Gloxinia mix home care. Gloxinia - care and reproduction at home

Gloxinia, one of the most beautiful representatives of the Gesneriaceae family, in Europe gloxinia flower care at home began to be produced already in the second half of the 19th century. The plant comes from the tropical forests of distant Brazil. The botanical name of gloxinia is hybrid Sinningia (Sinningia hybrida).

General information

The tropical beauty received it in honor of Wilhelm Sinning, a gardener at Boston University, who “fell in love” with the flower and devoted a lot of time to its selection and hybridization. The name Gloxinia comes from the German “Glocke”, which translates as bell. Indeed, the shape of the flowers of the plant is very similar to bells.

Gloxinia Sinningia is a perennial tuberous plant with a short stem and thick dark green velvety leaves. The flowers, as mentioned above, are bell-shaped and come in a wide variety of colors and shades.

Some types of gloxinia have bright, eye-catching specks on the inner surface of the flowers, while others surprise with the beauty of their frilled edge of the flower, painted in a contrasting color. Depending on the variety, gramophone flowers can be simple or double.

Gloxinia care at home

Gloxinia is an undemanding plant and can be grown even by an inexperienced gardener. The flower loves a lot of light, but without direct sunlight, as this can cause burns on the leaves. The optimal air temperature is 18-21 degrees in summer and 10-15 degrees in winter.

Gloxinia when cared for at home in which it is very “afraid” of spraying and drafts. If water gets on its leaves during spraying, dark spots and rotting on the leaves and flowers may appear.

To ensure the necessary humidity, plants are placed on a tray with pebbles filled with water. As water evaporates, it will humidify the air around the flowers.

Watering gloxinia

Water the gloxinia with soft warm water so that it does not get on the leaves or flowers. You can pour water into the pan and leave the plants to “drink” for half an hour. The remaining water after the procedure is removed.

During the period of growth and flowering, watering gloxinia is carried out 2-3 times a week, and during dormancy - no more than once a month. When watering a gloxinia flower, you must ensure that there is no excess moisture, as the plant can rot and die.

Gloxinia dormant period

Gloxinia pleases with its flowering from April to September, and then a period of rest begins. At this time, the above-ground part of the plant dies and the tubers “fall asleep” for several months (3-4). After the upper part of the plant has completely died, it is cut off, leaving approximately 1 cm above the ground.

The pots with “dormant” tubers are moved to a dry, dark and cool place, making sure that the soil does not dry out. Accordingly, water occasionally. You don’t have to take the plants out, but simply cover them on top of the soil with a thick layer of clean and dry sand and leave them in the room.

Some gardeners, 2-3 weeks after the above-ground part dies, dig up the tubers and, having cleared them of dead roots, store them in sawdust or peat in a dark, cool place. Tubers are periodically inspected for dryness or high humidity, which are eliminated as necessary.

Gloxinia after a period of rest

Gloxinias begin to wake up somewhere in January-March. If the flower has overwintered in a pot, then dig it up, clean it of soil, and remove diseased and dried tubers. If rotten areas are found, cut them out with a sharp knife and sprinkle the cut with powdered coal. After these procedures, the tuber is left to dry for a day.

Gloxinia tuber planting

Before planting a gloxinia tuber, it is advisable to soak it for 30 minutes in a solution of a fungicidal agent (for example, Funzadol, Maxim) or a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate to prevent the formation of rot.

Pots are selected so that they are 1-1.5 cm larger in diameter than the previous ones, since, once in a pot that is too large, gloxinia will begin to grow tubers, and flowering may not be expected. It is necessary to plant the plant in such a way that the upper part of the tuber “peeks out” slightly above the soil.

Soil for gloxinia

Soil for planting can be purchased at a flower shop. "Saintpaulia" or "Violet" will do. You can also prepare the planting mixture yourself. To do this, mix sand, humus and leaf soil in a ratio of 1:4:4. Good drainage must be ensured. Transplanted gloxinias are placed on a windowsill and watered once a week.

Fertilizers for gloxinia

It is imperative to fertilize the plant. When using liquid complex fertilizer, this is done every two weeks. If you use fertilizer in the form of sticks, then one such stick is enough for about 2-3 months.

Gloxinia from seeds at home

Gloxinia can be propagated by seeds, leaf cuttings and dividing tubers. It is almost impossible to obtain seeds at home. It's easier to buy them in the store.

Sowing is carried out in November-February in low boxes, which are filled with sand, peat and leaf soil, taken in equal quantities and thoroughly mixed. The seeds are simply sown on top of the soil, without sprinkling, and placed in a well-lit place.

It is necessary to regularly spray with warm water and maintain the temperature at 24-26 °C. Shoots can be expected no earlier than in 2 weeks. When the seedlings grow and they have 2 leaves, they are planted at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other, and when the third pair of leaves appears, the distance between the plants is increased to 5–7 cm. They are transplanted into pots when the plants begin to touch each other with their leaves. The diameter of the pots should be 10–12 cm.

Propagation of gloxinia by cuttings

It is quite easy to propagate Gloxinia at home using cuttings. To do this, select large and healthy leaves, cut them obliquely with a sharp knife and place them in a light pink solution of potassium permanganate for 8 hours. Then the leaf cuttings are placed in cups with clean water, which is changed weekly.

When the roots appear, the future beauties are planted in cups with soil or on peat tablets and covered with plastic bags. The bags are removed once a day for a few minutes to ensure ventilation. After the formation of tiny tubers at the ends of the cuttings, the bags are removed completely, and the grown plant can please the owner with its flowering in the same year.

Gloxinia propagation by leaf

It is also possible to propagate gloxinia with one leaf blade without a cutting. To do this, cut off a healthy leaf and cut it along the central vein between the branches.

Next, the sheet is laid with the cuts down on moistened peat or sand and covered with a bag. Gloxinia “babies” are formed from notches on the leaf. They are transplanted into pots when more than 3 true leaves appear.

Reproduction of gloxinia by dividing the tuber

To propagate gloxinia by dividing the tuber, it is necessary to select highly overgrown tubers. They are cut into pieces with a knife so that each of them is left with 1-2 sprouts. Fresh cuts are covered with crushed coal and planted in pots with moist soil.

Diseases and pests

Like all indoor plants, gloxinia is susceptible to diseases and pest damage. Of the latter, flower “lovers” include thrips, spider mites, aphids, caterpillars and nematodes. They are destroyed using special insecticides.

At the same time, you need to be very careful when choosing a product, since some of them are capable of not only destroying pests, but also the plant itself.

Among the diseases, the most common are tuber rot, black leg, fusarium and gray rot. Usually the cause of their occurrence is excessive watering.

For prevention, tubers are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate, Immunocytophyte or other fungicide before planting. To “treat” the affected plant tissue is removed with a knife, the cut area is covered with crushed charcoal and treated with suitable fungicidal agents.

Possible difficulties

With proper care, the tropical beauty Gloxinia can live up to 10 years, delighting its owners with colorful blooms. Moreover, the older and more developed the plant, the more flowers it will have. Sometimes their number reaches 50 pieces!

• There are brown spots on the leaves of gloxinia - this indicates that water has come into contact with them, as well as the use of too cold water for irrigation.
• Gloxinia leaves turn yellow - a sign of dry or too humid air, exposure to direct sunlight or excess fertilizer.
• Gloxinia leaves curl - this happens with excessive feeding and when exposed to drafts.
• Elongated, pale leaves are a sign of lack of lighting.
• A gray coating on flowers and leaves indicates that the plant is infected with gray rot.
• The flowers remain hidden under the leaves - this happens when the daylight hours are short or the temperature is too low.

Gloxinia is a herbaceous perennial native to Brazil. Flowers can be of different shades; they are called bells or gramophones. If you want to have a healthy gloxinia, care at home must be followed according to the rules. Even a beginner can cope with growing a flower if he tries.

Among the variety of varieties, single-row and terry varieties with a velvety surface stand out. In addition, the flowers themselves are not always of the same color palette; most often they have several shades. You can create a real Garden of Eden on the window!

• Drainage and soil are placed in a pre-disinfected container. A depression is made and planting material is placed in it with the sprout up. When adding soil, you need to make sure that the growing part is free. By planting gloxinia as a tuber, you can quickly get a new plant.

Reproduction of gloxinia at home

There are several ways to propagate a flower, each of them has its own characteristics.

Reproduction methods:

• Vegetative - tubers and their parts, cuttings, leaves, leaf blades-cuttings
• Seed.

Vegetative propagation

Let's look at how to propagate gloxinia vegetatively in more detail.

1. Propagation by cuttings

When propagating gloxinia at home, you can use leaf cuttings, which are taken only from a healthy flower. A young leaf can be planted directly in the ground or germinated in water:

The cut stalk is left in the air for 50 minutes, then placed in a transparent glass. The water should be warm and clean. Accelerate root formation with charcoal. Growth stimulants can be used. The appearance of roots is a signal for planting.

How to propagate gloxinia by leaves that germinate in the ground. First, the soil is prepared from sand, peat, and deciduous soil in a ratio of 3:1:1. Drainage is placed at the bottom of the container and soil on top. The earth needs to be heavily watered. The gloxinia leaf is placed vertically, with a glass jar on top. A constant temperature of +22-25 degrees should be maintained. Germination lasts less than a month.

1. Using part of a leaf to make a new plant

Gloxinia can reproduce by leaf blade petiole. The veins are cut into the sheet and laid on the ground. You don’t need to press the petioles too hard; a greenhouse is installed on top. With proper care, one leaf blade produces several small gloxinias. Small nodules need to be planted in prepared containers.

1. Peduncles are a good planting material

After gloxinia blooms, flower stalks remain. This is an excellent material for propagating gloxinia. The peduncle needs to be cut and placed in water for rooting. And planting is carried out in the usual way, as with leaf propagation.

1. Divide the tuber

Reproduction of gloxinia by dividing the tuber is the most common method. As a rule, several sprouts appear on it. When dividing, pay attention to the presence of two shoots in each part. After cutting, the resulting planting material is sprinkled with charcoal. Each piece is planted separately. To prevent the plantings from stretching out, they are left without watering for a couple of days. But this method has a negative side; fungal diseases may occur.

1. Have you tried it with your stepsons?

Stepchildren appear after the plant has flowered twice. You can also grow a healthy flower from them. They need to be rooted in water. Gloxinias grown in this way bloom the same year.

Seed propagation

Seeds can be sown from November to February. There is no need to thicken the crops, just as there is no need to bury them. Good seedlings are obtained when favorable conditions are created. Stretched material can create problems during replanting. Therefore, the bowl with seedlings needs to be turned daily. When the planting material is ready, it needs to be planted, and this operation is carried out several times, not allowing the seedlings to stretch out.

Problems during cultivation

We talked about how to properly care for a beautiful plant with velvety leaves and bell-like flowers. But gloxinias, like other indoor flowers, have problems from time to time. Flower growers, especially beginners, need to know what to do.

Sometimes the leaves on the flower begin to curl. The appearance of the plant becomes unpleasant. If gloxinia leaves curl, then most likely the room is cold or dry, or the plant is overfed with nitrogen fertilizers. This problem can be easily solved. Curling leaves appear when harmful insects settle on them. You will have to resort to pesticide treatment. Leaves of any size can be wrapped.

No less worrying is the question of why gloxinia does not bloom. There are also many reasons. Among the most common mistakes in organizing the care of gloxinia are lack of lighting, too large a pot. The presence of pests, improper watering, and uncomfortable temperatures can also leave you without beautiful multi-colored gramophones.

Grow gloxinias, it gives a lot of pleasure.

Gloxinia is a beautiful indoor plant that is very popular among gardeners. To get a strong and viable culture at home, it needs to be provided with quality care. The flower must be watered and fertilized on time. Temperature conditions and soil quality are also important.

Indoor gloxinia is a tuberous perennial crop. It is distinguished by short shoots and succulent leaves of a bright green hue. They have a velvety texture.

The flowers are shaped like a bell. They are simple and terry. The color range is amazingly diverse. Flowers are pink, red, white. There are interesting two-color specimens and speckled buds.

The width of the flowers is 70 mm, and the length is 50 mm. Gloxinia has many small seeds. There are 25 plant species found in natural conditions. In this case, breeders usually work with 2 main varieties:

• . This flowering plant is characterized by thick stems. Their height is no more than 100 mm. The leaves have a dark green tint and are covered with fluff. There are silver veins on the upper side, light red on the lower side. Long peduncles are decorated with flowers of a rich purple hue, which are shaped like bells.

• . This herbaceous plant has oval leaves. They are located on long petioles. The leaves taper towards the base and have a uniform green tint. The appearance of flowers varies depending on the variety. They come in white, purple, blue. Red and pink buds are also found.

Watering and humidification

When growing a crop at home from a tuber, it is recommended to water it through a tray. You can also do this along the edge of the pot. It is important to ensure that the liquid does not get into the middle of the tuber or onto the leaves. If these areas are exposed to the sun, there is a risk of burns. The influence of cool air and water will cause rot.

Settled water is suitable for irrigation. Its temperature should be 2-3 degrees higher than room temperature. After the liquid is absorbed into the soil, its remains must be removed from the pan after half an hour.

It is worth considering that the plant requires high air humidity. However, spraying the crop is prohibited. The liquid should not get on the leaves and flowers. Therefore, to increase the humidity parameters, it is worth placing dishes with water near the plant.

Temperature

Gloxinia is considered a heat-loving plant, therefore it is advisable to maintain an optimal temperature regime at 18-22 degrees. During tuber germination, the plant requires a higher temperature - approximately 25 degrees. In such conditions, young shoots develop much faster.

If the temperature exceeds 28 degrees, there is a risk of stopping the development of the crop. This has the following consequences:

• overheating of roots;
• loss of leaf turgor;
• lack of buds;
• rapid wilting of flowers.

When temperatures drop, there is a risk of plant growth slowing down. In such a situation, gloxinia becomes overcooled, which leads to rotting of the roots, falling buds, and yellowing of the foliage.

Feeding rules

Excessive amounts of fertilizers cause more harm to gloxinia than a lack of useful elements. It is worth feeding the plant at home at intervals of 10 days. To do this, you should use a special complex.

When preparing the crop for the dormant period, fertilizing should not be applied. However, in the complete absence of fertilizers, flowering will be short. At the same time, the flowers become smaller and paler.

Reproduction methods

Gloxinia reproduces in different ways at home. They all differ in efficiency and labor intensity. In this case, each gardener can choose the best option.

Leaves

This is the easiest way. To implement it, it is recommended to choose a strong leaf with a stem and carefully cut it at the root. Place in water for 1 week or immediately transplant into moist soil. As a result, roots will appear.

Stem cuttings

To do this, you will need the upper part of the crop stem. It is advisable to choose a cutting with several leaves. It will need to be deepened 3 cm into the moist soil. After this, the sprout is covered with film and removed for 1 month. At this time, the plant needs to be moistened and ventilated.

Seeds

Growing gloxinia in this way is a rather complicated process. This technique is used when it is necessary to obtain a new variety. To do this, it is recommended to pollinate flowers from different crops and wait for the formation of a seed capsule. When it is ripe, you need to collect the seeds and dry them.

At the end of winter, soil preparation and planting should begin. It is recommended to combine the seeds with sand or scatter them over the surface. Cover the container with film and sprinkle with water. The appearance of sprouts should be expected after 2-4 weeks. After 1 month, the plants need to be picked and planted, keeping an interval of 1-2 cm. After another 1-1.5 months, the culture is transferred to separate containers.

By dividing the tuber

This method is used when there are no other options. It is quite dangerous for the plant. In this case, the new flower can take root for quite a long time.

It is worth dividing when sprouts of at least 2 cm appear. At least 1 sprout should remain on each fragment. The tuber should be separated with a sharp knife. Before starting the procedure, the instrument must be disinfected. It is recommended to sprinkle the sections with coal dust.

Gloxinia transplant: step-by-step instructions

After hibernation, the plant needs to be transplanted into the ground. First of all, you need to choose the right pot and prepare the soil. When choosing ready-made land, you need to pay attention to the markings. It is best to choose a mixture for violets.

To bring it closer to the needs of gloxinia, you need to add a little baking powder. For 1 liter of soil you will need about a handful. Perlite, sphagnum, and vermiculite can play the role of a leavening agent.

You can make your own soil mixture at home. It should include the following components:

1. Earth – 3 parts. This substance is the basis of the soil. It can be taken from under any trees. The exception is oak.
2. Sand – 2 parts. This component facilitates the penetration of moisture into the soil structure and helps avoid caking.
3. Peat – 3 parts. This substance makes the composition more loose and facilitates the supply of moisture and beneficial elements.
4. Humus or rotted manure. For 2-3 liters of mixture you will need 100 g of this substance. It performs the function of fertilizer. If this component is not added, about 1 week after transplantation it is worth using fertilizing.

You should definitely place drainage in the pot. When choosing a container, it is worth considering that it should not be very high. Sufficient width is important. You should not take a pot that is too large or small - it should be medium in size.

When replanting a crop, a certain sequence of actions should be followed:

1. When sprouts appear, the tuber should be removed from the pot, freed from the remaining soil and get rid of the old roots. Rinse under running water.
2. Cut off old and dried fragments. To do this, use a sharp knife. After which it is recommended to sprinkle the sections with coal dust. If most of the root is damaged, it will have to be poured out.
3. Make a pink solution of potassium permanganate. It is important that the liquid is warm. You need to put the tubers in it for half an hour.
4. Place the planting material in the pot and sprinkle it with a little soil. Cover with film.
5. The plant needs to be ventilated every day. To do this, remove the film for about 1 hour.
6. When 2 strong leaves appear, the film can be removed completely. You need to sprinkle the plant with soil on top so that the tuber is securely closed.
7. Water the transplanted plant carefully. It is important that the liquid does not end up on the tubers and foliage.

Care after flowering

Gloxinia blooms in May or June. At this time, it is worth cutting off the stem and almost all the leaves. The bush should have 2-4 lower leaves. After the procedure, stepsons will appear from the sinuses. Of these, the 2 most powerful ones are selected, and the remaining ones are cut off.

During this period, the crop needs fertilizers to grow. 1 month after the formation of buds, it is recommended to use flowering fertilizer. Repeat flowering is usually more sparse. Sometimes the crop blooms all summer. In such a situation, there is no re-blooming.

When the crop has completely faded, you need to gradually reduce watering and eliminate the application of fertilizer. When leaves turn yellow and dry, they need to be shortened. As a result, a stump should remain above the tuber. Its height should be 10-20 cm.

Care during the rest period

The flower growing season ends in mid-autumn. When the top of the plant dies, the tuber will go into dormancy. It stops development and moisture consumption. Initially, watering should be reduced, and then completely abandoned.

During the dormant period, the tuber must be provided with proper storage and care. To do this, you can use the following methods:

1. Transfer the container with the flower to a cool room. The temperature in it should be 10-15 degrees. To avoid drying out of the tubers, the container can be occasionally moistened. After the leaves die, the tubers need to be pulled out of the ground, cleaned, and sprinkled with sawdust or sand. After which they should be put in a cool place.
2. Tubers can be stored at a temperature of 5-8 degrees. It is important that the substrate is completely dry or slightly damp. If this recommendation is not followed, there is a risk of mold and rot. This technique is convenient because the tuber does not require much space or special care.

Diseases and pests of gloxinia: how to protect a flower

Gloxinia often encounters diseases. Plants that receive improper care usually suffer. Common crop diseases include the following:

• Gray rot. The disease is accompanied by the formation of brown spots on the leaves. To cope with the problem, it is worth removing all the affected elements and spraying the bush with a fungicide.

Gloxinia disease - gray mold

• Root rot. This pathology most often affects gloxinia. It is characterized by brown coloration and rotting of the base of the stem. As a result, the plant dies. Watering with cold water and stagnation of liquid in the substrate leads to the development of the disease.

Gloxinia disease - root rot

The plant also suffers from powdery mildew, late blight, blackleg and many other fungal diseases. For preventive purposes, it is worth treating with Fitosporin. To eliminate pathologies, Fundazol is used.

The plant is often affected by viral diseases. Ticks and thrips are considered to be their carriers. A common pest of gloxinia is cyclamen mites. When a bush is infected, the leaves become deformed, thicken, and bend downward. Also observed is wilting of the buds, drying out of the shoots, twisting of the stem, and disruption of the shape of the petals.

When infected with thrips, light dots, streaks, and spots are visible on the leaves. In this case, unaffected areas become silvery. After some time they dry out.

To cope with pests, it is worth spraying the bush with insecticides - Aktara, Aktellik, Karbofos. This must be done 3 times with an interval of 7 days. Then it is worth replacing the top layer of soil. This helps to cope with the larvae of harmful insects.

Common growing problems

If you do not properly care for gloxinia at home, there is a risk of various problems arising. The most common include the following:

1. The buds dry out during flowering. This problem is caused by low humidity. To avoid its appearance, you need to place containers of water near the flower pot and spray the air near the gloxinia.
2. The buds wither and the flowers do not appear. The provoking factor is a large number of buds. A complex product based on potassium and phosphorus will help to cope with the problem. Redness of the foliage also indicates a deficiency of these substances.
3. Leaves become pale. This indicates a magnesium deficiency. To cope with the problem, it is recommended to apply fertilizer with this substance.
4. The leaves take on a yellow tint. The problems are caused by overwatering and lack of nitrogen. Appropriate medications will help eliminate the disorder.
5. Brown marks appear on the leaves. This is due to the influence of drafts or the use of cold water for irrigation. To cope with the problem, the flower needs to be moved to another place and watered with exclusively warm water.

Gloxinia is a beautiful plant that is popular with many gardeners. To avoid problems in growing a crop, you need to provide it with quality care at home. It is important to water the plant correctly, apply fertilizers on time and maintain temperature conditions.

The dormant period for gloxinia is January and early February. Therefore the most the optimal time for planting or replanting a plant is the end of February, at this time the tubers usually awaken. However, it is worth paying attention to some details if you plan to plant it during this period. Since he does not always wake up in February, sometimes this process can drag on until May.

A distinctive sign of awakening is the buds that form on the tuber. Also, if the awakening process does not start for a long time, you can wake it up artificially.

It is important not to miss the beginning of awakening, because if you do not plant the tuber on time, this will negatively affect the plant and may destroy it.

When planting seeds, things are simpler, since they can be planted at any time, but growing them into a strong plant is much more difficult. But, when growing seeds at home, you can create unusual hybrids or enjoy the sight of rare varietal specimens.

Although seeds can be planted at any time, the temperature, humidity and light of the growing environment must be taken into account. That's why when planting in autumn-winter, you should think about additional lighting, since the daylight hours of this plant are 12-14 hours, and the temperature is 20-24 °C.

In order for your gloxinias to bloom all year round, you can arrange a rack or a warm shelf for them and provide them with lighting for 14 hours a day. Why gloxinia does not bloom and how to make it produce buds, you will learn from.

Preparation: soil and pot

Gloxinia is not very demanding, so there should be no problems with the choice. Preference should be given to light soil with a sufficient amount of nutrients, which will allow moisture and air to pass through well. Peat-based substrates are ideal or the soil used for planting violets.

Also, you can prepare the soil yourself by mixing 1 part of soil taken from under any tree (except oak), peat (with a low degree of acidity) and 0.5 parts of sand, you can add manure or humus. Before planting, you should disinfect the soil with boiling water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

If you use soil that is too dense, there is a risk of plant rotting, as this can cause moisture retention in the soil and lack of air.

We invite you to watch a video about growing a flower with seeds:

How to care after transplant?

For proper care after plant transplantation, you should consider the following recommendations:

• Gloxinia is a long-day plant, so to obtain a strong, profusely flowering plant, it is necessary to provide good lighting with diffused light. But do not expose it to direct sunlight, the flower may overheat.
• During the period of tuber germination, the air temperature should be slightly above 25 degrees to accelerate the growth of young shoots. But do not reach 28, as the plant stops developing.
• High air humidity is needed.
• Watering should be done with warm water. Be sure to ensure uniform watering so that all parts of the root receive their portion of moisture.
• The room in which gloxinia grows must be regularly ventilated to prevent fungal diseases from forming. But strong drafts should not be allowed. Read about diseases and pests of gloxinia, as well as methods of combating them.

Gloxinia is a perennial tuberous plant with amazing exquisite flowers reminiscent of gramophones. There are only 25 species of Gloxinia; numerous hybrids are divided into 4 groups according to plant size: from standard (over 25 cm in diameter) to microminiature (less than 5 cm in diameter). The gloxinia flower is valued by gardeners for its long flowering from April to October.

Gloxinia care

Growing gloxinia at home requires observing the living conditions of the plant. When choosing a place for gloxinia, give preference to the windowsill of an east or west window in the house, since the plant needs long daylight hours. The southern window will have to be shaded; direct sunlight causes burns on the leaves and wilting of the petals, and on the northern window the flower may not bloom. The plant is heat-loving, the optimal temperature is 18-22 degrees, but a strong increase, as well as a decrease, in temperature is detrimental to the plant. Choose a pot for gloxinia according to the size of the tuber plus 3-5 cm. The root system of gloxinia is superficial, so choose a container that is spacious in width, but not high.

Caring for gloxinia consists of several classic procedures.

• Watering gloxinia. During active growth and during the flowering period, water the plant abundantly and often; by the end of summer, reduce watering, and by mid-autumn, stop. It is important to water gloxinia correctly: distribute warm water evenly, avoid dripping onto the leaves and into the bulb.
• Feeding gloxinia. Apply to moist soil from April to August. Use fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus; nitrogen is not indicated for the plant.

• Spraying gloxinia. The flower does not tolerate dry air well, the leaves dry out, and the buds fall off. But gloxinia leaves are covered with microhairs that firmly hold water when it hits the surface of the leaf. Further exposure to sunlight leads to burns in these places, and water getting inside the bulb threatens gloxinia diseases. To maintain air humidity, place the pot in a tray with wet pebbles, or regularly spray the area around the plant. Don't forget to ventilate the room to reduce the risk of fungal diseases from high humidity.
• Gloxinia transplant. Replant gloxinia tubers annually in the spring, after the plant wakes up. When replanting, remove old roots, clear away soil, plant in new soil and pot.

Reproduction of Gloxinia

Gloxinia is one of the flowers that can be propagated using any part of the plant. Gardeners note that healthy and strong flowers are obtained by seed propagation of gloxinia. Seed germination depends on the storage period of the seeds. The path from seed to flowering plant lasts 7 months and consists of three successive and one transplant to a permanent place. Cuttings of gloxinia are carried out during the budding period; the cuttings take root in water and are then transferred to a pot with soil. Reproduction of gloxinia by shoots and stepsons leads to flowering in the year of collection. After flowering, the flower stalks and parts of the leaves easily take root and are planted in separate containers. In some cases, they resort to propagating gloxinia by dividing the tuber, but this method is risky due to the danger of introducing a fungal infection into the cut sites.

Gloxinia dormant period

Caring for the plant includes organizing a special stage - the resting period of gloxinia. By the end of summer, reduce watering the flower, and in the fall, stop altogether. Cut the remaining shoots to a stump of 1-2 cm. There are two ways to store gloxinia tubers: in a pot or outside the pot. Transfer the tubers in the pot to a dark and cool place (10-12 degrees); if desired, remove the tubers, place them in damp sand and leave them in the same room. Water the tubers with a small amount of water several times during the winter to prevent them from drying out.

The emergence of gloxinia from hibernation is not associated with a specific month in the spring; the plant itself will wake up, which will be indicated by the appearance of new buds. Rinse the tubers, soak them in a solution of potassium permanganate for a couple of hours, dry them for 24 hours, and plant them in a pot, covering them with new soil.

Not every gardener can grow gloxinia at home; it is necessary to patiently maintain the plant’s difficult living conditions. But the result will exceed expectations. Each plant blooms with more than 20 buds per season, such splendor will be remembered by any connoisseur.