Flowers ampelous catharanthus. Features of growing flowers catharanthus from seeds. Caring for a catharanthus in the garden

A delightful flower that brings the warmth of the south and the flavor of the Mediterranean into the house - this is all a catharanthus, home care for which is simple and pleasant. This plant is completely undemanding. But how it pleases the eye with its spectacular flowering! In addition to its charming appearance, cataranthus (pink periwinkle) has long been used to treat certain cancers in alternative medicine.

Periwinkle pink: a brief description of the plant

A decorative shrub belonging to the Kutrovye family - this is how the catharanthus is characterized. they differ in a wheel-shaped corolla with 5 petals, 3 cm in diameter. They have a striking resemblance to their distinctive feature is that they are not collected in inflorescences.

Basically, the pink color has a catharanthus. The flowers of his hybrids may be of a different color. The most amazing of them is the blue-violet color.

Kataranthus is a plant with a maximum height of 60 cm. It is distinguished by erect stems and long dark green leaves (7 cm). They are shiny and have white veins in the middle. Flowering period: from early May to early October.

Quaranthus: home care

For fans of this plant who are going to grow it, it is important to follow some rules in order to grow a wonderful and healthy catharanthus. Care at home consists in observing the following recommendations-tips:

Lighting. The plant prefers diffused light, although it will take root well on the windowsill. It is only important not to forget to protect it from the direct rays of the sun in the morning. In winter, it is also necessary to provide a warm place for the catharanthus. In case of poor lighting, the plant will stretch up the stems.
Temperature. The ideal temperature for pink periwinkle in summer is a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius. AT winter time this figure is only 16 degrees.
Watering. It is strongly not recommended to bring the catharanthus to dryness. At home, it is necessary to provide the plant with watering three times a week. With excessive flooding, there is a risk of rotting of the roots of the plant. Therefore, after 15 minutes after watering, it is important to drain the water from the pan.
Pruning - is milestone in the life of such a plant as a catharanthus. Care at home in this direction should be carried out every spring.
Application of fertilizers. It is advisable to feed the plant three times a year: in summer, spring and autumn.

Quarantus: cultivation and care

There are two ways to propagate the pink periwinkle:

seeds;
cuttings (vegetatively).

Particular attention should be paid to soil preparation. For her great option will be a mixture of peat, humus, sod land and coarse sand. Each component is taken in the same amount.

It is recommended to take a pot for planting with a hole. It is also important not to forget about drainage, which can serve as stones, pebbles or expanded clay. This solution will remove excess water and prevent root rot. To keep the hole from clogging, it must be cleaned regularly.

Propagation of catharanthus by cuttings

For this purpose, green cuttings from the top, which are often rich in catharanthus, are perfect. Reproduction is carried out in two ways:

the stalk is placed in water for germination;
the stalk is immediately planted in moist soil, while covering with a bag to create the effect of a greenhouse.

Most right time for taking cuttings: spring (after pruning). You can also plant them in the fall. The optimum temperature for rooting cuttings is at least 20 degrees Celsius.

Catharanthus transplant

Spring - perfect time for plant transplant. Some recommendations in this regard:

The pot is selected several sizes larger than the old one.
It is important to disinfect the planting container, at least pour boiling water over it.
The roots of the catharanthus are too delicate, so it is very important not to damage them.
The root system must be carefully inspected before transplanting to identify dead roots. If they are found, it is necessary to remove this area (4 cm above the diseased part). It is also desirable to disinfect the blade or scissors in order to avoid infection of another part of the root system.
The wound at the root is sprinkled with charcoal crumbs.

These 5 rules successful transplant catharanthus are fundamental in this process.

Problems with growing periwinkle pink

Pests that encroach on given plant- this is aphids, scale insects and spider mite. Therefore, when taking a catharanthus from the garden to the house, it is important to carefully examine the plant to detect these "enemies". In the event that they still exist, you need to do the following:

take a brush, moisten it in alcohol, then carefully remove the pests;
treat the leaves with soapy water.

If you do not provide the plant with reliable care, then soon the catharanthus may have problems, such as:

yellowing and death of leaves (from straight sun rays);
observation of the trend of decreasing flowers - too cold air in room;
yellowing of the tips of the leaves - insufficient moisture in the air.

It should also be remembered that the plant must be transplanted on time, otherwise it will completely stop blooming.

Medicinal properties of periwinkle pink

Medicines are prepared on the basis of a plant that bears the proud name of catharanthus. Medicinal properties it is used in both alternative and official medicine.

To create preparations, it is the aerial part of the pink periwinkle that is used. It is harvested during the flowering period.

Quarantus has the following therapeutic effect:

anti-inflammatory;
wound healing;
antimicrobial;
hemostatic;
antidiabetic.

Periwinkle pink successfully fights the symptoms of the following diseases:

acute leukemia;
diabetes mellitus;
tumors of various etymologies (thyroid tumor, fibroids, polyps, cyst, prostate adenoma);
enlarged lymph nodes;
blood diseases;
trophic ulcer of the skin and other non-healing wounds on the skin;
eczema and psoriasis;
some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

It is necessary to use this plant under the strict supervision of a doctor, since the pink periwinkle is, first of all, poisonous plant. It is contraindicated to use it in medicinal purposes people suffering from low blood pressure and patients with vegetovascular dystonia. It is strictly forbidden to give decoctions of catharanthus to children.

Quarantus - wonderful ornamental plant which is easy to grow at home. Application only integrated approach in the process of caring for it, it contributes to the successful growth and flowering of periwinkle pink.

Kataranthus is an evergreen tropical plant that has successfully taken root in our climate. On the planet, an exotic shrub is quite common, but the island of Madagascar is considered the place of origin.

To date, breeders have bred many different varieties . Some are suitable for growing indoors. These species excel in warm houses, apartments and delight long flowering their owners. Others are annuals and are planted annually using cuttings from the mother flower from the previous year or seedlings.

And still others are perennials, specially bred for street gardening. Flowers in the warm season are on the street, and with the advent of autumn, winter indoors. It is these varieties that are less whimsical and tolerate all the vagaries of nature well, with the exception of cold weather.

Among them the most popular is the type Cooler. Represents tall shrub growing up to 1.5 meters in height. Blooms profusely for six months. It has large and round flowers with a bright eye. This variety, in turn, includes subspecies.

You can learn more about varieties of catharanthus from, and we talked about pink catharanthus.

Cascade

Is it possible in winter?

As already noted, the catharanthus prefers warmth and, accordingly, warm weather. For him, a temperature of + 10 ° C is critical, as a result, the plant may die. Therefore, they plant green bush in open ground, when the temperature outside the window reaches + 20 ° C, night frosts and sudden temperature changes pass. This time is approximately the end of April - May.

All summer and the first month of autumn, the catharanthus blooms, and then it's time to winter. A tropical handsome man cannot stay on the street, because he simply cannot bear it. harsh winter . Therefore, before the onset of frost, in the second half of October, they cut off the branches of the perennial, dig it up right with the roots and a clod of earth, and place it in a pot large diameter. From above it should also be sprinkled with soil, in this form it is brought into a room with a temperature of + 15-17 ° C, but not lower. With the advent of heat, the bush is again planted in the soil.

How to choose a place?

The choice of a place for the future growth of a tropical plant should be approached with all seriousness, because the duration of flowering and an attractive appearance depend on it.

Quaranthus responds well to sunlight. The more light and warmer it is outside, the more magnificent and brighter the flowering will be. But everything is good in moderation. Getting enough UV is as bad as getting too hot. So choose a place for personal plot better in partial shade. And if not, then you should build a shelter, an awning made of transparent film, which will save the plant from scorching light, as well as from bad weather.

The shrub is not picky about the composition of the soil. However, it is important that it meets the following criteria: water and breathability, friability, lightness, and has a rich nutritional composition of macro and microelements. Also be well-drained, non-acidic, so that moisture does not stagnate. The soil should not be tightly packed so that it is not taken in a solid lump.

Important. Choose a site as far as possible from the occurrence ground water.

Land preparation

Before planting in open ground, the ground must first be dug up on the site, adding there:

peat and sod land;
peat;
humus;
expanded clay;
natural baking powder, perlite or vermiculite;
coarse fractional sand;
several bags of ready-made substrate.

Useful is the use of compost for the development and rapid growth root system.

Initially, a shallow hole is dug, in the shape of the desired flower plot of land.
Next, we place a thick drained layer on the bottom, consisting of expanded clay, broken brick, marble chips baking powder, pebbles, gravel, in general, what is at hand.
Sprinkle with dug up earth on top.

Reproduction methods

The catharanthus can be planted in open ground in the form of seedlings, cuttings or a bush (read about the propagation of catharanthus by seeds). In this case, seedlings and cuttings are considered parts annual plants, and the bush belongs to perennials. When choosing a breeding method, you should know the advantages of each type of planting material.

Seedling:

can be grown at any time;
fast and uniform germination;
low cost of seeds;
for one landing you can get up to a hundred copies at once;
no need to transplant flowers for the winter.

Cuttings:

cuttings do not require material costs;
the procedure is within the power of even an inexperienced grower;
the opportunity to get an exact copy of the plant you like.

The positive aspects of the method of planting a bush in open ground:

the plant is fully formed, has a beautiful appearance;
easily tolerates adaptation to a new place;
acceleration of the flowering process.

There is an option - to plant a perennial catharanthus in containers, and in this way, decorate terraces, verandas. Ampel varieties look beautiful in hanging planters or in large flowerpots on stands. In this case, it is not necessary to transplant a flower for the winter.

Aftercare

In the first time after transplantation, young individuals will need regular weeding. But when they grow up and get stronger, they will deal with the weeds on their own.
Humidify the catharanthus with soft, filtered or rain water. In hot weather, the plant must be sprayed or arranged warm shower best in the evening. Otherwise, water drops can leave dark marks and burns on the petals.
Watering should be daily. With a lack of moisture, a tropical shrub immediately signals with leaves rolled into a tube. And after abundant moisture, after 30 minutes, unpleasant phenomena will disappear, the plant will restore its shape.
Don't forget to feed. In the spring, it is worth starting with complex mineral fertilizers. During flowering, potassium-phosphorus preparations can be used for abundant budding. The period of use of dressings is 1 time in 2-3 weeks. AT autumn time food should be removed. Well proven foliar top dressing, with an aqueous solution of Epin-Extra.
Concerning organic fertilizers then you have to be careful with them. This means that with an increase in the dosage, the catharanthus will certainly receive damage in the form of yellow, burnt roots. This will lead to the death of the plant. It is safe to use wood ash dissolved in water.

You can find more information about caring for catharanthus at.

If the plant does not take root

When, after planting, the shrub long time cannot acclimatize in the open field, then it is better to bring it back into the house. Dig it out of the ground, shake off the roots. plant in correct soil slightly moisturize.

Perhaps the reason is an incorrectly selected variety that is not suitable for planting in a flower bed. Or not comfortable enough. In any case, you can try to reanimate the catharanthus at home. Optimize the temperature and humidity parameters in the room, regularly water and spray. But do not feed while the plant is sick.

Qataranthus has not only an impressive appearance but also useful properties. This plant is used in folk and traditional medicine, for the treatment of serious diseases, including oncology. But shrub sap has toxic substances. Therefore, when landing on a personal plot, it is important to choose a place inaccessible to children.

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Catharanthus (lat. Catharanthus)- a genus of annuals or evergreen perennials, as well as shrubs of the Kutrovye family, which includes eight species, one of which grows naturally in India, and the rest in Madagascar. The genus name comes from two Greek words, meaning in translation "clear, pure" and "flower". At first, the catharanthus flower was brought by botanists into the genus Periwinkle - the similarity of the catharanthus with this plant seemed so strong. However, having figured it out, the botanists realized that they were not so relatives, and in 1837 the catharanthus was separated into a separate genus. The plant has been cultivated since the 18th century. Most often they grow pink catharanthus, or pink periwinkle, or Madagascar wine, or lochner, or cayenne jasmine, or "old maid" - these are far from all the names of catharanthus.

Planting and caring for catharanthus (in brief)

Bloom: at home almost all year round, in the garden - from June to October.
Landing: sowing seeds for seedlings - in late February or early March. Planting seedlings in open ground - in late spring or early summer.
Lighting: bright sunlight, diffused light or light partial shade.
The soil: fertile, loose, moderately moist, permeable, pH 5.6-5.8.
Watering: regular and sufficient: the soil should always be in a slightly damp state, but in a cool rainy weather a plant in the garden must be protected with a film awning. When grown at home in the heat, it is recommended to spray the leaves of the plant in the evening with non-cold water.
Top dressing: a week after planting the seedlings, a solution is introduced into the soil wood ash or complex mineral fertilizer. In the future, feeding is carried out once every 2-3 weeks. Solutions should be of moderate concentration. In summer, the catharanthus is treated with solutions of trace elements along the leaves.
Transfer: home catharanthus at a young age are transplanted annually, mature - once every 2-3 years.
Pruning: shoots of home catharanthus, strongly stretched over the winter, are pruned in the spring.
Reproduction: seeds, cuttings, dividing the bush.
Pests: aphids, mealybugs.
Diseases: fungal and bacterial infections.

Read more about growing catharanthus below.

Ampel catharanthus - description

In nature, pink catharanthus grows in Indochina, Java, Madagascar, the Philippines, Cuba and the islands of St. Mauritius. It is a tropical evergreen subshrub, reaching a height of 60 cm. root system in catharanthus, it has a rod that emits a specific aroma. The length of the main root is 25-30 cm, numerous lateral roots of a light yellow color without root hairs depart from it. The stems of the catharanthus in the upper part are branched, erect. Oblong-lanceolate, entire, sessile or short-petiolate, glabrous, shiny or pubescent dark green leaves of catharanthus with a white median vein are located oppositely. They are 8 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. Five-membered axillary flowers up to 3 cm in diameter with a wheel-shaped corolla are painted pink-red or White color. The bark of plants pink flowers has an anthocyanin color, and in white-flowered ones it is green. The fruit of the plant is a sickle-shaped double leaf with small black seeds, but at home it rarely forms pink catharanthus seeds.

The plant kataranthus pink contains about 80 different alkaloids - medicines for leukemia are produced from its terrestrial organs. AT traditional medicine catharanthus treated diabetes, and also used it as an antispasmodic.

As an ornamental profusely flowering perennial plant ampelous catharanthus grown in cold greenhouses and in room culture, and as an annual it can also grow in the garden.

Growing catharanthus from seeds

Sowing seeds of catharanthus

Experienced gardeners do not recommend sowing catharanthus immediately in open ground, it is more reliable to resort to seedling method growing a plant. How to sow catharanthus for seedlings? First you need to prepare the substrate - mix in equal parts sod, peat, leaf soil and humus. The soil mixture is sterilized with a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate, grooves are made in it 1.5 cm deep, catharanthus seeds purchased at the store are sown, they are covered, the surface is sprayed with water, the crops are covered with a film and placed in a warm place. The best time for sowing catharanthus - the end of February or the beginning of March. The temperature of keeping crops is 23-25 ºC.

Caring for catharanthus seedlings

Quaranthus from seeds can germinate in a week. As soon as shoots appear, the film is removed from them and the crops are placed in the brightest place, but the temperature in the room must be lowered to 18-20 ºC. Caring for a catharanthus during the seedling period involves moistening and careful loosening of the substrate around the seedlings. Two weeks after germination, seedlings are fed with a fertilizer with a predominance of phosphorus, and nitrogen in top dressing should be presented. nitrate form. When the seedlings reach a height of 6-8 cm and they develop 4 true leaves, the seedlings dive. The picking of the catharanthus is carried out in separate pots if you are going to plant the plant in the garden. If the catharanthus grows at home, it can be immediately dived into a pot or planter. 2-3 seedlings are planted in one container.

Planting catharanthus in open ground

When to plant a catharanthus

Planting a catharanthus in open ground is carried out late spring or at the beginning of summer, when warm, sunny weather sets in and the night return frosts. However, before planting seedlings in the ground, they must be hardened. To do this, the seedlings of the catharanthus are taken out into the open air daily, gradually increasing the duration of the session. When the seedlings can spend the whole day in the air, they can be planted in the garden.

How to plant a catharanthus

Quaranthus prefers open areas protected from drafts and cold winds. The soil should be fertile, loose, moist, permeable, non-saline, with a pH of 5.6-5.8 pH. Before planting the catharanthus, dig up the garden soil in an area with peat, leafy and soddy soil. But you can simply bring in a few bags of ready-made soil mixture for digging, adding coarse sand, perlite and expanded clay. If the soil in the garden desired composition, then take care of drainage: remove the top fertile layer, place a layer of drainage mixture under it, consisting of broken brick, expanded clay, marble chips, perlite or pebbles, and then cover the drainage with a layer fertile soil. When planting, do not place seedlings too close to each other, keep a distance of 30-70 cm, depending on the plant variety. If you want to get compact bushes, pinch the seedlings once or twice.

Caring for a catharanthus in the garden

In the garden, the catharanthus is used not only as an ampel, but also as groundcover. Young catharanthus in the open field need constant care. How to grow a catharanthus in the garden? Growing a catharanthus involves regular watering, weeding, loosening the soil and top dressing. Weed control will have to be carried out only at the beginning - when the kataratnus grows, there will be no room for weeds. In addition, you need to cut yellowed shoots in time. After that, the plant quickly recovers and gives abundant growth.

It is necessary to water the catharanthus with water heated in the sun, and during a period of severe drought it is sometimes useful to arrange sprinkling for the plant. Keep the soil in the area with the catharanthus slightly moist at all times. The fact that it is time to water the plant will be prompted by the rolled up leaves of the catharanthus, which take on a normal appearance in just half an hour after moistening the soil. After watering, carefully loosen the soil around the plants, being careful not to damage the roots that are close to the surface. In cool rainy weather, the catharanthus suffers greatly - both flowers and buds fall from it. To protect the plant from waterlogging, install a transparent film awning over it.

Quarantus in the open field requires top dressing. Apply to soil complex fertilizers or an aqueous solution of wood ash begins within a week after planting and do this regularly at intervals of two to three weeks. Catharanthus responds well to foliar top dressing with a weak solution of Epin-Extra. However, when applying fertilizers, care should be taken, since the slightest excess of the dosage can lead to a burn of the roots and death of the plant.

As you can see, planting and caring for catharanthus in the open field are not difficult and even a novice grower can do it.

Caring for catharanthus at home

How to care for catharanthus at home

Growing ampelous catharanthus in room culture is no more difficult than in the garden. As in the open field, catharanthus at home requires good lighting, but it must be protected from direct sunlight. The best place for the plant - window sills of the southern, western and eastern windows. Quaranthus, grown on northern windowsills, requires additional lighting: it needs eight to ten hours of daylight, otherwise the development of the plant will slow down, the leaves will begin to stretch, and flowering will stop.

The plant is very fond of daily spraying in the hot season. warm water after the Sunset. Both watering and fertilizing should be done in the same way as when caring for a garden catharanthus, but since October, watering is gradually reduced, and fertilizer application is suspended until April. After watering excess water from the pallet must be drained.

Catharanthus transplant

Only young catharanthus are transplanted annually, and mature plants are disturbed once every two or even three years. The catharanthus is taken out of the old pot and, together with earthy clod transferred to a new one, filled by a third of the volume with drainage material, after which they are gradually added to new pot a mixture of leafy soil, peat, sand, soddy soil and humus in equal parts, lightly tamping this soil mixture. Can be used for growing catharanthus and shop soil for geraniums. After transplantation, the plant is watered, but fertilizers can be applied no earlier than two weeks later. Remember that all catharanthus are poisonous and take safety measures!

pruning catharanthus

Trim the home catharanthus so that the bush is more magnificent. The procedure is usually carried out in the spring, because during the winter the shoots of the plant are strongly extended. AT decorative purposes you can cut the catharanthus in the summer, but be prepared for the fact that after summer pruning flowers will begin to appear only after 2-3 weeks.

Placement of a catharanthus

In summer, the catharanthus feels great on the balcony, terrace, veranda, but you need to provide shelter from the rain for it. Most often, the ampelous catharanthus is hung in flowerpots or baskets, but you can keep it on a stand or place the pot in a container attached to the railing of a balcony or terrace. Keep in mind that catharanthus does not like cold winds and does not develop well in drafts. If you find that the conditions on your balcony are not suitable for the plant, return it to permanent place in the apartment, and it will gradually recover.

Pests and diseases of catharanthus

Like other plants, catharanthus at home can suffer from harmful insects, for example, from aphids or mealybugs. If you notice pests at the very beginning of the occupation, it will be enough to wash the catharanthus with soapy water, but if you have overlooked the beginning of the lesion, you will have to resort to treating the plant with a solution of Karbofos, Aktellik or Aktara.

Sometimes due to improper care appear on the leaves of the catharanthus dark spots. This may be due to poor lighting, lack of nutrients in the soil, planting in soil that does not meet the requirements of the catharanthus. But sometimes spots are a sign bacterial disease. Find out the cause and eliminate it, and treatment with Fundazol or Maxim will protect the catharanthus from bacterial diseases.

Reproduction of catharanthus

Except seed method reproduction of the Madagascar periwinkle is also used cuttings and dividing the bush. These methods are indispensable for the propagation of hybrid plant varieties. It is most convenient to divide the bush during transplantation - this procedure is simple, but requires caution. Parts of the divided rhizome are planted in different pots, having previously processed the sections with crushed charcoal.

For grafting, the apical non-lignified shoots about 15 cm long remaining after pruning are used. They are treated at the cut points with Kornevin and planted in pots with moist soil mixed with perlite and sand, and covered with a transparent cap on top to create a greenhouse effect. Rooting of cuttings occurs in 3-4 weeks, after which they are planted in open ground or in permanent pots, planters, containers. Actually, catharanthus cuttings are able to take root in sand or even in water.

Perennial catharanthus in winter

In the open ground, the catharanthus does not hibernate, therefore, before the onset of stable cold weather - in the first half of October - it must be dug up, cut off, placed together with an earthen clod in a bucket or other large container and brought into the room. They contain catharanthus at a temperature of 15-17 ºC, moistening the earthen ball as necessary. In spring, the plant is taken out into the garden and planted in a prepared place. Trimmed apical cuttings can be used for rooting.

Indoor catharanthus is also desirable to keep in winter in a cool room, reducing watering to a minimum and stopping feeding. For this, a glazed balcony, loggia or unheated veranda. But if you do not have the opportunity to arrange a plant for a cool winter, continue to water and feed it as usual, but do not forget to spray the catharanthus daily, because heating appliances, heating your home, greatly dry out the air.

Not so long ago, catharanthus was represented by only a few forms, but in 1976 US breeders began to study interspecific hybrids of this genus, and by 1988 the program had culminated in the development of many varieties of catharanthus, which quickly became popular. After the Americans, scientists from other countries began to select catharanthus, and now there is big choice plant varieties and hybrids. The most popular varieties of catharanthus are:

Grape Cooler- a variety with lavender-pink flowers and a pink eye;
Peppermint Cooler, Ocellatus- varieties with snow-white flowers and a red eye;
Parasol- plants with very large white flowers with a red center;
Albus- a variety with pure white flowers;
First Kiss- a very popular German series, which includes varieties with 13 color options. The bushes of plants in this series are 30-40 cm high, and the flowers are up to 5 cm in diameter. The First Kiss Blueberry variety with flowers of a blue-violet hue, for example, became the winner of the American-Canadian All American Selection review.

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Growing kataranthus from seeds is not particularly difficult. If you do not have the opportunity, then you need to sow no earlier than mid-March.

Soil preparation for sowing catharanthus for seedlings

The soil for sowing pink periwinkle needs light and fertile, with a slightly acidic reaction. Suitable ready mix from the store, intended for . It must be sifted and a little washed sand added to it. Experienced flower growers, as a rule, they cook on their own: mix turf and leaf soil, peat and sand in equal amounts. This option is also suitable: peat, garden soil and sand (2: 1: 1). The mixture must be sifted and steamed for an hour in a double boiler.

Sowing catharanthus for seedlings

Fill the bowl with soil and compact it a little - it should be moderately moist. Spread the seeds on the surface with a distance of 1.5-2 cm.

Sprinkle a moist soil mixture on top with a layer of no more than 0.5 cm.

Compact a little with a plank, moisten the soil with a sprayer. Place the bowl in a clean plastic bag or cover with glass.

Quaranthus grows better in the dark, so put the bowl in a dark place or cover with a dark opaque material.

The optimum temperature for germination of pink periwinkle seeds is +20...+24 °C. Monitor soil moisture, if necessary, moisten it with a sprayer.

After 1-2 weeks, as soon as the first shoots appear, move the sowing to a bright place. The temperature in this case should not exceed +20 °C. Seedlings of catharanthus develop faster when high humidity air, so the shelter can be left on as long as possible, making sure that it does not touch the leaves.

With the advent of two pairs of true leaves, seedlings of the catharanthus are needed. Do not delay with a pick, because seedlings with an overgrown root system tolerate a transplant worse. For the same reason, it is better to dive them into separate pots. When picking, pinch the root by 1/3.

This contributes to a more powerful development of the root system. The composition of the soil mixture for picking is the same as for sowing, only without sifting. Add to 3 liters of the mixture 1 tbsp. l. complete (nitrophoska). Adding 1-2 cups of humus to the same volume will not hurt either. To maintain breathability and uniform humidity, you can add.

Fill small (9x9 cm) pots with the prepared mixture, compact a little. When planting, deepen the seedlings of the pink periwinkle by 0.5 cm.

Carefully water the young plants of cataracts, starting from the edge of the pot.

After 2 weeks, feed the catharanthus seedlings with a solution of a complete mineral fertilizer for seedlings. Kataranthus grows rapidly, but when the roots develop an earthy coma, growth slows down. At this time, transfer it, without disturbing the earthen clod, into more spacious pots. Do not forget to put drainage on the bottom of the pot, as it is necessary in a larger container. A week after transshipment, feed the catharanthus seedlings again.

Planting seedlings of catharanthus in the ground

In open ground, seedlings of pink periwinkle can be planted only after they are finally established. warm weather. Quaranthus is very thermophilic, it does not tolerate prolonged rains, especially at low temperatures, and dies at +5 ° C. For this reason, it is better to grow it in some kind of containers or flowerpots so that it is possible to hide the catharanthus from bad weather. It does best as a houseplant.

Planting a catharanthus in a pot

The soil mixture for planting a catharanthus in a container for the street or in a pot for growing on a windowsill is about the same - loose, fertile and moisture-intensive. Mix peat, garden soil (humus or compost) and sand (2:1:0.5). For 2 liters of ready-made soil mix, add 1 tbsp. l. complete mineral fertilizer.

Place a drainage layer of 2-3 cm at the bottom of the planter. Put a layer of soil on top and compact. There should be enough soil so that after planting the root collar remains at the same level, and 3-4 cm are left to the edge of the pots for watering. Remove the plant from the pot and, carefully, so as not to damage the roots, free the earthen ball from the old drainage and plant it in a new pot.

Fill in the voids around the roots and water the plant. Sprinkle potting soil around the edge of the pot, if necessary. Place the rose periwinkle planter in a bright place, protected from midday rays. Watch the soil moisture: when the earthen coma dries up, the leaves of the catharantus curl up, but when watered, they quickly recover. Feed every two weeks with a full mineral fertilizer, top dressing do in liquid form. If the weather is very hot and dry, spray the plant from time to time with a fine sprayer.

As a rule, modern varieties of catharanthus bush well and do not require formation. But if you got a variety that stretches and loses its decorative effect, and its flowering intensity decreases with age, carry out a formative pruning, shortening the shoots by a third of the length.

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