How to care for calceolaria

Calceolaria, a miniature plant that cannot be taken away from, is very popular among home flowers. In our article we will tell you what types of calceolaria are, how it is planted and taken care of at home, we will provide a photo.

Description and variations

Calceolaria is a perennial plant with approximately the same width and height, which is 20-30 cm. The foliage has a bright green color, a corrugated structure, the length of the leaves. - 5-10 cm

The plant has unusual flowers that visually resemble a junction of two lips. They have a small size - 2-6 cm. One part has a very small size, and the second is much larger, different in inflated and spherical shape.

At the same time on one bush can bloom about 50 flowers. The flowering period begins in May-April and lasts 3-5 weeks.

Among all types of the most popular are:

• Calceolaria purple. It belongs to a group of herbaceous perennials whose height is up to 50 cm. It has jagged basal leaves, flowers with a lip having an oblong shape, painted in red-lilac color.

• Calceolaria Mexican. The height of this species is 20-50 cm and depends on what conditions will be created by the plant. The flowers are yellow, their diameter is about 5 cm.
• Calceolaria wrinkled. Plant height can be up to 150 cm. The flower has small leaves and small yellow flowers, on which brown specks are attractively placed. During flowering, the flower resembles a large yellow cloud.

• Calceolaria hybrid. This plant includes several plants that have a similar shape, but different colors. Mostly this group includes yellow, red and orange flowers. They are distinguished by the presence on the flowers of various blots, strokes, divorces and blotches.The most common variety of hybrids is Dundee. During flowering, it attracts attention with bright red flowers

There are many more plant species, but they are much less common.

Necessary conditions for growing

In order for calceolaria to please the eye for a long time and harmoniously fit into the interior, it is necessary to properly grow it.

Humidity and temperature

It is important to provide the plant with high humidity. But at the same time it is forbidden to spray it from the sprayer, as water droplets easily damage the leaves.

To increase the humidity, place the pot on a tray that contains wet clay, peat or moss. You can also put containers in pots and fill the space between the flowers with wet peat.

The optimum temperature in the plant room is + 14-16 ° С. If it rises above these levels, calceolaria blooms will occur much less frequently, and pests and diseases will also begin to attack it.

In winter, the air temperature should not exceed + 12 ° C.In summer, flowers are often placed on a balcony, loggia or veranda.

Flower lighting

Calceolaria loves light, but do not place it in direct sunlight. The plant will feel good on the northern, western or eastern window-sills. When taking the pot to the balcony, take care that the sun does not shine on it and the plant is protected from the wind.

In the autumn and winter, with a lack of sunlight, it is necessary to create artificial lighting with a fluorescent lamp. With the arrival of spring and the beginning of flowering, provide a small shade to the plant.

Growing soil

Calceolaria is not fastidious to the soil, the mixture for planting can be prepared by yourself at home or purchased at a specialty store. The following mixtures are optimal:

• 3 parts of sod land, 1 part of leafy land, 1 part of peat, 0.5 parts of sand;
• 2 parts of turf, 1 part of soil, 1 part of peat, 0.5 parts of humus soil;
• 2 parts of soil, 2 parts of sod, 1 part of compost, 1 part of leafy soil.

Also in the substrate can be added;

• wood ash;
• vermiculite;
• chopped coniferous rind;
• detailed sawdust;
• peat moss

If you doubt that you can properly prepare the soil, it is better to contact a specialist in the store.

Calceolaria reproduction (landing)

There are several ways to plant a flower. Consider them in more detail.

Seed method

There is no fixed time for planting seeds. It depends on when you plan to enjoy the incredible flowering plants. If you want Calceolaria to bloom in the spring, landing should be done in June, and in the fall - in March.

The first preparation of the soil. To do this, mix peat soil and sand in a ratio of 7 to 1. The flower reacts poorly to sour peat, so you should definitely mix it with ground chalk (1 kg of peat - 20 g of chalk). After that, perform the calcination of the soil. The plant has very small seeds, therefore planting consists in spreading them on the surface of the earth. Do not sprinkle them on top of the earth, just put a wet sheet of paper on them, and periodically moisten it. Ensure the air temperature is at least + 18 ° C.

After 10-14 days, the first shoots will appear. Perform watering between rows of a small thin stream. When two true leaves appear, a dive of shoots is carried out.

For better adoption of seedlings, it is recommended to cover them with glass or film. Every day should be carried out airing the seedlings and ensure that the peat does not dry out.

After 2 months you need to spend the second pick. To do this, you will need containers, the diameter of which should be 9-11 cm. After the transplantation is completed, you need to pinch the plant. Leave on the bush 2-3 pairs of leaves, over time you will notice how young shoots start to make their way.

When the plant gets stronger, it is transplanted into flower pots. Observing all the rules of cultivation, you can admire the flowering of calceolaria 8-10 months after sowing seed.

Cuttings

After the flowering period ends, rooted cuttings are rooted. It is best to carry out this procedure in February, March and August.

To do this, it is necessary to dip the shoots in a special powder that will promote rooting, and then plant the cutting in the soil mixture. For some time, the seedlings are covered with foam or glass.

Engraftment of cuttings takes about 2 months. To get a lush bush, it is recommended to plant several seedlings in one container.

Peculiarities of care

Like many other plants, indoor flower calceolaria needs care. Consider how to properly implement it.

How to water?

The flower requires moderate watering: you should not allow the overmoistening of the soil, but dry land will also not contribute to the development of the plant. Watering should be carried out when the layer of earth dries out by 2 cm. For irrigation, use separated warm water.

When the plant blooms, watering is done every 7 days. Do not forget to immediately pour water from the pan, as its stagnation can lead to decay of the root system.

After the flowering period is over, watering should be carried out 2 times less often, and the soil should be moistened only when the earth dries.

What to fertilize?

The feeding of the flower should be carried out 1 time in 10-14 days. Ideal for this liquid mineral fertilizer - it is well absorbed into the soil. Flower fertilizer should be carried out 2 weeks after transplantation.

In autumn and winter we are not recommended to carry out top dressing, since at this time the flower is at rest. If calceolaria is fertilized during this period, it can lead to yellowing of the foliage and its falling off.

How to shape the bushes?

In order for the plant to bloom beautifully and lushly, before the beginning of the budding period, it is necessary to shape the bush with the help of a pinching. To do this, remove the side shoots that grow from the sinuses of the leaves.

You can also hold pinching side shoots, leaving 2 pairs of leaves. Thanks to the second method, it is possible to achieve abundant flowering, but the flowers will not differ in large sizes.

Possible difficulties in growing

Growing Calceolaria is a rather complicated process. The flower is distinguished by its fastidiousness, which often leads to the defeat of the plant diseases and pests.

Quite often, the flower suffers from whitefly and aphid attacks.If you notice a small amount of pests, they can be collected from the bush and destroyed. If the plant is severely affected, it is treated with special chemicals.

Greater threat to the flower is the attack of gray rot. The cause of the disease is a surplus of moisture in the soil, low air temperature and a high concentration of nitrogen in the fertilizer.

Parts of a flower that are severely affected, urgently need to be removed, then process the flower with cuproxate or Bordeaux mixture. Any other medication that contains copper is also suitable.

Remember that the violation of the conditions of care for the plant will immediately affect its foliage - it will begin to turn yellow and fade. From the article, you learned what calceolaria is, how it is grown from seeds and cuttings at home. By providing the right care for the plant, you can enjoy the magical beauty of an unusual flower for a long time.