Since the existence of living beings, various well-known flowers have appeared in the world, but one of the most acclaimed is the Alcatraz Flower, so if you want to know what its characteristics are, how to care for it and plant it in a garden, we recommend continue reading this article.
Characteristics of the Alcatraz Flower
The Alcatraz Flower is a plant that can measure from sixty centimeters to one meter high, this plant has a growth system called an underground rhizome, this is responsible for carrying out the functions of the root so that the seeds can sprout from it. leaves, which can be with wavy edges, basal, large and heart-shaped green.
When talking about the main attraction of the Alcatraz Flower, it is its own flower, since it has a funnel shape that is very soft to the touch and has a very pleasant perfume. This plant is made up of a series of spikes that help protect it from pests, as well as being surrounded by a white bract.
The fruits of the Alcatraz Flower are small berries that grow after the plant is pollinated, the fruits are found in the flat part called the spadix, usually in each fruit you can find three to four seeds which in order to multiply they must first mature inside the pod to start growing.
The flowering of the Alcatraz begins with the arrival of spring and ends when the end of summer arrives, most of the flowers are formed continuously, so if you want to have them at home, you must need a lot of water. The Alcatraz plant will always need to have its flowers cut off long before it dries out so that the plant can bloom again.
This flower, being one of the most beautiful, has always been used for decorative purposes, whether for interior spaces, gardens, parties such as weddings, Easter or simply having them in a vase in the center of the table, however, despite having multiple colors has always sought its original white color.
What is its meaning?
The Flower of Alcatraz for being so elegant is said to bring good luck, however for many cultures they take this beautiful flower as a symbol of purity and compassion for its white color, so if a man gives this flower to a woman you will be praising for a future marriage.
How is the Flower of Alcatraz?
The Alcatraz Flower has the scientific name Zantedeschia Aethiopica, but because it has a very complicated name worldwide, it can be called cove, cartridge, water lily, pitcher flower, duck flower, among other names.
This is a monoecious plant, that means that it has both male and female flowers, which are found on the same plant, the female ones are below the male ones, these being the ones that end up forming the yellow anthers.
Flower Varieties
Within the plant world there are various species, which have different colors that make them very striking, the best known are:
- Flower of Alcatraz Aethiopica and Albomaculata: these flowers are white but have a late development.
- Alcatraz Elliottiana flower: most of its flowers are yellow.
- Alcatraz Rehmanii flower: its flowers are created from shades of pink to red.
- Alcatraz Schwarzwalder flower: these usually produce dark blue flowers almost reaching black.
Flower Toxicity
The Alcatraz Flower is considered a plant of great care, this is due to the fact that each part of it has toxic substances but they take effect only if they are ingested. The flower is mainly composed of calcium oxalate crystals, which produce irritation, gastroenteritis or acute diarrhea by direct contact either in the mouth, eyes or digested.
Therefore, it is very important to know that even though it can be touched without a problem, you should wash your hands with soap so as not to touch your face or any food that you can later eat.
Alcatraz Flower Care
To be able to have a Alcatraz Flower is not as difficult as you think, this plant, being so popular, is very easy to obtain and grow, since it can be done both in pots and in gardens. However, the best way to take care of them so that they are always beautiful and not withered is the following:
Location
This plant is usually somewhat strong if it is kept outside, even though it is semi-shaded it can tolerate the sun as long as it is only the first hour of the day or the end of the afternoon, in case it does not If you have a garden, you can also keep it inside the home in a place where it has enough light.
Earth
In general, the Alcatraz Flower should be kept in a pleasant environment where microorganisms do not attack it, therefore if you want to plant it in a pot it is advisable to place enough substrate with thirty percent perlite nutrients, in case of being planted in a garden the soil must be well drained and have a lot of organic matter.
Irrigation
In order to keep the Alcatraz Flower hydrated, frequent watering must be carried out despite the fact that this plant is not aquatic, in general it should be watered four times a week when it is summer, while in the rest of the year it will only be watered twice. times per week.
In the same way, you must be aware that the Alcatraz Flower is not submerged in water so that it does not rot, this can be verified by sticking a thin wooden stick which, when removed, should not have adhered soil.
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When fertilizing this plant, it is of the utmost importance that it be fertilized from the beginning of spring until the end of summer with a liquid fertilizer that has nutrients such as algae extract so that it can be maintained and thus spread and give more Alcatraz flowers.
Planting and Transplanting Time
The planting of the Alcatraz Flower can be done in the spring time if it is placed in a garden, on the other hand, if the Alcatraz Flower is in a pot, it is advisable to move it to a larger one with holes throughout the base, in the first weeks of spring or when flowering ends, of course this change should only be made if the flower is more than two years old in the same place or if the roots can be seen through the drainage holes.
Pests
In general, these beautiful Alcatraz Flower plants do not have the appearance of constant pests, only on very few occasions is it that a parasite or aphid can be seen on them. However, when the rainy season arrives or if they are in very humid places, snails can be seen, which eat their leaves and stems until they kill the plant. To avoid this, it is necessary to spray repellent on them.
Diseases
These plants, despite not being very delicate, the microorganisms can have diseases that make them weak until they die. The most common diseases of the Alcatraz Flower are:
- Virus: these can cause mosaic spots on almost all the leaves, when this occurs it is advisable to remove the infected leaves and change the soil.
- Bacteria: having bacteria, the leaves turn a dull yellow color until they wither, the only treatment that is given in this case is to change the soil and place new nutrients and substrates.
- Fungi: the most frequent that appear in the Alcatraz Flower are the Phytophthora and the Colletotrichum, these usually turn the leaves yellow or brown while the flower is deformed, in general, in order to eradicate them, the diseased plants must be cut and apply fungicides.
Rusticity
This beautiful plant, despite having certain defenses in its favor due to its origin, does not usually tolerate cold climates very well, so generally, if you have mild climates, it can spend the whole year outdoors without any problem, but if it is in temperatures of less than two degrees, some protection should be made with thermal blankets such as a closed nursery.
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