Plants have been progressively incorporated into human life, that is, little by little people have been discovering endless properties, uses and characteristics that have made it possible to improve the quality of human life, offering benefits such as medicines, food, nutrients, natural remedies and other elements that have provided man with powerful resources against various threats.
We can say that we have a great ecological offer provided by plants, that is, for the purification of the environment that they guarantee us in exchange for their mere stay on earth. In short, it is a provider of many valuable benefits and financial benefits at the same time.
Within the many species, there are various groups of plants, each one categorized according to certain characteristics, within which, we can take into account aspects such as size, the soils in which they live, the type of fruit they provide, their lifespan, their smell, their body, etc.
Characteristics of the fox tail
Among so many plants we have the Pennisetum, Better known as the fox tail. It belongs to the Poaceae family and is made up of at least 80 species.
These plants are from Africa and Asia and there is, within the variations of the foxtail, a group employed for gardening, within which we can contemplate the following: Pennisetum Villosum, Pennisetum purpureum, Pennisetum ruppelii, pennisetum glaucum.
Appearance
They are fundamentally characterized by having leaves in the form of ribbonsas well as a hollow stem.
As far as their height is concerned, we can say that they do not even reach one meter in height and its flowers are shaped like spikes, which are presented in colors such as white and cream, although sometimes purple spots can be seen.
Habitat
It is a kind of grass, therefore we will find it in areas such as the edges of roads and trails and around towns or urban areas. Notably they cannot live in shady places, since they depend to a great extent on the solar rays.
Ecology
The places in which it is found are generally chosen arbitrarily by the inhabitants of some area and usually propagate vegetatively, with a stem that can survive several seasons.
Its life span is perennial, that is, it is continuous and durable and they pollinate through the same wind.
Among its most typical uses, we can talk about forage and it is that these plants are the ones that generally make up the lawn of many soils, standing out in gardening itself thanks to its functionality. Despite this, it is considered a weed harmful to the health of many organisms that depend on the soils in which this plant develops as fodder, in fact, some fruit trees such as apple trees, have been involved by this type of plant, which is why it is prohibited in many countries.
It is a very versatile plant, since it can adapt to many environments, which has been a matter of concern for many countries. This is because they are considered a species harmful to the development of many organisms.
Its reproduction is fast, since its seeds manage to spread very well. Besides this, they are difficult plants to controlTherefore, it is an integral threat in many countries, so because of this, it is termed as the invasive plant.
The foxtail is scattered throughout much of the world, being well received in some countries, as well as poorly received in others. It all depends to a large extent on the area in which they are found and is that despite their harmful proportions for many organisms, this plant is used in many gardens for decorative purposesIt is also used, as we mentioned above, as forage in many areas, therefore, it will depend largely on the uses assigned to it.
Fox tail care
This species is characterized by not tolerating shade, therefore, it must be taken into account that they need at least a few three hours of direct sunlight a day.
Outside this range, it is preferable to keep them in semi-shade exposure. If you do not comply with these indications, our plant may die in a matter of days, therefore, it is a vital practice for it.
Fertilizer
With what to pay once a year it is more than enough, therefore we must be prudent at the time of this practice.
Drained soils
Despite not being so demanding with the floors, yes these need to be drained, for which it is valid to add a sandy material, a matter of concentrating the moisture within them.
Dry leaves
It is worth replacing them, such that give a chance to those who are about to be born on the floor.
Irrigation
It is recommended water this plant daily, even if we notice that the summer heat increases, that if it happens, we could increase the frequency, a matter of not letting them die from the high temperatures.
In summer We will water it up to three times a week depending on the ambient heat and in winter there will be enough with a weekly watering. If we water too much, we will immediately notice that its leaves will turn a yellow color.
This plant it does not need much care for its cultivation and its maintenance is very low. It does not require pruning like hedges and roses, and can reach a considerable size of up to four meters wide and one meter high, but this after many years.
We can say that it is almost resistant to all types of pests and it can be easily reproduced by dividing its root system.
Remember that it should be planted in a sunny or semi-shaded place, as we have commented previously, since it is a plant that thrives at temperatures between five and thirty degrees Celsius, although it can withstand occasional frosts.