Stephanotis was found on the island of Madagascar. Its flowers are jasmine-like in shape and fragrance. Hence the second name - Madagascar jasmine. In nature, the plant is found in China, Japan, the Malay Islands. But most varieties of the flower can be seen in its homeland - in the tropical forests of Madagascar.

In nature, stephanotis is a large liana that wraps around trees growing nearby. In a tropical climate, Madagascar jasmine blooms almost all year round - up to ten months. The "domesticated" exotic does not please with flowers for so long, usually up to four months. But having seen this beautiful sight once, it is impossible to forget it. Therefore, flower growers are ready to cater to the overseas "fastidious" - all for the sake of delicate flowers and their amazing aroma that fills the whole room. Literally, the name of the plant is translated as "a crown of ears." Stephanotis flowers really resemble a crown, consisting of petal ears.

Botanical description

Stefanotis is a member of the Lastonev family. In nature this perennial liana grows up to 6 m. Madagascar jasmine acquires a special decorative effect during flowering. When a peduncle with a white cloud of inflorescences makes its way through bright green leaves, it is impossible to take your eyes off the tropical creeper. A climbing plant can be recognized by its characteristic features.

• Stem. In a young plant, the stem is elastic, resilient. It stiffens with age.
• Leaves. Liana has large leaves. They can stretch up to 12 cm. The leaves are attached to the stem with long cuttings. The leaves are oval with a pointed tip, a light vein is clearly visible in the center. Glossy, leathery, dark emerald leaves are no less attractive than flowers. There are varieties with variegated leaves.
• Flowers. Consist of five petals, similar to stars. They are collected in brushes. They have a persistent pleasant aroma. Flowers can be white, purple, yellowish, but many flower growers associate stephanotis exclusively with white flowers. This is how a domesticated variety of creeper blooms.
• Fruit. Fruits on a plant are a rare occurrence even in nature. They are a two-part box in which the seeds are located. It takes a year for the fruit to mature. After the box opens and the seeds, similar to small parachutes, scatter.

The juice of Madagascar jasmine, when it comes into contact with mucous membranes, causes severe irritation. All manipulations with the vine must be carried out with gloves. A flowerpot with an exotic plant should be placed so that children and pets do not have access to it.

Species diversity and variety for the home

There are only 16 species (according to some sources, only 12) of stephanotis. The table will help you find out about the features of the most popular varieties.

Table - Varieties of stephanotis and their features

The only variety adapted for indoor cultivation is profusely flowering stephanotis. Although Liana needs special conditions, she may well adapt to the windowsill. Ideally, if there is an opportunity to grow Madagascar jasmine in a winter garden or in a greenhouse.

Beautiful star flowers of a profusely flowering variety are often used to create a bride's bouquet: the arrangement with delicate inflorescences looks stylish and touching. By the way, a place for "stars" was also found in Princess Diana's bouquet that went down in history: a luxurious cascade of white fragrant flowers almost touched the ground.

Basic Care

It is believed that Madagascar jasmine enhances female energy and negatively affects male energy. Popular wisdom says that it should not be placed in the bedroom, but in the kitchen, which has been recognized as women's possessions for centuries, just right. It is worth listening to the voice of the people, even if you do not believe in omens. Flowers have a rich smell: it is not recommended to place plants in the bedroom, they can cause a headache.

Lighting

Madagascar jasmine is famous for its love of light. In nature, it grows where the day is long, so it reacts sharply to the lack of light. But do not rush to put a flowerpot on a windowsill flooded with sun: from direct sunlight, stephanotis loses its decorative effect - burns appear on leaves and flowers. The best solution is an east or west window. In summer, it is worth shading the plant, creating diffused light. A light curtain will help solve the problem if there is a place for a flowerpot only on the south window, where the lighting is too bright, and the sun's rays are directed directly at the plant all day long. When the day becomes short, it is recommended to highlight the vine with fluorescent lamps.

Stefanotis needs at least 12 hours of light per day. This is a prerequisite if you want the "pet" to bloom long and luxuriantly.

Temperature regime

With warming outside, the temperature in the room where the exotic grows should be + 20-25 ° С. Liana needs coolness in winter: then she will gain strength and delight with a riot of flowers. In winter, it is recommended to maintain the temperature within + 14-17 ° С. If it is higher, then the laying of flower buds may not occur. Make sure that the thermometer readings do not fall below + 12 ° C. Too cold content negatively affects the decorativeness of the flower - the plant may begin to wither, refuse to bloom with the onset of the season.

Temperature fluctuations and drafts are detrimental to Madagascar jasmine. It is better to put the plant on the window sill that is not used for ventilation, especially in winter.

Watering

With the onset of spring, stephanotis requires abundant watering. During the growing season, the land should always be moderately moist. Sometimes for this you have to water the plant every two days, sometimes less often. The frequency depends on the microclimate in the house.

The soil in the pot should not be allowed to dry out, but it is important to ensure that the water in the pan does not stagnate. In autumn, the plant is watered moderately, and with the onset of cold weather, the frequency of the procedure is reduced to a minimum - once a week.

You need to water a tropical guest only with settled water: lime harms a fastidious plant. Room water temperature is a prerequisite, otherwise “whims” will begin.

Humidity

The homeland of Madagascar jasmine has high humidity. If you do not create similar conditions for the vine, it will not take root in the house. In the summer, daily spraying will help to "appease" the plant. The water must be warm. It is impossible for the liquid to fall on the flowers. You can increase the humidity in your home with a humidifier. In reviews, flower growers recommend putting the pot on a pallet with wet pebbles or expanded clay, placing containers filled with water next to the flowerpot.

If the plant hibernates in coolness, then it enters a state of rest. You need to spray the vine much less often. But when placing a flowerpot near heating appliances, do not rush to hide the spray gun. You can wipe the leaves with a damp cloth, but it should be soft.

The frequency of "feedings"

During the period when stephanotis is in intensive vegetation (spring-summer season), regular top dressing is required. "Feed" the plant twice a month. Use mineral or complex fertilizer. You should choose "food" designed specifically for flowering plants. If you saturate the soil with nitrogen, the stems and leaves of the vine will actively develop, but to the detriment of flowering. When the plant is at rest, it is not "fed".

Do not rush to feed the "pet" immediately after the transplant. In the next month, the plant will receive everything it needs from the new soil. In matters of "feeding" it is important not to overdo it.

pruning

In the spring, be sure to cut the stephanotis. This procedure is required to stimulate flowering, because asterisk flowers are tied exclusively on new shoots. Damaged shoots and those that look weak are removed, the remaining stems are cut about half. The main stem is cut to a minimum. Act carefully, otherwise the plant will be difficult to recover from pruning.

For normal development, the vine needs support. The easiest way is to build a wire arch. If there was no wire at hand, buy a plastic support ladder at the flower shop. It is better to take the one that is taller so that the plant has a place to trail.

care mistakes

The main difficulty in growing a tropical guest is that he does not forgive mistakes in care. If you deviate even a little from the rules, Madagascar jasmine will begin to wither before your eyes. Mistakes lead to the fact that stephanotis leaves turn yellow and fall off, the vine refuses to grow and bloom. Do not worry: if you immediately respond to signals of discontent, then you can solve the problem quickly and easily - you just need to optimize care. The main thing is to understand where the mistake is made.

Growth retardation and the appearance of "problem" leaves

Stephanotis leaves are no less decorative value than flowers. The sheet cover loses its beauty if the "pet" is not satisfied with the quality of care that surrounds it. Gaps in care can also come back to haunt the growth of the vine. Why "problem" leaves appear, and Madagascar jasmine suddenly stops growing, can be found in the table.

Table - Problems in growing stephanotis and their causes

Problem	Cause
Growth slows down	Nutrient deficiency
Black dots appear on the leaves	- Waterlogging; - an excess of nitrogen in the soil
Leaves darken and fall	Temperature too low
Leaves turn yellow	- Too much heat; - dry air; - poor soil moisture; - hard water; - little light; - root damage
Leaves fall abruptly and en masse	- Sudden decrease in temperature; - the flowerpot stood in a draft
Leaf veins turn white	- Lack of nutrients; - too much bright light

It is no longer possible for problematic leaves to return to their former beauty. They are removed. If you optimize care, then the plant will grow, and new beautiful leaves will appear in place of the old ones very quickly.

Lack of flowering and stimulation method

In an apartment, the plant blooms annually for four months. Flowering starts in June. However, it happens that the grower is waiting for the appearance of white stars, but they are not there ... This is due to improper care. Do the work on the mistakes, and the plant will delight with its fragrant flowers. Look for the problem associated with flowering and its causes in the table.

Table - Stephanotis flowering problems and provoking factors

Stefanotis will bloom every year if you protect it from “stress” in the form of temperature changes and drafts, do not disturb it during the budding period, send it to rest, cut it off with the advent of spring. For long flowering, use the advice of experienced flower growers: pinch young shoots in the summer, leaving eight pairs of leaves on one stem.

Only adult specimens delight with flowering: those that are already three or four years old. If the pet has not reached the age of three, then do not reproach yourself for the wrong care: the lack of flowering is due to the youth of the plant. Here it remains to cherish the pet and wait.

5 transplant rules

Madagascar jasmine needs to be repotted regularly, then it will actively grow and delight with flowers. Young specimens are moved to new flowerpots once a year, adults can not be touched for two to three years. Transplantation should be carried out in the spring: it is important to have time before the buds appear. If the liana came into the house blooming or with buds - do not rush to transplant: wait until it blooms. In order for a plant to take root in a new “home”, you need to know five nuances.

1. We choose a pot. It is necessary to take a flowerpot, which is two to three centimeters larger than the previous one in diameter. In a pot that is too large, stephanotis will develop poorly and bloom weakly - all forces will be spent on active root growth. It is better to choose a ceramic pot. It should be heavy: the vine grows rapidly and can turn the container over. A massive flowerpot will serve as a support. Don't forget arch support.
2. We prepare the soil mixture. A tropical guest needs a slightly acidic soil with a complex composition. If the soil is alkaline, a capricious pet may refuse to bloom. To create a suitable mixture, you need to take peat (three parts), sand (two parts), hardwood and clay soil (one part each).
3. Don't forget about drainage. Drainage at the bottom of the pot is a prerequisite for the successful cultivation of Madagascar jasmine. Drainage prevents stagnant water, due to which the plant may die. Expanded clay is usually used as drainage. The layer must be at least three centimeters.
4. We transplant correctly. It is necessary to replant the vine by the transshipment method. So the small roots of stephanotis will remain intact. It is very important not to damage them during transplantation: the roots are responsible for the absorption of moisture, damage leads to the withering of the plant.
5. Care after transplant. When the Madagascar jasmine is in a new pot, it will require special care. Water the plant moderately: excess moisture leads to damage to the fragile root system. Compensate for light watering with frequent spraying of water from a spray bottle. Transplanting is stressful. The plant adapts in a week, after which you can resume the usual mode.

After transplanting, it is important that new roots grow as quickly as possible. You can speed up the process by watering the plant with water with the addition of store-bought root growth stimulants.

reproduction

Peculiarities. Grow new specimens of Madagascar jasmine from cuttings. The plant also propagates by seed, but this method is rarely used in home floriculture. On the windowsill, achieving the appearance and maturation of the fetus is a task from the realm of fantasy, which means that there is nowhere to take seed from.

To propagate stephanotis by cuttings, you need to cut the shoots in early spring. It is important to choose only healthy shoots. They should be semi-lignified, have two or three leaves. You need to cut it correctly: make a cut below the knot, stepping back 2 cm.

Action algorithm

1. Mix peat and sand in equal parts.
2. Plant cuttings. (You can plant several in one pot, and when transplanting into permanent soil, plant them).
3. Create a "greenhouse": place the cuttings under glass or polyethylene.
4. Make sure that the temperature does not fall below + 22 ° C - in a month it will be possible to root the cuttings.
5. When new leaves begin to appear on the sprouts, take care of the transplant. Do not forget to pinch the young specimens: this way they will begin to branch.
6. Provide new plants with plenty of light.
7. The first month after the "greenhouse" keep pets at a temperature of + 17 ° C to stimulate growth.

Many flower growers complain that the cuttings take root for a long time or refuse to take root at all. The use of phytohormones will help to solve this problem: these drugs promote root formation.

Pests and diseases

Madagascar jasmine is not only picky, but also a lover to get sick. Diseases are especially dangerous if the plant is weakened by improper care. Pests like to settle on stephanotis, which can also lead to the loss of a pet. It is necessary to regularly inspect the overseas handsome man, diseases and the appearance of insects can be determined by characteristic signs. Timely treatment will help save the exotic and restore its former beauty. Diseases of Madagascar jasmine, insects that infect the plant, signs of a problem and solutions are presented in the table.

Table - Diseases and insects affecting Madagascar jasmine

disease/insect	signs	How to fight
root rot	plant withers	- Transplantation with complete replacement of the substrate; - removal of affected parts; - treatment of the root system "Fundazol"
powdery mildew	- White bloom on the leaves; - the leaves become covered with mealy spots, and then dry out	- Removal of affected leaves; - treatment with drugs "Fundazol", "Skor", "Previkur"
Aphid	- Sugar coating on the leaves; - deformation of the sheet plate	- use of insecticides "Decis", "Aktara"
Shchitovka	- Yellow leaves; - "leaf fall"	- Rubbing the leaves with soapy water; - processing "Aktellik" / "Fitoverm" until the complete disappearance of insects

Insects can move to stephanotis from other plants. When bringing a new pet into the house, be sure to maintain quarantine, only then move the newcomer to the “old people”. Especially to the "sissy" Madagascar jasmine.

Do not be afraid: making friends with a tropical guest is not as difficult as it might seem, you just need to create conditions for him as in his homeland, surround him with attention and care. Interestingly, those who managed to fulfill all the conditions begin to claim that the plant is unpretentious.

Stephanotis is a beautiful climbing plant from the Lastovnia family. It has not yet received wide distribution. Flower growers are only looking at this exotic. It can be used as an indoor flower and for making bouquets. Stephanotis lives in East Asia (Japan, China), the Malay Archipelago and Madagascar. For delicate flowers, it is often called "Madagascar jasmine." It's not easy to take care of him. To achieve abundant flowering, you must follow a number of rules.

What does a flower look like

Stefanotis is an evergreen shrub with long, climbing stems. The length of a weakly branched shoot can reach 5-6 m. Even young plants need support. The shoots are covered with leathery dark green leaves on short petioles. They are oval in shape with a pointed end. The glossy sheet plate is somewhat bent along the central vein. The length of the sheet is 7-9 cm, and the width is 4-5 cm.

Loose inflorescences of 5-7 buds are formed along the entire height of the shoot in the axils of the leaves. The snow-white fragrant flowers are funnel-shaped and consist of five fused petals. The diameter of the open corolla can reach 5 cm, the length of the tube is 4 cm. Flowering occurs in May-July. After pollination, fruits ripen on stephanotis - small seed boxes with small, pubescent seeds.

In nature, there are 12 species of stephanotis, but so far only one variety is used in culture - Stephanotis profusely flowering (Floribunda).

Superstitions and signs about the plant

Several signs are associated with stephanotis. He is considered a "plant-husband", that is, weakening male energy. But it is perfect for women, strengthens their beauty and prolongs youth. Many generally doubt whether it is possible to start stephanotis in the house. Why refuse such a beautiful plant? It is enough to place it in a room where women are more often.

Despite a number of prejudices, stephanotis is considered a flower that patronizes marriage. If Madagascar jasmine blooms in the house of an unmarried girl, then she will soon get married. It is also good if its delicate flowers are in the wedding bouquet. Then the marriage will last a long time, and the feelings of the spouses will never cool down.

Reproduction of stephanotis

Stefanotis reproduces by vegetative and seed methods. Sowing seeds at home is not done, since they do not ripen, and long transportation for seeds is completely fatal. Although it is also difficult to propagate stephanotis from cuttings, this method is more reliable.

In April-June, parts of the semi-lignified shoots of the previous year should be cut. Cuttings should have 1-2 internodes and healthy, developed leaves. The cut site is treated with a special solution to stimulate the formation of roots. Rooted seedlings in the sand under the cap. The stalk is placed at an angle and added dropwise by 1-1.5 cm. It is necessary to choose a bright and warm place. Rooting usually takes 15-20 days. The successful development of the root system is evidenced by young leaves that appear on the shoot.

Transplant rules

Stephanotis are transplanted every 2-3 years. Young plants are transshipped every year. It is necessary to choose a stable clay pot, as the plant has a voluminous crown and needs support. Transplantation is done in the spring before the buds appear. The root system of the plant is very developed and tightly braids the earthen clod, so transplantation is recommended by the transshipment method.

The soil for stephanotis should be sufficiently dense and heavy. You can use the following components:

• leafy land;
• sod land;
• leafy humus;
• river sand.

To make the transplant procedure less painful, it is recommended to add some root stimulants to the water for the first watering.

Content Features

Caring for stephanotis at home requires some effort. This plant cannot be called simple. Choosing the right place is of great importance. Stefanotis prefers bright rooms. It can be kept on the southern windowsill, but in strong heat it is better to shade from the midday sun so that there are no burns. In the spring, when flower buds are formed, do not turn the plant relative to the light source or move it to another place. This can lead to the fall of unopened buds. Liana needs a long daylight, so in winter it is recommended to illuminate it with a fluorescent lamp.

Stefanotis needs warm summer keeping and cool wintering. At the same time, excessive heat is undesirable. In summer, it is better to maintain the air temperature in the room + 18 ... + 24 ° C. You can take the plant into the garden, but you need to protect it well from drafts. In winter, the temperature should be lowered to +14…+16°C. Such a difference contributes to the laying of a large number of flower buds.

Naturally, a tropical plant needs high humidity. It is recommended to spray the crown more often with a spray gun and periodically wash it from dust. Water for these procedures should be warm. In winter, it is worth moving the stephanotis pots away from the radiators.

Everyday flower care

If the right place is chosen for Stephanotis, caring for it at home is quite simple. The plant prefers frequent and abundant watering. Only the top layer of soil should dry out. For irrigation use soft, warm water. As it gets colder, the frequency of irrigation should be reduced, focusing on the condition of the soil.

From the beginning of spring until the end of flowering, stephanotis needs regular feeding. Fertilizer with a low nitrogen content should be applied twice a month. Ready-made mixtures for flowering houseplants, which can be bought at a flower shop, are suitable. It is recommended to alternate mineral and organic compounds.

Immediately after buying stephanotis, you should take care of a reliable support for the vine. It is better to prepare a voluminous base, which the stems can completely braid in a few years. In the winter garden, stephanotis look beautiful as a window frame. The plant lends itself well to pruning, so too long shoots can be shortened. Wilted flowers should also be removed. Pruning stimulates the development of lateral processes.

Possible difficulties

Stefanotis can suffer from root rot and powdery mildew. The problem occurs when stagnation of water and dampness in the room. Fungicide treatment and changing conditions will help to cope with the fungus.

Stefanotis is a liana from the Lastovnev family. It is often called the Madagascar jasmine for the similarity of flowers. In nature, there are more than a dozen species, but only profusely flowering stephanotis is grown on the windowsills. Care at home for him is complicated by the low prevalence as a houseplant. But in this article you will find everything about the cultivation, care and reproduction of stephanotis.

Outwardly, it is a semi-shrub evergreen liana. In nature, it is distributed on the islands of the Malay Archipelago and Madagascar. For its delicate appearance and light flowers, it is sometimes called the bride's wreath. More common names are crown or ear.

As a houseplant, stephanotis is grown because of the beautiful and long flowering, which, with good care, lasts all summer. Experienced flower growers achieve flowering even in winter, maintaining a certain temperature, humidity, degree of illumination.

In nature, stephanotis lianas reach 6 meters. The leaves are opposite, dark, leathery, elliptical in shape. The flowers are small, waxy, concentrated in the axils of the leaves. They are united in medium-sized umbrella inflorescences. Flowers consist of five petals slightly bent outward, white, yellowish, cream or purple.

Best suited for growing indoors stephanotis "floribunda", which translates as profusely flowering. Its feature is lush, friendly and long flowering.

Advice! Stephanotis is best planted in large ceramic flowerpots. Choose heavy, stable containers - a light pot can turn over under the weight of the plant.

Features of care

Caring for stephanotis at home is considered difficult. This is due to the low prevalence of the plant and the lack of information. To create optimal conditions for growth and flowering, vines adhere to the following rules.

1. Lighting. Likes bright light, but does not respond well to direct sunlight. On the south window, it is desirable to shade it with a light tulle. A window on the northwest side is considered the best choice. In winter, stephanotis suffers from a lack of light, which leads to a belated and poor flowering. To stimulate the laying of flower buds, additional lighting with fluorescent lamps is used.
2. Temperature. This is a very thermophilic flower. Stefanotis is kept at 20-25 ° C in summer, in winter it should not be below 16 ° C. Avoid sudden changes in temperature and drafts.
3. Watering. The plant is watered abundantly from March to October. Between waterings, the soil in the pot should dry out completely, excess moisture from the pan is poured immediately after watering. In winter, the frequency and intensity of watering is reduced.
4. Air humidity. Stefanotis gratefully responds to the content at high humidity of 80-85%. A humidifier is installed next to the pot or tub. Additionally, the vine is sprayed. In winter, increase the frequency of spraying, and before flowering they are completely stopped.
5. Top dressing. It is rarely necessary to feed stephanotis - only with a long absence of a transplant. After changing the soil, he receives all the necessary substances from it. But before flowering, preparations with a high content of phosphorus are applied every 10 days. Nitrogen fertilizers are avoided - they stimulate intensive leaf growth, but slow down flowering. To stimulate flowering, fertilizers with potassium and phosphorus are used.
6. Transfer. Young shrubs are transplanted every March. Transplanting stephanotis at this time has a beneficial effect on subsequent flowering. Mature plants try not to disturb once again - they are transplanted no more than once in 2 years. The need for transplantation is determined by the rate of drying of the soil. If it dries quickly, then the pot is slightly increased. In large tubs, Stephanotis does not bloom or forms a small number of flowers. For good flowering, the roots should be a little cramped.
7. The soil. The optimal composition of the soil is turf, peat, humus and sand in a ratio of 1:1:1:0.5. Acidity is maintained within pH 5.5-6.5. A layer of brick chips or expanded clay is poured onto the bottom of the pot or tub. It should occupy 1/5 of the total volume. Immediately after transplantation, a reliable support is established.
8. Trimming and pinching. Flower buds are laid only on new shoots. Winter pruning stimulates budding, summer pruning - long flowering. Pruning helps to restrain the growth of vines in length. In nature, they grow up to 6 meters, which is not always acceptable for apartment conditions.

How to achieve abundant flowering? Already during the laying of flower buds, it is recommended not to disturb the container with the flower - it cannot be moved, rotated, shaken. Drafts and sudden changes in temperature are excluded, spraying is stopped. If you want an abundance of flowers, make sure that the temperature does not exceed +18 °C.

Reproduction methods

Florists practice two ways of propagating vines - cuttings and seeds. Both methods have their own subtleties.

1. Propagation of stephanotis by cuttings. Apical cuttings with several internodes take root best of all. They are cut in early spring. Rooting lasts a long time - at least a month. To accelerate the appearance of roots, growth stimulants are used - "Epin", "Kornevin", dipping the lower part of the cutting in them. They are installed vertically or at an angle in a container with a mixture of sand and peat, covered with a film. The key to successful rooting is a temperature of at least 27 ° C and daily ventilation of the greenhouse. After rooting, several cuttings are planted in a pot and periodically cut them. When the vine reaches a length of about half a meter, it is cut by a third to enhance branching.
2. Reproduction by seeds. Seeds germinate for a very long time, young plants develop slowly. To speed up germination, they are soaked for two days in warm water. The best medium for germination is loose leaf humus. For disinfection, it is heated in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. When sowing, seeds are not covered with soil, but slightly pressed into them. Top with foil or glass. The optimum temperature for germination is 26-30°C. Germination of seeds takes 1-2 months.

Advice! If you have collected seeds from your plant, dry them for a day before planting. The ripe fruit spreads seeds. In order not to lose them, put a bag of transparent nylon tights on the unripe fruit.

Diseases and pests of stephanotis

Stephanotis is a capricious plant. During cultivation, you can encounter various problems.

• Falling buds. Associated with lack of light, insufficient watering.
• Slow growth. In most cases, it indicates a lack of nutrition. The plant is transplanted and fed with mineral fertilizers.
• Drooping and darkening of leaves. Associated with low room temperature.
• Mealybugs, aphids, scale insects. The most common pests of stephanotis. They fight them by treating the plant with anticoccidal drugs, wiping the affected leaves with soapy water.

The difficulties of growing stephanotis pay off with beautiful, abundant and long flowering.

Not many people have yet managed to get acquainted with a native of Africa - the stephanotis flower, or, as it is also called, indoor jasmine. At first glance, caring for it seems difficult, but Russian amateur flower growers have proven the opposite: a flower can be grown not only in greenhouses, with proper care, it will delight you in a normal home environment. What does Stefonotis floribunda expect from you: home care, and what diseases do you need to protect it from?

In contact with

Stefanotis floribunda or as it is popularly called - Madagascar jasmine is an evergreen vine that grows up to 5-6 meters in length, with dark, oval-shaped leaves and fragrant flowers - crowns, reaching 4 cm in length and 5 cm in diameter. The flowers can be white and yellowish, cream or purple in color, collected in inflorescences of 6-7 pieces. After flowering - fruits are formed in the form of boxes, with seeds like a dandelion in the form of parachutes. It is often used for wall decor, and also decorates wedding veils and brides' dresses.

The flower itself is quite whimsical and therefore requires special care, attention and time. Keeping it on the windowsill and getting aesthetic pleasure from normal growth and abundant flowering - you will not succeed.

Place the plant on a well-lit stand, but without direct sunlight- therefore it should be shaded, although the duration of daylight hours should be at least 10-12 hours. With regard to the temperature regime - indoors in summer should not be higher than + 25, in winter - + 15, although lower temperatures are allowed, up to 12 degrees, and after such a decrease, the stephanotis flower will bloom more abundantly.

Care also provides for regular watering, while the water should be at room temperature, previously settled for a day. Watering regime in summer - at intervals every other day, and in the winter period of time - once every 6-7 days is enough. When kept at home - it is worth maintaining around the plant and high humidity. It is enough to spray the vine, but make sure that the water does not fall on the flowers and buds, or put an open container of water near it.

Care also involves the introduction of a complex of both mineral and organic fertilizers for vines - they are applied 2 times a month, from March to September, and in winter - a dormant regime is observed. Start feeding when the plant shows active signs of growth.

The plant does not like unnecessary anxiety, so it is very rare to practice transplantation when its root system begins to bulge out of the flowerpot, but if Stephanotis is transplanted, then only after it has faded and dropped buds. The flower loves loose and nutritious earth mixtures.

Reproduction of stephanotis involves two ways:

1. Cuttings. Cuttings are obtained in the spring, after a planned pruning. Rooting lasts about a month - to speed up the process, it is best to treat the lower part of the stems with growth stimulants. After the appearance of the first roots, the cuttings are distributed in pots with a nutrient substrate, placed in a warm place, within 27-29 degrees, and well lit, but without direct sunlight.
2. Seeds. Experts note that this method is laborious and should not be practiced, since seed germination is low and results in the form of young plants are rare. And even if seedlings appear, their survival rate is very low.

Experts highlight several key points that you should pay attention to:

1. Pest damage. Most often, stephanotis is affected by aphids and, as well as and (arachnoid). If the lesion is not severe, it is enough to wash the plant with a soapy composition, and with a stronger lesion, treat it with Actellik or Fitoverm, a phosphamide emulsion. All drugs are used according to the instructions.
2. Yellowing leaves on stephanotis. This phenomenon is provoked by insufficient attention to the flower: excessive watering with unsettled water, lack of light, untimely transplantation.
3. Lack of flowering. There may be several reasons. First of all, perhaps Stephanotis was kept in a warm room during the dormant stage. The second option is a passion for nitrogen fertilizers. Also, the lack of color can be triggered by a lack of light. And a sharp temperature drop does not have the best effect on the plant. After analyzing the situation, you can quickly eliminate the cause.
4. Dropping leaves. Stefanotis may go dormant during the winter. If this is a warm season, the cause may be a draft, or a sharp cold snap, which also reduces the temperature in the room. Accordingly, it is necessary to "warm" indoor flower stephanotis, removing it from the draft, or warming up the room.

Madagascar jasmine is a luxurious plant that blooms with delicate and fragrant flowers. But due to the fact that the plant rarely blooms, people rewarded it with certain superstitions. What signs surround stephanotis, and can it be kept at home?

The people believe that the liana itself, especially during the flowering period, has a negative effect on men: it provokes a deterioration in health, general well-being, causes nervousness, which can lead to quarrels and scandals, sometimes threatening divorce. Therefore, couples should not start this plant in their home, but for young girls, a blossoming bud prophesies an early marriage.

Practicing esotericists say that stephanotis is a plant with the strongest energy that supports women, helps to keep them young and become attractive to the opposite sex. In relation to men, the plant in their case resembles a sponge that absorbs their strength and energy. But this does not know at all that it is worth getting rid of the plant immediately.

It is enough to put it in the room where a woman spends the most time, and this way you can neutralize negative signs. But to put it in the bedroom or in the common room is not worth it, it would be optimal to “settle” a flowerpot with a plant in the kitchen.

For girls, the plant helps to find inner harmony, and also favors in married life and building a family hearth. A bouquet or a wreath of white flowers of stephanotis floribunda is given to young people at a wedding - so they wish them the birth of strong and healthy children.

A little more detail about stephanotis in the video:

Glossy leaves and charming inflorescences of fragrant snow-white stars - this is stephanotis (pictured), one of the most beautiful indoor flowers. An exotic guest came to us from the hot islands of the Malay Archipelago and the mysterious Madagascar.

Curly liana outwardly resembles the hoya, which is popular in indoor floriculture, and is a close relative of it. In fact, apart from the length of the shoots and the shape of the leaves, the plants bear little resemblance. Stephanotis blooms much more attractive than its relative, and home care for it has its own characteristics. A lot of videos have been shot by experienced flower growers on this topic, in which beginners can always gain important knowledge. In general, caring for stephanotis involves fairly bright light, high humidity and support for flexible shoots.

Stephanotis belongs to the Lastovnev family. The name comes from the Latin words "stephanos" - crown, crown and "otos" - ear. Its petals are really located on an elongated tube in the form of a five-pointed crown, and their shape resembles pig ears. About fifteen species belong to the genus Stephanotis. The most popular for growing in greenhouses and at home is Stephanotis floribunda, or Stefanotis profusely flowering variegated. It is also called Madagascar jasmine.

Stephanotis blooms in the natural environment for most of the year, about 10 months. AT room conditions The plant flowers from June to September. But if you provide good conditions for keeping in the cold season, then you can enjoy its aroma and beauty even in winter. Stephanotis flowers are up to 10 cm long and 5 cm in diameter, arranged in inflorescences of 7-10 pieces, incredibly fragrant. At indoor varieties flowers, in addition to white, can be painted in pale beige shades. Spectacular inflorescences do not fade for a very long time. Stephanotis flowers look original and beautiful in wedding decor.

Stephanotis fruits ripen for almost a year. Outwardly, they look like avocados or oblong large plums, although they are inedible. After maturation, the boxes dry out, crack and release aerial seeds, similar to dandelion fluffs. The plant reproduces by seeds in natural conditions. An evergreen liana grows in nature quite quickly. On an elastic stem are large, pointed upwards leaves. In width, they can reach 5 cm, and in length - 10 cm. The edges of the leaves are even, the plate itself is leathery, smooth and glossy. The plant gives a lot of shoots, branches well, which allows you to direct it along the most bizarre trajectory. In Japan and Madagascar, for example, entire hedges are formed from this creeper.

Stephanotis care at home

In indoor and greenhouse floriculture, stephanotis is grown primarily because of its beautiful flowering. It is interesting that on the forums where amateur flower growers communicate, in addition to the popular question “how to care for stephanotis?”, Another “is it possible to keep such a plant at home?” Is also common. Confusion is provoked by signs associated with an exotic flower.

So, some girls believe that, like ivy, the stephanotis indoor flower is a husband, that is, it is able to leave its mistress without a male shoulder.

There is, however, another sign that says: the flowering of a charming creeper prophesies a quick wedding. Believe it or not folk omens- everyone's choice. But what really deserves attention is the poisonous juice of this plant. It is better to place a flowerpot with it on the upper shelves, away from children and pets, and trim only with gloves.

Light and temperature

Despite the fact that Stephanotis floribunda, or profusely flowering, roasts in its homeland under the Madagascar midday sun, at room conditions it is not very happy with the bright sun. The vine reacts to an excess of light by slowing down development, and direct sunlight leaves burns on leathery leaves. The surest way to determine the ideal place for a pet in the house is to experiment and observe the reaction of the flower. In most cases, Stephanotis does well in western windows with the safe rays of the setting sun. But on the southern or eastern windows it can suffer from an excess of light and heat.

In winter, a fluorescent lamp should be installed next to the bush. Without additional lighting, the vine will not give abundant flowering next season. Separately, it should be said about the important feature of caring for stephanotis at home. When the green bush is decorated with the first buds, the flowerpot with a flower cannot be rotated, moved to another place or transplanted. If the plant is disturbed during this crucial period, the development of buds will stop. Why this happens is unknown, but it is necessary to remember this important nuance.

As for the temperature conditions, fortunately, stephanotis is not whimsical. The usual room temperature for you is quite to the liking of the green pet. The only thing is to protect the plant from drafts and a sharp change in temperature, otherwise it will begin to wither. Experienced flower growers advise not to leave a flowerpot with it on the street in the summer. The difference between day and night temperatures can kill a tender plant. If possible, in winter it is better to arrange a dormant period for Stephanotis in a cool, bright room (temperature 11-17 ° C).

Watering and humidity

Watering stephanotis loves plentiful, but infrequent. If the earth ball is a little dry, it's time to water the plant. It is important here not to let the earth dry out completely, drought is detrimental to the roots of stephanotis. Watered with settled warm water. In winter, watering is slightly reduced to promote abundant flowering next season.

Do not forget about the humidity of the air. Still, the birthplace of an exotic handsome man is the tropics. Its content in the apartment is impossible without regular spraying. This rule becomes especially important in winter, when the heating is turned on and the air becomes very dry. In winter and hot summers, stephanotis should be sprayed several times a day, and the water for spraying should be very warm and soft. If the plant hibernates in cool conditions, it should be sprayed less frequently.

pruning

An important step in the care of stephanotis is pruning long shoots. The thing is that the buds appear only on young shoots. Therefore, at the beginning of active growth, that is, at the beginning of March, the stems of the vine are cut in half. Frequent pinching promotes branching and growth of young shoots. If you pinch the stems in the summer, during the flowering period, the bush will bloom longer. Pinching green shoots, 7-8 pairs of leathery leaves are left on them. Wilted inflorescences are also removed, directing the power of the plant to form new shoots.

Since the vine grows quickly and branches well, you should prepare a support for its shoots in advance. In stores you can find a large selection of special supports: circular, spiral, straight, arc, etc. They are all universal, so the shape is of no fundamental importance. You need to tie up the whips when they are still young and flexible. Directing mature, lignified shoots is much more difficult.

Transplanting and feeding plants

After buying a young plant, it must be transplanted into a new soil. The pot is chosen small, with large holes for drainage. One fifth of it is filled with drainage, the rest with nutritious heavy soil. The substrate can be bought at the store (choose a special soil for flowering plants) or you can make it yourself by mixing peat, loamy soddy soil, hardwood soil, sand and compost. The substrate should be slightly acidic; in an alkaline environment, stephanotis may not bloom.

As for adult plants, the basic rule: replanting an indoor flower when the pot has become too small for him - does not work in the case of stephanotis. Liana, on the contrary, feels great in a cramped flowerpot and blooms even better in it than in a spacious pot. The guideline for transplanting stephanotis in this case is the drying rate of the earthen coma. If you just watered, and the soil is already dry - it's time to transplant. The pot is taken a couple of centimeters more than the old one.

In a new flowerpot, the plant should be transplanted in a whole lump, without separating the soil from the roots. As a rule, the transshipment of young bushes is carried out every year, in the spring, after cutting the stems. Adult stephanotis are transplanted not so often, but after 2-3 years, but be sure to pour a new layer of nutrient substrate into the flowerpot every year.

After transplanting, the plant is not fed, since the new soil contains a sufficient amount of nutrients. If the vine has not been transplanted for a long time, you can support it with a complex fertilizer for flowering plants or a solution of cow dung. Top dressing is applied every two weeks from early spring to mid-summer. Two hours before fertilizing, stephanotis is watered abundantly.

reproduction

The easiest way to get a plant is to buy stephanotis in an online store. True, the price of rooted cuttings is considerable and starts at 300 rubles. Seeds will cost much less, about 100 rubles, but growing stephanotis from seed is more troublesome, and it will not be possible to admire flowering soon. Those who are persistent experimenters and intend to grow a young plant from a stephanotis cutting should be patient, root stimulants (phytohormones) and lower heating of the flowerpot with seedlings.

Propagation by cuttings begins with cutting them. The semi-lignified shoots of stephanotis, which are just over a year old, are best suited for this purpose. One or two knots are left on each cutting. Having previously treated them with a root formation accelerator, we root the cuttings in wet sand. They should be deepened no more than 2 cm, at a slight angle. From above we cover the flowerpot with a film or glass, and from below we install heating: heat and high humidity will accelerate the appearance of roots. By the way, it will be possible to propagate the vine faster and more efficiently in the warm season. Under favorable conditions, shoots on rooted cuttings are formed in 2-4 weeks.

Often, after indoor stephanotis has stopped blooming, a fruit is tied on it. However, do not rely on the propagation of stephanotis in this way. The seeds contained in its fruits are sterile, which means they cannot germinate.

Diseases and difficulties of caring for stephanotis

• In conditions of dry air and elevated temperature, stephanotis can be attacked by spider mites. In addition, scale insects, aphids, mealybugs can be tempted by fragrant flowers. They fight pests by treating the plant with special preparations.
• Stephanotis leaves turn yellow - what to do in this case? This happens if the plant is kept in a room with insufficiently bright light. If you move the pot closer to the window or to a brighter room, yellowing and leaf fall can be stopped in time. Another likely cause is damage to the root system due to a too tight pot. In this case, the problem is solved by transplanting the vine into a more comfortable flowerpot. Falling leaves in winter should not cause concern, for this species, the death of part of the foliage is normal.
• Dull or drooping leaves indicate excessive watering of Stephanotis. It is necessary to remove the plant from the flowerpot and carefully examine the rhizomes. If the roots are not rotten, the vine is transplanted into a new land and watering is regulated.
• If stephanotis does not bloom, it may be lacking in trace elements. How to make it bloom? It is enough to feed the vine every seven days during the period of enhanced growth. Focus on potassium salt and superphosphates. A plant that has wintered in warmth can refuse to bloom. Sudden changes in temperature or cold drafts also prevent the beautiful flowering of Stephanotis.

Subject to all the rules for caring for stephanotis, the green pet will surely thank the caring owners with lush and fragrant flowering.