Ahimenes: features, types, varieties and planting rules

Almost every fan of exotic flora in the green collection can find an outlandish plant - achimenes. The appearance of this decorative perennial during the flowering period makes an indelible impression, striking with a riot of colors and a variety of colors. What is this unusual plant? What types and varieties of it are popular with flower growers? What conditions must be observed when growing this exotic at home?

Akhimenes is a relative of the Uzambar violet (Saintpaulia), belonging, like her, to the Gesneriev family. This close relationship largely determines the similarity of the requirements of these plants to the conditions of maintenance and care.

As a representative of the tropical flora of South and Central America, this flower needs a comfortable living environment. However, during the period of winter dormancy, achimenes becomes less demanding, which greatly simplifies its care.

A characteristic feature of this plant is its specific transition to the phase of winter dormancy. During this period, the aboveground part of the Achimenes dies, which causes anxiety and even panic among inexperienced growers.

After the dying off of the aboveground part, from which the plant gets rid of for economical use of resources, the rhizomes (rhizomes) are immersed in a dormant state. With the arrival of spring, the root system wakes up and begins to form new shoots. If you provide the plant with full care at this time, then it can please its owner with abundant flowering twice in just one season.

If the cultivation of indoor achimenes is carried out in accordance with all the requirements for care, then it enters the first flowering phase in May and can delight with its elegant appearance almost all summer. The second flowering phase usually occurs in late summer and early autumn. At this stage, the plant forms flowers of smaller size and in small quantities, but this does not at all affect its beauty and decorativeness.

The flowers of this amazing exotic are notable for their funnel-shaped or bell-shaped form, variegated colors, richness and variety of shades. The Achimenes color palette is very extensive. It contains milky white, caramel yellow, pale and dark pink, purple, lilac, carmine red, lilac, light and dark blue tones. Achimenes with two-color striped and speckled flowers are very common in indoor plant growing.

Another important feature of these plants is their relatively long flowering. Despite the fact that the life span of flowers is not too long, new buds come to replace them in a timely manner. Thanks to this, flowering seems not only long-term, but also almost continuous.

In nature, there are about 25-30 species of Achimenes, which to this day are successfully used by breeders to develop new original varieties. The most popular varieties and types of these plants in indoor plant growing are given below.

• Antirrhina or Antiraina (irregular form of "Antirhin") is a lion-like species of Achimenes, which acquires a very spectacular appearance during the flowering period. Despite the fact that its flowering is not particularly splendid, the original appearance of the flowers gives the whole plant an impressive decorative effect. Flowers - medium-sized, flounced, have small corrugated edges. The color of the flowers is caramel-yellow with a scattering of numerous spots of wine-red color. Leaves are soft, covered with translucent hairs.

• Flava or Flava is a type of very graceful Achimenes, common in indoor plant growing. During the flowering period, the plant is covered with a few lemon-yellow bell-shaped flowers. The spectacular yellowness of the flowers looks very harmonious against the background of pale green pubescent leaves.

• Misera or Mizera is a species of achimenes, notable for its creeping shoots with reddish stems. During the flowering period, it forms many small but very beautiful flowers with a light lilac or white corolla and a dark purple spot in the core.

• Tropical Dask is an exclusive and very effective variety with medium-sized double flowers. The palette of shades is very diverse and includes caramel pink, light yellow and lavender. The diameter of the flowers varies from 3 to 4 centimeters.

• "Nero" is a miniature and compact varietal achimenes with fantastic double flowers of a deep red hue. The plant is erect, has abundant emerald foliage with carved edges.

• "Sabrina" is a relatively unpretentious variety, notable for numerous small flowers of a pale ruby ​​color and a bright yellow heart... The average diameter of the flowers is about 2 centimeters.

• "Anastasia" is a medium-sized variety, distinguished by its compact size and proportional bush formation. During the flowering period, it forms numerous small flowers of a double or semi-double shape of a soft coral shade.

• "Dot" is a luxurious varietal achimenes, rightfully loved and popular with flower growers for its abundant and long flowering... During the flowering period, forms large funnel-shaped flowers of a pale lavender color with a dark purple core. It is grown as a semi-ampelous plant, but it can also take on a bush form.

• Glory is a classic variety, notable for its very lush flowering. The simple shape of the flowers is offset by their abundance and rich, bright ruby ​​color. The diameter of the flowers on average reaches 3-3.5 centimeters.

• "Nocturne" is a flowering compact variety widely used in indoor plant growing. The plant is notable for the abundance of emerald leaves with a pointed top and many rich burgundy flowers of medium size. It is offered for cultivation as an ampelous plant, but it can also be formed in the form of a bush.

• "Double Pink Rose" is a compact varietal achimenes that gets fantastic decorative effect during the flowering period. During this period, the plant is covered with many double flowers of a pale pink color, thickening towards the core. The flowers are medium in size, with densely gathered petals in the center. The variety can be grown both as a bush and as an ampelous plant.

• "Petite Fadetta" is a very pretty tiny variety that has become widespread due to its amazing flowering. During this period, the plant forms many ruby-red flowers, which contrast effectively with the dark emerald leaves.

• "Alter ego" is a luxurious variety of achimenes with large double flowers... The plant is distinguished by its extraordinary decorativeness, which is given to it by the compactness and proportionality of the bush. Dark lilac flowers have a solid size, reaching up to 7 centimeters in diameter.

• "Golden Lady" is a semi-double variety of achimenes, which forms numerous flowers of a soft pastel shade during the flowering period. The color of the petals ranges from pink-peach, light yellow to pale lavender, thickening at the edges. The flowers are medium in size, reaching 3 centimeters in diameter.

• "Hot spot" is a two-colored terry variety, notable for unusually beautiful flowers of lemon-yellow color with arbitrary crimson spots and stains. The saturation of the color of the petals depends on the air temperature (the hotter the weather, the brighter the color). It is the result of the selection work of the famous Romanian biologist and collector Serge Salib.

• "Ice tee" is a compact varietal achimenes with rich purple flowers with a bright yellow heart. Most often it is grown by flower growers as an ampelous plant, but it can also take a bush form.

Florists prefer to use rhizomes as the main planting material. These are scaly rhizomes, the type, shape and color of which depend on the plant variety.

Plant breeders recommend planting rhizomes after winter dormancy or storage between late February and March. If rhizomes are planted at the end of winter, care must be taken to ensure that the plants can receive sufficient light in the future. This is provided using phytolamps or fluorescent lighting sources.

For planting, according to flower growers, it is best to use sprouted rhizomes. If they begin to germinate earlier than planned, then planting is allowed in the middle of winter. But in this case, plants will need to provide additional lighting.

When choosing a planting container, it is advisable to give preference to not very large pots or containers. This will save space on the windowsill and provide all plantings with sufficient light. The small size of the pots should not cause concern, since the grown plants in late spring will still have to be replanted.

Before planting, drainage is poured onto the bottom of the pot, which will prevent waterlogging of the soil mixture. Sphagnum or crushed expanded clay can be used as drainage. A light and nutritious soil mixture with a high peat content is spread over the drainage. If necessary, the mixture can be enriched with humus.

Rhizomes are laid horizontally into small depressions in the soil mixture. At the end of the work, the planting material is sprinkled with a small layer of loose earth about 1-1.5 centimeters thick. The earth is sprayed from a sprayer with warm water and the pot is removed to a bright and warm place, where the temperature is maintained at 23-25 ​​°. A lamp for additional illumination is installed above the landing tank.

Watering should be done carefully so as not to flood the rhizomes. If moisture in the soil stagnates, the planting material will rot. Moderation in watering must be adhered to until the first shoots appear, which usually appear after 2-3 weeks. As young plants grow, watering can be increased. In hot weather, water the sprouts more often.

If seedlings do not appear for a long time, the planting material can be stimulated to germinate with a single irrigation with very warm water (about 60 °). As soon as shoots appear, the film must be removed from the container.

At home, it is very easy to provide complete care for the Ahimenes. It provides for the creation of such conditions for plants as:

• soft and sufficient lighting throughout the day;
• optimal temperature;
• regular but moderate watering;
• sufficient humidity and air ventilation;
• feeding with complex fertilizers during the period of intensive development;
• quality soil.

Achimenes painfully endure a lack of light, so the best place for them is window sills in the western and eastern parts of the housing. On the window in the northern part, the plant will lack light, and in the southern part, it can become a victim of direct sunlight.

These exotic plants are very fond of heat and do not tolerate cold weather, as well as temperature drops. Even a drop in air temperature to 20 ° can cause significant discomfort to the Ahimenes.

The optimal temperature range for keeping these delicate plants is considered to be 22-25 °. At this temperature, Ahimenes will feel fine both on the balcony and on the open terrace. However, when keeping plants on a balcony or outdoors, it is important to keep an eye on weather forecasts. At the first threat of nighttime cold snaps, flowers must be brought into the house.

In winter, when the plants are in the dormant phase, it is desirable to maintain the temperature at 18-19 °. Achimenes in a state of winter sleep will not be stressed by this temperature range.

These beautifully flowering perennials do not tolerate drought and excess water. A moisture deficiency in their case can stop flowering, and an excess of it in the soil can cause rotting and death of the roots.

Achimenes should be watered regularly, but as needed. During the period of intensive development (after exiting the winter sleep phase), plants need sufficient and at the same time moderate watering. Watering of flowers is minimized while they are in the phase of winter dormancy. During this period, plants are watered no more than 1-2 times a month. During watering, a stream of water is directed along the edge of the pot.

Despite the fact that these beautifully flowering perennials do not impose increased requirements for humidity, they do not like dry air. So that plants can feel comfortable growers recommend keeping wide containers filled with water near the pots.

Also for these flowers it is very necessary high-quality air ventilation. However, drafts are contraindicated for them. It is imperative to provide moderate ventilation during extremely hot weather.

For young, actively developing and flowering Achimenes, timely feeding is extremely necessary. Most often they are carried out every 7-10 days, using special complex fertilizers for indoor flowers. Top dressing with Fertika Lux gives very good results.

During the period of bud formation, the plants are recommended to be fed with fertilizers, containing phosphorus and potassium... Top dressing with a high nitrogen content should be applied with caution, since an excess of this element in the soil mixture can provoke the violent development of green mass and weak budding.

For very young Achimenes, growing root mass, phosphorus-based fertilizers are recommended. This element plays an important role in proper root formation. Usually at this stage, flower growers use a product Raikat Start.

These flowers feel most comfortable in a loose and nutritious soil mixture with good moisture and air permeability. It is allowed to grow Achimenes in peat-based substrates. Ordinary earth mixed with coarse sand or perlite is also suitable.

There are several ways to propagate these tropical perennials. As a planting material for this procedure, not only rhizomes (scaly rhizomes) can be used, but also:

• airy rhizomes (formed in certain varieties);
• cuttings;
• leaves;
• seeds.

Breeding with aerial rhizomes is applicable only to certain varieties in which they form. Visually, these parts of the plant look like elongated small greenish cones. Separate them from the stems after the plant dries up in anticipation of winter sleep. After separation, the rhizomes are sent for storage until spring, and with its onset, they are planted in a loose soil mixture.

Cutting is one of the most common breeding methods for Achimenes. For the procedure, the apical parts are used, which are cut off before the formation of flower ovaries. After cutting, the cuttings are rooted in the nutrient soil in the usual way.

Leaves are an excellent planting material for breeding Achimenes... For cutting, only strong and healthy specimens are chosen, which are rooted in the ground, having equipped an impromptu greenhouse. The rooting technology in this case is the same as that of the leaves of the uzambara violet.

Seed propagation is considered the most time consuming method of breeding Ahimenes... The seeds of these flowering perennials are very small, therefore, to facilitate sowing, they are mixed with sand and laid out on the surface of the soil mixture. At the end of the work, the sand is moistened and covered with plastic wrap. The first shoots usually appear in 1-2 weeks.

Among the diseases that Achimenes most often suffer from, flower growers note such as:

• ring spot, chlorosis;
• fungal diseases;
• bacterioses.

Chlorosis and annular spotting usually develop in plants against the background of a violation of the conditions of care. Correction of the mistakes made (normalization of air temperature, humidity level, illumination) will help to get rid of the problem in this case.

Fungal diseases are often the result of waterlogging of the soil mixture. Usually, due to an excess of moisture, the roots of plants suffer. The main treatment here is the use of fungicidal preparations and the restoration of the normal moisture level of the substrate.

Bacteriosis is a group of diseases that develop as a result of damage to plants by pathogens. The main reasons for the development of bacteriosis are violations of the rules of care, contact of healthy plants with infected ones. The treatment plan in this case is based on the use of antibacterial drugs (Gamair, Alirin 5).

The most common pests that pose a threat to Achimenes are aphids, whiteflies, spider mites... Plants grown on balconies, loggias or outdoors are often prey to bumblebees, which damage delicate flowers and buds.

To combat most pests, such highly effective preparations are used as Aktellik, Fitoverm, Kleschevit, Aktara, Confidor. Preparations and their concentration are selected in accordance with the type of pest and the degree of plant damage.

During the treatment of plants from diseases or pests, the affected flowers must be isolated from a healthy green collection. During this period, the affected Achimenes need the most benign conditions of existence.

For the secrets of caring for achimenes, see the next video.