Can catharanthus be grown as a houseplant?

Everyone who has seen the catharanthus houseplant will agree that this spectacular bush, strewn with delightful numerous flowers, clearly brings the comfort and warmth of the southern Mediterranean islands to the house. Its name is translated from Greek as "pure, clear or flawless flower." In this article, you will read about growing and caring for a catharanthus at home. Many growers consider him the king of indoor flowering bushes, because the catharanthus pleases its owners with endless flowering almost all year round, and requires minimal care from them after planting.

Description

The catharanthus flower belongs to the evergreen herbaceous and subshrub plants of the Apocynaceae family. In the wild, it can be found everywhere in countries with a tropical climate. These are Cuba, Java, Africa, Indochina, Indonesia - not to list everything. It is not possible to accurately determine his homeland, although many scientists tend to Madagascar, where he is most often found. There are seven or eight of its types. In the subtropics, the catharanthus grows up to one and a half meters in height. At home, this bush does not exceed 60 cm. As a houseplant, the catharanthus has been bred since the middle of the 18th century.

For a long time, the catharanthus was considered one of the varieties of another flower - pink periwinkle. These plants are very similar. Both belong to the Kutrov family. Only since 1937, after lengthy disputes, botanists began to attribute the pink catharanthus (Catharanthus roseus), as a species of evergreen perennial dwarf shrubs, to a separate genus of Catharanthus.

The indoor flower catharanthus is a perennial plant often grown as an annual. In height at home, it grows no higher than 50 - 60 cm. Its erect stems are fleshy, branch out at the tops, lignify over time. The roots are powerful, pivotal.The central root reaches a depth of 20 - 30 cm, there are many lateral adventitious roots with a strong specific odor. Young roots have no root hairs. The leaves of the catharanthus are oblong, pointed at both ends, and are up to 7 cm long. They are glossy, dark green in color, with a white longitudinal vein. During flowering, the bush is covered with many wheel-shaped flowers. Catharanthus flowers are 3 to 5 cm in diameter. They have the regular shape of five petals with a flat corolla, the pharynx of which is covered with thyroid hairs. In the center of each flower there is a peephole, usually of a bright contrasting color. There are hybrids with white, orange, light lilac, blue-violet petals. Catharanthus flowers are very similar to phlox flowers, but they are single, and in phlox they are collected in inflorescences. But, during active flowering, from May to October, such a magnificent hat is formed from separately flowering flowers that the decorativeness of the flower at this time is above all praise. Long flowering ends with the onset of cold weather. After flowering, the fruit of the catharanthus is formed, which is a sickle-shaped two-leaved plant, inside which about a dozen elongated seeds are formed.

Healing properties

The catharanthus plant is valued not only for its spectacular appearance and decorativeness. Its medicinal properties have been known for a long time. Healers and healers in Madagascar and Indonesia used catharanthus to treat diabetes, cough, and various tumors. The green parts of the plant contain up to 60 biologically active alkaloids. Modern research has shown that indeed this flower contains substances that lower blood sugar. And the alkaloids vinblastine and vincristine formed the basis of anticancer drugs that are used in modern medicine. All kinds of infusions and decoctions are prepared from the leaves and shoots of the catharanthus, which treat many diseases, such as:

• poorly healing wounds and trophic ulcers;
• fibroids, polyps, prostate adenomas;
• diseases of the teeth and gums;
• broncho-pulmonary diseases;
• hypertension and diabetes.

It is important to know that all parts of the catharanthus are poisonous. It is not recommended to prepare any medicine from it yourself! Side effects, allergic reactions, burns may occur. There are contraindications. It is possible to use preparations from catharanthus only under the supervision and on the recommendation of doctors.

Types and varieties

All decorative series of varieties and hybrids of this flower are a variety of pink catharanthus. They differ from it in the size of the bush and in different shades of petals. We will introduce you to the most popular ones.

Katarantus Aristocrat

Katarantus Aristocrat. It is a short bush, 50 cm high. The flowers are relatively large - up to 5 cm in diameter. The color scheme is varied - from pure white to dark red. In the middle, a contrasting eye usually sparkles. This flower is grown not only as a houseplant, but also as a garden plant, decorating borders on flower beds and paths with it.

Katarantus Pacific

Katarantus Pacific. It is a short, compact bush, 25 - 30 cm in height, and 15 - 20 cm in diameter of the crown. It is characterized by early flowering and unpretentious care. The flowers are large, the characteristic peephole in the middle stands out brightly.

Depending on the shade of the petals, the Pacific variety has its own varieties:

• Pacific Burgundy - has flowers of a rich wine color with a white eye;
• Pacific White - has white flowers with a red eye;
• Pacific Epricot - has apricot-colored flowers with a red center;
• Pacific Ice Pink - has flowers of pale pink color with a red eye.

In the eighties of the last century, a number of spectacular new varieties of catharanthus appeared. Here are some of them that are still popular:

Variety series Cooler (Culer). Small, strongly branching bushes, up to 40 cm in height, have united here. Their flowers are round, large, up to 5 cm.in diameter. With a bright contrasting eye in the center.

The varieties in this series include the following:

• Grape Cooler - lavender-pink flowers with a red center;
• Pepermint Cooler - white flowers with a bright red center;
• Red Cooler - red flowers.

First kiss

Variety series First Kiss (First Kiss). Low, 30 - 40 cm in height, neat bushes, have a beautiful crown and at least 13 shades of flowers. This is the most popular and titled variety of catharanthus. At the florist contests of the countries of North America, the catharanthus of this variety series won prestigious prizes, in particular the blue-violet cultivar First Kiss Blueberry won high awards in the USA and Canada.

Variety series Cascade. Here are the ampelous catharanthus, up to 15 cm high and with long flexible shoots that either spread or hang down. It blooms with large flowers, up to 5 cm in diameter. The most popular varieties of this series:

Katarantus ampelous Titan. Long lashes hanging downwards reach 75 cm in length. Numerous bright red flowers burn brightly on dark green glossy leaves. This variety is great for growing in pots.

Catharanthus titanium

• White - with snow-white flowers;
• Deep Rose - with pink flowers;
• Bark Cascade Cherry - with cherry flowers;
• Bark Cascade Shelf Dot - with white flowers;
• Bark cascade Medzhenta - with flowers of gray-burgundy color.

Home care

When growing a catharanthus at home, it is important to follow some simple rules so that you grow a wonderful evergreen bush.

All parts of the catharanthus are poisonous and contain alkaloids. Work with him must be carried out with gloves to avoid allergies or poisoning.

Moisture, spraying, watering

Katarantus is a moisture-loving culture. Abundant flowering directly depends on the sufficiently high humidity of the ambient air and substrate. Catharanthus prefer high air humidity. If the moisture readings fall below 60%, it is necessary to spray the surrounding air and, with care, the plants themselves. Moreover, the leaves can be sprayed, but the flowers are not desirable! To increase the humidity in the room, place containers with water next to the catharanthus plantings, and put the pots themselves in trays with wet expanded clay or wet pebbles.

Water the flowers regularly. Drying of the root system must not be allowed! You will immediately recognize about insufficient watering by the curling leaves of the plant. If you notice it quickly and pour it soon, they will straighten.

But there should be no stagnation of water in the sump and waterlogging of the soil. Try to choose the frequency of watering so that the soil moisture is consistently average. Water not earlier than the topsoil dries to a depth of 2 - 3 cm. If you plan to keep the plant until next year, significantly reduce watering in the autumn-winter period. Keep the earthy ball slightly damp. If the indoor air is dry, spray the leaves continuously.

Lighting

The plant prefers diffused light. On the windowsills of the eastern and western directions, he will be most comfortable. Although, on the south side, provided the pot is protected from direct sunlight at midday, the catharanthus will feel great. It is not necessary to place the flowerpot on the windowsill itself. It grows well in a small shade and looks great on a shelf illuminated by diffused sunlight. Under the condition of wintering indoors, he also needs good lighting. Otherwise, the stems will stretch upward, and the decorative effect of the flower will suffer. If there is a lack of lighting, use fluorescent lamps.

Temperature

The ideal temperature for growing catharanthus at home is 20 - 25 degrees Celsius. This is in the spring and summer for perennial flower maintenance.In winter, it is necessary for him to find a cooler place and maintain the temperature there within 15 degrees, because there is no place for him on the windowsill, next to the heating devices. Perhaps you have an insulated loggia. But, it is necessary to ensure that the temperature does not drop at all - its prolonged decrease, below 10 degrees, the catharanthus may not tolerate.

If you are not going to save the flower in the winter and plan to throw it away in the fall, after flowering, then the warmer the location, the more abundantly it will bloom. Moreover, the flower feels great outdoors in the warm season. In the spring, as soon as the air outside warms up above 18 degrees, the pot with catharanthus can be placed on a balcony or veranda, preferably under a roof, because flower plantings must be protected from precipitation, drafts and direct sun. With the first cold snap, in August-September, it is better to bring the catharanthus into the living room. Until October, he will still delight you with his magnificent flowering on the windowsill.

Soil and fertilizing

Catharanthus will grow well in loose, light, fertile soil. Purchased land for flowering indoor plants, for example, for geraniums, is suitable for him. It is also not difficult to prepare a soil mixture on your own from leafy and sod land, adding a little peat and coarse river sand there.

In order for the flowering of the catharanthus to be long and plentiful, it needs constant, fairly intensive feeding. If your flower is an annual, it is fed once a week by adding liquid fertilizer for flowering houseplants to the water for irrigation. Liquid fertilizer is suitable for indoor roses. But do not overdo it, read the doses on the package.

If the catharanthus after flowering will persist as a perennial, its strength must be preserved. Therefore, feeding should be done less often during flowering, once every 2 weeks, and in a dose reduced by half. After flowering, from October to February, feeding should be stopped altogether.

Suitable pot

Katarantus is a fast-growing flower. If you plant it in a small pot, it will outgrow it very soon, the roots will not fit and will block the drainage holes. Therefore, choose a large pot right away so that it will last for a year of the flower's life. As we wrote above, the root system develops well, the roots grow up to 20 - 35 cm in length. Place a good layer of drainage at the bottom of the planting container, 3-4 cm. Use expanded clay, pebbles or other suitable material. And then fill the pot with the prepared potting mix. Don't forget to add some humus for nutrition. During the annual transplant of a perennial catharanthus, choose a pot 3 - 5 cm larger and wider each time.

Pruning and shaping the bush

For a fast growing plant like the catharanthus, pruning the shoots is a necessary procedure. In a perennial culture, after a period of winter rest, the shoots that have elongated over the winter are cut off by a third of their length. Remove damaged and dried branches, give the bush the desired shape. This pruning at the beginning of spring will rejuvenate the flower and give it strength for new growth.

A compact beautiful crown of a young catharanthus will help to form the pinching of the ends of the shoots. Their upward growth will stop, and the growth of lateral branches will make the crown thicker and more decorative.

But you will have to constantly monitor the decorative appearance of your pet during flowering. Withered flowers and yellowed leaves at the bottom of the shoots must be removed regularly - they greatly spoil the appearance of the plant.

Transfer

If you grow the catharanthus as a perennial, then it will need an annual transplant in early spring, in March.

Return the flower to a warm, light environment. Examine. Make the trim you want. Pick up a pot for transplanting 3 - 5 cm larger than the previous one. Put a drain there - it should be at least 4 cm.Do the transplant by transferring the flower along with the ground. Try not to injure the root system. Add to the pot the soil of the same composition in which the catharanthus grew last season. If the soil is very different in composition, the flower may not bloom. According to the reaction, the soil is neutral or slightly sourish. Remember this and always use one type of soil, for example, for flowering geraniums.

You may need to transplant your flower more often than once a year. If, during the active phase of flowering, the lower leaves suddenly began to turn yellow and flowers fall off - Perhaps the root system already does not have enough space in the pot. You can see the roots sticking out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. This is a signal that the catharanthus urgently needs to be transplanted into a large container.

If the catharanthus is difficult to remove from the pot, try watering it. The plastic pot may need to be cut or broken, but be careful not to damage the delicate root system when removing the flower. Otherwise, the catharanthus will stop blooming.

If you regularly follow all the rules of good flower care, the catharanthus will also try and stun you with its fantastic flowering!

We recommend not keeping your perennial for more than three years. Any catharanthus of this age begins to grow, its flowers become small, shoots are clumsy. The plant loses its attractiveness and decorative effect. It is better to part with him, having taken care of his descendants in advance, that is, about reproduction.

Reproduction

After the enchanting flowering, the powers of the catharanthus are depleted, and you need to try to make it bloom again next year. For this reason, flower growers often grow the catharanthus as an annual plant, and after the end of its flowering, they are simply thrown away. After all, the difficulties of preserving a flower in the winter, problems with temperature, humidity, lighting of its wintering place, cannot be compared with the rooting of its shoots or cuttings. By the beginning of the new season, you will have a new flower full of strength and desire to bloom without any problems.

Catharanthus is propagated in three ways: growing from seeds, rooting cuttings and dividing the bush.

Growing from seeds

Buy catharanthus seeds in specialty stores. Their seeds will not have time to ripen during the summer flowering. Their natural maturation is possible only in tropical conditions. If you still set out to get your seeds, be patient. The bush will have to grow all autumn and winter in room conditions, maintaining a constant temperature, humidity and good lighting, as in the tropics. Your seeds will ripen, perhaps only by spring.

Catharanthus seeds

The seeds can be sown at any time of the year. Just keep in mind that the catharanthus blooms after germination in 60 - 70 days, that is, young bushes will bloom in two to three months. Therefore, it is better, from the point of view of caring for them - in terms of temperature, humidity and lighting, it is done in early spring.

The prepared seeds (treated with potassium permanganate and epin) are sown in containers with nutrient soil to a depth of no more than 1 cm. The soil is carefully moistened with a spray bottle with warm, settled water, the container lid is closed. You can use any containers that are convenient for you, but be sure to cover them with something transparent - glass or polyethylene. Germination is best done in a warm, dark place. In a week or two, seedlings will appear. The containers are taken out to a lighted place. The temperature is maintained at 23 - 26 degrees Celsius. Ventilate once a day, preferably in the morning. The sprouts sit for a long time, about a month, at the same level - they grow the roots. When three to four leaves appear on the seedlings, the catharanthus dive into separate pots.Do not forget about the rapid growth of the young, take at once a pot that is large than you would like, so that soon, during flowering, you do not have to transplant the flower again.

Pay special attention to the preparation of the potting mix. An excellent option is a mixture of peat, humus, sod land and coarse sand in equal proportions. If you will be using ready-made soil, choose a substrate suitable for flowering indoor flowers.

Propagation by cuttings

For propagation by cuttings (cuttings), green cuttings are cut from the tops of the shoots in the catharanthus. Choose a method of rooting the cuttings - in water or in a substrate.

Water for rooting is taken standing or boiled with the addition of some kind of growth stimulant. They put the glass in a bright, warm place. They are waiting for the appearance of the root. Water is added as needed. The roots will appear very soon. Then the cutting is planted in a pot with a regular substrate. They take care of them like an adult plant.

You can root the cuttings in a container with moist soil under a film. Air the plantings from time to time, water them as the soil dries up. When signs of new growth appear on the handle, the film can be removed. Root the cuttings with a margin, in case they die.

It is best to harvest and plant cuttings in the spring, after pruning the old bush. But it is also possible in the fall. The optimum temperature for rooting cuttings of the catharanthus is 22 - 25 degrees Celsius.

Video: how to propagate a catharanthus by cuttings.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

This propagation method is used when transplanting an adult plant into new pots. This usually happens in early spring. Depending on the size of the root system, the catharanthus can be easily divided into two or three parts. Remove the flower from the pot, try to gently shake off the soil from the roots. Decide on the place of division of the root system. Use a sharp, well-sanitized tool to divide the bush. Treat the incision sites with crushed activated carbon. Plant each specimen in a separate pot according to all the rules.

Organization of wintering

If you are planting your indoor flower in a flower bed in the country for the summer, then you need to think about how to keep the catharanthus in winter. After all, your sissy will not survive the winter, even a mild one, on the street. Dig up the plant carefully in early October. Cut off the branches two-thirds of the way. Place the flower in a large pot to accommodate the entire root system. Fill the pot up to the top with a mixture of sand and earth. Bring to a cool room with a temperature of 15 - 17 degrees. Try to find one for wintering in an apartment. Let him stand there until spring and warmth. There is no need to water it in winter. When the air outside warms up above 18 degrees, you can plant the rhizome of the catharanthus again on the flower bed.

Possible growing problems

You can always determine by the appearance of a plant: is it healthy or something is wrong with it. By its appearance, the catharanthus itself signals the unfavorable conditions of its detention. You need to monitor the plant, and, if necessary, take measures to correct your mistakes.

Let's consider the most common problems of growing a catharanthus.

Diseases

• Small dark bumps or specks appeared on the upper surface of the leaves. On the bottom - something in the form of pustules. These are signs of a disease of many indoor flowers - leaf rust. The reason is the frequent waterlogging of the soil at high humidity. Or, when replanting, heavy or rust-infected soil was used. Treatment is carried out with fungicides (read about diseases of indoor flowers). Transplant the treated plant into new soil.
• The leaves on the shoots became lethargic, turned yellow and fell off. This happens if the pot is on a windowsill unprotected from the sun. Place the flower in the back of the room or protect it from direct sunlight with blinds or curtains.
• The tips of the leaves turned yellow.This happens when the humidity in the room is too low. In winter, this is due to central heating. The pot must be placed in a high pallet with wet expanded clay and set aside from the heating devices. A wide container of water can be placed next to the flower. If there are no flowers on the catharanthus, its leaves should be sprayed with settled water at room temperature. All this should increase the humidity in the room. The tips of the leaves of the catharanthus will stop turning yellow.
• The lower leaves on the shoots turn yellow and fall off. This is a natural process for the catharanthus. Remove them regularly from the plant so that the decorative effect of the flower does not suffer.
• There are few flowers on your catharanthus. Poor flowering usually occurs if the catharanthus is cold. Move the flower pot to a warmer, lighter place - and it will thank you with abundant flowering.
• Leaves begin to turn yellow, flowering stops. Examine the flower pot. If it is not large, if the roots of the catharanthus appeared from the drainage holes, it means that your pet has become cramped in this pot and it is time to transplant it into a wider and deeper pot. A little time will pass, and the plant will come to life and begin to bloom.
• Katarantus began to shed the buds. This happens when there is insufficient attention to the flower: poor lighting, lack of moisture in the soil, or when the air humidity is low.
• Young leaves are falling from the tops of the shoots. Perhaps you rarely water the flower, it does not have enough moisture. At the same time, check other nuances of care: is it warm, light, and whether any insects bite him.

Insects are pests

Sucking parasites like aphids, scale insects and spider mites like catharanthus juice. They can get into your apartment with a new flower from the store, fly in from a neighbor's balcony, or just with a street breeze through an open window. Therefore, check your pets regularly. If found, rinse off the parasites first in the bathroom under the shower. Most of them will wash off with water. Then take a brush, soak it in alcohol and try to gently remove the remaining pests with it. After that, it is advisable to spray the leaves of the catharanthus with soapy water. If the disease is running, and there are too many insects with their eggs and larvae, use special preparations - insecticides, such as aktara, actellic or fitoverm. Carry out the processing two to three times in 7 to 10 days until the complete destruction of the pests. Read the instructions for use carefully on the packages.

We introduced you to the indoor catharanthus flower. Believe me, you will spend less time caring for it than reading this article! This is a completely unpretentious plant, but so sweet and responsive to any attention to it from the florist. The good thing about Katarantus is that this small, compact bush blooms profusely with bright acrylic flowers from spring to October. At the same time, it grows rapidly and multiplies easily. Knowing the simple rules of caring for it, you will always have a grateful plant in your home, ready to decorate the interior of your home all year round.

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When decorating home gardens, it makes sense to pay attention to a unique tropical plant - catharanthus. In our regions, it is called pink periwinkle or cayenne jasmine. This perennial ampelous shrub belongs to the evergreens of the kutrovy family. Translated from Greek, the name means "pure, clear flower".

Catharanthus flower: care and cultivation at home

The birthplace of the plant is still unknownsince for centuries, it has been found in the tropical thickets of Indonesia, Cuba, China, the Philippines and India. Many scientists adhere to the theory that the catharanthus was brought from Madagascar, a mysterious island in the Indian Ocean with unique flora and fauna, where there are still more than 7 species of flowers.

A young shrub can grow up to 1.5 meters in height, but in our climatic conditions, the maximum growth rarely exceeds 50-60 centimeters.

If you look at the photo of the catharanthus, you can see that the plant has erect stems, which are located on the tops.The leaves are distinguished by their characteristic oblong shape, dark green color and the presence of a longitudinal white vein. Representatives of the Pacifica varietal series have very large and bright leaves. Their diameter often exceeds 5.5 centimeters. At the same time, the plant itself looks very neat and compact. In the flowering season, the bush is covered with wheel-shaped flowers, which remain on it until the first serious cold weather.

Among the known types of shrubs, the following are considered the most popular:

• Albus. A common variety with snow-white flowers;
• Parasol. Refers to low-growing plants that rarely grow up to 40 centimeters in height. The flowers are large and white;
• Cooler. It is famous for its incredible variety of shades;

Catharanthus flower: growing and care

Currently, many are asking the question: "is it possible to grow a catharanthus flower at home and how to do it correctly?" It is known that shrub belongs to the group of indoor plantsthat often appear in human gardens and home gardens. The lack of special whimsical care in terms of care allows you to quickly grow a beautiful ornamental plant, which will be an excellent addition to landscape design near your home.

If you want to grow a catharanthus at home, choose the lightest and warmest places, but without intense exposure to direct sunlight. Also, there should be no strong winds and high humidity on the site. Otherwise, the flower will quickly die.

The shrub is known to favor light soil with a large supply of nutrients.... The ideal composition includes:

• sand;
• peat;
• humus;

The aforementioned materials must be supplied in an even amount.

Katarantus: growing from seeds and care features

Before planting shrub seeds in the ground, the selected area of ​​the garden must be carefully dug up. It is very good if you add a small amount of expanded clay or medium-sized gravel to the soil. To successfully complete the procedure, you should dig a hole and put a layer of drainage on its bottom. A small amount of nutrient soil can be poured over the drainage layer.

The main features of caring for a catharanthus consist of several stages:

1. watering;
2. top dressing;
3. pruning;

It is also important to monitor the condition of the soil around the shrub and to clear it of weeds. The matured catharanthus will be able to fight pests in the form of other plants on its own.

Growing this representative of the tropical flora you need to take care of stable watering... It is important not to allow soil moisture to drop to minimum values. You should also monitor the condition of the leaves: if they begin to curl, be sure to feed the soil with fresh water. In addition, humidity values ​​must remain high in the air. If the season is dry, it is best to spray every day, especially on a hot morning or evening.

A sharp drop in temperature and prolonged precipitation negatively affect the growth and development of the catharanthus. If, some time after planting the seeds in the ground, rains or severe cold snaps begin, the young flower will begin to lose its natural appearance and become unattractive. Flowers will begin to fall soon. It is very simple to avoid such consequences: it is enough to install a shelter from precipitation in the form of an ordinary awning above the catharanthus.

Feed the flower need at least once every two weeks. Top dressing should be especially intense in the spring. As a fertilizer, you can use universal mixtures, which are sold in abundance on store shelves for decorative flowering plants. The fertilizer solution is poured under the root immediately after watering with water.

Top dressing from a solution of ash in a consistency of one hundred grams per 10 liters has proven itself excellent.If we are talking about foliar feeding, you can buy a ready-made preparation Epin - Extra, with which you should spray the bush. With the arrival of autumn cold snaps, feeding stops. It is important to avoid oversaturation of the soil with minerals that are contained in the top dressing. The fact is that such events can lead to root burns, which is extremely dangerous.

Pruning catharanthus, pest control

If it's summer time outside, it is not necessary to prune the plant, because varietal ornamental shrub is able to form a compact, lush bush without outside help. Nevertheless, broken shoots and cuttings must be fought radically, cutting them off when caring for the catharanthus.

In the springtime, before planting the plant outside, it is necessary to cut off the tips of the shoots, which stimulates the growth and formation of new stems. Such a simple step will allow you to grow a beautiful ornamental shrub in a quick time.

If we talk about pests, then like many other ornamental plants, the catharanthus is attacked by the following pests:

• aphids;
• whitefly;
• scabbards;
• mealybug;

And others.

It's easy enough to notice that a flower is infected.... This will be noticeable by the state of the leaves. If they become covered with an uncharacteristic white coating, spots, or began to lose their former appearance, curl and dry out, most likely they were attacked by harmful insects. To combat the problem, you will have to use insecticides.

Brown rust often affects the catharanthus. With such an infection, the leaves will be covered with pronounced spots, tk. called abscesses. The disease occurs when soil and air are oversaturated with moisture and prolonged contact with a low temperature range. Lack of nitrogen in the soil can also cause a problem. To avoid such consequences, the shrub should be treated with Bordeaux liquid and fed with nitrogen fertilizers.

Reproduction of ampelous catharanthus flower

There are several main ways to propagate a shrub.... Among them:

• Reproduction by dividing the bush. To do this, it is necessary to transfer the plant from indoor conditions to the garden soil. Depending on the length of the root and the age of the catharanthus, the root can be divided into 2-3 parts and planted separately. With such a cultivation, it is important to be careful not to accidentally damage the cuttings;
• Reproduction using cuttings. It is necessary to cut off the tops of the shoots during spring pruning, and then place them in moist soil and wait for rooting;
• Reproduction using seeds. The seed of the catharanthus cannot fully mature in a few warm summer days. For this reason, they need to be transferred to room conditions and wait for spring. It is during this period that the seed is placed in a flat container (usually a wooden box) with nutritious soil, and sprinkled with a 1-centimeter layer of soil. After that, the seeds are covered with a film or glass and kept for 20-25 days until the first shoots appear at a temperature of 25-30 degrees;

How to organize the wintering of a catharanthus

Many novice florists are wondering: "Why are the catharanthus dying?"

It is known that the catharanthus flower needs reliable protection from the cold, therefore, when grown at home, it must be hidden from the cold weather that occurs in late autumn and early winter. In the second half of October, the bushes are dug up, cuttings and branches are pruned, and then moved to large pots. After that, the structure is covered with sand and soil.

For normal wintering the plant needs a temperature range of 15-17 degrees. Otherwise, it will quickly die. It is important to understand that you should not water the catharanthus in winter. With the arrival of spring warming, the bush is planted in a flower bed.

More and more florists and gardeners are starting to grow catharanthus at home.This is due to a simple reason: the flower is incredibly beautiful and graceful, while there are no particular difficulties in care and maintenance. It is enough to water it on time, cut off excess cuttings, and also feed and protect it from cold or high humidity.

Especially popular are ampel varietiesthat are grown in hanging pots. A low-growing variety is suitable for container or flowerpot maintenance. The perennial evergreen shrub takes root well with annual flowers, creating a beautiful composition with unique tones and contrasts. You can see such beauty in numerous photos.

If the plant is grown indoors, it can bloom throughout the year and throughout its life. But in order to achieve such results, it is important to keep it in a well-lit place, out of intense direct sunlight. Most often, windows on the west or east side are used as such a place. Nordic windows are not able to provide the optimal amount of daylight. If all the windows of the house are on the south side, it is better not to remove the flower from the windowsill. Otherwise, it will not be able to bloom for a long time or will dry out altogether.

For home cultivation large annual crop pots can be used. It is important to remember that the catharanthus is a fast growing bush. A drainage layer should be placed at the bottom of the selected container and filled with a substrate, which includes:

• the soil;
• peat;
• sand;

Useful Tips

If you are going to grow a flower at home, provide it with stable watering, spraying and feeding. Prevent the potting soil from drying outsince this can lead to a slowdown in growth, as a result of which the flower will cease to bloom as before. The lack of a normal supply of moisture leads to a change in appearance, namely the instant twisting of the leaves. If this happens, provide the flower with good watering and spray. For irrigation, it is better to use well-settled water at room temperature.

It is better to drain the rest of the water in the pot, otherwise the roots of the catharanthus will begin to rot, which will lead to the rapid death of the flower. Very often, the death of young bushes occurs due to the oversaturation of the soil with water.

If you are going to do an annual plant transplant, be sure to consider the need for "rejuvenation", which is done every 4-5 years. When transplanting, formative pruning should be carried out by cutting off the central lignified shoot. If you do not do this, the flower will quickly lose its presentable appearance and decorative effect, and young shoots will begin to die.

In case there are pets or children in your apartment, it is not recommended to grow a plant. The fact is that all of its parts are capable of releasing toxic substances, which, entering the body of a living being, cause severe poisoning or dangerous allergic reactions.

An important fact: if the cultivation of a flower is carried out in indoor conditions, special attention should be paid to pruning, otherwise the plant will begin to grow in one lash.

That's all, now you are familiar with the basic secrets of growing a catharanthus flower at home.

Catharanthus flower

Katarantus is a spectacular evergreen tropical flower, also known to Russian growers as pink periwinkle. It is not as common as petunia or nasturtium, but in terms of flowering abundance it is not inferior to these crops. In this article we will look at the cultivation of catharanthus from seeds in the open field, propagation by cuttings, and what top dressing and fertilizers are best used.

The origin and general characteristics of the catharanthus

The botanical genus Katarantus belongs to the Kutov family and has eight species. Seven of them are considered endemic to the island of Madagascar, and one is native to India. In culture, the only one is cultivated - Madagascar pink periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus).

It is noteworthy that this plant is appreciated not only by flower growers, but also by herbalists. In herbal medicine, periwinkle is used as a strong anticarcinogenic agent.

The cultivated catharanthus is a highly branched herbaceous shrub. Shoots up to 60 cm high, branching at the top. Leaves are lanceolate, large, glossy, dark green in color. The flowers are five-petal, with a flat corolla, about 3 cm in diameter, located in the axils of the upper leaves in small inflorescences. Long extended flowering is characteristic of the catharanthus - from June to October.

The flower shape of the catharanthus resembles phlox.

Catharanthus in the room and in the open field

In our climate, the catharanthus is more of a houseplant. It is rather difficult for him to endure European winters. Therefore, until recently, it was rare to find periwinkle in the open field, and it was grown as an annual. However, a number of agrotechnical techniques have now been developed to preserve the catharanthus in winter. Read also the article: → "Care and cultivation of geraniums: what does geranium like and what does not tolerate?"

In indoor conditions, the catharanthus is able to demonstrate continuous, almost year-round flowering. Of course, this costs the plant dearly, and it quickly depletes, losing its attractiveness. Based on this, it is rather difficult to decide where it is better to grow periwinkle. Some flower growers prefer something in between: they grow catharanthus in containers, which they put outside in the summer and send them “for the winter” in the fall.

Tip # 1. If there are small children or pets in the house, you need to be careful with the cultivation of the catharanthus. The leaves of this plant contain alkaloids that can cause severe poisoning.

Shrub and ampelous varieties of catharanthus

Periwinkle pink today is not only pink. Breeders have bred curious hybrids of different colors and types of habit. The most popular variety series of catharanthus are presented in the table:

Series name	Characteristic
Albus	Snow-white flowers with a yellowish core. Erect shoots, up to 25 cm high.
Pacific	Large flowers with a bright red "eye" in the center. The color of the petals can be different - white, wine, apricot, pink. The bush is compact, up to 35 cm tall.
First kiss	A prestigious American variety series that regularly receives awards at exhibitions. The flowers are large, of unusual colors. The most interesting, but almost inaccessible variety in Russia is Blueberry. His corolla color is violet-blue.
Cora Cascade	A series of ampelous varieties. The stems can be up to 1.5 meters long. All hybrids of the series are resistant to late blight and have a wide palette of colors - cherry, lilac, burgundy, etc.
Mediterranean	Another ampelous form with a rapid growth of the bush. Large flowers are presented in three palettes: white, pink and scarlet.

Ampel catharanthus look spectacular in hanging pots

Growing a catharanthus: seed and vegetative propagation of a catharanthus

Catharanthus reproduces very easily - both by seeds and vegetatively. Let's consider in more detail the methods of reproduction.

Reproduction of catharanthus by seeds

The seeds of the catharanthus are small, there are usually few of them in a bag, so it is more convenient to sow them one at a time in peat tablets. Seedlings are grown using the following technology:

1. At the end of February, seeds are etched in a solution of potassium permanganate or phytosporin.
2. Peat tablets are dissolved. The seeds are laid out in the recesses in the center of the tablets and slightly dripped with a toothpick.
3. The tablets are placed in a microsteam and kept at a temperature of + 25⁰С. Seedlings appear 2-3 weeks after sowing.
4. After the emergence of seedlings, the cover is removed from the greenhouse and the seedlings are placed under the phytolamp.
5. When roots begin to sprout through the tablet shell, the peat pots are filled with soil. A special soil for geraniums is best suited to the catharanthus.A hole is made in the center of the pots, pills are placed in it and added dropwise.
6. When the seedlings reach a height of 10 cm, they pinch the top. This will help form compact, lush shrubs.
7. When the warmth comes, the seedlings of the catharanthus begin to harden on the balcony.
8. When the air temperature outside begins to warm up to + 20⁰С, young plants are transferred to open ground.

Reproduction of catharanthus by cuttings

Least of all hassle is the cuttings of the catharanthus. To propagate a favorite variety or prepare young bushes to replace an old plant, cut off green shoots 10-15 cm long. Remove the lower leaves, dust the cut with "Kornevin" and place in a wet mixture of peat and perlite (1: 1). From above, the containers are covered with a lid from a mini-greenhouse.

Within 3-4 weeks, the greenhouse is regularly ventilated, the cuttings are sprayed with water and watered. Rooting is quite successfully completed by this time. Young seedlings are carefully transferred into a large container. Read also the article: → "Cultivation of crocuses: propagation by seeds, corms, planting and care, varieties and diseases"

An adult catharanthus painlessly tolerates a transplant, but it is better not to injure young plants once again and grow them in separate cups

Features of agricultural technology of the catharanthus in the room

With proper care, indoor catharanthus can live quite a long time. But this will require a lot of effort to replenish the energy expended on flowering.

A grower growing a periwinkle in a room has two ways:

1. Stimulate the plant to bloom smoothly and renew it regularly by cuttings.
2. Grow the catharanthus as a perennial, giving it winter respite.

The second way is less troublesome. In this case, the work plan looks like this:

Time	Event
March	The plant is pinched, shortening all shoots by one third. Prepare a container 3-4 cm larger in diameter than the previous one. They fill it with fresh soil and transfer the catharanthus together with an earthen lump. Place the flower on the western or eastern windowsill.
Early April	The plant is fed with a full complex fertilizer for beautifully flowering crops.
End of spring	When stable temperatures come and the air warms up to + 20⁰С, the catharanthus is taken out onto the balcony. A place should be chosen with diffused shadow, protected from drafts.
Summer	The plant is fed every 2 weeks with fertilizer for flowering plants. Faded flowers and yellowed lower leaves are collected. They monitor the moisture content of the soil.
End of August	Bring the plants indoors, stop fertilizing and reduce watering. Remove any yellowed or broken shoots. The temperature is reduced to + 15-17⁰С.

Until spring, the catharanthus is kept in such conditions, providing sufficient lighting.

Tip # 2. Katarantus needs high air humidity. If it is constantly grown in a dry room, a humidifier should be purchased. Conventional spraying is less suitable, as it spoils the appearance of the flower.

To maintain a stable air humidity around the catharanthus, you can use sphagnum laid in a pallet with a pot

Features of agricultural technology of the catharanthus in the garden

If the catharanthus is grown in the garden as a container culture, then its agricultural technology is no different from the cultivation of indoor periwinkles. If the plant is planted directly in the ground, the following are added to the autumn activities:

1. In late September or early October, when flowering stops, the bush is dug up.
2. Cut off all shoots by one third and place the bush in a large pot with a mixture of sand, peat and garden soil.
3. They are transferred to a room with a temperature of + 15-17⁰С and kept until spring under conditions of reduced watering.

During the summer, it is important to constantly feed the catharanthus in order to enable it to bloom well. The following compositions can be used as fertilizers:

Name	Characteristic	Application rate
"Agricola for flowering plants" fertilizer reviews Agricola	Water soluble powder with high potassium and phosphorus content. It lengthens the flowering period and increases the number of buds.	2.5 g per 1 liter of water when irrigated at the root.
"POKON for flowering plants"	Solution with balanced NPK complex. Promotes the formation of a powerful bush, prolongs flowering.	10 ml per 1 liter of water for root watering or foliar dressing.
"Bona Forte for flowering plants"	Complete fertilizer in the form of a solution. It activates flowering, promotes the formation of large flowers with a bright color.	10 ml per 1.5 liters of water for root watering.
"Blank Slate for Flowering Plants"	Crystalline concentrated fertilizer. Strengthens the brightness of the flower, increases resistance to diseases and pests.	Half a measuring spoon for 10 liters of water for foliar dressing.
"Master" for flowering plants	A complete complex of minerals in a chelated form. Promotes friendly bud formation, intense color and increases disease resistance.	5 g per 2 liters of water for root watering.

For long-term abundant flowering, the catharanthus is fed throughout the season with an interval of 2 weeks.

Disease prevention and pest control

Catharanthus can be attacked by sucking pests - aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Insectoacaricides can be used to protect against them. The drugs "Aktellik", "Akarin", "Fitoverm", "Oberon", "Marshal" have proven themselves well. All of them effectively rid plants of both insects and ticks.

To a small extent, catharanthus are susceptible to infections. To prevent the development of the fungus, the regime of humidity and air exchange should be observed, weak, wilted and diseased shoots should be cut off, and regular feeding should be performed. Read also the article: → "Care and cultivation of violets: what do plants need for growth and flowering?"

3 mistakes when growing a catharanthus

Problems with diseases and pests of the catharanthus arise mainly due to improper care of the plant. Florists often make such mistakes:

1. Do not monitor the humidity of the air.

Periwinkle is a tropical plant. In dry conditions, it begins to shed some of the leaves, and the tips of the remaining dry out. A spider mite gladly sits on such a weakened plant.

1. The catharanthus is poured.

In potted plants, this causes the development of root rot. In the open field, waterlogged soil provokes stagnation of moist air in the lower part of the plant and the occurrence of fungal infections.

1. They do not comply with the feeding and illumination regime.

In such a situation, the catharanthus sheds unopened buds, weakens and becomes an object for attack by insect pests. In general, the periwinkle, which contains many alkaloids in the cell sap, is a completely resistant plant.

Direct sunlight is the enemy of the catharanthus. This plant requires diffused light.

Florists' questions about growing catharanthus

Question number 1. Is it possible to sow catharanthus with seeds directly into open ground?

It is possible, but only in the southern regions of Russia. In the Middle Lane and further north, he will not have time to bloom in the first year. It is necessary to sow seeds in the ground in the spring, after a stable heat has been established.

Question number 2. Is it possible to plant several catharanthus seedlings in one pot?

Katarantus tolerates close proximity well. Therefore, planting in one container of 2-3 seedlings is often practiced. Thus, a greater visual splendor of the planting is achieved. In the open field, you can do the same, and plant several catharanthus nearby. But you still need to observe a certain interval - with rainy weather and poor ventilation of the bushes, the risk of fungal infections increases. The optimal distance between the bushes of the catharanthus is 30 cm.

Question number 3. Why do the leaves of the catharanthus turn yellow?

There can be many reasons for this problem. You need to look at the nature of the yellowing.For example, if completely yellow leaves are soft, lethargic, the plant must be removed from the sun. If only the tips turn yellow, the catharanthus is dry. Yellowing and dropping of the lower leaves on the shoots is a normal process.

Question number 4. Catharanthus does not bloom. What to do?

Most likely, the plant lacks warmth. Cool air slows down the bud formation process. This feature is used when preparing the catharanthus for wintering. Another reason is that the plant needs rejuvenation. You can cut off old shoots by one third, feed the catharanthus and wait for the lateral branches to grow.

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Katarantus is a tropical perennial shrub, better known to Russian growers as pink periwinkle or cayenne jasmine. A representative of the genus of evergreen plants from the kutrov family. Its name in translation from Greek means "pure, clear flower". It is not possible to accurately determine its homeland, since in the wild it is found in the forests of Indonesia, Cuba, China, India, the Philippines. Most scientists agree that the catharanthus came to us from the island of Madagascar, where there are 7 of its species. In the wild subtropical forests, the catharanthus bush grows up to 1.5 meters high. In our climate, the maximum growth of this shrub is 60 cm.

The catharanthus has erect stems branching at the tops. The leaves are oblong, dark green with a white longitudinal vein. The length of the leaf is about 7 cm. During the flowering period, the bush is covered with wheel-shaped flowers. Catharanthus blooms 60-70 days after germination. Flowering is long, until the onset of cold weather. After flowering, a double-leafed fruit with elongated seeds is formed.

IMPORTANT. Parts of the catharanthus contain alkaloids, so you should work with it with gloves so as not to get allergies or poisoning.

Popular varieties of catharanthus and their photos

As a result of interspecific hybridization, breeders have created decorative series of catharanthus varieties. The most popular varieties are the following:

• Albus is a variety with snow-white flowers.
• Ocellatus - a red eye in the center of a white flower.
• Cooler - the series is distinguished by a variety of flower shades from pink to bright red.
• Parasol is a low-growing variety (up to 40 cm). Differs in large white flowers with a dark red eye.

Rules for growing catharanthus in the open field

To plant a catharanthus, you need to choose a place that is as illuminated and warm as possible.

Catharanthus in temperate climates is considered an indoor plant, but recently it can be found more and more often in garden plots. The plant is quite unpretentious, and if you follow some rules for caring for it, you can get a sufficiently ornamental plant to decorate the landscape.

Where to grow a flower

A place for a shrub should be chosen as light and warm as possible, but at the same time direct sunlight should not fall on it for a long time .. It is important to choose a site protected from winds.

IMPORTANT. Do not plant catharanthus in places where moisture stagnates, in such conditions it will die.

The shrub prefers light and nutritious soil. The ideal would be a composition of sand, peat, humus and earth in equal parts.

ATTENTION... If the soil is acidic, be sure to produce it or add wood ash.

Sowing and planting time of the catharanthus

Catharanthus is grown by the seedling method. Sowing seedlings is carried out in February. Seeds are sown in shallow boxes to a depth of 1-2 cm. The containers are covered with glass and placed in a warm, at least 25 degrees, place. Seedlings appear in 2-3 weeks. At this time, they need to be placed in a cooler place. With a lack of lighting, seedlings need to be highlighted with phytolamps. In the phase of 3 leaves, the sprouts dive into separate containers.

Seedlings need to be hardened with walks on the balcony when it gets warm.To form compact, lush bushes, ten-centimeter sprouts are pinched.

Landing in open ground is carried out in late spring, after the onset of real heat. The air temperature for disembarkation must be at least 20 degrees Celsius.

Correct fit

Dig up the landing site well before planting the catharanthus.

Before planting, the flower bed should be well dug up. It is advisable to add a little expanded clay or fine gravel to it. For planting, a hole is dug and a drainage layer is laid on its bottom. A little soil is poured over the drainage layer.

Caring for the catharanthus plant after planting

Caring for a catharanthus consists of watering, fertilizing, pruning. In the initial period after planting, you must also remove the weeds around the bush. As it grows, the shrub will be able to fight them on its own.

Necessary watering and air humidity

Water the plant regularly, avoiding dryness of the soil. If you notice that the leaves have begun to curl, then the plant does not have enough moisture. At the same time, excess moisture in the soil is contraindicated for the plant. At the same time, it is very important to maintain a high level of humidity in the air. During dry periods, the catharanthus should be sprayed daily, and on especially hot days in the morning and evening.

Coolness and rain are contraindicated in catharanthus. If, after planting, cold, rainy weather is established, the plant takes on a depressed look: the stems droop, and the flowers begin to fall off. Help him by placing a canopy over it from the rain.

Plant feeding rules

Feed the catharanthus well with an ash solution

In the spring, the catharanthus needs abundant nutrition. It should be fertilized with universal mixtures for decorative flowering plants. Top dressing is carried out during the entire growing season every 2 weeks. The fertilizer solution is poured under the root of the bush after watering.

Fertilizing with an ash solution (100 g per 10 liters) has a beneficial effect on the plant. For foliar dressing, the preparation Epin - Extra is suitable. They are sprayed with a bush instead of one of the root dressings once a month. With the beginning of autumn, feeding is stopped.

IMPORTANT. Do not exceed the dose of minerals in the fertilizing solution, as this may burn the roots.

Shrub pruning

The bush does not need formative pruning in the summer, since varietal catharanthus independently form a compact, lush bush. At the same time, yellowed, broken shoots should be regularly pruned. This sanitary pruning stimulates the growth of new stems and the plant quickly regains its shape.

In the spring, when transplanting a plant that has wintered in an apartment, the tips of the shoots are cut off in order to stimulate growth for the formation of additional stems. Thus, a beautiful plant shape is obtained, which it will maintain throughout the summer.

Pests, diseases and control measures

Like many garden plants, the catharanthus is affected by the following pests: aphids, whiteflies. scale insect, mealybug. It is easy to detect them by the state of the leaves. If a white bloom, spots appear on the leaves, or they suddenly begin to curl and dry out, it means that the plant has been attacked by insects. They should be dealt with by spraying with insecticides.

Sometimes the catharanthus is affected by brown rust. Then spots appear on the leaves - pustules. The cause of the disease is too high soil or air humidity in combination with a low temperature. An additional reason is the lack of nitrogen in the soil. Spray the bush with Bordeaux liquid and feed with nitrogen fertilizer or mullein solution.

Reproduction methods of the catharanthus flower

Catharanthus can be propagated by seeds, dividing the bush and cuttings

The shrub propagates in three ways:

1. Division of the bush. It is carried out in the spring when the plant is transferred from the room to the ground. Depending on the size of the root, it can be easily divided into 2-3 parts and each piece can be planted separately.
2. Cuttings. The tips of the shoots obtained during the spring pruning of the shrub are used. The workpieces are placed in moist soil and rooted.
3. Sowing seeds. During the summer period, the seeds of the catharanthus do not ripen. To obtain material suitable for sowing, the bush is grown in room conditions. Full-fledged seeds ripen by spring. It is at this time that they are sown in flat boxes filled with nutritious soil. Sprinkle the seeds with a layer of no more than 1 cm. After sowing, the container is covered with film or glass and kept at a temperature of 25-30 degrees. Sprouts appear after 20-25 days.

Organization of wintering

Katarantus is a thermophilic plant and cannot survive the harsh winter. In the second half of October, the bushes are dug out, after cutting off the branches, and placed in large pots. The containers are covered with a mixture of sand and earth.

Wintering of catharntus takes place in a room with a temperature of 15-17 degrees. There is no need to water it in winter. In such conditions, the bush is kept until the onset of heat. In the spring, the rhizome is planted in a flower bed.

Katarantus as a garden decoration

Katarantus will be perfectly erased in a flower bed and in a garden

The appearance of this plant is so attractive that it can decorate any corner of the site. Katarantus looks great on a flower bed, as a border. Ampelous varieties look spectacular in hanging pots. Low-growing species can be grown in containers or flowerpots.

Annual flowers can be added to the catharanthus as neighbors. Both matching and contrasting combinations are created.

Katarantus in room conditions

When this perennial is grown in the home, it turns into an ever-flowering plant. It should be kept in a bright place, but out of direct sunlight. The most suitable place is west or east windows. There won't be enough light on the north window. If the windows in the house are oriented to the south, then it is impossible to keep the catharanthus on the windowsill.

Pick up a large pot for growing immediately, since this flower is fast growing. For planting, a drainage layer is poured on the bottom of the container, then it is filled with a substrate consisting of soil, peat and sand in equal quantities. For nutritional value, you can add a little humus.

ATTENTION. If there are children or pets in the house, it is better to refuse to grow the catharanthus. All parts of the flower are poisonous and can cause severe poisoning or serious allergic reactions.

Home care consists of watering, spraying and fertilizing. The soil in the pot should not be allowed to dry out, from this the plant will slow down its growth and flowering. The lack of moisture is immediately reflected in the appearance of the catharanthus - the leaves instantly curl. If this happens, water the flower well and spray. Water for irrigation and spraying should be taken settled, at room temperature.

Prevent the soil from drying out

IMPORTANT. Be sure to drain the excess water from the pan when watering so that the roots of the flower do not rot.

The plant is transplanted annually. When transplanting, formative pruning is mandatory. Every 4-5 years, the plant needs to be "rejuvenated", that is, cut and root the central lignified shoot. Without this procedure, the stems are pulled out, and the catharanthus loses its decorative effect.

The day before transplanting, the flower is not watered so that the earthen lump dries and strengthens. It is moved into a new pot by the method of careful transshipment so that the earth does not crumble from the roots. The flower is placed in a new pot, and the free space of the pot (it should be 5-6 cm) is covered with new soil and tamped.

In summer, it is better to take the catharanthus to the balcony or loggia. At the same time, the plant needs active feeding - once every two weeks. Any fertilizer for indoor plants will do.

IMPORTANT... When growing in a room, a bush needs a mandatory pruning so that it does not grow into one lash.

Possible problems when growing catharanthus

Katarantus signals the inappropriate conditions of his detention or non-observance of the rules for caring for his appearance. Keep a close eye on the plant and correct your mistakes in time.

• Soft, yellowing leaves - too much sun. In the open ground, you need to build some kind of awning for the plant, but it is better to transplant the plant to a place where the rays are scattered. In the house, you need to rearrange the flower away from the window.
• The tips of the leaves turn yellow - low air humidity. In room conditions, installing the pot in a pallet with expanded clay, onto which water is poured, will help solve the problem. In the garden, the catharanthus needs to be sprayed.
• Yellowing and falling of the lower leaves, provided that the color of the rest of the foliage is preserved - a natural process. In this case, you should not take any action.
• Minimum number of flowers - the plant is cold. The problem can be solved only in room conditions by moving the catharanthus to a warmer place. In open ground conditions, you will have to wait for warming.
• When grown at home, the plant may stop blooming.and the foliage will begin to turn yellow. This phenomenon suggests that the catharanthus is cramped in the pot and there is no room for growth and development. After removing the flower from the pot, you will see that the roots have entwined the entire earthy clod. Transplant the catharanthus into a large pot and the plant will come to life.

As you can see, caring for a catharanthus is not that difficult. If you know and take into account all these nuances when growing, you will get a spectacular, long-flowering plant to decorate a garden plot or an apartment interior.