Description, photos, types of aukuba. Can you keep her at home? Japanese aukuba ("sausage tree", "golden tree") at home

All lovers of decorating an apartment with unusual plants should pay attention to aukuba. The plant does not lose its decorative appearance even in winter. It cannot be called unpretentious, but subject to the basic rules of home care, the flower for a long time will delight you with its beautiful view.

Description of the origin and appearance of the plant

This unusual plant is called "sausage tree". Probably, the one who first called the aukuba so was very hungry, and the leaves reminded him of thin sausage slices.

Aukuba is believed to be native to Japan. But it is also found in northern India, eastern Tibet and the Korean peninsula. In nature, these tree-like plants reach a height of 2.5 meters and above. Aucuba is very shade tolerant (with the exception of variegated varieties) and grows as an undergrowth in shaded subtropical forests.

The secretive Japanese for a long time prevented the export of aukuba from the country. But in the XVIII century, the first copy reached Europe. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a female plant, and since the aucuba belongs to the dioecious, without a male specimen, pollination did not occur and the fruits turned out to be without seeds. A few decades later, the Englishman Fortune got hold of a pollinator, and since then, the aucuba has conquered countries with a warm climate. The beauty of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and the Crimea settled in. But in other regions of Russia, aucuba is grown exclusively as indoor plant.

The plant belongs to the dogwood family. There are 10 types of aukuba, but only 2 of them are common in home floriculture.

Aucuba is an evergreen open ground shrub with upright branching shoots. The leaves are leathery with a shiny surface. The shape is elongated-lanceolate or oval. The edges of the leaf blade are serrated or almost smooth. The color, depending on the variety, is monophonic or variegated - the green background is decorated with bright splashes of yellow. It is the leaves that are the main decoration of the aukuba.

The flowers are small and unattractive. Gathered in a big bundle. Fruits in the form of red berries or orange color.

Aukuba can not be called difficult for home breeding plant, but it is simply necessary to follow some rules. Due to its ability to thrive in dimly lit areas without losing its decorative effect, it is often used to decorate darkened corridors and offices.

Aucuba is able to cope with air purification from harmful substances in room. It helps people who are engaged in mental work to concentrate. It is believed that the plant helps to create an atmosphere of friendliness and solidarity in the family.

Types and varieties of aukuba: Japanese and not only

Because the growers liked the aucuba, the breeders happily set to work, thanks to which we have many varieties with different colors.

Species and varieties	Description
	The leaves are elongated, lanceolate. The edges sheet plate, painted in dark green, serrated or whole-cut. The top is pointed. The plant is dioecious. The flowers are small. Berries are coral red.
	More popular than the Himalayan. Oppositely arranged leathery leaves have an oblong-oval shape. The edges are serrated. The green background of the leaf plate is elegantly decorated with yellow spots. Dioecious plant. Small flowers are collected in a panicle. The berries are mostly orange.
	The leaves are rounded with pronounced denticles along the edge. The leaf blade is green, shiny.
	Large leaves are painted in juicy green color. Yellow-golden spots are scattered all over the background of the leaf plate.
	A plant with dark green leaves is decorated with a bright yellow center and small yellow spots along the edges of the leaf blade.
	An oblong leaf blade of yellow color with splashes of bright green color.

Various types and varieties of indoor flower in the photo

Aucuba Himalayan has lanceolate leaves.
The Japanese aukuba has teeth along the edges of the leaves.
Aucuba Dentata is decorated with light green shiny leaves.
Aucuba Variegata is very decorative
Feature Aucuba Picturata - bright yellow smear in the middle of the sheet
Aucuba Gold Dust has bright green blotches

Table: optimal conditions for growing aucuba

Factor	Recommendations
Location	Place a flower with variegated leaves in a western or eastern window. Aukuba with plain leaves put on the north. In summer, it is desirable to take out to the balcony or garden. In the fresh air, the plant feels very good being in partial shade, in a place protected from drafts and rain.
Lighting	It is better to grow aucuba in bright but diffused light. Prolonged exposure to too bright light will lead to discoloration of the sheet plate, and direct sunlight can cause burns.
Air humidity	It is not a critical indicator for the survival of the flower, but regular (every 2-3 days) spraying has a positive effect on the appearance of the plant.
Temperature	Aucuba doesn't like heat. A moderate temperature of 20 ° C will please her in summer period. Too high temperatures will lead to loss of decorative effect and aging.

Landing and transplant

For planting aucuba, we opt for loose and light soil. It is based on:

• 2 parts of sod land;
• 1 part of leaf land;
• 1 part coarse sand.

Here you can add 1 part of humus and peat land.

The pot should not be much larger than the root system.. Large plants are best planted immediately in tubs, where it will be enough to periodically change upper layer land for a new one.

The presence of drainage is a prerequisite for planting. Every year in the spring, only young, under 5-year-old specimens of aukuba are transplanted. Adult plants are subjected to the procedure much less frequently, about 1 time in 3 years, and even then as needed, when the root system has become cramped in the old container.

In some sources, there is information about planting a young aucuba immediately in a large pot, so as not to unnecessarily disturb the plant due to a too fragile root system. In such cases, be sure to lay a layer of drainage in a larger volume on the bottom of the pot to prevent acidification of the soil.

Transplant step by step

1. We prepare the pot. We lay a layer of drainage at the bottom, and add a little earth on top.
2. Aucuba is transplanted exclusively by transshipment. To do this, lightly crush the plastic pot, tilt it to the side and shake out the earthen ball along with the roots.
3. We install the plant in a new container and fill up the remaining substrate.
4. We water the aucuba.
5. After watering, we drain the drained water from the pallet, and place the plant in a permanent place.

Home Care

Aukuba care consists of watering, fertilizing, shaping the bush and providing optimal conditions during the dormant period.

Watering

In spring and summer, aucuba is watered abundantly, but not excessively. Before the next moistening, the top layer of the earth must dry out. The water accumulated after watering in the pan is poured out. Compliance with these simple rules will protect the plant from the often occurring rotting of the root system. Prolonged overdrying of the soil can lead to leaf fall. In autumn and winter, watering is reduced.

fertilizers

Timely and properly fertilized aukuba will please beautiful leaves with bright colors. Top dressing is applied once a week from March to early September. For this, they are used complex fertilizers for ornamental deciduous plants, but once a month aukuba can be pampered with organic matter - diluted slurry.

Pruning leaves and shoots

Young plants are recommended to pinch the tips of the shoots to stimulate branching. Further formation of a lush and dense crown consists of regular shortening of overgrown shoots. The procedure is carried out in the spring, and the material remaining after pruning is perfect for rooting.

Bloom

Blooms from February to April. But in room conditions this is a rare occurrence.

rest period

During dormancy, all physiological processes of the plant are suspended, growth slows down or stops altogether. Between October and February, the aukuba should rest in a poorly heated room. The temperature at this time is kept under control within + 8–12 ° С. We water very carefully so that the earth has the opportunity to dry well, we stop feeding.

Errors in care and illness: causes and elimination - table

Problem	Cause	elimination
The leaves are covered black spots.	Overmoistening of the soil.	Before the next watering, allow the substrate to dry in the top layer.
The edges of the leaves dry out.	Insufficient hydration.	Do not place the plant near heating appliances. If the room is on central heating be sure to spray aukuba.
Leaves become smaller, new shoots grow thin.	a lack of nutrients.	Feed the aucuba by alternating organics with mineral fertilizers.
Varieties with variegated leaves lose their yellow pigment.	Lack of light and food.	Move the aukuba to a brighter place. Feed the plant.
The leaf blade becomes pale.	Too bright light.	Shade the flower or move it to another place.
The leaves are falling off en masse.	Too low humidity.	In the heat, keep the plant in the coolest place. Spray the plant periodically.
Aucuba grows in one direction.	Uneven lighting.	Provide the aucuba with uniform lighting or turn it from time to time towards the light.
Leaves turn black and begin fall off; roots are painted in red-brown color.	Root rot as a result of improper watering and keeping at low temperatures.	Remove black leaves. Remove the plant from the pot, rinse the roots and cut off the affected areas. Plant aukuba in a new pot, completely replace the earth. If the plant is severely affected, it is unlikely to be saved. You can try rooting healthy cuttings.

Pests: how to detect and what to do with them - table

Pest	Symptoms	Control measures	Prevention
Shchitovka	Yellowing and dropping of leaves.	Treatment with Actellik or Fitoverm (according to instructions).	Give the plant a warm shower.
spider mite	Gossamer on the underside of the sheet; fall of leaf blades.
Mealybug	There are white discharges on the leaves, similar to cotton wool; deformation and fall of leaf blades.
thrips	Small winged insects with an elongated black, brown or brown body.	Washing the root system in a weak solution of laundry soap. Transplant to fresh substrate. Spraying with Fitoverm (2 ml of the drug per 200 ml of water).	Carefully inspect the plants and immediately isolate the affected ones. Sterilize the ground before planting.

What pests look like - photo gallery

Thrips feed on plant sap.

Aucuba breeding

At home, aucuba propagates very easily and quickly using cuttings. You can also try to grow a flower from seeds, but this method is quite time consuming.

cuttings

Time for rooting - from March to May, from August to September. You can use the cuttings after the pruning procedure. The apical cutting of last year's growth should have 2-3 adult leaves. Leaves can be shortened by 2/3 of their height so that as many nutrients as possible can reach the young growth.

1. Cut cuttings are placed in moist sandy or peat-sandy soil. Rooting temperature + 20–22 ° С.
2. Landings are covered with a bag or a transparent lid. The greenhouse will need to be ventilated and maintain humidity inside it.
3. The cuttings that have grown the root mass are transplanted into separate small (6–8 cm) pots in a suitable substrate.

seeds

Propagation by seeds is not a very common method. All because of the expiration date of the seeds. They are best sown almost immediately after harvest. The germination time is very long, and a plant grown from seeds will not respond varietal qualities. Landing steps are as follows:

1. Seeds are sown in a wet peat-sand mixture.
2. Planting cover plastic bag to create greenhouse conditions.
3. The temperature in the greenhouse is constantly maintained at +21 ° C, the soil is ventilated and sprayed.
4. After the appearance of three leaves in the seedlings, the seedlings are transplanted into separate pots.

Aucuba breeding - video

Aucuba(Aucuba)- evergreen from the "Harry" family, it is also ranked in the ranks of the "cornel". Homeland are the subtropics of the East Asian continent. Represents stunted trees or shrubs.

Description, features and types of aukuba

Aukubu adored by gardeners and those who have a special passion for the evergreen representatives of the flora. This plant was first brought to Europe in the 8th century. Attracted the attention of a shrub with unusual leaves.

The edges are bright marsh, and the middle is painted yellow. There may be specimens with white blurry spots. different sizes. aucuba plant not whimsical at all, you can even forget about it for a while - it will not be offended, but will steadfastly wait for watering.

Can be propagated using cuttings and seeds open ground and indoors. Aukubu considered a real ornamental plant. It fits perfectly into any space.

Pictured is a golden aukuba

At first glance, it may seem artificial. Used for landscaping large halls, botanical gardens and greenhouses. People saw in the leaves aucuba resemblance to a piece of gold-bearing rock. In everyday life they dubbed "golden" or "sausage". Breeders distinguish two main types: Himalayan and Japanese aucuba.

Aucuba Himalayan- This is a shrub with evergreen leaves, reaching a height of three to four meters. The leaves to the touch, as if inanimate, have a matte green color. Spots cover the surface of the leaf not immediately, but only in the second or third year.

It is believed that the color of the marks will depend not on a genetic predisposition, but on exposure external factors. There are many small flowers, they are inconspicuous and barely noticeable, forming umbrellas.

Pictured is a Himalayan aucuba flower

aucuba plant do not self-pollinate. There are representatives of male and female destiny - these are two separate bushes. In order for it to bear fruit, they resort to the procedure of crossing. The fruits form clusters, their ripeness is indicated by their bright red color. Ripe berries resemble dogwood.

Japanese aucuba- a plant of a tree type. The stems are arranged oppositely along the trunk, also tree-like. Leaves deserve special attention. Large in shape (length 20 cm, width 6 cm), the surface is shiny, harsh to the touch, as if artificial.

Along the edges there may be teeth, elongated along the entire length. In color - monophonic or painted over with various spots in shape, and in color - depending on the ecosystem.

If you look at amateur aukuba photo, then the specks can create bizarre patterns across the entire plane of the sheet. It blooms in inconspicuous shaggy inflorescences.

Pictured is a Japanese aucuba

flowersaucuba located very close to the stem and almost invisible. The berries are collected in clusters, and their ripening is indicated by their coloring in red or orange.

For decoration and landscaping of spaces use aucuba with variegated leaves. To create mini hedges in corridors or hallways - shrubs with bright and shiny leaves.

Florists do not recommend growing aukbu at home. Almost all parts of the plant are highly poisonous. Not only residents of the house can suffer, but also pets, who so often love to feast on greens.

But if the soul really lies precisely in this Asian specimen, then it is recommended to put it in the walk-through rooms, loggias, verandas. The most popular among them are miniature trees. aucuba.

Aucuba bloom

Aucuba cultivation

Aucuba- a bright representative of the flora Central Asia, will spread to India, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Tibet. The plant did not immediately attract much interest, because it is very toxic.

Only Tibetan monks actively used dry parts and juice to prepare various potions. Tinctures help with some cancers.

When aucuba tree appeared in European open spaces, it began to be valued for its evergreen appearance and variegation of leaves. In combination, they created neat, bright, hedges.

The plant has been observed to repel certain pests and help reduce dung fly populations. During evaporation, toxic substances are released that paralyze flying. For a person in small doses it is not harmful, but when transplanting, you should work with gloves.

Aucuba berries look like dogwood

Like any southern plant, aucuba grows slowly, this fact does not prevent her from looking beautiful with her colorful leaves. If in more natural environment habitat it reaches two or more meters, thanks to cultivation, now it has acquired more compact forms. Its average length is about a meter.

Aucuba room does not require special lighting and is better suited to diffused sunlight. I usually place it in the western, southern, eastern places. If there is not enough natural lighting, then they resort to the help of artificial lighting lamps.

The temperature regime is the most important point when growing aucuba. The thermometer should always be in the range from +15 to +20 degrees, not higher.

With more high rates, aucuba quickly ages and sheds leaves. In winter, they adhere to the norm from +8 to +14 degrees, but not lower than +4. Perfectly tolerates wintering on cool terraces, in winter gardens and loggias.

As for the humidity of the air, it is not necessary to spray in the summer. But, as for the winter period, when watering is reduced, the humidity is compensated by additional spraying. If the temperature in the rooms is always below +12 degrees, it is not necessary to increase the humidity.

If a leaves turn blackaucuba, then this indicates that watering is not done correctly. The reason is that there is no systematics, that is, it is necessary to water at approximately equal intervals of time.

For example, three times a week in small doses, and not once with a whole bucket of water. Carefully monitor the earthen clod, it is always clear that it needs to be watered aukubu plant or not.

Aucuba care

look after aucuba not so difficult. The only thing this plant loves the most is the location. If he likes it, then the tree will delight you for a long time with bright green or variegated foliage.

Ground for aucuba suitable combined, consisting of turf, peat, foliage, humus, sand and clay. The substrate is replaced with fresh once a year, when transshipping the shrub.

As far as fertilizers are concerned, aucuba not particularly demanding. During growth intensification, it is possible to feed with fertilizers, alternating minerals with organic matter. This will contribute to a brighter color of the leaf and spots.

Produce transshipment in the spring in wide pots. Young seedlings every year, and those that are older - every few years. When transplanting aucuba make pruning, remove old and weak stems, pinch the upper parts of the shoots. Propagated by cuttings from the top of the plant. Cut off to the third leaflet and placed in an earthen clod.

Aucuba turns black due to moisture overload. Leaves and roots are covered with spots. It is desirable that there is drainage at the bottom of the pot, to prevent stagnant water. After watering, after half an hour, drain the excess liquid from the pan, you can even wipe it dry. Cause black aucuba leaves may be too dry (warm) wintering.

Review and price of aukuba

Marina from Krasnodar: - “I acquired exactly aucuba Himalayan. Lacked in the overall decor of yellow. The contrast between the yellow and green leaves caught my attention.

It took a long time to choose a place for her, as the florist advised to take a closer look at the behavior of the plant. Decided on the east side, there is plenty of light.

Medium aukuba price Japanese in flower shops is: a plant up to 30 cm - from 500 rubles and more; plant up to 40 cm - from 1000 rubles and more; plant up to 50 cm - from 3000 rubles and above.

Aucuba is a large evergreen shrub, which botanists refer to the dogwood family (Latin Сornaseae). But now the taxonomy has received significant changes, and now scientists attribute the plant to the small Garry family (lat. Garryaseae). Aucuba comes from East Asia and Japan.

Description of the genus Aucuba

In appearance, it is an evergreen shrub with ovate leathery leaves. Its flowers are collected in a bunch of reddish-brown color. There are a number of different colored leaves. There is green, covered with yellowish-gold spots, so that the tree seems to be studded with gold. It's very original.

Often in the literature you can find that the people call the aukuba the golden tree. The reason is not only in the leaves. Berries may also have yellow or red and white. In shape, they are somewhat reminiscent of dogwood berries. Plants grew in vivo is up to 5 meters, and indoor grows up to a meter.

In China, Japan and the Himalayan mountains, three types of aucuba grow, two of which can be grown at home, for example, these:

Aucuba Himalayan Aucuba himalaica

An evergreen shrub that grows to a fairly large size - 3-4 meters. The leaves are dark green in color and oblong-lanceolate in shape. Some leaves have entire edges, while others are found with a serrated edge and a pointed apex with a short or long tooth. The plant does not bloom very well, the flowers are small, ugly, same-sex. Some plants are female and some are male, so they need to be grown in pairs.

Japanese aucuba Aucuba japonica

Also an evergreen shrub that has green, woody stems on which oblong-oval leaves are located opposite each other. The surface of the leaves is leathery, shiny, the edge is either whole or serrated. The leaves do not have stipules. Depending on the form, the plant may have all green leaves of the same tone or decorative variegated, covered with white spots. It is for them that flower growers are chasing. The flowers are inconspicuous, so they are collected in hairy panicles. The flowers are four-membered, dioecious, unisexual, reddish in color. After flowering, an orange or bright red berry is formed, which is crowned by the remaining calyx.

How to care for indoor aucuba at home

Lighting

Aucuba is a shade-tolerant plant type, and some forms are shade-loving. Even in deep shade, aucuba grows well. But in bright sunlight, if they are scattered as much as possible, growth will be no less intense. It is especially important to grow in scattered sunshine variegated varieties, because with a lack of UV radiation, the pattern may be lost, and the entire sheet may burn out. And this means that aucuba on north windows will not grow.

Temperature and humidity

In spring and summer temperature regime for growing aukuba in room conditions is the same and is about 18-20 degrees. If the temperature is higher, the plant will very quickly begin to shed its leaves due to wear and tear. In winter, the temperature regime should be cooler - about 10-15 degrees. If the summer is not very hot, the aukuba can be taken out into the garden in the shade. It is necessary to ensure that there is no precipitation, draft, direct exposure to the sun and other negative factors.

Dry air in the summer for aukuba is not fatal. This means that it is not necessary to spray it to increase humidity, but it can only be done occasionally. The opposite is autumn and winter when it becomes mandatory procedure. For spraying, soft water at room temperature is selected. For those plants that grow at a lower temperature (range 6-12 degrees), spraying is done carefully, infrequently, so as not to cause a surge in fungal diseases.

Watering

Regular watering is the key to successful growth and development of aucuba. If this is not done, you can not wait for new shoots and foliage to grow. In spring and summer, the amount of moisture should be much greater than in autumn and winter. But it is not necessary to pour the soil heavily, but it is worth waiting until it dries a little.

If the drought in the pot is for a short time, this will not be reflected in the vital activity of the flower. Moreover, short-term drying of the soil will be tolerated better than stagnant water. In winter and autumn, watering the substrate is organized less frequently, dosing water in such a way that the earth is periodically wet and sometimes dries out.

top dressing

An important point in the successful cultivation of aucuba is its regular top dressing, which is carried out in spring and summer, from March to October. When the plant hibernates and is at rest, it is categorically not recommended to apply fertilizers. Mineral top dressing Aucuba is watered every 10 days, choosing universal mineral fertilizers for this.

pruning

To form a beautiful crown and remove bad shoots, pruning is carried out annually in the brand. At the same time, young shoots can be pinched. This is the only way to get a thick and lush crown. If the cut shoots are of the apical type, they can be taken for harvesting cuttings and propagating the plant.

Planting and transplanting aukuba

• Aukuba is necessarily carried out in wide pots, which are equipped with drainage, since the tree does not like stagnant water.
• Then the soil is poured, the ideal composition of which is as follows: six parts of clay-soddy soil, two parts of peat and leafy soil, and part of sand. There are other options for the substrate, for example: part of the sand, humus, peat, leafy soil, two parts of sod land.
• Aucuba is transplanted every year until the plant is over five years old.
• When the bush is already an adult, it is practically not transplanted, but it is done only when the substrate inside the pot is completely filled with roots. At the same time, they do not make a classic transplant, but a more gentle transshipment. It allows you to save the roots without damage.

Propagation of aucuba by cuttings at home

Aucuba reproduction in natural conditions produced with seeds, but cultivated varieties are not bred like this: good seeds very difficult to get. Therefore, the classical vegetative way: propagation by cuttings. By inserting them into wet sand and making a greenhouse, you can quickly root. It is best to harvest cuttings in warm weather - in March-August. To do this, cut off young shoots that have not had time to stiffen.

• Shank length 8-12 cm.
• The lower third of the cutting is freed from the leaves.
• The lower cut should be oblique, the upper cut should be even. The leaves can be cut in half to reduce the evaporation of moisture from the leaves.

• Rooted in water (can be kept first in a root solution during the day).

• Or they are immediately planted in a nutritious loose substrate, it is possible even in peat mixed with sand. The main thing is that the earth is well breathable and not heavy - it will be difficult for young roots to break through in dense soil.
• If we plant immediately in the ground, it is better to cover the cuttings with the cut plastic bottle or a glass.

• Water regularly, provide drainage (there should be holes in the bottom of the container).
• Ventilate the "greenhouse" daily.
• When new leaves appear, the plant is rooted. It is necessary to accustom him to development without shelter, for which he is removed for a short time at first, and then the time is gradually increased. In a week or two, the seedlings will get used to and you can safely take care of them in the usual way.

After 2-2.5 months, the cuttings can be transplanted into pots, where they will develop further.

Reproduction of aucuba leaf

The plant reproduces well by rooting leaves, for this you can put them in water until roots appear or root them in the same way as cuttings, in loose soil mixture or peat. The main thing is to ensure regular watering and high humidity(in case of landing in the ground). If the roots appeared in the water, it is even easier here: after the rooting of the leaves, they are looked after like an ordinary seedling.

Pests and diseases, mistakes in the care of aucuba

Aucuba is a houseplant unfamiliar to many flower growers, so many lovers who have acquired it begin to make serious care mistakes that are typical for everyone.

• If the plant is not watered enough, it can be seen on the tips of the leaves, which dry and break.
• If the soil is low in nutrients, the size of the newly grown leaves decreases.
• When black spots appear on the leaves that affect the greens, this means that the aucuba hibernated at too high a temperature and dry air.
• The second reason for the blackening of aucuba leaves is excessive watering.
• Direct sunlight on the leaves causes them to burn in the form of brown spots.
• And if the air is very dry in summer, the leaves will begin to fall off.

You need to monitor the aucuba and analyze what is happening to it - then you can respond in time to errors in cultivation.

Aucuba - useful plant for the treatment of burns skin diseases, so the tree has a practical application.

Aucuba (Aucuba) belongs to the Harryaceae family, but also occurs as a family of Aucuba, which consists of three types of shrubs. The aukuba plant is so hardy that in its abode, and these are subtropical forests, in the deepest shade, nothing but it grows.

Aucuba flower general information

Evergreen shrubs with reddish-brown flowers and leathery, neatly tufted leaves native to China, the Himalayas, Korea and Japan. But the most extensive cultural cultivation takes place around the Japanese Aucuba (Aucuba japonica).

Aucuba, also called golden tree, a huge amount of time attracts the attention of many travelers who visited East Asia, with its extraordinary view. But the export of this exotic plant in every possible way suppressed by the Japanese.

And yet, towards the end of the 17th century, aukuba manages to be taken out of Asia. After some time, the plant blooms, bears fruit, but unfortunately they turn out to be seedless, no one took into account the fact that the aucuba is a dioecious plant.

The plant brought with such difficulty turns out to be female, pollination does not occur, due to the absence of a male. A few decades later, the famous botanist Fortune still manages to smuggle a male specimen to England. And it is from this moment that this ornamental and compact plant begins to spread.

As early as the beginning of 1783, the Japanese aucuba was introduced into Europe. After that, due to its indescribable decorative effect, ease of reproduction, the plant spreads very quickly and widely in the culture of Russia, is used in greenhouse and indoor crops.

Especially original forms with leaves that were sometimes decorated with small ones, ate with noticeable, then large yellow spots, giving the foliage a resemblance to the image of a gold-bearing rock. For this reason, the aucuba has received the popular name of the golden tree.

Aucuba flower and its types

(Aucuba himalaica) - the birthplace of this beautiful plant is Central Asia. Evergreen shrub plant, reaching 3-4 meters in height. Lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate leaves, having a serrated or entire marginal shape, short or long-pointed closer to the top with a dark green tint. Flowering is unisexual, male and female individuals are on different specimens, small and inconspicuous flowers.

(Aucuba japonica) - as an ornamental plant, it has long been bred by Japan and China in many varieties. The aucuba plant is also an evergreen shrub with tree-like green stems and oblong-oval, serrated along the edges, fairly large, oppositely arranged leaves that are devoid of stipules.

The forms of the shrub are divided into two types, one with leaves of a monochromatic green color, and the second is more decorative, creating the impression of glowing with golden sun glare due to its variegated coloring of the leaf. It is from here that the popular name - "golden tree" came from. The flowers are smallish, shrouded in hairy panicles, fiery purple or reddish.

Aucuba home care

Aucuba - Enough unpretentious shrub, feels great in both warm and cool rooms.

Most of all, the plant prefers partial shade, but can also be grown both on bright well-lit windows and in dark places. But at the same time, one should not forget that in order to preserve the bright color of the leaf, variegated forms need intense diffused lighting.

Aucuba houseplant in hot summer weather prefers an average temperature of about 20 degrees, when the temperature rises, it quickly loses leaves, which will not favorably affect its further existence.

In the summer, the plant can be taken out to fresh air, positioning it so as not to damage the sun, wind and rain. At the end of September, the temperature should be gradually lowered to 14 degrees.

But already in winter period try to maintain the temperature from 8 to 14 degrees, and in no case lower the temperature below 5 degrees.

If it is not possible to provide the aucuba flower with such care at home, then the necessary action during the autumn-winter period will be good lighting and frequent spraying. At higher winter temperatures, the plant may shed its leaves.

Watering and humidity

In the summer period, we provide abundant watering, so that during the breaks, from the first and second watering, the top layer of the substrate dries up a little, and moderate watering is carried out in the autumn-winter period. The plant will tolerate the relative drying of the earthy coma well, but excessive soil moisture will cause black spots on the leaves.

Calmly refers to the dryness of the air in summer, especially adult specimens, so spraying is optional, and in the autumn-winter period, spraying is simply necessary. Spraying is done with warm and soft water. When this plant is kept in a room with a temperature limit of 6 to 12 degrees, the spraying procedure itself is carried out in the most accurate way or excluded altogether, in order to avoid mold.

Fertilizers and soil for aucuba

During the growth period, which runs from spring to autumn, once a week, organic and mineral fertilizers are fed, alternating them.

A soil composed of six parts of clay-soddy soil, one part of sand and two equal parts of leafy and peaty soil, or two parts of soddy soil and equal parts of leafy, peat, humus soil and sand will serve as an ideal substrate for a houseplant aukuba. It also does well when grown in hydroponics.

Aucuba transplant

Aucuba transplantation is carried out in spring period, young specimens every year, adults every 2-3 years, but it is better when the roots completely braid the earthen ball.

When transplanting, you should be careful, the aukuba is very brittle and fragile root system. The ideal way would be not transplanting, but transshipment, without destroying the earthen clod into dishes of a larger diameter, preferably wide.

Aucuba pruning

To form the crown, in the spring, at the beginning of the growing season, pinching and pruning of the shoots are carried out.

The remaining parts of the shoots are used for propagation as cuttings.

Aucuba propagation by cuttings and seeds

If you grow two plants of different sexes, they must be artificially pollinated, after which the seeds ripen, and only then you get the opportunity to propagate aucuba not only vegetatively, but also by seed germination.

Sowing of seeds is carried out almost immediately, due to the fact that they quickly lose their germination capacity. And do not forget that when propagated by seeds, varietal characteristics may not be transmitted.

The seeds are sown in a moist substrate (sand or peat) and the temperature is maintained at 21 degrees, with constant spraying and regular ventilation. It takes a lot of time for seedlings to appear, but still, when they hatch, and the seedlings have two or three leaves, they must be dived into an average earthen mixture.

Propagating the plant by cuttings, they are cut from March to April and from August to September. Slicing them so as to leave two or three leaves. Root cuttings in a wet mixture of peat and sand, or simply in wet sand.

Keeping a constant temperature from 20 to 22 degrees, Regularly spraying and ventilating the room. After the rooting of the cuttings, they must be dived into pots of the appropriate size (7-8 cm) into a mixture of humus, soddy soil and sand (1: 1: 0.5) or take an average mixture of earth.

All parts of the plant, including the berries, are poisonous. They cause inflammation of the stomach and intestines, blood in the urine and diarrhea. Care must be taken when working with the plant!!!

Possible difficulties

• Remember that transplanting aucuba should be done with extreme caution, trying not to damage the fleshy and brittle roots.
• Failure to comply with the conditions of care threatens the emergence of non-communicable diseases
• With a lack of nutrition and light, the number of yellow spots is reduced, in very bright light the leaves turn pale.
• Insufficient amount of fertilizer will lead to a decrease in leaves.
• Falling leaves: the cause may be high temperature and too dry room air.
• The lower leaves turn yellow and fall off prematurely: the cause can be sudden temperature fluctuations and irregular watering.
• The upper part of the leaf dries up, the leaves turn yellow and fade: this is due to an excess of light.
• The edges of the leaves dry: the cause may be dry air in winter or insufficient watering in summer.
• Aucuba leaves turn black: the reason is too dry and warm wintering.
• Damaged by: spider mites, mealybugs, whiteflies and scale insects.

Japanese aucuba (Aucuba japonica) is a fairly common houseplant in our country from the Harrie family. Proper Care at home, not only experienced amateur flower growers can do it, so the plant is actively grown in indoor floriculture.

Botanical description of the plant

Aucuba japonica is known to many flower growers as spotted or Japanese Laurel, as well as "Gold Dust". The height of this shrub plant can vary between 1.0-3.0 m. In regions with a favorable climate, the aucuba can be seen in the garden. The leaves are opposite. The flower has wide, lanceolate leaves 50-80 mm long and 20-50 mm wide. The leaves are glossy, leathery to the touch, with serrated edges, without stipules.

Aucuba japonica belongs to the category of dioecious plants. The flowers are small, 4-8 mm in diameter, with four purple-brown petals. Flowers are collected in groups of 10-30 pieces. and form complex umbrella inflorescences. Fruits are red or orange, up to 10 mm in diameter. Beautiful bushy forms can only be created with regular spring pruning. The culture is recommended to be grown as a separately growing tub plant.

Japanese aukuba: home care

A perennial houseplant does not lose its decorative appeal even in winter. The flower cannot be called unpretentious, but careful observance of the basic care measures in the conditions of indoor floriculture allows this unusual flower maintain a beautiful appearance for a long time.

Temperature and Humidity

The height of an adult "golden tree" is four meters, so it is necessary to provide indoor perennials with favorable conditions for growth and development. Culture belongs to the category of not demanding conditions natural light, therefore, it can grow and develop quite well not only in well-lit areas, but also in conditions of relative shading. Should be remembered that the variegated forms of aucuba require the presence of diffused lighting to stably maintain a rich coloration of the foliage.

It is important to remember that indoor Japanese aucuba does not tolerate too high temperature conditions quite well. It is for this reason that in summer the ideal temperature for growing perennials is only 19-20 ° C, and with the onset of autumn days, the temperature must be smoothly lowered to 14 ° C. In winter, the air temperature in the room must be maintained within 8-14 ° FROM.

Photo gallery

Aukuba Japanese: cultivation (video)

Not less than important criterion when growing is the correspondence of the temperature regime to the indicators of humidity. Adult aukuba bushes are completely undemanding to the level of soil and air moisture in the summer.

With the onset of the winter period, humidity must be more strictly controlled, and at room temperatures above 12 ° C, decorative perennials should be regularly sprayed with settled water at room temperature. With more low temperatures with such an event as spraying, extreme care must be taken to minimize the risk of mold colonies.

Feeding and watering

watering ornamental plant are among the main agrotechnical measures care for perennial crops. Irrigation measures are carried out regardless of the time of year, but their intensity and the volume of water used may vary. In spring and summer, irrigation activities should be quite plentiful.

For irrigation, soft, settled water at room temperature is used. The regularity of watering is determined by the drying of the upper soil layer. The first sign of insufficient irrigation measures is the drying of the edges of the foliage.

Top dressing with fertilizers must necessarily be combined with watering and is performed weekly. For this purpose, properly prepared solutions of high-grade complex mineral fertilizers. Fertilization should be carried out in spring and summer., as well as in early autumn, after which the intensity of top dressing decreases. In winter, there is no need to fertilize decorative perennials.

Transplant Features

If young plants need to be transplanted quite often, then it is not recommended to transplant adults and large specimens once again. For planting and replanting Japanese aucuba, you need to opt for a high-quality loose and light soil substrate, the basis of which is presented:

• a couple of parts of sod land;
• one part of leafy land;
• one part of coarse or medium-grained sand;
• one part of high-quality humus;
• one piece of peat land.

The volume of the new flower pot should slightly exceed the size of the root system of the transplanted plant. It is advisable to immediately plant large specimens directly into large flower tubs, where, if necessary, periodic replacement of the top layer of soil is performed. A prerequisite is the arrangement of sufficient drainage from small stones or brick fight. After transplanting, the plant is watered and placed in shading.

Reproduction of aucuba cuttings

There are only two breeding options for aucuba japonica, which are represented by seed and cuttings. The most convenient in the conditions of indoor floriculture is the propagation of decorative perennials by cuttings in water. Most favorable time for propagation of the Japanese aucuba, cuttings are the spring period, from mid-February to mid-April, or early autumn period around August-September.

Shoots of last year's growth are very good for propagation. Experts recommend propagating Japanese aucuba with apical cuttings that have at least a couple of leaves. For this purpose, cuttings are pre-cut, which are placed in water or a nutrient mixture based on sand and peat. The optimal temperature regime is approximately 20-22 ° C.

How Japanese aucuba breeds (video)

The accustomed, rooted cuttings need to be planted in separate planting containers filled with a nutrient mixture represented by soddy soil, humus and clean sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 0.5. After diving, the plants are kept at room temperature. Young plants need to be transplanted annually in flower pots, the dimensions of which are slightly larger than the diameter of the previous landing capacity.

It is important to remember that, along with other dioecious plants, aucuba japonica is very difficult to propagate by seed. For this method, you need a pair of plants of different sexes, on which it is correctly performed artificial pollination, therefore, this option is not practiced in the conditions of indoor floriculture.

Aukuba leaves turn black: what are the reasons and what to do

There are several problems that can be observed when growing Japanese aucuba indoors. Most often such problems are associated with errors in the care or improper cultivation of ornamental crops:

• if the foliage of an indoor perennial turns pale, then most often the cause is too bright lighting and the plant must be rearranged in a place with sufficient shading;
• if the foliage of the aucuba has lost its characteristic pattern, then it is necessary to increase the intensity of illumination of the aerial part;
• if the young foliage of a decorative room culture grows too small, then you need to adjust the mode and amount needed for proper growth and development of fertilizers;
• if the plant leaves leaves, then it is necessary to provide the plant with favorable microclimatic conditions. As a rule, the cause of such a problem is too high a temperature regime and a low level of humidity in the room;

• if the lower foliage of the aukuba turns yellow and falls off en masse, then this situation is most often caused by both sudden temperature changes and irregular irrigation measures;
• if the tips or edges of the leaves dry on a perennial, then excessive lighting, lack of moisture in the soil in summer or high air humidity in winter should be excluded;
• if black spots form on the foliage of the aucuba or the leaves turn completely black, then the cause of such a problem may be the high temperature and low level of humidity in the winter.

Among other things, it is necessary to systematically inspect plants and at the first signs of damage to pathogenic microflora or pests such as spider mite, mealybug, whitefly or scale insect, use special insect-fungicidal preparations.

Aukuba: useful properties (video)

Japanese aukuba quite deservedly enjoys great popularity among domestic flower growers. The decorative perennial is distinguished by excellent shade tolerance, is able to endure smoke and gas pollution, therefore it is very often used in landscaping not only indoors, but also in the design of urban flower beds and flower beds located along roads.