A relatively new plant for us, rapidly gaining popularity – anigosantos belongs to crops that can bloom for an amazingly long time. “Kangaroo feet” is an Australian exotic, the inflorescences of which look more than unusual. Lush clumps of narrow leaves and unusual inflorescences of twisted bright “tubes” fully compensate for all the difficulties with growing. And even if this is one of the most difficult indoor crops to care for, which is more suitable for experienced flower growers, it is difficult to compete with it in showiness. Indeed, in any collection, Anigosantos will easily become a star of the first magnitude.
Anigosanthos, or Kangaroo’s foot (Anigozanthos). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com monrovia
Anigozanthos, or Kangaroo foot (Anigozanthos) Is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants from the family Commeliniformes (Commelinales). In some sources, anigosantos is often called anigosanthus, which is not entirely true.
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Australian charm of exotic anigosantos
Among indoor exotic plants, kangaroo paws occupy a special place. They conquer by combining outlandish bloom with beautiful greenery, always look irresistible and easily fit into any interior. One of the unique skills of anigosantos is the ability to visually expand the space, as if filling it with a feeling of freedom and lightness. At first glance, it seems like an outlandish exotic. Kangaroo feet are not only a beautiful flowering houseplant, but also an excellent cut crop.
Anigosantos (or anigosanthus), sometimes distributed under the name of anigos, in nature is a fairly large plant, the shoots and leaves of which can grow up to 2 meters. In room culture, the height of anigosanthos is limited to 30-50 cm. The rhizome is tuberous, powerful. The leaves of anigosanthos are located in a dense rosette, while the plant grows strongly and forms a continuous dense sod. The belt-shaped or lanceolate leaves are a little like cereals, but more rigid.
The flowering shoots of anigosanthos appear from the center of the rosettes, crowned with panicle inflorescences with tubular, curved, bunched flowers. Tightly closed, they seem more like “sticks”. But when they open up, surprisingly delicate, star-like flowers suddenly appear. Moreover, in a broom, all six teeth are displaced to one side and differ from each other in size.
The edge on the flowers of anigosanthos and the peduncle gives the plant a special originality. It is she who gives the flowers their bright, unusual color; colored fine hairs seem to be artificial dusting. Inflorescences-ridges outwardly really resemble kangaroo legs, thanks to which the plant got its popular nicknames.
Anigosantos bloom in spring and summer. Anigosantos has forms and varieties with a wide variety of colors. Cultivars with red-light green, red-yellow and orange flowers offer variations in a fiery color scheme.
Anigosanthos species
Despite the fact that each of the 12 species of anigosanthos is beautiful in its own way, dwarf hybrids are more common in room culture. Anigozantosa prizemistogo (Anigozanthos humilis) (also called Anigosantos low, or Cat’s foot), not a species. The exceptions are:
- anigosantos yellowish (anigozanthos flavidus), a spreading, powerful perennial with marsh color of leaves and powerful panicles-ridges of inflorescences, consisting of 9-10 tubular flowers of either light green or terracotta shade;
- anigosantos pretty (Anigozanthos beautiful), a plant with a soft edging on silvery leaves, branched panicles with yellow flowers, seemingly velvety-fluffy;
- anigosantos bicolor (anigozanthos bicolor), the curtains of which are unusually slender (the diameter is half the height), the leaves are decorated with small thorns along the edge, and the brushes of reddish-green flowers with bright cherry and turquoise tones of the lobes surprise with exotic variegation;
- anigosantos redhead (anigozanthos rufus) with more emerald and rough leaves, large panicles of inflorescences, consisting of up to 15 flowers of scarlet or purple color; graceful, more delicate and “floating” look.
Even less common anigozantos Mangleza (anigozanthos Manglesii) – capricious, prone to rapid degeneration, blooming in winter with light green flowers and distinguished by the reddish color of the shoots.
Anigosanthos in regions with mild winters can be grown not only as an indoor plant, but also as a garden plant. But even in countries with harsh winters, kangaroo legs can be considered as a garden crop that requires wintering indoors. He is not afraid of short-term light frosts, withstanding lowering up to -5 ° C. The selection of conditions for the plant is not as difficult as caring for it, although the need to ensure a cool wintering is very important.
Lighting for anigosantos
Kangaroo feet are one of the most light-loving plants. It is better to place it not just on bright, but on sunny locations. Anigosantos will not bloom, will not reveal its beauty even with light shading, it quickly loses its compactness and stretches. It is especially difficult to provide adequate lighting during the rest period. Indeed, in late autumn and winter, Anigosantos will still need the same bright lighting as in summer.
For anigosantos, southern windowsills are well suited. He responds well to artificial lighting.
Caring for anigosanthos
Temperature conditions
It is not just a heat-loving plant, but a heat-resistant plant. During the period of active growth, especially in summer, anigosantos will feel good in the usual room range from 18 to 23 degrees Celsius, and when temperatures exceed 25-28 degrees. During the rest period, anigosantos must be kept cool. From October to February, this Australian plant needs constant air temperatures of 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. Lowering temperatures should not affect the lighting: it is kept constant, bright enough.
Despite all its capriciousness, Anigosantos can be taken out into the open air in the summer. He will feel good both on the balcony and in the garden. But you need to place the plant in a place protected from precipitation and drafts.
Irrigation and air humidity for anigosantos
Anigosanthos are hygrophilous plants. During the active period of growth, this exotic needs a very high moisture content of the substrate, it is watered abundantly, preventing the soil from drying out. Anigosantos does not tolerate complete drying of the soil. But at the same time, the plant is no less afraid of stagnation of water, waterlogging. Watering a plant has another specificity: anigosantos is afraid of wetting the bases of the leaves, it is better to water it from below, and not using the classical method.
During wintering in cool conditions, watering of anigosantos should become more scarce, but it should not be stopped completely and the substrate should not be allowed to dry even in the cold.
Kangaroo legs are not sensitive to air humidity; they put up well with a dry environment even in winter. But the greenery of the plant only becomes more beautiful from periodic spraying. For kangaroo legs, it is important to use fine spray nozzles to keep moisture away. Spraying anigosantos is possible only if the air temperature is not lower than 20 degrees Celsius.
Top dressing for anigosantos
Fertilizer for kangaroo feet is often applied during the active period. The optimal frequency is once every 1 weeks, but using moderate, halved doses of fertilizers. Complex universal fertilizers are perfect for anigosantos.
Feeding for anigosantos should be stopped a month and a half before the beginning of the dormant period, by September, gradually reducing the dose and stopping completely. Fertilizers are not applied from September to February.
Pruning anigosanthos
In order for kangaroo legs to bloom almost tirelessly, it is necessary to remove faded peduncles in a timely manner and prevent the flowers from completely wilting and the beginning of fruit set.
Anigosantos flowers stand perfectly in a bouquet. They can also be cut for drying, because in kangaroo legs, the inflorescences perfectly retain their color when properly dried in a shaded place.
Anigosanthos transplant, containers and substrate
One of the disadvantages of anigosanthos is the requirement for disembarkation in sufficiently large containers. It is more often grown in tubs or boxes than in conventional pots. The main condition is the availability of free space for the constant increase in the curtain volume, the production of new outlets.
Associated with this feature is the need to transplant only as needed, and not with a certain frequency. Anigosanthos are transferred into new containers, dividing the bushes or increasing the volume of the container only when the old pots become cramped for him.
Anigosantos should be transplanted as early as possible. It is advisable to carry out the procedure before the anigosantos starts to grow, in February. The last date for a transplant is the first decade of March.
The substrate for the plant should be light, permeable, very loose. It should minimize the risk of stagnant water. The addition of crushed bark is considered mandatory for anigosanthos. Standard indoor plant substrates can be used for the plant. The reaction should be neutral. A very thick drainage is placed at the bottom of the pot, with a minimum height of 5-6 cm.
Diseases and pests of anigosanthos
The greatest danger of pest infestation for anigosanthos is the wintering period. During the resting period, kangaroo legs are very sensitive to felt, spider mites and aphids. Waterlogging, as well as classical watering with careless soaking of the base of the leaves, causes the spread of rot, which manifests itself in blackening of the foliage. It is better to transplant the plant to the rhinestone, resorting to dividing and removing the damaged parts of the rhizome.
When carrying it out into the fresh air, you need to monitor the plant, because anigosantos is very attractive to slugs and snails.
Common problems in growing anigosanthos:
- loss of compact form, stretching with strong shading;
- poor flowering in low light;
- no flowering during warm wintering.
Breeding methods of anigosanthos:
Seeds
They are rooted according to the usual scheme, sowing in a nutritious light substrate and only slightly covering them with soil. In a warm, in good light and under film or glass, Anigosantos sprout quite well, but it is difficult to bring seedlings to adult plants. Sowing seeds can be carried out almost throughout the year. The pick is carried out after the release of the fourth real leaf. It is best to use fresh seeds, they germinate within 2-4 weeks.
By dividing curtains
When transplanting, large plants can be divided into several smaller sods. Anigosantos has such a dense structure and powerful root tubers that separation is best done with a knife, cutting the turf into pieces. When separating the leaves, it is better to cut off: this way the anigosantos adapts faster and recovers well. Slices must be processed with charcoal.
After separation, the plant is watered only from below, very sparingly, and the containers are placed not in their usual place, but in partial shade or shade. In general, adaptation after separation takes 2-3 weeks. Only after the kangaroo legs begin to release new leaves can they be exposed to the usual bright light.
