The spiny fruit (bot. Streptocarpus), also known as velvet bell or because of its origin as African violet, is a plant genus comprising around 135 different species from the Gesneria family (bot. Gesneriaceae). Many hybrid varieties are used as houseplants, but are not entirely uncomplicated when it comes to caring for them.

The pretty twist fruit is cultivated by us as a houseplant

Table of Contents

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  1. origin and distribution
  2. use
  3. appearance and growth
  4. leaves
  5. flowers and flowering time
  6. fruits and seeds
  7. toxicity
  8. location and temperature
  9. substrate
  10. plants and repotting
  11. pour spiny fruit
  12. Fertilize the rotisserie properly
  13. Properly cut the spiny fruit
  14. multiply rotary fruit
  15. hibernate
  16. species and varieties

    17. origin and distribution

    Most types of spiny fruit come from tropical Africa, where they are primarily at home in South Africa, Tanzania and Madagascar. Only four species of the genus are native to Asia, such as Streptocarpus burmanicus in Myanmar, Streptocarpus orientalis in Thailand or Streptocarpus sumatranus in Sumatra.

    use

    Due to its tropical origin, the warmth-loving spin fruit can only be cultivated as a houseplant or on the balcony or terrace during the hot summer months. Various hybrid forms are mainly used, the concrete species, on the other hand, are very rare as indoor plants.

    appearance and growth

    The turning fruit hybrids kept in room culture are usually perennial and evergreen plants that grow herbaceously and do not become woody. Many popular varieties form long stems that hang over the edge of the planter. These rotary fruit varieties are perfect for planting in hanging baskets, where they can let their shoots grow downwards. Other varieties also develop quite long stems, which remain upright on their own. These varieties can usually be cultivated well on the windowsill. Streptocarpus is usually only between ten and 20 centimeters high.

    leaves

    Many rotary fruit hybrids develop large, often finely hairy and elongated to elliptical leaves, which are arranged in basal rosettes. Some varieties (e.g. Streptocarpus wendlandii), on the other hand, only develop a single leaf up to 90 centimeters long, which continues to grow or dies after the formation of a new leaf/leaves. These leaves must not lie on the substrate, otherwise they will rot. As a rule, the leaves are green, but there are also varieties with variegated (i.e. multicolored) foliage.

    flowers and flowering time

    The funnel-shaped flowers, reminiscent of orchids, appear in fives between April and September. The spinpod is a very persistent flowering plant - it constantly forms new flowers and is therefore very decorative. Depending on the variety, several or just a single flower grow on one stem. These can be unicolored to multicolored - the color palette is very extensive, especially in the hybrid forms and ranges from white to red and pink to blue and violet in different tones.

    fruits and seeds

    After the flowers, the cylindrically twisted fruits form, which gave the plant its name. The spiral capsules contain numerous, very fine seeds. You can prolong the flowering period of the turnip crop by removing faded stalks in good time, thereby hindering fruit development. The plant will then invest its energy in developing new flowers.

    toxicity

    The spiny fruit is considered non-toxic. However, its leaf juice can cause an itchy rash in sensitive people.

    location and temperature

    As a real plant from the tropics, the spinpod prefers a bright location with high humidity and a warm ambient temperature. If possible, place the pot directly next to an east or west-facing window, since the plant needs light, but too much intense sunlight is harmful. If the plant faces south, you should provide shade over midday. In addition, the location should be airy but not drafty and at least 15 °C warm all year round. During the flowering period, the optimum temperature is 22-25°C, with a humidity level of at least 60 percent - better still.

    substrate

    The pretty flowers only develop when the spinpod is in soil suitable for its needs. In its natural habitat, the plant can be found in the loose, humus-rich soil of the rainforest, which is why the potting substrate should be composed accordingly. For this purpose, mix about half of the humus-rich, peat-free potting soil with loose coconut soil.

    plants and repotting

    The roots of the spiny crop grow just below the substrate surface, and the root ball can also become quite wide. Therefore, choose a wide plant pot instead of a deep one. The right time to repot has come when the planter is well rooted.

    pour spiny fruit

    The correct watering of the spiny fruit requires a certain amount of finesse, because the plant needs to be kept evenly moist - but only slightly, because excessive moisture and especially waterlogging is extremely damaging. Always water when the top layer of substrate has dried but not the whole pot is completely dry. Always check the necessity with a thumb test first. Use rainwater at room temperature or stagnant tap water for watering and be careful not to wet the leaves and flowers. Always water from below and also avoid spraying the spinach, as the leaves tend to rot. Remove excess water from the saucer or planter as soon as possible.

    Fertilize the rotisserie properly

    Fertilize the windworm every 14 days between March and October with a liquid flowering plant fertilizer (€10.47), which you administer together with the irrigation water. Never fertilize on dry substrate, always moisten it.

    Properly cut the spiny fruit

    A regular topiary is not necessary for the rotary fruit. Only withered, dried up and diseased parts of the plant should be removed regularly with a sharp and disinfected cutting tool, which can be done at any time. Do not simply tear off the relevant parts of the plant, as this makes it easier for fungi, bacteria and other pathogens to enter.

    multiply rotary fruit

    As demanding as the rotary fruit is often in terms of care, propagation is uncomplicated. In particular, vegetative propagation via cuttings and leaf cuttings can also be easily carried out by laypeople.

    leaf cuttings

    Naturally, leaf cuttings can only be obtained from the species with several leaves, while the single-leaved rotary crop species are unsuitable for this purpose. And that's how it works:

    • Cut off a healthy leaf in spring.
    • Cut this crosswise into three to four parts.
    • Insert the partial leaves about one centimeter deep into the growing substrate.
    • If necessary, support them with matches or other wooden sticks.

    Place the plant pots in a bright and warm window seat and always keep the substrate slightly moist. Do not stretch any foil or similar over the cuttings, as this promotes rot. Instead, use willow water for irrigation as this encourages root development. Within a few weeks, small spiny plants with their own roots will form along the cut edges. Separate these from the leaf cuttings and pot them separately in their own pots from a growth height of approx. seven centimeters.

    cuttings

    Hanging-growing rotary fruit species and hybrids such as Streptocarpus saxorum are very well suited for propagation via shoot cuttings. And this is how you do it:

    • In the spring, take top cuttings that are three to four inches long.
    • Remove all but the top pair of leaves.
    • Plant the cuttings individually in plant pots filled with growing substrate.

    You should also place these vessels in a bright and warm window seat. Keep the substrate evenly moist but not wet. As soon as strong roots have formed, the cutting will sprout again. If necessary, repot it into a larger container.
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    hibernate

    Proper hibernation is the most difficult phase in the life of the rotary crop. If you want to be on the safe side, simply leave the plant in its proven location and reduce the temperature here to around 15 °C. This procedure is practical, but not necessarily practical, especially in the living room. In principle, the rotary fruit can be cultivated here all year round at warm temperatures, but there is a risk that the flowering will not occur if there is no vegetation break. So put them in a comparable but cooler place (e.g. in the bedroom), water them little and stop fertilizing from October. Slowly acclimate the plant to warmer temperatures from February/March onwards.
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    tips

    You can create the right humidity microclimate with a simple trick: place the planter on a bowl filled with pebbles and water, but the roots should not be hanging in the water. The evaporation automatically increases the humidity to the desired high level, you just have to remember to refill it regularly.

    species and varieties

    There are around 135 different types of spinach, some of which are also cultivated as indoor plants. However, most indoor varieties are specially bred hybrid varieties, of which there are several hundred different ones. Listing all of them here would go beyond the scope. Of course, we would like to present the most beautiful varieties to you.

    Streptocarpus saxorum

    This hanging growing and very lush flowering species originally comes from Tanzania and Kenya, but can also be kept well in the apartment. Most varieties form bright blue flowers - for example the very popular 'Blauer Paul' variety - but there are also white or pink flowering forms.

    Streptocarpus candidus

    This species, which comes from South Africa and is rarely cultivated here, delights with numerous pure white calyxes.

    Streptocarpus wendlandii

    This is a so-called single-leaf plant, which only develops a single, but very large leaf. Streptocarpus wendlandii flowers for a very long time with pretty purple flowers, but dies after flowering. The species comes from South Africa.

    Streptocarpus parfuflora

    This species also forms only a single leaf, which is very long, however, with a length of up to 30 centimetres. The plant, which also comes from South Africa, can grow up to 30 centimeters high and flowers very persistently. The constantly newly formed flowers are white.

    Streptocarpus hybrids

    Externally, the numerous Streptocarpus hybrids are very different. Some varieties can grow very large and develop leaves up to 50 centimeters long, others show an upright growth habit, others a prostrate or drooping habit. However, the differences in the flower colors are particularly large: monochromatic varieties in a wide variety of shades are represented as well as two- or even three-colored varieties.

    • 'Harlequin': growth height up to 35 centimetres, three-colored flowers
    • 'Asia': growth height of up to 30 centimetres, white flowers with a ruffled edge
    • 'Iona': deep red flowers, blooms up to ten months a year
    • 'Roulette Cherry': growth height up to 35 centimetres, pink flowers with a white throat

Category:

Indoor plants