Leucospermum

Family. Proteaceae.

Origin: South Africa. 

Description. Leucospermum is an evergreen shrub from 50 centimeters to 5 meters high, with numerous erect stems. The leaves are hard, leathery, green or gray-green, from 5 to 8 centimeters long, arranged in a spiral around the stems, simple, oblong, lanceolate. The leaf blade has serrated edges. At the top of the shoots appear very dense spherical inflorescences containing many small, tubular flowers in orange, red, pink and yellow colors. Each flower has very long, protruding stamens. The diameter of the inflorescence can be about 10 centimeters.

Height: In indoor culture, this plant grows up to 50 centimeters.

Care at home

Content temperature

The minimum temperature in winter, when the bushes are dormant, should be 14–16 °C. In summer, this heat-loving plant prefers warm conditions at a temperature of 25–30 °C. 

Reproduction

The seeds are sown in the spring, after being soaked in warm water with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. Germination time is 3-4 weeks. Leucospermum is also propagated by stem cuttings.

Lighting

Choose a well-lit location where the flower will receive 3-4 hours of direct sunlight in the morning and evening hours. Provide maximum lighting in the fall and winter.

Care

Representatives of this species are unpretentious and will rather tolerate neglect than careful care. Remove faded inflorescences so that the plant remains neat. Young bushes are pruned in spring and late summer to maintain a compact shape. Adult specimens are pruned immediately after flowering. When pruning, at least 60% of the leaves should be left. Young branches are regularly pinched so that they form lateral shoots.

Soil

Prefers soils that are poor in nutrients and have an acidic or neutral pH of 5.5 to 7. The soil should have good drainage and allow moisture and air to pass through. A mixture of leaf humus and peat with a small amount of pine bark and needles added to acidify the soil is suitable. 

Feeding

Feed leucospermum with organic fertilizers twice a month, as excess phosphorus when using mineral fertilizers can burn the delicate roots of plants. When growing in soil rich in nutrients, you can leave the plant without feeding. In the autumn-winter period, all feeding is stopped.

Purpose

Flowers remain fresh for a very long time after cutting and look attractive for 3 weeks after cutting.

Flowering time

It occurs in the spring months - April and May. With good care, it can be repeated in the fall, in October.

Air humidity

Spraying the bush is not recommended, as water can leave unsightly spots on the leaves. To increase the humidity level, use a room humidifier or place the pot with the plant on a tray with wet pebbles. The plant prefers to be in ventilated rooms with good air circulation.

Watering

Water generously until the soil is thoroughly moist. Young seedlings will need more moisture as they develop their root system. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. The frequency of watering depends on temperature conditions.

Transplantation

These plants do not like their root system to be disturbed, so replanting should be done in the spring and only if the soil needs to be changed or when the plant becomes cramped in the pot. Adult leucospermums are replanted approximately every two years. 

Pests and diseases

If there is no drainage and moisture stagnates in the soil, the root system may rot.

Note

With age, the bushes become lanky and lose their lower leaves. In indoor conditions, leucospermum grows for about 8 years, after which it should be replaced with a fresh plant.