Gloxinia is a perennial bulbous plant with stunning, trumpet-shaped flowers. There are only 25 species of gloxinia, but numerous hybrids are divided into 4 groups based on plant size: from standard (over 25 cm in diameter) to microminiature (less than 5 cm in diameter). Gloxinia is valued for its long flowering period from April to October.
Cultivating Gloxinia
Cultivating gloxinia at home requires adherence to specific care conditions. When choosing a location for your plant, opt for an east or west-facing window sill, as the plant needs a long daylight period. South-facing windows will require shading, as direct sunlight can cause leaf burns and wilting petals. In a north-facing window, the plant may not bloom. Gloxinia is a heat-loving plant, and the optimal temperature is 18-22 degrees Celsius. However, both excessive heat and cold can harm the plant. Choose a pot for your gloxinia that is 3-5 cm larger than the bulb. Plant has a superficial root system, so choose a container that is wide but not deep.
Caring for Gloxinia
Caring for gloxinia involves several standard procedures.
- Watering: During active growth and flowering, water the plant abundantly and frequently. Reduce watering towards the end of summer and stop completely by mid-autumn. It’s important to water gloxinia correctly: evenly distribute warm water, avoiding getting drops on the leaves and bulb.
- Fertilizing: Apply fertilizer to moist soil from April to August. Use mixtures with a high potassium and phosphorus content; nitrogen is not recommended for the plant.
- Spraying: The plant does not tolerate dry air; the leaves dry out, and buds fall off. However, gloxinia leaves are covered with micro-hairs that firmly hold water when it gets on the leaf surface. Further exposure to sunlight leads to burns in these areas, and water entering the bulb threatens gloxinia diseases. To maintain humidity, place the pot in a tray with wet pebbles or regularly spray the area around the plant. Don’t forget to ventilate the room to reduce the risk of fungal diseases from high humidity.
- Repotting: Repot plant bulbs annually in the spring after the plant has awakened. When repotting, remove old roots, clean the bulb from soil, plant it in new soil and a pot.
Propagating Gloxinia
Gloxinia can be propagated using any part of the plant. Gardeners note that healthy and strong flowers are obtained from seed propagation of gloxinia. Seed germination depends on the storage period of the seeds. The path from seed to flowering plant takes 7 months and consists of three successive picks and one transplant to a permanent place. Cuttings of gloxinia are taken during the budding period and rooted in water, followed by transplanting into a pot with soil. Propagation of gloxinia by shoots and stepchildren leads to flowering in the year of collection. After flowering, the peduncles and parts of the leaf are easily rooted and planted in separate containers. In some cases, gloxinia is propagated by dividing the bulb, but this method is risky due to the danger of introducing a fungal infection into the cut sites.
Gloxinia’s Rest Period
Caring for the plant includes organizing a special stage – the gloxinia’s rest period. Towards the end of summer, reduce watering, and stop completely in the fall. Cut off the remaining shoots to a stump of 1-2 cm. There are two ways to store gloxinia bulbs: in a pot or outside a pot. Place the bulbs in a pot in a dark and cool place (10-12 degrees Celsius). If desired, remove the bulbs, place them in damp sand, and leave them in the same room. Water the bulbs several times during the winter with a small amount of water to prevent them from drying out. Plant does not awaken at a specific time in the spring; the plant will wake up on its own, which will be indicated by the appearance of new buds. Wash the bulbs, soak them in a potassium permanganate solution for a couple of hours, dry them for a day, and plant them in a pot, covering them with new soil.
Cultivating gloxinia at home is not for everyone, as it requires patience and maintaining specific growing conditions. However, the result will exceed expectations. Each plant blooms with more than 20 buds per season, and such splendor will be remembered by every connoisseur.