems at the base. The stems bear short, thick, straight spines. At the tops of the stems there is a crown formed from glossy, belt-shaped, dark green, entire leaves. Young leaves may have a burgundy tint. The central vein is highlighted in a lighter shade. The flowers are very large - they can exceed 7 cm in diameter, yellow, collected in small inflorescences on the tops of long, thin peduncles. There is no flower aroma.