Streptokarpusy - houseplants of the Gesneriyev family, loved by many flower growers. They are close relatives of potted violets (Saintpaulias), Gloxinia. Streptocarpus is about 130 wild species and more than a thousand luxuriantly flowering, ornamental varieties bred by breeders. Such an amazing variety could not fail to attract fans of the room flora.
Three groups of plants
- Single leaves. Such species have one large, constantly growing leaf, which actually represents a cotyledol. This sheet is almost a meter long! Several peduncles appear in the second year. Such a plant blooms once, after which it dies. In home collections is rare.
- Multileaf. This plant with a stem and leaves, from the sinuses of which grows several peduncles. Such streptokarpusy are usually low, are presented in ampelous forms. As the first type, as a houseplant is not too common.
- Rosette Streptocarpus. It is they who confidently lead as the inhabitants of the home window sills. These plants - without stems, form rosettes like their relatives - Saintpaulias. Bloom profusely and perfectly amenable to hybridization. Due to this, they won deserved love and steadily growing popularity.
Rosette varieties, which are of the greatest interest for breeders and amateur flower growers, can be divided into groups according to flower size: relatively small, large and huge flowers. The following are photos and descriptions of the varieties: Scarlet Flower, Caucasian Captive, WhT bird and others.
With small and medium colors
The first group of rosette varieties are plants with small or medium flowers from 5 to 7 cm.
Crystal Lace
The creator of the brand gave the brand an exact epithet - "super-ryush". Delicate light lilac shade of the upper petals. Bottom - a pleasant yellowish-fawn color with rich lilac streaks. Flower 6.5 cm. Socket compact, small, leaves hard, not hanging.
Caramel
Very "appetizing" variety! Wavy petals, upper - in pink and white, lower - in soft caramel. The flowers are small (5-6 cm).
Picnic
The flowers are relatively small (6-7 cm), with a blue mesh on the petals. Background: top - white, bottom - with a yellow tinge. This variety is characterized by fragility of flowers.
The Scarlet Flower
Small flowers (5-6 cm). As the name implies, scarlet with a white heart.
Hawaiian party
5-6 cm - the size of the flower. This tropical riot of colors, not pass by! Terry flowers with a wine-red mesh and juicy specks on a pinkish background.
Meteor Rain
Hsmall wavy flowers (5-6 cm), top - blue with cream splashes, bottom - the color of thick cream with a blue edge.
Machaon
Watercolor play of pink and blue shades on the upper petals, bottom - purple mesh on a creamy background. Diameter of a flower is 7 cm.
Richelieu
The exact name of this variety is "frilly". Indeed, these flowers are 6-7 cm in size, in romantic ruffles, in deep violet-blue tones and with a bright middle.
Lena
Terry contrasting flowers from 6.5 to 7.5 cm. Upper petals are white with purple mesh, lower - juicy crimson.
With large buds
The second group of rosette varieties include plants with large flowers from 7 to 10 cm.
Frost patterns
Chic large (7-8 cm) flowers with bright, juicy and at the same time delicate colors. On a white background of corrugated petals - thick purple mesh. In the heart of the flower - a great combination of pure white and purple. Wavy leaves.
Kalahari
Contrasting bright flowers 7.5 cm in diameter. The upper petals are dense purple, the lower petals are light yellow with a slightly pronounced purple mesh.
Hermann
Middle flowers (7-7.5 cm), upper petals are lilac-colored, lower ones are bordeaux mesh and lilac hem on a cream background.
Pink dreams
Variety belongs to the group of colorful. Petals with a corrugated edge, pink color. The lower petals are with juicy mesh of ripe raspberry color on a light background. Flower - large (9 cm). Compact rosette leaves.
FIFA
Whimsical, exquisite flowers (7-8 cm), the upper petals are deep pink, the lower ones are with a raspberry net and the same edge against a white background. Flowering
Omut
Koldovsky, even the fatal type of flower 7.5-8 cm. Petals are corrugated, deep dark violet space with bright specks on it. The look attracts - not to come off.
Hypnosis
In the colors of this variety, there really is something psychedelic! On a thick, almost black background - bright blotches of crimson and lilac. The neck of the flower is white. Flower 7-8 cm
Chick
Petals with fringed edges. Flowers 7.5 cm lemon-colored, with a bright middle with light splashes of lilac.
Black Swan
Magically fascinating, catchy large flower (8-9 cm). Wavy velvet petals of dark purple, with a slant to black purple color.
Wild strawberry
Large flower 7-8 cm. Densely speckled petals: strawberry on white. Breathtaking beauty!
Caucasian captive
Easy and well flowering variety with strong peduncles and large, 8-9 cm, flowers. The upper petals are densely pink, the lower ones are with a raspberry-lilac coarse mesh on a light background. White neck with yellowish stripes below.
Young lady
Sophisticated pink color on top and bottom white petals with red mesh. Flower size 8 cm.
Waterfall
The upper petals are violet flounces, the lower petals with violet netting on a white background. Flower size 7-8 cm.
Avalanche
Very large (9-10 cm in diameter) white flowers-corrugation.
Your bird
Variety authorship Tatiana Valkovoy. Looks like a flower from a fairy tale! Large flowers 8 cm in diameter. The bright monophonic upper petals contrast beautifully with the lower ones: with a juicy purple mesh, turning into a thick solid tone closer to the neckline. Petals have a golden corrugated border.
Draco
Really reminiscent of a dragon! The upper petals of a large flower (7-8 cm) are calm pink, but the lower ones are in gold and purple fiery tones.
Dimetris
Whimsically ryushy, heather petals, bottom - with a purple mesh on a yellowish background.
With huge buds
The third group of rosette varieties include plants with huge flowers over 10 cm.
Mozart
Flowers 10 cm in diameter. Petals - large ruffles, the color of the upper - purple-blue, the lower - against the background of the color of baked milk lilac border and veins.
Margarita
Variety with huge (10 cm) flowers, painted in a thick tone of red wine. Petals with large frills.
Himalayas
One of the large-flowered varieties (10 cm). Transparent lavender top petals and purple mesh on a light background below.
Siberia
The flower reaches a diameter of 12 centimeters! Add to this the fantastic, blue-black colouration of gigantic colors ... It is almost impossible not to gasp in surprise and fall in love!
Kata Tjuta
Variety record: flowers from 10 to 13 centimeters. Corrugated, on top - scarlet, the lower part - gold with scarlet veins and border.
polar night
Huge flowers (12 cm). Coloring corresponds to the name of the variety: thick, purple-black velvet flowers with a delicate lilac core.
Care
The soil for these indoor flowers is optimal light, breathable, loose.
Watering in the summer - two or three times a week. For streptokarpusov good temperature around 24C. Cold and drafts are destructive for them, as is too much heat. You can create a rest period for the winter months. To do this, it is desirable to reduce the temperature (up to 14 degrees Celsius and below) and reduce watering to once a week.
During flowering streptokarpusam important fertilizer fertilizers. In addition, you should timely remove the flowering flowers and dry leaves.
Conditions and features of cultivation
There are several options for propagating streptocarpus.
- Seeds (mainly used by breeders).
- Plant division.
- The earthen clod, which is plentifully spilled with water, breaks into pieces, so that in each part there are points of growth (new rosettes).
- Plants are planted in new containers, dried sections and powdered them with coal.
- After a couple of months, new plants will acquire their root system and large leaves.
- Fragments of leaves. One of the most popular ways:
- the sheet is cut into several pieces;
- pieces are planted in the ground, consisting of peat and perlite.
Soon the leaves are rooted, independent plants are formed.
- Microclones (breeders' way).
Diseases and pests
Streptocarpus not demanding much is still subject to a number of problems. Here are some of them.
- Red spider mite. If you find a pest, treat the plant with a fungicide or fitoderm, tie it in a plastic bag for a couple of days. Re-treatment after seven to ten days.
Reference! For prevention, it is best to treat all plants with a phyperyme once a month and a half.
- Gray rot. When overflowing the roots and the ground part of the plant can rot. If this happens, treat the plant with a solution of potash and copper sulfate. Prevention - maintaining an optimal irrigation regime, adding activated carbon, peat, sphagnum, perlite to the soil.
- Mealy dew. In order to prevent its occurrence, it is necessary to thin out the bush, not allowing its thickening. It also appears when the soil is excessively wet. If it has appeared, it is necessary to remove the affected parts of the plant, replace the top layer of the soil, process the streptocarpus and the soil itself with fungicides.
Undoubtedly, streptokarpus - one of the most interesting indoor plants. If you like luxuriously flowering exotic plants that do not require any supernatural efforts in growing and maintaining, then this is your plant. Breeders continue to amaze with new varieties, so replenishing the collection will easily become your favorite hobby.
