Whitefeldia - home care, photo species

Whitefeldia (Whitfieldia) is a beautifully flowering houseplant from the acanthus family. In the natural environment it reaches 1 meter, in room conditions its growth is limited by periodic pruning, forming bushes with a height of not more than 60 cm.

The average annual growth of whitefeldia is 10-15 cm. The flowering period lasts from late October to March. White flowers of whitefeldia are collected in spectacular spike-shaped inflorescences. For this, the people called the plant "white candles." The birthplace of Whitefeldia is the tropical regions of Africa.

Be sure to look at a plant from the family of acanthus beloperone and Fittonia.

Whitefeldia: home care. Briefly

Whitefeldia: home care. In detail

To achieve annual, abundant flowering, care for whitefeldia at home should be subject to certain rules.

Flowering whitefeldia

Homemade whitefeldia blooms from mid-autumn to spring. Its rather large flowers are collected in spectacular spike-shaped inflorescences.

Curved yellow stamens and fluffy bracts give them a special charm. Seeds at home Whitefeld does not tie.

Temperature mode

In the summer, whitefeldia easily tolerates a temperature increase of up to + 30 °. In winter, she needs to provide cool conditions at + 15-18 °.

High temperature in winter will lead to a strong stretching of the shoots.

Spraying

Like most people from the tropics, Whitefeldia needs high humidity. It must be sprayed daily with soft water at room temperature. To increase the level of humidity to a comfortable pot with a flower put on a pallet with wet expanded clay.

Lighting

A whitefeldia plant at home needs bright, but diffused lighting. For its cultivation, windows of eastern and western orientation are best suited. In the summer, the plant can be taken out into the shady garden.

Watering

Whitefeldia at home requires regular, plentiful watering. In the summer, it is watered 3-4 times a week, in winter, the intensity can be somewhat reduced. In this case, the soil should be moderately moist, moisture stagnation, as well as its lack for the plant, are destructive.

Whitefeld pot

Whitefeldia has a powerful, intensively developing root system, so spacious containers of durable plastic or ceramic are chosen for its cultivation. The main thing is that they have drainage holes.

Priming

To grow whitefeldia, a loose, nutritious soil is needed. It can be composed of equal parts of turf land, peat, humus and sand. You can also use a ready-made industrial substrate for universal use.

Fertilizer and fertilizer

For abundant flowering, whitefeldium must be fed every 2 weeks with a universal mineral complex for indoor plants.

Also, the flower responds positively to the use of organics.

Transfer

Whitefeldia transplant is carried out in the spring. The plant is gently knocked out of the pot, after which part of the root system is trimmed. The development of new roots stimulates a more intensive growth of the aerial part.

Pruning

In order for Whitefeldia to maintain an attractive appearance, it must be periodically trimmed. Pruning is carried out in the spring. To do this, all shoots are shortened by about a third. After trimming, Whitefeldia can be fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizer for faster recovery.

Rest period

Whitefeldia does not have a pronounced resting period. It continues to grow and bloom throughout the winter. To prevent the shoots from being pulled out when there is a lack of lighting in the winter, it organizes a backlight.

Growing whitefeldia from seeds

Whitefeldia does not set seeds in indoor conditions. Yes, and they are not on sale either. Seeds can only be purchased from collectors for a fairly high price. Therefore, in amateur floriculture, the seed method of reproduction is practically not used.

Whitefeldia propagation by cuttings

At home, whitefeldia is quite easy to propagate by stem cuttings. They are cut from healthy non-lignified shoots. The optimal size of the cuttings is 5-8 cm. A mixture of sand and peat is prepared for their planting. The optimum rooting temperature is at least + 24 °. After the cuttings develop the root system, they are transplanted into individual containers.

Diseases and Pests

When growing whitefeldia, you may encounter a number of problems:

• The leaves turn pale. The plant most likely suffers from a lack of lighting. The flower pot must be rearranged on a lighter window or organize backlighting.
• Whitefeldia is greatly extended. This problem occurs when there is a lack of light or if the temperature is too high in the winter.
• The tips of the leaves of whitefeldia dry. Such leaf damage occurs when there is insufficient moisture. The plant must be sprayed daily with warm water.
• Folded leaves. The problem occurs when there is insufficient humidity and plenty of sunlight.
• On the leaves there are patches of dry, brown tissue. Such damage is characteristic of sunburn.
• The lower leaves turn yellow and fall. The reason lies in the waterlogging of the soil. The plant must be reloaded in a fresh, dry soil, while ensuring good drainage.

Of the pests on whitefeldia, the most common are: mealybug, aphid, spider mite.

Types of whitefeldia home with photos and names

In indoor conditions, two types of whitefeldia are cultivated:

Whitefeld Brick Red (laterita)

Compact view hails from Sierra Leone. It is characterized by oval, spiky leaves with a glossy surface. The flowers are saturated brick red.

Whitefeld longifolia (elongata)

A view with snow-white flowers. In vivo distributed in Cameroon, Angola and Congo. Leaves opposite with a glossy surface.