Flowers at home, or Growing and planting Catharanthus

Katarantus is a tropical evergreen crop with a height of 60 cm. It is a shrub that is characterized by upright stems. They are distinguished by strong branching in the upper part of the bush.

Sedentary leaves have an opposite arrangement, an oblong-lanceolate shape and a solid edge. The color is dark green.

The plant is appreciated by flower growers for beautiful flowering and unpretentiousness in care. Next, we will tell you what methods of reproduction are available, what soil is needed, and also what difficulties a flower grower may encounter.

The best time to land

Landing is best done in late winter or early spring. Well, more accurate terms depend on which method of reproduction is used:

• seminal;
• cuttings;
• division of the bush.

Soil preparation

The plant grows on fertile lands. You can buy the substrate in the store. Choose soil designed for geraniums. But it is better to use a mixture prepared at home for growing flowers.

To do this, combine the following components in equal amounts:

• sand;
• humus;
• turf and leaf land;
• peat.

The acidity of the soil should be in the range of 5.5-5.9. Katarantus does not like too heavy land, and its growth stops when grown on salty and sour soil.

Before planting, the substrate must be prepared:

1. Pour the earth with a solution of potassium permanganate.
2. Then send to the oven for baking at a temperature of 22 degrees.

Breeding methods

Seeds

This method of reproduction is the most popular. It has several advantages:

• planting material is sold everywhere and is inexpensive;
• a wide selection of species and varieties that are sold as seeds;
• Compared to cuttings that are easily injured during transportation, light sachets can be transported without problems even from the other end of the world.

The seed propagation method has its drawbacks, among which:

1. When buying seeds, it is not known what will result. Very often, instead of an ornamental plant, an ordinary weed emerges.
2. Unscrupulous sellers put in a bag a smaller amount of seeds than it should be.
3. The expiration date on the packaging may not correspond to reality. If the seeds are expired, then they may not sprout.
4. The duration of seed germination and obtaining a plant from them is longer than when using cuttings. And the formation of flowers and ovaries occurs later.

Landing activities should be carried out at the end of winter or in spring. To do this, prepare containers or a bowl. Procedure:

1. Lay the planting material in the soil to a depth of 1-2 cm. Only thoroughly pour the soil.
2. Cover the seedlings with polyethylene, as the seeds germinate only in the dark.
3. Shoots appear after 7-10 days. They are friendly, if you provide them with a temperature of at least 22-24 degrees.
4. As soon as the sprouts have formed, they need to be brought to light and lower the temperature slightly.
5. After 2 weeks, apply fertilizer with a minimum concentration of phosphorus.
6. When 4 true leaves are formed, then you can proceed to picking.Recommendation. If before this the plants were grown in a pot, then they should be planted in 2-3 copies in one container. Then the bushes will be lush and smart.

In detail about how to grow a catharanthus from seeds at home, read our material.

Cuttings

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

Propagation by cuttings is a procedure during which you can get a certain type of plant with a fast flowering time. This is the main advantage of the method, since the seed method allows you to see the first flowers after 2-3 years. As for the shortcomings, they are few, or rather one - this is the complexity of the procedure, as there are situations when planting material does not take root.

What do you need to start?

To reproduce the cataranthus, you must:

1. Prepare young bushes.
2. It is necessary to cut green shoots from them, the length of which is 10-15 cm.
3. Remove the lower leaves, and cut the slice with Kornevin.

Rooting procedure

1. Place the planting material in a wet mixture of peat and perlite, taken in equal proportions.
2. Cover the top of the container with a lid from the minicar.
3. For 3-4 weeks, regularly ventilate by spraying the cuttings with water and watering them.
4. Prepared planting material must be planted in a light, nutritious soil mixture. Do it carefully so as not to harm the delicate roots.
5. The rooting of the cuttings can occur in stagnant or boiled water with the addition of a growth stimulant.
6. Install the container with the handle in a bright and warm place.
7. Water is to be added as needed.

Division

This method is simple and very effective. Due to the withering away of the central part of the measles system and the lignified base, the catharanthus splits into particles. They have roots and stems that are ready for independent life. Adult bushes are subjected to division in April-May. Usually, delenki quickly and well take root, quickly adapt to a new place and grow actively.

Pros and cons of the method

The main advantage of this method is the preservation of the root system of each new instance. This leads to active development, which does not occur when grafting or breeding from seeds. Another advantage of the method is that it can be combined with a transplant of the main plant, which is also carried out in the spring.

Bush preparation

Dividing the bush is better in March-April. This is the most prosperous time when neither hot nor cold. Also during this period there is an active growth of young shoots. Procedure:

1. Carefully remove the mother flower from the pot.
2. Do everything without pressure so as not to injure the leaves or trunk. And to prevent damage to the roots will help the use of garden scapula.
3. Divide the plant into several parts by hand.

Step-by-step instruction

So that the growth rate of new flowers does not stop, plant the plant in the soil immediatelyadhering to the following action plan:

1. Pour drainage into the pot, and on top a small amount of the nutrient mixture.
2. Arrange a flower in the soil in the middle of the container and spread the roots evenly in a circle.
3. Hold the bush with one hand and sprinkle the earth on each side.
4. Slightly pull the plant up so that the root system carefully straightens.
5. Add soil to the top of the tank. Using your fingers, gently compact the soil and water the plant.
6. Until the root system is completely renewed, young plants should not be exposed to direct sunlight.

Photo

Check out the photo of the catharanthus below:

Features of care and growing

Location selection and temperature

Katarantus grown in a pot should be placed on windows facing west or east. The plant responds positively to good lighting, but will not tolerate direct sunlight. If there is not enough light, the stalks of the culture will begin to thin and stretch, and the number of flowers will decrease.

Temperature indicators in the room should be within 15-30 degrees. Since katarantus is a tropical plant, the temperature should not drop to 8 degrees. On warm days, bring the flower to the balcony or courtyard. Then the plant will be able to get enough fresh air.

If the catharantus should become a decoration of the garden, then it should be accustomed to bright lighting gradually. The landing site is quiet and protected from wind and draft. Otherwise, the plant will die. With the onset of winter, do not leave the cataractus on the street. To preserve the plant, you need to break down the cuttings, root them and keep them for the period of cold in the house.

Watering and humidity

• The soil must be wet at all times.
• The presence of stagnant water is unacceptable, as this will lead to rotting of the roots.
• The plant responds positively to daily spraying with water at room temperature.
• To increase humidity, install the flower pot in a tray with wet expanded clay.

Trimming and shaping a bush

Since the plant is characterized by rapid growth, then pruning his shoots is a necessary procedure. For a long-term culture, after winter rest, it is necessary to cut 1/3 of the shoots that are extended during the winter.

Damaged and dried branches are also subject to removal. In the process of pruning, you need to give the bush the desired shape. The procedure is performed in early spring.

She will rejuvenate the flower, give him more strength for active growth. Compact and beautiful the crown of a young catharanthus can be formed by pinching the ends of the shoots. They will stop growing upward, and the growth of the side branches will make the crown thick and decorative.

Only during flowering will have to follow the decorative appearance of the plant. Remove all wilted flowers and yellowed leaves regularly, as they violate the appearance of the bush.

Fertilizers

From early spring to winter, the plant needs regular top dressing. Add them every 2 weeks. For this, compositions intended for flowering ornamental plants are suitable. Dosage is taken 2 times less than that indicated in the instructions. With the onset of winter, stop fertilizing.

Transfer

Kataranthus are fast growing, so they need an annual transplant. In the summer, you need to spend several passes in new tanks. Frequent transplantation is the key to good growth and flowering of culture. If this is not done, then the root system will grow, and the flower itself will stop blooming, the leaves will turn yellow and fall off.

To prepare the mixture, take in equal proportions:

• turf and leaf land;
• sand;
• peat;
• humus.

It is imperative to consider drainage in the pot.

Read more about the rules of planting and further care for catharanthus at home, and from this article you will learn how to care for a plant in open ground.

Possible problems

When growing Catharanthus, the following problems are possible:

1. Dark tubercles formed on the outside of the leaves. This is a symptom of a disease like rust. The main reason for the development is waterlogging of the soil. Treatment is carried out using fungicides. Also, the plant will have to be transplanted into another container with a new substrate.
2. On the shoots, the leaves began to fade and turn yellow. This problem occurs if the flower pot is exposed to direct sunlight. You can save the plant if you create protection against such bright lighting with a curtain or blinds.
3. The tips of the leaves turn yellow. This happens when the air humidity in the room is too low. In winter, heating appliances can affect the development of yellowness. To correct the situation, a wide water tank will help, which is installed near the flower. If there are no flowers on the cataranthus, then spray its leaves with standing warm water.

What to do if it does not take root?

If the plant does not want to take root, then it is necessary to review the conditions of its maintenance. The main cause of this problem is poor irrigation and low temperature. Also, the quality of the soil affects this process. It must be nutritious and loose. If all these causes are eliminated, then the plant will certainly take root and will delight long, lush flowering.

Cultivation of catharanthus is a simple process, although quite responsible. There are three ways to propagate it, so that each grower will be able to choose a suitable option for himself. And regular and proper care will allow the plant to maintain its decorative appearance, and never hurt.

Useful video

Watch the video about landing Katarantus and caring for him:

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