Pakhira Aquatics: Care and Reproduction

Pakhira aquatika is one of 24 species of the plant of the baobab family under this name. Another name is water pahira. It differs from other species in that its seeds can be eaten. The pahira grows for a long time, he lives for many years. Is it possible to grow such a tree at home and how to do it?

Description

This plant is grown as a tree. At the same time, it refers to succulents, because it stores moisture in reserve and stores it in the trunk under the bark. Its trunk is like a bottle. Therefore pahir is called a bottle tree. There are other names: Malabar or Guiana chestnut, which the plant received for the similarity of fruits and especially the leaves of chestnut and pahira. At home, you can grow a copy up to a meter and a half. The pahira aquatika, whose photo is below, has dark leaves. Their shape is palm, to the touch they are dense, leathery. Leaves are long.

The motherland of pahira is the swamp of Mexico. In natural conditions, every year from June to November, the aquatic pahira blooms. The flower is large, it can be white, yellow, pink and cream colored. Its size reaches 12 cm. It has a large number of long stamens. Flowers have a vanilla scent. They are collected in inflorescences-panicles. The length of each of them is 35 cm. The plant blooms in the presence of leaves, although other bottled trees - with fallen leaves. When grown in an apartment, it does not bloom.

Pakhira Aquatics: Reproduction

Pahir is propagated by sowing seeds or rooting cuttings.

The seeds that are going to be sown should be from the last harvest, because they quickly lose their germination. Germinate them at high temperature. It should be at least 27 degrees. It is difficult to provide such a high temperature. You can use the bottom heating. Seeds are placed in a wide bowl, where sand or peat is poured. The seeds are poured from above.

The dishes, covered with glass, are installed on a heating battery. Periodically, the seeds are sprinkled with warm water and left for a while open for airing. After a month or a little less, the seeds appear sprouts. But immediately plant them in pots is not recommended. We must wait for them to grow stronger.

Cuttings cut closer to the fall, grabbing part of the bark. The stalk must have a kidney and a leaf. He is immersed in "Kornevin", which promotes the rapid formation of roots. Install them in a dish with a substrate, cover with a lid or a plastic wrap. For the rooting of cuttings, too, a high temperature and humidity of about 60% is needed. Approximately one and a half months later, roots appear. When they reach about a centimeter in length, transplanted into a new pot. In the future, they take care of the way they do for an adult plant.

Planting of the pahira

The soil for cultivation of the pahira should be slightly acidic and consist of equal parts of leaf and sod land and river sand. The pieces of coal will prevent rotting of the roots. The broken brick will draw in excess moisture from the ground. Drainage is one fourth of the dishes. You can buy in the store a special mixture for palm trees. It well grows aquarium pachira, care for which we consider further.

Care of the plant

Some growers believe that the pahira requires special careful care. Others refer to plants that do not require special care. Pakhira aquatics is in no hurry to grow, for a year it grows only a few centimeters. Branching begins only after the tree grows large. Before this, it has no lateral shoots.

To place a young pahir is advised on the window, but not on the southern and not on the north. It is better not to install on the northern pahiri, because from lack of light the trunk stretches and becomes ugly.

You can set the pahir on the southern window for a while, but you need to shade it from the direct rays of the sun at noon. If this is not done, ugly pale spots-burns can form on the sheets.

The temperature regime for keeping the plant is easy to observe in any apartment. It should not be below 16 degrees in winter, rise above 25 degrees in summer. Do not install the pahir near heating batteries or other heating appliances. But most of all she is afraid of drafts.

Humidity does not matter much for the pahiri. It can grow indoors with both dry and humid enough air. A couple of times a month it can be sprinkled with warm water. The jet of sprayer should be directed to the leaves, trying not to hit the barrel. Excessive moisturizing can lead to decay.

Watering

Pakhira aquatics does not need abundant watering. Moreover, it is harmful to her. After all, the stock of moisture in the tree is always, and it uses it in case of need. Therefore, it is necessary to water the pahir in a pallet, and she will use it at the right time. Watered when a lump of earth will dry out well.

For the aquarium pahiria plant, both excess and lack of moisture are harmful. From too frequent watering his roots rot, and it disappears, and with insufficient watering leaves wilt and fall.

Top dressing

Pahir aquatic needs to be fed once a month with complex fertilizer. But you need to do it carefully. Excessive feeding can have a detrimental effect on the condition of the plant. Its roots can burn and the abyss.

Pruning plants

Pruning is carried out in the spring. In the place where the cut was made, the rapid growth of young branches begins, the crown becomes lush. With the help of trimming, you can form the crown, giving it the desired shape, most often in the form of a ball.

You can form the trunk of the pahira so that it looks like a pigtail. For this, three plants are planted in one pot and gradually intertwine them. But not always it is possible. Sometimes with this form of cultivation, only one trunk develops, while others, or one of them, lag behind in development or disappear.

Transplantation of the pagina

You can accelerate the growth of aquarium pachyra. Home care includes transplantation. The first years of life pahir are transplanted every year. Do it in the spring. Older specimens require a transplant every 3 years. New dishes should be 5 cm wider than the old, but shallow. The root of the plant is located on the surface. Therefore, it is impossible to deepen it into the soil. Adult pahiri trees are not transplanted.

Features of care

Pahiru aquatic in summer can be taken out to fresh air. You just need to see that it has enough light, exclude drafts.

The main thing in caring for pahira is to keep the trunk firm. If it softens, it indicates rotting of the roots. In this case, remove the plant from the tub. Purify from the ground. Remove unsuitable roots, disinfect the cut places, sprinkling them with crushed charcoal. Allow to dry. Planted in new soil and do not water for at least a week.

Sometimes on the leaves there are dark spots. This indicates that the plant was exposed to drafts or it was kept and poured in the cold.

The leaves of the pahira turn yellow and fall with insufficient moist air. They wilt and wilt when there is a lack of moisture.

Pests of aquaria pahiri

Leaves and stalk of the pahira can damage: spider mite, thrips, aphids and scab. Fighting them is necessary, spraying with insecticides. Do it not indoors, take out on the street or on the balcony. After all, insecticides are harmful to the inhabitants of the apartment.

Processing is carried out 2-3 times, repeating in a week. Plants affected by a pest need to be urgently isolated from others so as not to infect them.

Using aqua pahiri

In place of the flower of the pahira, large green berries are formed. Their flesh, some sources call inedible. Others claim that they can be eaten. Within each fruit there are up to 25 seeds-nuts. Seeds can be eaten raw. They can be roasted or cooked before use. Also, the seeds are grinded into flour, from which bread is baked. From the same powder prepare a delicious drink, like hot chocolate. Eat both leaves and flowers.

Pahiri plants are very popular. They are used to create bonsai. It is believed that they bring good luck, health and well-being to the house. They should increase with each new sheet. The plant has the glory of the money tree. It is believed that it brings good luck and prosperity.