Kolumneya - home care, reproduction, photo

Columnea (Columnea) - a perennial evergreen plant from the Gesneriaceae family. The flower appeared in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Often grows as an epiphyte, attaching to tree trunks, stones and tall herbs. The fleshy, but rather fragile branches, directed upwards, begin to cascade down over time.

Shoots from 30 to 50 cm long are decorated with small heart-shaped leaves. Columnae grows rapidly, extending the branches by 0.5 m in a year. In late February and early March, original bright flowers are formed on them, similar to small moths or fish. The edges of the petals are covered with a light silver fluff.

Some species may bloom all year. Kolumneya is a perennial flower, if it is not rejuvenated in time, it loses its decorative effect.

Useful properties of Kolumna

Kolumneya emits biologically active substances that purify indoor air. A healthy air environment favorably affects the body, increases working capacity and stress resistance. An original exotic plant decorates the interior. The contemplation of a blooming column evokes positive emotions, reduces the level of anxiety.

Care for a column at home (briefly)

In order for the columnia to feel comfortable at home, a caring owner will familiarize herself with the preferences and needs of the flower in advance.

The optimal conditions for the flower can be considered:

Growing a flower at home, apply traditional methods of care, but there are also features of growing columna. Several shoots are usually planted in 1 pot: this is how the plant looks more spectacular. If 1 shoot is planted, pinch it to stimulate the formation of lateral processes.

Often, columnia is grown as an ampel plant in hanging baskets and flowerpots. After flowering, the shoots are pruned, transferred to a cool room, and gradually accustomed to heat at the end of winter.

Care for the kolumnea at home. In detail

The columnia flower feels good at home when it is provided with basic care.

Flowering columnae

Column blooms in winter and early spring. If the plant is carefully looked after, it can bloom a second time - in the summer. There are species that bloom throughout the year. Long lowered shoots along the entire length are decorated with oblong-oval green leaves.

Against their background, bright spots stand out flowers. Kolumney is famous for its original flowers, which are compared with goldfish, dancing dolphins or moths. Catchy tubular flowers, painted in all shades of red and yellow, are formed in the axils of dark green leaves, several at a time.

On all 4 petals there may be strokes or a fringing of a contrasting color. The three lower narrow petals are covered with a wide petal, similar to an extensive hood. The fruit of the plant is a white berry with dusty seeds.

Temperature mode

The housekeeper loves to be in a moderately warm room, you should try to create a comfortable temperature regime for her. In late autumn and winter, + 13 - 15 ° C is considered the optimum temperature: flower buds are laid in a cool environment. In spring and summer, the plant is kept at + 21 - 27 ° C.

Kolumneya can adapt to a higher temperature if the air in the room is humid.

Spraying

To fully develop columnia, home care recommends keeping it at high humidity. Spraying with warm, settled water should be a regular procedure, especially in hot weather. During spraying, make sure that water does not fall on the flowers.

It is sometimes recommended to water the crown of the columna with tepid filtered water, after which it is necessary to dry the plant in a shaded room.

Lighting

Kolumney loves bright light, but the lighting should be diffused. Windows facing west and east are the most suitable options for placing it; here the flower will receive enough light. In the northern part of the room, the Column, suffering from a lack of light, will cease to bloom.

But if there is no place for a flower in the house, besides this, it is necessary to install additional illumination. On the south window, the plant will have to shade to protect against sunburn.

Watering

Watering the flower needs moderate, neither waterlogging nor overdrying of the soil should be allowed. From excess moisture columnae at home can get root rot and die. But overdrying the soil will lead to an invasion of pests and other troubles.

In summer and spring, the Kolumna needs frequent watering - up to 3 times a week, in winter 1 time will be enough. The soil must always be moist, for this the soil is mulched with a coconut substrate or chopped moss. Watered with well-maintained lukewarm water.

Kolumneya does not respond well to constant watering with fresh water, therefore, 2 times a month the water is acidified with lemon juice or acid (3-5 drops or 0.2 g per liter of water).

Pot for colum

The capacity for the plant is always chosen taking into account its root system. A pot for a columna needs a medium-sized, wide, but shallow: the fibrous rhizome will be conveniently developed in it.

At the bottom of the pot there should be enough space for drainage from expanded clay or fragments of brick, and under it there is a drainage hole.

Ground for Kolumney

Suitable primer for columna is a loose, light substrate for semi-epiphytic plants or senpolia. It is diluted with ground sphagnum. You can compose the soil yourself, taking sheet soil, sand and humus in equal proportions.

The second composition: 2 parts of leafy soil, 1 part of peat, perlite, turf. Such soil is breathable and fertile. There should be no lime in the substrate, the columnia likes slightly acid soil. To enhance drainage, brick chips are added to the substrate.

Fertilizer and fertilizer

Kolumneya is a strong plant, but it also needs fertilizing and fertilizing to maintain decorativeness and increase immunity. From mid-April to mid-October, once every 2 to 3 weeks, apply liquid universal mineral fertilizer after watering. You can use the solution once every 10 days for foliar top dressing (the concentration of the solution is reduced so as not to burn the leaves).

Columnae loves top dressing containing phosphorus compounds. They can be given more often, combining with watering. The concentration of the solution is reduced by 4 times. Usually, plants rest in winter and are not fertilized. But the species of columnae, actively growing in the winter, need to be fed, although less frequently.

Transplant columney

Columnae are transplanted in early spring. In order not to injure the sensitive roots of the plant, it is carefully transshipped without disturbing the earthen lump. The first time a flower is transplanted after purchase, then they do it as necessary - when the roots cover the entire earthen lump.

In order to not reduce the decorativeness of the plant, when transplanted, every 2 years, it is rejuvenated: 1/3 of the root system is cut off, sprinkling the cut places with crushed coal. For transplantation, a shallow but wide container with drainage holes is used.

Apply universal soil or prepare it yourself from sheet soil, sand and humus, taken in equal parts. The plant is well watered, mulched and left for several days in a shaded place so that the columna acclimates.

Pruning

Pruning rejuvenates the plant, gives a new impetus to its development. Kolumney responds well to the annual haircut, in which her shoots are shortened by ½ length, dried leaves and flowers, weak branches are removed. The procedure is carried out every year after flowering and when a plant is transplanted.

Columnia breeding

Reproduction of columna is carried out by rooting apical cuttings or sowing seeds.

Column propagation by cuttings

Propagation by cuttings is carried out at the very beginning of March.

• Cuttings are cut from the tops of the shoots, the length of which is about 10 cm. There should be up to 5 leaves on the cuttings.
• The cut points are sprinkled with charcoal powder.
• Cuttings are planted in a mixture of universal soil with sand and peat, deepening by 1, 5 cm. Water and mulch.
• Cover with a film on which openings are made so that condensate does not accumulate.
• At + 24 ° C and diffused lighting, leave to germinate.
• The film is removed for ventilation and watering.
• When new leaves appear, the stalk is transplanted into a separate container.
• It is possible to root cuttings in water. Water is often changed, activated carbon is added to it.

Growing columna from seeds

Rarely practice at home: point seeds germinate poorly, many seedlings die. If you decide on this method of reproduction, you need to be patient. Seeds are kept in a solution of potassium permanganate, then evenly distributed on moistened soil, without deepening. Sprinkle on top with a substrate. Cover with glass or film. Germinate at + 24 ° C. Crops are aired, sprayed. After 3 weeks, when the seedlings appear, the shelter is removed. Seedlings grow when illuminated. When 3 true leaves appear, seedlings dive into separate containers.

The vegetative method of propagating columnae is more convenient, with it all varietal characters of the mother plant are preserved. At home, it is used more often.

Diseases and Pests

If the columnae does not receive proper care, diseases attack her and the pests become more active. The most common flower damage include:

• Column leaves fall - excess moisture, the plant is cold (reduce watering, move to a warmer place);
• Column stems rot - hypothermia of the flower with excess moisture (reduce watering, rearrange in a warm place);
• column leaves dry - dry indoor air (regularly sprayed);
• column grows slowly - lack of nutrients (feed);
• Column does not bloom - little light; maintenance in winter - during the laying of the kidneys - in a warm place (rearrange in a bright place; in winter put in a cool place);
• column leaves twist - dry hot air, little moisture (pour, spray, put on a pallet with wet pebbles);
• brown spots on the leaves - a burn from spraying in the sun (remove damaged leaves, spray only in the evening, avoiding exposure to bright rays of the sun);
• columnia wilted - burn of the roots from an excess of fertilizers (rinse the roots with plenty of water, dry and transplant into another soil);
• light brown spots on the leaves - watering with cold water;
• leaves turn yellow and fall, the stalk is exposed - dry air, little light, the plant is cold (sprinkle, rearrange in a bright, warm place);
• Column flowers turn brown and crumble - getting large drops of water on them when watering (gently water, raising the shoots);
• the tips of the leaves of the columna dry and turn yellow - dry hot air (spray);
• brown spots on leaves and shoots quickly grow and become covered with fluff - gray rot from excess moisture at high humidity (damaged fragments are removed, the remaining parts are treated with fungicide and transplanted).

With improper care, pests affect the column. Most often, a spider mite, scutellum, aphid, and thrips attack a flower. Sometimes insects appear in adverse circumstances that are not dependent on care. But properly organized care reduces the risk of pest attacks by several times.

Types of homemade columna with photos and names

There are almost 200 species of columnae, many of them successfully grown at home.

Columnia glorious (Columnea gloriosa)

Thick long shoots (length up to 0, 7 m) curl or spread. Red-brown or green small pubescent leaves have an oval-rounded shape. Petals are carmine red with yellow spots at the base of the tube.

Columnae blood red (Columnea sanguine)

Popular view. Thickened long (more than 1 m) shoots spread. Lanceolate-oval leaves are wide (up to 10 cm) and long (up to 30 cm). On the underside of the leaves are blurry red spots. Small (up to 2 cm) red pubescent flowers are collected in sinuses in groups. Flowering is plentiful.

Columnea allenii

Thin creeping or drooping shoots grow rapidly. Short (up to 2 cm) dark green leaves are oblong opposite. Large (up to 7 cm) flowers of bright red color with yellow patterns in the throat are located on the pubescent pedicels.

Columnea Krakatau

Very popular view. Often grown as an epiphyte. Small green lanceolate leaves are opposite on the shoots. Tubular bright red flowers are arranged in groups or 1 each in the axils of the leaves. Flowering resembles the eruption of the volcano of the same name.

Columnae krassulolistnaya (plate) (Columnea crassifolia)

Succulent plant. On powerful upright shoots, wrinkled long (up to 10 cm) leaves grow, covered with a light fluff. Flowers are long (up to 10 cm) solitary. The tubular fiery red petals are covered with a light red fluff.

Small-leafed Column (Columnea microphylla)

Long (up to 2.5 m) thin shoots creep or dangle. Covered with brown fluff. Small leaves (length and width up to 1, 2 cm) are heart-shaped. Shoots and leaves are covered with a bronze fluff. Blossoms in late spring with carmine-orange flowers with yellow stripes. Pedicels short pubescent.

Kolumneya - unpretentious flower. With good care, this exotic plant will become an interesting decoration of the interior. Original flowers in the form of "dancing dolphins" and "goldfish" against a background of dark foliage will create a relaxed atmosphere in the house, fill it with spiritual warmth.