Senezio rooms are so different and similar at the same time

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The godfathers, practically unknown to us under their generic name Senezio, successfully combine gardening and indoor careers. These herbaceous perennials combine in one group sometimes completely dissimilar plants, which have no similarity even in the shape and type of leaves. But at the same time, individual godchildren cannot be called plants that are radically different from each other. For all species without exception: the most compact and the largest, the exact same requirements for growing and care conditions are characteristic. So the godchildren can be safely called diverse, but surprisingly “united” cultures. And indoor senezio, famous as original succulents, is no exception.

Unmatched variety of godchildren

At one glance at the flexible, pea-sprouted shoots of the godfather Rowley, the almost coniferous greens of the Haworth’s godson and the ivy greens of the large-tongued godson, it’s almost impossible to believe that these plants belong to the same genus. They differ not only in the structure of the bush and the form of growth, but also in the type of leaves. But all these plants are indeed members of one large genus Senezio. It combines both indoor and garden cultures of the family Asteraceae, which is easy to guess by the type of inflorescences. A room cross is known in Europe under the name "bunch of peas", and in our gardeners most often call the most popular plant from the genus Senecio simply - "string of pearls."

Annual and perennial plants belong to the godchildren, which can develop both in the form of compact vines and form entire shrubs and trees. Significant differences between species are the main feature of Senezio. Even their shoots can be bare, pubescent, drooping or straight, and the variety of leaves, whole or dissected, obovate or elliptical, cirrus, ordinary lobed and to some extent fleshy, makes the assortment of godchildren practically unreachable. A common feature, in fact, is only one. All, without exception, the crosses of the inflorescences have classic baskets that can be located one at a time or in inflorescences.

Today's godchildren are grown as garden plants, container, potted, indoor crops and even as cuttings. In nature, there are more than 3,000 species of godchildren. But in room culture they are represented by a little more than a dozen plants. These are amazing succulents that are rightfully considered special. Senezio can be collected by collecting varieties with completely different appearances.

The most common in room culture were such godchildren as:

Godfather Rowley (Senecio rowleyanus) Is one of the most popular types. Evergreen perennial, distinguished by its rapid growth and unusual appearance, produces drooping or creeping, very thin stems growing up to 60 cm and effectively hanging from the edge of the pot. Spherical, green, with a sharp top, leaves up to 1 cm wide most resemble peas. Delicious drooping shoots, like thin threads and strewn with spherical small leaves, look like beads strung on a thread. Even the inflorescences of this cross are spherical. A white basket with unusually protruding stamens radiates the scent of cinnamon.

The godson is creeping (Senecio serpens) - undersized and completely different in nature senezio. This shrub with a height of only 10 cm produces thick shoots with linear-lanceolate, fleshy leaves of reed shape about 3-4 cm long, densely located in rosettes along the stem and sticking straight up. The bluish-gray color of greenery makes an unforgettable impression. And the whole plant looks like an unusual pillow of protruding blue leaves, contrasting very beautifully with stone crumb mulch. White flowers are collected in a few baskets of inflorescences.

The godson is rooted (Senecio radicans) - an evergreen succulent with creeping shoots up to half a meter in length, beautifully branching and quite thin, on which rarely, spectacular, up to 2-3 cm long, rather thick leaves-berries with a pointed top and dark gray color are unusual, which are unusual give not only longitudinal dark stripes, but also a claw-like bend.

Haworth's godson (Senecio haworthii) - bushy plants about 30 cm high with upright, smooth shoots and unusual cylindrical leaves narrowed at the ends, which sit tightly on the stems, arranged in a spiral. At the leaves, the entire surface is completely covered with a whitish-silver felt coating. The maximum leaf length is 5 cm. Spherical inflorescences are painted in yellow or orange tones. This is a very difficult species to grow, which is extremely rare in room culture.

Stapeliform godson (Senecio stapeliiformis) - a very spectacular perennial succulent. It forms thick, fleshy, ribbed shoots up to 50 cm high and up to 2 cm thick, branching at the very base and dotted with a few, but beautifully looking spikes. Along the stem, longitudinal dark and light stripes alternate. This cross is flaunted with small scaly leaves up to 0.5 cm long with a grayish color. Red baskets of inflorescences, appearing in bunches at the ends of the stems, only emphasize the beauty of this plant.

Large-language godson (Senecio macroglossus), known under the popular name "Natal Ivy" - a species whose relationship with other Senecio is difficult to guess. But despite the outward resemblance to ivy, upon closer examination, it becomes obvious that this creeping plant with thin, weakly branched stems growing up to 3 m in length also belongs to crops that can store moisture. Leaves on small cuttings are spear-shaped, reach 8 cm in length and are divided into from 3 to 5 pointed lobes. They sit on the shoots quite densely, reminiscent of ivy from afar, but differ in larger size. This godson blooms, releasing exquisite pale yellow daisies with rarely sitting reed flowers. In addition to the base plant, Variegatus is very popular, decorated with light yellow spots on darker leaves.

The godson is thick (Senecio crassissimus) - a nice succulent, somewhat reminiscent of a fat girl. This is a shrub with a strongly branching stem up to 45 cm high, distinguished by a rough surface. The leaves sit on the shoots alternately, oval with a pointed tip, up to 6 cm long. The grayish-green color at the edge of the leaf turns into purple. Yellow flowers tower in a beautiful inflorescence on a high peduncle.

Herrein's godson or Herra's godson (Senecio herreianus) - an unusual representative of Senecio, developing in the form of a low bush of densely branching creeping shoots and very fleshy leaves up to 2 cm long with a berry shape, slightly resembling gooseberries. Very light base color is complemented by light and dark stripes.

Godson (Senecio scaposus) - one of the "silver" succulents. The gray-blue green of this senezio forms a curtain, an original dense basal rosette. This plant has two types of leaves - short flat and round cylindrical elongated, similar to green sticks or honeysuckle fruits. The color of the plant gradually changes from the silvery edge of young leaves to light green - old ones. Peduncles at this cross are unusually long, carry spectacular orange-yellow daisies.

Godson everlasting (Senecio sempervivus) is also more similar to leaf-shaped fat women. Its tall shoots are dotted with oval-sharp leaves up to 7 cm long, gathering in loose rosettes. The bluish-green color with the reverse red side and uneven spots of bright green at the top of the leaf plates gives the plant extravagance.

Godson red (Senecio pulcher) - perennial succulent, better known as a garden plant, many varieties of which are now actively grown in pots. Shoots up to 1 m high and elongated-lanceolate, with beautiful denticles along the edge, leaves forming a beautiful sod at the base of the shoots, emphasize towering on high peduncles, located in the shields of a basket of inflorescences of bright pink color.

Lemon-shaped godson (Senecio citriformis) - looks very similar to Rowley's godson. The only difference is that its berry-like leaves are not at all reminiscent of young peas, but miniature limes or lemons; they are oval with an edge sharpened on both sides. But on the plant, leaf-berries also look like luxurious beads. In addition, the color of the lemon-shaped cross is distinguished by a darker shade of grayish-green, underlined by a bluish bloom.

Jacobsen's godson (Senecio jacobsenii) - succulent with a bright green color and creeping, almost non-branching, thick enough shoots. Fleshy, obovate leaves with a rounded tip up to 6 cm long do not sit densely on them. Bunches of aerial roots are located on the underside of the leaves. The heads of orange inflorescences bloom on long pedicels, giving the already unusual succulent more originality.

The godson is jointed (Senecio articulatus) looks similar to miniature baobabs. He has bunches of leaves crowned with thick shoots. At this cross, the shoots consist of oval segments up to 1-2 cm thick, while the leaves are preserved only at the top of young twigs, and adult shoots are completely bare. Wax coating on the surface with a gray-silver tint gives the plant even greater attractiveness. The leaves are small, ivy or cirrus, often variegated. This godson releases small yellow daisies collected in shields.

Previously, the famous Bloody cineraria (Cineraria cruenta), also called Bloody godson (Senecio cruentus), but today this plant, according to modern research, has been reclassified Bloody pericalis (Pericallis cruenta) This is one of the most spectacular annual flowering plants with soft dark triangular leaves and inflorescences gathered in dense shields, reminiscent of garden daisies, only with a much more colorful color.

Senezio care at home

Senezio, like all succulents, is rightly ranked among the most hardy indoor plants that are not afraid of drought. But in order to enjoy their beauty, it is necessary to approach the watering process with extreme caution. If the drying of an earthen coma, these plants are easily tolerated, then the slightest overmoistening can cause death. Watering for godchildren should be rare, and the rest is so simple that even inexperienced gardeners can grow them. The ability to deviate from the preferred regime of cool wintering allows you to collect entire collections of these amazing succulents in ordinary "apartment" conditions.

Lighting for Venice

Without exception, all Senecio are photophilous plants that put up well with several hours of direct sunlight. For them, they usually select well-lit areas on the eastern and western windows or equal to them in intensity of location lighting. Shading negatively affects the beauty of greenery, the plant stretches. But the diffused bright light is only good for the baptists.

Comfortable temperature

The conditions of detention according to the temperature parameter for Senecio are much more difficult to choose. Despite the mainly southern origin, these plants cannot be considered heat-loving crops. The godfathers feel most comfortable in the temperature range from 22 to 26 degrees Celsius. A slight deviation from these indicators does not significantly harm the plant, but it is better to maintain a stable environment.

In the winter period, when all the Senecio are at a dormant stage, it is desirable to keep the plants cool. All types of godchildren, regardless of appearance, size, shape of growth and type of leaves, prefer wintering in the cool - from 12 to 15 degrees. But at the same time, if you do not have the opportunity to provide a cool wintering for this plant, then the crosses are well adapted to the usual room range. Decorative plants may slightly decrease, but the attractiveness will not suffer catastrophically. The temperature of 7 degrees Celsius is considered to be the minimum acceptable for the godson, and this lowering is permissible only for a very short period.

Senezio does not like sharp fluctuations in air temperature, but they tolerate drafts well. They prefer frequent airing and with constant access to fresh air almost never get sick. Senecio's love of fresh air allows you to exhibit them outdoors during the summer, choosing a place protected from rain and wind on the terrace or balcony. When moving from and into the house, it must be remembered that the godson does not tolerate sharp fluctuations in conditions. Plants should be taken out into the fresh air only when the temperature rises to the usual indicators for the baptist, and brought back at the slightest sign of a severe cooling. The change of conditions should be as gradual as possible, it is desirable to arrange a transition period for the plant in the so-called buffer zone, like garden tubs.

Watering and humidity

Maintaining conditions of minimum humidity comfortable for the plant, you need to pay as much attention as possible. The godfathers are among the most sensitive succulents who do not tolerate too much watering. Watering is the most difficult moment in growing plants, since it is necessary to strictly control the degree of wetting of the substrate and carry out procedures, each time checking how dry it is after the previous watering. Even in spring and summer, when kept in hot conditions, the godson is watered sparingly and with a small amount of water. The following procedure can be carried out only after 2 days have passed after the top layer of the substrate in the pot has dried.

Starting from the first month of autumn, watering should be gradually reduced, increasing the pause between procedures, adapting the godson to almost dry conditions in winter. During the dormant stage, the Senecio need very rare watering with a minimum amount of water, which is carried out only so that the greens do not fade. The substrate in the pot between the procedures should dry completely. Many godchildren, if there are no signs of lack of moisture and loss of turgor of leaves, can not be watered at all in winter.

Please note that at any time of the year you can not water the godson too abundantly. It is better to irrigate more often, but with less water. The quality of the latter also matters: only soft, defended water is suitable for these succulents.

Senezio does not like high humidity. He is good in any dry conditions, in a typical climate of apartments. In additional procedures for humidification of the air, and even more so in the spraying the godchildren do not need.

Fertilizers for godchildren

Despite the fact that the crosses need fairly modest watering, fertilizers for them are applied according to the classical strategy. The godchildren are fed only from March to August, with a frequency of 1 time in 2 weeks. For these plants, it is advisable to use only special fertilizer mixtures for cacti or succulents.

Transplant and substrate

For indoor senecio, it is necessary to select neutral in characteristics, very loose and sufficiently nutritious substrates.They feel comfortable in special earth mixtures for succulents and cacti, but can grow in more modest soils in composition. For example, indoor godchildren feel great in a mixture of two parts of leaf soil and 1 part of sand. Some species prefer cultivation in clay-sandy soil, but the circumstance to which substrate the godchildren are used to from a young age is of great importance. When buying, it is better to clarify the composition of the soil or its type.

Senezio is transplanted only as necessary. Actively fluttering young cultures can be transplanted annually; for adults, the frequency of procedures in 2-3 years is sufficient. The best time for a transplant is considered spring. When transplanting, the cross is placed with the same level of penetration as usual. At the bottom of the tank, it is desirable to lay a high, rather than the middle layer of drainage. The godchildren grow well both in ampels and in ordinary pots.

Diseases and pests of the godchild

Senezio are considered one of the most resistant to diseases and pests of indoor crops. But even a slight violation of care causes problems, accompanied not only by the spread of rot or powdery mildew, but also by the activity of spider mites, various species of aphids, and mealybugs. It is desirable to deal with pests on plants by correction of care and mechanical treatments, resorting to insecticides only in extremely advanced cases. But with rot and fungal infections, it is necessary to fight by cutting out damaged parts, processing slices and spraying with fungicide.

Common problems in growing Senecio:

the appearance of brown spots on the leaves, their drying and death in too hot conditions, extremely dry air or in the absence of watering;
the appearance of dry spots on the leaves as a result of direct sunlight;
the appearance of yellow or brown spots on the leaves when watering is disturbed;
the growth of small leaves, a rare arrangement of leaves on the shoots and extension of trunks in shading;
loss of color in variegated plants in low light or transplant needs.

Reproduction Indoor Senecio

The godchildren can be propagated using seeds, layering and cuttings. The simplest one is the reproduction of green cuttings. To do this, cut off the top (8-10 cm) of the shoot, removing 2-3 lower leaves and drying the slices for several hours. In small containers in sandy soil, cuttings quickly take root if placed in a warm and bright place. The cuttings are usually rooted in a dry soil mixture, without wetting the substrate at all or only slightly spraying it. Rooted cuttings are always placed in individual containers of 2-5 pcs for greater decorativeness.

Layers can be obtained from all Senecio with creeping or drooping shoots. To do this, next to an adult plant, place a small container with a suitable mix of earth mixtures for the godson. Long shoots are laid on top of the soil in a new container and lightly pressed, fixed on the ground. Gradually, at the point of contact with the soil, the branches take root and can be separated from the mother bushes.

The seed propagation method for farmers is used much less frequently. The thing is that in indoor conditions the majority of godchildren do not bear fruit. But if you were able to get the seeds of this plant, then make sure of their freshness: the seeds quickly germinate on the godson. Seeds must be pre-soaked and germinated before sowing in the substrate. Sprouted seeds are placed in several pieces in one small pot with soil typical for godchildren, they slightly moisten the crops with a spray gun. As soon as the seedlings form cotyledons, they are immediately planted one by one in small individual pots.