Crossandra - care and cultivation at home

Crossandra is an "Indian" beauty, beloved by many gardeners for its vibrant and long-lasting blooms. There are currently over 50 different varieties of this flower, but only a few are suitable for indoor cultivation. Wild crossandra can be found in the tropical forests of Madagascar, Africa, and India.

The plant boasts not only lush blooms but also decorative foliage with a glossy surface. Despite the flower's beauty, however, it was long resisted from being grown in captivity. Only thanks to the persistent work of breeders, who were able to make the capricious crossandra easier to care for, did it become popular for indoor cultivation.

Characteristics of crossandra and species diversity

Crossandra is a small genus of herbaceous plants and shrubs belonging to the Acanthaceae family. Members of the genus are distinguished by their vibrant flowers of red, orange, or yellow. With proper care, the shrub can bloom almost year-round.

Tubular flowers with a bilabiate corolla and pubescent bracts form axillary, spike-shaped inflorescences. A single inflorescence can reach 15 cm in length.

The shrub's vibrant, gradually opening inflorescences appear at the tops of the shoots and resemble an asymmetrical funnel or fireworks display. Because of this resemblance, Sri Lankans have nicknamed the crossandra "the fireworks of flowers."

The shrub's flowering results in the appearance of fruits, which are presented in the form of two-celled seed pods. Crossandra is capable of self-seeding, which occurs immediately after the seed pod is fully ripe. When the pod opens, it disperses its contents over a considerable distance.

Depending on the variety, the upright, slightly branched shoots of the shrub can be green or brownish-purple. Many gardeners intentionally improve the shrub's branching by pinching.

Thanks to its dark green, glossy leaves with prominent veins, the plant retains its decorative appearance even when not in bloom. Variegated varieties of crossandra are also available. The leaf blades resemble a pointed oval, with sparse hairs on the surface.

In the wild, the flower can reach 1 m in height. However, as a houseplant, shorter varieties are typically grown.

Tropic yellow

Crossandra tropica lutea is a compact plant developed by American breeders. Its upright shoots barely reach 25 cm in height. The plant blooms with lush, rich yellow buds. This variety is also widely grown in gardens as an annual.

Variegated

Crossandra variegated was bred relatively recently, but has already won the hearts of many gardeners. The plant stands out from its relatives with its variegated leaves. Its green leaf blades are covered with numerous white spots and streaks, creating distinctive patterns. The buds are coral.

Red

Crossandra rubra is a shrub that can reach 60 cm in height. It has slightly elongated, rich green leaves with slightly wavy edges. The buds can be red or pink.

Fortune

Crossandra Fortuna can reach a height of 30 cm. This variety boasts the longest flowering period of its relatives, making it very popular. The leaves are a solid, rich green. The inflorescence is orange.

Wavy-leaved

This variety is distinguished by dense, single-colored leaves with distinctly wavy edges. It also has a second name, Crossandra infundibulata. The bush's inflorescences are orange or scarlet. The shrub grows rather slowly, but can reach quite large sizes.

Green ice

Ecbolium, or "green ice," is a rather exotic and rare plant that, contrary to popular belief, does not belong to the genus Crossandra. Ecbolium inflorescences consist of 2-3 turquoise-colored, single-day flowers. The glossy leaves are quite dense and a rich green.

Caring for Crossandra at Home

Growing and caring for crossandra indoors may seem like a rather complicated and time-consuming undertaking. However, strictly following all the recommendations for proper cultivation will help you grow a flourishing ornamental plant without any difficulties.

Watering and fertilizing

Watering plays an important role in maintaining the plant's ornamental appearance. Crossandra tolerates both overwatering and drought equally poorly, so it's important to strike a balance. During the summer, gardeners recommend watering the plant generously, but only after the top layer of soil has dried out.

Crossandra does not tolerate dry indoor air and requires regular misting. However, only the green mass of the shrub should be misted, avoiding even a drop of water on its inflorescences. During particularly dry periods, misting the plant twice a day is recommended.

For watering and spraying, it is recommended to use well-settled water at room temperature. During the flowering period, the shrub requires regular fertilization with a complex fertilizer for flowering ornamental plants. Fertilizer should be applied once every 7 days.

Lighting and temperature conditions

Like most flowering plants, crossandra is recommended to be kept in a well-lit location. The amount of light the shrub receives determines the vibrancy and duration of its blooms. However, direct sunlight is not recommended, as it can cause sunburn.

Crossandra isn't as demanding in terms of temperature as it is in terms of light. Standard room temperature is ideal for growing the shrub. It can be kept indoors as long as the air temperature remains between 18-28°C. However, it's important to note that the plant doesn't tolerate temperature fluctuations or drafts well.

Trimming

Crossandra stems are quite branched, but over time they begin to stretch and become bare, which negatively affects the plant's appearance. Regular pinching of the upper shoots can preserve the plant's decorative appearance and promote bushiness.

It is recommended to perform pruning before the active growing season. The optimal time for pruning is early spring. During pruning, the shoots are reduced by half.

Pruning can also prolong the flowering period. If you trim the flower spike as soon as its tip fades, the plant will produce a new flower stalk.

Pests and diseases

Failure to follow all basic recommendations when caring for a flower leads to its being affected by various diseases and pests.

Overwatering and waterlogging can trigger a fungal disease called root rot. This disease attacks the plant's root system and causes yellowing of the leaves, which later darken and fall off.

The plant can only be saved if the rot has affected only a small portion of its roots. Removing all affected areas, repotting the plant in new soil, and treating it with a fungicide solution will help eliminate the disease if detected early.

Pale or whitish leaves with reddening along the veins are a sign of chlorosis. Spraying the bush with antichlorin until new leaves emerge will help restore the plant's beauty.

Crossandra is also susceptible to attack by various insects, including spider mites, whiteflies, aphids, and mealybugs. Treating the bush with insecticides will help solve the problem.

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Transfer

Mature crossandras don't tolerate change well, so don't overdo it with repotting. It's recommended to repot the plant only after its root system has filled the entire pot. Young specimens, however, require annual repotting. Gardeners recommend repotting the plant in the spring using the transshipment method.

Each subsequent pot should be just a few centimeters larger than the previous one, as a container that is too large will retain water, which will negatively affect the health of the plant.

Transfer algorithm:

1. Place a drainage layer of expanded clay, pebbles or small crushed stone at the bottom of the pot.
2. Place a layer of soil over the drainage.
3. Carefully remove the flower from the container, preserving as much of the old lump of soil as possible.
4. Remove any rotten or damaged roots, if any.
5. Place the plant in a new pot.
6. Fill the voids of the pot with soil and compact it around the plant, being careful not to touch the roots.
7. Moisten the soil and spray the above-ground part of the flower.

Growing Crossandra from seeds at home

Crossandra seeds have a high germination rate, but despite this, gardeners rarely choose this method of propagation. This is because when choosing seed propagation, there is no guarantee that the new plant will possess the qualities of the mother plant.

This is especially true for hybrid varieties of the plant, such as Crossandra tropica lutea, as growing it from seed will never yield the desired results. Hybrid specimens must be propagated exclusively vegetatively.

Both store-bought and freshly harvested seeds can be used as planting material. Store-bought seeds should be treated with a germination stimulant solution or soaked in warm water for several hours before planting. This will improve germination. Freshly harvested seeds do not require any additional treatment.

It is recommended to sow seeds in a soil mixture of equal parts peat and sand. Coconut fiber can also be added to the soil mixture for improved aeration. Plastic containers or heated greenhouses can be used as seed starting containers.

The sequence of propagation of crossandra using seeds:

1. Fill a pre-prepared container with soil substrate and moisten it.

   

2. Sow the seeds on the surface of the nutrient substrate, only slightly deepening them into the soil.
3. Cover the crops with plastic film to create greenhouse conditions.

   

4. Place the container with seeds in a warm place where the air temperature does not drop below 22°.

With regular soil moisture and daily ventilation, the seeds will sprout in just 2-3 weeks. Once the seedlings have developed two leaves, they can be transplanted into individual containers. After 30 days, the young, strong plants can be transplanted into permanent pots using the transshipment method.

Frequently asked questions about growing houseplants

Crossandra is a rather capricious plant, the care of which requires certain knowledge and skills from the gardener, therefore raising many questions:

Crossandra is a beautifully flowering ornamental plant that fits perfectly into any interior. Even the capricious nature of this tropical beauty doesn't prevent gardeners from successfully growing it indoors.