Albuka spiral: care at home, features and reviews

Albuka spiral is a plant with a curl, whose homeland is considered South Africa. Thanks to the ability to throw out a flower stalk with white flowers, the flower also received such an interesting name. Translated from the Latin albicare means "white shoot." The plant bewitches with original leaves, twisted into a tight spiral. In recent years, this type of bulbous succulents is gaining popularity among fans of exotic plants and collectors.

Albuka spiral - an unusual house plant

In another way it is called a South African gem in honor of the homeland of this exotic and amazing flower. This amazing variety of succulent, due to its unusual appearance, will become an ornament of any home collection. The original form of leaves, which are twisted into a tight spiral, attract and fascinate. It is this form of the leaf that allows the plant not to overheat and retain moisture, and the air masses - free to circulate around the succulent in the difficult natural conditions of the African climate. For the winter period, the vegetation of the albuki is spiral. It is at this time that it gives a radical rosette of leaves twisted in a spiral. It is interesting that the more sun and light it gets, the more twisting the leaves become. In the middle of spring yellow and green flowers bloom on fleshy and thick peduncles, collected in several pieces in one inflorescence, resembling spikelets. In summer, unlike other types of domestic plants, the albuka passes into a state of rest. The leaflets die, bulb growth stops.

Description

Albuka spiral (flower shop not every such plant sells) Belongs to the representatives of the family of asparagus and is a perennial succulent plant. The bulb is slightly flattened, roundish in shape, whitish in color, in diameter - up to 5 cm. The root system is fibrous, white. In albuki, the flower spike reaches a length of 60 cm and has a blue tint. Flowers of 10-20 are collected in brushes. Each flower is 3 cm in diameter on the pedicel, there is a small pointed bract. Corolla of a greenish or slightly yellow hue, resembling a bell with six lobes in the form of petals, which are arranged in two circles: the first three are horizontal, while the others are bent downwards and slightly cover the pistil and long stamens. Petals with a yellow edging and a strip of greenish color. Some types of albuki produce a creamy vanilla flavor. After flowering in place of the flower, a box is formed, in which there are shiny black seeds of the albuki spiral. Fleshy sheets of saturated bright green color at the ends form a spiral. At the base of the plant, leaves of 15-20 pieces are located in the basal rosette. The unusual shape of the leaves helps the plant retain moisture in the hot and droughty period.

Lighting, temperature

Albuquer is a light-loving plant. For active growth, development and long flowering, it is located in a well-lit, even bright place. The air temperature should be at least 25 degrees, and in winter - no lower than 13. In overcast, you can use the backlight. Phytolamps are used for these purposes. Ideal is the range of illumination 2500-3500 lux. For flowering, the plant needs a temperature difference in the daytime and at night.

Watering, top dressing

During the vegetative period, the plant needs to be fed with nutrients. Mineral fertilizers are introduced in liquid form every two weeks. According to reviews, when you care at home, the albuka spiral grows well with Use of ready-made complex fertilizing, specially developed for succulents. At the end of flowering, fertilizers are introduced last time. Abundant watering is justified during the period of growth and flowering. However, it should be remembered before watering again: the earthen should be dry. The plant will not be twisted leaves, if there is stagnant water. In the period of rest, when the plant is drooping and leaves are discarded, watering is stopped and renewed only at the beginning of the spring period.

Transplantation, flowering

Peduncles appear due to temperature changes at night and in the daytime. According to the reviews, the plant starts to bloom in early April and pleases with flowers for about ten weeks. After flowering, the top dressing is stopped, watering is reduced and, as soon as the plant discards the leaves, the pot is transferred to a dark place. Store it at room temperature until the appearance of new leaves. Albuquerque is exposed to a sunny place and abundantly watered, but not poured. Until a flower spike appeared, when you care at home, the albuka spiral is kept in a cool and very bright room.

In autumn, the bulb of the plant is transplanted into new soil, into which large sand is added to create airiness. At the bottom of the flowerpot a drainage layer is formed from expanded clay.

Vegetative method of breeding

The mother bulb grows in children. They can easily be detached and planted to produce a new plant with the same properties as the maternal succulent. And also it allows to save valuable attributes of a grade - spirality and the sated color of leaves, aroma of flowers.

Albuka spiral: reproduction by seeds

In this way, the succulent is rarely reproduced because of low germination. Capsules with seeds are harvested and kept in a dark place for about a month. For planting albuca spiralis, or albuca spiral, the seeds are used with a shelf life of no more than six months, otherwise they lose their germination. For the preparation of the soil, leaf land and sand are used in equal proportions. Large seeds are sown on the surface of the soil and slightly buried, covered with a plastic film or glass to create a greenhouse effect. Containers are exposed to the sunny side. Periodically, seeds are sprayed with water using a spray gun, avoiding overmoistening. For the germination of seeds, the temperature is maintained at about 27 degrees. Expect the first shoots should not be earlier than 15 days after planting. The young plant has long, even sheets. The spiral forms in about six months. The bulb is formed by the end of the first year of development, at which time it is possible to begin feeding. The albaca spiral starts in the third year.

Albuka spiral: home care

The succulent life cycles differ significantly from the familiar domestic plants, so it should create an imitation of the natural habitat. The period of vegetation begins in the autumn and lasts until the spring, and the rest period, on the contrary, occurs in the summer months. In the summer the plant fades and discards its foliage. In order for the succulent to rejoice with the beauty of the spiral leaves, it needs bright illumination not less than 18 hours a day. Create such conditions with fluorescent or fluorescent light. The soil mixture for cultivation should be loose, light and have a pH level, as for the breeding of other succulents At home care. Albuka spiral When watering does not tolerate stagnation of water, in this case the bulb rot. For planting, choose shallow, fairly flat pots or containers, so that ½ bulb remains above the soil. In a flowerpot create a good drainage. When the root system of the albuki flies all over in the flower pot, it means that the time has come for a transplant. If the plant is not transplanted in a timely manner, it will constantly discard the leaves and have a drooping appearance. According to gardeners, the difficulty in care is to create certain conditions during the growing season: in the daytime - a maximum of 18 degrees, and at night - not less than 5 and not more than 10 degrees. In the rainy season in nature, it is precisely such a temperature, when the plant grows actively. In addition, it is important to protect the flower from frost and keep it in a dry place during the dormant succulent period.

For lovers of unusual and exotic albuca plants, care and cultivation at home Do not present difficulties - this is a real find and an excellent decoration of the room.