Katarantus is a very decorative and unpretentious plant that grows equally well indoors and in the garden. It belongs to the Kutra family and is distributed in the bright tropical forests of Madagascar. Most of our compatriots know the catarantus under the name "periwinkle", "Madagascar vinka", "loner", "old maiden" or "cayenne jasmine". Since the flower does not tolerate cold, in the garden it is grown as an annual. In pots and in the south of the country, he will live in one place for several years, delighting with delicate flowers and dense juicy greens.
Plant description
Katarantus is an annual or perennial evergreen. It has a rooted root system, which is covered with many filamentous processes and extends 25-35 cm deep into the ground. Erect shoots form dense, highly branched bushes up to 60 cm high. In the natural environment, the height of the bush can reach 1.5 m.
All shoots are covered with a smooth bark of green or pinkish color. Opposite sessile or short-leaved leaves grow on them. The foliage is oval in shape with a rounded or sharp edge. The leaflet is 2.5-8 cm long and 3 cm wide. The smooth leathery surface is painted dark green. A thin whitish vein is clearly visible in the center.
The catharanthus blooms in late spring. The buds open alternately, so flowering can continue indoors even in winter. Flowers bloom in the axils of the leaves and on the tops of the shoots, gathering in loose brushes. The corolla with a diameter of up to 3 cm is spike-shaped and consists of five obovate or wedge-shaped petals fused at the base. The central part of the flower is a narrow tube, from which bright yellow anthers barely peep out.
After pollination, sickle leaflets mature up to 5 cm in length and up to 3 mm in width. Inside are small elongated seeds of black color with a rough surface.
Species diversity
Currently, the genus of Catharanthus includes 8 main species and several decorative varieties. In culture, you can find only Catharanthus pink. It is a low branched shrub with dark green oblong leaves and five-petalled flowers of white and various shades of pink.
Hybrid varieties are very diverse. For convenience, they are divided into varietal groups, inside which plants can differ in structure, color of flowers and leaves, as well as the flowering period. The most interesting are the following groups:
- Katarantus ampelous (cascade). Plants with falling lashes 75-150 cm long. The processes are covered with oval dark green leaves and small red flowers that bloom at the ends of shoots and in the axils of the leaves along the entire length.
Catharanthus ampelous - Aristocrat. Shrub with a spherical crown up to 50 cm high blooms in the second half of summer with large (up to 5 cm in diameter) flowers of white, scarlet and pink colors. The core of the flower has a contrasting color.
Aristocrat - Pacific. Compact bushes 25-30 cm tall and 15-20 cm wide bloom not so abundantly, but differ in large bright leaves. The flowers at the ends of the shoots have a characteristic eye in the center and are painted in white and red tones.
Pacific - First kiss. A neat cylindrical bush 30-40 cm tall consists of bright green elongated leaves and flowers up to 6 cm in diameter with coral, pink, purple, salmon petals.
First kiss
Seed cultivation
Seed propagation allows you to quickly get a lot of healthy plants. In May, you can sow seeds immediately in open ground. To do this, make shallow grooves in a well-lit area. Seeds are evenly distributed with a distance of 3-5 cm and covered with earth. After sowing, water the soil with caution. Mature plants can be transplanted. Cataractus blooms usually 2-2.5 months after sowing.
In early spring, begin to grow seedlings. Planted it in small containers with loose, fertile soil. You can use the soil for geraniums or make a soil mixture yourself from:
- sheet land;
- humus;
- sand;
- peat;
- turf land.
Before sowing, the seeds are soaked for several hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then distributed with a distance of 3-4 cm at a depth of 1.5-2 cm. The container is covered with a lid or film. It is kept in a well-lit place at a temperature of + 24 ... + 25 ° C.
Shoots begin to appear after a week, after which the shelter is removed. Delicate seedlings are watered with care and in small portions. After 2-3 weeks, with the appearance of four true leaves, they carefully pick on separate peat pots. You need to be very careful and not damage the long root. It is important to maintain high humidity.
At the end of May, seedlings begin to be taken outside for hardening. An outdoor transplant can only be done when the average daily air temperature is + 20 ° C and above.
To a permanent place, the caterpus is planted in groups of 2-3 plants to form larger bushes. The distance between such bushes should be 30-70 cm, depending on the size of the plant of a particular variety.
Vegetative propagation
A large bush of catharanthus can be propagated by division. To do this, in the spring, during transplantation, the root is cut with a sharp blade into 2-3 parts. The places of the slices are sprinkled with crushed charcoal and immediately split the pieces into separate pots.
In spring, during pruning, the tops of the stems can be rooted. Do this in moist sand and peat soil mixtures. For the rooting period, it is recommended to cover the cuttings with a transparent cap and put in a well-lit place. Plants need to be ventilated daily and sprayed. After rooting, the shelter is removed and flowers are grown as usual.
Home Care
Kataranthus - unpretentious plants, they are suitable for gardeners with little experience. However, to achieve abundant flowering and lush crown can only be observing a number of rules.
Lighting. The flower loves intense diffused lighting. On the street it is planted in open areas or in light partial shade. Indoor plants are placed on the eastern or western windowsill. Bushes should be shaded from the midday rays in the room, but with regular ventilation or in the fresh air, direct sunlight is not afraid of them. It is very important to protect the cataranthus from drafts.
Temperature. This thermophilic plant feels best at a temperature of + 20 ... + 25 ° C. In winter, it is necessary to ensure a rest period and lower the temperature to + 12 ... + 18 ° C. If this is not possible, additional illumination is required. Without it, the stems will stretch and lose their decorative effect.
Humidity. The bushes that are kept at high humidity look most beautiful. Dry air slows down growth, and the tips of the leaves dry out and curl. You need to spray the flower daily, in hot weather this is done several times a day. Well, if there will be an aquarium or a tray with wet pebbles nearby.
Watering. The plant needs to be watered frequently and abundantly, so that the soil is always slightly moist. Long stagnation of water is contraindicated, it is also necessary to empty the pan after each irrigation. Water for irrigation is used warm and well purified.
Fertilizer. From April to September, Catharanthus is fed twice a month. Mineral complexes with a high content of phosphorus and potassium are used. Before flowering, it is recommended to make one organic top dressing.
Pruning. Young plants are regularly nipped to form a large number of lateral processes. In spring, the bushes are cut by a third, this allows you to keep a neat look longer.
Transfer. Fast-growing bushes require an annual transplant. When growing indoors, the procedure is carried out in the spring by the method of transshipment so as not to damage the roots. Pots should be deep enough and not too wide. In summer, you can plant plants in open ground, and in the fall, before the onset of cold weather, they must be returned to flowerpots.
Diseases and pests. In too dense plantings and with dampness, fungal diseases develop (root rot, leaf rust). In this case, it is necessary to transplant the plant with soil replacement and carry out the fungicide treatment. Aphids, scale insects, spider mites and whiteflies can settle on the leaves. At the first sign of parasites, the bushes must be treated with an insecticide ("Commander", "Aktara", "Biotlin").
Using Catharanthus
Compact dense bushes with bright colors will be an excellent decoration of borders and the first plan of the flowerbed. They are often grown in containers and boxes for landscaping balconies and terraces, as well as ordinary indoor flowers. Katarantus ampelous planted in a cache-pot. Its beautiful green cascade with colorful buds attracts a lot of attention and impresses with its delicate aroma. Katarantus can be used both in flower arrangements and as a groundcover. It goes well with periwinkle, lobelia, balsam and petunia.
In addition to decorative, medicinal properties of the plant are known. Catharanthus juice contains about 20 alkaloids. With their help, it is possible to reduce the size of benign and malignant tumors, polyps, adenomas. Compresses with alcohol tincture of herbs are used to treat psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis of various origins.
For all its usefulness, catharanthus is a poisonous plant. After working with it, you need to wash your hands thoroughly. If there are children and animals in the house, the flower must be placed in a place inaccessible to them.
