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Kufeya: planting, care and where to grow a plant. Growing kufei from seeds and cuttings at home

Kufeya is a beautiful annual or perennial plant that will add exquisite decorative qualities to any terrace and alley. The flowers of the plant, due to their tubular shape, are very reminiscent of a smoldering cigarette, which is why kufei is also called a cigarette tree. In the article we will talk about planting and caring for kufei, where and under what conditions to grow it, how and when to water it, what fertilizers to feed.

Description

The flower got its name due to the beautiful, but twisted fruits. "Kufei" in Greek means "crooked". A herbaceous plant native to the central and southern regions of North America has found wide application in our country. The cigarette tree, in most cases, is used in decorative and, but some entrepreneurs grow it to collect lauric acid and then sell it on the market.
In the native habitat there are more than 250 varieties of this plant. In addition, breeders are constantly developing new varieties that are distinguished by bright and lush flowering. Mexico is considered the birthplace of the flower, where it occurs in two varieties - annual and perennial.

Important! The gap between the kufei bushes during landing should be at least 35 cm.

On the territory of our country, this beauty is often grown as annual plant, but some amateur flower growers prefer to contemplate evergreen kufei in room version. In the southern regions, where winters do not differ in severe frosts, the cigarette tree can easily overwinter and bloom the first buds at the end of March.

Distinctive feature flower is the fact that it blooms from late March to mid September(Agree, quite a significant prospect of decorating any landscape park or just home).
The leaves of the kufei are glossy, dark green flowers, small, shaped like an elongated oval with sharp end. The shrub itself can reach a height of 40-50 cm, but professional landscape designers can give the plant any size through regular pruning. The flowers of this beauty are small, but there are a lot of them on one plant. The size of the flower varies from 2 to 3.5 cm. The color of the flowers can be different: pink-red, purple-violet, lemon-white.

Species and varieties

As we have already said, there are about 250 species of this, however, most of them are not bred as decorative ornament. Flower growers-lovers of our country know only a few types of kufei, which we will discuss in more detail.

This kind of cigarette tree is very compact and beautiful bush, so they prefer to grow it indoors, on balconies, in more southern regions - on terraces or. Kufeya hyssopolous has strong and elastic branches that do not break even when strong wind, so caring for her at home will not take much work.
This type of shrub is quite easy to propagate by cuttings, so young cuttings can be purchased in almost every flower shop. The hyssopolistic cigarette tree blooms very brightly with big amount small glowing flowers.

Sometimes it seems that the bush caught fire and glows with a fierce red, purple, white or purple. This type of plant loves a lot of light, warmth and abundant watering, therefore, in the Moscow region and other central and northern regions of Russia, it is better to plant it in a pot and keep it in the house.

A very beautiful and beloved shrub by many flower growers. It has small compact forms, so it is very often grown indoors. The plant got its name because of the beautiful crimson flowers, which can be more than a hundred on a small bush. Among the people, fiery red kufeya is better known as a cigarette.
This nickname also came from the flowers, which have elongated shapes and more dark colors on the edges (it is the dark colors on the edges that give the impression of a smoldering cigarette). The plant is photophilous, does not tolerate frost, loves high humidity.

In some foreign literature, this type of shrub can be found under the name candy bush. It's funny, but such a nickname was invented for a reason. The candy bush has beautiful bright pink flowers that exude a sweet, sticky liquid with a pleasant scent. The shrub is very similar to the hyssopolous kufei (it has the same compact size and lignified shoots), however, the micro-petal type of the plant has petals not in the leaf axils, but above them.
The leaves are small, dark green, glossy, growing oppositely. The petals are very small, almost invisible due to the long calyx. The calyx is yellow, the inside is green. The micropetal cigarette bush is very common in the parks of the southern regions, where winters are less severe. Flower growers prefer to grow this shrub under open sky, where it attracts many pollinating insects ( , ).

lanceolate

The lanceolate appearance of an exotic plant is slightly different from the previous representatives of the genus. This bush reaches a height of 0.8-0.9 m and no longer has such compact forms. However, lanceolate kufeya is hot favorite plant many landscape designers of the southern regions. There, the flower is often found in parks, gardens, alleys and terraces. It attracts with its special, beautiful and bright flowering, which cannot be compared with anything else.
Tubular purple flowers can be seen from late to mid-October. The lanceolate cigarette tree propagates by seeds that are spread by various animals and gusty winds.

Landing at home

Growing kufei from seeds at home is not a difficult task, so any novice grower can handle it without any problems. You can buy seeds at any flower shop. There are about 300 seeds in a one-gram bag (enough to plant a whole avenue of these beautiful shrubs). Since the plant is photophilous, it is best to plant seeds for seedlings in the house. You can start disembarking at the end of March or beginning of April.

For seedlings, you can use small cups, at the bottom of which there are several small holes.
The soil for seedlings and adult plants is made according to the same formula: one part is taken, sod and leaf ground, as well as humus, in addition, half a part of river sand is added to the mixture. One or two seeds are planted in each cup to a depth of 2-3 cm. After planting, the cups must be covered with glass or plastic wrap. Sunrises appear already on the 5-7th day. You need to keep them in a well-lit and humid place at a temperature of + 20-22 ° C (preferably on a windowsill).

Did you know?From some tropical varieties of kufei, oil is extracted, which, in taste, is very similar to coconut oil.

In late May - early June, seedlings need to be transplanted. The choice of location is up to you. It will depend on which region of our country you live in. In the southern regions, kufei can be planted under the open sky.

The best place would be: the south side of the site, with good lighting, neutral acidity of the soil and the absence of gusty winds. In the central and northern regions, it is better to transplant into deeper and wider containers, since the shrub must be placed in the house (in the summer it can be taken out into the street). It should be remembered that kufeya is able to tolerate mild frosts (up to -12 ° C), so keep this in mind when choosing a landing site.
If the cigarette tree is planted using cuttings, then all of the above rules are also observed: soil composition, lighting, humidity, temperature regime. Only when planting cuttings, you need to immediately select the optimal capacity in which the plant can fully develop at least the first 6-9 months.

reproduction

Mexican shrubs can be propagated by cuttings or through seeds. It is necessary to trim the cuttings and plant them at temperatures of + 18-20 ° C, it is best to do this in the spring. You need to separate the tips of non-lignified shoots with a sharp knife at a slight angle. Separated parts of the plant are placed in warm water for 7-10 days. After this period, the cuttings form roots, they are ready for planting in the prepared soil.

For better germination, flower growers recommend planting several cuttings in one container. After the appearance of the third pair of leaves, the plant needs to be pinched. In this case, the kufeya will grow lush, bright and beautiful.
If you propagate kufei with seeds, then you need to wait until the end of the flowering period, which occurs in early to mid-autumn. At this time, ripened seeds are collected from the flowers and dried a little in the sun. After that, it is desirable to treat the seeds with a weak aqueous solution. You can plant prepared seeds even in the fall, but in the apartment the plant must be given appropriate care: optimal lighting, temperature and humidity.

Care

In order for the kufei to bloom regularly and luxuriantly at home, she needs special care.

Temperature

It is necessary to keep the plant in the spring-summer-autumn period at temperatures of + 18-25 ° С. Such conditions will be optimal for a normal and long flowering process. In winter, perennial plants need to provide a lower temperature, which will vary within + 12-15 ° C.
It should be noted that kufei can withstand lower temperatures, but the flowering process can be greatly delayed. Breeders also bred frost-resistant varieties shrubs that can withstand winters with temperatures down to -12°C.

Watering

Mexican shrub loves watering and moist soil. It comes from those parts where the air humidity is always slightly higher than the air humidity in our region. In addition, in the tropical regions of southern North America, rainfall is more frequent than in our country.

You need to water the kufei 2-3 times a week, especially carefully you need to monitor the watering during the flowering period, then the bush will be even more lush and chic, with a lot of bright flaming flowers.

Important!If the kufei is placed in a draft, then it can shed all the leaves!

It is important that moisture saturate the entire earthen lump. If the cigarette tree grows in your house in a special container, then you need to water it until water starts to flow out of the lower holes. Watch to upper layer the soil did not dry out. The flower does not tolerate constant high soil moisture, therefore, when planting, it must be provided with a good one.

In winter, when the shrub is in a dormant period, watering should be reduced to 3-4 times. Kufei is very fond of water procedures, so regularly spray her leaves and flowers.

The cigarette tree is a graceful lover. It can be fed throughout the flowering period, then the brightness and splendor of the flowers will be even more exciting. Fertilizer can be purchased at any flower shop (it is best to buy a complex fertilizer with all possible minerals).

A fertilizer with equal proportions of potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen in the composition is well suited. An aqueous solution is made at the rate of 20 g of fertilizer per 10 liters of water. You can also purchase special dressings for leaves and flowers, make aqueous solutions, spray bushes (procedures should be carried out once every 10-14 days).

pruning

This North American shrub is capable of short span time to reach maximum dimensions(especially with the right care). Its shoots are able to reach a height of 0.5-0.9 m, so they must be cut regularly. Thanks to the splendor of the bush, many landscape designers create a variety of geometric figures and give the kufei a fabulous beauty. special rules not in pruning, you just need to shorten strongly rushing shoots, create a beautiful shape for the bush.

Transfer

transplant young plant produced every spring. Every year, you need to transplant kufei into a pot of greater height and diameter (the size of each parameter must be increased by 2-3 cm). When the diameter of the pot reaches a value of 25 cm, transplantation can be done less frequently - once every 2-3 years.

Did you know?Mexicans believe that the kufei is able to try on people, so she is placed in noisy offices and other crowded places.

When transplanting, the plant needs to ensure the optimal composition of the soil (we talked about this at the beginning of the article) and good drainage. Drainage can be built from foam, broken brick or expanded clay. During the procedure, it is important not to damage the roots of the plant (if any of them are affected, carefully remove them). Immediately after transplantation, the plant is abundantly watered and fed.

The article will describe what is kufeya- planting and care, where to grow the plant is best. Agree, a strange name for a plant. A person who knows little about gardening is unlikely to have come across this definition once. Even if you think a little, then no thoughts come to mind that can be associated with the definition.

Kufeya - what is this plant?

Kufeya is a plant of Mexican origin. And the word itself originated in Greek and means something like bending. People who have seen the plant in life probably understand why it has such a name - after all, its leaves are slightly curved.

Today, this flower is gaining popularity and therefore it can be found on personal plots or on window sills in pots. The plant can be called undersized, since it did not grow to a height of more than half a meter.

Kufei is popularly called a cigarette plant, since the stem looks like a smoldering cigar or a tube. The flowers of the plant are very bright and have a red tint with lilac streaks. The leaves are bright green in color.

If talking about growing plants at home, then it can only be of two types:

fiery red;
Kufeya hyssopolis.

There is an opinion that kufei can bring people together, so it is often placed in offices and meeting rooms. Kufeya is a flower that perfect for a gift, because any person will be delighted with such a beauty, even those who do not like flowers.

plant species

There are more than 200 species of this plant in America. There are those that bloom only one year, and there are perennial shrubs, pleasing with their beauty for several years. It is worth noting that plant species can be divided into subspecies, so it is difficult to understand such a variety of this species.

Below are several varieties of kufei and their benefits:

Fiery red kufeya- heat-loving plant of a red shade;
blazing bonfire- an annual plant of red color;
- an annual plant of a lilac shade;
prostrate kufeya- a plant of lilac, white or purple hue;
- not fully understood and therefore has many names.

Landing in open ground

Planting seeds is not difficult, according to the principle of ordinary planting. Kufeya - loves the light and therefore it is worth sowing seeds in illuminated places. After sowing, a week later, the seed should sprout. Favorable temperature for seed germination is -20 degrees Celsius.

The plant is best grown and in open ground . At the same time, the height of the kufei can reach 100 cm.

It is best to plant the plant in deep containers. from the end of May to the middle of June.

Landing special care the plant is not required. You need to make sure that frost does not damage the kufei. If you are planting flowers in the front garden, then you need to deal with weeds, as they significantly slow down the growth of this beautiful flower.

Kufeya hyssopolist - care at home

In order for the plant to be able to live at home, it needs good care, since the plant belongs to the type of fastidious. Need to create for him optimal conditions, you will need to follow the following guidelines:

The temperature at which the plant can grow ranges from 15 to 25 degrees, both in summer and in winter time of the year;
Kufeya needs to be transplanted in the spring;
This plant is photophilous and therefore you need to put it on the windows, where it can receive maximum light. Even the sun's rays will not harm the kufei;
Every spring it is worth cutting the plant;
It is worth regularly wiping the castings of the plant with a damp cloth;
The plant should be fertilized with minerals, twice a month;
Kufeya needs abundant watering, especially for summer time. But in other periods, do not forget about watering so that the soil does not dry out. If the soil is dry, the leaves will dry and fall off, and the plant itself may die from this.

So that the plant does not cease to please people, you need to constantly take care of it and remove the fallen and yellowed leaves that spoil the look of this unusual beautiful flower. If you want a plant to please your home, you need to take care of it and take care of it.

Growing problems

As mentioned above, kufeya is finicky plant, and therefore only people who are truly interested in the topic of gardening can engage in its reproduction.

When caring for a kufei, the following difficulties may arise:

falling leaves;
yellowness of the leaves;
Devouring an aphid flower;
root rot;
The plant can become infected with spider mites, which is rare;
Twisting and changing the shape of shoots;
Falling leaves.

All these problems are easily solved, and you should not panic if suddenly the leaves begin to fall off. It is necessary to fertilize the plant and reinforce with minerals. Other issues need to be addressed as they come up.

Where to grow kufei?

Kufei is very interesting plant, which you can admire for a long time. It grows in America, where it can rise to a height of up to four meters. Mexico can be called the birthplace of the flower. Here there are types of kufei, which can reach a meter in height. Some sources indicate that the birthplace of the plant is Greece, but in fact this is not so, people think about this because of the origin of the word, and not the plant itself.

Kufei can be called flowers, shrubs and shrubs - it all depends on specific type plants. If we talk about shrubs, they are popular in Europe, people use them as decorations. From this flower you can create beautiful pictures that just amaze people. The most important thing is to learn how to combine plants correctly.

Southern areas- this optimal location where you can grow kufei right in the garden. In order to grow a plant in Russia, you need favorable soil that the plant will like. Good conditions for growth create in greenhouses.

This exotic plant should be in any home, as it creates a friendly and pleasant atmosphere in the family and can bring people together.

Above, such a plant as kufeya was considered - planting and care and places where it is better to grow a plant, is it possible to grow a flower at home. We also considered the emerging problems and difficulties in growing a plant.

Video about flowers

Kufeya - photo

Kufeya, the universal flower. Almost all of its species can be grown with equal success in a flower garden and how indoor plant, at home. Here we will talk about the nuances of growing kufei at home. I want to note right away that the most suitable for indoor cultivation. This is not due to any special properties, but mainly compact size, allowing you to easily place the kufei in confined space rooms.

How to care for kufei at home

Lighting and temperature content

Any well-lit place will do for this flower. If the size allows you to keep it on the windowsill, then it is better if it is an east-facing window sill. Near it, the kufei will receive the necessary lighting, without the risk of getting burned from direct sunlight. The same applies to the western windows. When placed near the southern windows, protection from excessively bright sun is needed. The northern window sills are poorly lit and therefore unsuitable for growing most indoor plants.

Kufei prefers a moderate temperature. But in the summer it is better to take it out into the fresh air. A regular balcony will do. In winter it is a little more difficult. At this time, he also needs the appropriate conditions for this. The most comfortable temperature for kufei in winter within + 15-18 degrees, but it can tolerate lower temperatures (up to +8 degrees).

Watering, air humidity, top dressing

In summer, kufei should be watered regularly and plentifully. But don't get too carried away. It will easily tolerate short-term drying of the soil, and on the contrary, it reacts very badly to waterlogging and may suffer. Therefore, before the next watering, it is necessary to let the top layer of earth in a pot dry out. In winter, watering is significantly reduced.

Dry air kufeya transfers very easily. Therefore, it is practically not needed. But periodic spraying and bathing under warm shower will do nothing but benefit.

Kufeya is fed only during active growth, during the warm season. For top dressing, you can use the usual complex fertilizer for flowering plants following the instructions on the packaging. You can also apply them during irrigation, but in a much lower concentration.

Kufei transplant

It is recommended annually. Kufeya is transplanted, like most indoor plants, in the spring. The composition of the land for transplantation is quite simple and consists of leaf and sod land, peat and humus. All in equal parts. Sand (or perlite) is also added - half of the part.

Pruning kufei

Regular annual pruning is a must. They will not only give a neat look to the plant, but also contribute to a more lush bloom. Kufeya easily tolerates pruning and the crown can be formed into any shape and size according to your desire. Kufei pruning is carried out in the spring. During the summer, with the help of pinching, you can limit its growth and maintain the desired shape of the crown.

Reproduction of kufei

You can get young plants both from seeds and from cut cuttings of the mother plant.

Reproduction of kufei by seeds is practically no different from growing other plants in this way. In fact, it's like. But it should be noted that when sowing kufei seeds, they should not be buried deep into the ground, but only slightly pressed into the soil. Also, in the process of seed germination, good lighting and temperature in the range of + 20-22 degrees are necessary.

Propagation of kufei by cuttings is also not difficult. The easiest way to root kufei in a container of water. Top semi-lignified cuttings are suitable for rooting. Roots appear pretty quickly. Often after a week, the stalk acquires its own roots. When they grow up, young plants can be planted in the ground.

Advice. To make the kufei bush look more decorative and lush, plant two or three seedlings in one pot.

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Kufeya is a fast growing shrub. It belongs to the family loosestrife, And traditional place habitat is Central and South America .

Kufei comes from Greek word Kyphos, which means "hunched, crooked".

Indeed, its leaves and fruits are slightly curved.

The plant has smooth dark green leaves of a narrow shape. stems at shrub species grow up to 40-50 cm high. Flowers reach a length of 2-3 cm, they can be red, white, purple and other colors. Flowering goes all the way warm period, from spring to autumn.

A photo

Kufei flower photo:

Kinds

In nature, there are about 200 various kinds kufei. Annuals in the process of growth reach a height of 1 meter. Perennial - as a rule, small shrubs, used when planting in concrete flowerpots. Among gardeners and lovers of indoor plants, the following types are most popular:

Fiery Red Gel

this flower is usually grown as a potted flower, but it can be planted with great success in a flower garden on suburban area. In the process of growth, it becomes a small bush, on which bright red tubular flowers bloom. It can be propagated by both seeds and cuttings. There are several subspecies: Coan Flowers brick red or cream "Dynamite" blooms before all other species bright red flowers. Photo "Fiery Red Gel" see below:

hyssopolis

small bushy plant from Guatemala and Mexico. Prone to heat, but can grow in rain and wind conditions. It grows in the form of a bush up to 50 cm high. As a rule, this species is planted in containers on balconies, in courtyards. Very easy to propagate from cuttings. The flowers are white, pink or lilac, small, but usually a lot of them appear on the bush, and flowering time takes all summer. Below we can see a photo of the "hyssopolistic" kufei:

Home care

Caring for kufei is not difficult, the main thing is to provide conditions for temperature and abundant watering. Should not be allowed freezing plants and being in a draft.

Post-Purchase Care

Kufei can often be purchased at garden centers already in the form of a finished plant.

After purchase, in without fail it is necessary to transplant into a new pot or to a flower bed of the site.

IMPORTANT!
To facilitate planting, the root system can be closed special bag, which provides easy separation of the plant from the ground.

However, if it is not removed, the fabric will stop letting water through to the roots, rotting and a flower will begin. perish. In addition, transplantation is carried out not by transshipment of an earthen coma, but by the maximum complete cleansing root system from the transport substrate.

pruning

The plant reaches its maximum height very quickly, therefore, in order to stimulate branching and form a beautiful crown, it is necessary to constantly perform pinching of the tops of the shoots and corrective pruning. If a perennial plant is grown, then pruning is done at the beginning of spring before active development and preparation for flowering began.

On fiery red kufei, only pruning of elongated shoots is usually performed. More time should be devoted to the hyssopolistic formation - due to the strong branching, this plant can be given the appearance of a ball or pyramid.

Watering

Both indoor and garden kufei are watered in moderation with water in the summer. room temperature. In autumn, the procedure is performed 1 time in 2-3 days. In winter, the amount of water is reduced, but it is impossible to allow a strong drying of the coma.

In spring and summer, during flowering, you can add to the water mineral fertilizers, based on 20 grams per bucket.

Landing and ground

For planting kufei, fertile nutrient soil is needed. You can make it yourself by mixing 1 part leaf, humus, peat and sod land, and half a part of river sand. If this is not possible, then the purchase of a universal slightly acidic soil is allowed.

When growing kufei on the street, it is moved there after a significant increase average daily temperature- best in late May or early June. The place for planting should be sunny, the soil is soft and fertile.

Transfer

When growing kufei as a houseplant, it needs to be replanted annually in early spring before the start of the flowering period. At the same time, you can trim or pinch.

The pot is selected from any material, but with the obligatory presence of holes in the bottom. Size - 2-3 cm larger in diameter than the former before.

As soon as the capacity reaches 25 cm, transplantation is performed 1 time in 2-3 years. A thick layer of expanded clay drainage or brick chips is poured down.

cultivation

Where to grow Kufeya? Gardeners living in the southern part of the country can grow kufei outdoors as an annual crop.

The flower is planted in the garden not before the end May as soon as frost has passed.

A place must be chosen with good lighting, but partial shade is also allowed. Do not plant kufei in a damp place where there is no air movement. The gap between the bushes should be at least 30-35 cm.

reproduction

The flower propagates by cuttings or seeds.

Cuttings are cut from the top of the plant and planted in the ground in early spring, when the air temperature reaches +18 degrees, or they are rooted in a glass of water.

To ensure the shape of the bush, you can plant 2-3 shoots in one place at once.

When the cutting begins to grow and three pairs of new leaves grow in addition, the top is pinched.

Seeds are sown in the ground in March-April The main thing is that it was already warm and the sun was shining brightly. They are not covered with earth from above. For the best shoot, it is desirable that the temperature outside be at least +18 degrees. You can also place the seeds in a bowl, close the bag, and put it in a warm place. After germination, they are planted in disposable cups, and then as it grows into the ground or a large pot.