The columbine is a very beautiful houseplant with spectacularly hanging shoots. The leaves of the plant are rather small, very soft to the touch, with fine hairs. Columns of bright salmon-red color amaze the imagination, there are species with fiery red flowers.
Colonnave: Species
There are three main types of colonies that are grown at home:
- Colonnave is glorious. This species has flowers about 8 cm long. The stems are rather soft, can grow up to a meter in length, are covered with flowers with red and yellow divorces.
- Column of Banks. The leaves of this species are of a darker shade, very smooth to the touch. The plant is rather branchy, the flowers of this species are bright orange orange with a yellow core.
- Colonnay Cusses. Ampelnoe plant with shoots about a meter long. Leaves are light green, the flowers are orange-red. This species blooms twice a year: in the warm season, the flowering period falls on July, and in winter the flower of the columbine will please you in January.
- Colonnee small-leaved. The leaves of this species grow only up to 1 cm. On the shoots the leaves are very dense, have a light green hue. Flowers reach a length of 12 cm, a very rich dark red color with burgundy veins.
How to care for the columbine?
This is a very photophilic plant, the columbine is particularly in need of good lighting during flowering. But the sun's rays should not fall on the plant directly, try to provide diffuse light.
Flowering is repeated twice a year. If your pet "refuses" to please you with flowers, try to stimulate this process. Reduce the watering a little. If possible, the temperature of the content is also better to be slightly reduced. For a comfortable state, the flower should be grown at a temperature of about 16 ° C. Be sure to pay attention to the open windows, the plant does not tolerate drafts.
The flower of the columbine is very fond of spraying with water. But it should be done very carefully, so as not to damage the leaves. When spraying, try to moisten the air around the flower more than direct the spray directly onto the shoots. Very well, if you have an aquarium, this neighborhood will have a very beneficial effect on flowers.
In the period from late March to early October, try to feed the flower well. Top dressing is done at least 7 times. This is a period of active growth and a good fertilizing only to strengthen the shoots, and during the flowering period it is better to use other fertilizers specially designed for this purpose.
Colony transplantation
The columbella tends to grow very rapidly, which often affects the condition of the leaves poorly. Falling leaves are often contributed by florist errors. It is to prevent this that you need to do rejuvenation right after flowering. It is necessary to cut and root a part of the shoots, then plant them in one pot to create a bushy bush.
It is enough to transplant the colonies once a year. For an adult plant is sometimes enough and every two years. Do this in the summer or spring. For a flower, a low and wide pot is suitable. Be sure to lay the drainage layer on the bottom. For planting, use land with the addition of peat, humus, leaf land and river sand. Often the flower grows well in a conventional universal soil.
It is very convenient in the cultivation of this plant that it is practically not affected by diseases and pests. Harmful can only affect the wrong care. Avoid too dry air, stagnant moisture in the pot, drafts. To water a columbine better with warm boiled water.