Gloxinia is an interesting plant, which is distinguished by the elegant form of corolla. In favorable conditions, it blooms long and very magnificently, while giving a lot of strength. When a wonderful period in the life of a plant ends, it requires special care.
You do not have to worry about how to preserve a young gloxinia grown from seeds in winter: they leave it in a pot and moderately watered so that a small, still weak tuber does not die during the winter. Each owner of gloxinia should know what to do next with the plant and how to properly contain his darling after flowering.
When and how much does it bloom?
Gloxinia bloom begins in mid-spring - early summer. If the plant blooms in late summer - early autumn, gloxinia will prepare for wintering. If gloxinia has faded earlier, you can achieve re-flowering.
You can find out why gloxinia does not bloom and how to make it release buds here.
Features of this period
When the number of leaves on gloxinia reaches three to four pairs, buds appear. Their number depends on the age of the plant, the mass of the tuber and the conditions of detention. Bookmark buds occurs only with proper care. A striking feature of gloxinia is cap flowering. On one peduncle can form up to a dozen buds.
The flowers are large, oblong, sometimes may have an irregular shape and be drooping. The shape of the inflorescences distinguish gloxinia bells and shoes. The second name shoes - Tidey. They look like bells, but more elongated at the base. Depending on the type of gloxinia, the flowers are simple and terry. In simple petals are located in one row, terry have several rows of petals.
Coloring is characterized by diversity. There are white, pink, red, blue and purple flowers. There are not only varieties with monophonic buds, but also multicolored varieties. Some gloxinia have small specks on their petals, and a contrasting rim at the edges may additionally be present.
How to be with faded buds?
Faded buds should be removed immediately with the pedicel. (about why blacken, dry up, rot and buds do not open at Gloxinia, read here). Otherwise, they will prevent the emergence of new buds.
Plant care after flowering
Gloxinia is able to re-bloom, especially if the first was early. The second bloom is less abundant and lush, and the flowers are smaller. If after the first flowering the plant has a growing point, in a month gloxinia will give the buds a second time. If the growth point is missing, you need to prune.
You can find out about the peculiarities of caring for the “Tropican” -gloxinia at home here.
When and how to trim?
The pruning procedure is carried out in May or June, after the end of flowering. Trimming involves several simple manipulations. Required:
- Cut off the aerial part: the stem and almost all the leaves, after leaving two - four lower leaves. Leave an escape length of two centimeters.
- After some time, in the sinuses of Gloxinia side shoots will seem. You must leave one or two of the strongest, and pinch the weak.
- Feed the plant with nitrogen fertilizer to stimulate the growth of green mass.
- After a month, buds begin to form on the shoots. During this period, it is necessary to apply a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer complex.
If gloxinia blooms throughout the summer, and there is no power left for the second bloom, you do not need to prune it. The plant will prepare for the winter independently.
How to continue to care at home?
After full flowering the stem dies off. Gloxinia care during this period is carried out according to the following algorithm of actions:
- Watering should be reduced to a minimum. Fertilize the plant every three weeks. Last time to feed Gloxinia fertilizer that does not contain nitrogen. Potassium monophosphate is excellent for this purpose. After that, do not feed until the spring awakening of the plant.
Wait for the moment when all the leaves turn yellow and dry. It is important that the process of extinction of the above-ground part ends spontaneously. Immediately break off all the aboveground part can not. For a successful wintering and subsequent awakening of the plant, nutrients must gradually pass from the leaves to the tuber. When the above-ground part dries, stop watering completely.- In mid-October, cut off the entire above-ground part of the Gloxinia, leaving one or two centimeters high stump above the tuber.
- Dig a tuber and place in moist sand. Cover with polyethylene.
- Store in a cool place with air temperature from +10 to + 15 ° C.
- Lightly moisten the sand every two to four weeks so that the tuber does not dry. You can not strongly water the sand, otherwise there will be rot.
- At the end of the resting phase, transplant gloxinia into a new substrate.
Wait for the moment when all the leaves turn yellow and dry. It is important that the process of extinction of the above-ground part ends spontaneously. Immediately break off all the aboveground part can not. For a successful wintering and subsequent awakening of the plant, nutrients must gradually pass from the leaves to the tuber. When the above-ground part dries, stop watering completely.The period after the end of flowering is a very important stage in the life of gloxinia. The plant should prepare for wintering in a timely manner.
On how to properly water and feed gloxinia, to achieve long-term flowering, we talked in our material, and here you can read about how not to destroy gloxinia when growing, and about the features of caring for it. If you take care of the gloxinia correctly, it will delight with its lush flowers next spring with new forces.
