Araucaria is grown without problems at home. In the people it is also called home fir. In the room you can grow a tree up to 2 meters in height.
Araucaria: Species
At home, araucaria is grown. The plant belongs to the genus of evergreen conifers. In addition to this species there are also other, no less beautiful: Chilean, Brazilian, columned, Araucaria Bidville.
How to care for araucaria?
Care for araucaria at home is quite simple:
- lighting. A good place for a plant is a place where there is a small shadow or bright scattered rays. Direct sunlight for her is fatal. In summer it is better to take a pot on a balcony or a loggia, but avoid the bright sun. When caring for a room araucaria necessarily rotate it periodically around its axis, so that sunlight gets evenly;
- temperature. For this, the plant needs a well-ventilated place, coolness. Try to ensure a temperature of no higher than 22 ° C in summer, and in winter not lower than 15 ° C. In the heating season, try to place a pot of softwood away from the central heating battery;
- air humidity. During the heating season, care should be taken especially for the Araucaria, since it does not tolerate dry air. Place the pot in a tray with wet claydite and periodically spray. If the air is too dry, the branches will gradually turn yellow and dry up;
- watering. Care for araucaria at home assumes enough abundant watering. Pour in such a way that the earthenware is completely soaked. The water that remains in the pan is poured. In the summer time it should be watered once a week, in the droughty period it is possible and more often. Keep an eye on the earthen lump, it should not dry out;
- fertilizer. During the growing season, the plant should be fed every three weeks. Remember that the conifers do not like calcium (lime), so it's best to choose the fertilizer carefully. In pruning the plant does not need. A very important point: when nursing try not to hit the tip, otherwise growth may stop altogether, and branches will develop unevenly;
- transfer. Cultivation of araucaria does not allow frequent transplants. Young plants are transplanted every two to three years in the spring or early summer. If you want the plant to be not too high, it is enough to transplant it into a pot of the same size as the previous one. To care for araucaria at home, prepare the following mixture: one piece of sod land and sand, two pieces of leaf land and peat. If there is no possibility to mix the soil mix on its own, you can buy it in the store;
- pests. The plant can be attacked by pests. Often it is mealybugs. The disease can occur with too dry air and high temperature. Often, the plant dies when the earthen coma often dries up.
Araucaria: Reproduction
The plant can be propagated in two ways: cuttings or seeds. For reproduction, araucaria is suitable, the age of which has exceeded 10 years. In the summer period, cut a semi-articular apical stem. We make a cut at a distance of 3-4 cm below the whorl. The whorl is called ring-like branches, which are at the same height. The cut must be treated with coal, dried for a day and planted a mixture consisting of equal parts of sand and peat. The stalk should be covered with a plastic cup and put in a warm place. The seedling will take root 2-5 months. The finished planting material is planted in a mixture for conifers.