Inflorescence inflorescences can reach up to 20 cm in length. The plant blooms from 6 to 8 weeks in summer and in spring, while small flowers appear only for a few days. Aphelanders of protruding leaves are so beautiful that the plant looks elegant even without inflorescences. The plant is very moody, it will blossom, if only grow it in a closed "flower window", keeping a constant temperature. Therefore, for growing in room conditions it is better to buy new copies every year.
Indoor plants of the afelandra: care
Afelandra is very difficult to grow at home, it always requires special care. This plant needs to provide a warm place with good lighting and humidity. Afelandra - plants are large-leaved and grow fast enough.
These houseplants should be placed in a good lighted place, however, it is necessary to avoid direct sunlight. The ideal location at the east or west window, on the southern window in the summer, the plant is better to create a shadow from 11-17 hours.
In summer, the afhelandra can be carried to the balcony or garden, but it must be protected from drafts, precipitation and direct sunlight. If this is not possible, then it is desirable to ventilate the room as often as possible.
In autumn and winter, shade the plant is not required, but it is better to ensure good lighting. With the help of fluorescent lights you can create additional lighting. Place the lamps at a distance of 60-70 cm above the plant and leave them no less than eight hours a day. If there is not enough light, then the plant will not bloom well and will begin to stretch.
Afelandra likes warmth, so in summer the temperature should not fall below 18 degrees, the most comfortable is the temperature of 22-25 degrees. In autumn and winter, the plant needs a temperature of at least 20 degrees. Only the afhelandra protruding well tolerates coolness and the minimum temperature for it is 10 degrees.
From the very beginning of spring and until autumn, the plant should be watered abundantly, but it must be ensured that the soil is not over-moistened, but not over-dried. In winter, watering can be reduced by monitoring the moisture content of the soil. Water should be carefully, so that water does not fall on the leaves.
Afelandra likes high humidity, so the plant should be regularly sprinkled with warm water. To make the humidity higher, you can put a pot of aphelandra in a bowl with moist peat or pebbles.
In the period of growth from spring to autumn, the plant should be fertilized with mineral and organic top dressing for indoor plants.
Plants aphelandra grow quickly enough, so to give a beautiful shape and splendor, young plants need to pinch and remove the kidneys on the upper shoots. Adult plants must be cut every year, this procedure should be carried out in February. In this case, the plant cuts all shoots, and hemp 25-30 cm in height are left. After this, it is necessary to regularly spray the plant and it is better to put a transparent package on it, so the plant adapts faster.
Adult plants can be transplanted every 3-4 years, but young people need to transplant annually. If the plant has lost its beauty, then it can be renewed by rooting the cuttings.
For the cultivation of the aphelandra, mixtures such as peat, clayey-turfy ground and sand or peat, leaf earth and sand, or turf, leaf, humus, peat and sand with the addition of bone meal and charcoal are suitable. It also grows well on hydroponics.
The plant multiplies both as seeds and as cuttings.
Seeds need to be planted immediately after harvesting, that is, in February-March. The soil will come from a mixture of leaf land and sand. The temperature for a comfortable development of the plant should be 20-22 degrees, and if a greenhouse with a lower heating is used, the seeds will germinate much faster. Flowering aphelandra should in the same year.
Cuttings are usually cut off by young mature shoots 10-15 cm long with two leaves. Carry out this procedure from March to May, sometimes in December-January. Faster shoots will take root if the cuttings are treated with growth stimulants and provide them with lower heating. Cuttings should be rooted in a mixture of peat with sand or in moist sand and cover with a glass jar. The temperature should be 20-25 degrees, also be sure to air and spray. In stem cauliflower roots appear in 45-60 days, and in apical - in 15-30 days. Once the cuttings take root, they must be transplanted into a mixture of peat, humus, leaf earth and sand. Grow sprouts slowly, so they need to provide heat and diffuse bright light.
The plant propagates much more rarely with leaf cuttings. To do this, in autumn or winter it is necessary to cut a developed leaf with an axillary bud, preferably not from flowering shoots, and root them in soil from peat and sand. The plant should be covered with a glass jar, maintaining the temperature 20-25 degrees and often ventilating.
Features: Aged plants often stretch and discard the lower layer of leaves, while losing their beauty and unusualness. Therefore, it is recommended that aphelandra be renewed by cuttings. To ensure that the protruding aphelandra blossoms better, in winter it is necessary to ensure good lighting and a temperature of at least 10 degrees.
Possible difficulties
Falling leaves are often due to dryness in the roots. Also, the cause may be cold, direct sunlight or drafts.
Brown leaves can appear on the leaves, for example, because of the low humidity of the air. To avoid this, you need to place the pot in moist peat and constantly spray.
It is necessary to gently water the plant and monitor it, since the leaves of the afelanders can be exposed to mold. If it was found, the leaves should be removed and the plant should be sprayed with a fungicide.