Sewerage

Quarantus - care and reproduction at home. Quarantus: home care, cultivation and propagation Flowers ampelous cataranthus care in winter

Catharanthus is a very decorative and hardy plant that grows equally well indoors and in the garden. It belongs to the Kutrovye family and is common in the light tropical forests of Madagascar. Most of our compatriots know catharanthus under the name "periwinkle", "Madagascar vinca", "lonera", "old maid" or "cayenne jasmine". Since the flower does not tolerate cold well, it is grown in the garden as an annual. In pots and in the south of the country, he will live in one place for several years, delighting with delicate flowers and dense juicy greenery.

plant description

Quaranthus is an annual or perennial evergreen plant. It has a tap root system, which is covered with many filamentous processes and goes 25-35 cm deep into the ground. Upright shoots form dense, highly branched bushes up to 60 cm high. In the natural environment, the height of the shrub can reach 1.5 m.

All shoots are covered with smooth green or pinkish bark. They grow opposite sessile or short-leaved leaves. The foliage is oval in shape with a rounded or sharp edge. The length of the leaflet is 2.5-8 cm, and the width is 3 cm. The smooth leathery surface is colored dark green. A thin whitish vein is clearly visible in the center.

The catharanthus blooms in late spring. The buds open alternately, so flowering can continue indoors even in winter. Flowers bloom in the axils of the leaves and on the tops of the shoots, gathering in loose brushes. The corolla, up to 3 cm in diameter, is spike-shaped and consists of five obovate or wedge-shaped petals fused at the base. The central part of the flower is a narrow tube, from which bright yellow anthers barely peek out.

After pollination, sickle-shaped leaflets ripen up to 5 cm in length and up to 3 mm in width. Inside are small elongated black seeds with a rough surface.

Species diversity

Currently, the catharanthus genus includes 8 main species and several ornamental varieties. In culture, only pink catharanthus can be found. It is a low branched subshrub with dark green oblong leaves and five-petalled flowers in white and various shades of pink.

Hybrid varieties are very diverse. For convenience, they are divided into varietal groups, within which plants may differ in structure, color of flowers and leaves, as well as the flowering period. The most interesting are the following groups:

Growing from seed

Seed propagation allows you to quickly get many healthy plants. In May, you can sow seeds immediately in open ground. To do this, make shallow grooves in a well-lit area. Seeds are evenly distributed with a distance of 3-5 cm and covered with earth. The soil after sowing is watered with care. Grown plants can be transplanted. Kataranthus usually blooms 2-2.5 months after sowing.

Seedlings begin to grow in early spring. Plant it in small containers with loose, fertile soil. You can use soil for geraniums or make up the soil mixture yourself from:

leaf land;
humus;
sand;
peat;
sod land.

Before sowing, the seeds are soaked for several hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then distributed at a distance of 3-4 cm at a depth of 1.5-2 cm. The container is covered with a lid or film. It is kept in a well-lit place at a temperature of +24…+25°C.

Shoots begin to appear in a week, after which the shelter is removed. Tender seedlings are watered with care and in small portions. After 2-3 weeks, with the appearance of four true leaves, a pick is carefully carried out in separate peat pots. You need to be very careful not to damage the long root. It is important to maintain high humidity.

At the end of May, seedlings begin to be taken out into the street for hardening. Transplantation into open ground can only be done when the average daily air temperature is + 20 ° C and above.

In a permanent place, the catharanthus is planted in groups of 2-3 plants to form larger bushes. The distance between such bushes should be 30-70 cm, depending on the size of the plant of a particular variety.

Vegetative propagation

A large bush of catharanthus can be propagated by division. To do this, in the spring, during transplantation, the root is cut into 2-3 parts with a sharp blade. The places of cuts are sprinkled with crushed charcoal and the delenki are immediately planted in separate pots.

In the spring, during pruning, the tops of the stems can be rooted. Do this in a moist sandy-peat soil mixture. For the rooting period, it is recommended to cover the cuttings with a transparent cap and place them in a well-lit place. Plants need to be aired and sprayed daily. After rooting, the shelter is removed and flowers are grown as usual.

Home care

Catharanthus are unpretentious plants, they are suitable for flower growers with little experience. However, to achieve abundant flowering and a lush crown is possible only by observing a number of rules.

Lighting. The flower loves intense diffused lighting. On the street, it is planted in open areas or in light partial shade. Indoor plants are placed on the east or west windowsill. From the midday rays indoors, the bushes should be shaded, but with regular ventilation or in the fresh air, direct sunlight is not terrible for them. It is very important to protect the catharanthus from drafts.

Temperature. This heat-loving plant feels best at a temperature of + 20 ... + 25 ° C. In winter, it is necessary to provide a period of rest and lower the temperature to +12…+18°C. If this is not possible, additional lighting is required. Without it, the stems will stretch and lose their decorative effect.

Humidity. Bushes that are kept at high humidity look the most beautiful. Dry air slows down growth, and the tips of the leaves dry out and curl. It is necessary to spray the flower daily, in hot weather this is done several times a day. It is good if there is an aquarium or a pallet with wet pebbles nearby.

Watering. The plant needs to be watered frequently and plentifully so that the soil is always slightly moist. Prolonged stagnation of water is contraindicated, it is also necessary to empty the pan after each irrigation. Water for irrigation is used warm and well purified.

Fertilizer. From April to September, catharanthus is fed twice a month. Mineral complexes with a high content of phosphorus and potassium are used. Before flowering, it is recommended to apply one organic top dressing.

Pruning. Young plants are regularly pinched to form a large number of lateral processes. In the spring, the bushes are cut by a third, this allows you to keep a neat look longer.

Transfer. Fast growing bushes require an annual transplant. With indoor cultivation, the procedure is carried out in the spring by transshipment, so as not to damage the roots. Pots should be deep enough and not too wide. For the summer, you can plant plants in open ground, and in the fall, before the onset of cold weather, be sure to return them to flowerpots.

Using a catharanthus

Compact dense bushes with bright flowers will be an excellent decoration for borders and the first plan of a flower bed. They are often grown in containers and boxes for landscaping balconies and terraces, as well as regular houseplants. Quaranthus ampelous planted in a flowerpot. Its beautiful green cascade with multi-colored buds attracts a lot of attention and amazes with a delicate aroma. Quaranthus can be used both in flower arrangements and as a groundcover. It pairs well with periwinkle, lobelia, balsam and petunia.

In addition to decorative, medicinal properties of the plant are also known. Cataranthus juice contains about 20 alkaloids. With their help, it is possible to reduce the size of benign and malignant tumors, polyps, adenomas. Compresses with alcohol tincture of herbs are used to treat psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis of various origins.

For all its usefulness, the catharanthus is a poisonous plant. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling it. If there are children and animals in the house, the flower must be placed in a place inaccessible to them.

Columnar trees differ from ordinary fruit trees in their compact crown, small height, and lack of lateral branching. With a slight habitus, these miracle trees are distinguished by their ability to form large crops of large, tasty and beautiful fruits. On 1-2 acres, you can place up to 20-25 columnar trees - varieties of apple trees, pears, plums, peaches, cherries, apricots and other crops of different maturity. Our article will tell about the features of creating a columnar garden.

August can be a little sad - autumn, followed by a long winter, is already on the threshold. But the flower beds are still full of multicolor, and their colors create an atmosphere of warmth and joy. The rich palette of August flower beds mainly consists of yellows, oranges, and crimson tones. And it seems as if the garden has become warmer and the color of the sun has increased. What flowers should definitely be planted in flower beds so that they brighten up the inevitable departure of summer with flowering?

Peach jam with bananas is fragrant, thick, healthy and, most importantly, it has half as much sugar as ordinary jam. This is a quick jam with pectin, and pectin powder is known to reduce the sugar content in jam, or even make it without sugar. Sugar-free jams are fashionable sweets in our time, they are very popular among supporters of a healthy lifestyle. Peaches for harvesting can be of any degree of maturity, bananas too.

Coriander is one of the most popular spices in the world, and its greens are called cilantro or cilantro. Interestingly, cilantro leaves no one indifferent. Some people adore it and are happy to use it in any salads and sandwiches, and they love Borodino bread for the special flavor of coriander seeds. Others, referring to the smell that evokes associations with forest bugs, hate coriander and flatly refuse to approach bunches of cilantro even in the market, let alone plant it in their garden.

Sweet and sour pickled cherry tomatoes with red onion and basil marinated with balsamic vinegar and mustard. Such pickled vegetables will decorate any festive table, they are very tasty and fragrant. Marinade filling is a completely different story: it turns out a delicious brine, the only drawback of which is a small amount. Onions choose sweet, red. Cherry - strong, slightly unripe, the smallest. Fresh basil is suitable for both green and purple.

My first acquaintance with hydrogel took place a very long time ago. Back in the nineties, my husband brought funny multi-colored balls from Japan, which greatly increased in size if they were filled with water. They were supposed to put bouquets or use them for some other decorative purposes. Of course, at first it was funny, and then I played enough and abandoned them, I don’t even remember where they went. But I recently returned to the use of hydrogel. I will share my experience in this article.

Watermelon and summer are inseparable concepts. However, not in every area you will find melons. And all because this African plant takes up a lot of space, is quite demanding on both heat and the sun, and also on competent watering. But still, watermelon is so loved that today not only southerners, but much more northern summer residents have learned to grow it. It turns out that you can find an approach to such a capricious plant, and if you want, you can get a decent harvest.

You can cook red gooseberry jam in 10 minutes. However, it should be borne in mind that this is the time required for cooking jam without preparing berries. It takes a lot of time to harvest and prepare berries for processing. Cruel thorns discourage any desire to harvest, but you still have to cut off your noses and tails. But the result is worth it, the jam turns out to be excellent, one of the most fragrant, in my opinion, and the taste is such that it is impossible to tear yourself away from the jar.

Monsters, anthuriums, caladiums, dieffenbachia ... Representatives of the Aroid family are considered one of the most popular categories of indoor plants. And not the last factor of their wide distribution is diversity. Aroids are represented by aquatic plants, epiphytes, semi-epiphytes, tuberous and vines. But despite such a diversity, because of which it is sometimes difficult to guess the relationship of plants, aroids are very similar to each other and require the same care.

Salad "Donskoy" for the winter - a savory appetizer of fresh vegetables in a sweet and sour marinade with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. In the original recipe, the vinegar is plain or apple, but with a combination of wine vinegar and light Balsamico, it turns out much tastier. Salad can be prepared without sterilization - bring the vegetables to a boil, put them in sterile jars and wrap them warmly. You can also pasteurize blanks at a temperature of 85 degrees, then cool quickly.

The main collected mushrooms: porcini, boletus, boletus, chanterelles, boletus, mossiness mushrooms, russula, milk mushrooms, volnushki, saffron mushrooms, honey mushrooms. Other mushrooms are collected depending on the region. And their name (other mushrooms) is legion. As well as mushroom pickers, which are becoming more and more every year. Therefore, there may not be enough for all known mushrooms. And I know for sure that among the little-known come across very worthy representatives. I will tell you about little-known, but tasty and healthy mushrooms in this article.

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Apricots in syrup - fragrant apricot compote with cardamom from peeled fruits. These are very useful preparations for the winter - bright and beautiful halves of canned apricots can be used to make fruit salads, desserts or decorate cakes and pastries. There are many varieties of apricots, for this recipe I advise you to choose ripe, but not overripe fruits, from which it is easy to get a stone so that the peeled slices retain the correct shape.

Today, in pharmacies, you can buy a lot of all kinds of medical preparations of general strengthening, tonic action, which are used for colds. Despite this, I always harvest nettles and St. John's wort for the winter on my own, as I consider them indispensable medicinal herbs for the prevention and treatment of colds and many other diseases. What exactly these plants are valuable for, how and when to collect, dry, store and prepare healing infusions, I will tell in the article.

Among species orchids, phalaenopsis are real Spartans. And one of the most hardy species is the four-shield phalaenopsis, or Tetraspis. He is content with minimal care, is not capricious at all, easily adapts. And, unfortunately, almost completely disappeared from the windowsills. Varietal hybrids with their spectacular flowering are found at every turn, but you will have to hunt for each specific specimen. But if you like the exotic, then Phalaenopsis tetraspis is worth it.

Seeing at least once the flowering of a catharanthus in a photo or live, a desire immediately arises to plant it at home. Growing this flower, whether in a flowerpot on a windowsill or in the open field, will not cause any difficulties. With proper care, the catharanthus grows rapidly and pleases with rapid flowering.

Origin, varieties and varieties

Catharanthus roseus (Kataranthus pink) belongs to the kutrov family. The name in translation means - "pure flower". In the wild, it is found in the tropics and subtropics of Africa, Indonesia, the Philippines, Indochina, more often in its homeland - the island of Madagascar.

Kataranthus is a crop that is successfully grown both in open ground and indoors.

Outwardly, the catharanthus is very similar to the well-known periwinkle. Even in the scientific literature, for a long time it was called "pink periwinkle" or "Madagascar periwinkle". But, as it turned out, these two plants are not even relatives. Kataranthus is an evergreen, profusely flowering shrub. The trunk is strong, branching, with sessile rich green leaves with a sheen. The leaves are regular in shape, with a light beige vein in the center. The color of the flowers is from white to burgundy, there are varieties of mixed colors. The flowers are five-leafed, reaching up to 5 cm in size. The height of an adult plant is on average up to 60 cm. Varieties: bush and ampelous.

Today, there are quite a few varieties of catharanthus on the market:

Each variety is distinguished by the shade of inflorescences, the height of the bush and the type of growth.

Reproduction and planting of catharanthus

Everyone can grow a catharanthus. Using a simple technology of propagation and planting, you can get a young plant with flowers in a few months. Catharanthus is grown as a perennial (indoor) or annual plant (as a garden decoration).

Quaranthus loves light, salt-free soil. For self-preparation of soil mixtures, peat, humus, turf and sand are mixed in equal proportions. Of the store soils, the Geranium soil mixture is best suited. Considering that the roots of the catharanthus develop rapidly, for full growth, you need to choose a container with a sufficient amount of soil.

In open ground, the catharanthus is grown as an annual plant.

Cataranthus reproduces in three ways:

The division of the bush.
cuttings.
Seeds.

The division of the bush. Mature bushes are very easy to divide. Spend it in the spring. Delenki take root well, quickly get used to a new place and grow. You can plant shares in flowerpots and flower beds.

Cuttings. Planting material for cuttings is cut from the tops of the mother bushes, preferably in the spring. Cuttings take root well and quickly form a root system in the ground with sufficient watering and warm air.

Catharanthus seeds

Sowing seeds. There is a fairly large assortment of catharanthus seeds on the market. The seeds are quite large, dark brown (almost black). Planting takes place in early spring. At a depth of 1-2 cm, the seeds are embedded in the soil. Containers with sown seeds are covered with foil and placed in a dark place for germination for 7-10 days. Usually the germination of the seeds of the catharanthus is excellent. When the seedlings have 4 true leaves, a dive is carried out. If the plant is planned to be planted in a street flower bed, picking should be carried out 2-3 plants in each container. The grown seedlings, without dividing them, should also be transplanted to a permanent place of growth at a distance of 50 cm. For greater branching of the bushes, the seedlings are pinched.

Attention! Quaranthus is a completely poisonous plant. When cutting, plucking and other work, you must follow the safety rules: cut with gloves, wash your hands after work, do not allow children to work.

Care features: temperature, watering, top dressing

Quaranthus loves warmth. At a summer temperature of + 27-28º, the bushes branch, throwing out abundant color. Temperatures below +10º are detrimental to this plant. If the catharanthus is grown as a perennial plant in a room, it is better to put it outside in the summer (balcony, terrace, garden).

The flower is light-loving. In an apartment, it is better to put it on a window from the east or west, and in open ground on a well-lit flower bed, possibly with light shading. To direct sunlight, the catharanthus should be accustomed gradually to avoid leaf burns.

In a room with a constant temperature, the catharanthus will grow for many years.

Watering the flower requires plentiful all year round. It is impossible to allow the drying of the earth coma and, at the same time, there should not be stagnation of water in the pan. Quarantus is very picky about air humidity, so it responds well to regular spraying. Rainy weather, when growing catharanthus in the garden, helps to delay its development. In order to somehow help the plant survive the rainy season, the plantings should not be thickened.

Fertilize catharanthus every 10 days. In any flower shop you will be offered balanced dressings. You need to start feeding at the time of the first flowering. Quarantus grows rapidly and constantly needs to be transplanted into larger pots.

Feed the culture with mineral compounds

For kataranthus sown in open ground, cultivation and care consists in timely watering, fertilizing and pruning.

Advice! In the spring, cut off all the stems of the catharanthus. So your flower will quickly grow, there will be no bare trunks, the bush will be lush and covered with flowers.

Diseases and pests

Quarantus is resistant to diseases and pests. With too abundant watering, the development of fungal diseases is possible, manifested by the appearance of brown spots on the leaves.

Shchitovka on the stems of the catharanthus

With insufficient humidity in the room, a scale insect and a spider mite can attack the catharanthus. In the garden, the flower may be invaded by aphids. Therefore, before bringing the plant into the room, the flower must be carefully examined and, if necessary, treated against pests.

Use in landscape design: what plants to combine with

In the middle lane, the catharanthus has long been cultivated as a perennial indoor crop. Now it is used both as an ampelous culture in the design of hanging compositions on balconies and gazebos, and as a creeping plant in landscape design. In gardens, catharanthus is grown as an annual crop, delighting with abundant flowering.

Suspended composition with catharanthus

In hanging compositions or planters, the catharanthus looks impeccable. To achieve a greater effect, other flowers can be planted in the same container with a catharanthus. Petunia and lobelia will be excellent partners for him.
Good catharanthus and as a ground cover plant. It grows very quickly, forming a dense carpet. Planted along the paths, the catharanthus becomes a decoration of the garden. Neighborhood with a periwinkle or balsam complements the beauty of the plant, and a harmonious combination of flower colors will allow you to create an original living composition in a flower bed. Photos of landscape design with catharanthus adorn the covers of the most popular magazines with this theme, hence the popularity of the plant.

Quaranthus in the garden

Summing up, we can safely say that growing a catharanthus will not bring you insurmountable difficulties. This tropical flower, due to its unpretentiousness, perfectly acclimatized in temperate latitudes. All that is needed for the successful cultivation of catharanthus is the desire and a few skills, which are described above.

Growing catharanthus in the garden and in the apartment: video

Catharanthus: photo

Kataranthus is a representative of evergreen perennials belonging to the kutrov family. It is actively cultivated in decorative floriculture and landscaping. Outwardly, perennial varieties look like a periwinkle creeping along the ground, and with flowers they also look like garden phloxes. Abundantly flowering decorative culture can be seen not only in flower beds and front gardens, it adorns the balconies and window sills of many apartments. It is not difficult to grow a catharanthus from seeds at home, the main thing is to follow the recommendations of flower growers.

The name catharanthus covers about a dozen plant species that grow in tropical climatic zones. They are found in Madagascar, India, Indonesia. To date, on the basis of the perennial shrub Catharanthus roseus, breeders have bred interspecific abundantly flowering hybrids that are planted by amateur flower growers in open ground, in winter gardens, greenhouses and ordinary apartments. These are bush and ampel varieties, the flowers of which differ in different colors from white, hot pink to various shades of lilac, purple and burgundy. Catharanthus flowers are five-petalled, having a flat corolla. In diameter, they reach 3 - 5 centimeters. The leaves are dark green lacete: in the form of an oblong plate, pointed at the top and at the base, shiny, glossy.

The fruits of the plant in the apartment are tied even without artificial pollination and are horns, in which there are about ten oblong-shaped seeds. When growing a catharanthus flower in the house, the seeds of a tropical plant ripen well and can be used for propagation.

Kataranthus refers to poisonous plants, because it contains alkaloid substances. Therefore, it is listed in the list of medicinal crops and is used in medical practice.

plant care

Quarantus refers to unpretentious care of indoor plants. However, in order for it to grow well, develop and bloom luxuriantly, it needs to create favorable conditions and care:

appropriate level of illumination;
temperature and humidity conditions, which is ensured by regular watering and spraying;
pruning in the spring;
annual transplant;
top dressing.

What you need to know about lighting

The plant requires bright but diffused light. In low light, the stems of the plant are strongly drawn out, and the flowers become small. On windows facing south, it is advisable to shade the young bushes, preventing the possible occurrence of burns on the leaves from direct sunlight. Catharanthus pots are best placed on window sills located in the western and eastern parts of the apartment.

Temperature requirements

Since the plant comes from the tropics, it is thermophilic, and it needs to create a certain microclimate. During the period of growth and flowering, the temperature should correspond to 20–25 degrees, in winter - 18. Abundant watering and systematic spraying (using warm water in winter) will provide the indoor catharanthus with the necessary level of soil and air moisture. If the soil dries out, it is fraught with problems for the plant. For example, with a lack of moisture on some plant varieties, the leaves curl. But it is worth watering the flower abundantly, it comes to life again. But it is not necessary to allow the bay. In the winter and early spring months, watering is limited so that there is no waterlogging.

Information about pruning and transplanting

An important element in the care of catharanthus in growing conditions in an apartment is pruning the bush. This procedure rejuvenates the plant, and it blooms more magnificently, bushes better. The shoots are cut off in the spring, shortening the branches by about a third, since the bush stretches a lot during the winter. Wanting to give the crown the right beautiful shape, you can carry out decorative pruning in the summer, but only as an exception. It is advisable to use cut stems for propagating catharanthus by cuttings.

An annual transplant is another condition for the healthy state of the plant, which will delight you with the beauty of flowering, since the catharanthus is a fast-growing crop. Spring is the most favorable period for its transplantation. At the bottom of the pot, it is necessary to lay a drainage layer, for which fine expanded clay will be an excellent option. The nutrient substrate is prepared from the following components: peat, deciduous humus, sand, sod land, which are taken in equal proportions.

Be carefull! When cutting and transplanting a plant, wear gloves and be extremely careful and cautious, because all parts of the bush are poisonous.

One of the conditions for the abundant flowering of indoor catharanthus is regular feeding. The depleted soil is not able to provide the ornamental culture with all the necessary substances, therefore it is fed at least twice a month. For this, complex types of fertilizers intended for flowering plants are used.

How to grow a catharanthus from seeds

If the fruits of the plant are ripe, then why not sow them? Growing catharanthus from seeds is a simple matter even for beginner flower growers. This requires loose nutrient soil, cups or other small containers. The optimal sowing time is early spring. Planting material is immersed in the ground to a depth of one to two centimeters. In order for the seeds to germinate, they need to be provided with a temperature in the range of 22–24 degrees Celsius and placed in a dark place. After germination, the temperature is recommended to be reduced to 18 degrees. This approach is needed so that the sprouts do not stretch out, lacking lighting. You can feed seedlings no earlier than after three weeks. Plants dive when at least four leaves appear on them. Strong viable bushes grow from seeds.

An alternative way to propagate catharanthus is cuttings. When pruning the plant, the apical part is selected, the leaves are removed, leaving only the crown. Cuttings can be put in water, after three to four weeks they take root. Previously, for a day, the cuttings are left in water, where a biostimulator, for example, epin, is added. This will speed up the formation of the root system and activate the protective functions of the plant. Planted, rooted cuttings, in a light and nutritious soil mixture.

Propagation by cuttings is good because the gardener will get exactly the color of the plant that he has chosen, which is not always the case when growing catharanthus from seeds. Sometimes, by sowing self-collected seeds, the grower will acquire bushes with flowers of a different shade. But this also has its own charm.

Why does the catharanthus not bloom?

One of the reasons why the catharanthus does not bloom may be the lack of space in the pot, depleted soil. Transplanting and regular feeding will correct the situation. In the wild, the flower slows down its growth during the rainy season due to an excess of moisture in the soil. At home, you need to make sure that watering is regular, the earth should not dry out, but the bay of the bush also does not create a comfortable habitat, although the plant is moisture-loving. The lack of light is also the reason for the lack of flowers, since the lush flowering of the catharanthus is possible only in bright light, this is a southern plant accustomed to the abundance of the sun.

Kataranthus is a spectacular evergreen tropical flower, also known to Russian flower growers as pink periwinkle. It is not as common as petunia or nasturtium, but it is not inferior to these crops in terms of abundance of flowering. In this article, we will look at growing catharanthus from seeds in the open field, propagation by cuttings, and what top dressing and fertilizers are best to use.

Origin and general characteristics of catharanthus

The botanical genus Cataranthus belongs to the Kutov family and has eight species. Seven of them are considered endemic to the island of Madagascar, and one is native to India. The only one cultivated in culture is the Madagascar pink periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus).

It is noteworthy that this plant is valued not only by flower growers, but also by herbalists. In herbal medicine, periwinkle is used as a strong anticarcinogenic agent.

Cultivated catharanthus is a strongly branching herbaceous shrub. Shoots up to 60 cm high, branching at the top. The leaves are lanceolate, large, glossy, dark green. The flowers are five-petalled, with a flat corolla, about 3 cm in diameter, located in the axils of the upper leaves in small inflorescences. The catharanthus is characterized by a long stretched flowering - from June to October.

The shape of the flower catharanthus resembles a phlox.

Quaranthus indoors and outdoors

In room conditions, the catharanthus is able to demonstrate continuous, almost year-round flowering. Of course, this costs the plant dearly, and it is quickly depleted, losing its attractiveness. Based on this, it is quite difficult to decide where it is better to grow periwinkle. Some flower growers prefer something in between: they grow catharanthus in containers that are put outside in the summer and sent “for the winter” in the fall.

Tip #1 If there are small children or pets in the house, you need to be more careful with the cultivation of catharanthus. The leaves of this plant contain alkaloids that can cause severe poisoning.

Bush and ampel varieties of catharanthus

Periwinkle pink today is not only pink. Breeders have bred curious hybrids of different colors and types of habitus. The most popular varieties of catharanthus are presented in the table:

Series name	Characteristic
Albus	White flowers with a yellowish center. Shoots erect, up to 25 cm high.
Pacifica	Large flowers with a bright red "eye" in the center. The color of the petals can be different - white, wine, apricot, pink. The bush is compact, up to 35 cm tall.
First Kiss	Prestigious American variety series, regularly receiving awards at exhibitions. The flowers are large, unusual colors. The most interesting, but almost inaccessible variety in Russia is Blueberry. The color of the corolla is violet-blue.
Bark Cascade	A series of ampel varieties. The length of the stems can reach 1.5 meters. All hybrids of the series are resistant to late blight and have a wide palette of colors - cherry, lilac, burgundy, etc.
Mediterranean	Another ampelous form with a rapid growth of the bush. Large flowers are presented in three palettes: white, pink and scarlets.

Ampel catharanthus look spectacular in hanging planters

Growing catharanthus: seed and vegetative propagation of catharanthus

Cataranthus propagates very easily - both by seeds and vegetatively. Let us consider in more detail the methods of reproduction.

Propagation of catharanthus by seeds

The seeds of the catharanthus are small, there are usually few of them in a bag, so it is more convenient to sow them one by one in peat tablets. Seedlings are grown using the following technology:

At the end of February, the seeds are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or phytosporin.
Dissolve peat tablets. Seeds are laid out in the recesses in the center of the tablets and lightly added with a toothpick.
The tablets are placed in a micro-greenhouse and kept at a temperature of +25⁰С. Seedlings appear 2-3 weeks after sowing.
After the emergence of seedlings, the cover is removed from the greenhouse and the seedlings are placed under the phytolamp.
When the roots begin to sprout through the shell of the tablets, the peat pots are filled with soil. Catharanthus is best suited for special soil for geraniums. A hole is made in the center of the pots, tablets are placed in it and added dropwise.
When the seedlings reach a height of 10 cm, they pinch the top. This will help form compact lush bushes.
When the heat comes, the seedlings of the catharanthus begin to harden on the balcony.
When the air temperature outside begins to warm up to + 20⁰С, young plants are transferred to open ground.

Propagation of catharanthus by cuttings

The least hassle is the cuttings of the catharanthus. To propagate a favorite variety or prepare young bushes to replace an old plant, green shoots 10-15 cm long are cut off. The lower leaves are removed, the cut is powdered with Kornevin and placed in a wet mixture of peat and perlite (1: 1). Cover the top of the container with a lid from a mini-steamer.

An adult catharanthus tolerates a transplant painlessly, but it is better not to injure young plants once again and grow them in separate cups

Features of agricultural technology of catharanthus in the room

With proper care, indoor catharanthus can live for quite a long time. But this will require a lot of effort to replenish the energy expended on flowering.

A grower growing periwinkle in a room has two options:

Stimulate the plant to uninterrupted flowering and regularly update it with cuttings.
Grow catharanthus as a perennial, giving it a winter "breather".

The second way is less troublesome. The work plan looks like this:

Time	Event
March	The plant is pinched, shortening all shoots by one third. A container is prepared, 3-4 cm larger in diameter than the previous one. Fill it with fresh soil and transfer the catharanthus along with an earthen clod. Place the flower on the western or eastern windowsill.
Early April	The plants are fertilized with a complete complex fertilizer for beautifully flowering crops.
end of spring	When stable temperatures occur and the air warms up to + 20⁰С, the catharanthus is taken out to the balcony. A place should be chosen with a diffused shadow, protected from drafts.
Summer	Feed the plant every 2 weeks with fertilizer for flowering plants. Faded flowers and yellowed lower leaves are robbed. Monitor soil moisture.
End of August	Bring plants indoors, stop fertilizing and reduce watering. Remove all yellowed or broken shoots. The temperature is reduced to + 15-17⁰С.

Until spring, the catharanthus is kept in such conditions, providing sufficient lighting.

Tip #2 Quaranthus requires high humidity. If it is constantly grown in a room with dry air, you need to purchase a humidifier. Conventional spraying is less suitable, as it spoils the appearance of the flower.

To maintain stable air humidity around the catharanthus, you can use sphagnum, laid in a tray with a pot

Features of agricultural technology of catharanthus in the garden

If the catharanthus is grown in the garden as a container culture, then its agricultural technology is no different from growing indoor periwinkles. If the plant is planted directly in the ground, the following are added to the autumn events:

In late September or early October, when flowering stops, the bush is dug up.
Cut off all the shoots by one third and place the bush in a large pot with a mixture of sand, peat and garden soil.
They are transferred to a room with a temperature of + 15-17⁰С and kept until spring under conditions of reduced watering.

During the summer, it is important to constantly feed the catharanthus to give it the opportunity to bloom well. The following compositions can be used as fertilizers:

Name	Characteristic	Application rate
"Agricola for flowering plants"	Water-soluble powder with a high content of potassium and phosphorus. Extends the flowering period and increases the number of buds.	2.5 g per 1 liter of water when watering under the root.
"POKON for flowering plants"	Solution with a balanced NPK complex. Promotes the formation of a powerful bush, prolongs flowering.	10 ml per 1 liter of water when watering under the root or foliar top dressing.
"Bona Forte for flowering plants"	Complete fertilizer in the form of a solution. Activates flowering, promotes the formation of large flowers with bright colors.	10 ml per 1.5 liters of water when watering under the root.
"Clean Leaf for flowering plants"	Crystalline concentrated fertilizer. Enhances the brightness of the flower, increases resistance to diseases and pests.	Half a measuring spoon per 10 liters of water for foliar application.
"Master" for flowering plants	A complete complex of minerals in chelated form. Promotes amicable formation of buds, intensive coloring and increases resistance to diseases.	5 g per 2 liters of water when watering under the root.

For long-term abundant flowering, the catharanthus is fed throughout the season with an interval of 2 weeks.

Disease prevention and pest control

Quaranthus can be attacked by sucking pests - aphids, scale insects, spider mites. To protect against them, you can use insectoacaricides. The preparations "Aktellik", "Akarin", "Fitoverm", "Oberon", "Marshal" have proven themselves well. All of them effectively rid plants of both insects and mites.

3 mistakes when growing catharanthus

Problems with diseases and pests of catharanthus arise mainly due to improper care of the plant. Flower growers often make such mistakes:

Do not monitor air humidity.

Periwinkle is a tropical plant. In dry conditions, it begins to shed some of the leaves, and the tips of the remaining ones dry out. A spider mite happily sits on such a weakened plant.

Transfuse the catharanthus.

In potted plants, this causes the development of root rot. In open ground, waterlogging of the soil provokes stagnation of damp air in the lower part of the plant and the occurrence of fungal infections.

Do not observe the mode of feeding and lighting.

In such a situation, the catharanthus drops unopened buds, weakens and becomes an object of attack by insect pests. In general, the periwinkle, which contains many alkaloids in the cell sap, is a completely stable plant.

Direct sunlight is the enemy of the catharanthus. This plant needs diffused light.

Questions from flower growers about growing catharanthus

Question number 1. Is it possible to sow catharanthus with seeds immediately in open ground?

It is possible, but only in the southern regions of Russia. In the Middle lane and to the north, he will not have time to bloom in the first year. It is necessary to sow seeds in the ground in the spring, after the establishment of stable heat.

Question number 2. Is it possible to plant several catharanthus seedlings in one pot?

Quaranthus tolerates close proximity well. Therefore, planting 2-3 seedlings in one container is often practiced. Thus, a greater visual splendor of the landing is achieved. In open ground, you can do the same, and plant several catharanthus nearby. But you still need to observe a certain interval - in rainy weather and poor ventilation of the bushes, the risk of fungal infections increases. The optimal distance between the bushes of catharanthus is 30 cm.

Question number 3. Why do catharanthus leaves turn yellow?

This problem can have many causes. You need to look at the nature of the yellowing. For example, if completely yellowed leaves are soft, sluggish, the plant must be removed from the sun. If only the tips turn yellow, the catharanthus is dry. Yellowing and falling of the lower leaves on the shoots is a normal process.

Question number 4. Quaranthus does not bloom. What to do?

Most likely, the plant does not have enough heat. Cool air slows down the bud formation process. This feature is used in preparing the catharanthus for wintering. Another reason is that the plant needs rejuvenation. You can cut off the old shoots by one third, feed the catharanthus and wait for the growth of the side branches.