Characteristic differences of a flower, agricultural technology in the cultivation of gesneria, plant reproduction, difficulties associated with cultivation, interesting facts, species. The Gesneria family has always been famous for its delicate flowers, and many of them have long and firmly taken their place in our premises, delighting the owners with paints and shapes. Among these are the familiar to us Saintpaulia, or as it is also called the Usambar violet, Gloxinia, Episia and many others. Today we will talk about another example of this large family - Gesneria, which is sometimes called Gesner. The plant is native to the territories of South America and Brazil, and also grows on the lands of the Lesser and Greater Antilles, up to 54 varieties are included in the genus.
The flower got its name (and the whole genus) thanks to the scientist-encyclopedist from Sweden Konrad Gesner, who lived in the 16th century (1516-1565). Also, this scientist was engaged in zoology, mineralogy, philology and knew medicine. He systematized the knowledge gained and encyclopedias were created on the basis of his works. He was the first to suggest that the systematization of the entire plant world should be based on the arrangement of flowers (the generative organ of the plant). This idea became the basis for Karl Linnaeus, who subsequently created the systematics and classification of all representatives of the flora known at that time. Often in the literature and among flower growers, Gesneria is called "Rechsteineria". Although all the signs indicate that this is the same flower.
Gesneria is a herbaceous and very rarely semi-shrub plant. Its height rarely goes beyond 10-60 cm. The rhizomes of the flower are pineal or tuberous. The leaf plates are placed oppositely. Their shape is oval or oblong-oval. The surface of the leaves has a rich dark green color and pubescence that resembles velvet. The natural pride of this plant is its flowers, which are painted in shades of pink, scarlet and red. They originate in the leaf sinuses. They are located singly or in bundles. The calyx is bell-shaped and has a 5-split division. A corolla with tubular outlines originates from it and is clearly visible. Its length varies depending on the variety, sometimes there is even some bend. The corolla is weakly lumpy, it contains 2–4 stamens. The petals-lips are beautifully folded outward. The flowering process takes place from early spring to November.
After flowering, the fruit ripens in the form of a box, the valves of which are counted in a pair or two pairs.
In terms of development, gesneria is very similar to its relative gloxinia, but the latter is more capricious and requires care.
Rules for growing gesneria in indoor conditions
- Lighting and location selection. Rechsteineria loves bright, but diffused lighting so that the direct rays of the sun do not cause burns. It is recommended to place the pot on the windowsills of windows facing east or west.
- Growing temperature. In the period from spring to the end of summer, heat indicators should not go beyond 20-25 degrees, and if the plant is not at rest, then 18 degrees of heat are kept for it.
- Air humidity. The plant loves increased levels of moisture in the air, but spraying cannot be carried out, since when drops of moisture get on the leaves, they begin to become covered with ugly spots, and subsequently rot. It is better to put humidifiers next to the pot or install a pot with a plant in a tray, in which a little moisture is poured at the bottom and a layer of expanded clay or chopped sphagnum moss is poured. It is important that the bottom of the liquid pot does not touch.
- Watering. At a time when the gesneria begins to actively develop and bloom, soil moisture should be abundant, but they will only need to be carried out when the top layer of the soil dries up a little - in a pinch the soil should crumble, then moistening can be carried out. Drying of the earthen coma, as well as its swamping, should not be allowed, as this can lead to the development of fungal diseases and rotting of the roots. Water for irrigation is taken a couple of degrees warmer than room temperature - 23-25 degrees. And also it should be soft, free from impurities and rigidity. For this, it is recommended to use river or rain water. But it is not always possible to obtain such a liquid, therefore, simple tap water is passed through a filter, then it can be boiled and allowed to settle for several days. After that, the water is drained from the container, but they try not to shake up the sediment. The water is now ready for watering. It is important when moistening that drops of liquid do not fall on the leaf plates, since they have pubescence. Therefore, it is recommended to use bottom watering - a little liquid is poured into a stand under the pot and after 15–20 minutes it is completely drained.
- Top dressing for rechsteineria. From the beginning of the growing season, and it begins in March until the end of summer days, it is necessary to support the plant with regular fertilizers. For this, liquid formulations of complete complex mineral preparations for flowering indoor plants are used. The regularity of top dressing every 14 days.
- Dormant period in gesneria it is pronounced, and it lasts for 2–2, 5 months. Usually this time comes from the end of October days to January. When flowering ends, then watering is reduced and with the complete wilting of the leaf rosette. The roots-tubers will need to be dug up and stored until the end of the dormant period in dry sand at a heat level not exceeding 12-14 degrees.
- Transplanting and soil selection. For this operation, the time is selected from the beginning of January to the beginning of February. If the tubers were in storage, then they are taken out and soaked in a weak solution of manganese permanganate or fungicide for up to 20 minutes - this is how disinfection and prevention of fungal diseases are carried out. A drainage layer must be laid in the pot, and holes are made in the bottom to drain excess water. Fine expanded clay or gravel, pebbles or broken shards (crushed brick) can act as drainage. The holes should be sized so that drainage material does not fall out through them.
The composition of the soil mixture should contain leafy soil, humus soil, peat and coarse sand, taken in equal parts. When planting nodules, they try to place them in such a way that the buds are above the surface of the substrate, then we can expect their early awakening and the formation of shoots.
Self-breeding tips for Gesneria
To be able to get a new young Rechsteineria bush at home, you can sow seeds, cuttings (stems or leaves).
When sowing seed, a soil mixture composed of leafy soil, peat and river sand is poured into the container in equal proportions. Seeds are placed on the substrate without covering. The container is placed under a piece of glass or covered with plastic wrap or a bag. At the same time, the temperature during germination should not go beyond 22 degrees.
After the shoots appear, they are picked in a container at a distance of 2x2 cm from each other. The land is taken the same as when germinating. When the seedlings are strong enough and grow up, a second transplant is carried out, but the distance between them is already doubled. Young gesnerias are shaded from the direct rays of the midday sun, regularly watered and grown at a temperature of about 20 degrees.
With the subsequent transplantation, the grown plants will need to be transplanted in separate pots with a diameter of 6-7 cm. The substrate is made up on the basis of leafy soil, peat soil, humus soil, river sand, light turf soil (in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 1: 0, 5). When the root system of the young Gesneria has mastered all the land provided to it (all the soil will be braided with roots), then a new transplant is carried out in a container with a diameter of 9–11 cm and the same substrate. The transplant is carried out by the transshipment method so that the roots are not injured. The composition of the substrate does not change. The flowers obtained in this way begin to delight with their buds already 2-3 years after planting. To propagate Rechsteineria by cuttings, the time is selected from the end of spring to the beginning of autumn. For the cutting, a leaf blade or its pieces are used. The incision is made across, dividing the sheet into 2-3 parts. Cuttings will need to be planted in a seedling box filled with sand, with their bases or bottom. Rooting takes place at a heat rate of at least 24 degrees. And the roots in the form of small nodules may appear in 40–45 days. The container with cuttings should be in a shaded place and the soil needs to be moistened periodically. By the end of September, watering is reduced, and the temperature drops to 20 degrees. In the middle of autumn, it is necessary to dig out root nodules and store them in a dry place until the beginning of spring at a temperature of at least 12-14 degrees. As soon as March comes, they are planted in a substrate suitable for the further cultivation of Gesneria. The first flowers in such young plants will appear after a year, and more abundant flowering will be observed the next season.
Diseases and pests of the flower
The problems that arise during the cultivation of gesneria occur due to the violation of agrotechnical conditions:
- with insufficient soil moisture or low humidity, the flower begins to sag and subsequently dry out the leaf plates;
- whitish or yellowish spots on foliage, appear as a result of sunburn or when very cold water is used to moisten, as well as when such a liquid gets on the leaf surface;
- fungal diseases can begin with too frequent flooding of the soil or constant high humidity.
If a fungal infection occurs, then an urgent transplant into a new disinfected soil with preliminary treatment with fungicides is required.
In the event of the appearance of harmful insects, among which thrips, aphids, spider mites, scale insects or whiteflies can be distinguished, it is necessary to treat with an insecticidal preparation. In this case, it is necessary to spray or wipe the leaf plates carefully in order to avoid decay (due to leaf pubescence).
Interesting facts about Gesneria
This plant is intended only for experienced florists who are already familiar with the cultivation of Gesneriaceae. Anyone who has just recently begun to get involved in cultivating flowers will not be able to enjoy the flowers of gerneria in room conditions for a long time, since in the rooms its life span is very short. If we take into account astrology, then most of all all types of Gesneria: violets, gloxinia and others as well as naturally Gesneria itself, suitable for people born under the sign of Sagittarius.
Types of gesneria
- Gesneria swollen (Gesneria ventricosa). In height, this bush with weak branching can reach up to 5 meters. The leaves have petioles, the leaf plates are oblong in shape, the apex has a sharpening, and the base has wedge-shaped outlines. Leaves are measured 10–13 cm long and up to 3–5 cm wide. The edge has serrated crenation, the entire surface is leathery, fleshy, no pubescence. The flowers are located in the inflorescence in the form of a bundle, crowning a common elongated flowering stem, there are 4–5 of them. The calyx is distinguished by the presence of 5 elongated narrow denticles. The corolla has a tubular-funnel-shaped shape, the length does not exceed 3.5 cm. Its color is orange-red, inside it is tinted with a yellow color scheme, and the throat and swelling at the base of the tubular corolla are also painted in a yellow tone. The bend at the bud is 2-labial.
- Gesneria hybrid (Gesneria hybrida) is a herbaceous plant with a long life cycle. The stem and leaves are pubescent. The rhizome has a tuberous shape. Large leaf plates with a velvety surface and dark green color, from which a compact basal rosette is formed. The flowers are also tubular, with a slight swelling at the base. They reach 5–8 cm in length and are painted in a glossy bright red color scheme. Abundant flowering. This is the most common variety in the culture. But unlike other varieties, this flower has a more pronounced dormant period, and at this time its aerial part dies off, and only the rhizome remains alive.
- Gesneria carlinalis (Gesneria cardinalis) or as it is also called Gesneria scarlet. Synonyms in literary sources can be Gesneria macrantha, Dircaea cardinalis and Corytholoma cardinale. The native lands of growth are in Brazil. It has a long life cycle and a herbaceous form of growth. The stems extend straight up (erect) and can grow up to 30 cm in height. The leaf plates measure up to 10 cm in length, they grow juicy, with velvet-like pubescence. Their shape is elliptical or broadly oval, at the base they are heart-shaped, along the edge there are obtuse denticles. The color of the foliage is green, it resembles the leaves of gloxinia. Flowers grow solitary, or inflorescences are collected from them, located apically or in the leaf axils. The inflorescences are umbellate in shape, they contain a small number of buds. The flowers are tubular in shape with two lips, the upper one due to the fact that it hangs longer over the lower one. The bud reaches 7 cm in length. Its color is bright scarlet with dots of a darker tone located on the throat. Among the many garden varieties, there are varieties with other colors, including snow-white.
- Gesneria wedge-shaped (Gesneria cuneifolia). It grows in the form of a semi-shrub with compact outlines, reaching a height of 30 cm. Its stems are short, semi-lignified, the leaf plates are located close together. The petioles of the leaves are short or they are completely absent and the leaf seems to be sitting on the stem. The shape of the leaf plate is lanceolate-wedge-shaped, at the base it is rounded-wedge-shaped. On the edge there are sharp teeth, unevenly spaced, their length can reach 12 cm, with a width of about 3 cm. The color on the upper side of the leaf is rich green. and on the reverse side it is paler and there is pubescence in the form of whitish hairs. Flowers are located on an elongated thin flowering stem. The color of the petals is bright red with an orange tint on the back. The length of the bud is measured up to 2.5 cm.
- Gesneria Lebanese (Gesneria libanensis). It grows in natural conditions in woodlands on the island of Cuban lands. The plant never sheds foliage, its form of growth is semi-shrub, its height does not exceed 10 cm, and is practically devoid of branching. The leaf plates themselves create a rosette located at the top of the shoots. Leaf shape obovate, lanceolate. The length reaches 7–9 cm, there is a hairy pubescence running from the reverse side along the veins, the edge of the leaf is serrate. Flowers are measured in length 3-5 cm, bright red hue. The flowering process occurs in July and ends by the end of summer. This highly decorative species is grown in warm greenhouses.
For more details on growing gesneria, see this video:
