Jatropha

Family. Euphorbiaceae.

Origin: South America, Africa. 

What does look like? A large genus of plants, consisting of about 170 species of perennial succulents. Jatropha often forms a large rounded thickening - a light brown or gray caudex, which serves to store moisture and nutrients, which is why it has a second name - "bottle tree". The leaves are green or bluish, covered with a waxy coating, up to 30 cm long, palmately dissected into 3 - 10 segments, located on long petioles. Peduncles are strong, short, carry a large inflorescence consisting of many small red, salmon or orange flowers with 5 rounded petals.

Height. The bush reaches a height of 30 cm to 1 m when grown in pots. It grows slowly.

Caring at Home

Reproduction, growing from seeds 

Jatropha seeds are planted in spring. Germination occurs within 1 month. Seedlings are placed in a warm place with a temperature of at least 25° C. Semi-ripe cuttings are about 10 cm long. The bases of the cuttings are dried for several days before planting and powdered with growth hormones.

How to care 

Representatives of this genus are spectacular and at the same time unpretentious, they are afraid of excessive care rather than neglect. The succulent may lose some leaves in the fall, before the dormant period.

Flowering time

Summer. 

Watering

In spring and summer, water abundantly but rarely, allowing the substrate to dry out to 1/3 of its depth before each subsequent watering. After the plants shed their leaves, the frequency of watering is significantly reduced and the jatropha is kept in almost dry soil. 

Soil composition 

Well-drained, organic-rich mixture of peat, leaf humus and coarse sand. 

Growing temperature

The growing season takes place at normal room temperatures of 18–25 °C. When grown indoors, it should rest in a cool room with a temperature of about 15 °C. Do not expose plants to temperatures below 10 °C.

Lighting

In summer, the bush is shaded during the daytime, but sunlight falls on the leaves in the morning and evening. In autumn and winter, it loses its leaves, and lighting does not play any role during this period.

Feeding

During the growth period, feed monthly with water-soluble fertilizers. No feeding is carried out in autumn and winter. 

Spraying

It does not require high humidity and develops well in the normal atmosphere of a living space. 

 Transplantation

Young specimens are planted annually in fresh soil, changing the size of the pot if necessary. Mature trees are replanted in the spring every 3 years, maintaining the planting depth.

Pests and diseases

Rot occurs due to insufficient air circulation and excessive watering, especially during the dormant period. Leaves turn yellow due to insufficient lighting.

Of the harmful insects, weakened and sick plants can be visited by spider mites, whiteflies, and thrips.

Note

Jatropha is poisonous - keep it away from children and pets. Oil can be used as a biofuel for internal combustion engines. 

Varieties:

Jatropha podagrica

A beautiful succulent plant, with age it forms an upright trunk with a thickening - caudex at the base, resembling a bottle and covered with grayish or light brown bark. At the top of the trunk there is a lush crown formed from large, dark green, palmately dissected leaves. The edges of the leaf blades are corrugated, young leaves are often very dark - almost black, with highlighted light veins. During the flowering period, the plant throws out a short strong peduncle from the top of the trunk, at the top of which there is an inflorescence - an umbrella with yellow, orange or pink flowers. 

Jatropha integerrima

In the natural environment, this species reaches a height of 4.5 m and is a dense, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree. As the name suggests, the plant has simple, oblong-oval, "solid-edged" emerald-green leaves with branched veins and long petioles. The leaf blades can be slightly bent along the central vein. The flowers are bright pink, with 5 oblong petals, collected in inflorescences - small umbrellas on the tops of the shoots.

Jatropha curcas

This subspecies can grow as a multi-stemmed shrub or a strong tree with large, palmately dissected green leaves that form a luxurious crown. The leaf blades are covered with a large network of veins and have slightly corrugated edges. The flowers are small, greenish, inconspicuous, and flowering is not particularly interesting. After flowering, the plant forms hanging, oblong green fruits that turn yellow when ripe, then dry out and turn brown. These fruits resemble a lemon in shape.

Jatropha multifida

A very delicate, airy plant with beautiful compound leaves consisting of several long, hanging, lanceolate leaf blades (15 - 30 cm in length) and long petioles. In nature, this subspecies reaches a height of 3 m. When damaged, the stems secrete poisonous milky juice. The flowers are small, bright red, collected in umbrellas at the tops of strong shoots. 

 Jatropha mahafalensis

Perhaps the largest subspecies - in nature the height of plants can reach 5 - 6 m. The stems are thick, powerful, covered with brown bark, at the base of the trunk of the plant they form an oblong caudex. The leaves are palmately dissected, pointed, green, on long petioles. The flowers are white or cream.