Aeonium - Aeonium

Rod Eonium (Aeonium) belongs to the Crassulaceae family. This genus includes about forty varieties of perennial plants, which are herbaceous, semi-shrub, and shrub vegetation. Most of them grow wild in the subtropics (Canary Islands, Madeira, east of the African continent, Morocco). All varieties are similar to each other. The leaves of the Eonium flower are variegated, without petioles, variegated, gather in a rosette, plump, spiral-shaped, grow at the ends of bare stems. There are types of Eonium, which do not have gaps between the leaves, the leaves simply lie on top of each other, in this they resemble the scales of pine cones. Usually the leaves are presented in the form of a shovel, some varieties have leaves pointed at the ends. Over the years, leaves fall off, scars of a pale shade appear on the trunk, in the form of a rhombus.

Eonium flower: plant photo

Eonium blooms for about four weeks. During flowering, rather thickened apical peduncles appear with large inflorescences in the form of a panicle. Small flowers grow up to one cm in diameter, their coloring can be pink, white or yellow. Corolla petals are separate (9 pieces), not wide, linear. The lifespan of the Eonium species is different. Although the Eonium is named from the Greek "aionois", which means "eternal, long-lasting", the death of species with a shoot that does not branch and has only one rosette occurs after they finish blooming. For example, the wild-growing aeonium "Longline" lives for two years.

Eonium: care and cultivation at home

Illumination level.

Eonium is a thermophilic culture. She needs bright light all year round, even when at rest during the winter season. Therefore, in winter, additional lighting is needed with the help of phytolamps; it should be remembered that daylight hours all year round should last from ten to twelve hours.

In summer, the aeonium is transferred to outdoor conditions, to a balcony or to a garden plot. You can place the plant in the sun, because direct rays are unable to harm it.

With a lack of illumination, the leaves of the Eonium turn pale, and the succulent leaves turn green. The rosettes will become loose, and the steles will become elongated.

Temperature conditions.

Eonium flower: plant photo

The Eonium needs coolness. In summer, the optimal temperature regime should be sixteen to twenty-three degrees. At a warmer room temperature, the eonium will want oxygen to constantly flow to it, in this case it is recommended to simply move it to outdoor conditions.

In winter, the plant is at rest, during this period it needs a cool temperature regime. From the equator of autumn to the first days of spring, temperature conditions are maintained in the room within the range of eight to twelve degrees. If the winter season is warm, then all the foliage may fall off, the bush will lose its decorative appearance.

Watering.

When the Eonium flower is actively growing, watering is carried out in moderation. Watering can be done after the soil dries up to one third of its height. In winter, the plant is watered in small quantities.Leaves will tell you about watering - the loss of their elasticity will begin.

Moisture level.

Eonium flower: plant photo

The Eonium flower can grow in low moisture. But for hygiene, it is advisable for him to carry out regular sprinkling with warm water. Do not forget that during the procedure, the soil mixture is necessarily covered with polyethylene so that water does not get on it.

Soil mix.

The plant requires a not very fertile soil with a neutral acid level. To prepare the necessary substrate, sheet, clay, sod soil and sand, taken in equal parts, are combined. You can also plant flowers in store soil, which is intended for cactus and variegated plants.

To prevent rot from forming on the root system of the Eonium, a little charcoal is poured into the soil mixture (grind it before that). In addition, lay a good layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot. For this purpose, expanded clay or broken clay shards are used.

Top dressing.

Aeonium is fed once every four weeks, when it is actively growing. For this purpose, a specialized complex is used for variegated and cactus vegetation. The fertilizer is dosed as indicated by the manufacturer.

Transplanting.

Young aeonium is transplanted once a year in spring, and the new pot must exceed the diameter of the previous container. Transplanting mature plants is done when needed. For example, when the roots no longer fit in the container.

Keep in mind that the Eonium plant may soon grow, for this reason, the old bush is systematically replaced with a new one that has been grown again.

Reproduction.

Eonium flower: plant photo

Reproduction of Eonium depends on the variety. The seed method or grafting is used. For example, aeonium "Longline", a biennial plant without a stem, is propagated only by seed. In shrubs, the top of the stem with a rosette of leaves is cut off to root it. This cutting takes root in sand or water. In frequent cases, the appearance of roots occurs after fifteen days.

Diseases and harmful insects.

Eonium is quite resistant to harmful insects. If pests appear on the bush, it is necessary to sprinkle with warm water. If the plant is heavily infected (in rare cases), then you need to treat it with a specialized agent, Actellik will do. Diseases usually appear due to the fact that the flower was not properly looked after. Rot may occur on the root system due to the stagnant liquid in the substrate or the fall of all leaves - due to the winter season with warm temperatures.

Eonium: species with names and photos

Many types of Eonium are most popular among gardeners.

Eonium flower: video about plant varieties

Aeonium arboreum.

The most popular variety. Aeonium tree-like - this plant is not so large, grows up to one meter in height. The surface of the vertical trunk, which is weakly branched, is covered with a pale brownish-gray bark. The rosette with leaves is not dense, it is twenty cm across. The leaves of Eonium Arboretum are in the form of a shovel, their edges are with denticles and shortened cilia. The leaves grow from five to ten cm. The leaves are colored bright green, but there are forms that have greenish-purple leaves or with a purple border, for example, "Atropurpureum". The peduncle grows up to thirty cm. The flowers are yellow.

Eonium tree: plant photo

Aeonium domesticum.

Rosettes with leaves resemble the previous variety, but this species is quite compact, the bush grows up to fifteen to thirty cm. The surface of the thickened trunk, which branches heavily, is covered with dark brown bark. The leaves are in the form of a shovel, their coloring is dark green.But they are slightly wider and several times shorter compared to the previous variety (only two cm long). The edges of the leaves are slightly bent. The peduncle grows up to ten to twenty cm. The flowers are yellow.

Eonium Home: plant photo

Eonium Decorative (Aeonium decorum).

Ornamental Eonium is quite an attractive variety and is also popular among gardeners. The compact flower grows up to twenty cm. It branches strongly and has a rosette in the form of a ball. The leaves are colored copper-red. But this coloration does not appear immediately. The young leaves of Eonium Ornamental are first bright green, and then their reddening begins from the very edges. The leaves are wide, lanceolate, slightly folded longitudinally to the median vein. They grow up to two and a half cm.

Eonium Decorative: plant photo

Aeonium virgineum.

This perennial plant has practically no stem. It forms many loose rosettes with leaves. It is because of them that the bush grows into a fairly wide family. The leaf is slightly in the form of a wave, its color is light green, pinkish at the base. In a wild flower, the peduncle reaches one meter. The flowers are yellow.

Eonium Virginia: plant photo

Aeonium Longline, or Dish (Aeonium tabuliforme).

A very interesting variety, however, it is not yet so popular among gardeners. This biennial plant without a stem has one fairly dense and wide rosette with leaves, reaching forty to fifty cm in diameter. It is located on the surface soil layer and looks like a pancake covered with scales. An adult aeonium has approximately two hundred scale-shaped leaves. The leaves are pale green in color, their edges have a large number of cilia. The bush begins to bloom from the second year of development. During this period, he has a peduncle 50 cm long, bearing an inflorescence in the form of a panicle, which consists of yellow flowers. When the plant fades, it dies after that.

Eonium Longline: plant photo

Aeonium lindleyi.

Aeonium Lindley has small leaves collected in small baskets. They are located at the top of thin twisted branches. Young leaves of a pale green color are presented almost in the form of a hemisphere. When they grow up, they flatten, and the color changes to yellow. The flower grows up to fifteen to thirty cm. The flowers are yellow.

Lindley's aeoniums: photo of a plant

Home-grown Eonium varieties are considered unpretentious to care for. But they have practically no flowering.