Zhiryanka

The plant Pinguicula is a miniature representative of the Puzyrchatkov family. This perennial flower lives in wetlands of temperate climates. Certain types of zhiryanka can grow in subtropical zones, and some are found even in the Arctic, but most of the varieties come from European countries.

Description of Zhiryanka

Despite its cuteness, the graceful zhiryanka is a predator plant. It feeds on insects that stick to its fleshy leaves. It is because of the sticky greasy coating with which they are covered that the plant got its name. It is also sometimes referred to as oily herb. The leaf blades are collected in rosettes reaching 15 cm in height. In the spring, a long peduncle with a small flower, painted in purple, white, blue, pink or yellow, grows from each such rosette.

In the natural environment, zhiryanka is called an indicator flower: it can grow only in ecologically clean places and reacts sharply to changes in the usual climatic conditions. In most countries where this plant is found, it is considered a Red Book. At home, only a few types of fatty women are grown that can adapt well to life in a pot. In comparison with other predatory plants, keeping the fatty woman in the apartment is practically no problem.

Brief rules for growing Zhiryanka

The table shows brief rules for caring for a fatty woman at home.

Lighting level	Moderate lighting is preferred. A home flower can live both in a small shade and in the light of lamps.
Content temperature	Up to 35 degrees in spring and summer, at least 15-18 degrees in winter.
Watering mode	In summer, the flower is watered every 2 or 3 days, in winter - once a week.
Air humidity	The humidity level needs to be increased, but you cannot spray the foliage or wash it. The plant is often planted in terrariums that have a humidifier.
The soil	Sour soil is preferred. Earth is suitable, which conducts air and water well. Usually, a peat-sand mixture with the addition of baking powder or moss is used.
Top dressing	Top dressing is not applied.
Transfer	Transplantation for small zhiryanka is annual, for adult plants - once every couple of years.
Pruning	The plant does not need pruning.
Bloom	Zhiryanka begins to bloom at home in the spring.
Dormant period	The dormant period begins in the fall and lasts until the end of winter.
Reproduction	Seeds, leafy cuttings, dividing rosettes.
Pests	Worms, scale insects, spider mites.
Diseases	It can be affected by various types of rot and late blight.

Caring for zhiryanka at home

Lighting

Zhiryanka does not need open sun, the plant should be protected from direct bright light.The flower will only need 3 hours under soft rays. At home, it is usually placed on the eastern or western windowsills. If it's too light on them, you can keep the container with the plant farther from the window: even artificial light will suit it. But you should not leave it in complete darkness: with strong shading, the fat will not bloom. You should also not turn the pot in different directions to the selected light source. In order not to get confused, you can put a mark on it.

Temperature

The growing fatty woman prefers a high temperature of 25 to 30 degrees. The plant can withstand heat even up to 35 degrees. But the hotter the flower is, the more it will need moisture. For the health of the flower, day and night temperatures should fluctuate slightly. In winter, you can keep it in a cooler room, but it should not be there below 15-18 degrees.

Another important condition for Zhiryanka is frequent airing. Even drafts are not afraid of the flower, not counting the currents of excessively cold air.

Watering

During the growing season, the plant is watered once every couple of days, in winter it will be enough once a week. For irrigation, settled, rain or distilled and sufficiently warm water is used. It should also be kept away from foliage. To be sure to avoid splashing drops, you should use sump watering to keep the potting soil moderately moist at all times.

Air humidity

Moisture should not get on the foliage of the zhiryanka, it is not recommended to wash, wipe or spray them. Such procedures can cause mechanical damage to the leaves, because of which they can begin to rot. To increase the humidity, containers with water are placed next to the plant or the pot is placed on a tray with wet pebbles. It is convenient to keep it in an aquarium or terrarium.

Capacity selection

Despite the small size of the zhiryanka, the pot for it should be spacious. The tightness will interfere with the flowering process. But small flower roots require the use of light soil in which excess water does not stagnate. To avoid decay of the root system, it is necessary that drainage holes are provided in the planting tank.

The soil

Acidic soil is suitable for zhiryanka, which is good for air and water. It is recommended to use a special mixture for insectivorous species or prepare it yourself by mixing peat with sand and adding vermiculite or any suitable baking powder to them.

Top dressing

Fatty is not fed - an excess of nutrients can become destructive for a flower. It is also not recommended to enclose insects for the predator - during the period of development, it can lure them on its own. You can only slightly help her to attract midges by spreading parts of the fruit near the container with a flower.

Transfer

In the first years of growth, Zhyryanka requires an annual transplant. It is carried out in the spring, carefully moving the plant into a new container along with the soil clod. Part of the old earth can be removed from it, but the roots of the plant should not be disturbed - this can greatly harm the flower. Zhyryanka's growth rates are comparatively low. Adult specimens are transplanted 2-3 times less often, guided by the size of their root systems. After transplanting, you need to expose the pot with the plant to the light, and cover the bush itself with a jar or bag to increase the humidity.

Pruning

Homemade lard does not need pruning. It is only permissible to remove sluggish or damaged leaf plates or dried peduncles, which reduce the decorative effect of the plant.

Bloom

When grown at home, zhiryanka, as a rule, blooms in the spring. Its rosette begins to form thin tall peduncles. Small violet-shaped flowers are located on them one by one. Most often, their color is purple, but there are species with flowers of pink, yellow, white or blue color. Flowers last long enough. After the end of flowering, boxes with seeds are formed in their place.

Dormant period

The dormant period for Zhiryanka begins in the fall and lasts until the end of winter. At this time, the plant begins to be watered less often, and they also try to keep it in a cooler place, where it keeps about 15-18 degrees.

Breeding methods for zhiryanka

Growing from seeds

Grease can be propagated using seeds, but this process is considered quite time consuming and does not always give the desired result. Light soil is used for sowing, the seeds are placed on it superficially, without deepening. Then the container is covered with transparent material and placed in a bright place. If the inside of the container keeps at least +22 degrees and sufficient humidity is maintained, the seeds will germinate in a few weeks. The most difficult stage is their preservation - the sprouts can begin to rot. To avoid this, the container with seedlings should be constantly ventilated, do not overmoisten the soil and protect the planting from temperature extremes. If the seedlings have successfully grown, after a couple of weeks they can be dived into their own pots.

Propagation by cuttings

Unlike many plants, cuttings are taken not in spring, but in autumn. In this capacity, its leaves are used. The stalk is carefully separated from the outlet, sprinkled with crushed coal, and then planted in peat or sand for rooting. As soon as the roots are formed on the leaf blade, it can be transplanted into its own container. To make the adaptation process faster, you can cover such seedlings with a jar or bag. As soon as the cuttings begin to grow, the shelter is removed.

Reproduction by dividing sockets

Another way to reproduce a flower is by dividing the rosettes. In the fall, the zhiryanka begins to form a new leaf outlet, it can be divided into parts and seated in separate containers. The procedure is carried out before the beginning of spring growth.

Pests and diseases

Zhiryanka is considered a fairly undemanding plant, it can only get sick because of the wrong conditions of detention. Among the most common problems:

Lack of flowering - most often associated with the cramped capacity or lack of lighting.
Dry foliage or dark spots - a consequence of exposure to direct sun. The bush needs shading.
Drying and wrinkling of sheet plates - may be caused by insufficient watering or very dry indoor air.
Lethargy bush and poor growth rates - may indicate root damage during transplanting or too small a pot.
Falling leaves in winter - a normal occurrence, indicating the beginning of a dormant period. At this time, the flower will need coolness, diffused, but bright enough light and more rare watering. It is the wrong watering regime at this time that most often becomes the cause of plant decay. If the leaves or roots start to rot, the drainage layer in the pot should be increased and the amount of watering should be reduced.

Usually, harmful insects bypass the fatty tissue, but in the heat with high dryness, aphids or spider mites may appear on it.

Types and varieties of zhiryanka with photos and names

Common Chiryanka (Pinguicula vulgaris)

It grows in the northern or temperate zones of the American continent and European countries. It has small rosettes composed of sessile leaves of a pale green color. They taper slightly towards the base. Flowers are solitary, bluish-purple, located on drooping peduncles. In nature, flowering occurs in summer.

Alpine bead (Pinguicula alpina)

It lives in the mountains and in the north of Eurasia. Differs in dense fleshy leaves with a greenish-yellow tint. Their edges are slightly bent upward. The flowers are located on straight peduncles up to 12 cm long and are white or pale yellow with a bright spot on the lower petals. Flowering occurs in the summer.

Moran oilseed (Pingucula moranensis)

South American view. It has an interesting feature: two life cycles. The first, summer, suggests high humidity.During this period, the plant forms small rosettes of bright yellowish-green or burgundy trap leaves. Later it blooms, forming up to 7 flowers of white or light lilac hue. They can be up to 5 cm in diameter.

The second period of the life of such a flower begins with the onset of cold weather. The foliage changes to miniature and pubescent, not suitable for catching insects.