Gesneria (Gesneria) refers to an evergreen plant from the Gesneriaceae family. It is a perennial that grows naturally in the tropical humid forests of America and the Antilles. The plant got its name from the name of the Swiss scientist Kondar Gesner.
Gesneria can grow as a small shrub about 60 cm high or as a herbaceous plant. The leaves are oval in shape, with a large supply of moisture, the stem is erect. The rhizome is presented in the form of tubers. The flowers are tubular, the petals are bent outward, the color is yellow or red with yellow.
Gesneria care at home
Location and lighting
Gesneria leaves are soft velvety to the touch due to the presence of hairs on them. It is important to protect the flower from direct sunlight so that it does not get fatal sunburn. Ideally, it will be located on the east or west windows with bright diffused sunlight. If the gesneria is on the south window, then the sunlight needs to be shaded. In winter, artificial light bulbs can be used to extend daylight hours.
Temperature
In spring and summer, gesneria should be at a temperature of about 20-25 degrees, and in winter during the rest period - at least 18 degrees.
Air humidity
Since gesneria grows in the natural environment in hot and humid tropical forests, the plant needs high air humidity at home. The only exception is that moisture should not get on the pubescent leaves. The air around the plant is regularly sprayed, and the pot itself is placed on a pallet with moistened sand. You can also use moss for this, which also perfectly retains moisture. The main condition is that the bottom of the container with the plant should not come into contact with water, since the root system can quickly rot.
Watering
In spring and summer, Gesneria is in the stage of active growth, so watering at this time should be abundant. Water the plant as the top layer of soil dries out in the pot. It is important that the water in the container does not stagnate, as the tubers of the plant may begin to rot. With the onset of a dormant period, in autumn and winter, as well as after the cessation of flowering, Gesneria is watered less and less. It is best to use the bottom watering method, as the plant does not tolerate moisture on the leaves. For irrigation, use soft distilled water at room temperature.
The soil
Gesneria tubers are planted in a pot with a mixture of humus, sand, peat and leafy soil in equal proportions. The bottom of the pot must be lined with a good drainage layer of pebbles or expanded clay.
Top dressing and fertilizers
In the period from early March to early October, the gesneria needs regular feeding. The frequency of top dressing is 2 times a month. For fertilization, liquid complex dressings are used for flowering indoor plants.
Transfer
It is necessary to transplant an adult overgrown plant in January-February.The tuber does not need to be completely covered with earth, the buds should be on the surface. So the plant will wake up faster in the spring and give new shoots.
Dormant period
Gesneria is a tuberous plant, therefore, with the onset of dormancy in October and until January, watering is reduced. The plant will lose leaves, and when they completely fall off, the tubers are removed from the substrate and stored until the next awakening period at a temperature of about 12-14 degrees.
Reproduction of gesneria
Gesneria can be propagated both by seeds and cuttings. In autumn, seeds are planted in a pot and kept at a temperature of 22 degrees. The first shoots will not be long in coming. The grown plants are planted in different pots. Seedlings should be watered regularly, protected from hot sunlight and kept at a temperature of at least 20 degrees. A plant obtained by sowing seeds will bloom in about 2-3 years.
The time suitable for propagation by cuttings is the period from May to August inclusive. To obtain a shoot, a cut sheet is used, which is planted in a container with sand. After 40-45 days, the cutting will take its first roots, then tubers will form. Watering should be regular, and the temperature of the cuttings should be at least 25 degrees. By the end of September, watering is reduced, the temperature is reduced to 20 degrees. At the end of October, a dormant period begins: the tubers are dug up and sent to storage at a temperature of no more than 12-14 degrees. The plant will bloom in the second year.
Diseases and pests
Gesneria is often attacked by such pests as thrips, aphids, whiteflies, scale insects, spider mites. The plant can also suffer from improper care.
Popular types of gesneria
Gesneria swollen - is a shrub, perennial, weakly branching, leaves are oblong, slightly pointed at the ends. The leaves have serrated denticles at the edges, fleshy, not pubescent, about 10-15 cm long, 3-5 cm wide. The flower grows on a long peduncle, at the top of the stem is collected in inflorescences of 4-5 pieces in each. The flower is tubular, has a funnel corolla about 3 cm long. The corolla is yellow, the flower itself is scarlet red, inside is yellow.
Gesneria hybrid - is a tuberous plant, herbaceous, perennial. The leaves are large, have a pleasant velvety finish, dark green in color. The flowers are tubular, slightly swollen, red in color, about 5-7 cm in length.
Gesneria cardinal, or scarlet - This is a herbaceous perennial, has an erect stem reaching a height of 30 cm. Leaves are dark green, densely pubescent. The leaves are about 10 cm long, they are fleshy, oval in shape. The cardinal gesneria blooms both in the form of single flowers, and collected in small inflorescences. The flower is tubular, swollen, and has two lips. The flower is 5-7 cm long. The color is bright scarlet.
Gesneria wedge-shaped - semi-handicraft perennial plant. Height about 30 cm. Stems are slightly shortened, have a tree-like surface. The leaves have practically no root, sit directly on the stem, with a pointed toothed edge. The width of the leaves is about 3 cm, the length is about 10-12 cm. Above, each leaf is bright green. Below, the color of the leaves is slightly paler, the surface is covered with hairs that are soft to the touch. The flowers are bright red, the lower part is painted in bright orange. Each flower sits on a long peduncle.
Gesneria of Lebanon - grows in the form of a small semi-shrub, with weakly branching stems and shoots, perennial, evergreen. Each shoot at the top has leaves gathered together. The leaves are pubescent both below and above, the length is about 8-10 cm.The plant has bright red flowers, the length is about 3-5 cm.
