Tibouchina

Family. Melastomataceae.

Origin. Brazil.

Description. Tibouchina are charming evergreen shrubs with branching ribbed shoots. Young stems are covered with short brown fluff. The leaves are green, tender, velvety, elliptical, 5 - 10 cm long, arranged oppositely, on short petioles. The flowers are purple, lavender or, less commonly, pink, red and white, up to 8 cm in diameter, collected in few-flowered inflorescences at the tops of the shoots.

Height. In nature it reaches 3 m in height; in indoor conditions it grows quickly, but the height can be adjusted by pruning.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

During the growth period, the content should be warm - at a temperature of 18 - 22 ° C. In winter, plants enter a dormant period and require cooler content - at a temperature of 10 - 13 ° C.

Lighting

Tibouchina is photophilous and can bathe in the sun's rays in the morning and evening hours. Shade the leaves during the day. When grown in partial shade, the bushes become weaker, stretch out, and flowering will be less abundant.

Care

In March, as soon as growth begins, trim the shoots to the required height. Representatives of the species easily tolerate even strong pruning. In spring and summer, the bush can be planted outside, protected from wind, rain and direct sunlight. Sometimes long stems need support for growth.

Substrate

It easily adapts to any substrate, but prefers slightly acidic soils with a large amount of organic matter in the form of peat, leaf humus and rotted manure. The soil must have good drainage. 

Feeding

From spring to autumn, feed with liquid fertilizers every 2 weeks; during the dormant period, plants slow down their development and there is no need for fertilizing. 

Purpose

Beautiful flowering shrub.

Flowering time

Throughout the summer.

Air humidity

If the room temperature rises above 22°C, you will need to increase the humidity with a tray of wet pebbles or a room humidifier. Tibouchina leaves and shoots should only be misted as needed, and it should be placed in a room with good air circulation.

Soil moisture

Keep the soil evenly moist in spring and summer. Gradually reduce watering after flowering; during the dormant period, water so infrequently as to keep the soil slightly moist. 

Transfer

Replant the plants in the spring, when growth begins, into fresh soil. Replace the soil surface of large tub specimens that are difficult to replant. 

Reproduction

Propagate by apical cuttings 8-10 cm long, in spring and summer. Remove the lower leaves from the cuttings and dip the bases in rooting powder. Keep young seedlings warm, under a glass dome, to maintain uniform humidity. Seeds are sown in spring on the surface of the soil, without covering them with soil. Seedlings are kept warm - at a temperature of at least 21 °C.

Pests and diseases

Tibouchina rots with excessive watering, especially during autumn and winter. Leaves may get sunburned. Plants shed buds when conditions change during the flowering period. Leaf spot.

Among the harmful insects, the flower can be annoyed by spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects.