English (United Kingdom) 
Russian (Russia) Alluaudia
Family. Didiereaceae.
Description. Alluaudia is a thorny and barely branched small tree with succulent, straight-growing stems. The cultivated plant rarely grows above 8 m. The stems are evenly covered with sharp, conical thorns and leaves arranged in parallel rows in a spiral up the trunk. The stem becomes woody in mature plants and will reach a diameter of 15 cm at the base. The leaves are small, oval or round, green succulent, from 1 to 5 cm long, shed during long periods of drought or (in cultivation) with the onset of winter. The flowers are yellow-white at the ends of the branches, tiny, not particularly attractive and appear only on mature plants over 3 meters in height. Plants are dioecious - male and female.
Height. Up to 15 m in height, alluaudia grows slowly.
Alluaudia - care at home
Temperature conditions
If grown at home, the ideal temperature is between 20° and 30°C, in winter not lower than 10°C.
Lighting
Bright sunny place.
Care
During the winter months, the plant will shed all its leaves. Pruning encourages branching.
Substrate
Cactus mixture containing perlite and coarse sand.
Feeding
Fertilizer should be diluted to ¼ (quarter) of the recommended level once a month.
Purpose
This is a stunning plant for collectors. In Madagascar, alluaudia wood is used in construction and for the production of charcoal.
Flowering time
Summer.
Air humidity
Loves ventilated rooms, there are no special requirements for air humidity.
Soil moisture
It grows in areas where it may rain only a few times a year, so it can withstand long periods of drought. Watering is moderate; during the dormant period, which does not always coincide with the calendar, keep it almost dry. The soil must be allowed to dry between waterings.
Transfer
Approximately every 2 - 3 years as they grow.
Reproduction
Cuttings at constant humidity, the cut site should be dried before planting. Seeds, but this takes quite a long time.
Pests and diseases
Root rot due to excess watering.