The shoots of the plant are erect or drooping, covered with soft dark green leaves, the surface of which is slightly pubescent. Cineraria blooms with small but numerous chamomile-shaped flowers, collected in lush inflorescences-baskets. Flower petals can be colored in a variety of shades of blue, pink, crimson and other colors, depending on the plant variety.
Also see how to grow indoor gerbera.
| High growth rate, up to 30 cm per year. |
| Blooms from January to April. |
| Average difficulty of growing. |
| Grow for 1 year and discard after flowering. |
Useful properties of cineraria
In addition to its attractive appearance, cineraria also has the ability to purify and ionize the air in the room where it is located. By absorbing toxic compounds and enriching the environment with oxygen and phytoorganic substances, the plant noticeably improves the microclimate of the home, which ultimately has a beneficial effect on the well-being of its owners.
Types and varieties of cineraria
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Varieties of Cineraria
There are several types of cineraria that have received the greatest love from gardeners. Interestingly, they differ not only in the location and growing conditions, but also in the type of cultivation, natural growth area and appearance. Below are some popular varieties.
- “Sympathy” is a hybrid with many branched branches. Heart-shaped leaves. The height of the bush is 20 cm. The flowers have a diameter of 4 cm. The petals are two-colored with a combination of different colors: blue, pink, red, lilac, white and so on.
- "Senetti" grows up to 50 cm in height. The flowers are similar to the previous variety and can also have a variety of colors.
- "Grandiflora" is grown in the garden. This is a bush growing up to 70 cm in height. It has large flowers, up to 8 cm in diameter. The petals are two-colored, the tone may be different.
- "Silver dust" grows up to 25 cm in height. The leaves are “cut”, with a light fluff. Grown in open ground. The inflorescences are not of interest, but the foliage is the main decoration.
- "Cirrus" is a tall plant up to 45 cm in height. The leaves are serrated silver-green, oval in shape. Young bushes are more green than silver and only change color over time.
- "Stelata" is a hybrid of bloody cineraria. Has indigo-colored star inflorescences. Grows up to 70 cm. The leaves are large. This plant fits perfectly into any design.
Cineraria: care at home. Briefly
| Temperature | In summer – room temperature or slightly higher (but not more than +25°С), in winter – low (about +15°С). |
| Air humidity | Moderate. The plant can be sprayed periodically, protecting flowers and buds from moisture. |
| Lighting | Intense but diffuse. |
| Watering | Regular, moderate, without overflowing or drying out the soil. |
| Soil for cineraria | Loose, nutritious, slightly acidified or neutral. |
| Feeding and fertilizer | Single season plants are not required. Bushes older than a year are fed during the period of active growth 1-2 times a month. |
| Cineraria transplant | Annual when grown for more than one season. |
| Reproduction | From seeds or stem cuttings. |
| Features of cultivation | Cineraria at home does not tolerate stagnation of air and moisture, so it needs regular ventilation and strict adherence to the watering regime. |
Cineraria - reproduction
Photos of crossandra species, home care
Having mastered the rules for successfully growing and caring for a flower, many ask the next question on this topic - how does cineraria reproduce? There are two methods - propagation by seeds and cuttings, each of them has its own pros and cons. Reproduction using cuttings is faster and requires less effort, but even if all the rules are followed, the result may be zero. Growing from seeds is a longer process, requires a lot of time and attention, but guarantees almost one hundred percent success.
Cineraria - propagation by cuttings
Cineraria indoors does not stop growing in winter, but some of its shoots may become too long; with their help, we can propagate by cuttings. Young shoots are carefully cut off, treated with rooting preparations and immediately planted in a prepared pot with substrate. It is difficult to predict the survival rate of a cutting - it can either suddenly dry out for unknown reasons if all the rules of care are followed, or it can quickly begin to grow.
Another method that gives us a much higher chance of survival is propagation by layering. This is done as follows:
- We prepare a separate pot with soil, moisten the soil well, and place it in close proximity to the flower.
- He selects the longest shoot, tilts it towards the pot with the substrate, and carefully fixes it using special aluminum brackets.
- Sprinkle the shoot branch in the pot with soil.
- After some time, the shoot takes root in a new pot, rooting occurs, and it can be cut off from the mother flower.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=jH5MRx6ttoc%250D
Indoor cineraria - growing from seeds
There is nothing difficult about how to grow cineraria from seeds, but you should be patient, as this process takes time. Sowing at home can be done absolutely at any time of the year, but remember that flowering will occur no earlier than six months after planting. For example, if you plant cineraria in June, it will bloom around the New Year.
How to plant cineraria seeds?
Cineraria germinates and grows very quickly; planting seeds is done as follows:
Seeds are sown in trays with soil mixture, evenly distributed and sprinkled with a layer of substrate, then watered
They do not need to be pre-prepared for planting. After planting, it is important to cover the tray with cling film, thereby creating greenhouse conditions for the seeds. The soil should not be allowed to dry out - it should be watered daily. After 2-3 weeks, seedlings appear, from this moment they no longer need shelter, and the film can be removed. As the seedlings grow, it is important to thin them out so that the distance between them is at least 2-3 cm. Otherwise, the root system will not be able to form. When a small indoor cineraria already has 2-3 leaves, it can be transplanted into a separate pot.
Cineraria has wilted - what to do?
Indoor cineraria is a favorite treat for many pests, including fungi; its susceptibility to disease is one of the reasons why many prefer not to replant it. If you see that indoor cineraria has wilted, it is most likely infested with pests. Among numerous diseases, the flower is very susceptible to the following:
- Gray rot.
Infection with rot is possible if water often gets on the stems and leaves during watering. The flower is replanted and treated with special anti-rot preparations, the affected shoots are removed. - Alternaria.
The main symptom is light brown spots with a dark border that appear on the leaves. Diseases such as rust and oidium have similar symptoms. They are treated with fungicides. - Pests
– aphids, whiteflies, butterflies. This problem is easiest to recognize; insecticides are used for treatment.
If you notice that indoor cineraria has wilted, first try to identify the disease and begin appropriate treatment. But the problem is that the flower is very unstable to diseases - you need to act very quickly, literally on the same day you discover that not everything is in order with the plant. If you delay starting treatment, there is a high risk of losing the flower.
Caring for cineraria at home. Details
Cineraria bloom
A cineraria plant at home, with proper care, can bloom at any time of the year, but usually the flowering period occurs in the spring months.
Corymbose inflorescences are located at the tops of adult shoots and consist of many small red, lilac, violet, white or pink flowers, similar to daisy flowers.
Temperature
During the active growing season, cineraria prefers moderate heat and develops well at a temperature of +22-25°C. In winter, the plant needs coolness and an air temperature of no more than +15°C - only in such conditions is it able to form flower buds for the next season.
Spraying
Caring for cineraria at home may include regularly spraying the plant with warm, settled water, although the flower develops normally even at normal room humidity.
When spraying, it is important to ensure that water does not get on the flowers and buds.
Lighting
Cineraria is photophilous, but does not tolerate direct sunlight, so it is best to place it on an eastern or western windowsill. A south-facing window will also work, but the plant will need to be shaded from the midday sun.
Watering cineraria
Water the cineraria very sparingly throughout the growing season, avoiding either overwatering or drying out the earthen coma.
For watering, you should use only warm, settled water, otherwise the plant will get sick.
Pot for cineraria
At home, cineraria grows a fairly voluminous root system, so the growing container needs to be selected to be spacious so that the plant has the opportunity to develop normally. At the same time, the pot should not be too large - in this case the cineraria will “refuse” to bloom.
Priming
Any loose nutrient substrate with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction is suitable for growing cineraria. You can purchase a soil mixture for beautiful flowering plants at a flower shop or prepare the soil yourself by mixing leaf soil with peat and compost in a ratio of 2:1:0.5.
Feeding and fertilizer
In properly selected soil, homemade cineraria, which grows as an annual, does not need fertilizing.
Plants older than one year are fed during the period of active growth 1-2 times a month with liquid flower fertilizer.
Cineraria transplant
Plants from one season are thrown away after flowering, so there is no point in replanting them.
Cineraria bushes can be saved for the next year; to do this, after all the flowers have withered, the stems are shortened a little, and the plant itself is carefully transplanted into a new pot with a diameter slightly larger than the previous one.
Transplantation of cineraria is carried out using the transshipment method.
Trimming
Cineraria forms a compact and dense crown on its own, so it does not need additional pruning. However, in order for the plant to retain its decorative and attractive appearance for as long as possible, it is recommended to regularly remove wilted flowers and yellowing leaves.
Rest period
Most often, faded cineraria is simply thrown away, but if the plant is planned to be grown as a perennial, it is given a short rest period after the flowers have withered. At this time, the plant is cut by about half and transferred to a cooler, but well-lit room.
Watering is reduced to the required minimum, fertilizing is temporarily stopped.
Cineraria in landscape design
Features of peperomia obtufolia and subtleties of care
The beautiful flower is used both to decorate window sills and garden plots. Cineraria in the garden can be planted in flower beds and serve as a decoration for gazebos. This flower is perfect for different garden designs. The plant can be planted near paths and in different compositions, in the garden and on the lawn. Seaside cineraria is an excellent solution for borders.
Cineraria – what to combine with in the flowerbed?
Bright flowers are ideal both in single plantings and in combination with other plants. When planting cineraria in a flowerbed with other flowers, in most cases they are planted along the edge, like a bright frame. Species that grow up to 0.5 m can be combined with other asteraceae. Please note that almost all varieties of cineraria require sufficient lighting to care for, so when planting, select companions that will not create shadows.
Diseases and pests
Cineraria is easily infected by various viral and fungal diseases and reacts painfully to mistakes made during the growing process:
- Cineraria stems stretch when there is insufficient lighting. The plant should be moved to a lighter windowsill, not forgetting about shading from the hot midday sun.
- Fluffy gray spots on the leaves are a sign of damage to the plant by gray rot, which most often appears due to high humidity combined with low air temperature. The infected parts of the flower are immediately removed, the cineraria itself is transplanted into fresh soil and treated with a special anti-rot preparation, which contains copper.
- Cineraria does not bloom if it is too hot or does not have enough light. Another reason is systematic violations of the watering regime. Having corrected all the mistakes in caring for the plant, you can hope for buds and flowers to appear on it soon.
- Cineraria leaves turn yellow when watering is poor or the cineraria is kept in a cold room. Fading leaf blades must be removed, and soil temperature and humidity adjusted to optimal levels.
Cineraria is quite often attacked by various pests; the plant is especially loved by spider mites, whiteflies, and aphids. Modern insecticidal preparations for indoor plants are a great help in the fight against dangerous insects.
Reproduction
Now, after we have learned how a flower is grown from seeds, it makes sense to talk about its propagation. The description of the process is extremely simple: cineraria, in most cases, reproduces using seeds.
The potting soil is compacted over the surface of the substrate, and film or glass is placed on it. After this, the plant is placed in a warm place, with a temperature of approximately twenty degrees Celsius.
After two or three true leaves appear on it, it must be picked. After all this, the flower is placed in its favorite conditions - a cool room, the temperature in which does not exceed fifteen degrees Celsius.
If a flower is planted at the beginning of December, the plant will begin to bloom only in the autumn, however, if you have a garden and you don’t really want to care for the seedlings for so long, the seeds can be planted freely in March or April, after which the seedlings must be planted in open ground.
It is there that they will grow until autumn, at which time the cineraria will be transplanted into a container.
After this, all that remains is to wait for the buds to appear. If a small bush grows very much, it can be divided into two parts.
After the first frost, the plant should be moved indoors to a place comfortable for normal flower growth. We have already discussed all the conditions above. An excellent option would be a loggia, window sill or glazed balcony.
Cineraria begins to bloom in late autumn or in the first month of winter. The plant blooms for about four weeks.
Types of Cineraria domestica with photos and names
Bloody Cineraria (Cineraria cruentus)
The most common hybrid species in indoor floriculture, combining many varieties with straight, highly branched stems and lush green lacy foliage. Varieties of bloody cineraria differ in the color of their inflorescences: the flower petals can have red, purple, blue, white and many other shades.
Popular varieties of Cineraria Bloody
Grandiflora
A medium-sized variety with lush inflorescences-baskets of many medium-sized flowers with bright crimson or lilac petals and dark cores surrounded by a white border.
Stellata
A tall variety (up to 90 cm) with simple star-shaped flowers, which have dark cores and narrow petals of a deep blue or purple hue.
Multiflora Nana
A compact plant with numerous flowers, which have bright crimson, white or pink petals and centers of a contrasting shade.
Double
A medium-sized shrub that blooms with simple chamomile-like flowers collected in lush inflorescences of a basket. The color of the flowers is two-color, contrasting.
Cineraria Graceful
The bushes of the plant are densely branched and spherical in shape. The bright green dissected leaves are slightly pubescent with thin sticky fibers. Simple or double flowers with red-scarlet, purple-pink or white petals are collected in lush corymbose inflorescences.
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Botanical description of cineraria
The name of this plant means “ashy” in Latin. Various species and varieties of cineraria can be both subshrubs and herbaceous plants. Under natural conditions, the largest number of varieties of cineraria grows in Madagascar, as well as in the tropics of the African continent. But among indoor plants, only one species grows - bloody cineraria (or hybrid cineraria), although in fact we are talking about hybrid ragus. In garden plots, such flowers are grown as annuals or biennials.
The height of such garden flowers varies from 0.3 to 0.9 m, the stems are erect, their side shoots grow well over the season, the foliage is large, large, petiolate, their shape is lyre-shaped or oval. Many varieties have pinnately dissected foliage. Shoots and foliage are pubescent.
The inflorescences appear at the ends of the shoots, they consist of simple or double baskets, and the flowers are red, white, purple or yellow in color, and their core consists of small tubular flowers of a yellow hue. The first buds of these annuals appear in the second ten days of June. And the last flowers wither after the onset of frost on the soil.
Features of cultivation
Cineraria is highly resistant to diseases and pests. The greatest danger is represented by aphids, spider mites and whiteflies. If a plant is infected with harmful insects, it is necessary to remove all affected parts and treat with an insecticide twice with an interval of 14 days. For this purpose, it is recommended to use Karbofos, Neoron, Actellik or Fitoverm.
When planting a flower in an area with regular exposure to direct sunlight, there is a risk of burns on the green parts of the plant. Externally, they appear as brown spots, leading to drying out. To avoid this, you need to additionally shade the planting at midday, when maximum exposure to the sun is observed.
In addition, if the watering regime is not followed, there is a possibility of root rot forming. The problem can be detected only in the later stages, when the bush begins to wither and the buds fall off. If you adjust the volume of water in a timely manner, cineraria will have time to recover within one season.
Cineraria is a popular plant for decorating garden plots and interiors. It is unpretentious in cultivation and care, grows quickly and has long flowering. When growing, it is important to choose the most suitable variety and choose the optimal place for planting. The inflorescences can be used to make bouquets; even when cut, cineraria retains its freshness and attractive appearance for a long time.
