Acanthus family. Homeland South and Central America (mainly Peru and Ecuador). About 50 species are common in nature. Sanhesia (Sanshetia) is a close relative of the aphelandra, with which they have a noticeable external resemblance in the color of the leaves. Some of Sanhesia's species are considered invasive - growing like weeds, others, like Sanchezia lampra or Sanchezia parviflora, are endangered.
The natural habitats of most sanhesias are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, in some species dry forests.
- Sanhesia noble "Sanchezia nobilis" is a large plant with an erect tetrahedral stem. The leaves are opposite, 15-25 cm long, 8-12 cm wide, elliptical in shape with a pointed apex on short petioles. The surface of the leaf is green, with yellow veins. Inflorescences are spike-shaped, apical. The flowers are yellow with red bracts, the corolla is splendid, forms a long pitcher tube. Fruit box.
Caring for Sanhesia
Temperature: The plant is thermophilic, but in the summer months it does not tolerate heat above 28 ° C, especially in a stuffy room without ventilation. On such days, it is better to rearrange the pots on the floor, it is cooler there. In winter, I would like to find a cooler place, where 16-20 ° С, but not lower than 14 ° С. Although Sanhesia can live beautifully all year round in ordinary home conditions, if you move it to a lighter and even sunny windowsill for the winter.
Lighting: Sanhesia is photophilous, but from March to August you need shading from direct sunlight between 11 and 16 hours. With a lack of light, the shoots are pulled out and exposed from below, so from September to February you can safely rearrange the pot to the south side. If necessary, from November to February - exposure!
Watering: Plentiful in summer, the ground should not dry out completely, only in the upper third of the pot. In winter, watering is more moderate and cautious, after the top layer of the earth dries, wait another two days before watering. Do not dry or moisturize the plant. Remember that the need for watering decreases when there is not enough light and the plant is growing slowly, and also if the humidity is high (rainy weather).
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, sanhesia is fed every 2 weeks. Complex fertilizer is used for deciduous plants, not alkaline reaction.
Humidity: Sanhesia prefers 60-70%. In summer, it can be sprayed once a day, if it is hot (temperatures above 28 ° C) and dry, you can put the pot on a tray with wet moss-sphagnum. With the beginning of the heating season, protect batteries from hot and dry air, increase humidity using a humidifier.
Transplant: Annually in the spring. The soil for sanhesia should be nutritious, but porous. Approximate soil composition: 1 part of sheet (peat) land, 1 part of humus, 1 part of sod, 0.5 part of small gravel. Pour a good layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot, regularly check the drain holes, water after watering should flow freely onto the tray. After 10-15 minutes it needs to be drained.
Breeding: Stem cuttings in summer. Phytohormones and soil heating can be used for rooting. The success of rooting depends on good lighting. It is better to place cuttings for rooting in a mini-bottle (plastic bottle cap) in moist vermiculite.
