Portulakaria is a perennial evergreen plant belonging to the Portulakova family. The place of origin is considered to be South Africa, where this succulent in the natural environment grows like a small tree or shrub.
Description
The roots are powerful, nourishing the plant even under adverse conditions. Shoots are rather thick, light brown or gray, but they darken with age. Leaves are rounded, dense, green, 2-3 cm long, 1 to 2 cm wide.
Portulacaria well accumulates moisture in the leaves. It is easy to restrain in growth and form.
Kinds
Succulents are not commonly used for bonsai. Exceptions include African Portulacaria (portulacaria afra), only this species is suitable for home breeding. In native Africa, reaches a length of up to 3 m. It has a wrinkled, brown trunk, juicy green leaves. Flowering in nature can be observed infrequently.
For a change, varieties were derived from this species:
- Portulacaria African mottled form (Variegate) - shorter than the previous species, the leaf is juicy green, with snow-white stripes along the edge. In poor lighting, variegation disappears. If the plant has enough light, then Portulacaria is motley small, with a dark trunk, small leaves.
- Portulacaria African form variegated cultivar (Tricolor) - medium-sized, with small leaves and variegation in the center of the leaf. Under normal lighting conditions with a red trunk and leaves with a pink tint, if there is not enough light, the variegation leaves, along the edge there is a pink stripe.
Rules for home care: location, lighting, temperature, humidity and watering - seasonal table
This flower is quite unpretentious, can hold water for a long time. The plant needs a cool winter content, does not tolerate waterlogging.
Household care rules - season table
| Parameters | Summer and winter requirements |
| Location | Ideal location - windows to the southeast or southwest. In the summer, it is better to take it out of the house to the street. |
| Lighting | Loves the light and the sun. In winter, it needs to be rearranged on the sunny side to provide enough light. Like many succulents, it does not tolerate artificial lighting. With the lengthening of daylight, you should gradually adjust it to increase light and sunlight. |
| Temperature mode | Portulacaria loves wintering in a cool place, but can withstand a stay in a warmer room. The optimum temperature in winter is from + 10C to + 16C, not lower than + 8C and not higher than + 22C. In the vegetative period - from + 22C to + 27C. In the hot season, it is better to put the succulent on the street or in a well-ventilated place. Ventilate the premises where it grows, it is necessary in the winter, but while protecting from drafts. |
| Humidity and watering | In the warm season, the plant needs to be watered as soon as the topsoil dries. In November-February, watering should be carried out once a month, in December-January - completely stop. Portulacaria without watering for a long time. Do not allow water to remain in the pan. The signals that the plant needs moisture are given by leaves: they are wrinkled, and again smoothed out after water. The plant does not suffer from dry urban apartments, you can not spray. |
Ground Transplant
Portulacaria does not need to be transplanted often. A young tree is about 1 time in 2 years, an adult - 1 time in 4 years. A transplant is carried out only if the roots have fully mastered the earthen lump or if it is obvious that they lack land.
Stable containers (flowerpots) that can withstand its mass are suitable. To make the succulent comfortable, you need to lay a wide drainage layer in the container.
For Portulacaria, a succulent mix for succulents or cacti is suitable. You can mix bonsai mix with sand. Soil acidity should vary from 4.5 to 6.0 pH.
To prevent the growth of the plant, when it is transplanted, a third of the entire root mass should be cut.
Top dressing
During the growth period, the plant needs good recharge, at least once every ten days. A fertilizer is used in which there is not too much nitrogen, or for cacti. If the room is cool in winter, top dressing is not performed; if it is warm, you need to feed it once every 3-4 weeks.
Cropping, shaping
This plant can be given any shape. Strong scraps are not afraid of him, he is easily restored.
You can start forming at any time. It is even more important to timely inhibit the growth of portulacuria by shortening or pinching young branches.
Any pruning should be done in the spring, and pinching the tops during the growing season. This is necessary, since it is undesirable to guide and form the portulacaria with a wire, otherwise the plant can be injured.
Breeding
To breed portulacuria is very simple. Due to the fact that its shoots are easily rooted, you can get your own breeding material and conduct various experiments with the creation of various forms of bonsai. Cuttings can be made from cut branches. It is important to leave 2-3 leaves on each slice. The shoots are cut off at the base of the leaf, dried for 24 hours, and the bottom leaf is torn off.
First, cuttings are planted without a cap in separate pots, previously filled with soil, which is used for adult plants mixed with sand.
For good rooting, you need to provide lighting and constantly slightly moistened soil.
Diseases, pests, their elimination
Portulacaria are resistant to diseases and pests. With excess moisture, infrequent ventilation, powdery mildew appears on the succulent. To control pests: mealybugs, aphids and scale insects that appear on the plant, insecticides are used.
Growing problems - table
| Problem | Cause |
| The flower begins to drop leaves. | Inadequate or reduced winter lighting. |
| Excessive elongation of branches. | Lack of light or excessive humidity. |
| Yellow and withered leaves. | Waterlogging. |
It is necessary to smoothly transfer Portulacaria to a new irrigation regime associated with the change of seasons. It is necessary to ensure light moisture in the soil to prevent sudden changes in the level of humidity and dryness. This succulent is not afraid of a dry climate, it does not need spraying or humidification. Pollution from foliage can be washed with a dry soft brush.
