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african rose(Protea)- amazing exotic flower from South Africa. The family includes more than 400 species, large flowers of bizarre shape reach 25 cm in diameter.
Evergreen shrubs with leathery leaves have cone-shaped large inflorescences, very diverse in different species.
The plant is named ancient god sea waters— Proteus, capable, according to legend, to change its appearance.
All varieties of protea have very beautiful, juicy leaves. Their location on the trunk, and the strong trunk itself, somewhat resemble the structure of milkweed.
Flowers range from soft pink to vibrant crimson, including beige and silvery shades.
In their natural environment, shrubs reach a height of 2.5 m, it is very effective ornamental plant. The protea bud looks like an artichoke, one of the varieties of the plant is even named after it.
The most popular varieties are:
- large-headed (Protea macrocephala);
- artichoke (Protea cynaroides);
- black beard (Protea lepidocarpodendron);
- creeping (Protea repens).
Fluffy, like a felt core large-headed protea framed by sharp red petals. The outer edging consists of smaller, smoky, scaly petals.
Bush varieties black beard decorated with flowers of cream - sand color, with a dark edge along the edges: brown, black, dark purple, or purple.
The most common variety is artichoke protea. It is she who can be found in modern bouquets, or on home windowsills.
Protea Creeping flaunts on the flag of the Republic of South Africa, is a symbol of this state.
Protea in flower collections and floristry
Botanical Garden Kirstenbosch (Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens), located near Cape Town, has the most extensive collection of these amazing plants presented in the natural environment.
Proteus can be found in the wild of the African continent, south of the Limpopo River. The African rose is common in India, Australia, Hawaii. It is from these countries that the tradition of decorating a wedding bouquet with these flowers came to us.
The exotic beauty was brought to Europe in the 19th century, where it became widespread in private collections of connoisseurs of unique flora.
AT northern countries African rose is grown in industrial scale, in closed greenhouses. Beautiful flower widely used in modern floristry.
A masculine composition can be made from cone-shaped buds, delicate flowers traditionally complement an exquisite bridal bouquet.
In the homeland of his plant nectar is used for food, it is attributed healing properties . It is quite possible, because not only insects, but also local birds like to feast on the nectar of large flowers.
Artichoke protea is gaining popularity in indoor floriculture . It can be grown in your own window from seeds, or you can buy an adult plant.
Flower shop - Protea:
Growing a flower from seed
For landing need acidified, light soil. You can use purchased mixture for azaleas, or prepare the ground yourself. Mix in equal proportions sand, peat, forest needles.
It is convenient to plant seeds in a regular flat container for food products. We pour a layer of sifted earth 4 cm thick, moisten the earth well from a spray bottle with warm, settled water.
We place the seeds on the surface, then sprinkle them with an earthen mixture. Close the lid of the container, or cover with glass. The container should be removed in a warm place, for seed germination, a temperature of 22-25 ° C is needed.
Shoots will appear in 2 months, then the greenhouse can be opened. After the appearance of the second pair of leaves, the plant is transplanted into an individual pot. For him, it is better to choose a wide, not very deep pot.
To speed up seed germination, some flower growers pre-cool the seed container for a month, at a temperature of 5-8 ° C (in the cellar, or refrigerator).
The container is filled with wet sand, the seeds are deepened by 1 cm. Then they are planted in the ground, as indicated above.
Adult plant care and transplant
In an apartment, it is better to place a flower on the south window.. Do not be afraid that burns will appear on the leaves. Protea can only be harmed by a lack of sunlight.
In most regions (except for the very southern ones), additional lighting with fluorescent lamps will be needed. The brighter the light, the better the African rose will feel.
There is no need to fertilize the shrub, in vivo the flower grows on poor, dry soils.
Watering should not just be moderate, but rather sparse. In summer - no more than 1 time per week, in autumn and winter - 1 time in 2-3 weeks.
For irrigation, it is better to use settled water, as for everyone. indoor plants.
The plant is not often transplanted, there is simply no need to renew the formula. A young plant, if necessary, can be transplanted in the spring, using the coma transshipment method.
The plant is quite capable of withstanding a temperature drop of up to 10 ° C, so the winter chill from the window will not harm it.
With excessive watering root system dies immediately. It is better once again sprinkle than water it.
Protea is an exotic and rare plant:
A massive plant with decorative glossy leaves looks very impressive even between flowering periods.
A shrub with bright scaly buds looks elegant, and when huge flowers bloom, pubescent along the edges with thin lilac villi, the sight is simply indescribable.
Faded inflorescences do not lose their bright color and decorative effect.. The flower dries up, but its shape and colors are preserved. These are wonderful dried flowers that can be used in decorative compositions.
The popularity of protea is growing every day, you can already buy a bush ready for flowering in a flower shop.
The original shrub flower pot can harmoniously complement the urban interior in any style, emphasize the individuality of its owner.
In apartment conditions temperate latitudes Proteus is rarely grown, but settling in greenhouses, winter gardens, it becomes a real delightful treasure of any green corner of the interior.
It was no coincidence that Carl Linnaeus gave the whole genus the name of the mythical deity Proteus, constantly changing appearance. There are almost 70 genera and over 1400 species of Proteus, and they are all so different that sometimes even the leaves of one plant do not look alike. And about the flowers of the protea, otherwise, as a miracle of nature, it is impossible to say.
Exotic dried flowers have spread all over the world - to Australia, Europe, the USA from South Africa, where they live in the south of the Western Cape, from Gramstown to the Cederberg mountains, areas with poor soil, frequent droughts, monsoon climate.
AT natural environment protea is a tall (from 1 to 3 m) evergreen shrub with hard leathery leaves of dark emerald color, pressed alternately or spirally to the stem. Distinctive feature many proteas - the presence of an underground woody organ, a reservoir of water - lignotuberus, located among a well-developed root system. Cone-shaped inflorescences are a real wealth of protea, large, up to 20-30 cm in diameter, painted in bright raspberry, white, scarlet colors, of a delicate salad shade, which do not lose color even after long-term (up to six months) storage in a bouquet. Most proteas are pollinated by beetles, birds, and small mammals, particularly rodents and other sweet nectar eaters. Seeds with 2-8 cotyledons, winged.
The most famous types of protea
excellent, or duchesse - a view available for home culture with wide heart-shaped leaves. large flower with long dark crimson spatulate bracts, light green at the base. The spherical “head” is half light, then pink and at the very top - maroon.
artichoke, or royal - in nature, an evergreen shrub with lignified thick stems. The leaves are hard, leathery, bright green on both sides - upper and lower. Pale pink flowers of artichoke protea resemble a regal head with a crown put on it. Very nectar-bearing local population calls them honey pots and uses them in medicinal purposes with a cold cough. The most beautiful form of protea-king with silver-crimson bracts. Fruits - nuts, covered with hairs, reminiscent of an artichoke.
creeping- this species was exalted into the national symbol of South Africa. An undemanding shrub plant with narrowish gray leaves 5-15 cm long and an elongated cone-shaped yellowish-cherry inflorescence. Grows on very poor acidic soils, consisting of a mixture of sand and gravel.
large-headed- shrub with lignified powerful stems, covered with bright dark green leaves, curved along the axial vein. The inflorescences are large - over 30 cm, framed by sharp orange-red stipules. Pollinated by birds - nectar and sugar, the latter settles in the thickets of protea, arranging its nests from dried bracts.
Protea care and cultivation
For growing in open ground Protea is not suitable for our climatic zone - it is very thermophilic and prefers dry air. But in room conditions, with patience, you can grow a miracle flower, however, after sowing the seeds, you will have to wait for the appearance of an inflorescence for at least 5-6 years.
Protea care must be meticulous. It should be kept at summer temperatures of 20-25 degrees, in winter - not lower than +5 degrees, providing constant ventilation and bright lighting, in winter, with a decrease in daylight hours, artificial lighting will have to be arranged.
Watering is rare in winter, moderate in summer, preventing complete drying of the soil and excessive waterlogging - rotting of the roots will occur. Irrigation water for the protea should be warm, acidified and settled - the flower does not tolerate chlorine and fluorine. The plant does not need spraying.
Young proteas are transplanted every year from late February to April, adult plants - as needed. For transplanting, choose a wide, stable pot, preferably ceramic, low.
The soil "For azaleas and rhododendrons" can be purchased at the store, it is slightly acidified, as Protea loves. Earthmixture self cooking may include heather and peat in equal parts, perlite is added to acidify and improve friability.
Accustomed to poor soils, the protea is undemanding to top dressing. It is permissible to apply nitrogen fertilizers once a month at a dose of 1/3 of the indicated concentration. Poorly tolerates phosphorus, as well as alkalization of the soil - the leaves turn yellow, the plant dies, if measures are not taken to save it.
Protea reproduction
It is quite difficult to propagate Proteus by cuttings and only professional flower growers can do it.
Protea seeds that retain their germination capacity can be purchased at an online flower shop. For germination, they take a mixture of high-moor peat and sand, sow the seeds to a depth 2.5 times their size, cover the container polyethylene film and put in a warm place with a temperature of 20-25 degrees Celsius, regularly, but moderately moisturizing. The first sprouts will appear in 5-6 weeks or a couple of months, you can shorten this period by first placing the seeds for stratification - 7-8 weeks in the refrigerator in a damp cloth.
After the appearance of the 3rd and 4th leaf, the plants are transplanted into separate containers with a mixture pine bark and brown peat or in a ready-made substrate for azaleas, observe if the leaves become light yellow, water with slightly acidified water.
Usage
Protea flowers are popular for strict and discreet men's bouquets. And cut, they need constant ventilation of the air in the room. Often used in creating collage paintings, they keep their shape well, the stems do not break, the color of the flowers does not fade. The flowering inflorescence must be cut at a distance of at least 5 cm from the stipules.
Diseases and pests
The exotic beauty is resistant to most flower diseases and pests. There are infrequent lesions with late blight, black leg and aphids.
Protea in pictures
Protea is evergreen shrub with long shoots and flowers unusual shape, outwardly resembling the inhabitants of the ocean. The plant got its name in honor of the sea god Proteus, who can change his appearance. Under natural conditions, the shrub grows in southern Africa - it is no coincidence that it is a symbol of South Africa. For the first time, the flower was described by the botanist Carl Linnaeus, who noted the various forms of flowers and leaves.
Description of the protea
Flowers deserve special attention. Depending on the variety, they may be in the form of a burdock, starfish or sea urchin. During the flowering period on the shrub is formed a large number of buds collected in spikelets.
Inflorescences are large, externally covered with a rigid shell, inside which are small flowers. The special beauty of the plant is given by cone-shaped bracts with needle-shaped petals. The color of the flowers is varied. It can alternate several shades.
plant varieties
Currently, more than 400 species of protea are known. All of them differ in size and shape of flowers and leaves. The most common are the following varieties of shrubs:
Oriental poppy: features of care, planting and cultivation
Home care
Protea is a thermophilic shrub. In open ground, it can only grow in warm climates. In the middle lane, the plant is grown at room conditions, greenhouses and winter gardens.
The flower needs bright light. A prerequisite is the presence of direct sun rays. AT winter period additional lighting with fluorescent lamps is used for several hours.
In nature, the protea grows in a hot climate, so it needs a stable temperature above 25 °. In winter, the plant needs a decrease in temperature. The shrub must winter in a cool room, otherwise it will not bloom with the onset of spring.
The protea flower responds positively to airing, because it cannot grow in a room with stagnant air. He is not afraid of drafts, so he can be safely kept near open windows. Take out the pots outdoor balcony or a veranda is undesirable.
Watering should be given Special attention , since the plant is very sensitive to an excess of moisture. Watering should be extremely moderate. Moisturizing the soil is best done often, but in small quantities. Under home conditions, the shrub very quickly loses its drought resistance, so you should not allow the soil to completely dry out. The next watering should be carried out when the top layer of soil dries up. AT winter time watering is carried out no more than 1 time per month. Soft filtered water is used for it, to which a few drops of lemon juice are added for acidification.
Protea does not need spraying and air humidification. In order for the inflorescences to look attractive, experienced flower growers recommend placing pots with a plant near heating appliances.
The flower does not require regular feeding. Fertilization is necessary to maintain soil acidity. Mineral supplements are applied once a month, using dressings for azaleas and rhododendrons.
It is also recommended to apply the nutrient composition after transplanting the plant or at the beginning of the flowering period. This is due to the fact that in the wild, the shrub grows on poor oxidized soils, and it can die from excess fertilizer. To maintain an attractive appearance in a protea plant, dried buds should be removed and strongly regrown young shoots should be pinched to ¼ of the length.
Amaryllis (Amaryllis): planting, growing and care
flower transplant
The shrub needs frequent transplanting. Young plants are transplanted once a year in the spring, before the onset of a period of active growth. An adult protea should be transplanted after the root system has completely entwined the earthen ball. She, like most succulents, needs a wide, low pot with large drainage holes. Small pebbles, brick chips or expanded clay can be used as drainage.
The soil mixture should consist of equal parts of peat, coarse sand, pine needles. The shrub can also be planted in ready-made soil for rhododendrons and azaleas. The soil should have a rough texture and acidic reaction, well pass moisture and air.
Our grandmothers, growing strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, were not particularly worried about mulching. But today this agricultural practice has become fundamental in achieving high quality berries and reducing crop losses. Some might say it's troublesome. But practice shows that labor costs in this case pay off handsomely. In this article, we invite you to get acquainted with the nine the best materials for mulching garden strawberries.
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Proteas are exotic plants that can delight with their beauty not only during flowering, but also after, as dried flowers.
There are about 400 species of representatives of the Proteus family, their appearance is quite diverse, but most have leathery leaves of a needle or linear shape, many have peculiar underground organs - water receptacles. Plants need them because their homeland - southern Africa - has poor and dry soil. But the main advantage of proteas is their flowers! They are from 5 to 20 centimeters in diameter, are cone-shaped, colored in shades from red to yellow, depending on the variety, and filled with sweet nectar.
By the way, because of such a variety of species, proteas got their name. According to ancient Greek mythology, the sea god Proteus could easily change his appearance, that is, he was many-sided, like Proteus.
The most popular representative of this plant can be called artichoke protea. She has large (up to 30 centimeters in diameter) capitate inflorescences, surrounded by bright wrappers of leaves. This plant is called "honey pot" for the sweet nectar that the local population uses as a cough remedy.
Interestingly, the flowers of the creeping protea are the symbol of South Africa, and another of the proteas (Telopea) symbolizes the state of New South Wales in Australia. The large-headed protea is quite common, because its nectar is very fond of birds that pollinate the plant.
Protea is grown not only in Africa, but also in Australia and the USA. They can grow in parks, botanical gardens and even plantations if they are intended for export to European countries. The fact is that the protea stands for a long time after cutting, and then it can be used as a dried flower, which is why it is very loved by florists. It can often be seen in bouquets, including wedding bouquets, and those intended for men.
In our climate zone Proteus is not grown in open ground, as it is a heat-loving plant. You can meet them only in greenhouses with exotic plants, but if you are a brave florist and are not afraid of difficulties, then you can try to grow this miracle at home, and our recommendations will help you with this.
How to grow protea at home?
The soil: For germination, you will need a mixture of high-moor peat and sand. An equal mixture of pine needles and brown loose peat or ready mix for azalea (pH 5.0–5.5) for planting seedlings.
Lighting: Light, but protected from direct sunlight, place. On cloudy days, turn on additional lighting.
Temperature: In winter + 5-10 degrees C, not lower, and in summer + 20-25 degrees C.
Watering: Moderate watering from spring to autumn, it is important to prevent overdrying of the earth and excess moisture. Protea should be watered with soft, slightly acidified water. In winter, water once a month.
Humidity: Protea loves hot dry air. Spraying is not required.
Fertilizer: Since proteas grow in poor soils, they do well without regular top dressing. But you can make a little fertilizer for azaleas and rhododendrons.
Reproduction: Proteas can be propagated from seeds, but unfortunately they are not so easy to find in stores. Sow seeds in spring at a depth of 2 times over size seeds, sprinkled with a layer of earth, moderately moistened, covered with a film or glass and kept at a temperature of about + 20-25 degrees C.
Seedlings will appear no earlier than in a month and a half, but you can speed up the process by first placing the seeds in wet sand and keeping them in the refrigerator for two months (at + 7-8 degrees C).
