Hypocyrta Glabra Hook, Hypocyrta Nummularia Hanst. - Interesting Flowering Epiphytes From Brazil

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

According to the horoscope, the zodiac sign of Pisces (February 20 - March 20) corresponds to aquarium plants: spiral vallisneria, canadian elodea, aquatic kabomba, common hornwort, cryptocoryne; helksin Soleirol; fishtail palm; orchids; fragrant geraniums; Ripsalis is barren and odd; sprawling cyperus, papyrus; nesting bone (asplenium); platycerium (flat-horned) large, lose-horny; ampelous ficuses; Pellionia Davo; pilea Kadje, creeping, mono-leaved, small-leaved; plectrantus; fatty lumpy; bryophyllum; tolmia Menzies; siderasis brownish; bovieya curly; ivy budra; hypocyrtus is naked.

The genus Hypocyrta of the Gesneriaceae family includes 12 species - semi-shrubs, the height of which ranges from 10-15 cm (creeping) to 40-60 cm (semi-erect); they are prized for the beauty of their leaves and flowers and are therefore grown.

Charming hypocyrta naked (Hypocyrta glabra Hook.)- native to Brazil - epiphyte, listed in the second group of species. Despite the somewhat dissonant name, every year it wins an increasing number of fans among fans of indoor floriculture. Due to its juicy (almost succulent) stems, it can easily tolerate dry winter dormancy. It has straight or ascending (almost unbranched and slightly drooping with age) naked shoots and small (3-4 cm in size) opposite leaves of an ovoid (elliptical) shape, dark green with a glossy sheen, leathery, naked, on short petioles. Numerous orange or yellow flowers with a reddish pattern, single or 2-3 pieces, axillary, very similar to lips folded for a kiss. Other growers find in them similarities to small goldfish. These flowers have corolla petals accrete, waxy,from below form a swelling.

To maintain the elegant appearance of the plant, experienced florists recommend removing wilted flowers and yellowed leaves. The hypocyrt is used both as a semi-ampel plant in a hanging planter, and as an ordinary pot culture on a windowsill, displayed in display windows. It grows well and looks great in florariums, winter gardens, greenhouses and greenhouses.

For some reason, some lovers consider hypocyrtu an undemanding plant to care for. However, one has only to remember her "character", how such an opinion changes. This thermophilic tropical plant is placed in such a way as to exclude sudden changes in temperature and drafts, in a bright, warm room, while also providing high air humidity and good protection from direct sunlight. In warm summer time, it can even be taken out into the open air, only it must be placed in a shaded place. It can be grown without sunlight using fluorescent lamps for 16 hours a day.

In winter, the plant must provide a dormant period (from October to February). It is preferable to place the hypocyrt in a bright cool room with a temperature of 12 … 13 ° С, water it very sparingly, avoiding only the complete drying of the earthen coma. The more qualitatively the "wintering" of the plant has passed, the more actively it will bloom next summer. Regular pruning of shoots stimulates greater bushiness and favors abundant flowering. This pruning is also useful because flowers usually appear on young shoots. With a lack of illumination, the stems are unnecessarily elongated, thinner, and the flowering power decreases. In summer, watering the hypocyrtes is moderate - only after the earthen coma dries out. When watering, the florist must adhere to this rule: it is better to water the hypocyrt less than it should,rather than over-wetting the soil coma.

It must always be remembered that excess moisture in the substrate leads to the obligatory decay of the roots and fall of the leaves of this culture. On hot summer days, watering can of course be a little more abundant. In addition, it is recommended to regularly spray the plants with water to increase the humidity in the room. During the period of active growth from May to September, the naked hypocyrt is fed every ten days with a solution of complete fertilizer intended for indoor flowers.

In winter, watering is extremely rare, and the hypocyrt is occasionally sprayed with water. You can increase the humidity in the room in this way: place a flower pot on a pallet with stones and pour a small amount of water into this container.

Usually, the naked hypocyrta is transplanted annually after a dormant period. To do this, select a more spacious container compared to the previous one and prepare a nutritious, well-water and air-permeable soil substrate. After all, dense earth is capable of provoking rotting of the root system.

The soil mixture (pH acidic, slightly acidic) is prepared from peat, deciduous humus and sand (in a ratio of 2-2.5: 1: 1). It is also recommended to add pieces of charcoal, chopped bark or fern roots to the soil for greater softness and looseness. During planting, a complete mineral fertilizer is applied to the substrate (20-30 g per bucket of soil mixture).

During the active growing season, the plant is fed (once every 2-3 weeks) with an aqueous solution of complex fertilizer (10 g / 10 l). According to experts, purchased soil mixtures intended for cultivating Saintpaulias are also suitable for hypocyrtes.

Hypocyrta is propagated relatively easily. Apical (apical) and stem cuttings can be rooted throughout the summer, if you can provide a soil temperature of 20 … 24 ° C for this procedure.

The cuttings are planted in a container with wet sand, covered with glass on top to create constant high humidity, and are often sprayed. Every 3-4 days the glass is raised for 3-5 minutes in order to slightly ventilate the plants. Rooted young plants are planted in pots. To create more decorativeness, they are sometimes placed in several pieces in one container. When a height of 8-10 cm is reached, the tops of such plants are pinched, forming stronger bushes.

Hypocyrta nummularia Hanst. Is considered a species closely related to the previous culture. In contrast to the glabrous hypocyrte, it is a more miniature plant, all densely and softly pubescent, with thin opposite light green ovoid (to rounded) leaves about 2 cm long, on short petioles.

Its flowers are characterized by a more intense red color with a light yellow tint, and in the throat they are almost black. Central America (Guatemala, Costa Rica) is called the homeland of the mint hypocyrt. After flowering, the plant sheds its leaves, so watering is carried out extremely moderate; the temperature during rest is 14… 16 ° С.

Relatively recently, from the genus Hypocyrta, two naked species close to hypocyrtus - rooting hypocyrt (H.radicans) and small-bristled hypocyrt (H.strigillosa) - were transferred to the genus Nematanthus. By the way, sometimes naked hypocyrtus can be found under the name "nematanthus".

With a warm winter content, the hypocyrt is sometimes inhabited by aphids, spider mites and whiteflies, to combat which on this delicate plant it is still better to resort to the use of freshly prepared solutions of insecticidal plants.