Ahimenez is really very handsome and charming. A wild plant, discovered in the 18th century, has long been introduced into culture and today it can decorate any room. The native land of Achimenis is the territory of Central and South America. Here, all the beauty of flowering can be observed all year round. At home, the flower goes into a dormant state for some time.
The plant has many varieties, which are characterized by creeping, long stems that hang down. The shape of the leaves of the flower is oval, the surface is pubescent. The leaf itself is thin, sometimes, below it has a reddish tint. Achimenises have a lush and abundant flowering, which is replete with different colors. It can be white, red or purple, there are also pink stripes and specks.
The plant is incredibly fond of warmth. Its name is associated with this property - Achimenes. Where the letter A means "no", and "chimenes" in translation means cold.
Popular types and varieties of achimenes
There are only a few varieties of Achimenis, but a lot of its varieties have been bred. Most often in culture, you can find long-flowered, large-flowered and hybrid achimenes.
Ahimenes longiflorum
This plant reaches a height of 30 cm. It has elongated, leaning leaves, color is light green, with a slight fluff. Large flowers are located in the axils of the leaves, growing singly. Most often it is used as an ornamental, ampelous plant.
Ahimenes grandiflorum
The homeland of the flower is Mexico, it grows up to 60 cm. It has long large leaves. The flowers grow in pairs from the leaf axil, the color is purple-red.
Ahimenes hybrid
This variety is the most common, formed by crossing several species. It has pointed leaves, rather long, pubescent and toothed. Such plants differ in the duration of flowering, color and flower shape.
Also, Achimenes are divided according to the form of growth:
- Ampelny
- Erect
By the appearance of the flower:
- Regular
- Terry
By color, where groups are collected with similar shades:
- White
- Yellow and ivory
- Purple and lilac color
- Navy blue and light blue
- Pale pink and rich coral
- Bright red
The most common varieties of achimenes
Blue Star - a variety where the flowers are large, in which the corollas are painted in blue-violet color. The petals themselves are wavy with teeth and a spot at the throat, a brown shade, reminiscent of strokes. The plant's stems are straight, the rhizome is white.
Peach Cascade - the name emphasizes the color of the flowers, peach-orange. The variety was bred in 2009. The richness of the color depends on the lighting, it does not fade in the sun. The variety is not ampelous, although the shoots are inclined.
Serge Saliba - a plant with ordinary flowers, the edges of which are pink or orange, and the middle is yellow.
There are many varieties that are distinguished by hanging stems with abundant flowering.
Glory - a small bush with leaves of bright greenery and flowers of an unusual color. The flower itself is bright red, and inside is a yellow spot with brown dashes. Blooms profusely.
Double Pink Rose - has a lush and long-lasting flowering. Flowers are pale pink in color with a thick fringe, leaves are narrow in shape.
Ash King (Purple King) - the variety was bred for a long time and is still popular. Erect stems, large purple flowers. It blooms in spring and stops flowering only in late autumn.
Solin (Sauline) - flowers are small, yellowish, edges with small teeth, vague purple along the border, yellow-lemon pharynx. The plant has a pineal rhizome, elongated, erect stems.
Lavender Fancy - medium flowers with a touch of lavender, have a creamy spot and brown stripes. The stem is claret, the leaves are light green. Refers to ampelous.
Peach Blossom - corolla of pale pastel pink color, in the center a purple spot. Leaves are double color - dark green up, burgundy bottom. Ampelous stems, abundant color.
Ahimenes - home care and cultivation
Good plant care is a guarantee of beauty and long-term flowering. Observing the simple rules for keeping such a plant, you can admire the abundance of its colors for 4 months.
Location and lighting
A young plant that is not yet blooming can be placed on a window on the south side, slightly shading from direct sunlight. To a greater extent, Achimenes prefers well-lit places, but it all depends on the stage of development. With the onset of flowering, it is still better to rearrange the plant to a less sunny side. The lack of light can be understood by the state of the flower: its stems will stretch out and they will be bare.
Important! A plant with dark leaves loves light more than light ones.
Temperature
For the successful maintenance of a flower, compliance with the temperature regime is very important. From spring to autumn, during the active growth and development of achimenes, the temperature should be 22-24 ° C. In winter, during the dormant period, 15-18 ° C is sufficient. Only the temperature must be reduced gradually, the roots must gain strength for a comfortable wintering.
In summer, where the temperature outside at night does not fall below 20 ° C, you can safely keep the plant outdoors.
Watering
When a plant is in vigorous growth and blooming, it requires good hydration, abundant and regular. The water should be warm and soft. A flower in a dormant state is not watered at all.
Important! You need to water carefully, only the root, moisture should not get on the leaves and flowers.
Air humidity
Since this is a tropical plant, the humidity of the air for its content should be 60%. At the same time, you cannot spray the flower. To humidify the air, it is enough to put a pot of achimenes in a tray with damp pebbles.
The soil
An excellent option for achimenes would be a drained, slightly acidic, light soil. Its optimal composition: two parts of leafy soil and one part of sand and peat.
Top dressing and fertilizers
At the time of development and flowering, the plant needs frequent feeding, about once every 10-14 days. After waking up or transplanting, fertilization can be done no earlier than after 1.5 months. Most often, an ordinary complex fertilizer used for flowering indoor flowers is suitable for such purposes.
Pruning achimenes
For more branching of the plant, you need to pinch the early shoots, approximately near the second or third leaf. The only minus of pinching is that flowering will come a little later. It is also worth making sure that there are no faded buds, they need to be removed on time and space for new ones should be given.
Transfer
After each wintering of achimenes, namely in the spring, it is necessary to transplant a flower. It takes time and attention. When the dormant time ends, the rhizomes are taken out of the pot and freed from the soil to bare tubers. Then all the tubers must be carefully reviewed: discard the old ones, and leave the healthy and young (rhizomes).
The root system also needs to be carefully examined. Dark brown roots are no longer viable. If mold is found on the roots, they must be soaked in a fungicide and planted only after that. If there is a lot of mold on the tubers, it is better to throw them away.
For transplantation, you can use soil intended for cyclamens. And it is better if it is diluted with vermiculite and sand. Be sure to drain 1/3 of the container at the bottom of the pot. Then comes the soil, then sand - tubers are laid in it, and sprinkled with the remaining soil on top. Now everything needs to be watered.
Important! Achimenes of different varieties cannot be planted in one container. They may differ in the speed of development. It is better to take shallow but wide pots.
When buying a blooming flower, it is better to refuse a transplant. If these are young shoots that woke up only after a dormant period and did not transplant, information can be obtained from the seller, then the new soil will not damage the plant.
Reproduction of achimenes
There are three breeding options for achimenes: rhizomes, cuttings and seeds.
Propagation by rhizomes
If there is a desire to grow another flower, just when transplanting in the spring, you can plant one or two rhizomes in a separate pot.
Propagation by cuttings
They are taken from new shoots. They are gently cut and placed in wet sand mixed with leafy soil for rooting. From above, the stalk is closed with a glass jar or a cut plastic bottle. We must not forget about moisturizing and airing. In two weeks, the first formations in the form of tubers will appear. After 15 days, the young plant can already grow in the soil intended for adult flowers and be kept according to all the rules.
Seed propagation
After the plant has bloomed, green boxes with seeds remain hanging on it. Within 2 months, they should ripen - this is the only way to get seeds. It is better to sow seeds from February to March in a prepared mixture of sand and leafy earth. You do not need to sprinkle on top with anything. It is moistened with a spray bottle, then placed in a dark place, while everything must be covered with film or glass.
The most suitable temperature for germination is 22-24 ° C. Watering, during this period, should only be bottom. After 15-20 days, germination can be observed. After that, you need a seating arrangement so that there is room between the shoots and the roots have a place for development. It will take 2 months and young plants can be planted in separate pots.
Ahimenez in winter during the dormant period
The dormant period for Achimenes begins in mid-autumn, towards the end of October. At the end of flowering, you need to sharply limit watering. The plant dries up little by little, and the roots, preparing for winter, absorb all the juices. The completely dried ground part of the flower must be cut off, and the container with the root placed in a place where it is dark and cool (16-18 ° C). You can not water at all or do it carefully - once a month.
In no case should the plant wake up ahead of time. But if something like that still happened, then the pot needs to be placed in a lighted place and the daylight hours for it should be extended for full development.
Diseases and pests
If you violate the mode of comfortable keeping the plant, then it may undergo the development of gray rot. This can happen due to a sharp change in temperature or high humidity. With such a problem, it is necessary to reduce watering and rid the plant of damaged areas.
Of parasites, achimenes can be harmed thrips, aphid and spider mite... Insecticides are excellent helpers in the fight against harmful insects.
Difficulties in caring for achimenes
The temperature must not be higher than 24 ° C. If the buds turn brown, this means that the plant is not comfortable in the heat.
When using cold water for watering, Achimenes may develop brown spots on the leaves.
Dry and falling leaves indicate that there is too much fertilizer. With frequent but gentle watering, the problem can be corrected. There may also be another reason for such a nuisance - it is overheating of the soil. You need to think about whether everything was done correctly when keeping the flower.
