A delightful flower that brings the warmth of the south and the color of the Mediterranean to the house is all catharanthus, home care for which is simple and enjoyable. This plant is completely undemanding. But how it pleases the eye with its spectacular flowering! In addition to its charming appearance, cataractus (pink periwinkle) has long been used to treat certain cancers in alternative medicine.
Periwinkle pink: a brief description of the plant
Decorative shrub belonging to the Kutrovy family - this is how the catharanthus is characterized.
The flowers of the plant are distinguished by a wheel-shaped rim with 5 petals, 3 cm in diameter. They have a stunning resemblance to
phlox flowers. Their distinctive feature is that they are not collected in inflorescences.
Basically, the color pink is catharanthus. The flowers of his hybrids may be of a different color. The most amazing of them is the blue-violet color.
Katarantus is a plant with a maximum height of 60 cm. It differs in erect stems and long dark green leaves (7 cm). They are brilliant and have white veins in the middle. Flowering period: from early May to early October.
Katarantus: home care
Fans of this plant who are going to grow it, it is important to follow some rules, so that a wonderful and healthy catharanthus will grow. Home care consists in following the following tips:
- Lighting. The plant prefers diffused light, although it also takes root on the windowsill. It is important only not to forget to protect it from direct sunlight in the morning. In winter, it is also necessary to provide a warm place for the catharanthus. In case of poor lighting, the plant will stretch its stems up.
- Temperature. The ideal temperature for pink periwinkle in summer is a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius. In winter, this figure is only 16 degrees.
- Watering. Categorically, it is not recommended to bring the catharanthus to dry. At home, it is necessary to provide the plant with three times a day watering. With an overfilled gulf of pink periwinkle, there is a risk of decay of the plant roots. Therefore, after 15 minutes after irrigation, it is important to drain the water from the pan.
- Pruning is an important stage in the life of a plant such as catharanthus. Home care in this direction should be carried out every spring.
- Fertilizer application. It is advisable to feed the plant three times a year: in summer, spring and autumn.
Compliance with the above recommendations will ensure that the cataranthus has a fresh, healthy and attractive appearance.
Katarantus: growing and care
There are two ways to propagate pink periwinkle:
- by seeds;
- cuttings (vegetatively).
Particular attention should be paid to soil preparation. For her, a mixture of peat, humus, sod land and coarse sand will be a great option. Each component is taken in the same amount.
It is recommended to take the pot for planting with a hole. It is also important not to forget about drainage, which can serve as stones, pebbles or expanded clay. This solution will remove excess water and prevent root decay. To prevent the hole from clogging, it must be regularly cleaned.
Propagation of catharanthus by cuttings
Green cuttings from the top, which are often rich in catharanthus, are perfect for this purpose. Reproduction is carried out in two ways:
- the stalk is placed in water for germination;
- the stalk is immediately planted in moist soil, while covering it with a bag to create the effect of a greenhouse.
The most suitable time for picking cuttings: spring (after pruning). You can also plant them in the fall. The optimal temperature indicator for rooting cuttings is at least 20 degrees Celsius.
Catharanthus transplant
Spring is the perfect time to transplant a plant. Some recommendations on this subject:
- The pot is selected several sizes larger than the old.
- It is important to disinfect the container for planting, at least pour boiling water over it.
- Catharanthus roots are too tender, so it is very important not to damage them.
- The root system must be carefully inspected before transplantation to determine the dead roots. If they are found, it is necessary to remove this area (4 cm higher from the diseased part). It is also advisable to disinfect a blade or scissors to avoid contamination of another part of the root system.
- The root wound is sprinkled with charcoal crumbs.
These 5 rules for successful transplantation of Catharanthus are fundamental to this process.
Problems with growing pink periwinkle
The pests that encroach on this plant are aphids, scale insects and spider mites. Therefore, when taking a catharanthus from the garden to the house, it is important to carefully inspect the plant for the detection of these “enemies”. In the event that, nevertheless, they exist, one must act as follows:
- take a brush, moisten it in alcohol, then carefully remove pests;
- to process leaves with a soap solution.
If the plant is not provided with reliable care, then soon the cataranthus may have problems, such as:
- yellowing and dying of leaves (from direct sunlight);
- observation of a tendency to decrease flowers - too cold air in the room;
- yellowing of the tips of the leaves - insufficient moisture in the air.
It should also be remembered that the plant must be transplanted on time, otherwise it will cease to bloom at all.
The healing properties of pink periwinkle
Medicines are prepared on the basis of a plant that bears the proud name of Catharanthus. Its medicinal properties are used in both alternative and official medicine.
To create drugs, it is the aerial part of the pink periwinkle that is used. It is harvested during the flowering period.
Catharanthus has the following therapeutic effect:
- anti-inflammatory;
- wound healing;
- antimicrobial;
- hemostatic;
- antidiabetic.
Periwinkle pink successfully fights the symptoms of the following diseases:
- acute leukemia;
- diabetes mellitus;
- tumors of various etymologies (thyroid tumor, myoma, polyps, cyst, prostate adenoma);
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- blood diseases;
- trophic skin ulcer and other non-healing wounds on the skin;
- eczema and psoriasis;
- some gastrointestinal diseases.
The use of this plant is necessary under the strict supervision of a doctor, since the pink periwinkle is, first of all, a poisonous plant. It is contraindicated to use it for medicinal purposes to people suffering from low blood pressure and patients with vegetovascular dystonia. It is strictly forbidden to give decoctions from Catharanthus to children.
Katarantus is a wonderful ornamental plant that is easy to grow at home. Only the application of an integrated approach in the process of caring for it contributes to the successful growth and flowering of pink periwinkle.