The author of the text is Dr. Katarzyna Wróblewska
The spatial isolation of the Australian continent meant that species of animals and plants took shapes there that cannot be found anywhere else. No wonder that the local plants have aroused great fascination in our country for years and are more and more often used as ornamental plants.One such group is the Proteaceae family, used mainly for cut flowers.
Although Australia has the largest number of silverfish species, its representatives also grow in South Africa and it is the South African species most often found in flower shops. Regardless of where it comes from, it is one of the most peculiar families of the plant world.These are primarily always green woody plants with beautiful inflorescences.
African beauty
One of the most impressive, resembling a basket from the Asteraceae family, has the South African silver Protea. They are low shrubs reaching 1-3, less often 5 m. The natives call them honey pots because the inflorescences emit a lot of nectar.
In the royal silverfish Protea cynaroides, considered the national flower of South Africa, the inflorescences can reach 30 cm in diameter. They are decorated with red or pink flowers, which in ornamental varieties (there are several dozen) can also be white or cream. Another frequently cultivated species of silverfish is Protea neriifolia.Its inflorescences are elongated, and the tiled overlapping leaves are fringed with numerous hairs.
Among the South African species, the red, pink, orange and yellow inflorescences of Leucospermum have also gained recognition as ornamental plants.Thanks to the long necks of the pistils, they resemble a pillow full of pins.In turn, Leucadendron silver is grown mainly for decorative foliage and small inflorescences surrounded by colorful leaves that can be green, red, cream or yellow .
Meet the most popular potted plants
Unique scarlet banksia
Banksia coccicea is the most common among the species growing in Australia.These are shrubs growing up to 8 m, with small (up to 8 cm) red inflorescences.
Banksje is distinguished by specific adaptations to development in places prone to frequent fires.High temperatures are necessary for the fruit to open and release the seeds. Species from the genus Grevillea are also appreciated, for example Grevillea r with yellow flowers arranged in pairs in an inflorescence. One should also mention another Australian kind with utility values - the Macadamia macadamia. The seeds of some species, called macadamia nuts, are used in the confectionery industry.
Most of the more than 1,000 species have developed specific adaptations to the dry climate.These plants are grown mainly in South Africa, California and Florida.The inflorescences are very durable and, if certain conditions are met, they can stand in a vase for up to 30 days.
To keep it fresh as long as possible, add sugar (2 tablespoons per liter of water) to the water in the vase, and change this solution every 2-3 days.With each water change, the shoots are shortened by 2-3 cm, because the growing wound tissue (callus) clogs the shoots and prevents water uptake.Inflorescences can also be dried. Many of them, e.g.protei and banksji, is sold as the so-called exotic drought.
Recently, some species are sold in pots for cultivation on balconies and terraces.Short-stature species or varieties are best suited for this purpose.The most common types of silverfish and Leucospermum are those grown.
How to breed silverfish?
These unique plants are propagated from seed or semi-woody shoot cuttings.Seeds should be soaked in water for 24 hours before sowing, and the seeds should be stratified at 5 ° C before sowing.Seeds are sown individually in pots, in a peat and perlite substrate.
They need a temperature of 15-18 ° C to germinate. Do not be discouraged if you do not see seedlings in the pots for a long time, because germination can take a very long time, even three months.
As they are not frost-resistant plants (only some Banksia plants tolerate temperature drops to 0 ° C), the plants should spend the winter in cool (5-15 ° C) and dry rooms, and in summer they can be moved outside.The position should be sunny.Water moderately during the growth of the plant, while in winter, watering is kept to a minimum - just so as not to allow the substrate to dry out.
The best substrate for these plants is a mixture of high peat, perlite and clay soil (3: 3: 1) with an acidic pH.Fertilize carefully.Plants, thanks to their special roots, are adapted to the absorption of even the smallest amounts of nutrients, and at the same time are very sensitive to the high content of nitrogen and phosphorus in the substrate, which causes discoloration on the leaves .
