Acanthus family. Homeland - South Africa, Madagascar. In nature, there are about 150 species of herbaceous plants distributed in the lower tier of the rainforest.
- Hypoestes (hypestes) leafy Hypoestes phyllostachya (aka Hypoestes blood-red Hypoestes sanguinolenta) is a herbaceous plant with erect shoots, about 50 cm high. The leaves are opposite, oblong in shape, about 5 cm long. The leaves are usually dark green with specks and specks of various shades: pink, orange, red, lilac, silver, often almost the entire leaf blade is painted in bright color, and only the central veins and petioles remain green. The flowers are purple or white, small and nondescript. When growing in indoor conditions, it is customary to remove flowers, because this leads to exhaustion and stretching of shoots. In addition, leaf-leaf hypoestes are regularly cut to enhance bushiness.
Hypoestes pleases with a variety of varietal color of leaves. There are varieties with a variety of spots (red, silver).
Hypoestes branches well and forms lush bushes. Plants can be grown in either regular planter or hanging planter.
Different varieties of hypoestes look good in the composition. One of the options for growing in a wide glass.Hypoestes - home care
Temperature: in summer, the optimal temperature for growth is 22-24 ° C, worse tolerates heat above 26-28 ° C. In winter, the content is cooler, winter at least 18 ° C, with a reduction in irrigation, preferably not higher than 20 ° C. With good illumination, you can grow all year round in warm conditions.
Lighting: bright diffused light, with some direct sun in the morning or at the end of the day. If there is not enough light, the shoots are extended, the lower leaves fall, and the brightness of the color is lost.
Watering: the soil should be slightly moist all the time, excessive waterlogging and drying are not allowed. The next watering is carried out when the top layer of the earth dries.
Top dressing: in the period from May to August, once every 3-4 weeks with complex fertilizer for ornamental and deciduous plants, special fertilizers for variegated plants are suitable.
Air humidity: leafy hypoestes loves high humidity, the optimal air humidity for it is 60-70%. This is especially true in winter during the heating season. The plant is protected from dry air not by spraying (spots form on the leaves), but by turning on an air humidifier in the room or placing the plant in a terrarium (a tray with wet pebbles).
Transplant: Annually in the spring. The soil should be well drained and free of air. An example of a soil mixture: 1 part of turf, 1 part of humus, 1 part of sheet and 2 part of small pebbles (gravel 3-4 mm in size). Peat soil mixtures are too poorly nutritious for the plant, hypoestes do not form a lush bush, or weekly feeding with a small dose of fertilizers is required. Hypoestes is great for hydroponically growing.
Reproduction: by seeds, as well as cuttings, which easily form roots in water.
