Streptocarpus - Delicate And Refined

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

The appearance of streptocarpus and their special attractiveness resembles orchids, because the inflorescences of the first plants are also thin and exquisite. Even beginner growers can be recommended to decorate their home with streptocarpus

The care and maintenance of such a plant is minimal. The leaves are lanceolate and bright in color. Their structure is slightly wrinkled, and in length they reach thirty centimeters. Streptocarpus flowers grow on an arrow of a single character, but with their blooming beauty they delight the owner for a very long time.

At home, streptocarpus grows well and develops on windowsills from the West or East. However, in the deep part of the room, it will be necessary to provide the plant with illumination using a specialized lamp or lamp. On the south side of the room, artificial shade may be needed in the summer. Hot sunlight on the leaves of the plant is highly undesirable, as flowers and leaves can be damaged. In addition, streptocarpus does not like factors such as a draft or stagnant water in a container.

Moisture indicators that are optimal for normal conditions for the development of streptocarpus. Should reach from sixty to seventy percent. To ensure such a microclimate, you need to put a pallet with moss and pebbles on it under the flower pot. In the cold season of the year, the temperature in the room should be within sixteen to eighteen degrees, the plant needs to be watered less often at this time, and feeding can be avoided altogether. Streptocarpus will need a month and a half to fully recuperate. Also, the flower needs an ideally matched soil composition, transplantation, reproduction and timely care in the form of watering and fertilization.

Capacity and soil for a streptocarpus plant

If you take care of streptocarpus correctly and regularly, you may wonder how quickly its bush grows. A wide, but shallow pot is suitable as a container for planting a flower, in which the presence of drainage is imperative. The drainage layer should be about two centimeters. A flower transplant is carried out in February or early March. Then another similar procedure will be required, exactly six months later.

When transplanting, it is important to ensure that the structure of the earth is not compacted, but is light enough and allows air to pass into itself. If you take the most common soil for planting, then you can add perlite or sand to it. Streptocarpus also feels great when grown in peat. It is important to ensure that the soil is always, at least slightly, moist. Also, the soil must be sterilized before use.

How to water streptocarpus?

Streptocarpus grows healthy and attractive with proper and competent care, which is largely based on adherence to the irrigation regime and soil moisture. The best way to water the plant is through a drainage hole. It is also a good idea to wet the soil with a wick. Thus, a constant supply of moisture will help keep water in the ground for a long time. If watering is carried out from above, then the stream should be directed along the walls of the pot so that drops of water do not fall on flowers and leaves.

For watering such plants, soft water is used, which is a prerequisite. When the soil dries out, the leaves of streptocarpus may drop, but it is possible to restore them with proper care. But with flowers, everything is more complicated, since they are lost if they wilted. Therefore, the damaged flowers are cut from the plant.

Streptocarpus loves to be sprayed with water from a spray bottle. However, there is also a danger here, as water can provoke the appearance of spots on the leaves. The flower pot is best placed on a tray with moisturizing elements. It is a good idea to put a small container of water next to the plant in order to humidify the room air.

Nutrition rules

A young streptocarpus seedling requires nitrogen fertilization to help the buds look healthier and more attractive. As it grows, the plant will also need to be fertilized with potassium and phosphorus. It is better to select the frequency of dressings at the rate of once every seven days.