Acanthus soft planting and care. Acanthus - the rules for growing a "bear paw"
Which loves warmth and lives in the Mediterranean, Africa and Asia. Since ancient times, he was greatly revered in Greece and Ancient Rome. The plant inspired respect for its beauty, vitality and majesty.
general description
This garden plant is also called "bear paw". This is due to the fact that acanthus leaves are very similar to the bear's paw print.
It can also be called holly, mountain thistle and claw. All species are strong and hardy. The foliage is very diverse, as it can be both smooth and with thorns without needles, it can be pinnately dissected and incised into unequal parts. The flowers are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences. They are white, purple and purple. The petals reach a size of 5 cm. And the height of the plant itself can be from 40 cm to 2 m, while the roots are very powerful.
Did you know? In antiquity, this flower was a symbol of masculinity and victory over difficulties. It was believed that the plant grows on the graves of heroic warriors. However, in Christian symbolism, acanthus leaves are associated with the suffering and rebelliousness of the sinner.
Varieties of acanthus
Today, more than 30 species of this ornamental plant are known. The most popular ones:
- . Grows in mangroves. The foliage is dark green in color, satin-smooth, 8-10 cm wide and 20-30 cm long. The leaves are pinnately dissected. The flowers are white-lilac shades with large cylindrical inflorescences. Distributed along the coasts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Well suited for growing both in pots and in greenhouses. The roots are airy and spread out in different directions, giving the plant a special charm.
- . This species is native to West Africa. It is an evergreen shrub that is characterized by many aerial roots. The leaves are pinnate, olive green in color, can reach a length of 30 cm, while the edges are wavy and slightly studded. White-lilac flowers form inflorescences up to 25 cm in length. The diameter of one flower is about 5 cm. Mountain acanthus is an ornamental plant that takes root well in potted conditions.
- - this is the most sought-after perennial in and. It got its name for its leaves and bracts, on which there are prickly needles. The flowers are very beautiful, formed in two shades: the upper lobes are lilac, and the lower lobes are white. The height of the acute acanthus can reach 150 cm. This species blooms from July to September.
- In its homeland, in the Mediterranean, the plant can grow up to 190 cm, in our area it is slightly lower - about 75 cm. Its stems are straight, and the foliage is very massive, about 30-60 cm long, up to 15 cm wide. The bracts are dark - pink or lilac. Soft acanthus also has varieties that differ in the size of the foliage and the presence of thorns on it.
- It is very similar to the blunt acanthus, the only difference is in deep cuts in the basal foliage of the Balkan acanthus, the bases of which are noticeably narrowed. This species is the most resistant to cold.
- . The species was found quite recently on the slope of Mount Adis, not far from Yerevan. The view is rare and extremely beautiful. Inflorescences are long, purple buds.
Conditions for growing "bear claws"
To grow such a plant in your summer cottage, you should carefully study the conditions that it needs for good development.
Climatic conditions
Acanthus is a thermophilic plant. In summer, the optimal temperature range for him is 18-25 °С, in winter - 16-18 °С.
In this regard, summer residents grow some types of "bear paw" in containers, taking them out into the garden in the summer, and taking them indoors for the winter.
soil type
Acanthus - the plant is not particularly capricious, still needs a suitable one. It is advisable to plant it in fertile soil, light, neutral or slightly alkaline. 
It is also very important to provide the plant with a good one so that moisture and air can easily get to it.
Did you know? Grass-eating animals practically do not touch the acanthus, as they do not find its prickly, hard foliage attractive.
To grow beautiful and powerful, you must adhere to the basic rules of agricultural technology. Seeds before planting need to be scarified and soaked for 2-3 days in warm water.
At the same time, every 6-8 hours the water must be changed so that it does not heat up even more. After 10 days, the seeds, which should have been in a dark room all this time, will have time to germinate, and they can be planted in. Better to do it in March. 
The substrate for planting is prepared from sand and. It is important to keep a distance between plants of at least 70-80 cm, since acanthus grows very quickly and powerfully.
plant care
In order for an acanthus flower to decorate a summer cottage with its decorative properties, it needs to be properly cared for.
Watering
Abundant should be observed from spring to autumn. At the same time, it is impossible to allow waterlogging, because because of this, the root system of the plant may begin to rot, and it may also start. 
In winter, moisture can be reduced, while you need to make sure that the root does not dry out.
Important! Additionally, you can spray acanthus from a spray bottle from time to time. This should be done very carefully so that water does not fall on the inflorescences. You can spray 2 times a day in the summer, and 1 time a day in the winter.
Fertilizer
It is recommended to apply from March to September. It will be enough to carry out such a procedure once every two weeks. Fertilizers need to be selected those that contain organic compounds. 
You can purchase a liquid three-component product in a specialized store that is used for flowering plants.
pruning
It is necessary to monitor the development of the plant and, as necessary, remove inflorescences that have already faded, as well as rotten and shrunken parts of the acanthus.
Acanthus 
- a name that says little to a Russian person far from gardening or architecture, although most of us have probably seen his image. As well as the Corinthian capital is known even to those to whom this architectural term does not mean anything. Someone saw a picture of this architectural ornament in a picture in a history book, 
Someone more attached to art sketched it in drawing classes, 
and most - on the columns of buildings built in Stalin's times. I was also fascinated by the decorative plasticity of these leaves, but somehow I didn’t think that the image was based on a very real plant. 
Here is the legend told by Vitruvius about the origin of the Corinthian capital: “A certain girl, a citizen of Corinth, who had already reached marriageable age, fell ill and died. 
After the funeral, her nurse, having collected a few things that this girl cherished during her lifetime, like the apple of her eye, put them in a basket, took them to the tomb and placed them on the grave; and in order to keep them longer in the open, she covered them with tiles. This basket was accidentally placed on the acanthus root. In the meantime, with the onset of spring, the acanthus root, pressed down by gravity, let out leaves and stems from its middle, which, growing along the sides of the basket and pressed by gravity by the corners of the tile, were forced to bend in the form of volute extremities. At this time, Callimachus, whom the Athenians called “katatechnos” for the elegance and refinement of his marble work, passing by the tomb, drew attention to this basket and to the tenderness of the young leaves overgrown with it. Fascinated by the novelty of the look and form, he made several columns for the Corinthians according to this model, determined their proportionality and from that time established the rules for the buildings of the Corinthian order ”(Vitruvius, v. 4, ch. 1) 
So, let's turn to the dictionaries: Acanthus (lat. Acanthus from the Greek. ακανθος) is a genus of plants of the Acanthus family, growing in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, with the highest species density in the Mediterranean and Asia.
Acanthus - perennial herbaceous plants, less often shrubs, from 40 cm to 2 m high, with thorny leaves. The flowers are white or purple, collected in a brush. 
As such, this Mediterranean plant does not have a Russian name, however, in the horticultural literature of the 19th century, you can find it under the name "bear's paw", which is a literal translation from pharmaceutical Latin - Branca ursina. 
Under this name in the Middle Ages and later, the leaves and roots of a. soft as an enveloping and emollient were used for diarrhea, coughs, burns. Sometimes the options "bear claws" and "holly" come across. 
Acanthus grows on the graves of heroes - the ancient Greeks believed. 
They saw in it a sign of triumph and overcoming life's trials - thorns and thorns. This is how an ornamental motif appeared on Corinthian capitals. The word "acanthus" refers to a sculptural or relief decoration in the form of a stylized plant - an acanthus. Spiny acanthus (acanthus spinosus), with narrow, sharp lobes that give a sharp shadow, was preferred in images in ancient Greece.
Broad, blunt, somewhat concave in section leaves of soft acanthus (acanthus mollis), giving rich chiaroscuro, were often used in the buildings of Dr. Rome. They made it an element of the magnificent capitals of the Corinthian order. Such a capital was especially decorative, it was also used later, in the architecture of the Italian Renaissance and the Baroque style.
In the Mediterranean, the acanthus was seen as Life, immortality, the horn of the growing moon, the veneration of the fine arts. And the shape of the acanthus is unusually plastic and dynamic. All this ensured her long life in art. In medieval art, the image of acanthus leaves was associated with thistles and a crown of thorns, reminiscent of the suffering of Christ. Therefore, such a motive was at the same time a symbol of life, dynamics, growth and awareness of sin, pain, compassion for one's neighbor. 
It is precisely this meaning, parallel to the written text, that the acanthus motif acquired in medieval book miniatures.
Hence the acanthus is a symbol of eternal life and the immortality of the soul. Such symbolism was strengthened by the ancient belief that the acanthus leaf is the horn of the growing moon. Therefore, we see the characteristic shape of the acanthus leaf in the crown, the hilt of the sword, and heraldry.
Acanthus is an attractive herbaceous plant that is planted in open ground to ennoble the site. The culture impresses with its diverse foliage and stunning flowers. Gardeners and landscape designers use acanthus to decorate gardens and front gardens. The plant looks equally good both alone and in group plantings.
Description
Acanthus sharp or prickly is a flower that is actively used for planting in personal plots. The plant is native to the Mediterranean. Absolutely in all these regions, the flower is common and popular. This is a fairly tall culture, capable of reaching a length of up to 150 cm. A distinctive feature is the color of the petals. The top ones are purple and the bottom ones are white. A garden form of a plant with thorns that are very sharp and unpleasant. However, flower growers and gardeners love this crop and are often planted on their plots. The fruit of the plant is a pod, which cracks when ripe, and its seeds scatter in different directions. Acanthus is able to grow in one place for 10 years. Acanthus is also called a bear's paw or holly.
Cultivation and care
This is a heat-loving plant, so for cultivation, you should choose a place that will be under warm sunlight. The temperature regime preferred for this culture is 22-25 degrees. Note that prickly acanthus is a frost-resistant plant, but it is not allowed to grow it at temperatures below -18 degrees. If the temperature is lower, the leaf plates will begin to fade. If the flower grows in a pot, it is recommended to ventilate the room in hot weather. In the cold period, on the contrary, the plant needs additional heat and lighting. If the culture grows in the garden, care should be taken that there are no other plants nearby, since acanthus tends to displace neighbors. This problem can be solved by placing separators compacted into the ground. But it is better to keep a sufficient distance so that cultures do not interfere with each other to grow qualitatively.
In the period from spring to autumn prickly acanthus requires regular and plentiful watering. In winter, the procedure is carried out systematically, depending on the condition of the soil. The main thing is that it does not dry out, but in no case should it be flooded. If there is an excess amount of moisture, this will lead to a loss of decorative effect. Spraying must be carried out very carefully, since this manipulation can also harm the plant if it is carried out incorrectly. Transplantation should be carried out in early spring. If the flower grows in a pot, you need to change the earthen mixture. The soil must necessarily consist of peat and humus. When planting, you can also add a little all-purpose mixture. In warm weather, it is advisable to fertilize once every two weeks. A high-quality drainage system is required in the winter, because in conditions of excessive moisture, the acanthus will die. Reproduction of the plant is carried out by seeds, dividing the bush or cuttings.
Possible problems
When growing a particular plant, the gardener necessarily faces certain difficulties, for which one must be prepared in advance. As for the prickly acanthus, from time to time the owners of this culture are overtaken by the following problems:
- The appearance of whitish spots on the foliage, which indicates an excess of heat.
- The appearance of withering leaves due to overdrying or waterlogging of the earth.
- The appearance of dark spots on the leaves due to a lack of nutrients.
- Withering due to inappropriate temperature conditions.
- The appearance of plaque on the leaves (indicates the defeat of powdery mildew). You can solve the problem with the help of fungicides that treat the culture.
In general, different situations can arise in the process of growing acanthus. The main thing is to be ready for anything and take action in a timely manner. In folk medicine, acanthus is used to stimulate appetite. It is also a good laxative and can have an anti-inflammatory effect. But the main task of prickly acanthus is to decorate the place of growth and give people aesthetic pleasure.
How many interesting plants grow on the globe, the names of which are little known to the layman. Many of them are of great interest and deserve general attention. One of these cultures is acanthus, whose name comes from the Greek Acánthus, which means "thorn" in translation. This plant belongs to the Acanthus family and grows in the tropics and subtropics of Europe, Asia and Africa.
plant description
Among the common names for this plant are such as bear's paw and holly, as well as claw and mountain thistle. This is a perennial herbaceous plant that loves warmth and grows mainly in Africa, Asia and the Mediterranean countries. In ancient times, it was highly revered in Greece and Ancient Rome. It symbolized the bravery and courage of warriors, and was also associated with their rebelliousness and suffering. Since ancient times, sculptors have decorated architectural structures and buildings, as well as castles and palaces, with ornaments in the form of acanthus leaves.
The genus of this plant includes more than 30 species of perennial crops of fairly large sizes. They are distinguished by their majestic appearance and durability, they have inflorescences of lilac, white and purple hues. Acanthus leaves also differ in a variety of forms:
- pinnately dissected;
- divided into unequal parts;
- smooth,
- with spikes and without needles on the edge,
- forming funnel-shaped rosettes.
Its flowers resemble in their shape an ear, collected from inflorescences.
Bracts are prickly-toothed, and acanthus blooms for a long time. The flower is about five centimeters in diameter. The seeds ripen in a box, when opened, they scatter over a long distance (to collect the seeds, put a bag on the peduncle). The dried flowers of this plant will look very beautiful in winter compositions.
As is known, acanthus plant in natural conditions grows in hot countries, although some of its species are resistant to frost. Its dimensions are quite large: from 40 cm to 2 m in nature. Cultivated species are slightly lower. Home acanthus does not like direct sunlight. Windows facing west or east are best suited.
The bear's paw flower loves warmth, so the ideal temperature for it in summer is from +22 to +25 C °, and in winter - from +16 to +18 C °. If the temperature for any of the reasons falls below these marks, then the leaves of the acanthus begin to wither. Also, there should be enough light and air in the room, so you can create additional lighting using fluorescent lamps, which must be placed at some distance from the plant.
The culture does not tolerate drafts, its roots are especially sensitive to cold. In nature, it grows on loams in both sunny and shaded places.
In the off-season, abundant watering of the plant is required, since the earth dries out at this time. In winter, it should be watered less frequently, but keep the soil moist. Excessive watering is fraught with phenomena such as rotten roots and the appearance of snails.
If there is sufficient dry air in the room, then it is necessary to water the plant more often. When watering, care should be taken: water should not fall into the inflorescences, otherwise they will lose their aesthetic appearance.
Acanthus transplant
If transplantation is necessary, acanthus is transplanted in early spring. If the plant is young, it should be transplanted into a larger container, if an adult, it is necessary to renew the land. The transshipment soil should consist of half peat, half humus. During planting, you need to add a universal mixture to fertilize the soil.
It is necessary to feed the soil about once every 2 weeks, and also ensure good drainage, since the plant may die in too wet soil. . There are three types of reproduction of acanthus:
- Seeds.
- Cuttings.
- The division of the bush.
As a rule, there are no difficulties with transplantation. The plant quickly takes root in a new place.
Growing from seed
To grow an acanthus plant, it is necessary to comply with all agrotechnical rules. To obtain seeds, the upper part of the inflorescence is broken, and the bottom is left. This speeds up the ripening process of the remaining seeds. It is necessary to sow seeds in the ground with the arrival of spring (in March), having previously scraped off the shell from them. In addition, they must be soaked in melted water, renewing it every time after about 8 hours. It is also necessary to treat the seeds with a growth stimulator, hydrogen peroxide or aloe juice (with one of the listed improvised means) before sowing in the ground.
It is necessary to germinate the seeds in wet sand, then plant them in containers with well-ventilated soil, cover them with a special film to create a greenhouse effect. Seeds should be planted to a depth of 1-2 cm. When seedlings appear, the film is removed. It is necessary to observe moderate watering and prevent stagnation of water in the soil. It is also worth observing the distance between plants from 3 to 5 cm around the circumference. The best option is to plant each plant in a separate container, and after a while - to a permanent place.
When buying seeds, you should carefully study the information on the bag, as they quickly lose their germination capacity.
Propagation by cuttings
Acanthus cuttings are planted in a container filled with wet sand, at an air temperature regime of +20 to +23 ° C. If the top of the plant has begun to grow, this is a sign that the roots have begun to grow. It is necessary from this moment to wait a few weeks, and then land it in the ground.
As soon as the root system develops, the seedlings are planted in the place intended for them. They usually bloom in the third year after planting.
The division of the bush
A bush from the ground can not be completely dug, and divide it with a shovel, sticking it at a right angle between the fused roots. Then you need to carefully separate and pull out the layering, transferring it to a previously prepared landing site. The distance between such plants should be 60-70 cm.
Diseases and pests
Acanthus is resistant to diseases and pests, however, with improper care, it can be damaged by spider mites, aphids, scale insects, and sometimes powdery mildew. Due to the fact that this plant has a very voluminous root system, it needs to allocate a sufficient amount of space on the site, otherwise after a while the acanthus will safely crowd out all other plants.
When caring for it, it is necessary to remove dry leaves and flowers from time to time, and very young individuals should winter under a spruce cover. If the winter turned out to be little snowy, then even adult plants should be covered.
Holly varieties
It is noteworthy that not all of the thirty known species are used in horticulture. Some of them are suitable for growing only at home. There are the following varieties of acanthus:
It is possible that this is not all varieties of this wonderful plant. It is quite possible that other equally interesting species of acanthus will be discovered, because the plant world of the planet has not yet been fully studied.
Scope of application
The acanthus flower looks very impressive and beautiful against the background of large trees and hedges, as well as in flower beds and in the interior. Large and majestic inflorescences and leaves will decorate the summer cottage, give it a bright accent. Acanthus looks very organic against the background of stones, giving a cozy atmosphere to the surrounding space. In addition, the plant looks natural and beautiful on the shore of the reservoir.
The panicle of a bear's paw is taken as the basis for a bouquet for a man, and winter compositions look very attractive for a long time.
It is not safe for children to play nearby with such a plant, as its thorns are quite prickly. Also, when working with it, you should protect your hands and exposed parts of the body. The thorns of the acanthus are not poisonous, but its injections can be quite painful.
The fact remains undoubted that acanthus is a unique plant that will serve as a wonderful decoration for a personal plot. If you follow all the rules of growing, planting and caring for a plant, you can achieve an excellent result and have an original flower on your site that will delight the owners with its beauty for many years.
Acanthus is a perennial herbaceous plant for open ground with surprisingly beautiful, textured, carved, large, glossy leaves. Many gardeners and landscape designers use different types of acanthus to decorate their garden space, beautiful foliage complemented by tall peaks of flowers. The plant looks attractive both alone and in group plantings, where the structure of their large pointed leaves is better visible. Many designers, architects, jewelers and artists draw inspiration from the exquisite shape of the sheet as a motif.
In most cases, a perennial herbaceous, less often semi-shrub plant acanthus or acanthus, is a representative of the Acanthus family. It grows in the Mediterranean region, subtropical and tropical regions of Asia and Africa.
There are small compact specimens of about 40 cm, while others grow up to 2 m, with an erect stem and a powerful root system.
Acanthus leaves are dark green, multiple, glossy, mostly collected in a basal rosette, large, curved, simple, often pinnately separate, incised into unequal lobes or broadly lobed, smooth or notched-spiny-toothed along the edges.
Acanthus flowers are grouped in a large spike-shaped apical tetrahedral inflorescence. The flowers are bisexual, monosymmetrical, up to 5 cm long, white, red, blue, pink-purple, pollinated by insects. Bracts covering leaves are large, serrated along the edges, with spines.
Depending on the species, climatic zone and weather conditions, flowering is observed from April to September, the duration is 3-4 weeks.
The fruit is a pod seed box, when ripe, it opens sharply, while the seeds scatter to a distance of up to 10 m.
Lifespan in one place is about 10 years. Many species are frost-resistant.
The beautiful, carved form of the leaf of the plant served as the basis for the drawing of an architectural ornament with the same name “Acanthus”.
Another name for the plant: “bear paw”, “bear claws”, “holly”, “oyster plant”, “mountain thistle”.
Species and varieties
The genus includes about 50 species, some of them are used in gardening as ornamentals, many are grown indoors. In greenhouses, heat-loving species from the acanthus family are grown - star anise and mountain acanthus.
Soft
Acanthus obtuse
Another name is obtuse acanthus. It grows no higher than 50-70 cm (in central Russia), while at home in the southwestern part of Europe it grows up to 1.5 m. It has a powerful basal rosette of large dark green leaves 30-60 cm long and 7-15 wide see Compared to other species, there are no spines. Growing, soft acanthus forms dense extensive thickets. This is a perennial herbaceous plant with an erect stem, the corolla of the flower is not more than 5 cm, white with purple veining, ovate bracts are dark purple or dark pink, loose spike-shaped apical inflorescence 20-40 cm long. Flowering time is from July to August. Soft acanthus is easy to grow, actively propagated by self-sowing. The species is the most popular because of the bright flowering, sculptural and deeply cut leaves. It is often used in landscaping south coast parks.
Barbed
Acanthus acute
Another name is acute acanthus. Most often you can see among the decorative flowers on the plot. The homeland of the species is the eastern regions of the Mediterranean. Prickly acanthus is quite a tall plant, reaches 80-150 cm in height.
A distinctive feature in the color of the flower - the upper petals are purple, the lower ones are white. The leaves and stipules are prickly, similar to thistles. Flowering period July-August.
The species has a garden form with thorns on all the teeth of the leaf - the acanthus is the most thorny, sometimes it is isolated as a separate species.
Dioscorides
A very rare species, discovered relatively recently at the northern foot of Mount Adis, not far from Yerevan. A beautiful plant with whole leaves, long pyramidal inflorescences of purple flowers. Rarely seen in culture.
Balkan
Acanthus Hungarian
Other names of the species are Hungarian acanthus, long-leaved. The most adapted species of wild acanthus. Differs in late flowering, the most frost-resistant species. A characteristic feature is deeply cut leaves with lobes tapering to the base.
star anise
Acanthus mountain
Another name is mountain acanthus. Grown as a pot culture and in greenhouses. These are perennial evergreens and shrubs up to 1.5-2 meters in height. Leaf blades are dark green, satin, smooth, glossy pinnately dissected, 6-10 cm wide and 20-30 cm long, spiny at the edges.
In large apical inflorescences, large white-purple flowers are formed, one at a time in the axils of bracts covering leaves.
The best development is observed at a temperature of +25…+30С° in light areas. On sultry hot summer days, the bush needs diffused sunlight.
The species is found among mangrove plants, forms dense thickets in brackish water, towering on supporting roots. In its natural environment, it is found on the coast of the Indian Ocean and on the islands of the Pacific Ocean.
plant care
Acanthus plants are quite unpretentious in the care of plants, the rules of care are simple and do not require any special growing skills.
For a herbaceous plant in open ground, an earthen mixture of 1 part of humus, 1 part of peat, 1 part of turf light earth and 0.5 parts of sand is preferable. Having planted an acanthus, over time, he gets used to even relatively poor soil, but in any case, he needs good drainage, especially in winter. Cold wet soil can cause the death of the plant.
The bush must be sprayed at least 2 times a day, in winter it is sprayed once. Humidity must be high; on cloudy and cold days, the plant is not sprayed.
Weeding, loosening, mulching the soil are also necessary for active growth and long flowering.
Acanthus is soft, Hungarian and other species are quite thermophilic. In summer, the optimum temperature for them is +22…+25 С°, in winter it is not lower than +16…+18 С°.
In central Russia, with the onset of cold weather, acanthus needs shelter with spruce branches and other materials. Especially shelter is required for young plants in the first few years. An adult plant is quite capable of surviving the cold. If the plant is frozen, the next year it may not bloom.
Akant does not like transplants, so if the need arises, then the transplant is done once every 2-3 years by transshipment.
Acanthus is able to aggressively capture the nearest territory, displacing other plants. To prevent this, the area allotted for the plant is limited by dividers sunk into the ground.
In hot regions, to stimulate the growth of new fresh greenery, the bush is pruned after flowering. Before removing damaged old leaves in the spring, make sure that new shoots have appeared.
Watering and feeding
Acanthus spinous
The plant is moisture-loving, in the summer period of the year, abundant frequent watering is required. In the cold season, it is also watered abundantly, but less often, while the water should be warm. Acanthus is able to tolerate a short drought, but the soil around the plant should not be brought to dryness.
Top dressing is carried out from March to September every two weeks with universal complex fertilizers for garden plants. When planting a plant in well-fertilized soil in the first year, additional feeding is not required.
Location selection
Prefers light, intense, bright diffused light without direct sunlight (in summer). In the autumn-winter period, good lighting is necessary; during this period, shading is not required. It is advisable to choose warm areas protected from drafts. An adult sprawling plant takes up a lot of space, which should be considered when planting.
Possible problems
With a sharp drop in temperature below + 16 ° C, the leaves begin to turn black and fall off, drafts and hypothermia of the root system are harmful to the acanthus.
If you overdry the earthen ball, then this can lead to the death of the plant.
During flowering, the plant is sprayed very carefully, as this can lead to a loss of decorativeness.
The formation of white spots in the center of the leaf and brown spots along the edge indicates overheating of the plant, sunburn.
Withering leaves can cause overdrying or waterlogging of an earthy coma, the irrigation regime should be reviewed and adjusted. Withering leaves may also indicate an unsuitable, too heavy earthen substrate.
Lack of nutrients in the soil, insufficient level of air humidity can cause drying and darkening of the edges of the leaves.
To protect against frost in autumn, the plant is cut off at the very surface of the earth, the chopped parts of the plant are laid on top, sprinkled with fallen leaves. You can use other covering material: cardboard, straw, spruce branches.
Flowers and flowering
Small flowers are formed on tall, straight peduncles in the form of spike-shaped inflorescences. If wilted and faded flowers are removed in time, the plant will bloom again. Flowering is quite long, about 3-4 weeks, from mid to late summer, but it depends on the maintenance and care, climate zone, weather conditions.
Diseases and pests
Acanthus is not attacked by pests, resistant to various diseases. However, if the rules of care and maintenance are violated, the plant may be disturbed by powdery mildew, in which a white coating appears on the leaves. As a struggle, the affected parts of the plant are removed, the bush is treated with fungicides, and the foliage is thinned out to ensure better air circulation.
With a strong waterlogging of the soil over a long period of time, slugs and snails can attack the plant, which spoil the decorative appearance of the leaves by eating them. The solution to the problem will be the collection of pests by hand, revision and adjustment of the irrigation regime.
Planting and reproduction
The plant is propagated by seeds and the vegetative method (cuttings, dividing the bush).
seed propagation
Seeds quickly lose their germination, only fresh seeds will give many sprouts. Before sowing, the seeds are subjected to scarification, the procedure of damage, scraping off the shell, after which they are soaked in warm water for 2-3 days. It is necessary to ensure that the water remains warm during the entire soaking time, it is changed every 3-5 hours. Before sowing, the seeds are treated with a growth stimulator. In seedling containers in prepared fertilized loose soil, the seeds are buried to a depth of 1 cm. The boxes are covered with a transparent material and cleaned in a warm, dark place. After 7-10 days, shoots appear, the shelter is removed, the grown plants are transplanted into separate flower pots. Water moderately, checking that the water does not stagnate.
Since the growing plant becomes quite spreading, when transplanted into the ground, the distance between young plants is 60-80 cm. In early spring, seeds can be sown directly into open ground. With seed reproduction, the first flowering occurs only after 2-3 years.
Propagation by cuttings
Cuttings are cut with a length of 15-25 cm, and the lower cut is made almost under the kidney, all leaves are removed from the handle, with the exception of the apical ones. They stick the cuttings into seedling boxes with wet sand, tightly cover with a transparent material, the temperature in the room should be within + 20 ... + 25 ° C. The cuttings take root quickly enough, the signal of this is the beginning of the regrowth of the top. After 2-3 weeks, rooted cuttings are planted in a permanent place in the garden.
Propagation by root cuttings and division
The division of the bush. The division procedure is carried out very carefully in spring or early autumn. The bush is taken out of the flower pot, the roots are freed from the ground and carefully divided into two parts. Each of the parts is divided again, the old part is cut off with a knife, and the remaining fragments of the rhizome are divided again. The resulting parts are planted in separate flower pots. Small fragments will bloom much later than larger parts.
Propagation by root cuttings. In the spring, a thick fragment of a fleshy rhizome is separated with a knife or a shovel, divided into pieces 5-8 cm long. The upper end is cut horizontally, the lower one obliquely, so that it is easier to recognize them. A wide, fairly large seating box is filled with a mixture of peat and coarse sand, and holes are made at a distance of about 5-8 cm. A piece of root is placed in each recess, with a horizontal cut upwards, so that it is at ground level. After the appearance of 3-4 pairs of leaves, young plants are transplanted into open ground to a permanent place.
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