Gloxinia: home care, transplantation and propagation, diseases

Gloxinia is a very graceful and delicate plant. It fits perfectly into any interior. How do you care for this delicate creature at home? What problems and diseases does this plant encounter? How do you properly repot and propagate it? You'll find the answers to these and other questions in this article.

What does gloxinia look like?

The leaves of this houseplant are quite large, often rounded or with serrated edges. The leaf surface resembles that of a violet: velvety and soft. The flowers, which come in a variety of colors, are bell-shaped, only much larger. Another name for them is sinningia.

This Brazilian beauty received its first name from the ship's doctor who first encountered and described this wonder. Its second name honors the breeder who developed many beautiful gloxinia hybrids.

Caring for gloxinia at home

For normal growth and development of this indoor plant, special care is required.

Lighting

The main role incaring for gloxiniaLighting plays a role. Daylight hours are crucial for this plant, as it's quite a sun-loving plant. Diffused sunlight is ideal. Partial shade is acceptable, but this will cause the gloxinia to stretch.

If the rosette leaves are horizontal and dark green, then the lighting is correct. If the gloxinia leaves are tilted upward, it's not getting enough light.

Excessive light also negatively affects the plant. If daylight hours exceed 14 hours in summer, the plant's leaves begin to curl and "hugging" the edges of the pot, shortening the flower stalks and reducing flowering time. If the leaves turn yellow and the edges curl, it's time to provide shade for your houseplant.

Temperature conditions

During the dormant period, that is, in winter, gloxinia thrives at 12°C - 15°C. During the warmer months, the temperature should not exceed 21°C.

Air humidity

Gloxinia is quite moisture-loving, so it's important to create the most comfortable conditions for growth and flowering. It's worth noting that over-spraying this species can be quite damaging. Avoid allowing water to come into contact with the leaves and flowers, as this can cause rot.

To increase humidity, you can place a jar filled with water next to the sinningia. You can also add expanded clay or pebbles to the tray. However, be sure not to allow the water to touch the bottom of the pot, as this will promote root rot.

How to water

Watering gloxinias requires special attention, as it's quite important for them. Avoid watering if the top layer of soil is still damp. Watering should be done up to the edge of the container the plant is in.

When the indoor beauty stops blooming, watering should be reduced to a minimum, especially in the fall, as at this time the plant is preparing for a dormant period. Features of watering gloxinia

• Overwatering is very harmful for sinningia, so it is worth pouring out excess water from the tray in a timely manner;
• water for irrigation should be at room temperature only;
• Considering that warm water is quickly absorbed, this prevents plant rotting.

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Soil

Gloxinia is quite picky about soil, so if you can't make the right soil yourself, you'll need to purchase the right soil from a flower shop. A soil suitable for violets and begonias is suitable.

To prepare soil at home, you will need the following ingredients:

• leaf soil;
• river sand;
• peat.

Maintain the following proportions: 2:1:1. You can also add moss or perlite, they are excellent leavening agents.

The soil should contain nutrients that are easily absorbed by the plant. It also shouldn't retain water for long after watering. Most importantly, the soil should be sterilized before planting.

Top dressing

Gloxinia should be fertilized from April to August. Fertilize every 8-10 days. Fertilizer for flowering plants is ideal, but use half the amount recommended on the package. Remember that when sinningia enters its dormant period, there's no need to fertilize it.

It's beneficial to alternate mineral and organic fertilizers. You can buy ready-made ones or make your own at home. To do this, you'll need mullein concentrate, which should be dissolved in water at a ratio of 1:12.

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Transfer

If buds have formed on the tubers, it's time to repot the plant. Important! Use only fresh soil when repotting.

Before planting, thoroughly rinse the roots to remove soil, then soak them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Remove any damaged areas and treat with crushed charcoal. Moisten the soil before planting to a depth of 70%. After planting, move the pot to a sunny location.

It's important to note that after repotting the gloxinia, water it cautiously, avoiding overwatering. Then gradually increase the amount. The container in which the sinningia will be planted should be slightly higher and wider than the previous one.

Post-flowering care

Gloxinias generally go dormant on their own, but some species require a dormant period. Here's what to do:

• from the beginning of autumn, reduce watering, water the plant much less often and more moderately;
• reduce the amount of light;
• stop fertilizing;
• gradually lower the temperature to 15-18°C.

After flowering has finished (late November - early December), stop watering and place the gloxinia in a dark, dry place with good ventilation and a temperature of at least 12°C.

When the top of the plant dies, it should be removed, leaving 1.5 cm on the tuber. At this point, the dormant period begins. Remove soil from the tubers and treat them with a fungicide. Store in boxes, sprinkling the rhizomes with perlite or vermiculite.

Once every two weeks, mist the tubers with a solution of fungicide and water. This will moisten the substrate approximately one-third, preventing drying out. The dormant period lasts from one to three months.

Winter care

Young gloxinias require special attention during winter. Given that the tuber of a young plant can dry out during storage, it is not necessary to send it into hibernation. However, insufficient light can negatively affect the flower, so artificial lighting is necessary. Sinningias should receive at least 12 hours of light per day.

It's also important to maintain proper temperature control. The room temperature shouldn't exceed 20°C. If the room is too hot, all the energy will be directed toward stem growth rather than toward the tuber's mass.

Watering should be done much less frequently than in the summer and do not forget about over-moistening the soil.
If a gloxinia has bloomed only once, it still requires special care. The plant should be moved to a north-facing window and watered occasionally to keep this Brazilian beauty in a dormant state. In late winter, when daylight hours become longer, move the plant to a sunny spot.

Diseases and pests

Late blight — a fungal disease that appears when water stagnates in the tray, the soil is too dense, there is excessive air humidity, and also when the temperature is low during the growing season.

Fusarium — is also a fungal disease that occurs with excess moisture and a lack of water and fertilizer. The leaves wilt, curl, and turn brown. Treat the plant with fungicides and repot it in fresh soil.

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Gray rotIts development can be triggered by overwatering the soil. The stem begins to turn black, and a gray coating and brown spots appear on the flowers and leaves. It is advisable to remove the affected areas of the tuber, treat the remaining part with fungicides, and replant in new soil.

It is quite rare, but it happens that gloxinia is attacked by pests such as:

• Spider mites appear on sinningias if the air in the room is dry and humidity is low. To prevent them, increase the humidity in the room and isolate the infected plant from other plants. Treatment is with acaricides, and the soil should be treated with products such as Temik or Aldicarb.
• Cyclamen mite. If you notice deformed, thickened leaves covered in a dusty layer, this is the pest that has visited your plant. Acaricides are recommended for treatment.

Possible difficulties

Gardeners often encounter problems growing gloxinia. Here are some possible challenges and solutions:

1. If your plant suddenly starts to stretch, it is due to a lack of light or an excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer.
2. If your sinningia has started to grow more slowly and its flowers have started to curl, the problem may be a draft, a cold winter, excessive watering, or low air temperatures.
3. Leaves turn yellow - overwatering or lack of nitrogen fertilizer.
4. If you water gloxinia with too hard water, it can cause chlorosis of the leaves.
5. Direct sunlight has a negative effect on the foliage, leaving burns on it.
6. Curling leaves indicate that the room is dry and hot.
7. If the flower lacks phosphorus, the leaves will take on a red tint.
8. The lack of flowering may be due to an excess of nitrogen fertilizers.

If you take proper care of your Brazilian beauty, she will delight your eyes with a bright and rich bouquet.