All the secrets of growing gloxinia or sinningia in an apartment: photos, varieties, master class

Sinningia is a herbaceous perennial from the Gesneriaceae family. Its homeland is the tropical forests of Central and Latin America near the Atlantic coast. It came to Europe at the beginning of the 18th century. and immediately gained popularity. Huge bright flowers of Sinningia are the main value. During the flowering period, they resemble a beautiful, albeit miniature, bouquet. Thanks to the work of breeders, today many ornamental varieties have been bred, which differ in the size of the bush, the structure and color of the buds.

Sinningia

Botanical description and history

Gloxinia has a second name “sinningia” . It originated in Brazil. There are more than 50 species of this plant. It is a tuberous plant. It is a perennial tropical shrub and herb. Stem erect, leaves and stem covered with hairs or glabrous.

ATTENTION : Gloxinia sonata has bright, velvety and single flowers. The corolla comes in a variety of colors, from white or purple to brown. It has four stamens and small seeds. Gloxinia is found on rocks, in the shade of a forest, near river banks.

Sinningia: diversity of species

Sinningia is a perennial herbaceous plant that forms rosettes of leaves planted on short petioles. The egg-shaped leaf blades have a dark green tint. The shape, size and color of the buds, depending on the variety, can be very diverse. There are plants with flowers in which the petals have a simple shape or corrugated edges, with buds pointing up or down. The color palette includes dozens of shades, starting with pinks and purples, ending with blues and purples. Interesting two-color buds, for example, red with a white border.

Flowers with a simple shape have a corolla that visually resembles a six-petaled bell, while hybrids created on their basis have semi-double and double lush inflorescences. The diameter of the blossoming buds varies from 2.5 cm to 10 cm.

Sinningia Pusilla

Sinningia Leucotricha

In nature, there are about 65 species of this culture. Most of them received official status only in 2012. Species synningias are interesting due to their variety of forms. Among them there are miniature beauties up to 2 cm high S. Pusilla, drought-resistant succulents S. Leucotricha, shade-tolerant exotics S. Reitzii...

In indoor floriculture, the most widespread species is Sinningia speciosa. Representatives of this species have spectacular buds of bizarre shapes and interesting colors.

Sinningia speciosa

Initially, this species was introduced into culture under the name Speciosa, better known as Gloxinia beautiful. The name was successfully assigned to the exotic. Today, many gardeners mistakenly call Speciosa by the name Gloxinia.

In fact, plants vary greatly:

• Sinningia has tuberous roots;
• Gloxinia - scaly rhizomes.

Today, hybrids of Sinningia beautiful are often found on sale, presented by manufacturers as grown from Gloxinia seeds. Plants created by breeders solely for the sake of gorgeous buds have a weak root system, and therefore die after a dormant period without recovering.

Representatives of the species Sinningia leucotricha - white-haired Sinningia - look no less interesting. All of them have large trunks that visually resemble balls. The diameter of the caudexes can reach 20 cm. During the growing season, fleshy stems of a light green hue appear on the above-ground thickening of the crop. The tops of the stems are decorated with leaves collected in rosettes. Due to this unusual structure, Sinningia white-haired is very reminiscent of a miniature palm tree. The main “highlight” of representatives of this species is the presence of felt pubescence. Soft white hairs cover the stems, leaves and even the buds of the plant.

Description of the plant

Sinningia or gloxinia, as it is sometimes called, is a herbaceous plant with a rather massive tuber. Its diameter increases annually and can reach 40 cm. The flattened tuber has a rough light brown surface with thin, thread-like roots.

Above the soil surface are soft, pubescent shoots of green or reddish color. Together with leaves and flowers, they can reach a height of 25 cm, but there are also dwarf varieties up to 5 cm in height. The length of the oval or heart-shaped leaves is 1-6 cm. The pubescent leaf blade can have smooth or jagged edges and a pointed end. Sometimes lighter stripes along the relief veins are visible on the surface of the leaf.

The peduncle can grow on a side or central shoot. It contains up to 10 buds on separate stalks. The pubescent, fleshy petals grow together at the base and form an elongated tube. The length of the bell is 2-6 cm. The outer edge of the bud with a diameter of 5-12 cm is divided into 5 petals. Flowering begins in March and can last up to 3 months.

Sinningia seeds ripen in small cone-shaped seed pods. They have an oblong shape and a brown smooth surface. The length of the seed does not exceed 1 mm.

The best varieties of exotic beauty

The number of hybrids and varieties of exotic beauty is so diverse that flower growers, to simplify the task, divided them into several groups. The key parameter is the shape of the flower. For example, the “Tidea” group combines varieties with corollas that have an expanded base and a concave apex. The Compact group includes small-sized plants, the diameter of whose leaves does not exceed an ordinary coin.

Depending on the size of the rosettes, synningias are divided into 4 groups:

• microminiature – up to 5 cm high;
• miniature – up to 12.5 cm high;
• compact – up to 20 cm high;
• standard – more than 20 cm.

Miniature and microminiature varieties are characterized by shortened stems of leaf blades. The annual growth of plants is achieved due to the appearance of new rows of leaves, which, like an umbrella, partially cover the previous ones. The ampel shapes look very interesting. Thus, the varieties “Deep purple” and “Tinkerbells” are advantageous in the sense that they are easy to form, quickly grow green mass and at the same time bloom continuously.

Sinningia Deep purple

The most decorative varieties are famous for:

• Treva's Treasure - bushes with medium-sized oval leaves and double tubular flowers. The pattern of petals, painted in light lavender color, is complemented by dark lilac-violet “strokes” and “rivulets”.
• Ozark First Born - has small ovoid leaves of a dark green color and large buds of a pink-violet hue, the petals of which are decorated with contrasting stripes and edging.
• Ugly Girl is a crop with small quilted leaves that form neat rosettes and graceful salmon-pink flowers. The buds are shaped like tiny jugs, the neck of which is decorated with a contrasting white and lilac pattern of dots and stripes.
• Krezdorn Yellow - bushes with small leaves, penetrated by a large number of glands, and medium-sized flowers, the petals of which are long narrow ribbons.
• Orange Zinger - plants with round green leaves forming a compact rosette and expressive tubular buds. The outer part of the petals is bright orange, while the inner part is a darker shade with crimson splashes.
• Amizade - bushes with pubescent dark green leaves and original tubular-shaped flowers. The outer side of the petals is painted purple, the inner “neck” is white, complemented by yellow stripes.
• Connect the Dots is a crop with dark green leaves with reddish veins and tubular white flowers richly decorated with purple-lilac specks.

Sinningia Ugly Girl

Sinningia Orange Zinger

Sinningia Lisa

Sinningia Texas Zebra

Sinningia Speciosa Pink

Sinningia Gabriel's Horn
A worthy competitor to the crops described above can be the variety "Lisa" with double white flowers with a wide crimson-pink border. The variety “Reitzii” with large scarlet flowers hanging in clusters above spreading leaves, “Texas Zebra” with lilac-pink buds decorated with intricate patterns, “Speciosa Pink” with large crimson flowers looks very interesting. The Gabriel's Horn variety has a special charm. It has a double corolla, in which the outer flower is wider and shorter than the inner one.

Content

Gesneriaceae family. Homeland - Atlantic coastal forests of Central and South America (mainly Brazil). There are about 65 species in nature - all of them are perennial herbaceous plants, but the most famous species of Sinningia speciosa, was originally introduced into cultivation as Gloxinia beautiful (speciosa), is still widely known to gardeners and is supplied from flower greenhouses as "gloxinia".

In fact, it’s time to move away from the incorrect name, because the true Gloxinia is gradually gaining momentum in popularity - see the description of Gloxinia. The main visual difference between gloxinia and Sinningia is that Gloxinia have long scaly rhizomes - underground rhizomes, while Sinningia have tubers. But besides this, of course, in the age of genetic engineering it is not difficult for scientists to identify any species using molecular research methods.

There is still confusion about the belonging of similar Gesneriaceae to a specific genus and species; many species from Sinningia received official status relatively recently - in 2012, so synonyms are often found.

• Sinningia speciosa is a herbaceous plant native to southeastern Brazil, with long leaves on short petioles. The leaves are uniformly green in color, velvety, ovoid or oblong, collected in a basal rosette. Flowers, depending on the variety, can be of a wide variety of shades and shapes - with a simple bend of the corolla and frilly, drooping and directed upward, pink, purple, red with a white rim, violet, white, blue, red. The corolla is bell-shaped, six-petalled, straight or drooping, the original species is simple, the varietals have double and semi-double flowers. We are used to seeing beautiful Sinningia in the most colorful versions with flowers reaching 8-10 cm in diameter, but what did the original look look like: small rosettes and flowers about 2.5 cm in diameter, simple blue flowers with a white throat, a look very similar to Gloxinia perennial, so they were endlessly confused.

Industrial greenhouses and flower producers grow and sell them as annuals intended for the season - in European countries they decorate gardens, parks, schools seasonally with them, display them in pots on cafe grounds, like petunias in our country, but after flowering they are thrown away because such hybrids come out pretty hard. If you come across plants that bloom wildly and colorfully, and then begin to wither, perhaps it is not your fault, not violations in care, but the genetic characteristics of the plant. It is not profitable for breeders of such potted plants to breed tenacious perennials; all selection is aimed exclusively at seasonal flowering. However, not everything is so sad, many Sinningias (formerly Gloxinias) adapt well to home conditions, grow nodules and leaf mass, the plants are not weakened by diseases and pests, go into hibernation in an optimal mode for them, and begin the growing season again in the spring.

Read also: Spiraea Willow: description, planting and care, photo

Types and varieties with photos

More than 30 species of Sinningia are known, including dwarf ones. Here are some of the most popular synnings.

Beautiful

Sinningia beautiful or beautiful (S. speciosa) - has light green, uniformly colored oval-shaped leaves. Tubular flowers with purple petals bloom in early spring.

Popular varieties:

• Fifiana;
• Emperor Frederik;
• Gregor Mendel.

Conspicua

Sinningia conspicua (S. Сonspicua) - a bell-shaped flower reaches a diameter of 5 cm. Its petals are colored beige, yellowish. Blooming flowers emit a pleasant lemon aroma.

Cardinal

Sinningia cardinalis (S. cardinalis) has white tubular buds.

Miniature Sinningia

Mini and microminiature varieties originate from other species that are small in their natural habitat. Here it is worth mentioning S. concinna with a rosette no more than 5 cm in diameter. From her the first miniature variety Cindy was bred.

Cindy

And tiny Sinningia (S. pusilla) became the source for most of the modern microminiature varieties.

Popular varieties of this species:

• Mont Blanc;
• Regina.

tiny

Mont Blanc

Regina

The miniature S. hirsuta and some others were also actively used in breeding work.

Khirsuta

Life cycle and dormant period of Gloxinia or Sinningia:

Sinningia or Gloxinia is a tuberous plant and therefore has a pronounced dormant period.

Autumn. Gloxinia is preparing to go into hibernation, flowering stops, the leaves on the plant begin to dry out, turn yellow and the roots begin to die. As soon as Gloxinia has begun the process of transitioning to a dormant period, it is necessary to gradually reduce watering. After all the foliage of the plant has died, it is necessary to cut the stem to a height of 1 cm above the soil level, and continue to add moisture to the pot from time to time.

• Sinningia tubiflora.

• Sinningia speciosa.

Winter. Sinningia has completely entered a dormant period; watering should be stopped completely. To store the tubers from the pot, you need to dig them up and place them over the winter. Store the tubers in a plastic container filled with slightly damp sand in a dark, cool place, for example, in a basement, garage or attic; if there is no suitable place, you can store it in a bright place, but then the container must be wrapped or covered with a thick layer of sand on top of the tubers. The ideal storage temperature is 10-14 °C. Watering during this period should be completely stopped, but in order to prevent the tubers from drying out, it is necessary to check their condition once a month and add a little moisture to the container.

Spring. When daylight hours begin to increase, the Sinningia tubers are cleaned of old dried roots, inspected for rot and, if necessary, cut off, treating the cut areas with crushed activated carbon. If the tuber is large enough and has a large number of shoots-stems, it can be divided, thus obtaining several more new specimens. For prevention, before planting, tubers can be soaked for half an hour in a solution of Fitosporin or another fungicide. After this, the tuber must be dried thoroughly. After this, you can plant in pots without deepening them too deeply, sprinkling the tops no more than 1 cm, otherwise only one shoot may grow, and others will not be able to hatch through the thickness of the earth. The soil is slightly moistened and covered with film, aired daily, and the pot is placed in a bright and warm place. The film is removed when the first shoots appear.

Sinningia cardinalis.

First steps after purchase

It is advisable to keep the purchased adult specimen of Sinningia in quarantine for several days. Even if signs of damage by pathogens, mites and insects are not detected, treatment with the Fitoverm insecticide and the Fitosporin fungicide is recommended.

If a tuber is purchased that is not planned to be planted immediately, it is stored at a temperature of +10–12°C in dry peat or sand. The rhizome of Sinningia “awakens” when transferred to a bright place with a temperature above +16°C.

Problems of growing Sinningia

Brown spots on the leaves - formed if the plant was watered with cold water; the water for watering should be warm; if it is too cold, especially after watering.

The leaves turn yellow - from an overdose of fertilizers, when it is too dry and hot (above 30°C); when there is too much sun.

Gray plaque on leaves and flowers - gray rot or powdery mildew - fungal infections that usually occur when maintenance conditions are violated. It is necessary to stop spraying, remove the affected parts, and treat with a systemic fungicide.

Sinningia does not bloom - if it is not maintained correctly during the dormant period, when the tubers are very dry, they are kept warm; from excess nitrogen fertilizers, unsuitable soil rich in organic matter; with an acute lack of light (when the pot is not on the windowsill, but in a room without additional lighting); when it is very hot and the relative humidity is low.

Pests - Sinningia can be susceptible to attack by whiteflies, thrips, mealybugs and other pests (see pests).

Origin of Sinningia

This flower plant is native to Brazil. The main habitat of Sinningia is in the monsoon tropical forests of this country. A peculiarity of growth in such conditions is the alternation of rainy periods with dry ones, during which the plant plunges into a peculiar state of dormancy.

This plant was cultivated only at the beginning of the 19th century, when it became widespread among flower lovers and received the name gloxinia. However, this name later turned out to be erroneous. The correct name for this flower plant is Sinningia, and Gloxinia would be the correct name for various hybrids that differ in color and corolla.

Home care

Sinningia is easy to care for at home and unpretentious. Thanks to this, growing at home is accessible even to novice gardeners.

Lighting

Sinningia loves light, but is afraid of the scorching sun. East or west windows, or slightly shaded south windows are suitable for its placement. Particularly bright lighting is usually required for seedlings or saplings that are just forming a root system.

Temperature

In summer, the heat-loving Sinningia will be satisfied with a temperature of about 22-25 degrees. But after the dormant period has begun, the pot with the tuber must be moved to a dark and cool room, where the temperature remains no more than 12-15 degrees. Only such conditions will allow the flower to fully rest and gain strength before the new season.

Humidity level

The Sinningia flower prefers high humidity, but it should not be sprayed in the usual way. Moisture on the fluffy leaves and buds of the plant can leave stains on them. Instead of a sprayer, it is better to use open containers with water or place the flower on a tray with wet pebbles. You can keep the pot close to the aquarium.

Selection of capacity

The size of the pot for syningia directly depends on the size of its root system. Small tubers can be planted in small pots about 10 cm in diameter. Larger ones will also need an appropriate pot. But you shouldn’t immediately plant a small plant in a spacious container. In this case, all the strength of the tuber will be spent on the formation of leaves, and not on flowering.

Regularity of watering

Sinningia is a moisture-loving crop. It needs regular watering. However, it is not tolerant of moisture stagnation. Excessive dampness is detrimental to beauty tubers.

The key to successfully growing syningia at home is well-drained soil.

The frequency of watering is determined based on the degree of drying of the top layer of the earthen clod. To do this, you just need to note for yourself the day when the soil dries out, and, after waiting two days, water the plant again.

The fact that the soil has been saturated with moisture for a long time can be easily determined by the appearance of the bush. Its petioles and peduncles turn black, and the leaves become soft.

To water the crop, use only water that has settled for 24 hours at room temperature. Watering is carried out at the root of the plant, being careful not to wet the leaves and flower stalks.

In the autumn, when flowering ends and the dormant period begins, the number of waterings is reduced to a couple of times a month. By November, the plant almost completely fades. In winter, containers with roots are watered only once a month, avoiding waterlogging of the soil composition.

If the tubers of the plant are placed in sawdust or peat for the dormant period, there is no need for watering at all.

Feeding

Sinningia needs to be fertilized only during active growth - from April to October. For fertilizing, liquid formulations containing more potassium and phosphorus and less nitrogen should be used. They are applied once every 15-20 days.

Transfer

Small synningias grown from seeds or leaf cuttings will need several replantings per year. This is due to the active rate of their growth and tuber formation. Formed plants are moved to fresh soil less often - every spring.

When replanting, it is important not to bury the tuber completely in the soil. It should rise above ground level by at least one third.

Trimming

The shape of the synningia bush does not require pruning. Periodically, plants are simply cleaned of wilted leaves or flowers. In the fall, when the green part of the bush dries out, it is cut off, leaving only a small stump no larger than 2 cm in size.

Fertilizers

Fertilizing should be done throughout the growing season, as well as during the flowering of gloxinia. After flowering and during the dormant period, fertilizers are not applied. It is recommended to use mineral fertilizers.

Experienced gardeners advise using the following fertilizer scheme:

1. Growing season – fertilize with nitrate fertilizer once every 10 days.
2. Formation of buds - once every 10 days with potassium phosphate and superphosphate.
3. Flowering period – 1 time in 10 days with potassium nitrate.

Do not overuse nitrogen. This can provoke active leaf growth and the development of small flowers.

Bloom

Adult domestic sinningia begins to bloom in late spring and ends closer to autumn. During this period, long, most often slightly drooping peduncles form on the bush. They bear large single flowers with petals of a wide variety of colors. The widest range of shades is presented in hybrid forms. It includes white, yellow, pink, red, lilac and some other colors.

Some similar plants sold in stores are hybrids, bred only for the sake of lush seasonal flowering. Such bushes do not survive the dormant period, but there are also many hybrid syningias that can adapt to home conditions and resume their growth every year, as expected. Many hybrid varieties are grouped according to flower shape or color.

Features of flower care in summer

With the onset of summer, the flower begins its growing season. At this time, the plant needs good watering and fertilizing the soil. In summer, the flower should be kept in a room where the temperature is between 19-22° and the air humidity is not lower than 80%.

To maintain the required air humidity near the plant, you need to place a tray with wet pebbles or expanded clay. There is no need to spray the flower.

Life cycle, dormant period

The life cycle of Gloxinia begins in the spring, when the seeds are sown in the soil or when the plant breaks dormancy. Seed material is sown in soil, which consists of turf and leaf soil, peat and sand. Tubers are planted in the same soil mixture, without deepening them too much.

Until the tubers take root or the seeds sprout, the soil is watered moderately.

With the onset of the dormant period (October), the leaves and shoots of the flower begin to turn yellow. At this time, the plant needs to create special conditions.

There are 2 options for storing a flower during the dormant period:

1. After the leaves die off, the plant is rarely watered and fertilizing is not carried out. Completely dried leaves need to be cut off, and the pot with the tuber should be placed in a dark place where the air temperature is from 10 to 13°. It is recommended to lay the pot on its side. After the onset of spring (March), the tubers are dug up and transplanted into new soil. The flower moves to an even whiter, darker room for 3–5 days. After this, Sinningia is cared for as usual at home.
2. After the leaves and shoots are completely dry, they need to be carefully cut off and the tuber dug up. Rinse the roots and tuber well under cool running water, and then remove the dried and rotten roots. After washing, the tuber is not dried, but is immediately placed in a tray filled with wet perlite. The pallet should be placed in a dark, cool room where the temperature is no higher than 13°. After approximately 80-90 days, young shoots will appear on the tuber. This means that it is rested and ready for the growing season. In this situation, the tuber is planted in the soil mixture.

The plant is gradually brought out of the dormant period: the abundance and frequency of watering increases, fertilizing begins, and the temperature in the room gradually rises.

Secrets of success

The room with Sinningia needs to be ventilated often, but the plant does not tolerate drafts.

If there is a need to wash the leaves from dust, this is done in the bathroom. The plant is returned to the windowsill only after the leaves have completely dried.

To maintain the air humidity Sinningia needs, just place a vessel with water next to it.

IN THE PHOTO: Filling such a glass with water is enough to protect the leaves and flowers of Sinningia from drying out.

The plant is replanted once a year, in the spring, if the pot becomes too small for its root system. In this case, the new capacity should not be much larger than the previous one.

To prolong the flowering of a specimen, it is enough to promptly remove flower stalks that have lost their decorative effect.

After flowering is completed, the above-ground part of the plant begins to die. This is a signal that the tuber needs rest for three to four months, otherwise it will become exhausted. The Sinningia rhizome, cleared of shoots, should “rest” in a dark place at a temperature no higher than +12°C. In this case, the tuber is immersed in sand or dry peat and moistened by spraying once or twice during the entire dormant period.

Transfer rules

Sinningia is replanted in early spring; the procedure can be combined with dividing the tuber. If wrinkled areas or dark spots appear on the surface, they should be trimmed and treated with a fungicide solution. Choose a small pot with holes in the bottom.

The soil for syningia should consist of the following components:

• leaf soil (3 parts);
• peat (2 parts);
• sand (1 part).

Expanded clay or clay shards are poured onto the bottom. A third of the tuber should remain on the surface.

History of Gloxinia

Already at the end of the 18th century, the South American plant Gloxinia, named after the famous naturalist Peter Gloxinia, won the hearts of European collectors. Later in England, the Brazilian specimen was thoroughly studied, assigned to the Gesneriev family and officially named Sinningia - in honor of the scientist Wilhelm Sinning. And so it has been since then: in scientific circles it is called Sinningia, among the people - Gloxinia.

The nuances of growing Sinningia

If you have an indoor Sinningia flower, you should learn how to care for it and what conditions to create for the normal development of this plant.

Gloxinia needs bright, diffused light; windows with south-eastern exposure are preferred. In the middle of the day, shading from the sun is necessary. With insufficient lighting, the shoots of the plant become elongated, and the color of the greenery and buds becomes less bright and saturated.

Content temperature -18-20 °C. During the dormant period, pots with tubers are stored at a temperature of 10-12 ° C for 3-4 months.

In summer, the plant requires high humidity; you can place it on a tray with wet gravel. It is not recommended to spray Sinningia, as drops of water falling on the leaves have a bad effect on the development of the flower. At the same time, in places where the greenery comes into contact with the liquid, spots appear, a kind of burns, which reduce the decorativeness of the plant. To maintain the required humidity, you can also spray the air around the pot.

If you know all the intricacies of growing Sinningia and how to care for it, then it will definitely thank you with beautiful bright flowers. Another rule in growing this plant is to protect it from excessive heat, which is detrimental to it. A significant increase in temperature leads to wrinkling and active drying of leaves. On especially hot days, when the air warms up above 20 °C, provide the flower with optimal air humidity and shade it. This will help to survive unfavorable conditions for the development of syningia.

It is better to prepare a substrate for it from leaf and peat soil, with the addition of sand (1: 1: 0.5); it should be slightly acidic.

Despite the fact that Sinningia does not like drafts and does not grow well on balconies, the room where it lives should be ventilated. A sharp change in ambient temperature is also considered dangerous for the flower.

Sinningia does not require complex care, but when maintaining it, if you want to see abundant and beautiful flowering, you should still pay attention to some nuances of cultivation.

Namely:

1. Timely watering.
2. Feeding.
3. Features of transplantation.

In summer, provide abundant watering, in spring and autumn - moderate. When caring for Sinningia at home, you should not flood it, and you should not allow water to get on the leaves. If the tubers of the plant are overly moistened, they become soft and quickly begin to rot, which leads to the death of the flower. Therefore, it is better to water the synningia frequently and with a small amount of water at room temperature. Pour the liquid not into the earthen lump, but into the pan in which the pot is installed. The amount of watering should be reduced after the flowering period ends. In winter, when the flower goes into a dormant period, moisture is reduced to a minimum, and its purpose is to prevent the plant tuber from drying out.

When caring for the Sinningia flower during the period of growth and flowering, it requires feeding with complete mineral fertilizer. You can also use a mixture purchased in specialized stores for flowering plants. It should be diluted according to the instructions provided and added to the water for irrigation in the pan. When Sinningia fades, feeding stops.

In the spring, the tubers are freed from the old soil, transplanted into a new substrate (eyes up) and placed in a warm, bright place. The pot for the plant is chosen to be wide and small. After Sinningia blooms, the dried stems and leaves are removed, leaving a small stump.

For information on the peculiarities of growing Sinningia and caring for it at home, watch the video:

How to care for gloxinia?

An important condition for the growth and flowering of beautiful Sinningia is the length of daylight hours. When the light decreases, the plant stops blooming and ends the growing season. When gloxinia awakens in the spring, when the days are still quite short, the new shoots will need illumination with fluorescent lamps. Without lighting, gloxinia should be placed in a room with windows facing south. But we must not forget that this is a plant of the lower tier of forests and it does not tolerate direct sunlight.

Despite its tropical origin, gloxinia does not tolerate very high air temperatures. The ideal range for this is from +15° to +25°. You can determine whether the beauty is hot by the position of the leaves: at elevated temperatures, the plant begins to lift them. Under acceptable conditions, gloxinia leaves are located horizontally.

How to plant?

The flowering time of the plant is March - October . When the leaves first turn yellow and then fall off, this is called the dormant period. Young plants should not be hidden in winter, as this will cause them to stretch out:

1. These leaves must first be removed. When buds appear, this is considered one of the important signs of the new season.
2. The plant should be replanted. Before doing this, wash the root well.
3. Next, after a thorough inspection, you need to cut off the damaged areas and sprinkle with activated carbon.
4. Replant in the ground and place in the sun.

In order for the plant to bloom and develop, you must follow simple rules:

• optimal amount of light;
• maintaining good temperature and humidity;
• protecting the plant from various diseases;
• feed the plant on time.

Lighting and location

This plant is a big lover of light . Prefers diffused rather than direct light.

IMPORTANT : Leaves curl when exposed to direct sunlight. It will be most favorable for it on window sills that face west and east.

If it is located in the south, then additional darkening will be necessary. If in the north, then on the contrary, additional lighting is needed. If there is not enough light, the plant will lose color, and if there is too much light, growth and development will become slow.

Soil requirements

This plant is quite demanding, especially when it comes to soil . You can even make the soil mixture yourself: for this you need two parts leaf soil and one part peat soil, as well as river sand. Needs drainage. The roots of the plant grow wider.

Pots should be chosen wide and not very deep. It is best to make ceramic or plastic. The soil for planting is the same as for violets; you need to add baking powder (vermiculite) there.

Gloxinia lighting

Sinningias are suitable for any side of the window, except the south, and a place protected from drafts. Whether a plant is properly lit can be determined by its external signs.

❀ If there is enough light: the plant is compact, the leaf petioles are short, the leaves do not stretch upward, the rosette is symmetrical, the flowers are fully open.

❀ If there is not enough light: the trunk lengthens, the rosette folds the leaves, the color of the leaves is pale and unsaturated, the leaf blades are thin, the peduncles are long and drooping, the flowers are poorly

❀ If there is too much light: light spots appear on the foliage, the leaves are hard and the rosette is “thickened”, the leaves do not straighten out, the flower stalks cannot get out from under the leaves. It is necessary to shade the plants with parchment paper attached to the glass or hang blinds.

❀ To grow gloxinia on a shelf, 12–14 hours of lighting is required. If the lamps are new, they emit brighter light - this must be taken into account. Good results are achieved by growing under Osram Lumilux Daylight 865 and Osram Fluora or Osram Natura lamps. The distance from the socket to the lamp should be 18–30 cm.

Gloxinia, or Sinningia

Reproduction methods

This plant propagates in four ways: cuttings, seeds, tubers and shoots.

Cuttings

In order for gloxinia to reproduce in this way, it is necessary to create a soil mixture that consists of peat, a cut leaf with cuttings and sand. After this, the leaf should be placed in the ground and a jar should be placed on top.

For rooting, the leaf should stand for about 18-25 days.

The temperature should be around 22-24 degrees Celsius. After this, small nodules should grow. These cuttings then need to be moved into small pots. The size of the pot should be from 5 to 7 centimeters.

Seeds

It will be most favorable to do this in November - February. To do this, you need to place the seeds in bowls with leafy soil and sand.

Do not sow gloxinia seeds too close to each other.

Next you need to cover it with glass. The temperature should be 22 degrees Celsius. Sunrises will appear in half a month. When the plants touch other plants, they should be planted. The size of the pot should be approximately 12 centimeters. The plant will bloom in 7 months.

Tubers

When the first buds appear, select the largest tuber and cut it into a couple of pieces. Each piece of tuber should have a bud . Next, you need to dry them and plant them in different pots.

By shoots

You need to place the shoots in water. When the shoot takes root, plant it in the ground. It will bloom the same year.

Do you want to learn about the features of keeping and proper care of gloxinia? On our Internet portal you will find materials about other varieties and types of this beautiful plant, namely: pink, White Terry, Krasnoyarya, hybrid, climbing, Rosalind, Brocade, Yesenia, Shagane, as well as Kaiser Wilhelm and Friedrich.

Gloxinia sonata is grown not only at home, but also in greenhouses . Gloxinia is not very demanding of herself and will not spend a lot of free time. With proper care, the plant will delight you with its beauty for a long time, observing not too complicated, certain rules for its care.

Care errors

Humidity and watering of gloxinia

Recommended air humidity is not lower than 20%. With insufficient humidity, the rosette and leaves become smaller, the tips of the leaves dry out, the buds do not open and dry out.

The leaves of Sinningia are pubescent, so they are not sprayed, but washed to remove dust under running warm water, removing excess moisture with a paper towel. Do not place the rosette in the light until it dries completely, otherwise the drops in direct sunlight will cause a burn on the leaves.

Water the plants after the top layer of soil has completely dried - in the morning, without getting on the leaves, evenly wetting the soil. It is better not to water them in the evening, as the temperature will drop at night and there is a risk of rotting of the roots and tubers.

It is possible to water both from above and into the pan, but then the drainage must conduct water. Synthetic winterizer is excellent: it is chemically neutral and conducts water and air; many use sphagnum moss as drainage.

When planting, you can stretch a synthetic thread - a wick 0.2-0.4 cm thick - through the holes in the bottom of the pot; along it, moisture will rise into the soil, and it will be better wetted.

Water for irrigation is used at room temperature. If fertilizers are applied during watering, the temperature should be several degrees higher - this way the nutrients will be better absorbed.

Diseases and pests

The most dangerous pests for flowers are mealybugs, spider mites and aphids. To destroy them, you can use insecticides or acaricides. The possibility of using tobacco tinctures or onion peels is also possible.

Among the diseases that threaten Sinningia are powdery mildew, horse rot or gray rot. To avoid them, it is recommended to pre-calcinate the soil mixture. Fungicides are used for control (Maximom, HOM, Bordeaux mixture).