Sinadenium: how to care for the love tree at home

A succulent plant with a rich green crown is unlikely to compete in attractiveness with the impeccable prima of indoor floriculture - orchids or amaryllis, but the rapid growth of synadenium and relatively simple home care have long won their fans among lovers of unassuming plants.

Origin and features

The genus Sinadenium in the Euphorbia family includes about 20 species of shrubs and trees originating from the arid regions of East Africa. Many varieties are widespread in the tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America. In indoor conditions, only one species is grown - the Grant's Sinadenium (Synadenium grantii), the Rubra variety with purple spots on the leaf plates is especially decorative and popular.

The semi-deciduous shrub grows rapidly, adding 20-25 cm of growth per year, in nature it reaches a height of over 3 m. The root system is branched, extending into the depths. Pagons are fleshy, thickened, capable of accumulating and storing moisture. The leaves are juicy green, obovate, attached with short petioles opposite or alternately to the stems. Apical corymbose inflorescences on elongated peduncles of small scarlet flowers, similar to bowlers or bells turned outward, are formed in the middle of winter. The fruit of the tree of love is a small three-leafed capsule with miniature black seeds.

Growing and care

There are no special secrets for keeping an easy-care plant. Sinadenium is confidently purchased into their home by those who, due to their duty, often leave on short-term business trips, because the succulent stores moisture in the stems and for some time calmly does without watering.

Accommodation requirements

Indoors, the tree of love prefers to grow on the windowsills of the western and eastern windows. The plant loves bright diffused light, but the scorching rays of the sun are contraindicated for it - brown spots of burns immediately appear on the leaf plates.

The lack of lighting also affects the appearance of the synadenium - the shoots are stretched, the leaves brighten. In winter, illumination will be desirable for the succulent.

The plant is thermophilic and in summer it is kept at an ambient temperature of 22 to 26 degrees Celsius. In winter, colder accommodation is allowed, but not lower than +10 degrees.

Thermometer readings in the room where the tree of love grows in the winter months is directly related to lighting. If the room is warm, more light is required, and vice versa, a cooler microclimate allows less illumination and, therefore, a dormant period that is poorly expressed for the synadenium.

Transfer

Young specimens are transplanted annually, adult plants - every 2-3 years. Given the rapid growth and possible large sizes in an apartment, the roots are slightly pruned during the transplant process - this procedure will slow down the increase in the size of the succulent.

The main components of the substrate for the synadenium:

• leafy land;
• peat;
• sand.

This option is also possible:

• leafy land;
• sand;
• sod land.

All components are taken in the same proportion, mixed thoroughly and a little charcoal or brick chips are added to the finished soil mixture. A drainage layer of expanded clay or broken ceramic shards must be laid on the bottom.

Caution!

The plant contains milky sap, which can cause severe irritation when it comes into contact with the skin or mucous membranes, therefore, it is recommended to carry out transplant work with the tree of love and care with rubber gloves.

Watering

In moisturizing the synadenium, it is necessary to adhere to the golden mean. Excessive watering leads to the appearance of root rot, which spreads higher - to the root collar and stem. The lack of moisture is compensated for for some time by stocks of pagon, but prolonged overdrying leads to loss of foliage and death of the plant.

In the summer, the succulent is watered more often - they are guided by the depth of drying of the earthen coma to 1-2 cm.In winter, watering is reduced, especially they can become destructive at low temperatures in the room.

The humidity of the surrounding air does not play a special role for the succulent. In extreme heat, water is sprayed around the plant from a spray bottle (but not sprayed - rotting spots appear from drops on the leaf plates). Wipe the leaves from dust with a damp cloth.

Top dressing

From April to September inclusive, the synadenium is fed with complex mineral fertilizer twice a month. With the end of the growing season, feeding is stopped.

Crown formation

For better branching, in March, before the start of active vegetation, the pagons are pruned near the love tree. Pinching the tops of the branches is possible throughout the year, the crown of the succulent from this becomes only more decorative.

Reproduction methods

Apical cuttings at least 12 cm long with 4-5 healthy leaves remaining after pruning should be rationally used for rooting and for obtaining new plants. The cut end is dipped in warm water to stop the release of milky juice, or crushed with charcoal powder.

Within a couple of days, the place of the cut is tightened with a whitish film, and then the cutting is buried with the cut end in a wet peat-sand mixture with the addition of a small amount of charcoal.

The container with the seedling is placed in a bright place and kept at a temperature of at least 20 degrees Celsius. After 2-3 weeks, with the appearance of new young leaves, it will become clear that rooting has been successful.

The seed method of reproduction of the synadenium is more laborious, but it makes it possible to get many new plants.

Seeds are sown in the spring in boxes with a peat-sand mixture, deepening them no more than 5-10 mm. The containers are covered with plastic wrap and placed in a well-lit corner of the house, where the air temperature is maintained at 18 degrees.

Seedlings usually show in 1-2 weeks. They are dived into separate pots twice: when they reach a height of 1 and 3 cm. Then they are transferred to the soil mixture for adult succulents.

Possible growing problems

An excess of irrigation water leads to the appearance of root rot.

The plant loses its foliage when kept in a cold room. The reason for the loss of leaves is also a decrease in the level of illumination, and sometimes simply a rotation of the flower container around an axis relative to the light source. Falling leaves are sometimes associated with a lack of phosphorus in the soil mixture.

Due to the lack of light, an unnatural elongation of pagons with preserved foliage only at the top is observed.

Of insect pests on the synadenium are seen whitefly, mealybugs, scale insects and spider mites... In case of damage, the plant is treated with a solution of the appropriate insecticide at the concentration specified by the manufacturer in the instructions.

Observing the completely simple rules of caring for the synadenium, it is quite possible to get a wonderful landscaping of the interior of your own home at home.