Catharanthus flower: home care and methods of reproduction

Katarantus is a decorative and very unpretentious herbaceous plant from the Kutrov family, growing both at home and in the garden. The flower prefers a tropical climate, distributed in the light forests of Madagascar. In Russia, the most famous are the names of the catharanthus, such as "periwinkle", "Madagascar vinca" and "lonera". In addition, the plant is sometimes called the "old maiden" or "cayenne jasmine." It is very difficult for a flower to tolerate low temperatures; therefore, in a garden, it is grown as an annual. In the southern latitudes, his life span is longer - up to several years.

Almost all types of catharanthus have similar features and properties, namely:

• strong trunk and increased branching. Greenish shoots sometimes have a pink tint;
• green shining foliage with beige veins, short petioles;
• average bush height 1 m;
• The 5-petal flower has a white or burgundy color.

Catharanthus flower

Below are the main types of culture.

Periwinkle periwinkle

The periwinkle periwinkle is a deciduous shrub, the height of which is on average up to 1 m. The flower belongs to a number of small plants, but under optimal conditions it can grow up to one and a half meters. It is grown, as a rule, from seeds. When planting a cataranthus in the last days of winter, the plant will bloom from the end of spring until the fall.

Catharanthus pink

Katarantus pink is intended for cultivation at home. In the tropics it grows more actively (there its height reaches 1.5 m), in the conditions of Russia the height does not exceed 1 m. 7-centimeter lanceolate leaves in the center have a characteristic beige vein. The edges of the foliage are quite even, the surface is glossy. The color of the flowers varies depending on the variety. Flowering is long, in many respects depends on the conditions of maintenance, weather and climate. At low temperatures, flowering lasts about six months. In warmer climates, catharanthus flower can bloom throughout the year.

Katarantus Bush

Katarantus Bush - compact plant with large dark green leaves and bright saturated 5-centimeter flowers. This species is suitable for growing indoors, on a balcony, loggia, or can be used to decorate flower beds. This type of transportable, so great for sale.

In addition to the above types of catharanthus, there are also such:

• ampelous - Cascade, Mediterranean;
• Aristocrat;
• Pacific
• Pacific Burgundy
• Pacific Apricot;
• Pacific White;
• First kiss.

How to grow and care for catharanthus at home? In order to grow a healthy and beautiful bush of catharanthus, you need to follow some rules and recommendations for caring for the plant.

Home Care

Humidity

Katarantus is a moisture-loving plant. During the period of abundant flowering, he needs a fairly high humidity, and this applies not only to air, but also to the soil. If the humidity drops below 60%, you need to spray the surrounding air and slightly the plant itself. It is allowed to spray foliage, but flowers are not recommended. To increase the humidity in the room, place a container filled with water close to the plant. It is also recommended to put wet expanded clay or wet pebbles into the pallet and put a flower pot in it.

Priming

Katarantus grows well in loose light and fertile soil. As it is possible to use purchased land intended for flowering houseplants, for example, for geraniums. With independent cooking, the composition should include sheet and turf soil, a small amount of peat and coarse river sand.

Watering

Before watering, you need to take care of the drainage layer or after each procedure manually drain the excess water. In rainy weather, catharanthus growing in the open can slow its development due to an excess of moisture in the ground. And if the soil is too dense, then with regular flooding, the plant may even die.

It is necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out, since with a lack of moisture the condition of the flower can deteriorate significantly. In some varieties, the leaves may curl in this case - this is the first symptom of moisture deficiency.

Lighting

For catharanthus, well-lit areas are most preferred. It is important that the direct rays of the sun fall on the plant in a minimal amount. A flower pot can be placed on the windowsill on the west or east side. In the summer, sun baths will not interfere with cataractus. To do this, he is left in the fresh air, protecting from possible rainfall.

Temperature

The ideal temperature for catharanthus in indoor conditions is 20-25 ° C. These indicators are relevant for the flower from the beginning of spring to the end of summer. When winter begins, the plant should be placed in a cooler place (with a temperature of about 15 ° C). During this period, it is not recommended to put the pot on the windowsill, especially if there are heating appliances nearby. The minimum content temperature is 10 ° C.

The flower will feel especially comfortable outdoors. With the onset of spring, when the air warms up to 18 ° C, a container with catharanthus can be placed on the balcony or veranda, under a canopy that can protect the plant from precipitation, gusts of wind and direct sunlight. When the temperature drops for the first time (August-September), the catharanthus should be brought into the house.

Top dressing

Indoor flower catharanthus responds very well to top dressing, so fertilizers must be applied to the soil with enviable regularity. He needs nutrients, so universal fertilizers for flowering plants can be used as fertilizers. Top dressing should be done 2 times a month throughout the season. Nutrient fertilizers are applied under the root. The plant loves a mixture of ash (100 g) diluted in water (1 bucket).

A flower transplant should be carried out every year. The day before the transplant, the flower should not be moistened, but it is better to give it time to form an earthen coma around the rhizome.

Plant Transplant Features

Choosing a pot and planter

Katarantus is a fast-growing flower. In conditions of small capacity, the root system is not easy to develop, since it quickly fills the entire area and clogs the drainage holes. It is necessary to take care of the place for the growth of the rhizome. The health status of the catharanthus will depend on the correct choice of the pot. The capacity should not be small, because the cataractus develops very quickly, it requires a lot of free space.

The best option is a clay or plastic pot. With each new transplant, the dimensions of the container should increase in diameter by 3 cm relative to the dimensions of the previous pot. The bottom of the tank must have holes for drainage, if they are absent, then they must be done with your own hands.

To transplant a flower into a new pot, you need to do the following:

1. Inspect the plant, if necessary, trim.
2. Choose a larger pot, make drainage holes in it.
3. It is necessary to transplant by transshipment of the plant along with the soil. This is done carefully, avoiding injuries to the root system.
4. Add the same soil mixture to the new tank as in the previous season. With a strong difference in soil, the flower will not bloom.
5. To make it easier to remove the catarhus from the pot, you can add some water to the surface of the soil. Plastic containers are sometimes cut or broken at all. It is important not to harm the delicate root system of the plant.

Pruning of catharanthus should be done in spring. The main stems are trimmed by a third. This procedure will allow the flower to rejuvenate significantly, and also give the bush accuracy, and subsequently abundant flowering. It is also worth removing broken and dry branches. The remaining crop can be used to propagate the crop.

Catharanthus pruning

Some gardeners are wondering, do I need to pinch a catharanthus? To form a compact beautiful crown, you should pinch the ends of the shoots. This will slow down their growth, while actively developing lateral branches will make the crown more dense and decorative.

During the period of active flowering, a plant needs to be constantly cared for. Withered flowers and faded foliage should be removed regularly, as they can spoil the appearance of the cataranthus.

Katarantus can be propagated in three ways:

• cuttings;
• by seeds;
• division.

Catharanthus propagation

Katarantus: growing from cuttings

Before starting the procedure, you need to prepare:

• cut green shoots from the bushes (up to 15 cm);
• remove the lower foliage, cut the sections with a biostimulant root.

Rooting Procedure:

1. In a moist substrate, which includes peat and perlite in equal proportions, place the stalk. Cover the container with a mini-greenhouse.
2. Ventilate, spray and water the cuttings regularly for a month.
3. Then carefully transplant the cuttings into the ground. The soil mixture should be light and nutritious.

Seeds

Planting by seeds is carried out in late winter or spring. The procedure is as follows:

1. Deepen the seeds 2 cm into the soil. Water abundantly.
2. Cover the planting with plastic wrap. For germination, seeds need darkness. The optimum temperature is 22-24 ° C.
3. Shoots will appear a week later. Seedlings should be placed in a bright place, the temperature should be slightly reduced.
4. After 15 days, fertilize (the concentration of phosphorus should be minimal).
5. After the formation of four true leaves make a pick.

Dividing the bush

The procedure is as follows:

1. Remove the flower from the container. This must be done carefully so as not to harm either the leaves or the trunk.
2. Hands to divide the plant into parts.
3. Make a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot, pour a nutrient mixture over it (a little).
4. Put the flower in the center of the pot and spread the rhizome. The roots should be evenly spaced throughout the area.
5. Holding a bush in one hand, sprinkle soil around the edges.
6. Slightly pull the plant up so that the roots can straighten.
7. Pour the earth into the container to the very top. Compact and pour the soil.
8. At first, the plant should be protected from direct sunlight.

For catharanthus, as for any other domestic plant, it is necessary to carefully monitor that in case of the first symptoms of the disease, take measures and correct the mistakes of care. The most common problems when growing Catharanthus are yellowing and falling of leaves.

Problems in growing Catharanthus

Leaves turn yellow

To begin with, it is worthwhile to understand why leaves of the cataranthus turn yellow. There may be several reasons. If, in addition to the yellow tint on the leaves, the plant has lost its shape and has begun to fade, then the reason is most likely in the prolonged exposure of the flower to the sun. In this case, it will be enough to rearrange it deep into the room.

If the flower changes color to yellowish from the ends of the leaves, the air humidity is probably too low for the flower. If this is the case, then next to the plant you can put a container of water or spray it regularly. In some cases, yellowing of the foliage can be triggered by the small size of the container in which it is located.

Leaves fall

When the leaves fall, the first thing you should pay attention to is the drying out of the soil. If part of the leaves are twisted, and part has already fallen, then the reason is insufficient watering. Drying and falling of the leaves of the lower tier, as well as baldness of the flower suggests that, most likely, the period of the flower's life is coming to an end. At home, this most often occurs in the third year of cultivation.

Katarantus is a compact, small bush that pleases the eye with a colorful view of its flowers. Knowing the simple rules for caring for catharanthus at home, even an inexperienced gardener will be able to decorate the interior of his house with this beautiful plant.

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