Growing pentas from seeds: the peculiarities of growing the varieties "Starla Lavender Shades" and "Graffiti". How to sow correctly

Description of the catharanthus

Catharanthus pink

Catharanthus is very similar in appearance to phlox, but there are significant differences between these colors. Katarantus is not a very tall plant - some varieties reach a height of 60 cm. At home, the plant is a rather branched semi-handicraft perennial that likes to settle on the edges of humid forests. But those species that are not grown in the tropics are not distinguished by their large size and branching.

Katarantus: growing and care

The main decoration of the catharanthus is large bright pink flowers, the corolla of which is painted in purple. As a rule, in one inflorescence there are 5 petals that are not spliced together. Modern catharanthus hybrids are quite variable in color: you can grow white, pink, purple, blue, purple flowers. Flowers are most often located at the very ends of the stems, collected in inflorescences of 3-5 pieces.

The flowers of the catharanthus are white, pink or light lilac, the leaves are dark green, shiny

The stems of the catharanthus are flexible, covered with a thin bark. In young plants, the bark is green, in adults it is brown. Leaves are deep green, lanceolate, tapering to the tips in a wedge. The petioles are rather short. Some varieties have white veins on the leaves.

Black small seeds ripen in leaflets, of which two are formed on the stem.

Catharanthus seeds

The most popular varieties of ampelous and pink catharanthus. table

Name	Description
Catharanthus roseus	This variety is quite popular for indoor cultivation and is a perennial plant that, with proper care, becomes a branchy and sturdy shrub. The leaves of this variety are long, smooth, shiny - up to 7 cm. The stems are even, erect. Simple flowers, which reach 3-4 cm in diameter, can have a different color: from all shades of pink to lilac. Flowering with proper care lasts from May to early fall.
Grape cooler	The flowers of this variety have different shades of pink, but the corolla is always dark pink.
Peppermint cooler	The flowers of this variety are colored white, and the corolla is pink. The stems are not too long, the leaves are rather thick, making the plant seem voluminous. Differs in good flowering with proper care.
Albus	The stems of plants of this variety are not too high - 15-25 cm. The leaves are large, with noticeable light veins, without a glossy sheen. The difference between this variety and others is the color of the petals and receptacle. Albus flowers are completely white, and the receptacle is painted in a pale yellow color.
Ocellatus	White flowers, collected by a rosette at the top of the stem, 3-5 pieces each. The difference between this variety is the bright red heart of the flower. The leaves are large, glossy, dark green. The stems are medium in size, the leaves are dark green, with white veins.
First kiss	The stems of this variety reach a length of 35 cm, the leaves are large, dark green, shiny. The flowers of this species of catharanthus are quite large - up to 6 cm in diameter. The variety is distinguished by the variability of the color of the petals - from white to dark lilac. The most common shades of pink and coral are found. Most often used for growing in pots. Quite resistant to temperature changes, blooms from late spring to early autumn.
First kiss blueberry	A new variety that impressed the jury at the renowned All-America Selections competition. The flowers of this variety have unusual purple-blue petals. Unfortunately, the seeds of this variety are quite difficult to acquire in Russia.
Cascade	This variety was bred specifically for growing in hanging flowerpots.With proper care, the stems of a catharanthus can reach a length of 1.5 meters, cascading downward. The flowers of a plant of this variety have a multivariate color.

general characteristics

The plant is accustomed to tropical and subtropical climates where it produces beautiful and vibrant flowers all year round. It is not so easy to grow a plant yourself, at home it does not bloom all the time, but goes to rest for a period of cold weather. In some especially warm regions of our country, pentas is grown on the street, where it is a wonderful decoration for flower beds and front gardens.

At home, the height of the bush can reach 500 mm. Shoots are formed straight, branching is insignificant. The leaves have an oval shape, stand out with a particularly bright, saturated, green tint. The inflorescences are collected in the shape of a dome, they are formed from small flowers, very similar to a five-pointed star. Flowers can be of different colors, depending on the variety:

red;
white;
pink;
purple;
beige.

1. Seven Secrets of Success:

1. Growing temperature: during the growing season, we keep the pentas at normal room temperature, in winter we provide a cool dormant period at a temperature of about 10 ° C.

2. Lighting: brightly lit location with no direct sunlight. Plants can sunbathe for 3 to 4 hours in the morning or evening.

3. Watering and air humidity: evenly moisturized substrate in spring and summer, during the winter months, watering should be significantly reduced. It is not necessary to increase the air humidity - only in too hot daytime hours.

4. Pruning: pinch young shoots of the pentasa, cut too long shoots after flowering, remove faded inflorescences.

5. Substrate: nutritious and well-drained soil with slightly acidic pH.

6. Top dressing: with the beginning of growth and before transfer to the dormant period, we feed 2 times a month with fertilizers for flowering plants.

7. Reproduction: propagates successfully by sowing seeds in spring and cuttings in spring and summer.

Botanical name: Pentas.

Flower pentas - family

Origin. East Africa.

Description. The genus Pentas consists of about 40 species of biennial or perennial evergreen shrubs.

Stems are erect, branching, woody with age.

The leaves are dark green, lanceolate or spear-shaped, 8-10 cm long, arranged oppositely or in a spiral, the leaf blades are glossy. Young shoots and leaves are covered with fluff.

Flowers are collected in large umbrellas up to 10 cm in diameter, which appear on the tips of the shoots and often completely hide the foliage. The flowers are small, star-shaped, with pointed petals, very attractive, white, pink, lilac, salmon or red.

Variegated varieties have attractive green leaves with a white or light green border along the edge of the leaf plate.

Height. The pentas plant develops rapidly and in a season can reach a height of 30 - 40 cm.

Care rules

In order for a flower to really grow as the manufacturer promises, it must be properly and comprehensively looked after at home.

Watering

Pentas is a plant that is extremely demanding for watering. It should be regular and fairly abundant.

But here you should pay attention to the fact that there is no excess moisture - otherwise the root system of the Egyptian star will start to rot, and it will disappear itself. Therefore, experienced flower growers advise irrigation when the topsoil dries up by half a centimeter.

Do not use ordinary tap water for irrigation. It should be soft, peeled or settled. Plants should not be irrigated with cold water - only the one that has room temperature. In winter, watering, its frequency and volume are reduced.

Recommended air humidity 60%. To maintain it, an open container with water is installed next to the pentas flowerpots.

Fertilizer

Flower feeding is carried out only during the period of intense flowering. For this, mineral fertilizers are chosen. They are bred according to the instructions and applied directly when watering. Flowers are fed once every 15 days. In winter, fertilizers are not applied - since the plant begins a dormant period.

Pruning

Pentas is distinguished by a very rapid growth of stems, which is why it is very important to maintain its normal growth, as well as its beautiful shape, to regularly form its crown correctly. To do this, those stalks that rise above the rest are carefully cut at the root.

It is also very important to pinch the tops of the Egyptian star regularly. To do this, the green tops are neatly broken off over the top point of the hardened stem. Both the trimming of the pentas and its pinching are carried out only in the winter.

In addition, it is worth remembering that the optimal temperature for growing a flower ranges from +20 to +25 degrees. The plant needs intense color, but without direct sunlight.

Transfer

The Egyptian star is a very fast-growing plant, so young flowers under the age of 3 years are transplanted every 12 months. Pentas older than 36 months must be transplanted once every 24 months. This procedure is carried out only at the beginning of spring. Each time you transplant, use a new container 5–7 cm larger in diameter than the previous container. New soil is poured, and drainage must be laid on the bottom.

As soon as the diameter of the container in which the star of Egypt grows reaches 20 cm, the transplant is stopped. Instead, the top layer of soil 3–5 cm thick is removed annually and replaced with a new one. Both the transplant and the planting of the plant should be carried out in a special soil. You can buy it both in specialized outlets and prepare it yourself. To do this, mix leaf and turf soils with sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 0.5.

Correct cultivation of the pentas flower

The Egyptian star grows well in outdoor containers and can even be a good houseplant if it gets enough light. It grows and develops best when exposed to the sun and in moist, drained soil. It can adapt to less sunny conditions, but its bloom will not be as abundant. As if the flower is not suitable for planting in full shade, there it will be exposed to pathogenic fungi.

Pentas Starla

Temperature

Pentas Lanceolata is a tropical plant that loves warmth and intense light. On especially hot days, the pentas weakens and withers, therefore a temperature of 20-25 ° C is preferable.

Important! Although the pentas loves the sun, you cannot immediately put it on the south window. Without gradual training, the flower will get burned.

In the summer, you may even need to shade the window.

In a high-rise building, it is better to transfer the flower to the balcony, and in a private house - to the garden. Pentas Lanceolata tolerates drafts well, so frequent ventilation will not harm it. Strong cold winds in the garden are carried by the flower thanks to the right location. Pentas are best planted near a wall or surrounded by stronger specimens.

In August-September, it is necessary to change the top soil in the container and put the plant on the north window. Moisturize liberally. In October, Pentas Lanceolata can be rearranged to the south window, and in November it will bloom.

Humidity

For a flower, the humidity mode must be kept at around 60%. When spraying, it is better not to fall on the inflorescences. A pallet with wet expanded clay and moss has proven itself quite well. If you plant it in a flower pot, then be sure to make a drainage layer of small stones at the bottom, which will help remove excess water.

Watering

It is necessary to take settled water, and also after watering, apply mineral fertilizers with phosphorus, which stimulate the development of buds. Since dry soil can lead to yellowing, in the autumn-winter period, you need to especially monitor the frequency of watering.

The plant can adapt to different types of soils, but prefers rich soils and slightly moist soils with drainage. When grown outdoors, the flower must be planted after the risk of recurrent frost has disappeared. Excess moisture and watering is very harmful. In late autumn and winter, it is necessary to water just a little.

Watering at different times

Top dressing

As a rule, pentas blooms several times per season. Pentas Lanceolata cannot be made to bloom continuously, but the duration of this process can be influenced. Feeding a flower significantly increases this period, but you should not get carried away with fertilization, any plant needs rest, just like a person.

Note! Mineral fertilizers can be applied every 20 days during flowering, no more. The plant needs fertile soil, but does not like high salt levels.

Pentasu is suitable for decorative deciduous plants. Frequent transplants are also important. The pot quickly becomes cramped due to the fact that the flower vigorously grows rapidly rooting shoots. Pentas Lanceolata is transplanted every 1-2 years.

The plant needs fertile soil, but it does not like high salt levels. Pentasu is suitable for decorative deciduous plants. Frequent transplants are also important. The pot quickly becomes cramped due to the fact that the flower vigorously grows rapidly rooting shoots. Pentas Lanceolata is transplanted every 1-2 years.

To increase the green mass, it is advisable to fertilize in the spring with granular slow-release fertilizer, as well as compost to save water and at the same time avoid the appearance of weeds that can compete for soil nutrients. The soil should be slightly acidic (pH 6.5).

Pruning

Pentas is not very picky. It is quite simple to monitor his health, but it is much more difficult to get the perfect look from him: he bends somewhere, crawls away, stretches out. For any deviations from the required appearance, the flower should be pinched. Frequent pruning of the shoots will help maintain the beauty and neat appearance of the plant. Pinching is carried out only between flowering phases.

Reproduction from seeds

How to grow succulents from seeds at home

Growing cacti and succulents from seeds at home is a completely feasible process that is easy to carry out even for an inexperienced grower. This procedure is quite fascinating, both from the point of view of botany and beauty. Successful cultivationsucculents from seeds Is a combination of various factors that cannot be neglected. The presence of high-quality soil, the necessary container, proper sowing and further care increase the germination of succulent plants.

Before completely immersing yourself in such a process, you should select a high-quality container. Its height must be at least 50 millimeters. It is best to give preference to plastic containers with drainage holes at the bottom.

Advice. If you are planting seeds of different types of succulents at the same time, it is advisable to plant them in different trays. Each type of plant needs different conditions for seed germination. If they are in the same container, then the seeds of one of the species may not sprout, due to inappropriate conditions for germination.

Florists form solid greenhouses on the base of a large box, cover them with polyethylene. Several small boxes are placed inside, where the substrate and seeds will be.

In what soil to grow succulents from seeds

Before planting succulents from seeds correctly, you need to choose the optimal soil. After all, it depends on the composition of the soil what the final result will be.

Let's dwell on the main accents to which you should pay attention when choosing a soil:

For such a process, conventional mixtures are suitable that contain a coarsely ground mineral base - agroperlite, sand, small gravel.Crushed or granular coal is also added to the composition.
An excellent way out of this situation will be the purchase of a universal peat filler - slightly acidic humus. Perlite, sand and crushed corner are added to it in identical proportions.
Please note that for the preparation of sowing soil, it is recommended to use high-quality components that are purchased at specialized points of sale. If you want to take gravel, sand or coal from a forest or garden, it is better to abandon this venture or disinfect the components. For this, steaming, frying or processing with a special solution for disinfection is used.

Perlite in its pure form is also suitable for sowing seed material Gasteria, Haworthy, Aloe. It is quite water-absorbing, breathable. Remember that these substrates are nutrient-free. Before this, perlite is necessarily well wetted with water.

Advice. To eliminate pathogens, you can sterilize the substrate by baking it in an oven at 150 degrees for 35 minutes.

Types and varieties of astrantia with photos and names

In total, there are more than 10 different types of Astrantia, but only 3 of them are cultivated most.

Astrantia major, or large astrantia

In nature, this species can be found in the west of the European part of Russia, in Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Central Europe and in the Baltic countries. Such a plant prefers to grow on lawns and edges of deciduous and coniferous forests. The height of the spreading bush is about 0.7 m, and its diameter is about 0.4 m. The root rosette consists of three to seven-part long-petiolized leaf plates. Light pink flowers are collected in simple umbrella-shaped inflorescences, the diameter of which is about 50 mm. The color of the leaves of the wrapper is green or light pink. It has been cultivated since 1597. The most popular varieties:

Moulin rouge. The inflorescences are colored wine-red, while the leaves of the wrapper are of a darker, almost black shade. The flowers of bushes grown in sunny areas are most effective.
Ruby Wedding. The bush reaches a height of 0.65 m, the color of the flowers is dark red. This variety is recommended to be grown in a shaded area.
Claret. The color of the flowers is burgundy, transparent wrappers of the same color. The height of the plant is 0.55 m. Astrantia blooms in the first days of July, and flowering ends in the last days of September. Recommended to grow in partial shade and shade. Can be cultured in a container.
Diva. The flowers are dark red, and the wrappers are colored in a lighter shade. Plant height approximately 0.7 m. The variety can be grown in a sunny or shaded area.
Venice. The color of the inflorescences is ruby.
Lars. The height of the bush is about 0.75 m, it is decorated with pink inflorescences, their color is so rich that it seems to glow in the dark.
Sunningdale Variegata. The color of the inflorescences is pale lavender. On the surface of the green leaf plates there are strokes of cream and yellow-golden color.
Rosensimphony. The height of the plant is about 0.7 m. The inflorescences are pink, and the wrappers are pale pink.
Rosea. Plant height is about 0.6 m. Inflorescences are bright pink, and leaf plates are spotty.
Snowstar. The color of the flowers is white, and the wrappers are white with green. The plant reaches a height of 0.55–0.7 m. It is recommended to grow this variety in partial shade and shade.
Abby Road. Astrantia is red, the color of the inflorescences is purple, and the wrappers are of a darker shade.

Astrantia maxima

The homeland of this kind is the Caucasus. The height of such a compact plant is 0.7 m, it is long-rhizome. The leaf plates are tripartite. The diameter of simple umbellate inflorescences is 45 mm, they consist of small pink flowers. The leaves of the envelope are colored very pale red, they are membranous and reach 10 mm in length. Flowering is observed in August and September.

Astrantia minor

In nature, such a plant is found in the southern part of Western Europe, prefers to grow in the mountains. The height of the bush is almost 1 m.Leaf plates with long petioles are three to seven-part. The diameter of the umbellate inflorescence is 30 mm, it consists of a large number of pink-white flowers. Flowering is observed in July-August. Cultivated since 1868

Astrantia carniolica

It is a herbaceous perennial plant. Opposite leaf plates are palmate-separated. Umbellate inflorescences are composed of white flowers. The most popular variety is Rubra. The color of flowers and wrappers of this variety is bright pink, turning into red. The plant reaches a height of 0.7 m. Flowering begins in the last days of May and ends in the last days of August.

Also, gardeners sometimes cultivate three-cut Astrantia, Bieberstein, hellebore and Bavarian.

Astrantia