Nemantanthus - growing and caring at home, photo species

A photo

Nematanthus (Nematanthus) - a decorative shrub from the Gesneriaceae family. The shoots of a young plant are directed upwards, in adulthood they become heavy and fall down. Under natural conditions, plants are common in the tropical zones of Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, and the birthplace of Nematanthus is Brazil. A perennial plant develops rapidly, the length of drooping shoots can reach at least 0.3 m.

At home, a shrub nematanthus is not difficult to grow. It blooms all summer, forming many small tubular flowers similar to golden fish. Previously, the genus of hypocirrhoid and the genus nematantus were considered separate genera of one family. According to modern classification, they are combined, but sometimes the nematanthus is still called hypocirrhitis, although the name is considered obsolete.

Be sure to pay attention to such wonderful plants as Achimenes and Columnae.

	Growth rate is high.
	It blooms all summer, forming many small tubular flowers similar to golden fish
	The plant is easy to grow.
	It is a perennial plant.

Signs and superstitions

Photo of nematanthus in a pot

One of the plants with which superstition is associated. It is believed that the flower is beneficial to keep in the house: it brings happiness and luck to its owners, attracts financial success. During flowering, the nematanthus cheers up, delighting with a jamb of "goldfish" adorning the dark emerald glittering shoots.

Features of growing at home. Briefly

Nemantanthus at home survives well if he is provided with basic care:

Temperature mode	In winter - up to + 13 ° C, and in summer - up to + 25 ° C.
Air humidity	From 50%, spray regularly.
Lighting	Diffused bright light, placement on the windows of oriental orientation.
Watering	Regular, when the upper layer of the substrate dries.
Priming	A mixture of equal parts of humus, peat, sand or prepared soil for the senpolia.
Fertilizer and fertilizer	In the spring - in the fall, once every 3 weeks, fertilizer is used for orchids or a universal mineral remedy diluted in half; in the winter do not feed.
Nematanthus transplant	Spent rarely in spring or autumn.
Breeding	Cuttings from the tops or seeds.
Growing Features	In spring or after flowering, all branches are pruned by a third so that the plant rejuvenates, and flowers appear on young shoots.

Nematanthus care at home. In detail

The plant is unpretentious, does not require special attention to itself. But if you treat the flower with due attention, surround it with care, it will be grateful and will show its beauty in full.

Bloom

Typically, indoor nematanthus blooms from mid-May to early September. If from October to February the plant is kept in a warm and well-lit place, it can bloom in winter.

Against the background of dark green glossy leaves, small (about 20 mm) flowers appear in color and shape similar to small fish. For its apparent resemblance to creatures from the aquarium, the flower is called the Golden Fish. But the color of tubular flowers can be not only yellow, but also red, orange. The fused petals form a corolla in the form of a small ajar pocket.

Temperature mode

The plant has southern roots, so care for domestic nematanthus requires to withstand temperature conditions. In summer it is comfortable at + 23 - 25 ° C, in winter the flower is kept at + 13 ° C. The plant can withstand lowering to + 7 ° C if you insulate its roots with sphagnum and put a thin napkin on top of it loosening.

The plant must be protected from drafts, kept away from air conditioning. In warm weather, the flower is taken out to the balcony.

Spraying

Homemade nematanthus feels better if the humidity in the room is slightly above 50%. In the warm season, they regularly spray the plants, trying not to wet the inflorescences. A flower pot is periodically placed on wet pebbles, air humidifiers are used. During the heating season, it is especially important not to place the plant next to the batteries.

Lighting

It prefers to grow when diffused bright lighting is created in the room. A flowerpot with a flower is located in the eastern or western sector of the apartment. On a window facing south, shading is required to protect the leaves from burns.

In winter, bright light is especially important: with a deficit, the leaves become pale and small, flowering will be weak. If the flower is placed on a window facing north, the nematanthus will not bloom. In winter, they include additional lighting.

Watering

Despite the fact that the substrate should always be moist, it is important to prevent waterlogging of the plant and stagnation of moisture, otherwise weak roots will begin to rot. Watering nematantus is carried out when the soil begins to dry out.

If you accidentally dry the nematanthus, the plant will throw off the leaves and will not bloom. For irrigation take the lingering tepid water.

Pot

Nemantanthus is an epiphytic plant, its roots are poorly developed, therefore, the pot for nematanthus needs a shallow one. To flowering was lush and long, the plant should be kept in a tight container. Nematanthus is often grown as an ampel plant in hanging flowerpots.

Several plants are planted in one container. Its diameter should be 1.5 cm larger than the diameter of the previous container. There should be openings for draining excess water at the bottom of the pot.

Priming

The nematanthus plant at home is planted in fertile loose soil. If you prepare the soil mixture yourself, you can combine peat, humus, sand (perlite) in equal doses. In the store you can buy ready-made substrate for senpolia. Soil mix is ​​diluted with crushed spruce bark, pieces of sphagnum, coal powder.

To enhance the drainage properties, brick crumb, vermiculite, and foam balls are added.

Fertilizer and fertilizer

From late March to early October, the plant needs top dressing and fertilizer. You can use a liquid means for orchids once in 21 days, diluted in half, or universal mineral fertilizer diluted with water. In the first half of the growing season, the level of nitrogen in the feed should be higher.

During flowering, it is reduced, increasing the amount of phosphorus and potassium compounds. Fertilize after evening watering. Then the flower is kept for a day in a shaded place. In winter, the plant is not disturbed by fertilizing.

Transfer

The plant has weak brittle roots, so the transplantation of nematanthus is not often carried out. Perform the procedure in spring or autumn. Nematanthus belongs to epiphytes, its roots are weak.

To help the flower adapt to room conditions, it is placed in a tight, shallow container filled with a breathable, well-drained substrate that has a neutral reaction.

Indoor air humidity is maintained.

How to clip nematanthus?

If in winter the flower is at room temperature, in the middle of spring it is pruned, during which the shoots are shortened by 1/3. If the flower is kept in a cool room during dormancy, pruning is carried out in the fall after flowering. Anti-aging pruning is necessary for the bush to develop normally, to bloom beautifully and for a long time. The flowers of the plant are formed only on young branches.

Rest period

Winter rest is important. Therefore, a rest period is arranged for him from the beginning of November until mid-March. At this time, the plant should be in a cool room, the lighting should be full.

If the room temperature is below + 13 ° C, then watering and spraying the nematantus is not necessary: ​​its thick leaves contain the necessary supply of moisture. It is impossible to feed a plant during rest. In winter, keep away from heaters.

Nematanthus breeding

Reproduction is possible in two ways.

Growing nematanthus from seeds

passes with some difficulties. The seeds of the plant are microscopic. They are carefully sprayed over the surface of the substrate and sprayed from the spray gun. It is impossible to bury and cover with earth. Cover with a film. Contain with infrequent lower watering. When shoots appear, the film is removed. When forming 3 true leaves are transplanted into separate pots.

Propagation of nematanthus by cuttings

It is carried out in the spring or in the summer. Cuttings, the length of which is not less than 12 cm, are cut under the knot of a strong long shoot. Lower leaves are removed. Cuttings are rooted in water or immediately in wet soil. Planted in the ground cover with a film. Root in a warm room. Before rooting, the cut sites are treated with a root stimulator. The appearance of new leaves will show that rooting was successful. After this, the cuttings are planted in a group in one pot. A bush planted in this way will look spectacular. When the cuttings take root and begin to grow, pinch them.

Nematanthus planted with seeds will bloom only the next year. The resulting plant will differ from the maternal specimen by varietal qualities.

Diseases and Pests

With irresponsible care of the plant, diseases and pests await him. The appearance of the flower immediately changes:

• leaves and buds fall off - from excess moisture in cold weather (the plant is best transplanted and adjusted watering);
• leaves turn yellow nematanthus - direct exposure to the rays of the sun (pritenit);
• leaf edges are curled - location in bright sunlight (rearrange in a less lit place, pritenit);
• brown spots on the leaves - burn leaves when spraying in the light (spray in the evenings, shade);
• will fade - burn of the roots from overfeeding (the roots are washed, dried; the plant is transplanted).

Sometimes it suffers from an attack of whiteflies, scaleflies, aphids, and spider mites. In this case, the plant is treated with insecticidal drugs.

Types of homemade nematanthus with photos and names

In nature, there are 35 species of nematanthus. In room culture, only a few are common.

Nematanthus monolithic Nematanthus nummularia

The plant is ampelous. Diameter of light green rounded leaves up to 20 mm. Small flowers are scarlet with a bend of golden color. Having completed flowering, the plant throws off foliage.

Nematanthus gregarius Nematanthus gregarius

Glossy dark emerald leaves are small. Golden red flowers look like small fish. This species is called the Goldfish.

Nematanthus naked Nematanthus glabra

Fleshy bright green leaves are distinguished by elongation (up to 40 mm) and gloss. Up to 3 bright orange flowers form in their sinuses. Semi-ampel plant.

Nematanthus Wetstein Nematanthus wettsteinii

A plant with branching thin shoots elongated up to 0.9 m. Dark green oval leaves are covered with a light waxy coating. Red - orange flowers are small (up to 2.5 cm) tubular. It is grown as an ampel plant in a hanging container.

Nemantanthus diversifies any interior, emphasizes its grace. Maybe the plant will not attract the “golden rain”, as the belief promises, but it will certainly cheer you up with its original look.

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