BEAUCARNEA RECURVATA

ORIGIN AND CHARACTERISTICS

This species, also known by the name of "Nolina" or "Pé de Elefante", belongs to the Asparagaceae family. Coming from eastern Mexico, it can reach 10 meters in height with abundant branches.

It has a very long conical stem, with dark grayish bark. Beucarnea Recurvata is better known as the "elephant leg" due to the enlargement of the trunk in the lower part simulating the leg of this animal. This arboreal plant has many elongated branches and the leaves grouped at the apex of the branches, in the form of a rosette, are long and pointed at the tips. Its color is green in the center and more yellow at the edges of the leaves.

Flowering takes place during the warm seasons, giving male (2-3 per node) and female (1-4 per node) flowers. It also bears fruit and disperses seeds for reproduction.

But it must grow very slowly and we can find specimens over 300 years old.

DECORATION OF ... EXTERIOR OR INTERIOR?

It can be grown both indoors and outdoors, because when there is not much space we can include it in our home with a well-drained pot and in a sunny place to add a touch of color to our home.

It is a plant that has a beautiful but very slow growth at the same time, so we can incorporate it into our house without any problem when we see that it is already large, we can transplant it in our garden or from the beginning. we would include it in our garden to give it a striking and colorful touch. Its particular shape will not leave you indifferent.

CARE FOR CACTUS AND SUCCULENTS

They are showy, very pretty plants that require little maintenance.

- They prefer places with direct or well-lit light, preferably next to a window, on a balcony, a terrace or in your garden.

- Resists low temperatures, around 10ºC.

- It is essential that they have good drainage, both in the ground and in pots.

- The ideal substrate for cacti must be combined with sand and gravel, so that they have good drainage, humidity and excess water are not good.

- Irrigation should not be excessive. From spring to fall, which would be its growing season, water every fortnight, water abundantly, and wait for the soil to dry out again. In winter, do not water or water for a month.

- Fertilizer. During the growing season (spring - fall), you can fertilize them with earthworms. The eggshell is a good household fertilizer because it contains (Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium and Phosphorus) these nutrients are very important and favor its growth, it must be crushed and mixed with the substrate, administered a few times a year. .

- Treatment against fungi due to excess humidity, disinfect the area with a copper-based fungicide.

- If you want to transplant them from the pot or from the ground, the best time would be from spring.

And don't forget that to work with cacti you need to wear good gloves.