In the garden bed or in the flower pot in the house - gloxinias cut a fine figure everywhere. On top of that, they are easy to care for and undemanding.
The fact that gloxinias (Sinningia) are blooming so eagerly today and come in such an unexpected we alth of colors is due to meticulous breeding and variety selection. For more than 100 years, efforts have been made to make gloxinia a popular indoor plant and also to establish it as a garden plant through targeted cultivation. Here you can find out what needs to be considered when caring for the little flowering wonders. But first a few beautiful species are presented.
Species of Gloxinia
The Gloxinia genus includes about 15 species. The plants originally come from Brazil and visually bear a certain resemblance to the African violet. However, the related African violets come from Africa.
The trade now offers mostly hybrids produced by crossing. Since the gloxinia was discovered at the beginning of the 19th century, intensive breeding and crossbreeding have emerged. The simple and double-flowering plants surprise with an impressive we alth of colours. Particularly popular are:
❍ Sinningia speciosa:
Sinningia speciosa is considered the mother of the garden gloxinia. In more than 150 years of intensive crossing work, all hybrids that are on the market today have been bred out. Sinningia speciosa has oval and slightly hairy leaves. The bell-shaped flowers appear between April and October and are blue-purple in the original form.
❍ Sinningia pusilla:
This tiny representative of Gloxinia grows to just three centimeters high and has tubers about the size of a pea. The ovate leaves are about an inch long. The small individual flowers are white-purple in colour. As a houseplant, this species is less relevant. On the other hand, it is more common in botanical collections.
❍ Garden Gloxinia:
As already mentioned, the garden gloxinia was bred from the Sinningia speciosa. The hybrids are visually very similar to the mother plant. In the targeted culture, emphasis was placed on larger andget more colorful flowers. The overall growth appears more compact and the leaves are smaller than the parent species.
How to properly care for gloxinias
❍ Water Gloxinia:
Potted Plants:
The gloxinia makes some demands on watering. Use slightly tempered and, above all, low-lime water. Conventional tap water usually contains too much lime. Rainwater is also an option. If you don't have the opportunity to collect rainwater, you can also mix tap water with distilled water.
The indoor plants also love high humidity, but should not be sprayed directly. Instead, make do with a coaster that you fill with water. Then top up the water regularly. However, the plants must not stand directly in the water, as this would lead to the roots rotting in the long run.
Tip:
Place the plant pot on a bed of gravel or clay granules to prevent the substrate from coming into direct contact with the irrigation water.
In late summer you should reduce watering. The soil can dry out a bit between the individual waterings. Then, as the plant retreats into the tuber, you should gradually cut back on the watering. The tubers are not watered during hibernation.
Bedding plants:
Gloxinia needs sufficient moisture in the garden bed. Especially if you have chosen a sunny location, you should water frequently. The soil should always be moist, but waterlogging should be avoided. To ensure the permeability of the soil, you should add coarse sand, clay or gravel to the substrate. Reading tip: Plant Gloxinia - How to grow it in the house and garden.
❍ Fertilize Gloxinia:
Houseplants are usually sufficiently supplied with nutrients after purchase and do not need any additional fertilizer in their first year. During the flowering period, however, the nutrient requirement is particularly high. The houseplant does not differ from the garden gloxinia. Once a week you can help with liquid flower fertilizer.
If you have not repotted the gloxinia after the hibernation, fertilizer applications are necessary between April and September. This can be liquid fertilizer, but also fertilizer sticks.
❍ Cut Gloxinia:
Regular pruning measures are not necessary. However, if you want to promote rich flowering, you should regularly remove all faded parts of the plant. Are there changes in theIf the leaves become wilted or discolored, they must also be removed.
In autumn, let the leaves wilt and only then cut them back to the ground. If you cut off the leaves immediately after flowering, it can happen that the plant is no longer able to ensure the supply of nutrients for the winter. This can lead to the death of the gloxinia.
Detect diseases and pests on the gloxinia
Gloxinias are quite robust and are rarely attacked by diseases and pests, provided the site requirements are taken into account and the care instructions are followed.
❍ leaflets - worms coming:
The plants are susceptible to infestation with aphids. These are threadworms that are barely visible to the naked eye and live freely in the water. If the gloxinia are watered with the appropriate liquid, the one-millimeter nematode worms spread and reach the inside of the leaf through stomata. There the nematodes then suck out the plant cells. The infestation becomes visible when the leaves become glassy in some places. The leaves later turn brown.
In the case of a light infestation, it is sufficient to remove affected parts of the plant. However, if the infestation is already very advanced, the plants must be isolated and, if necessary, disposed of so that the infestation does not spread to the surrounding plants.
❍ Aphids - voracious pests at work:
A flowering plant is rarely safe from aphids. Especially in spring, the dreaded infestation occurs and the plant suckers tamper with the leaves. Since aphids multiply very quickly, just a few weeks are enough to know that real colonies have gathered on the plants. Aphids reproduce without depending on males. Females produce well over 100 offspring.
If you notice an infestation, isolate the plants to prevent the infestation from spreading. The control is then usually successful with natural means. In the case of a light infestation, it is usually sufficient to treat the plants with nettle manure (instructions for making nettle manure yourself). Since gloxinia don't like to be hosed off, sticking a clove of garlic directly into the soil can also help.
Avoid care mistakes
Some damage to the gloxinia is caused by care errors. Dry and curled leaves indicate insufficient humidity. The plants should therefore be in awater-filled coasters so that they can provide themselves with sufficient humidity.
The plant does not tolerate waterlogging either. It can quickly lead to rotting of leaves or stems. Therefore, if you regularly remove wilted blossoms and leaves, this will prevent the stem from rotting.