Types of Akalifa and its differences from the meadow foxtail. Houseplant Care Guidelines

Akalifa is a flowering plant that is called the Fox Tail in everyday life. However, this name can be fully attributed to only one of the varieties of the plant, namely to the bristle-haired acaliph. An unusual indoor plant with long bright inflorescences similar to fluffy tails is gaining popularity among amateur gardeners. This is akalifa. It can be grown as an ampelous culture, if you pinch the tips of the shoots - they branch. Caring for the tropicana is simple, and it is developing very quickly.

So far, it is rarely on sale and many do not know how to grow it. Popular species of akalifa and its conditions are discussed below.

Origin and description

Akalifa belongs to the family Euphorbia and takes its name from the Greek Acalypha (nettle). It has the same leaves as pointed nettles with pointed tips, but they are not burning at all.

In most species, the leaves are pubescent, dark green in color. There are variegated species of Akalifa with contrasting spots on the leaf plate or a bright border running along the perimeter of the leaf.

Most species of Akalifa belong to perennial shrubs, but there are annual herbaceous species. There are perennial akalifs, the structure of the stem resembling low trees, though very rarely.

The flowers of this plant are very small and collected in drooping fluffy inflorescences, like birch catkins. Fluffy long and bright inflorescences of akalifa are similar to fur tails, therefore The popular name of the plant is the fox tail.

The length of the “tails” ranges from 7 cm in ornamental-deciduous species to 40-50 cm in bristly-hairy acalifa. Akalif hails from the tropical climate of Southeast Asia, the islands of Polynesia and Malaysia.

Under natural conditions, Akalifa shrubs reach 1.5-2 m in height, and their leaves are up to 25 cm long. At home breeding, the dimensions of this beauty are much more modest: height 40-60 cm, leaf length about 10-15 cm, length of fluffy inflorescences up to 30 cm

Right and wrong name

All akalifs are called the fox’s tail, but it’s correct only for one species - the bristled Akalifa or its exact name, bristly-hairy, as the owner of the longest and most magnificent “tail”. Do not confuse the popular name of Akalifa, Fox tail, with a very similar name for another plant, Foxtail.

The latter belongs to perennial grasses from the genus Cereals. The height of the foxtail is not more than a meter, the leaves are simple lanceolate with a smooth edge. The inflorescence is in the form of a silky spike, the flowers of which are arranged in a spiral.

• Foxtail meadow. Height 50-120 cm. Leaves are flat and narrow, green, rough 4-10 mm wide. Inflorescences are spikelets up to 10 cm long and 6-9 mm wide. It grows in the southern Urals.
• Alpine foxtail. Low spikelets up to 30 cm in height. The leaves are brown, flat and narrow. The inflorescences are short (2 cm in dyne and 5-7 mm in width) densely hairy with thin curving hairs. It is found in open alpine meadows and rocky slopes of Northern Europe.
• Foxtail cranked. The leaves are gray, with a waxy coating. Spikelets are lilac with brown anthers. The stem is cranked up to 40 cm tall. Inflorescences are 3-5 cm long and 4-6 cm wide. It grows along moist ravines and the shores of reservoirs in Russia and Ukraine.

Photo

Below you can see a photo of varieties of meadow, alpine and cranked foxtail:

Kinds

They are divided into two types:

1. Decorative blooming. Fluffy spike-shaped inflorescences up to 50 cm long. The leaves are bright green, pubescent, with a pointed tip and a serrated, serrated edge.
2. Decorative foliage. Inflorescences are 5-10 cm long. The leaves are bronze-green, dark olive with burgundy-brown spotting. Long up to 20 cm.

General care rules

• Wear gloves when working with akalifa; it is poisonous. Wash tools with soap.
• Every year a flower is recommended to be replanted. But after two years, Akalifa degenerates, loses attractiveness.
• The plant is effectively rejuvenated by pruning. When circumcised from Akalifa, one stump is left with a height of 20-25 cm.
• Cover the top with a glass jar, periodically ventilate and spray.
• For young branches (1.5-2 months), the tips are pinched for greater branching, removing the upper shoots, so that the Akalifa branches more and branches.
• This is a thermophilic plant, prefers 20-25 ° С in the summer, at least 18 ° С in the winter. With hypothermia and drafts, dark spots appear on the leaves.
• Moisture-loving, consumes a lot of water with its rapid growth. It is necessary to water and spray abundantly (1-2 times a week) during the growth period, in winter it is enough 1 time in 10-12 days.

  Humidity not lower than 50%. Do not spray during flowering. The earth must always be wet. With a lack of watering or dry air, the tips of the leaves turn brown. With a lack of light, the variegated leaves fade, the plant stretches, becomes lanky.

• Akalifa loves light, but is afraid of direct rays. Soil - heather garden land: 4 parts of turf land and 1 part of leaf compost, sand, peat. The soil should be light, permeable. With heavy soil leaves wither.
• From April to September, 2 times a month, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. This fast-growing houseplant is usually kept for 1 season, but with proper care it can survive 3-5 years.

Read more about the proper care of acalifa here.

Akalifa is a plant with very unusual fluffy "tails" of flowers and jagged nettle-like leaves. Growing it at home is easy enough and you can always surprise your friends and acquaintances with the sight of this South Asian beauty.

Watch the video: HOUSEPLANT CARE TIPS FOR BEGINNERS + printable guide (April 2024).