Gloxinia

Gloxinia the beautiful (Gloxinia speciosa), also called Sinningia the beautiful (Sinningia speciosa) - the most famous species. This tuberous plant has broad basal oval velvety leaves with a pinkish colored reverse side. Large bright flowers of its hybrids have a bell-shaped shape and various colors: purple, purple, blue, white and even two-tone.

Gloxinia the beautiful (Gloxinia speciosa), also called Sinningia the beautiful (Sinningia speciosa) - the most famous species. This tuberous plant has broad basal oval velvety leaves with a pinkish colored reverse side.

Large bright flowers of its hybrids have a bell-shaped shape and various colors: purple, purple, blue, white and even two-tone.

Cultivation

Gloxinia is a beautiful indoor crop that grows well in a warm and humid environment, does not tolerate drafts; does not like direct sun and waterlogging. If you have bought a flowering plant, then after a dormant period, it is difficult to achieve re-flowering from it. Gloxinia blooms only in strictly defined conditions (temperature regime, additional illumination).

Location

Gloxinia prefers a very well-lit place, but not in direct sunlight. To keep the plant low and compact, the light is directed strictly from above: otherwise, the stem will not be straight.

Temperature

In summer, the optimal room temperature for this plant, native to Brazil , is up to 24 °C. In winter, tubers are kept in a dry and cool place, but protected from subzero temperatures. Tubers germinate and shoot in spring, at a temperature of 20-22 °C.

Watering

Watering gloxinia is made only in a tray to avoid rotting of leaves and flowers. Summer watering is plentiful: 2 times a week, but without stagnation of water. During flowering, fertilizer in liquid form is periodically added to the water for irrigation. In autumn, on the eve of the plant's dormant period, the amount of water in the pan is gradually reduced and finally completely stopped for the whole winter.

Transplant

Tubers are planted in February-March in a pot filled with light, nutritious, slightly acidic soil so that their "tops" are located at surface level. The ground around the tuber is compacted, after which the pot is placed in a warm and bright place, gradually watered, gradually increasing the amount of water for irrigation. Plants obtained from seeds or cuttings are transplanted into new vessels 2 times for each growing season.

Care

This plant does not tolerate the use of lustrous solutions that give the foliage a gloss. To clean the leaves of gluxinia, it is enough to maintain high humidity in the summer period, in the morning spraying warm water on the foliage and the space around.

Reproduction

This plant can be propagated by seeds, tubers, cuttings and leaves. Seeds are sown in early spring. The seedlings are very tender, and they should be watered with extreme care, through a sieve or using a spray bottle. After a dormant period in winter, tubers are planted in boxes in a mixture of leaf humus, peat and sand. When the roots and shoots develop , the plants are planted separately. In summer, you can also take leaf cuttings. Sprouted tubers are divided according to the number of sprouts. In the winter months, tubers are usually extracted and stored in a cool, dry place. In the spring, they are transplanted into a new pot, filled with soil with a high peat content.

Diseases

Gloxinia has no special enemies, with the exception of green apple aphids, which are disposed of by treating with appropriate insecticides. Water gloxinia should be very carefully, making sure that the plant does not rot and does not wither.

Gloxinia has no special enemies, with the exception of green apple aphids, which are disposed of by treating with appropriate insecticides.

Water gloxinia should be very carefully, making sure that the plant does not rot and does not wither.

Acquisition

Plants are purchased in flower shops or gardening centers, it is advisable to choose specimens with closed buds. Special attention should be paid to the leaves (they are extremely fragile) - try not to damage them.