Calceolaria: planting and care, growing from seeds at home. Calceolaria care at home, growing from seeds Calceolaria cultivation and care at home

For the spring holidays, beautiful plants called calceolaria, or colloquially “slipper,” often appear at flower markets. Having bought such a plant, after flowering ends, people often throw it away, believing that it is an annual, and there is nothing more to expect from it. However, by continuing to care for it, you can enjoy its flowering next year. The calceolaria flower is easy to care for and is suitable even for a novice gardener. It is enough to follow simple rules - and the plant will thank you with vigorous and long-lasting flowering.

Meet: calceolaria

Calceolaria are flowers grown as an annual, biennial or perennial plant. It can be cultivated as an indoor plant or used to decorate flower beds and is quite unpretentious in care and very effective. This is a flowering plant that is valued precisely for the shape of its inflorescences. The calceolaria flower is unusual in its shape and color. It is popularly called a “slipper” because its petals resemble the shape of a woman’s slipper. The flowers are one color, but can have various spots and stripes, giving a more decorative and interesting look. This plant can be either a small shrub or a low one. The leaves are densely pubescent, can have either a round shape or be deeply cut.

Varieties

There are about 300 varieties of Calceolaria, but the most widespread are:

• Calceolaria is tender. It is valued for its decorative appearance, as it has yellow inflorescences, densely decorated with red specks. This small plant, not exceeding 15 centimeters in height, is grown as an indoor crop, but in the summer it can easily tolerate outdoor conditions. It is grown on windowsills as a perennial.
• Calceolaria rugosa is another representative of perennials. It grows as a bush, about 1 meter high. In places where winters are not too severe, it is grown as a perennial in a flower bed.
• Calceolaria thin is a medium-sized variety, reaching up to 40 centimeters and intended for growing in flower beds in open ground. Has light, delicate lemon flowers.
• Calceolaria multi-rooted is a type of creeping species. This subspecies is grown as an indoor crop and as a decoration for a flower bed in the open ground.
• Calceolaria hybrid is the widest representative of the species. Since this name combines numerous varieties of different colors with one common property - it is an indoor crop, low, with wide, rounded, heavily pubescent leaves, with large and original-shaped flowers. It has a very long flowering period, which is approximately 6-8 weeks. The height does not exceed 15 centimeters, while the flowers can reach 5 centimeters in diameter.

Temperature

Calceolaria are heat-loving flowers. They do not tolerate frosty winters, so they are most often grown as an indoor crop or, during wintering, they are transplanted into pots and brought into the house. At the same time, they easily tolerate high temperatures, but die at 10 degrees Celsius and below.

Lighting

Calceolaria are southern flowers, so they are very light-loving. However, they should be shaded a little from the scorching summer sun. Under direct rays, the leaves can get burned, but with strong darkness, the plant loses its decorative effect and stops blooming.

Watering and fertilizing

Calceolaria do not tolerate dry soil, so you need to carefully ensure that they are moistened at all times. The higher the air temperature, the more abundant and frequent watering should become. Water calceolaria in the same way as delicate violets and Saintpaulias - carefully along the edge of the pot, without touching the leaves and root shoots. But the safest and most effective way is to water through a tray. Calceolaria loves moist soil and does not tolerate drying out, however, if there is overflow or stagnation of water, the plant dies instantly. Therefore, you need to take care of small but frequent watering and good drainage in the pot.

The plant is protected from water getting on the leaves. Do not spray under any circumstances. This can lead to rotting of the leaves and death of the flower.

For feeding, a universal fertilizer or one intended for flowering plants, which is diluted in accordance with the instructions on the package, is suitable.

Calceolaria flower: how to care

Be sure to remove faded and faded inflorescences and yellowed leaves. If you do not remove old flower stalks, new ones will stop forming, so for stable flowering it is necessary to carry out regular pruning. Varieties such as rugose calceolaria undergo bush formation in the spring, which helps to form a more compact plant with a large number of peduncles. Potted varieties of "slipper" delight with their flowering from spring until autumn.

Calceolaria flowers are quite unpretentious to grow. Care consists of timely replanting of perennial varieties, which is done every two years, in mid-spring. When the size of the pot for replanting reaches a diameter of 20 centimeters, the plant is no longer transplanted into a large container, but only the soil is replaced. When using wider pots, root rot and plant death are very likely.

When growing indoor crops and the need to create compact plants, even at the stage of appearance of 6 leaves, the flower is pinched, thereby forming a small bush with many peduncles. After flowering ends, the plant must be pruned and withered flower stalks removed.

Reproduction

Calceolaria are flowers that reproduce using seeds that have very good germination. When sown in the ground, the seeds are scattered over the surface of the soil and not sprinkled on top, after which they are watered abundantly and covered with polyethylene or glass to create a greenhouse effect. Periodically, the glass is lifted and condensation is removed, and after the formation of 6 leaves, the calceolaria is transplanted into separate pots for further growth. Seeds germinate best at a temperature of about 20 degrees. They are sown between May and July, the first shoots appear within two weeks later. And after a month they can be planted in separate pots. Calceolaria blooms 8-10 months after the first shoots appear.

The option of propagation by cuttings is also possible. This method is suitable for medium- and tall-growing varieties, which are periodically pruned, forming more lush bushes with a large number of new peduncles. Trimmed shoots take root in the soil.

When planting, use universal soil for indoor plants or soil suitable for growing violets and Saintpaulias. When making your own soil mixture, you need to make the following composition:

• Turf - 2 parts.
• Leaf soil - 2 parts.
• Peat - 1 part.
• Sand - ½.

Flower shops sell calceolaria flowers, the average price is per plant.

Diseases and pests

The main dangers in growing calceolaria are diseases such as late blight and pythium. This can cause rotting and death of young shoots. To eliminate this problem, before planting in the ground, it is calcined or treated with poisonous fungicides. Also, due to the need for constant soil moisture, gray rot may appear. It is formed when water hits the tender leaves of plants. Calceolaria is an indoor flower often attacked by pests such as aphids, whiteflies and nematodes. At the first signs of their appearance, it is necessary to use special preparations to destroy them.

A fairly unpretentious plant that will always delight with its lush flowering and unusualness is the calceolaria flower. Even the most inexperienced gardener can learn how to care for and grow them. But calceolaria is one of the very first to bloom on the windowsill in spring.

Plants with whimsical and luxurious flowers always attract attention. And many gardeners are trying to raise amazing pets on their own. And for this you often don’t need much – stock up on planting material and find out about the features of caring for a particular plant. The herbaceous plant with the fancy name calceolaria, also known as “shoes” or “wallets,” is distinguished by its amazing flowering. Let’s clarify what kind of planting and care this flower needs, and also consider its cultivation from seeds at home.

Calceolaria is actually a perennial, but in indoor culture it is usually grown only as an annual plant. Such a pet usually grows to twenty to thirty centimeters. It pleases owners with flowers in the spring - around April-May, and flowering lasts from three to five weeks.

Growing calceolaria from seeds at home

Regardless of where you want to start growing flowers - at home or on a personal plot, you need to sow it at home to obtain seedlings. It is best to start this activity in March. To sow flower seeds, you should use peat soil mixed with sand in a 7:1 ratio. But you need to take into account that such a plant cannot grow on acidic peat, so you need to mix ground chalk into the soil mixture. Typically, about twenty grams of chalk are used per kilogram of peat.
The resulting soil must be thoroughly calcined before use.

Calceolaria seeds are very small - they are simply scattered over the surface of the soil mixture and not sprinkled with anything. You should place a wet piece of paper on top and regularly moisten it with a spray bottle. Crops should be in a fairly warm room where the thermometer does not fall below eighteen degrees.

The first seedlings appear after two weeks. They must be watered carefully, pouring water in a thin stream. After a pair of true leaves appear on the seedlings, they are plucked. At home, flowers, while they are young, can simply be transferred to a larger container, placing them at intervals of three to four centimeters. The optimal temperature for growing remains the same - about eighteen to twenty degrees. In order for the plants to take root normally in a new place, it is a good idea to cover them with polyethylene or glass. Every day, seedlings need to be ventilated, and condensation on the shelter must be systematically eliminated. The soil should remain moist at all times, but not excessively soggy.

When growing seedlings, you need to provide them with sufficient lighting; it is best to keep them on a sunny windowsill, but shade them from direct sunlight.

Planting calceolaria in open ground

Readers of Popular Health need to choose the right place to plant calceolaria flowers. This plant is not picky about soil and can grow in any garden soil. But at the same time, good drainage is extremely important for calceolaria, since stagnant water can destroy it. It is better that the soil is nutritious and breathable. It is advisable to plant such a crop in sunny places with slight shading.

It should be taken into account that calceolaria does not like wind very much, so it is better to grow it in areas not exposed to strong winds.

Planting in open ground is carried out after a stable warm temperature has been established. But in general, calceolaria grown at home can tolerate short-term frosts.

Further care for calceolaria

Calceolaria is not very demanding. Young plants need systematic watering, and flowering crops can easily grow even with some moisture deficiency. Under no circumstances should the plant be flooded, as its root system can easily and quickly rot.

It will not be superfluous to periodically feed such a pet. To do this, you can use complex fertilizers, about twice a month. The additional supply of nutrients will make the plant bloom more luxuriantly.

Since calceolaria is essentially a perennial, you can try saving it for a second year. To do this, you need to dig up the plants and place them in fairly cool and dark rooms. Bushes of the second year of life begin to bloom a little earlier than those obtained from seeds. But at the same time, as many gardeners note, their decorative value is somewhat reduced.

Caring for flowers should take into account that calceolaria may suffer from attack by pests, for example, whiteflies, aphids, spider mites, etc. This problem can be dealt with using insecticides, taking into account the development cycle of pests.

Calceolaria is usually grown as a border plant or used to decorate an alpine hill. You can also plant such a flower near a pond or in the foreground of a flower garden. Calceolaria also looks great in window boxes; they should be located in partial shade and be fairly well protected from the winds.

Additional Information

Calceolaria can be grown as a houseplant. It is also grown from seedlings and placed in separate pots on the northern, western or eastern windowsill. In order for the plant to bloom, it needs a certain temperature – from fourteen to sixteen degrees. Sufficient air humidity also plays an important role, but spraying such a flower can only do harm.

Calceolaria is a very beautiful flower, which, if placed correctly, can become a real highlight of the garden.

Calceolaria is a herbaceous, profusely flowering plant that is grown indoors as an annual or biennial. It captivates with its uniquely shaped bright two-lipped flowers, the lower lip being large, swollen, spherical, and the upper lip extremely small, barely noticeable. Due to their external similarity, people called them “shoes” or “wallets.”

Calceolaria. © Mark Kent Content:

Description of Calceolaria

To the genus Calceolaria ( Calceolaria) belongs to about 400 species of the Norichaceae family. In English taxonomics they are classified into the family Calceolariaceae ( Calceolariaceae). The plants are native to South and Central America. Translated from Latin, the word “calceolaria” means “little shoe.”

Representatives of the genus are herbs, subshrubs and shrubs with opposite or whorled leaves. Flowers with a four-membered calyx and a bright, two-lipped, swollen corolla (the lower lip is usually larger). There are 2 or 3 stamens. The fruit is a capsule.

Many types are decorative. When creating numerous garden varieties of calceolaria, hybrids of the species C. corymbosa, C. arachnoidea, C. crenatiflora and others were used. Hybrid calceolaria with yellow, orange, red, purple flowers, as well as with a spotted or shaded corolla, are grown in cool greenhouses, propagated by seeds and cuttings.

Calceolaria is one of the favorite spring flowering plants, although it is quite difficult to grow and propagate it indoors (the plant prefers cool rooms). Calceolaria flowers are very unique in shape - bubbly and two-lipped (the lower lip is large, swollen, spherical, and the upper one is extremely small, barely noticeable). Flowers are often covered with various spots and dots. The flowering period lasts from March to June for one month. There are from 18 to 55 flowers on the plant.

Features of growing calceolaria

Temperature: Calceolaria loves a cool room, 12-16 °C. In too warm rooms it drops buds or flowers.

Lighting: Bright diffused light is preferred, does not tolerate direct sunlight. It is good to place it on the windowsill of an east, north or north-west window.

Watering: A rich, earthy lump should not dry out.

Air humidity: Calceolaria requires very high air humidity; for this, pots with plants are placed on a wide tray with pebbles or expanded clay. The pubescent leaves of calceolaria do not like water to get on them, so this plant is sprayed, trying to ensure that moisture only gets on the flowers.

Transfer: Soil - 2 parts turf, 2 parts leaf, 1 part peat and 1/2 part sand. After flowering, the plant is thrown away.

Reproduction: Seeds, sown in May-July, without sprinkling soil on top and with a double pick. Calceolaria seeds germinate at a temperature of about 18 °C. However, growing calceolaria at home is quite a troublesome task; it is easier to purchase an already flowering plant.

Calceolaria care

Calceolaria prefers diffused light; the plant is shaded from direct sunlight. Suitable for growing near western and eastern windows. At southern windows, calceolaria should be shaded from direct sun, using translucent fabric or paper (gauze, tulle, tracing paper). Grows well near a north window. During the flowering period, the plant needs slight shading. In autumn and winter, you can use additional lighting with fluorescent lamps.

The temperature for keeping Calceolaria in all seasons is preferably moderate, around 12-16 °C.

During flowering, the plant is watered regularly with soft, settled water, as the top layer of the substrate dries, preventing water from stagnating in the pan. After flowering, watering should be reduced, occasionally moistening the soil and preventing the substrate from completely drying out. When new growth begins to grow, watering is gradually resumed.

Calceolaria needs high air humidity. It is not recommended to spray the plant.

To ensure sufficient humidity, the pot with the plant is placed on a tray filled with water and pebbles or wet peat, expanded clay. It is advisable to grow calceolaria in pots inserted into flowerpots. The space between the two vessels is filled with peat, which must be constantly moistened.

Feeding begins two weeks after planting in pots and continues until flowering. Feed every 2 weeks with mineral fertilizers.

After flowering, calceolaria can be cut and placed for 1.5-2 months in a cool, shaded place, occasionally moistening the soil (the earthen ball should not be allowed to dry out completely). When the shoots begin to grow, the plants are placed in a lighted place where they bloom. Flowering begins 2 months earlier than in plants grown from seeds, but they become somewhat elongated and lose the decorative effect characteristic of young calceolarias. Therefore, it is better to grow it from seeds every year.

Since the plant quickly loses its decorative effect with age, it should not be replanted, but replaced with a new one.

Calceolaria Fothergill, variety ‘Walter Shrimpton’. © Teddington Gardener

Reproduction of calceolaria

Calceolaria is propagated by seeds.

For autumn flowering they are sown in March, for spring flowering - in June.

Small seeds (about 30 thousand pieces in 1 g) are sown on the surface of the substrate; they are not covered with soil. The crops are covered with paper, which is periodically moistened. When the seedlings grow two true leaves, they are picked. In this case, to prepare the earth mixture, take 2 parts of humus, deciduous and peat soil and 1 part of sand.

Calceolaria seeds germinate well on peat. In order for the plants to bloom in mid-March, the seeds are sown on July 5-15 in litter peat, previously disinfected from rot by heating to 90-100 ° C. To reduce acidity, ground chalk is added to peat (15-20 g per 1 kg of peat). For 7 parts of peat take 1 part of sand. The substrate is mixed well. The seeds are sown scattered, without being covered with peat. The crops are covered with plastic film or glass.

If condensation forms on the inside of the glass or film, the shelter must be turned over, preventing moisture from getting on the plants. In the future, it is necessary to ensure that the peat is always moist.

After the rosette has formed, the plants are picked a second time, transplanted into 7-centimeter pots and placed on bright windows. In September, they are transplanted again into 9-11 cm pots. Before the second transplant, the plants are pinched, leaving 2-3 pairs of leaves, from the axils of which side shoots appear.

Calceolaria bushes are also formed by pinching, i.e., removing side shoots growing from the leaf axils.

In January-February they are transplanted into large pots with a heavier and more nutritious earthen mixture. For grown plants, a humus, slightly acidic (pH about 5.5) substrate is suitable. To make up the substrate, you can take 2 parts of turf, humus and peat soil and 1 part of sand with the addition of complete mineral fertilizer at the rate of 2-3 g per 1 kg of mixture. Calceolaria blooms 8-10 months after sowing the seeds.

Possible difficulties when growing calceolaria

Every year the plants are replaced - propagated by seeds or purchased already flowering specimens, without leaving them for the next year.

At high temperatures and lack of humidity, the leaves wither and the plant quickly ages.

Calceolaria species

Mexican Calceolaria - Calceolaria mexicana

All types of calceolaria, due to their too bright colors, are difficult to combine with other plants. Calceolaria mexicanis is no exception. Its small, light yellow flowers, having a diameter of only about 5 mm, look spectacular only in a border with decorative foliage plants or in a composition located on the bank of a stream. In these cases, their corollas look like small Chinese lanterns.

Depending on the conditions, calceolaria bushes can reach a height of 20-50 cm. Naturally, in a moist, shaded place with fertile soil they will be taller. In nature, this species grows on the wooded slopes of the mountains of Mexico, so it prefers warmth. However, it tolerates bright sunlight only with abundant watering. Plants usually bear fruit profusely, producing many seeds.

Calceolaria rugosa

The original elegant plant, similar to a cloud of yellow drops, was brought to Europe from Chile.

A perennial herbaceous plant, grown as an annual plant, it is distinguished by an erect, highly branched stem 25-50 cm high. The medium-sized leaves form a rosette. The flowers are small, 1.5-2 cm in diameter, pure yellow, with brown dots in some hybrid forms. With normal sowing, flowering lasts from June until frost. For early flowering in April, seedlings are grown in containers.

Calceolaria varieties

Goldbukett- large-flowered, strong plants 25-30 cm high.
‘Triomphe de Versailles’ - small-flowered, fast-growing plants 35-50 cm high.

Sunset(Calceolaria x hybridus) - a bright, elegant plant for the home and garden! Each rosette of leathery, dark green leaves produces up to 10 short flower stalks with yellow, orange or red bell-shaped flowers. Height 15-20 cm. Withstands frosts down to -5 °C.

Calceolaria is a plant with flowers of unusual shape. Their number on one plant reaches 18-50 pieces. From the article you will learn how to care for calceolaria, how often to replant and when to feed.

The colorful calceolarias are usually grown as annuals.

The Calceolaria flower belongs to the Calceolariaceae family of the same name. It is a herbaceous plant, shrub or subshrub native to Central and South America. Calceolaria are annual, biennial and perennial, but are usually grown in culture as annuals.

The flower reaches a height of 30 cm, a width of 50 cm. The corrugated bright green leaves are pubescent on the underside, reaching 5-10 cm in length. The flowers are small - 2.5-6 cm, externally reminiscent of clogs, they are yellow, red, white or orange, plain and speckled.

Popular types

The genus Calceolariaceae has about 400 plant species. The most popular ones for home cultivation are:

Conditions of detention

Calceolaria is a rather capricious plant. In order for it to please with its growth and flowering, it is necessary to adhere to optimal conditions. This is not always easy, since the flower is not suitable for both too bright lighting and its lack.

Temperature and lighting

Calceolaria needs diffused, dim light. On a windowsill with direct sunlight it should be shaded. In summer, the best option would be an eastern or western window sill. In winter and late autumn you will need additional lighting. Calceolaria needs shade only before flowering and during this period.

Along with bright lighting, the flower prefers cool conditions. It blooms for a long time at temperatures of 9-15 degrees in winter and 15-17 degrees in summer. If you grow calceolaria in a hot room, it will quickly drop or dry out its buds, become sick more often, and age faster.

Humidity and watering

The plant loves high humidity, so the pots are placed on trays with wet pebbles or expanded clay. Spraying the air near the plant with a small spray bottle helps. Moisture should be avoided on the pubescent leaves of Calceolaria. Water the plant often - do not allow the earthen clod to dry out.

To increase moisture, expanded clay is placed next to the plant and moistened.

During the flowering period, water is supplied about once a week - until the top layer of soil dries out. When calceolaria fades, watering is reduced by half. They resume frequency when new shoots emerge. For irrigation, use only settled water at room temperature. You should avoid stagnation in the pan and drain it immediately after watering.

Soil and replanting

Calceolaria is unpretentious to soil, but grows best in a mixture of 2 parts turf and leaf soil, one part peat soil and half part sand. It is permissible to use other mixtures, but be sure to use turf soil. To any soil you can add sphagnum, crushed sawdust, vermiculite, wood ash, crushed pine bark. A commercially available universal primer will also work.

Calceolaria is usually grown as an annual plant. The flower of the second year will be less decorative, although it will bloom earlier. In this case, he does not need a transplant. If you want to transplant a purchased flower into a decorative pot, fill the bottom with a layer of drainage. Then carefully roll over the plant along with the earthen lump, and fill the remaining space with fresh soil.

Top dressing

Calceolaria is fertilized from the moment of planting until the start of flowering. This is done once every 2 weeks, using potassium phosphate complexes or fertilizers for flowering plants. During the flowering period, autumn and winter, the flower is not fed. If calceolaria is left to grow for the second year, feeding is resumed in the spring, with the appearance of young shoots.

Bush formation

In order for the plant to bush well and bloom profusely, they resort to forming a crown. The side shoots growing from the axils of the leaves are removed from calceolaria. Sometimes, in order to provoke branching, in the spring, before the buds begin to form, the flower is pinched. Leave 2-3 pairs of leaves on each shoot. After pinching, the flowers may be smaller than when side shoots are removed (pinching).

Flowering period

Calceolaria blooms in March-June, the flowers last for a month. Biennial plants bloom a couple of months earlier, but the flowering is not as abundant. On calceolaria, 18-50 flowers can bloom at the same time. They are small, up to 6 cm in diameter, similar to shoes. Blooms red, orange, yellow, white. The flowering period does not provoke the development of allergic reactions.

Calceolaria flowering.

Why does calceolaria not bloom?

If the maintenance conditions are not met, the flower may drop, dry out its buds, or not bloom at all. Most often, the absence of calceolaria flowers is associated with:

• Content at high temperature.
• Improper watering.
• Excessive application of fertilizers, mainly nitrogen
• Lack of cool winter conditions.

Plant care after flowering

When calceolaria fades, you can either throw it away or grow it for a second year, but then get rid of it anyway. If you want to achieve flowering in the second year, then trim the shoots, leaving 15 cm. Place the pot in a cool, shaded place. In the spring, with the appearance of new shoots, the plant is returned to a well-lit windowsill, watering is increased more often, and fertilizing is resumed. Soon the flower buds will appear and the calceolaria will bloom.

Calceolaria in open ground

Growing a flower in open ground.

In mild climates, the plant is grown in open ground. Since the flower is mainly used as an annual flower, seeds are sown in a flowerbed in early spring or germinated in a container and then planted. After flowering, the annual plant dies off on its own. Next year you can simply sow new seeds. Most often found in flower beds is Calceolaria thin and multi-rooted.

Difficulties in growing

When growing calceolaria, you must strictly adhere to the required conditions. If you deviate from them, the plant begins to turn yellow, shed flowers and leaves, wither, and may even die. Pests do not bypass it either.

Pests

Calceolaria is most often affected by aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, whiteflies, and scale insects. Pests drink all the juices from the plant, which first leads to loss of decorativeness and growth inhibition, then to the death of the flower. If pests are detected, it is necessary to treat the plant with a chemical preparation, for example, Actellik.

In case of severe infection, repeated treatment will be required after 3-4 days. In especially severe cases, up to 4 treatments are carried out with an interval. The dosage is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging of the drug.

Diseases

Calceolaria is susceptible to gray mold. The disease occurs due to prolonged waterlogging combined with low temperature and high humidity. Gray mold can also develop due to overfeeding with nitrogen fertilizers. If there is rot, you need to remove all damaged areas and sprinkle the cut areas with sulfur. The plant should be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture or a copper-containing preparation (Topaz, Oksikhom).

If not maintained properly, pests attack flowers and leaves.

Reproduction of calceolaria

The flower can be propagated by cuttings or grown from seeds.

Cuttings

Shoots cut after flowering have finished can be rooted in water or soil mixture. You can cut them both in August and in February-March. When rooting, an activated carbon tablet is first dissolved in water, and the container is selected from dark glass. This reduces the risk of cuttings rotting.

When the cutting is buried in the soil, it is covered with a transparent bag or bottle on top, increasing the humidity around it. It will take 3-4 weeks for rooting. When the shoots take root, they can be transplanted into a permanent pot. For splendor, several cuttings are planted in one container.

Growing from seeds

Seeds are sown in April. Prepare a soil mixture consisting of 7 parts peat, 1 part sand and 20 g of dolomite flour per 1 kg of soil. The soil is pre-calcined for disinfection, and then moistened.

Seeds are sown on the surface without being buried in the ground. The top of the container is covered with transparent film or glass. Such a greenhouse is placed in a well-lit place with a temperature of 18 degrees. Periodically, the cover is removed to remove excess condensation.

After about 2 weeks, shoots appear. The soil between them is watered with a thin stream of water. The first transplant is carried out after a month, the second - after two. For this, pots with a diameter of 7 cm are used, and watering is carried out once every 2 weeks.

Growing calceolaria from seeds.

In September, young plants are transplanted into pots with a diameter of 9-11 cm and placed in a cooler place with a temperature of 8-10°C. In January-February, calceolaria are planted in pots for adult plants. Then pinch the rosettes over 3-4 leaves and place them in a permanent place.

Calceolaria is a capricious plant that can die with the slightest mistakes in care. It lives for 1-2 years, but is easily propagated by cuttings or seeds. Basically, for cultivation, they buy flower seeds, which are sold in any flower shop. The package costs about 55 rubles. Having mastered the rules of care, you will be able to regularly admire the beautiful flowers of calceolaria.

In early spring, along with the usual primroses, unusual and funny calceolaria flowers appear on our windowsills. This plant has been cultivated as a house flower relatively recently. It has a bizarre shape, reminiscent of wooden shoes. Hence the popular name of the plant “slipper”. Calceolaria grows in the wild in Central and South America. Prefers shaded and moist biotopes, mountain slopes covered with forests. Initially, the plant was classified as a member of the Norichinaceae family, but recent studies have shown that it became the progenitor of plants from the Lamiaceae family.

In the landscape design of central Russia, “slipper” is grown as an annual and only in regions where winter temperatures do not fall below -5 degrees, it is grown as a perennial variety. In gardens, low-growing varieties have settled on alpine hills and as border plants; tall varieties look good in flower beds in combination with decorative foliage plants. The variety of colors of inflorescences from yellow to red, pink and purple allows you to complement any flower arrangement in the flowerbed.

Calceolaria is grown at home as an annual crop, but it is also possible to preserve it as a biennial. There are also perennial species.

There are herbaceous, shrubby or semi-shrub forms of the plant. The plant grows up to 55 cm in height. The stems are branched, erect, and pubescent. The root system is fibrous. The leaves on the stem are arranged in whorls or opposite, densely covered with small fibers. At the base, the leaves are collected in a rosette. The shape of the leaf at the basal rosette is solid, round, with smoothed teeth along the edges. Leaf color is green. The leaves on the stem are lanceolate-shaped. The venation is reticulate.

The inflorescences are painted in different colors. There are yellow, orange, red and even purple corolla colors, with bright pink or red dots. The two-lipped corolla, with a strongly swollen lower lip, contains 2-3 stamens. The diameter of the inflorescence is 5-6 mm. After flowering, a capsule-shaped fruit is formed. The seeds are very small.

During flowering, each plant produces from 15 to 55 bright flowers. It begins to bloom in mid-March and ends in June. Homemade hybrid varieties can bloom all summer.

Types and varieties of plants

Calceolarias are used as indoor flowers as annuals; in the second year of life, the flower loses its decorative effect. Only hybrid forms feel good indoors; they bloom longer and are less demanding on maintenance, although about 300 species of wild calceolaria are known.

Calceolaria mexicanis

Calceolaria mexicanis

The Latin name is Calceolaria Mexicana, as this plant is native to Mexico. In the wild it is found on forested mountain slopes. Bush from 20 to 50 cm in height, with green, hairy leaves and bright yellow flowers (up to 5 mm.). The stems are strong, thicker than most varieties, and burgundy or brown in color.

Calceolaria purpurea

Calceolaria purpurea

Calceolaria purpurea received its name for the rich purple, almost violet, color of its flowers. This is a perennial species that forms a spreading bush up to 50 cm in height. The leaf shape is spatulate, pointed. The edges of the leaf have small sharp teeth. The stems are thin and long, purple in color, and covered with fibers.

Calceolaria rugosa

Calceolaria rugosa

Wrinkled calceolaria (Calciolaia rugosa) is a large representative, grows up to 50 cm. The stems are highly branched. The flowers are yellow, small, up to 2-3 cm in diameter. In hybrid forms there are species with dark brown or burgundy spots.

In regions with warm winters it can be grown as a perennial plant. It blooms in the second half of summer, from June until cold weather. To obtain early flowering, they are planted in seedlings. Varieties suitable for outdoor and indoor cultivation have been developed (for example, Sunset). This plant is native to the rainforests of Chile.

Calceolaria hybrida

Calceolaria hybrida

At home, Calceolaria hybrid will feel better than others. It combines many varieties of a wide variety of colors. There are specimens with unusual patterns, such as stripes or blots. But such representatives are more demanding of conditions. If the room is very hot, the flowers will bloom in one color. Despite the small size of the plant (up to 20 cm), the flowers can reach up to 5 cm in diameter. The leaves are light green, covered with hairs on the underside. Selection made it possible to extend flowering to 6-8 weeks.

Calceolaria crenate

Calceolaria crenate

It is part of the hybrid varieties of Calceolaria. The plant reaches a height of 30 cm. The leaves are green, ovate-oval, pubescent. The leaves are arranged oppositely on the stem, sessile at the base - on short petioles. The flowers are large, up to 2.5-5 cm in diameter, yellow, with burgundy dots.

Home care

Calceolaria at home requires special attention. The plant is purchased as an annual, with already formed inflorescences. At home, caring for calceolaria requires maintaining precise temperature conditions and watering.

During the growing season, yellowed leaves and faded flowers must be cut off from the plant; this stimulates the appearance of new buds and prolongs the flowering period.

After flowering, the plant is cut short, put in a cool, dark place or thrown away.

Temperature

During the flowering period, the “slipper” feels good at +15...+17 degrees, but for flowers to form, the temperature must be at +12...+15 degrees. It is necessary to maintain this temperature throughout the winter. The usual room temperature of +22...+25 degrees will lead to the dropping of buds, premature aging and damage to the plant by insect pests.

Air humidity

Among indoor flowers, calceolaria is one of the most demanding in terms of air humidity. It needs constant high humidity, which can be achieved in several ways:

• Spray water from a fine spray bottle, being careful not to get on the leaves and flowers of the plant.
• Place the pot with the plant on a tray with expanded clay or pebbles, fill it with water so that the pot itself does not come into contact with the water.
• Place the pot in a flowerpot filled with wet sphagnum moss.

Watering

The flower is demanding not only in terms of temperature and humidity, but also in terms of watering. The water should be at room temperature and soft. It is better to use settled or filtered water. Watering is carried out regularly, preventing any soil from drying out. At the same time, make sure that water does not accumulate in the pan, as this can lead to rot, fungal attack and plant diseases.

During the dormant period, watering is halved and watered as the top layer dries. With the appearance of young shoots, the intensity of watering is resumed.

Calceolaria fertilizer

During the dormant period, the plant does not need feeding. If you continue to feed, it may die or lose its ovaries due to oversaturation of the soil with minerals. During the active growing season, the plant is fed once a week with complex mineral fertilizer for flowering plants. For good flowering, the fertilizer must contain potassium and phosphorus.

Lighting

Despite the fact that calceolaria came to us from southern latitudes, it is not worth leaving it in direct sunlight, as burns may form on the leaves. Insufficient lighting leads to loss of color, leaves turn pale, and the plant stops blooming.

The optimal location of the plant in the house is on east or west windows. On southern windows, it is better to shade the plant from direct sunlight.

Possible growing difficulties

• If the “slipper” has limp leaves, the edges dry out and the buds fall off, the cause may be insufficient moisture and high room temperature.
• In the second year of life, the plant looks less decorative; it is better to purchase a new one or propagate it with seeds.
• In a room with high temperatures (+20...+25 degrees), the plant is attacked by insect pests. This manifests itself in the curling of leaves, the appearance of cobwebs and insects. This can be prevented by ventilating the room or moving the plant to another, less warm place.
• Infection of a plant with bacteria or fungi is manifested by the appearance of dark wet spots on the stems and leaves. It is better to get rid of the flower. You can fight it by regularly treating the plant with Fitosporin or another antifungal drug.
• The upper leaves remain elastic, but turn yellow, and a white coating appears on the clay pot. This is usually caused by high calcium levels in the soil. It is necessary to replace the soil and monitor watering, reduce water hardness.
• White or yellow spots on the leaves indicate watering with cold water or water entering during spraying.
• Sudden loss of leaves without a previous period of wilting may indicate a sharp change in temperature (either a decrease or an increase).

Diseases and pests

"Slipper" is susceptible to attack by many pests. Like all flowering houseplants, the main danger to buds and young shoots comes from aphids. You can fight aphids by treating the plant with an insecticide, according to the instructions.

The flower may also be exposed to mealybugs, nematodes, whiteflies and spider mites. They can be combated by systematically spraying with insecticides (Fufa-Nova, Fitoverm) once a week or every three days, when treated against whiteflies.

The defeat of a plant by diseases indicates unfavorable conditions for it. They can be controlled by timely removal of the affected area and treatment with a fungicide. Most often, with improper watering, the plant suffers from gray rot, late blight and root rot.

Planting and propagation

Growing calceolaria from seeds will produce a young and very decorative plant. Propagation by cuttings is suitable for hybrid forms, since their seeds will not retain maternal characteristics. Most indoor species are biennials and in the second year of life they stretch out and lose their decorative properties. Although flowering occurs earlier, it is not as abundant.

How to grow calceolaria from seeds

Growing calceolaria from seeds is a labor-intensive process and requires compliance with temperature conditions. The stores sell the Calceolaria Dainty mix variety, available for growing at home.

Calceolaria from seeds begins to bloom after 7-8 months, but its flowering will be abundant and longer compared to plants grown by other methods.

You can grow calceolaria from seeds as an indoor flower every year by collecting the seeds yourself from the mother plant. It is better not to store seeds for a long time, since germination is better for fresh seeds from this year.

Ripe boxes are carefully cut off and opened over a sheet of paper.

The soil must first be calcined in the oven. It should consist of one part sand and seven parts peat soil. Dust-like seeds are sown evenly. There is no need to bury or sprinkle the seeds, as they are very small. Watering is best done from a spray bottle. The container is covered with glass or film to maintain constant humidity. It is necessary to ensure that condensation does not form, ventilate daily, avoiding the appearance of rot and fungi. Before the first shoots appear, the pot should be in a dark room, at a temperature of +18 to +22 degrees. After the first shoots appear, the temperature is lowered to +12…+15 degrees, and the pot is moved to a bright room. Sprouts appear on days 15-20 and are planted once in pots with a diameter of 7 cm. After 14 weeks, the plant is again transplanted into pots with a diameter of 9 cm and planted.

The optimal time for propagation by seeds is from March to June. Propagation by seeds in the fall will make it easier to maintain temperature conditions, but the plants will need additional lighting.

Cuttings

Semi-shrub forms, like outdoor species, can be propagated by cuttings. To do this, you need to choose an adult calceolaria with strong side shoots. It is better to cut off the side branches in February, March and August. A root formation stimulator, for example, “Kornevin” or “Heteroxin” will help to take root. Within a month, the young “slipper” will take root. You can buy soil for cuttings in a store or prepare it yourself. The soil composition should include humus, leaf soil, peat, fine sand, sphagnum, coal and perlite.

Transfer

A store-bought plant is in a transport pot and soil. To transplant calceolaria into a home pot, you need to fill it 1-2 cm with expanded clay and fresh soil, then place the plant there with a lump of earth. Excess soil must be shaken off very carefully, being careful not to damage the thin roots. The new soil should consist of peat with the addition of leaf soil, sphagnum, sand, fern roots, coal and leaf humus. Fill the space between the lump of earth and the walls of the pot with earth. Water the transplanted flower well; you can add an immunostimulant, such as Epin.