Content
Growing indoor periwinkle requires special attention. The plant must be provided with comprehensive care, replanted in a timely manner, and protected from diseases and pests. At home, periwinkle is grown by seeds; it can be propagated in different ways.
Description
The houseplant periwinkle is a herbaceous perennial or subshrub. Its main characteristics:
- dense and glossy leaves, their shape is oblong;
- branched stems;
- the length of shoots can reach 0.6 m;
- height weaving;
- flowers are white, pink, lilac, purple;
- long flowering, occurring in May-September; with proper maintenance of periwinkle, it lasts for all 5 months.
Periwinkle flowers are quite large with a small 5-incision calyx
Growing from seeds at home
At home, periwinkle is grown from seeds. To do this, you need to select a pot, prepare the soil and fulfill several conditions.
Soil preparation
For indoor periwinkle, you can purchase a ready-made soil mixture.It should be suitable for flowering plants. The soil may be neutral or acidic. The composition for geranium meets all conditions.
You can prepare the soil for indoor periwinkle yourself. To do this, mix in equal parts:
- turf land;
- leaf humus;
- peat.
Sand must also be added to this mixture.
The right pot
For indoor periwinkle, it is important to choose the right pot. The plant has a voluminous root system, which should not be crowded. It is recommended to choose a pot with a margin of several centimeters. It is better to use clay containers.
Growing
Even as a houseplant, periwinkle must be planted at a specific time. The optimal period is the second half of winter or the first half of spring.
First, the seeds are sown in one container. Planting material can be purchased at the store or prepared independently. In the second case, treatment with a solution of potassium permanganate is required. Landing algorithm:
- Fill the container with soil, not forgetting the drainage layer.
- Make grooves with an interval of 3 cm and a depth of 1-1.5 cm.
- Sow the seeds. You can plant them in holes of 2-3 pieces.
- Sprinkle with soil and compact slightly.
- Moisten the soil.
- Cover the container with black film and keep at a temperature of 23-25 °C.
Seed hatching takes about a week. After rooting and the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, remove the film and keep the container with seedlings at 16-20 °C in a well-lit place.
3 weeks after the sprouts appear, nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizing is needed. Picking is carried out when the bushes grow to 8 cm and have 4 leaves.It is recommended to plant 2-3 plants in one pot.
Transplanting into another pot
For the well-being of indoor periwinkle, it is recommended to transplant it into a new pot every year. This should be done in the spring after the plant awakens and before its active growth.
Each time the container should be a few centimeters larger so that the root system has enough space
Algorithm for transplanting indoor periwinkle:
- Prepare a suitable pot and disinfect it. It is better not to limit yourself to scalding the container, but to wipe it from the inside with an alcohol solution or potassium permanganate.
- Organize a drainage layer.
- Fill the pot with soil.
- Carefully remove the plant from the old container.
- Inspect the root system. It is necessary to trim all damaged and dead roots, covering a healthy area of at least 4 cm and subsequent processing. To do this, you need to use a sharp tool and crushed charcoal.
Care
The good health of indoor periwinkle, the abundance and splendor of its flowering depend on proper maintenance. It lies in several aspects.
An important condition is the correct temperature:
- in the spring-summer period, the flower feels good in room conditions at 18-25 °C;
- in winter, the plant has a dormant period that requires coolness - the optimal temperature is 15 °C.
Another important aspect of growing is lighting. Partial shade or diffused light is recommended. If the plant is exposed to direct sunlight in the first half of the day, burns will appear on the leaves.With a lack of light, the stems stretch, and the decorative effect of the flower suffers.
Indoor periwinkle should be watered regularly, but in moderation. It is recommended to do this when the earthen ball has just begun to dry out - in room conditions this is usually required every 3-4 days. The flower must be sprayed periodically, especially at low air humidity. This should be done with warm water.
To control the amount of watering, you can place the pot with the plant in a tray. If there is water in it 15-20 minutes after watering, then it must be drained and the amount reduced next time.
In winter, the intensity of watering should be reduced. During this period, the risk of rotting of the root system increases.
Indoor periwinkle needs to be fed regularly. They do this throughout the growing season, without using fertilizers only in winter. It is recommended to feed the flower every 2 weeks, and on warm days every 1.5 weeks. Use mainly mineral fertilizers, sometimes use organic fertilizers. Effective compositions for roses.
In summer, indoor periwinkle can be kept on the balcony or in the yard; the flower should be protected from the wind
For the lushness of the indoor periwinkle bush and the appearance of new healthy shoots, pinching is recommended.
If any mistakes are made when caring for a flower, you can identify them by its appearance:
- yellowing and dying of leaves, loss of their healthy shine may indicate a lack of moisture or too high a temperature in the room;
- poor flowering may indicate too low a temperature or draft, or a lack of nutrients in the soil;
- cessation of flowering usually indicates an old plant;
- yellowed tips of the leaves indicate too dry air in the room;
- Dropping buds may indicate lack of light, water or nutrients.
Reproduction
Indoor periwinkle is propagated by seed or cuttings. Both cases have their own characteristics.
Indoor periwinkle is propagated by seeds in February-March. The algorithm is similar to the usual planting of this flower. It is recommended to use last year's seeds, since their germination is better.
Cuttings are carried out in early spring or at the end of summer, when flowering begins to decline. For propagation, apical cuttings are taken. They must be young, healthy and strong. The algorithm is like this:
- Cut cuttings approximately 10 cm long.
- Trim the leaves at the bottom.
- Treat the cuttings with a growth stimulator.
- Place the cuttings in water or well-moistened clean sand.
- Cover with film with ventilation holes.
- Keep the cuttings in a shaded place at 15-18 °C.
- At the first signs of growth, remove the film.
- Gradually increase the lighting intensity.
- Plant it in a permanent place.
Trimming
Indoor periwinkle is prone to weaving and therefore requires annual pruning. It is necessary to get rid of old and diseased shoots, too long branches. Use a sharp and sterile instrument for pruning. After the procedure, process it again.
In addition to annual pruning, timely removal of wilted flowers is recommended. This allows the plant not to waste nutrients and increases its attractiveness.
Pruning is important to maintain the decorative qualities of indoor periwinkle; even with this measure, its appearance changes after a few years, so it is recommended to replace the flower
Diseases and pests
Growing periwinkle at home does not exclude it from being affected by diseases and pests. One problem is powdery mildew. It appears as a coating on the leaves and buds, reminiscent of flour. Fungicides Vectra, Skor, Tiovit and Topaz are used for control.
For minor damage, a solution of soda ash (5 g per 1 liter of water) with the addition of soap shavings is effective. The composition is used for generous spraying once a week.
The plant may suffer from powdery mildew due to stagnant, humid air, sudden temperature changes
One of the enemies of indoor periwinkle is aphids. The insect can be introduced with another plant or soil, or the hair of domestic animals. Winged individuals can enter the house through an open window or balcony.
The appearance of aphids is expressed by a sickly appearance of the plant, small punctures, and a sticky surface of the stems and leaves. The pest carries viruses and fungal spores. To combat insects, the drugs Actellik, Iskra, Decis, Akarin, Fitoverm are used. Among the folk remedies, solutions of tobacco, garlic, lemon peels, wood ash, and celandine are effective.
To prevent aphids, it is necessary to quarantine newly acquired flowers, and keep the soil for planting or replanting in the freezer for some time.
Another potential enemy of indoor periwinkle is the spider mite. It has very small dimensions (up to 5 mm), color may vary. The main sign of its appearance is light and pale yellow spots on the leaf blades, a thin cobweb on the underside.The pest can be controlled with chemicals Actellik, Skelta, Fitoverm, Flumite.
Among the folk remedies for spider mites, infusions of onion, garlic, soap, and ammonia are effective.
Photos of flowers in the interior
Periwinkle looks impressive among various indoor flowers, the photos below prove this.
In well-lit rooms, periwinkle can be placed on special shelves or stands with other flowering indoor plants, choosing the same palette or creating contrasts
You can place a pot of indoor periwinkle in a flowerpot. An excellent option is a suspended structure that can be placed on a window, balcony, or wall.
In summer, a pot of periwinkle can be placed in a flowerpot and hung outside
Indoor periwinkle is quite compact, so it will fit even on narrow window sills or shelves
In good lighting, the flower can be placed on the table in the kitchen or dining room, enlivening the interior
In summer, periwinkle can be used to decorate terraces and verandas; the rest of the time, it will perfectly enliven the interior of any room, especially in a rustic style
Conclusion
Growing indoor periwinkle is no more difficult than other indoor plants. It is planted with seeds, propagated in the same way or by cuttings. With proper care, periwinkle will delight you with its flowering for 4-5 months.
