Characteristics of petrocosm, tips for care: watering, lighting, transplanting, breeding steps, pest and disease control, curious facts, species. Petrocosmea (Petrocosmea) is classified according to botanical taxonomy to the genus of flowering representatives of the flora belonging to the Gesneriaceae family. This genus has up to 27 varieties of plants. Most of the petrocosmos species are endemic to China (similar species do not grow anywhere on the planet, except for the indicated territories in nature), there they are settled in the high mountainous regions of the western regions, although some of these plants can be found in other Asian parts of the world - this includes: Thailand, Vietnam and Burma, as well as northeastern India. The height at which the plant feels comfortable is from seven hundred to one thousand meters above sea level, where there are covered slopes of rocks, mossy forests, often grow on limestone rocks.
The Latin name for petrocosme is due to the fusion of the Greek words "pretty", which means "cute" and "rock" translated "rock". On the territory of its natural growth, Petrocosmea is referred to as "shih u die shu", which fully reflects the appearance of this plant - "the genus Stone butterfly".
Petrokosmeya is a perennial that has a herbaceous form of growth. Plants that belong to this genus are very different from each other in external data. All representatives of the genus are devoid of stems, and the number of leaf plates varies from several to multiple. A leaf rosette is formed from the leaves, which reaches a diameter of five to 12 cm.
The shape of the leaf plates can be ovoid, elongated, heart-shaped, or occasionally have a rounded shape. The leaves have petioles. Their surface can wear dense pubescence or have smoothness. The leaves are arranged "tiered" and rather tightly to each other. Because of this, the leaf rosette begins to resemble the rather exotic contours of the bump, since the fury resembles shingles. Interestingly, a rosette of leaves can differ in both full symmetry and asymmetrical shape.
During flowering, buds are formed, the petals change in color from white to blue, most varieties differ in a corolla in purple and lilac tones. Inside there is a "peephole" of yellow color. There are two stamens inside. The flowers are crowned with low flowering stems, which do not exceed 15 cm in height. The number of flowers can vary from one to ten units. The surface of the flowers is also pubescent. The flowering process falls on the days of May, but only adult specimens can delight with flowers.
The growth rate of petrocosme does not differ, it is average. If the care is proper, then indoors the plant can delight its owners for several years. Although it does not differ in great care requirements, it is a rather rare guest in the collections of florists. Although abroad, it is customary for petrocosmies to decorate not only living quarters and offices, but also balconies and loggias. The plant is successfully cultivated in open ground, where flower beds are decorated with it, since, due to its natural growth, this exotic can tolerate small minus indicators, up to about five degrees of frost.
Care and cultivation of petrocosme at home
- Lighting and recommended pot location. For a "stone butterfly", diffused light is suitable. You can put a pot with a plant on the windowsills of the windows of the eastern, western and northern locations. This plant among all members of the family is less demanding on lighting. To form the correct leaf rosette, it is recommended to rotate the pot along the axis.
- Content temperature. The most suitable for petrocosm is the temperature range throughout the year, which does not go beyond 10-30 degrees Celsius. The minimum indicators are 5 degrees, although in nature the plant can survive for a short time and 5 degrees of frost.
- Humidity when growing a "stone butterfly" should be high, but since almost all parts of the plant have pubescence, spraying is prohibited. You can increase the humidity in any other way, for example, put the pot in a deep container filled with expanded clay and a little water, you can put household steam generators or humidifiers next to the plant, or just leave a vessel with water next to it.
- Watering petrocosmies are carried out in the same way as its "relatives" Saintpaulia. When flowering comes, then moisten the soil in the pot regularly, as soon as the upper part of the top of the substrate dries out. Waterlogging is prohibited. In the summer, you can carry out the so-called "bottom watering". In this case, the pot with the plant is immersed in a bowl of water, and then, when 10-15 minutes have passed and the root system is saturated with moisture, the container is pulled out, the remaining liquid is allowed to drain and put back. It is necessary to use only soft water at room temperature, you can use filtered, rain or river.
- Fertilizers. For petrocosm, additional feeding is necessary, especially when spring comes and until the very autumn days. Apply liquid preparations, diluted by half of the indicated dose in water. It is better to use complex mineral fertilizers. The frequency of administration of drugs is once every two weeks. To stimulate the flowering process, it is recommended to use phosphorus-potassium compounds.
- Transplantation and selection of soil for petrocosm. The containers for this plant are shallow and medium-sized, since the root system does not differ in size. Even for large varieties, the maximum diameter of the pot is 12-13 cm, but for most of the "stone butterflies" containers with diameters of about 7.5 cm are acceptable. The plant does not like frequent changes of its "house", but such an operation is necessary in order to transplant it into a more fertile soil. Usually, the pot and soil are changed every 2 years. After that, petrokosmeya is kept in a mini-greenhouse (under a polyethylene bag) so that it takes root better. Some growers recommend constant feeding and periodic flushing of the soil with water to remove excess salt. Then transplants are carried out less frequently. In a new pot, it is necessary to pour a layer of drainage from expanded clay, pebbles or broken shards. For petrocosme, a special substrate for Saintpaulias is most suitable. But you can make a soil mixture yourself, combining equal parts of garden soil, coarse sand or perlite, moistened peat or humus (use a leaf substrate) and add a small amount of lime there.
How to carry out independent reproduction of petrocosm?
If you wanted to propagate this exotic plant, then you can divide the overgrown bush, planting "stepsons" or cuttings with leaf blanks.
When the leaf rosette of petrocosm has reached a large size, then it can be divided, combining this process with plant transplantation. In this case, you will need to remove the "stone butterfly" from the pot, clean its root system from the ground and cut the rosette with a sharpened knife and divide the root system. It is important to do this carefully so that the root processes are least of all subject to injury. Delenki should not be too small, otherwise they will not take root. Then the parts of the plant are planted in separate pots with drainage laid on the bottom and a selected substrate.
If reproduction is carried out with the help of a leaf cutting, then a healthy leaf is selected and cut off with a sharpened tool. In this case, it is recommended to shorten the stalk so that its length is 1.5–2 cm. The cut is made almost at the base of the leaf rosette. Then the cutting is placed in a vessel with water or immediately sown in a pot filled with a peat-sand mixture, it should be loose and light. The container with the workpiece is placed under a plastic bag or covered with a glass jar.
After about 1, 5–2 months, “babies” (daughter plants) are formed. Their sizes are very small, the root processes grow slowly, and it is recommended to keep cuttings in the greenhouse further. When about 1, 5–2 months have passed, these "babies" can be separated from the leaf and planted in separate pots. Such young petrocosmies go through the adaptation period rather quickly, but for them they are not supported by such high heat indicators, which are inherent in greenhouse conditions. Since the "stone butterfly" tends to be pinched, these formations take root rather quickly, after about 14-30 days. When daughter processes (stepchildren) are visible on the outlet, they are separated from the mother outlet with great care using a sharp knife or razor. Since the outlet itself is characterized by low parameters and density, in order to cut off such a stepson, it will have to be removed from the pot. The rooting of such daughter formations is carried out in mini-greenhouses, like cuttings.
It is important during this operation not to pay attention to the unkempt appearance of the stepsons: they may have elongated petioles and an asymmetrical shape. But after a short period of time, young petrocosmies will become stronger and their outlines will take on a beautiful appearance.
Description of the control of pests and diseases of petrocosm
If, when growing a "stone butterfly", the humidity indicators are low and there is no air circulation in the room, then, as a result, the plant can be affected by spider mites, thrips, mealybugs or whiteflies. For pest control, insecticidal preparations are used, which are sprayed on a leafy rosette.
If the transplant was carried out using too heavy a substrate, as well as with its frequent waterlogging, then rotting of the root system of petrocosm and infection with powdery mildew is possible. Then it will be necessary to use fungicides with a systemic effect to save the plant.
Also, the following factors threaten troubles:
- the ingress of water droplets during watering, the action of a draft, watering with cold water will lead to the formation of spotting on the leaves;
- constant exposure to direct sunlight, an excess of fertilizing in the soil, low moisture parameters contribute to yellowing of the leaf plates;
- frequent bays will lead to rotting of the stem at its base and roots;
- low humidity is followed by drying of the tips of the leaves;
- insufficient lighting, irregular feeding, an excess of nitrogen in the applied fertilizers, low air and humidity levels, frequent drying from the substrate threaten the lack of flowering in petrocosm.
Interesting facts about Petrocosm
The genus Petrocosm was first described at the end of the 19th century (1887) by Daniel Oliver, professor of botany teaching at the University of London College of Medicine. The plant was first discovered in the southeastern regions of China by the Irish botanist, Professor Augustine Henry (1857–1930).
Types of petrocosm
- Petrocosmea duclouxii also bears the name of Petrocosmia du Cloud. This plant has a leafy rosette of flat outlines, composed of fleshy leaves with a rich green color. During flowering, a long peduncle is formed, on which a flower of a light blue hue blooms, and its petals in the upper part are directed to the top, on the lower ones there is a small limb, while the middle one is larger than those that are on the sides. Flowering occurs in May-June.
- Petrocosmea flaccida (Petrocosmea flaccida). Leaf plates of this type are collected in a spiral geometrically regular rosette. The size of the leaves is large, the shape is drop-shaped, their surface is covered with pubescence of a silvery-whitish color. When flowering, singly located buds are formed, which, when opening, have a dark purple color. The structure of the corolla is similar to the previous variety - a pair of upper petals are directed vertically upward with the tops, and three petals in the lower part are directed downward.
- Petrocosmea formoza often referred to as Petrocosmea kingie. The color of the foliage of such plants is dark green to black. The size of the flower is large, they are two-lipped. The upper lip is shaded with whitish pink or cream color, and the lower lip is lilac.
- Petrocosmea Kerri (Petrocosmea kerrii). The native habitat is in Thailand and Vietnam. The velvety foliage forms a low, flatish rosette. The length of the sheet reaches 10 cm, its surface is covered with light hairs. Petioles with a brown tint. The size of the flowers is 1 cm, their petals are purple and white.
- Petrocosmea Forrest (Petrocosmea forrestii). This species is found on the lands of southern China and prefers to grow in shaded rock crevices located at an altitude of about 1600–2000 m above sea level. Among all representatives of its kind, this Petrokosmeya has a rosette that is distinguished by the most regular symmetrical shape. It is collected from small (less than 1 cm in diameter) leaf plates, which are covered with very dense pubescence. The variety is considered the smallest of all. One flower is revealed on the peduncles. Their petals are cast in a light lilac color with a snow-white spot and bright yellow strokes on the throat. The flowering process occurs in mid-summer.
- Petrocosmea barbata differs in a compact rosette, but it is not very flat, its outline is slightly raised. A rosette is formed from pubescent leaves of semicircular outlines. The color of the leaf plate is emerald green, the surface is glossy. During flowering, buds are formed, the leaves of which are shaded with a silvery-white color scheme, on the lower petals there is a pattern of yellow strokes. Flowers are located on high peduncles.
- Petrocosmea begoniifolia (Petrocosmea begoniifolia). The foliage of this species has a shape that is almost perfectly round. The surface of the foliage is shiny, the veins stand out, creating a feeling of quilted fabric on the surface. The leaf color is greenish, along the edge there is a brown-olive outline. The petals of flowers are snow-white, on those that have a pattern of yellow dashes on top.
- Petrocosmea cavaleriei is a rather rare variety with large flowers, with a blue-violet color scheme. The upper petals of the corolla are very small, and those that are from below make up a "skirt". Such a wide skirt formation has 3-4 petals. The leaf plates are characterized by a "quilted" surface and a light green tint. On all parts of the plant, pubescence is present with rather long silvery hairs.
- Petrocosmea menglianensis. The foliage of this species is characterized by very little pubescence. But its entire surface is covered with miniature pimples. The size of the leaves is miniature, there is a sharp point at the top, shiny. A symmetrical rosette is formed from them. The flowers are medium-sized, the color of their petals is pale lilac, the upper ones are not long.
How to plant petrocosme sprouts, see the video below:
