- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossom
- use
- Is gloxinia poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- multiply gloxinia
- sowing
- cuttings
- Prefer
- Gloxinia in the pot
- balcony
- watering gloxinia
- Cut gloxinia properly
- Fertilize gloxinia properly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hardy
- pests
- fungus
- sorts
The term gloxinia refers to varieties from two genera. This common German name is used for both the garden gloxinia and the non-hardy indoor gloxinia. Both genera are distinct from the plant genus Gloxinia, which completes the confusion.
Gloxinia is a popular ornamental plant
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossom
- use
- Is gloxinia poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- multiply gloxinia
- sowing
- cuttings
- Prefer
- Gloxinia in the pot
- balcony
- watering gloxinia
- Cut gloxinia properly
- Fertilize gloxinia properly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hardy
- pests
- fungus
- sorts
- Garden gloxinias belong to the genus Incarvillea
- species belong to the trumpet tree family
- grow at high altitudes in Central and East Asia
- at a distance of 20 to 30 centimeters
- to a depth of five centimetres
- with 13 plants per square meter
- Divide potted plants in spring
- Divide garden gloxinias in the fall before overwintering
- Dust cutting edges with charcoal powder
- scarlet: Sinningia hybrid with intense red flowers.
- Emperor Frederick: Sinningia variety with red petals, white margins.
- tigrina: Sinningia cultivar with mottled flowers.
- Alba: Incarvillea variety with white petals.
- Deli Rose: Incarvillea variety with magenta flowers.
origin
Gloxinia from the trade are cultivated forms of the species Sinningia speciosa and other representatives within the genus Sinningia. Common species used for breeding are Sinningia villosa or Sinningia Helleri. The genus contains between 60 and 80 species and belongs to the Gesneria family. The species come from tropical climate zones of South and Central America. Sinningia speciosa grows in the rainforests of Brazil.
Originally, Sinningia speciosa was assigned to the genus Gloxinia. In the meantime, the family relationships have changed, but the common German name has not changed.
Attention, risk of confusion:
growth
Gloxinia of the genus Sinningia grow as herbaceous plants whose shoots arise from an underground tuber. This rhizome is used for survival. As slow-growing plants, gloxinias reach heights of between 15 and 30 centimetres. They develop a bushy, compact shape and grow between 30 and 60 centimeters wide. Gloxinia are perennial.
leaves
Sinningia hybrids develop ovate to oblong leaves that turn green and are covered with velvety hairs. Your leaf edge is notched. Each leaf vein ends in a tooth at the edge. The deciduous plants have simple, stalked leaves that can grow up to six centimeters long. While the underside of the leaf blade appears light, the upper side of the leaf is slightly darker in color. Sinningia speciosa has opposite leaves arranged on the stem. Many cultivated forms develop a basal leaf rosette.
The newer hybrids have bred out leaves that are very soft and small. The first cultivated forms had large and coarse leaves that were easily destroyed during transport.
blossom
The flower stalks grow raised above the leaves. Sinningia varieties have strikingly large flowers whose petals are shaped into a funnel. The crown grows between two and six inches long. It is surrounded by a five-lobed calyx whose leaves are bell-shaped. The individual segments are triangular to lanceolate in shape. In some cultivated forms, the flowers are filled, reminiscent of the shape of old roses.
Between June and August, Sinningia species develop their flowers. The color palette is very rich. While Sinningia speciose develops salmon-red flowers, the cultivars shine in white, red or blue-violet. There are varieties whose petals appear multicolored. Their flowers may be white-edged, mottled white-pink, or ruffled. Some gloxinias develop tubular flowers, while some cultivars are reminiscent of African violets. There are now varieties that look more original and are more reminiscent of the wild species Sinningia speciosa. They have smaller flowers that droop slightly.
use
Sinningia hybrids serve as ornamental flowers and fruit plants. They decorate interiors and are used for colorful arrangements of potted plants. Because gloxinias can be grown from seed all year round, they are popular plants for the conservatory. Due to its location requirements, this plant is perfect for beautifying showcases. Garden gloxinias are more robust than their tub-planted namesakes. They can be cultivated outdoors. Here the plants provide color accents in the partially shaded rock garden.
Is gloxinia poisonous?
Gloxinia do not contain any toxic substances, so you can safely decorate rooms where pets live. There is also no risk of poisoning in humans after accidental consumption of the flowers or leaves.
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Which location is suitable?
Sinningia varieties prefer a warm and bright location with high humidity. Make sure that the place is not directly in the sun. Gloxinia like a semi-shady location in heated rooms or warm houses. They do not tolerate drafts and react sensitively to temperature fluctuations.
How to plant garden gloxinias in the bed:
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What soil does the plant need?
Commercial potting soil is suitable as a substrate for Sinningia hybrids. Mix these with sand to increase permeability. Alternatively, you can use cactus soil, which already has good draining properties. The substrate should be moderately moist, with no waterlogging. The delicate tuber rots easily if the soil is too wet. This weakens the plant and mold spores can settle.
Garden gloxinias grow in neutral to slightly acidic soil with a pH between five and seven. There are some varieties that are suitable for calcareous substrates.
multiply gloxinia
Gloxinia can be propagated with a lot of patience and the right care. Both sowing and cultivating leaf cuttings is possible. The flowering beauties can also be propagated by division. To do this, the plants are dug up together with their tubers and freed from the substrate.
Larger tubers are broken up with a sharp knife. Allow the pieces to air dry and set them in a sandy substrate. Keep the soil moderately moist. At temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius, the rhizome pieces soon form fresh roots.
Good to know:
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sowing
The collected seeds of the gloxinia can be sown between October and February. The tiny seeds are scattered on potting or cactus soil. Press the seeds down lightly, making sure they are not covered by the substrate. Sinningia gloxinia are light germs. The substrate is slightly moistened. A spray bottle is recommended to prevent the soil from being washed away. Cover the planter with a transparent film or a glass hood. Place the pot in a light spot with a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. Remember to aerate regularly to keep the plants from getting moldy.
As soon as the seedlings show their first leaves, the young plants can be pricked out and placed in a larger container. The plants can be further cultivated at 15 degrees Celsius. It takes up to three years for the plants to flower for the first time.
cuttings
During the growing season, cut leaves from a healthy mother plant and place them in a planter filled with nutrient-poor potting soil. Moisten the substrate and put a glass over the leaf cutting so that the humidity remains constant and the substrate dries out less quickly.
Place the pot in a warm and bright place. Temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius are ideal. Air the jar twice a day and rinse with warm water. This measure prevents mold growth. It takes up to six months for the cuttings to develop roots and new leaves to emerge.
Prefer
This measure is possible for the commercially available tubers of garden gloxinia. They can be placed directly in a bed from the end of May or brought forward from March. Early specimens begin to germinate and flower earlier.
Use a sufficiently large bucket with a diameter between 20 and 30 centimeters. This is filled with potting soil or normal garden soil. The tubers are inserted vertically into the substrate and loosely covered. Place the pot in a warm place where the thermometer is between 18 and 22 degrees. Keep the soil moderately moist.
The preferred plants can be planted outside from mid-May. Loosen the soil well and mix some sand into the soil to increase permeability. To support growth, you can spread some compost. Plant the core of the root at least two inches deep in the soil, being careful not to damage any roots.
Gloxinia in the pot
Gloxinias of the genus Sinningia are only cultivated as container plants. In the pot, the plants beautify interiors and conservatories. Make sure the pot has a drainage hole. Optimal water drainage is important to prevent mold from forming. Cover the bottom of the pot with expanded clay, (19.73€) pebbles or pottery shards. The material ensures that the substrate does not trickle out of the hole. Excess irrigation water can drain away optimally. A clay vessel also regulates the water balance, because the moisture can escape through the porous material.
balcony
If the conditions are right, Sinningia varieties can easily be cultivated on the balcony. They thrive best in a partially shaded location on a south-facing house wall. Here the blossoms develop best when there is no draught. Protect the plant from rain, as the leaves quickly become unsightly.
watering gloxinia
Sinningia varieties have moderate water requirements. Potted plants are watered regularly. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Garden gloxinias enjoy watering during longer dry periods. A layer of mulch improves the water balance in the soil. It ensures that the substrate dries out more slowly. Pour the water directly onto the root ball to avoid getting the leaves wet.
Cut gloxinia properly
A regular section of faded stems encourages more blooms to form. In this way, both indoor plants and outdoor perennials develop into permanent bloomers. When leaves have withered, they can be removed periodically. Cut the stems close to the ground.
In autumn the plants withdraw. They store their energy in the rhizomes, so that the above-ground shoots and leaves wither. As soon as the plant parts have completely died, you can cut them back to five centimeters above the ground.
Fertilize gloxinia properly
The perennials in the bed cover their nutrient requirements all year round with the help of compost in the spring. If you can't give the plants compost, a slow-release fertilizer such as horn shavings ($34.93) or blue corn will do. Potted plants should be fertilized every two to three weeks. Give the plants a liquid fertilizer to mix with the irrigation water. Fertilization is not required if the plants have just been repotted.
How do I plant correctly?
Garden gloxinias can be transplanted in spring. With this measure, it is advisable to divide the tubers in order to increase the beauty of the garden. Container plants can also be transplanted after hibernation before the tubers sprout again.
hardy
While garden gloxinias are hardy, indoor gloxinias struggle with cool temperatures. Their hibernation differs in terms of care.
Garden Gloxinia
They tolerate temperatures down to -20 degrees Celsius. While the tubers don't mind the freezing temperatures, they can be damaged if the substrate is wet. It therefore makes sense to dig up the tubers from the bed and place them in a box lined with straw. The tubers are overwintered in a cool and dry place and brought forward again in spring. This overwintering is also possible for tubers of the Sinningia varieties.
Plant pots with tubers of the garden gloxinia overwinter in a frost-free location on an insulating base. Protect the bucket with a jute sack (€10.99) foil or garden fleece so that the substrate does not freeze completely. The substrate is watered on frost-free days.
Zimmer Gloxinia
Sinningia varieties can continue to be cultivated over the winter. Overwintering without a rest period requires extensive care. Place the plant in an unheated room with temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius.
The perennials need a lot of light. Their vigor will be enhanced if they are exposed to artificial light for several hours a day. The plants do not need fertilizer. Your water needs are minimal during this time. The tubers must not dry out, as they will not survive.
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pests
Gloxinias cultivated as houseplants suffer from infestation by aphids, thrips or spider mites if conditions are too dry. They feed on the sap of the plant, causing the leaves to curl up and die.
Snails are dreaded pests that attack young garden gloxinia plants in spring. They eat fresh shoots and leaves of outdoor perennials. Loosen the soil around the plant regularly. As a result, the substrate dries out on the surface, so that the snails cannot get to the plants so easily.
fungus
Waterlogging is a typical care mistake that leads to rotting of the roots. Fungal spores find optimal growth conditions. They settle on the rotten spots and develop a fungal mycelium that penetrates the plant organism. It is further weakened by the fungal infestation. The leaves turn yellow and slowly die off.
tips
Since the velvety hairy leaves of all gloxinias do not tolerate water, you should increase the humidity in other ways. Place the planter in a pot filled with pebbles and fill it with some water. The moisture evaporates slowly and ensures optimal humidity levels in the air.