Cryptanthus is a highly decorative perennial from the Bromilian family. Brazil is its homeland, although today cryptanthus can be bought in stores around the world. The plant has no stem, and its pointed leaves form a small asterisk on the surface of the soil. For this feature, the flower is often called the "earthen star".
Description
Cryptanthus has a strong, branched rhizome. There is a very short stem above the surface of the earth, or it may not exist at all. Under natural conditions, the plant reaches a height of 50 cm, but when grown indoors it is much lower. Annual growth is very small.
Leaf rosettes consist of 4-15 sessile leaves. Each leaf has a lanceolate shape with a pointed end. The length of the sheet can reach 20 cm, and the width is 3-4 cm. The leathery sheet plates have smooth, wavy or jagged edges. Foliage can be painted in a plain green color, and also have longitudinal or transverse bright stripes. Small flakes are present on the underside of the leaf.
Cryptanthus flowers are not so remarkable. They are formed in the center of the leaf rosette and collected in a small-flowered paniculate or spike-shaped inflorescence. The buds in the shape of small bells with curved outward edges are painted white and covered with greenish bracts. Bright yellow stamens strongly protrude from the center of the flower. The flowering period is in the summer. After the buds wither, small seed bolls are formed with many small seeds.
Types of Cryptanthus
There are 25 varieties and several hybrid varieties in the cryptanthus genus. The main bias is made by breeders on a variety of leaf colors, so the cryptanthus often resembles a real starfall. Let us dwell on the most popular varieties.
Cryptanthus is stemless. The plant does not have a stem or rises on a shoot up to a height of 20 cm. Lanceolate leaves 10-20 cm long are located in wide rosettes of 10-15 pieces. Foliage has a sharp edge and a wavy side surface. The leaves are light green. In the center is a small-flowered inflorescence of tiny white buds.
Known varieties:
- acaulis - on the green leaves on both sides there is a slight pubescence;
acaulis - argenteus - foliage glossy, fleshy;
argenteus - ruber - scaly leaves at the base are pinkish in color, and the edges are cast with a reddish-chocolate color.
ruber
Cryptanthus is two-lane. The plant forms a dense rosette of lanceolate leaves 7.5-10 cm long. The edges of the leaves are covered with small cloves and waves. Each green leaf has two longitudinal strips of a lighter shade. Small white inflorescences can form at different times of the year.
Popular varieties:
- bivittatus - the center of the leaf is painted in gray-green color, and wide whitish stripes are located at the edges;
bivittatus - pink starlight - there is a pink hue in the color of the foliage, which becomes brighter closer to the edge;
pink starlight - red star - leaves are painted in bright raspberry color with a darker, greenish stripe in the center.
red star
Cryptanthus striated (zonatus). The plant is common in tropical Brazilian forests. A sprawling rosette consists of wavy and prickly leaves. The length of the sheet is 8-15 cm. The main color of the sheet plates is green with many transverse stripes. White flowers in the center of the upper outlet reach a diameter of 3 cm.
In culture, the following varieties exist:
- viridis - smooth leaves on top are almost completely green, and on the bottom have dark green stripes;
viridis - fuscus - leaves are covered with red-brown transverse stripes;
fuscus - zebrinus - leaves are completely covered with white and chocolate transverse floor
wasps.
zebrinus
Cryptanthus Foster. Distributed on the heights of Brazil and forms a bush up to 35 cm high. Leathery leaves are up to 40 cm long and up to 4 cm wide. Foliage has a serrate or wavy edge and is painted in dark brown. Along the entire length of the sheet are contrasting transverse stripes of a silver hue.
Cryptanthus bromeliad. The herbaceous perennial forms a dense rosette of long (20 cm) leaves. They are painted in bronze, copper or reddish hues. The upper part of the leaf plate is leathery, and the lower is scaly. In summer, the plant produces a dense spike-shaped inflorescence with white flowers.
Breeding
Cryptanthus is propagated by sowing seeds and rooting of the lateral processes. Seeds are sown immediately after collection in a wet mixture of sand and peat. Before sowing, it is recommended to soak the seeds for a day in a weak solution of manganese. Sowing is done in flat pots with a moist substrate. The containers are covered with film or glass and left in a warm, bright place. Shoots appear within 3-10 days. The seedlings continue to be kept in the greenhouse for the first 2 weeks and periodically sprayed.
If the cryptanthus has formed lateral processes (children), they can be separated and rooted. Most often, children appear after flowering. After a month, 2-4 of its own leaflets are already visible in the process and the baby can be separated. Small air roots need to be kept. Planting is carried out in small pots with sphagnum moss and cover them with a cap. While rooting takes place, it is necessary to maintain high humidity and air temperature at + 26 ... + 28 ° C. The place should be bright, but without direct sunlight. After a month, the plants get stronger and they can be accustomed to growing without shelter.
Plant care
Cryptanthus is suitable for indoor cultivation and at home requires minimal maintenance. The plant feels good in a bright or slightly shaded room. The bright midday sun can cause leaf burns. With a lack of light, the mottled color of the leaves becomes less expressive. In winter, it is recommended to illuminate the cryptanthus with a lamp.
The optimum air temperature for an adult plant is + 20 ... + 24 ° C. In winter, it is recommended to lower the temperature to + 15 ... + 18 ° C. Cooling down to + 10 ... + 12 ° C can be harmful to the plant. In summer, pots can be carried out onto a balcony or garden, but drafts should be avoided.
The inhabitant of the tropics needs high humidity. A lack of moisture appears in the dry ends of the foliage. The plant can be placed near aquariums or small fountains. It is recommended to spray the leaves regularly. In extreme heat, you can place pallets with wet pebbles or expanded clay nearby. Also, wiping the leaves with a wet cloth or a warm shower is not superfluous.
Cryptanthus requires regular and plentiful watering, but excess water should immediately leave the pot. The plant is planted in containers with large drainage holes and a thick drainage layer. Only the topsoil should dry out, otherwise the leaves will begin to dry. Cryptanthus needs regular fertilizer during spring and summer. Bromilium top dressing is added to water for irrigation twice a month.
Transplantation is performed as needed (usually every 2-4 years). For planting, choose small pots according to the size of the rhizome. The soil can be bought in a store (substrate for the Bromilievs) or prepared independently from the following components:
- pine bark (3 parts);
- sphagnum moss (1 part);
- peat (1 part);
- sheet land (1 part);
- leaf humus (0.5 parts).
The drainage layer of brick chips, expanded clay or pebbles should be at least a third of the height of the pot.
Cryptanthus has good immunity to known diseases and parasites, so it does not require additional treatment.
