Streptocarpus

The genus Streptocarpus includes about 100 evergreen perennial herbaceous species. Some of them are interesting from an ornamental point of view and are grown only as potted plants, since they are not resistant to cold. Form a basal rosette of pubescent leaves (or with a single leaf); flowers of various sizes are blue tones, bell-shaped or tubular. Grow Streptocarpus Dunna (Streptocarpus dunnii) with a characteristic single leaf covered with bubbles, and on its high peduncles numerous drooping flowers of pink or red color are formed. Holst's Streptocarpus (s. holstii) has branched juicy peduncles, oval leaves with prominent veins and purple-blue flowers. The most popular streptocarpus Rex (s. rexii) with elongated wrinkled leaves in a rosette and tall peduncles with blue or blue single flowers. It is more common hybrid streptocarpus (Streptocarpus hybridus hort.), obtained by crossing this species with many-flowered streptocarpus (S. polyanthus), the plant height of 25-30 cm with blue, purple and white flowers up to 8 cm, wavy or fringed, blooming from late spring to early autumn in short racemes. The height of a well-developed rock streptocarpus (S. saxorum) is up to 20 cm, 40 cm in diameter, has characteristic drooping shoots and delicate lilac flowers; it is often grown as an ampel plant.

The genus Streptocarpus includes about 100 evergreen perennial herbaceous species. Some of them are interesting from an ornamental point of view and are grown only as potted plants, since they are not resistant to cold. Form a basal rosette of pubescent leaves (or with a single leaf); flowers of various sizes are blue tones, bell-shaped or tubular.

Grow Streptocarpus Dunna (Streptocarpus dunnii) with a characteristic single leaf covered with bubbles, and on its high peduncles numerous drooping flowers of pink or red color are formed.

Holst's Streptocarpus (s. holstii) has branched juicy peduncles, oval leaves with prominent veins and purple-blue flowers.

The most popular streptocarpus Rex (s. rexii) with elongated wrinkled leaves in a rosette and tall peduncles with blue or blue single flowers. It is more common hybrid streptocarpus (Streptocarpus hybridus hort.), obtained by crossing this species with many-flowered streptocarpus (S. polyanthus), the plant height of 25-30 cm with blue, purple and white flowers up to 8 cm, wavy or fringed, blooming from late spring to early autumn in short racemes.

The height of a well-developed rock streptocarpus (S. saxorum) is up to 20 cm, 40 cm in diameter, has characteristic drooping shoots and delicate lilac flowers; it is often grown as an ampel plant.

Cultivation

Streptocarpus is usually grown only in pots indoors. In summer, it can be kept outdoors, but in September, the plant is removed back to the house. It grows well in warm rooms with regular humidification. In winter, they provide a cool room. In the spring and summer period, fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation every 15-20 days. This plant is quite sensitive to high salt concentrations, and since fertilizers are usually sold in the form of mineral salts, it is important to carry out at least 1-2 rainwater watering before applying fertilizers again.

Location

Although streptocarpus requires a lot of light, it is shaded in the summer. This is a long-day plant, and it can be achieved blooming even in winter, extending the light period of the day to 16 hours in a row.

Temperature

The appropriate temperature for a dormant plant is 12-15 °C. The optimal temperature is in the range of 16-18 °C, but streptocarpus can also tolerate higher thermometer readings. Single-leaved species require a temperature of at least 20 °C; hybrid room-25 °C.

Watering

Water regularly in spring and summer. In winter, it is enough to keep the soil in a slightly moist state.

Transplant

The operation is carried out in March, using rather large (up to 20 cm in diameter) pots. They are filled with ready-made peat soil or a mixture of earth and sand. From spring to autumn, regularly (once every 1-2 weeks) water with flower fertilizer (you can use half a dose).

Reproduction

Starting in January, seeds are sown under glass. To accelerate germination, it is necessary to maintain the soil temperature at 22 °C. Use a peaty, unfriendly ground. Seedlings are transplanted into cups or containers filled with soil for the main cultivation, and liquid fertilizer is added. Also, the plant can be propagated in the spring by dividing the bush. Some species (for example, rock streptocarpus) can be propagated by leaf or stem cuttings.

Starting in January, seeds are sown under glass. To accelerate germination, it is necessary to maintain the soil temperature at 22 °C. Use a peaty, unfriendly ground. Seedlings are transplanted into cups or containers filled with soil for the main cultivation, and liquid fertilizer is added.

Also, the plant can be propagated in the spring by dividing the bush. Some species (for example, rock streptocarpus) can be propagated by leaf or stem cuttings.

Diseases

Diseases that affect the roots and root neck of the plant are dangerous, caused by fungi of the genera Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium. Fungal infections are best prevented; they are treated with fungicides designed to control gray rot in the same way as they are treated with gray rot. Mites feast on blooming flowers. They fight them with acaricides.

Diseases that affect the roots and root neck of the plant are dangerous, caused by fungi of the genera Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium. Fungal infections are best prevented; they are treated with fungicides designed to control gray rot in the same way as they are treated with gray rot.

Mites feast on blooming flowers. They fight them with acaricides.

Acquisition

Make sure that the plant is well developed and flowering has just begun.