The homeland of the zebrina is the humid tropics, it was from there that it gradually crawled into human housing and won a special place not only on the windows, but also in the hearts of flower growers. This flower is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. At its core, Zebrina is a Tradescantia, while occupying a separate niche among indoor plants.
Zebrina, despite its belonging to Tradescantia, is very different from her. The first striking difference is, of course, the presence of charming stripes. Actually, thanks to them, the flower got its name. The second thing that distinguishes zebrina is the presence of a whole bunch of healing properties. Zebrina is a real indoor green doctor in a flower pot. She, along with such healers as aloe, Kalanchoe, golden mustache and geranium, helps with many ailments. In addition, it is a natural air purifier as well as chlorophytum, tradescantia, again geranium and spathiphyllum. Zebrin leaves have antibacterial properties, help with burns, are used in the treatment of stomach ulcers and have other properties.
Zebrina can be called a psychic in terms of choosing a place, her appearance will immediately show bad areas in the room, she will turn pale and wither. There is an opinion among the people that zebrina has the power to bring peace of mind to the house, improve relations with family and friends.
Zebrina is a real treat for younger brothers. Cats literally "graze" by the pots with this flower. Rodents, turtles and even poultry are very fond of zebrins. They probably know a lot about self-medication.
Home care
Location and lighting. Taking care of your zebra is not a hassle. The flower is not whimsical, and to ruin it you need to try very hard. Zebrina loves light, but cannot stand the direct sun, so a well-lit place, such as a partition between the windows, is ideal for her. Zebrina looks great in hanging pots. Thus, one of the main rules in keeping a zebrin: a lot of light - little direct burning sun. She loves fresh air, so it is necessary to ventilate the house, in no case to mock the flower with smoking. In a smoky, smoky space, a zebrin won't be easy. But in general, zebrina can be called a very simple flower, it can be found in almost every home.
In the spring-summer period, the zebrin is covered with dense greenery, actively growing foliage. At first, it grows up, then as it increases in growth, it goes down, hanging from the pot. Thus, this flower represents a whole green fountain of joy. At the same time, it covers the entire pot without leaving a gap to the ground. And so a small flower becomes a huge bush. Zebrina blooms with beautiful little flowers. In indoor floriculture, two types of zebrins are distinguished: hanging and purple. It is almost impossible to distinguish them with the naked eye of an amateur. However, there are differences. The first representative has brighter, more pronounced stripes and different colors of inflorescences. In the first species, these are purple, pink or purple, in the second, lavender.
Planting zebrins in open ground is encouraged. This plant is in perfect harmony with an impromptu pond, next to a fountain or a dry stream.As a decorative element of landscape design, zebrin is used to decorate an alpine slide. This flower can be planted in old clay pots, buckets, baskets and other interesting unusual containers. Just in the ground, it will also look charming.
Temperature. The temperature regime for zebrins is simple: in summer, room temperature is suitable, in winter it is cooler, but not lower than thirteen degrees Celsius.
Watering Zebrina prefers moderate, while overdrying the soil should not be allowed. Some breeders believe that zebrin needs to be watered abundantly, but the leaves with such watering may lose their decorative effect. The best option is watering 2 times a week, one in winter.
Air humidity. Humid air is vital for the plant, so it is worth spraying zebrin and having a shower. In housing with a balcony, it is recommended to send the zebrina there for the summer holidays, it is better to put it in the shade, let it enjoy the fresh air.
Top dressing. As for fertilizers, the main thing here is not to overdo it, an overabundance of nutrients leads to a loss of decorativeness.
Transfer (landing). Regarding the transplant, it can be noted that for the most part, this is a useless business. Zebrina's decorativeness is very fleeting. Two to three years and the plant stretches out, and the bases of the trunks are exposed, presenting a very shabby sight to the eye. Therefore, it is preferable to grow a new plant than to tinker with an old one that has lost its beauty. It sounds a little cruel, but the flower itself is not killed at the same time, but continues itself by planting cuttings. You can also resort to cutting the flower to prolong its decorative effect.
The composition of the soil for the plant is quite simple: leafy and turfy soil and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 1. Drainage is required.
Reproduction. Zebrin propagates easier than a weed! There is no need for professional skills or knowledge. The time of the year when transplanting does not really matter. The breeding technology is trivial - by cuttings. It can be rooted both in water and immediately in the ground. You will need a small pot, where several cuttings are planted around the perimeter, then, as the plant takes root, they can be planted or left as such a friendly family.
