Dorstenia
Family. Moraceae.
Origin. Tropics of Africa and America.
Description. Dorstenia is a truly amazing and attractive perennial plant - succulent. The trunk is erect, often branched, powerful, bears traces of fallen leaves, up to 15 cm in diameter and up to 50 cm in height, with light gray or dark green bark, used to store water reserves. The shape and size of the leaves depend on the species. The leaves are green, arranged spirally, narrowly lanceolate or broadly elliptical (sometimes almost round), from 1 to 15 cm long. Dorstenia inflorescences are actually a flat receptacle with many flowers. The flowers are orange, pink, green or gray, small - up to 1.3 cm in diameter, divided into male and female. After flowering, the plant forms pods that, when ripe, shoot seeds up to 2 m away.
Height. Up to 70 cm tall.
Care at home
Reproduction
Dorstenias are usually propagated by seeds or cuttings. Seeds germinate easily at a temperature of 21 ° C; crops should be covered with a plastic cap or glass to retain moisture.
Temperature for succulent
A very heat-loving species, easily enduring summer heat. Bushes that have fallen into a state of rest can be kept at normal room temperature.
Lighting
Most species require fairly intense lighting.
How to care
The flower adapts to a wide range of growing conditions. In the summer heat, it is advisable to take the bushes outside. In this case, you should gradually acclimatize the succulent to new lighting and air temperature conditions. This process should take about a week or two. Dorstenia can shed its leaves in the fall; in most cases, this is a natural process that does not cause concern. Plants that are dormant in winter should be placed in a well-lit place.
Substrate
Nutritious and well-drained soil.
Feeding
Dorstenias need feeding a little more than other succulents. During the period of active growth, use fertilizers with a low nitrogen content, diluted to 1.4 times the recommended dose every 2 weeks.
Flowering time
Summer.
Air humidity
Spray periodically during the warm season in the morning.
Watering
In hot and dry weather in summer, watering should be abundant and fairly frequent. Before each watering, the soil should be almost completely dry. Actively growing specimens should not be subjected to periods of prolonged drought, otherwise the tree will shed its leaves to conserve moisture. In winter, just try not to overdry the soil. The appearance of new shoots in the spring should be a signal to begin regular watering.
Transfer
In the spring, to change the soil or transfer the plant to a larger pot.
Pests and diseases
Temperature changes and high humidity can contribute to the development of fungal diseases in dorstenia.
Of the harmful insects, the flower can be threatened by mealybugs and spider mites.
Note
Some species contain toxic sap, so keep the flower out of reach of children and pets.
Varieties:
Dorstenia foetida
A beautiful plant, sometimes reminiscent of palm trees, with thick, erect stems that are often branched at the base. Young plants have dark green stems, but with age they become woody and covered with brown or grayish bark and bear traces of fallen leaves. At the tops of the shoots there is a crown formed by simple, dark green, oblong-oval leaves. A conical caudex is often formed at the base of the stems. What might be mistaken for flowers are actually fruiting bodies - they are round, green, orange or pink.
Dorstenia contrajerva
Perennial herbaceous plant up to 45 cm high with thin stems. The leaves are green, on long petioles, the leaf blades are glossy, with numerous branched veins. Leaf shape and size vary greatly even within this subspecies. Male and female flowers are located on a single round or curved base. The plant got its name because its tubers are used in medicine as an antidote.
Dorstenia hildebrandtii
A short, attractive plant that forms an oblong green, brown or burgundy caudex at the base of the stem. The stems bear traces of fallen leaves. The leaves are green or emerald green, oblong-ovate, on long petioles. The flowers are collected in a rounded light green receptacle with petal bracts - rays, reminiscent of the sun.
Dorstenia hildebrandtii var. crispa
One of the variants of Dorstenia Hildebrandt is a very attractive caudex succulent that has a burgundy-beet caudex and silver-gray leaves arranged in a spiral. The stem is thick, strong, erect. The leaves are simple, oblong-oval, sessile.
Dorstenia gigas
A very large succulent, reaching 5 m in height, has a large brown or green caudex at the base. The caudex bears thick, curved branches, at the top of which are dark green oval leaves collected in leaf rosettes. The receptacles are round, greenish or yellow.