We do pruning and form a pachistachis bush
If pachistachis appears in the grower's collection, pruning and shaping the bush will help its owner to achieve abundant and long-lasting flowering from the flower. Knowing this feature and maintaining optimal conditions for the plant, you can admire bright, yellow or red candles over lush greenery for several months.
In nature, pachistachis is yellow, the most popular among amateur flower growers, it is a perennial shrub up to 120 cm high.At home, there is not always a place for such a solid pet. However, you should not give up a brightly flowering plant. It is much more correct to regularly monitor the crown, because the correct formation and pruning of the pachistachis bush also solves this problem, and gives an excellent planting material for breeding room culture.
The need for pruning pachystachis
If you do not take measures to restrict growth in time, the shoots will stretch out and gradually become bare, and flower buds will be laid only at the very ends of the branches. Regular pruning helps prevent this.
To facilitate pruning of the bush, the formation of pachystachis begins when the seedling reaches a height of 20 cm. The green top is pinched to the plant, which should awaken the dormant axillary buds, which will give the first generation of lateral shoots. The active growing season begins in the spring to pachistachis managed to make up for the damage caused by pruning, it is carried out the day before, that is, in February or March. While the flower is young, the pinching can be done several times per season. Older specimens, whose growth rates gradually slow down, are cut only in the spring. At this time, it is especially important to adjust the length of the extended branches.
Removing the tops of the side shoots will help make the crown thicker. Pinching the main one will limit the height of the future bush.
If you are late with the formation of the bush, the plant quickly loses its attractive appearance. However, you should not part with a green pet. Deep pruning is possible, in which only axillary buds remain on the lower part of the stems. Having a healthy root system, the flower will recover, in which case it is important not to miss the point of pruning.
Features of care for flowering pachistachis
On a young growth, foliage and bright inflorescences in the form of yellow or red candles appear actively. However, even after pruning, the grower may not wait for the desired flowering. This happens if:
- the flower grows in a pot that is too spacious, and such freedom for the root system merges with the growth of the crown and the lack of flowers;
- the plant experiences a nutritional deficiency, which is especially noticeable on young, actively growing specimens.
Therefore, when planting and transplanting pachistachis, they are very careful about choosing a pot, and then they regularly feed the plant.
Pachistachis transplant
It is advisable to replant small, rapidly growing pachystachis every year, carefully removing the root system together with soil and transferring the lump to a new pot. The best time to transplant pachystachis is in the last month of winter, after the plant is pruned.
Indoor culture is not too whimsical.When choosing a soil for pachistachis, preference should be given to loose, moderately nutritious mixtures that are good for air and moisture.
Ready-made substrates for ornamental flower plants are perfect for pachistachis. But you can make your own potting mix.
To do this, take:
- 2 parts of sod land;
- 1 part cleaned from rough inclusions peat;
- 1 part leaf humus;
- 1 part sand.
A handful of vermiculite or crushed sphagnum will help to loosen and structure the mixture. For planting rooted cuttings, charcoal is added to the substrate. This component, like moss, helps not only to enrich the soil, but also to protect plants from pachystachis fungal diseases, pests and rot that can affect the flower in high humidity.
Another useful supplement is that chopped bark of conifers acidifies the soil, which is necessary for a plant to grow and flourish.
When an adult flower is transplanted, it is not necessary to clean the roots of the substrate residues. It is enough to carefully remove dead root areas and hard clods of depleted soil that interfere with filling with a new mixture. Under large specimens, painfully related to transplantation, in the spring they carefully change the top layer of soil, on top, to the previous level, filling in a new loose substrate.
Reproduction of pachistachis
February and March is the best time not only for pruning and replanting pachystachis, but also for obtaining new plants. At home, this plant can be grown from seeds, but apical cuttings obtained during pruning are more often used. This is the easiest way to reproduce pachistachis, allowing you to quickly see beautiful inflorescence candles on your windowsill.
For rooting, it is best to take healthy, well-developed cuttings with 2-3 internodes and an active growth point.
You can root planting material:
- in soft, settled water;
- in a loose substrate, while the container with the handle is kept in a room greenhouse.
The roots are formed at the nodes, so there is no need to immerse the cutting deeply. If the first breeding method of pachystachis is used, the roots can be seen visually. The emergence of young leaves speaks of the rooting of cuttings planted in the ground. This happens within a month and means that it is time to transfer the plant to a permanent place of residence.
Pachystachis diseases, pests and growing problems
Pachystachis is quite hardy and is rarely attacked by pests, pathogenic fungi and bacteria. Most often, problems causing foliage and pallor, growth retardation and lack of flowering are associated with a violation of the rules of care.
The plant is sensitive to lack of moisture. Its leaves lose their juiciness and rich color, they begin to curl, and crumble with prolonged drought. The flower shows a similar reaction to excessive dryness of the air. Therefore, during the heating season and in summer, the flower needs increased attention, spraying and regular, but not too abundant watering.
Pale leaves, stunted growth and flowering are signs of a lack of nutrition. In order to compensate for it and not bring pests and diseases to the weakened pachistachis, the flower is fed 2-3 times a month.