Growing Streptocarpella at home

Of all the blooming abundance of room vegetation, many growers prefer streptocarpus. These bright multi-colored flowerpots are of interest not only for their unusual deep color, but also for their abundant long flowering, ease of planting and care. We will understand in more detail what a streptocarppella flower needs for full-fledged vegetation at home, how to propagate it and extend its flowering.

Botanical description

In the scientific literature of these herbaceous rosette representatives of the Gesneriev family, they are called "streptocarpus" and "streptocarpellas", and among people they are referred to as abbreviated "strep".

Externally, the plant is a low leafy rosette with short, heavily pubescent short stems.Powerful flower stalks with bright buds appear in its core.

When they fully open, the flowers resemble bells. Petals are often heterogeneous in color and shape, they can be decorated with fringe, various specks, banding, terry, corrugations and intricate bends. The foliage at the flowerpot is large and fleshy with clear veins, which gives it a slight wrinkling. The middle leaf plate is about 7 cm wide and 15 cm long, but there are twice as many specimens.

On a dark green saturated background, blue, purple, lilac, white velvety petals look very impressive. The main secret of the plant lies in the abundant intense flowering - with one outlet at the same time up to hundreds of peduncles can appear. Isn’t flower growers dreaming about this?

In the wild, the plant is found on the coasts of Madagascar and South Africa, but, despite its tropical origin, it easily develops in apartment conditions.

Today, scientists have more than 130 types of streptocarpus, and breeders in recent years have multiplied their thousands of hybrids, which can turn the head of even the most indifferent to plants plants of society.

Choosing a place for a flower

In case of indoor maintenance of a tropical guest, it is necessary to create conditions as close as possible to relatives. To do this, it is important to take into account the temperature, humidity in the room, lighting, the composition of the earth mixture, and even the size of the pot for planting a flower.

It is only at first glance that streptokarpella seems capricious, but in fact its cultivation has much in common with the synpolies and does not require extraordinary efforts or supernatural knowledge. We will understand everything in order.

Air humidity and temperature

Perhaps this is one of the key requirements of a thermophilic flower. For its development it is important that the room is warm and humid. In the period from spring to October, when the flowerpot is in bloom, the optimum temperature of the air in the room should vary between + 22 ... +24 ° C, and in winter, when the streptocarpus goes into hibernation,it will suit the reduced performance of the thermometer to +15 ° C for ordinary and up to +18 ° C for hybrid varieties.

In the hot season, the foliage of a flower often loses its decorative effect and wilts. To correct the anomaly can only increase the humidity in the apartment. This is the first sign of the wrong content of a green pet.

For its comfort, it is important to provide a moist atmosphere, but standard spraying is not suitable in this case. The fact is that a plant, like violets, reacts painfully when water gets on the foliage.

Therefore, experts recommend near the pot to put a container with water. It can be a pallet with wet clay, a vase and even an aquarium.

Lighting

Streptokarpelly prefer eastern and western window sills, where there is always a lot of light. But keep in mind: they will not have the liking of the sun. Therefore, do not expose the culture under direct sunlight, and if necessary shade the windows.

For full development and abundant flowering streptocarpus requires 14-hour daily coverage.

Soil type

The quick growth of the pot will provide a well-chosen substrate. First, it should be light and loose. Secondly, with a neutral acid reaction. And, thirdly, it is good to pass moisture and air.

To satisfy all these whims, experts advise to buy special soil mixtures, and before planting the plants, cover the bottom of the tank with a 2-centimeter ball of expanded clay. Some gardeners supplement the purchase substrate with sphagnum moss, perlite, peat, vermiculite. If you dare to prepare the substrate yourself, stock up on 1 glass of crushed charcoal and equal parts of top peat, perlite, coniferous humus and chernozem. Young instances can not add the last component.

Rules for the care of streptocarpella

When grown at home, Streptocarpella requires a bit of attention and elementary care,so with the help of the photo we will teach you how to correctly organize it and analyze the vital aspects for the flower.

Watering

This mysterious Madagascar exotic loves moisture, but does not tolerate its excess. Experienced growers ensure that water does not fall on the plant during humidifying procedures, especially in the core of the outlet.

Watering is carried out at the edges of the pot exclusively with a watering can with a long curved spout. Water defended without fail and give her the opportunity to warm up to room temperature.

The number of irrigations per week depends on the state of the earth in the pot. The flower is drought-resistant, so periodic drying will benefit only. In this case, it is better to overdry, rather than pour. In addition, short-term drying of earthy coma will prevent the development of pathogens of fungal and bacterial diseases. With the stagnation of water in streptokarpus, in the first place, the root system suffers.As a result, through its decay, the pot is killed.

Do not be alarmed when the foliage wilts slightly. To restore the plant really by intensive soil moistening. In this case, you will need to water the roots every 3 hours.

Feedings

In order for the indoor pet to enjoy the endless flowering and beautiful healthy foliage, it is important nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. For young seedlings, these components are bred in equal shares, and for mature ones they increase the dose of phosphorus-potassium mixture.

The more often you feed a flower, the more intensively it will increase biomass, on which the number of buds directly depends. Experts advise weekly watering strep nutrient mixture, each time reducing the dosage of the constituent components.

Transfer

The change of the pot and the substrate, these representatives Gisnerievyh only welcome. But it is recommended to carry out transplants only to the extent necessary. The procedure should be planned in February, before the beginning of the growing season, and do not forgetthat it is exposed only to strongly overgrown specimens with large leaves and a rosette.

For such specimens, tanks are sought, which are 2-3 cm freer than the previous one. At the same time, the width of the pot should be one and a half times greater than its depth.

The flowerpot is well watered and, when the water is completely absorbed by the roots, roll over along with the earthy ball into a new vessel. Just remember to cover the bottom with a drainage layer. The free space is filled with fresh soil, watered, tamped and lay the top layer of peat moss-sphagnum.

Breeding methods

Getting new strep seedlings is not as easy as violet. But, if you make a little effort and apply agronomic knowledge, it is quite realistic at home. We will understand what the florist should know and be able to do.

The most elementary and easy method of reproduction is considered by many to be the division of the root of a mature flowerpot during its transplantation. Whether a particular instance is suitable for such a manipulation can be determined by the presence of several bushes in a pot.

In this case, take into account that taking away from the mother sample of children, you impoverish the pomp of its flowering.The buds will badly tie, so do not allow strong thickening.

To divide the rhizome must be disinfected in a manganese solution with a sharp knife. First of all, shake the ground from the roots, and then cut them into pieces by points of growth. Before planting, it is advisable to sprinkle the cuts with wood ash.

Another technology of cultivation of this culture is rooting a leaf or any of its fragments that are not less than 2 cm long. For this purpose, a small plastic cup is taken with a drainage layer and a corresponding substrate, as well as planting material.

Landing is made to a depth of 1 cm. The container should be covered with polyethylene and be sure to put in a warm place. New shoots seem in a month. Multiply streptokarpella possible and seed method. It is chosen by experienced craftsmen with a baggage of special knowledge, since there are few chances for beginners. To obtain the grains, you will need 2 vases, you can of different types and varieties.A few months after their pollination, the seeds begin to ripen.

Its contents are best sown in peat tablets. They are placed in a plastic container and moistened. After the material swells, we deepen the seed, cover it with an identical container and send such a "greenhouse" to a well-lit window sill or under artificial lamps.

Do not place containers in direct sunlight - high temperatures and accumulated condensate will destroy the seedlings.

Some housewives are preparing a substrate of sodden peat tablets, shaking out the contents of the reticulum. In such cases, the emerged shoots will have to dive twice. Flowers appear on them only after 9 months.

You can get a new process of strepa by pinching its sheet. The cutting with this method of reproduction does not tear off, but makes a small cut on it and tilts it to the ground. After a month and a half from the place of the cross section, young leaves will appear.

Are there pests and diseases?

Unfortunately, not only people feel sympathy for delightful colors. Spider mites and thrips love to eat their juice. Also, the plant can infect late blight, powdery mildew, gray rot.

To prevent the development of large colonies of pests and pathogens, regularly inspect the outer and inner sides of the leaves. Do not allow waterlogging and overheating of the flower.

When symptoms of vital activity of thrips are detected, it will be necessary to remove all flower stalks, regardless of the degree of their development, and to treat the outlet with any insecticide ("Fitoverm", "Spintor", "Aktara", "Aktellik"). These drugs will help get rid of other sucking parasites. For the final victory over them will need 3 sprinkling at intervals of 7 days.

The emergence of fungal mycelium, viruses and bacteria is caused by abrupt temperature changes, prolonged stagnation of water in a flower pot, a rosette deep in the soil, cold glazes and compacted soil. Save the affected specimens with fungicides ("Fitosporin", "Skor", "Topaz", "Faktofit").

In addition, when transplanting a flowerpot in a new substrate, it is desirable to add drugs "Barrier" or "Barrier".They help the roots to resist the gray rot.

Sick plants must be isolated from other indoor pets, remove the affected areas and treat them. If you cannot achieve the desired result, pinch off a healthy, strong leaf and try to grow a new streptocarpus out of it.

This mysterious flower will thank you for half a year for elementary care and a drop of attention, and if you try a little more, you will get double gratitude.