Proper care of Achimenes as a guarantee of their lush flowering
Among flowering indoor plants, Achimenes take pride of place. Their bloom is so beautiful that it is simply impossible to take your eyes off this sight. And what is most interesting, with proper care, Achimenes can please with their inflorescences as much as twice a year - not only in spring, but also in autumn.
What do these amazing plants from the Gesneriev family need? In order for the Achimenes to feel comfortable, actively grow and tie inflorescences, it is necessary to provide them with:
- suitable lighting and temperature;
- watering depending on the phase of development;
- fertilization during the growing season;
- annual rest period and transplant.
On this topic: growing and caring for achimenes!
Where is the best place to keep the flower?
When choosing a place for a perennial, it is worth considering that it does not tolerate drafts and a sharp drop in temperature, therefore, it is better to provide the opening window to flowers that love fresh air. In summer, pots can be put on the balcony, but only if the nights are not cold.
Like all flowering plants, Achimenes needs good lighting, but direct sunlight burns their delicate leaves and flowers. In summer, the flowerpot should be shaded if it is not possible to rearrange it away from the sun. However, the main thing here is not to overdo it, because with a lack of lighting, the shoots on the bushes stretch out, and the inflorescences become faded. In the spring-summer period, the optimum temperature for keeping Ahimenes is from 20 to 24 degrees Celsius.
A prerequisite for growing such plants is high air humidity, but not by spraying. It is best to place the pot on a moss tray or near the aquarium.
Watering features
In spring and summer, Achimenes need abundant watering, because at this time they are actively growing and laying flower buds. But it is necessary to ensure that excess water does not stagnate in the pan, and also let the soil dry out between waterings, since the rhizomes of the flowers will quickly rot from excess moisture.
The water should not be cold.
With the beginning of autumn, it is necessary to increase the time between waterings, reaching the minimum double watering per month during the dormant period.
When and what to feed?
Achimenes begin to need additional fertilizing from the beginning of growth and until the end of flowering. To do this, use complex preparations for flowering plants, making them no more than twice a month.
Plants are not fertilized immediately after transplantation.
Features of winter development
Unlike most houseplants, perennial achimenes do not stay green all year round. As soon as autumn comes, their growth processes stop, and the bushes begin to dry out on their own. This does not mean that the flower is sick - it is simply preparing for a dormant period. At this time, the flowerpot can be rearranged in a room where it is not lower than 15 degrees.
Only the aerial part of the plant dries out, rhizomes (scaly roots with dormant buds) feel calm in the soil all winter, and in spring they germinate again.
At the end of February, when the plant wakes up, it should be transplanted into a wide pot with new nutrient soil.