Lovers of turning their home into a blooming garden cannot pass by eskhinantusov. Their juicy green twigs effectively hang from hanging pots, thereby creating an atmosphere of tenderness and comfort. Knowing all the vagaries of these plants, it is possible to achieve that these branches become strewn with bright original flowers. In our article we will tell what these indoor flowers are so famous for . Eschinanthus, photo, cultivation, care, the reproduction of which will be presented to your attention, is a flower with its own characteristics and secrets. But as soon as all the nuances become known in detail, then you will not have any difficulties with him.
Distribution area
Aeschynanthus flowers (scientifically Aeschynanthus) in homes, and in specialized stores are quite rare. The reason here, most likely, is a certain moodiness of the plant. After all, it came to us from the tropics and subtropics of Indochina and the Malay Islands, where the climate is very peculiar. Externally, the flowers of eschinanthus are lianiform, rarely shrubbery, occupy the second "high" level. By type, they are epiphytes, that is, they try to be attached to other plants all their lives. That is, they almost never spread underfoot and do not rise to the very tops of trees. They are quite satisfied with life in a moist warm undergrowth under the canopy of those giants whose trunks they tenaciously wrap around.
Botanical Description
The eschinanthus plant got its name for the unusual appearance of flowers. Translated from ancient Greek, it means "distorted flower." First, large cups of a green or purple hue appear on the branch, and after about 20 days, bright balls protrude from there, which gradually turn into flowers. For this feature, flowers of eschinanthus are popularly called "lipstick."
They belong to the category of ampelous, grow, hanging from a cache-pot with thin lashes-stems up to a meter long, lignified at the base. The stems are densely covered with juicy slightly stiff leaves on short petioles. Their color is deep green. The plate has a length of up to 100 mm, a width of up to 30 mm and a somewhat elongated shape. Their flowers are large, each individually, rather, original than beautiful, has the shape of a gramophone, from which large stamens peek out on long stamen strings. Flowers are arranged in 8-10 pieces at the ends of the stems and all together give the plant an exclusive, luxurious look. Eschinanthus fruits are long (up to 15 cm) capsules with seeds inside.
A place for eskhinantusov in the apartment
These plants love everything to be like in their natural home - light, warm and humid. Therefore, the flowers of the eschinanthus feel best near windows where there is enough daylight from the street, but there is no direct sunlight, because they are plants of the second level, not the first. They also don't like the lack of sun. On the darkened windows, they refuse to bloom, and their stems become less lush. In the months when the day becomes short and the sky is often overcast, eskhinantusov need to connect additional lighting. The cache-pot in which they grow is advisable to attach to the bracket, then their lush branches will hang beautifully down. You can also put them on cabinets or shelves, but not just on the windowsill. Not all types look spectacular here.
Seed propagation
Despite the fact that the eschinanthus flower is considered capricious, the reproduction of this Tropican does not cause difficulties. The only nuance that needs to be taken into account is that this process goes better in the spring, with the beginning of active vegetation, and in winter, when the plant is in relative peace, it is better not to touch it.
There are two ways to propagate eschinanthus - seed and vegetative.
It is propagated by seeds only for breeding work and in cases when it is impossible to get a flower differently. Seeds should be placed on a damp substrate, covered with glass, put the container on a warm windowsill. For watering, do not lift the glass, just a container, in the bottom of which there must be holes, periodically place in a pan with water. When the sprouts hatch, the glass needs to be moved, leaving a gap, but not removed. It is needed to provide humidity. When the seedlings grow some real leaves, they need to be dived into pots. Seed eschinanthus blooms in a year.
Vegetative propagation
It is important to know what eskhinantus care requires. Reproduction vegetatively is not only an elementary way to breed this flower, but also an important component for ensuring its life. After flowering, the plant must be cut so that the whips do not stretch too much. Then his appearance will be prettier, and the next flowering more plentiful. And without trimming, the old lashes will stretch out a lot, the leaves on them will begin to dry, because it will be difficult for the plant to provide them with proper nutrition. All cropped lashes should be shortened to 15 cm (leave 5 internodes on them) and put in water. After a short time, they will release their roots and turn into independent flowers of eschinanthus. Cuttings from lashes can be placed not in water, but in wet sand (clean can, can with peat). As a rule, they also take root easily. For best results, containers with cuttings should be covered with a plastic film.
Aeschinanthus grow and flourish for about 4 years, and then degenerate. In order not to lose the plant, you need to take cuttings from the “old man” and grow healthy healthy young animals from them in the above way. Cuttings take root in the water all year round, but are most active in spring and summer.
Landing
The flowers of the eschinanthus do not show excessive requirements for the soil. They need a pH level of neutral or slightly alkaline (5-7). Soil can be bought ready-made, or you can make it yourself. To do this, mix garden soil, sand, sphagnum and peat (2: 1: 1: 2). Some gardeners add 1 part of humus to this mixture. The eschinanthus pot should not be too shallow, not very large, but must be of such depth that the soil and drainage layer are at least 3 cm thick. Each year, it is advisable for the eschinanthus to change their house to a little larger. The transplant is carried out by the method of transshipment, without violating the earthen coma.
Eschinanthus flower: how to care
These Tropicans should live in a warm room where there is not the slightest draft, and the air temperature during the growing season is around +24 ° C. Then the plant will not drop leaves and buds. Watering should be provided abundant, but without fanaticism, in order to prevent root decay. It is best to water the plants as soon as the soil in the pot becomes dry. Aeschinanthus do not like cold water, so you need to defend it before watering. Also, they do not like hard and calcined water. If this is exactly what is flowing from your tap, it is advisable not to water it with eshinanthus.
It is extremely important for the fastidious Tropicans to provide them with high humidity in the air. The easiest way is to regularly spray the leaves of the plant with a spray bottle.
Nutrient eschinanthus is very beneficial. You need to do them every 14 days throughout the growing season. Ready-made complex fertilizers for flowering indoor plants are suitable .
In winter, eshinanthus should rest. It is advisable to move them to a room with a temperature of +16 ° C, slightly reduce watering, and spray not only the entire plant, but only the air surrounding it.
Diseases and Pests
The care of any houseplant includes its protection against pests. The diseases of eschinanthus, a domestic flower with character, occur due to errors in care. So, he begins to drop leaves and buds due to low humidity, insufficient watering and drafts. Stains on its leaves may appear from irrigation with cold water, and spots on the flowers from water getting on the petals. The refusal to bloom the eskhinantus will be without good lighting and without a period of rest provided for it. There are more serious diseases, such as gray rot or root rot. They come from busting with watering. Also, rot microbes can be brought in with soil that has not previously been disinfected.
Of the pests, eschinanthus flowers like thrips, mealybugs, spider mites and aphids. If these insects are found, plants should be sprayed with insecticides.
Species diversity
In total, about 190 species of eschinanthus are known, and there are several hundred varieties of it. Such types are often found in the collections of our gardeners:
- "Marble". This eschinanthus is decorative and without flowers. Its leaves are green on top with yellowish-green streaks and spots, and white below with red streaks, which gives them a marbling effect. For this species, it is extremely important to live in sufficient light. Without it, marbling disappears. But his flowers, although large, not very luxurious, have olive-green tones. Appear in the winter.
- "Mona Lisa." This flower has a very gentle name and the same gentle appearance. "Mona Lisa" is an eskhinantus, the most popular and not as capricious as other species. However, there are flower growers who consider him the most moody. His whips effectively hang from the cache-pot with stems decorated with dense leaves with a dark green hue, which are wide with a sharp tip. Its flowers are bright red, 4-6 at the ends of the stems.
- "Twister." This eschinanthus has smaller leaves than the rest, but they are twisted, which gives the plant extravagance. His flowers are orange-red.
- "Rocky". In nature, it can grow among stones or between tree trunks, clinging to its bark with roots. Its leaves are dark green with denticles, the flowers are falling, blue with purple.
- "Beautiful". The leaves of this eschinanthus are green with a reddish border, the stems are also reddish. The flowers have a greenish cup, yellow-orange to bright red petals and pink pharynx.
Classical eschinanthus species have orange-red flowers, but varieties with white, lilac, pink and even multi-colored petals are now bred.