Rechsteineria

Family. Gesneriaceae.

Origin. America.

Description. Rechsteineria is an evergreen herbaceous perennial plant with erect stems. The leaves are velvety pubescent, collected in whorls, green or silver, soft, lanceolate, up to 15 cm long. The flowers are tubular, red, pink or orange, appear at the tops of the stems. 

Height. Up to 30 cm.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

Rechsteineria is suitable for warm conditions in spring and summer - at temperatures from 18 to 24 C. Some species prefer cool wintering at temperatures of 15 - 18 ° C.

Lighting

Reflected sunlight. In autumn and winter, the stems and leaves die off; at this time, lighting does not play any role. 

Care

Remove wilting buds to prolong the flowering period. During the dormant period, the above-ground part dies off - you can take the tubers out of the pot and store them in a cool place. In spring and summer, if possible, take the bushes outside.

Substrate

These plants can be grown in a mixture of peat and sphagnum moss, pine bark with the addition of perlite. The soil should be well drained and easily allow moisture and air to pass through. Suitable soil consists of peat, leaf humus, turf soil with the addition of coarse sand and small pieces of charcoal.

Feeding

In spring and summer, fertilize every 2 weeks using a high-phosphorus formulation at half strength. Rechsteineria that are kept cool during the dormant period should not be fed.

Purpose

Rechsteineria is a valuable ornamental flowering plant that produces a large number of orange-red flowers on long elegant stems. 

Flowering time

Most flowering occurs in spring and summer, but individual flowers can appear at any time of the year. The flowering period is long - up to 1 month.

Air humidity

Avoid misting - pubescent leaves retain droplets of moisture. Particular attention should be paid to proper ventilation around the flower. Ideally, place the pot on a tray with wet pebbles or use a room humidifier. The hotter the weather in summer, the higher the humidity should be.

Soil moisture

During warmer months, water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering frequency in the fall when it's cool, and leave the plants unwatered during the winter months. Use bottom watering by submerging the pot in a larger container of room-temperature water.

Transfer

If the plant is too crowded in the pot, replant it in the spring, with the start of new growth, into a larger container. 

Reproduction

Propagated vegetatively, by stem cuttings 7-10 cm long using growth hormones. The bases of the cuttings are dried for 24 hours before planting. Rooting is carried out in a mixture of wet peat and sand, under a lid made of transparent plastic or glass for 1-1.5 months. Some species are propagated by seeds, which germinate within 2 weeks.

Pests and diseases

The stems rot if there is insufficient air movement. Droplets of cold water on leaves often cause spotting. When there is insufficient lighting, the stems stretch out and become thin. The leaves become smaller, and flowering becomes less abundant due to a lack of nutrients.

The main pests are spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs.