Thunbergia

The genus Thunbergia (Thunbergia) includes about 200 species of climbing perennials, less often shrubs and semi-shrubs, usually of tropical origin. In temperate climates with cold winters, perennial species are grown as annuals. The flowers are tubular, with a prostrate bend, single axillary or collected in brushes, blue, yellow, purple or white, they bloom outdoors in summer, only thunbergia large- flowered -in late summer and autumn. Thunbergia affinis (Thunbergia affinis) is a perennial semi-shrub species, up to 5 m high, with a square cross-section stem, ovate leaves and bicolored (yellow with purple) flowers. Common Thunbergia winged (T. alata) with a stem up to 2 m long, opposite triangular-ovate leaves. The perianth tube is dark purple inside, the bend is orange or cream in color, up to 4 cm in diameter. This is the most popular species in places of natural growth it is a weed. There are many different varieties, one with absolutely white flowers, others with white flowers with a dark core, others with bright orange flowers with a dark red tube or with yellow flowers with a white tube. Thunbergia erecta (T. erecta) is a perennial shrub or climbing species up to 2 m tall. The tubular part of the flowers is yellow-cream, and the bend is dark purple-blue in color. Thunbergia fragrans is a perennial climbing species up to 3 m tall with white, fragrant flowers. Thunbergia large- flowered (T. grandiflora) is another perennial, climbing species, the stem is 5-6 m long, with blue flowers with a yellow core collected in apical racemes, up to 9 cm in diameter. Thunbergia gregora (T. gregorii) is a perennial climbing species with a stem about 6 m long, with single bright orange flowers. Thunbergia misorensis (T. mysorensis) is a climbing species up to 2 m tall, with lignified stems. Flowers collected in drooping racemes have purplish-green bracts and a yellow-chestnut-reddish corolla.

The genus Thunbergia (Thunbergia) includes about 200 species of climbing perennials, less often shrubs and semi-shrubs, usually of tropical origin. In temperate climates with cold winters, perennial species are grown as annuals. The flowers are tubular, with a prostrate bend, single axillary or collected in brushes, blue, yellow, purple or white, they bloom outdoors in summer, only thunbergia large- flowered -in late summer and autumn.

Thunbergia affinis (Thunbergia affinis) is a perennial semi-shrub species, up to 5 m high, with a square cross-section stem, ovate leaves and bicolored (yellow with purple) flowers.

Common Thunbergia winged (T. alata) with a stem up to 2 m long, opposite triangular-ovate leaves. The perianth tube is dark purple inside, the bend is orange or cream in color, up to 4 cm in diameter. This is the most popular species in places of natural growth it is a weed. There are many different varieties, one with absolutely white flowers, others with white flowers with a dark core, others with bright orange flowers with a dark red tube or with yellow flowers with a white tube.

Thunbergia erecta (T. erecta) is a perennial shrub or climbing species up to 2 m tall. The tubular part of the flowers is yellow-cream, and the bend is dark purple-blue in color.

Thunbergia fragrans is a perennial climbing species up to 3 m tall with white, fragrant flowers.

Thunbergia large- flowered (T. grandiflora) is another perennial, climbing species, the stem is 5-6 m long, with blue flowers with a yellow core collected in apical racemes, up to 9 cm in diameter.

Thunbergia gregora (T. gregorii) is a perennial climbing species with a stem about 6 m long, with single bright orange flowers.

Thunbergia misorensis (T. mysorensis) is a climbing species up to 2 m tall, with lignified stems. Flowers collected in drooping racemes have purplish-green bracts and a yellow-chestnut-reddish corolla.

Cultivation

Since thunbergia is a tropical plant, it is grown in rooms, on balconies. In areas with cold winters, perennials are cultivated outdoors as annuals, on trellises or in pots, and planted in the ground in spring. When growing in pots, a slightly acidic and not very fertile substrate of a fibrous structure (peat and plant residues) is used, enriched with organic fertilizers. When growing in the open ground, the soil should be well drained. To maintain the desired shape of plants, pruning is used and metal wire is stretched or other supports are used. In spring, branches are shortened in all species, and Thunbergia Gregor is cut off in a significant way, leaving 30-40 cm from the ground.

Since thunbergia is a tropical plant, it is grown in rooms, on balconies. In areas with cold winters, perennials are cultivated outdoors as annuals, on trellises or in pots, and planted in the ground in spring. When growing in pots, a slightly acidic and not very fertile substrate of a fibrous structure (peat and plant residues) is used, enriched with organic fertilizers.

When growing in the open ground, the soil should be well drained. To maintain the desired shape of plants, pruning is used and metal wire is stretched or other supports are used. In spring, branches are shortened in all species, and Thunbergia Gregor is cut off in a significant way, leaving 30-40 cm from the ground.

Location

Thunbergia feels great in bright rooms with moist air.

Temperature

The minimum temperature in winter is 8-9 °C. If the temperature is high, at home it is necessary to ventilate the room and spray the plants with water, and in the open air put them in the shade.

Watering

Water often and regularly in spring and summer; in autumn and winter watering is reduced and only maintain the soil in a slightly moist state.

Transplant

Transplanted in the spring in a more spacious, compared to the previous ones, containers.

Reproduction

Thunbergia is propagated by seeds and cuttings. Cuttings are cut from young shoots that have begun to grow after winter pruning of the stems. Such a plant will bloom next fall. Sowing of seeds is carried out at the end of winter in a closed room at a temperature of 16-18 °C. Grown seedlings are transplanted one at a time into pots filled with a mixture of leafy, turf, humus, peat earth and sand.

Diseases

Due to the bacteriosis caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, galls can form on the root neck of the plant, which is usually removed. Other problems can be caused by tiny nematode worms living in the ground. They get rid of them with the help of nematocides or plant marigolds nearby.

Acquisition

Seedlings-young potted plants should be lush and not infested with pests. To ensure high seed germination, check the expiration date.