Gynura

Family. Asteraceae.

Origin. The genus includes about 50 species of perennial plants originating from India, New Zealand or the Moluccas.

Description. Gynura is an evergreen perennial bush with small yellow, orange or white flowers collected in inflorescences at the tops of fairly long shoots. The buds are quite attractive, but have an unpleasant smell, so they are usually removed. The main beauty lies in the leaves. The erect stems, leaves and peduncles are densely covered with luxurious purple pubescence, which gives them a decorative appearance. The leaf blades are green, glossy under the pubescence, with serrated edges. Young leaves have a more saturated color.

Height. Can reach a height of 80 cm - 1 m.

Care at home

Reproduction 

Gynura is easily propagated by apical cuttings in early spring. Take 3 - 4 cuttings 8 - 10 cm long and stick the lower end into a damp mixture of peat and sand. Cover the seedlings with a plastic cap or glass and place in a warm place with moderate lighting. 

Rooting will take only 2 - 3 weeks. After this, remove the glass and start feeding the plants every two weeks.

How to care 

The genus grows quickly and reaches maturity within one season. This plant is fairly easy to grow if you provide it with sufficient light and warm conditions. Overly long stems are cut back once or twice during the growing season to maintain a compact shape. Flower stalks are removed.

When does bloom? 

Buds form in the summer months, but flowering occurs rarely in indoor conditions.

Diseases and pests 

Excessive feeding makes the stems thick and soft. Overwatering and lack of water affect the quality of the leaves. The leaves turn green and lose their bright purple pubescence when there is a lack of light. Brown spots on the leaves can appear due to water droplets or sunburn. With age, the stem becomes bare, losing the lower leaves, in this case, replace the bush with a young seedling. Gynura stretches out when there is insufficient light.

Harmful insects include whiteflies, spider mites, aphids and mealybugs.

Soil 

Peat-based substrate, loose and well-drained.

Growing temperature

Normal room temperature is ideal for growing the bush at any time of the year - it has no dormant period. The minimum allowable temperature in winter is 13 °C, but with such a cool content, gynura stops growing.

Watering 

Afraid of waterlogging and stagnation of water. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. When the temperature drops below 16 ° C, reduce watering. Try not to let water droplets fall on the leaves when watering. 

Transplant 

Adult specimens are replanted every 2 years to replace the soil with fresh soil. Replanting is done in the spring, placing several plants in one pot.

Lighting

The bush needs to be given a brightly lit place. In the shade it loses its attractiveness. On hot summer days, shade it a little, and in winter provide maximum sunlight.

Fertilizer

Regularly apply liquid fertilizer once a month. 

Spraying 

Loves moist air. Place the pot with gynura on a tray filled with damp gravel. Spraying the foliage can leave spots on the leaves, and water stuck in the downy foliage can cause rot.

Note

After two years, the bush becomes less attractive - replace it with a new one obtained from cuttings.

Varieties:

Gynura sarmentosa

Evergreen perennial plants native to Indonesia, which in their natural habitat reach a height of 60 - 90 cm. With age, the stems become woody and covered with bark. The plant has oblong-lanceolate, jagged along the edge, glossy leaves, covered with a network of branched veins. The leaf blades have very attractive purple pubescence. There are variegated variations with pink stripes on the leaves. The flower stalks are tall, leafless, and bear from 3 to 7 attractive orange flowers, which rarely appear when grown at home.

Gynura procumbens

An evergreen plant with a height of 1 to 3 m. The stems are abundantly branched at the base, erect, thick. The leaves are oblong, lanceolate, green, glossy, with branched veins and a finely toothed edge. The leaves are arranged alternately, on short petioles. With age, plant stems become woody. During the flowering period, the bushes decorate themselves with small, branched inflorescences bearing orange flowers. The plant is used in folk medicine because it is believed to lower blood sugar levels, have anti-inflammatory properties and contain sufficient amounts of antioxidants. 

Gynura variegata is distinguished by the presence of pink and white spots and stripes of various shapes and sizes on the leaf blades.