Varieties of nematanthus flower - home care

Nematanthus is a plant that has recently been grown at home. As a rule, it is found in South America. For this reason, few growers know how to properly look after it. In appearance, the plant resembles a zipocyrt or columbia. Nematanthus home care requires some effort, but it is more than worthwhile with the result. With proper watering and falling sunlight, it will delight with beautiful flowers.

Appearance

Nematanthus flower grows in the Amazon forests, which are characterized by high humidity. The leaves of the plant are dark green, in the form of an egg or an ellipse, sometimes they have streaks of a bluish tint. The length of the specimen is from 30 to 100 mm. The underside of the leaves is soft, may have a purple tint.

Nematantus - South American exotic flower

Nematanthus gregarius has unusual flowers. There are several types of plants, each with a different bud color. It blooms in the jungle only in summer. At home, the flowering time can last from March to November.

The flowers of the plant are like aquarium fish.

Varieties

Nematantus Goldfish has about 35 species. About 7-8 of them are grown at home around the world:

1. The most spectacular is Nematanthus Gregarius. It is he who is called the Goldfish. Best for planters. Beautifully flowing vines will appeal to all lovers of the unusual.
2. Riverside. The species has large leaves, approximately 10 cm in length. Flowers are lemon yellow. The pharynx is deployed, which is uncharacteristic for most nematanthus.
3. View of Wetstine. The leaves are small, oval in shape. Their surface is smooth and waxy. Gives shoots in the form of vines, which can reach a meter. The flowers are tubular, red-orange or yellow, 25 mm long.
4. Nematantus Tropicana. It has large flowers in the form of yellow-orange water lilies.
5. Santa Teresa is a unique and almost uncommon species. The flowers are up to 50 mm long. Cream or white color predominates. There are yellow spots on the surface.
6. Variegated nematanthuses are worth highlighting separately. Their occurrence is due to genetic mutations due to insufficient production of chlorophyll by the leaves. Hybrid nematantus looks unusually beautiful.
7. Nematantus Golden West. It has thick leaves with a creamy yellow canvas. The shade of flowers is red-orange.

Nematantus Tropicana is a beautiful plant

There are other types of Nematanthus. They all differ in the shape of the leaves and the shade of the flowers.

Care features

The plant will not exist by itself. Care must be taken for nematanthus. You will have to take everything into account: top dressing, watering, illumination. It is not difficult to create the required conditions, but they are constantly maintained.

Temperature

When flowering, the plant should be in a room with a temperature of 19 to 24 degrees. In winter, 17 degrees will be enough, since Gregarius is at rest.Due to excessively high or low temperatures, the plant will begin to die.

Lighting

Ideal for indoor nematanthus flower is bright diffused light. The plant will be comfortable on a windowsill located in the eastern or western part of the room. Due to the lack of light, it will stop blooming. For this reason, the flower is supplemented using a phytolamp.

Watering

When flowering nematanthus gregarius radicans, watering should be regular and abundant. In winter, it is cut. Water for irrigation is taken at room temperature. In the case of growing a species with large leaves, a delimited watering is provided. If there is not enough water, the leaves curl and fly around.

Phytolamp is used for additional lighting.

Spraying

At every season (except winter), the flower needs to be moistened - sprayed. To do this, take warm water. If it gets cold, the bush does not need additional moisture.

Humidity

The optimum room humidity should be 50%. If the temperature in the room is high, then the humidity must also be increased. This nuance must not be overlooked.

Priming

When growing hypocyrtus nematanthus, loose soil is required. Ready-made substrate can be bought in stores. When creating a soil mixture with your own hands, sand, peat and humus are taken in equal doses. For better water flow (drainage), small foam balls, brick chips or vermiculite are added.

Top dressing

To maintain the flowering of the nematanthus plant, additional feeding is necessary. The ideal option is special solutions. These can be purchased at gardening stores.

Flowering nematanthus

For a goldfish flower, home care must be carried out carefully. If you complete all the required actions, it will bloom from mid-May to late September. If kept in suitable conditions, the plant can bloom in winter.

The lower part of the flower looks like exotic berries

The flowers have an extraordinary resemblance to aquarium inhabitants, which is why the plant is called a goldfish. The shade of the flowers can be different: orange, red, yellow. The corolla petals grow together, acquiring a similarity to a pocket. Inside this "pocket" there is a tubular pharynx. The lower part of the flower seems to be swollen, becoming like a fantastic fruit.

Reproduction of nematanthus

Plant propagation is possible in two ways:

1. Seeds;
2. Cuttings.

Growing from seeds

There are some difficulties as the seeds are very small. They are carefully distributed over the surface of the soil mixture and sprayed with a spray gun. It is forbidden to cover with earth. After completing the necessary manipulations, cover with a film. Watering should be low and sparse. When a sprout appears, the film is removed. After the formation of three leaves, the plants can be transplanted into separate pots.

Cuttings

In nematanthus, propagation by cuttings is easier than by seeds. It can be carried out in summer and spring. Cuttings 12 cm in size are cut from a long shoot, after which all the leaves in the lower part are removed. The twigs must be rooted in water or moist soil. The sprout is preliminarily treated with a root formation stimulant. Then all the cuttings are immediately planted in one pot. After they take root, pinching is required.

Transfer after purchase

It is not worth replanting the flower immediately after purchase. For a young plant, transplants are performed once a year. For an adult - as the space in the pot decreases. The pot should not be much larger than the previous one. The fact is that in an excessively large capacity, the roots can rot. To prevent moisture stagnation, high-quality drainage is provided.

If the pot is too large, the plant will not bloom.

Possible growing problems

Growing a flower can be challenging.

Dropping leaves and buds

This problem often occurs in cold weather. The fact is that the plant has an excess of moisture. To eliminate the problem, the nematanthus needs a transplant and correction of watering.

Dry tips

Too much sun hits the flower. To fix the problem, they put it in the shadow.

Other problems

Brown spots may be observed on the leaves of the plant. They are the result of burns when spraying in the light. It is recommended to remove the flower in a darker place.

If the plant withers, the roots are likely burned from overfeeding. It is necessary to rinse and dry them. After that, the plant is transplanted.

In the event of an attack by a spider mite, scale insect, aphid or whitefly, the flower is treated with preparations with insecticides.

Nematantus is an exotic plant that will become a worthy decoration for any interior. It will cheer you up and can be presented as a gift. If you take proper care of the plant, the nematanthus will delight with a long and unusual flowering.