Nematanthus (hypocyrta): how to care for a tropical goldfish. Hypocyrta flower or nematanthus home care propagation by cuttings photo species

Gardeners in Russia and neighboring countries grow cabbage with pleasure and quite successfully. But the "set" is usually limited to varieties white cabbage different term ripening, broccoli and cauliflower. Meanwhile, we already have popular types of cabbage that ripen earlier, and bring less trouble when growing. In this article, we bring to your attention 5 types of cabbage that you may not have heard of yet, but which are definitely worth growing.

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The nematanthus flower is a member of the Gesneriaceae family. The plant got its name thanks to the scientist Heinrich von Schroeder. The neologism "nematanthus" means a flower on a thin peduncle. In modern agricultural society, there is another name for this beauty - "goldfish".

Description

Nematanthus is native to the Brazilian tropical forests. Its leaves are elliptical in shape, lowered down. Aerial roots develop in the leaf axils.

The stems of the goldfish are erect, although as the plant grows, they begin to lean. The shape of the flowers is tubular, with a pocket-shaped corolla, and their length reaches 5 cm. Sometimes the corolla is red, and sometimes it is colored orange. Less common, but still come across specimens of pink and lilac. Nematanthus blooms from spring to autumn.

Landing

The most convenient soil for rooting "goldfish" is a loose peat substrate along with water. In order for the flower to take root in this consistency, cuttings are placed in the greenhouse with a temperature maintained in it up to 23-24 degrees.

The first roots will grow in 2-3 weeks, after which the cuttings are transplanted into different pots. soil mixture should be light and loose, air should circulate freely.

"Goldfish" is planted in a container in which a drainage layer is placed under the substrate. The plant should be transplanted every year until the age of four, after which - every two years. All further movements of the flower are made in a new pot. bigger size.

reproduction

Reproduction of the "goldfish" flower occurs through seed and vegetative methods (using stems and upper cuttings).

seeds

Small seeds of the "goldfish" are placed on a sheet of paper and, holding the sheet with your fingers, bring the seeds onto moistened soil into a container with holes.
After sowing, it is necessary to cover the container with glass and place it on a pallet.

It is with the help of the latter that further watering of the plant can be carried out. When the first shoots appear, it is necessary to ventilate the container. After the seeds germinate, you need to dive into separate pots of several pieces. The plant will bloom next year.

cuttings

The most convenient and favorable breeding method for goldfish is vegetative way. This requires cuttings, the length of which reaches 10 cm. Cuttings are cut from overripe shoots, as young shoots contribute to decay.

Important!It is necessary to plant the cuttings so that the node is embedded in the soil, since it is he who creates easy-growing aerial roots.

Care

Hypocirta does not need special care, and if certain recommendations are followed, many potential problems can be avoided.

Terms

To care for a hypocyr at home, you need to take into account several main aspects. So, for good reproduction, the flower should be grown in a lit place. However, avoid exposure to the sun, which can injure and dry the plant. The best option would be to put the flower on the windowsill that faces the east side of the house.
In the event that the windows are directed to the south, it is necessary to prepare in advance protection from the sun's rays at noon.

The most comfortable temperature for growing this plant is 22-25 degrees. If the temperature is higher than indicated, then the plant begins to dry out and suffers. Nematanthus loses its beauty when low temperatures.

Humidity should be kept at 50% on average. The increase in air temperature should be directly proportional to the increase in its humidity. This can be achieved by having a sprayer that sprays the air around the flower. Do not overwater the flower, as this contributes to the fall of foliage.

Watering

When caring for a flower, moderate watering should be followed. It is necessary to use settled water, the temperature of which will not exceed 25 degrees.

Did you know? The largest flower in the world is Rafflesia Arnold. Its weight reaches 11 kg, and the diameter of the plant is 92 cm.

In the event that the plant suffers from insufficient moisture, small leaves will fall off, and large ones will curl. Overdrying the soil contributes to the drying of the flower. If it is very dry, you should place the pot in a container with water, provided that the water does not overflow the edge of the flower pot.

top dressing

"Goldfish" requires the introduction of certain fertilizers during the active phase of reproduction. At home, for a flower, the most acceptable is complex mineral supplement, which is introduced into the ground several times within two weeks. Such care will keep the soil nutritious for a long period.

In the case of using concentrated liquid fertilizer they need to be diluted with water. Fertilizers should be applied in the evening so that they are not exposed to the sun's rays. Before top dressing, you need to moisten the soil.

pruning

For the stable cultivation of the "goldfish", you must not forget to trim the flower. This procedure is performed in autumn time, before the plant goes to a well-deserved rest. If the flower is in a warm room during the winter, you should postpone the pruning of the nematanthus to spring. When pruning, you need to remove all thin and weak shoots.

Transfer

Flower transplantation should take place in larger pots. In the event that the nematanthus is already elderly, it should only be re-rooted, and not transplanted. Several cuttings are placed in one large pot. Don't forget to make a drainage layer that will allow you to extract all the unwanted water.

Diseases and pests

Did you know?Several centuries ago, there was a science about the meaning of flowers - villages. Inspired by this science, the Russian poet Dmitry Oznobishin wrote the book "Selam, or the Language of Flowers", in which it is said that each flower has a certain symbolic meaning and a certain replica in a conversation in the flower language.

Another pest is that climbs into the axils of the leaves. The presence of this pest is characterized by cottony discharge. You can eradicate this disease with the help of alcohol.
Aphids and mites are very harmful insects for the nematanthus. This is due to the fact that these pests draw the juices from the flower and instantly expose it to viral diseases that cannot be treated. Treating the plant with

More recently, such a plant has gained popularity, such as nemantanthus, which is also called gold fish". And especially in it, not quite ordinary flowers attract attention, which are very similar to a yellow or red-orange fish. It also has beautiful creeping stems, on which dark green, shiny foliage is located.

Nematanthus (Nematanthus) is directly related to the family, which is called Gesneriaceae (Gesneriaceae). Under natural conditions, it can be found in South America. In this genus, there are both succulent shrubs and herbs that have very long hanging or creeping stems that have the ability to take root at the nodes. In the wild, it is a semi-epiphyte or epiphyte. At the moment, this genus also includes plants that are united in the genus hypocyrta.

The fleshy and very small leaves are painted dark green, and the wrong side of them is purple-red in color. They also have an ovoid or elliptical shape.

At home, wetstein's nematanthus (Nematanthus wettsteinia), which is an ampelous plant, is most often grown. Its branching thin shoots can reach 90 centimeters in length. They have many small satin leaves of dark green color.

Unusual flowers are very similar to aquarium fish, and they have a bright color of red-orange with yellow. Their length is approximately equal to 2 centimeters. This plant blooms profusely and for a very long time.

illumination

In order for the plant to grow and develop normally, it just needs bright light, but it must be diffused. In the summer, it is better not to put the nematanthus on the south window, as the scorching sun's rays can harm it. It is best to place the plant in a window located in the eastern or western part of the room.

Temperature regime

In the spring and summer, when the flower has fast growth normal room temperature is fine for him. And during the dormant period, which is observed in winter time the temperature should be about 15 degrees.

Humidity

This plant feels best at high humidity, so it is recommended to spray it in the spring and summer as often as possible.

How to water

In the warm season, the nematanthus needs abundant watering. It is recommended to water it in the summer by immersing the flower pot in a container of water, where it should stay for 10 to 20 minutes. In the cold season, watering should be moderate, especially if wintering takes place in a cool room. If watering is insufficient, then the plant will begin to drop foliage.

top dressing

It is necessary to feed the plant only during intensive growth 1 or 2 times in 4 weeks. To do this, use a complex mineral fertilizer.

rest period

A dormant period for a flower is required. It is observed in winter, when daylight hours are shortened. At this time, the nematanthus should be placed in a cool and bright room, and moderate watering should be provided.

How to transplant

Transplantation is carried out as needed, and for this they take a pot slightly larger than the previous one. old flower it is recommended not to transplant, but to divide it into cuttings. At the same time, it is recommended to plant several cuttings in a fairly wide pot. Be sure to make a good drainage layer so that water does not stagnate in the soil.

Earthmixture

The soil needs loose and well-permeable air, neutral or slightly acidic. A suitable soil mixture consists of humus, sand, leaf soil and peat taken in a ratio of 1:1:2:1. It is also recommended to add sphagnum moss or pieces of charcoal.

pruning

Flowers can only be seen on young shoots, so the plant requires systematic pruning. As a result of these procedures, the flower will become more bushy, and its flowering will be plentiful. If the shoots after wintering are very stretched out, and some of the leaves have flown around, then pruning should be done in the first spring weeks. And pruning is carried out at the end of flowering.

Reproduction methods

Propagated by seeds and cuttings. The cuttings are rooted in the spring and summer. They take root quite quickly in the nodes. Their length should be from 7 to 10 centimeters. The leaves below should be carefully removed, and the stalk should be placed in a bright, but slightly shaded place. After a while, the young plant will begin to grow.

Pests and diseases

Spider mites and aphids can settle. If water stagnates in the soil, then this leads to the appearance of gray rot.

Video review

Recently, all large quantity people begin to breed at home a rather unusual, interesting tropical plant. The name of this plant is also original - Nematanthus or, as flower growers call it, "goldfish". It got this name because of the shape of its flowers, which resemble yellow, red-yellow or orange fish. This plant is both bushy and ampelous, has shoots up to 80 cm long. Its leaves are dense, fleshy, deep green with a satin sheen. The flowers are small, no more than 2-2.5 cm in length, but there are quite a few of them.

Nematanthus: home care and breeding methods

In the hot season, it should be regularly watered and sprayed. With a lack of moisture, the plant can shed its leaves and stop flowering. In autumn and winter, watering is less common, and if the room is rather cool, watering is done 1 time in 10 days. This flower does not like the scorching rays of the sun, so you need to keep it from the east or west side. The north side is contraindicated for this flower. If he stands on the north side window, he needs a fluorescent lamp.

Flowers appear in the axils of young leaves, so it is worth pruning in the spring and after flowering, in the fall. Pruning is carried out in the following way: the stems are shortened by a third, and if they are too long, then half the original length.

Reproduction of the nematanthus occurs in several ways:

1. cuttings.
2. Seeds.

Seeds are collected from ripe boxes, dried in the open air on paper. After that, sow the seeds in soil with peat and cover with glass. Place the container with seeds on a tray with water. After the appearance of the first sprouts, remove the glass and plant the plants in pots. The soil should consist of peat, leafy soil, humus and sand. You can plant several seedlings in one pot.

Nematanthus "goldfish": propagation by cuttings

Propagation by cuttings is the fastest and convenient way. To do this, cut the stem 8-10 cm long, clean from the lower leaves. Prepare soil from peat and sphagnum for planting. After a week, sprouted cuttings can be transplanted into a pot. You can plant several stems in one pot to grow a nematanthus goldfish in the form of a bush. It is desirable to root cuttings in the warm season.

Nematanthus: home care. Transfer

Nematanthus can be transplanted once a year when the plant is young. It is enough to transplant an adult flower as there is less space in the pot or once every two years. A pot for transplanting should be chosen not much larger than the previous one, otherwise you can get rot of the root system. In order to prevent stagnation of moisture in the pot, you need to provide good drainage.

It is worth fertilizing the plant only during the period of active growth, once every 14 days. To do this, use a special fertilizer composition for flowering plants.

Nematanthus: home care. Diseases

Usually this plant staunchly resists various pests and is not particularly susceptible to disease with proper and competent care. But sometimes pests such as:

1. spider mite;
2. thrips.

Plants that have been improperly cared for will especially suffer.

This video describes tips for dealing with aphids on houseplants.

Aphids are very small insects that reproduce rapidly. It feeds on the juice of the plant, which is detrimental to the nematanthus. In order to protect your plant from aphids, remember that it appears more often on weakened shoots. Aphids can also get on houseplants from bouquets of chrysanthemums and roses.

You can remove this harmful insect manually if there is not much of it. Rinse after this the leaves with a weak solution laundry soap. If there are a lot of aphids, you should use special insecticides.

The spider mite is the most common pest that most often infects house plants. In addition, it is a carrier of infections. It must be remembered that ticks do not like moisture, high humidity and fresh air. It is also necessary to constantly remove dried leaves and flowers.

Thrips, as well as aphids and mites, suck the juice from healthy plant shoots, infect it, thereby slowly killing it. Insectoacaricides will help to cope with thrips.

Nematanthus: why do leaves fall?

This beautiful plant can drop leaves in several cases:

1. When the soil is waterlogged. Do not flood the plant. And if the plant does not receive moisture in excess, then moisture stagnation occurs and the amount of drainage in the pot should be increased.
2. In the cool season (autumn-winter). If the leaves fall in autumn or winter, the room temperature may be too low, and it is worth moving the plant to a warmer room.
3. After the flowering period, the nematanthus may shed its foliage.
4. In case of damage by harmful insects. In this case, you need to remove the affected plant from healthy flowers and carry out processing.
5. In the absence of necessary and useful substances in the ground. Feed and fertilize the plant only from spring to autumn once every two to three weeks.

Nematanthus goldfish: signs

There are many legends and beliefs about home flowers. There are such signs about the nematanthus goldfish. It is popularly believed that the goldfish nematanthus brings good luck and happiness to the house where it is located. During the period when the plant blooms, it cheers up its owner, the air in the room with this flower becomes fresher and cleaner. And with its bright appearance, the nematanthus creates a feeling of the tropics in the apartment.

Bromeliad at home: transplantation and reproduction.

Parnetia: how to care for a plant at home?

This video shows the flower "goldfish" three months after purchase. Be sure to leave your recommendations for caring for the plant, tips and comments on the article.

Received the popular nickname "cowberry" or "goldfish" nematanthus is one of the most spectacular indoor crops with beautiful flowers. Plants developing in the form of compact bushes or ampels equally conquer both with dense shiny dark-colored leaves and flowers, unusual shape which really resembles goldfish. Despite the growing popularity, these plants remain full-fledged indoor exotics. And the point is not only that the bright appearance of nematanthus favorably distinguishes it from tropical competitors. Growing them is not at all difficult, but they require very careful, thorough care.

Nematanthus gregarius (Nematanthus gregarius). © floradania

Flawless greenery and outlandish nematanthus blooms

With name nematanthus(nematanthus) there is a lot of confusion. Today, plants previously known under the name hypocyrts(hypocyrta). Despite the fact that in the genus of nematanthus, separate groups of plants are still distinguished according to the structural features of flowers and inflorescences, they are all surprisingly similar to each other both in growth forms and in the type and attractiveness of foliage. On sale, the name "hypocyrta" is still very common with us. But according to all modern botanical classifications, it is more appropriate to call this plant nematanthus. Folk nicknames, which sing of the similarity of flowers either with goldfish or lingonberries, are relevant for all plants included in this genus. The English name "Goldfish plant" is also popular.

Despite the fact that exotic flowering remains the most striking detail in the appearance of nematanthus, these plants can rightly be called cultures that have equally attractive and outlandish flowers in shape, and beautiful classic fleshy leaves. During flowering, the nematanthus really seems like a real miracle: on a luxurious crown of dark leaves and elegant shoots, somewhat reminiscent of noble boxwoods, original yellow or orange flowers flare up.

In nature, nematanthus develop as epiphytic shrubs or full-fledged vines. But plants adapted for growing in greenhouses and rooms are mainly formed in the form of shrubs. Compact, elegant and dense bushes of numerous straight, ascending, climbing or creeping shoots conquer a very dense, attractive crown with beautiful growth forms. All nematanthus are plants of a compact size, even at a considerable age not exceeding 10-60 cm in height. But enough is enough modest size- this is not a disadvantage, but rather a huge advantage of this culture. Nematanthus are characterized by a unique ability to harmonize space, favorably influence visual perception rooms to create a feeling of more spaciousness. At the same time, medium-sized forms do not allow the plant to have a negative impact on the interior, and bright details appearances allow these cultures to always and everywhere remain noticeable and important accents. Surprisingly beautiful silhouettes and graceful forms of nematanthus are best revealed as solo, elegant interior decorations.

Climbing or creeping shoots of the nematanthus are able to take root in the nodes, are densely leafy, and the type of structure of the branches and the nature of the placement of the leaves resembles boxwood or lingonberries and blueberries. The denser, fleshy, succulent leaves are not so small size(from 3 to 10 cm), a glossy and seemingly shiny surface distinguishes nematanthus from other indoor crops. The leaves of the plant are obovate or elliptical, beautiful, with a deep midrib. The intense dark green color contrasts effectively with the purple or light back and is accentuated by a glossy sheen. These evergreen crops show off amazingly noble textures of greenery, conquer with rigor, simplicity and at the same time impeccable appearance. A spectacular dark green background during almost the entire warm season is colored with bizarre flowers, the shape of which makes them look more like wax fruits or unusual berries. Outlandish nematanthus flowers bloom right in the axils of the leaves. They are tubular, with a narrowed, almost completely closed pharynx, unusual dense textures and an original bulge in the lower part. Pocket-shaped corolla with swelling different types nematanthus is expressed differently: among them there are plants with a more modest and classic appearance, and more original and unusual. But the flowers of this plant do not leave anyone indifferent. They evoke many associations with pears, carom, animals, various berries and tropical fruits. The unusual flowering of the nematanthus is only emphasized by the fiery palette of colors. Yellow, orange and orange-red replace each other in soft watercolor variations, and the play of midtones and individual nuances of the color scheme makes the plants even more interesting.

Southern nematanthus (Nematanthus australis). © floradania

Species diversity of nematanthus

This plant belongs to the Gesneriev family. The genus is represented by 28 species, which are often combined into separate subgroups according to the characteristics of flowering. In room culture, 7-8 species are common.

• Nematanthus Wetstein(Nematanthus Wettsteinii) is the most common species. Previously, it was known as hypocyrts - hypocyrta dusenii and hypocyrta wettsteinii. This is a wonderful ampelous and potted culture, producing numerous climbing shoots up to 90 cm long, on which small oval brightly shiny leaves flaunt. They conquer with a waxy glossy surface and a rich dark green color. Between the leaves, orange-red tubular flowers with a slight swelling look like outlandish fruits, reaching a length of about 2.5 cm. This nematanthus is able to bloom tirelessly from spring to mid-autumn.
• Much less common Fritsch's nematanthus(Nematanthus fritschii), better known as "goldfish", and formerly called Fritsch's hypocyrta (hypocyrta fritschii). This is enough large view with beautiful green leaves decorated with a reddish underside with a slight edge, forming bushes up to 60 cm high with bright pink, funnel-shaped, unusually curved flowers and very large leaves.
• riverine nematanthus(Nematanthus fluminensis) is an excellent climbing houseplant with rather large, oppositely arranged leaves up to 10 cm long, with a purple reverse side. The flowers of this species are elongated, lemon-yellow, up to 5 cm in length, with a pharynx unfolded, unlike most nematanthus, and a tube pubescent on the outside.
• ankle nematanthus(Nematanthus longipes) - a climbing shrub with unusually light and large leaves for this genus, reaching a length of 7-10 cm, almost the same long thin pedicels and single scarlet-red flowers with a strong swelling on the tube.
• Nematanthus(Nematanthus strigillosus, formerly known as the naked hypocyrta (Hypocyrta glabra) and the fine-bristle hypocyrta (hypocyrta strigillosa) is an evergreen epiphyte, limited to a height of 20-25 cm, releasing ascending or straight, rarely branched shoots with oval, small and shiny leaves and blooming along singly or in bunches up to 3 tubular flowers.The tube has a spherical swelling, a corolla with a small bend, and the color is a classic yellow-orange.

Nematanthus Wettsteinii (Nematanthus Wettsteinii)

Separately, it is worth highlighting hybrid nematanthus, which, due to long-term selection, have acquired an expressive, very strong smell. The rare, but unique Santa Teresa variety, for example, produces a few flowers that can fill even large room intense aroma, reminiscent of mixtures olive oil with citrus peel. But the Tropicana nematanthus hybrid, in addition to the beauty of glossy, densely sitting leaves, offers to admire yellow-orange flowers with spectacular golden and red stripes and is more famous not for aroma, but for the beauty of flowers.

Nematanthus care at home

Nematanthus are not at all capricious and overly demanding indoor crops. Even their exotic status and outlandish flowering are not signs that the cultivation of these plants will be beyond the power of inexperienced growers. But since this culture needs regular and very careful care, reacts poorly to improper watering and top dressing, and requires annual pruning, negligence in growing nematanthus is unacceptable. The only difficulty associated with creating conditions that are comfortable for any nematanthus is to ensure a cool wintering, which is the key to the abundant flowering of this indoor plant.

In the development of the nematanthus, periods of rest, active development and preparation for flowering are pronounced. In nature, nematanthus bloom in summer, and in room culture, the period during which the bushes are decorated with outlandish flowers stretches for a very long time until October. After dropping flowers, and in some species and completely dropping leaves, the plant begins winter period rest, which must be accompanied by a change temperature regime and care.

Nematanthus gregarius (Nematanthus gregarius). © Bellatrix

Lighting for Nematanthus

Nematanthus can be classified as light-loving houseplants. They love stable lighting throughout the year: in seasons when most indoor plants suffer from a lack of light, nematanthus need to either be illuminated or moved to more brightly lit places. In winter, this culture is not afraid of even the sunniest places and southern window sills. In the active period of growth and flowering, they choose the brightest locations on the eastern and western window sills or in the brightest places in the interior with panoramic windows - the nematanthus needs to provide stable bright diffused lighting. Despite the fact that in terms of density the leaves of the nematanthus are in many ways reminiscent of the most hardy succulents, this plant does not tolerate direct sunlight, it suffers greatly from burns when placed on south-facing window sills without adequate dispersion. Nematanthus can only tolerate light shade during the hottest months of the year. Ordinary penumbra or shade will cause the plant to bloom much more poorly or even provoke its absence. But on the other hand, partial shading does not affect the beauty of the leaves.

One of the main advantages of nematanthus is the ability to grow both in natural bright light and in full artificial light equally well. Due to the good response to artificial lighting this culture can be used in interior design as you like.

Comfortable temperature conditions

The most difficult thing in growing nematanthus is the selection of comfortable temperature conditions. In this regard, the plants are not much different from other flowering indoor plants, in the development of which a period of almost complete dormancy is pronounced. The phase in development that the plant needs to rest and prepare for future flowering requires cool conditions. In winter, only the temperature range from 14 to 16 degrees Celsius will be comfortable for the nematanthus. Stability, constancy of temperatures is no less important than their specific indicators. If the nematanthus is at the dormant stage in a warmer environment, it will bloom very poorly, for a limited period of time in summer, or may not bloom at all. Usually the plant itself signals that it should be transferred to cooler conditions. After the nematanthus has shed all the flowers, for some species of former hypocyrts - and leaves, the plants need mandatory annual pruning, after which they should be placed already in winter mode content.

But on the other hand, in the warm season and at the stage of active development, the nematanthus will not require any atypical conditions. These crops are quite comfortable in the usual "room" temperature range: from the beginning of spring to mid-autumn, they are content with any conditions that do not exceed 20 degrees Celsius. These plants, as a rule, reach the greatest decorativeness and profuseness at a stable temperature of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. If the temperature drops below 20 degrees, the flowering of plants may stop.

When choosing suitable temperatures for keeping nematanthus, it must be remembered that this exotic, despite all its classical beauty, is very sensitive to temperature changes and fluctuations in keeping conditions. Sharp cold snaps are especially dangerous for nematanthus, but heat also adversely affects the ability of plants to bloom continuously and profusely. This culture should be protected in every possible way from any drafts and sudden changes in temperature.

Nematanthus gregarius (Nematanthus gregarius). © Barbara

True, intolerance to even the slightest drafts is surprisingly combined in nematanthus with love for fresh air summer, during the hottest months. Due to the latter characteristic, the nematanthus can be placed in sheltered places outdoors.

Watering and humidity

If the temperature regime is the most difficult moment in creating comfortable growing conditions for the nematanthus, then maintaining the substrate moisture is rightfully called the most difficult component in plant care. It is watering that determines that this plant needs scrupulous, very thorough and tireless care. Nematanthus are moisture-loving plants that require abundant watering. But at the same time, it is unacceptable to simply carry out procedures often enough for this culture. Before each watering, it is necessary to strictly control the degree of drying of the substrate, maintaining stable soil moisture in pots. Abundant and frequent procedures, between which only dries upper layer The substrate is necessary for the plant during the entire active period of development. Excessive soil moisture should not be allowed, as well as its drying out even in the middle layer. After each procedure, the water from the pallets must be drained immediately, without letting it stand even for the standard 5 minutes.

One of the difficult moments is the need to keep plants in much drier conditions in winter compared to the period of active growth. During the entire dormant phase for this plant, it is necessary to maintain a stable, but very light moisture content of the substrate, still not allowing it to dry out completely even for several hours, but at the same time drying not only the upper, but also the middle layer of soil in pots between procedures. Watering from autumn should become moderate, rare, using a minimum amount of water. At the same time, the main difficulty is the correct transition to the winter mode of detention. It is necessary to reduce watering as smoothly as possible, gradually, slowly. Although the plants should only be switched to the winter watering schedule after the flowering period has ended, it is necessary to start reducing the frequency of applications even when the nematanthus blooms. Ideally, it is necessary to reduce watering within a month, but if it is not possible to start the transition on time, then all the same, plants should be transferred to new conditions for at least 2 weeks.

Capriciousness to watering nematanthus partially compensates for much greater lability to air humidity. For him, the most comfortable is in an environment with a humidity of 50%. Nematanthus thrive in any living space, except during extreme summer heat and systems central heating. If the air is too dry, it is desirable to increase the humidity level either by spraying or by installing simple handicraft humidifiers in the form of pallets with wet pebbles or expanded clay. Spraying plants is complicated by the fact that the accumulation of moisture is undesirable not only on the flowers, but also on the leaves. For this crop, it is necessary to use fine sprayers and spray high above the plant, so that even the slightest drops of moisture dissipate even before they hit the greens. Another feature in the procedures for increasing the humidity of the air is that for the nematanthus they are never carried out during the dormant period. From the moment they enter the final phase of flowering, spraying is gradually reduced, and after the mandatory pruning is carried out, they are completely stopped. Overwintering in dry air complements changes in temperature and care, which stimulate the nematanthus to bloom more abundantly and longer in the next year.

Nematanthus (Nematanthus). © floradania

When buying nematanthus, be sure to specify the humidity it needs, because many hybrid varieties well adapted to dry conditions and do not need any other worlds even on the hottest days.

Water for watering and spraying this plant should also be given Special attention. For nematanthus, as for most indoor plants, only well-settled water can be used. But the main parameter is temperature. For nematanthus, it is better to use slightly warm water, the temperature of which is several degrees higher than the air temperature in the room.

Feed for nematanthus

The fertilization schedule for nematanthus should fully correspond to the stages of plant development. From October to February, during the dormant period, fertilizers should not be applied in any form. But during the period of active growth, especially when releasing young shoots and throughout the entire flowering stage, nematanthus need fairly frequent feeding. For them, it is desirable to use the full dose of fertilizer recommended by the manufacturer, applying them at a frequency of 10 or 15 days between treatments. It is not worth feeding this culture more than once every 10 days.

For nematanthus, special fertilizers for flowering crops with high content potassium and phosphorus.

Pruning nematanthus

Unlike most indoor crops with such juicy fleshy leaves, the nematanthus needs annual pruning. Formative shearing on the plant is done at the end of the active growth stage, immediately after flowering has ended and usually at the onset of leaf shedding in species formerly known as hypocyrts. Without annual pruning, nematanthus will not only lose the beauty and density of the crown, its silhouette, density, but also the nature of the foliage in the direction of a sparse arrangement of leaves. But the most important consequences always concern flowering. Nematanthus produce flowers on young shoots, so without pruning before the dormant stage, they will bloom very sparsely or not at all.

The pruning process itself is extremely simple. All shoots of this plant are shortened by 1/3 of the length. For old nematanthus in need of rejuvenation, pruning is carried out at 1/2 of the length of the branches.

Nematanthus (Nematanthus). © Barbara

Transplant and substrate

Finding the right soil for this crop is not so easy. For comfortable development, those who love abundant watering during the entire active growth phase of the nematanthus need to provide a very light, loose substrate with good air and water permeability. The optimal composition for these plants are soil mixtures for Saintpaulia or any ready-made substrates consisting of equal parts of leafy soil, peat and coarse sand with the addition of pieces pine bark or sphagnum.

The compact size of nematanthus is explained by rather moderate growth rates and slow development. Nematanthus are not very actively building up not only above-ground shoots but also roots. And thanks to this, they do not need a very frequent, and even more so annual transplant, even at a very young age. The optimal frequency of procedures for this plant is one transplant every 2-3 years. At the same time, you always need to focus on the development of the plant itself, the pace at which the roots fill the earthen ball.

With the timing of the transplant, everything is much easier. A change in the capacity of the substrate for the nematanthus is carried out as soon as the first signs of growth of new shoots and leaves appear, at the very beginning of spring.

The procedure itself is carried out according to the standard transshipment technique with minimal removal of only the free substrate and the top contaminated soil layer. The plant must be handled very carefully, trying not to allow even the slightest contact with the roots, especially to avoid injury or breaking off even peripheral roots. For nematanthus it is very important to lay a powerful and high layer drainage, which ensures that your plant does not suffer from waterlogging.

Pay special attention to the fact that when transplanting a nematanthus, the containers cannot be increased by more than 2-3 cm. This plant has a small rhizome, for which compact, medium-sized pots are selected. A spacious container increases the risk of developing diseases and pests, poor soil permeability and disruption of stable substrate moisture. And in large containers, all nematanthus bloom very poorly.

Diseases and pests

Nematanthus cannot boast of the status of a resistant, invulnerable houseplant. Pests simply adore them, and at the slightest problem with care or the wrong choice of conditions, traces of aphids, spider mites or scale insects can be seen on the beautiful crown of the bushes. For this plant, the complexity of pest control is due to the fact that mechanical methods treatments are unacceptable and problems can only be dealt with with the help of insecticides. Of the diseases for nematanthus, the greatest danger is rot, which spreads when the substrate is waterlogged. But this plant can suffer from powdery mildew, which must be controlled by fungicide treatment.

Common problems in growing nematanthus:

• leaves turn yellow on the bushes at low air humidity, too frequent top dressing;
• the appearance of spots and dry fragments on the leaves when exposed to direct sunlight, heat;
• dropping buds and leaves at too low temperatures and dampness;
• weak or absent flowering in low light, disturbances in the dormant period, lack of pruning, improper choice of substrate or feeding regimen;
• the appearance of brown spots on the leaves when used too cold water and improper watering.

Nematanthus hybrid (Nematanthus hybrid). © floradania

Reproduction of nematanthus

Reproduction of plants at home is complicated by the limited methods. The seeds of the nematanthus practically do not ripen and very rarely sprout, and this culture does not form daughter plants without releasing root shoots. You can not get a nematanthus by the method of dividing adult bushes. So the only propagation method for nematanthus is cuttings. Cuttings can be cut both in spring and throughout the summer, choosing powerful matured shoots with 4-5 internodes (both apical and stem cuttings). For rooting, it is enough to remove the lower pairs, treat the cuttings with a growth accelerator, or simply place them in water or a mixture of sand, perlite and peat in equal parts. For rooting, it is important to create greenhouse conditions with high humidity and temperature not lower than 25 degrees. Frequent spraying and airing of the “caps” favorably affects the rooting process.

Nematanthus cuttings after rooting are best planted 3-4 plants in one small pot. A few weeks after planting in normal soil, young nematanthus should begin to form by pinching the tops of the shoots to create a beautiful bushy shape.

If you manage to get purchased, well-ripened seeds, then they can be germinated in a carefully sifted and leveled substrate, without covering the top with soil and providing a stable level of moisture. Crops are covered with glass, placed in a warm room in the most brightly lit place. After the emergence of seedlings, bottom watering is carried out for plants and they are grown up until the seedlings release the first pair of true leaves. As with cuttings, plants obtained from nematanthus seeds are planted several times in one container.

IN vivo nematanthus grows in the hot tropics, grows everywhere in the Brazilian forests. Is an climbing plant, therefore, it is perfect for growing in a flower pot, thanks to its unusual colors it will become a real decoration of any room. Having provided care for the Nematanthus flower at home, experienced or novice flower growers will receive unusual tropical beauty in gratitude.

flower description

Nematanthus belongs to the ethereal and semi-ethereal vines of the Gesneriev genus. The plant received such an unusual name due to the merger of two Greek words“thread” and “flower”, which literally means a flower on a string, the liana has another name - a goldfish. It received this nickname due to its unusual flowering, the shape of its buds exactly repeats the shape of small fish. It is also legitimate to call it hypocyrta nematanthus, because. the genus Nematanthus was merged with the genus Hypocyrta.

The leaves of the nematanthus are juicy, glossy, elliptical in shape, saturated green color on the outside, and burgundy to purple on the inside. Young shoots are straight, but over time they begin to bend and hang from the pot under the pressure of their own weight. The inflorescences have a peduncle short in length, waxy buds with petals fused inward, about 5 cm long. The plant blooms with pink, purple, orange and reddish flowers. Has a long flowering period early spring until late autumn. Usually grown as an ampelous plant in hanging pots or planters. All nematanthus are rather compact plants, their height does not exceed 60 cm.

Species diversity

There are about 28 species in the Gesneriev family, while indoor plants are represented by 8 subspecies, which include the following:

Nematanthus gregarius, also has another name - goldfish. It is a compact plant with rich dark green foliage and orange-red buds that are shaped like small fish. Several varieties exist, including the "Australian" subspecies. Nematanthus Gregorius is the most common indoor flower from the Gesneriaceae family.

Nematanthus Wetstein- another common species, previously known as the hypocyrta. This ampelous plant produces stems that reach up to 90 cm in length, perfect for growing in pots. Its most outstanding feature is its small glossy deep green leaves, against which the orange tubular flowers about 2 cm long stand out brightly. This nematanthus has the longest flowering period - from the first rays of spring to mid-autumn.

Fritsch's Nematanthus is a houseplant about half a meter high with shiny green leaves on top and red on the underside, and tubular orange inflorescences hang from a thin stem.

riverine nematanthus- a climbing plant species with leaves in the shape of an ellipse, the length of which reaches 10 cm, bright yellow flowers grow from the axils of the leaves.

Tropicana nematanthus is a plant with dark green pointed leaves and orange flowers in brown stripes.

ankle nematanthus is a climbing shrub, has large light green leaves and red buds with an unusual swelling on the tube.

Nematanthus- a compact evergreen plant that reaches a height of no more than 25 cm. It produces orange-red buds with a swelling in the form of a ball on the tube.

Separately, hybrid plants are distinguished, the most unusual of which are the Santa Teresa and Tropicana varieties. The first strikes with the aroma of flowering, and the second - with the incredible beauty of the inflorescences.

Home Care

There are many unpretentious indoor plants, including nematanthus, home care is very easy to carry out. Despite the fact that this is a tropical flower, even a novice grower can take care of it. The main thing that must be observed is regular watering, proper feeding and annual pruning of shoots. From a careless attitude, the plant will not bloom, and may die.

The only thing that causes difficulties for flower growers is to ensure a fairly low temperature during wintering, namely maintaining comfortable temperature is the key to long-term flowering.

The entire life cycle of this indoor flower is divided into several stages:

• rest period;
• period of development;
• preparation for flowering;
• flowering period.

By the way, in the Brazilian tropics, nematanthus bloom only in summer, while indoor plants can bloom for up to six months, from late March to late October.

Temperature regime

After dropping the leaves, the nematanthus flower enters a dormant period, it is at this time that special care must be taken and the temperature must be clearly maintained. If in summer the optimum temperature is 24 degrees, then in winter it is necessary to adhere to a temperature of 16-18 degrees. As soon as the temperature rises to 28 degrees, the nematanthus plant begins to suffer from the heat, but at night it is necessary to lower the temperature by 5-6 degrees. Under these conditions, favorable flowering will be ensured.

You can't lower the temperature too much. minimum temperature for a comfortable wintering - 16 ° C, at lower values, the leaves begin to fall off, and the plant begins to turn brown.

Watering and humidity

Indoor fish love regular but moderate watering. It must be carried out as the topsoil dries up with water of 25-26 degrees. Excess moisture should not be allowed; after each watering, you must immediately drain the water from the pan. If the leaves have drooped or curled into a tube, then the soil does not have enough moisture.

You also need to monitor the humidity of the air, if the temperature in the room does not exceed 24 degrees, then the humidity must be maintained at least 50%.

Please note that the higher the air temperature, the higher the humidity should be.

You can maintain the necessary air humidification with a simple sprayer, it is better to spray the foliage daily with water at room temperature. You can also install any container with expanded clay moistened with water in the immediate vicinity of the plant.

Lighting

The hypocyst is referred to as light-loving plants, it needs lighting throughout the year. In winter, the indoor flower needs to be additionally highlighted. Especially bright diffused light is necessary for the nematanthus during the period of active flowering; it is better to choose windows facing east or west.

However, it is worth remembering that the plant does not tolerate direct sunlight, burns may appear on the foliage, so you do not need to choose a window sill on the south side. But the shadow can affect flowering, it will become scarce or the flower will not bloom at all. But on natural beauty leaves will not be affected.

plant pruning

Despite its fleshy leaves, the nemanthus needs pruning, which is best done in the fall, after flowering. Without pruning, the plant will lose some of its leaves and become bare. If the plant spends the winter warm, then it is better to postpone pruning to spring.

The pruning process is not difficult. It is necessary to remove all thin and weak shoots, and shorten the strong ones by 1/3 of the length. To rejuvenate old nematanthus, you need to double their branches.

Top dressing and fertilizers

During active vegetation, the plant needs fertilizer. Feed 2 times a month with special fertilizers, which include potassium and phosphorus. Saturated liquid form fertilizer, diluted 2 times more than indicated on the package. So that there is no burn of the roots, the soil is slightly moistened. From mid-autumn to early spring, the plant is not fed.

Plant transplant

To transplant a hypocyrt, you need to choose the right soil. For healthy development and long flowering, you need to choose a loose substrate with increased air permeability. The best substrate will be a mixture of coarse sand with pieces of sphagnum, peat and leafy soil (2: 2: 1: 1). Since nematanthus are quite compact plants, they will not need frequent transplants., it is optimal to transplant a flower no more than 1 time in 2 years. In this matter, it is better to stick to how quickly the roots fill the soil in the pot.

The procedure must be carried out by the standard method - transshipment with a slight removal of excess substrate and top soil. When transplanting a plant, you need to carefully monitor the roots of the flower, avoid contact with them. So that the hypocyrta does not suffer from excessive moisture, it is better to lay out a good layer of drainage.

The capacity for transplantation should not exceed the height of the previous pot by more than 3 cm. Since the flower has a small rhizome, it is better to pick up small pots.

Plant propagation

Nematanthus supports reproduction in two ways: by seeds and cuttings. To properly sow the seeds, it is necessary to pour them onto a paper sheet, and spread them over the surface of the substrate with light patting movements. After sowing, the container is placed under glass. When shoots appear, the glass must be periodically lifted to allow air to enter. After germination, seedlings dive into separate pots. Young hypocyrts begin to bloom in a year.

This indoor plant is much easier to propagate by cuttings, for this it is necessary to cut cuttings 10 cm long with 3-4 internodes. You need to cut from powerful matured shoots. Cuttings take root in water at an air temperature of 22-24 degrees. On average, roots appear after 2 weeks, after which the cuttings are planted in loose, breathable soil. Sphagnum moss or perlite can be added to the substrate.

Harmful insects and diseases

The plant has a high immunity to pests. However, improper care weakens the nematanthus, which leads to the appearance of mealybugs, aphids or thrips. Mealybug manifests itself in the form white coating between the leaves. The appearance of viral diseases is associated with thrips and mites, which carry them through the sap of the plant. You can get rid of pests with chemicals Fitoverm, Aktellik or Akarin.

Important! At frequent watering and high levels of humidity, the plant often gets sick with rot!

The appearance of diseases is caused by improper care and cultivation of this amazing plant. Namely:

1. at very high temperature, the tops of the leaves of the nematanthus dry;
2. falling leaves and buds is manifested at low temperatures;
3. brown spotting on the leaves is caused by watering with cold water;
4. lack of pruning affects flowering;
5. brown leaves inform about the ingress of water on them during irrigation.

Beliefs about the plant

There are some folk superstitions around the hypocyrta. Some believe that in a house where the nematanthus plant blooms, there will certainly be happiness and prosperity. Thanks to its beautiful juicy foliage, it always cheers up anyone who looks at it.

It is also believed that the flower cleans the indoor air well.

Under natural conditions, the nematanthus grows in the hot tropics, grows everywhere in the Brazilian forests. It is a climbing plant, so it is perfect for growing in pots, thanks to its unusual colors it will become a real decoration of any room. Having provided care for the Nematanthus flower at home, experienced or novice flower growers will receive unusual tropical beauty in gratitude.

Nematanthus belongs to the ethereal and semi-ethereal vines of the Gesneriev genus. The plant received such an unusual name due to the merger of two Greek words “thread” and “flower”, which literally means a flower on a string, the liana has another name - a goldfish. It received this nickname due to its unusual flowering, the shape of its buds exactly repeats the shape of small fish. It is also legitimate to call it hypocyrta nematanthus, because. the genus Nematanthus was merged with the genus Hypocyrta.

The leaves of the nematanthus are juicy, glossy, elliptical in shape, rich green on the outside, and burgundy to purple on the inside. Young shoots are straight, but over time they begin to bend and hang from the pot under the pressure of their own weight. The inflorescences have a peduncle short in length, waxy buds with petals fused inward, about 5 cm long. The plant blooms with pink, purple, orange and reddish flowers. It has a long flowering period - from early spring to late autumn. Usually grown as an ampelous plant in hanging pots or planters. All nematanthus are rather compact plants, their height does not exceed 60 cm.

Species diversity

There are about 28 species in the Gesneriev family, while indoor plants are represented by 8 subspecies, which include the following:

It also has another name - goldfish. It is a compact plant with rich dark green foliage and orange-red buds that are shaped like small fish. Several varieties exist, including the "Australian" subspecies. Nematanthus Gregorius is the most common indoor flower from the Gesneriaceae family.

Nematanthus Wetstein- another common species, formerly known as the hypocyrta. This ampelous plant produces stems that reach up to 90 cm in length, perfect for growing in pots. Its most outstanding feature is its small glossy deep green leaves, against which the orange tubular flowers about 2 cm long stand out brightly. This nematanthus has the longest flowering period - from the first rays of spring to mid-autumn.

Fritsch's Nematanthus is a houseplant about half a meter high with shiny green leaves on top and red on the underside, and tubular orange inflorescences hang from a thin stem.

riverine nematanthus- a climbing plant species with leaves in the shape of an ellipse, the length of which reaches 10 cm, bright yellow flowers grow from the axils of the leaves.

Tropicana nematanthus is a plant with dark green pointed leaves and orange flowers in a brown stripe.

ankle nematanthus is a climbing shrub, has large light green leaves and red buds with an unusual swelling on the tube.

Nematanthus- a compact evergreen plant that reaches a height of no more than 25 cm. It produces buds of an orange-red hue with a swelling in the form of a ball on the tube.

Separately, hybrid plants are distinguished, the most unusual of which are the Santa Teresa and Tropicana varieties. The first strikes with the aroma of flowering, and the second - with the incredible beauty of the inflorescences.

Home Care

There are many unpretentious indoor plants, including nematanthus, home care is very easy to carry out. Despite the fact that this is a tropical flower, even a novice grower can take care of it. The main thing that must be observed is regular watering, proper feeding and annual pruning of shoots. From a careless attitude, the plant will not bloom, and may die.

The only thing that causes difficulties for flower growers is to ensure a fairly low temperature during wintering, it is the maintenance of a comfortable temperature that is the key to long flowering.

The entire life cycle of this indoor flower is divided into several stages:

• rest period;
• period of development;
• preparation for flowering;
• flowering period.

By the way, in the Brazilian tropics, nematanthus bloom only in summer, while indoor plants can bloom for up to six months, from late March to late October.

Temperature regime

After dropping the leaves, the nematanthus flower enters a dormant period, it is at this time that special care must be taken and the temperature must be clearly maintained. If in summer the optimum temperature is 24 degrees, then in winter it is necessary to adhere to a temperature of 16-18 degrees. As soon as the temperature rises to 28 degrees, the nematanthus plant begins to suffer from the heat, but at night it is necessary to lower the temperature by 5-6 degrees. Under these conditions, favorable flowering will be ensured.

You can not greatly lower the temperature, the minimum temperature for a comfortable wintering is 16 ° C, at lower values, the leaves begin to fall off, and the plant begins to turn brown.

Watering and humidity

Indoor fish love regular but moderate watering. It must be carried out as the topsoil dries up with water of 25-26 degrees. Excess moisture should not be allowed; after each watering, you must immediately drain the water from the pan. If the leaves have drooped or curled into a tube, then the soil does not have enough moisture.

You also need to monitor the humidity of the air, if the temperature in the room does not exceed 24 degrees, then the humidity must be maintained at least 50%.

Please note that the higher the air temperature, the higher the humidity should be.

You can maintain the necessary air humidification with a simple sprayer, it is better to spray the foliage daily with water at room temperature. You can also install any container with expanded clay moistened with water in the immediate vicinity of the plant.

Lighting

Hypocyrtus is classified as a photophilous plant, it needs lighting throughout the year. In winter, the indoor flower needs to be additionally highlighted. Especially bright diffused light is necessary for the nematanthus during the period of active flowering; it is better to choose windows facing east or west.

However, it is worth remembering that the plant does not tolerate direct sunlight, burns may appear on the foliage, so you do not need to choose a window sill on the south side. But the shadow can affect flowering, it will become scarce or the flower will not bloom at all. But this will not affect the natural beauty of the leaves.

plant pruning

Despite its fleshy leaves, the nemanthus needs pruning, which is best done in the fall, after flowering. Without pruning, the plant will lose some of its leaves and become bare. If the plant spends the winter warm, then it is better to postpone pruning to spring.

The pruning process is not difficult. It is necessary to remove all thin and weak shoots, and shorten the strong ones by 1/3 of the length. To rejuvenate old nematanthus, you need to double their branches.

Top dressing and fertilizers

During active vegetation, the plant needs fertilizer. Feed 2 times a month with special fertilizers, which include potassium and phosphorus. Saturated liquid form fertilizer, diluted 2 times more than indicated on the package. So that there is no burn of the roots, the soil is slightly moistened. From mid-autumn to early spring, the plant is not fed.

Plant transplant

To transplant a hypocyrt, you need to choose the right soil. For healthy development and long flowering, you need to choose a loose substrate with increased air permeability. The best substrate will be a mixture of coarse sand with pieces of sphagnum, peat and leafy soil (2: 2: 1: 1). Since nematanthus are quite compact plants, they will not need frequent transplants., it is optimal to transplant a flower no more than 1 time in 2 years. In this matter, it is better to stick to how quickly the roots fill the soil in the pot.

The procedure must be carried out by the standard method - transshipment with a slight removal of excess substrate and top soil. When transplanting a plant, you need to carefully monitor the roots of the flower, avoid contact with them. So that the hypocyrta does not suffer from excessive moisture, it is better to lay out a good layer of drainage.

The capacity for transplantation should not exceed the height of the previous pot by more than 3 cm. Since the flower has a small rhizome, it is better to pick up small pots.

Plant propagation

Nematanthus supports reproduction in two ways: by seeds and cuttings. To properly sow the seeds, it is necessary to pour them onto a paper sheet, and spread them over the surface of the substrate with light patting movements. After sowing, the container is placed under glass. When shoots appear, the glass must be periodically lifted to allow air to enter. After germination, seedlings dive into separate pots. Young hypocyrts begin to bloom in a year.

This indoor plant is much easier to propagate by cuttings, for this it is necessary to cut cuttings 10 cm long with 3-4 internodes. You need to cut from powerful matured shoots. Cuttings take root in water at an air temperature of 22-24 degrees. On average, roots appear after 2 weeks, after which the cuttings are planted in loose, breathable soil. Perlite can be added to the substrate.

Harmful insects and diseases

The plant has a high immunity to pests. However, improper care weakens the nematanthus, which leads to the appearance of mealybugs, aphids or thrips. Mealybug manifests itself as a white coating between the leaves. The appearance of viral diseases is associated with thrips and mites, which carry them through the sap of the plant. You can get rid of pests with chemicals Fitoverm, Aktellik or Akarin.

Important! With frequent watering and a high level of humidity, the plant often gets sick with rot!

The appearance of diseases is caused by improper care and cultivation of this amazing plant. Namely:

1. at very high temperatures, the tops of the nematantus leaves dry;
2. falling leaves and buds is manifested at low temperatures;
3. brown spotting on the leaves is caused by watering with cold water;
4. lack of pruning affects flowering;
5. brown leaves inform about the ingress of water on them during irrigation.

Beliefs about the plant

There are some folk superstitions around the hypocyrta. Some believe that in a house where the nematanthus plant blooms, there will certainly be happiness and prosperity. Thanks to its beautiful juicy foliage, it always cheers up anyone who looks at it.

It is also believed that the flower cleans the indoor air well.

A native of the Brazilian rainforest, the handsome nematanthus has taken root in home greenhouses throughout Europe, America and Asia. Nematanthus attract attention with unusual flowers in the form of goldfish and waxy, rounded dark green leaves on long curly shoots. Flowering lasts up to six months, but even after the last bud wilts, the emerald flowerpot with the plant retains a spectacular decorative effect.

Happiness in the house

Nematanthus (Nematanthus) are represented by semi-epiphytic or epiphytic tropical creepers, shrubs and shrubs of the Gesneriaceae family. The flower acquired its botanical name thanks to the German researcher and author of scientific publications on international flora, Heinrich Adolf von Schroeder. The scientist combined the Greek words that reflected the characteristics of the plant: "nema" - a thread and "tantus" - a flower. The well-known other name of the plant, hypocyrta, comes from the merger of the Greek words "hypo" - under and "cyrtos" - elongated, and is explained by the elongated shape of the flowers of a heat-loving plant.

Nematanthus appeared in houses as potted plant in the 19th century, but their distribution was very slow due to their tropical origin and the unwillingness of amateur botanists to deal with the peculiarities of caring for hypocyrta. Nevertheless, the Europeans fell in love with the plant for its bright golden flowers. Therefore, the people began to call him "" goldfish ".

The flower of the hypocyrta nematanthus did not bypass folk superstitions, legends and signs. "Goldfish" fulfills the desires of its owner, brings happiness and prosperity to the house. In fact, the plant creates an atmosphere of the tropics in the room and charges those around you with the positive energy of eternal summer.

Optimal conditions

Contrary to all fears, it is not too laborious to cultivate varieties of the genus Hypocyrta. It is necessary to create optimal conditions for the plant close to its native environment. In order to enjoy active flowering and bright greenery, it is important to follow some rules for caring for nematanthus at home.

Primary requirements:

By adhering to the basic rules for caring for hypocyrs, the florist will never encounter problems in growing them at home and minimizes the likelihood of damage to your favorite plant by diseases and pests.

Diseases and pests

• spider mite,
• thrips,
• mealybugs.

Pests draw out all the juices from the plant, weakening it, which, in turn, leads to the occurrence of viral diseases that cannot be treated on the hypocyte. Therefore, the fight against them must be carried out at the first sign of damage to the flower.

When affected by thrips and spider mites, insecticide treatment (fitoverm, antitlin, actellik, etc.) is effective. And from the mealybug will help manual processing plants with an alcohol wipe.

Of the diseases, most often, with improper care, nematanthus suffer from gray and root rot and powdery mildew. Fungal rots are caused by high soil moisture in flower pot or transmitted to a plant with an infected soil substrate.

It is necessary to reduce watering, remove all affected parts of the exotic plant and treat it with a fungicide or sulfur (for powdery mildew).