Episation - home care, propagation by leaf and cuttings

In Soviet times, the most popular indoor plants were geranium and ficus. Now, what you can not see on the windowsills and balconies. Flower shops are ready to offer many different types: some like more flowers, while others prefer decorative leaves and shoots, and still others - both. The last group includes the types of episodes, how to care for them, described below.

Episode: home care

An original perennial houseplant native to South America. Most love it for its beautiful leaves, although the flowers also look impressive. Carnation inflorescences especially look.

Blooming epic

The episode belongs to the Gesneriev family and is a small bush with velvety leaves, covered with small bell-shaped flowers. They can safely decorate any home.

How to care for an episode flower? This is not difficult to do. However, some nuances should be considered:

• loves moisture;
• does not tolerate drafts;
• it is better to place on the sunny side.

Several factors affect the life of a plant:

• lighting;
• humidity;
• air temperature;
• soil composition;
• proximity to other plants.

For each type of indoor plants, such conditions are individual.

Site selection and lighting

In its historical homeland, the flower grows in tropics, which provide for high humidity, warmth and sunlight. Therefore, when choosing a location, you must be guided by these points. The description will feel good on a window, shelf, cabinet, stand, where enough light and heat penetrates. It is possible to use it in the form of an ampel, only in a place protected from the wind.

Watering and humidity

The plant loves water very much, but you should not overdo it. Water it regularly, but in small portions. Excess moisture can lead to fungal diseases and root rot.

Root system affected by fungus

Lighting and air temperature

This flower, of course, cannot do without the sun, but it does not tolerate direct rays well. The light should be slightly diffused. For this reason, it is better to place it on windows on the east or west side. As a tropical plant, the episode needs an optimal warm temperature. The range should be between 18 ° C and 25 ° C.

Features of care during the rest period

Usually this period of time falls on winter time. As a rule, there are no special requirements during this period. It is only necessary to water less often (once a week), do not fertilize and place in a place protected from drafts.

Features of care during flowering

Flowering occurs almost all year round, but it is especially beautiful in spring and summer. It is at this time that the flower requires maximum attention.

Blooming Carnation Episode

For a plant to look healthy, certain conditions must be observed.

• watering as the soil dries up;
• feeding once a month, preferably with a phosphorus-potassium mixture;
• temperature regime within 18-25 ° С;
• adequate lighting.

How to transplant an episode

With proper care, the episode bush will grow rapidly. And then it becomes necessary to transplant into another pot. When to do it:

• young plant - once a year;
• adult plant - once every 2 years.

Seedling

The most suitable time is spring. To make the transplant procedure less painful, everything should be done carefully and according to plan.

1. Moisten the potting soil abundantly.
2. Outside on the sides, tap the walls so that the lump is released.
3. Take out the flower along with the soil.
4. Remove diseased roots and shoots.
5. Place in a new vessel, sprinkle with prepared earth.
6. Water well.
7. Put in the shade for a week.

When new shoots and flowers appear, this means that everything went well, so you can put the flowerpot in its original place.

Possible problems, their causes and elimination

Like any living organism, an episode will react to any changes in the external environment: humidity, temperature, nutrients, lighting. This can be seen by the following signs: the leaves change color, become lethargic, dry out, growth and flowering cease.

Why Episation Doesn't Blossom

There are several reasons. First of all, this is a lack of nutrients in the soil, then a lack of moisture, and thirdly, there is little sun.

Diseases and pests

The presence of problems is caused, first of all, by the wrong content. The most common ailments:

• rot - excess moisture, damage by insects, fungi. In the latter case, the flower may die. Roots suffer more often than other parts;
• does not grow - there is not enough light or pests have started;
• leaves turned yellow - excess of nutrients, more often nitrogen;
• gray bloom - there may be fungi, or maybe the acidity of the soil has increased;
• brown spots - a reaction to cold water;
• wilted species - possibly nematodes have started in the soil;
• leaves curled up into a ball - aphid.

Sick plant

An episode, which is easy to take care of at home, is not much different from the maintenance of other representatives of the flora. But, so that she always pleases her owner, you should still get acquainted with her agricultural technology.

Reproduction of the episode at home

A plant like episode will always find its admirers, because there are many varieties of it. And the question often arises of how to reproduce an episode.

In order for a healthy episode to grow in the house, reproduction should be done in one of five ways: cuttings, shoots, leaves, whiskers, dividing the bush.

The choice of breeding method depends on the variety, age, general condition. The vegetative method is carried out in this order:

1. A leaf, a shoot, a stalk is cut off.
2. The slice is treated with a growth accelerating solution.
3. The appendage is placed in a small vessel with peat-sphagnum soil, or simply in water.
4. Watered.
5. Closed with a jar, glass.
6. After 1-1.5 months, roots appear.
7. Transfer to a container.

Reproduction of an episode by a sheet

Reproduction using a leaf plate is the most affordable and productive method. A healthy leaf is taken, placed in water. When roots appear from below and a slight swelling from above, it is necessary to transplant the sheet into a container with soil and close it with a jar. After 1.5-2 months, young leaves appear.

Propagation by cuttings

Use cuttings or cuttings. A shoot with 4-5 leaves is taken. The bottom 2-3 pairs are cut off, and the process is placed in water. It is better to take a vessel from dark glass or plastic. Roots should appear within a month. A young plant is planted first in light soil, then in a regular one.

Episode

Episation is an amazing representative of perennial indoor flowers, the cultivation of which will bring many pleasant minutes to any person. Velvety leaves are especially striking with their colors. But flowers also delight those around them pleasantly.

As you can see, growing this flower at home is easy and simple. Even a novice florist can do this. The main thing is not to drain the pot, provide enough light and feed on time.