Streptocarpus: home care, possible problems and methods of dealing with them

Streptocarpus (Streptocarpus) is a genus of plants belonging to the family of Gessneria. The origin of it is South African.

The root system of this plant is superficial. Large, slightly pubescent leaves form a basal rosette. The palette of tubular five-petalled asymmetric flowers is the most diverse. Depending on the variety, the flowers can be small and large, monophonic and multicolored, simple and terry, with rounded or corrugated petals, on a short or long peduncle.

Streptocarpus at home requires to itselfattentive attitude, but also pays for it a magnificent flowering, the duration of which is explained by the fact that up to 10 peduncles are formed in the sinus of each formed leaf.

The soil requires a special streptocarpus. Care at home involves mixing non-expensive peat mixtures with vermiculite in a ratio of 4: 1. Prepared soil should be disinfected, for example, in a microwave at maximum power for 5 minutes. As drainage, the use of expanded clay is undesirable, because it accumulates a lot of water and harmful salts and leads to the rotting of sensitive roots. More suitable foam. He and the pot do not make heavier, and easily accessible.

Do not place on the southern windowsillsstreptocarpus. Care at home after him is optimal in bright scattered light. Good results can be achieved on the northern windows. If sunlight gets on the leaves, burns may occur. Using phytolamps can replace natural light.

Moderate watering with drying an earthy comarequires streptocarpus. Care at home, even with unintentional overdrying should not provide for "soaking" the plant in a container of water. This method will quickly restore other flowers, but a representative of Gesnerian can lead to death, since its roots will suffocate without access to oxygen. He can create greenhouse conditions by putting in a transparent package. If in a couple of days the plant does not recover, then you need to re-rosette the outlet.

Contraindicated to add granularfertilizer in the pot of a plant like streptocarpus. Care at home should include regular top-dressing during the growing season, i.e. from April to September. It is desirable to use soluble fertilizers, which can be accurately metered, for example, for senposium. It is impossible to do without them, because The peat-based primer used is poor in nutrients.

If the plant for some reason looks likeoppressed, then re-rooting the rosette can save the streptocarpus. Flowers with stems should be removed, remove the "affected" from the pot. Under the water, rinse the roots, cut off all rotten. Leave large leaves (they can be used for reproduction). Pot take smaller in size than the previous one. The amount of vermiculite is brought to 1/3. Plant, not burying the outlet. Tighten the transparent package on the pot, turn it on a dry side daily. After 2 months, the plant will recover.

Streptocarpus blooms for a long time with proper care. The contemplation of this magnificence can not but delight.