Success with house plants such as African violets, gloxinias, Cupid’s bowers, Cape primroses, and flame violets depends on consistent moisture and light
Plants can do the same for the inside of our homes as they can for the outside . And , candidly , indoor plants require much less precaution than outside ones . But plant produce indoors extend in the main leafage and a few , scant - lived flowers — unless you consider African violets and their cousins .
Most gesneriads ( the name for this family of plants ) hail from tropical clime , so they thrive and blossom copiously in warm , humid daub with relatively low quantity of illumination . Many are a achievable size of it and fit well on any windowsill or end table . And if you ’re starting to think they must be intemperate to manage for , they ’re not . Aside from the episodic dormant period , gesneriads demand only logical moisture and light to sum their blossom to a room .
African violets bloom in many colors
It seems like most people have or have had at least one African violet ( Saintpauliacvs . ) on their windowsill . Their universal popularity is due to their easy , unceasing blooms and wide range of gleam bloom colors . In addition to the common shades of violet and puritanical , African violets can display white , pinkish , or striped efflorescence . Their leaf offers variety , as well , with smooth or fluted sharpness that can be variegated or even speckled .
distance is never really a concern with these plants since they will only get around a foot wide . you could even find out miniature varieties small enough to conform to in a thimbleful . Whatever size you wind up with , err on the side of a stack that is too small rather than too turgid . African violets do n’t mind being cramped , and the minuscule pot cut down the chance of overwatering .
African violets get leggy but can be saved
African violet ’s leaves are borne in a tight rosette , fanning out from a primal stem like rung in a wheel . When a plant is young and grow in equal light , this stem is not noticeable . When , however , a plant life has “ stretched ” from low abstemious exposure or has grown for a few years , the shank shows itself and the plant becomes top dense . Also , some of the lower leaves may die and devolve off , robbing the plant of some of its elegance . Here are two solutions to this trouble .
• RepottingIf the exposed root is about inch or so , the simplest approach is to remove any damaged lower leaves and repot the African violet so that the stem turn is bury in the potting grunge and the existing leaves again are affluent with the top of the pot . New tooth root will form on this bury stem .
• RerootingIf the let on stalk is a few inch eminent , cut the integral top fortune off . Remove about one - third of the lower leaves , dip this cutting in rooting hormone , and place it in a container of dampened potting mix .
traverse the great deal with a clear fictile suitcase , with post in the pot to keep the bag from relate the leaves . rank the plant in diffused light , rather than direct sunshine . Place a rubber banding around the base of the bag so it grips the potbelly tightly to nurse in the humidity . You wo n’t have to water the plant again until it is rerooted , in about six weeks . Then , remove the cup of tea , and you ’ll have a rejuvenated African violet .
Gloxinias rebloom after a little rest
Gloxinias ( Sinningiaspp . and cvs . ) used to be a plant frequently found in florist shops , but now they do n’t seem to get much respect . Their single or double blossom — which come in most shades of juicy , red , and white — show they are certainly suitable of your attention .
Although the florists ’ gloxinia ( Sinningia speciosa ) is the most spectacular and commonly sleep together gloxinia , other specie are equally remarkable , including the charmingSinningia cardinaliswith scarlet tubular flowers . Sinningia pusilla , with ½-inch lilac flowers on plants not much larger , revel high humidity than other gloxinias and wait great in a terrarium .
Many people think that once a gloxinia stops blooming , it ’s all in . They do n’t realise that the plant go through a torpid period before it will blossom again . To get your gloxinia to rebloom , cut back off all but the bottom two leave after the plant is done blooming . It will then post out side branches and bloom again . After this second rosiness , foreshorten off the foliage to soil level and let the tuber repose for a few months at room temperature in an area with picayune light . water supply it just frequently enough to forestall the dirt from acquire completely dry . After about three month , slightly increase the watering and put it in a brilliant , warm ( 70 ° F or higher ) slur , and it will start the cycle all over again .
Cupid’s bowers have plenty of color
Cupid ’s bowers ( Achimenesspp . and cvs . ) are load with lucent , pansylike flower up to ½ inch across in a wide range of smart as a whip colors . Most have fuzzy , light to dark fleeceable or red to bronze leaf . Some varieties have upright habits suited for a container , while others are more pendulous and excel in hanging baskets . The newer introductions have larger bloom and a more compact plant substance abuse .
The growing time of year for Cupid ’s bowers normally starts in early spring . You need to provide copious moisture , enough to keep them always moist , and to give them some bottom heat , either from a cum - begin rut mat or a heat register . Once they start turn , never let them dry out out or they may go dormant . If you want more compact plants , pinch back the new emergence when it is several inches improbable .
Cupid ’s pergola bloom summer through fall , when the temperature begins to throw and the light start to wane . After they are eat up flower in the fall , withhold body of water and let them break back naturally . Keep them ironical until early next spring when you could start the cycle all over again .
Caring for African violets and related house plants
•LIGHTAll of these plants can be grown in brightly diffused lightness — on a windowsill facing north or due east during the summertime and Confederacy or E during the wintertime — and will grow superbly under fluorescent lighter . Temperatures that are comfortable for us — a lower limit of 60 ° F and a utmost of 90 ° F — suit them just fine .
•PESTSInsects are uncommon on gesneriad , but be on guard for mealybugs that sometimes show up as white patch in the axil of the leafage . When conditions are blistering and ironical , these plants can become susceptible to various mites . For small pest invasions , simply spray the pests off with warm water . If this is does n’t do the trick , try insecticidal max or sluttish oil sprays .
•WATERThey all do best with even , constant soil moisture ; the medium should be damp but not soggy . This is best achieve by growing them in a commercial African reddish blue mixture or any peat - based mix with perlite or vermiculite . Self - watering batch ( ones with reservoir at the bottom for water ) are utilitarian for maintaining proper wet . If you water the plants from the top , be sure to apply water at way temperature ; cold water causes permanent spots on gesneriads with hairy leaves . I ’ve had success with both slow - release and water - soluble fertilizers . gesneriad are n’t fussy regarding fertiliser , so there is no need for a special African reddish blue admixture .
•HUMIDITYAs is the pillowcase with most houseplants originating from the tropics , a humidity range of 50 percent to 60 percent is ideal . plant can point low humidity by show a deficiency of vigor , by displaying brown summit or edges , and by have flower buds that dry up before they open .
During the wintertime , most homes with force air or any other drying heating plant seed have a relative humidness of 15 percent or less — very close to levels found in a desert . Misting industrial plant by hand pop the question only impermanent consequence , and mineral deposits in the water be given to cake or spot the leaf .
To add humidity , I apply those plastic grids that hide fluorescent lighter in offices ( have a go at it as nut - crate louvers and available in any habitation store ) . Using a hacksaw , I cut the grid to fit my tray . I then satiate the tray with water and allow it evaporate . The rigidity of the charge plate prevents the plants from touch the water in the tray . The water surface is entirely exposed to the gentle wind so that it readily evaporates to render the wanted humidity . sporadically remove the plastic grid and wash off it with a disinfectant to prevent algae growth .
Cape primroses can bloom all year
In the yesteryear , ness primrose ( Streptocarpusspp . and cvs . ) flower infrequently and grew huge , straplike leaves that made them unwieldy for anyone without a glasshouse . But thanks to advanced upbringing , today ’s selections , peculiarly the multiflora types , are com-pact and have velvety heyday in a plethora of colors including royal , blue , pink , red , and white .
If you take caution of these works , they can bloom year - round . To ensure right drainage , imbed them so that the crown of the plant life is about ½ inch above the dirt level in the gage . If the peak gets wet too often , it can waste . The soil should be moist but not soggy . Cape primroses like it cool than most other gesneriad , so during very hot weather ( above 90 ° F ) , the plants will wilt to show their unhappiness . Again , keep them damp but not squiffy during this period , and they will recuperate as presently as it chill down a piece .
Flame violets have appealing foliage, too
Although flame violet ( Episciaspp . and cvs . ) have shine flowers , they are really take down for their owing foliage . The oblong leaves come in several colors : pink and white , copper , red , and many shades of green and silver . The combination of freehanded foliage and striking bloom makes a mature hanging basket a spectacular heap . More than any of the other gesneriad , flame violet are especially sensitive to the coldness . Never let them be exposed to temperature below 55 ° F to 60 ° degree Fahrenheit or they may collapse and not recover .
Since flame reddish blue do n’t go dormant , they are unwavering cultivator , finally filling a 12 - inch hang up handbasket with foliage that cascades 18 column inch or more . In winter , they may go out of flower , but if you keep them under lights , you should always have efflorescence .
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Cape primroses will only pout in high temperatures.Photo/Illustration: Steven A. Frowine
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Cape primroses will only pout in high temperatures.Photo/Illustration: Steven A. Frowine
Good drainage keeps your Cape primrose healthy. Letting the soil get a little dry doesn’t hurt the plant, but getting it too soggy can cause crown rot.Photo/Illustration: Leonie Mills, provided by Ron Myhr
