Acanthus

Family Acanthaceae. Native range: southern Europe, the tropics and subtropics of Asia and Africa.

The genus Acanthus (Acanthus L.) includes about 40 species of herbaceous plants, less often shrubs of the Acanthaceae family. Leaves are mostly in a rosette, very large, simple, more often pinnately lobed or pinnately dissected; margins are toothed and spiny-notched. Flowers are in a dense terminal spike, mostly white, red or bluish; bracts are large and spiny-toothed. Native range is the tropics and subtropics of Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean.

Plants of the genus require strong diffused light without direct sunlight. They do best in a bright or slightly shaded location. Windows with west or east exposure are optimal. In summer, south-facing windows should be shaded from 11:00 to 17:00.

In summer they can be placed outdoors, but should be protected from direct sunlight, rain and drafts. If you cannot place the plant outdoors in summer, regularly ventilate the room.

In the autumn-winter period good lighting is necessary; shading is not required at this time. Additional lighting can be provided using daylight lamps placed above the plant at a distance of 60-70 cm for at least 8 hours a day.

Acanthus is a warmth-loving plant; in summer the optimal temperature is 22-25°C, and in winter it should not fall below 16-18°C; with a sharper drop in temperature the leaves begin to drop. Acanthus does not tolerate cooling of the root system or drafts.

From April to September water abundantly as the top layer of the substrate dries. In winter water regularly, ensuring that the root ball does not dry out, as this can lead to the death of the plant!

On hot sunny days it is necessary to mist the plant; on cloudy and cold days misting is undesirable and should be done only if necessary (very dry air). During flowering mist carefully, as this can lead to loss of the decorative quality of the flowers.

From spring to autumn feed every two weeks with fertilizers containing organic compounds.

Transplant Acanthus in spring: young plants annually, adults as needed. Into a soil mix composed of equal parts turf (sod) soil, leaf soil, humus soil, peat and sand.

Seeds should be sown in March; before sowing they are scarified, and it is advisable to soak them in warm water for 2-3 days, changing the water every 6-8 hours. After this procedure sow them in a light substrate (peat + sand, etc.) and place in a dark location. Seeds germinate within 10 days.

When propagating by cuttings, this method better preserves the decorative qualities of the plant. Prepare cuttings so that they have 2-3 nodes. Root them in moist sand or peat; the cuttings root fairly quickly.

Lighting: bright diffused, but not direct.

Temperature: in summer 22-25°C, in winter not below 16-18°C.

Watering: abundant in summer, regular in winter, but do not allow the root ball to dry out!

Feeding: from March to September once every two weeks.

Dormant period: depending on the species.

Repotting: in spring, young plants annually, adults as needed.

Propagation: in spring by seeds and cuttings.