Calceolaria flowers planting and care. Calceolaria at home. Caring for indoor calceolaria flower at home

Calceolaria is an interesting plant with such unusual flowers, bright, eye-catching eyes, it gives great pleasure to its lush flowering. The unusual shape of the color similar to a shoe and the richness of colors delight the soul and give a wonderful mood.

In the photo is a calceolaria flower

A native of the cold slopes of the Andes (South America), the exotic handsome man is very whimsical, and in order to grow him at home, you need to create conditions for him as close as possible to the harsh conditions of the environment. Correct care behind calceolaria affects the quality of its flowering.

Calceolaria flower: planting and reproduction

This original plant is herbaceous. In the wild, there are about 400 types of exotic shoes. It is grown both in greenhouses and at home, as well as in the summer - under the open sky. The flower is a biennial, however, it blooms fully only in the first year, therefore it is recommended to replant it after the first year of growth.

If there is no desire to bother with the transplant, then after a year, the plant is completely pruned, and the pot is placed in a dark place for two months, maintaining the soil moisture.

Calceolaria is propagated by seeds, which are planted in the soil in spring (April - May). The seeds are placed on specially prepared or store-bought soil (a mixture of sand and peat), and covered with gauze on top, which is periodically moistened. Seeds germinate at a temperature of +18 - +20 degrees. When the first shoots appear, they need to be cut open.

As the outlet appears, it should be transplanted into a larger container so that there is sufficient space for growth. It looks like calceolaria, growing from seeds, the photo of which is shown below.

After two months, the plant is again transplanted into a larger pot, while pinching the upper part. After 4-5 months, the flower is planted already in a constant container - a pots with a large volume. The soil must be nutritious and sufficiently fertilized. Flowering occurs approximately 10 months after planting seeds.

The calceolaria flower, the cultivation and care of which is quite troublesome, is worth it - its cheerful bright flowers will decorate any apartment or house, as well as a flower bed or greenhouse.

Video: Calceolaria flower, sowing

Plant care

The plant is quite whimsical, and painstaking care is required for its full flowering:

1. Calceolaria does not like a lot of light, the most favorable place for growth and flowering is the eastern window. On contact with leaves and flowers of direct sun rays burns may occur, therefore, if it is not possible to put the pot exactly to the east, the window should be shaded from the bright sun.
2. Flowering can occur only at a temperature of +14 - +16 degrees, and if you want to enjoy the beauty unusual colors, a suitable temperature regime should be provided for this.
3. The plant does not require high humidity - it is not necessary to spray it. You can only wipe the dust off the leaves from time to time and ventilate the room more often.
4. Watering should be moderate - when flooded with a large amount of water, the root system will begin to rot, and the shoe will die. Watering is enough three times a week, and on a hot summer period somewhat more often. You can't let the soil dry out, otherwise the handsome man - the flower may die.
5. Calceolaria loves to be pampered with top dressing. You should feed the beauty once every two weeks - this will be enough for good growth... When buds appear, fertilizing is increased - fertilizers are applied every 10 days.

Calceolaria is part of the calceolaria family. Previously, the plant was part of the genus mink. Recent studies have revealed that it not only does not belong to their genus, but itself became the progenitor of many plants from the order Lacustrine.

The native land of the plant is the Central and Southern regions of America. The flower grows up to 45-50 cm in height. Leaves are medium in size (about 10 cm), elongated, with veins and pubescent inner side. Leaves of a rich green hue. If you translate the name "Calceolaria" from Latin into Russian, you get a "shoe". It got this name because of the similarity of the flower shape with a shoe or a purse for money.

Flowering occurs from early March to July. Up to 50-60 flower ovaries appear on one plant at once. The plant gained its popularity due to its unusual dicotyledonous flowers (large spherical and small barely noticeable). They are pot-bellied and look like wooden clogs. Calceolaria is an ornamental plant. At home, they are grown as annual or biennial flowers.

The most popular types of calceolaria plant and flower photos

More than 270 species belong to the genus Calceolaria. The most popular ones are:

• Under this name, many varieties similar to each other are united. The leaves are light, fluffy on the back. Blooms from white to bright red in various color combinations. More coloration in oranges, reds and yellows. On flowers there are patterns that differ from the main color: blotches, streaks, strokes, blots. Bicolor calceolaria are more moody than their monochromatic sisters. Flowers with a brindle color and with strong blotches are especially picky. In very hot climates, they will not bloom as it should be for the variety, but with simple monochromatic flowers.
• Leaves with pointed edges (shovel-shaped), light green. The bloom is purple with reddish blotches.
• Small flowers (3-5mm), yellow tint.
• Bright yellow bloom (2-3cm) without blotches and streaks.
• Calceolaria is multiflorous. The bloom is large with a bright color of various shades.

Caring for indoor calceolaria flower at home

Place the flower in places where there is dim ambient light.

The flower is quite whimsical and requires increased attention. Strong and low illumination, dryness and waterlogging, high and low temperatures are contraindicated. When living in an apartment, especially in the summer, caring for a plant requires taking certain measures.

Lighting

The plant likes dim diffused light. Direct sunlight is harmful without proper watering. The flower should be fenced off from bright light with paper or transparent cloth.

In summer, there will be enough light on the windowsill. Better if it is on the east or west side of the house. A shady, draft-free place, such as a balcony, is also suitable. Before flowering and throughout the flowering time, the plant needs to be in the shade. Calceolaria overwinters indoors. To obtain a sufficient amount of light for the plant in late autumn and winter, lamps are used.

Optimum temperature for calceolaria

The flower is capricious about the ambient temperature - it should not be higher than 15-17 ° C. An increase to 20-25 ° C will not kill, but can lead to rapid aging, insect infestation and the appearance of diseases. In the cold season, the optimal temperature for calceolaria will be in the range of 9-15 ° C. When the air is hot and dry, the flower can throw off its leaves and buds.

Air humidity

The flower loves high humidity, but at the same time, you cannot spray the plant

It is necessary to maintain high air humidity around calceolaria. Therefore, the air around the plant is sprayed with soft, settled water from a fine spray bottle. Falling drops on the leaves is undesirable (especially on their fluffy back). The pot is placed on a pallet or bowl with porous large material (expanded clay or gravel). Fill the bowl halfway with water. This is enough to moisturize the flower.

Watering a calceolaria flower

Calceolaria loves not only high humidity, but also regular moistening of the substrate. Watering is carried out only with settled water. The water temperature should be at room temperature or slightly hotter, but do not exceed the threshold of 30 ° C. Before watering, you can put the water in direct sunlight.

During the flowering period, the frequency of watering is somewhat more frequent (about once a week) than during the rest period. It is necessary to monitor the water from the sump - it should not stagnate and rot. After flowering stops, the frequency of watering is halved and the soil is moistened as the top layer dries up. When new shoots begin to break through, frequent watering should be resumed.

The soil

Almost any soil is suitable for calceolaria, the plant is unpretentious to the composition of the soil

The composition of the soil is not important for calceolaria, because the plant was originally wild. Substrate compositions:

1. Sod, leafy soil, peat, fine sand (in proportions 3: 1: 1: 0.5).
2. Soil, humus, peat soil, turf (1: 0.5: 1: 2).
3. Sod land, humus and coal (50/50), coarse sand (2: 1: 1).
4. Soil, leafy soil, compost, turf (2: 1: 1: 2).

You can add to any composition:

1. sphagnum;
2. crushed sawdust;
3. shredded fern roots;
4. chopped bark coniferous tree;
5. vermiculite;
6. wood ash;

Fertilizer for indoor flower calceolaria

Plant feeding must be done every 10-12 days. For this, liquid mineral fertilizers are more suitable, which are quickly absorbed into the soil. You should start feeding the flower 14 days after transplanting.

Calceolaria does not need fertilizers all autumn and winter. If you regularly feed it during this period, all leaves and flower ovaries may turn yellow and fall off (due to an excess of minerals in the soil and roots).

How to transplant correctly

Calceolaria is an annual plant grown in pots and pots. To transplant a purchased plant into a home pot, you need to pour a layer of drainage into it and transfer the root part there along with a lump of earth. The finished flower is sprinkled on top with a special substrate bought in a store or made by hand.

Calceolaria flower seeds

The flower is planted with seeds. The plant is sown in the ground in March or June. The soil for planting can be a mixture of sand and peat soil (1: 7). Dusting with earth is not necessary, because the seeds are very small (dusty). The soil is moistened by pollination with warm water from a spray bottle. On top, to ensure the greenhouse effect, lay polyethylene or glass. It is necessary to periodically ventilate the planted seeds to avoid rotting. The pot should be in a dark place.

The first shoots sprouting begins 15-20 days after sowing. The plant dives immediately. Transplanting seedlings takes place in special pots 7, and then 9 cm long. The first transplant is at 6 weeks, the second at 14 weeks. The pinching is done before the second flower transplant. Only 3-4 pairs remain from the bottom of the trunk (for the appearance of side branches).

During germination, the temperature must be maintained within 20 ° C. After the appearance of the first shoots - 12-15 ° C. Flower buds begin to set after eight months of growth.

Semi-shrubs can propagate by cuttings. They are selected from scraps of lateral shoots of an adult plant. Pruning times for cuttings are February, March and August. To take root in a new place, shoots need about a month. For greater bushiness, you can plant several cuttings in one pot.

Post-flowering care

When grown as an annual plant, it is thrown away after flowering and new ones are sown. The maximum plant life is two years (two flowering). After the flowering is over, all shoots should be cut off, leaving 15-20 cm each. Then the pot is placed in a cool place for the plant to rest.

When new shoots appear, calceolaria is moved back to a well-lit place (but not under direct sunlight). After all the manipulations, they begin to emerge flower buds and the plant blooms. The second flowering occurs a couple of months earlier and is no longer as abundant, large and beautiful as the first time. Branches stretch more, aesthetics are noticeably lost.

Diseases and pests of calceolaria and plant care during this period

1. The plant is susceptible to infection by aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, scale insects, spider mites, which drink juices from it. Due to the difficult care and the high probability of pest damage to the plant, it is recommended to update calceolaria every year.
2. Foliage can wither in case of strong heat and insufficient moisture in the leaves and soil.
3. Aging of the flower occurs in a hot climate in the room and a small amount of watering.
4. Waterlogging leads to yellowing and leaf fall, rot and death of a flower.
5. The slightest deviation from the recommended norms for the content of calceolaria leads to the loss of flower ovaries, wilting of foliage and death of the plant.

Calceolaria is a plant with unusual flowers. Their number per plant reaches 18-50 pieces. From the article you will learn how to care for calceolaria, how often to transplant and when to feed.

Brightly colored calceolaria are usually grown as annuals.

Calceolaria flower belongs to the family of the same name Calceolaria. it herbaceous plant, a shrub or subshrub native to Central and South America. Calceolaria are one-, two- and perennial, but in culture they are usually grown as annuals.

The flower reaches 30 cm in height, 50 cm in width.The corrugated bright green leaves are pubescent on the lower side, they reach 5-10 cm in length.The flowers are small - 2.5-6 cm, outwardly resemble clogs, they are yellow, red, white or orange, solid and speckled.

Popular types

The genus Calceolaria has about 400 plant species. In home cultivation, the following are the most popular:

Conditions of detention

Calceolaria is a rather capricious plant. In order for it to please with its growth and flowering, it is necessary to adhere to the optimal conditions of detention. This is not always easy, since both too bright lighting and lack of it do not suit the flower.

Temperature and lighting

Calceolaria needs diffused dim light. On a windowsill with direct sunlight, it should be shaded. In the summer the best option there will be an east or west sill. In winter and late autumn, additional lighting will be needed. Calceolaria needs shade only before flowering and during this period.

Together with bright lighting, the flower prefers cool content. It blooms for a long time at a temperature of 9-15 degrees in winter and 15-17 ° C in summer. If you grow calceolaria in a hot room, it will quickly drop or dry out the buds, it will get sick more often, and it will grow old faster.

Humidity and watering

The plant loves high humidity, so the pots are placed on pallets with wet pebbles or expanded clay. Spraying the air near the plant from a fine spray bottle helps. The ingress of moisture on the pubescent leaves of calceolaria must be excluded. Water the plant often - the earthen coma should not be allowed to dry out.

To increase moisture, expanded clay is placed next to the plant and moistened.

During the flowering period, the water supply is carried out about 1 time per week - until the topsoil dries out. When calceolaria fades, watering is reduced by 2 times. The frequency is resumed when new shoots break through. For irrigation, you must use only settled water at room temperature. Avoid stagnation in the pan and drain immediately after watering.

Soil and transplant

Calceolaria is unpretentious to the soil, but grows best in a mixture of 2 parts of turf and leafy soil, one part of peat soil and half of sand. It is permissible to use other mixtures, but by all means use turf soil. Sphagnum, crushed sawdust, vermiculite, wood ash, crushed coniferous bark can be added to any soil. Purchased universal primer is also suitable.

Usually calceolaria is grown as annual plant... The flower of the second year will be less decorative, although it will bloom earlier. In this case, he does not need a transplant. If you want to transplant a purchased flower into a decorative pot, fill the bottom with a layer of drainage. Then carefully transfer the plant along with the earthy clod, and fill the remaining space with fresh soil.

Top dressing

Calceolaria is fertilized from the moment of planting until the beginning of flowering. This is done every 2 weeks using potassium phosphate complexes or fertilizers for flowering plants. During the flowering period, in autumn and winter, the flower is not fed. If calceolaria is left to grow in the second year, feeding is resumed in the spring, with the appearance of young shoots.

Bush formation

In order for the plant to bush well and bloom profusely, they resort to crown formation. In calceolaria, lateral shoots growing from the leaf axils are removed. Sometimes, in order to provoke branching, in the spring, before the buds are laid, the flower is pinched. Leave on each shoot 2-3 pairs of leaves. After pinching, the flowers may be smaller than when removing lateral shoots (pinching).

Flowering period

Calceolaria blooms in March-June, flowers last for a month. Biennial plants bloom a couple of months earlier, but flowering is not as abundant. On calceolaria, 18-50 flowers can bloom at the same time. They are small, up to 6 cm in diameter, similar to shoes. Blooms in red, orange, yellow, white. The flowering period does not provoke the development of allergic reactions.

Calceolaria bloom.

Why calceolaria does not bloom

If the conditions of detention are not followed, the flower may shed, dry the buds or not bloom at all. Most often, the absence of calceolaria flowers is associated with:

• Content at high temperature.
• Improper watering.
• Excessive application of fertilizers, mainly nitrogen
• Lack of cool wintering.

Plant care after flowering

When calceolaria fades, you can either throw it away, or grow it for the second year, but then get rid of it anyway. If you want to achieve flowering in the second year, then cut off the shoots, leaving 15 cm each. Place the pot in a cool shaded place. In the spring, with the appearance of new shoots, the plant is returned to a well-lit windowsill, watering is increased, and top dressing is resumed. Soon flower buds will appear and calceolaria will bloom.

Calceolaria in the open field

Growing a flower in open ground.

In mild climates, the plant is grown outdoors. Since the flower is mainly used as an annual, in early spring, seeds are sown on a flower bed, or they are germinated in a container, and then planted. After flowering, the annual plant dies off on its own. The next year, you can simply sow new seeds. Most often, calceolaria is found in flower beds, thin and multi-root.

Growing difficulties

When growing calceolaria, you must strictly adhere to the required conditions. When deviating from them, the plant begins to turn yellow, shed flowers and leaves, wither, and may even die. Pests do not bypass it either.

Pests

Calceolaria is more often affected by aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, whiteflies, and scale insects. The pests drink all the juices from the plant, which leads first to the loss of decorativeness and inhibition of growth, then to the death of the flower. If pests are found, it is necessary to process the plant chemical, for example, "Aktellikom".

In case of severe infection, re-treatment will be required after 3-4 days. In severe cases, up to 4 treatments are carried out with an interval delay. The dosage is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging with the drug.

Diseases

Calceolaria is prone to gray rot. The disease occurs due to prolonged waterlogging in combination with low temperatures and high humidity. Gray mold can also develop from overfeeding with nitrogen fertilizers. In the presence of rot, remove all damaged areas, sprinkle the cuts with sulfur. The plant should be sprayed with Bordeaux liquid or a copper-containing preparation (Topaz, Oxyhom).

If kept incorrectly, pests infect flowers and leaves.

Reproduction of calceolaria

The flower can be propagated by cuttings or grown from seeds.

Cuttings

Shoots cut after flowering can be rooted in water or potting soil. They can be cut both in August and February-March. When rooting in water, dissolve the tablet beforehand activated carbon, and the container is chosen from dark glass. This reduces the risk of cuttings rotting.

When the cutting is buried in the soil, it is covered from above with a transparent bag or bottle, increasing the humidity around. It will take 3-4 weeks for rooting. Once the shoots have developed roots, they can be transplanted into a permanent pot. For splendor, several cuttings are planted in one container.

Growing from seeds

The seeds are sown in April. A soil mixture is prepared, consisting of 7 parts of peat, 1 part of sand and 20 g of dolomite flour per 1 kg of soil. The soil is pre-calcined for disinfection, and then moistened.

Seeds are sown on the surface without burying them in the ground. The top of the container is covered with transparent film or glass. Such a greenhouse is placed in a well-lit place with a temperature of 18 degrees. Periodically, the shelter is removed to remove excess condensate.

After about 2 weeks, seedlings appear. The soil between them is watered with a thin stream of water. The first transplant is carried out in a month, the second in two. To do this, use pots with a diameter of 7 cm, and watering is carried out every 2 weeks.

Growing calceolaria from seeds.

In September, young plants are transplanted into pots with a diameter of 9-11 cm and placed in a cooler place with a temperature of 8-10 ° C. In January-February, calceolaria are planted in pots for mature plants. Then pinch the rosettes over 3-4 leaves and put them in a permanent place.

Calceolaria is a capricious plant that can die with the slightest mistakes in care. It lives for 1-2 years, but is easily propagated by cuttings or seeds. Basically, flower seeds are bought for cultivation, which are sold in any flower shop. The packaging costs about 55 rubles. Having mastered the rules of care, you can regularly admire beautiful flowers calceolaria.

A herbaceous and abundantly flowering plant like calceolaria at home it is grown as an annual or biennial. Its popularity is associated with very spectacular flowers that have an unusual shape, reminiscent of a "purse" or "shoe". So, these bright flowers are two-lipped, the upper lip of which is extremely small, and the lower one is large, spherical, swollen.

The genus Calceolaria has about 400 species of the norichnik families. In English taxonomy, they are classified into the Calceolariaceae family. In the wild, this flower can be found in Central and South America. "Calceolaria" is translated from Latin as "small shoe".

This genus includes shrubs, grasses, shrubs, in which the leaves are opposite or whorled. The flower calyx is four-membered, and the corolla is swollen, two-lipped (the upper lip is usually smaller). Has 2-3 stamens. The fruit is presented in the form of a box.

In calceolaria, most species are very beautiful and are grown as ornamental plants... Hybrid garden varieties were created from such species as: C. arachnoidea, C. corymbosa, C. crenatiflora, and others. For growing in cool greenhouses, as a rule, hybrids are chosen, the flowers of which are painted in purple, orange, yellow or red, and their corollas can also be shaded or with specks. For their reproduction, cuttings or seeds are used.

This flowering plant will delight you with its flowers in the springtime, while you should know that growing it at home is problematic, as it prefers cool places. Its spherical, bright, bubbly flowers stand out. Flowers often have many different dots and spots. As a rule, calceolaria blooms from March to June. Flowering continues for 4 weeks. One plant can produce 18–55 flowers.

Temperature regime

This flower needs coolness (12-16 degrees). If the air temperature is too high, flowers or buds may fall off.

Illumination

Likes well-lit places, but light should be diffused. Shading is required from direct sunlight. It is best to put on a windowsill located in the northern, eastern or northwestern part of the room.

How to water

Watering should be abundant. Do not overdry the earth.

Humidity

The flower needs very high humidity. It is recommended to pour small pebbles or expanded clay into a wide pallet, pour water, and put a flower pot on top. When spraying, try not to get the liquid on the pubescent leaves. Only flowers are sprayed.

How to transplant

The soil mixture consists of leaf, peat, turf soil, and sand, mixed in a ratio of 3: 2: 3: 1. When calceolaria has finished blooming, you can throw it away.

How to propagate

You can grow this plant from seeds. To do this, sowing is carried out from May to July, while dusting the seeds with earth is not done. Double pick required. For germination, the seeds need to provide a temperature of about 18 degrees. But to grow this flower in indoor conditions difficult, it is better to buy a ready-made one in a special store.

How to care for calceolaria correctly

Such a plant simply needs diffused light, and it does not tolerate the direct rays of the sun, from which it must be shaded. Grows well on window sills located on the west or east window. If calceolaria is placed on a southern windowsill, then it needs good shading, which can be made from paper or a translucent material (for example, tulle, gauze, tracing paper, and so on). Also feels great on the northern windowsill. When the plant begins to bloom, it will not need much shading. In the autumn-winter period, it is recommended to supplement the flower with fluorescent lamps.

For calceolaria to grow and develop normally, it needs the air temperature in the room to be no higher than 12–16 degrees, and, which is important, at any time of the year.

During the flowering period, watering should be regular. To do this, you need to use soft and always settled water. It is necessary to moisten the soil immediately after the top layer dries. After some time after watering, be sure to pour out the liquid accumulated in the pan. When the flowering is over, you need to water the calceolaria very rarely and little, but make sure that the earthy lump does not dry out. After fresh growth appears, they gradually return to the previous irrigation regime.

This flower simply needs a very high air humidity, but at the same time, experts do not recommend moisturizing it from a spray bottle. In order to achieve the required humidity, the pot with the plant is placed on a pallet, into which water is poured and pebbles are placed, and you can also use moistened peat or expanded clay. It is also advised to place the flower pot in a pots, and fill the remaining space between the 2nd vessels with moist peat (it is moistened regularly).

The first time the plant is fed, after 2 weeks have passed after the flower is transplanted into a permanent pot. Mineral fertilizers are applied 2 times a month.

After this plant has faded, its aerial part can be completely removed. Then the pot should be moved to a dark, cool place for 6–8 weeks. Watering is rarely necessary, but the soil should not dry out completely. After the young growth appears, the pot is placed in a well-lit place, and after a while the calceolaria blooms. As a rule, such flowers begin to bloom a couple of months earlier than those grown from seeds. However, they are characterized by a loss of decorativeness, due to the fact that they are strongly stretched.

Over time, calceolaria will surely lose its decorative effect and quickly enough. To have always beautiful plants, you do not need to replant them, but replace them with new ones.

How to propagate calceolaria

Seeds are used to propagate such flowers. If you want flowering to come in spring, then you need to sow them in June, and if in autumn - then in March.

Calceolaria seeds are very small in size, so, in 1 gram, there are about 30 thousand of them. Sowing is carried out directly on the soil surface, no additional dusting with earth is required. Paper is placed on top of the soil, and it must be systematically moistened. The pick is made after the seedlings have 2 true leaves. To create a suitable soil mixture, it is necessary to mix deciduous, humus and peat soil, as well as sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 2: 1.

Also, the seeds germinate well on peat. If you want flowering to come in mid-March, then sowing should be done from 5 to 15 July. To do this, use litter peat, disinfected from rot by heating to 90-100 degrees. To reduce the acidity of peat, chalk is used. For this, it is added to the substrate. 15-20 grams of ground chalk is taken per kilogram of peat. Also, peat is mixed with sand in a ratio of 7: 1. In the resulting mixture, the seeds are sown. To do this, they are scattered over the surface and not sprinkled on top with a substrate. Next, the container is tightly covered with glass or film. When condensation collects on the inner surface of the covering material, it must be carefully turned over so that water does not get onto the seedlings. Be sure to keep the substrate moisture constant.

The second pick into pots with a diameter of 7 centimeters is made after the appearance of the outlet. Then they are placed on light-colored windowsills. At the beginning of autumn, another transplant is carried out, and pots with a diameter of 9-11 centimeters are used for it. Do not forget to pinch the calceolaria before this transplant, only 2 or 3 pairs of leaves should remain, and lateral shoots will begin to grow from their sinuses.

You can also form a bush using pinching. To do this, you need to carefully remove the side shoots that are formed from the axils of the leaves.

Another transplant already into larger pots is carried out from January to February. For this, a nutritious and heavy soil mixture is used, consisting of humus, turf and peat soil, as well as sand, mixed in a ratio of 2: 2: 2: 1. Also, do not forget to add 2-3 grams of complex mineral fertilizer... This humus substrate must necessarily be slightly acidic (approx. PH 5.5).

Flowering begins 8-10 months after sowing the seeds.

Growing difficulties

These flowers need to be replaced annually with new ones. It is not advisable to leave them for the next year.

The leaves wither and calceolaria ages quickly if the indoor air is too hot and dry.

Main types

Calceolaria mexicana (Calceolaria mexicana)

Such plants are difficult to combine with others. So, this type of calceolaria has very small flowers (diameter 5 millimeters) of a light yellow hue. They look most advantageous in the border together with flowers that have decorative leaves, as well as in the composition located on the bank of the brook. Calceolaria corollas then look like little lanterns.

Under different conditions, the height of the bush may vary (from 20 to 50 centimeters). Taller bushes will be in a moist, shaded area with nutritious soil. In the wild, Mexican calceolaria can be found on the wooded slopes of the mountains of Mexico, because it is a heat-loving plant. But at the same time, the bright light of the sun does not tolerate well, only if you provide it good watering... This flower almost always bears fruit abundantly and has a large number of seeds.

Calceolaria rugosa - Calceolaria rugosa

This calceolaria is distinguished by its elegance and originality. Chile is her homeland.

Such a herbaceous perennial plant with a very branched erect stem (25-50 centimeters high) is most often grown as an annual. Small (1.5–2 centimeters in diameter) flowers have a bright yellow color. But there are forms that have brownish dots. Small size the leaves are collected in sockets. If you sow this plant as usual, then it begins to bloom in June and continues - until the very frost. If there is a desire for this flower to bloom in the month of April, then it must be grown in containers.

Main varieties:

• Goldbukett - the plant has large flowers, and the height of a rather strong bush reaches 25-30 centimeters;
• Triomphe de Versailles - has small flowers, and the height of a fast-growing bush reaches 35-50 centimeters;
• Sunset (Calceolaria x hybridus) is very showy plant can be grown both at home and in the garden. On each rosette, consisting of dark green leathery leaves, about a dozen short peduncles appear. In this case, bell flowers can be colored orange, yellow or red. The bushes reach a height of 15–20 centimeters. They do not die with a short-term temperature drop to minus 5 degrees.

Video review

Calceolaria is a herbaceous, profusely flowering plant that is grown in room culture as an annual or biennial. It conquers with its distinctively shaped bright double-lipped flowers, and the lower lip is large, swollen, spherical, and the upper lip is extremely small, barely noticeable. By their outward resemblance, the people called them "shoes" or "wallets".

Calceolaria. © Mark Kent Content:

Description of calceolaria

To the genus Calceolaria ( Calceolaria) belongs to about 400 species of the family norichnikovye. In English taxonomy, Calceolaria ( Calceolariaceae). The homeland of plants is South and Central America. Translated from Latin, the word "calceolaria" means "little shoe".

Representatives of the genus are grasses, shrubs and shrubs with opposite or whorled leaves. Flowers with a four-membered calyx and a bright two-lipped, swollen corolla (the lower lip is usually larger). Stamens 2 or 3. Fruit - capsule.

Many types are decorative. When creating numerous garden varieties calceolaria used hybrids of the species C. corymbosa, C. arachnoidea, C. crenatiflora, etc. Hybrid calceolaria with yellow, orange, red, purple flowers, as well as with a spotted or shaded corolla is grown in cool greenhouses, propagated by seeds and cuttings.

Calceolaria is one of the favorite spring flowering plants, although it is rather difficult to grow and breed it indoors (the plant prefers cool rooms). Calceolaria flowers are very peculiar in shape - blistery and double-lipped (the lower lip is large, swollen, spherical, and the upper lip is extremely small, barely noticeable). Flowers are often covered with various spots and dots. The flowering period lasts from March to June for one month. The plant has 18 to 55 flowers.

Calceolaria. © Mark Kent

Features of growing calceolaria

Temperature: Calceolaria likes a cool room, 12-16 ° C. In too warm rooms it drops buds or flowers.

Lighting: Preferred bright diffused light, cannot tolerate direct sunlight. It is good to place on the windowsill of the east, north or northwest window.

Watering: Abundant, earthen lump should not dry out.

Air humidity: Calceolaria requires very high air humidity, for this pots with plants are placed on a wide tray with pebbles or expanded clay. The pubescent leaves of calceolaria do not like water getting on them, so this plant is sprayed, trying to keep moisture only on the flowers.

Transfer: Soil - 2 parts sod, 2 parts leaf, 1 part peat and 1/2 part sand. After flowering, the plant is discarded.

Reproduction: Seeds, sown in May-July, without sprinkling with soil on top and with a double pick. Calceolaria seeds germinate at about 18 ° C. However, growing calceolaria at home is quite troublesome, it is easier to purchase an already flowering plant.

Calceolaria. © Mark Kent

Calceolaria care

Calceolaria prefers diffused light; the plant is shaded from direct sunlight. Suitable for growing near western and eastern windows. At the southern windows, calceolaria should be shaded from the direct sun, using a translucent fabric or paper (gauze, tulle, tracing paper). Grows well at the north window. The plant needs a little shading during the flowering period. In autumn and winter, you can use additional fluorescent lighting.

The temperature of the content of calceolaria in all seasons is preferable to be moderate, in the region of 12-16 ° C.

During flowering, the plant is watered regularly, with soft, settled water, as the upper layer of the substrate dries up, preventing water from stagnating in the pan. After flowering, watering should be reduced, occasionally moistening the soil and preventing the substrate from completely drying out. When new growth begins to grow, watering is gradually resumed.

Calceolaria needs high humidity. It is not recommended to spray the plant.

To ensure sufficient moisture, the pot with the plant is placed on a tray filled with water and pebbles or wet peat, expanded clay. It is advisable to grow calceolaria in pots inserted into pots. The space between the two vessels is filled with peat, which must be constantly moistened.

Feeding begins two weeks after planting in pots and continues until flowering. They are fed every 2 weeks with mineral fertilizers.

After flowering, calceolaria can be cut off and put for 1.5-2 months in a cool, shaded place, occasionally moistening the soil (the earthen coma must not be allowed to dry completely). When the shoots begin to grow, the plants are placed in a lighted place where they bloom. Flowering begins 2 months earlier than in plants grown from seeds, but they stretch out somewhat and lose the decorative effect inherent in young calceolaria. Therefore, it is better to grow it annually from seed.

Since the plant quickly loses its decorative effect with age, it should not be transplanted, but should be replaced with a new one.

Calceolaria Fothergill, cultivar 'Walter Shrimpton'. © Teddington Gardener

Reproduction of calceolaria

Calceolaria is propagated by seeds.

For autumn flowering, they are sown in March, for spring - in June.

Small seeds (in 1 g about 30 thousand pieces) are sown on the surface of the substrate, they are not covered with soil. The crops are covered with paper, which is periodically moistened. When the seedlings grow two true leaves, they dive. In this case, to prepare the earthen mixture, take 2 parts of humus, deciduous and peat soil and 1 part of sand.

Calceolaria seeds germinate well on peat. In order for the plants to bloom in mid-March, seeds are sown on July 5-15 in litter peat, previously disinfected from rot by heating to 90-100 ° C. To reduce acidity, ground chalk is added to the peat (15-20 g per 1 kg of peat). For 7 parts of peat take 1 part of sand. Mix the substrate well. Seeds are sown randomly, not sprinkled with peat. The crops are covered with plastic wrap or glass.

If condensation forms on the inside of the glass or film, the shelter must be turned over, preventing moisture from entering the plants. In the future, it is necessary to ensure that the peat is always moist.

After the formation of the rosette, the plants dive a second time, transplanted into 7-centimeter pots and put on light windows. In September, they are transplanted again into 9-11-centimeter pots. Before the second transplant, the plants are pinched, leaving 2-3 pairs of leaves, from the axils of which lateral shoots appear.

Calceolaria bushes are also formed by pinching, that is, removing the lateral shoots that grow from the leaf axils.

In January-February, they are transplanted into large pots with a heavier and more nutritious earthen mixture. For grown plants, a humus, slightly acidic (pH about 5.5) substrate is suitable. To compose the substrate, you can take 2 parts of sod, humus and peat land and 1 part of sand with the addition of complete mineral fertilizer at the rate of 2-3 g per 1 kg of the mixture. Calceolaria blooms 8-10 months after sowing the seeds.

Possible difficulties in growing calceolaria

Every year, plants are replaced - propagated by seeds or acquire already flowering specimens, without leaving them for the next year.

At high temperatures and lack of moisture, leaves wither and the plant ages quickly.

Calceolaria Mexican. © Alain Charest

Types of calceolaria

Calceolaria Mexican - Calceolaria mexicana

All types of calceolaria, due to their too bright colors, are difficult to combine with other plants. Calceolaria Mexican is no exception. Its small, with a diameter of only about 5 mm, light yellow flowers look spectacular only in a border with ornamental plants or in a composition located on the bank of a stream. In these cases, their corollas look like small Chinese lanterns.

Depending on the conditions, calceolaria bushes can reach a height of 20-50 cm. Naturally, in a humid shaded place with fertile soil, they will be taller. In nature, this species grows on the wooded slopes of the mountains of Mexico, so it prefers warmth. However, bright sunlight tolerates well only with abundant watering. Plants usually bear abundant fruit, producing many seeds.

Calceolaria rugosa - Calceolaria rugosa

The original ornate plant, similar to a cloud of yellow drops, was brought to Europe from Chile.

A perennial herb, grown as an annual, has an erect, highly branched stem 25-50 cm high. Small leaves form a rosette. The flowers are small, 1.5-2 cm in diameter, pure yellow, in some hybrid forms with brown dots. With normal sowing, flowering lasts from June until frost. For early flowering in April, seedlings are grown in containers.

Calceolaria varieties

Goldbukett - large-flowered strong plants 25-30 cm high.
‘Triomphe de Versailles’ - small-flowered fast-growing plants 35-50 cm high.

Sunset (Calceolaria x hybridus) is a bright and elegant plant for home and garden! Each rosette of leathery dark green leaves forms up to 10 short peduncles with yellow, orange or red bell flowers. Height 15-20 cm. Withstands frosts down to -5 ° С.