Stephanotis is an evergreen curly shrub that grows to 6 m, with large enough to 12 cm long white flowers. The literal translation of the biological name of the flower is a wreath made of pork ears. The most widespread species that occurs in flower growers is the abundantly flowering Stephanotis, which came to us from the island of Madagascar.
Stefanotis - home care features
- Watering . Watered abundantly, but rarely, i.e. then, when the soil in the pot will dry well, but it is impossible to tolerate excessive drying of the earth. In winter, watering is reduced, in summer - increase, using soft water at room temperature. Leaves are sprayed once a day and, if necessary, wiped with a soft damp cloth.
- Lighting. Stephanotis is a photophilous plant, to place it better in a well-lit place, avoiding direct rays. In winter, the fluorescent lamps need additional light, which will provide lighting for at least 10 hours.
- Temperature regime. Requires a constant temperature, with fluctuations of no more than 2 degrees. In spring and summer, the flower normally tolerates a temperature of 20-24 ° C, in winter it is better for cool conditions - 16-18 ° C.
- Location. In summer they put on the western or eastern, and in winter - on the brightest, better southern, window. Place away from heaters and protect from hot and dry air.
- Support. Florists often form an arch from the stem of a plant. It is better if its height is calculated with a margin to accommodate its entire annual growth. But, to let the stephanotis on such a support, you need to wait until the length of the shoots exceeds half the circumference of the ring. In this case, the tip of the shoot will look up, which will help to avoid drying out.
How to transplant Stephanotis?
Purchased in the store stephanotis must be transplanted into the substrate from equal parts of compost, peat, land from the garden and large sand. For the transplantation of stephanotis it is necessary to take a not too free pot, with holes in the bottom and high drainage of expanded clay or foam.
A sure sign of the need to transplant stephanotis is the very rapid drying of the soil in the pot. As the flower grows, a little more is added to the pot. Before this, the tips of shoots are pricked to stimulate branching. The transplantation of stephanotis is first performed once a year, and then every three years. Stephanotis tolerates fertilizers well. It is enough to feed it twice a month after watering with fertilizers for beautiful flowering plants.
Stephanotis - reproduction
Reproduction of stephanotis is produced by shoots obtained by pruning a plant. Pruning of adult Stephanotis is carried out in the spring. It is best to root last year's semi-woody cuttings, which are cut into 10 cm long with one pair of leaves. Because the roots are formed between the leaf nodes, the cut is made slightly below the leaf. Root at high humidity and temperature 22-25 ° in the universal soil, perlite or in their mixture. For rooting apply phytohormones and heating the soil from below to 25-30 °. The entrenched cuttings of Stephanotis, when propagated, are planted in slightly acidic (pH5.5-6.5), fertile, air-and water-permeable soil and watered as usual. In one pot you can drop a few young specimens.
How to make blossom stephanotis?
Flowering of the plant occurs in the summer and depends on the conditions of its maintenance in the winter. To do this, it is necessary to lighten the plant for at least 8-10 hours in winter, maintain high humidity and prune in spring. When buds are formed, you should not move the pot. Adults, well-developed plants blossom beautifully, but flowers appear only on young people who have been able to winter the shoots. Therefore, to stimulate their appearance, the stephanotises are pruned and pricked.
Stephanotis: problems and diseases
Skvoznyaki, lack of water and unstable temperature in the room lead to the fact that stephanotis does not bloom, tk. the buds fall off. And the reason that the stephanotis can yellow leaves are:
- watering with hard water;
- lack of light;
- if the pot became small;
- the drainage hole hammered.
Dangerous for the flower pest is considered to be aphid and scab .
In gratitude for good care, Stephanotis will please you with snow-white star-shaped flowers on long "legs" and will generously give others a fragrant scent.