Gloxinia leaves curl inward: why and what to do with the plant

Gloxinia is a representative of the Gesneriaceae family and came to us from the distant forests of America.
This is a perennial subshrub with beautiful decorative leaves, which also blooms very beautifully with velvet bells. The leaves themselves are also covered with a small pile, are oval or elongated, and have small teeth along the edges. Usually gloxinia has even leaves, but sometimes gardeners are faced with a problem such as a change in the shape of the leaf plate. Externally, the plant remains healthy, the leaves retain their color, but the edges begin to curl under the bottom of the leaf, resembling an inverted spoon. Sometimes the lower leaves literally lie on the windowsill and seem to be trying to crawl under the pot.

The reasons why gloxinia leaves turn inward can be very diverse, because the flower is very sensitive to the slightest changes. Most often, this phenomenon occurs as a result of:

violations of conditions of detention and care;
when damaged by pests.

Ways to grow gloxinia at home

There are various methods of propagation: by seeds, dividing the tuber and leaf cuttings.
Household members rarely sow seeds. The propagation method is fraught with difficulties. At the beginning of autumn, prepare a soil mixture based on peat, leaf soil and sand (1:1:1). The earth is scattered into low boxes. In November, seeds are sown, regularly watered with warm water. The sprouts appear after 2-3 weeks, when 2 leaves appear, they are picked, planted at intervals of 2 cm. The second picking is carried out when the third pair of leaves is formed - 5 cm. The distance between the grown seedlings is subsequently increased to 10 cm.

To propagate the crop by cuttings, it is recommended to immediately replant suitable leaves with a petiole of 1 cm in a soil mixture of sand and peat (1: 0.5). The shoot will need to be moistened and covered with a jar, ensuring the plant is ventilated daily, removing the jar for 15 minutes. After 2.5-3 weeks, tubers form on the cut ends placed in the ground. The shoots are planted in small pots, enjoying abundant flowering a few months after planting.

Tuberous propagation is considered the most dangerous method. The risk is achieved by the presence of rot in the roots; experienced gardeners carefully remove the affected areas before planting. When 2-centimeter shoots appear, the tubers are separated with a sharp blade, treating the sections with activated carbon. Individual pieces are planted in appropriate pots and watered 3 days after planting.

Propagation by cuttings

With proper care, gloxinia lives up to 10 years, pleasing the eye with colorful blooms. As the tropical plant ages, it produces more flowers. Sometimes the number of bells reaches 50 pieces.

Why do gloxinia leaves curl?

Usually gloxinia has even leaves, but sometimes gardeners are faced with a problem such as a change in the shape of the leaf plate. Externally, the plant remains healthy, the leaves retain their color, but the edges begin to curl under the bottom of the leaf, resembling an inverted spoon. Sometimes the lower leaves literally lie on the windowsill and seem to be trying to crawl under the pot.

The reasons why gloxinia leaves turn inward can be very diverse, because the flower is very sensitive to the slightest changes. Most often, this phenomenon occurs as a result of:

violations of conditions of detention and care;
when damaged by pests.

The main causes of leaf curling

Why do fuchsia leaves curl inward - what to do

If gloxinia leaves curl, you need to know what to do in such a situation, otherwise it can lead to a lack of color and death of the flower. The reasons can be varied and related to both improper care and the appearance of pests.

Main causes of the problem

Temperature

One of the reasons why gloxinia leaves turn inward may be an incorrectly selected room temperature.

Leaves may curl as a result of an increase or decrease in temperature. For growing crops, the optimal range is considered to be +19..+22 degrees. Any change leads to deformation.

Dry air

Another reason why gloxinia leaves curl and become deformed is excessively dry air.

Such problems occur most often in winter. Especially if the plant is grown on a windowsill near heating appliances. Often curled leaves begin to dry out and fall off. To treat such a plant, it is necessary to regularly spray with water.

Drafts

Frequent drafts can cause the leaf to become deformed and curl. The plant is very sensitive to sudden gusts of air. Therefore, it is necessary to place the pot in a protected place on the windowsill.

Attention! With frequent drafts, the plant begins to defend itself and curls its leaves.

Watering

If watered incorrectly, the leaves may curl. Also, another symptom of improper watering can be the appearance of dry spots.

Often during watering, water does not sufficiently moisten the soil in the pot and accumulates only in the top layer. After removing the plant from the container, you can notice a damaged tuber.

In order to prevent such a problem, it is necessary to place the pot on a tray of water. The plant will independently distribute the required amount of moisture for growth.

Sunburn

Direct sunlight on the leaves can cause leaves to curl. Gloxinia's leaves are very sensitive and in the summer it is necessary to shade the bush.

Also, when exposed to sunlight, dark spots may appear, which reduce the external decorative characteristics of the crop.

Negative effects of sunlight

Pests

Parasites can curl the leaves of a plant. Among the most frequently encountered pests, the following should be noted:

The cyclomene mite is a small insect that most often settles on a bush and feeds on sap. After a plant is infected by a large number of mites, the leaves begin to curl. To combat insects, it is necessary to use the drug Actelik.
Thrips - externally, the pest looks like a small compaction. Over time, light spots appear on the leaves of gloxinia. The leaves of the crop begin to curl and dry out. To combat thrips, it is necessary to use the Aktara insecticide.

Pests detected in a timely manner can be easily treated without harm to the crop.

Pests on Gloxinia

Pests

Let's consider the influence of pests on the condition of lemon and methods of combating specific insects.

Spider mite

The presence is determined by the web that appears on the lower part of young foliage. This tick feeds on sap. At first, the foliage only curls a little at the edges, yellow spots appear, then the whole plant dries out.

Shchitovka

The vital activity of the scale insect causes the lemon leaves to curl, turn yellow and fall off. However, when it first appears, a certain shine and stickiness of the sheet is observed. The scale insect also feeds on plant sap. The fight is carried out by similar means.

Problems with care

Gloxinia is a rather capricious plant; it reacts very sharply to almost any violation of the conditions of detention and this is primarily reflected in the leaves.

Leaves may begin to curl as a result of:

The room temperature is too low or high. The optimal temperature regime for gloxinia should not go beyond 18-22 degrees Celsius.
A sharp change in temperature, for example, if the plant is taken out to the balcony too early in the summer.
Dry indoor air, especially in winter. In this case, you should spray the flower more often or place it on a tray with water.
Lack of lighting. In addition to leaf curling, plate stretching may also occur.
Excess light. Under direct rays, gloxinia not only curls up, but also becomes covered with unsightly burn spots.

By adjusting the conditions for keeping gloxinia, you can save the flower. Of course, it will no longer be possible to straighten the leaves, but new ones will grow absolutely healthy and normal.

Stripes on nails

The appearance of white spots or stripes on the nails

normal and not a cause for concern, but parallel white lines across the entire nail (Murcke's lines) indicate low protein levels in the blood. This may be caused by liver disease or malnutrition.

Dark stripes along the nails

not uncommon in people with dark skin. They affect more than 77% of black people over 20 and are harmless in most cases. However, they should not be ignored, especially for Europeans: sometimes dark stripes indicate a type of skin cancer that occurs in the nail bed - subungual melanoma. Therefore, you should consult a doctor to rule out this possibility. Typically, subungual melanoma affects only one nail. Additionally, the stripe may then change (eg, widen or darken over time) and pigmentation may spread to the skin around it (the nail fold). Read more about melanoma and its diagnosis.

Red or brown lines under the nails

, as a rule, are traces of blood due to damage to the tiny vessels under the nail plate. A few lines under one nail are normal; most likely, they were formed as a result of injury. However, if many nails are affected, this may indicate lupus, psoriasis, an infection of the heart valves (endocarditis), or others.

Step-by-step instructions for growing a flower from a leaf

To root gloxinia in water you need:

cut a young healthy leaf from a mature plant;
Pour chilled boiled water into a transparent glass, place a leaf there so that only the lower part of the cutting is in the water;
cover the cup with the leaf with a transparent plastic bag and place in a warm, well-lit place;
Once a day, the greenhouse should be ventilated by removing the bag from the glass for a few minutes, while monitoring the water level in the glass and adding it if necessary.

It is necessary to cut a leaf from the mother plant with a sharp, sterile blade or razor.

To root gloxinia in the ground you need:

cut off a young leaf from a healthy plant;
make drainage holes in a plastic cup and pour ready-made soil into it - this could be a mixture for violets;
moisten the substrate and place the leaf in it at an angle of 45 degrees, having previously sprinkled the cut of the cutting with a powdered root growth stimulator; the cutting must be powdered with “Kornevin” no higher than 1 cm from the cut;
you can place the leaf in clean vermiculite or a peat tablet, which should be soaked in water in advance;
Cover the glass with the cuttings with a transparent bag and place in a warm, well-lit place;
Ventilate the greenhouse once a day, removing the bag for a few minutes;
water the soil as it dries.

Good to know. Gloxinia can be rooted not only with a whole leaf, but also with fragments of it, by cutting the leaf along the veins into several parts with a sharp blade.

From the video you will learn how to propagate gloxinia by leaf:

Why do gloxinia leaves curl?

The reasons why gloxinia leaves turn inward can be very diverse, because the flower is very sensitive to the slightest changes. Most often, this phenomenon occurs as a result of:

violations of conditions of detention and care;
when damaged by pests.

Errors in care

Gloxinia leaves curl if:

The room is too hot or cold. The optimal temperature for growing a forest beauty should be between 18-22 degrees Celsius. If the room is cold in winter and hot in summer, the leaves will react first

It is important to choose a place for the plant where it would be comfortable all year round or, depending on the season, move the pot to a more suitable room (warm or cool). The air in the room is too dry. By its nature, gloxinia simply loves high air humidity.

In a dry room, the leaves do not have enough nutrition and they curl up. It is especially important to monitor humidity in hot summers, as well as in winter (when the heating is on). At this time, it is recommended to place a container of water near the gloxinia, and also spray it periodically. The flower was caught in a draft. Ventilation of the room is a necessary condition when growing gloxinia, provided that drafts are avoided. The plant is on a south-facing windowsill. Direct sunlight is harmful to gloxinia, so in the summer it needs to be rearranged or the window shaded. Gloxinia was flooded. Excess moisture negatively affects the appearance of the flower, and in the case of constant overflow, it can lead not only to curling of the leaves, but also to rotting of the plant.

Unfortunately, it will not be possible to return the leaves to their previous shape, but provided that all care rules are followed, over time gloxinia will grow new, beautiful leaves, and the old ones can be cut off.

Presence of pests

Gloxinia leaves curl if thrips or mites have settled on them. In this case, it is necessary to urgently take action and treat the plant with insecticides (Aktara, Karbofos), otherwise it may die.

about proper care of gloxinia

Gloxinia is a beautifully flowering indoor plant that looks decorative even without flowers, only due to its large, slightly pubescent leaves. But sometimes its leaves curl inward, why does this happen, how dangerous is it for the plant, and what needs to be done to stop this process?

Gloxinia's leaves are a kind of indicator that immediately conveys its condition and mood. It’s a pity that the exact answer to the question of why they curl is not written on the leaves.

If gloxinia's leaves curl, it means that it does not like something in the care and conditions that you have created for it.

The flower will feel uncomfortable in a draft or in a room with a low temperature; temperature changes also have a negative effect on it.

The normal temperature for gloxinia ranges from 18 to 22 degrees; if these values are higher or lower, the leaves of gloxinia will curl.

Gloxinia loves fresh air, so the room in which it grows must be ventilated. During ventilation, the flower is taken out so as not to expose it to stress from drafts.

Gloxinia leaves also curl due to low air humidity. This plant loves high humidity, so in the hot summer or during the heating season the air needs to be additionally humidified.

This can include spraying the leaves of the plant, or increasing the humidity around the flower using household humidifiers. The easiest way to increase air humidity is to place a glass of water next to the flower.

Excess or deficiency of nutrients

To avoid an imbalance of elements, it is better to use specialized preparations “Saintpaulia” or “Violet”. And dilute nitrogen fertilizing for gloxinia more than what is written in the instructions.

Potassium deficiency

The first external manifestations are that on the leaves, starting from the lower ones, a bronze appearance and a drying edge appear, which turns downwards, the center bends dome-shaped. The edges are covered with rusty specks. The cells grow unevenly, and in the later stages the plates curl.

Excess potassium

First, the internodes lengthen and the leaves become lighter, and development is delayed. Then the old vegetative organs curl, interveinal chlorosis appears on the young ones, the tips and edges seem burned. Other elements are less easily absorbed.

Incorrect nitrogen dosage

With a deficiency of nitrates, gloxinia leaves become smaller, turn yellow, and with a global shortage of the element, they turn inward before falling. Excess nitrogen inhibits the development of buds, makes the plates dark, too large, and causes the tips to curl.

Imbalance of other nutrients

Gloxinia seedlings or sprouts that have just hatched after a period of dormancy react more quickly to a lack of phosphorus. The leaves first rise vertically, acquire a purple hue, and then curl up.

With a deficiency of microelements, the leaves may curl. This happens especially often when there is a shortage of:

gland;
boron;
manganese;
magnesium;
sulfur;
molybdenum

Other ailments

Viroses

The carriers of these viral diseases are most often insect pests. The plant's resistance to infections decreases and seed germination decreases. This problem can manifest itself in different ways: chlorotic spots on leaves, streaks of different lengths on stems and flowers, rotting roots. Unfortunately, viral diseases cannot be cured at the moment.

. The plant will have to be destroyed.

Viruses do not reproduce outside living cells, but retain their virulence for a long time. They are superior to bacterial and fungal diseases in terms of harmfulness.

The affected plant can live for a long time, this is the peculiarity of the disease.

Bacteriosis

The pathogen is transmitted through damage that is sometimes invisible to the eye. It can end up in the owner's green corner along with poor quality soil, an untreated pot or other equipment.

With bacteriosis, mucous spots appear on the leaves of gloxinia, and growths appear on the stem and roots. Bacteriosis cannot be treated.

Basic rules of prevention

disinfection of tools, soil and planting containers;
treatment of fresh wounds on the plant when treated with charcoal;
use of immunostimulants: Epin and Zircon.

Other plant diseases

Viroses

These are various viral diseases. They enter the plant through insect pests or fungal spores. Signs of viruses can be very different - it depends on the type of virus. In any case, these will be spots on leaves and flowers, stripes, dashes and other shapes.

What to do when gloxinia becomes infected with a virus? Most likely, it will have to be destroyed, since chemical drugs that cure viruses at home do not yet exist. Until this happens, do preventative measures - only with healthy bushes and protect them from any damage.

Bacteriosis

Bacteria can be introduced into a plant with untreated equipment, a pot, or undisinfected soil. They affect tubers, buds, buds, leaves and stems. A characteristic sign is the appearance of mucous spots, growths and lesions.

Just like viral diseases, bacteriosis cannot be treated. If an infection occurs, you will have to get rid of the flower. You can remove affected leaves or stems, but these measures will only give temporary results.

Gloxinia did not wake up after wintering

The storage area for gloxinia tubers should be cool and dark. If the gloxinia tuber is mature and healthy, then as soon as you put it in the light and water it little by little, shoots begin to grow. Sometimes gloxinia wakes up on its own, and when you take it out into the light, it already has a shoot. However, in practice it does not always work out as it should.

Gloxinia does not wake up on time due to the fact that the rest period was too short, less than 4 months. It is quite possible that the winter was too dry and the tuber dried out. But in any case, gloxinia wakes up on its own. It just takes patience.

To avoid overdrying of the tuber, pots with gloxinia in winter should sometimes be lightly watered or sprinkled with water. Or you can place gloxinia tubers in plastic bags, adding a little soil or damp moss. Close the bags or seal them tightly. The bag will maintain constant moisture, and due to the fact that the bag is transparent, you will have the opportunity to observe the gloxinia tubers in winter. At the first appearance of leaves, you can immediately plant gloxinia in a pot.

If gloxinia does not wake up after wintering, it means that the gloxinia was sent to wintering too young, which did not have time to form a tuber, or the tuber has rotted.

If a gloxinia tuber was purchased in a store and it did not wake up from hibernation after last year’s flowering, it is possible that the tuber was sold of very low quality. Many gardeners complain about this problem. Outwardly, the tubers look quite safe, but in reality it may turn out that they are already old, or infected with some kind of infection or pests. The strength of such tubers is only enough to bloom for one season.

Dig up the tuber, examine it: if it is very wrinkled, then most likely it is lost. Break or cut it: the tuber should be slightly yellowish or pinkish when cut. If this is the case, then dry the sections, sprinkle with crushed coal, you can treat them with regular brilliant green or fucorcin (raspberry liquid, a strong antiseptic, has an antifungal effect, sold in pharmacies). You can treat the tuber with epin or zircon to increase the vitality of the tuber and stimulate it to form shoots.

If the gloxinia tuber is brown on the cut, then most likely it is gone. If the brown color is only on one edge, cut off all the rot, treat the tuber as described above and plant in new soil.

If you want the purchased tubers to be able to survive the winter without problems, then immediately after purchasing gloxinia tubers at home, treat all planting material in a solution of potassium permanganate or phytosporin. This treatment is aimed at preserving gloxinia tubers from rot.

The next step is to treat the gloxinia tubers with Actellik or Fitoverm. These drugs will help get rid of thrips, spider mites and other pests of indoor plants.

If you purchased gloxinia in a pot, change the soil and treat the tuber. The soil that is sold in pots along with plants is very poor.

Perhaps the tuber is already old and has simply died. Gloxinias live for three to four years. If you really value this particular variety of gloxinia, try to root a cutting or leaf in advance.

Fungal diseases of gloxinia leaves and their treatment

More often than others, gloxinias are attracted to late blight fungi. Leaf disease on gloxinia appears as brownish-brown spots on the greenery, petioles and stems. In dry air, the affected areas quickly dry out, the leaves, and then the entire above-ground part die. With increased humidity, the tissues under the fungus rot, soften and also die.

Treatment of late blight rarely produces positive results, and the resilient fungus can remain active for several years

Therefore, it is important to prevent the onset of the disease by directing all efforts to prevention.

All purchased tubers are treated with fungicides before planting.
The soil for planting is heated in the oven.
Gloxinia plants and the soil under them are sprayed with a solution of fingicide or phytosporin several times a year.

The same measures are effective in treating gloxinia with leaf diseases caused by other fungi. Such diseases include:

true and downy mildew;
anthracnose;
axochytosis;
septoria and other infections.

Indoor plants are at greatest risk of infection if safety precautions are not followed during planting, if they are kept outdoors in the summer, or if they are carelessly taken care of.

Gray rot

The main signs of gray rot can be called the appearance of a gray fluffy coating on the stems of gloxinia, leaf petioles and pedicels. In this case, the plant begins to rot very quickly. The reasons for the appearance of gray mold can be increased air humidity, too close arrangement of plants, lack of ventilation and compacted substrate.

To prevent the occurrence of gray rot, provide gloxinia with moderate watering, and add sand, vermiculite or perlite to the substrate to ensure good ventilation of the roots. Ventilate the room in which gloxinia grows more often, but do not allow drafts to occur.

To treat gray mold, you can use fungicides, the interval between treatments should be seven days.

Fungal diseases of gloxinia

Why not? This question plagues many gardeners. Gloxinias often become ill with various fungal diseases, in which the natural color of the leaves disappears and parts of the plant turn black. If the buds of a plant begin to rot, you can find several reasons for this problem:

excessive watering;
acidic soil;
excess nitrogen.

When watering abundantly, it is enough to adjust it so that the soil is not excessively wet. If the soil is acidic, you need to replant the plant with a complete replacement of the soil. Excessive nitrogen levels may occur after the application of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. It is better to feed with complex fertilizers for gloxinia. They necessarily contain nitrogen and potassium. In addition to these elements, complex fertilizers contain phosphorus and many other chemicals. If a wisteria tuber rots, you need to spray the plants with fungicide 2-3 times.

Why isn't gloxinia blooming yet? Among diseases of fungal origin, anthracnose deserves special mention. Its symptoms are brown spots on the leaves. They gradually move onto the shoots and onto the trunk of the plant. Ultimately this leads to their rotting and destruction. Anthracnose in gloxinia must be treated without fail. This disease can attack plants with mechanical damage. Increased air humidity and soil acidity, a lack of phosphorus and potassium can also provoke the disease.

To prevent pathology, complex care is required: you need to spray the plant with copper oxychloride, cuproxate or oxychrome and feed it with fertilizers. Otherwise, with the help of working equipment and with the help of various pests, the disease will spread to neighboring plants. Sick specimens should not be placed outside during rain. All work equipment should be disinfected after use. If the infection of the plant is very severe, then it is better to destroy the flower by burning it. The initial stage of this disease is eliminated. Treatment is as follows:

you just need to remove the diseased parts of flowers with brown spots (leaves, stems, buds);
spray the plant with fungicide 2-3 times with an interval of 2-3 weeks.

Another disease is ascochytaosis. Its signs are the appearance of red spots with brown rims on the leaves of the plant. The spots may also have a brown color. This can happen when air humidity increases. For treatment you need:

completely remove all leaves affected by spots;
to prevent the spread of infection, it is better to burn them;
treat a diseased plant;
After 7-10 days, repeat the treatment.

Instead of Bordeaux mixture, you can use copper sulfate, fungicides such as Abiga-Pik or Vectra.

Phyllosticosis is a fairly common disease. Dark round spots appear on the leaves. Their middle is brown. The leaf grows and breaks appear where spots appear. When these signs appear, you should immediately spray the diseased plant. Treatment of gloxinia consists of treating them with preparations containing copper. This may be Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate or copper oxychloride.

Powdery mildew

Powdery mildew is a fungal

. It is characterized by the appearance of a white cobweb coating on all parts of the plant, which then turns into powdery. The development of the disease is facilitated by excessive watering of the plant, sudden temperature changes, and dampness in the room. In addition, infection can occur through planting equipment. If the plant is completely affected by powdery mildew, it is advisable to destroy it. At the initial stage of the disease, spraying with any fungicide will help, which should be carried out not only for gloxinia, but also for nearby plants.

Prevention - what to do

Why do gloxinia leaves curl, what should I do to prevent the problem? The answer to this question lies in proper prevention. When caring for a plant, you should adhere to the following rules:

Watering the bush after the soil has begun to dry out will reduce the risk of rot. However, watering should be carried out during the flowering period at least once every 4 days.
Every year, replant the tuber in new soil. Such actions strengthen the plant and saturate the tuber with useful elements.
In summer, move the flower pot to the shade.
Feed the plant with complex fertilizers to form stable immunity.

Prevention in the process of growing gloxinia

It is also necessary to carefully examine the leaves of the bush for changes. Once a week, wipe the indoor plant with damp cotton wool.

Growing gloxinia is not difficult. In order to get a plant that blooms for a long period, you need to follow simple care methods and choose the right location for the flower pot.

Problems with Gloxinia flowering

Errors in gloxinia agricultural technology can lead to disastrous consequences at any stage of the growing season. An indoor flower has many care requirements. In most cases, correct interpretation of the symptoms will help save the plant.

Timely awakening after hibernation does not guarantee bright flowering.

Gloxinia can report problems during the flowering period with the following problems:

Gloxinia buds are drying.
Unopened buds fall off.
The buds do not open.
A barren flower instead of a flower.
Gloxinia buds rot.
Lack of flowering.
Gloxinia buds turn black.

Why do gloxinia leaves curl?

Gloxinia's leaves are a kind of indicator that immediately conveys its condition and mood. It’s a pity that the exact answer to the question of why they curl is not written on the leaves.

If gloxinia's leaves curl, it means that it does not like something in the care and conditions that you have created for it. The flower will feel uncomfortable in a draft or in a room with a low temperature; temperature changes also have a negative effect on it. The normal temperature for gloxinia ranges from 18 to 22 degrees; if these values are higher or lower, the leaves of gloxinia will curl.

Gloxinia loves fresh air, so the room in which it grows must be ventilated. During ventilation, the flower is taken out so as not to expose it to stress from drafts.

Gloxinia leaves also curl due to low air humidity. This plant loves high humidity, so in the hot summer or during the heating season the air needs to be additionally humidified. This can include spraying the leaves of the plant, or increasing the humidity around the flower using household humidifiers. The easiest way to increase air humidity is to place a glass of water next to the flower.

If in summer a pot of gloxinia is placed on a windowsill on the south side, you should not be surprised that its leaves curl. Direct rays of the sun in summer are especially harmful. To create more comfortable conditions for the plant, you should move the pot deeper into the room or simply shade the window with foil. Surprisingly, even with a lack of light, gloxinia experiences the same problems with leaves.

Pests

Why do gloxinia leaves curl and yellow or brown spots appear on them? Perhaps this is due to the fact that insect pests have settled on the flower. These could be mites or thrips.

One of the pests of gloxinia is the cyclamen mite, this is a very small insect that cannot be seen with the naked eye; sometimes colonies of mites look like accumulations of dust. Mites settle on the underside of leaves and feed on their sap.

When infected by the cyclamen mite, the leaves begin to deform, their edges curl, the stem also twists, the buds wither and fall off.

Gloxinia and spider mites cause no less harm. It is small in size, and without optical instruments it can only be seen due to its orange or red color. When a plant is infected with a spider mite, the leaves do not curl, but yellow-brown spots form on them, which gradually grow and cause the leaf and then the entire plant to die.

Gloxinia leaves curl even if it is occupied by thrips - small insects that suck juice from leaves, petioles and flowers. Thrips make themselves known by light dots and spots on the leaves, the upper side of the leaf blade becomes gray-brown and begins to dry, and brown spots appear on the underside of the leaf.

Gloxinia affected by pests is treated with insecticides - Karbofos, Decis, Karate, Intavir, Actellik, Aktara. When processing, try to spray the leaves from all sides, because most often insects settle on their underside. Treatment is carried out 2-3 times at intervals of 7-10 days.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Mrebu9lhlwI

Gloxinia care

For all its decorativeness, caring for gloxinia is not too difficult. A little more attention will be needed during flowering, but at rest it will not cause much trouble.

Temperature

During the flowering season, gloxinia feels great at normal room temperature. But in winter, it definitely needs a coolness of about 10 degrees so that the flower goes dormant and gains strength before a new growth phase. If the leaves droop down, the gloxinia is too cold, and if they stretch upward too much, it is too hot.

Lighting

Gloxinia needs bright light and more free space around, and the minimum length of daylight for its growth is 12 hours. So if you live on the north side, take care of the phytolamp in advance. Be sure to avoid drafts and aggressive direct sunlight.

Watering

To water gloxinia, you need well-settled and ideally filtered water at room temperature. Water the flowerpot when the top layer dries out to prevent the roots from rotting. Reduce the frequency closer to the end of the flowering period to smoothly transition the plant into the dormant stage.

Although gloxinia loves moisture, it cannot be sprayed or washed, otherwise the leaves and flowers will begin to deteriorate. Therefore, just use a humidifier or place a bowl of water on the windowsill near the flowerpots. For the same reason, experienced gardeners recommend using bottom watering during flowering.

The soil

The similarity with violets and begonias is also evident in the choice of soil. Feel free to use specialized mixtures specifically for gloxinia. Or add half the amount of humus and sand to the deciduous soil.

Fertilizers and fertilizing

After the gloxinia has finished flowering, add some amendments to the soil for growth. After the buds appear, you need regular fertilizers for flowering, like violets. If gloxinia has enough nutrients, it can even bloom twice, just the second time - more sparingly.

In the active phase, feed the flower once every 10-14 days until mid-August. Mixtures with boron are definitely needed, otherwise the buds become smaller, and the leaves become as if frayed, with a cut edge.

Care after flowering

When the gloxinia fades, cut off the stem and upper leaves, leaving only the bottom layer. Reduce watering and fertilizing until the plates turn yellow and dry out on their own. New buds will appear in their axils, of which only a couple of the strongest ones should be left, and the rest should be trimmed to stumps 1-1.5 cm high.

Transplantation and propagation

The easiest and most effective way to propagate gloxinia is through leaf cuttings. Moreover, you will not need the largest and most beautiful leaf, but, on the contrary, a small and inconspicuous one. A large plate will have to be divided into parts parallel to the transverse veins and the petiole cut to 1.5-2 cm.

The leaves do not need to be placed in water - immediately root them in a moist substrate in separate flowerpots. Build a small greenhouse on top or cover the flowers with a plastic bag. Without touching anything for at least 4 weeks - the seedlings do not need to be watered or ventilated separately. After this, gradually transfer them to normal mode and remove the shelter.

Gloxinia is replanted annually when the bush comes out of dormancy at the end of winter. This is done by transferring it together with a lump of earth so as not to damage the root system. The new pot should be slightly larger than the old one to renew the drainage and top layer of substrate.

How to make it bloom at home?

Why doesn’t the plant bloom, but produces buds, which then dry up, and what should I do? There are several reasons why this problem occurs. It is necessary to eliminate them and create the right conditions for the plant.

Let's consider the most effective solutions:

How to feed gloxinia for abundant flowering? Any complex, preferably in liquid form, mineral fertilizer intended for flowering plants. Do it 3 times a month, starting two weeks after spring planting. Young seedlings begin to be fed when new shoots with leaves appear. Feed until autumn. If you don’t have fertilizer on hand, water the flower with an ash solution. Give more light! Gloxinia loves sunlight very much; it needs 12-14 hours of daylight in order to produce flower stalks. In the spring it is necessary to provide additional light to the plant. To do this, use phyto-lamps, or fluorescent lamps with suitable characteristics.

Plant it in a suitable pot! If gloxinia is in a container that is too spacious, it will not bloom. A wide and low pot of small volume is needed (you can read more about what size pot is needed for the healthy development of gloxinia in this material). The soil in the pot should be slightly larger in volume than the tuber itself (and you can find out more about how to choose the best soil for gloxinia here). Be careful with nitrogen! If your gloxinia has thick leaves and dark green stems. There are a lot of leaves, so it is possible that there is nitrogen overfeeding. Either there is too much humus in the soil, or the wrong fertilizers with a high percentage of nitrogen were chosen. Or both. This can only be corrected by replanting the flower in poor soil with a high peat content (you can read more about replanting gloxinia here). Feed only the right fertilizers and in accordance with the instructions. Are you warm, girl? If the room where the gloxinia pot is located is cool, then flowering will not occur. It is necessary to keep it at a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees. This should also include the presence of drafts and a cold window sill, from which the soil in the pot has a low temperature. The radiator is the enemy of plants! During the heating season, plants may suffer from too low humidity; hot, dry air rises from the radiators directly to the plants on the windowsill. Build a protective screen, or create humid air around the flower. You can put a tray with water, or spray water into the air from a spray bottle. Just don’t touch the flower under any circumstances! Did you rest or not? In winter, gloxinia should rest for 4 months. The tuber is dug up and stored in a cool, dark place, in a bag with slightly damp sand. If the rest did not last long, or the conditions were not right, then the plant will not be able to fully bloom. In the case of young plants that have not yet grown a tuber, it is left in the pot. But they also put it in a dark place with a temperature of 12-15 degrees

It is important not to allow the soil to dry out during this period. It is unlikely that it will be possible to force a plant to bloom in case of inadequate rest.

How to return gloxinia to its compact appearance?

If it was not possible to save the flower, and it still lost its shape, this does not mean that you can say goodbye to the bush. Fortunately, the situation can be corrected by using a simple method.

So, what needs to be done with an elongated bush? At the end of spring, after the first flowering, the above-ground part of the plant should be cut off. Moisten the remaining part (tuber) and place the pot in a bright place. It is better to choose a window that does not open to protect the flower from a possible draft.

By the beginning of summer, new shoots will emerge from the tuber. Since there is enough light during this period, the new bush will grow compact and lush.

Formation of Gloxinia - video

The most common defect when growing gloxinia is the development of a plant with a disheveled bush shape, consisting of elongated stems. The reason for this deficiency is a combination of two factors: insufficient illumination of the plant and the high temperature of its content. This combination of conditions occurs in rooms with central heating in winter, when the tubers wake up.

Instead of a compact plant shape, a “disheveled” form will develop in the following cases:

if, due to improper storage, an unplanted tuber has developed etiolated thin shoots (very often such tubers are sold in garden centers);

during vegetative propagation of gloxinia, when many young plants simultaneously develop from cuttings.

Gloxinia will form a compact form if, from the moment the tubers germinate until the beginning of the budding period, the plant is provided with the recommended temperature and light:

temperature +(18-20) 0 C;

lighting: during the period October / April - direct sunlight; in the period May/September – before 10-00 and after 17-00 direct sunlight, in the period from 10-00 to 17-00 – diffused sunlight.

Correcting the shape of an elongated bush

To correct the situation, after the first flowering we cut off the above-ground part of the “disheveled” plant. Next, we provide it with the recommended temperature and lighting values. When watering gloxinia, it is necessary to take into account that the moisture requirement of a plant without leaves is small. When new shoots appear above the soil surface, we carry out the first fertilizing.

At the end of spring or beginning of summer, after such a procedure, gloxinia will develop again, but with a compact aerial part.

Why do gloxinia buds dry out without blooming and fall off?

Most often, the problem why gloxinia buds dry out without blooming lies in improper care. After all, if they appeared, it means that an obstacle to their further development appeared later. For example, there is a lack of nutrients, so be sure to feed the flowers in the summer. Buds usually appear at the end of March, and if in winter gloxinia was forgotten somewhere in the shade, a beautiful head of flowers is out of the question. During hibernation, it should not be left without regular watering and sunlight, as it must gain strength.

You can reanimate flowering using the following scheme of actions:

Increase the humidity in the room (for example, turn on a humidifier).
Ventilate the room, avoiding drafts.
Place the flower on the eastern windowsill.
Fertilize with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer.
The soil after watering should be loose and slightly moist.
Plant in another pot.

The appearance of a gloxinia bud

Dry soil, pests, stale air in the room and low humidity may also be causes. Among fertilizers, preference should be given to phosphorus-potassium fertilizers without nitrogen. It is the gradual correction of these factors that is the answer to gardeners’ worries about what to do if gloxinia’s buds dry out.

Diseases caused by improper care

Elongated stem

It happens that the stem of gloxinia becomes very elongated. This is possible for two main reasons. The first reason is poor lighting. Gloxinia is a light-loving plant and when there is a lack of light, it begins to lengthen the stem. If you notice such changes, move the flower to a more illuminated place. Sometimes the stem becomes elongated in plants that have not gone on vacation. In this case, it is advisable to prune. Otherwise, elongated shoots will not produce beautiful and long flowering.

The second reason is the characteristics of the variety. There's nothing you can do about it, but you need to carefully monitor the lighting. The varietal elongation may hide a lack of light, which will affect the splendor of the flowers.

Slow growth

For good health and normal growth of gloxinia, you need to transplant it into a fresh substrate. There are not enough nutrients in old soil for good growth. Over time, the soil clod gets lost and interferes with the normal growth of the root system. The soil does not dry out well and as a result the tubers rot. It is necessary to replace the soil with fresh one. In this case, it is better to do a complete replacement rather than transshipment. It is advisable to carry out the procedure at least once a year.

Slow growth can be caused by a lack of fertilizer. It is better to apply fertilizer to an already watered flower to avoid burning the roots. You should not apply fertilizers to fresh substrate for about a month, this will cause damage to the flower due to excess substances.

Pests can inhibit flower growth. It is necessary to conduct an inspection and take action if necessary.

Leaves curl, dry out, turn yellow

If the leaves begin to curl, you should pay attention to the temperature. Another common cause of the disease can be overfeeding with fertilizers.

The leaf grows unevenly and some parts lag behind, which leads to curling. It would be a good idea to check for pests.

Another common cause of the disease can be overfeeding with fertilizers. The leaf grows unevenly and some parts lag behind, which leads to curling. It would be a good idea to check for pests.

Wilting mainly occurs from improper watering. Leaves wither from excess moisture or lack of it. The plant should not be watered at high temperatures, as this will cause the roots to rot and rot, and the leaves and buds to wither. In this case, watering is carried out in the evening, when the main heat has subsided.

If the plant has not been watered for a long time, the leaves will let you know about it. Watering is carried out with water at room temperature. In this case, after a few hours the leaves will return to normal. If the problem cannot be solved by proper watering, you should inspect the tuber. It may be necessary to renew the plant if the tuber is rotting.

Due to too much watering, the buds and stems turn black and rot. This is a good environment for the appearance of fungal diseases.

Yellow leaves indicate many problems. Old leaves turn yellow and fall off - this is normal. If the plant comes into contact with direct sunlight, the leaves burn and turn yellow. If there is an excess of fertilizers, the roots burn and die, as a result of which the leaves turn yellow and dry. In this case, the plant may die. Because of hard water, the acidity of the soil decreases, which leads to yellowing of the leaves. The problem will be solved by transplanting into a new substrate.

Watering

During active growth, gloxinia is watered with settled water at room temperature, but you need to be careful, since the plant does not tolerate moisture due to its susceptibility to fungal diseases. Depending on the storage location, during the dormant period, watering is reduced or not moistened at all.

How to water young shoots?

Young shoots need to be watered with soft water (melt, rain, partially boiled). When watering, make sure that water does not get on the leaves or in the center of the tuber. Water is 2-3ºС warmer than the ambient temperature. We reduce watering in cloudy, cold, rainy weather, as well as during the dormant period.

Thus, now you know how to propagate gloxinia from leaves at home

When breeding Sinningia, it is very important to be patient and carefully care for the grown flower. Then, with careful care, creation of suitable conditions and timely feeding, the plant will delight you with delicate and velvety flowers, and will also reproduce successfully