Gloxinia Flower Cutting Propagation and Sowing Methods
When it comes to plant propagation, the ways and methods are extremely varied, and the same plant often has many propagation methods to choose from. At the same time, the same propagation method can be applied to different parts of the plant. This may sound a little unbelievable, but don't worry. Once you have read the cutting methods for gloxinia, your traditional view of cuttings will be overturned.
How to propagate gloxinia by cuttings
1. Stem cuttings of gloxinia
Choose a container with holes in the bottom to help with drainage and keep the soil loose and airy. When mixing the soil, choose fine sand or perlite, with peat soil in the lower part and perlite in the upper part. Choose a shoot that has grown 4 leaves from the tuber, heat the scissors over a flame, then cut the shoot off from the base. Dig a small hole in the soil, place the shoot in it, and then cover it with soil. Be careful not to push it in forcefully, to avoid damaging the wound. After planting, provide shade, avoid direct sunlight, and keep the surrounding temperature at 18°C-20°C. It will sprout in about 15 days.
2. Leaf cuttings of gloxinia
After the flowers fade, choose leaves from a plant that is growing vigorously and has strong resistance, and take them from the base together with the petiole. Cut off half of the leaf, insert the petiole diagonally into a substrate mixed with perlite and vermiculite, leaving two-thirds of the leaf surface exposed. Cover with glass, place in a cool spot, keep the surrounding temperature at 25°C and the humidity high. In about 20 days the young seedlings will appear, after which they can be moved into flower pots.
3. Shoot cuttings of gloxinia
This is generally done in spring when the new shoots have grown to 4-6 cm. Break off the excess new shoots from the base, insert them into a sand bed, and maintain a certain level of humidity and temperature. After a period of cultivation, they will bloom in June or July of the following year.
Sowing methods for gloxinia
1. Choosing gloxinia seeds
If you want gloxinia to produce more flowers, then when choosing seeds you should pick imported first-generation hybrid superior varieties that bloom abundantly, have a short and sturdy plant shape, strong resistance and are easy to care for. Single-petaled varieties produce more flowers than double-petaled varieties.
2. Obtaining gloxinia seeds
Gloxinia is relatively difficult to self-pollinate, so in order to obtain superior seeds, artificial pollination is necessary. During the flowering period of gloxinia, collect the pollen from the stamens and apply it to the stigma of the pistil with a small brush. About 35 days after pollination, the seeds will mature. Remove the seeds, dry them in the sun and store them.
3. The sowing process for gloxinia
Before sowing, soak the seeds in water for 24 hours to encourage them to sprout earlier. For the potting soil mix, it is best to use a culture soil mixed with leaf mold, garden soil and fine sand. After leveling the soil, scatter the seeds evenly, place the pot in shallow water to soak through, then take it out, cover it with glass, place it in a semi-shaded spot, and maintain humidity conditions at 18-20°C. Seedlings will emerge in about 10 days. After that, gradually let the gloxinia receive sunlight, but avoid direct sunlight. Mist frequently to maintain humidity, and apply a dilute cake fertilizer water about once every 10 days. Generally, it can bloom about 6 months after sowing.
How to repot gloxinia
1. Timing of repotting
It is generally repotted during the winter dormant period.
2. Steps for repotting
1. The soil used is a mix of one part nutrient soil plus one part peat soil. It is best to add a little base fertilizer as well. You can also mix the soil components yourself, but the key point to grasp is to ensure the soil is airy. In addition, water it appropriately, but not too much.
2. The tuber should be in a dormant state. After completing the first two steps, we need to dig it out of the old pot and place it into a new pot. If the tuber has too many tangled roots, some pruning can be done, but be careful not to prune excessively.
3. Find a flower pot of suitable size. The size of the pot should be based on being able to fit the tuber, and the pot still needs to be a bit larger than the tuber; a radius 2-3 cm larger is very good. If the pot is too large and there is too much soil, the soil will not dry out easily after watering, and if the tuber stays moist for a long time, there will be relatively big disadvantages, for example the roots will rot easily. The bottom of the pot should have holes to let water drain out, so that it can breathe better. It is best to cover them with a material that has good air permeability and drainage, such as palm leaves. 4. Do not bury the tuber completely in the soil; its upper part should be left exposed. Its buds grow from the upper part of the tuber, and young buds rot easily in the soil. Up to this step, the repotting process is complete, and afterward you still need to pay attention to its routine care.
3. Care after repotting
After repotting it, pay attention to keeping it sheltered, place it in a warm environment, water it regularly, and it is best to spray it with a watering can every day, which will promote growth. As long as you care for it normally, it will grow especially well.
The flowering period of gloxinia
The flowers of gloxinia are borne terminally or in the leaf axils on the branches, and the corolla is bell-shaped. The flower colors include pink, red, purple-blue, white, bicolor and many others, and the flowers are large. A single gloxinia can produce as many as dozens of flowers, truly stunningly beautiful. The flowering period of gloxinia is between April and November, and the flowering period is relatively long.
Gloxinia is a very beautiful plant. Of course, this beauty is mainly based on gloxinia flowering, so if you want to appreciate gloxinia, it is very important to determine its flowering period. Once the gloxinia flowers are in full bloom, that really counts as a splendid sight.