Gesneria

Family. Gesneriaceae.

Origin. South America.

Description. Gesneria is a perennial herbaceous tuberous plant with green elliptical leaves with fine pubescence, sometimes forming a rosette. The leaf blades are 12 - 15 cm long and have pronounced veins and slightly jagged edges. Peduncles up to 7 cm high, pubescent. The flowers are about 3 cm in diameter, velvety, often have an orange or bright red tube also covered with short white hairs.

Height. Grows so slowly that it reaches a height of 15 cm in a few years.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

A constant temperature of at least 18°C ​​throughout the year is encouraged, while maintaining a very high level of humidity. 

Lighting

Gesneria needs very bright light throughout the year. She will appreciate a few hours of direct sun per day, avoiding midday rays in the summer. Artificial light can successfully replace the absence of sun. Ideally, the plant should be provided with bright light for twelve hours a day.

Care

From September to December, the entire above-ground part of the bush can die off completely - it goes into a dormant period. Before death, the stems and leaves become flaccid, but remain until completely dry - after all, the tuber feeds with the help of leaves.

Substrate

A mixture consisting of well-sterilized humus, peat, sphagnum, vermiculite or perlite and limestone.

Feeding

Gesneria needs fertilizers rich in phosphate and highly diluted compared to the recommended dose. 

Flowering time

When grown indoors, it will bloom almost all year round if kept in the right conditions.

Air humidity

Gesneria needs a hot and humid atmosphere, it does not tolerate too dry an atmosphere in heated rooms. Place the pot on a tray with wet pebbles. Do not spray - if drops of water fall on the leaves and flowers, stains will remain. Good air circulation around the flower can prevent stem rot.

Soil moisture

The soil should be constantly moist, but not soggy, with good drainage. The slightest drought threatens the onset of flowering. Water should not stagnate in the pan. For irrigation, use softened water. In September, the frequency of watering is reduced, encouraging the plant to go into a dormant state. In the autumn-winter period, water in such a way that the soil simply does not dry out completely.

Transplant

Adult specimens are replanted in the spring every 2-3 years; when replanting, add a little charcoal mixed with humus. Before planting, the tubers should be treated with a weak fungicide solution. The growth point on the tuber is not covered with soil, but as shoots appear, soil is added little by little.

Reproduction

Divide adult bushes, use cuttings and seeds sown in spring for propagation. In this case, they only need to be pressed lightly into the ground. Specimens obtained from seeds bloom at the age of 2-3 years.

Pests and diseases

When kept at low temperatures, yellow spots may appear on the leaves. Aphids, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies, scale insects and mealybugs sometimes plague these plants.