How to prune the branches and leaves of gloxinia? Pruning methods after the flowers fade

When it comes to pruning plants, one very important point is choosing the right timing. Generally speaking, we determine this based on the plant's growth stage, but the growth habits and the division of growth stages differ from one plant to another, so before pruning we need to have a fairly accurate grasp of the plant's characteristics.

How to prune the branches and leaves of gloxinia

1. Pruning gloxinia before flowering

Generally, before gloxinia blooms, prune the branches and buds by pinching.

Pinching means removing the topmost flowering shoot so as to encourage more side branches to grow, and only then will more flowers appear.

Pinching should be done early rather than late; early pinching helps the plant take shape and bloom sooner. After pinching, keep 2—3 new shoots of similar height and suitable position to ensure the flowers open smoothly.

2. Pruning gloxinia while it is flowering

After gloxinia blooms, if the leaves around the flowers hinder the normal growth of the flowers, you can, according to the actual situation and needs, cut off some leaves entirely, or cut half of a leaf off.

Pruning the leaves this way allows the flowers to open all together at the top of the plant, forming a bouquet, which gives a better ornamental effect.

After pruning, a gloxinia can produce as many as 18 flowers at one time. Among them, a gloxinia grown in a flowerpot with a 12 cm diameter, with a plant height not exceeding 15 cm and only 2 branches, can produce 16 flowers at the same time, a mass of blooms, very beautiful.

3. Pruning gloxinia after flowering

After flowering, if the growing medium is fertile and management is proper, it will send out a second batch of buds.

After gloxinia flowers, if you do not need to save seeds, it is best to cut off the flower stems to control the loss of nutrients, which helps continued flowering and the growth and development of the tubers.

After flowering, when winter arrives, keep the tubers of the gloxinia, select a section of leafless stem, about 3—4 cm long, and store it in sand promptly, keeping the temperature no lower than 5°C.

During overwintering, the sand must not be too wet, otherwise the corms will rot. If the sand is too dry, spray a suitable amount of clean water to prevent the stem tubers from shriveling. When spring comes and the weather warms, the gloxinia tubers sprout; keep new shoots as needed and begin a new round of care and pruning.

How to prune gloxinia after the flowers fade

1. When to prune

When pruning, be sure to check whether new shoots have already formed on the main stem of the gloxinia. If there are no new shoots, then nutrients will keep being supplied to the bulb and corm, making the bulb and corm thick, but you can keep it and continue planting when the temperature is suitable. If new shoots have already appeared, then as long as the temperature is suitable they will soon grow and bloom, and this can also make the plant shape more perfect, which is convenient for ornamental cultivation.

2. Time and temperature control

If winter has already arrived and the temperature is low, even reaching five degrees Celsius, then after pruning, even if there are new shoots they will not sprout into new plants. At this time you should keep it, select a leafless stem section of suitable length, about 3-4 cm, and store it in sand, waiting to cultivate it later. When storing in sand, take care to maintain the temperature, and not lower than zero degrees Celsius is most suitable.

The sand should maintain proper moisture; too wet will cause rot, while too dry requires a little spraying of clean water to prevent the stem tubers from shriveling.

After the gloxinia tubers sprout, you should then prune the shoots to help the plant grow better.

3. Where to prune

After the plant flowers, many people may let the flower stems grow, but in fact it is more appropriate to prune off the flower stems, which can reduce the waste of nutrients and store more strength for the growth of the flowers. When the side shoots grow a bit more, you can keep only the main stem and the side shoots, prompting the side shoots to bloom quickly. Side shoots that grow after heading back will be stronger, and the overall shape will also be better. Not only is pruning needed after the flowers fade; in daily situations, if the leaves affect the growth of the flowers, then part of them needs to be pruned again. For plants before flowering, you can also pinch the top branches and buds to promote side growth. If you find yellowing leaves or leaves with spots, promptly determine whether the plant is diseased, and promptly prune off the problem leaves to prevent damage to the health of the whole plant.

Before pruning, in order to make it more ornamental, you can slightly lower the temperature at the bud stage to extend flowering and reduce the plant's metabolism.

When does gloxinia bloom

The flowers of gloxinia are borne terminally or axillary on the branches, and the corolla is bell-shaped; the flower colors include pink, red, purple-blue, white, and multicolor, with many colors and large flowers. A single gloxinia can produce as many as several dozen flowers, truly stunningly beautiful. The flowering period of gloxinia is between April and November, and the flowering period is relatively long.

How to extend the flowering period of gloxinia

1. Temperature

Generally speaking, this flower needs an ambient temperature between 18 degrees and 25 degrees from January to October, and after October it needs an environment of 10 degrees to 12 degrees. Accordingly, during its flowering period we can give it a growing environment of 18 degrees to 25 degrees, so it can grow more comfortably, and the flowering time will naturally be extended.

2. Light

This plant normally needs shade for growth and cannot adapt to overly strong light. During its flowering period, we should increase the shading time to avoid it receiving too much light and failing to grow normally. This practice can effectively prevent the flowers from fading quickly, thereby extending its flowering period.

3. Growing medium

If you want to extend its flowering period, when cultivating it you must take good care of its roots. Its root system is rather delicate and is in a capillary state; it cannot adapt to soil that is too wet or very sticky, so when cultivating it you should already have repotted it into loose soil with good drainage and irrigation capacity as well as good aeration. We can use leaf mold, vermiculite, pine needles, decomposed mushroom fertilizer, etc. mixed together to grow it. This can also effectively provide nutrients for the development of its flower buds.

4. Fertilizing

This flower needs a large amount of fertilizer when it blooms, and if the flowering period is to be extended, then even more nutrients will be consumed, so we must replenish nutrients in time. From the time its leaves unfold until before it blooms, thin cake fertilizer water must be added every week, and when the flower buds form, bone meal or phosphate fertilizer should be applied.

Although the flowering period of gloxinia is relatively long, due to the influence of the growing environment and climate and other conditions, changes in the flowering of gloxinia may occur, so we can appropriately manage and control the flowering period of gloxinia according to its growth habits.