Piglet blue and red (plumbago)

Diseases and pests

Plumbago rarely gets sick, but sometimes it does happen. Among the diseases and pests that can threaten it, several should be distinguished.

• The thyroid bug is the most visible of all pests. It is easy to remove it by hand, and then treat the affected areas with Karbofos. The product is either sprayed or applied with a swab.
• A spider mite lives in the ground, it is not visible, but the first signs of its existence in a pot are leaves falling or yellowing. To save the lead, it is urgently necessary to transplant it into new soil. First, it is taken out, the roots are treated with insecticides, then planted in the prepared soil. After transplantation, leaves and stems are sprayed with infusion of yarrow, garlic or onions.
• Sluggish leaves and weak stems are common signs of a lack of moisture.

Plumbago blooms very beautifully and is easy enough to grow. The main thing that is required is to monitor watering and the quality of wintering. The coolness and abundance of light will allow the plant to survive until spring and again please with a beautiful color.

Piglet blue and red (plumbago)

Not many potted flowers bloom as luxuriantly as pigs or plumbago. This flowering plant is used as an ampelous or curly, long stems like those of a vine can reach a length of more than 1 meter, they are fixed on a support made of wire, lattice or ladders from slats.

Plants from the genus Lead (Plumbago) grow in the tropics, so in our climate we can only grow these flowers at home. In room culture, two types are widespread: blue or ear-shaped lead (P. Aurieulata) and pink or Indian lead (P. indica). Accordingly, the first type has flowers of a heavenly shade, while the second has them bright pink. Otherwise, these two species are similar in appearance and care for them is the same.

The liana-shaped stems of the lead in a season can reach a considerable length, therefore the flower is included in the group of large-sized plants, it looks luxurious in a hanging basket or in vertical gardening with the stems fastened to a support. The leaves on the stems sit alternately, they are bright green above, and silvery below, as they are covered with whitish hairs.

Lead blooms in summer or autumn, as flower buds are laid on new shoots that have grown since spring. In long, spike-shaped inflorescences, the buds open gradually, so flowering continues for several months. Flowers with a long tube and a wide-open corolla of five petals, approximately 2.5 cm in diameter. Inflorescences with flowers of a pure shade look delicate and luxuriant.

You would be wrong if you assume that the name of the flower is associated with a pet - a pig. The genus name in Latin "Plumbago" means "lead". The fact is that in ancient times, doctors treated with blue flowers for lead poisoning. Indeed, the sap of the lead plant can stain a gray-blue color. This plant is still used for medicinal purposes for the preparation of ointments for the treatment of rheumatism and various skin diseases.

Basically, the pig is used as a beautiful indoor flower. This plant is easy to grow from seeds or cuttings. Rooting of cuttings takes place in 2-3 weeks and the growth of new shoots begins. In the season of active growth, it is not recommended to form liana-like stems in order to get a lush bush, since the inflorescences appear on the growths of the current season. After flowering, the long stems can be tightly cut to a height of 15-30 cm to maintain the compactness of the flower, and in the spring new shoots will begin to grow from the buds.

Lighting. This flower loves bright sunlight, it is recommended to keep it on a sunny windowsill.However, in summer, the plant must be rearranged a little further from the window so that it does not suffer from the heat, or it is better to take it out into the fresh air in the garden or plant it in a balcony box.

Temperature. The tropical plumbago flower loves moderate heat within + 18 ... + 24 degrees. If the temperature in the room becomes higher, then an inflow of fresh air by ventilation and spraying of the flower is necessary. The pig also does not like coolness and sheds leaves when the temperature drops to +12 degrees.

The plant tolerates dry air in an apartment if the air temperature does not exceed +22 degrees. If the room is hot, then it is recommended to spray the greens of the flower daily.

Watering the flower in the summer is necessary regularly and abundantly. For active growth of shoots, you need a complex fertilizer for flowering plants, which is dissolved in water for irrigation once every two weeks according to the instructions. In the fall, if the piglet blooms, then watering and feeding continue. In winter, after flowering and pruning shoots, watering is done after the soil in the pot dries out, fertilization is stopped until spring.

The flower is transplanted annually in spring by transferring it into a new pot 1-2 cm in diameter larger than the previous one. A pig over three years old can be transplanted after a year, only to renew the topsoil in the pot.

A substrate for planting a flower is suitable for a universal one with a composition of sod land, humus, peat and sand in equal proportions.

Pig in the garden

In an open field garden, lead can only be grown in countries where there are no frosty winters. She doesn't need much care. I mulch the ground well under it, water it only in extreme heat and cut off too long shoots. I wrote earlier that in Kalamata it occasionally freezes at night. The pig is sensitive to frost, so it is better to cover it if night frosts are expected.

My piggy next to the oleander

I planted piggy in my garden under a large oleander with dark pink flowers that grows near the gate.

Pig shoots are intertwined with oleander branches and together these two beautiful plants look unusually impressive, attracting the attention of passers-by. And oleander very well protects the lead from frost.

Agapanthus features

The rhizome of the agapanthus is short and creeping, while the fleshy roots are rather thick. The foliage collected in a root rosette is long and has a linear shape. During the flowering period, a powerful and relatively high peduncle is formed, which comes out of the leaf rosette. Its top is decorated with white, deep blue or blue-purple flowers. Umbrella inflorescences include funnel-shaped flowers. The flowering period can be up to eight weeks, as the flowers bloom alternately. On a properly developing adult bush, about 150 flowers can form.

Under indoor conditions, the eastern agapanthus (Agapanthus umbellatus) is most often cultivated. The bush is decorated with ribbon-like grooved foliage, and during the flowering period, blue flowers appear on it. The peculiarity of agapanthus is that its different species can very easily interbreed with each other, forming various hybrids. In this regard, it can be quite problematic to understand what kind of agapanthus is in front of you.

Description of plumbago flower, species diversity

Plumbago, or pig, is a perennial climbing plant-shrub, a representative of the Plumbagov family. This hardy crop is a great choice for landscaping as a ground cover. Pig is thermophilic, drought tolerant, but also tolerates rainy summers well.

The homeland of this culture is considered to be the tropical and subtropical regions of South Africa. In the 18th century it was discovered by Dutch sailors and since then plumbago has been grown all over the world. In countries with warm climates, lead grows in the open field, and in regions with harsh winters, this plant is willingly grown as an indoor plant.

Its stems are quite tough, but flexible, covered in a spiral with oblong leaves about 2 cm long.The greens of a young plant are bright, in an adult they are dark green. Plumbago bloom time is March-September. During this period, umbrella inflorescences of blue, blue, white or pink appear at the top of the stem.

In their shape, the flowers resemble phlox and attract not only with their beauty, but also with their aroma. In the countries of America, Africa and the Mediterranean, plumbago bushes are planted near houses in order to attract butterflies - the delicate aroma of inflorescences attracts these insects, including the beautiful blue butterflies that feed on plumbago nectar.

In nature, there are more than 10 varieties of lead:

1. Plumbago Auriculata (Auricular pig, or blue pig). The classic and most common blue-flowered species. Meanwhile, there is also a white "version" of the auricular pig - P. Auriculata Alba. This flower looks especially beautiful at dusk: in the twilight it seems that the inflorescences are glowing.
2. Plumbago Capensis. Variety with blue flowers, very similar to Plumbago Auriculata. Many experts consider both names synonymous for the same plant, although some argue that there are minor differences between them, in particular in the shade of the flowers.
3. Plumbago Indica Coccinea (Indian pig). It differs from others in large leaves and flowers of coral or carmine color.
4. Plumbago Zeylanica (Ceylon pig). Herbaceous plant with bare stems, white inflorescences, but not as lush as Plumbago Auriculata.
5. Plumbago Europaea (European pig). Distributed in the Mediterranean region and Central Asia. Wild plant with pink flowers.
6. Plumbago Pulchella. It is most commonly found in Mexico, where it is also known as Iguana Tail. It blooms with pale pink flowers.
7. Plumbago Wissii. Low shrubs (up to 10 cm in height) with pink flowers. Growing among granite boulders in Namibia. Is on the verge of extinction.

However, the most common cultivar is Plumbago auriculata, in particular the Imperial Blue variety with the deep blue flowers shown in the photo below.

It is the Ear-shaped variety that is more suitable than others for growing at home, although sometimes Indian lead is also bred as an indoor flower.

Planting and leaving

Agapanthus requires quite a lot of attention, so you will have to try to see it in all its glory.

Planting and transplanting

For planting, you should choose wide, spacious pots - tight containers will interfere with the normal development of the plant and will limit its flowering. At the bottom, it is imperative to lay out drainage from crushed stone or pebbles, the layer thickness should be at least 2 cm.

Agapanthus prefers a nutritious and slightly acidic soil that you can prepare yourself. It is enough to mix clay-sod, leaf and humus soil with sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 2: 1.

The plant does not like frequent transplants, therefore it is recommended to carry out the procedure every 3-4 years. The exception is young specimens, for which an annual change of capacity to a larger one in spring is desirable.

This must be done carefully, otherwise the roots can be damaged and the flower will begin to hurt a lot. Algorithm of actions:

Water abundantly. Free the bush from the old soil. Scald the pot with boiling water. Lay drainage. Pour in a small part of the disinfected substrate. Center the plant. Spread the roots

Cover with earth carefully. Pour over

A layer of peat and turf mulch should be laid on top of the soil to prevent excessive evaporation of moisture.

Location and lighting

Agapanthus can be grown both indoors and outdoors. In the first case, it is better to place it near the south or southwest window. This is due to the fact that the plant needs intense lighting throughout the day. However, it is not advisable to put a pot directly on the windowsill - the leaves do not tolerate direct sunlight poorly.

In the second case, it is advisable to plant the African blue lily on the southern, southwestern or southeastern side of the site.

But it is important to ensure that the bush is in light shade.

Temperature

The optimum temperature for keeping a flower directly depends on the season.

When grown in a flowerbed in winter:

• in warm regions, it is necessary to cover the bushes;
• in the cold - dig up and store indoors.

In general, agapanthus tolerates coolness well - it feels great even at a temperature of 10-12 ° C.

Watering and humidity

During the active growing season, watering should be abundant. But you should not allow stagnation of water - the earth can sour, and this will negatively affect the condition of the plant. With the onset of autumn, the amount of water should be gradually reduced, but the earthen coma should not be allowed to dry out. In winter, watering should be minimal.

High humidity is important for the flower, so it is recommended to spray it regularly. It is also helpful sometimes to arrange a bush of souls. During the procedure, the substrate must be covered with polyethylene to avoid waterlogging.

It is important to use soft, settled water for irrigation and spraying. Otherwise, ugly stains will form on the leaves.

It is also advisable not to allow the buds to come into contact with liquid, otherwise they will quickly wither.

Top dressing

Top dressing of agapanthus should be carried out from April to October at a frequency of 3 times a month. For this, you can use both organic and mineral fertilizers. Moreover, it will be optimal to alternate them. It is recommended to dilute the nutrient mixtures strongly with water in order not to damage the root system.

Pruning

The flower does not need molding pruning. To make it look neat, just remove the yellowed leaves and wilted flower stalks.

Lead pruning: timing and technology

Pruning of lead shoots is performed either before the plant leaves for winter, or in early spring. If the plant is grown as a liana, it is enough to pinch the tops of the main shoots. But with bush formation, the pruning should be deeper. The technology for its implementation is as follows:

• in an adult, formed plant, the skeletal lignified branches do not touch, and only second-order growths are cut off by 2/3 of the length;
• in an unformed plant, first-order shoots are cut to a height of 30 cm from the ground level to stimulate lateral branching.

With age, any lead begins to grow and lose its decorative shape. You can rejuvenate it with the help of cardinal pruning, leaving hemp 5-7 cm high.

Agapanthus: types

There are several types of this plant. Each of them is unique and interesting in its own way. The most popular agapanthus varieties are presented below.

Agapanthus umbellatus (Agapanthus umbellatus)

It is also called the African lily or Abyssinian beauty. Originally from South Africa (Cape Province). This is a herbaceous rhizome plant up to 70 cm high. It stands out for the decorativeness of a dense rosette of belt-like, smooth, dark green, grooved, tapering at the ends of the leaves. Many blue or funnel-shaped flowers are collected in umbellate inflorescences on a long peduncle. The perianth consists of 6 petals fused at the base. Blooms in June-July. The seeds ripen in 35-40 days.

Agapanthus umbellate (Agapanthus umbellatus L'Her)

Eastern agapanthus (Agapanthus orientalis)

Originally from South Africa. Perennial herbaceous evergreen plant. Leaves broadly linear, thick, curved. Peduncle 60 cm high. The umbrella-shaped inflorescence consists of a large number of flowers (about 100). The flowers are blue, open in July - August.

Eastern agapanthus (Agapanthus orientalis)

Agapanthus campanulatus

Grows on damp mountain slopes in South Africa. Perennial herbaceous deciduous plant. Leaves are linear, up to 15 cm long, erect.The flowers are bell-shaped, blue. Flowering occurs in July - August.

Agapanthus campanulatus

Closed agapanthus (Agapanthus inapertus Beauverd)

Grows in the east of southern Africa. Has drooping, unopening dark blue or purple flowers. The leaves are green with a bluish tinge. Reaches 1.5 meters in height. Some specimens may be deciduous. Blooms from late summer to mid-autumn.

Closed agapanthus (Agapanthus inapertus Beauverd)

Agapanthus blue baby

The bush is low, 15-18 cm tall, compact, almost spherical. Shoots are strong, thick, densely pubescent. The leaves are large, pubescent on the underside. Inflorescences-baskets, dense, large, 1.5-1.7 cm in diameter, stigmas of columns are long, dark lilac-blue. Late variety. Blooms from mid-June to October. Drought-resistant. Used in flower beds, ridges, pot culture.

Agapanthus blue baby

Agapanthus Peter pan

A dwarf specimen with blue flowers at the age of three is a graceful plant about 45 cm high. The plant is suitable for cutting and making bouquets. Blossoming: from May to October in the open field, it can bloom in winter, if placed near a heat source.

Agapanthus Peter pan

Agapanthus Mood Indigo

Agapanthus grows quickly, but does not like transplanting, so it is recommended to immediately plant it in large pots. It can be grown as a tub culture. But it should be understood that agapanthus blooms better in a cramped pot, while the "delenki" should be well-grown.

Agapanthus Mood Indigo

Agapanthus Blue Perfection

The bush is compact, highly branched, almost spherical, 25-30 cm tall, with strong, strongly pubescent shoots with a purple tint on the sunny side. The leaves are large, with long petioles. Baskets 1.5-1.7 cm in diameter, lilac-blue. Inflorescences are medium-dense, multi-flowered. Early variety, blooms from early June.

Agapanthus Blue Perfection

Agapanthus Tinkerbell

Agapanthus of compact size. Leaves are elongated, longitudinal, have a white border around the edges. Even without flowers, the plant looks gorgeous. Peduncle in the form of a ball. The flowers are light blue and light purple, bell-shaped.

Agapanthus Tinkerbell

Agapanthus Alba (Alba)

Alba (Alba) is a compact, spherical bush, up to 20 cm tall. Inflorescences are white, dense, resemble balls

Agapanthus Alba

Agapanthuses cross easily and provide rich breeding material. They can be used in a variety of floral arrangements. They are so beautiful that they will decorate any home and garden without any problems.

Reproduction of lead

New lead bushes can be obtained from both cuttings and seeds. Both methods are not too difficult, but the bushes will have to wait several years to achieve maximum decorative effect.

Plumbago seeds are sown with a light cover in a moist substrate consisting of equal parts of sand and standard soil. They need not only greenhouse conditions, but also a stable temperature of about + 20 ° C. The dive is carried out after the appearance of true leaves in small individual containers. In the future, the plants are reloaded as needed.

For grafting, the easiest way is to use the branches left after spring pruning. After treatment with growth stimulants, the shoots are buried in wet sand. When covered with a hood, maintaining a stable humidity and temperature of about + 16 ° C, they take root after 2 weeks.

Plants are transplanted into small containers and grown with standard care, transferring as they grow. Plants obtained from cuttings will bloom already this year, but you can fully enjoy the beauty of flowering only when the bushes will build up a large vegetative mass.

Landing

The plant will feel great if you place it on the lightest windowsill, the windows of which face south or in any partially south direction. On the west side, the amount of light will be insufficient, and on the east, the leaves can sometimes get burned. In principle, direct sunlight is not dangerous for lead. An exception may be the situation when the flower comes under the influence of the midday sun, but is not ventilated.

If, for most of the day, diffused lighting remains, and in the morning and in the evening direct rays partially fall, then the lead will feel great and delight the owners with a beautiful flowering.

During the growing season and flowering, artificial lamps are not required for the lead, but in winter it is reasonable to place phytolamps next to the pots to normalize the length of daylight hours. Otherwise, the shoots will begin to stretch ugly, and a sufficient part of the leaves will fall off. The piglet feels normal near other vines or flowers smaller. The plant does not react well to heat

If, for natural reasons, the temperature exceeds 22-23 degrees, then it will be important to greatly increase the humidity indicator, as well as to ensure a constant supply of fresh air.

It is better to choose a substrate that is permeable and saturated with useful elements. Pig reacts well to slightly acidic soil containing a sufficient amount of peat. The soil mixture can be purchased ready-made, intended for flowering plants, or you can compose it yourself. In the second case, 2 parts of turf, 1 part of peat and 1 part of sand are used.

New lead bushes appear either from seeds or by cuttings. The seed is sown in a moist soil mixture composed of sand and ordinary soil. The container should be covered with polyethylene or glass sheet to create a greenhouse environment and maintain the temperature at 20 degrees. As soon as full-fledged leaves appear on the sprouts, you can start diving in individual pots.

For grafting, branches left after spring pruning are most often used. After processing the cuttings with growth stimulants, they need to be buried in moistened sand. If the lead is covered with a dome of half a plastic bottle and provided with a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and stable humidity, then the roots will appear somewhere in a couple of weeks. Some gardeners recommend additionally providing heating from below, under the pot, for example, by placing flowerpots directly on the radiator. Lead bloom can be expected next year.

Plumbago is more convenient to plant in hanging pots or flowerpots. Since the stems will grow over time, you need to think about how they can be fixed. In the conditions of an apartment, it is more convenient to put the processes on the cornice, and on the loggia you will have to use some additional hooks on the wall. If the lead develops in outdoor conditions, then columns, pillars, and railings are also suitable.

Types of syzygium for indoor cultivation

The numerous genus of syzygiums belongs to an even more numerous myrtle family, being related to such plants as the tea tree, feijoa, eucalyptus and myrtle, which is well known to flower growers. Syzygiums have long been cultivated in warm countries in the open field, but they have penetrated into indoor culture relatively recently.

Syzygiums in nature are either tall trees or spreading shrubs, and it is not so easy to adapt them to potting conditions:

Despite a number of difficulties, some types of syzygium are successfully grown by lovers of indoor plants:

All types of syzygiums are evergreen, which makes them especially attractive for indoor breeding.

Syzygium seedlings can sometimes be found on sale under the name "Eugenia myrtolistnaya". This is an outdated, not entirely correct name. Eugenia is a separate genus of plants, although taxonomically very close to syzygiums. Nevertheless, having seen a plant under this name, one can understand that in fact it is paniculata syzygium

Reproduction methods

Crassula propagation by seeds

Sowing Crassula seeds must be carried out in wide bowls, which are filled with a substrate consisting of sand and leafy soil (1: 2). The container is covered with glass on top, while every day it is necessary to remove condensate from it, and do not forget to ventilate the crops regularly. The first seedlings should appear after 15 days. After the seedlings grow a little, they should be cut into a large container, keeping a distance of 10 mm between the bushes, while it must be filled with a substrate consisting of light turf and leafy soil and sand (1: 2: 1). After the pick, the container with the plants is placed in a well-lit place, while the light should be bright and diffused. After the bushes grow up and get stronger, they should be cut into individual pots, which reach 50–70 mm in diameter, and they should be filled with a substrate, which includes sod and leafy soil, as well as sand (1: 1: 1) ... Until they take root, they should be kept at a temperature of 16 to 18 degrees, and then they are put in a permanent place.

Crassula propagation by cuttings

Propagating Crassula by cuttings is much easier and faster than by seeds. As cuttings, you can use leaf plates, as well as stem segments. A large leaf plate or a large shoot must be cut off with a very sharp knife, while the cuts should be sprinkled with chopped charcoal. They must be dried for 2-3 days, and then planted in a substrate consisting of leafy earth and sand for rooting. They can also be placed in water mixed with charcoal for rooting. After the cuttings grow roots, they should be planted in individual pots, reaching 50–70 mm in diameter. To fill them, a substrate is used, consisting of sod and leafy soil, and also sand (1: 1: 1). Then the bushes are removed to a permanent place, while caring for them is the same as for adult plants.

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Description of the flower

A resident of the subtropics of southern Africa has retained the demands of her homeland for room life.Abundant lighting and watering is necessary for her throughout the year. Long whips of a lead can grow more than a meter, covered with flowering umbrellas. Leaves with a fine pile are painted in a soft green color, very pleasant to the touch. Some species have stipules. Flowers about 3 cm in diameter, collected in large loose bunches. The abundant flowering of the lead looks very impressive and festive. The inflorescences exude a delicate, subtle aroma.

Extraordinary rich watercolor color

For your information! In nature, there are about 10 types of lead, but there are only three colors of flowers: snow-white, sky-blue and coral-pink. Blue mumps are most common at home. The white lead is only gaining momentum in its popularity among flower growers.

Red piggy is the least likely to decorate Russian windows, although the conditions of detention are the same for all species.

Regulation of irrigation frequency using soil composition

Properly prepared soil is an important tool for creating an optimal moisture regime for the roots of the lead. Better to avoid planting on clean peat. It is very difficult to control the moisture content of the peat substrate - it either dries up and then passes water poorly, or becomes waterlogged and turns into a swamp. On this kind of soil, plumbago can only be grown with drip irrigation.

The practice of growing lead shows that the optimal soil mixture for these plants is obtained from the following components:

• sod land - 3 parts;
• leaf humus - 1 part;
• universal peat soil - 2 parts;
• perlite - 1 part.

This mixture has good nutritional value, normally absorbs and retains moisture, practically does not thicken after watering. On the other hand, it is well drained, and if the pot has bottom holes, such soil does not become waterlogged or waterlogged.

1. In its pure form, poorly structured peat-based soils are unsuitable for long-term plant cultivation. They definitely need to be improved by adding other components.