Jacobinia

The genus Jacobinia, or Justicia (Jacobinia), includes approximately 50 herbaceous or shrubby evergreen perennials. The flowers are tubular, two-pronged, collected in very decorative large spike-shaped dense inflorescences resembling a "cone". Decorative features are given to them by elongated bracts of different colors (green, pink, etc.). The opposite leaves are whole. Jacobinia meat-red (Jacobinia carnea, or Justicia carnea) is a species with a height of 1.2-2.0 m, with elliptical pointed leaves and thick pink or crimson flowers blooming in summer in inflorescences up to 15 cm long. Jacobinia chrysostephana (J. chrysostephana) is a species up to 1.5 m tall, with egg-shaped pointed leaves, the central veins of which are colored red. Yellow flowers, collected in corymbs, bloom in autumn and winter. Jacobinia bright red (J. coccinea) is similar to Jacobinia meat-red, but the scarlet flowers that bloom from the end of winter are collected in shorter compact ears. Jacobinia pauciflora is a species up to 50-60 cm tall, with long tubular scarlet and yellow single flowers. Blooms in summer and autumn, for a long time.

The genus Jacobinia, or Justicia (Jacobinia), includes approximately 50 herbaceous or shrubby evergreen perennials. The flowers are tubular, two-pronged, collected in very decorative large spike-shaped dense inflorescences resembling a "cone". Decorative features are given to them by elongated bracts of different colors (green, pink, etc.). The opposite leaves are whole.

Jacobinia meat-red (Jacobinia carnea, or Justicia carnea) is a species with a height of 1.2-2.0 m, with elliptical pointed leaves and thick pink or crimson flowers blooming in summer in inflorescences up to 15 cm long.

Jacobinia chrysostephana (J. chrysostephana) is a species up to 1.5 m tall, with egg-shaped pointed leaves, the central veins of which are colored red. Yellow flowers, collected in corymbs, bloom in autumn and winter.

Jacobinia bright red (J. coccinea) is similar to Jacobinia meat-red, but the scarlet flowers that bloom from the end of winter are collected in shorter compact ears.

Jacobinia pauciflora is a species up to 50-60 cm tall, with long tubular scarlet and yellow single flowers. Blooms in summer and autumn, for a long time.

Cultivation

Usually these plants are grown as a houseplant. Outdoors, they are grown in pots, but only in very mild winters. In areas with cold winters, they can be kept outdoors in the summer, cleaned in the house in September, or grown as annuals. First, use pots with a diameter of 20 cm, filled with a substrate, a mixture of fertile land (50%) and peat with sand, with the addition of a complex fertilizer at the rate of 30 g per bucket of soil. In summer, it is necessary to water abundantly, spray often, and regularly feed with liquid fertilizer. Shoots after flowering are cut off, leaving 10 cm from the base. In winter, they are kept at a temperature of 18 °C. Transplanted in the spring at the end of March-April.

Usually these plants are grown as a houseplant. Outdoors, they are grown in pots, but only in very mild winters. In areas with cold winters, they can be kept outdoors in the summer, cleaned in the house in September, or grown as annuals. First, use pots with a diameter of 20 cm, filled with a substrate, a mixture of fertile land (50%) and peat with sand, with the addition of a complex fertilizer at the rate of 30 g per bucket of soil.

In summer, it is necessary to water abundantly, spray often, and regularly feed with liquid fertilizer. Shoots after flowering are cut off, leaving 10 cm from the base. In winter, they are kept at a temperature of 18 °C. Transplanted in the spring at the end of March-April.

Location

A place for culture must be well lit. In the fresh air, plants can be placed in the open sun, transferring them to the shade on the hottest days. If it is very hot, ventilation is required even for plants that are kept in the house.

Temperature

For meat-red jacobinia and small-flowered jacobinia, the minimum temperature during cultivation is 10 °C, and for other species-13-15 °C. In any case, the temperature should not exceed 24 °C.

Watering

During the growing season and especially during flowering, water often and abundantly, and during the dormant period - rarely, as needed.

Transplant

Transplant in the spring, using each time a pot of a larger size than the previous one.

Care

Remove faded, dry and damaged parts of the plant.

Reproduction

In spring, in April, 8-10-centimeter cuttings of young shoots are rooted in sand in a warm place at a temperature of 20 °C; the pot is covered with a transparent film or placed in a greenhouse.

Diseases

Most often, problems in growing occur due to low temperatures, which causes yellowing and damage to the most delicate parts of the plant, and often death. And too hot sun can cause burns on the leaves. Excess water in the soil causes root rot. To prevent these troubles, you can follow the rules of care for the Jacobinia.

Acquisition

Plants of the genus Jacobinia can easily be purchased in horticultural centers in early spring. Choose compact plants with healthy leaves.