Ginura – velvet queen of ampels care

The velvet queen of ampels, ginura, captivates with an unusual, dazzling neon color of the reverse side of the leaves. Luxurious shades of purple and dark green accentuate the surprisingly textile effect, while fluffy yellow flower baskets seem like an unexpected, albeit foul-smelling miracle. It is no coincidence that Ginura did not become a widespread houseplant. It will not fit into every interior. And the character of this textile star is not at all simple. But once you give the fast-growing ginura a chance, the desire to increase its quantity will inevitably arise.

Ginura is the velvet queen of the ampels. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com plantafrolic
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Description of the plant

Ginury (Gynura) – one of the most unusual genera the Astrov family (Asteraceae), uniting a little less than fifty species of ornamental and edible plants. The combination of long shoots with a non-standard edging has brought the plant many nicknames – “Purple passion” (purple passion) in the West and “Blue bird” we have. The name of the plant is translated from Greek as “lady with a tail.”

Ginurs are semi-shrubs and perennials with thickened roots and recumbent, outstretched, less often – straight, but always willingly branching fleshy shoots. The height of indoor ginur is up to 30 cm, but in girth they are usually much larger due to tetrahedral shoots up to 1 m in length. The rapid growth of ginur requires constant monitoring, but this also allows the plant to recover well. Ginurs are grown in ampelous or potted form (with supports or pruning).

A very bright, dazzling color makes the greens of ginura much more attractive, and the leaves are amazingly delicate, soft, velvety to the touch. Leaves are dense, alternate, depending on the type, they are petiolate and sessile, thin or more fleshy. Oval or lanceolate-wedge-shaped, with strongly pointed tips and an average length of up to 10-13 cm (the lower ones are larger than the upper ones), they adorn with serrated edges and small or large notched teeth.

A beautiful edge is considered one of the obligatory features of ginur, but it does not prevent the upper side of the leaves from surprising with a pleasant shine. Although undisturbed species can be found in nature, indoor ginurs flaunt their irresistible velvety texture – very soft and strikingly densely spaced hairs. The purple edge of the underside, stems and veins is a “trademark” feature of the most popular type of indoor ginur. Nearly neon shades of purple, raspberry, fuchsia and lilac blend wonderfully harmoniously with the underlying dark green tone of the leaves. But there are also purely green-leaved ginur.

The flowering of indoor ginur lasts all summer or begins only at the end of summer – it all depends on the conditions of maintenance and care. Effectively contrasting with greenery, basket inflorescences, often without ligulate flowers, bloom at the tops of individual peduncles or in the axils of leaves, one at a time or in scutes. Yellow or orange, less often – red, they seem quaintly lush. But, unfortunately, they smell so bad that if the ginura is not remotely located, then it is better to remove the buds or simply pluck out before blooming. Blooming is a sure sign of aging and the need for rejuvenation.

The velvety and softness of ginur makes you want to check by touch. But this should not exclude careful handling during transplanting and pruning: the juice can be irritating, it is toxic to cats and other pets.

Ginura orange (Gynura aurantiaca)Ginura orange (Gynura aurantiaca). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com seivabrutagram
Gynura procumbensGynura procumbens. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Shahidul Hasan Roman

Types of indoor ginur

Ginura orange (Gynura aurantiaca) Is a favorite among indoor species. Spreading shoots and serrated leaves with dense purple edges shrink towards the tips of the shoots.

Ginura prostrate (Crassocephalum stoop) Is a rarer, large green-leaved species with straight shoots. Oval leaves with serrated edges are light, edged below. Despite the lack of purple, the plant attracts many for its edible greenery and reputation for “longevity spinach”.

In greenhouses, rarely, but they grow a bulky ginuru rising (Gynura scandens) with lush inflorescences, larger and sparse teeth on large ovoid leaves.

Read also our article Ginura – a blue bird.

Growing conditions for indoor ginura

The main task is to provide the plant growing in nature in tropical regions of Asia, Africa and Oceania with the usual bright lighting and warmth.

Lighting and placement

By stretching and blanching, the ginura reacts to even the slightest lack of lighting. A place on the eastern or western windowsill is better for her (the plant is not afraid of the direct sun in the morning or in the evening, but burns remain from the dining room on the south window and she needs good protection). So that the bushes do not lose their shape in winter, you will have to either supplement the ginura or rearrange it to the brightest window.

Ginurs do not look good in every place, because their velvety pubescence and special purple palette may not fit into the environment, and are not universal. It is better to think over the combination with textiles and furniture, interior colors in advance.

Guinura is better suited to a place on the east or west windowsillGuinura is best suited for a place on the east or west windowsill. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com botanical_norwich

Temperature control and ventilation

It is a thermophilic plant that is sensitive to any fluctuations in temperature. The optimum value for the active growing season is from 20 to 23 degrees Celsius, no heat. Even in winter, you should not lower the temperature to 12 degrees. It is easier to keep ginur in shape when wintering in a cool (15-18 degrees), in room temperatures they winter well when compensating for dry air from batteries, but this way they always age faster.

Any changes most often cause a stop in growth. It is better to protect Ginura from drafts and temperature extremes. For the summer, the plant can be placed outdoors while controlling nighttime temperatures. When looking for a place, protection from precipitation (even small drops) is important.

Read also our article Purple Tradescantia, or Setkresia – bright and unpretentious.

Ginura care at home

The water-sensitive ginura requires some experience. Finding the right care schedule is not easy.

Watering and air humidity

The soil in containers should not be allowed to dry out even in winter, but a little dampness also leads to decay of thin roots. Watering is adjusted according to the rate of plant development: it is made abundant, with drying of the soil in the upper layer in summer and reduced in winter, drying the soil a little more.

Water the ginura carefully, without soaking the leaves, with warm and soft water. To minimize the risks, it is better to water the plant several times with small portions of water, immediately draining the excess from the pallets.

At moderate temperatures, ginurs adapt well to any air humidity. But in winter, when batteries are running and in extreme heat in summer, additional measures are needed. Spraying for ginura will not work, even small drops leave stains on the leaves. A pallet with wet sphagnum or pebbles is the best option.

Spraying for ginura is not suitable, even small drops leave stains on the leavesSpraying for ginura is not suitable, even small drops leave stains on the leaves. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com morganicallygrown

Top dressing and composition of fertilizers

It is necessary to add dressings for ginura only during the period of active growth. The standard frequency is quite suitable for the plant – every two weeks in spring and summer. In autumn and winter, feeding is stopped, if growth continues, it is halved.

The bright tone of the ginura leaves itself indicates the type of fertilizer that is needed – preparations for decorative deciduous plants.

Trimming and shaping ginura

Keeping the ginura in shape is simple by regularly pinching the tops or trimming the longest branches. Standard is 5-6 leaves pruning on top.

When forming on a support, the garter is carried out regularly, with a soft twine.

Transplantation and reproduction

The plant quickly degenerates, loses its shape, deforms too easily in winter, so most often the bushes are not transplanted at all or are transferred to a larger pot only once, next time replacing with a young plant grown from cuttings.

Ginur grows well in versatile substrates. For them, you can both use a high-quality commercial substrate, and prepare the soil mixture yourself (equal parts of sod, leafy soil, peat and sand). Perlite addition is only welcome.

When transplanting, it is better not to forget about drainage with a layer of 3-5 cm.

Ginura is aging rapidly, so she has to grow replacements on a regular basis. To obtain new bushes, it is enough to root cuttings – apical with the top leaf removed or stem, with at least two internodes. They can be rooted all spring and summer, simply in water or immediately in the substrate.

Ginurs thrive in versatile substratesGinurs thrive in versatile substrates

Diseases, pests and problems in the cultivation of ginura

Bushes are extremely sensitive to insufficient light, heat, dry air and lack of care. Loss of decorativeness is almost always caused by content problems.

Aphids and spider mites are the main enemies of ginur among pests, but they settle only on weakened plants. Felts and whiteflies are also rare. Curvature, twisting, falling leaves indicate infection no less than visible traces of insects. Increasing air humidity, removing insects from leaves, processing with citrus infusion or bioinsecticides can eliminate pests without chemistry. But if there are no results, it is better to immediately start using conventional insecticides (for example, Actellik).

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Anna Evans

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