Gloriosa flower

The gloriosa flower is a fairly common plant that can be easily found in the tropical forests of Asia and Africa. However, in fact, this is not one plant at all, but a whole genus that combines, depending on the source, from five to nine different species.

When the adorable gloriosa flower was just discovered, it was ranked among the lily genus, however, over time, the classification was nevertheless revised and decided to refer it to malantium plants - to a genus that you most likely have not even heard of.

Gloriosa flower: description

Gloriosa: photo of a flower

The name of this wonderful flower, like, in general, and most of the names of something, has Latin roots. Translated from this dead language, the name Gloriosa means "glory", which, of course, ideally characterizes the character and appearance of this flower, which even somewhat resembles a crown.

The gloriosa flower is a herb that reproduces with the help of tubers. The plant has a stem with a large number of branches and small climbing vines. Also, it is covered with leaves of an unusual shape, which most often grow in groups of three. These leaves have an elongated and curved shape.

Gloriosa flower stalks emerge from the leaf sinuses, which are located on the tops of the cuttings. The peduncles themselves are quite long, and at their ends inflorescences of unsurpassed beauty appear, which are difficult to confuse with flowers of any other type.

Gloriosa flower: home care

Gloriosa: photo of a flower

Of course, Gloriosa, like a flower growing in the tropics and not accustomed to our climate, needs special care, and, perhaps, for some it will cause certain difficulties. In order to avoid these difficulties, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the recommendations below, which will incredibly greatly simplify your torments with whimsical Gloriosa.

Lighting

Gloriosa is very fond of bright light, and if you deprive him of the opportunity to receive it, Gloriosa begins to wither and wither. However, a very important point is that the light must be diffused. Gloriosa is at a very high risk of getting a sunburn under direct rays, and therefore the best place to plant it is the western or eastern window.

If you put Gloriosa on the south window, you will have to bother very much with shelter during the sun, and if you place the pot on the west one, you risk losing it soon. It is also very important to hide the flower from too bright light immediately after you bought it, because at least a week or two it will have to adapt to completely new conditions for itself.

Temperature range that gloriosa flower requires

During the most active and productive time for plants, namely, in the spring-summer period, it will be necessary to make sure that your Gloriosa is kept in a temperature environment suitable for itself. The most suitable conditions for this plant are from twenty to twenty-five degrees Celsius.

It is also very important to ensure that no drafts enter the room. Airing, however, is very desirable and only benefits Gloriosa. However, all these rules are completely inapplicable to the winter season, because then Gloriosa begins a period of rest.

While it is in a transitional state, it is necessary to gradually reduce watering until they stop completely. The transition to the dormant period begins immediately after the end of flowering.It was at this time that everything that is outside the ground dies off in Gloriosa: flowers, leaves and stems. However, leaving tubers in the ground to their own devices is not recommended.

It is advisable to dig them up, sprinkle them with sand and place them in a dark, cool place where the temperature will not rise above ten, but also will not drop below eight degrees. In this state, the tubers will be at rest right up to the spring planting.

How to water Gloriosa

Watering is carried out mainly exclusively in the spring and summer. In the fall, before the Gloriosa inflorescences fade, watering takes place according to the same scheme, but after that it must be gradually reduced to nothing and not renewed until spring.

It is imperative to water Gloriosa with soft water, which has stood for at least a day, however, of course, it is better - more.

Humidity in the room

Since Gloriosa is a plant that grows in the tropics, humidity is a natural need for its body. Therefore, in the room where you grow this plant, it must be humid. To do this, you can use an ordinary air humidifier, which is easy and inexpensive to buy.

It is also necessary to make daily spraying, however, you must be extremely careful with this procedure, because Gloriosa's petals cannot be waterlogged in any case. At least, if you want the plant to delight you with its beauty, and not black spots.

Also, if for one reason or another you do not want or cannot purchase a humidifier, you can simply put a bowl of ordinary soft water next to the pot, which in any case will evaporate over time.

Another option is to pour some moistened pebbles into the pot pan, which will just as well play the role of a humidifier.

Features of the period of development of Gloriosa

Gloriosa: photo of a flower

the main the feature that we will talk about is the flowering of gloriosa. Unfortunately, it can be observed only in summer. During the blooming of the inflorescences, the flower bends strongly, but the perianth, on the contrary, rises, which gives the whole flower shape a very interesting and unusual shape.

By the way, this plant is very interesting for butterflies, and therefore it is even more interesting to observe its flowering outdoors. The fact is that insects, due to the way the plant bends, simply cannot sit on it. The place of this butterfly drink nectar right on the fly, flapping its wings in such a way that the pollen flies off and lands on their stigma.

It's amazing how nature manages to come up with such unusual and bizarre methods of pollination of plants.

Other the peculiarity of gloriosa is due to the fact that the flowers do not bloom all at once, as is the case with many other plants. Instead, Gloriosa opens its blossoms gradually, which allows you to enjoy them for much longer. In total, such a change of faded inflorescences to new ones occurs about seven times per season.

Top dressing

We will not give any clear instructions here, since Gloriosa is not very picky about fertilizers. However, it is advisable to choose a liquid one, because this tropical flower does not absorb ordinary mineral fertilizers or humus very well. However, within the range of liquid ornamental fertilizers, you can choose whichever you like best.

The most important thing is to strictly follow the instructions, and then there will be no problems. However, feeding Gloriosa is still a very important matter, and therefore this procedure should be carried out more often throughout the entire flowering period. The frequency depends solely on the drug, and it will definitely be indicated in the instructions for its use.

Support

Gloriosa: photo of a flower

Although Gloriosa grows in pots, it is still a vine, which means that it simply needs a support, which it is advisable to take care of even during planting.Moreover, it is not the vines of the plant themselves that will grab hold of the support, but, for the most part, the antennae located at the tips of its leaves.

In addition, we must not forget that Gloriosa is a very delicate and fragile flower, but mother nature, unfortunately, did not endow it with antennae at the very base. Their absence may well lead to a fracture of the stem.

A garter at an early stage in the development of Gloriosa can save you from this. It is also important to take into account that the plant does not twine around the support - it only clings to it, and therefore the structure supporting Gloriosa should not be too thick. Otherwise, the flower will simply not be able to grab onto it.

If you do not have the opportunity to place something like a wire or a thin mesh, you can use an ordinary garter, but you will have to resort to this procedure very often.

Important! In late spring - early summer, Gloriosa begins a very active growth period. At this time, it can easily reach even two meters. Of course, this is undesirable, and therefore, as the vine lengthens, it is necessary to direct it downward in order to slow down the growth a little and stop the uncontrolled vertical growth of the flower.

Gloriosa transplant

Gloriasis must be transplanted exactly once a year: no more and no less. At the same time, when choosing a container for transplantation, preference should be given to ceramic, low and wide.

After the container has been selected and purchased, it is necessary to start preparing the soil mixture. For it, we need to mix the following ingredients: humus and deciduous soil, peat and sand. In this case, the following ratio should be observed: eight to four to one to one. This way you get the most balanced and versatile soil in which Gloriosa will be comfortable and cozy.

A good drainage layer is equally important, and therefore should also be taken care of. To create a solid layer, you will need to use pebbles, expanded clay or broken brick, but the latter is much less preferable due to the fact that it is slowly destroyed by moisture, which can lead to inefficiency of the entire drainage layer.

It is also important to consider the fact that each tuber has only one bud that can germinate, and therefore it must be cherished and protected with such trepidation that you are able to provide. It is recommended to plant in late winter - early spring. At the same time, the earth should already be prepared in advance and watered so that the moisture is infused a little in the pot.

This will provide Gloriosa with excellent conditions in the new location, so as to get used to the unfamiliar conditions as quickly as possible. As soon as you see that the stems are beginning to sprout on the ground, you must immediately rearrange the plant in some more lighted place.

Gloriosa flower: reproduction at home

The most commonly practiced reproduction of Gloriosa tubers however, some growers prefer seed propagation. Since the first method is much more common and preferable, then let's start with it.

For disembarkation, you will need to pick up a small pot with a diameter of thirteen centimeters. The soil mixture here must be used not at all the same as in the previous case, and therefore it will be made from the following ingredients: leaf earth, sod soil, humus and sand. All this is thoroughly mixed in proportions of four to four to two to one.

In order for the tuber not to encounter any problems with germination, it must be directed vertically upward by the bud. There should be about three centimeters of earth above the kidney. It is also very important to keep the growing sprout warm. The temperature should be maintained at around twenty-two degrees Celsius.

It is highly recommended to use a bottom heater to retain heat. No watering is carried out in advance - it is done only when the sprout appears from under the ground.They, as already mentioned above, will definitely need to be tied to a stable support, because at first the leaves will not form and Gloriosa will have nothing to cling to.

Over time, the roots of the flower will grow so much that they will no longer fit in a temporary container. In this case, you need to transplant it as soon as possible into a more spacious housing.

What about breeding seeds, it is a very long and incredibly ineffective process. To begin with, the very process of obtaining seeds is already a test for many novice gardeners, because for this you will have to carry out a procedure that some will hear about for the first time: artificial pollination.

In this case, seeds can be planted exclusively freshly harvested. And, of course, the seeds already planted in the ground need an eye and an eye, because they are incredibly tender, and with the slightest non-observance of the temperature regime or with insufficient watering, you can get an incredibly low percentage of germination.

So we can recommend the propagation of Gloriosa by seeds, exclusively as an interesting experiment or as a test of your skills.

Gloriosa toxicity

An incredibly important point that simply cannot be overlooked. That is why we have placed it in a separate item. Gloriosa bulbs are very poisonous, and therefore it is quite dangerous to work with them without gloves.

Well, of course, there is no question of using these bulbs for food. This can cause severe poisoning, and therefore the pots with Gloriosa must be kept out of the reach of your children and pets.

Diseases and pests of Gloriasis

Gloriosa: photo of a flower

This plant is not as susceptible to diseases as some other species, but it nevertheless has sworn enemies. For example, an insect that really loves to feast on Gloriosa is a scale insect, and the most common viral disease of this plant is powdery mildew.

However, there may be other problems when growing Gloriosa, which should also be discussed:

• Slow stem growth and lack of flowering. This can be a signal that your plant is in dire need of light. Therefore, it is necessary to put it in a brighter place. If this does not help, then nothing will help, since this means that the plant was initially treated incorrectly, or you have damaged something. In this case, you just have to wait for the next season and follow the instructions more thoroughly.
• The foliage is withering away. Such a problem appears if you very abruptly change the location of the flower. The fact is that with such a movement, an imperceptible for you, but a very significant jump in temperature for a flower, which they are going through is very difficult, can happen. Therefore, the best that you can do is to try to achieve in a new place the temperature at which Gloriosa grew initially.
• Yellowing. This happens solely for one reason: due to insufficient humidity, both air and soil. Fortunately, this is the least of the troubles you can face. It is enough just to resume normal watering.
• Rhizome decay. This problem is much more serious, and it is unlikely that it will be possible to cure it just like that. However, we hope that after reading this article, it will by no means arise, because the most common reason that causes it is waterlogging and stagnation of water in the soil, which (when growing at home) can happen solely through your own negligence.

Gloriosa Flower - Main Species

As already mentioned, Gloriosa is far from an isolated plant, and there are a huge mass of its species. Of course, getting lost in this variety is as easy as shelling pears, and therefore we have selected for you three of the most popular and frequently used types of Gloriosa.

Gloriosa flower gorgeous

This type of gloriosa was discovered by such a huge number of people who could not agree on who still owns the championship, that it is known under an indecently huge number of names. However, nevertheless, since the name "Gloriosa is magnificent" is the most used in our country, then we will use it.

Since this species is the very first on our list, then, quite reasonably, it is the most popular and beloved Gloriosa. It is extremely difficult to meet it in its natural habitat, and therefore connoisseurs of rarities will definitely appreciate it at least for its rarity.

The stem of this species can even reach two meters, however, fortunately, you already know how to prevent it from growing like that. The leaves of this species are not nearly as tightly curled at the ends as in many other species of Gloriosa, however, this, perhaps, gives them greater rigor and elegance. Especially coupled with the fact that they are glossy.

The petals of the flowers of Gloriosa magnificent are rather long and wavy. They are painted in a bright scarlet color, and at the base and along the very edges have a golden yellow edging. Closer upward, the scarlet color acquires deep pink hues, but this only happens if the plant is well cared for.

Gloriosa flower simple

Although the name of this gloriosa species does not differ with pathos and attractiveness, it is still the second of the best varieties. The length of its stem reaches only one and a half meters, and the leaves do not grow more than eight centimeters in length. They are smooth, but not glossy, like in the previous species, and the flowers have slightly less wavy edges. Their color has much sharper transitions between colors, deep burgundy, and a little scarlet below. However, closer to the base of the inflorescence, they sharply turn into a light green color, which looks very unusual and beautiful.

A feature of this type of gloriosa is its incredibly abundant flowering, for which, among other things, it is in the top three, no matter how deceiving its name is.

Gloriosa Rothschild

Most often this species is found in Africa, and it should be noted that it is distinguished by simply incredible beauty and a very attractive color, which, however, will be discussed a little later. At the very base, the stems of this species are quite straight, however, the higher, the more curly they become.

In length, the leaves of this Gloriosa, as in the previous case, reach no more than eight centimeters. The flower petals are very wavy, and they all bend in such a way that they form a peculiar cell shape. Simply put, the tips of the petals come together.

However, it is worth talking about color separately. It is not too different from the one that Gloriosa the gorgeous possesses, but small differences still make him inimitable. Perhaps the whole point is that a much larger part of the petal is yellow, which makes the inflorescence much more contrasting and expressive.

Conclusion

Gloriosa is an amazing home plant that can decorate absolutely any interior. Yes, even if it is a little whimsical, however, if you want to learn how to care for tropical flowers, then Gloriosa is your unconditional assistant. We hope that our article has clarified some hitherto unclear questions, and now you can easily cope with the care of this wonderful flower.