How to grow a periwinkle at home?

Indoor periwinkle is a flower that cannot be ignored. An indoor plant can trail up to 60 centimeters in height. Flowering can be varied: white, lilac or pink. With proper care, flowering will be long lasting. There are about 12 species of periwinkle in nature.

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One of the most famous and widespread types of periwinkle is "First Kiss". Its color range is very rich, there are about 13 shades. The plant is quite low, does not grow more than 40 centimeters. But the flowers are large in size, which creates a great effect.

Periwinkle room

First Kiss Bluebury was bred not so long ago, he is only a few years old, but is already quickly gaining sympathy.

The Appleblossom cascade was bred specifically for growing in pots and hanging baskets, as well as Mediterranen. With proper care, periwinkle weaves beautifully, sometimes reaching one and a half meters.

Home care

Caring for periwinkle at home is different from caring for it in the garden. Observing all the rules, you can grow a flowering, bright and healthy plant:

1. Landing. First of all, you should purchase high-quality soil for the plant. Of course, you can make it yourself, but it is better to go to a flower shop, where experienced specialists in this field will give practical advice. Geranium soil is perfect for indoor periwinkle. Drainage must be done (a layer of medium-sized expanded clay is poured out). You should not plant the periwinkle crowded, otherwise, with high humidity, the plant may suffer from a lack of ventilation. A flower planted in a pot is placed in the sun, where there is a lot of light and there are no drafts.
2. Watering. The plant loves water. Therefore, watering should be carried out regularly, at the first drying of the earthen coma. At the same time, pouring too much water is very dangerous, root system decay may begin. A plant with rotten roots is easier to get rid of than to cure it.Most often, a pot with a flower is in a pallet, there should be no water in it, if water has formed 10-20 minutes after watering, drain it. Indoor periwinkle should be watered three times a week.
3. Lighting. Periwinkle loves diffused light at home. You can put a flower pot on a windowsill, while in the morning it should not be exposed to direct sunlight. In winter, the periwinkle should be warm. If it does not have enough light, the stems will begin to stretch, it will lose its beautiful appearance.
4. Temperature. Periwinkle does not like extreme heat, the optimum temperature for it is about 25 ° C. But in winter in such conditions it will be hot, the temperature should be 16 ° C.
5. Air humidity. The flower does not like a lot of water, but it needs moist air. To do this, you should often spray the plant, even in winter (with warm water).
6. Pruning. Periwinkle has such properties as trailing, so pruning is needed every year. After 3 years, the flower will no longer look so impressive, it is recommended to plant new ones using cuttings.
7. Top dressing. All flowers need fertilizers, periwinkle is no exception. Top dressing is applied almost all year round, except for winter. In the warm season, fertilize every 10 days. Only in this case there will be a gorgeous and abundant flowering. For indoor periwinkle, you can use rose fertilizer.

On a note! When putting periwinkle on the windowsill, be careful that children and animals do not have access to it, as it is poisonous.

In the summer period, periwinkle can be taken out into the street, only on the condition that direct rays of the sun will not fall on it. Also, you need to protect the flower from the wind.

Reproduction

You can propagate an indoor flower at home in several ways:

• Seeds.
• By cuttings.

The optimal time for seed propagation is February-March. They are buried to a depth of about 2 centimeters. The pots are covered with foil, so that direct light rays do not fall. This creates a greenhouse effect. At a temperature of 24 ° C, the first shoots will appear in a week. 14-15 days after the emergence of sprouts, the first feeding should be carried out.

When the periwinkle grows up to 8 centimeters, 4-5 good leaves will appear, you can pick.

Cuttings are also carried out in the spring. Choose healthy and strong cuttings, cut them about 10 yourself. They are immersed in water (it is possible in cleaned wet sand). From the part that is immersed in the container, cut off all the leaves. Sections can be sprinkled with a hormonal agent.

Cuttings are planted in a pot along the edge, covered with foil, leaving small holes for ventilation. The planted cuttings are placed in a shaded place, the temperature in which is 15-18 ° C.

When the first signs of growth appear on the cuttings, the film can be removed. The flower is gradually accustomed to bright lighting.

We transplant

If you want your flower to bloom gorgeous at home, it should be replanted annually. Follow these rules of procedure:

• During the year, the periwinkle grows, respectively, the pot is taken a few centimeters more each time.
• Immediately before planting, the pot should be disinfected, at least doused with boiling water.
• The root system of the flower is very fragile and delicate, it is important not to damage it. Also, before planting, the roots must be carefully examined for viability. Dead and damaged roots should be trimmed at least 4 centimeters from dead tissue.
• All objects with which the roots will be trimmed must be sharp and disinfected. After pruning, they are also processed so as not to infect another plant.
• The cuts on the roots are sprinkled with fine charcoal.

Observing such simple rules, the periwinkle transplant will be successful, it will be strong and healthy, delight with its flowering and riot of colors.

Diseases and pests

Any plant at home can overtake diseases and pests. This could be:

• Powdery mildew.
• Spider mite.
• Aphid.
• Shield.
• Fungal diseases.

Basically, this happens when the rules of care are violated.

Most often, the problem can arise at the moment when the flower is transferred to the house after the summer period. To prevent this from happening, you should carefully examine the plant. If "enemies" are still found, you should do the following:

• Take a small brush and moisten it in alcohol. Remove pests with a brush.
• Treat the flower with soapy water (laundry soap is used).

White lumps on the flower indicate damage by the felt. Pests are removed with a cotton pad dipped in an insecticide.

Spraying with fungicides is used to combat fungal diseases. It is also necessary to resort to drugs with a strong infection of the plant. There are a lot of means for the fight (Topaz, Skor, Karbofos, Kuproksat, etc.). The experts in the flower shop can tell you which one you need.

With improper home care, the plant may have the following problems:

• The foliage acquires a yellow tint, begins to die off. The flower is very hot, it should be removed from direct sunlight.
• Flowering is gradually decreasing. Talking about the cold air in the house. Warmer conditions need to be created. Also, periwinkle may not bloom due to the lack of useful components in the soil. It needs to be fertilized.
• Yellowness appears at the tips of the leaves. The plant is stuffy with dry air. Moistening (place a container of water next to the pot) and spraying will be required.

If the periwinkle has stopped blooming altogether, this may indicate its age. It is useless to take any action. Throw it away and grow a new flower.

Beneficial features

Since ancient times, periwinkle has been used to prepare various medicines. It contains an alkaloid that prevents cell division. Today I grow the plant more as a decorative element. Alkaloid learned to get artificially. It is this component that is included in anti-tumor drugs and antidepressants.

Nevertheless, traditional medicine did not refuse periwinkle. It successfully copes with:

• Healing wounds.
• Inflammatory processes.
• Bleeding.
• Possesses antimicrobial properties.
• Helps fight diabetes.

Periwinkle contains such useful substances:

• Vinin and pubescin. They are able to reduce pressure.
• Rutin. An important component of drugs prescribed for hypertension.
• Vitamins.
• Sugar.
• Mineral salt.
• Tannins.
• Organic acids.
• Steroids, etc.

All these components, to one degree or another, are able to fight various kinds of diseases. Starting from the simplest rhinitis, and ending with tumors and schizophrenia. Often used to combat depression.

Tinctures and decoctions (pharmaceutical preparations) can be used both internally and externally. Any application must necessarily be coordinated with a specialist. Self-medication is contraindicated.

As you have seen, it is very profitable to grow periwinkle at home. It can be used for medicinal purposes and at the same time enjoy magnificent flowering.

Contraindications for use

The most important thing to consider is that periwinkle is a poisonous plant. It is strictly forbidden to give decoctions to children, pregnant women, ladies during lactation. You can not use the plant for people suffering from low blood pressure and VSD (vegetative dystonia).

If there are children and animals in the house, it is recommended to put the flower pot out of their reach.

Winter care

All summer, periwinkle, with proper care, will bloom and savor. But winter for him is a period of rest. The plant should be kept in the cold period at a low temperature - 14-15 ° C. Carefully monitor the condition of the soil, it should not freeze.Watering is reduced enough, with a large amount of moisture, putrefactive processes can begin not only of the root system, but also of the stem.

With the onset of spring, active feeding of the periwinkle begins.

Interesting to know

The periwinkle in the room is undoubtedly a wonderful decoration for window sills and shelves. It will also look great in your summer cottage or in the garden of your home.

So that the periwinkle has a beautiful shape, blooms perfectly, it should be given a little attention.

The first thing to do is choose the right terrain for landing. At its core, periwinkle is not a whimsical plant, and you can plant it anywhere. The main thing is that it should be a small hill or plain. Otherwise, there is a risk of high humidity, and this is exactly what the flower does not like.

So that the flower grows gorgeous, it will be comfortable in places with diffused light. Can be planted in shaded or completely shaded areas. The periwinkle will grow in the scorching sun, but its appearance will be significantly affected.

The plant has no specific preferences in relation to the soil. But it will grow much better in fertile soil, loose, and with good drainage.

It is on the quality of the earth that its splendor and riot of colors depend. Florists recommend planting periwinkle near an apple, pear or cherry tree.

After planting, periwinkle does not require close attention, it is enough to follow simple rules:

• Fertilizer. Like any other plant, the periwinkle needs them. In this case, the color of its leaves will be more saturated, and the flowering will be bright and long-lasting. Mineral and organic fertilizers are used.
• Watering. If you forget to water the flower, it will not be affected. Normal precipitation will be enough for him, regardless of their frequency and amount. At the same time, periwinkle will benefit from watering, it will moisturize and nourish the root system of the plant, especially in drought. In addition, the jet of water will wash away the dust from the flower, and it will become more attractive.
• Weeding. Weeds do not affect periwinkle, absolutely do not interfere with its growth and development. Weeding is just the desire of the grower to give his garden an aesthetic and neat look. Periwinkle, slightly noticeable among the weeds, is not the most beautiful picture.
• It is very important to pinch the shoots on time. Thus, flowering will increase, the periwinkle will begin to bush.

In winter, the plant will also not cause trouble. You can safely leave him unattended. But attentive gardeners study flower varieties, and some of them can winter very badly, for example, pubescent periwinkle. To prevent this from happening, the flowers should be covered. And it is recommended to do this with all varieties, just in case, so that young shoots do not freeze.

The periwinkle culture (Vinca) belongs to the genus of periwinkles of the Banana family. There are about twelve subspecies of a perennial plant. The flower is native to Asia Minor, Africa and the Mediterranean. The evergreen creeping plant is distinguished by leathery, shiny leaves and small inflorescences of a milky, purple and blue hue. The history of culture is shrouded in many legends. Periwinkle is often called the guardian from evil spirits, the elixir of love and the violet of witches.

How to care for periwinkle at home

An unpretentious plant with delightful inflorescences.

Lighting

The flower easily adapts to environmental conditions. In direct sunlight, the plant can thin out and lose its decorative effect.

Gardeners recommend planting crops in the shade of other plantings, at the corner of a building or at a gate. The ideal daylight hours for a periwinkle are only 2 hours.

Periwinkle develops ideally in the shade of trees.

Temperature

The plant prefers moderate climatic conditions. Easily withstands a sharp drop in temperature in winter and summer heat above + 27 degrees.

Especially appreciated for the long-term preservation of its fresh appearance.The plant recovers in early spring immediately after the snow melts and continues to develop actively even in late autumn. The ideal temperature range for periwinkle ranges from + 18 to + 24 degrees.

Air humidity

Periwinkle belongs to moisture-loving plants. A darkened area with a high level of dampness should be prepared.

The culture is able to endure the absence of precipitation for a long time. To maintain decorativeness, the moisture of the soil and the environment should be regularly maintained.

Watering

It is not advisable to allow waterlogged soil.

Periwinkle should be watered as the surface layer of the soil is drained.

It is recommended to periodically water the creeping plant evenly. You can determine the frequency of watering by touch. After the top layer of soil has dried, you can moisten the ground.

The dense structure of periwinkle allows you to maintain moisture for a long time. It is sufficient to moisten the soil abundantly during the period of active vegetative development and at the stage of culture reproduction.

How to transplant a flower

There is an opinion that the periwinkle does not need periodic transplantation. The plant very quickly covers a large area and grows in width.

Neighborhood with periwinkle can destroy many decorative crops. When planting, the distribution of periwinkle should be taken into account. It will be necessary to periodically stop the growth of the culture.

Pruning

Periodic pruning of shoots will give the plant compactness. You can form a bushy shape by pinching.

Periwinkle should be periodically cleaned of dry and damaged shoots.

Peeling old and young stems will help prolong flowering.

Periwinkle in the open field

Outdoors, the culture requires little or no regular maintenance. The average rainfall is able to provide the plant with a sufficient amount of moisture.

Weeds do not pose a threat to the flower. The area next to the periwinkle should be cleaned from competitors as needed.

In the open field, periwinkle is able to displace other crops.

Balanced feeding with mineral and organic substances will help the rapid development of the flower. The plant prefers humus, leafy soil and compost.

After flowering, it is necessary to cleanse the culture. The cut off particles are convenient to use for subsequent reproduction.

The features of planting on the site can be found in the video:

Growing basics

Soil mixture

All varieties and subspecies of periwinkle are unpretentious crops. The plant can actively develop on all types of soil. Unlike other representatives of domestic flora, it gets along well on rocky ground. Excessive waterlogging can stop growth.

It is advisable to choose a well-drained location on the site. Tree trunks are ideal for growing periwinkle.

Periwinkle prefers a well-drained substrate.

For breeding in a container, you need to prepare a fertile, loose mixture with a neutral reaction. It is imperative to provide several drainage holes to drain the water.

Top dressing

The plant responds well to feeding. In a closed room for growing periwinkle, you can use fertilizer for indoor crops. The plant also actively develops after the use of organic matter and mineral components.

The periwinkle has one little secret. The culture can bloom intensively and profusely even on the poorest soil. It is enough to use growth stimulants correctly.

Plant container

There is an opinion that periwinkle is not suitable for growing indoors. The prevailing majority of varieties are intended for landscaping flower beds and flower beds. The plant can grow to such a size that it is removed from the site as a weed.

For indoor breeding, breeders have developed a special variety, also known as Catharanthus roseus.

Variety of periwinkle for indoor cultivation.

You can also grow an ordinary periwinkle in a room.

In early March, the plant opens up small buds. After a few days, the culture is abundantly covered with delicate azure inflorescences. After flowering, the plant does not lose its decorative effect. Bright foliage can beautify any interior. The glossy hue of periwinkle is preserved all year round.

Making a repair plant out of periwinkle is quite simple. It is necessary to pinch off all the greens in early spring. One stem only ten centimeters long should remain on the surface of the soil. Several young shoots will appear in a few weeks. The plant will be abundantly covered with inflorescences. Be sure to moisten the soil abundantly during this period.

Common problems, diseases and pests

Periwinkle is distinguished by its resistance to pests and diseases. If a hardy plant shows signs of premature wilting, action should be taken immediately.

Dying sites of culture testify to the settlement of scale insects on the flower. After the appearance of insects, brown spots of a round or oval shape remain on the leaves. On the shoots, a cheesy bloom of a milky shade is formed. At the initial stage, it is quite difficult to recognize the pest. You can get rid of the scale insect with a systemic insecticide.

It is necessary to carefully examine the culture. Pests are often confused with the consequences of overuse of nitrogen fertilizers. It is necessary to reduce the concentration of the components. The plant will recover in a few weeks.

Withering periwinkle.

Rare flowering indicates insufficient lighting. A plant in full shade can form scanty inflorescences.

A low percentage of organic matter also often leads to depletion of the soil. As a result, periwinkle loses its ability to actively produce new inflorescences.

Aphids can kill periwinkle in a few weeks. The insect sucks vital sap from leaves and shoots. When eaten, the enzymes of the poison are released. The plant stops developing. Yellowness appears on the leaves. Sections of the flower curl, dry and fall off. The pest carries several dangerous diseases. You will need to use soapy water to clean it. After processing, it is necessary to spray an insecticide on the flower.

Several categories of pathogenic microorganisms can appear on the periwinkle. Most often, the culture is affected by powdery mildew, gray mold, downy mildew, gray rot, sooty fungus and rust.

Spotting of bacterial or fungal genesis also occurs in various areas. It is quite difficult to destroy the fungus. Fungicides must be purchased. Affected plants will need to be destroyed at a later stage. It is also necessary to disinfect the topsoil.

Reaction to periwinkle

Plots of the plant were often used as an elixir of love. The inflorescences of the culture were dried and ground into powder. The infusion was taken several times a day.

The flower contains useful components. They are used in the pharmaceutical industry.

It is not recommended to accept the culture on your own. Periwinkle also contains a poisonous substance. A small overdose can cause serious consequences. Severe damage to the cardiovascular system can occur.

Periwinkle contains poisonous substances.

It is strictly forbidden to use the periwinkle components for pregnant women and children.

Breeding technology

A perennial crop can be propagated in several ways:

• using seeds;
• layering;
• dividing the bush;
• by cuttings.

The easiest way to breed periwinkle is to split the bush. The resulting segment can quickly take root on a new site. A young plant is able to form the first inflorescences in the current growing season.

Inflorescences of young periwinkle.

It is advisable to carry out the procedure in early spring or early September.In the summer, the spread of the plant is allowed, provided there is sufficient soil moisture in the new site.

Cut off young branches should be used for grafting. Shoots must be planted in a moist area. A few leaves should remain on the surface of the soil. The plant can spread quickly and form a lush green carpet.

Layering can be obtained using a buried shoot. After the formation of your own roots, you should separate the crop from the mother plant.

Seeds must be sown in containers. The sowing depth should be no more than two centimeters. Use a dark film to limit access to direct sunlight. To create comfortable conditions, it is necessary to move the container to the greenhouse or room.

After germination, you can put the pots in a lighted area. Seedlings should be dived after the formation of four independent leaves.

How to make periwinkle bloom

In the absence of flowering, it follows:

1. Transplant the culture in partial shade.
2. Reduce feeding with nitrogen-containing preparations.
3. Change the soil mixture in the container for indoor crops.

   The change of soil stimulates the formation of inflorescences.

Planting material

Seeds of periwinkle "Kiffa" can be purchased at the price of 20.40 rubles. Seedlings in a container of Atropurpurea periwinkle (size p9) are sold on average for 93.68 rubles.

The periwinkle, which covers whole glades with a dark green carpet, is amazing and attractive with its unpretentious decoration. Another name for the flower is catharanthus. Delicate blue flowers fell in love with many. Herbaceous or shrubby evergreens have attracted people's attention for their love of life for a long time. It spreads with its elastic branches to all directions of the world.

They have glossy leaves, graceful decorative flowers lilac-blue, white, with various transitions of pink, sometimes with a crimson throat spot. Its leaves are distinguished by their strength and vitality, retaining a fresh appearance even under a snow cover. In early spring, they look out from under the snowdrifts with their emerald green.

The name Vinca in Latin means to twine. It can rise high on the supporting walls, firmly clinging to the roots of the smallest protrusions.

Description of the periwinkle plant

Flowers periwinkle planting and care photo flower beds

Plant from the Kutrovy family. Creeping dwarf shrub or perennial herb with ground cover flowering shoots. Leaves are opposite, dark green sometimes with golden cream spots, leathery, glossy. Large blue, white or pink flowers that bloom in spring, sit singly in the axils of the leaves. The fruit is two cylindrical leaflets with seeds. Flowers c attract bees and are considered a good honey plant.

Growing a catharanthus or periwinkle is an activity for the lazy!

The flower is undemanding, grows and develops magnificently, forming lush cushions of emerald, shiny leaves with delicate cornflower-blue flowers under the shady crowns of trees. Beautifully, blooms profusely in oily, moist soil. It looks unusually in the near-trunk circles of garden trees, on rocky hills, as a ground cover in a semi-shady place, as ampelous in hanging baskets. Variegated varieties are best kept in sunny places - in the shade, their leaves are less expressive.

Caring for periwinkle

Periwinkle planting and care photos in the garden

• To improve decorativeness, create a lush flowering carpet, it is supposed to fertilize with organic and mineral fertilizers several times per season.
• Overripe organic matter is mulched before the onset of winter and early spring before the growth of new shoots and leaves.
• Mineral fertilizer can be sprinkled in small amounts before or during rain or watering.
• Cut off damaged, wilted branches, maintaining decorativeness, stimulating the formation of additional roots.
• Water the periwinkle more often, and it will respond to you with abundant flowering and a riot of emerald green foliage.
• You cannot call it aggressive, but sometimes it requires restriction of growth, because growing, it can suppress other plants.

Reproduction of periwinkle

Periwinkle propagation by cuttings photo

Cuttings usually breeding indoor species or those that hibernate in cool rooms.

• Cuttings are cut from young, apical shoots in March.
• Each must have at least two internodes.
• At the bottom, the leaves are cut off, the node is treated with growth stimulants (root, aloe leaf juice).
• Then they are planted in the ground, made up of 2 parts of fertilized soil, 1 part of coarse sand, deepening the lower internode into the ground, squeezing it tightly with your fingers.
• The soil with cuttings is kept moist at a temperature of 24 degrees, providing shelter from bright sunlight.
• When the plants are strong enough, transplant one at a time and cut off the vegetative tops for better rooting.
• After 2 months, they are planted on the site.

More information about the reproduction of a catharanthus or periwinkle by cuttings in the video:

Reproduction by seeds. Sow periwinkle on a seedling bed located in partial shade

• Seeds germinate well in moist, nutritious soil.
• Sowing is carried out in spring and autumn in open ground in rows with a distance of 10 cm in row spacing, sealed to a depth of 2-3 cm.
• You can plant seeds in peat cups or containers, growing seedlings on a windowsill

Periwinkle from seeds at home photo

• They look after ordinary seedlings - watered and weeded.
• In the fall of next year, the plants will be ready for planting in the flower garden.
• Seeds of pink periwinkle are laid out in 5-8 pieces. in pots in February.
• The soil can be taken universal for indoor plants or ordinary turf soil.
• Sowing is carried out shallowly, up to 1 cm.

Periwinkle ampelous cultivation from seeds photo

• Watered, covered with a jar or film, preventing moisture evaporation, creating a microclimate.
• After germination, they begin to air a little.
• If there are enough seedlings, they can be thinned out by removing the smallest ones.
• If you intend to grow a plant in the house, you can put a support.

The video will tell you about growing periwinkle seedlings from seeds:

This task is feasible even for beginners, it is not at all difficult to get healthy bushes of seedlings!

How to plant ready-made periwinkle seedlings in open ground, we look at the video:

The plant quickly masters the space allotted to it and begins to grow, covering the area allotted to it with a thick carpet. Glossy leaves are very decorative even after the end of the flowering season, which makes periwinkle an excellent ground cover.

Reproduction by layering. They are taken from mature, well-grown plants.

Reproduction of periwinkle by layering photo

The creeping branches of periwinkle take root on their own, taking root upon contact with the ground. Cutting off a branch with a pruner, digging up the cut part along with the roots, it is transferred to a previously prepared area. The ground must be constantly moist for better rooting. If the roots on the seedling are small, you can cover the plant with a plastic bottle with a cut off bottom - this way it will take root more quickly. Noticing new shoots under the shelter - it is removed.

Reproduction of periwinkles will not cause many problems even for novice growers. They take root well and take root at any time. One has only to keep the planting site wet, and you are guaranteed success.

Periwinkle species

Lesser periwinkle Vinca minor, brilliant green, hornbeam grass, burial ground

Flower periwinkle cultivar Vinca minor atropurpurea Vinca minor Atropurpurea photo

Evergreen dwarf shrub up to 35 cm high with vertical generative stems. It grows in the European part of Russia, the Baltic States, Crimea, Belarus, Ukraine and the Caucasus at the edges of forests, along the steppe slopes. It has upright fruiting and sterile stems. It blooms in May-August with single dark blue flowers located in the leaf axils.The fruit is very rare.

White periwinkle vinca minor small photo cultivar Vinca minor Alba

Reproduces well vegetatively and by seeds. In the spring, he needs significant pruning up to 7 cm from the root and feeding with humus or mulching with compost. It grows very quickly and takes up the space allotted to it. Successfully replaces the lawn. It can be grown on vertical walls as an ampelous plant. Often found in garden plots.

Varieties of vinca minor:

• Alboplena - white double flowers,
• Argenteo - large leaves, green with whitish-cream specks, azure-cornflower-blue inflorescences,
• Atropurpurea - bright purple flowers,
• Emili - simple white flowers.

Great periwinkle Vinca major

Large periwinkle Vinca major herbaceous plants for open ground photo

Its leaves are larger and larger than that of the first, larger and five-petal azure-lilac flowers. It also creeps along the ground, rooting in knots, but not as fast as its brother. It blooms twice a season under favorable conditions.

Flowers of periwinkle large variegata Vinca major Variegata cultivation and care photo

Reaches 25 cm in height. Its leaves are not glossy, but matte. Less common than lesser periwinkle in garden plots. A well-known variety Variegata, with elliptical rigid leaves with a white border around the edge of the leaf. Sometimes there are specimens with pure white foliage. Prefers places open to the sun.

Herb periwinkle Vinca herbacea

Herb periwinkle Vinca herbacea photo

It has low frost resistance - it can disappear in winter, and grow back in spring. It differs in smaller elliptical leaves of a rich green hue, falling for the winter, rough. Creeping stems do not take root in internodes. Only the top takes root. The flowers are purple, blue or blue-violet, solitary, axillary.

Seeds are oblong, dark brown with tubercles without tubercles. Distributed on the coast of Crimea. Localized in glades, slopes, among bushes. Our ancestors put a woven wreath of herbaceous periwinkle on the site of a newly built house to protect them from evil and prosperity, the wealth of the family.

Pubescent periwinkle Vinca pubescens

Grows under trees in the forests of the Western Caucasus. It also loses leaves for the winter, but it is more frost-resistant than herbaceous and requires a little shelter. The shoots that grow and weave along the ground take root at the points of contact with the ground. The flowers are small blue, rising on twigs above the ground, creating the effect of a loose carpet.

Pink periwinkle Vinca rosea, catharanthus, pink lochnera, pervinkle

Pink periwinkle Vinca rosea catharanthus photo

Delicate view, native to Madagascar, with pink buds, with a pink-purple spot in the center. The stem is glabrous, cylindrical. Cultivated on the slopes of Adjara. The flower's raspberry throat attracts pollinating insects with a long proboscis. Excellent honey plant.

In our latitudes, it is bred exclusively on windowsills. Or used as an annual crop. The most suitable time for annual transplanting is January-March, large containers are used (maximum diameter 15 cm).

In the spring and summer, place the pots in a very sunny place, add liquid fertilizer when watering every 2 weeks. To prolong flowering in autumn and winter, keep the plant as long as possible in a bright place or light it up a little. At this time, the temperature is kept moderate, and watering is necessary only in order not to overdry the soil.

There are two varieties: 'Small shiny eye' with white flowers and a dark pink spot in the center, and 'Small pinkish' - with pink petals 25 cm high.These plants can be taken out to the garden plot, and when cold weather comes, they can be removed to the veranda or loggia ... It attracts attention with an abundance of flowers resembling phlox, against the background of shiny evergreen foliage.Having created suitable conditions for him, you can admire the continuous flowering for several years in a row.

Pests and diseases

Periwinkles are slightly affected by pests. Hard leaves, bitter taste repel many insects. In the event of a red tick or worm, special insecticides are used. Sometimes aphids are affected. To destroy it, use a solution of tar soap.

When kept indoors, sometimes the tips of the leaves dry out. This comes from too dry air. Spray your pet often or place the pot on a large pallet or planter filled with damp moss or expanded clay. In the summer, you can put it on the balcony, avoiding places with the scorching sun.

Plant features

What does a periwinkle flower look like?

Different types of periwinkle tolerate severe winters well. The flower has an amazing zest for life - when cut, it will stand in water to the last drop, and if you then stick this shoot into the ground, then it will definitely take root. There is a legend in which he complained about the fate of the goddess Flora, and she presented him with large blue-purple flowers and gave him an unusual name - ‘Pervinka’.

Periwinkle in the garden photo composition

This plant is several thousand years old. Naturally, people have used it as a medicinal plant since ancient times. It is recognized by official medicine. The drugs are actively used in the treatment of many diseases. The most valuable is the lesser periwinkle. Preparations based on it have an astringent, antimicrobial, hemostatic, vasodilator, hypotensive, sedative effect. Traditional medicine uses it for dermatitis, tumors, eczema. Pink periwinkle also has medicinal properties. It is used in the treatment of polyps, anemia, stomach ulcers.

All types of periwinkle are poisonous. It should be used with extreme caution, after consulting a doctor, avoiding self-medication.

Periwinkle ampelous photo of flowers

Periwinkle is an excellent flowering ground cover - it will quickly disguise an unsightly place on a plot, an economic zone, or climb up and decorate the shady side of a house or a gazebo. The British decorate the stone walls of old houses with it. Looks great among ferns and large plants.

Periwinkle flower in landscape design photo

Its rapid growth and ability to actively spread, unpretentiousness and shade tolerance, malachite green glossy foliage and charming azure blue flowers explain its popularity among florists and landscape designers. It is placed in rockeries and on natural slopes and hills, which gives sophistication and uniqueness to the garden area. Its magnificent foliage all year round sets off and emphasizes the beauty of the flowers growing nearby. And if we take into account its mystical properties, then it will certainly bring happiness, tranquility, prosperity to your home and protect you from troubles.

Periwinkle in landscape design photo flower beds

Periwinkle is considered a ritual flower of folk rituals - it is woven into the bride's wedding wreath. All types of periwinkle are used by traditional medicine. In an old Carpathian legend, the five-petalled periwinkle flower symbolizes a happy life in marriage.

This is a real sacred plant - the flower of love, or the violet of the witch. Even in ancient times, it was transferred from the forest to the lawns, flower beds of palaces. Planted in cemeteries, it has become a symbol of eternal love and long memory.

Ladies of the court with gentlemen….

went specifically to the edges of the forest to admire the blue and white stars that bloom at dawn and hide at 5 pm. There was an opinion that the periwinkle is eternal, like life is eternal. And the periwinkle personifies love. It is believed that living close to home brings happiness and prosperity.

Periwinkle, laid under the pillow, once attracted grooms to girls. A twig of periwinkle, placed in a baby cot, protects the baby from damage and the evil eye and soothes the baby.In ancient times, it was braided into wreaths, fixed above the windows, they protected houses from lightning, penetration of witches. It is considered a magical talisman among many peoples.

Periwinkle is an unpretentious herbaceous or semi-shrub plant that does not require special care. It is used as a ground cover plant in flower beds and for decorating the corners of the garden. Periwinkle flowers are a good honey plant.

This evergreen flower has gained popularity among gardeners and landscape designers due to its unpretentiousness, combined with grace. Planting and caring for this plant in the open field does not require much effort. The periwinkle foliage is preserved even under high snow cover, and in early spring decorates the site with its emerald greenery.

Periwinkle is a creeping shrub with ground cover stems. The leaves of the plant are opposite, dark green or with cream spots. Flowers are large, white, blue, white, pink, formed in the axils of foliage. The fruit is a cylindrical leaflet with seeds inside.

In the wild, periwinkle grows in Asia, Europe and North Africa. For a long time in Russia this flower was endowed with magical power. It was believed that it drives away evil spirits and protects from lightning strikes, so periwinkle wreaths were hung over windows and doors in houses.

Popular varieties and species with photos

In nature, only four species of periwinkle are known, but many additional varieties have been bred by breeders for the purpose of growing in flower beds:

• Periwinkle large... It stands out among other species in larger flowers that appear twice a year. Plant height is about 25 centimeters.
• Herb periwinkle. Leaves are ovoid, light green. The species is thermophilic and requires shelter for the winter.
• Periwinkle... Leaves are elliptical in shape, with a glossy surface. Shoots are long, up to 100 centimeters. The flowers are small, blue.
• Variegated periwinkle. Light green leaves with beige dots. The flowers are bluish.
• Pink periwinkle. Suitable for growing outdoors and at home. Height 60 centimeters. The flowers are pink, 4 centimeters in diameter. Differs in the presence of healing properties.
• Variegated periwinkle. Differs in rapid growth. Used for growing on alpine slides. The flowers are pale blue, the leaves are green with yellowish spots.

Periwinkle pink

The following varieties of periwinkle, differing in color of flowers, are especially popular:

• Alba - white-flowered;
• Multiplex - blue double flowers;
• Rubra - red-flowered;
• Rubra Captivity - Terry red flowers;
• Aureovariety (golden motley) - variegated with yellow-golden blurred stripes on the green surface;
• White-bordered - small foliage with a white border around the edge;
• Alboplena and Emily- Terry small flowers of white color;
• Argenteo-variegata - inflorescences of a pale blue shade;
• Bowles’ Variety - the longest flowering variety with bright blue flowers;
• Atropurpurea - bright purple flowers.

Lesser periwinkle Blue

Outdoor planting

Periwinkle is able to grow well both in the sun and in semi-shady places. Having a light shade is the best option for planting this flower. Under these conditions, its leaves acquire a dark, rich shade.

Any soil is suitable for a plant, but it is advisable to choose areas with a slightly acidic and neutral reaction and improve them by adding humus and sand or peat. Loose, nutritious soil will prevent the plant roots from rotting, which sometimes happens when growing in heavy soil.

Areas blown by winds and drafts are absolutely contraindicated for periwinkle.

Periwinkle is planted in spring or late autumn. When using seedlings, planting can be carried out in the summer. For planting, the soil is dug up, nitrogen fertilizers are applied –20 gr. per sq. meter.The plant is planted in shallow holes, at a distance of 30 centimeters from each other.

Caring for periwinkle

Growing and caring for this plant in the open field does not require much effort.

Periwinkle is unpretentious in care

Watering periwinkle is required only during dry, hot periods. The rest of the time, dense foliage retains the moisture available in the soil, which is quite enough for the root system. Even on the hottest days, the plant should be watered no more than once a week, otherwise the roots will suffer from waterlogging. If it rains periodically, even the scantiest and most short-lived, it is not necessary to water the periwinkle at all.

In the first 2 weeks after planting, regular watering is still required for the plant. The lack of moisture is evidenced by the leaves curling into a tube. But it is worth watering the periwinkle well, and it dissolves the leaves.

The dense foliage of the periwinkle leaves no chance for weeds to grow, so you won't have to weed the area with the plant. Loosening of the soil around the plant is impossible, therefore, to provide air access to the roots, the soil is pierced with a pitchfork in several places.

The beautiful appearance of the curtain during the growing season is supported by pruning. Damaged shoots, drying leaves, wilting flowers are removed. Too growing shoots that negatively affect neighboring plants must also be removed in a timely manner.

Fertilizer and necessary feeding

For rapid growth and creation of a flowering carpet, periwinkles must be fed with mineral and organic fertilizers every 3-4 weeks. The first feeding is carried out in early spring, before the formation of new shoots. The plot is mulched with humus.

For better flowering and growth, periwinkle needs regular feeding

In the future, mineral mixtures are scattered on the site before the rain, and they dissolve on their own under the influence of moisture. In late autumn, mulching with rotted organic matter is again used.

Diseases and pests

In unfavorable weather conditions, with high humidity in combination with low temperatures, periwinkle can infect fungal diseases: rust and powdery mildew. When spots or white bloom appear on the foliage, spraying with Bordeaux mixture or Topaz, Quadris, Topsin preparations is carried out.

Aphids are a dangerous pest for the plant. You can fight it with systemic insecticides - Aktara, Aktellik, Karbofos, Iskra.

Reproduction of periwinkle

Periwinkle can be propagated by seed or vegetative method.

Sowing seeds

The seed method of reproduction is too long, therefore it is rarely used.

Growing from seeds is the longest way to get a flowering plant, since such an instance grows only in the third year. Reproduction of periwinkle by seed is carried out through seedlings or in open ground. Sowing for seedlings is carried out in early spring in a nutritious loose substrate: a mixture of peat, sand and vermiculite. Seeds are planted to a depth of 1.5 centimeters at a distance of 3-4 centimeters from each other. It is very convenient to grow seedlings in peat tablets. A peat washer is poured with water to swell and then 2-3 seeds are embedded in it.

Periwinkle seeds germinate in complete darkness, so the crops are covered with a black film and placed in a warm - + 23 ... + 25 degrees - place.

After 7-8 days, seedlings appear, similar to tiny worms, since roots appear first of all from the seeds. After the seedlings have rooted, the temperature is lowered to +20 degrees so that the seedlings do not stretch out. Shoot care consists in regular, moderate watering, feeding 3 weeks after germination. In the phase of 4 true leaves, the seedlings dive into separate containers.

In open ground, periwinkle can be sown in spring or late autumn in grooves 2 centimeters deep. The time for sowing in winter must be calculated so that the seeds do not germinate before the onset of frost, otherwise the young shoots of the plant will die in winter.

Propagation by layering and cuttings

Reproduction of periwinkle by layering allows you to get a strong plant in a short time

Periwinkle shoots creeping along the ground are excellent breeding material. The stems sprout roots on their own, and from them you can start growing new bushes. The rooted shoot is separated with a pruner from the main plant, dug out together with the roots and transplanted to a new site.

Until the cuttings take root, it is watered daily. To create greenhouse conditions, the planted layer can be covered with a transparent cap. As soon as new shoots appear on the layer, the cap is removed.

Periwinkle stems take root easily, so new plants can be obtained from the cut tops of the shoots. Cuttings 12-15 centimeters long are cut from the tops of the stems and placed in water or wet sand. After 10-12 days, roots appear, and the plant can be planted in open ground.

Before rooting, the lower leaves of the cutting are cut off so that they do not rot.

Dividing the bush

Periwinkle can be propagated by dividing the mother bush

The periwinkle bush can be divided in spring or summer, but before new shoots appear (early spring), this procedure is easier. The area with periwinkle is watered abundantly so that the small roots of the flower do not break off when removed from the soil. The rhizome of a dormant plant is dug out of the soil and divided into several parts. Each division must have dormant buds, from which new shoots will subsequently begin to grow.

Each part of the rhizome is planted in a separate hole and watered abundantly. During rooting, the soil around the plant should be constantly slightly damp. But too frequent watering is not recommended, so that the roots that have not yet taken root do not begin to rot.

Post-flowering care and organization of wintering

The periwinkle curtain retains a high decorative effect even after flowering, but it requires care. Withered and dried flowers and shoots that are too long are carefully removed from the plant. The cut tops of the stems can be used for rooting and flower propagation.

If you plan to collect seeds, then some of the flowers are left until fully ripe. The process of seed ripening in periwinkle is rather slow, so the resulting capsule is cut off in late autumn. In regions with mild winters, the resulting seeds can be sown directly into open ground.

The main species of periwinkle perfectly tolerate winter frosts and do not need shelter for the winter. Warming in winter is required only for some thermophilic varieties, for example, pubescent periwinkle. In case of severe frosts, the site can be covered with straw or spruce branches.

Only thermophilic plant varieties need winter shelter.

Periwinkle in landscape design and in combination with other plants

Periwinkle is grown in flower beds, on alpine slides, in hanging pots, rabatkas. Looks spectacular with primroses, forget-me-nots, irises, groves, forget-me-nots. This flower is suitable for decorating unsightly places in summer cottages. Periwinkle looks great as a decor for tree trunks.

If you plant periwinkle in tubs or flowerpots, its stems will hang down beautifully, creating the effect of an ampel plant. The plant blends beautifully with boulders in rocky gardens.

You can get acquainted with the intricacies of growing periwinkle in the proposed video material. Happy viewing!