The pigfish, or plumbago, is amazing in its palette of colors. There are no such shades among other flowering plants. Flowers collected in loose bunches cover the entire length of the stem. The incredible beauty of inflorescences, shoots that can be shaped to any shape allow you to create beautiful compositions for decorating houses, apartments and jobs. Piglet is formed in the form of a bush, tree, ball or planted in a cache-pot as an ampoule.
Flower description
A resident of the subtropics of southern Africa has preserved the requirements of her homeland for room life. Abundant lighting and watering are necessary for her throughout the year. Long lashes of a piglet can grow more than a meter, covered with flowering umbrellas. Leaves with a small pile are painted in a pale green color, very pleasant to the touch. Some species have stipules. Flowers with a diameter of about 3 cm, collected in large loose bundles. The abundant flowering of a piggy looks very impressive and festive. Inflorescences exude a delicate subtle aroma.
Unusual rich watercolor color
For your information! In nature, there are about 10 types of piglets, but there are only three colors: snow-white, sky-blue and coral pink. Blue pigment at home is most common. White piggy is only gaining momentum in popularity among gardeners.
Red pigment is least likely to adorn Russian windows, although the conditions of detention are the same for all species
Plumbago: home care
Piggy is a flower that is unpretentious and suitable for a beginner grower. Deficiencies in care are immediately visible: leaf turgor is lost, or it discards them. Under favorable conditions, it grows rather quickly, it can bloom all year round. For full growth, you need:
- plentiful lighting. A south window with direct sunlight that should be scattered at noon is the best option. Western and eastern windows are also suitable for plumbago. In the back of the room, the pig will not bloom, and its shoots will stretch and drop leaves. In the autumn and winter periods (with the exception of rest), additional artificial lighting is required. Pig after sleep or brought from the store needs a gradual addiction to lighting. Harsh light can harm the flower;
- the temperature should not be higher than 23 ° C, otherwise the leaves of the plant will begin to dry. In the summer period, when spraying is too hot, showers, streams of fresh air, in the winter period of rest - 10-12 ° ะก;
Piggy grows with pleasure in the summer on balconies and open verandas
- from the beginning of spring awakening to the coldest watering is needed plentiful, daily. Moist soil provides the plant with forces for active growth and flowering. The soil in the pot dries very quickly, it is important to prevent the earthen coma from drying out, this is detrimental to the inflorescences and roots of the flower. In winter, the topsoil must dry before subsequent watering. Water for irrigation needs a settled room temperature. Brown leaves - a sign of irregular or scarce watering;
- the flower has no moisture requirements at all. By spraying, you can control the increase in temperature in the summer;
- fertilizer will help the flower during the period of active growth and flowering. Comprehensive fertilizer for flowering should support the sow from spring to autumn. They should be made every two weeks;
- pruning a plant is necessary as an incentive for flowering and the growth of new shoots. Cut the stems 2/3 in the fall after flowering and in the spring, removing weak winter shoots.
Important! At the flower, leave 2-3 stem shoots that will not be cut. When forming a crown or weaving shoots on a support, you need to act carefully.
The shoots of the piglet are flexible, but rather fragile
Plumbago curls very well, but since it has neither antennae nor spikes, it cannot cling on its own. Exot will look spectacular on supports, ladders or a framework for flowers. Frequent pinching will help to form a dense bush. The pig is also formed in the form of a tree.
The secret of exot beauty
The decoration of the pig is precisely in its flowering. In order for the plant to bloom actively in spring, it is necessary:
- with the onset of winter cold, gradually reduce the temperature to 8-12 ° C;
- reduce watering;
- give the plant complete peace;
- reduce lighting, but do not hide the flower in the shade;
- ventilate the room regularly.
For your information! Lowering the temperature provokes the laying of flower buds.
Since the flowers on the shoots grow alternately, flowering continues for two to three months. With the onset of autumn, to stimulate the laying of new flower buds, you need to cut the shoots to 2/3 of the length. After this procedure, a period of active growth of new shoots and flowering until winter dormancy will begin.
Important! Only young shoots can bloom. With the maximum trimming of the length of the old branches, an active growth of young, and hence abundant flowering, occurs.
It is necessary to remove faded shoots, this exot does not reset them. In the spring, when pruning the shoots, old flower stalks are also cut (about 5 cm from the length).
Plant transplant
A young plant requires changing the soil and increasing the volume of the pot every spring. An older plant needs a soil change every 2-3 years, and every spring you can update the topsoil. The pot should have a good drainage layer so that abundant watering is not harmful to the roots.
There are no special requirements for the pot
The soil needs nutritious and heavy. A mixture of turf land with sand and peat will complement humus. A universal substrate for flowering crops is also suitable.
Note! If the transplant occurs after the purchase, it is advisable to remove the old soil as much as possible. For a more successful recovery period after transplantation, superphosphate is added.
The piglet is transplanted by transshipment, as the roots are fragile and easily damaged. After the procedure, the plant is cut and given a certain shape.
Important! Damage to the roots during transplantation can cause a lack of flowering.
The method of propagation of plumbago
Pig is propagated easily and effortlessly by cuttings. They take root quickly, they can be immediately rooted in a mixture of earth and sand. The size of the cuttings is not so important, the main thing is that it has at least two leaves and the top point of shoot growth. The cuttings are rooted in separate cups and put in the light and heat (20 ° C), regularly moistening the soil. Two weeks later, new bores acquire a root system.
Note! For cuttings, cut shoots after spring and autumn pruning of a flower are suitable.
Beauty beautifully propagated by seeds in small greenhouses. Seed germination is good, sprouts require hardening before planting in separate pots. A plant grown from seeds will bloom in only two years.
Plumbago grows very quickly, producing many shoots and peduncles
It perfectly fills the entire cavity of bright windows, with its help you can create a phytowall or hedge. With proper care, the plant lives up to 10 years, delighting with its abundant and beautiful flowering. But for this, you should study the rules of planting and care.
