Safe protection of plants from diseases and pests in July and August. Growing catharanthus from seeds at home Growing catharanthus at home

A delightful flower that brings the warmth of the south and the flavor of the Mediterranean into the house - this is all catharanthus, caring for it at home is simple and pleasant. This plant is completely undemanding. But how it pleases the eye with its spectacular flowering! In addition to its charming appearance, catharanthus (Pink periwinkle) has been used for the treatment of certain cancer diseases in alternative medicine for a long time.

Pink periwinkle: a brief description of the plant

A decorative shrub belonging to the Kutrovye family - this is how catharanthus is characterized. They are distinguished by a wheel-shaped corolla with 5 petals, 3 cm in diameter. They have a striking resemblance to their distinctive feature is that they are not collected in inflorescences.

Catharanthus is mostly pink in color. The flowers of its hybrids may be of a different color. The most amazing of them is the blue-violet color.

Catharanthus is a plant with a maximum height of 60 cm. It is distinguished by erect stems and long dark green leaves (7 cm). They are shiny and have white veins in the middle. Flowering period: from early May to early October.

Catharanthus: care at home

For fans of this plant who are planning to grow it, it is important to follow some rules so that a wonderful and healthy catharanthus grows. Care at home consists of following the following recommendations and advice:

• Lighting. The plant prefers diffused light, although it will take root well on a windowsill. It is only important not to forget to protect it from direct rays of the sun in the first half of the day. In winter, it is also necessary to provide the catharanthus with a warm place. In case of poor lighting, the plant will stretch its stems upward.
• Temperature. The ideal temperature for rose periwinkle in summer is a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius. In winter, this figure is only 16 degrees.
• Watering. It is strictly not recommended to let the catharanthus dry out. At home, it is necessary to provide the plant with watering three times a week. If there is excessive flooding, there is a risk of rotting of the plant roots. Therefore, after 15 minutes after watering, it is important to drain the water from the pan.
• Pruning is an important stage in the life of a plant such as catharanthus. Home care in this direction should be carried out every spring.
• Fertilizer application. It is advisable to feed the plant three times a year: in summer, spring and autumn.

Catharanthus: cultivation and care

Pink periwinkle can be propagated in two ways:

• seeds;
• cuttings (vegetatively).

Particular attention should be paid to soil preparation. An excellent option for her would be a mixture of peat, humus, turf soil and coarse sand. Each component is taken in the same quantity.

It is recommended to use a pot with a hole for planting. It is also important not to forget about drainage, which can be stones, pebbles or expanded clay. This solution will remove excess water and prevent root rotting. To prevent the hole from becoming clogged, it must be cleaned regularly.

Propagation of catharanthus by cuttings

Green cuttings from the top, which catharanthus is often rich in, are perfect for this purpose. Reproduction is carried out in two ways:

• the cuttings are placed in water for germination;
• The cuttings are immediately planted in moist soil, covered with a bag to create a greenhouse effect.

The best time to take cuttings: spring (after pruning). They can also be planted in the fall. The optimal temperature for rooting cuttings is at least 20 degrees Celsius.

Catharanthus transplant

Spring is the ideal time to replant the plant. Some recommendations on this matter:

• The pot is selected several sizes larger than the old one.
• It is important to disinfect the container for planting, at least pour boiling water over it.
• Catharanthus roots are too delicate, so it is very important not to damage them.
• Before transplanting, the root system must be carefully examined to identify dead roots. If they are detected, it is necessary to remove this area (4 cm above the diseased part). It is also advisable to disinfect the blade or scissors to avoid infecting another area of ​​the root system.
• The wound on the root is sprinkled with charcoal crumbs.

These 5 rules for successful catharanthus transplantation are fundamental in this process.

Problems with growing Vinca rosea

Pests that attack this plant are aphids, scale insects and spider mites. Therefore, when taking catharanthus from the garden to the house, it is important to carefully examine the plant to detect these “enemies”. If they do exist, you need to do the following:

• take a brush, moisten it in alcohol, then carefully remove the pests;
• treat the leaves with soapy water.

If you do not provide the plant with reliable care, then soon the catharanthus may develop problems, such as:

• yellowing and dying of leaves (from direct sunlight);
• observing a tendency for flowers to decrease - the air in the room is too cold;
• yellowing of the tips of the leaves - insufficient moisture in the air.

You should also remember that the plant must be replanted on time, otherwise it will completely stop blooming.

Medicinal properties of pink periwinkle

Medicines are prepared on the basis of a plant that bears the proud name of catharanthus. Its medicinal properties are used in both alternative and official medicine.

To create preparations, it is the aerial part of Vinca rosea that is used. It is harvested during the flowering period.

Catharanthus has the following therapeutic effect:

• anti-inflammatory;
• wound healing;
• antimicrobial;
• hemostatic;
• antidiabetic.

Pink periwinkle successfully fights the symptoms of the following diseases:

• acute leukemia;
• diabetes mellitus;
• tumors of various etymologies (thyroid tumor, fibroids, polyps, cysts, prostate adenoma);
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• blood diseases;
• trophic skin ulcer and other non-healing wounds on the skin;
• eczema and psoriasis;
• some gastrointestinal diseases.

This plant must be used under the strict supervision of a doctor, since pink periwinkle is, first of all, a poisonous plant. It is contraindicated to use it for medicinal purposes for people suffering from low blood pressure and patients with vegetative-vascular dystonia. It is strictly forbidden to give decoctions of catharanthus to children.

Catharanthus is a wonderful ornamental plant that is easy to grow at home. Only the use of an integrated approach in the process of caring for it contributes to the successful growth and flowering of pink periwinkle.

Caring for catharanthus at home is quite simple, but it requires knowledge of some features.

Catharanthus is a perennial tropical plant. The flower has the appearance of a bush with straight stems that branch at the tops. The leaves of the shrub are dark green in color, they reach a length of 7 cm. When the flowering period begins, the plant becomes strewn with flowers, most often with five petals. Catharanthus loves warmth and grows in the wild in the forests of Madagascar, India, Cuba, Indonesia, etc. Under natural conditions, the bush reaches 1.5 m in height, and in cooler climates its height reaches 60 cm.

Varieties of catharanthus

The name "Cataranthus" is translated from Greek as "clear flower". In nature, 8 species of this plant are known, but as a result of selection, decorative varieties were obtained that are widespread in Europe. The following 4 varieties are most common:

1. Albus- blooms with white flowers.
2. Parasol- is a low-growing representative of the species, and its flowers are white with a red pigment in the center.
3. Cooler- shrubs from this series have flowers of various shades of pink and red.
4. Ocellatus- flowers are similar in color to Parasol, but this species is not short-growing.

Many gardeners call catharanthus cayenne jasmine, and catharanthus rosea - pink periwinkle. Pink periwinkle blooms a very beautiful deep crimson color and is one of the most popular varieties of this plant.

This amazing flower can grow both in open ground and in pots as an indoor flower. Depending on the growing method, the features of caring for the plant are determined.

This plant is unsafe; it contains alkaloids and can cause severe poisoning and an allergic reaction. Therefore, it is necessary to handle the flower carefully; it is also not recommended to plant it in places where small children and animals walk.

Growing from seeds

Growing pink periwinkle (as well as other varieties of this plant) is done using the seedling method. As you know, catharanthus is considered a perennial flower, but due to its natural heat-loving nature, it does not survive the winter, and the seeds do not have time to ripen. Therefore, some gardeners prefer to purchase them again, and some dig up the bush and send it to a warm room for the winter.

As a rule, seeds are sown for seedlings in late winter - early spring. The seeds are pre-soaked in a manganese solution. The solution is prepared at the rate of 2 g of manganese per 1 liter of cool water. Before carrying out the procedure, the seeds are first wrapped in gauze folded in half. The procedure itself lasts no more than 40 minutes. After soaking, the seeds are opened and left to dry on gauze for 2 hours. The main thing is not to leave them under the scorching rays of the sun, otherwise they will burn.

Next, the seeds are sown to a depth of 2 cm in a shallow box; the substrate should be loose with nutrients and good conductivity of air and moisture. The box is left indoors at a temperature of 25°C, having previously covered it with glass.

For all types of this plant, seed sowing is the same, but this does not apply to ampelous catharanthus; growing from seeds involves sowing directly into a permanent container, since this representative of catharanthus does not like transplanting.

After the seedlings appear, and this happens after 14-21 days, they need to be moved to a room where it is cooler.

You can plant the sprouts in separate containers when 3 leaves appear on the stem. It is recommended to harden the seedlings at above-zero temperatures and periodically take them out onto the balcony.

Growing in open ground

Pink catharanthus is planted in open ground at the end of spring, when the weather outside is stable and warm. The air temperature outside should be at least 25°C.

For planting, you need to properly prepare the soil. The flowerbed where the flower will be located is first dug up and gravel is added. Form a hole of the required depth, and add drainage and a layer of soil to the bottom, after which the flower is placed there. It is necessary to choose a well-lit and warm place for the plant, but the bush should not be exposed to direct sunlight. You should not plant catharanthus in places where there is a lot of moisture and shade, since such conditions are destructive for it. Catharanthus does not take root in acidic soil, so it is better to mix it with wood ash or lime it.

Shrub care is simple. Like other plants, it needs watering, pruning, fertilizing and removing weeds around the bush. Particular attention must be paid to watering; the flower requires moderate and regular watering. The soil should not dry out, but should not be very wet. A sign that the flower does not have enough moisture are curled leaves. It is advisable to maintain air humidity and spray the bush with water daily, and on very hot days 2 times a day.

Feeding with a universal mixture for ornamental plants will be beneficial, this is especially true in the spring, when the plant needs abundant nutrition.

Pruning the bush in the summer consists of removing yellowed and broken branches, and sanitary pruning will promote the growth of catharanthus.

You can add annual plants of the same color to the pink periwinkle flowerbed or create a contrasting combination.

Growing at home

For catharanthus, growing from seeds at home is also possible. It is necessary to take into account that the flower grows quickly and should initially be planted in a large pot. When planting, drainage is poured into the bottom of the pot and a layer of substrate is placed on it. The latter can be prepared independently from peat, soil and sand. All components are taken in equal proportions. And to make the plant better accepted, you can add a little humus for nutritional value.

Caring for indoor catharanthus consists of regular watering, feeding with nutrients and spraying. Water for irrigation and spraying should be at room temperature and preferably settled. It is imperative to remove excess water from the pan so that the roots do not begin to rot.

The place for the pot must be chosen on the western or eastern side. If you place it on the north window, the flower will have little light, but in the south there will be a lot. It is also important that the plant is not exposed to harsh sunlight.

You can feed catharanthus with any fertilizer for decorative indoor plants.

The flower is replanted every year, and when replanting, pruning is done to form a crown. It is important not to moisten the flower the day before transplanting: this is necessary so that an earthen lump has time to form around the roots.

It is worth remembering that this plant contains toxic substances, so you should not place it in an accessible place for children and animals.

Reproduction of catharanthus

This plant propagates by seeds, root division and cuttings. Let's look at these methods in more detail:

1. Sowing seeds. This method involves preparing the seeds, sowing them in the soil and causing sprouts to appear. The first shoots appear after about 20 days.
2. Root division. This procedure is recommended to be carried out in the spring, when the bush is planted in the ground after wintering. For these purposes, it is necessary to choose a specimen with a strong root system, which can be divided into 2 parts. When dividing, it is important not to damage the roots or remove all the soil from them.
3. Cuttings. Propagation by cuttings takes a little longer than when using seeds. It is considered a reliable way to obtain strong seedlings. To propagate catharanthus by cuttings, you need to select and cut cuttings from an adult bush. Remove leaves from them to the top. Place each cutting in water for 1 day with the addition of 1 drop of biogrowth stimulator. Then transfer them to clean, settled water. After roots appear (approximately 25-30 days), transplant into soil to strengthen.

Thus, this very beautiful and evergreen flower is easy to care for, but requires care in handling. We can say with confidence that catharanthus deserves attention and can become a worthy decoration for any home.

5252 07/26/2019 6 min.

Catharanthus is a plant that decorates modern flower beds. It is distinguished by its unpretentiousness in terms of care and attractive appearance. It can be planted in a flowerbed, placed in a container, or even in pots. The plant's growth is low. It has extensive branches, so it grows quickly and reproduces easily.

In this case, propagation can occur by bush, cuttings and shifts. The simplest and most common propagation option is considered to be seeds. But in order for the catharanthus to please everyone with its attractive appearance, you need to know the features of caring for the plant.

What do the seeds look like?

Catharanthus has erect stems that branch at the tops. The leaves are oblong in shape and dark green in color. The length of the leaves reaches up to 7 cm. During flowering, the bush is strewn with wheel-shaped flowers. You can see the first flowers after 60-70 days. Upon completion of flowering, a double-leafed fruit with elongated seeds is formed.

Catharanthus seeds are available in a wide range on the market. But they all have a common appearance. They are large in size and have a dark brown color. Caring for this plant is similar to.

How and when to plant seeds

Catharanthus develops much more actively and gets sick less if the planting material has been carefully prepared beforehand. Before planting, the seeds must be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The way to disinfect planting material is to place it in gauze and dip it in the prepared solution of potassium permanganate. Keep for 30 minutes. It is worth sowing them for seedlings at the end of February. And for those who want to know about how to plant Thyme with seeds, and how to do it correctly, this will help you figure it out

Catharanthus does not require special soil. When planting planting material in the soil, it is necessary to adhere to similar rules as when growing garden crops for seedlings. For the crop in question, it is better to use loose soil rich in nutrients. First, the seeds should be placed in separate pots. If you are not going to plant seedlings in open ground, but use them as a houseplant, then you should prepare a pot in advance.

This crop does not tolerate transplantation very well. Place one seed into a glass, placing it in the middle. But you should put 3 seeds in a pot. The planting material emerges quickly and smoothly.

But how to transplant Chrysanthemums into open ground from their pots, and how to do it yourself, this will help

As for the soil, you can mix leaf and turf soil, peat, sand and humus in equal proportions. The cups must be placed on the tray of a window that faces the east or west side. The fact is that catharanthus is a light-loving plant. But direct sunlight should not penetrate the leaves.

In the video - growing Catharanthus flowers:

All the same rules apply when planting already grown seedlings in open ground. It is best to make a high flower bed on the east or west side of the house. It is allowed to plant catharanthus in large tubs. Seedlings can be moved outside immediately after the morning frosts have passed.

Care

In order for the plant to bloom profusely and for a long time, you must follow some simple rules.

And for those who want to understand how this happens, this article describes it.

Nutritious and loose soil

It is necessary to use one part of peat, humus, sand, leaf and turf soil. Although any fertile soil can be used to grow catharanthus. At the same time, make sure that there is no large amount of salt in it. To grow plants in pots, you can use geranium soil. The main thing is to remember about drainage when using small expanded clay. But what kind of soil is most suitable for Geranium can be found out from this

Watering and air humidity

Catharanthus loves moisture very much. So you need to irrigate it regularly, but just avoid standing water. This is especially true for growing plants in pots. If there is excess water in the pan, it should be removed.

If a flower grows in a garden, its growth stops in wet and cool summers. If the plant is constantly flooded, it may die due to rotting of the roots. But you shouldn’t let it dry out either. Some varieties of crops begin to curl their leaves due to lack of moisture. They roll up into tubes. But don’t think that the flower is dead. It just needs to be provided with plenty of watering. And you will notice how in an hour the leaves will come to life again.

To prevent catharanthus from suffering from too much water in rainy weather, you should not plant it crowded. Approximately once every 10 days, water with fertilizer. It should contain potassium and phosphorus. As for air humidity, the plant in question loves it when it is high. So it is necessary to spray the flower as often as possible. In winter, this should be done with warm water. Also, do not forget about ventilation. You may also be interested in information about how to use it correctly and by what parameters you should choose it.

Location and temperature

When catharanthus grows in the house, it should be installed in a bright place, as it loves light. If there is not enough lighting, the stems will begin to stretch, their thickness will decrease, and the size of the flowers will become small. An excellent place to grow plants is eastern and western windows.

If you plant catharanthus outside, you should gradually accustom it to the sun's rays. When planting seedlings in the ground, you need to think about whether the selected area will be protected from the cold wind. Otherwise, the plant may die. But you can find out which are the most popular among gardeners by reading the contents of this article and looking at the photos.

A flower cannot overwinter in a flower bed. It begins to die with the onset of frost. So for those who want to see catharanthus in their flowerbed next year, they need to break cuttings and root them. You can collect the seeds and place them on the windowsill to dry slightly.

Pest and disease control measures

Catharanthus can be affected by pests such as scale insects, aphids, whiteflies and mealybugs. It is not difficult to see them, since the leaves of the plant will be damaged. They will develop a white coating and spots. They will also begin to curl and dry out. To combat insects and diseases, it is necessary to use insecticide spraying.

But how to grow Gaillardia perennial from seeds, and when to plant this plant, is described in this

It is not so often that catharanthus is affected by brown rust. Spots - pustules - form on the leaves. The cause of the disease lies in high soil or air humidity in combination with low temperature conditions. Another cause of rust is a lack of nitrogen in the soil. To combat the disease, it is necessary to treat the bush with Bordeaux mixture and use nitrogen fertilizer. But then you should understand that flowers on a trimmed stem will appear only after 2-3 weeks.

And although catharanthus is a perennial crop, it should not be stored at home for more than 3 years. It is better to rejuvenate a flower by cuttings. If you trim the bush by more than 1/3, the flowers and leaves will become too small.

When the flower has been sent to the flowerbed, it must be pinched once every 7 days for 1-1.5 months. Due to this, the flowerbed will have a simply gorgeous look. This is due to the fact that the formation of flowers occurs at the tips of the stems. The more there are, the more abundant the flowering.

Also, do not forget that the plant is poisonous. 80 alkaloids can be found in its composition. Allergies and irritation may occur on the skin, so it is preferable to wear gloves when working in the flowerbed, and pruning the plant with scissors.

Catharanthus is a common flower that summer residents and gardeners often use when decorating a flower bed. It cannot be called particularly whimsical in terms of care, although there are some features without which the plant may simply die. If you monitor the temperature, humidity, choose the right place and fertilize the flower, then for such care it will repay you with beautiful and abundant flowering.

Apr 02 2017

Catharanthus - care and reproduction at home

Anyone who has seen the indoor catharanthus plant will agree that this spectacular bush, strewn with numerous delightful flowers, clearly brings the comfort and warmth of the southern Mediterranean islands into the house. Its name is translated from Greek as “pure, clear or flawless flower.” In this article you will read about growing catharanthus and caring for it at home. Many gardeners consider it the king of indoor flowering bushes, because catharanthus pleases its owners with endless flowering almost all year round, and requires minimal care from them after planting.

The catharanthus flower belongs to the evergreen herbaceous and subshrub plants of the Apocynaceae family. In the wild, it can be found everywhere in tropical countries. This is Cuba, Java, Africa, Indochina, Indonesia - it’s impossible to list everything. It is not possible to accurately determine its homeland, although many scientists are inclined to Madagascar, where it is most often found. There are seven or eight of its species. In the subtropics, catharanthus grows up to one and a half meters in height. At home, this bush does not exceed 60 cm. Catharanthus has been bred as a houseplant since the mid-18th century.

For a long time, catharanthus was considered one of the varieties of another flower - pink periwinkle. These plants are very similar. Both belong to the Kutrov family. Only since 1937, after lengthy debates, botanists began to classify rose catharanthus (Catharanthus roseus), as a species of evergreen perennial subshrubs, to a separate genus Catharanthus.

The indoor catharanthus flower is a perennial plant, often grown as an annual. At home, it grows no higher than 50–60 cm in height. Its erect stems are fleshy, branch at the tops, and become woody over time. The roots are powerful and taprooted. The central root reaches a depth of 20 - 30 cm, there are many lateral adventitious roots that have a strong specific odor. Young roots have no root hairs. Catharanthus leaves have an oblong shape, pointed at both ends, and a length of up to 7 cm. They are glossy, dark green in color, with a white longitudinal vein. During flowering, the bush is completely covered with many wheel-shaped flowers. Catharanthus flowers range from 3 to 5 cm in diameter. They have a regular shape of five petals with a flat corolla, the throat of which is covered with thyroid hairs. In the center of each flower there is an eye, usually in a bright contrasting color. There are hybrids with white, orange, light lilac, blue-violet petals. Catharanthus flowers are very similar to phlox flowers, but they are solitary, while in phlox they are collected in inflorescences. But, during active flowering, from May to October, such a lush cap is formed from individually blooming flowers that the decorative effect of the flower at this time is beyond all praise. Long flowering ends with the onset of cold weather. After flowering, the catharanthus fruit is formed, which is a crescent-shaped bileaflet, inside which about a dozen elongated seeds are formed.

Medicinal properties

The catharanthus plant is valued not only for its spectacular appearance and decorative effect. Its medicinal properties have been known since ancient times. Healers and healers of Madagascar and Indonesia used catharanthus to treat diabetes, cough and various tumors. The green parts of the plant contain up to 60 biologically active alkaloids. Modern research has shown that this flower actually contains substances that lower blood sugar. And the alkaloids vinblastine and vincristine formed the basis of anticancer drugs that are used in modern medicine. All kinds of infusions and decoctions are prepared from the leaves and shoots of catharanthus, which treat many diseases, such as:

• poorly healing wounds and trophic ulcers;
• fibroids, polyps, prostate adenomas;
• diseases of teeth and gums;
• bronchopulmonary diseases;
• hypertension and diabetes.

It is important to know that all parts of the catharanthus are poisonous. It is not recommended to prepare any medicine from it yourself! Side effects, allergic reactions, and burns may occur. There are contraindications. You can use drugs from catharanthus only under supervision and on the recommendation of doctors.

Types and varieties

All decorative series of varieties and hybrids of this flower are a variety of pink catharanthus. They differ from it in the size of the bush and different shades of petals. We will introduce you to the most popular of them.

This is a low bush, 50 cm in height. The flowers are relatively large - up to 5 cm in diameter. The color range is varied - from pure white to dark red. A contrasting eye usually sparkles in the middle. This flower is grown not only as a houseplant, but also as a garden plant, decorating borders in flower beds and paths with it.

This is a low compact bush, 25 - 30 cm in height, and 15 - 20 cm in crown diameter. Characterized by early flowering and ease of care. The flowers are large, the characteristic eye in the middle stands out clearly.

Depending on the shade of the petals, the Pacifica variety has its own varieties:

• Pacifica Burgundy - has flowers of a rich wine color with a white eye;
• Pacifica White - has white flowers with a red eye;
• Pacifica Apricot - has apricot-colored flowers with a red center;
• Pacifica Ice Pink - has soft pink flowers with a red eye.

In the eighties of the last century, a number of new spectacular varieties of catharanthus appeared. Here are some of them that are still popular:

Variety series Cooler. Small, strongly branching bushes, up to 40 cm in height, united here. Their flowers are round, large, up to 5 cm in diameter. With a bright contrasting eye in the center.

The varieties in this series include the following:

• Grape Cooler - lavender-pink flowers with a red center;
• Peppermint Cooler - white flowers with a bright red center;
• Red Cooler - red flowers.

Sortoseries First Kiss (First Kiss, First Kiss). Low, 30 - 40 cm in height, neat bushes, have a beautiful crown and at least 13 shades of flowers. This is the most popular and titled series of catharanthus. At flower growing competitions in North American countries, catharanthus of this variety series won prestigious prizes, in particular, the blue-violet cultivar First Kiss Blueberry won high awards in the USA and Canada.

Varietal series Cascade. Here are ampelous catharanthus, up to 15 cm high and with long flexible shoots that either creep or hang down. It blooms with large flowers, up to 5 cm in diameter. The most popular varieties of this variety series:

Catharanthus ampelous Titan. The long lashes hanging down reach 75 cm in length. Numerous bright red flowers glow brightly on the dark green glossy leaves. This variety is great for growing in pots.

• White - with snow-white flowers;
• Deep Rose - with pink flowers;
• Cascade Cherry bark - with cherry flowers;
• Bark Cascade Shelf Dot – with white flowers;
• Bark cascade Medgenta - with flowers of lilac and burgundy color.

Home care

When growing catharanthus at home, it is important to follow some simple rules so that you grow a wonderful evergreen bush.

All parts of catharanthus are poisonous and contain alkaloids. Work with it must be carried out with gloves to avoid allergies or poisoning.

Humidity, spraying, watering

Catharanthus is a moisture-loving crop. Abundant flowering directly depends on the sufficiently high humidity of the surrounding air and substrate. Catharanthus prefer high air humidity. If humidity levels drop below 60%, it is necessary to spray the surrounding air and, with caution, the plants themselves. Moreover, the leaves can be sprayed, but the flowers are not advisable! To increase the humidity in the room, place containers of water next to the catharanthus plantings, and place the pots themselves in trays with wet expanded clay or wet pebbles.

Water your flowers regularly. The root system should not be allowed to dry out! You will immediately know about insufficient watering by the curling leaves of the plant. If you notice quickly and water soon, they will straighten out.

But there should be no stagnation of water in the pan and waterlogging of the soil. Try to choose the frequency of watering so that the soil moisture is consistently average. Water no earlier than the top layer of soil dries to a depth of 2 - 3 cm. If you plan to save the plant until next year, significantly reduce watering in the autumn-winter period. Keep the earthen ball slightly moist. If the air in the room is dry, spray the leaves constantly.

Lighting

The plant prefers diffused light. He will be most comfortable on the windowsills of eastern and western directions. Although, even on the south side, provided the pot is protected from direct sunlight at midday, the catharanthus will feel excellent. It is not necessary to place the flower pot on the windowsill itself. It grows well in slight shade and looks great on a shelf lit by diffused sunlight. If it winters indoors, it will also need good lighting. Otherwise, the stems will stretch upward, and the decorative effect of the flower will suffer. If there is insufficient lighting, use fluorescent lamps.

Temperature

The ideal temperature for growing catharanthus at home is considered to be 20 - 25 degrees Celsius. This is in the spring-summer period for long-term maintenance of the flower. In winter, you need to find a cooler place for it and maintain the temperature there within 15 degrees, because there is no place for it on the windowsill, next to heating devices. Perhaps you have an insulated loggia. But you need to make sure that the temperature does not drop at all - the catharanthus may not tolerate a prolonged drop below 10 degrees.

If you are not going to save the flower in the winter and plan to throw it away in the fall, after flowering, then the warmer the location, the more abundantly it will bloom. Moreover, the flower feels great in the warm season outdoors. In the spring, as soon as the air outside warms up above 18 degrees, a pot of catharanthus can be placed on a balcony or veranda, preferably under a roof, because flower plantings must be protected from precipitation, drafts and direct sun. With the first cold snap, in August-September, it is better to bring the catharanthus into the living room. Until October, it will still delight you with its magnificent flowering on the windowsill.

Soil and fertilizing

Catharanthus will grow well in loose, light, fertile soil. Purchased soil for flowering indoor plants, for example, geraniums, is suitable for it. It is also not difficult to prepare a soil mixture yourself from leaf and turf soil, adding a little peat and coarse river sand.

In order for the catharanthus to bloom long and abundantly, it needs constant, fairly intense feeding. If your flower is an annual one, feed it once a week by adding liquid fertilizer for flowering indoor plants to the watering water. Liquid fertilizer for indoor roses is suitable. But don’t overdo it, read the doses on the package.

If the catharanthus will remain as a perennial after flowering, its strength must be conserved. Therefore, fertilizing should be done less frequently during flowering, once every 2 weeks, and in a dose reduced by half. After flowering, from October to February, fertilizing should be stopped completely.

Suitable size pot

Catharanthus is a fast-growing flower. If you plant it in a small pot, it will very quickly outgrow it, the roots will not fit in and will block the drainage holes. Therefore, immediately choose a large pot so that it will last for a year of the flower’s life. As we already wrote above, the root system develops well, the roots grow up to 20 - 35 cm in length. Place a good layer of drainage, 3 - 4 cm, at the bottom of the planting container. Use expanded clay, pebbles or other suitable material. And then fill the pot with the prepared soil mixture. Don't forget to add a little humus for nutritional value. During the annual transplantation of perennial catharanthus, each time choose a pot 3–5 cm larger and wider than the previous one.

Pruning and shaping the bush

For such a fast-growing plant as catharanthus, pruning the shoots is a necessary procedure. In a perennial crop, after a period of winter rest, shoots that have elongated during the winter are cut off by a third of their length. Remove damaged and dried branches and give the bush the desired shape. This pruning at the beginning of spring will rejuvenate the flower and give it strength for new growth.

Pinching the ends of the shoots will help to form a compact, beautiful crown of young catharanthus. Their upward growth will stop, and the growth of lateral branches will make the crown thicker and more decorative.

But you will have to constantly monitor the decorative appearance of your pet during flowering. Wilted flowers and yellowed leaves at the bottom of the shoots must be removed regularly - they greatly spoil the appearance of the plant.

Transfer

If you grow catharanthus as a perennial, then it will need an annual replanting in early spring, in March.

Return the flower to a warm, bright room. Inspect. Make the necessary trimming. Select a pot for replanting that is 3–5 cm larger than before. Place drainage there - it should be at least 4 cm. Replant by transferring the flower along with the soil. Try not to injure the root system. Add soil of the same composition to the pot in which the catharanthus grew last season. If the soil is very different in composition, the flower may not bloom. According to the reaction, neutral or slightly acidic soil is suitable. Remember this and always use one type of soil, for example, for flowering geraniums.

You may need to replant your flower more than once a year. If during the active flowering phase the lower leaves suddenly begin to turn yellow and the flowers fall off, it is possible that the root system no longer has enough space in the pot. You can see the roots poking out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. This is a signal that the catharanthus urgently needs to be transplanted into a larger container.

If the catharanthus is difficult to remove from the pot, try watering it. The plastic pot may need to be cut or broken, but when removing the flower, be careful not to damage its delicate root system. Otherwise, the catharanthus will stop blooming.

If you regularly follow all the rules for good flower care, then the catharanthus will also try and stun you with its fantastic flowering!

We recommend not keeping your perennial for more than three years. Any catharanthus of this age begins to grow, its flowers become small, its shoots become clumsy. The plant loses its attractiveness and decorativeness. It is better to part with him, taking care in advance about his descendants, that is, about reproduction.

Reproduction

After the enchanting flowering, the powers of the catharanthus are depleted, and you need to try to make it bloom again next year. For this reason, flower growers often grow catharanthus as an annual plant, and after it finishes flowering, they simply throw it away. After all, the difficulties of preserving a flower in winter, problems with temperature, humidity, lighting of its wintering place, cannot be compared with the rooting of its shoots or cuttings. By the beginning of the new season, you will have a new flower, full of strength and desire to bloom, without any problems.

Catharanthus is propagated in three ways: by growing from seeds, rooting cuttings and dividing the bush.

Growing from seeds

Buy catharanthus seeds in special stores. Their seeds will not have time to ripen during the summer flowering. Their natural ripening is possible only in tropical conditions. If you still set out to get your seeds, be patient. The bush will have to be grown all autumn and winter indoors, maintaining constant temperature, humidity and good lighting, as in the tropics. Your seeds will probably only ripen in the spring.

Seeds can be sown at any time of the year. Just keep in mind that catharanthus blooms after germination in 60 - 70 days, that is, young bushes will bloom in two to three months. Therefore, it is better, from the point of view of caring for them - in terms of temperature, humidity and lighting, to do this in early spring.

Prepared seeds (treated with potassium permanganate and epin) are sown in containers with nutrient soil to a depth of no more than 1 cm. The soil is carefully moistened using a spray bottle with warm, settled water, and the container lid is closed. You can use any containers that are convenient for you, but be sure to cover them with something transparent - glass or polyethylene. Germination will be best done in a warm, dark place. In a week or two, shoots will appear. The containers are taken out to a lighted place. The temperature is maintained at 23 – 26 degrees Celsius. Ventilate once a day, preferably in the morning. The sprouts sit at the same level for a long time, about a month, growing roots. When three or four leaves appear on the seedlings, the catharanthus are planted in separate pots. Do not forget about the rapid growth of young plants; immediately take a larger pot than you would like, so that soon, during flowering, you do not have to replant the flower again.

Pay special attention to preparing the soil mixture. An excellent option is a mixture of peat, humus, turf soil and coarse sand in equal parts. If you use ready-made soil, select a substrate suitable for blooming indoor flowers.

Propagation by cuttings

To propagate by cuttings (cuttings), green cuttings are cut from the tops of the shoots of catharanthus. Choose a method for rooting the cuttings - in water or in a substrate.

Water for rooting should be settled or boiled with the addition of some growth stimulant. Place the glass in a bright, warm place. They are waiting for the spine to appear. Add water as needed. The roots will appear very soon. Then the cuttings are planted in a pot with a regular substrate. Care for it like an adult plant.

You can root the cuttings in a container with moist soil under a film. Ventilate the plantings from time to time and water them as the soil dries out. When the cutting shows signs of new growth, the film can be removed. Root cuttings with reserve in case of their death.

It is best to harvest and plant cuttings in the spring, after pruning the old bush. But it is possible in the fall. The optimal temperature for rooting catharanthus cuttings is 22 - 25 degrees Celsius.

Video: how to propagate catharanthus from cuttings.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

This propagation method is used when transplanting an adult plant into new pots. Usually this happens in early spring. Depending on the size of the root system, catharanthus can be easily divided into two or three parts. Remove the flower from the pot and try to gently shake off the soil from the roots. Decide where to divide the root system. Use a sharp, well-disinfected tool to divide the bush. Treat the cut areas with crushed activated carbon. Plant each specimen in a separate pot according to all the rules.

Organization of wintering

If you plant your indoor flower in a flowerbed at your dacha for the summer, then you need to think about how to preserve the catharanthus in the winter. After all, your sissy will not survive winter, even a mild one, outside. Carefully dig up the plant in early October. Cut its branches to two-thirds of the length. Place the flower in a spacious pot to accommodate the entire root system. Fill the pot to the top with a mixture of sand and soil. Place in a cool room with a temperature of 15 - 17 degrees. Try to find one for wintering in an apartment. Let it stand there until the onset of spring and warmth. There is no need to water it in winter. When the air outside warms up above 18 degrees, you can plant the catharanthus rhizome again in the flowerbed.

Possible growing problems

You can always tell by the appearance of a plant whether it is healthy or something is wrong with it. Catharanthus itself signals unfavorable conditions of its maintenance by its appearance. You need to monitor the plant and, if necessary, take measures to correct your mistakes.

Let's look at the most common problems in growing catharanthus.

Diseases

• Small dark tubercles or spots appeared on the upper surface of the leaves. On the bottom there is something in the form of pustules. These are signs of a disease of many indoor flowers - leaf rust. The reason is frequent waterlogging of the soil at high air humidity. Or when replanting, heavy soil or soil contaminated with rust fungi was used. Treatment is carried out with fungicides (read about). Replant the treated plant in new soil.
• The leaves on the shoots became limp, turned yellow and fell off. This happens if the pot is on a windowsill unprotected from the sun. Place the flower further into the room or protect it from direct sunlight with blinds or curtains.
• The tips of the leaves have turned yellow. This happens when the humidity in the room is too low. In winter this is due to central heating. The pot must be placed in a high tray with wet expanded clay and kept away from heating appliances. You can place a wide container of water next to the flower. If there are no flowers on the catharanthus, its leaves should be sprayed with settled water at room temperature. All this should increase the humidity in the room. The tips of the leaves of the catharanthus will stop turning yellow.
• The lower leaves on the shoots turn yellow and fall off. This is a natural process for catharanthus. Remove them from the plant regularly so that the decorative appearance of the flower does not suffer.
• There are few flowers on your catharanthus. Poor flowering usually occurs if the catharanthus is cold. Move the flower pot to a warmer, bright place - and it will thank you with abundant flowering.
• The leaves begin to turn yellow and flowering stops. Examine the flower pot. If it is not large, if catharanthus roots appear from the drainage holes, it means that your pet has become cramped in this pot and it’s time to transplant it into a wider and deeper pot. A little time will pass and the plant will come to life and begin to bloom.
• Catharanthus began to drop its buds. This occurs when there is insufficient attention to the flower: poor lighting, lack of moisture in the soil or low air humidity.
• Young leaves are falling from the tops of the shoots. Perhaps you rarely water the flower, it lacks moisture. At the same time, check other nuances of care: is it warm, light, and whether any insects are biting it.

Insects - pests

We introduced you to the indoor catharanthus flower. Believe me, you will spend less time caring for it than reading this article! This is a completely unpretentious plant, but so cute and responsive to any attention to it from the gardener. The good thing about catharanthus is that this small, compact bush blooms profusely with bright acrylic flowers from spring until October. At the same time, it grows quickly and reproduces easily. Knowing the simple rules of caring for it, you will always have a grateful plant in your home, ready to decorate the interior of your home all year round.

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Catharanthus is an evergreen native of humid tropical latitudes, which has successfully taken root in harsh northern conditions as a house pet and garden ornamental annual. Madagascar is considered the birthplace of this representative of the Kutrov family, where seven of its species grow. The distribution area also includes the countries of Southeast Asia - Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, China.

Catharanthus is quite unpretentious, with good care it grows very quickly and throughout the summer is strewn with many bright flowers with five petals and a scarlet, bright red or golden core. The color of the petals of catharanthus flowers is extremely diverse - the plant can bloom with snow-white, lilac or bright pink flowers, and the palette of hybrid varieties is even richer - thanks to the efforts of breeders, varieties have been bred that bloom in blue, light blue, purple, dark purple, and burgundy.

Catharanthus in the garden: location features, combination with other plants

Catharanthus prefers soft partial shade, so you should prepare a site for it in a place protected from direct sunlight and sharp gusts of wind, but not under trees, where it is too gloomy. If possible, it is better to plant catharanthus seedlings along with other ornamental annuals next to an artificial pond or fountain.

Catharanthus of different varieties with erect stems look great in flower beds. In this way, you can create an extremely picturesque multicolor composition. Plants should not be placed too close - at a distance of about 30 cm from each other.

Flower arrangement with catharanthus near a pond

The use of catharanthus is varied. They can be used to decorate borders, rockeries, ridges, rock gardens, and mixborders. Hanging varieties are used for vertical gardening.

Any varieties and hybrids of catharanthus go well with other decorative flowering and decorative foliage plants: lobelia, marigolds, petunias, balsam, etc.

Photo gallery of species

Growing and care

The soil

Catharanthus is not too picky about the composition of the soil - the main thing is that the soil is fertile, loose, slightly acidic and well-permeable to water and air. Before planting in open ground, the area must be dug up, adding peat, leaf, turf soil or several bags of ready-made mixture, coarse sand, perlite, expanded clay.

The use of compost is very beneficial for the root system, growth and development of catharanthus. Ideally, it is better to first dig a shallow hole in the shape of the intended flower bed, and place a thick layer of drainage mixture at the bottom, consisting of broken bricks, small and large expanded clay, perlite, marble chips, and pebbles. Fill the hole with dug up soil.

It is important! It is necessary to select a site as far as possible from groundwater.

Plant structure

Open ground planting time

Seedlings can be planted in a permanent place in late spring or early summer, when warm sunny weather sets in, the air temperature rises to +20°C, there is no threat of frost and the soil warms up. Young plants need constant care, which, in addition to watering and regular fertilizing, should include weeding. When the catharanthus get stronger and grow, there will be no need to remove weeds.

Watering

It is necessary to water the catharanthus with soft warm water. In summer, especially during periods of drought, it is useful to sprinkle from time to time; you can moisten the substrate daily. The plant quite eloquently “signals” about a lack of moisture with its leaves rolled into a tube. In this case, the “trouble” can be very easily eliminated by giving your pet something to drink. In less than half an hour, the leaves will take their previous appearance.

Coolness and prolonged rains have the most negative effect on the plant - the bush looks depressed, buds and flowers fall off. A decorative awning with a roof made of transparent film installed over the flowerbed will help protect the soil from excessive flooding.

Catharanthus in open ground

Feeding

Catharanthus must be fed in the spring, using complex fertilizers for ornamental plants, and continued until the beginning of autumn at intervals of 2-3 weeks. Foliar feeding and spraying with a weak solution of Epin-Extra are extremely effective. Any mineral and organic fertilizers must be used very carefully, since the slightest excess of the dose will burn the roots and the plant may die. You can use an aqueous solution of wood ash as a fertilizer.

Weak, yellowed shoots should be pruned. The plant quickly regains its shape and produces abundant growth of healthy, strong shoots.

Catharanthus planted in flower pots will overwinter well indoors

Preparing for winter

Catharanthus does not overwinter in open ground, so before the onset of autumn frosts - approximately in the second half of October or a little earlier - it is better to carefully dig up the bushes along with the roots, cut off the branches, place them in large containers, cover them with soil and bring them into the house. The air temperature in the room where the plant overwinters should not be below +15°C. In spring, the bush can be planted again in the garden, having prepared a place for it, or strong, healthy apical shoots can be cut off from it for rooting.

You can place catharanthus in containers in the garden for the summer - this makes it easier to return them to rooms if the summer is cold and rainy. Ampel varieties of catharanthus look very advantageous in hanging flowerpots or large tall flowerpots on stands. Using the same principle, you can decorate a loggia, balcony, or terrace.

Ampelous catharanthus in the garden

Reproduction

It is not difficult to grow catharanus from seeds, which should be sown without deepening them in a container filled with a mixture of sand and peat. Cover the top of the container with glass or film. Shoots appear in about a week. You need to water the seedlings very carefully. When the seedlings get stronger, you can plant them in open ground.

You should know it! It is better not to sow seeds directly into open ground, since such experiments rarely end in success.

Seeds for planting Catharanthus

You can buy planting material or sow the seeds of the fruits of your indoor plant.

Cuttings

Hybrid varieties of catharanthus are best propagated by cuttings, choosing apical non-lignified shoots about 15 cm long. The cuttings should be treated at the cut points with root and planted in pots with moist soil mixed with sand or perlite, and covered with a transparent vessel. Plants take root quite quickly - after 3-4 weeks, after which they can be transplanted into separate, larger containers or planted in open ground.

Dividing the bush

The division of the bush is carried out during replanting. The rhizome of an adult plant along with the green mass should be carefully divided into parts and planted.

Catharanthus pink

Caring for catharanthus at home

Lighting

Like most tropical plants, catharanthus thrives in warm, bright rooms with a fairly high level of air humidity. It can be placed on wide window sills of eastern and western windows, slightly shaded from direct sunlight.

In rooms with windows facing south, the conditions for growing and caring for catharanthus are almost ideal. The plant can be placed anywhere in the room that does not receive direct sunlight. In this case, the window sill is not the best place, but it is permissible to place the container with the plant there, covering it with a sun screen or attaching floral film to the frame, which can be bought at any specialty store.

Catharanthus can also decorate northern window sills if you equip them with an additional lighting system. Illumination should be carried out for 4-6 hours daily in the dark. On cloudy days, it is advisable to extend additional lighting to 8-10 hours, since with a lack of light, the growth of catharanthus slows down, the leaves turn pale and stretch, and flowering stops.

One of the varieties of catharanthus rosea

Air humidity

Insufficient air humidity is indicated by yellowed, drying tips of the leaves. In this case, it is necessary to spray the plant more often.

Catharansus has a number of valuable medicinal properties, so powerful that the plant is successfully used in folk and traditional medicine in the treatment of serious diseases, including cancer. At the same time, the alkaloids contained in the leaves can not only heal, but also cause serious illness if the potted or garden crop is carelessly maintained. If you decide to decorate your garden or home with a charming plant, you need to place it out of the reach of children.