Brovallia Is Beautiful, Or Gorgeous

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

Brovallia beautiful, or magnificent (Browallia speciosa) is an ornamental houseplant with a long flowering period, belongs to the Solanaceae family. This herbaceous flower culture is native to South America.

Characteristics of the species

It is an evergreen shrub no more than 40 centimeters high with a dense crown of open dark green shoots, pubescent with small hairs. Long, oval, narrowed towards the edge, dark green leaves about 5 centimeters long, in the upper axils of which, there are single inflorescences on long peduncles. Basically, the inflorescences are blue or bright blue, but there are varieties of white and purple hues. The flowers are large enough, about 5 centimeters in diameter, tubular, funnel-shaped, in the shape of a five-pointed star.

Location

Brovallia is magnificent - it is a very beautiful, but poisonous plant, therefore, when choosing a place for it, you need to take this fact into account, it is best to put the plant higher so that small children and pets cannot get to it. In general, this type of plant is unpretentious, any well-lit place will suit it. But with prolonged contact with direct sunlight, it may begin to dry out; in very hot weather, it is better to cover the plant in a slightly darkened place.

Care and transplant

Since this culture blooms year-round, it needs regular and moderate watering, it is necessary to ensure that the earthen lump always remains slightly moist. It is desirable that in the room where the plant is located, regardless of the season, the optimal temperature regime is maintained at 15 - 18 degrees Celsius. In order for the plant to always look well-groomed, wilted inflorescences must be removed immediately, and young shoots must be tied up, giving them a growth shape. If there are a lot of shoots, they can be cut off and used in reproduction. In order for the plant to retain its lush and branchy appearance, the ends of the tied shoots must be pinched.

The plant does not need an annual transplant, since it grows and dies after flowering. At the end of the flowering season, the plant is replaced with a new one grown from seeds or shoots.

Reproduction

Brovallia beautiful propagates by cuttings and seed method. This type of plant can be propagated all year round, but the most comfortable time for planting seeds is at the end of summer. The seeds do not require any preliminary preparation, the only thing that is necessary is to soak them in warm water for two to three days before sowing. For seeds, it is necessary to prepare the soil in advance, beginner growers - amateurs can use a ready-made commercial mixture, but professionals prefer to make the mixture themselves.

The best option for planting seeds would be a mixture of two equal parts of deciduous and soddy soil with the addition of one part of river sand, peat mass and humus. After the soil is ready, it should be spread out into containers and watered abundantly. When choosing containers, it is advisable to pay attention to its bottom, there should be holes in it for excess moisture to escape.

The seeds are laid out on top of the soil without pressing, after which they can be lightly sprinkled with earth and wrap the surface of the container with cling film. The film must be periodically opened for a short time so that the seeds can be ventilated. Seedlings will appear within two weeks, after they acquire 3 - 4 leaves, the plant can be transplanted into the main container for 2-5 seedlings.

Reproduction of Brovallia by beautiful cuttings is not difficult. The soil for the shoots should be the same as for the seeds. Cuttings are taken without buds from the crown of an adult plant, after which they are seated in containers and pinched tops.

Top dressing

Practically does not need feeding, but during flowering, you can add ready-made fertilizer for flowering plants, while the consistency should be three times less than that suggested by the manufacturer. The plant does not tolerate nitrogen-containing fertilizers, therefore, it is necessary to carefully study the composition of the purchased feed.