Ahimenes flower - how to grow a plant

Ahimenes is a flower of the Gesneriev family of incredible beauty. It is popularly known as nettle, orchid nut or widow's tears. The plant was first found in the 18th century in the tropical forests of South and Central America. Today it can be seen both in apartments and in private houses. The popularity of the flower lies in its numerous blooms over time.

Brief description of the flower

Breeders have invented a large number of species of this beautiful plant. All of them bloom thickly and luxuriantly, delighting the eye with incredibly bright flowers of an unusual shape. Achimenes looks like a dwarf flower with a straight and slender stem, which begins to droop over time. The leaves have a serrated shape, similar to nettles. The flowers themselves look like elongated bells. They have many colors: red, pink, purple, white, yellow.

Achimenes flower

Varieties of achimenes

Today you can find several types of plants and a huge number of different varieties. The most popular varieties:

• Achimenes large-flowered (Achimenes qrandiflora). His homeland is Mexico. It is considered the largest flower of all types and can grow up to 65 cm in height. It is not difficult to grow. The leaves are large, reaching 10 cm in length and up to 7 cm in width. Flowers grow in batches; several shoots may appear from one cavity. Their main color is purple.
• Long-flowered Achimenes (Achimenes lonqiflora). This is a medium ampelous plant. It grows up to 30 cm in height, has a scaly underground root. Leaves are light green, slightly pubescent, long in shape, serrate edge. The flowers are large. The color is white, yellow, or purple with a stripe near the throat.
• Achimenes Georgia (Achimenes Juareqia). White ampel with large flowers, up to 6 cm in diameter. Ahimenes Juareqia creates beautiful cascades, is distinguished by active development and flowering.
• Achimenes sweet (Achimenes dulcik). The plant is medium in size, has straight shoots and large, light green leaves. The flowers are white, resembling a bell-shaped appearance, with slightly curled petals on the outside. The pharynx is extensive, in the middle there is a lemon-colored spot, with small brown drops. Possesses a very weak, light and pleasant aroma.
• Achimenes erecta. This type of flower reaches a size of up to 40 cm. It has red shoots and flowers with a diameter of 1 cm. Achimenes red has thick and lush leaves.

Flower varieties

• Achimenes Mexican (Achimenes mexicana). In height it reaches 50 cm. The size of the flowers is average purple-blue, bell-shaped corolla, in the middle there is a spot of white color, and on the throat there is a strip of yellow color. Achimenes violet has large, straight shoots with lush emerald leaves.
• Achimenes Misera. This plant is medium in size, white flowers, up to 1 cm in diameter. Leaves are small, dark green, densely placed on an erect column.
• Achimenes white (Achimenes candida). This plant has snow-white flowers, very rarely with a shade of yellow.It has a funnel shape. The leaves are jagged at the edges, and the shoots are rough, dark red in color.
• Achimenes antirrhina (Achimenes antirrhina). This type of achimenes has medium-sized flowers, with a yellowish corolla, on which a rich red pattern can be seen. Light green leaves are covered with white villi.

Proper home care for achimenes

At home, Achimenes flowers are unpretentious. But you also need to know how to provide proper and competent care at each of the periods of development.

Temperature, lighting and humidity

Achimenes is characterized by natural light, but in the summer it is advisable to hide the flower from direct sunlight. The need for sunlight depends on the variety of flowers. With a small amount of illumination, the stem may become bare, and the flowers may become smaller.

The plant loves high humidity, but you should not spray the flower with water, as spots may appear on the leaves that have an unaesthetic appearance. To grow a flowering plant and raise the air humidity, a pot with a plant is specially placed on the windowsill, placing pebbles or expanded clay on the bottom.

Soil and pot requirements

The size of the flowerpot should correspond to the size of the root system of the flower. A mixture of soil based on several parts of leafy soil is most suitable. One part is light turf ground and the other is sand. A soil mixture of three parts of sod land is also suitable:

• humus;
• sand;
• perlite or vermiculite.

Additionally, it is advised to add chopped charcoal and chopped sphagnum.

Regular watering is important for the plant.

Watering rules

During active growth, Achimenes is often watered, preventing the soil from drying out. The best option is to water in a pan, so the water will not get on the leaves, which will eliminate the appearance of black spots. Water for irrigation should be at room temperature.

Top dressing

The first feeding is carried out not earlier than a month and a half after the first phenomena of numerous shoots. During dormancy, the plant does not need to be fertilized.

Pruning and replanting

If you want to have a lush ornamental bush with frequent flowering, then for this they do pruning of young shoots, above the second or third leaf. Be sure to remove faded buds daily. Achimenes flowers are transplanted in early spring. Rhizomes (rhizomes) are placed in a spacious pot with good drainage. Then cover with a film bag or glass until new shoots appear.

Features of flowering plants

A distinctive feature of the flower, because of which it fell in love with many flower growers, is the duration of flowering, which is observed throughout the growing season, and the ease of cultivation.

A period of activity and rest

Throughout the annual cycle, Ahimenes goes through several stages of development, which is why care and cultivation will differ at different times of the year. In total, there are 2 periods of the existence of the achimenes juaregia flower.

Activity period

The bloom of achimenes is long, at home it can bloom twice between May and October. The first flowers usually appear in late spring or early summer. At this time, the plant blooms profusely and brightly.The second phase of flowering occurs in autumn and is less pronounced. Withered flowers are torn off to stimulate the growth of new buds.

Dormant period

Ahimenes has a pronounced dormant period, which begins towards the end of October. After all the flowers have fallen off, the plant dries up little by little, and the roots are filled with juices, preparing for winter. During sleep, the flower should receive proper care, which consists of limited watering, low light and maintaining the temperature in the range of 16-18 ℃ above zero. It is important that the plant does not wake up ahead of time. If this does happen, then the pot is moved to a more lighted place or open ground.

The flowering of achimenes will be as abundant and long-lasting as possible if there is a timely pinching of the tops of young shoots. The procedure is performed when the length of the seedlings does not exceed 2.5 cm.

Types and shape of flowers

During the period of activity, beautiful bell flowers of an unusual shape and surprisingly bright color appear on the stems of the plant. The inflorescence has an oblong structure up to 5 cm and a calyx consisting of 5 lobes. The flowers that form on the shoots can be regular or double, monochromatic, spotted or striped. Depending on the type of plant, its flowers may have the following color:

• red;
• white;
• blue;
• blue;
• coral;
• yellow;
• purple.

Achiminesa flowers of the Mexican type, which have a lilac tint in combination with a white neck, look spectacular. The outer edges of the inflorescence most often have a specific sharp fringe.

Flower reproduction methods

A plant is transplanted every year. It is best to carry out the procedure in the first weeks of December. At home, cultivation of achimenes is carried out in one of two types: using seeds or by cuttings.

Growing from seeds

Growing from seeds

The easiest, but rather lengthy way to transplant a flower. The seeds are found in green boll houses that remain hanging from the stems after the flowering period. Before sowing seeds in the ground, they must ripen for 2 months. Then, in February-March, you should do the following:

• Collect the seeds and sow them in a mixture of sand and leafy soil. You do not need to sprinkle on top.
• Moisten the soil using a spray bottle.
• Place the pot with the plant in a dark place and cover with foil or glass.
• They create an optimal temperature regime. In order for the seeds to begin to germinate, the temperature should be between 22-24 ℃.

Using bottom watering, the first shoots are observed in 15-20 days. After that, the sprouts are planted.

Cuttings

This method of propagation is rarely used, since the cuttings often rot. In the summer, when new shoots appear, cuttings are carefully cut from them, which are then placed in wet sand mixed with leafy soil. For rooting, they are placed in water, but in this case, the likelihood of decay increases significantly. After planting the cuttings in the sand, they are covered with glass or film.

In order for the plant to start as quickly as possible before planting, it is recommended to treat it with a root formation stimulant (Kornevin, Heteroauxin). The bottom heating will also help speed up the rooting process.

Growing problems, diseases and pests

Ahimenes, whose care and cultivation does not take much time and effort, is quite difficult to ruin.You should not neglect the rules of care, as the plant may refuse to bloom, having lost its decorative properties. Beginners and even experienced flower growers can face problems:

• Beige spots with holes in the leaves. Occur when too cold or hard water is used for irrigation.
• Rolling leaves, buds falling off even before they open. Excessive heat is the cause.
• Blackening sprawling spots on the stems. May be formed due to frequent watering in combination with low temperatures.
• Long and thin stems with small leaves, the intervals between which reach large sizes. The problem is observed with a lack of light.

The most common diseases:

• Fusarium. It is characterized by decay of leaves and shoots. Treatment consists in removing the rotten parts of the plant, treating the roots with Maxim extract and transplanting into a fresh substrate, previously treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. The plant is dug up.
• Ring spot. It is accompanied by the formation of light spots on the leaf blades, which gradually acquire a dark brown tint. To eliminate the problem, cut off the affected leaves and rearrange the plant in a sunny place.

Diseases and pests

To cure achimenes flower home care must be correct. Sometimes the plant is affected by pests such as aphids, spider mites, thrips and mealybugs. To combat harmful insects, insecticides are used. Subject to all the rules for care and cultivation, the flower will delight with its luxurious flowering for six months.