Hypoestes: how to care at home

Hypoestes - flower, belonging to the family Acanta, with pink-green or red-green leaves. Many growers love this plant for its good resistance to diseases and pests and extreme unpretentiousness to the growing conditions. Quite often, hypoestes are used in home decor and landscape design in warm countries. This article is devoted to the description of this plant, its cultivation and its reproduction.

Meet the "guest" of the tropics

The birthplace of the flower is tropical zones of countries such as India, Madagascar, Costa Rica and South Africa. Hypoestes - short, grassy or shrubby plant, which is characterized by abundant branching. The leaves produce the greatest esthetic effect, and the flowers of this plant are quite modest. The leaves are egg-shaped, located opposite, have a toothed or smooth edge, are quite attractive in appearance - the green leaf is covered with a huge number of spots, different in intensity, not distinguished by texture, often pink or red.

The inflorescences of this plant are half-umbrellas or heads. Bracts cover the flowers and grow together with them in the form of a veil, at the base of which is located from 1 to 3 flowers. The great varietal diversity of this plant was formed, in essence, from only 2 species: these are the blood-red hypoestes and the leaf-nesting hypoestes, which both grow in Madagascar. The first type is still the most popular among those used for home breeding.

Activities after purchase

Immediately after purchasing this flower it is necessary quarantine for 2 weeks, removing from other flowers, so that you have time to make sure that he is not a carrier of any diseases and pests.

After 2 weeks, the plant must be moved to a new ground.The pot for this plant should not be too large, in addition, it is necessary to take care in advance about the presence of adequate drainage. This flower is completely undemanding to the soil, so you can plant it in almost any type of soil, without fear of negative consequences.

Creating comfortable conditions in the house

As you understand, a flower - a native of the tropics, you must create conditions that are most similar to its habitat. The first and, perhaps, the only serious and necessary requirement of the hypoestes will be constant abundant watering and high humidity.

In addition, in order for the flower not to lose its presentable external characteristics, it is necessary to establish a rather specific mode of illumination, which means not too intense sunlight.

Location and lighting

Pot with hypoestes is best placed on the window that goes to east or west side of the world. If you put it on the south side - the plant will need artificial shading, and by placing the pot on the north side, you risk starting the process of deformation of the appearance - the leaves will become faded and the stems will stretch and begin to lean toward the ground. If the hypoestes are deprived for a long period of exposure to sunlight, then its leaves may even lose spotting. Light day for this flower should last at least 10 hours, regardless of the time of year.

The “guest from the tropics” rather poorly tolerates various drafts, wind and cold air, and under the influence of these factors leaves may begin to fall off. Therefore, it is recommended to put it on windows that are not blown and open in quite rare cases.

Temperature

The best temperature, imitating the conditions of the tropics, will be the temperature 22-25 ° C. Too much heat causes the flower to lose too much moisture.In this regard, it is recommended to spray the flower with water as often as possible during the warm season.

In the cold part of the year, it is necessary to ensure that the ambient temperature around the flower does not fall below 17 ° C. Under the influence of too low temperatures in this plant leaves begin to fall off, which ultimately leads to the death of the flower.

Leaving with skill

As noted earlier, it is extremely unpretentious in the content of the flower, with the exception of only a few small parameters. Knowing these small subtleties, you will surely be able to grow a truly grand flower from the tropics, which for a very long period will delight your eyes and your guests.

Watering and spraying

Absolutely at any time of the year, the hypoestes require abundant watering and irrigation of the leaves with small drops of water, which is intended to imitate tropical conditions native to it. Watering is necessary as soon as the top layer of the earth begins to dry out. In the cold period of the year, watering is required approximately once every 1-2 days. Pour this flower is almost impossible, but still it is necessary to be careful.

It is necessary to spray the plant at least once a day, and in hot weather it should be done several times a day. For this procedure, only distilled or filtered water should be used. If you do not have the opportunity to water the flower every day, you can put the pot in the tray where the sphagnum or expanded clay is laid, or place it close to the humidifier.

Feedings

The hypoestes needs regular fertilization from early spring to October. Feed must be repeated every 3-4 weeks. The best fertilizers for this flower will be those that contain an increased amount of potassium, which maintains the bright color of the leaves of your plant.

Do not feed the flower with a large amount of organic fertilizer, as they contain a significant amount of nitrogen, the excess of which leads to fading and leaf fall.

Pruning

When a flower reaches several years of age, its appearance undergoes some metamorphosis. The lower part of the stems becomes bare, which negatively affects its aesthetic qualities. In this regard, it is recommended to replace mature shoots with younger ones at intervals of 2 years. To give the bush a more attractive branching form, you need to pinch the extra shoots. Trimming in order to form a lush crown is possible, but it is not critically necessary.

When and how to bloom

The hypoestes may bloom in the period from June until December, but this process continues for a short time and does not carry significant aesthetic value. Flowers - small, usually lilac shade, shaped like bells. In the process of flowering around the flower a lot of garbage is formed, and since the main emphasis in growing this flower is placed on the leaves, you can safely cut off the arrow as soon as you see that the plant intends to bloom.In addition, after this period, the plant stems are stretched in length and the leaves are reduced in plants, which negatively affects its appearance.

Methods of reproduction at home

Like almost any other flower, hypoestes can be diluted by growing from seed and propagated by cuttings in water. Both methods are easy to implement at home. These methods are equally suitable for a flower, and flower growers use them with a similar frequency.

Cuttings

Cutting can be carried out throughout the year. Absolutely no matter what size you prepare the stalk, you only need to have at least 2-3 knots on it. Rooting is often carried out in a mixture of charcoal with water or in greenhouses with an air temperature of about 23-25 ​​° C.

Greenhouses are constructed by covering the cuttings with a plastic bag or jar. After successful rooting, usually taking about 2-3 weeks, cuttings can be transplanted into pots for further cultivation.

Growing from seed

Seeds are sown in March in a slightly moist soil. On top of the seed should be lightly sprinkled with soil and cover with glass or bag. The air temperature in the greenhouse, where the cultivation takes place, should be in the region of 15-18 ° С.Regular air circulation is necessary in the room where these flowers are grown, therefore it is recommended to air such greenhouses once a day. A few months later, the planted seeds will turn into adult plants that are ready for further transplantation.

Secrets of transplanting: soil and pot

The hypoestes needs regular replacement of old plants with young ones once every 2-3 years. It is desirable to make a transplant in spring every year. It is advisable to select a pot for transplanting with a wide diameter, medium in size (always taking into account the size of the flower itself), preferably the walls are low.

For transplantation, light, loose, slightly acidic soil is best suited, which can be compiled according to this recipe: leaf soil, peat land and humus, or sand in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. This mixture can also be purchased at agricultural stores, where it bears the name "Mix for variegated indoor plants." The bottom of the pot must be lined with drainage for a better passage of water.

Growing difficulties, diseases and pests

Hypoestes are rarely affected by pests and are completely unaffected by various diseases. Of the pests for him are the danger of aphid, spider mite and mealybug.Each of these insects is destroyed with a wide range of different insecticides. Among other problems in cultivation, the most frequently encountered question is: “Why are the leaves curled around the hypoestes?”. This happens, as a rule, due to excess light and excessively dry air. The plant may otherwise signal you to adverse conditions.

Here is a list of such signals:

1. The leaves turn yellow and wither - the soil is too wet, especially true for the cold season.
2. Shoots are lengthened, the spots on the leaves disappear - not enough sunlight.
3. The leaves fall off - too sharp a temperature drop, perhaps a draft, very low air temperature, the land is overdried.
4. The spots on the leaves get a light shade - an excess of nitrogen.
5. Dry edges of the leaves - the air is dry.
6. On the leaves are formed brown spots - ultraviolet burn.

So, we hope that this article will be useful to you in the process of growing your personal "friend" from the tropics. Careful observance of a simple regime of moisture and a sufficient amount of sunlight - that is, by and large, all that is needed for the successful cultivation of this flower.