Bright, effective, unpretentious, suitable for growing outdoors and at home - all this can be said about the catharanthus. Those who are not familiar with this ornamental plant should pay attention to it. With minimal effort from the grower, you can get a luxurious, lively home decoration. However, to begin with, you should understand the difference between ampelous catharanthus during cultivation and care.
Katarantus ampelous - what kind of flower is it, to which family belongs
This plant belongs to the Kutra family and is a small evergreen shrub. In its natural conditions, Katarantus can be quite high (up to 1.5 m), however, a plant grown at home, in most cases grows no more than 50-60 cm.
Catharanthus ampelous
Upright bright green stems branch strongly as they approach the apex. There are densely arranged leaves on them, reaching a length of 7 cm. The leaf plate has an elongated shape and a smooth edge. The flowers are bright, large enough, with delicate petals.
Brief description, history of origin or selection
It is impossible to determine the exact place of origin of this flower, since the distribution area is quite wide. Katarantus is found in Africa, India, Madagascar, Sri Lanka. For a long time it was believed that the flower belongs to the same family with Periwinkle, but later this theory was abandoned.
The healing properties of the flower
For medicinal purposes, the plant was used in Madagascar and in India. With its help, a cough was treated and blood sugar levels were reduced. Modern pharmacology has also recognized the possibility of catharanthus treatment. Antitumor drugs are produced from it.
Varieties of indoor plants with names that look like
Catharanthus has many varieties that are bred selectively.
Aristocrat
The variety is distinguished by lush bushes and large buds, which can be painted in different colors (from snow-white to purple). Due to the abundance of bright flowers and greenery, the variety is great for flowerpots, landscape design and decoration of parks.
Pacific
The variety has miniature dimensions - the bush grows no more than 30 cm in height. Pacifica blooms early and has a large number of buds. Petals come in different shades, and therefore flowers have different names:
- Burgundy - wine petals with a white core;
- Apricot - peach flowers with a red center;
- White - white petals with a bright red center;
- Red Cooler - plain red petals.
First Kiss
This is another collection of Katarantus varieties, which includes 13 shades. Such varieties are in great demand in North America, where this plant won the highest awards.
Varieties of Catharanthus
Cascade
The bush rarely grows to a height of more than 15 cm. The shoots of this variety are creeping, in some species they can reach a length of 75 cm. Depending on the shade of the petals, the flower has different names, for example, Titan White or Cherry Cherry.
Other
The above varieties are the most popular among flower growers. However, there are also a number of varietal catharanthus with the original color, for example, Tatu Papaya, Black Cherry Tatu and Casanova. Another representative of this family is Katarantus Roseus (Katarantus Pink).
How to care for catharanthus at home
The flower is home to warm countries, so the plant needs to maintain a suitable temperature and watering scheme.
Important! All parts of the cataranthus contain toxic substances, so you need to work with it with gloves.
Illumination and temperature
For good growth and abundant flowering, the catharanthus needs a temperature of + 18 ... +25 degrees. If a temporary decrease to +10 degrees occurs, the plant will endure it steadily. However, prolonged cooling is extremely undesirable. At home, it is better not to place the flower next to the heating system.
All varieties of ornamental plants are extremely sensitive to lighting. It is best to provide diffused light. It is desirable to place flowerpots at home on the eastern or western windows. On the street choose a site in partial shade.
Watering rules and humidity
Frequency of watering may vary. It directly depends on air humidity and temperature conditions. It is important to follow a few recommendations:
- Another watering is necessary when drying the top layer of the earth.
- Better let there be a slight lack of moisture than waterlogging.
- If the air humidity is low, the flower is sprayed daily and wiped off the dust from the leaves with a wet sponge.
Top dressing and soil quality
Best of all, ampelous cataractus grows in a light substrate rich in nutrients. When planting, it is worth choosing a ready-made soil suitable for flowering crops. Self-preparation requires sand (necessarily processed and washed), peat and turf land. It is imperative to use drainage as the bottom layer.
Additional Information. In the spring and summer, all types of cataracts are recommended to be fed once every 2-3 weeks. Mixtures for roses or any flowering plants are suitable for this purpose. In winter, it is not recommended to fertilize - the flower has a dormant period.
Flower Tank Size
Katarantus grows extremely quickly, so you should choose a little more pot. Tall and narrow flowerpots are best suited, due to the structure of the root system of the flower. In this case, the shrub will always give a large amount of greenery and buds.
Pruning and transplanting
In the first spring month, the home plant needs to be updated. To do this, cut off too long branches, damaged and dry parts.
In the summer, you can form a beautiful neat crown by pinching. Dried flowers are also cut to actively form new buds.
If the periwinkle Katarantus needs to be transplanted, this procedure is performed by transshipment. At this time, it is important to examine the condition of the roots and, if necessary, repair all damage.
Landing Catharanthus in the open ground
If the bush is planned to be planted in open ground, then only seedlings (not seeds) are chosen for this. Strong sprouts are planted in the soil in late spring. This is explained by the sensitivity of the flower to the winds.
Katarantus in the open ground
Features of flowering plants
All types of cataranthus, regardless of the variety, have a wheel-shaped flower structure. The bud consists of a small dense corolla and 5 petals of the correct form. Most varieties have a complex color - the edges of the petals differ in color from the core.
Period of activity and rest
For the winter, flower growers recommend transplanting the cataractus pink periwinkle into temporary containers and taking them home. As soon as heat arrives and the temperature stabilizes, the flowers are again transplanted into the open ground.
Flower propagation methods
There are several ways to propagate cataractus:
- using cuttings;
- by dividing the mother bush;
- seeds.
Propagation by cuttings
Planting by cuttings is performed as follows:
- The cuttings are separated - these are apical shoots, the size of which is from 4 to 6 cm. A prerequisite is the presence of leaves on the handle.
- The shoot is placed in water until the roots appear, and then planted in the ground.
- For quick rooting, part of the leaves from the shoot is cut off.
Catharanthus propagation
Rooting in the ground
After the stalk is planted in the soil, it is covered with a bag or plastic cup. It is important to open the mini-greenhouse regularly for ventilation and watering.
Additional Information. During rooting, the flower must be very carefully watered, since excess moisture leads to its decay.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
An adult bush can be divided into several smaller bushes. To do this, perform the following steps:
- They take the plant out of the pot, divide the rhizome into several parts. The tool must be sharp and sanitized.
- Slices on the roots are treated with charcoal.
- After planting, the plant should not be watered for a couple of days, but only sprayed.
Seed cultivation
Seeds do not have time to ripen from home flowers, so it is better to buy seed material for planting in a flower shop. Flowers should be sown in advance, since from the time of sowing to the appearance of buds it takes about 70 days.
A box of soil and sown seeds is covered with foil. Shoots appear after 7-8 days. Seedlings should be grown in a well-lit, warm place. Periodically seedlings need to be carefully watered.
Planting Catharanthus Seeds
Growing problems, diseases and pests
The state of the cataract of pink GF can worsen for a number of reasons:
- The lethargy and softness of leaves often occurs with a lack of moisture and excessive sun exposure.
- Rare flowering or small buds are the result of hypothermia of the flower or lack of space in the pot.
- Another reason is the appearance of pests. Scarabs, aphids, slugs, spider mites and whiteflies love to attack the flower.
How to deal with them
If the plant's disease is associated with improper care, it is enough to adjust the conditions of maintenance for restoration. If the cause is an attack of insects and slugs, it is necessary to treat the bushes with insecticides.
Chic blooming catharanthus
The evergreen shrub catharanthus can be an excellent decoration for the balcony, if you place it in containers or drawers, as well as flower beds, robots and rockeries. Some varieties are intended for growing in hanging flower pots. With proper care, observing the temperature regime and irrigation scheme, the cataractus will delight you with bright flowering from early May to late November.
