The genus Gloxinia belongs to the Gesneriaceae family. In nature, gloxinia (synningia) is common in the tropics. Wild gloxinia is a shrub or perennial herb with a tuber root, erect stems and large, noticeable flowers. At home, gloxinia hybrid is usually cultivated, bred as a result of crossbreeding of various species.
Hybrid gloxinia, the care of which has its own nuances, is a low plant with elongated velvety leaves growing on juicy petioles. Her flowers are bright and noticeable: they can be white or various shades of blue, red, purple, pink; the shape is reminiscent of large bells. They have a delicate, barely distinguishable aroma. Gloxinia bloom in spring and bloom for almost six months, until late autumn. Flowering plants should be indoors during the day with an air temperature not lower than + 20-24 degrees. If possible, they should be taken out to a cool place at night, the temperature of which is 5-6 degrees lower - this stimulates abundant flowering.
After the plant fades, a dormant period begins. The aerial part of the flower dies. In winter, gloxinia, the care of which during this period provides only meager watering, should be kept at a temperature not exceeding +10 ... + 12 degrees. To do this, pots with tubers are taken out to the basement or cellar. Starting in February, fresh sprouts may already appear. With the onset of spring, plants are taken out to a warm place and begin to be watered more abundantly. Ideally, this is best done from the pallet: gloxinia, care of which requires caution, does not tolerate moisture on the leaves. Water should be warm (temperature - not lower than +17 degrees), rain or settled for 24 hours. Under no circumstances should gloxinia be sprayed! Leaving leaves can only be carefully removed from the dust with a small dry cloth or cotton swab. If moisture gets into the center of the tuber during irrigation, the point from which the leaves grow, its decay is possible.
Gloxinia is propagated by tubers or leaves. To do this, sprouted nodules are divided by the number of sprouts (cuts are sprinkled with crushed charcoal), the leaves are rooted in the sand, covered with glass from above. After the appearance of the roots, they are transplanted into a substrate, consisting of a mixture of leaf, sod land and humus with a small amount of peat and sand. You can use a land mixture and a slightly different composition, the rule is only one: the soil should not be too acidic (normal - pH 5.5 - 6.5). This plant is well propagated by seeds: they are planted at a distance of about four centimeters from each other. After the appearance of one or two pairs of real leaves, seedlings are transplanted into separate pots. They bloom in about four to five months from the day of sowing. Perhaps in the first year of the winter period of rest they will be absent.
In spring, during active growth and flower buds, plants need good illumination for at least 12-14 hours a day - otherwise they will grow and the number of flowers will be small. In addition, if the flowers lack light, they will have a paler color. During this period, gloxinia, the care of which should take into account the nuances of lighting, may be contained on the windowsills of the southern windows. With the onset of the flowering period, which usually coincides with the beginning of summer, the plant can be rearranged in a less hot and lighted place. Caring for gloxinia involves shading it from direct sunlight.
Wide and shallow pots are best suited to grow these flowers. They can be both clay and plastic - this is not important. Only their size is important: for young tubers - about 10 cm in diameter, for adults - about 15 cm. Drainage is necessarily put at the bottom of the pot. In general, gloxinia, despite some difficulties with its content, is a grateful plant. It grows well, blooms profusely and serves as a real decoration of the interior - because its flowers are so beautiful and picturesque!