Sanchezia

Family. Acanthaceae.

Origin. Peru, Ecuador.

Description. Sanchezia is a small genus of perennial evergreen shrubs, consisting of about 20 species. Stems are erect, branched. The leaves are lanceolate, glossy, large - up to 20 cm long, arranged in opposite pairs. The leaf blades are green, the veins are highlighted in lighter shades - white or yellow, the edges often have small teeth. In the warm season, the plant forms apical multi-flowered inflorescences - panicles. The flowers are tubular, yellow, purple or red. Sanchezia is valued as an ornamental foliage plant and its flowers are simply lost against the background of bright leaves.

Height. It grows quickly and can reach a height of 1 – 1.2 m without pruning.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

In summer, the usual room temperature of 22 - 25 ° C is suitable, it should be reduced to 14 - 16 ° C in winter. Do not expose sanchezia to temperatures below 13° C.

Lighting

Grows in full sun or partial shade, however, if the shading is too strong it stops blooming or loses the attractive bright color of the foliage. 

Care

Long stems are pruned every spring. The tips of young shoots are regularly pinched. Fading flowers are removed to maintain an attractive appearance.

Substrate

Grows in well-drained soils. A wide range of soils are suitable, but fertile loams are preferred.

Feeding

Feed with water-soluble fertilizers every 2 weeks from March to October. 

Purpose

A very impressive decorative foliage indoor plant, but due to its large dimensions it requires a lot of space.

Flowering time

From June to July. 

Air humidity

High, needs to be sprayed daily. Place the plant on a tray filled with damp pebbles or use a room humidifier. 

Soil moisture

Water thoroughly, thoroughly wetting the soil. Between waterings, dry the top layer of the substrate to a depth of about 5 cm. In the winter months, when the plants are dormant, watering should be minimal.

Transfer

Replant in the spring, annually. 

Reproduction

Sanchezia is propagated by stem cuttings 8-10 cm long. Rooting is carried out under a glass or transparent plastic cap for 1-1.5 months. In spring and early summer, seeds can be sown. Seedlings are kept at a temperature of about 20 °C in a peat mixture.

Pests and diseases

Leaves may turn pale due to a lack of nutrients. Leaf fall occurs due to insufficient air humidity. With prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, burns appear on the leaves.

The most common pests are aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects. 

Note

The plant can live for many years indoors with proper care, but with age it often loses its attractiveness. Sanchezia will make the indoor air cleaner.