Cyclamen

Houseplant care: temperature

Most of the indoor plants came to us from the warmer regions of the world. This has led many people to the mistaken belief that these plants need a temperature higher than normal room temperature. In fact, few plants will thrive under normal indoor conditions at temperatures above 24 ° C.

Nearly all indoor plants will have a temperature of 13-24 ° C. Some grow quite successfully in rooms that are slightly cool from the point of view of human comfort. There are exceptions to this general rule for caring for indoor plants - many flowering potted plants need a maximum temperature of 16 ° C in winter, and some thermophilic varieties require a minimum of 16 ° C.

Most plants are able to withstand temperatures slightly above or below their preferred temperature for short periods. The real enemy is excessive temperature fluctuations. For most plants, a temperature drop of 3-6 ° C at night is beneficial, but a sudden chilling of 11 ° C can harm or cause death. It may be necessary to move pots from windowsills in frosty weather.

Cacti and succulents are the exception. Large fluctuations in temperature are not a problem for them, because in their desert homeland, they have adapted to hot days and cold nights.

Types and varieties

Today, there are more than 50 species of cyclamen, both wild and obtained as a result of selection. Of these, about 20 varieties are used for indoor breeding. The most popular ones are Persian and European (or purple).

The Persian cyclamen is one of the largest. It has wavy flowers up to 5 cm in diameter, which sit on a tall peduncle that grows up to 30 cm in length. The color of the petals is varied: from snow-white to lilac and purple, but only pink and dark red are found in nature. It blooms from late autumn to early spring.

The European cyclamen has smaller flowers - 2, at most - 3 cm in diameter. Most often they are white or pale pink. The petals are rounded, widening towards the ends. The height of the peduncle is 2 times lower than that of the Persian, and is only 15 cm.In addition, it is very thin and fragile, therefore, you should rearrange the flower and perform various manipulations with it very carefully so that the peduncle does not bend or break. Also, the European cyclamen has a delicate pleasant aroma. It differs from other species in that it never throws off leaves, even during a dormant period. Blooms in summer.

On the basis of the European and Persian cyclamen, many hybrid varieties have been bred. Of these, it is especially worth noting cyclamen mix - this is a hybrid, which is a mixture of several varieties obtained from the above species.

The following 2 types of cyclamen are also one of the most famous and common, but they are not intended for indoor breeding.

Ivy (or neapolitan)

It owes its name to the jagged leaves along the edges, which look like ivy leaves. It grows in Turkey, as well as in South-Western Europe, where, due to its unpretentious care, it is actively used to decorate park areas. It is considered one of the most frost-resistant species, but not very suitable for breeding in the territory of Russia in the open field.

The flowering period falls on the end of summer - the beginning of autumn, when white or pink delicate flowers with a purple tint bloom on the cyclamen.

Kosky

The name comes from the island of Kos, located in the Aegean Sea - the birthplace of this species. The Kos cyclamen also grows in Turkey, Bulgaria, the Middle East, in the Caucasus mountains and in the Crimea. Flowers appear in late winter and last until early spring. The petals can be white, pink, lilac, red, depending on the area in which the cyclamen grows. But at the base, they always have a darker and more saturated shade.

All cyclamens, depending on the height of the peduncle, can be divided into 3 groups:

• mini (low) - do not exceed 15 cm in height, but they have large and very fragrant flowers;
• midi (medium) - grow up to 25 cm;
• maxi (standard) - their height is 30 cm.

Begonia Elatior care after purchase. Begonia Elatior - all the secrets of plant transplantation

In this article, we will tell you about the Elatior begonia transplant and what to do with it after purchase.

How to properly transplant Elatior begonia after purchase

If the plant was purchased in bloom, then you should wait for the completion of this process, since transplanting begonia after purchase during flowering is highly discouraged. If this condition is not met, the flower may die. It is worth waiting for it to gain green mass.

A plant transplant must be performed urgently if:

• the root system has outgrown the container in which it is located, that is, the roots look out of the drainage holes;
• yellowness appeared on the foliage or any other manifestations of a fungal disease;
• parasites have been found that, as a rule, live and lay eggs in the ground;
• there are visible problems with the flowerpot.

When transplanting a seedling, follow the algorithm below:

• When transplanting begonias at home, you need to decide on a pot: plastic or ceramic. If you chose plastic, then wash it thoroughly and soak it in water for a day. After this time, pour boiling water over the pot. If your choice fell on a ceramic flowerpot, then you saved yourself from 24 hours of waiting. With him, everything is quite simple: wash and just scald.
• Fill the bottom of the pot with a layer of expanded clay. If you have a desire to protect the plant from root rot, then lay a thin layer of charcoal on top.

• Cover the drainage layer with 2 cm soil.
• Water the begonia well and wait 50 to 70 minutes. After the expiration date, gently remove it from the pot and shake off the old soil from the root system. It is better to rinse the rhizome in a non-concentrated solution of potassium permanganate.
• Trim off any rotted or damaged root areas.
• Place the plant in a new container and cover the roots with fresh soil very carefully.
• Check in what position the root collar, it should not be buried.

Further care of the plant

When transplanting indoor begonia, it is important to know how to care for it after the "relocation" procedure. Below are general guidelines to follow

Temperature regime

The most comfortable range is considered to be from 18 to 20 degrees Celsius. However, to increase the duration of flowering, it can be lowered to 14-16 degrees Celsius.

What to do with the planting after flowering? It is often viewed as a short-lived floral arrangement and is disposed of early.

To prolong its existence:

• After flowering ends, keep the flower at 18 degrees Celsius. Do not flood it, moderate watering is what you need.
• When winter is over, transplant the plant into fresh soil, cut it off, leaving only three or four shoots.
• During active growth, regularly feed the flower, periodically pinch, forming a compact shrub.
• Soon the plant will bloom again. But don't expect to bloom before autumn.

Lighting

An ideal place for placing a shrub is a window sill or a place in the immediate vicinity of a bright window.If the windows are south-facing, then refract the sun's rays for the summer using some kind of shading.

In bright sun, the plant will bloom much more abundantly than in partial shade. But it is worthwhile to prepare in advance for the fact that the number of inflorescences will noticeably become scarce, the flowers themselves will become significantly smaller, and their color will turn pale. And if your plant has densely double inflorescences, then the size of the petals, especially the inner ones, will noticeably decrease.

It is necessary to closely monitor the shrubs under such conditions, because the risk of burns increases significantly.

Top dressing

After we were able to properly transplant begonia at home, it will need timely feeding. It is recommended to fertilize with mineral fertilizers no more than once a week.

Fertilizers are applied in liquid form under the root of the plant after preliminary watering. You can buy them in a specialized store and use them according to the instructions. Mineral fertilizer "Kemira Lux" proved to be excellent in practice.

Advice ! You should not use organic fertilizer, it will only harm the plant. The high nitrogen content that the flower has accumulated over the summer will not be beneficial, because the fleshy and at the same time watery stems rot very easily and quickly. "

Also read our article “.

Peculiarities

Begonias in botany are usually called perennial ornamental plants that inhabit the highlands of hot tropical forests. A characteristic feature of this species is the pronounced asymmetry of the foliage. The flowers are quite lush, you can grow a culture both at home and on the street. The specific name is given by the name of the discoverer (Begon). The species has been confirmed to grow in India, South America and African countries.

Begonia was first discovered and described in the Antilles. Based on the initially discovered 6 species, breeders have already managed to breed more than 1000 varieties. The plant height is relatively low. For decorative purposes, it is used mainly for interior decoration. The use of begonias as climbing crops is also common.

In a number of studies, it has been convincingly proven that this plant is effective in inhibiting the development of microbes. Basically, the phytoncides secreted by the flower fight staphylococcus. Therefore, begonias have become frequent guests in medical institutions and in kindergartens.

Plants are considered tall, reaching 0.25-0.37 m. The average growth group includes varieties whose growth is from 0.15 to 0.18 m.The lowest begonias grow only up to 0.08-0.15 m. today displayed:

• varieties with a straight stem;
• shrubby begonias;
• creeping flowers.

There is a variety that can bloom all year round. However, it is impossible to grow it on the street in the Russian climate. This plant requires continuous heat. Traditionally, begonias are divided into 3 main categories:

• deciduous ornamental (with large or medium leaves covered with wide stripes);
• bush (no pronounced specificity);
• tuberous (representatives of the group differ from each other only in stems and flowers).

The roots of street specimens are tubers. Indoors, rhizome or fibrous roots are formed. The tuberous type forms the tallest and strongest stems. But the other two types of root systems, rather, are suitable for planting in decorative baskets.

Indoor pitted lemon

Features of seed reproduction

Growing homemade lemon from seeds is pretty easy. At the same time, you will not have to look for seed material for a long time, since the seeds can be taken from fruits purchased at a regular store. To do this, you should choose a well-ripened fruit, the color of which should be uniform and yellow. In this case, you should choose those bones that are well formed and fully matured.

For planting seeds, you must prepare a certain soil mixture.To do this, take a ready-made flower soil mixture purchased in the store and combine it with peat (1: 1). In this case, the finished substrate should be light and well-drained, and its pH should be from 6.6 to 7.0.

How to plant a lemon

Take a small container and make a good drainage layer on the bottom. Then fill it with the prepared soil mixture. Remove the seeds from the fruit and immediately immerse them in the soil mixture by 10–20 mm. Place the container in a well-lit place, the optimum air temperature is from 18 to 22 degrees. Keep the substrate slightly damp at all times. The first shoots should appear after about half a month after sowing.

Seedling care

For watering lemon seedlings that have emerged from seeds, water is used, the temperature of which should be close to room temperature. Do not forget to regularly loosen the surface of the substrate in pots, and this must be done very carefully. After the seedlings have formed 2 true leaf plates, the most developed and strong plants are chosen, and they are planted in individual pots, reaching 10 centimeters in diameter. Do not forget to cover them with a glass jar on top to maintain the necessary microclimate for better rooting. The seedlings are provided with daily airing, for this, the shelter should be removed from them for a short time once a day. The next transplant into larger containers is carried out only after the height of the seedlings is 15–20 centimeters. The bushes should be transplanted very carefully, trying to keep the clod of earth intact. The transshipment method is excellent for this.

When choosing a new pot, remember that it should be about 50-60 mm larger than the old one. If you take a larger container, then moisture will begin to accumulate in the substrate, which will not be occupied by roots, which will lead to acidification. Make a good drainage layer at the bottom of the container, for this you can use pieces of foam, expanded clay, pebbles or charcoal. For transplanting, you can take a ready-made flower soil mixture purchased in a specialized store, and garden soil mixed with a small amount of humus is also suitable. When replanting a bush, make sure that its root collar remains at the same level as in the old pot. If it is buried, then this can cause the appearance of rot on it.

HOW TO GROW A STONE LEMON VIDEO RECIPE

Reproduction of cyclamen

Cyclamens can be propagated by seed and dividing tubers. Divide them into pieces with a very sharp knife. Only those plots with at least one kidney are suitable for reproduction. After dividing, all sections must be carefully processed with crushed coal. This is done for disinfection purposes. The resulting cuttings are dried for several days. After that, they are planted in containers, buried in the ground by two-thirds. Plants need only one month for rooting. Cyclamen, grown from cuttings, blooms much earlier than plants obtained from seeds.

Nevertheless, sometimes seeds are used to obtain young plants. They are sown in February or March. But at other times they can also be planted. Seeds must be stratified before planting. Seed germination increases if they are pre-treated with "Zircon" or "Epin". For soaking, a weak solution of potassium permanganate is often used.

Seeds are sown into the substrate to a depth of no more than 1 cm. You can make grooves of the required depth, water them, and then plant the seeds at a distance of 2-3 cm. For planting, it is better to purchase a ready-made substrate for indoor plants. After sowing, the boxes are covered with glass or foil on top and placed in a warm place. The room temperature should be at least +20 degrees.

If the crops are in the right conditions, the first shoots will appear in two months. Some varieties take so long to emerge that you have to wait up to five months.After the first shoots appear, the boxes must be moved to a bright place. After some time, the plants develop full-fledged tubers and several leaves appear. During this period, seedlings must be dived. Young plants should be transplanted into pots after six to seven months.