Mallow family. Homeland South and Central America, India, Africa. The genus has more than 40 species.
- Water pachira Pachira aquatica - has a characteristic thickening of the lower part of the stem, the size and condition of which to some extent depend on the conditions of maintenance. Inside the thickening there is a cavity in which water accumulates, in the absence of watering, the plant can consume moisture reserves, so the pakhira may well endure some re-drying of the earthen coma, but very poorly tolerates excessive watering. Due to the specific structure of the stem, water pahir can be found under the name bottle tree.
Pahira has palmately complex leathery leaves that are dark green. It rarely blooms in indoor conditions. The flowers are white, collected in a large panicle inflorescence. After flowering, it forms fruits in the form of a long oval berry, brownish-green, containing edible seeds. Pahira can be grown as a single plant, but it should be borne in mind that it will start to grow and form side shoots in a few years, when it begins to pull up to the ceiling.
On sale, you can often find a pakhira formed by interweaving several trunks. As a rule, these are expensive plants, since their cultivation requires a lot of effort - several plants, at a young age of prosperous seedlings, begin to gradually intertwine, and the formation of a "marketable" species does not occur in one year.
Pahira - home care
Temperature: Moderate or warm, optimal 22-24 ° C in summer, pahira suffers at temperatures above 30 ° C - leaves dry, the lower part of the trunk is exposed. In winter, it is desirable to keep at a temperature of about 14-15 ° C, at least 10 ° C. You can keep it on an insulated balcony.
Lighting: Bright scattered light, with some direct sunlight, can be a place in light partial shade. Pahira grows well on the east and northwest window. On the south window, shading will be required during the hottest part of the day from noon to 3 p.m.
Watering: Moderate in spring and summer, the topsoil must necessarily dry out by the next watering. Water only when the soil in the upper 3-4 cm is dry. In winter, watering is rare, the soil is not allowed to dry completely. With a lack of watering, the leaves of the pachyra lose their turgor and hang. With excessive watering, the stem can rot. Water for watering should be soft and warm.
Fertilizers: In the period from April to August, fertilizers for indoor plants are added every 3-4 weeks in doses recommended by the manufacturer.
Air humidity: Pahira tolerates dry indoor air, but responds well with regular spraying from a very fine spray bottle.
Transplantation: Pachyra is transplanted annually at a young age, old plants are transplanted after 2-3 years. Take a shallow pot, but wide enough. The roots of the pakhira are not powerful, so a plant planted in a too deep pot is sick and grows poorly. The soil can be composed independently: 1 part of the turf, 1 part of the sheet, 1 part of the small gravel, brick chips and pieces of charcoal. Be sure to make drainage and drain holes at the bottom of the pot.
Reproduction: Seeds in early spring, or cuttings in August. Cuttings root reluctantly, you need to use soil heating or try to root the ploughshare cuttings in a zip bag: take an airtight bag with a plastic zipper, prepare a mixture of equal parts vermiculite and universal soil, with a volume of half a glass. Moisturize it and sterilize it in the microwave for about 2 minutes, cool it right in a glass (or bowl), and then pour it into a bag. Cut the ploughshare stalk with a heel (a piece of stem), mark it in a bag, slightly inflate it and seal it. Hang on the window (can be secured with tape). No need to water it, the humidity inside the sealed bag is quite high, about 90% and above. When callus grows and roots appear, they will be noticeable through the package.