Bertolonia

Family. Melastomataceae.

Origin. Brazil (South America).

Description. The genus Bertolonia consists of 14 species. Tropical evergreen herbaceous perennial that usually grows up to 15 cm tall. It grows naturally in the rain forests of northeastern Brazil. Known for its showy, olive-green, velvety, pointed, heart-shaped leaves (up to 12 cm long) with light green, silver-green leaf markings or continuous or broken stripes. The leaves are covered with bristly hairs. Pink or white flowers with 5 petals, about 2 cm in diameter, appear several times a year, collected in inflorescences - brushes. Peduncles up to 10 cm tall. The stems are creeping.

Height. No more than 15 cm.

Home care

Temperature conditions

The plant loves warmth very much; it is grown year-round at a temperature of 22 - 24 ° C. 

Lighting

The bushes are kept in partial shade during the daytime; their leaves cannot tolerate direct sun.

Care

Bertolonias require constant heat and a very humid atmosphere.

Substrate

Use a mixture of equal parts peat moss, leaf humus and coarse sand or perlite. Bertolonia is best grown in small pots and shallow bowls.

Feeding

Feed with liquid fertilizers once every two weeks only during the period of active growth.

Purpose

A very impressive decorative foliage plant.

Flowering time

It can bloom several times at any time of the year; the flowers are not particularly attractive.

Air humidity

The bushes need high humidity. Place the pots on trays with wet pebbles; do not spray the leaves, as water can leave stains on the leaves. Does not tolerate drafts well.

Soil moisture

During active growth, water deeply, keeping the soil moist. During the winter months, reduce the frequency of watering slightly. 

Transfer

Plants are transplanted into larger pots only when the stems cover the entire surface of the soil and hang over the edge of the pot. Bertolonia prefers slightly cramped conditions.

Reproduction

Top cuttings in early spring. Place them in a small pot filled with slightly moistened soil and cover with a plastic cap. Keep in partial shade. Rooting occurs within six weeks. Seeds are sown in soil consisting of nutritious flower substrate and perlite. Cover the seeds with a layer of soil a few millimeters thick and cover with a plastic cap. Place the pot in a brightly lit place or provide additional lighting with fluorescent lamps. Germination will take several weeks or even months, depending on the species. After the seedlings reach 1.5 cm in height, gradually open the cap and ventilate the seedlings.

Pests and diseases

Rarely. Sometimes spider mites, mealybugs and scale insects appear.

Varieties:

Bertolonia marmorata

An ornamental foliage plant with large, lanceolate leaves up to 20 cm long. The pubescent leaf blades have wide, light, bluish-green stripes and spots on the surface. Periodically throughout the year, small pinkish-purple or red flowers, up to 2 cm in diameter, appear on the plant, but they are lost against the background of the gorgeous leaves.