Rowley's Root (Senecio Rowleyanus) is an ornamental plant of the Astrovye family, which, however, is not so often found in the collections of amateur growers.
The plant is different from others. Krestovnikov original appearance: Senecio shoots look like long thin lashes, with beads strung on them.
No wonder the Germans call it "Perlenkette" - "string of pearls".
When a large number of "threads" hangs from a flowerpots, the spectacle turns out amazing.
it also flowering plant: In late spring, dandelion-shaped pink and white fragrant flowers appear. But they appreciate him after all for decorative greenery.
The plant is poisonous.
However, there are so many poisonous plants in our apartments and houses that we have become accustomed not to taste them, work in our greenhouses with gloves, wash our hands after “talking” with green pets. And also to place flowers out of the reach of children and animals.
In case of Rowley's godson this is quite achievable: you can just hang it higher.
Home care
The conditions of the baptisy are typical for most succulents (plants originating from arid regions of the globe, and accustomed to them).
The homeland of this godson is the African Namib desert.
Home care for Rowley's godson has any features. In the warm season, from the beginning of March to the end of September, the ruler must be provided with sufficient lighting without direct sunlight at noon. It means that it will develop well on the windows of east and west orientation without shading.
If the windows overlook the south, then the groundsel can be successfully grown in the depths of the room, and not on a windowsill. This is undoubtedly a big plus for the plant. In winter, it is worthwhile to move the godson to the south window-sill or to provide illumination.
The light should be bright, but the length of the day is shorter than 12 hours. It is important for spring flowering.
Air temperature in the room where the spider grows, should be moderate: during the period of active vegetation in the light season about 22 - 25 degrees, and in winter it is desirable to lower, about 10 - 15.
At lower temperatures, the godson can die.
The plant does not impose any special requirements on air humidity: its leaves are transformed into peas with dense glossy skin in order to retain moisture in any conditions, preventing evaporation.
Therefore, it grows well both on glazed unheated terraces, and in dry rooms with central heating. Spraying is optional, but does not bring harm. Therefore, sometimes it is necessary to spray it to remove dust.
Watering in spring - in summer it is plentiful, with drying the surface of the substrate. We must remember that at this time the plant increases the green mass and stores the nutrients for the winter. Soil can not be overdry. But you shouldn't flood the roots either, because of this they can rot.
In winter, watering is reducedespecially at lower content temperatures. If the plant lives in a warm room in winter, the watering is not much reduced.
Fertilizers bring in the active period of the year, about once every 3 to 4 weeks, use fertilizer for succulents and cacti, with a reduced nitrogen content. In winter, regardless of the temperature of the content, they do not fertilize.
Rowley's dacha grows pretty fast.
Besides the fact that its shoots are lengthened by not less than 30 cm in a year and hang down more and more, in a pot, on the surface of the earth, rooting of the branches lying on it occurs. Rooted parts give roots and new shoots. So mastered earthen room, reduced power area.
If you do not allow the plant to take root on the soil surface in your pot, you will have to sacrifice decorativeness: over time, the old sections of the stem will become bare, and the new shoots will cover them. The plant becomes thick, for proper development requires more and more substrate.
Occasionally Senecio Rowley needs a transplant.
Do it as needed, and not immediately after purchase. If the crown is heavily thickened, you can carefully divide the hummock and plant a gardener in several pots.
At the same time you need to shorten the roots and shoots. This will promote regrowth on the branches of the lateral processes, which will give the plant density and splendor. But more often the plant is simply transplanted into a larger pot, while the excessively long roots twist and not cut off. Shoots a little pinch.
Soil You can use a neutral, not very rich. You can take the soil for cacti. After transplanting, water well. The plant does not feed a half to two months.
A photo
Rowley's Root:
Breeding
Rowley's Root. It is also carried out during the active growing season, in spring and summer. One of the methods described in the section on transplanting is division of the bush. The second method is also mentioned in the same section.
Now answer the question is it possible to propagate Rowley's Gospel by leaf? Here we need clarification. It is about breeding layering. To do this, next to the godson put a second pot with a substrate, take a few lashes of an adult plant and pin them in a new pot. In the place of contact with the ground leaves, beads are removed.
Rooting will happen soon enough, in a month it can be separated from the parent branches, which will safely continue to grow, issuing side branches. This is the most affordable way to breed.
Well rooted and cuttings of plants. In one pot, you can put several cut branches from 5 to 10 cm in length. The lower leaves, peas are removed, this part is buried in the ground. To get cuttings, prune ends of the whips.
After this procedure, the plant begins to branch and becomes more dense.
With seeds, the Rowley's spiderseed is rarely propagated - seedlings produce only fresh seeds, which are rarely available for sale.
Diseases and pests
Diseases of the godson This is, first of all, the disease due to care errors. Lack of light and high temperatures in winter weaken the plant.
Over-watering, especially at lower temperatures, causes dead roots and powdery mildew.
Of pesttoo dry spider mite is activated. If the leaves frown and dry - you should urgently water the green part of the plant under the shower, and also moisten the ground. May be sprayed with beer or diluted alcohol.
Aphid is found on the plant in summerwhen it is abundantly watered. If a sticky plaque forms on the plant, it is necessary to apply insecticides, adhering to the recommendations for use.
It is known that well-groomed plants rarely get sick, and when they get sick, they cope with the disease without consequences.
Rowley's Robin is a unique plant. Among a large number of spiders, only he has reduced round-shaped leaves and beads. There are two more similar plants, some secrete them into separate species, but more often they are considered to be under the guise or a variety of Rowley.
One of them is Herreyne's godson (Senecio Herreyanus), whose leaves are not round, but oval, located almost perpendicular to the hanging trunk. The second is a lemon-ground groundflower (Senecio citriformis), whose leaves with pointed tips look like small green lemons. They are already crossed among themselves, hybrids are created.
Rowley's Root can become the pearl of any flower collection and live with you for many years. It will decorate the living room and balcony, soften the corner of the window in the kitchen. Try to grow this magnificence, you will like it!
