Kufeya - planting and care in the open field
Content:
A plant like kufea comes from the tropics or subtropics. It got its name from the curved seed discs. Indoor plant lovers note that kufeya has interesting tube-shaped flowers. This unusual representative of the tropics will be especially interesting for exotic lovers.
What does kufeya look like?
Kufeya is a lush fan-shaped evergreen shrub. The plant belongs to the Derbennikovye family. The shoots of the flower are erect, the leaf is of medium size, painted in a deep green color.
Kufeya in landscape design
The kufea flower is of Mexican origin. But the name has Greek roots and means "bend" in translation. Outwardly, the plant is fully consistent with its name, the leaves of the kufei have obvious bends. It is generally accepted that if this plant bloomed in the house, then peace and mutual understanding between the residents reign in it. For this reason, the flower is often placed in hotels, meeting rooms or other work spaces.
This feature can be explained by the fact that the smallest birds in the world with a thin, curved beak - the Hummingbird - pollinate the kufeyu in the homeland. The plant blooms magnificently, this period lasts from spring to autumn. During the whole warm period, houses, plots and windowsills are decorated with magnificent kufei flowers.
Common species and varieties
The genus of kufei has more than 250 species, so you shouldn't be surprised if you have to see completely different plants under this name. Perennials can be not only artisanal, but also herbaceous type, with erect or curly stems. In Russia, certain varieties are usually grown that do well in any type of container.
Kufea hyssopolis
Hyssopolis kufea is a species that has a special fresh look. These bushes reach a height of half a meter.
The shoots are actively branching, the leaves are small, the length does not exceed 3 cm, a bright green hue. For kufei, such flowers are completely atypical.
The shade of the inflorescences is lilac-pink, the petals are of the same size, in the middle there is a corolla with a diameter of 1 cm.
Kufeya Dynamite
Kufeya Dynamite is a variety of hyperali kufei. This bush can be easily shaped by pruning to create the desired shape. For this reason, in addition to growing in containers, the plant is more preferred to be planted in open ground.
Abundant flowering in the warm season is truly capable of decorating any, even the most unattractive, site. The shrub prefers warm weather, but winds and rains are not particularly scary for him.
Kufeya fiery red
In indoor conditions, the growth of the plant reaches 40 cm, its stems are quite plastic. You can form an ampelous plant or a bush from it. The sheet has a smooth surface, elongated and narrow shape.
Inflorescences are elongated bright red tubules. These flowers have a black and purple petal at the end. Not only thanks to the inflorescences, but also to its unpretentious properties, the plant has taken root well in indoor cultivation.
Fiery red kufeya
Kufeya Gel
This variety belongs to the fiery red species. External data attract many florists.
In a container, this plant grows beautifully and decorates balconies, loggias, offices and other premises. It feels great not only in containers, but also in flower beds of the gel variety. The plant can be planted in personal plots, usually they are decorated with borders.
Kufeya: planting and care in the open field
When it comes to planting in the garden, in Russia, kufeya is usually cultivated as an annual plant. Because the roots can survive the winter season only if the temperature does not drop below -12 degrees. It is clear that the conditions of the Moscow region are in no way suitable for planting perennial varieties - winter will destroy the roots. But in the south of the country it is quite possible to try to plant kufeya in the ground for several years.
- Choosing a landing site
If you are going to grow kufeya in the garden, you need to choose an open, well-lit area. Unlike other ornamental crops, this flower perfectly tolerates direct sunlight.
- Landing in open ground
The plant is planted by transshipment into pre-prepared pits (humus must be added to them and dug well).
Allowable distance between individual bushes: at least 30 centimeters.
- Watering garden kufei
It is necessary to ensure that the earth does not dry out.
The plant likes daily watering in the evening, when the sun is no longer baking, but has not yet set.
- The need for fertilizers
If during the planting of the plant in open ground, organic matter was added to the ground, then feeding can no longer be carried out. If, for some reason, the planting pits were not properly prepared, then fertilizer will need to be added for abundant flowering.
A couple of weeks after planting, they are fed with nitrogen fertilizers. When buds begin to form, it would be good to add phosphorus-potassium substances.
Kufeya: features of home care
This plant can be called truly demanding and capricious. For this reason, if novice flower growers get down to business, growing and caring for kufei often brings complete disappointment. If the elementary rules for care are not followed, the leaves of the flower will immediately begin to turn yellow, after which they will fall off and the bush will become bald. With poor care, flowering is difficult to achieve, and it will not be as abundant as we would like.
- Temperature
The plant loves warmth, but in moderation, it needs normal air heating.
In summer, the temperature should not be higher than 25 degrees, and in winter, when the dormant period begins, in the region of 19-20 degrees.
- Lighting
In order for the bush to develop vegetatively according to all norms, it needs a normal amount of sunlight.
It is best to place the container with the plant on the east side of the house. Western windows are relatively good; wintering is acceptable on them.
- Watering
At any time of the year, watering kufei as a home care is the same. The plant prefers moisturizing in a good amount every 3 days. Between watering, do not allow the substrate to completely dry out. The flower normally tolerates drought only in open ground.
- Spraying
It is possible and even necessary to spray kufeya. The flower needs irrigation at least 3 times a week. The description of the variety speaks of its special love for a humid microclimate.
Growing kufei in a container
- Humidity
The plant loves high moisture readings. For this reason, you should not keep it in a room with dry air, and if there is no other option, you should take care of frequent spraying of the plant.
- Priming
The soil must be nutritious and well-drained. A store-bought mixture with low acidity is quite suitable.
- Top dressing
Fertilizers should be applied once every 2 weeks. Preparations of complex action with fluorine and potassium are suitable.
When and how kufeya blooms
The flowering period of kufei can be quite long if all the rules of agricultural technology are followed. Good care will produce abundant flowering.
- Types of flowers
The appearance of flowers depends entirely on the type and variety of kufei. Corollas can be painted not only brick-red, but also creamy white.
- Flower shapes
The flower shape is tubular with a dark tip, it is the most common and resembles a kind of light. The second most popular form is an inflorescence with petals of the same size and a pronounced pistil.
- Flowering period
This plant blooms from March to October. For almost six months, the site or loggia will be decorated with beautiful flowers.
- Changes in care during flowering
In no case should pruning be carried out during the growing season. Watering is slightly reduced, but it is impossible to allow the soil to dry out. Do not forget about fertilizing.
Pruning kufei
Pruning is a must every spring. At this time, it will be possible to give the crown a good shape and the required dimensions.
- The fiery red kufeya must be cut so that only long branchy shoots are shortened.
- Hyssopolis kufeya will have to be shaped much more carefully in order to make an attractive crown.
In the last days of March, 2/3 of the shoots should be removed, this is how growth and vegetation are stimulated.
Formed kufei bush
How kufeya multiplies
Kufea is propagated by cuttings and seeds. If any of the propagation methods produced a strong and healthy plant, it can be safely planted in open ground.
Germinating seeds
Seeding instruction:
- The seeds of the plant are tight, they have poor germination. The seed is spread on the soil surface. Do not sprinkle it with earth, you can just push them a little into the ground.
- The containers must be covered with foil and placed in a warm place.
- Plentiful, but infrequent watering is carried out.
- The picking should be carried out after the appearance of the fifth leaf.
Rooting cuttings
Cuttings for propagation are best cut in late spring. Rooting them is successfully obtained using phytolamps.
The main thing is that there are at least 2 knots on the handle. To begin with, the cutting is planted in the sand and the container is covered with a film. Don't forget about watering.
After rooting, the cuttings can be safely planted in different containers.
Air layering
Those varieties of kufei that have air layers can be propagated with their help. To do this, it is important to cut off the desired section of the shoot, process it, moisten it and wait for the roots to appear in this place.
The cut is cut at a distance of 1.5 cm below the cuff and planted in the substrate.
Transfer
The kufeya needs to be replanted, especially if it is grown from seed. This must be done in the spring.
A pot is selected more than the previous one by only 3 cm, no more. When replanting, you can use fertile soil in combination with mineral fertilizers. We must not forget about a good drainage layer, which is covered at the bottom of the pot during transplantation.
Possible problems in growing kufei
If you follow all the agrotechnical rules for the cultivation of kufei, there should be no special problems. But if the care does not meet the requirements, the flower begins to give signals, its external data becomes unattractive.
Yellowed leaves
- Drops buds and leaves
This reason may appear due to insufficient amount of sunlight.At best, the flowering will be poor, at worst, the plant will independently shed the buds that have set.
- Leaves turn pale
If the leaf turns pale or yellow, there are two solutions to the problem. In this case, he either does not have enough iron, or the watering was carried out too abundantly or often. It is worth reducing watering and applying the necessary fertilizers.
- The tips of the leaves dry
In this state of affairs, we can talk about insufficient watering, or the presence of strong drafts. It is necessary to increase watering, after it water should remain in the pan, after 10 minutes it must be drained. If you are worried about drafts, it is better to move the pot to another place and carry out sanitary pruning.
- The lower leaves fall
In addition to the dropping of the lower leaves, they can also become covered with brown spots. Most likely, rotting of the root collar occurs. The plant suffers from a fungal disease, urgent fungicide treatment and sanitary pruning are needed.
Pests
In rare cases, the kufeyu is attacked by the scabbard and spider mite. If there are ticks in the container, then a characteristic thin white cobweb can be observed on the plant. In such a situation, it is enough to treat the plant with a sponge dipped in soapy water. If the case is neglected, then chemical treatment will be required.
If convex bumps of a brown hue were found on the leaves, then we can talk about the appearance of a scale insect. A soapy solution and a brush will mechanically remove these insect shells. Additionally, you can carry out insecticidal treatment.
Kufeya in the garden
With proper care of exotic kufeya, no problems should arise with it. You should not take on growing a flower for novice gardeners, they may not be able to cope with this plant, because it is not so easy to care for it. We must not forget about watering, fertilizing and mandatory pruning, then you can expect excellent flowering of the shrub for many months.
