Crossandra: planting and care
Crossandra is native to the tropics. In its natural habitat, this flower grows up to 1 meter in height. In the conditions of our country, it can be grown as a houseplant, creating favorable conditions.
Crossandra landing
The planting stage of this flower requires a very responsible approach. Crossandra can be grown from seeds or cuttings of an adult plant. When buying seeds, be sure to ask about their expiration date. The fresher the seeds are, the more likely they are to sprout well.
- For planting, use a mixture of peat and humus. Loosen the soil a little before planting and sow the seeds, they should not be deeply buried.
- Place the seed pot in a dark place. After three weeks, the first shoots will hatch. Until the sprouts get stronger, cover them with foil and transfer to a lighted place.
- Water seedlings as the soil dries out, while preventing strong soil moisture.
- When the sprouts reach 5-6 cm, they are dived into separate containers.
Much easier grow crossandra from the cutting. To do this, you just need to cut off a twig from an adult plant and put it in a container with water until the roots appear. This will happen in about a month. Then you need to plant the cutting in the ground and care for it like an adult plant. For best results, after planting, the stalk can be covered with a jar or plastic to create greenhouse conditions for it. The shelter must be removed after the plant is well rooted.
Crossandra care
For the normal existence of a plant, it needs a scattered lighting... To do this, it is better to place the crossandra on the east or west side of the apartment. You can, if necessary, put a pot with a plant on the southern windowsill, but then during the period of bright sun it is necessary to shade it.
Crossandra does not like a sharp drop in temperature. It is best to provide the flower with a temperature from 22 degrees to 27 during the growing season. In winter, the plant goes into a state of rest and rest. During this period, it is better to lower the temperature to 18 degrees. Do not allow drafts to fall on the crossandra, from this it begins to throw off the leaves.
It is important for the crossandra to keep the soil in the pot in a moderately moist state. Use soft water for watering. It is best to use water that has stood for several days or purified with a household filter. It should be at room temperature. Water the plant every week in summer and spring, and reduce watering in winter. Remember that it is easier to water overdried soil in a pot than to save the cross from waterlogging.
This plant loves moisture not only in the soil, but also in the air. From a too dry atmosphere, its leaves and flowers fall off. To increase humidity, it is permissible to use different methods. For example, place a plant pot near the aquarium or on a tray with damp pebbles. In the hot season, you can successfully humidify the air by spraying. But at the same time, do not allow moisture to get on the flowers.
Periodically, the crossandra must be fed with complex fertilizers. They can simply be added to the water for irrigation. In winter, during the dormant period, it is not worth producing top dressing... For a beautiful aesthetic look, the crossandra should be pruned periodically. For this, faded shoots are shortened by a third of their length. Cuttings left over from pruning can be rooted and used to propagate the plant.
How to transplant a flower
The plant transplant operation must be carried out in the spring. This should be done every year. If necessary, you can transplant the plant at other times of the year.
When transplant be especially careful with the root system of the plant. In crossandra, it grows quickly, so when transplanting, use a pot three times larger than the previous one. If the root system is not developed or has slowed down its growth, then replace the soil with a more nutritious one completely and pay more attention to the watering schedule.
Be sure to lay a drainage layer on the bottom of the pot. It is ideal for this purpose to take expanded clay or crushed stone. The drainage layer should be at least 5 centimeters. After transplanting, care for the plant as usual.
Photo of crossandra
