Growing requirements
Nolina takes root well in Russian apartments and feels good in various conditions. And yet she makes some demands on her master.
This exotic plant is very fond of lighting, therefore, for its placement, you can choose the south side and the hottest window. It can be difficult to place an adult plant on a windowsill. In this case, it is necessary to place the tree as close to the window as possible. No shading is necessary, any glare will only benefit this desert palm. If there is a lack of light, it will not disappear, but the external characteristics will decrease and the trunk will stretch towards the main light source. You can prevent this problem by rotating the pot.
For wintering, you will need to provide additional lighting by installing fluorescent lamps. It is advisable to reduce the temperature gradually to 10 degrees. Under such conditions, the bokarnia will be able to prepare for wintering and go into a state of rest. Winter rest is not a prerequisite for keeping it. You can do without this if there is no way to create the necessary conditions for her relaxation.
The humidity of the air for this culture from a hot climate is completely unimportant. Even very dry air is not scary to her, she will feel great. In such conditions, it is advisable to wipe the leaves more often with a damp cloth, but not spray.
Young plants show active growth, therefore they need frequent pot replacement. Usually you have to transplant a young Nolina twice a year. An older plant is no longer growing so quickly and needs to be transplanted about once every 5 years, maybe a little more often
You need to focus on the correspondence of the pot to the plant planted in it.
It is important to choose the right flower pot. The root system of an exotic palm is not particularly deep, so the planting container should be flat with holes for water drainage
The plant looks most impressive in ceramic pots. Moreover, they are heavy and will not allow the overall indoor flower to turn over.
Nolina loves loose soil, which is created from peat, sand and leafy earth. Peat and earth are taken in one part, and two parts are needed for sand. A small amount of pebbles can be added to the substrate. The bottom of the pot must be covered with drainage material, it is best to use expanded clay, but other options are not prohibited. Then half of the prepared soil is filled up, the plant is installed and the rest of the planting mixture is sprinkled on all sides.
Reproduction of nolina
The easiest way to grow a new plant at home is to buy nolina from a specialty store. All plant propagation methods are troublesome and time-consuming.
Seed propagation
After purchasing the planting material, it is necessary first of all to select the defective seeds. This can be done as follows: soak all the seeds for a day, and discard those that appear on the surface.
For planting, you need to prepare wide, shallow bowls, fill them with a wet substrate, mixing sand and peat in equal proportions.
It is enough to put the seeds on the substrate, lightly press down with your hands and cover with glass on top. After that, the bowl should stand in a bright, warm place. Such conditions are most comfortable for seed germination. If there is not enough light, an additional light source is used.The duration of daylight hours for nolina seeds is at least 12 hours. It is necessary to regularly ventilate the bowl, maintain a comfortable level of humidity. Under these conditions, the seed germination period is two to three weeks.
The glass can only be removed after the first few leaves appear. The watering regime should be as follows: it is better to dry the plant a little than to overmoisten the soil.
When the plants are strong, they can be planted in a permanent growing area.
You cannot remove the seed shell on your own, since the young plant feeds on the reserves contained in the seeds. When the plant is strong enough, the seed coat will fall off on its own.
Propagation by lateral cuttings
This method is complicated by the fact that lateral shoots on the plant appear quite rarely. If a scion appears, it can be carefully cut and rooted.
Cuttings are cut as close to the base of the stem as possible, the cut site is processed with crushed activated carbon. For five hours, the cuttings are dried. The bottom row of leaves is best cut off, leaving only a few of the top leaves.
The planting substrate should be light, the use of soil for seeds is allowed. The substrate around the cutting needs to be crushed a little, cover the plant with foil or glass and put the flowerpot in a warm and bright place
Until the cuttings are completely rooted, it is important to monitor the soil moisture level and regularly ventilate the room. When young leaves appear, the shelter can be removed
Varieties and photos
Bocarnea was first encountered in the central regions of Mexico and immediately impressed botanists with its size - in its homeland it reaches more than 10 meters in height and more than a meter in diameter. Its leaves are so strong that the locals used them to weave baskets and hats. However, the cultivated bokarnea has abruptly lost its ability to stretch to such a grandiose size and has turned into a plant that is convenient for growing and care at home, unpretentious in everyday life, but has not lost other external characteristics. Belongs to the Agavov family.
Below are descriptions and photos of the main varieties of bokarnei that can be cared for at home and in a botanical garden.
Bent (Beaucarnea recurvata)
This variety has a bizarrely curved and very powerful trunk, reminiscent of a tree with a pot-bellied bulb near the ground. This thickening stores a supply of water collected during the short rainy season and deposited during a prolonged drought. According to scientists, a plant can survive on such a stock for a whole year! However, the barrel will also lose all its power. The leaves of the variety are tough and narrow, lanceolate. They also help in collecting moisture. The photo below shows the bent (recurvat):
Long-leaved (Beaucarnea longifolia)
It reaches 2-3 meters in height, trunks-branches grow from 3 to 5. Leaves are soft, dark green, up to 2.5 meters long and up to 3 cm wide. The trunk is covered with a cork-like bark of gray-brown color. What the long-leaved variety looks like can be seen in the photo below:
Compressed (Beaucarnea stricta)
Refers to a medium-sized species. It stretches in height up to 10 meters, branches from the very base. Leaves 50-80 cm long and 0.8-1.5 cm wide, bluish-green. The leaves grow very densely and outwardly resemble spherical "brushes", the tips of which can even be pricked. Dew does not evaporate from such leaves, but rolls along it to the base of the trunk. In the photo below, the bokarnea variety is compressed:
The genus includes about 30 varieties, but at home only bent-back (nolina) grows well, the rest take root badly.
Description
Nolina - what is this plant? It belongs to the Agavaceae species. Latin name: Nolina.
Informal names: bottle tree and ornamental Bocarnea.
The plant is distributed in the southern part of America in the states of Texas, Orizona, California, New Mexico.
In the wild, it has the shape of a miniature tree. At the base, the trunk expands greatly.
It serves to conserve the water that the plant feeds on.
Since this representative of the flora grows in arid desert states, it has acquired the ability to retain moisture during a prolonged drought.
Such an expanded base is called caudex - swelling.
As moisture and nutrients are used up, the thickening decreases. In this case, folds appear at the bark. During heavy showers, Nolina's reserves are replenished, and the caudex increases in volume again.
The crown of the plant is powerful, very dense. Leaflets are narrow, elongated, very rigid. There is a miniature evaporating surface on the leaves. They are shaded with caudex water.
The reservoir protects the surface from overheating. Therefore, it is generally accepted that all parts of the flower are perfectly adapted to growing in arid areas.
Nolina (Bocarnea) photo:
Description of the flower
Nolina or Bocarnea is a flower, or rather, a small tree with a swollen trunk. Often, water accumulates in them - due to such a liquid, people survive on islands and in forests, therefore Nolina is also called the bottle tree. In hot weather, the long leaves of the plant gather in bunches, which allows them to reduce the evaporation surface.
Under natural conditions, the plant can become more branched after flowering, but many Dutch people achieve this effect as soon as possible.
A thick trunk often has a lot of greenery, so a mature plant is of particular value.
Growing at home won't be as easy as it sounds, but it's worth a try.
The edges of the plant grow in width - now it is easy to find nolina on rocky ground with a small fertile layer. That is why, when growing, you cannot do without high-quality and proper drainage.
Nolina (bokarney) bent
The genus Nolina (Nolina) includes almost 30 species of plants of the Agave family (according to another classification - Dracene). In nature, these succulents grow in northern Mexico and in the southern states of the United States (Texas). In a stony, arid semi-desert, Nolina feels great. For the first time this plant was described by a Frenchman (1803) and was named in honor of the French gardener P. Nolin.
In room conditions, nolina bent is grown. It grows slowly. With age, it can reach a height of two meters. The bottle tree has a trunk with a noticeable thickening (caudex). The moisture reserve allows the succulent to survive even in the driest and hottest regions, where rainfall is extremely rare. The thick cork layer protects the trunk from evaporation, and the tough leaves hardly evaporate moisture.
Houseplant care
Nolina (bokarnea) belongs to succulents, so care should be appropriate. The plant takes root well in normal indoor conditions. And its main advantage is that it looks great in any modern interior.
Air temperature
In hot summer, when the plant has a growing period, it is useful to take it out into the fresh air, it loves a lot of heat. In winter, the plant, however, like almost all others, has a dormant period, at this time the desired temperature is + 10-15 degrees.
Lighting for nolina
Nolina (bokarnea) is a light-loving flower, she loves strong and bright light. And although many experienced florists do not advise direct sunlight, the flower also feels very good on the southeast window. In winter, during the dormant period, bocarene can be transferred to partial shade.
Watering a flower
This flower belongs, as we said earlier, to succulents, so you need to water it with care. It is necessary to use the main rules for application to all succulents (haworthia, epiphyllum, cactus, aloe, etc.) - it is better to dry the earth than to fill it
In hot periods, you need to water the bowl, depending on the size of the pot, but only after the soil has dried - once every 5-7 days.
In winter, you need to water even less often - twice a month. To prevent the tips of the leaves from drying out, especially if the room is dry and warm, you need to spray the plant regularly. Watering and spraying should be carried out with water at room temperature, and only with settled water. The plant is also great for hydroponics.
Plant feeding
Fertilize nolin during the growth period. For feeding this houseplant, a special mineral fertilizer is perfect, which is used for decorative deciduous plants. It is good that the fertilizer has a high nitrogen content. Top dressing is usually carried out once a month.
Nolina transplant
Frequent transplants are not needed for Bocarnea. As a rule, you need to transplant once every three years, in a small pot. Nolina loves cramped and not very nutritious land. You can use a mixture for cactus, and also add a little forest soil, and if you can, be sure to add sphagnum moss. The main thing to consider when transplanting nolina is good drainage. The drainage holes in the pot should be large. Do not under any circumstances allow water to stagnate!
Houseplant propagation
It can be propagated in two ways. The most popular method is by seeds. Experienced growers say that this is not very difficult. The main condition for good reproduction is quality seeds. Before planting, the seeds must be soaked in an epin solution.
The second way of reproduction of nolina is by children, which appear in the form of lateral shoots in an adult plant. In order for the plant to take root, the earth must be kept at a constant temperature of +25 degrees.
Plant pests
It is believed that the tough leaves of bokareni are not to the taste of pests, but there are still concerns that spider mites and scale insects may "encroach" on it, especially in dry indoor air. If they attacked the plant, then you need to fight hard with them.
Cacti and Succulents Houseplants
Nolina's care
Nolina, bokarnea, ponytail, bottle tree - these are the names of one exotic plant. The flower belongs to the agave family of succulents. For the first time, the description of nolina appeared in 1803 thanks to the Frenchman André Michaud. The popularity of the flower is explained not only by its decorative appearance, but also by its exceptional unpretentiousness.
Homeland and appearance of Nolina
The plant is native to Texas and the northern regions of Mexico. Nolina is well adapted to survive in areas with very hot climates. A few rains are enough for the plant to accumulate a sufficient amount of moisture in the trunk. In the heat, the leaves gather in bunches and, thus, the evaporation of water from their surface is significantly reduced.
Nolina rightfully belongs to the most ornamental plants. The trunk is thick and widens strongly towards the bottom. As a result, the shape of the barrel resembles a bottle.
The leaves are concentrated in the upper part of the plant, collected in bunches. The leaf plates are dense, leathery, fleshy, dark green in color. Each sheet can be up to one meter long.
Under natural conditions, the tree can reach a height of eight meters. As for flowering, it is impossible to see flowers in indoor conditions, since nolina is capable of blooming only in natural conditions.
Nolina or bokarnea belongs to unpretentious plants. Taking into account the peculiarities of the structure of the trunk and the ability to accumulate water in it, the nolina can not be watered for a long time. What the plant does not tolerate is an excess of moisture. Excess water that enters the soil does not evaporate; as a result, the plant rots and dies.
It should be remembered that nolina grows slowly. It happens that for a long time the grower does not notice any signs of plant growth, however, you should be patient. In order to accelerate the growth process, it is enough to adhere to the recommendations of specialists.
Watering mode
Compliance with the watering regime is an important condition in the successful cultivation of nolina. In spring and summer, the plant needs abundant, but rare watering.
Typically, the bottom watering method is used, when the flowerpot is placed in a container of water. You can take out the flowerpot when the top layer of the substrate becomes shiny. After that, you need to wait for excess moisture to drain and put the flowerpot in its usual place. The next watering can be carried out only after the soil is completely dry.
In autumn and winter, in the absence of a dormant period, the irrigation regime is not changed, you can periodically spray the plant, preventing water from entering the trunk.
At temperatures from +15 to +10 degrees, watering decreases, and at lower rates, it stops.
An adult plant can easily do without watering throughout the year, using the water that has accumulated in the trunk.
Lighting requirements
Given that under natural conditions, nolina grows in bright light, she also needs to find the brightest place in the room. It is best to put the flowerpot on the south window. Otherwise, the trunk of the plant will bend, trying to reach the sun.
Temperature regime
In summer, the optimum temperature for nolina is from +20 to +25 degrees, and in autumn and winter, the plant needs a dormant period. At this time, the temperature is reduced to +10 degrees.
In summer, in warm weather, you can take the plant out into fresh air, but reliably protect it from drafts.
Top dressing
During the period of active growth, that is, in spring and summer, nolina is fed once every three weeks.
It is best to alternate mineral and organic fertilizers, while it is important to reduce the concentration of fertilizers by half in comparison with that indicated on the package
Nolina tolerates cactus fertilizers, manure and mullein well. In the process of transplanting, ash can be added to the soil.
A method of growing nolina (bokarnea or bottle tree) from seeds at home
At home, any kind of reproduction of nolina is a rather complicated process, so many people just buy the plant in the store.
There are two main ways of propagation of this plant - with the help of seeds and side shoots. Young plants then grow very slowly. It may take several years for them to reach at least 1 m in height.
The soil is best suited in the form of any fertile substrate and sand in equal proportions. The depth to which the seeds are placed should not exceed 1 cm, since otherwise it will be difficult for the sprouts to break through the layer of earth. After sowing, the container must be covered with glass or cling film and left in a warm place. This will help create a greenhouse environment. The room in which the seeds will germinate should be very well lit. It's good if the soil is warmed up by direct sunlight for several hours a day. Maximum germination can be observed if the air temperature remains between 22 - 25 ° C. Daylight hours for seedlings should last at least 12 hours. If natural lighting lasts a shorter amount of time, it is necessary to create artificial conditions using phytolamps. The soil must be moistened from time to time, while ventilating it. If you follow all the rules, you can observe the first shoots already 2 - 3 weeks after sowing.
At first, it is necessary to grow nolina, sprouted from seeds, quite carefully, carefully adhering to all the rules of care, since the plant is still weak and the slightest mistake can lead to its death. It is impossible to remove a seed from a flower, since it will eat with its help for some time. When the time comes, the seed coat will fall off by itself. The glass must be removed from the container immediately after the first leaves appear. You need to be especially careful about watering - in no case should the plant be poured, as it will quickly start to rot.When the flowers grow, they can be planted in separate pots.
Possible problems
Nolina is a flower that is rarely affected by diseases and pests. However, when the air humidity is high, the plant can be occupied by a spider mite. Dealing with this problem is quite simple: you need to reduce watering and increase the air temperature in the room. In winter, you can use sources of additional lighting and heating.
The leaves fell down
It happens that the leaves of the nolina palm unexpectedly fall down. This is a very alarming sign of irreversible changes. If the leaves have dropped, then the trunk has lost its elasticity. In this case, it is not possible to reanimate the flower; most likely, it is already dead. The death of the stem means the death of the plant, because it is through the thickened stem of the nolin that most of the nutrients are absorbed. Reinforced top dressing will no longer help.
Other
It happens that during transplantation, the florist notices the roots affected by the fungus. In this case, they are carefully trimmed before placing the nolina in a new vessel. Timely removal of decayed areas is guaranteed to save the flower from death, therefore, with each transplant, the roots must be carefully examined. In adult specimens, the roots are more often affected by the fungus, compared to young shoots.
The insidiousness of fungal infections is that they are asymptomatic and become noticeable already in the last stages.
Therefore, when growing nolina, you should pay special attention to the irrigation regime.
It is necessary to organize care for Nolina at home in such a way as to prevent waterlogging of the earth - this is fraught with the occurrence of fungal root diseases. The soil in the pot intended for nolina should never be wet; a layer of drainage is needed to quickly absorb moisture at the bottom of the pot.
Nolina does not like too wet soil
With proper care, nolin will actively develop and grow for a long time. This unusual flower will decorate the interior of your home and office, as well as help purify the air in any room. Also, it can be safely grown in a house where there are children - the tree never causes allergic reactions. However, the plant takes up a lot of space, so it is not suitable for a small apartment.
When to transplant Nolina?
The transplant can be carried out in the spring. The need for this appears when the root system begins to peek out on the soil surface. The height of the pot should not be changed, but its diameter should be more than 3 cm.
Planting is possible only in dry soil. There is a bulge at the base of the bottle tree - water and nutrients accumulate in such a reservoir. The roots must be covered with earth.
TIP: Propagating a plant is not as easy as it sounds. This can be done by shoots or seeds. Such methods have their own difficulties, because it is not so easy to get seeds in room conditions, and when propagated by shoots, cuttings can begin to rot.
Reproduction by shoots is carried out as follows:
The shoot is cut with a sharp knife.
The place of the cut is sprinkled with charcoal.
The place of the cutting is treated with phytohormone.
Planting is carried out at an angle using sand and peat.
It is important to cover the plant with foil and place it in a warm and well-lit place. In a few days, the first leaves will appear.
Nolina transplant
When planning a nolina transplant, it is important to take into account that the root system is located close to the soil surface, so you need to choose a wide and shallow flowerpot. The diameter of the new flowerpot should be chosen 3 cm larger than the previous one.
The optimal period for replanting the plant is annually in the spring. An adult Nolina is transplanted once every three years. When the plant slows down and roots appear from the drainage holes, this is the first sign that it is time to prepare a new flowerpot and substrate.
During the transplanting process, you need to constantly monitor that the thick part of the trunk remains above the soil surface. Only the root system needs to be buried in the substrate. In this case, the roots must be spread over the entire volume of the flowerpot.
The substrate is required of the following composition:
- Leafy ground - one piece;
- Peat land - one part;
- Sand - two parts.
To increase the nutritional value, one part of humus is added to the soil. The plant develops quickly, provided that two parts of sod land are added to the soil. You can also choose a ready-made cactus substrate in a specialty store.
When replanting, it is necessary to provide a drainage layer in order to exclude the possibility of stagnant water.
After transplanting, the plant cannot be watered for several days, then you can switch to the usual watering regime. If the plant had to be transplanted due to illness, the dry period should be extended by ten days.
Reproduction of the "bottle palm"
Reproduction of bokarnea at home is possible in two ways - vegetatively and by seed. The first option is the most effective, in the second case it takes more effort and time.
Seed propagation
To grow a bokarney from seeds, you have to be patient and take into account, the method is not always successful. And besides, for such a flower to reach a meter in height, it will take more than one year.
You can purchase seed material in a specialized department, paying attention to their freshness - after a few years the seeds lose their germination
The sowing process can be carried out according to the following algorithm:
You can check the material for germination by placing the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate for 1-1.5 days; it is worth planting only those specimens that will be at the bottom, but the emerging sprouts will not give.
A suitable substrate is being prepared, it should be light, loose, contain river sand.
Seeds are planted in the ground to a depth not exceeding 1.5 cm.
The soil is moistened with a spray bottle.
The seed container is covered with glass to provide greenhouse conditions.
It is recommended to place the pot on a sunny side with good lighting.
It is important to regularly clean the ventilation flap and take care of maintaining constant humidity.
If all the conditions are met, then sprouts will appear from nolina seeds at home after 21-28 days. When they have 2-3 leaves, the fry should be transplanted. Juveniles require the same care as adult flowers.
Vegetation by shoots
At the "elephant's leg" processes can appear, but not often, they develop from dormant buds, which are located under the layer of the flower bark. To get a new plant from the lateral processes, you should:
- separate with a sharp blade, making an incision close to the trunk;
- the cut is immediately sprinkled with a layer of activated carbon;
- it is recommended to leave the processes in the air for several hours;
- then all the lower foliage is removed, only leaves remain in the upper part;
- in order to improve the survival of the shoot, it is advisable to dip it in a liquid agent that stimulates growth, for example, Epin's solution;
- the material is ready for planting - it is placed in the prepared soil, slightly tilted;
- the container with the plant is covered with a jar or polyethylene, but a small hole should be left, which will ensure air circulation and avoid stagnation of moisture in the soil;
- it is better to put the pot with the sprout in a place where it is warm and there is access to diffused light;
- the cap is removed when the first signs of growth appear, indicating that the flower has taken root.
Regardless of the method of growing the bokarnea flower, you can use a soil mixture intended for cacti and succulents.
