Coleria belongs to perennial herbaceous plants from the Gesneriaceae family. Despite the simplicity of cultivation and the long flowering period, this indoor flower does not belong to the favorites of florists. The flower owes its name to the teacher Michael Kohler. Other names for koleria are also known - tydea and isoloma. In nature, it is found in Colombia, tropical America, on the island of Trinidad.
Coleria is considered an ampelous plant. Its characteristic feature is elongated and velvety green leaves with jagged edges. Coleria flowers resemble asymmetrical elongated bells. Most often, koleriya is bred with red flowers. But there are plants that have pink, maroon and orange flowers. The flowering period lasts from June to October, but with proper care, the plant can bloom almost all year round.
Coleria is characterized by a dormant period. As a rule, it falls on October-March, when the plant stops blooming. In some cases, the ground part dies off. If optimal conditions are created for the plant, then the dormant period will not come.
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Temperature
The plant is perfect for a moderate indoor temperature. During the growing season, the optimum temperature will be 20-25 degrees. In winter, with the onset of a dormant period, the temperature is lowered to 15-17 degrees. The room where the flower is located should be ventilated very carefully - the colleria does not tolerate drafts.
Lighting
Coleria belongs to light-loving plants, therefore it prefers well-lit places. Diffused light will suit her. The flower should be protected from direct sunlight. The most comfortable koleriy will be on the east or west window. If the dormant period has not come and the plant has not thrown off the foliage, then you need to take care of good lighting.
Watering
Coleria needs moderate watering during the period of intensive growth and abundant flowering. Water for irrigation should be soft, well-separated, warm. Waterlogging of the soil can cause the development of fungal diseases. Preference is given to bottom watering, as water should not fall on the leaves. Due to the drying out of the earthen coma, the plant may die. In winter, watering is minimized. If in winter the aboveground part of the koleriya has died out, the soil is periodically moistened to avoid drying out of the rhizome.
Air humidity
Coleria prefers a humid microclimate, but perfectly adapts to dry air in an apartment. You cannot spray the plant. Water droplets can damage ornamental velvety leaves. To create high humidity, the air is sprayed around the plant. It is advisable to put a container with a flower in a pallet with wet expanded clay or moss.
Reproduction
There are several ways to breed coleria. New plants can be obtained by seed, dividing the rhizome and rooting apical cuttings. The simplest ways to reproduce koleria are rooting cuttings and dividing the rhizome. You can propagate an indoor flower at any time of the year. But the most favorable period is spring.
Apical cuttings root well in water. After rooting, they are planted in shallow pots, placed in the ground to a depth of 2 cm. In order to avoid drying out the soil, it must be moistened.
Transfer
Coleria is a fast-growing indoor flower that needs an annual transplant. Wide and shallow pots are suitable for the plant. The soil substrate must always be new. It should include sheet soil and sand in a 2: 1 ratio. There must be good drainage at the bottom of the container and a hole for draining water.
Top dressing
Coleria needs constant fertilizing with mineral fertilizers for flowering plants. It is fertilized once a week during intensive growth, from April to August. During the dormant period, feeding is not performed.
Diseases and pests
Pests of koleriya are extremely rarely affected. If leaves and shoots dry and deform, then they are threatenedspider mite and aphidthat suck the juice from flowers and leaves. Over-watering the plant can develop root rot or powdery mildew... The appeared gray plaque on the leaves indicates a fungal disease.
Despite the fact that koleria is unpretentious, it is a very delicate plant. To prevent stains from appearing on the leaves, they must not be touched or sprayed. Otherwise, koleriya will shed the foliage and lose its attractiveness. Yellow spots on the leaves appear from direct sunlight.
