Exacum (Exacum) is a plant that belongs to the gentian family and is distributed mainly in the countries of East and South Asia. This representative of herbaceous plants is annual, biennial and even perennial. Exakum blooms with inflorescences of fragrant blue or purple flowers, has erect stems and dark green leaves resembling the shape of hearts.
Exakum care at home
Location and lighting
Since the exacum plant is light-loving, direct sunlight is not dangerous for it. The only exceptions are hot summer days, when the midday sun can still burn the plant. Therefore, during this period it does not hurt to shade the herbaceous plant a little, because in the summer it is recommended to keep the exacum outdoors.
During the rest of the months, the houseplant will feel comfortable on the windowsill anywhere in the house. True, on the window on the north side of the house, the plant, most likely, will not bloom.
Temperature
The temperature regime is of no small importance for the full growth and development of the plant. It is recommended to keep the exakum in strict temperature limits - from 17 to 20 degrees Celsius. The plant can die at lower and higher temperatures.
Air humidity
Like many indoor plants, Exacum is no exception and prefers high humidity. Since plants in most cases are located on windowsills near heating systems, it is necessary to spray the plant abundantly and regularly. Daily moistening by spraying can be enhanced using a flower tray, in which there will be moistened expanded clay.
Watering
The regularity and abundance of watering exacum depends on the season. In winter, watering is minimal, in the rest of the year - plentiful. Do not allow the soil to dry out in the pot.
The soil
Any universal soil purchased in a retail network or prepared independently is suitable for growing exacum. The composition of the soil should include sand and turf soil (one part) and leafy soil (three parts).
Top dressing and fertilizers
From the beginning of spring to the end of summer, exacum must be fed with special fertilizers for indoor flowering plants at least twice a month.
Transfer
One-year exacum does not require transplanting, but other species, as they grow, need to be transplanted into a wider and smaller flower pot. It is very important that there is a drainage layer at the bottom of the container.
Reproduction exakum
The indoor flower exacum easily propagates by cuttings from the top of the plant, which, after 10-15 days, start up young roots, and it is equally good in water and in the ground.
Exakum can also multiply by seeds, which need to be sown in the autumn and create greenhouse conditions for them before the emergence of young shoots.
Pests and diseases
Diseases and pests (for example, gray rot or aphids) can appear if watering rules are not followed and the temperature is violated in a room with a houseplant.
Types of exakum
Exacum affine
The family includes a large number of species and varieties. One of the most common is Exakum related. This species has erect stems, and the whole plant reaches up to 30 centimeters in height. The plant looks lush and solemn thanks to well-branched shoots with a large number of leaves (about 3-4 centimeters in length) of a rich green color with lighter veins in the center and along the edge of the leaf. Fragrant and beautiful purple inflorescences of several small flowers (about 1.5 centimeters in diameter) grow abundantly and densely. Depending on the variety, the color of the flowers can be blue, light blue, lilac and white with bright yellow stamens.
