Good afternoon, dear readers! Do you like streptocarpus? I would call them flowers, the only problem in growing them is that there are too many varieties, and all of them are wonderful. I just want to plant them all!
I remember my first experience in growing streptocarpus. Light blue cheerful bells grew and delighted with their wonderful appearance. The bush grew from one rooted leaf.
I suspected that there might be red or white streptocarpus, I planned to breed them too, but imagine my surprise when I dug deeper into this topic. Since I didn’t come across streptocarpus in flower shops, I decided to look at photos of flowers on the Internet.
It turned out that there are so many of them! It was then that I learned what the phrase “Streptocarpus Dimetris” means.
History of appearance and general characteristics of streptocarpus selection Dimetris
The island of Madagascar is recognized as the birthplace of streptocarpus. In 1818, botanist Jay Bowie discovered an unusual plant and was able to save and transfer the seeds to botanical greenhouses in London. The flower was originally named Didimocarpus rexii, but a decade later it was renamed Streptocarpus rexii. It was this flower that became the basis for all modern hybrids.
Streptocarpus rexii
General characteristics of the plant:
- belongs to the Gesneriev family, is unpretentious in care;
- inflorescences consist of several large buds;
- the base of the leaves is a wide rosette, which is attached to the stem at the very bottom.
In the wild, Streptocarpus prefers a humid and warm climate. The halo of growth is near water bodies. In rare cases, the plant is found in mountainous areas.
Description of popular varieties of streptocarpus Dimetris
Pelargonium PAC Viva Madeleine, Carolina and other varieties
The main types of streptocarpus:
- Rocky. Prefers rocky soil and is resistant to drought and ultraviolet rays. The root system is dense, twisted, and woody. The foliage is small with fibers, the flowers are small and have a pastel purple color.
- Royal. Preferences: subtropical climate, shaded areas. The root system is branched, the foliage is elongated and long. The flowers are large, up to 30 cm, and have a bright purple color.
- Wendland. Prefers a moderate humid climate. The leaves are wide and long, elongated up to 1 m. The flowering period is long. On a flower with one root system there are up to 19-20 large purple inflorescences.
Note! Streptocarpus Dimetris has more than 150 varieties, the name of which uses the abbreviation DS.
Various varieties of flower
DS 2080
Streptocarpus ds 2080 has double large flowers of a rich purple hue, the color turns white towards the middle. A special feature of the variety is the central part, consisting of 3 rather than 4 petals.
DS 1920
Streptocarpus 1920 has large, curved, wavy petals in a rich fuchsia shade. In the middle of the petal there are splashes of white and soft pink flowers.
DS 2059
The variety has 2 levels of petals, each of which has a different color. The lower tier is a rich yellow shade with a red mesh. The upper petals are burgundy-red. The variety blooms profusely, the petal texture is semi-double.
DS 1726
Streptocarpus 1726 inflorescences have a thick terry covering of petals. Color varies from light pink to rich dark shade. The socket does not thicken. Flower size is from 8 to 10 cm.
DS 1931
The flower has wavy semi-double petals. The color varies from a pink tone at the base to a dark crimson edging at the edge. On the lower petal there are mesh inclusions of white color, the remaining parts of the flower are monochrome.
DS Margarita
This streps has large buds, up to 9-10 cm. The petals are velvety, ruffle-shaped. The color of the petals is divided into levels: the lower tier is rich crimson, the upper ones are light pink. In sunlight, the flower receives orange highlights. The inflorescences are strong and do not thicken.
DS Eternity
This Streptocarpus DS is terracotta red. The edges of the petals are burgundy, almost black. The texture of the flower is terry thick. The bud size reaches 9 cm.
DS Ezhkin the cat
This variety of streps has large, elaborate branches. The petals are double, colored black and purple. They have splashes of white and purple tones. The shape of the petal is pointed, reminiscent of a wasp.
DS Midnight Poison
The name translated means “midnight poison”. The poisonous lilac color of the petals with a white mesh fully corresponds to the name of the variety. The size of the bud reaches 9-10 cm, the peduncle has a strong base.
DS Fire
This streps has ruffle-shaped petals, their texture is thick and terry. The color of the flower is burgundy interspersed with red and purple. The lower tier of petals is covered with white spots. The bud is large, 8-9 cm. The flower has a rich aroma.
How to care
I won’t make the list endless, all flowers are beautiful. There are many colors of petals in selection - it is the purest white to wild animal coloring. The flowers may be small, but there are many of them (Gator's Tail), or there may be one very large one (Christmas Morning).
Reviews from flower growers about Streptocarpus Dimetris are mostly positive. Caring for them is the same as for ordinary, non-hybrid varieties, except that you should treat them a little more carefully. These are not the kind of plants that you have to worry about not taking root.
So, the planting material has been received. What kind of soil is needed for these flowers? The substrate should be light. Mix the soil mixture with sphagnum, perlite and vermiculite. Don't forget about drainage.
When growing, follow the basic rules:
- The room should be warm, but not hot. +24 in summer and +15 in winter is the optimal mode.
- Water moderately and on time.
- Humidify the air around streptocarpus.
- Provide good lighting, but avoid sunburn.
Planting streptocarpus and soil composition
Pelargonium Elnaryds Hilda and other varieties of the Elnaruds series
It is customary to plant streps for seedlings in early February. Rushing into sowing will not bring results. Procedure:
- For seedlings, prepare a container, the bottom of which is covered with drainage.
- Soil is poured on top, and the finished substrate is moistened.
- Strepocarpus seeds are scattered on top of the soil, without deepening.
- The container is covered with polyethylene to create a greenhouse effect.
Note! For germination, planted streptocarpus Dimetris are placed in a bright, warm place with a temperature of +23-24 degrees. Every day the film is removed for a few minutes for ventilation and access to oxygen. The first shoots appear 14-15 days after sowing. Watering is done through a tray, as the sprouts are weakened and can easily rot.
Soil for streps must have a saline pH of 5.0 and consist of the following elements (calculated ml/l):
- nitrogen – 150-160;
- phosphorus – not less than 250;
- potassium – 350-360.
The general characteristics of the soil substrate are loose, air- and water-permeable.
Streptocarpus DS
Dimetris is not a separate variety. Under this brand, which is also written as DS, wonderful streptocarpus, saintpaulia, gloxinia and other flowers are bred by breeders from Dnepropetrovsk Pavel and Elena Enikeev. There are an incredible number of varieties of Streptocarpus Dimetris.
The collection of private breeders pleased me. Both because of its impressive diversity, and because I saw an opportunity to purchase not industrial, but selected seeds. By the way, you can also order plant tubers and leaves.
It is impossible to list all the varieties of streptocarpus, even those that I especially liked, but I will still name some.
Caring for streptocarpus at home
Echinacea purpurea and other plant varieties
With proper care, streptocarpus can bloom almost all year round, starting not only in August. To achieve this effect, it is necessary to follow the rules of watering, lighting, fertilizing and temperature conditions.
Flower care
Watering
Particular attention must be paid to the quality of flower hydration. Water for irrigation should be soft, settled or melted, the optimal temperature is slightly above room temperature. Excess moisture is detrimental to the flower.
Watering is done moderately, after the middle layer of soil has dried. When moistening the plant, water should not get on the petals and leaves. The best method of watering is in a tray of water. After 15 minutes, excess moisture is poured out of it.
Note! Streps loves a humid climate, so you need to place containers of water or an air humidifier next to the pots.
Feeding
From spring to the end of autumn, streptocarpus needs feeding. To do this, use nitrogen and potassium fertilizers, alternating them. Fertilizer is applied to moist soil. The dosage is calculated in accordance with the instructions on the package, but the amount is halved. For young, recently rooted plants, nitrogenous types of fertilizers are considered the most suitable.
Lighting and temperature
The daylight hours of streps should be 12-14 hours. The plant prefers bright and diffused lighting. During periods of the year with short daylight hours, it is necessary to use phytolamps. The ideal location of the flower is windows facing east and west.
Streptocarus is a heat-loving flower. The average indoor temperature all year round should be +15-18 degrees for conventional species and +18-20 degrees for hybrids. Straps feel most comfortable indoors. Any draft can lead to disease and death of the flower.
Some tips
- If you see that the plant’s children have buds, pick them off (even if it’s a pity), otherwise your streptocarpus will quickly deplete. Children should be transplanted into a separate container.
- Choose a pot so that the plant sits tightly in it. In this case there will be many colors.
- Dry soil and changes in air temperature lead to the development of flower diseases.
Hybrids selected by Piotr Kleszczyński are also in demand, and on the Internet you can find many other collections that deserve attention.
If you follow all the rules, your streptocarpus - hybrids of the Dimetris selection or any other - will bloom magnificently, if not all year, then most of it.
Olga Danilina
How does Streptocarpus reproduce?
Streps reproduces in two ways: seeds and the vegetative method. The simplest option is to divide adult bushes into 3 parts, each of which should be planted in suitable soil up to the root neck. The cut areas are sprinkled with crushed coal. If propagation is carried out using a leaf, it is planted in the soil, deepened by 10 mm. The container is covered with glass or film to achieve a greenhouse effect. The sheet is ventilated daily. Content temperature – +24 degrees.
Plant propagation
The seeds of the plant are prepared for planting in April. The technique is described above in the “Planting” section. After the emergence of seedlings, diving is carried out twice.
Important! The disadvantage of propagation by seeds is the high probability of hybrids losing their varietal properties.
Main pests and common diseases
Streptocarpus is threatened by 4 main types of problems:
- Gray rot. It appears on the leaves in the form of brownish spots, a brownish coating and leads to rotting. The method of treatment is to treat the plant with a solution of copper oxychloride 0.5%.
- Powdery mildew. The leaves and stem become covered with a whitish coating and spots. The method of disposal is to treat the affected areas with a fungicide every 10 days. Continue until the symptoms of the disease disappear completely.
- Thrips. Only the stem can be treated for these insects. The foliage and flowers are cut off, and the cut areas are covered with Akarin.
- Aphid. These small insects will leave the plant only after treatment with insecticides and soap solution. A sick flower must be isolated from its healthy counterparts.
Important! If you do not notice the disease in time and do not begin to treat strep, the plant will soon die. Diseases are transmitted to every flower, so healthy specimens are isolated from sick ones.
Flower pests
Streptocarpus, regardless of the variety, will become the favorite of any gardener. Proper care, timely replanting and treatment will provide the plant with a long period of active flowering, and the appearance of the streps will improve the mood of the owner.
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