Gloriosa: description, varieties, subtleties of care

Many growers are engaged in the cultivation of exotic flowering plants at home. Gloriosa, which is in demand as a room culture due to its unusual appearance and spectacular flowering, should be attributed to the number of popular exotic plants. Today, different varieties and types of this flower are grown in the premises, each of which can become a real decoration of the interior.

Gloriosa is a herbaceous vine that grows in its natural environment, where it can reach a height of five meters. The exotic crop belongs to the Colchicaceae family with tuberous geophytes. Indoors, perennials are smaller, as a rule, adult gloriosa stretches 1.5-2 meters. Very often, the culture is confused with a lily because of the external similarity of flowers.

Flowers in vines are formed at the ends of numerous shoots, as a rule, the perennial enters the flowering phase by early summer. The length of the pedicels can reach 10-15 centimeters. The flower itself has 6 petals with corollas and long stamens. After the culture has bloomed, the vines form three-dimensional pods with round seeds.

The color of flowers in gloriosa, depending on the variety, can be different. There are cultures with emerald, amber, burgundy, orange or pink buds. In the process of ripening, the petals gradually change their color. The leaves of the creeping plant also stand out for their decorative appeal, the green mass is large, with a glossy surface and elongated ends.

Foliage forms immediately on the stem. Leaves can be whorled or opposite with long tendrils at the ends, thanks to which the culture in its natural environment clings to nearby trees, shrubs or artificially erected supports. In a similar way, the vine is drawn towards the sun.

Its branches are very delicate and fragile, so they need careful handling during care, transplantation and cultivation.

Another feature of gloriosa is the alkaloid contained in it, which poses a mortal danger to humans and animals even in microscopic doses. However, upon contact with the skin, it does not cause any negative reactions, the toxin can harm the body only if ingested.

To flower growers in order to avoid dangerous situations associated with poisoning, it is recommended to contact with indoor or garden flowers only with gloves. In winter, the plant enters a dormant phase, at this time the tip dies off, with the arrival of heat, the plant resumes its life cycle as a perennial. From the dormant buds at the top, an apical tuber is formed.

Among the most sought after varieties of gloriosa, at home the following specimens are grown.

• "Luxurious" ("Magnificent"). The most popular flower that is in demand for home cultivation due to its beautiful flowering.The color of the perianths is varied - on the outside, the lobes will be painted pink, on the inside, the base will be yellow with red tips. The culture will bloom between June and September.

• "Rothschild". The flower stands out with curly petals. They will be yellow and red. The plant is able to enter the flowering phase in the spring, capturing several autumn months.

• Daisy. This culture is artificially bred. The hybrid is an annual, herbaceous plant, therefore it is not able to form branchy vines. However, the color of the flower will be no less expressive than that of the above varieties. It is dominated by yellow, orange and red shades.

• "Santa Maria". The culture can have flowers of a wide variety of shades. There are lemon and dark red options on sale. The variety stands out for its high decorative qualities, therefore it is very often cut to create bouquets.

• Carson. A small plant whose flowering is accompanied by the formation of deep red flowers, while the perianths will be yellow with curved tips.

The selection of a variety for home cultivation depends on the personal preferences of the grower. However, there are several recommendations to avoid purchasing low-quality planting material.

• When purchasing seeds for planting a plant, it is imperative to check their expiration date, as well as the integrity of the package. Expired planting material will not be able to germinate.
• When choosing a crop for growing in the form of tubers, you need to make sure of their health. To do this, you should conduct a visual inspection of the rhizomes for mechanical damage or traces of any ailment. As a rule, rot, mold or cobwebs will become vivid manifestations of the disease.

The plant will grow well in small pots, it is best to select low ceramic containers. Rooting of crops should take place with the obligatory use of a drainage layer. Gloriosa is a light-loving flower, therefore it is recommended to place it on windowsills from the south, east or west.... Shaded places will cause perennials to stretch out, while the culture will not bloom.

The tubers are planted in a horizontal position, they should not be deepened by more than 3-4 centimeters, since the formation of shoots will occur directly from the tuber, and the buds, as a rule, are laid at its ends. There should be a lot of free space in the pot for the root system, planting should be done with extreme caution, because if the buds are damaged, the entire plant may die.

If gloriosa is planted by seed, then the purchased material by the florist should be sown in a moist soil mixture consisting of peat and sea sand. The container with seeds is covered with foil or glass to form a warm and humid microclimate inside. When shoots appear in the mini-greenhouse, the young flower can be transplanted into a separate pot. A culture grown from seeds will be able to bloom no earlier than in 3 years.

In the phase of active growth of gloriasis, it is necessary to create a room temperature at the level of +20 +25 C, without sudden jumps and drafts. When the plant is in hibernation, the grower is recommended to provide the perennial with coolness. As a rule, tubers overwinter well at an air temperature of +12 C, you can increase the mark to +18 C, however, a further increase in temperature can lead to disturbances in the formation of flower buds.

With the arrival of spring, the culture will gradually leave the dormant phase, during this period it is necessary to increase the temperature slowly so that the vine can adapt to new conditions without unnecessary stress, which will be the key to abundant flowering in summer.

The culture must be rooted in a nutritious soil, this also applies to young flowers. Loose soil will be suitable for gloriosa. with a neutral pH level. The substrate can be bought at the store or you can make it yourself. To do this, mix humus, forest moss, sand and leafy black soil. Some growers plant a flower in a soil mixture of turf, peat, sand and humus.

The amount and frequency of use of dressings will directly depend on the stage of growth and development of the flower. In winter, you should not additionally fertilize the soil in a pot of tubers. As for the rest of the period, then It is recommended for the grower to introduce fertilizers twice a month. A suitable option for lianas will be universal balanced compositions intended for flowering indoor crops, which can be alternated with mineral and organic fertilizers.

The flower needs to ensure constant soil moisture in the pot, with the exception of the dormant phase, in which watering can be stopped altogether. In the process of awakening, the introduction of moisture should be gradually restored, at the same time increasing the humidity of the air. To do this, you can use ordinary household humidifiers, or you can place the culture in a pan with damp pebbles and moss.

Most gloriosa varieties are distinguished by their persistent immunity to the most common diseases of indoor crops, in addition, plants are rarely attacked by pests. However, care errors can provoke the development of some diseases, as well as the appearance of insect pests. Among the dangerous individuals that harm tropical culture, the following are worth noting.

• Aphid. Small insects settle on the reverse side of the leaf, quickly increasing the number of their colony. Drought and improper watering can provoke the appearance of a pest. The fight against the pest can be carried out using folk methods, using infusion of tobacco or garlic for spraying. Also, to help the florist in stores, insecticidal compositions for the treatment of indoor plants are sold.
• Shield. An insect that devours the stems and leaves of gloriosa. The scabbard can be seen on the crop, the pests will be noticeable by the small brown tubercles, which will be strewn with most of the plant. To destroy the pest, it is recommended to treat the vine with soapy water under a warm shower. If the folk method of struggle has not brought results, the florist will need to use store-bought chemicals.
• Spider mite. This pest appears due to too dry indoor air. Signs of a pest on the crop will be a white spider web. To destroy the individual, a warm soapy shower is used, after which the still wet plant is covered with a film to create high humidity inside, which will destroy the pest.

Among the diseases from which gloriasis can suffer, it is worth highlighting.

• Root rot. You can notice this ailment by the state of the green mass - it will lose its attractiveness and turgor. To save the plant, it must be removed from the pot, treated with fungicides. It is best to replace the soil in the container with a new one to avoid re-contamination.
• Powdery mildew. The presence of this ailment will also be indicated by the foliage of the creeper, it can change its color, and also become covered with spots.For treatment, a composition of potassium permanganate and colloidal sulfur is used to spray the plant.

An important period in the life cycle of gloriasis is resting phase. At this time, the grower needs to remove all the tubers of the culture from the pot, moving them to temporary storage in moistened sand, some owners of vines send them to winter in the refrigerator or leave them to winter in the same pot. In February-March, tubers can be removed from a temporary storage location by rooting in a new substrate.

Experienced growers do not recommend pruning the crop after its full life cycle, as this can adversely affect the future flowering of the vine. In addition, you should not touch the ends of the shoots, since it is on them that the buds are laid. Since the culture is distinguished by very fragile shoots, when growing vines, it must be tied up and supports must be built. To do this, you can use wire, ropes, bamboo sticks, or special plastic ladders for climbing crops.

As for the composition of the soil, in order to make it looser when preparing it yourself, you can additionally use perlite. Gloriosa containers can be in the form of hanging planters or plastic containers.

How to care for a plant, see below.