Smithiantha / smithiantha

Refers to the family gesnerievyh. Homeland - Central and South America.

General description: Smithyanta grows better in the greenhouse than in the upper room.

The least demanding is the view of Smithiantha hybrida (Smithite hybrid). This perennial grassy bush is 30-40 cm high, with pubescent leaves of cordate shape with serrated edges. The leaf paint is emerald with brown spots. The drooping bell-bellied flowers up to 5 cm long rise on long peduncles. Color orange-pink or yellow-pink.

The original view of Smithiantha zebrina (Smithite Striped) is larger (50-60 cm tall) and brighter in the coloring of leaves and flowers. Blooms in summer and autumn.

For the winter, the Smithite sheds leaves, which distinguishes her from a similar color scheme, she needs to provide an unmistakable period of rest.

Recommendations for the care of the plant Smithyanta:

Illumination : photophilous, shading is needed only in the summer noon.

Irrigation regime : Abundant during the period of growth, in the period of inactivity does not water, watering to resume with the source of growth.

Humidity : Likes high humidity, but does not like spraying. It is better to spray the atmosphere around the plant and arrange containers with water.

Air humidity is similarly supported by placing pots on a pallet with pebbles or claydite, which is continuously moistened.

Temperature regime : In the summer it is optimal 20-25 ° С, winter period of inactivity in 16 ° C, minimum 13 ° С.

Soil : Recommended soil mishmash: 3 elements of turf, 1 share of coniferous, 1 part of peat land, 2 elements of leaf and 1 share of sand.

During the growth period, it needs fertilizing once a week with fertilizer for flowering plants.

Breeding : At the end of winter, in the pot at a depth of 2 cm horizontally lay the segments of the rhizome (2-3 pieces). In the spring, leaf cuttings root.

Transplantation : In the spring, annually. The root system is superficial, so the pot must be wide, but not deep at all.

Pests : Spoiled by a spider mite (in a dry atmosphere, leaves and stems are braided with cobwebs), scabbards (brown plaques appear on the leaves and stems, leaving sticky excretions), thrips (gray spots appear on the leaves), aphids (form sticky excretions on shoot tips, Buds), whiteflies (whitish or yellowish spots appear on the underside of the leaves), mealy worms (covered with snow-white cotton wool).

The plant is allowed to help finish with a soap solution, warm washing and spraying with an actinic (1-2 ml per liter of water).

Smithyanta striped - smithiantha zebrina

Smithiantha hybrid - smithiantha hybrida