Araucaria was(Araucaria heterophylla) is one of the few conifers suitable for indoor cultivation. It grows slowly, reaching a height of 150 cm. Its biggest advantage, apart from its beauty, is the ability to improve indoor air quality. Like ferns, it negatively ionizes the air, which has a beneficial effect on our he alth. See howaraucaria care should look likeso that it does not lose needles and retains a fresh, green color, learn how tobreed araucaria at homeand find out whataraucaria diseasescan pose a threat.Here is aA to Z araucaria cultivation guide!
Araucaria was
Araucaria total - care
When to buy an araucaria?
Success in growing araucaria will ensure us to bring it to our home in a timely manner.The best time to buy araucaria is early spring or the beginning of autumnDuring this time, the plant gently adapts to the change in the length of the day and the humidity and heat conditions in the apartment. Winter is definitely the worst time to buy araucaria, when the plant should be dormant.
Araucaria cultivation site
In apartment , a suitable place to grow araucaria will be the south-eastern window , and in the summer a shaded balcony. Araucaria requires a lot of space, so it should grow alone. During the growing seasonaraucaria should be kept at a constant temperature within 20 ° C In winter, when araucaria goes into dormancy, the temperature should remain between 5-10 & 176; C.
Sprinkling araucaria
Proper care of the lofty araucaria also requires the plant to have high air humidity.In summer, sprinkle the araucaria at least twice a week with soft, standing water at room temperatureIn winter, if the araucaria is located in a room with central heating, continue sprinkling, but we only do this treatment once a week. If we grow araucaria in winter in a too dry and warm (at temperatures above 20 ° C) room, we may expose it toyellowing and dropping of needles , as well as attack by potted plant pests, such as e.g. mealybugs.
Watering araucaria
Araucaria requires regular and plentiful watering. During the growing season (March-September)araucaria should be watered at least twice a week In winter, the frequency of irrigation can be reduced to once a week. It is important that it is done regularly, because araucaria is very sensitive to drying of the substrate.Insufficient watering causes yellowing and browning of araucaria needlesWater used for watering araucaria must be free of calcium, which raises the pH of the substrate. A pot for growing araucaria must be equipped with drainage (in the form of stones or coarse gravel at the bottom of the pot), allowing excess water to drain from the substrate. Water remaining in the root zone leads to root damage, which is manifested insudden wilting of the araucaria
Araucaria was
Fertilizing Araucaria
An important care treatment is also the fertilization of araucaria with the use of fertilizer for plants that like acidic soil.Fertilize araucaria with rhododendron or conifers fertilizer from May to September We use half of the fertilizer dose recommended by the manufacturer, diluted in soft water.
Replanting Araucaria
Young araucaria plants should be transplanted into a new substrate and a larger pot every 2-3 years.
Note!Araucaria is transplanted in August, not in spring, like most potted plants.
In a new pot, the araucaria must be planted exactly at the same depth as previously.When the araucaria reaches 1 m in height, we do not replant the plants anymore , and only replace the top layer of earth once a year (in spring). A very important element of araucaria cultivation is the selection of an appropriate substrate. The most suitable soil for araucaria is soil for rhododendrons and azaleas or soil for conifers (pH 4.0-5.0), mixed with clay soil from the garden and sand in a ratio of 3: 1: 1.
Pruning Araucaria
When caring for araucaria, regularly remove aging branchesthat disfigure the plant.Use a secateurs to cut off dry twigs right next to the stem. Then, use a cotton swab with petroleum jelly to stop the leakage of resin. The times after cutting, we can protect with garden ointment to prevent fungal infection.
Note!When caring for araucaria, do not use any polishing preparations that damage the needles. Regular sprinkling of the plant allows us to remove dust and debris from its branches.
Araucaria totaled - reproduction
Araucaria can be propagatedthrough semi-woody cuttings, which we collect from he althy shoots in winter (December-January). In order for future plants to have the right habit, it is best to take apical cuttings. Take cuttings for rooting by cutting the plant about 4 cm under the first whorl of side shoots. The cut wounds emit resin, so we leave the cuttings in water for several hours, allowing the resin to drain. On the mother plant, we stop the leakage of resin with a cotton swab with petroleum jelly.When the leakage of the resin stops, the tip of the seedling is dipped in a rooting for semi-woody cuttings and planted in a moist, peaty substrate. The planted plants are wrapped in foil to provide them with high air humidity.Araucaria seedlings are rooting at a temperature of 18-20 ° C and a constantly moist substrateThe process of rooting araucaria seedlings takes several months. So you have to be patient!
Araucaria totaled - diseases
Araucaria is a plant that is quite resistant to diseases. However, as a result of improper irrigation, root rot and anthracnose may occur.
Araucaria root rot develops on the plant as a result of over-wateringUnder such conditions, the plant is susceptible to infection by fungi of the genus Pythium. Sick plants, despite sufficient substrate moisture, lose turgor.Needles on lower shoots quickly turn yellow, brown and flake offAfter removing the plant from the pot, rot is visible, and tissue is peeling from the axial cylinder of the roots. This araucaria disease can be prevented by drainingpots and growing araucaria in pots with holes in the bottom. Thanks to this, water that is not absorbed by the roots will be able to flow out of the pot. After observing the symptoms of the disease, we replace the substrate and wash the pot thoroughly. Unfortunately, we have to throw away the infected plants.
Araucaria anthracnosisis a disease caused by the fungus Colletotrichum derridis. It manifests asas yellow, confluent spots that appear on the needles of thearaucaria in the lower parts of the plant. When the stain covers the entire circumference of the needle, dieback occurs. Sick needles drop. Sometimes black clusters of fungal spores can be observed on the spots.This araucaria disease develops as a result of soaking the needles while watering.Therefore, when watering, pour water directly into the substrate. Remove the branches with anthracnose symptoms and spray the whole plant 3-4 times with Biosept Active every 7-10 days.
Good to know!In older araucaria specimens, the branches from the lower floors dry and fall off spontaneously, which is a natural process.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
