Bryophyllum

Bryophyllum is often mistaken for Kalanchoe. The reason for this is its appearance, since this houseplant has a similar edge of the leaf plates. In fact, Bryophyllum is a completely different genus of plant. It is characterized by vivacity, and also, if you look closely, the culture differs significantly from the Kalanchoe and its varieties.

The confusion comes from the appearance of the leaf, which is simply surrounded by a huge number of small new plants called babies. Bryophyllum is a completely unpretentious plant. It does not require special care for itself and does not need special conditions of existence. Therefore, the plant is available for growing even for completely inexperienced growers. Bryophyllum is considered a medicinal plant, the so-called home doctor, and, as noted above, belongs to viviparous crops. Therefore, here with reproduction difficulties do not arise at all.

There are no known reasons why the inhabitants do not like and cannot remember the name Bryophyllum, and in any case, when it comes to a home doctor, the plant is called Kalanchoe. This term is used not only by people, sometimes they write about the Kalanchoe in textbooks and in other books as a healing flower. Although this is not at all correct, since only Bryophyllum has healing properties.

You can argue here for a long time and it is unlikely that you will be able to prove something, but you need to know and keep in mind that the very Kalanchoe that we are used to seeing on our windowsill, where the leaves are distinguished by an openwork border from numerous children, is bryophyllum.

Bryophyllum: plant description

Bryophyllum: flower photo

The Bryophyllum plant belongs to the Tolstyankov family. This is a small group of succulents belonging to the viviparous category. In the wild, this culture can even grow up to 2 meters in height. A huge number of small plants formed around the leaf, which almost immediately begin to take root as soon as they fall to the ground. The Bryophyllum plant grows as a shrub or semi-shrub.

There are many types of Bryophyllum. So, you can find plants with straight stems and branching ones. There are even curly and creeping shoots that can reach a length of about 2 meters.

Bryophyllum leaves are usually collected in several pieces, on which new plants are formed, which have roots and even several leaves. They are used as breeding material. The color of the leaves is usually dark green, but other shades of green are also found, even brown and red leaf blades. They are also very different in shape: they can be ovals, they can have an uneven edge, and they can also be either glossy or matte on the surface. There are even some species that have a feathery leaf shape.

Perhaps we rarely see this, but this plant blooms, collecting its inflorescences in small panicles or semi-umbrellas. The shade of Bryophyllum flowers is usually red, and can be pink and purple. If your pet is blooming, then this can be seen in February-March, when all other indoor plants are in a dormant phase. The period does not last long, after which seeds are formed in place of the flowers.

Bryophyllum plant: species

In the wild, Bryophyllum has about 20 species and grows only on the island of Madagascar. Oddly enough, such an area is favorable for the plant, which is located near roads, highways, as well as dry soils with a large number of stones.As a houseplant, very few types of crops are grown, more details on them will be indicated below.

Bryophyllum Degremona

This plant was previously called Kalanchoe Degremona. These are small bushes that are collected in an outlet. The leaf plates here are wide, have a shiny surface and an uneven edge. And on the reverse side of the sheet of Bryophyllum Degremon, the surface is matte, and you can see small brown stripes on it.

Bryophyllum Degremona: photo of the variety

On each leaf of Bryophyllum Degremon, a large number of small children are formed, which create the image of the lace edge of the leaf. With a light touch of the leaf, the children fall off and are ready to take root immediately in the soil.

The flowers of Bryophyllum Degremon are very beautiful, therefore they love to grow it in the room, not only as medicinal purposes, but also to perform decorative functions.

Inflorescences are rather large bells with a lilac hue. The usual shape of the flowers is very similar in appearance to the crown. Bryophyllum Degremona is popularly called Goethe's flower. And it has long been referred to as healing plants, at least it used to be like that, the flower could be seen in every apartment.

The name comes from the times when the poet every day, in order to rejuvenate the body, ate those very children from the edge of the leaves. This plant is very popular in folk medicine. It is used for diseases of the stomach, as well as during colds, especially during a cold. The juice of this plant, instilled into the nose, begins to stimulate active sneezing.

Also, the Bryophyllum Degremon plant is effective as an analgesic and is used during tuberculosis. The people also call the culture "Home Doctor".

Bryophyllum pinnate

The people also call it not bryophyllum, but feathery Kalanchoe. Bryophyllum pinnate has straight stems, and in general, very small bushes grow, also performing decorative functions, since they branch beautifully and have a pleasant delicate green leaf color, the shape of which changes. At the bottom, it is ordinary, and at the top it becomes lanceolate pinnate.

Bryophyllum pinnate: photo of the variety

As is typical for all bryophyllums, the leaves are surrounded by a large number of children, which are present there almost throughout the year. And if they are not there, then the leaves are placed in water and then soon the same children will form on it.

Blossoming Bryophyllum pinnate is also pretty nice. The color of the petals is dark, closer to burgundy, very bright. Along with the above plant species, the flower is curative and effective in the treatment of various diseases. In addition, even official medicine recognizes it. Here, the plant is recommended as a wound healing agent, and is also used for dental problems and problems in the genitourinary system, as well as for otitis media.

Bryophyllum Fedchenko

Similar to the previous species, the people call it Kalanchoe Fedchenko. This plant is no longer considered the owner of a large number of medicinal properties, however, the flower is very popular among flower growers who appreciate the beauty of flowers. Bribe here are very unusual matte leaves of a bluish tint and a large number of stems. Aerial roots that fill the lower part of the plant look extremely interesting.

Bryophyllum Fedchenko: photo of the variety

What unites this species with the previous species is the large number of babies around each leaf. However, outwardly, the plant looks completely different. Here stands out the pink, sometimes red stripe that surrounds the leaves and gives an even more interesting look to the lace around the leaf.

Bryophyllum Fedchenko blooms at the top. The inflorescence is large, and the shade of these flowers is closer to yellow than to pink. As soon as the plant has bloomed, the growth of new shoots immediately begins.

Bryophyllum Bouvard

This is a unique ampelous type of bryophyllum in its form. The plant is considered a very rare succulent. It is very strange that he can live at home. The stems of this plant have a small diameter, but sufficient length. Growing at home, the stems can grow up to half a meter in length, while in the wild, the length of the stems can reach 2 m, or even more.

Bryophyllum Bouvard: photo of the variety

The plant is characterized by elongated leaf plates that have a dark green marsh hue. Outwardly, they resemble the claws of an animal. The shade of flowers here will be dark purple, which gives the plant a look, one might even say a little fabulously gloomy. If you plant this flower on a ring-shaped support, then you will create a very unusual exotic picture.

Bryophyllum tube-colored

Bryophyllum tube-flowered: photo of the variety

Bryophyllum tube-flowered is a very interesting plant that differs from the previous ones precisely in the growth of leaves. They are narrow here, very much like a tube. Also on the surface of tuboflower bryophyllum, small spots can be discerned. In this case, babies are formed only at the tops, which gives an unusual tropical look to the plant. Florists love tuboflower bryophyllum for very beautiful, bright, large inflorescences that gather in panicles.

Bryophyllum Mangina

Bryophyllum Mangina: photo of the variety

Bryophyllum Mangina is a plant that is becoming quite popular nowadays, as it has a very unusual flowering. This plant is also called the Madagascar bell, since it constantly blooms, despite the conditions of existence. The shade of the bells is very bright here, orange, maybe red or pink. The hanging peduncles, on which the same bells are formed, give a very spectacular look.

Bryophyllum: home care

Despite the fact that bryophyllum is considered very unpretentious among all indoor plants, here you should not let its development take its course, since one of the goals of our growing plants on the windowsill is precisely to create comfort and the aesthetic side of home improvement.

In order for a flower like Bryophyllum to bloom regularly and look beautiful, you still need to follow some recommendations. It should be noted that even in the absence of proper care, Bryophyllum will still bloom every year, perhaps only the quality of the flowers here will not be the same.

In addition, like any houseplant, Bryophyllum is responsive to feeding.

Light

For good flowering and a rich shade of leaves and inflorescences of any flower, as well as for Bryophyllum, a large amount of light is needed. Therefore, it is best to choose a place on the windowsill that will be very well lit by the sun or where at least scattered sunlight will fall. However, if at noon the scorching sun is constantly present on the plant, then the rays can leave traces of burns. Perhaps it is on these days that he needs to be covered.

If you see that the Bryophyllum plant is too elongated, the stems become long, then this indicates that the Bryophyllum lacks sun and light, and here it is worth thinking about choosing a new place. It is the eastern or western sides of the apartment that will be optimal. The southern side will become less comfortable, but also quite suitable. In the summertime, it is allowed to take plants outside.

Air temperature

Interestingly, a plant such as Bryophyllum feels comfortable in the hot season, and at the same time needs a cold wintering, despite the fact that this period is not considered a dormant stage for this plant.

The room temperature will be optimal for the plant.In the spring and summer months, the ideal temperature here will be about +25 degrees, at least not lower than +20 degrees and not higher than +27 degrees. If the air temperature in summer is below 18 degrees, this will already have a negative effect on the plant.

It is more difficult to organize a cold temperature here in winter, especially in indoor conditions. One species of bryophyllum alone, called Mangina, can also spend the winter at room temperature. All other types require a decrease in temperature, to about +12 degrees.

However, if you cannot create such conditions in winter, you should not be upset, since this does not greatly affect the presence of flowers, that is, bryophyllum will bloom in any case, the only thing is that the appearance of flowers may not be so spectacular.

Thus, we can conclude that a decrease in temperature from autumn to spring, at least up to +18 degrees, will stimulate the flowering of Bryophyllum. If he remains in hot conditions for him, then the plant will be limited only to the formation of buds.

Watering Bryophyllum

Bryophyllum: flower photo

Like any houseplant, Bryophyllum loves watering regularly. If you maintain optimal soil moisture, then the plants will feel most comfortable and will be rewarded with beautiful flowering and rich leaf color. Thus, on hot days in summer and spring, water the plants only when the topsoil is dry.

In autumn and winter, the irrigation regime is further reduced, since here it is necessary to maintain very low soil moisture so that the top layer does not dry out. On average, the watering regime is reduced to one or two repetitions in 30 days.

The Bryophyllum plant tolerates drought very well and can be classified as a drought-resistant plant. That is, if you missed watering and the earthen lump dried up, then this will not greatly affect the growth and development of the plant, and if the bush is constantly watered, this can lead to excess moisture. Then Bryophyllum is simply necessary to periodically dry.

If it so happens that you watered your Bryophyllum abundantly, then you should still wait until the soil in the pot is completely dry and only then water the flower again. Excessive dampness in this case will have a much worse effect on the plant than drought. When watering, it is also important to make sure that no water gets on the leaves of the plant.

Bryophyllum calmly refers to the presence of drafts, to sudden changes in air, as well as to a change in the level of humidity in the room. The only thing worth observing is not to place the flower next to radiators or under an air conditioner. But it can be safely grown in the kitchen, in the bathroom or in other rooms, both open and closed, for example, in a greenhouse, in a loggia and others.

Feeding

It is necessary to feed the Bryophyllum plant only in the spring and in the summer season. The frequency of feeding here should not exceed once every two weeks. It is better to buy special ready-made mixtures for feeding plants such as cacti and other succulents.

If you use classic fertilizers for the Bryophyllum flower, then you need to reduce the concentration. If you are growing a flower for decorative purposes, then for better flowering, you can feed it in the autumn-winter period. In this case, you can change the feeding mode up to once a month. In addition, it should be noted that the period between feeding should not be less than 4 weeks.

Bryophyllum: flower photo

Also, to stimulate the flowering of Bryophyllum, the composition of fertilizers should be changed, and the flowers should be fed with those fertilizers that are specially prepared for flowering plants. You can feed flowering plants more often, for example, once every 14 days, until buds stop forming on it.

Bush formation

Here it is necessary to cut off only those peduncles that have already faded, as well as damaged, yellowed and dry leaves and stems. They break off very easily, so no special tools are needed here. But if the bush does not look so beautiful with age, it begins to stretch, then it should be rejuvenated, or rather replaced by planting a younger seedling, since the formation here will not bring the desired effect.

Suitable soil

This plant feels comfortable in fertile, light, loose soil, which is suitable for all succulents. You can buy ready-made soil mixtures for cacti or for a fat woman. To prepare the soil yourself, you should mix turf soil, leaf sand, peat, and humus.

Bryophyllum is transplanted every year. If we are talking about a young plant, adult crops are transplanted only as needed, when the soil in the container has not become nutritious. There is no need to worry here, since this culture tolerates transplantation very well, is not afraid of minor injuries, therefore, once in a new container, it begins to take root very quickly, adapt and grow further.

Before replanting the plant into a new pot, a good drainage layer must be laid, which will be about 5 cm thick. Expanded clay or broken stones are well suited as drainage.

It is necessary to choose the right pot or container for planting this plant. Here it is worth focusing on the roots. Since the root system of the bushes is small, the size of the pot is also needed small. The capacity should be low but wide.

Pests and diseases that affect bryophyllum

Bryophyllum: flower photo

As for any houseplant, Bryophyllum can get sick and be affected by various pests. One of them is aphid. Spider mites also occasionally attack this culture. In addition, scale insects have a negative effect.

To protect or get rid of the plant from pests, it is necessary to treat the bush and leaves with a soap solution, and you can also use herbal infusions for processing. Insecticides can be used. To prevent the affected plant from infecting the rest, it should be planted for the duration of treatment.

If bryophyllum grows in optimal conditions for it, then it rarely gets sick. However, if the air temperature is below the comfort level, as well as in excessive soil moisture, diseases such as gray mold can occur. In addition, an ailment can appear if you water the plants, while falling on the leaves.

How to propagate Bryophyllum

Similar to all representatives of succulents, this plant reproduces very easily. As described above, it forms a very large number of daughter plants that take root at a high speed, so you can simply use stalk.

In addition, the plant is also obtained seminal way. It is not surprising that bryophyllum is sold under the name Kalanchoe, at least that's what it is called in various stores. To avoid confusion, you can inspect the packaging and find the name, which is written in Latin.

Photo of bryophyllum seeds

Seeds of Bryophyllum are sown in mid-spring in a special, suitable, fertile soil and then covered with foil or glass. At the same time, soil moisture and a temperature of approximately +22 degrees are constantly maintained. The shoots that appear very quickly will grow and develop, after which the plants begin to bloom the next winter.

The cuttings are rooted by placing them in wet sand or wet soil, or you can simply place the cuttings in a glass of water. After a very short time, this plant will take root, and if you also use plant growth stimulants, you will thus get almost one hundred percent rooting.

When the stalk has already given good strong shoots, then it can be planted already in a suitable small pot and further standard care can be carried out.

In addition, children that are formed on adult plants easily fall on the windowsill and in the ground by themselves, since this was intended by nature. Here it is enough just to lightly shake the bush and collect ready-made seeds that can be placed in water or wet soil and get a new young plant in a short time.

Conclusion

Bryophyllum is a unique unpretentious houseplant that performs not only decorative functions, due to its unusual appearance and flowering, but also has a lot of medicinal properties, and can be used in the complex treatment of various diseases. In addition, the "home doctor" is very easy to propagate and share this plant with your family and friends. Taking care of the Bryophyllum bush is not difficult at all and even a beginner can do it.