Aucuba (from lat. Aucuba) is an ornamental evergreen plant from the dogwood family. In nature, there are 3 types of golden tree and they grow in China, the Himalayas and Japan.
The plant is easily propagated by seeds. Thanks to this feature, breeders have bred a lot of varieties for greenhouses and for growing in the garden.
It is not difficult to grow a home aukuba, because care is not difficult.
Content:
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Short description: general information
Evergreen shrub prefers light shade
Leaves can be either solid green or mottled spots., stripes and original splashes of yellow. It seems that they are all strewn with peas. Teeth may pass along the edge, or the leaf plates may be solid. The location on the stem is opposite.
It blooms with inconspicuous flowers of small sizes. Purple or purple-burgundy flowers are located in the axils. In summer, yellow or red berries ripen on the plant under natural conditions.
Aucuba home is characterized by rapid growth. During the growing season, it can give an increase in green mass by 20 centimeters in height.
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A species of aucuba for growing in the garden
Only 2 types of aukuba are common: Japanese and Himalayan.
Aucuba Himalayan (A.Himalaica)
Aucuba Himalayan (A.Himalaica)
The tree is native to the Eastern Himalayas. Good growth requires diffused light, but the variety easily adapts to a lack of light.
Flowering occurs in March. Then red berries appear. Oblong-lanceolate leaves are arranged oppositely.
Due to the fact that the species grows rapidly, it must be pruned. After carrying out the procedure, it is possible to preserve the decorative effect of not only the aukuba, but also all indoor plants.
Japanese aucuba (A.Japonica)
Aukuba Japanese (A. Japonica)
In the natural environment can be found on the Korean Peninsula. Leaf blades can be pure green or flecked with yellow.
After flowering, white, red, green berries appear. When grown indoors, it prefers privacy or solitary planting.
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Aucuba home: care rules
Home beauty rarely exceeds 1.5 meters in height
However, to obtain a lush and beautiful shrub, it is necessary to adhere to certain conditions. This is the secret of plant care.
Air temperature in the room
Aucuba: home care
For successful growth, aucuba needs optimal temperature conditions. In summer it is desirable to maintain the temperature at +18°C, in winter +10-14°C, but not less than +8°C.
If these conditions are ignored, The leaves will quickly grow old and begin to fall off.
Aukuba does not like temperature changes, it should be protected from drafts. Direct sunlight leaves burns on the leaves, so you should not grow a golden tree on the southern windowsill.
Too dry air is also contraindicated for variegated beauty. Fresh air has a positive effect on the growth of aucuba variegata. Do not forget to periodically ventilate the room.
In the summer, you can grow aucuba outdoors. However, you need to choose a place so that the plant is shaded from the sun's rays on a hot afternoon. Otherwise, foliage burns cannot be avoided.
Air humidity
A magical scattering of golden specks on the entire surface of the sheet. Photo: care must be right
The plant is accustomed to the subtropical climate, therefore, the conditions of detention in the apartment must be brought closer to natural.
In the summer, you can increase the humidity, conducting regular ventilation of the room.
Spraying is allowed, but only occasionally. In winter, the dryness of the air increases, so the pot with tropical shrubs must be placed on a pallet with wet pebbles.
Soil selection
Japanese aucuba
Substrate - main ingredient for success.
The Japanese aucuba prefers loose, nutrient soil with good moisture and air permeability.
When compiling the soil, it is important to take:
- 6 parts sod-clay soil
- 2 parts peat
- 1 part sand
- 2 pieces of leaf land
Many flower growers grow a tree hydroponically.
Lighting
Aucuba cultivation
Partial shade is an ideal place for growing. The sun destroys the foliage, it ages and crumbles.
However, there must be a golden mean in everything. For example, varietal varieties with saturated green foliage should grow in the shade, but variegated varieties should not like a shaded place, since specks may partially disappear in the shade. For them, the ideal option is diffused lighting.
In summer, you can transfer the plant to the terrace, to the garden.
Watering rules
Aucuba in a pot
Abundant watering is carried out as the earthen coma dries out. In summer it is frequent, several times a week, in winter it is moderate.
In hot weather, the aucuba flower absorbs a lot of water, so you need to monitor the soil moisture in the pot and prevent long-term drying. When watering, you need to make sure that the water does not stagnate in the pan.
Fertilization
aucuba flower
Flower growers use special complex fertilizers, which contribute in half the concentration, which is indicated on the package.
For growth and development, it is necessary to make nitrogen-containing top dressing. But it is recommended to alternate organic matter with mineral fertilizers.
Is pruning necessary?
Photo: home care - preferably cut with a pruner
The golden bush is characterized by strong growth, therefore, with the advent of spring, it is recommended to shorten some of the shoots in order to at least hold back the growth. In addition, pruning has a beneficial effect on the formation of shrubs. The result is a chic lush tree with a spreading crown.
It is necessary to form a plant from a young age. It is imperative to pinch the top to form a lush bush.
Transfer
Aucuba: transplant
Once a year, it is recommended to transplant young specimens aged 1 to 3 years. A vigorous plant will be difficult to transfer to a new pot, so once a year, in the spring, it will be enough to remove the top layer of soil and fill the vacated space with new, fertile soil.
Bloom
Red berries on a plant
The plant is valued for its painted foliage. The flowers are inconspicuous, so they are of no value, and no one will even pay attention to them.
At the beginning of flowering, fiery red apical inflorescences protrude from the axils of the leaves.
In order for the berries to appear, you will have to purchase not only a female plant, but also a male specimen necessary for cross-pollination.
rest period
Aucuba cultivation
The aucuba rests for four months of the year. This is the main condition for further development. The rest period begins in October and ends at the end of February.
The tree does have a dormant period in which it simply freezes and sleeps. All physiological processes stop.
At this time, you can not see the appearance of new leaves or flowering. It is necessary to keep a flower pot at a temperature of + 8-10 ° degrees and water as needed with soft water.
Is the aucuba poisonous?
aucuba flower
Yes, it's true, and the whole thing is poisonous: "from the heels to the top of the head." Leaves, stems, roots contain toxic substances. Therefore, when planning to breed aucuba, you need to make sure that children and pets do not have access to it.
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Drying of leaf tips
Aucuba flower is a fertile plant for pests. Which only on the leaves and in the soil you will not meet. This is a mealybug, and a spider mite, and scale insects with thrips. In order to prevent mass infection, it is necessary to inspect the plant more often for the appearance of pests.
If any are noticed, you should immediately treat the shrub with an insecticide. Recommended 3-fold processing.
In addition to pests that cause some fungal diseases, aukuba suffers from improper care: the leaves turn black, dry and fall off.
Problems associated with insufficient care:
- Excessive lighting adversely affects the development of the plant. With excessive lighting, the leaves turn yellow, begin to dry out. It is necessary to protect the green pet from scorching sunlight.
- The lack of regular watering, as well as sudden temperature fluctuations, lead to the fact that leaf fall begins - the bush discards the lower foliage
- Shrinking of leaf plates is associated with oversaturation of the soil with nutrients. You will have to stop fertilizing, or apply, but at the dosage indicated on the package
- Conversely, a lack of top dressing can affect the color of the foliage - leaf plates with specks can become completely green. This paradox also occurs with a lack of light.
- Waterlogging of the soil leads to the appearance of black spots on the leaves. If the leaves are pulling, you need to do the following: you need to remove the plant from the pot. Yes, such an instance needs transshipment. After the earth ball dries out, you need to take a pot, pour drainage, a mixture of sod, leaf soil and sand and plant the plant in new soil
Insufficient moisture leads to drying of the foliage, the plant looks ugly, painful, and nutrient deficiencies can adversely affect shrub development.
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reproduction
Aukuba Japanese: breeding
Japanese aucuba is propagated in 2 ways: cuttings and seeds.
Reproduction by seeds
Aucuba its fruits
Aucuba seeds do not keep for a long time. Only freshly harvested seeds have good germination.
To obtain planting material, it is necessary to carry out an artificial crossing of a male and female specimen.
After receiving seeds, planting material is sown in moist soil, the container is installed in a mini-greenhouse to create a certain humidity and sent to a warm place for germination.
Regular ventilation is required as mold may appear on the soil, as a result of which the seeds will rot.
The first shoots will have to wait, since propagation by seeds is a process designed for a long time.
Transplantation of seedlings should be carried out at the stage of development of 3-4 true leaves.
cuttings
A bright variety immediately catches the eye with the color of its foliage.
For reproduction, it is necessary to cut last year's apical cuttings, with 3-4 leaves.
Planting cuttings is carried out in a cup filled with nutritious and loose soil. For successful rooting, you can cover with a film. Regular watering and daily airing is recommended.
When a good root system develops, cuttings are transplanted into a new pot and looked after as an adult plant.
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Flowering golden tree
The golden tree is not only an interior decoration, it has healing properties. But, before proceeding with self-treatment, you need to know that the plant is poisonous. Therefore, it is important to learn what and how to do.
Aucuba leaves contain substances that purify the air and destroy harmful microorganisms. Leaves help with burns and injuries.
All treatment should be carried out in strict accordance with the recipe. Deviation from the norm is fraught with serious consequences.
To relieve pain from burns and speed up wound healing, you will need to soften 2 leaves of the golden shrub into a gruel and attach them to the affected area. Compress after 2 hours should be replaced with a new one.
Leaves help with frostbite, swelling, bruising. In this case, you just need to attach the sheet to the damaged area.
In addition to useful properties, the plant is able to bring harmony and comfort to the house. All family members will be close-knit, friendly.
People with high self-esteem are advised to keep aukuba at home, since she is able to subdue the temper and get rid of such traits.
Aukuba is an unpretentious plant, as well as a talisman for the inhabitants of China, Japan and Korea. It is believed that by growing aucuba, the owner becomes a strong spirit and cannot be offended. With the cultivation of aucuba and the implementation of proper care in order to achieve a beautiful crown, you can see from the video
VIDEO: AUCUBA (GOLDEN TREE). Breeding and care at home
AUKUBA (GOLDEN TREE). Breeding and care at home
Aucuba domestic: varieties, rules of care, methods of reproduction and pest control | (110+ Photos & Videos)
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