Smithiantha belongs to the Gesneriev family. The plant is one of the many representatives of the herbaceous species. The homeland of origin is considered to be the southern territories of Central America. The flower received its beautiful name thanks to the surname of the famous artist Matilda Smith.
Smitiante is a perennial plant with a scaly rhizome. Shoots are erect, reaching a height of 30 to 70 cm. The leaves on the shoot are arranged symmetrically to each other. To the touch, they seem velvety due to strong pubescence with soft fine hairs. The color of the leaves is brown-green, dark. The leaves are heart-shaped or oval in shape. It blooms with beautiful bells, collected in cluster inflorescences. Red-orange flowers are found in nature, but artificially bred hybrids can bloom in white, pink, red and yellow flowers.
Caring for a smithian at home
Location and lighting
Smitiante grows well and pleases with flowering only in bright diffused lighting. However, its velvety leaves must be protected from direct rays, otherwise the plant will receive serious burns.
Temperature
In spring and summer, the plant will feel comfortable at an air temperature of 23 to 25 degrees. In winter, with the onset of the vegetative dormancy period, the content will be optimal at a temperature of at least 20 degrees.
Air humidity
Smitiante constantly needs high humidity. It is forbidden to spray its velvety leaves, therefore, a pallet with expanded clay is used for additional moisture. The bottom of the pot should not be in moisture, otherwise the root system of the plant may rot. At low air humidity, the leaves will begin to curl and die.
Watering
During the period of active growth and flowering, the smithian needs abundant watering as the upper layer of the substrate dries up. Too much moisture in the soil should be avoided. For irrigation use water at room temperature, not hard. Water through the pallet. Moisture should not get on the leaves. With the onset of the dormant period, the aerial part of the plant dies off, watering in this case is done very rarely in order to prevent the root system from drying out.
Top dressing and fertilizers
The flower needs feeding from March to September about 3-4 times a month. As a fertilizer, you can use a universal top dressing, diluted 2 times of the prescribed concentration.
Transfer
Smithyant needs to be replanted every year in the spring. For planting, a substrate is used, consisting of a mixture of leaf, coniferous and sod land, as well as peat. You can buy ready-made soil in the store for violets.
Breeding Smithyanta
Smitianthus reproduces in one of three ways: with the help of seeds, by cuttings-shoots, or by dividing the scaly rhizome.
Small seeds are sown over the soil without backfilling with earth from January to April. The seed pot is covered with glass or foil, periodically moistened and ventilated. The improvised greenhouse is kept at high temperatures. The first shoots will appear in 3 weeks. The flowering of seed-grown Smithians can be seen this year.
It is enough to simply propagate Smitiant with cuttings-shoots about 5-6 cm long. Cut cuttings are placed in water until the roots appear. After that, they are planted in a separate pot. The plant takes root quickly in high humidity.
When the plant occupies the entire pot completely, it will need to transplant and divide the adult rhizome. Each plot must contain at least one bud. Sections of rhizomes are placed horizontally in the soil, to a depth of about 2-3 cm. Three rhizomes are usually placed in one small pot.
Diseases and pests
Smitiante is susceptible to attack by both insect pests and fungal diseases. Among insects, aphids and mealybugs can cause harm. To combat them, insecticide chemicals are used.
Of the fungal diseases, the smithian is affected by oidium and gray rot. To get rid of the plant from the disease, you can use fungicidal agents.
Growing difficulties
- When exposed to bright rays, the leaves can become covered with yellow spots and die.
- With insufficient light, the smithian will not bloom and will slow down its growth.
- If water gets on the leaves, brown spots will appear on them.
- If the leaves turn yellow, then this may indicate an incorrectly selected air humidity or an excess of feeding in the soil.
Types and varieties of smithians with photos and names
Smithiantha cinnabarina
It is a herbaceous perennial, reaching a height of about 30 cm. Long leaves (about 15 cm) have jagged edges, pubescent, velvety to the touch. It blooms in the form of a brush, in which bells are collected. Flowers of a red shade with a yellow center-throat, length about 3-4 cm.
Smithiantha multiflora
It is a representative of perennial herbaceous plants. Its height is rarely more than 30 cm. The leaves are velvety to the touch due to the softly covering hairs. Leaves are heart-shaped, elongated, saturated green. The flowers reach a length of about 4 cm, with a yellow tint.
Smithiantha zebrina
It is a representative of herbaceous perennial plants. Shoots are upright, about 60 cm tall. The length of each leaf is about 15 cm. They are oval in shape, located on the stem opposite each other, velvety to the touch, bright green with brown veins. Flowers of scarlet bright color with a yellow center, collected in a brush. Each such brush is located at the top of the plant.
Smithiantha x hybrida
Perennial, herbaceous plant, upright stem. Velvety pubescent leaves, heart-shaped, elongated. Leaves are dark green. Bell flowers are found in inflorescences, pink, orange or yellow.
