Hoffmannia

Family. Rubiaceae.

Origin. Mexico.

Description. The genus Hoffmannia includes about 100 species, mostly shrubs and herbaceous plants. The leaves are the main decoration of this species - they are dark green on top, velvety and purple-red on the bottom, up to 30 cm long and up to 8 cm wide. Sometimes the leaf blades can have a light green color with lighter, clearly defined veins. Some specimens form a basal rosette of leaves, others have a low vertical unbranched stem. Young leaves in the center of the rosette sometimes acquire a reddish color. The flowers are star-shaped, yellow with a red spot, not particularly spectacular, small, hidden by foliage.

Height. In pots it reaches 60 cm in height.

Care at home

Containment temperature

Summer heat suits this plant perfectly. In winter, keep hoffmannia cool with a temperature of about 15 ° C. 

Lighting

A brightly lit place without access to direct sunlight throughout the year. Tolerates partial shade, but leaves may lose their attractive color if there is insufficient light.

Substrate for hoffmannia

Loose and well-drained, based on peat and leaf humus, nutritious, with an acidic pH.

Feeding

Use regular liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season.

Flowering time

Summer.

Air humidity

The higher the temperature, the higher the air humidity should be. The leaves can be sprayed with soft water, but it would be better to use a room humidifier or place the pot on a tray with damp pebbles. Doesn't like drafts. 

Watering

In summer, water moderately, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. It is preferable to use rainwater or softened tap water. In winter, reduce the frequency of watering; the soil should be almost completely dry between waterings.

Transplant

Hoffmannia is repotted every two years in the spring, when the tips of the roots begin to peek out of the drainage holes of the pot, or change the substrate if necessary.

Reproduction

This plant propagates without any problems in early summer by cuttings about 10 cm long, cut just below the leaf node. Remove the lower leaves from the cutting and dip the base in rooting powder. Cover the crops with a clear plastic cover or glass to maintain humidity and place in a warm place with a temperature of about 20 ° C in partial shade. When rooting cuttings, it is advisable to use bottom heating. Bushes that form a basal rosette are propagated by daughter shoots - small rosettes that appear on the side of the mother plant.

Pests and diseases

Leaves dry out when air humidity is too low, turn yellow and rot when overwatered. Leaf blades lose turgor when conditions are too cool.

Among the pests, the plant can be attacked by aphids, mealybugs, scale insects and spider mites if kept too dry.

Note

Hoffmannia can live indoors for a very long time, but adult specimens often stretch out and lose their attractive compact shape. Such bushes should be replaced with new ones.