Strobilantes

Strobilantes: a description of the indoor flower

Strobilantes flower: photo of a houseplant

Strobilanthes is the name of the genus of shrub perennials belonging to the Akantovs. It includes about 250 species of both evergreen and deciduous plants. The distribution area of ​​Strobilantes is the marshy areas of the island of Madagascar, as well as the Asian tropics.

External characteristics

In the wild, the Strobilantes flower is not very tall, therefore it is quite suitable for home cultivation. As a rule, growers change the plant to a new one after the old bush grows to 0.4 m - at this moment it loses its compact shape and attractive appearance. Since strobilantes are distinguished by high growth rates, they often have to be replaced with new specimens - as a rule, when they reach the age of two.

Strobilantes is characterized by the presence of branched straight stems. The main advantage of the plant is foliage: its deep dark green color has a beautiful silvery-purple tint. For this reason, it is recommended to grow it in light-colored pots and containers that contrast with the color of the leaves. The petiolate leaf plates have an elongated shape and a pointed tip: they can reach 15 cm in length and about 5 cm in width.With age, the foliage of strobilantes loses its
rich and unusual color: the surface of the leaves becomes silvery with a dark mesh of veins. Small teeth run along the edge of the leaf plates.

The flowering period of Strobilantes falls in the summer months, but it occurs extremely rarely under indoor growing conditions. The blue flowers blooming on the tops of the peduncles are not distinguished by outstanding decorative qualities and look inconspicuous in comparison with the beautifully colored foliage of a young plant. Experienced growers prefer to remove Strobilantes peduncles immediately after they appear, so that the flowers do not take away nutrients and moisture from the foliage.

Strobilantes: home care and cultivation

The Strobilantes plant thrives on home growing. Since its natural growing environment is characterized by certain temperature and light indicators, as well as a certain level of soil and air humidity, in a city apartment it is necessary to create conditions as close as possible to natural conditions for keeping this tropical plant. In general, the strobilantes houseplant is unpretentious and needs only the simplest care procedures. An exception is the pruning necessary to preserve the shape of the bush: it is recommended to cut the stems and shoots above the leaf nodes, making an incision at an angle. Thus, the Strobilantes flower will branch more strongly and form a dense crown.

Temperature regime

During the warm half of the year, Strobilantes will be comfortable at normal room temperature. In the autumn-winter period, the best solution would be to keep it in a cooler room at a temperature of at least 13 degrees.

Strobilantes flower: photo of a houseplant

Lighting mode

The houseplant Strobilantes is a light-loving plant, but in its natural habitat it is used to diffused lighting. Therefore, at home for Strobilantes, it is necessary to choose a well-lit place, while it must be protected from direct sunlight during the day.Under their influence, foliage can fade and lose its attractive appearance.

Requirements for the composition of the soil

Strobilantes prefers loose, well-drained nutrient soils. The high content of organic matter (leaf humus) will increase the nutritional value of the soil.

Fertilization

During the period of active growth, which lasts from May to September, it is recommended to feed the houseplant strobilantes with fertilizers. At this moment, the plant needs additional nutrition and the intake of useful elements. For these purposes, liquid complexes are best suited, applied to the soil at intervals of 1 time in 14 days.

Indoor humidity level

The optimal indicator of air humidity in the room where strobilantes grows is from 40% to 50%. Maintaining a constant level of humidity in the room can be done using simple methods. For example, you can fill a tray with wet pebbles or sphagnum moss and place a plant pot on it. Spraying is not recommended - moisture should not get on the leaves of strobilantesva. During the heating season, it is necessary to place the plant pot away from radiators and heating appliances.

Moistening the soil

In the spring-summer period, watering the strobilantes houseplant should be quite frequent and abundant. In the intervals between moistening procedures, the soil in the pot should have time to dry out. With the arrival of autumn, the frequency of irrigation and the amount of water used for them should be reduced. In winter, Strobilantes is dormant for 3 months and does not need watering and feeding.

Transplant instructions

Strobilantes are rarely transplanted - as a rule, they are simply replaced with a new plant when they reach the age of two. They resort to transplanting only when the root system of the bush begins to peek out of the holes in the bottom of the pot intended for drainage. The best time to transplant strobilantes is spring.

Strobilantes: reproduction

The simplest way to propagate Strobilantes is by cuttings. Cuttings are cut below the leaf nodes, their length should be about 10 cm. From the bottom of each cut, you need to remove the leaves, and then lower it into a powder that stimulates the formation of roots. Then the cuttings must be planted in containers filled with peat and sand. The container with Strobilantes cuttings should be covered with a glass or plastic cap and placed in a well-lit place, protected from direct sunlight.
Once the cuttings have taken root, the cap can be removed and then transplanted into a permanent location.

Protection from pests and diseases

All health problems of strobilantes, as a rule, are associated with a violation of recommendations for caring for him. If the foliage of the plant begins to fade, it means that there is not enough light in the room, or the air temperature is too low. Excessive dryness of the air provokes drying of the foliage, which takes on a brown tint. As for pests, the main enemy of Strobilantes is the red spider mite, which can be eliminated through the use of insecticides.