Geogenanthus

 
геогенантус

Commelin family. The homeland is the tropical rainforests of South America. There are only 4 species in nature.

As a houseplant, Geogenanthus wavy Geogenanthus poeppigii is a perennial herbaceous plant about 40 cm high. The stems are reddish, the leaves are grouped at the ends of the shoots several pieces. Leaves are broadly ovate, on short petioles, about 8 cm long. The surface of the leaf is dark green, shiny with longitudinal silver stripes, wavy, the reverse side is purple. The flowers are pink, small, collected in racemose inflorescences, have no decorative attractiveness.

Geogenanthus - care

Temperature: moderate, does not like heat, optimal in summer about 20-24 ° C. In winter it is slightly cooler than 18-20 ° С, at least 16 ° С.

Lighting: Hogenanthus is photophilous, but shading from direct sunlight in spring and summer will be required. An east, north or northwest window is best.

Watering: plentiful from spring to autumn - the soil should be slightly wet all the time, i.e. water after the top layer of the earth dries up. In winter, watering is moderate - the soil should have time to dry well, but not dry out completely. I.e. after the top layer of the earth dries up, you need to wait two days and only then water. For irrigation, it is advisable to use warm soft water.

Top dressing: from March to August, they are fed with fertilizer for indoor ornamental and deciduous plants every two weeks.

Air humidity: Geogenanthus loves very humid air, so the leaves are regularly sprayed, you can place the plant on a tray with wet pebbles or expanded clay. Excessive watering does not compensate for the insufficient humidity from which the tips of the leaves dry up.

Transplant: Annually in the spring. The pot should not be too deep, and the soil is heavy. Substrate: 1 part of coniferous, 1 part of leafy, 1 part of humus land and 1 part of sand. Good drainage is mandatory. You can plant geogenanthus in a universal soil, on the 2 part of which add 1 part of the pine bark.

Reproduction: stem cuttings and bush division. Cuttings root perfectly in water, just cut 5-8 cm long sprigs and put them in a glass of water, the roots grow back in 2 weeks.

   

By the way

Like tradescantia, the geogenanthus stretches quite a bit in length. Sometimes from uneven watering (when the plant is heavily dried, then watered abundantly) it loses the lower leaves. Then the bushes need to be updated - cut the apical cuttings, re-root them and plant several pieces in fresh land.

It is better to breed by dividing the bush in spring or summer, when transplanting, carefully cutting off the roots with a knife. After transplantation, watering is moderate, but frequent spraying of leaves with boiled water.

Growing problems

  • Brown dry leaf tips - when the air is too dry indoors, especially in winter, if the plant is located near central heating batteries.
  • The tips of the leaves brown, the leaves shrivel and dry out - with insufficient watering. When watering with cold water.
  • The stems are stretched, the leaves are not densely arranged, the plant loses its decorative attractiveness - with an acute lack of light, or a lack of nutrients in the soil.
  • The stems at the base are soft and acquire a brownish tint - decay of the stem due to waterlogging of the soil, especially if the temperature is low.