Content
Growing indoor periwinkle requires special attention. The plant must be provided with comprehensive care, transplanted in a timely manner, and protected from diseases and pests. At home, periwinkle is grown by seeds; it can be propagated in different ways.
Description
Indoor plant periwinkle - herbaceous perennial or shrub. Its main characteristics:
- dense and glossy leaves, their shape is oblong;
- branched stems;
- the length of the shoots can reach 0.6 m;
- weaving in height;
- flowers are white, pink, lilac, purple;
- long flowering, which occurs in May-September, with the correct content of periwinkle, it lasts all 5 months.
The flowers of the periwinkle are rather large with a small 5-incised calyx
Growing from seed at home
At home, periwinkle is grown from seeds. To do this, you need to pick up a pot, prepare the soil and fulfill several conditions.
Soil preparation
For indoor periwinkle, you can purchase a ready-made soil mixture. It should be suitable for flowering plants. The soil can be neutral or acidic. Composition for geranium meets all conditions.
You can prepare the soil for indoor periwinkle yourself. To do this, mix in equal parts:
- sod land;
- leaf humus;
- peat.
Sand should also be added to this mixture.
The correct pot
For indoor periwinkle, it is important to choose the right pot. The plant has a voluminous root system, which should not be crowded. It is recommended to choose a pot with a margin of a few centimeters. Better to use clay containers.
Growing
Even as a houseplant, periwinkle must be planted at a specific time. The optimal time is the second half of winter or the first half of spring.
First, the seeds are sown in one container. Planting material can be purchased at the store or prepared by yourself. In the second case, treatment with a solution of potassium permanganate is required. Landing Algorithm:
- Fill the container with soil, not forgetting the drainage layer.
- Make grooves at intervals of 3 cm and a depth of 1-1.5 cm.
- Sow seeds. You can plant them in holes of 2-3 pieces.
- Sprinkle with earth, compact slightly.
- Moisten the soil.
- Cover the container with black foil and keep at a temperature of 23-25 ° C.
It takes about a week to hatch seeds. After rooting and the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, you need to remove the film and keep the container with seedlings at 16-20 ° C in a well-lit place.
3 weeks after the emergence of sprouts, nitrogen or phosphorus feeding is needed. A pick is carried out when the bushes grow up to 8 cm and have 4 leaves. It is recommended to plant 2-3 plants in one pot.
Transferring to another pot
For the well-being of the indoor periwinkle, its annual transplant into a new pot is recommended. This should be done in the spring after the awakening of the plant and before its active growth.
Each time, the capacity should be several centimeters larger so that the root system has enough space.
Algorithm for transplanting indoor periwinkle:
- Prepare a suitable pot and disinfect.It is better not to limit yourself to scalding the container, but to wipe it from the inside with an alcohol solution or potassium permanganate.
- Organize a drainage layer.
- Fill the pot with soil.
- Carefully remove the plant from the old container.
- Examine the root system. It is necessary to prune all damaged and dead roots with the capture of a healthy area by at least 4 cm and subsequent processing. To do this, you need to use a sharp tool and crushed charcoal.
Care
The well-being of the indoor periwinkle, the abundance and splendor of its flowering depend on the correct content. It consists of several aspects.
The correct temperature is essential:
- in the spring and summer, the flower feels good in room conditions at 18-25 ° C;
- in winter, the plant has a dormant period that requires coolness - the optimum temperature is 15 ° C.
Another important aspect of growing is lighting. Partial shade or diffused light is recommended. If direct sunlight falls on the plant in the morning, burns will appear on the leaves. With a lack of light, the stems are stretched, the decorativeness of the flower suffers.
It is necessary to water the indoor periwinkle regularly, but in moderation. It is recommended to do this when the earthen lump has just begun to dry out - in room conditions, this is usually required every 3-4 days. The flower should be sprayed periodically, especially when the air humidity is low. This should be done with warm water.
To control the abundance of watering, you can place the pot with the plant in the tray. If there is water in it 15-20 minutes after watering, then it must be drained, and the next time, reduce the amount.
In winter, the intensity of watering should be reduced. During this period, the risk of decay of the root system increases.
Indoor periwinkle should be fed regularly. This is done throughout the growing season, without using fertilizers only in winter. It is recommended to feed the flower every 2 weeks, and on warm days every 1.5 weeks. Use mainly mineral fertilizers, sometimes organic. Compositions for roses are effective.
In summer, indoor periwinkle can be kept on the balcony or in the yard, the flower must be protected from the wind
For the splendor of the indoor periwinkle bush and the appearance of new healthy shoots, pinching is recommended.
If some mistakes were made when caring for a flower, then they can be identified by its appearance:
- yellowing and death of leaves, loss of their healthy shine may indicate a lack of moisture or too high a temperature in the room;
- poor flowering may indicate too low temperature or draft or lack of nutrients in the soil;
- cessation of flowering usually indicates a large age of the plant;
- yellowed leaf tips indicate too dry indoor air;
- shedding buds may indicate a lack of light, watering, or nutrients.
Reproduction
Indoor periwinkle is propagated by seed or cuttings. Both cases have their own peculiarities.
Indoor periwinkle seeds are propagated in February-March. The algorithm is similar to the usual planting of this flower. It is recommended to use seeds from last year, since they have better germination.
Cuttings are carried out in early spring or at the end of summer, when flowering is declining. Apical cuttings are taken for reproduction. They must be young, healthy and strong. The algorithm is as follows:
- Cut off the cuttings by about 10 cm.
- Cut off the leaves at the bottom.
- Treat the slices with a growth stimulant.
- Put the cuttings in water or well-moistened clean sand.
- Cover with foil with ventilation holes.
- Keep the cuttings shaded at 15-18 ° C.
- At the first signs of growth, remove the film.
- Increase light intensity gradually.
- To land on a permanent place.
Pruning
Indoor periwinkle is prone to weaving, therefore it requires annual pruning. It is necessary to get rid of old and sick shoots, branches that are too long. Use a sharp and sterile instrument for trimming. After the procedure, process it again.
In addition to annual pruning, timely removal of wilted flowers is recommended. This allows the plant not to waste nutrients and increases its attractiveness.
Pruning is important to maintain the decorative qualities of the indoor periwinkle, even so, its appearance changes after a few years, therefore it is recommended to replace the flower
Diseases and pests
Growing periwinkle at home does not exclude its damage by diseases and pests. One of the problems is powdery mildew. It manifests itself as a bloom on the leaves and buds, reminiscent of flour. For the fight, fungicides Vectra, Skor, Tiovit and Topaz are used.
With a slight lesion, a solution of soda ash (5 g per 1 liter of water) with the addition of soap shavings is effective. The composition is used for abundant spraying once a week.
The plant can suffer from powdery mildew due to stagnant humid air, sudden temperature changes
One of the enemies of the indoor periwinkle is the aphid. The insect can be introduced with another plant or soil, pet hair. Winged individuals can enter the house through an open window or balcony.
The appearance of aphids is expressed by a painful plant appearance, small punctures, a sticky surface of stems and leaves. Pests are carried by viruses and fungal spores. To combat insects, drugs Actellik, Iskra, Decis, Akarin, Fitoverm are used. From folk remedies, solutions of tobacco, garlic, lemon peels, wood ash, celandine are effective.
To prevent aphids, quarantine the newly acquired flowers, and keep the land for planting or transplanting for some time in the freezer
Another potential enemy of the indoor periwinkle is the spider mite. It has very small dimensions (up to 5 mm), the color can be different. The main sign of the appearance is light and pale yellow spots on the leaf plates, a thin cobweb on the seamy side. The pest can be fought with the chemicals Aktellik, Skelta, Fitoverm, Flumite.
Among folk remedies for spider mites, infusions of onions, garlic, soap, ammonia are effective
Photo of flowers in the interior
It looks spectacular among various indoor flowers of periwinkle, the photos below prove it.
In well-lit rooms, periwinkle can be placed on special shelves or stands with other flowering indoor plants, choosing the same palette or creating contrasts
You can put a pot of indoor periwinkle in a planter. An excellent option is a suspended structure that can be placed on a window, balcony, wall.
In summer, a periwinkle pot can be placed in a planter and hung outside
The room periwinkle is quite compact, therefore it will fit even on narrow window sills or shelves.
With good lighting, the flower can be placed on the table in the kitchen or dining room, revitalizing the interior
In summer, periwinkle can be used to decorate terraces and verandas, the rest of the time it will perfectly enliven the interior of any room, especially in a rustic style.
Conclusion
Growing indoor periwinkle is no more difficult than other indoor plants. It is planted with seeds, propagated in the same way or by cuttings. With proper care, periwinkle will delight with its flowering for 4-5 months.
