The plant of akalifa is often called "Fox Tail" or "Foxtail" by humans. But this is not entirely correct, because there is another plant with the same name.
Akalifa got such a nickname because of the similarity of inflorescences with fox tail.
Plant care is quite simple, and it looks exotic at home.
What it is?
Akalifa (Acalypha) or Foxtail refers to the flowering plants of the family Euphorbia.
Representatives of the genus are perennial and annual herbaceous plants, small trees, shrubs. Leaves differ egg-shaped, serrated edges. Flowers are small, are collected in spike inflorescences.
Some species are grown as decorative.
Foxtail, Foxtail or Foxtail (alopecurus pratensis aureovariegatus) belongs to the genus of perennial or annual meadow grasses of the Meat family (Gramina). They are common in the cold and temperate zones of the Southern and Northern Hemispheres.
Important!It should be remembered that all parts of these plants are poisonous.
Varieties of alopecurus pratensis aureovariegatus
Meadow
The meadow foxtail is a species of herbaceous plants of the genus Foxtails and the Meatlik family. It is a perennial, loose ground. In height reaches 50-120 cm, different short rhizome. Leaves - green, flat, linear, 4-10 mm wide.
The total inflorescence is a cylinder-shaped panicle. Its length is 3-10 cm, and its width is 6-9 mm. Flowering occurs in June, and seed ripening - in July.
Prefers half-moist places with loose and fertile soil.
Alpine
Alpine foxtail - another representative of the Myatlikovs. It is a perennial, low, arctic plant. It reaches a height of up to 20 cm. Stems have 2-3 internodes. Inflorescence resembles an ear, hairy, gray shade. In shape in the form of an oval or cylinder.
Flowering is celebrated in July. It resembles in appearance loose turf, growing slowly. Its color is gray-blue, and its young shoots are of a reddish hue. Loves bright sunshine.
Cranked
This The representative of the genus Foxtails is often found in humid places. It has curved crankstacks of the lower scales of flowers. They exceed spikelets in length by almost 2 times. In addition, it boasts a purple tinge of panicles, and its anthers are purple or yellow.
Stems reach up to 40 cm in height. Leaves are green or greyish green, flat. Their length is 2-12 cm. Spikelets are single-flowered, 1.5-7 cm long.
Akalifa Wilks
Akalif Wilks, as indoor plants, came to our homes from the tropical island of Fiji. Belongs to the family of Euphorbia.
This species is also called a rainbow plant because of changes in shades under different lighting conditions. The leaves are green, red, yellow. Under normal conditions, they are copper-red, in the bright sun - orangish, in the shade - greenish.
The effect of saturation of the hue depends on the amount of light of the sun. The shape of the leaves is egg-shaped. Flowers inconspicuous.
Rough or bristly haired
Akalif hispida is also called rough, bristly or bristly haired, comes from the family Euphorbia. It is an evergreen shrub reaching a height of 60 cm. In nature, it grows in southeast Asia, Australia and Polynesia.
The leaves are distinguished by a matte green color with red veins. The form is palmate-lobed, the serrated edge. Plant blooms all year round. The flowers are collected in long fluffy inflorescences, resembling earrings, crimson color.
Their length is up to 40 cm. Because of the beautiful leaves and flowers valued in home breeding.
South
Akalifa south belongs to the family of Euphorbia. It is considered a weed. Distributed in the Caucasus, the Far East.
Stems are straight, ribbed, branching. The height reaches 6.5 cm. The length of the leaves is 1.9 cm. Their shape varies from lanceolate to oval, pointed at the top. Flowers are collected in apical or axillary spicate inflorescences.
The plant is annual, blooms from July to August.
Mosaic
Akalif mosaic is a subspecies of Wilkesa. Very beautiful and ornamental plant. It has many shapes with a variety of leaf colors, sizes and silhouettes. Blossom unusual, but attractive. Inflorescences resemble long threads or lashes.
The subspecies mosaic is distinguished by wide-oval leaves of a bronze green shade with smears of orange and red. It is considered the most decorative variety.
General rules for caring for a plant at home
Akalifa is considered to be very thermophilic, because for a year a temperature of 17-25 degrees is required. In the summer you will need to rise to 22-25 degrees.
- Lighting. The light level should be moderately bright, in the summer they cover the leaves from the influence of the aggressive sun.
- Watering. Water moderately, the soil should be constantly wet, but not wet. In winter, watering should be reduced. In addition, frequent spraying is recommended, because dry air is harmful to alkalife.
- Priming. Land for growing plants need fertile, with low acidity. Mix in equal parts of humus, sod land, sand and peat. Drainage is required.
- Feeding. You need to feed in summer and spring during intensive growth with organic and mineral fertilizers. Repeat - 1 time in 2-3 weeks.
- Transfer. This is done in summer and spring, if the plant has grown. You can not make a full transplant, but only to replace the top layer of soil, shortened by 2 times the shoots.
On a note. Every few years, it is necessary to rejuvenate a plant by shortening it to 20-30 cm.
- Reproduction. Reproduction is done by cuttings or seeds. Semi-woody shoots perfectly rooted in the sand at 26 degrees of heat. Root 7-8 centimeters cuttings can be at any time.
Seeds reproduce akalifa in March-April, by sowing them into a mixture of soil and sand. Leave them at a temperature of 20-22 degrees. Seedlings are swooping in 2-3 cm.
- Diseases and pests. Leaves may fall off and turn yellow if there is very low humidity in the room. More frequent spraying is required. Leaves may wither and fall off due to too low an indoor temperature.
If akalife little light, then the leaves are drawn, become faded. The appearance of spots indicates a fungal infection. Required treatment fungicides. Pale leaves with slow growth indicate an insufficient amount of nitrogen. The plant must be fed with urea.
Typical pests are thrips, scale insects, aphids and worms.
More information about the care of alkalify at home can be found in a separate article.
A photo
Then you can see the photos of plants.
Conclusion
The plant is very curious and decorative. Its peculiar flowering, resembling a fox tail, attracts many amateur gardeners of home ornamental crops. And ease of care and simplicity akalify only add to her popularity.
