Digitalis

Family. Plantaginaceae.

Origin. China.

Description. Digitalis is a perennial plant that forms a basal rosette of leaves. The leaves are light green, covered with fluff, with well-defined branched veins, carved. The peduncles are tall and bear tubular red, pink or white flowers.

Height. 10 - 40 cm.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

In spring and summer, the ideal temperature at night is about 18°C ​​and 24°C during the day. Plant growth and development can be accelerated or slowed down accordingly by increasing or decreasing the temperature at night. Digitalis can hardly tolerate heat above 30° C in the summer. During the winter months there is a cool dormant period at a temperature of 5 - 10 ° C. 

Lighting

The flower requires a well-lit location with sufficient reflected sunlight during the growing season. Avoid direct sunlight; can be grown in partial shade.

Care

During dormancy, take care that the rhizomes do not begin to rot - gradually reduce watering in the fall.

Substrate

Moist but not waterlogged, well drained and very nutritious. A mixture of sphagnum moss, peat, perlite or vermiculite, with the addition of coarse sand, is suitable. Digitalis prefer soil with a neutral pH, in addition, a good drainage layer is necessary.

Feeding

During the growth period, apply liquid fertilizers rich in phosphorus in half the concentration every 2 weeks. During the dormant period, fertilizing is excluded. 

Flowering time

It blooms from early summer to early autumn, the flowering period is long.

Air humidity

Maintain high humidity during the active growth period. Avoid misting or mist only in the morning with soft water at room temperature - otherwise the leaves will be stained. Particular attention should be paid to proper ventilation around the plant. 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

Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season, avoiding stagnant water. It is recommended to water from a tray, and if you water from above, try to keep water from getting on the leaves. In the autumn and winter, reduce the frequency of watering, trying not to dry out the soil.

Transplant

During the dormant period, leave the flower in a pot in a cool place. In the spring, free the rhizomes from the soil, thoroughly clean them from old soil and separate them. Plant in different pots at a depth of 2.5 cm. After transplanting, watering should be moderate. Keep young specimens in partial shade. Start fertilizing when the plant is already growing at full strength.

Reproduction

Propagated by seeds, which are sown in the fall for subsequent flowering, which will occur in about 14 months. Sowing is carried out in moist and very loose soil. The seedlings are covered with glass or a plastic cap to maintain high humidity and placed in a warm place with a temperature of about 22 - 24 ° C. Digitalis is also propagated by dividing tubers and leaf cuttings.

Pests and diseases

• The edges of the leaves curl and turn brown when there is insufficient air humidity.
• Foliage turns yellow when overwatered. Allow the surface of the soil to dry out between waterings. 
• Rhizomes rot in winter when the humidity is too high.
• Cold drafts cause leaves to curl, as does watering with too cold water.
• Excess fertilizer causes abundant growth of green mass to the detriment of flowering.
• Exposure to direct sunlight on summer days causes yellow spots to appear on the leaves.

Red spider mites appear when kept too dry and warm. Sometimes leaf nematodes and thrips appear.

Note

Modern varieties and hybrids grow quickly and bloom very abundantly, but as soon as the buds disappear, the plant weakens, since it directs all its energy to flowers, and not to strong roots. Such specimens are best grown as annuals. Digitalis is used in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent.