Interesting facts about the cross: what kind of plant, species, nuances of care
The godson is not one and only plant, but a whole family of both annual and perennial shrubs of various life forms. These are herbs, creepers, and succulents.
The list contains even perennial trees. The views are surprising not only with external differences, but also with value: some are used as medical raw materials, others are weeds growing freely along the roads, and the third are bead leaves you admire in your own home.
In the article we will show a photo of the godson or, as this plant is also called, the venezio, and try to tell all the most interesting about it.
Plant details
What it is?
This unpretentious centenarian, who is also known as Senecio (which is a transliteration of the Latin name senecio), lives in almost all parts of the globe.
Africa is his native home, and in Asia, Europe, Russia and even Australia, there are several dozen plant species. Among the family there are a lot of succulents. It is this type that is easier to cultivate at home.Botanical Description
The godson, depending on the species, may have fleecy or bare shoots, peculiar in type of arrangement on leaf stems and dissection form. Inflorescences of the type "basket", "panicle" or "shield".
Pollinated by insects, the fruit ripens in the form of an achene. Flowers are most often collected in inflorescences at the tops, color - shades of blue, red and yellow. The shape of the leaves is variable: in some they look like juicy beads, in others they are rounded and resemble bananas. The root system is located close to the soil surface, weak.
All varieties of the godson contain poisonous substances that can gradually accumulate in the liver. Milky juice is dangerous for the eyes and oral mucosa. Do not allow small children and animals to adhere to the plant. The safest option is to grow a flower in a hanging pot.
Common indoor and wild species
At home, you can grow with just a dozen plants. The most common types of crosses are:
- Creeping godson - evergreen and stunted (15-20 cm) shrub, similar to a bluish pillow of leaves and white flowers.
- The Godson Rowley - ideal for ampel growing. Ball-shaped leaves, long stems and white flowers make it the most popular in home "green" corners.
- Strelokosny spider - has a long peduncle in the shape of an arrow, and its yellow flowers look like a daisy.
- Fat cross - reaches a height of 30-40 cm, the leaves are oblong and thick, with pointed tips, have a bright lilac-purple border along the edge
The flowerbed of your garden can be decorated with a lot more plants.
- Bloody godson - This plant is often confused with a daisy. The purple hue of the leaves and the variety of variegated buds make it one of the most popular among gardeners.
- Large-lingual - Its liana-like stems reach 3 meters. It does not tolerate cold weather.
- Red - blooms with raspberry and bright red flowers.
- White-leafed godson - different white edge on the leaves and bright yellow flowers.
Photo
In the photo below you can see what the godson looks like.
Home, indoor plant species:
And this is a godson growing in the wild:
Home Care
Despite the diversity, all types of godson require equal care.
A place
Senezio, as a true native of hot countries, photophilous. The most comfortable place for him will be the window: east, west or south. On the windowsill of the northern window, the plant will slowly wither away.
During the summer season, the flower should be slightly shaded to avoid burns on the leaves or taken to the back of the room, away from direct sunlight. The sunless winter months are best spent on the southern windowsill in the company of backlit. Periodically, the soil in the pot must be carefully loosened.
Temperature
The godfather tolerates small temperature fluctuations. A comfortable temperature during the growing season is a range of + 20-26 degrees, from + 12 to + 16ºС is enough for winter. For better growth, I advise the godson to cook for winter, gradually lowering the temperature in the room.
But if such a wintering for the flower does not work out, nothing terrible will happen - big losses, except for the loss of part of a spectacular appearance, will not bring. And here a sharp change in cold and heat for the godson is destructive, as are drafts.
The circulation of fresh air for this plant is very important and it is necessary to ventilate more often, but the plant itself is protected from cold streams and gusts of wind.
Air humidity
The leaves of the godson keep moisture well in all conditions: in apartments with central heating, and on glazed terraces. There is no need for spraying.
The amount of watering depends on the season: in winter, at cool temperatures, it is moderate (1 time in 25-30 days), with drying of the soil surface, in the summer plentiful - 1 time in 3-4 days.In autumn, the plant is necessarily adapted to the winter period. Water should be settled or filtered, without chlorine and room temperature. Top dressing - in spring and summer once a month with fertilizers containing a minimum of nitrogen.
Transplant, pruning
You need to transplant a young plant every year, and a bush with a sufficiently developed root system - every 2-3 years. This is done in the spring, in a flat pot larger than the old one with a prepared drainage system and a loose nutrient substrate (for succulents). The cross is not required for mandatory trimming. But for the formation of a neat crown, the upper leaves of the shoot can be “pinched”.
Breeding
The godson is propagated in the spring months by seeds and cuttings:
- Seeds are pre-soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 2-3 hours, then they are planted in a container covered with a film or covered with glass and placed in a warm place, periodically moistening from a spray bottle. Condensate from the walls is washed every day during ventilation.
When seedlings appear (after about 8-11 days), the container without a film is exposed, and after a month the sprouts are planted in separate pots.
- A stem stem 5-6 cm long, cut off from the mother plant, is rooted in moist soddy ground or a peat-sand mixture. Cover on top with a cut plastic bottle. After a half to two months, they are transplanted into pots with a substrate.
Diseases, pests and ways to combat them
The most common problems:
- loss of color - caused by inappropriate pot size or insufficient lighting;
- shredding of leaves - indicates excessive darkening of the room;
- brown spots on the stem - are a consequence of the gulf of the root system, and if the spots are dry, and the leaves begin to curl into a tube - the plant received a severe sunburn;
- with a lack of water, the plant dries and loses its leaves;
- rot, spreading from the roots up the stem, is called late blight and, unfortunately, such a plant will not be able to cure.
A flower can become a victim of aphids, mealybugs and spider mites. To get rid of pests, the plant is treated with an insecticide (for example, Actellicum), and then rinsed in containers with clean water.
Conclusion
In caring master's hands, this delicate flower is able to live two decades. With its variety of forms, the godson will add a wonderful zest to any interior; in rock gardens and rockeries it is simply irreplaceable. Experiment with pleasure, and your green corner of harmony will be uniquely beautiful!