Hybrid heliotrope - following the sun

Recently, hybrid heliotrope and other types of it are gaining popularity. They began to grow it again as a garden and indoor plant.

Heliotrope is characterized by its original feature: the flowers, located like inflorescences of a sunflower, turn their heads after the sun. This is reflected in its name, which translated from Greek means "helios" - "sun", "tropein" - "to turn".

In indoor floriculture, the greatest interest is shown in hybrid heliotrope, obtained from crossing different species. In a pot culture, it reaches a height of 30-50 cm (up to 1.5 meters in open ground). Small, highly fragrant flowers (white to deep purple) appear in scutellum inflorescences in spring and autumn, although it can bloom all year round.

Since the hybrid heliotrope is quite photophilous, a warm and bright room is optimal for it, but it must be protected from direct sunlight, as burns may appear on the leaves.

In a shaded place, the hybrid heliotrope quickly decays. Although it is a thermophilic plant, it is permissible to keep it at normal room temperature. You need to keep it in the brightest place in winter. It is advisable to take into account that for an earlier flowering of heliotrope in winter, the temperature should be + 15 + 16 degrees (minimum + 7 + 10).

Indoor types of heliotrope are very sensitive to outdoor cold, as a result, in the summer it can be taken out on a loggia, balcony or veranda only when the danger of frost has passed. Before taking out, you still need to harden the plant.