Boviai popularly called "sea cucumber". This is a rather interesting and unusual plant that is directly related to the hyacinth family. This flower comes from the southern regions of Africa, while it prefers to grow in deserts, savannas, as well as on river banks. At home, only 1 species is grown - bovieya curly (Bowiea volubilis). Experts at the same time refer to such a flower as climbing, bulbous, and also succulent plants. Many growers do not consider boviea a spectacular flower, but it is very exotic. Such a plant is almost entirely composed of climbing, relatively long shoots that grow from a large bulb. The leaves are quite small, as are the pale green flowers. Both those and others grow at the end of the spring period and after a little time fall off. Bovia is often grown as an ampelous plant, while rather long and curved shoots will hang beautifully on the sides of the container. If desired, the stems can be fixed in an upright position by tying them to a special support.
Content
Boovia home care
Illumination
This plant requires moderate lighting. It must be protected from direct rays of the sun, as they can destroy the plant, especially the bulb. It is best to place it next to a west or northwest orientation window.
Pot selection
Due to the fact that this is a bulbous plant, he needs a pot in which his bulb would fit freely. The pot must be large enough.
Earth mix
A suitable soil should be light and non-acidic, and should be water and air permeable. When planting, it is imperative to make a good drainage layer of expanded clay at the bottom of the container. It will help ensure that the liquid does not stagnate in the substrate, which will save the root system from rotting.
How to water
This plant needs moderate watering. If you water such a succulent plant abundantly, then this can have an extremely negative effect on its growth and development. Watering the flower is necessary only after the top layer of the substrate dries well. It is worth remembering that over-drying the soil is better for boviei than overflow.
Humidity
Does not need high humidity. Spraying is not required.
Temperature
During the growing season, the indoor temperature should be between 22-26 degrees. During the resting period, it should be maintained at 15 degrees.
Fertilizer
As a rule, feeding is carried out no more than 1 time in 8 weeks. To do this, use the usual complex fertilizer for indoor plants.
Dormant period
The dormant period in bovieia falls not in the winter period, as in most of the flora, but in the summer. After the plant has faded (almost at the end of spring), its growth stops, and the stems gradually die off. This state is preparation for a period of rest. After this condition is noticed in the bovie, watering and fertilizing the soil should be temporarily stopped. It is recommended to place the flower in a cool place, where the temperature should be from 12 to 15 degrees. At the end of autumn, the dormant period will end, and new stems will appear on the flower. If at this time the flower is not transferred to a cool place, then it may not start a dormant period at all, or it will change from summer to winter.
Transplant features
The transplant is carried out only if necessary, after the container is completely filled with onions. The plant should not be replanted during the growing season. This procedure is best done during the spring months.
Pests and diseases
If such a succulent is properly looked after, then it will be quite resistant to pests and various diseases. The greatest danger for this plant is stagnation in the liquid in the soil, as this can provoke the appearance of rot on the bulbs.
Reproduction methods
Such a plant can be propagated by seeds or young bulbs.
Bulb propagation
In order to propagate the bovieya, you need to carefully separate the young bulb from the mother plant. It should be planted immediately in a separate, permanent container and provided with the same care as for an adult flower.
Seed propagation
In some cases, after the plant has faded, a small box appears, which contains the seeds. Sowing is recommended to be carried out immediately after collection, since the seeds very quickly lose their germination. It is recommended to sow on the surface of a prepared slightly moistened substrate, which should then be slightly compacted from above. For sowing, you can use universal commercial soil sold in a special store. Before the first seedlings appear, cover the container with glass and systematically moisten the soil from the sprayer. It is also recommended to put the bowl in a bright place with normal room temperature (from 18 to 22 degrees). The first shoots should appear 20-30 days after sowing. Remember that there is a seed coat on the top of each seedling. In no case should it be removed, as this will lead to the death of the plant. Watering is carried out carefully, since due to overflow, young bulbs can very quickly rot. It is also worth remembering that some young bovies need a rest period just like adults. In them, just like in an adult flower, small shoots die off, and after a few months new ones grow in their place. The first flowering is observed, as a rule, in the second year of life.
Attention! Such a succulent contains poison. If the juice gets on the surface of the skin, it will irritate it. And when it enters the stomach, the juice of this plant negatively affects the heart.
