It is the love for plants that makes them wonderful companions in our daily life. But love alone is not enough, you need daily work and care, and also strict adherence to the rules of agricultural technology. This is known to experienced florists who share advice with everyone who wants to grow exotic and unusual or simple and unpretentious plant species. Novice florists are always looking for unfamiliar and “tricky” rules, not thinking that time-tested advice is much more reliable. This also applies to plants with a difficult name similar to the medical term – streptocarpus. What do you need to know to grow these flowers?
Mysterious streptocarpus. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Al
As a soil for these plants, a light and nutritious mixture is used that allows air to pass through well. To do this, take peat (3 parts), earth (3 parts), sphagnum moss (1 part), charcoal (0,5 parts). If it is possible to get the land that is under the white acacia, mixed with leafy humus, then use just such a soil. It is ideal for all indoor plants.
Streptocarpus love slightly dry soil, because excessive moisture contributes to the appearance of diseases of the root system. But too little watering can lead to the death of the plant. It is better to water with settled and warm water.
Direct sunlight is detrimental to this flower; the best sides for their location will be the northern and eastern windows. The ambient air temperature should not be higher than +33 ºС, and not lower than +15 ºС. If the temperature drops, then even generous watering will not save the plant from death. Therefore, in winter, the flower is “warmed” with artificial lighting.
On each peduncle of streptocarpus, from 3 to 7 flowers appear. The more leaves there are, the more luxuriant the plant will look during flowering. To increase the leaf mass, nitrogen fertilizers are used, feeding the plant once every two weeks. If you urgently need lush bouquets of streptocarpus, “force” the plant to increase the leaf mass. A young flower can be planted in the ground with horse humus (2 tablespoons per 1 liter of soil). Lighting – at least 14 hours. The most lush flowering period of streptocarpus occurs in May-June.
Preparations for winter begin in September. For this, the plant is transplanted into another soil, removing part of the old roots. The old leaves are pruned a little, leaving areas of 3 cm. Such pruning will contribute to the appearance of new, young rosettes. The transplanted plant is watered a little. The optimum temperature for wintering streptocarp is +17 ºС. Top dressing is not done in winter.
Streptocarp buds can be affected by thrips. To combat them, the buds are removed. When a plant is damaged by a spider mite, the peduncles dry out, and a cobweb appears on the leaves. In such cases, streptocarpus are treated with special chemicals.
Fungal infections such as late blight and gray rot are also eliminated by treatment with drugs. There is no need to increase the dose, always follow the directions for use.
With proper care and timely removal of pests, streptocarpus will give you colorful, multi-colored flowers, and your love and care will turn into lush bouquets on the windowsills.