Schizanthus

Family. Solanaceae.

Origin. Argentina, Chile.

Description. The genus Schizanthus contains annual or biennial species with charming, colorful flowers. The stems are erect or gracefully drooping, abundantly branched. The leaves are bright green, attractive, pinnate, reminiscent of fern fronds, up to 15 cm long. Young shoots and leaves have sparse pubescence. The flowers are small, up to 5 cm in diameter, collected in apical shields and almost completely hide the plant itself during flowering. The color of the flowers varies from white, pink, lilac, red, purple, burgundy to varieties with flowers of two or more tones.

Height. In indoor culture, low varieties are grown - up to 40 cm in height.

Planting and care

Reproduction - growing from seeds 

Seeds are sown in spring in a moist mixture of peat and sand, covered with a small layer of soil. Germination is quite long and can take up to 1 month.

Care at home 

Provide this plant with warmth, humidity and plenty of sunlight. When kept outdoors during the warm period, more flowers are formed on the schizanthus and the flowering period is extended. The tips of young seedling shoots should be pinched regularly so that the bush develops densely and branched. Remove faded flowers in a timely manner.

Flowering time

It blooms from late spring and throughout the summer, depending on the ambient temperature. 

Containment temperature

Medium - warm content at 14 - 18° C. This subtropical plant does not tolerate cold, but slows down growth when the intense summer heat sets in. 

Lighting

Sunny window, bright balcony. Provide the bush with at least 4 hours of direct sunlight every day. It blooms reluctantly in the shade.

Soil for growing in a pot

Nutritious soils with excellent drainage and high organic matter content. Sod and leaf humus, peat, well-rotted manure and coarse sand.

Fertilizer

Feed every 2 weeks from spring to fall with a high phosphorus liquid fertilizer diluted half-strength.

Spraying 

Moderate to high (50% or higher). Place the pot on a tray of damp gravel or use a humidifier to increase the humidity around the plant. Grow schizanthus in ventilated areas with constant air flow.

Watering 

Watering abundantly during the growing season. Dry the top layer of soil between waterings. Make sure that moisture does not remain in the tray after watering. Reduce watering in winter when growth has slowed. 

Transfer

The bush prefers tight conditions, so it blooms more abundantly. Only two-year-old specimens are transplanted in spring into fresh soil. Use pots with large drainage holes so that water does not accumulate near the root system.

Pests and diseases

When moisture stagnates, the plant roots rot. When air humidity is insufficient, the leaves begin to dry out. Insect pests are aphids, spider mites. Maintain air humidity high enough to avoid these pests.

Purpose

A profusely flowering plant that is ideal for landscaping small open spaces such as balconies and terraces, as well as for growing in hanging baskets. 

Note

Schizanthus is extremely decorative, but after flowering it should be thrown away. All parts of the bush contain toxins - keep the flower out of reach of children and pets.

Varieties:

Schizanthus Angel Wings

Annual, profusely and long-flowering plants 30 - 45 cm high. The bushes have light green, palmately cut leaves on short petioles. Erect, abundantly branched stems at the base during the flowering period are abundantly covered with bright, attractive flowers. Flower colors include white, yellow, orange, coral, red and burgundy. Quite often there are plants with buds painted in several shades at once. 

Schizanthus x wisetonensis

Spectacular, low, flowering plants 30 - 50 cm high. The bushes have delicate, lacy, pinnately dissected, light green leaves on short petioles. The stems are erect, branching abundantly over the entire height. Flowers appear at the tops of the shoots. Petals can be in shades of white, yellow, orange, brown, lilac, pink, burgundy, with all sorts of combinations thereof.

Schizanthus x wisetonensis Atlantis

Compact, very abundant and long-flowering plant, specially bred for growing in small pots and cache-pots. These bushes have lacy, pinnately dissected, light green leaves. The stems are erect, branched, strong, low, and bear many flowers of a wide variety of colors. The flowering is so abundant that the buds can completely hide the foliage of the plants.