Potassium permanganate for plant health is reliable and irreplaceable. Calceolaria (calceolaria): cultivation and care at home

Bizarre shape flower, bright color, exotic origin - all these are the characteristics of calceolaria. This is what she was so fond of Russian flower growers.

Via unusual flower you can diversify and decorate the interior, enjoying the exquisite flowering. It will be interesting for beginner flower growers to learn about planting calceolaria, caring for it, see photos of varieties and recommendations for growing on video.

Botanical description

Calceolaria (lat. Calceolaria) belongs to the Norichnikovye (Scrophulariaceae) family, to the Calceolariaceae genus. From Latin Calceolaria is translated as "little shoe", which is fully consistent with appearance original inflorescence. In the people, calceolaria is called a "shoe" or "shoe".

The Calceolaria flower comes from Central and South America. In nature, there are about 400 species. The plant can be represented by grass, shrubs, shrubs. On the territory of Russia, it is often grown as an annual or biennial, although at home it is a perennial plant.

Most often, representatives grow up to 35 cm in height, but there are also species that grow up to half a meter. Leaves are green, whorled or opposite, oblong, elongated shape with a slightly ribbed edge. They can reach 10 cm in length. The back side of the leaf is covered with villi.

Flowers rise above the deciduous crown. They are made up of two lips. The upper lip is small, while the lower lip is large and convex, spherical in shape. This arrangement resembles a "shoe". In the middle there are 2-3 stamens.

The diameter of the flowers depends on the specific species and variety. On average, it ranges from 2 to 7 cm. Flowers can be collected in one large or several smaller racemose inflorescences.

The color palette is represented by yellow, red, orange, white, brown shades. Petals can be monophonic or with darker spots, dots, strokes.

During the flowering period, up to 50 flowers can appear on one bush. Flowering continues up to 5 weeks. After the boxes appear - the fruits. They are oblong and contain a large number of seeds.

The root system is adventitious roots, without isolating the main root (fibrous root system). Stems slender, erect or decumbent.

Varieties and types

Calceolaria - exotic plant, which is presented various kinds and varieties. The most popular are decorative types having unusual inflorescences.

Gardeners-decorators successfully use calceolaria to create, in room interior, in household plots.

The most popular types and varieties:

Calceolaria in the photo:

Growing calceolaria from seeds at home

There are two ways to grow a "shoe":

• with the help of seeds;
• cutting method.

A plant grown from seeds has a greater decorative effect and abundant flowering. Seeds can be sown at any time of the year. A guideline may be the desired flowering date. On average, from the moment of sowing to the moment of flowering, 6-8 months pass.

Seeds must be purchased at the store. They are very small and brown.

In advance, it is necessary to select a container for germination and soil. The container should be wide and shallow up to 10 cm. The soil can be purchased at a specialized store for indoor flowering plants or prepared independently.

Suitable soil composition options:

• peat, humus sand - 2:2:1;
• peat, river sand- 7:1 + dolomite flour, for each kilogram of substrate 20 grams of flour;
• leaf ground, peat, humus, sand - 2:2:2:1.

Any soil composition should be calcined in an oven for sterilization before planting. Then place the substrate in a container and moisten abundantly. Spread the seeds over the surface of the earth, but do not sprinkle with earth (IMPORTANT!). Cover the container with foil, glass, lid.

Growing calceolaria from seeds in the photo:

Place the box with seeds in a shaded place with a temperature in the range of 16-19 ° C. It is necessary to monitor the moisture content of the soil (moisten only with a spray gun), not allowing the soil to dry out.

Regularly remove accumulated condensate and ventilate the soil. After 10-14 days, the first shoots will appear. After a month, the sprouts should be picked out, planting them with a distance of 5-8 cm.

After two months, transplant into separate pots Ø 10 cm. After transplanting, pinch, leave 2-3 pairs of leaves. When a rosette is formed, the strengthened sprouts are transplanted to a permanent place.

Reproduction by cuttings

This method is considered more labor intensive. Propagation by cuttings promises a success rate of 50%. But the new "slipper" will no longer be with such abundant flowering.

After flowering, it is necessary to prepare planting material - cuttings. After cutting, it is better to treat the stems with Kornevin to stimulate growth.

Place the container with the cuttings in a bright room with a temperature not exceeding 19 ° C. Air the soil regularly and water moderately. Direct sunlight can harm rooting.

Rooted cuttings are transplanted into a permanent pot with drainage and nutrient soil (to obtain lush bushes, plant several cuttings in one pot).

After planting, care for calceolaria sprouts is carried out as for an adult plant.

How to care?

Care for calceolaria is simple. The main thing is not to forget to devote time to the plant and it will certainly please with abundant and bright flowering.

Growing and caring for calceolaria, video:

Temperature regime

"Room shoe" categorically does not like direct sunlight and high temperatures. The ideal place for a flower is window sills located in the east, west or north.

Optimum temperature for good growth and the abundant appearance of buds is considered to be 14-16 ° C. AT winter time– 10-12°С. AT summer period"Shoe" can be planted in open ground in a shady place protected from the wind.

Humidity

The plant loves high humidity air. Therefore, it is better to place a flower pot in a pan with expanded clay and constantly fill it with water. You can not spray the "shoe" with water - this will only lead to decay and the appearance of diseases.

Watering

Should be moderate. The soil must not be allowed to dry out. During the period of the appearance of buds, it is necessary to increase the number of waterings, and after flowering stops - reduce. Use settled, soft water.

fertilizers

Regular feeding with mineral fertilizers is necessary. The first recharge should begin 10-14 days after disembarkation. In the period before and during flowering, fertilize with liquid mineral supplements once every 14 days. After the flowers fall and during the dormant period, fertilizers are not needed.

Transfer

If roots peek out of the drainage holes, this indicates that the bush needs to be transplanted into larger pot. Place drainage material at the bottom of the tank - expanded clay, crushed stone.

Pour part of the new nutrient soil with pH = 5.5. Move the plant earthy clod into a new pot (carefully so as not to damage the roots). Fill all voids with new earth. Water the plant generously. Over time excess liquid drain from the tray.

After flowering, it is best to discard the plant, since the repeater is less decorative, its flowers and leaves are smaller. But still, it can be saved to get a second flowering by hibernating it.

During this period, it is necessary to cut off all the shoots, cover with a film and send the pot to a dark, cool place, periodically moistening the ground. In the spring, move the pot to a lighted place, water and fertilize. Root new shoots that have appeared.

Pests and diseases

If proper and correct care is carried out, then pests and diseases of calceolaria are not terrible.

Preventive measures to prevent the appearance of pests:

• compliance with the temperature regime;
• maintaining optimal humidity;
• correct watering;
• lack of direct sunlight;
• sterilization of pots and soil before planting and transplanting;
• fungicide treatment;
• timely removal of affected areas.

Most of all, the “slipper” is prone to gray rot. It occurs as a result of excessive waterlogging of the soil, low temperatures and excess nitrogen fertilizers.

For salvation you need:

• remove badly damaged parts;
• transplant the bush into new soil;
• treat with copper-containing products - Oxyhom, Topaz, Bordeaux liquid.
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Plants with whimsical and luxurious flowers are always eye-catching. And many flower growers try to grow amazing pets on their own. And for this often you need not so much - stock up planting material and find out about the features of caring for a particular plant. An herbaceous culture with the bizarre name calceolaria, also known as “shoes” or “purses”, is distinguished by its amazing flowering, let’s clarify what kind of planting and care this flower needs, and also consider its cultivation from seeds at home.

Calceolaria is actually a perennial, but in room culture it is usually grown only as an annual plant. Such a pet usually grows up to twenty to thirty centimeters. It pleases the owners with flowers in the spring - around April-May, and flowering lasts from three to five weeks.

Growing calceolaria from seeds at home

Regardless of where you want to start growing flowers - at home or on personal plot, it must be sown at home to obtain seedlings. It is best to start this activity in March. For sowing flower seeds, it is worth using peat soil mixed with sand in a ratio of 7: 1. But at the same time, it must be taken into account that such a plant cannot grow on sour peat, so ground chalk must be mixed into the soil mixture. Usually, about twenty grams of chalk is used per kilogram of peat.
The resulting soil must be thoroughly calcined before use.

Calceolaria seeds are very small - they are simply scattered over the surface of the soil mixture and are not sprinkled with anything. It is worth placing a wet piece of paper on top and moistening it regularly with a spray bottle. Crops should be in a fairly warm room, where the thermometer does not fall below eighteen degrees.

The first seedlings appear after two weeks. They must be watered with care, pouring water in a thin stream. After the appearance of a pair of true leaves on the seedlings, it dives. At home, flowers, while they are young, can simply be transferred to a larger container, placing them at intervals of three to four centimeters. The optimum temperature for growing remains the same - about eighteen - twenty degrees. In order for the plants to take root normally in a new place, it will not be superfluous to cover them with polyethylene or glass. Every day, the seedlings need to be ventilated, and the condensate in the shelter must be systematically eliminated. The soil should remain moist at all times, but not excessively damp.

When growing seedlings, you need to provide her with sufficient lighting, it is best to keep her on a sunny windowsill, but shade from direct sunlight.

Planting calceolaria in open ground

Readers of "Popular about Health" need to choose right place for planting calceolaria flowers. Such a plant is not demanding on the soil and can grow on any garden soils. But at the same time, calceolaria is extremely important good drainage, as stagnation of water can destroy it. It is better that the earth is nutritious and breathable. It is advisable to plant such a crop in sunny places with slight shading.

It should be borne in mind that calceolaria does not like wind very much, so it is better to grow it in areas not subject to strong wind.

Landing in open ground is carried out after a stable warm temperature is established. But in general, calceolaria grown at home is able to tolerate short-term frosts.

Further care for Calceolaria

Calceolaria is not very demanding. Young plants need systematic watering, and flowering crops may well grow with some moisture deficiency. In no case should the plant be flooded, as its root system can easily and quickly rot.

It will not be superfluous to periodically feed such a pet. For this you can use complex fertilizers about twice a month. Additional income nutrients make the plant bloom more luxuriantly.

Since calceolaria is inherently a perennial, you can try saving it for a second year. To do this, you need to dig up the plants and place them in fairly cool and dark rooms. Bushes of the second year of life begin to bloom a little earlier than those obtained from seeds. But at the same time, as many flower growers note, their decorative effect is somewhat reduced.

Flower care should take into account that calceolaria can suffer from pest attacks, for example, whiteflies, aphids, spider mites, etc. You can cope with this problem with the help of insecticides, taking into account the development cycle of pests.

Calceolaria is usually grown as a border plant or adorned with it. alpine slide. You can also plant such a flower near a pond or in the foreground of a flower garden. Calceolaria also looks great in window boxes, they should be located in partial shade and be fairly well protected from the winds.

Additional Information

Calceolaria can be grown as a houseplant. It is also grown from seedlings and placed in separate pots on the northern, western or eastern windowsill. In order for the plant to bloom, it needs a certain temperature of maintenance - from fourteen to sixteen degrees. Also important role sufficient air humidity plays, but spraying such a flower can only harm.

Calceolaria is a very beautiful flower, which, when correct placement can become a real highlight of the garden.

Calceolaria - a plant with flowers unusual shape. Their number on one plant reaches 18-50 pieces. From the article you will learn how to care for calceolaria, how often to transplant and when to feed.

The brightly colored calceolaria are usually grown as annuals.

The Calceolaria flower belongs to the Calceolaria family of the same name. This is herbaceous plant, a shrub or sub-shrub growing in Central and South America. Calceolaria are one-, two- and perennial, but in culture they are usually grown as annuals.

The flower reaches a height of 30 cm, a width of 50 cm. Corrugated bright green leaves are pubescent on the underside, reach a length of 5-10 cm. The flowers are small - 2.5-6 cm, outwardly resemble clogs, are yellow, red, white or orange, plain and speckled.

Popular types

The genus Calceolariae contains about 400 plant species. In home cultivation, the following are most popular:

Conditions of detention

Calceolaria - enough capricious plant. In order for it to please with its growth and flowering, it is necessary to adhere to optimal conditions content. This is not always easy, since both too bright lighting and its lack are not suitable for a flower.

Temperature and lighting

Calceolaria need diffused, dim light. On a window sill with direct sunlight, it should be shaded. During the summer the best option there will be an east or west window sill. In winter and late autumn, additional lighting will be needed. Calceolaria needs shade only before flowering and throughout this period.

Together with bright lighting, the flower prefers cool content. It blooms for a long time at a temperature of 9-15 degrees in winter and 15-17 ° C in summer. If you grow calceolaria in a hot room, it will quickly shed or dry out the buds, it will get sick more often, it will grow old faster.

Humidity and watering

The plant loves high humidity, so the pots are placed on pallets with wet pebbles or expanded clay. It helps to spray the air near the plant from a small spray bottle. The ingress of moisture on the pubescent leaves of calceolaria must be excluded. Water the plant often - do not allow the earthen coma to dry out.

To increase moisture, expanded clay is placed next to the plant and moistened.

During the flowering period, water is supplied about 1 time per week - until it dries upper layer soil. When the calceolaria blooms, watering is reduced by 2 times. Renew the frequency when new shoots break through. For irrigation, use only settled water. room temperature. Avoid stagnation in the pan and drain immediately after watering.

Soil and transplant

Calceolaria is unpretentious to the ground, but grows best in a mixture of 2 parts of sod and leafy soil, one part peat soil and half of the sand. It is permissible to use other mixtures, but be sure to use soddy soil. Sphagnum, crushed sawdust, vermiculite, wood ash, crushed bark can be added to any soil coniferous tree. Purchased universal primer is also suitable.

Usually calceolaria is grown as an annual plant. The flower of the second year will be less decorative, although it will bloom earlier. In this case, he does not need a transplant. If you want to transplant the purchased flower into decorative pot, fill the bottom with a layer of drainage. Then carefully transfer the plant along with the earthen clod, and fill the remaining space with fresh soil.

top dressing

Calceolaria is fertilized from the moment of planting until the beginning of flowering. This is done every 2 weeks, using potassium-phosphate complexes or fertilizers for flowering plants. During the flowering period, in autumn and winter, the flower is not fed. If the calceolaria is left to grow in the second year, feeding is resumed in the spring, with the appearance of young shoots.

Bush formation

In order for the plant to bush well and bloom profusely, they resort to crown formation. Remove from calceolaria side shoots growing from leaf axils. Sometimes, in order to provoke branching, in the spring, before the start of budding, the flower is pinched. Leave 2-3 pairs of leaves on each shoot. After pinching, the flowers may be smaller than when side shoots are removed (stepping).

flowering period

Calceolaria blooms in March-June, the flowers last for a month. biennial plants bloom a couple of months earlier, but flowering is not so plentiful. On calceolaria, 18-50 flowers can bloom at the same time. They are small, up to 6 cm in diameter, similar to shoes. Blooms in red, orange, yellow, white. The flowering period does not provoke the development of allergic reactions.

Flowering calceolaria.

Why calceolaria does not bloom

If the conditions of detention are not observed, the flower may drop, dry the buds or not bloom at all. Most often, the absence of calceolaria flowers is associated with:

• Content at high temperature.
• Wrong watering.
• Excessive application of fertilizers, mainly nitrogen
• Lack of cold wintering.

Plant care after flowering

When the calceolaria fades, you can either throw it away or grow it for the second year, but then get rid of it anyway. If you want to achieve flowering in the second year, then cut the shoots, leaving 15 cm each. Put the pot in a cool shaded place. In the spring, with the advent of new shoots, the plant is returned to a well-lit window sill, watering is increased, and feeding is resumed. Soon the flower buds will sprout and the calceolaria will bloom.

Calceolaria outdoors

Growing a flower in open field.

In mild climates, the plant is grown outdoors. Since the flower is mainly used as an annual, in early spring seeds are sown in a flower bed or they are germinated in a container, and then planted. After flowering, the annual plant dies off on its own. The following year, you can simply sow new seeds. Most often, calceolaria is thin and multi-rooted in flowerbeds.

Difficulties in growing

When growing calceolaria, you must strictly adhere to the required conditions. When deviating from them, the plant begins to turn yellow, drop flowers and leaves, wither, and may even die. Do not bypass it and pests.

Pests

Calceolaria is more often affected by aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, whiteflies, scale insects. Pests drink all the juices from the plant, which first leads to a loss of decorativeness and inhibition of growth, then to the death of the flower. If pests are found, the plant must be treated chemical preparation, for example, "Aktellik".

In case of severe infection, re-treatment will be required after 3-4 days. In especially severe cases, up to 4 treatments are carried out with an interval exposure. The dosage is indicated by the manufacturer on the package with the drug.

Diseases

Calceolaria is susceptible to gray rot. The disease occurs due to prolonged waterlogging combined with low temperature and high humidity. Gray mold may also develop due to overfeeding. nitrogen fertilizers. In the presence of rot, you need to remove everything damaged areas, sprinkle the cuts with sulfur. The plant should be sprayed with Bordeaux liquid or a copper-containing preparation ("Topaz", "Oxych").

With the wrong content, pests infect flowers and leaves.

Reproduction of calceolaria

The flower can be propagated by cuttings or grown from seeds.

cuttings

Shoots cut after flowering can be rooted in water or soil mixture. You can cut them both in August and in February-March. When rooting in water, pre-dissolve the tablet activated carbon, and the container is chosen from dark glass. This reduces the risk of cuttings rotting.

When the cutting is deepened into the soil, it is covered from above with a transparent bag or bottle, increasing the humidity around. Rooting will take 3-4 weeks. When the shoots give roots, they can be transplanted into a permanent pot. For splendor, several cuttings are planted in one container.

Growing from seeds

Seeds are sown in April. Prepare a soil mixture consisting of 7 parts of peat, 1 part of sand and 20 g dolomite flour per 1 kg of soil. The soil is pre-calcined for disinfection, and then moistened.

Seeds are sown on the surface, not buried in the ground. The top of the container is covered with a transparent film or glass. Such a greenhouse is placed in a well-lit place with a temperature of 18 degrees. Periodically, the shelter is removed to remove excess condensate.

Seedlings appear after about 2 weeks. The soil between them is watered with a thin stream of water. The first transplant is carried out in a month, the second - in two. To do this, use pots with a diameter of 7 cm, and watering is carried out once every 2 weeks.

Growing calceolaria from seed.

In September, young plants are transplanted into pots with a diameter of 9-11 cm and placed in a cooler place with a temperature of 8-10°C. In January-February, calceolaria are planted in pots for adult plants. Then they pinch the sockets over 3-4 leaves and put them in a permanent place.

Calceolaria is a capricious plant that can die at the slightest mistake in care. It lives 1-2 years, but is easily propagated by cuttings or seeds. Basically, for cultivation, flower seeds are bought, which are sold in any flower shop. Packing costs about 55 rubles. Having mastered the rules of care, you can regularly admire beautiful flowers calceolaria.

The genus Calceolaria includes approximately 400 species of plants from the boletus family, which are successfully grown in home care. In the wild, the plant is most often found in Central and South America.

General information

Basically, the plant grows as a grass, shrub or shrub with whorled-arranged or opposite leaves. The flower is a four-membered calyx with a swollen bright and two-lipped corolla, in which 2-3 stamens are located. The fruit is box-shaped.

Many species are decorative, creating numerous garden varieties, used hybrids of species: crenatiflora, arachnoidea, corymbosa, etc. Hybrid forms of the plant have red, orange, yellow and purple colors of flowers, with a shaded or spotted corolla, which are most often grown in a cool greenhouse, and propagated by cuttings or seeds.

Calceolaria is classified as decorative flowering plants, although it is quite difficult for her to provide care at home, due to the fact that she likes cool content. The flowers of this plant are very peculiar in shape, two-lipped and bubbly, the upper lip is barely noticeable, very small size, but the lower lip is spherical, and swollen, rather large. The flowering period occurs from March to June, for one month, at this moment from 18 to 55 flowers appear on the plant, which are very often covered with various dots and spots.

Varieties and types

Under this name, many varieties are combined this plant, which in particular have very attractive appearance with soft and delicate pubescent leaves of a light green color and original flowers most different colors ranging from pure white to orange. AT indoor cultivation has the form of a small bush, which reaches up to 50 centimeters in height.

In the wild, it is found in Chile as a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching up to 50 centimeters in height. Basal leaflets are pointed, spatulate in shape with notches along the edge. Small flowers with a reddish or purple tint, with an oblong, furrowed lower lip.

Calceolaria home care

The plant does well in diffused bright light, but it should be shaded from direct sunlight. Feels good when placed at the east, west or north window, if this south-facing window the plant should be shaded using translucent paper or cloth. The plant should also be shaded during the flowering period. In the autumn-winter period, you can provide the plant additional lighting fluorescent lamps.

At any time of the year, the calceolaria plant is best kept at a moderate temperature of 14 to 17 degrees.

Watering top dressing and air humidity

During the flowering period, the plants are watered with settled and soft water, after the top layer of soil dries up and do not allow the water to stagnate in the pan. At the end of the flowering period, watering is reduced, moistening the soil only occasionally, but at the same time they do not allow the earthen clod to dry out completely. When new shoots appear, watering should be gradually resumed.

The plant must be provided high humidity air. In this case, it is not recommended to spray the plant. To ensure the necessary humidity, the pot with the plant can be placed in a tray with wet expanded clay, peat or pebbles, preventing the pot from touching the water.

Calceolaria should be fertilized after two weeks, after planting the plant in a dish, and continue to do so until the flowering period. Each top dressing occurs once every two weeks with mineral fertilizers.

Flowering and dormancy

After the end of the flowering period, the plant can be cut and left for 1.5-2 months, in a shaded and cool place, occasionally watering to prevent complete drying of the soil. After the growth of new shoots, the plant should be returned to a lighted place where it will begin to bloom.

The flowering period will begin approximately 2 months earlier than with plants grown from seeds, but in this case, such cultivation contributes to the stretching of the plant and the loss of decorativeness. For this reason, it is best to grow the plant annually from seed.

Plants also lose their decorative effect with age, so it is best not to transplant them, but to replace them with new ones.

Calceolaria growing from seeds at home

Sow seeds in March, for flowering in autumn period, if you want the plants to bloom in spring period should be sown in June.

The seeds are quite small, 1 gram contains about 30 thousand pieces, they should be sown on the surface of the soil. After that, the crops must be covered with paper, periodically moistening it. And as soon as the seedlings have two true leaves, they must be dived into the prepared substrate from equal parts deciduous land, humus land and peat land, as well as ½ of the sand.

Also, calceolaria seeds germinate well in peat. To ensure the flowering of plants in March, the seeds should be planted on June 5-15 in bedding peat, which is previously disinfected from rot by heating to 90-100 degrees. To reduce the acidity of peat, it is necessary to add ground chalk, approximately 15-20 grams per 1 kilogram of peat.

After that, 1 part of sand is added to the substrate, approximately 7 parts of peat and mixed well. The seeds are sown randomly, without sprinkling, after which the crops are covered with glass or polyethylene. When condensation forms on inside polyethylene or glass, the shelter must be turned over to prevent moisture from getting on the plants. Subsequently, the peat is kept moist.

Calceolaria Pick

Plants dive a second time, after the formation of a rosette, transplanting them into 7 cm pots and placing them on light windowsills. And already in September, the plants are pinched, leaving 2-3 pairs of leaves, from the sinuses of which shoots will appear and transplanted again, increasing the size of the pot by 2-4 centimeters

It is possible to form calceolaria bushes by pinching, removing lateral shoots that grow from the leaf axils.

In the period from January to February, the plants are transplanted again, into a large bowl with more nutritious and heavy soil. For this, a slightly acidic humus soil with a pH of about 5.5 is suitable.

When compiling the substrate yourself, take equal parts of peat land, sod land, and humus soil, as well as ½ part of sand, with the addition of complete mineral fertilizer, at the rate of 2-3 grams per 1 kilogram of substrate. Flowering of the plant occurs after 8-10 months from the moment of sowing the seeds.

Possible difficulties

The leaves wither and the plant ages quickly , occurs due to insufficient humidity and high temperature content.

The plant requires annual replacement - it will be propagated by seeds or an already flowering specimen will be acquired, without leaving the old plant for the next year.

Damaged: spider mite, mealybug, whitefly and scale insect , especially often this happens when leaving at home with a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees in a poorly ventilated area.

Calceolaria is a member of the Calceolaria family. Previously, the plant was part of the Nornicaceae genus. Recent studies have revealed that not only does it not belong to their genus, but it itself became the progenitor of many plants from the order of the Lamiaceae.

The plant is native to Central and South America. The flower grows up to 45-50 cm in height. The leaves are medium in size (about 10 cm), elongated, veined and pubescent inside. Intense green leaves. If you translate the name "Calceolaria" from Latin into Russian, you get a "slipper". She got this name because of the similarity of the shape of a flower with a shoe or a bag for money.

Flowering occurs from early March to July. Up to 50-60 flower ovaries appear immediately on one plant. The plant gained its popularity thanks to unusual dicotyledonous flowers (large spherical and small, barely noticeable). They are pot-bellied and look like wooden clogs. Calceolaria is ornamental plant. At home, grown as annual or biennial flowers.

The most popular calceolaria plant species and flower photos

More than 270 species belong to the genus Calceolariaceae. The most popular of them:

• Under this name, many similar varieties are combined. The leaves are light, fluffy with back side. Blooms from white to bright red in various color combinations. More coloring in orange, red and yellow. On the flowers there are patterns different from the main color: blotches, stains, strokes, blots. Two-color calceolaria are more capricious than their solid sisters. Flowers with a brindle color and with strong patches are especially picky. In a very hot climate, they will bloom not as it should be for the variety, but with simple plain flowers.
• Leaves with pointed edges (have the shape of a shovel), light green. Flowering purple, with reddish patches.
• The flowers are small in size (3-5mm), yellow in color.
• Bright yellow flowering (2-3 cm) without inclusions and strokes.
• Calceolaria multiflora. Flowering is large with bright coloring of various shades.

Caring for indoor calceolaria flower at home

Place the flower in places where there is a dim diffused light

The flower is quite whimsical and requires increased attention. Strong and low light, dryness and waterlogging, high and low temperatures. In the conditions of living in an apartment, especially in the summer, caring for a plant requires the adoption of certain measures.

Lighting

The plant loves soft diffused light. Direct sunlight is detrimental without proper watering. From bright light, the flower should be fenced off with paper or a transparent cloth.

In summer, there will be enough light on the windowsill. It is better if it is the east or west side of the house. A shady place without drafts, for example, on a balcony, is also suitable. Before flowering and throughout the flowering time, the plant needs to be in the shade. Calceolaria overwinters indoors. To obtain a sufficient amount of light for the plant in late autumn and winter, lamps are used.

Optimal temperature for calceolaria

The flower is also capricious about the ambient temperature - it should not be higher than 15-17 ° C. Increasing to 20-25°C will not kill, but can lead to rapid aging, insect infestation and disease. In the cold season, the optimum temperature for calceolaria will be in the range of 9-15 ° C. In the heat and dryness of the air, the flower can throw off the leaves and buds.

Air humidity

The flower loves high humidity, but the plant cannot be sprayed.

It is necessary to maintain high humidity around the calceolaria. Therefore, the air around the plant is sprayed with soft settled water from a small spray bottle. Droplets on the leaves are undesirable (especially on their fluffy back). The pot is placed on a pallet or bowl with porous large material (expanded clay or gravel). The bowl should be half filled with water. This is enough to moisten the flower.

Watering a calceolaria flower

Calceolaria loves not only high humidity, but also regular moistening of the substrate. Watering is done only with settled water. The water temperature should be at room temperature or slightly hotter, but do not exceed the threshold of 30 ° C. Before watering, you can put the water in direct sunlight.

During the flowering period, the frequency of watering is somewhat more frequent (about once a week) than during the dormant period. It is necessary to monitor the water from the pan - it should not stagnate and rot. After flowering stops, the frequency of watering is halved and moisten the soil as the top layer dries. When new shoots start to break through frequent watering should be resumed.

The soil

Almost any soil is suitable for calceolaria, the plant is unpretentious to the composition of the soil

The composition of the soil is not important for calceolaria, because the plant was originally wild. Substrate compositions:

1. Sod, leafy ground, peat, fine sand(in proportions 3:1:1:0.5).
2. Soil, humus, peat land, turf (1:0.5:1:2).
3. Sod land, humus and coal (50/50), coarse sand (2:1:1).
4. Soil, leafy soil, compost, sod (2:1:1:2).

You can add to any composition:

1. sphagnum;
2. crushed sawdust;
3. crushed fern roots;
4. chopped bark of a coniferous tree;
5. vermiculite;
6. wood ash;

Fertilizer for indoor flower calceolaria

Top dressing of the plant must be done every 10-12 days. Liquids are more suitable for this. mineral fertilizers which are rapidly absorbed into the soil. Feeding the flower should begin 14 days after transplantation.

All autumn and winter, calceolaria does not need fertilizer. If you regularly feed it during this period, all leaves and flower ovaries may turn yellow and fall off (due to an excess of minerals in the soil and roots).

How to transplant

Calceolaria is an annual plant grown in pots and planters. To transplant a purchased plant into home pot, it is necessary to pour a layer of drainage into it and transfer the root part there along with a clod of earth. Ready flower sprinkled on top with a special substrate bought in a store or made by hand.

Calceolaria flower seeds

The flower is planted with seeds. Sow the plant in the ground in March or June. The soil for planting can be a mixture of sand and peat soil (1: 7). Powdering with earth is not needed, because the seeds are very small (dusty). The soil is moistened by pollination warm water from a spray bottle. From above, to ensure the greenhouse effect, lay polyethylene or glass. It is necessary to periodically air the planted seeds to avoid their decay. The pot should be in a dark place.

The first shoots of shoots begin 15-20 days after sowing. The plant immediately dive. Transplantation of seedlings takes place in special pots 7, and then 9 cm long. The first transplant is at the age of 6 weeks, the second - at 14 weeks. Pinching and done before the second flower transplant. Only 3-4 pairs remain from the bottom of the trunk (for the appearance of side branches).

During germination, it is necessary to maintain the temperature within 20 ° C. After the appearance of the first shoots - 12-15 ° C. Flower buds begin to set after eight months of growth.

Subshrubs can be propagated by cuttings. They are selected from cuttings of lateral shoots of an adult plant. The time of cutting branches for the formation of cuttings is February, March and August. To take root in a new place, the shoots need about a month. For greater bushiness, you can plant several cuttings in one pot.

Care after flowering

When grown as annual plant, after flowering it is thrown out and new ones are sown. Maximum term plant life - two years (two flowering). After flowering is over, all shoots should be cut off, leaving 15-20 cm each. Then the pot is placed in a cool place to rest the plant.

When new shoots appear, the calceolaria is moved back to a well-lit place (but not under the direct rays of the sun). After all the manipulations, flower buds begin to emerge and the plant blooms. The second flowering occurs a couple of months earlier and is no longer as plentiful, large and beautiful as the first time. The branches are drawn out more strongly, aesthetics are noticeably lost.

Diseases and pests of calceolaria and plant care during this period

1. The plant is susceptible to infection by aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, scale insects, spider mites, which drink juices from it. Due to the complexity of care and the high probability of damage to the plant by pests, it is recommended to renew the calceolaria every year.
2. Foliage can wither with strong heat and insufficient moisture of the leaves and soil.
3. Flower aging occurs with a hot climate in the room and a small amount of watering.
4. Waterlogging leads to yellowing and leaf fall., rot and death of the flower.
5. The slightest deviation from the recommended norms for the content of calceolaria leads to the fall of the ovaries of flowers, the withering of foliage and the death of the plant.