Primrose obkonika is a perennial indoor plant that blooms almost all year. Large fleecy leaves of this flower are collected in a lush rosette, on the top of which are located umbrellas of inflorescences of pale pink, white, purple. Primrose has a rather capricious character, but, despite this, it is very popular in indoor gardening. Today, there are both traditional varieties of primrose and new Dutch large-flowered hybrids.
This article will tell you in detail what primrose is. Growing from seeds at home and proper care of the plant will also be our focus.
Grade description
Habitus, flowering time and certain nuances of agricultural technology primrose obkoniki put it on a par with pelargonium and senpolia.
Obconica itself is a small pot plant with a height of about 30 cm. In fact, it is considered a perennial, but shows the most abundant flowering in the first year, so in practice it is grown as a one-year or two-year-old crop. This herbaceous plant has a rather magnificent rosette with large velvety leaves. The shape of the leaves is rounded, the edge is wavy. Leaflets are located on long pubescent petioles. Flowering begins around the 5th month after sowing the seeds. At this time, the flower appears with a rosette with 8-10 leaves.
The primrose obconica is a large-flowered representative of the family (flower diameter 6-8 cm). Flowers gather in colorful umbrellas with long stems and rise above the dark green leaves. At the same time, up to 10 peduncles appear in one plant. If the sowing of seeds was carried out in the summer, then the obconica will bloom continuously from February to May, after which there will be a summer break, and again the flowers will appear in the fall, last until December.
Biological features of the variety
The successful cultivation of this room beauty will largely depend on the knowledge of some biological features of the species:
- In nature, this herbaceous plant prefers the lower tier of the subtropical flora, the slopes of the hills, and the banks of water bodies; therefore, it is well related to bright but scattered sunlight, moist soil, and good aeration of the root system.
- Obkonika (primrose home) grows well in loose nutrient soil with a slightly acid reaction. The substrate for obkoniki is prepared from high peat and leafy soil - these components regulate acidity.
- Despite the fact that the plant belongs to the subtropical flora, it grows well in moderate heat and even coolness (15-17 degrees). This temperature is needed primrose to adapt to the light mode of our strip.
- The primrose obkonika differs from other primroses in that it does not need cold temperatures and peace to form buds. If you provide her with appropriate care, then it can bloom all year round - in winter and autumn on the windowsill, in summer and spring - on the flowerbed or on the balcony.
It is important to remember that obconica can cause an allergic reaction. However, it is not considered poisonous. When breeding it is not recommended to put a flower in a bedroom or children's room.
Primrose: growing from seeds at home
Grow primrose obkoniku from seeds. From the moment of sowing to the beginning of flowering, it takes about six months. Germinate seeds in a special soil from a mixture of turf and sand. Sow seeds directly on the surface of the soil, without sprinkling anything on top. After this, you need to cover the container with glass and regularly spray the soil. If you maintain the optimal temperature regime (20-22 degrees), then seedlings will appear in 2-3 weeks. After that, they need to be put in a bright place, and the temperature slightly reduced.
When the first true leaves appear, seedlings can be dived. The distance between them should be 3-4 cm. Thus, they will grow until they become crowded. Then a second pick is performed, seedlings of primrose obkoniki are seated after 8 cm. When the plants become crowded again after the second pick (leaves of neighboring plants will close), they can be transplanted into a pot. Now you can start feeding the flower. To do this, use a solution of bird droppings, mineral fertilizers or a solution of mullein.
So the primrose obkonika is grown. Reproduction of an already adult plant can occur in two ways: by cuttings or by dividing the flower. It is made between flowering obkoniki.
New varieties
To date, the most common obconica, bred by Dutch breeders. But old varieties that cause allergies are being replaced with new improved varieties and hybrids.
1. Touch me variety ("touch me"). The flowers of this primrose variety are distinguished by their large size and variety of colors. But the most important difference is that this primrose is safe for health, it does not cause allergies. The peak of flowering occurs in spring and autumn.
2. Libre F1 - this variety of primrose also does not cause allergies, since it does not secrete primin. In this group of 9 different shades of flowers, orange flowers and two-tone flowers stand out from the total mass.
3. Grace is a large-flowered compact plants with various bright shades: white, blue, pink, red, purple.
Care
Primrose is considered a very capricious domestic plant, but if you know that Obonica primrose loves how to care for a flower correctly, then it can even be called unpretentious.
For planting obkoniki prepare a light friable mixture, which includes various soil components: acid peat, turf and leafy soil, coarse sand. You can buy ready-made soil mix.
The location of the flower also matters. Given that the primrose obkonika prefers to grow in diffused light, it should be removed from direct sunlight. For example, it can be placed on a table near a window or on a balcony where larger plants obscure it.
In winter, primrose is placed on the windowsill of the south or east window. There she has enough light and the temperature is slightly below room temperature. The ideal temperature for primrose obkoniki is considered to be 16-18 degrees. If the room is warmer, then intensive growth of leaves will begin and buds will not form.
It is very important to monitor the watering of the olfactory, especially during flowering and budding. Watering should be moderate, while water should not fall on the leaves.
This flowering plant loves top dressing. You need to feed about 1 time in 2 weeks. At the stage of awakening, when there is an increase in green mass, fertilizers should contain more nitrogen. When the first flower buds appear, the fertilizer should contain more potassium to form buds and bloom profusely.
Features of care during and after flowering
During the flowering of primrose, wilted peduncles and leaves must be removed on time. Thus, food is consumed economically, and therefore the process lasts a long time.
When flowering ends, the flower needs to be removed in the shade - so it will quickly restore shape and bloom again.
After 1-2 years, the primrose needs to be rejuvenated and transplanted.
When the autumn-winter flowering ends, old leaves need to be cut and put the pot in a cool place. After this, the plant will grow young leaves, and then the bushes can be divided and transplanted into fresh soil.
Possible diseases
The primrose obkonika often suffers from fungal diseases - in this case, the leaves and roots of the plant rot. Also, a flower can die from viral diseases.
Of the pests, the more dangerous are the spider mite, whitefly and thrips. Insecticides will help to cope with them.