How to feed catharanthus for abundant flowering. Caring for a catharanthus plant after planting

Caring for catharanthus at home is quite simple, but it requires knowledge of some features.

Quaranthus is a perennial tropical plant. The flower has the appearance of a shrub with straight stems that branch out at the tops. The leaves of the shrub are dark green in color, they reach a length of 7 cm. When the flowering period begins, the plant becomes strewn with flowers, most often with five petals. Cataranthus loves warmth and grows wild in the forests of Madagascar, India, Cuba, Indonesia, etc. Under natural conditions, the bush reaches 1.5 m in height, and in cooler climates its height reaches 60 cm.

Varieties of catharanthus

The name "Kataranthus" is translated from Greek as "clear flower". In nature, 8 species of this plant are known, but as a result of selection, decorative varieties which are widespread in Europe. The 4 most common varieties are:

Albus- blooms with white flowers.
Parasol- is a short representative of the species, and its flowers are white with a red pigment in the center.
cooler- shrubs from this series have flowers of various shades of pink and red.
Ocellatus- flowers are similar in color to Parasol, but this species is not undersized.

Many flower growers call catoranthus cayenne jasmine, and pink cataranthus - pink periwinkle. Periwinkle pink blooms with a very beautiful deep crimson color and is one of the most popular varieties of this plant.

This amazing flower can grow both outdoors and in pots as an indoor flower. Depending on the method of cultivation, the features of caring for the plant are also determined.

This plant is unsafe, it contains alkaloids and can cause severe poisoning and an allergic reaction. Therefore, it is necessary to handle the flower carefully, it is also not recommended to plant it in places where small children and animals walk.

Growing from seed

Growing a pink periwinkle (however, like other varieties of this plant) is carried out by seedlings. As you know, catharanthus is considered perennial flower, but due to its natural thermophilicity, it does not survive the winter, and the seeds do not have time to ripen. Therefore, some gardeners prefer to purchase them again, and some dig up a bush and send it to a warm room for wintering.

As a rule, sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in late winter - early spring. Seeds are pre-soaked in a solution of manganese. The solution is prepared based on 1 liter of cool water 2 g of manganese. Before carrying out the procedure, the seeds are pre-wrapped in gauze folded in half. The procedure itself lasts no more than 40 minutes. After soaking, the seeds are opened and left to dry on gauze for 2 hours. The main thing is not to leave them under the scorching sun, otherwise they will burn.

Next, the seeds are sown to a depth of 2 cm in a shallow box, the substrate must be loose with nutrients and good air and moisture conductivity. The box is left indoors at a temperature of 25°C, after having covered it with glass.

For all species of this plant, sowing seeds is the same, but this does not apply to the ampelous catharanthus, growing from seeds consists in sowing immediately into a permanent container, since this representative of the catharanthus does not like transplantation.

After the seedlings appear, and this happens after 14-21 days, they must be moved to a room where it is cooler.

You can dive sprouts into separate containers when 3 leaves appear on the stem. It is recommended to harden seedlings at positive temperatures and periodically take them out to the balcony.

Outdoor cultivation

Pink catharanthus is planted in open ground at the end of spring, when the weather is stable and warm. The outdoor temperature must be at least 25°C.

For planting, you need to properly prepare the soil. The flower bed where the flower will be located is first dug up and gravel is added. Form a hole of the required depth, and drainage and a layer of soil are added to the bottom, after which a flower is placed there. For the plant, it is necessary to choose a well-lit and warm place, but at the same time direct sunlight should not fall on the shrub. Do not plant catharanthus in places where there is a lot of moisture and shade, since such conditions are detrimental to it. Quaranthus does not take root on acidic soil, therefore it is better to mix it with wood ash or lime.

Shrub care is easy. Like other plants, it needs watering, pruning, fertilizing and removing weeds around the bush. Particular attention must be paid to watering, the flower requires moderate and regular watering. The soil should not dry out, but it should not be very wet either. A sign that the flower does not have enough moisture are twisted leaves. It is advisable to maintain air humidity and spray the bush with water daily, and on very hot days 2 times a day.

It will be beneficial to feed with a universal mixture for ornamental plants, this is especially true in spring, when the plant needs abundant nutrition.

Pruning a bush in the summer is to remove yellowed and broken branches, and sanitary pruning will contribute to the growth of catharanthus.

On a flower bed to a pink periwinkle, you can add annual plants of the same color or create a contrasting combination.

Growing at home

For catharanthus, growing from seeds at home is also possible. It must be borne in mind that the flower grows quickly and initially plant it in a pot big size. When planting, drainage is poured onto the bottom of the pot and a layer of substrate is poured onto it. The latter can be prepared independently from peat, soil and sand. All components are taken in equal proportions. And to make the plant better accepted, you can add a little humus for nutrition.

Caring for indoor catharanthus consists of regular watering, feeding with nutrients and spraying. Water for irrigation and spraying should be room temperature and preferably settled. Be sure to remove excess water from the pan so that the roots do not start to rot.

A place for a pot must be chosen on the western or eastern side. If you put it on the north window, then the flower will have little light, and a lot in the south. It is also important that the plant is not in direct sunlight.

You can feed the catharanthus with any fertilizer for decorative indoor plants.

A flower is transplanted every year, when transplanted, pruning is carried out to form a crown. It is important not to moisten the flower the day before the transplant: this is necessary so that an earthen ball can form around the roots.

It is worth remembering that this plant contains toxic substances, so you should not place it in an accessible place for children and animals.

Reproduction of catharanthus

This plant is propagated by seeds, root division and cuttings. Let's look at these methods in more detail:

Sowing seeds. This method consists in preparing seeds for sowing them in the soil and the appearance of sprouts. The first shoots appear after about 20 days.
Root division. This procedure is recommended to be carried out in the spring, when the bush is planted in the ground after wintering. For these purposes, it is necessary to choose an instance with a strong root system, which can be divided into 2 parts. When dividing, it is important not to damage the roots and not to chicken out all the soil from them.
cuttings. Propagation by cuttings takes a little longer than when using seeds. Considered a reliable way to get strong seedlings. To propagate the catharanthus by cuttings, it is necessary to select and cut cuttings from an adult bush. Remove leaves from them to the top. Put each cutting for 1 day in water with the addition of 1 drop of a growth biostimulant. Then move them to clean settled water. After the roots appear (after about 25-30 days), transplant into the soil to strengthen.

Thus, this very beautiful and evergreen flower is unpretentious in care, but requires care in handling. We can say with confidence that the catharanthus deserves attention and can become a worthy decoration of any home.

How to properly care for a catharanthus?

Kataranthus is an unpretentious and very pretty flower, which is better known as the pink periwinkle, feels great in the garden in the flower bed, containers, and also in pots on the windowsills. The plant is small, compact, branchy and, importantly, fast growing and easy to propagate. But in order for the catharanthus to please the eye with its impeccable flowering for a longer time, you still need to know some rules for caring for it.

The soil should be nutritious and loose.

To do this, it is best to take one part of peat, humus, coarse sand, turf and leafy soil. But, in general, any fertile soil for catharanthus is also suitable, especially if there is no excess of salts in it. For growing in pots, you can use the earth for geraniums. The main thing is not to forget about drainage, using fine expanded clay.

Watering and air humidity.

Like all plants, pink catharanthus loves water. Therefore, it should be watered regularly, but in no case should it be flooded, especially in containers or pots. Therefore, if the flower pot is not on a pallet with expanded clay, then it is better to pour out excess water from the pallet.

Flower growers who have pink periwinkle growing in the garden are well aware that in a rainy, too wet summer, plant growth slows down. A flower that is constantly flooded, if it also grows in too dense soil, may suddenly die due to rotting of the roots.

However, the earthy coma should not be brought to dryness. In some varieties of plants, lack of moisture leads to curling of the leaves. The leaves curl up into tubes, and it seems that the flower has died. But don't despair right away. Abundant watering - and in an hour the leaves will unwind again.

So that in rainy weather the catharanthus does not suffer from excessive moisture, do not plant it too crowded. It should also not be too crowded to plant plants in a container: after all, spraying is a little rain.

Once every ten days, water your periwinkle with a special fertilizer containing potassium and phosphorus. Suitable fertilizer for roses. A home flower will thank you for this with a particularly spectacular bloom.

If the catharanthus does not like too wet ground, then, on the contrary, it welcomes high humidity. Spray the flower more often, in winter it is better to do this warm water. Also, make sure you have ventilation.

Location and temperature.

If the catharanthus grows in the house, then it should stand in a bright place. The more light, the better. In case of lack of lighting, the stems will stretch, become thinner, the flowers will become smaller, and their number will also be reduced. The east and west windows are great places to grow catharanthus. Pink periwinkle is a native of the tropics, so it loves warmth. Indoor temperature should not fall below 5-8 degrees. The optimal one is 15-30.

On the street to the bright sun, it is better to accustom the catharanthus gradually. When planting seedlings, think about whether this place will be protected from the cold wind. Draft and cold wind can destroy the plant.

Although the pink catharanthus is a distant relative for our familiar periwinkle, but, unlike it, it will not be able to spend the winter in a flower bed in the garden. A flower growing on the street will die with the onset of frost. Therefore, if you want to admire exactly the same variety of catharanthus next year, you need to break the cuttings and root them, transferring them to warm house. Even a room catharanthus in the summer is better to take out to the balcony and put it in a bright place. Let it "breathe" with fresh air.

Transplanting and pruning - catharanthus and care.

You need to repot the plant often, every year, because the plant is fast-growing. Some even consider it a disadvantage. A plant growing in a pot, stretched out over the winter, needs to be cut every spring so that it bushes better. If the plant has become too stretched, violating the intended picture with its appearance, then you can cut it slightly in the summer. But we must remember that the flowers on the cut stem will appear only after two to three weeks. The main stem will become tree-like.

Although the catharanthus is a perennial (if it grows in a house or in its homeland), it is not worth keeping it at home for more than three years. It is better to rejuvenate the plant by cuttings. Young plants look more impressive. But, if you cut the catharanthus by more than one third, then the flowers and leaves will become much smaller. (With good care, the leaves reach seven centimeters, and the flowers - five centimeters).

Pinch a flower planted in a flower bed as mercilessly as an indoor one, once a week for one and a half to two months. Thanks to such a merciless pinching, the flower bed will be simply gorgeous. After all, flowers appear at the tips of the stems, in the upper axils of the leaves. The more stems, the more flowers. Although it must be admitted that scientists have bred varieties in which branching is genetically incorporated.

Do not forget that the plant is poisonous. Eighty alkaloids contained in periwinkle rose is not a joke to you. Skin irritation may occur, so it is better to work with gloves or trim with small scissors.

To summarize all of the above:

In order for the catharanthus to be beautiful and blooming profusely, we must do the following:

Water moderately, but regularly (not flooding).
Spray frequently.
Plant the plant in loose soil in a bright place.
Repot every year.
Prune annually in the spring.
Fertilize three times a month in spring, summer and autumn.

If you fulfill all these simple care requirements, then the catharanthus, as a very grateful plant, will surely decorate your garden and house with its flowers in gratitude for the care.

Growing catharanthus from seeds

Catharanthus seeds can be bought via the Internet, you can - in a regular store, or you can collect yourself from your plant to sow them next year. But, we must honestly admit that only an experienced grower can collect seeds from a catarthus on his own. It's all about a temperate climate: in its conditions, they simply do not tie.

But on the windowsill it is quite possible. If there is additional lighting, then seeds can be sown for seedlings without waiting for spring, in February. Catharanthus seeds are not petunia seeds, which are difficult to see. Compared to petunias, they are large and powerful.

The sowing depth should not be more than one and a half centimeters. First, water the earth, wait until the water is absorbed, and only then proceed to sowing the seeds. Darkness is necessary for sown seeds. Therefore, they need to be covered with a dark film and patiently wait for the result for seven to ten days, if the temperature is about 23-24 degrees. When sprouts appear, the film is removed.

This is the official version of seed sowing. But from the experience of amateur gardeners, one can conclude that even without a film, the seeds also germinate perfectly. It is good to grow seeds in peat tablets. True, due to the small amount of soil, you need to carefully monitor the watering of the seedlings: do not overdry, do not overmoisten when you remove the film.

The sprouts that have appeared remain at the same level for a long time - they increase their root system. But do not rush to feed sprouted plants with fertilizer. From the moment the sprouts appear to the first feeding, at least two to three weeks should pass.

The first pick is carried out if the plant has already had four leaves. It is better to plant two or three plants in a pot, and then transfer them into the open ground together, so as not to disturb the root system.

If you try to separate these bushes, then the woven roots will break, and the pink periwinkle endures such an operation very painfully, and then, if it does not die, it slows down in growth for a long time. The distance between such planted groups of plants should be at least thirty centimeters.

Kataranthus is a "fast" flower. Therefore, by the end of summer, he will already cover the ground with a flowering rug.

Propagation of catharanthus by cuttings

If you don’t have seeds, but it is possible to get a cutting, then growing in such a vegetative way will also not be difficult. The cuttings should not be stiff. Apical green cuttings are suitable for propagation of the periwinkle in a vegetative way. They take root perfectly in water, especially if a few drops of a stimulant are added there. And you can plant cuttings immediately in wet sand mixed with fertile soil. But in this case, it is better to cover them with a plastic bag or a regular jar. Cuttings can be rooted both in spring after pruning, and in autumn, cutting off green shoots from a plant growing outside. But the temperature, in order for the rooting of the cuttings to be successful, must be at least twenty degrees.

Quaranthus and pests are problems in cultivation.

If the periwinkle grew outside in the summer, then before bringing the plant into the room, check if aphids have attacked it. Also, a spider mite and a scale insect can encroach on a flower. If this happened indoors, then the air for the flower is too dry. Spray the plant more often, and remove the pests with a brush dipped in alcohol and treat with special products. Not bad in this case, a soapy solution helps, which can also be used to process the leaves without harm to the plant. Also brown rust can attack the catharanthus. The leaves are then covered from below with "pustules".

Caring for a catharanthus - as well as for any house plant, you need to watch:

If the leaves become soft, turn yellow and die - this means that there is too much direct sunlight.
If the tips of the leaves dry and turn yellow, then the plant does not have enough moisture in the air. This happens in the winter when the heating is on.
If the yellowed lower leaves fall off, and the rest of the foliage is bright and green, you can not be scared - this is a natural process.
Few flowers - cold air. The higher the temperature, the more abundant the catharanthus blooms.
If the roots braid the whole earth in a pot, then the plant will stop blooming, the leaves will dry and turn yellow.

If the catharanthus does not like too wet ground, then, on the contrary, it welcomes high humidity. Spray the flower more often, in winter it is better to do this with warm water. Also, make sure you have ventilation.

Although the pink catharanthus is a distant relative for our familiar periwinkle, but, unlike it, it will not be able to spend the winter in a flower bed in the garden. A flower growing on the street will die with the onset of frost. Therefore, if you want to admire exactly the same variety of catharanthus next year, you need to break the cuttings and root them, transferring them to a warm house. Even a room catharanthus in the summer is better to take out to the balcony and put it in a bright place. Let it "breathe" with fresh air.

Although the catharanthus is a perennial (if it grows in a house or in its homeland), it is not worth keeping it at home for more than three years. It is better to rejuvenate the plant by cuttings. Young plants look more impressive. But, if you cut the catharanthus by more than one third, then the flowers and leaves will become much smaller. (With good care, leaves reach seven centimeters, and flowers - five centimeters).

In order for the catharanthus to be beautiful and blooming profusely, we must do the following:

Water moderately, but regularly (not flooding).
Spray frequently.
Plant the plant in loose soil in a bright place.
Repot every year.
Prune annually in the spring.
Fertilize three times a month in spring, summer and autumn.

If you fulfill all these simple care requirements, then the catharanthus, as a very grateful plant, will surely decorate your garden and house with its flowers in gratitude for the care.

Catharanthus seeds can be bought online, you can - in a regular store, or you can collect yourself from your plant to sow them next year. But, we must honestly admit that only an experienced grower can collect seeds from a catarthus on his own. It's all about a temperate climate: in its conditions, they simply do not tie.

The sprouts that have appeared remain at the same level for a long time - they build up their root system. But do not rush to feed sprouted plants with fertilizer. From the moment the sprouts appear to the first feeding, at least two to three weeks should pass.

Kataranthus is a "fast" flower. Therefore, by the end of summer, he will already cover the ground with a flowering rug.

Caring for a catharanthus - as well as for any house plant, you need to watch:

If the leaves become soft, turn yellow and die off, this means that there is too much direct sunlight.
If the tips of the leaves dry and turn yellow, then the plant does not have enough moisture in the air. This happens in the winter when the heating is on.
If the yellowed lower leaves fall off, and the rest of the foliage is bright and green, you can not be scared - this is a natural process.
Few flowers - cold air. The higher the temperature, the more abundant the catharanthus blooms.
If the roots braid the whole earth in a pot, then the plant will stop blooming, the leaves will dry and turn yellow.

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Caring for a catharanthus

Well-lit places are suitable for Quaranthus, but without the scorching rays of the sun. An excellent option for a catharanthus would be eastern or western window sills.

On the south window, you will definitely need shading, since the bright sun can cause burns on the leaves.

In winter, it is recommended to move the plant to the southern window sill, because due to the lack of light, the shoots stretch out and lose their decorative effect. At this time, additional lighting with phytolamps or fluorescent lamps is welcome.

In the summer, the catharanthus will feel comfortable at 20-25 degrees. In winter, the temperature of the content should be reduced to 15-18 degrees.

Since catharanthus is a representative of the tropics, a strong drop in temperature is fatal for him. Therefore, in winter the temperature should not fall below 8 degrees.

Quarantus loves fresh air, so when the weather is warm outside, it can be taken out to the balcony, loggia or garden. In this case, it is necessary to choose a place protected from the scorching rays of the sun, rain and drafts. With the first cold snaps in August, the plant should be taken into the house.

The flower tolerates temperature fluctuations relatively normally, but it is better to provide it with the most comfortable conditions. Then he will delight with abundant lush flowering.

In spring and summer catharanthus needs abundant watering - 3-4 times a week. The soil in the pot should always be slightly damp.

in winter the regularity of the procedure is reduced to 1 time per week. Before the next moistening, the top layer of soil should dry well.

Watering the catharanthus, it is necessary to maintain a balance. For a plant, both waterlogging, which is fraught with rotting of the roots, and drying out of the earth, which can provoke twisting and falling of leaves, are detrimental. Therefore, water from the pan should be poured out 20-30 minutes after watering. It is impossible to allow complete drying of the earthen coma.

Water for irrigation should be defended for several days, it should be at room temperature.

For planting a catharanthus, you need a nutritious light ground. You can buy ready-made substrate for flowering plants in the store.

With self-preparation, sand, peat, soddy soil and humus should be mixed in equal proportions.

Another option is soddy, leafy soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 1:2:1:0.5. Before planting, the mixture should be disinfected by spilling it with a solution of potassium permanganate.

The pot must have holes for draining. At the bottom it is necessary to lay out a 4-centimeter layer of drainage.

Catharanthus grown as flyers are fed once a week. Perennials should be fertilized every 2 weeks from March to September. Feeding is not needed between October and February.

The dose should be made 2 times weaker than indicated on the package.

Quaranthus grown as flyers need more frequent feeding than those that are planned to be kept for the next year.

Fertilizers should be applied to moist soil after watering.. Do not exceed the concentration of fertilizer indicated on the packaging, as this can cause root burns.

Sometimes you can alternate mineral supplements with organic. As the latter, an ash solution is perfect (20 grams per 2 liters of water). Once a month, instead of root dressing, you can spray on the leaf. For this, it is recommended to use the drug Epin Extra.

Quaranthus prefers high ambient humidity - not lower than 60%. To ensure such conditions, you can use several methods:

It is prudent to approach the spraying of catharanthus. On the one hand, the plant loves high humidity, on the other hand, drops on the flowers are undesirable. During the flowering period, spraying should be carried out very carefully.

In winter, in a room with dry air, you can spray a dormant pink periwinkle every day, in the morning or in the evening. For this, warm settled water and a fine-grained spray gun are used.

In the spring, before transplanting, the shoots of the plant should be shortened by 1/3. Thus, the catharanthus can be rejuvenated and a lush flowering bush can be formed.

Cut pieces of shoots of catharanthus can be used for propagation.

Pruning is necessary for the catharanthus to form a compact bush, lush flowering and plant rejuvenation.

Quaranthus, grown as a perennial, is recommended to be cut in the spring, because during the winter the plant is very stretched and loses its decorative appearance. It is recommended to trim the shoots by 1/3. If the plant is strongly stretched in summer, it is recommended to carry out the forming pruning by pinching the ends of the shoots. The cut stems will release new buds after a few weeks.

Pruned shoots can be used to propagate periwinkle using cuttings. Although the plant can be grown as a perennial indoors, it is not recommended to keep one specimen for longer than 3 years.

This is explained by lower leaves on the shoots they dry up and fall off, and the flower “goes bald”, loses its attractiveness and decorative appearance. Young catharanthus updated with cuttings look much more presentable.

Brown rust can affect the catharanthus, which is recognized by the presence of pustules on the back of the leaves.

Damaged parts are removed, and the plant is treated with a fungicide, such as Fundazol.

Of the pests, aphids, spider mites, and scale insects pose a threat to the pink periwinkle.

Pests can be controlled by mechanical removal using a soapy solution or treatment with insecticides: Actellik, Fitoverm or Nurell-D.

Prevention of the appearance of insects is proper care, in particular, maintaining high humidity.

As a rule, problems with catharanthus arise due to improper care or adverse conditions of detention:

The leaves of the plant begin to turn yellow, become soft and die off, mainly due to an excess of sunlight;
If few buds appear on the catharanthus, then it is cold. The higher the temperature, the more magnificent the flowering;
Yellowing and curling of the leaves indicates insufficient watering;
The stems are stretched with a lack of light;
The tips of the leaves dry out due to low humidity;
Poor growth and poor flowering indicates a shortage nutrients in the soil;
The catharanthus can drop buds when there is a lack of light or moisture.

Quarantus is propagated by seeds and cuttings.

seeds sown in boxes filled with a mixture of peat and sand to a depth of 0.5 cm. The container is covered with polyethylene and placed in a dark, warm (20-24 degrees) place.

After the emergence of seedlings - after 5-7 days - the greenhouse is taken out to a bright place. The earth is moistened as needed.

After 10 days, the film is removed, and after 20-30 days, the seedlings dive into separate pots.

cuttings, 10-12 cm long, cut in spring and summer. The lower leaves are cut off, the cut is processed with a root. Cuttings are planted in a mixture of perlite and peat, covered with a film and kept in diffused light at a temperature of 20-22 degrees.

After propagation of the catharanthus by cuttings, the film is removed after 3 weeks. After another 7 days, young catharanthus land on permanent place. You can plant 2-3 cuttings in one pot.

Periwinkle grows very quickly, so it needs frequent transplants. Young catharanthus require several transfers to new pots over the summer. Those plants that are grown as perennials need an annual spring transplant (in March - early April).

Timely transplantation is the key to good growth and abundant flowering periwinkle. If the roots braid the whole earthen ball, the buds stop appearing, and the leaves begin to turn yellow and fall off. In view of this, timely transplantation is very important for catharanthus.

The best way to transplant catharanthus is transshipment. Due to the fact that the earth ball and roots are not damaged, the plant quickly adapts to new conditions and continues to grow and develop well.

A day or two before transplanting, the periwinkle is not watered to strengthen the earthen ball. At the bottom of the new pot is placed good layer drainage from expanded clay, clay shards or broken bricks. The plant is moved to a new container, and the free space in it is covered with new earth and lightly compacted.

Before sowing, it is advised to soak the seeds for 40 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate (1 gram per 0.5 liter of water), then dry them for several hours on a paper towel.

Seeds are sown in bowls or containers filled with a moistened mixture of peat, sand and earth. They deepen by 1-2 cm, after which the soil is slightly moistened with a fine-grained spray gun. The container is covered with an opaque film and placed in a dark place. Optimum temperature for germination - 23-25 degrees.

Under favorable conditions, seedlings appear in 7-10 days., after which the film is removed, the container is transferred to a well-lit place (without the scorching sun), and the temperature of the content decreases slightly.

If in the future the catharanthus will be grown in a pot, then 2-3 copies are planted in one container filled with a substrate for adult plants. So the periwinkle will look more lush and attractive. If the landing is made on a flower bed, then the flowers are planted one at a time.

Now you know everything about caring for catharanthus at home, as well as growing a plant from seeds from sowing to flowering.

Photo of catharanthus in the process of care at home and in the natural environment:

Quarantus - care and reproduction at home

Everyone who has seen a catharanthus indoor plant will agree that this spectacular bush, strewn with delightful numerous flowers, clearly brings the comfort and warmth of the southern islands of the Mediterranean into the house. Its name is translated from Greek as "pure, clear or flawless flower." In this article, you will read about growing catharanthus and caring for it at home. Many flower growers consider him the king of indoor flowering bushes, because the catharanthus pleases its owners with almost endless flowering. all year round, and requires minimal care from them after landing.

The catharanthus flower (Catharanthus) belongs to the evergreen herbaceous and semi-shrub plants of the Kutrovye family (Apocynaceae). In the wild, it can be found everywhere in tropical countries. These are Cuba, Java, Africa, Indochina, Indonesia - it's impossible to list them all. It is not possible to accurately determine its homeland, although many scientists are inclined to Madagascar, where it is most common. There are seven or eight of its species. In the subtropics, the catharanthus grows up to one and a half meters in height. At home, this bush does not exceed 60 cm. As a houseplant, catharanthus has been bred since the middle of the 18th century.

For a long time, the catharanthus was considered one of the varieties of another flower - pink periwinkle. These plants are very similar. Both belong to the Kutrov family. Only since 1937, after lengthy disputes, did botanists begin to attribute the pink catharanthus (Catharanthus roseus), as a species of evergreen perennial shrubs, to a separate genus of Catharanthus.

Indoor flower cataranthus is perennial, often grown as an annual. In height at home, it grows no higher than 50 - 60 cm. Its upright stems are fleshy, branch at the tops, and become woody over time. The roots are powerful, pivotal. The central root reaches a depth of 20-30 cm, there are many lateral adventitious roots that have a strong specific smell. Young roots lack root hairs. The leaves of the catharanthus are oblong in shape, pointed at both ends, and up to 7 cm long. They are glossy, dark green in color, with a white longitudinal vein. During flowering, the entire bush is covered with many wheel-shaped flowers. Catharanthus flowers are 3 to 5 cm in diameter. They have correct form of five petals with a flat corolla, the throat of which is covered with thyroid hairs. In the center of each flower there is a peephole, usually of a bright contrasting color. There are hybrids with white, orange, light lilac, blue-violet petals. Catharanthus flowers are very similar to phlox flowers, but they are solitary, while in phlox they are collected in inflorescences. But, during active flowering, from May to October, such a magnificent hat is formed from separately blooming flowers that the decorativeness of the flower at this time is beyond praise. Long flowering ends with the onset of cold weather. After flowering, the fruit of the catharanthus is formed, which is a sickle-shaped two-leaflet, inside which about a dozen elongated seeds are formed.

The catharanthus plant is valued not only for its spectacular appearance and decorative effect. It has been known since ancient times medicinal properties. Healers and healers of Madagascar and Indonesia used catharanthus to treat diabetes, coughs and various tumors. The green parts of the plant contain up to 60 biologically active alkaloids. Modern research showed that indeed this flower contains substances that reduce blood sugar. And the alkaloids vinblastine and vincristine formed the basis of anticancer drugs that are used in modern medicine. All kinds of infusions and decoctions are prepared from the leaves and shoots of the catharanthus, which treat many diseases, such as:

poorly healing wounds and trophic ulcers;
fibroids, polyps, prostate adenomas;
diseases of the teeth and gums;
broncho-pulmonary diseases;
hypertension and diabetes.

It is important to know that all parts of the catharanthus are poisonous. It is not recommended to prepare any medicine from it yourself! Side effects, allergic reactions, burns may occur. There are contraindications. It is possible to use preparations from catharanthus only under the supervision and on the recommendation of doctors.

All decorative series of varieties and hybrids of this flower are a variety of pink catharanthus. They differ from it in the size of the bush and different shades of petals. We will introduce you to the most popular of them.

Quaranthus Aristocrat. This is a low bush, 50 cm in height. The flowers are relatively large - up to 5 cm in diameter. The color range is varied - from pure white to dark red. In the middle, a contrast eye usually sparkles. This flower is grown not only as a houseplant, but also as a garden plant, decorating them with borders in flower beds and paths.

Quaranthus Pacifica. This is a low compact bush, 25 - 30 cm in height, and 15 - 20 cm in crown diameter. Characterized early flowering and unpretentiousness in care. The flowers are large, a characteristic eye in the middle stands out brightly.

Depending on the shade of the petals, the Pacifica variety has its own varieties:

Pacific Burgundy - has rich wine-colored flowers with a white eye;
Pacifica White - has flowers white color with a red eye;
Pacifica Epricot - has apricot-colored flowers with a red center;
Pacifica Ice Pink - has pale pink flowers with a red eye.

In the 1980s, there appeared whole line new spectacular varieties of catharanthus. Here are some of the popular ones so far:

Variety series Cooler (Culer). Small strongly branching bushes, up to 40 cm in height, united here. Their flowers are round, large, up to 5 cm in diameter. With a bright contrast eye in the center.

The varieties in this series include:

Grape Cooler - lavender-pink flowers with a red center;
Peppermint Cooler - white flowers with a bright red center;
Red Cooler - red flowers.

Sortoseriya First Kiss (First Kiss, First kiss). Low, 30 - 40 cm in height, neat bushes, have a beautiful crown and at least 13 shades of flowers. This is the most popular and titled series of catharanthus. At flower growers' competitions in North America, the catharanthus of this variety series won prestigious prizes, in particular, the blue-violet cultivar First Kiss Blueberry won high awards in the USA and Canada.

Variety series Cascade (Cascade). Here are ampelous catharanthus, up to 15 cm high and with long flexible shoots that either creep or hang down. It blooms with large flowers, up to 5 cm in diameter. The most popular varieties of this variety series:

Quaranthus ampelous Titan. Long whips hanging down reach 75 cm in length. Numerous bright red flowers burn brightly on dark green glossy leaves. This variety is excellent for growing in pots.

White - with snow-white flowers;
Deep Rose - with pink flowers;
Bark cascade Cherry - with cherry flowers;
Bark cascade Shelf Dot - with white flowers;
Bark cascade Mejent - with flowers of gray - burgundy color.

When growing catharanthus at home, it is important to follow some simple rules so that you have a wonderful evergreen bush.

All parts of the catharanthus are poisonous and contain alkaloids. Work with it must be carried out with gloves to avoid allergies or poisoning.

Kataranthus is a moisture-loving culture. Abundant flowering directly depends on the sufficiently high humidity of the ambient air and substrate. Quaranthus prefer high humidity. If humidity readings fall below 60%, spraying of the surrounding air and, with care, the plants themselves is necessary. Moreover, the leaves can be sprayed, but the flowers are not desirable! To increase the humidity in the room, place containers with water next to the catharanthus plantings, and place the pots themselves in trays with wet expanded clay or wet pebbles.

Water your flowers regularly. Drying of the root system must not be allowed! You will immediately know about insufficient watering by the twisting leaves of the plant. If you quickly notice and soon water, they will straighten out.

But there should be no stagnation of water in the pan and waterlogging of the soil. Try to choose the frequency of watering so that the soil moisture is consistently average. Water before it dries upper layer soil to a depth of 2 - 3 cm. If you plan to keep the plant until next year, in the autumn winter period reduce watering significantly. Keep the earth ball slightly damp. If the air in the room is dry, spray the leaves constantly.

The plant prefers diffused light. On the windowsills of the eastern and western directions, he will be most comfortable. Although, on the south side, provided the pot is protected from direct sunlight at noon, the catharanthus will feel great. Not required to post flower pot on the very windowsill. It grows well in a small shade and looks great on a shelf illuminated by scattered sunlight. Under the condition of wintering indoors, he will also need good lighting. Otherwise, the stems will stretch upwards, and the decorative effect of the flower will suffer. If there is insufficient lighting, use fluorescent lamps.

The ideal temperature for growing catharanthus at home is 20 - 25 degrees Celsius. It's in spring-summer period for long-term maintenance of a flower. In winter, it is necessary for him to find a cooler place and maintain the temperature there within 15 degrees, because he has no place on the windowsill, next to heating appliances. Perhaps you have an insulated loggia. But, it is necessary to ensure that the temperature does not decrease at all - a long decrease in it, below 10 degrees, may not endure the catharanthus.

If you are not going to keep the flower in the winter and plan to throw it away in the fall, after flowering, then the warmer the location, the more abundant it will bloom for you. Moreover, the flower feels great in warm time years outdoors. In the spring, as soon as the air outside warms up above 18 degrees, the catharanthus pot can be placed on a balcony or veranda, preferably under a roof, because flower plantings must be protected from rain, drafts and direct sun. With the first cold snap, in August-September, it is better to bring the catharanthus into the living quarters. Until October, he will still delight you with his magnificent flowering on the windowsill.

Good catharanthus will grow in a loose lung fertile soil. Purchased land for flowering houseplants, for example, for geraniums, is suitable for him. It is also not difficult to prepare the soil mixture on your own from leaf and sod land, adding a little peat and coarse river sand there.

In order for the flowering of the catharanthus to be long and plentiful, it needs constant, fairly intensive top dressing. If your flower is an annual, feed it once a week by adding liquid fertilizer for flowering houseplants to the water for irrigation. Suitable liquid fertilizer for indoor roses. But do not overdo it, read the doses on the package.

If the catharanthus after flowering will be preserved as a perennial, its strength must be preserved. Therefore, top dressing should be done during flowering less often, once every 2 weeks, and at a dose reduced by half. After flowering, from October to February, top dressing should be stopped altogether.

Quaranthus is a fast growing flower. If you plant it in a small pot, it will outgrow it very soon, the roots won't fit and will block the drainage holes. Therefore, choose a large pot right away, so that it is enough for a year of the flower's life. As we wrote above, the root system is developing well, the roots grow up to 20 - 35 cm in length. Lay a good layer of drainage, 3-4 cm, on the bottom of the planting tank. Use expanded clay, pebbles or other suitable material. And then fill the pot with the prepared soil mixture. Do not forget to add a little humus for nutrition. During the annual transplant of perennial catharanthus, each time choose a pot 3 - 5 cm larger and wider than before.

For such a fast-growing plant as catharanthus, pruning of shoots is a necessary procedure. In a perennial culture, after a period of winter rest, the shoots stretched out over the winter are cut off by a third of their length. Remove damaged and dried branches, give the bush the desired shape. This pruning in early spring will rejuvenate the flower, give it strength for new growth.

Pinching the ends of the shoots will help to form a compact beautiful crown of a young catharanthus. Their upward growth will stop, and the growth of side branches will make the crown thicker and more decorative.

But you will have to constantly monitor the decorative appearance of your pet during flowering. Withered flowers and yellowed leaves at the bottom of the shoots must be cleaned regularly - they greatly spoil the appearance of the plant.

If you grow catharanthus as a perennial, then it will need an annual transplant in early spring, in March.

Return the flower to a warm, bright room. Look around. Make the desired cut. Pick up a pot for transplanting 3 - 5 cm more than before. Put drainage there - it should be at least 4 cm. Do the transplant by transshipping the flower along with the ground. Try not to injure the root system. Add soil of the same composition to the pot in which the catharanthus grew last season. If the soil is very different in composition, the flower may not bloom. According to the reaction, the soil is neutral or slightly sour. Keep this in mind and always use one type of soil, for example, for flowering geraniums.

You may need to repot your flower more than once a year. If during the active phase of flowering the lower leaves suddenly began to turn yellow and the flowers fall off - Perhaps the root system no longer has enough space in the pot. You can see the roots sticking out drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. This is a signal that the catharanthus urgently needs to be transplanted into a large container.

If the catharanthus is difficult to remove from the pot, try watering it. The plastic pot may need to be cut or broken, but when removing the flower, be careful not to damage its delicate root system. Otherwise, the catharanthus will stop blooming.

If you regularly follow all the rules of good flower care, then the catharanthus will also try and stun you with its fantastic flowering!

We recommend not keeping your perennial for more than three years. Any catharanthus of this age begins to grow, its flowers become small, the shoots are clumsy. The plant loses its attractiveness and decorative effect. It is better to part with him, having taken care of his descendants in advance, that is, about reproduction.

After the enchanting flowering, the forces of the catharanthus are depleted, and you need to try to make it bloom again the next year. For this reason, flower growers often grow catharanthus, as annual plant, and after the end of its flowering - just throw it away. After all, the difficulties of preserving a flower in winter, problems with temperature, humidity, and lighting of its wintering place cannot be compared with the rooting of its shoots or cuttings. By the beginning of the new season, you will have a new flower full of strength and desire to bloom without any problems.

Catharanthus is propagated in three ways: growing from seeds, rooting cuttings and dividing the bush.

Buy catharanthus seeds at specialty stores. Their seeds during the summer flowering will not have time to ripen. Their natural maturation is possible only in tropical conditions. If you still set out to get your seeds - be patient. The bush will have to be grown all autumn and winter at room conditions, maintaining a constant temperature, humidity and good lighting, as in the tropics. Your seeds will ripen, perhaps only by spring.

Seeds can be sown at any time of the year. Just keep in mind that the catharanthus blooms after germination in 60 - 70 days, that is, young bushes will bloom in two to three months. Therefore, it is better, in terms of caring for them - in terms of temperature, humidity and lighting, to do this in early spring.

Prepared seeds (treated with potassium permanganate and epin) are sown in containers with nutrient soil to a depth of no more than 1 cm. The soil is gently moistened with a spray bottle with warm settled water, the container lid is closed. You can use any containers convenient for you, but be sure to cover them with something transparent - glass or polyethylene. Germination will be best done in a warm, dark place. In a week or two shoots will appear. Containers are taken out to a lighted place. The temperature is maintained at 23 - 26 degrees Celsius. Ventilate once a day better in the morning. Sprouts for a long time, about a month, sit at the same level - they grow roots. When three or four leaves appear on the seedlings, the catharanthus dive into separate pots. Do not forget about the rapid growth of the young, immediately take a pot of a large size than you would like, so that soon, during flowering, you do not have to replant the flower again.

Pay special attention to the preparation of the soil mixture. An excellent option is a mixture of peat, humus, soddy soil and coarse sand in equal proportions. If you use ready-made soil, choose a substrate suitable for flowering indoor flowers.

For propagation by cuttings (cuttings), green cuttings are cut from the tops of the shoots near the catharanthus. Choose the method of rooting the cutting - in water or in the substrate.

Water for rooting is taken settled or boiled with the addition of some kind of growth stimulator. Put the glass in a bright warm place. Waiting for the appearance of the spine. As needed, add water. Roots will appear very soon. Then the stalk is planted in a pot with a regular substrate. Take care of like an adult plant.

You can root the cuttings in a container with moist soil under the film. Air plantings from time to time, as the soil dries, water them. When signs of new growth appear on the handle, the film can be removed. Root cuttings with a margin, in case of their death.

Harvesting and planting cuttings is best in the spring, after pruning the old bush. But you can do it in the fall too. The optimum temperature for rooting catharanthus cuttings is 22 - 25 degrees Celsius.

Video: how to propagate catharanthus cuttings.

This method of reproduction is used during the transplantation of an adult plant into new pots. Usually, it happens in early spring. Depending on the size of the root system, the catharanthus can be easily divided into two or three parts. Remove the flower from the pot, try to gently shake the soil from the roots. Decide on the place of division of the root system. Use a sharp, well-disinfected tool to divide the bush. Treat the incision sites with crushed activated charcoal. Plant each specimen in a separate pot according to all the rules.

If you are planting your indoor flower in a summer cottage in a flower bed for the summer, then you need to think about how to save the catharanthus in winter. After all, your sissy will not survive the winter, even mild, on the street. Carefully dig up the plant in early October. Trim the branches two-thirds of the way. Place the flower in a spacious pot to fit the entire root system. Fill the pot to the top with a mixture of sand and earth. Bring in a cool room with a temperature of 15 - 17 degrees. Try to find one for the winter in the apartment. Let him stand there until the onset of spring and warmth. It does not need to be watered in winter. When the air outside warms up above 18 degrees, the rhizome of the catharanthus can be planted again in a flower bed.

You are always on appearance plants will be able to determine whether it is healthy or something is wrong with it. By its appearance, the catharanthus itself signals about adverse conditions its content. The plant must be monitored, and, if necessary, take measures to correct their mistakes.

Consider the most common problems of growing catharanthus.

Small dark bumps or spots appeared on the upper surface of the leaves. On the bottom - something in the form of pustules. These are signs of the disease of many indoor flowers - leaf rust. The reason is frequent waterlogging of the soil at high humidity. Or when transplanting, a heavy or rust-infected soil was used. Treatment is carried out with fungicides (read about indoor flower diseases). Transplant the treated plant into new soil.
The leaves on the shoots became lethargic, turned yellow and fell off. This happens if the pot is on a window sill that is not protected from the sun. Set the flower to the back of the room or protect it from direct sunlight with blinds or curtains.
The tips of the leaves turned yellow. This happens when the humidity in the room is too low. In winter, this is due to central heating. The pot must be placed in a tall pan with wet expanded clay and set aside from the heaters. Next to the flower, you can place a wide container of water. If there are no flowers on the catharanthus, its leaves should be sprayed with settled water at room temperature. All this should increase the humidity in the room. The tips of the leaves of the catharanthus will stop turning yellow.
The lower leaves on the shoots turn yellow and fall off. This is a natural process for a catharanthus. Remove them regularly from the plant so that the decorative effect of the flower does not suffer.
There are few flowers on your catharanthus. Poor flowering usually happens if the catharanthus is cold. Move the flower pot to a warmer, brighter place - and he will thank you with abundant flowering.
The leaves begin to turn yellow, flowering stops. Examine the flower pot. If it is not large, if the roots of the catharanthus appeared from the drainage holes, it means that your pet has become cramped in this pot and it's time to transplant it into a wider and deeper flowerpot. It will take a little time, and the plant will come to life and begin to bloom.
The quarantus began dropping buds. This happens when there is insufficient attention to the flower: poor lighting, lack of moisture in the soil or low air humidity.
Young leaves are falling from the tops of the shoots. Perhaps you rarely water the flower, it lacks moisture. At the same time, check other nuances of care: whether it is warm, light, and whether any insects bite it.

We introduced you to indoor flower catharanthus. Believe that you will spend less time caring for him than reading this article! This is a completely unpretentious plant, but so sweet and responsive to any attention to it from the grower. Kataranthus is good because this small, compact bush blooms profusely with bright acrylic flowers from spring to October. At the same time, it grows quickly and multiplies easily. Knowing the simple rules for caring for it, you will always have a grateful plant in your house, ready to decorate the interior of your house all year round.

Photo: Catharanthus

It is a small perennial subshrub growing to an average of 60 cm in height. It has erect branched stems with oppositely arranged leaves of an oblong-lanceolate shape, dark green in color, with a light central vein, up to 7 cm long. The flowers are simple, with five petals, pink, lilac or white, similar in appearance to the flowers of balsam or "Vanka-wet". Under favorable conditions, the catharanthus can bloom from May to the end of September.

General information about the plant Catharanthus - Catharanthus

Catharanthus - Catharanthus family kutrovye. Other names: periwinkle, vinca

Number: In nature, only 5 species are common.

Place of origin: Homeland - tropical rainforests, mainly about. Madagascar.

Usage: beautifully flowering, potted.

Plant dimensions: 35-70 cm in height.

Growth: very fast.

Bloom: March-October.

Temperature (winter): 12 - 18
temperature (summer): 20 - 25

Lighting: Catharanthus needs a very bright, sunny location with some direct sun. Grows well on east and west windows. To the bright sun in the spring should be accustomed gradually.

Watering: Quarantus is watered quite abundantly all the time of the year, the soil should not dry out, but avoid excessive dampness.

Reproduction Catharanthus - Catharanthus

Quarantus is propagated by seeds, which are sown in February - March. And also not lignified, i.e. green cuttings.

Air humidity: Quaranthus loves very much wet air. It is necessary to carry out regular spraying, or you can put the pot on a pallet with wet pebbles or expanded clay.

Transfer: The soil should be loose and have a slightly acidic reaction. Soil - 1 part of sod land, 1 part of leaf, 1 part of humus, 1 part peat land and 1 part sand. Drainage is required. The catharanthus is transplanted annually.

Top dressing: With the formation of flowers and new leaves, the catharanthus is fed with a special fertilizer for decorative flowering plants, adding it to the water for irrigation. Top dressing about 3 times a month.

Undercut: pinch regularly, cut strongly in February, leaving a stump of 8-10 cm

Pests and diseases Catharanthus - Catharanthus

Most often affected by the scutellum and spider mite. Contributes to the appearance of pests too dry air in the room. If the catharanthus is kept outside in the summer, then it may be attacked by aphids. In this case, it is necessary to carry out inspection and preventive treatment before bringing the plant into the room.

Care features: The plant is poisonous!

The ends of the leaves dry up, the leaves turn yellow, the leaf tissue dies off - a lot of light and dry air.

Catharanthus Pests - Catharanthus

Mealybug
spider mite
Aphid

Source: www.floralworld.ru

Kataranthus is an evergreen annual or perennial (it all depends on the chosen growing method), belonging to the kutrov family, which are herbaceous plants or semi-shrubs. In the genus of this culture, there are only eight varieties. Madagascar, India and Sri Lanka are considered her homeland.

General information

The most popular cultivated variety is the pink catharanthus, which is a semi-shrub, reaching a height of up to 50 centimeters, having a dense lush crown, glossy leaf plates of a dark green hue and pink inflorescences that look like a periwinkle.

Grow it extraordinary beautiful plant can be both in a pot on the windowsill, and on garden plot. Moreover, the process of growing and caring for a catharanthus is so simple that even a novice grower can handle it.

Quaranthus varieties and types of photos with the name

- the plant reaches a height of up to 60 centimeters. The branches of the catharanthus are erect, branching at the top. Leaf plates are lanceolate, glossy, dark green. The inflorescences are pink, five-petalled, similar to periwinkle or phlox. They practically do not smell. The flowering time of the plant lasts from late spring to mid-autumn.

- this plant variety is just perfect for growing in pots. Quaranthus is an evergreen perennial. Leaf plates are elongated, glossy, rich green. The branches are fleshy, woody with age. They can reach a length of up to 1.5 meters. The inflorescences have five petals and can be white, pink and light purple with a yellow or purple center. The plant blooms from May to October.

- is a semi-shrub perennial, reaching a height of up to 60 sentiments. The branches are upright. Branching is observed at the tops of the shoots. The bark on the branches can be both pinkish and green. large leaves are of the lanceolate type. They have narrowed edges, a white vein in the middle, glossiness and a dark green tint. The inflorescences of the plant are five-leaved white or pink. The catharanthus blooms from late spring to early autumn.

- is a small compact shrub, reaching a height of up to 30 centimeters. The crown diameter is from 15 to 20 centimeters. Leaf plates are lanceolate, large, dark green. Medium sized white flowers with a bright center.

- this perennial shrub reaches a height of 30 centimeters and has erect branches and branching in the upper part. The leaves have a lanceolate type and a rich green tint. Inflorescences have a pinkish tint with a purple middle. The catharanthus blooms from late spring to mid-autumn.

The plant is compact and dense crown. In height, it reaches from 15 to 20 centimeters. Leaf plates are large, glossy, dark green. Inflorescences are five-petalled, white, pinkish or lilac. The flowering time of the catharanthus lasts all summer and affects the first two months of autumn.

- The plant is compact. Its height reaches 15 centimeters. The semi-shrub has long flexible shoots, creeping type. Leaf plates are lanceolate, rich dark green. Inflorescences are large, five-petalled, having a white or pink color. Flowering time lasts all summer and ends in mid-autumn.

- This variety was bred by Japanese flower growers. The plant has dark green, large, glossy leaf plates. Inflorescences are five-leafed bright purple hue with a yellow center. The bush reaches a height of up to 30 centimeters, has a lush crown and blooms throughout the summer.

- the plant is compact and lush branching. It reaches a height of up to 20 centimeters and has erect shoots with lush foliage of a rich green hue. Inflorescences are large peach, dark purple and pinkish shades. The flowering time of the plant is in the summer.

- the height of the plant reaches up to 20 centimeters. Shrub compact with upright, elastic branches. The leaf blades are round, dark green with a distinct glossiness. Inflorescences have a peach hue and a dark center. The flowering time of the catharanthus is in the summer.

The plant reaches a height of up to 30 centimeters and has a lush crown. The leaves are large, glossy and saturated, green tint. Rounded ends. The flowers are purple with dark spots. The plant blooms from mid-May to October.

- a lush shrub, reaching a height of up to 60 centimeters, has a crown with dense, dark green foliage. The flowers are white and almost odorless. The catharanthus of this variety blooms from late spring to mid-autumn.

- the plant reaches a height of up to 60 centimeters and has erect, flexible, dense branches. Leaf plates are lanceolate, glossy, saturated green. Inflorescences are large, yellow with a bright outlined center. This variety blooms throughout the summer.

- in height, the plant of this variety reaches up to 30 centimeters. It has flexible branches with lush, lanceolate dark green foliage. Inflorescences can be apricot, pink, white and red. Kataranthus blooms from May to October.

- This variety is distinguished by long, flexible, creeping branches. It is suitable for growing in pots. Leaf plates are lanceolate, dark green in color and glossy. Inflorescences are large bright red.

- The bush is compact and dense crown. Leafy plates of dark green tint cover the upright flexible stems of the plant. Inflorescences are large raspberry-colored with a bright red center.

- is not high perennial shrub With large quantity branches and large, glossy lanceolate-type leaf plates. Inflorescences of this variety have a purple, pink and white hue. The flowering time of the plant is in the summer.

- a lush shrub reaches a height of 25 centimeters and has flexible, creeping branches. Leaf blades are glossy, dark green, lanceolate type, with a light longitudinal vein. The inflorescences are large, having a white, pink and purple hue with a dark center. Kataranthus blooms from mid-summer to early autumn.

Quarantus cultivation and care at home

To grow a catharanthus in the form of a pot culture, you should follow a series simple rules and then the plant will delight the grower with abundant flowering and evergreen foliage for many years.

Since the flower loves moisture very much, and the abundance of its flowering depends on the humidity of the air, all this should be taken care of in advance. The humidity of the air masses in the room where the plant is located should not decrease to less than 60%. You can maintain the necessary microclimate with the help of a humidifier and systematic spraying of leaf plates. However, it should be noted that moisture should not fall on the inflorescences, otherwise they will begin to wither and fall off.

The plant needs diffused sunlight. It will feel comfortable on an east or west windowsill. If you create a light shading for the catharanthus, then it can also be grown on the south window. A culture with hanging shoots can be placed in a pot, but also in light shade. During wintering, the plant needs light, if it is not enough, the decorative effect of the culture will suffer greatly. Therefore, in winter, as additional source light, be sure to use a phytolamp.

Ideal temperature conditions for a plant are considered to be from 25 to 25 degrees. In winter, the temperature must be reduced to 15 degrees, but care must be taken that it does not fall below 10 degrees, otherwise the flower will die.

Watering the catharanthus

The plant is very fond of moisture, so watering should be plentiful. However, it should be noted that when overflowing, the plant may begin to hurt as a result of the fact that moisture has stagnated in the roots and caused them to rot.

To avoid this, water the flower only when the soil is slightly dry. The approximate frequency of watering the plant is twice a week.

Soil for catharanthus

For proper growth and development, the plant requires light, fertile and loose soil. For its planting, earth mixture can be purchased at the store. The ideal option would be a substrate for geraniums.

You can independently prepare the ground from sheet and sod soil, peat and river sand. As a drainage, fine expanded clay should be placed at the bottom of the pot.

Catharanthus transplant

If the grower grows catharanthus as a perennial plant, then it will need to be replanted at the beginning of each spring. To transplant a flower, you must first inspect it by removing unnecessary branches.

The new pot should be 5 centimeters larger than the previous one. A drainage layer of at least 4 centimeters should be placed on the bottom of the pot. The plant should be moved from pot to pot together with the earthman, so as not to injure the roots. In the pot you need to add the same earth mixture in which the catharanthus grew before transplanting.

If the substrate is different, then the plant will not bloom. The earth should be acidic or have a neutral pH. After transplanting, the catharanthus should be watered abundantly. Acclimatization time takes from several weeks to 1.5 months.

Pot for catharanthus

Since the culture grows very quickly, it should be replanted annually, choosing a larger pot for it.

The landing capacity should be 3-5 centimeters larger and wider than the previous one. This rule must be followed with each transplant.

Fertilizer for catharanthus

In order for the plant to bloom for a long time and profusely, it must be constantly fertilized. If the florist decided to grow the crop as an annual, then it should be fed once a week, with a fertilizer for flowering plants mixed with water for watering. It is best to use top dressing for indoor roses.

If the catharanthus is grown as a perennial, then during flowering it is necessary to feed the plant once every two weeks, using a half dose of fertilizer. After the plant has faded, you should stop fertilizing. They reappear only with the advent of spring.

Flowering catharanthus

This has flowers unusual plant consist of five petals and can have various shades from white and pink to red and purple with dark stains.

Flowering time depends on the plant variety. It can last from May to October or from July to September. The inflorescences of the plant are decorative, but they have practically no smell.

pruning catharanthus

Since the catharanthus grows quite quickly, pruning of its branches is a must. After a dormant period, the perennial should be cut off by 1/3 of the length of the elongated branches. You also need to remove dried shoots, giving the plant the necessary shape. With the help of spring pruning, you can not only rejuvenate the plant, but also give it the strength required for growth and flowering.

For a compact and beautiful crown, in a young culture, the ends of the branches are pinned. They stop growing up while side shoots as they grow, they will give the crown density and decorativeness. However, you will have to constantly monitor the beauty and well-groomedness of the plant, timely removing yellowed leaf plates and wilted inflorescences that spoil the overall picture.

Preparing a catharanthus for winter

The dormant period of the plant is weakly expressed. After the catharanthus fades, it must be transferred to a cool and bright room, watering should be reduced to a minimum and stop feeding.

With the onset of spring, it is necessary to return to the previous mode of caring for the plant.

Propagation of catharanthus by cuttings

You can propagate the plant using cuttings as follows. Planting material should be prepared in early spring. For this purpose, it is necessary to choose a well-formed shoot, cut off its end and dig into the soil mixture.

The roots of the cuttings will appear very quickly if the grower will water them in a timely manner and properly care for them. After the seedlings have a root system, they can be planted in pots at a permanent place of growth.

Quaranthus growing from seeds

In room conditions, the seed method is not in great demand, but still it is worth mentioning. For seed propagation you should take the seed material and sow it in a container with a suitable soil mixture. Seeds must be sown to a depth of no more than two centimeters. After sowing, the container must be covered with a whip and put away in a warm place.

Since the seeds of the catharanthus are very good germination, the first shoots will appear within 10 days after planting. When the seedlings have four leaf plates, they can be seated in pots. In order for future bushes to be branchy, seedlings must be pinched.

Reproduction of catharanthus by dividing the bush

Bush division is carried out during spring transplantation. On each delenka taken from the mother bush, there must be a strong root system.

After receiving the planting material, it must be planted immediately to a permanent place of growth.

Diseases and pests

Like many flower-type plants, catharanthus is attacked by pests and diseases. Both the first and the second arise as a result of improper care of the flower.

The most common cultural disease is root rot caused by improper watering and stagnation of moisture as a result of insufficient drainage. Fungi infect the root system, spreading throughout the plant, leading to its death. The disease manifests itself in the form of gray or brownish spots on the leaf plates. .

To save a diseased catharanthus, it should be transplanted into new pot and soil, having previously examined the roots, removing their rotten areas and disinfecting them with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate. You also need to remove damaged sheet plates, if any.

Problems in growing catharanthus

Most often, when growing a plant, flower growers face the following problems:

Leaf curl - these symptoms may appear as a result of damage to the plant by aphids or spider mites. You can get rid of them by treating with Actellik according to the instructions on the package.
Yellowing of leaf plates - the leaves turn yellow due to low humidity and lack of moisture. To eliminate this problem, you should water the catharanthus in a timely manner and place a humidifier next to the plant.
Withering and drying of leaf plates - if this problem occurs, you need to rearrange the plant to another window sill or shade it. Direct sunlight has a detrimental effect on the catharanthus and can lead to its death.
dropping buds - when buds or flowers fall off, it is necessary to completely revise the care of the plant, listening to the advice experienced flower growers.

This showy plant flower growers choose not only for its decorative effect, but also for its medicinal properties, which were discovered by the Aesculapius in ancient times. Indonesian and Madagascar phytotherapists use the plant to treat diabetes, cough, trophic ulcers and oncological diseases.

The branches and leaf plates contain over 60 substances useful for the human body. According to research data, it was possible to establish that some of them reduce the glycemic index, and alkaloids such as vinkistrin and vinblastine can successfully fight cancerous tumors. varying degrees gravity.

Infusions and decoctions are prepared from the green part of the catharanthus, allowing you to deal with the ailments represented by:

Trophic ulcers;
Myomas, prostate adenoma;
Diseases of the oral cavity;
lung diseases;
hypertension;
Oncology;
Diabetes.

When preparing products based on a plant, it should be borne in mind that it is poisonous, therefore, if safety precautions are not observed, it is not recommended to prepare tinctures and decoctions from it.

Contraindications

When using plant-based products, burns or allergies may occur. There are also a number of contraindications presented:

gestation and lactation;
Children's age;
Hypotension;
Tendency to allergies.

Before using preparations based on catharanthus, you should consult with your doctor.

Kataranthus collection and drying plants

Harvest catharanthus should be in September, since it is during this period that the plant contains the most alkaloids.

Freshly harvested foliage and shoots should be stored in a shaded, well-ventilated area until completely dry. It is necessary to use raw materials within a year after collection, otherwise then it will lose its medicinal properties.

Tincture of catharanthus for oncological ailments

To prepare the tincture, you should take 2 tbsp. spoons of dry raw materials, pour them with 250 milliliters of alcohol and insist in a dark place for 10 days, taking out and shaking from time to time.

It is necessary to take the tincture for 21 days, 5 drops mixed with Art. a spoonful of water thirty minutes before a meal. At the end of the period, a 10-day break should be taken, then repeated in the same mode, except that the number of drops should be increased to ten. The therapeutic course is designed for two months.

Conclusion

Catharanthus is not only a wonderful ornamental crop that is very easy to grow at home, but also an effective cure for many ailments, including cancerous tumors.

Therefore, by listening to the advice of experienced flower growers, you can grow the real pride of your flower collection and stay healthy thanks to this amazing plant.