Have you ever heard of Pachypodium geayi? Do you know what kind of plant it is? If you are not very good with them, or you need a plant that tolerates heat well, then this may be a good choice.
But how is? What features does it have? does it bloom? Does it grow a lot? What care do you need? We will give you an answer to all of this below. Go for it!
How is the Pachypodium geayi
Fuente: Pl@nNet
The first thing you should know is that Pachypodium geayi is actually a succulent.. It was discovered by Martin François Geay in 1904, hence its name.
This plant has the air of a palm tree, with a rather thick and tall stem, with thorns, and from which quite dense foliage grows. The leaves are one of its characteristics because they acquire a grayish-green color and, in addition, they are long and thin. In fact, They can measure more than 40 centimeters, while in width they may not exceed 2 centimeters.
As for the thorns, they come out of the stem, and they are quite long. Of course, they have an aspect that does not make them look like thorns (because they are covered and it can even encourage you to put your hand near them). Of course, do not even think about doing it, because they click a lot. In fact, as they grow and develop, they are able to cover the entire trunk, serving as protection so that it does not get damaged.
Pachypodium geayi can easily reach 8 meters in height. Obviously, this is not achieved overnight, but may take 30 or more years to achieve. However, when it is kept in a pot, its growth is very limited.
Does Pachypodium geayi have flowers?
Well yes, despite looking like a palm tree, it actually does bloom. These are usually very small and white with a bit of yellow in the center. They are flowers with five wide petals, practically equal to each other, and curved. Of course, do not expect it to flourish quickly; it takes about 10 years to make.
After the flower, and at 13 years or so, the fruit arrives, where you can find the seeds. These are like pods and, when opened, the seeds will be protected.
Cares of the Pachypodium geayi
Now that you know more about Pachypodium geayi, how about we leave the care to you in case you want to have this plant in your garden or in a pot? If you don’t want to lose her in a moment, We advise you to follow these precautions.
location and temperature
If you want Pachypodium geayi to feel good, is healthy and has the light it needs to carry out photosynthesis, it is best to place it outside, in a warm place with semi-shade. If where you live the sun is not so intense, you can put it in full sun.
Now, you have to make sure that the temperature is, during the day, between 20 and 30ºC, while at night they should be kept at 5-10ºC. The first year, or even the second, are the most complicated because the plant must adapt to the temperatures (especially if those degrees are exceeded), but if it is achieved, it will be able to survive without problem at higher temperatures.
In the case of less degrees, it is advisable to protect it with some mesh or similar (at least the part of the earth so that the roots do not suffer).
Substratum
The ideal soil for Pachypodium geayi is that of cacti and succulentsbut we recommend that you mix a little worm humus and also drainage (perlite, orchid bark, etc.) as it will help it to be looser and not clogged with watering.
Irrigation
Irrigation is one of the most important care for Pachypodium geayi. As a succulent that it is, it will not need a very abundant or constant watering. So in general this will be, in spring and summer, with high temperatures, every two days; while in autumn and winter you will only have to water three times a week.
Of course, everything will depend on the substrate. If it is wet, even if it has to be watered, don’t do it. It is better to wait for it to dry before watering again.
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Unlike other succulents, this plant does accept fertilizers, in fact it appreciates them, especially if you have it in a pot and not in the garden soil.
Bet on a liquid fertilizer that you can include in the irrigation water and add it once a month. We recommend that it be one rich in nitrogen.
Plagues and diseases
It is perhaps one of the cares that we want to avoid the most, because that means that the plant is not in good health and that you have seen pests or signs that warn you that there is a problem.
In the case of pests, the most common is the mealybug, which is usually located on the leaves (on the upper side and the underside) as well as, on occasions, on the trunk. There it is more difficult to remove because of the thorns, but you will have to help yourself with some tool and cloth to clean the entire plant. Afterwards, you can apply a fungicide to treat it and also to prevent the appearance of more problems.
However, in terms of diseases, many of them are related to excess or lack of both irrigation and lighting. You can easily see this on the leaves. If they begin to lose color and turn yellow, it could be due to a lack of light or excessive watering.. On the other hand, if they look dry or rolled up, it could be a lack of water or excess light.
What you should keep in mind is that Pachypodium geayi is a deciduous plant, that is, in autumn and winter it may lose its leaves. So if you see that around that time they start to turn yellow, it may be their natural process.
Multiplication
The way to propagate this plant is through seeds. However, as we have told you before, it will take about 13 years to produce them after flowering.
Is it now clearer to you what you need to know about Pachypodium geayi?
