It is quite difficult to grow a beautiful and ever-flowering catharanthus flower at home. If you provide the plant with proper care, then it will delight you with abundance all year round. bright colors. The height of the stem reaches 20-60 cm - it all depends on the variety. Large green leaves adorn the buds collected in a corolla. The color of the flowers can be white, pink or pale lilac. Having figured out in more detail how to care for a plant, you will always be able to enjoy the beauty of the catharanthus.

Features of care

Do not forget that the flower was originally an inhabitant of the tropics, so it feels best at a temperature of 23-26 ° C. In warm weather, the pot can be taken out to the balcony or. The plant loves light, and for comfortable growth it needs enough level humidity. Ideal place for a catharanthus - Fresh air. If the weather is appropriate, you can please him with air baths.

The catharanthus indoor flower grows quite quickly, so you should be ready to transplant it once a year. Best Choice the pot will be a couple of sizes larger than the plant itself. It is important to provide the catharanthus with abundant watering, but at the same time not to allow the roots to rot.

Lighting

When looking for a place for a plant the best choice will become the east or west side of the apartment. It is desirable that the pot does not stand in direct sunlight, but there should be enough light in the room. In the process of caring for a catharanthus at home, one should not forget to take it outside (during the warm season), precipitation should not fall on the plant.

It is not worth putting the pot on the south side, as the plant can get burned. AT winter time fluorescent lamps are used as additional lighting.

Priming

There are no special preferences when choosing a soil, the earth should be loose and pass air well. In the process of preparing the mixture, leaf, humus and soddy soil are mixed. and sand is taken in equal proportions and added to the pot. If desired, in the process of caring for a catharanthus at home, they buy ready-made land. The ideal choice would be the soil for geraniums. The bottom of the pot is best pre-lay out with expanded clay.

Properly prepared mixture and fertilizing the soil 2-3 times a month is the key to rapid flower growth.

Watering and trimming the stem

It is very important to ensure that the earth in the pot does not have time to dry out, as this negatively affects the growth of the plant. It will be possible to find out that the flower does not have enough watering by the state of the leaves. When the leaves of the catharanthus curl or they begin to turn yellow, this is a sure sign that the earth has begun to dry out.

It is recommended to use purified water when watering room temperature. The liquid from the tap is preliminarily defended for 2-3 days. It is advisable to drain the water that appears in the pan after watering so that the roots do not rot.

In the spring, it is recommended to cut the stem so that the catharanthus becomes more magnificent. At the end of winter, the stem noticeably stretches, so in order for the flowers to grow more closely, this procedure should not be overlooked. For decorative purposes, you can prune the plant as an exception in the summer. The first flowers on the cut stem begin to bloom again after 3 weeks.

Do not forget that the catharanthus is poisonous plant, which is why transplanting and cutting the stem is best done with gloves. Upon completion of the procedure, all tools and hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and water.

How does catharanthus reproduce at home

Cataranthus reproduces in several main ways. This process proceeds when using seeds, cuttings, or by dividing the bush.

Before you grow a catharanthus from seeds at home, you should first familiarize yourself with a few rules:

1. Seeds are planted at any time of the year. The soil must first be moistened.
2. It will be possible to collect the seeds on your own in the spring from a flower or purchase purchased ones. In the first case, they are pre-treated with a light solution of potassium permanganate, after wrapping them in a gauze bag and dipping them in liquid for 30 minutes. Then they dry well.
3. The seeds fall into the soil to a depth of no more than 1.5 cm. The pot is covered with a dark film or placed in a room without light.
4. The room temperature must be at least 23 degrees. After 8 days, the first shoots will appear.

Propagation of catharanthus by cuttings requires preliminary preparation. It is best to perform the procedure in the spring after trimming the stem. The resulting apical stalk is placed in water, where growth stimulants are added. The plant is planted in the soil after the formation of roots. The temperature in the room should not be less than 20 ° C. It will be possible to accelerate the growth of the catharanthus by placing a jar on top of the handle or covering it with a film. Do not forget to ventilate the plant.

Dividing the bush is relevant only in cases with a mature plant. In the process of dividing catharanthus at home root system divided into several parts, and then planted separately in pots.

winter period

Knowing how to preserve the catharanthus in winter will not only save the plant from death, but also accelerate its development in the future. In the cold season, it is important to ensure that the temperature in the room does not fall below 16-18 degrees. Putting the pot on a cold floor is not recommended, as low temperatures can adversely affect the state of the root system.

In winter, the air in the room becomes dry due to heating. Maintain the desired level of humidity by spraying or using a humidifier. Watering the flower at this time of the year is not necessary often. If at other times of the year the plant is fed with fertilizer 2-3 times a month, then this is not necessary in winter. At this time of the year, the soil should rest.

Signs of the disease

Quarantus in indoor floriculture - video

4747 04/02/2019 6 min.

Kataranthus is a plant that adorns modern flower beds. Differs in unpretentiousness in respect of leaving and nice appearance. It can be planted in a flower bed, placed in a container, and even pots. Plant growth is low. It has extensive branches, so it grows quickly and multiplies easily.

In this case, reproduction can occur by bush, cuttings and shifts. The simplest and most common propagation option is considered to be seeds. But in order for the catharanthus to please everyone with its attractive appearance, you need to know the features of caring for the plant.

What do the seeds look like

Kataranthus has erect stems that branch at the tops. The shape of the leaves is oblong, have a dark green color. The length of the leaves reaches up to 7 cm. During flowering, the bush is strewn with wheel-shaped flowers. You can see the first flowers after 60-70 days. At the end of flowering, a double-leaved fruit with elongated seeds is formed.

On the market, catharanthus seeds are presented in a wide range. But they all have a common appearance. They are large and dark brown in color. Caring for this plant is similar to.

How and when to plant seeds

Quarantus develops much more actively and gets sick less if before that planting material was carefully prepared. Before planting, the seeds must be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. It is worth disinfecting the planting material as follows: place it in gauze and lower it into the prepared solution of potassium permanganate. Keep 30 minutes. It is worth sowing them for seedlings at the end of February. And for those who want to know how to plant Thyme seeds, and how to do it right, this

Quarantus does not require special soil. When planting planting material in the soil, it is necessary to follow the same rules as when growing garden crops for seedlings. For the crop in question, it is better to use loose and nutrient-rich soil. First, the seeds should be placed in separate pots. If you are not going to plant seedlings in open ground, but use them as a houseplant, then you should prepare a pot in advance.

This culture does not tolerate transplantation very well. Send one seed at a time into a glass, laying it in the middle. But in a pot it is worth laying 3 seeds each. Planting material rises quickly and amicably.

But how the Chrysanthemums of their pots are transplanted into open ground, and how to do it yourself, this will help

As for the soil, it is possible to mix leafy and soddy soil, peat, sand and humus in equal proportions. It is necessary to place the cups on the saucer of the window, which faces the east or west side. The fact is that the catharanthus is a light-loving plant. But direct sunlight should not penetrate the leaves.

On the video - growing flowers Kataranthus:

All the same rules apply when planting already grown seedlings in open ground. It is best to make a high flower bed with east or west side Houses. It is allowed to plant catharanthus in large tubs. Seedlings can be transferred outside immediately after the morning frosts have passed.

Care

In order for the plant to bloom profusely and for a long time, it is necessary to adhere to some simple rules.

And for those who want to understand how it happens is described in this article.

Nutritious and loose soil

It is necessary to use one part of peat, humus, sand, leaf and sod land. Although any fertile soil can be used to grow catharanthus. At the same time, make sure that there is no salt in it in a large amount. For growing plants in pots, you can use soil for geraniums. The main thing is to remember about drainage when using fine expanded clay. But what soil is most suitable for Geranium, you can find out from this

Watering and humidity

Quaranthus loves moisture very much. So it is necessary to irrigate it regularly, but just avoid standing water. This is especially true for growing plants in pots. If there is excess water in the pan, then it should be removed.

If a flower grows in the garden, then its growth in wet and cool summers stops. If the plant is constantly flooded, then it may die due to root rot. But you should not bring it to dryness either. Some varieties of culture due to lack of moisture begin to twist the leaves. They roll up into tubes. But do not think that the flower is dead. He just needs to provide abundant watering. And you will notice how in an hour the leaves will come to life again.

So that the catharanthus does not suffer from an abundance of water in rainy weather, you should not plant it crowded. Somewhere once every 10 days, water with color fertilizer. It should contain potassium and phosphorus. As for air humidity, the plant in question loves when it is high. So it is necessary to spray the flower as often as possible. In winter, you need to do this with warm water. Also, do not forget about ventilation. You may also be interested in information on how to use it correctly and by what parameters it is worth choosing it.

Location and temperature

When the catharanthus grows in the house, then it should be installed in a bright place, as it loves light. If there is not enough lighting, then the stems will begin to stretch, their thickness will decrease, and the size of the flowers will become small. An excellent place to grow a plant is the east and west windows.

If you plant a catharanthus on the street, then you should gradually accustom it to the sun's rays. When planting seedlings in the ground, you need to think about whether the selected area will be protected from the cold wind. Otherwise, the plant may die. But what are the most popular among gardeners, you can find out by reading the contents of this article and looking at the photo.

A flower cannot winter in a flower bed. It begins to die with the onset of frost. So for those who want to see the catharanthus in their flower bed next year, it is necessary to break the cuttings and root them. You can collect the seeds and spread them on the windowsill so that they dry slightly.

Pest and disease control measures

Quaranthus can be affected by pests such as scale insects, aphids, whiteflies and mealybug. It is not difficult to see them, as the leaves of the plant will be spoiled. They will be educated white coating and spots. They will also start to curl up and dry out. To control insects and diseases, it is necessary to use spraying with insecticides.

And here is how the perennial Gaillardia is grown from seeds, and when it is worth planting given plant, is described in this

Not so often the catharanthus is affected by brown rust. Spots form on the leaves - pustules. The cause of the disease lies in the high humidity of the soil or air in combination with low temperature regime. Another cause of rust is a lack of nitrogen in the soil. To combat the disease, it is necessary to treat the bush with Bordeaux liquid and use nitrogen fertilizer.

On the video - caring for flowers Kataranthus:

Transplant and pruning

Plant transplantation should occur frequently - annually. This is due to the fact that the culture is growing rapidly. A plant that grows in a pot is pulled out for the winter. In the spring it needs to be cut off to form a lush bush. But then it should be understood that flowers on a cut stem appear only after 2-3 weeks.

And although catharanthus is a perennial culture, it should not be stored at home for more than 3 years. It is better to rejuvenate the flower by cuttings. If you trim the bush by more than 1/3, then the flowers and leaves will become too small.

When the flower was sent to the flower bed, then it is necessary to pinch it every 7 days for 1-1.5 months. Due to this, the flower bed will have a simply gorgeous look. This is due to the fact that the formation of flowers occurs at the tips of the stems. The more of them, the more abundant flowering.

Also, do not forget that the plant is poisonous. It contains 80 alkaloids. On the skin allergies, irritation may occur, so it is preferable to work in a flower bed with gloves, and trim the plant with scissors.

Kataranthus is a common flower that summer residents and gardeners often use when decorating a flower bed. It cannot be called particularly whimsical in terms of care, although there are some features, without which the plant may simply die. If you follow the temperature, humidity, choose the right place and fertilize the flower, then for such care of it, it will answer you with beautiful and abundant flowering.

Kataranthus - evergreen tropical plant, which has successfully taken root in our climate. On the planet, an exotic shrub is quite common, but the island of Madagascar is considered the place of origin.

To date, breeders have bred many different varieties. Some are suitable for growing indoors. These species excel in warm houses, apartments and delight their owners with long flowering. Others are annuals and are planted annually using cuttings from the mother flower from the previous year or seedlings.

And still others are perennials, specially bred for street gardening. Flowers in the warm season are on the street, and with the advent of autumn, winter indoors. It is these varieties that are less whimsical and tolerate all the vagaries of nature well, with the exception of cold weather.

Among them the most popular is the type Cooler. Represents tall shrub growing up to 1.5 meters in height. Blooms profusely for six months. It has large and round flowers with a bright eye. This variety, in turn, includes subspecies.

You can learn more about varieties of catharanthus from, and we talked about pink catharanthus.

Cascade

Is it possible in winter?

As already noted, the catharanthus prefers warmth and, accordingly, warm weather. For him, a temperature of + 10 ° C is critical, as a result, the plant may die. Therefore, a green shrub is planted in open ground when the temperature outside the window reaches + 20 ° C, night frosts and sudden temperature changes pass. This time is approximately the end of April - May.

All summer and the first month of autumn, the catharanthus blooms, and then it's time to winter. A tropical handsome man cannot stay outside, as he simply cannot stand the harsh winter.. Therefore, before the onset of frost, in the second half of October, the branches of the perennial are cut off, they are dug up directly with the roots and a clod of earth, and placed in a large-diameter pot. From above it should also be sprinkled with soil, in this form it is brought into a room with a temperature of + 15-17 ° C, but not lower. With the advent of heat, the bush is again planted in the soil.

How to choose a place?

The choice of a place for the future growth of a tropical plant should be approached with all seriousness, because the duration of flowering and an attractive appearance depend on it.

Quaranthus responds well to sunlight. The more light and warmer it is outside, the more magnificent and brighter the flowering will be. But everything is good in moderation. Getting enough UV is as bad as getting too hot. So it is better to choose a place on a personal plot in partial shade. And if not, then you should build a shelter, an awning made of transparent film, which will save the plant from scorching light, as well as from bad weather.

The shrub is not picky about the composition of the soil. However, it is important that it meets the following criteria: water and breathability, friability, lightness, and has a rich nutritional composition of macro and microelements. Also be well-drained, non-acidic, so that moisture does not stagnate. The soil should not be tightly packed so that it is not taken in a solid lump.

Important. Choose a site as far as possible from the occurrence ground water.

Land preparation

Before planting in open ground, the ground must first be dug up on the site, adding there:

• peat and sod land;
• peat;
• humus;
• expanded clay;
• natural baking powder, perlite or vermiculite;
• coarse fractional sand;
• several bags of ready-made substrate.

It is useful to use compost for the development and rapid growth of the root system.

1. Initially, a shallow hole is dug, in the shape of the desired flower plot of land.
2. Next, we place a thick drained layer on the bottom, consisting of expanded clay, broken brick, marble chips baking powder, pebbles, gravel, in general, what is at hand.
3. Sprinkle with dug up earth on top.

Reproduction methods

The catharanthus can be planted in open ground in the form of seedlings, cuttings or a bush (read about the propagation of catharanthus by seeds). At the same time, seedlings and cuttings are considered parts of annual plants, and the bush belongs to perennials. When choosing a breeding method, you should know the advantages of each type of planting material.

Seedling:

• can be grown at any time;
• fast and uniform germination;
• low cost of seeds;
• for one landing you can get up to a hundred copies at once;
• no need to transplant flowers for the winter.

Cuttings:

• cuttings do not require material costs;
• the procedure is within the power of even an inexperienced grower;
• the opportunity to get an exact copy of the plant you like.

The positive aspects of the method of planting a bush in open ground:

• the plant is fully formed, has a beautiful appearance;
• easily tolerates adaptation to a new place;
• acceleration of the flowering process.

There is an option - to plant a perennial catharanthus in containers, and in this way, decorate terraces, verandas. Ampel varieties look beautiful in hanging planters or in large flowerpots on stands. In this case, it is not necessary to transplant a flower for the winter.

Aftercare

• In the first time after transplantation, young individuals will need regular weeding. But when they grow up and get stronger, they will deal with the weeds on their own.
• Humidify the catharanthus with soft, filtered or rain water. In hot weather, the plant must be sprayed or arranged warm shower best in the evening. Otherwise, water drops can leave dark marks and burns on the petals.
• Watering should be daily. With a lack of moisture, a tropical shrub immediately signals with leaves rolled into a tube. And after abundant moisture, after 30 minutes, unpleasant phenomena will disappear, the plant will restore its shape.
• Don't forget to feed. In the spring, it is worth starting with complex mineral fertilizers. During flowering, potassium-phosphorus preparations can be used for abundant budding. The period of use of dressings is 1 time in 2-3 weeks. In autumn, food should be removed. Foliar dressings have proven themselves well, with an aqueous solution of Epin-Extra.
• Concerning organic fertilizers then you have to be careful with them. This means that with an increase in the dosage, the catharanthus will certainly receive damage in the form of yellow, burnt roots. This will lead to the death of the plant. It is safe to use wood ash dissolved in water.

You can find more information about caring for catharanthus at.

If the plant does not take root

When, after planting, a shrub for a long time cannot acclimatize in open field, then it is better to bring it back into the house. Dig it out of the ground, shake off the roots. Plant in the right soil, slightly moisten.

Perhaps the reason is an incorrectly selected variety that is not suitable for planting in a flower bed. Or not comfortable enough. In any case, you can try to reanimate the catharanthus at home. Optimize the temperature and humidity parameters in the room, regularly water and spray. But do not feed while the plant is sick.

Quaranthus has not only an impressive appearance, but also useful properties. This plant is used in folk and traditional medicine, for the treatment serious illnesses, including oncology. But shrub sap has toxic substances. Therefore, when landing on a personal plot, it is important to choose a place inaccessible to children.

When designing home gardens, it makes sense to pay attention to a unique tropical plant - cataranthus. In our regions, it is called pink periwinkle or cayenne jasmine. The perennial shrub ampelous type refers to evergreens from the kutrov family. Translated from Greek name means "pure, clear flower".

Cataranthus flower: care and cultivation at home

The origin of the plant is still unknown., because for centuries, it has been found in the tropical thickets of Indonesia, Cuba, China, the Philippines and India. Many scientists adhere to the theory that the catharanthus was brought from Madagascar, a mysterious island in the Indian Ocean with unique flora and fauna, where there are still more than 7 types of flower.

A young shrub can grow up to 1.5 meters in height, but in our climatic conditions the maximum growth rarely exceeds 50-60 centimeters.

If you look at the photo of the catharanthus, you can see that the plant has erect stems that are on the tops. The leaves are distinguished by a characteristic oblong shape, dark green color and the presence of a longitudinal vein. white color. Representatives of the Pacifica varietal series have very large and bright leaves. Their diameter often exceeds 5.5 centimeters. At the same time, the plant itself looks very neat and compact. During the flowering season, the bush is covered with wheel-shaped flowers that remain on it until the first serious cold weather.

Among the known types of shrubs, the following are considered the most popular:

• Albus. A common variety with snow-white flowers;
• Parasol. Refers to undersized plants that rarely grow up to 40 centimeters in height. The flowers are large and white;
• cooler. It is famous for its incredible variety of shades;

Catharanthus flower: cultivation and care

Currently, many are asking the question: “is it possible to grow a catharanthus flower at home and how to do it right?”. It is known that shrub belongs to the group, which often appear in human gardens and home gardens. The lack of special whimsical care allows you to quickly grow a beautiful ornamental plant that will be an excellent addition to landscape design near your home.

If you want to grow a catharanthus at home, choose the most bright and warm places, but without intense exposure to direct sunlight. Also, the site should be free of strong winds and high humidity. Otherwise, the flower will quickly die.

It is known that the shrub prefers light soil with a large margin nutrients. The ideal composition includes:

• sand;
• peat;
• humus;

The above-mentioned materials must be submitted in an even amount.

Quaranthus: growing from seeds and care features

Before planting shrub seeds in the ground, the selected area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe garden must be carefully dug up. It is very good if you add a small amount of expanded clay or medium-sized gravel to the soil. To successfully complete the procedure, you should dig a hole and put a layer of drainage on its bottom. A small amount can be poured over the drainage layer nutrient soil.

The main features of caring for catharanthus consist of several stages:

1. watering;
2. top dressing;
3. pruning;

It is also important to monitor the condition of the soil around the shrub and clean it from weeds. A mature catharanthus will be able to fight pests in the form of other plants on its own.

Growing this representatives of tropical flora it is necessary to take care of stable watering. It is important not to allow the soil moisture to drop to the minimum. You should also monitor the condition of the leaves: if they begin to curl, be sure to feed the soil with fresh water. In addition, the humidity indicators should remain high in the air. If it is a dry season outside, it is better to spray every day, and especially on a hot morning or evening.

A sharp drop in temperature and prolonged precipitation adversely affect the growth and development of catharanthus. If some time after the seeds were planted in the ground, it began to rain or become cold, the young flower will begin to lose natural look and become unattractive. Soon the flowers will start to fall. It is very simple to avoid such consequences: it is enough to install a shelter from precipitation in the form of an ordinary tent over the catharanthus.

feed the flower need at least once every two weeks. Top dressing should be especially intense in spring period. As a fertilizer, you can use universal mixtures, which are sold in plentiful quantities on store shelves for decorative flowering plants. The solution with fertilizer is poured under the root immediately after watering.

Top dressing from a solution of ash in the consistency of one hundred grams per 10 liters has proven itself to be excellent. If we are talking about foliar feeding, you can buy finished product Epin - Extra, with which you should spray the bush. With the advent of autumn cooling, feeding stops. It is important to avoid oversaturation of the soil with minerals that are contained in top dressings. The fact is that such events can lead to a burn of the roots, which is extremely dangerous.

Pruning catharanthus, pest control

If on the street summer period , it is not necessary to prune the plant, because. varietal ornamental shrub able to form a compact, lush bush without outside help. However, broken shoots and cuttings must be dealt with radically, pruning them when caring for the catharanthus.

In spring, before planting the plant outside, it is necessary to cut off the tips of the shoots, which stimulates the growth and formation of new stems. Such a simple step will allow you to grow a beautiful ornamental shrub in a short time.

Speaking of pests, then, like many other ornamental plants, the catharanthus is attacked by the following pests:

• whiteflies;
• scale insects;
• mealybug;

And others.

To notice that the flower turned out to be infected is quite simple. This will be noticeable by the condition of the leaves. If they were covered with an uncharacteristic white coating, spots, or began to lose their former appearance, curl and dry out, most likely they were attacked harmful insects. To combat the problem, you will have to use insecticides.

Often the catharanthus is affected by brown rust. With such an infection, the leaves will be covered with pronounced spots, because. called pustules. The disease occurs when the soil and air are oversaturated with moisture and prolonged contact with a low temperature range. Also, a lack of nitrogen in the soil can cause a problem. To avoid such consequences, the shrub should be treated with Bordeaux mixture and fed with nitrogen fertilizers.

Reproduction of the ampelous flower of the catharanthus

There are several main ways to propagate shrubs.. Among them:

How to organize wintering for catharanthus

Many beginner flower growers ask themselves: "why do catharanthus die"?

It is known that the catharanthus flower needs reliable protection from the cold, therefore, when grown at home, it must be hidden from the cold that occurs in late autumn and early winter. In the second half of October, the bushes are dug up, cuttings and branches are cut, and then moved to large pots. After that, the structure is covered with sand and soil.

For normal wintering the plant needs a temperature range of 15-17 degrees. Otherwise, it will quickly die. It is important to understand that it is not worth watering the catharanthus in winter. With the advent of spring warming, the bush is planted in a flower bed.

More and more flower growers and gardeners are beginning to grow catharanthus at home. This is due to a simple reason: the flower is incredibly beautiful and elegant, while there are no particular difficulties in caring for and maintaining. It is enough to water it in time, cut off excess cuttings, as well as carry out top dressing and protect it from cold or high humidity.

Particularly popular are ampel varieties which are grown in hanging planters. undersized variety Suitable for container or flowerpot keeping. A perennial evergreen shrub that takes root well with annual flowers, creating beautiful composition with unique tones and contrasts. You can see such beauty in numerous photos.

If the plant is grown in room conditions, it can bloom throughout the year and throughout its life. But in order to achieve such results, it is important to keep it in a well-lit place where there is no intense direct sunlight. Most often, windows on the western or eastern side are used as such a place. north windows not able to give the optimal amount of daylight. If all the windows of the house are on south side, it is better not to remove the flower from the windowsill. Otherwise, it will not be able to bloom for a long time or dry out altogether.

For home growing you can use large pots from annual crops. It is important to remember that the catharanthus is a fast-growing bush. At the bottom of the selected container, a drainage layer should be placed and filled with a substrate, which includes:

• the soil;
• peat;
• sand;

If you are going to grow a flower at home, provide it with stable watering, spraying and top dressing. Don't let the soil dry out in the pot, because this can lead to growth retardation, causing the flower to stop blooming as before. The lack of a normal supply of moisture leads to a change in appearance, namely, instant curling of the leaves. If this happens, provide a flower good watering and spray. For irrigation, it is better to use well-settled water at room temperature.

It is better to drain the rest of the water in the pot, otherwise the roots of the catharanthus will begin to rot, which will lead to the rapid death of the flower. Very often, the death of young bushes occurs due to oversaturation of the soil with water.

If you are going to do an annual plant transplant, be sure to consider the need for "rejuvenation", which is done every 4-5 years. When transplanting, formative pruning should be carried out by cutting off the central lignified shoot. If this is not done, the flower will quickly lose its presentable appearance and decorative effect, and young shoots will begin to die.

In case there are pets or children in your apartment, it is not recommended to grow a plant. The fact is that all its parts are capable of releasing toxic substances that, when they enter the body of a living being, cause severe poisoning or dangerous allergic reactions.

Important fact: if the flower is grown indoors, pruning should be treated with special attention, otherwise the plant will begin to grow in one lash.

That's all, now you are familiar with the basic secrets of growing a catharanthus flower at home.

Apr 02 2017

Quarantus - care and reproduction at home

Everyone who has seen a catharanthus indoor plant will agree that this spectacular bush, strewn with delightful numerous flowers, clearly brings the comfort and warmth of the southern islands of the Mediterranean into the house. Its name from Greek translates as "pure, clear or flawless flower." In this article, you will read about growing catharanthus and caring for it at home. Many flower growers consider him the king of indoor flowering bushes, because the catharanthus pleases its owners with almost endless flowering. all year round, and requires minimal care from them after landing.

The catharanthus flower (Catharanthus) belongs to the evergreen herbaceous and semi-shrub plants of the Kutrovye family (Apocynaceae). In the wild, it can be found everywhere in tropical countries. These are Cuba, Java, Africa, Indochina, Indonesia - it's impossible to list them all. It is not possible to accurately determine its homeland, although many scientists are inclined to Madagascar, where it is most common. There are seven or eight of its species. In the subtropics, the catharanthus grows up to one and a half meters in height. At home, this bush does not exceed 60 cm. As a houseplant, catharanthus has been bred since the middle of the 18th century.

For a long time, the catharanthus was considered one of the varieties of another flower - pink periwinkle. These plants are very similar. Both belong to the Kutrov family. Only since 1937, after lengthy disputes, did botanists begin to attribute pink catharanthus (Catharanthus roseus), as a species of evergreen perennial shrubs, to a separate genus of Catharanthus.

Indoor flower catharanthus is a perennial plant, often grown as an annual. In height at home, it grows no higher than 50 - 60 cm. Its upright stems are fleshy, branch at the tops, and become woody over time. The roots are powerful, pivotal. The central root reaches a depth of 20-30 cm, there are many lateral adventitious roots that have a strong specific smell. Young roots lack root hairs. The leaves of the catharanthus are oblong in shape, pointed at both ends, and up to 7 cm long. They are glossy, dark green in color, with a white longitudinal vein. During flowering, the entire bush is covered with many wheel-shaped flowers. Catharanthus flowers are 3 to 5 cm in diameter. They have correct form of five petals with a flat corolla, the throat of which is covered with thyroid hairs. In the center of each flower there is a peephole, usually of a bright contrasting color. There are hybrids with white, orange, light lilac, blue-violet petals. Catharanthus flowers are very similar to phlox flowers, but they are solitary, while in phlox they are collected in inflorescences. But, during active flowering, from May to October, such a magnificent hat is formed from separately blooming flowers that the decorativeness of the flower at this time is beyond praise. Long flowering ends with the onset of cold weather. After flowering, the fruit of the catharanthus is formed, which is a sickle-shaped double leaf, inside which about a dozen elongated seeds are formed.

Medicinal properties

The catharanthus plant is valued not only for its spectacular appearance and decorative effect. It has been known since ancient times medicinal properties. Healers and healers of Madagascar and Indonesia used catharanthus to treat diabetes, coughs and various tumors. The green parts of the plant contain up to 60 biologically active alkaloids. Modern research showed that indeed this flower contains substances that reduce blood sugar. And the alkaloids vinblastine and vincristine formed the basis of anticancer drugs that are used in modern medicine. All kinds of infusions and decoctions are prepared from the leaves and shoots of the catharanthus, which treat many diseases, such as:

• poorly healing wounds and trophic ulcers;
• fibroids, polyps, prostate adenomas;
• diseases of the teeth and gums;
• broncho-pulmonary diseases;
• hypertension and diabetes.

It is important to know that all parts of the catharanthus are poisonous. It is not recommended to prepare any medicine from it yourself! May occur side effects, allergic reactions, burns. There are contraindications. It is possible to use preparations from catharanthus only under the supervision and on the recommendation of doctors.

Species and varieties

All decorative series of varieties and hybrids of this flower are a variety of pink catharanthus. They differ from it in the size of the bush and different shades of petals. We will introduce you to the most popular of them.

This is a low bush, 50 cm in height. The flowers are relatively large - up to 5 cm in diameter. The color range is varied - from pure white to dark red. In the middle, a contrast eye usually sparkles. This flower is grown not only as a houseplant, but also as a garden plant, decorating them with borders in flower beds and paths.

This is a low compact bush, 25 - 30 cm in height, and 15 - 20 cm in crown diameter. It is characterized by early flowering and unpretentious care. The flowers are large, a characteristic eye in the middle stands out brightly.

Depending on the shade of the petals, the Pacifica variety has its own varieties:

• Pacific Burgundy - has rich wine-colored flowers with a white eye;
• Pacific White - has white flowers with a red eye;
• Pacifica Epricot - has apricot-colored flowers with a red center;
• Pacifica Ice Pink - has pale pink flowers with a red eye.

In the eighties of the last century, a number of new spectacular varieties of catharanthus appeared. Here are some of the popular ones so far:

Variety series Cooler (Culer). Small strongly branching bushes, up to 40 cm in height, united here. Their flowers are round, large, up to 5 cm in diameter. With a bright contrast eye in the center.

The varieties in this series include:

• Grape Cooler - lavender-pink flowers with a red center;
• Peppermint Cooler - white flowers with a bright red center;
• Red Cooler - red flowers.

Sortoseriya First Kiss (First Kiss, First kiss). Low, 30 - 40 cm in height, neat bushes, have beautiful crown and at least 13 shades of colors. This is the most popular and titled series of catharanthus. At the competitions of flower growers of countries North America catharanthus of this variety series have won prestigious prizes, in particular, the blue-violet cultivar First Kiss Bluebury has won high awards in the USA and Canada.

Variety series Cascade (Cascade). Here are ampelous catharanthus, up to 15 cm high and with long flexible shoots that either creep or hang down. blooms large flowers, up to 5 cm in diameter. The most popular varieties of this variety series:

Quaranthus ampelous Titan. Long whips hanging down reach 75 cm in length. Numerous bright red flowers burn brightly on dark green glossy leaves. This variety is excellent for growing in pots.

• White - with snow-white flowers;
• Deep Rose - with pink flowers;
• Bark cascade Cherry - with cherry flowers;
• Bark cascade Shelf Dot - with white flowers;
• Bark cascade Mejent - with flowers of gray - burgundy color.

Home care

When growing catharanthus at home, it is important to follow some simple rules so that you have a wonderful evergreen bush.

All parts of the catharanthus are poisonous and contain alkaloids. Work with it must be carried out with gloves to avoid allergies or poisoning.

Humidity, spraying, watering

Kataranthus is a moisture-loving culture. Abundant flowering directly depends on the sufficiently high humidity of the ambient air and the substrate. Quaranthus prefer high humidity air. If humidity readings fall below 60%, spraying of the surrounding air and, with care, the plants themselves is necessary. Moreover, the leaves can be sprayed, but the flowers are not desirable! To increase the humidity in the room, place containers with water next to the catharanthus plantings, and place the pots themselves in trays with wet expanded clay or wet pebbles.

Water your flowers regularly. Drying of the root system must not be allowed! You will immediately know about insufficient watering by the twisting leaves of the plant. If you quickly notice and soon water, they will straighten out.

But there should be no stagnation of water in the pan and waterlogging of the soil. Try to choose the frequency of watering so that the soil moisture is consistently average. Water before it dries upper layer soil to a depth of 2 - 3 cm. If you plan to keep the plant until next year, in the autumn winter period reduce watering significantly. Keep the earth ball slightly damp. If the air in the room is dry, spray the leaves constantly.

Lighting

The plant prefers diffused light. On the windowsills of the eastern and western directions he will be most comfortable. Although, on the south side, provided the pot is protected from direct sunlight at noon, the catharanthus will feel great. Not required to post flower pot on the very windowsill. It grows well in a small shade and looks great on a shelf illuminated by scattered sunlight. Subject to wintering indoors, he will also need good lighting. Otherwise, the stems will stretch upwards, and the decorative effect of the flower will suffer. If there is insufficient lighting, use fluorescent lamps.

Temperature

The ideal temperature for growing catharanthus at home is 20 - 25 degrees Celsius. This is in the spring and summer for the long-term maintenance of the flower. In winter, it is necessary for him to find a cooler place and maintain the temperature there within 15 degrees, because he has no place on the windowsill, next to heating appliances. Perhaps you have an insulated loggia. But, it is necessary to ensure that the temperature does not decrease at all - a long decrease in it, below 10 degrees, may not endure the catharanthus.

If you are not going to keep the flower in the winter and plan to throw it away in the fall, after flowering, then the warmer the location, the more abundantly it will bloom for you. Moreover, the flower feels great in the warm season in the open air. In the spring, as soon as the air outside warms up above 18 degrees, the catharanthus pot can be placed on a balcony or veranda, preferably under a roof, because flower plantings must be protected from rain, drafts and direct sun. With the first cold snap, in August-September, it is better to bring the catharanthus into the living quarters. Until October, he will still delight you with his magnificent flowering on the windowsill.

Soil and top dressing

Good catharanthus will grow in a loose lung fertile soil. Suitable for him purchased land for flowering indoor plants, for example, for geraniums. It is also not difficult to prepare the soil mixture on your own from leaf and sod land, adding a little peat and coarse river sand there.

In order for the flowering of the catharanthus to be long and plentiful, it needs constant, fairly intensive top dressing. If your flower is an annual, it is fed once a week, adding liquid fertilizer for flowering indoor plants in water for irrigation. Suitable liquid fertilizer for indoor roses. But do not overdo it, read the doses on the package.

If the catharanthus after flowering will be preserved as a perennial, its strength must be preserved. Therefore, top dressing should be done during flowering less often, once every 2 weeks, and at a dose reduced by half. After flowering, from October to February, top dressing should be stopped altogether.

The right size pot

Quaranthus is a fast growing flower. If you plant it in a small pot, it will outgrow it very soon, the roots won't fit and will block the drainage holes. Therefore, choose a large pot right away, so that it is enough for a year of the flower's life. As we wrote above, the root system is developing well, the roots grow up to 20 - 35 cm in length. Place on the bottom of the planting container good layer drainage, 3 - 4 cm. Use expanded clay, pebbles or other suitable material. And then fill the pot with the prepared soil mixture. Do not forget to add a little humus for nutrition. During the annual transplant of perennial catharanthus, each time choose a pot 3 - 5 cm larger and wider than before.

Pruning and shaping the bush

For such a fast-growing plant as catharanthus, pruning of shoots is a necessary procedure. At perennial culture, after a period winter holiday, cut off the shoots stretched out over the winter by a third of their length. Remove damaged and dried branches, give the bush the desired shape. This pruning in early spring will rejuvenate the flower, give it strength for new growth.

Pinching the ends of the shoots will help to form a compact beautiful crown of a young catharanthus. Their upward growth will stop, and the growth of side branches will make the crown thicker and more decorative.

But watch out decorative look your pet during flowering will have to constantly. Withered flowers and yellowed leaves at the bottom of the shoots must be cleaned regularly - they greatly spoil the appearance of the plant.

Transfer

If you grow catharanthus as a perennial, then it will need an annual transplant in early spring, in March.

Return the flower to a warm, bright room. Look around. Do desired crop. Pick up a pot for transplanting 3 - 5 cm more than before. Put drainage there - it should be at least 4 cm. Do the transplant by transshipping the flower along with the ground. Try not to injure the root system. Add soil of the same composition to the pot in which the catharanthus grew last season. If the soil is very different in composition, the flower may not bloom. According to the reaction, the soil is neutral or slightly sour. Keep this in mind and always use one type of soil, for example, for flowering geraniums.

You may need to repot your flower more than once a year. If during the active phase of flowering the lower leaves suddenly began to turn yellow and the flowers fall off - Perhaps the root system no longer has enough space in the pot. You can see the roots sticking out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. This is a signal that the catharanthus urgently needs to be transplanted into a large container.

If the catharanthus is difficult to remove from the pot, try watering it. The plastic pot may need to be cut or broken, but when removing the flower, be careful not to damage its delicate root system. Otherwise, the catharanthus will stop blooming.

If you regularly follow all the rules of good flower care, then the catharanthus will also try and stun you with its fantastic flowering!

We recommend not keeping your perennial for more than three years. Any catharanthus of this age begins to grow, its flowers become small, the shoots are clumsy. The plant loses its attractiveness and decorative effect. It is better to part with him, having taken care of his descendants in advance, that is, about reproduction.

reproduction

After the enchanting flowering, the forces of the catharanthus are depleted, and you need to try to make it bloom again on next year. For this reason, flower growers often grow catharanthus as an annual plant, and after flowering is over, they are simply thrown away. After all, the difficulties of preserving a flower in winter, problems with temperature, humidity, and lighting of its wintering place cannot be compared with the rooting of its shoots or cuttings. By the beginning of the new season, you will have a new flower full of strength and desire to bloom without any problems.

Catharanthus is propagated in three ways: growing from seeds, rooting cuttings and dividing the bush.

Growing from seed

Purchase catharanthus seeds in specialty stores. Their seeds during the summer flowering will not have time to ripen. Their natural maturation is possible only in tropical conditions. If you still set out to get your seeds - be patient. The bush will have to be grown all autumn and winter at room conditions, maintaining a constant temperature, humidity and good lighting, as in the tropics. Your seeds will ripen, perhaps only by spring.

Seeds can be sown at any time of the year. Just keep in mind that the catharanthus blooms after germination in 60 - 70 days, that is, young bushes will bloom in two to three months. Therefore, it is better, in terms of caring for them - in terms of temperature, humidity and lighting, to do this in early spring.

Prepared seeds (treated with potassium permanganate and epin) are sown in containers with nutrient soil to a depth of not more than 1 cm. The soil is gently moistened with a spray gun with warm settled water, the container lid is closed. You can use any containers convenient for you, but be sure to cover them with something transparent - glass or polyethylene. Germination will be best done in a warm, dark place. In a week or two shoots will appear. Containers are taken out to a lighted place. The temperature is maintained at 23 - 26 degrees Celsius. Ventilate once a day better in the morning. Sprouts for a long time, about a month, sit at the same level - they grow roots. When three or four leaves appear on the seedlings, the catharanthus dive into separate pots. Do not forget about the rapid growth of the young, immediately take a pot of a large size than you would like, so that soon, during flowering, you do not have to replant the flower again.

Pay special attention to preparation soil mixture. An excellent option is a mixture of peat, humus, soddy soil and coarse sand in equal proportions. If you use ready-made soil, choose a substrate suitable for flowering indoor flowers.

Reproduction by cuttings

For propagation by cuttings (cuttings), green cuttings are cut from the tops of the shoots near the catharanthus. Choose the method of rooting the cutting - in water or in the substrate.

Water for rooting is taken settled or boiled with the addition of some kind of growth stimulator. Put the glass in the light warm place. Waiting for the appearance of the spine. As needed, add water. Roots will appear very soon. Then the stalk is planted in a pot with a regular substrate. Take care of like an adult plant.

You can root the cuttings in a container with moist soil under the film. Air plantings from time to time, as the soil dries, water them. When signs of new growth appear on the handle, the film can be removed. Root cuttings with a margin, in case of their death.

Harvesting and planting cuttings is best in the spring, after pruning the old bush. But you can do it in the fall too. Optimum temperature for rooting cuttings of catharanthus - 22 - 25 degrees Celsius.

Video: how to propagate catharanthus cuttings.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

This method of reproduction is used during the transplantation of an adult plant into new pots. Usually, it happens in early spring. Depending on the size of the root system, the catharanthus can be easily divided into two or three parts. Remove the flower from the pot, try to gently shake the soil from the roots. Decide on the place of division of the root system. Use a sharp, well-disinfected tool to divide the bush. Treat the incisions with crushed activated carbon. Plant each specimen in a separate pot according to all the rules.

Organization of wintering

If you are planting your indoor flower in a summer cottage in a flower bed for the summer, then you need to think about how to save the catharanthus in winter. After all, your sissy will not survive the winter, even mild, on the street. Carefully dig up the plant in early October. Trim the branches two-thirds of the way. Place the flower in a spacious pot to fit the entire root system. Fill the pot to the top with a mixture of sand and earth. Bring in a cool room with a temperature of 15 - 17 degrees. Try to find one for the winter in the apartment. Let him stand there until the onset of spring and warmth. It does not need to be watered in winter. When the air outside warms up above 18 degrees, the rhizome of the catharanthus can be planted again in a flower bed.

Possible Growing Problems

You can always determine by the appearance of the plant whether it is healthy or something is wrong with it. The catharanthus, by its appearance, itself signals the unfavorable conditions of its maintenance. The plant must be monitored, and, if necessary, take measures to correct their mistakes.

Consider the most common problems of growing catharanthus.

Diseases

• Small dark bumps or spots appeared on the upper surface of the leaves. On the bottom - something in the form of pustules. These are signs of the disease of many indoor flowers - leaf rust. The reason is frequent waterlogging of the soil at high humidity. Or when transplanting, a heavy or rust-infected soil was used. Treatment is carried out with fungicides (read about). Transplant the treated plant into new soil.
• The leaves on the shoots became lethargic, turned yellow and fell off. This happens if the pot is on a window sill that is not protected from the sun. Set the flower to the back of the room or protect it from direct sunlight with blinds or curtains.
• The tips of the leaves turned yellow. This happens when the humidity in the room is too low. In winter, this is due to central heating. The pot must be placed in a tall pan with wet expanded clay and set aside from the heaters. Next to the flower, you can place a wide container of water. If there are no flowers on the catharanthus, its leaves should be sprayed with settled water at room temperature. All this should increase the humidity in the room. The tips of the leaves of the catharanthus will stop turning yellow.
• The lower leaves on the shoots turn yellow and fall off. This is a natural process for a catharanthus. Remove them regularly from the plant so that the decorative effect of the flower does not suffer.
• There are few flowers on your catharanthus. Poor flowering usually happens if the catharanthus is cold. Move the flower pot to a warmer, brighter place - and he will thank you with abundant flowering.
• The leaves begin to turn yellow, flowering stops. Examine the flower pot. If it is not large, if the roots of the catharanthus appeared from the drainage holes, it means that your pet has become cramped in this pot and it's time to transplant it into a wider and deeper flowerpot. It will take a little time, and the plant will come to life and begin to bloom.
• The quarantus began dropping buds. This happens when there is insufficient attention to the flower: poor lighting, lack of moisture in the soil or low air humidity.
• Young leaves are falling from the tops of the shoots. Perhaps you rarely water the flower, it lacks moisture. At the same time, check other nuances of care: whether it is warm, light, and whether any insects bite it.

Insects - pests

We introduced you to indoor flower catharanthus. Believe that you will spend less time caring for him than reading this article! It's quite unpretentious plant, but so sweet and responsive to any attention to him from the grower. Kataranthus is good because this small, compact bush blooms profusely with bright acrylic flowers from spring to October. At the same time, it grows quickly and multiplies easily. Knowing the simple rules for caring for it, you will always have a grateful plant in your house, ready to decorate the interior of your house all year round.

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