Kufeya planting and care in the open field. Shrub for containers of kufei - reproduction, planting and care. How plants reproduce

This plant attracts with its numerous original flower-tubes, which seem to be smoldering cigarettes, for which the kufeya is called a cigarette plant or a cigarette holder. A lush kufei bush with an abundance of leaves is a wonderful background for other plants in the composition.

Cufea lanceolate (Сuphea lanceolata). © Carl Lewis Content:

Description of kufei

These are Mexican plants with a Greek name. The name, however, is quite prosaic. Kyphos translates as "bent, crooked." The fruits of the kufi are indeed slightly curved. In Central and South America, there are up to 200 types of kufi.

Among them there are annuals, reaching almost a meter in height, there are undersized dwarf shrubs and shrubs. The latter are popular in Europe as ornamental plants.

They bloom starting in March, as soon as the sun shines brighter, and until October, when its light dims. Kufi bushes grow quite quickly, they need to be regularly pinched, cut and transplanted, otherwise the decorativeness of plants is significantly reduced.

Abroad, this feature is successfully used, planting kufeis for the summer in large street vases and concrete containers together with different summer houses.

Annual species of Cuphea are grown at home to obtain seeds - a source of fatty acids, including laurel, which are indispensable in the production of shampoos. And how ornamental these plants are little known, and only in recent decades have breeders seriously taken up them.

Almost all species have flowers with six unequal petals - the top two are much larger than the other four. And those who like a riot of colors and large flowers are unlikely to see anything remarkable in them. Modest kufeis - for lovers of exoticism and meditation. Or for owners of cats and dogs: unceremonious pets cannot get through a bed with tall kufei - they are unlikely to like the numerous sticky shoots.

Hyssopoly kufea (Сuphea hyssopifolia). © Natalia

Sowing kufei

The name kufeya (Kyphos - "bent, crooked") owes its name to the shape of the seeds.

Seeds of kufei are curved discs, greenish-brown, up to 3 mm in diameter, light (about 300 pieces per 1 g), emerge in 5-7 days. During germination, a sticky substance is released, and if they lie close to each other, they form something resembling a cake, from which it is difficult to pull out a single seed.

The seeds are light-sensitive - they sprout faster in the light, so they should not be covered, it is enough to slightly press into the soil. The optimum temperature for seed germination is 20–22 ° С. In low light, the seedlings stretch out, as they say, right before our eyes. You need to dive them into deep containers or into ordinary pots and boxes, but slightly at an angle. For the reasons described above, the seedlings should literally set aside a place in the sun, otherwise later you will have to pour soil under the cotyledon leaves so that the plants do not fall when watering.

Seedlings are planted in late May - early June, it can be a little deeper than she sat in the box. No special care is required - just take care that the plants are not damaged by late frosts, and weed out in time.

Rich or moderately fertile soils, regular watering (infrequent but abundant), top dressing with complex fertilizers - that's all these plants need. A bright place is preferable, but a slightly shaded place is also fine. Only damp corners of the garden are not suitable, where there is no air movement and powdery mildew can attack the leaves of the kufei.

Prostrate kufea (Сuphea procumbens). © HEN-Magonza

Cultivation of kufei

Temperature. Maintain room temperature in the house, in winter not lower than 5 ° C.

Lighting. A bright, sunny environment is required. Outdoors, plants should be placed in the open sun, but protected from the winds.

Watering and feeding. Watering is frequent and abundant in spring and summer, in autumn watering is reduced, bringing it to a minimum in winter. In the spring and summer, once every 2 weeks, as a top dressing, complete mineral fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in an amount of 20 g per bucket.

Care.Withered flowers and inflorescences, as well as damaged parts of the plant are removed. During dormancy, until the growing season resumes (at the end of winter), the branches are shortened by 1/3 to stimulate the growth of new shoots. If you do not grow kufeya every year from seeds, then they are transplanted annually in May. The soil should be fertile and well-drained with a pH of about 6; when planting, organic fertilizers are applied. When growing in a pot, a substrate prepared from sterilized soil (50%), neutral peat (25%) and sand (25%) is used, 40 g of mineral fertilizer is added to a bucket of soil.

Reproduction. Not too lignified cuttings are rooted in spring at a soil temperature of at least 20 ° C. Sowing is carried out in April-March in containers with seed soil. Seeds are not sprinkled with earth on top. Both vegetative propagation and propagation by seeds require a certain air temperature of -18 ... -22 ° С. Rooted cuttings and new seedlings obtained from seeds are planted several pieces in pots. Later they are pinched 2-3 times.

Diseases and pests. Spots on the leaves and rotting of shoots and root collars are provoked by various fungi and gray rot. Treat plants with fungicides and anti-gray molds. Nematodes infect the roots. Their appearance can only be prevented by using non-contaminated soil, otherwise it is necessary to remove the diseased plant. Iron deficiency manifests itself in the yellowing of the leaves. Use suitable soil and fertilize with iron chelates.

Fiery red kufea (Сuphea ignea). © asohuj

Types of kufei

Pale Kufhea - Сuphea pallida

The scientific classification of the Kufeya genus has not yet been finally developed, therefore there are many names for the same plant. This often leads to confusion. C. pallida is one such example. There is no such name in any botanical reference book, but the plant exists and is widely used in floriculture. Its shoots grow in different directions and form a dense, compact bush, on which countless small wine-red flowers develop.

Pale kufea looks equally impressive in containers and hanging baskets. It is easily propagated by stem cuttings, which are cut and rooted in the fall, starting in September. The specimens growing from them begin to bloom in June next year. The buds continue to open even when the frost begins. Only more severe frosts destroy plants.

Hyssopoly kufea - Сuphea hyssopifolia

This short plant, originating from Mexico and Guatemala, loves warmth, although it tolerates rainy and windy weather well.

It looks like a compact bush, usually not exceeding 50 cm in height. Kufeya seems to be specially designed for planting in containers in patios and balconies. It is easily propagated by stem cuttings, so it can be found in large numbers in garden centers already in mid-May. Rooting of cuttings begins three months earlier. Kufa has small flowers, but a lot of them are formed, and the flowering period lasts all summer.

There are forms with white, pink or lilac color of the corollas. The plant should be placed in the warmest part of the garden or balcony. In the fall, the bushes are brought into a bright, cool room (with a temperature of at least 5 ° C), where it overwinters safely, or thrown away, and the next year they acquire new specimens.

Lanceolate kufea - Сuphea lanceolata

An adorable, fast growing annual plant. Flowers are dark purple tubular up to 3 cm long, collected in one-sided rare inflorescences-ears. Bloom from late July. Plants 70-90 cm high, with purple, strongly pubescent soft hairs stems. The stems are like whips. The leaves are lanceolate, light green. Propagated by seeds. There are 200-250 seeds in 1 g. To get 100 plants, you need 1 g of seeds.

The most common cultivar is 'Purpurea'.

The plants develop tall (up to 80 cm) erect shoots, abundantly covered with foliage, and spectacular flowers of an unusual, exotic shape, since the two petals bearing dark purple spots are directed vertically upward. Lighter veins are clearly visible on their surface. The rest of the flower is usually colored crimson. Plants, planted in a warm place protected from cold winds, bloom very abundantly. They should be protected from direct sunlight. They develop best in light partial shade.

Kufeya fiery red - Сuphea ignea

This type of kufei has long been grown as a popular houseplant. However, it can also be used to decorate outdoor flower beds. It develops in the form of a low compact bush, on which tubular flowers resembling cigars appear. Corollas have a bright red color, against which a white spot and a purple pharynx stand out in contrast. Kufeya looks great not only in a flower garden, but also in large containers placed in the patio. Plants should not be taken outside before the end of May, as they are very thermophilic. They also need abundant watering, especially if they are exposed to direct sunlight.

Although fiery red kufea is easily propagated by stem cuttings that are rooted in late summer and then stored indoors, it is easier to grow as an annual crop. Seeds are sown indoors in March-April. There are 700-750 seeds in 1 g. To obtain 100 plants, 0.5 g is needed. From the moment of sowing to the beginning of flowering, three months pass, so in May young plants already begin to bloom. However, they should not be taken out into the street until early June.

Seeds can also be sown in May directly into open ground. In this case, the kufeya will bloom from August until the onset of frost. The cultural variation of the fiery red kufei 'Soan' (see photo) has brick-red and cream-white corollas, and 'Dynamite' is distinguished by very early formation of flowers of a rich red tone. Both forms look like compact neat bushes no more than 30 cm high.

Kufhea "Burning fire" - Сuphea miniata ‘Firefly’

This is an interspecific hybrid of kufei lioney (C. llavea) and prostrate (C. procumbens), which received its own name. The most popular variation is 'Firefly', which has a fiery red color on its flowers. An original ampelous annual that forms magnificent cascades of flowers all summer long. It can be grown equally well in curbs and containers. This kufeya goes well with other plants that have flowers of dull dark red tones. The bushes reach a height of 30 cm and can be used in flower bed compositions to create bright spots. It is extremely popular in Europe, but it is still rare here.

Spreads of coffee - Сuphea procumbens

These are original small annuals about 40 cm high. The stems are highly branched and extend along the ground. The leaves are dark green. The flowers are lilac, sometimes purple or white. Bloom from mid-July. Propagated by seeds. There are 300-350 seeds in 1 g. To get 100 plants, you need 1 g of seeds.

This magnificent plant can only be admired in the botanical garden, as its seeds are almost impossible to obtain. However, it is no more difficult to grow than other types of kufei. Seeds are sown indoors in March-April or directly outdoors in May. Plants develop very quickly and, when planted early, bloom at the end of June and bloom until September.

Kufeya is an evergreen shrub with unusual tubular flowers that resemble lighted cigars, for which it is also called a cigarette tree. Belongs to the family of Derbennikovs, has a Mexican origin and the Greek name Kyphos, which translates as "crooked" or "bent".

The main habitat is Central and South America, where there are up to two hundred different subspecies of kufei. There are two main types of plants: annuals and perennials. The stem height can be up to half a meter. Leaves are dark green, narrow in shape. Flowers come in a variety of colors, but white, red, and purple are more common. Flowering lasts throughout the warm period. Lush blooming kufeis are a delightful decoration for your home, balcony or garden.

Types of kufei grown at home and in gardens, as well as their photos

Among all existing species Two kufei are especially popular as a garden and indoor plant: Fire-red and Hyssopolis.

- this species is often cultivated as a houseplant, also for decorating open flower beds. The flower of this species is sometimes bred in large containers that are placed on patios.

It looks like a short compact bush with tubular cigar-shaped flowers. Corollas are painted in bright red, against which there is a contrasting white spot. In the center of the bud is a purple throat.

A photo. Fire-red kufea (Cupheaignea)

There are several cultural variations of the fiery red kufi, which look like small neat bushes, the height of which does not exceed 30 cm:

• Coan - corollas can be brick-red and cream-white;
• Dynamite - rich red flowers form quite early with the onset of the warm season.

- the homeland of the plant is Mexico and Guatemala. Differs in endurance, is not afraid of rainy or windy weather. The bushes do not exceed half a meter in height. The flowers are small, usually a large number of them appear at once, flowering continues throughout the summer. The color of flowers can be white, pink or lilac.

A photo. Hyssopolis kufea (Cupheahyssopifolia)

Outdoors, kufeis are most often grown in warm climates. The plant can also be perfectly adapted as a curb. For decoration, it is grown in pots, containers, which are placed in courtyards, balconies and loggias. The plant looks good in hanging pots, in which flowering stems gracefully hang down.

It is preferable to place the kufeya in those places where there will be natural shading during the midday heat. It is also necessary to provide light, loose, but nutritious soil.

Place kufeyu where there is sufficient light.

If you plan to transplant a plant from a room into open ground, you must first harden the seedlings. They are transplanted only after the end of spring frosts, and fertile soil is prepared. In the garden, choose a place that will be well lit during the day, in extreme cases, will have weak shading. Outdoor plant maintenance will include regular weeding, pinching, and pruning.

The main rule for caring for kufei at home is protection from cold and drafts.

Caring for kufei at home is generally not difficult at all. For growing in a room, annual plant species are most often used. Seeds are used for planting. The main rule of caring for room kufei is to protect the flower from cold and drafts, and ensure abundant watering.

Do I need a transplant after purchase

Kuféa can be purchased at special horticultural centers where it is sold as a young plant already grown. After purchase, it is imperative to make a flower transplant... Often, on sold copies, the root system is protected by a special bag. It is necessary for the ease of separation of the root system from the soil. However, it should be removed because the tissue will prevent water from feeding the roots and lead to rot. When transplanting, the method of transshipment of an earthen coma is not used, but the root system is cleaned as much as possible from the transport substrate.

Pruning kufei

The growth of kufei usually occurs very quickly and the stems can reach their maximum height in a short period of time. In order for the plant to acquire a beautiful and well-groomed appearance, it is necessary to stimulate branching, while forming a neat crown. To do this, it is necessary to regularly pinch the tops of the shoots and do corrective pruning.

Eustoma flowers and their cultivation from seeds at home as well as a lot of other useful information.

Diseases of the hovei palm and not only can be found at the link http://cveti-rasteniya.ru/xoveya-uxod-v-domashnix-usloviyax.html

On the fiery red kufei, it is enough to cut off the overly elongated shoots, while the formation of the hyperal kufei will take longer, because its strong branching allows you to create original geometric shapes, for example in the form of a pyramid or a ball.

On perennial plants, pruning begins in early spring. It must be done before the period of active vegetation and flowering. At the same time, shortening the stem by one third will help stimulate the growth of young shoots.

What watering is needed

At home, kufeya is very demanding on watering.

Most kufei in home care requires regular abundant watering.... It is necessary that the soil is thoroughly saturated with water, which must constantly be inside the pot.

The watering regime should be at least twice a week. Water at room temperature is used for irrigation. It is necessary to ensure that each subsequent watering is done after the top layer has dried.

Excessive moisture is also not good for the plant, therefore, to avoid stagnant water, good drainage should be provided in advance. In winter, watering is somewhat reduced.

The flower can tolerate a short-term drought quite persistently. Kufeya is not very demanding on air humidity and there is no need to spray it often, but it can be put under a cool shower from time to time.

Landing and ground requirement

For proper care, it is very important where to grow kufei. To prepare a fertile and nutritious soil for the plant, you need to mix one part of the following types of land: leaf, peat, turf, humus, as well as half of river sand. A universal slightly acidic soil is also suitable.

For good growth and flowering of kufei, top dressing is required. For her, organic types of fertilizers are most preferred. You can use complex mineral formulations.

Important! In the warm season, the plant is fed during daily watering, with the help of 20 g of liquid fertilizer diluted in a bucket of water.

Also, the flower is useful spraying with a water-soluble complex fertilizer used for foliar feeding. Fertilizers for flowering plants are suitable during the flowering period.

Kufeya is transplanted annually in the spring.

In the event that kufei is grown from seeds, an annual spring transplant will be required.... At the same time, transplanting into flower pots is best done in a specially prepared soil mixture. It can be prepared in the following proportions:

• sterilized soil - 50%;
• neutral peat - 25%;
• sand - 25%;
• mineral fertilizers - 40g per bucket of soil.

When choosing a pot, the material from which it will be made does not matter much, but there must be holes in the bottom. The size of each new pot is chosen 2-3 cm larger than the previous one. When the size of the container reaches 25 cm, the transplant can be done less often, once every two or three years.

Growing

Cultivation of kufei both on the site and at home can be quite easy, the main thing is to follow all the rules for caring for it.

Breeding methods for kufei (seeds, cuttings)

Seeds and cuttings can be used to breed kufei. By the way, the very name of the flower from Greek is just connected with the curved shape of its seeds. They are greenish-brown curved discs up to 3 mm in diameter. They usually emerge within 5-7 days. If they are placed too close together, they can stick together because they begin to secrete a sticky substance during germination. Seeds can be placed in small containers, covered with a bag, and placed in a warm place. When they sprout, it will be possible to plant them in disposable cups, and after a while - to a permanent place.

Kufa propagates well both by seeds and cuttings.

Seeds are highly sensitive to light... They do not need to be sprinkled with earth too much, you only need to press a little into the soil, because in the light they sprout much faster. During the period of seed germination, a temperature of 20-22 degrees is required. When planting seedlings, containers must be placed under the sun. Young shoots are planted from the end of May.

When propagated by cuttings, they are cut obliquely from the tops of plants, using a fairly sharp knife, and planted in the ground at the beginning of spring when the air warms up to 18 degrees. You can also root it in a glass of water. Roots usually appear within a week.

Torenia flowers, how to grow them at home, can be found here.

A beautiful flowering herb of the acanthus family - tunbergia, its planting and care.

The shape of the bush will be easier to create if you place two or three branches in one place at the same time. During the beginning of growth, new leaves appear on the handle, then the top is pinched.

Temperature and lighting requirement

Kufeya is quite thermophilic, it needs moderate heating of the air. In summer, the temperature should be 22-25 degrees, and in winter - at least 12-18. Too cold air can be detrimental to the flower.

The flower needs bright sunlight for good vegetative development. It is best to grow kufeya at home on the eastern, in extreme cases, on the western windows. Northern window sills are unfavorable to the plant, the flowering of which, due to lack of light, will be defective, and the leaves will become dull.

Important! If the plant gets sunburn, the leaves will suddenly turn red.

Diseases and pests

Spider mites are rare on kufei.

Among the most common signs of kufei diseases, several should be highlighted:

• the appearance of dark spots on the leaves;
• decay of stems;
• rotting of the root collar.

All these diseases are provoked by the appearance of fungi and gray rot.... It is recommended to use fungicides to combat them. Yellowing leaves indicate a lack of iron, which in this case will need to be added to the feeding diet.

In rare cases, a spider mite or scale insect may appear.

A sign of tick infestation is the appearance of a thin white cobweb on the leaves. In this case, at the first symptoms, you should carefully wash the plant with a soft sponge soaked in soapy water. In the later stages, spraying with chemicals will be needed.

The appearance of scale insects on the leaves will be indicated by brown bulges - these are insect shells. In this case, you need to mechanically clean the pest with a brush and soapy water. You can also do insecticide treatments.

At the end of the autumn period, new flowers cease to appear on the kufei and the vegetative growth of the plant stops. This is a sign of termination life cycle and if you don't want to grow the flower in the future, you can throw it away. The faded plant can also be preserved and after the winter period it will be possible to root young shoots in a new substrate. In this case, flowering will begin even earlier than grown from seeds.

Kufeya is a beautiful annual or perennial plant that will add exquisite decorative qualities to any terrace and alley. The flowers of the plant, due to their tubular shape, are very reminiscent of a smoldering cigarette, which is why kufeyu is also called a cigarette tree. In the article we will talk about planting and caring for kufei, where and in what conditions to grow it, how and when to water it, what fertilizers to feed it with.

Description

The flower got its name thanks to the beautiful, but twisted fruits. "Kufeya" in translation from Greek means "curve". A herbaceous plant native to the central and southern regions of North America has found widespread use in our country. The cigarette tree, in most cases, is used in decorative and, but some entrepreneurs grow it for the collection of laurel acid and its subsequent sale on the market.
In their native habitat, there are more than 250 varieties of this plant. In addition, breeders are constantly developing new varieties that are distinguished by bright and lush flowering. Mexico is considered the birthplace of the flower, where it comes in two varieties - annual and perennial.

Important! The gap between the kufei bushes during planting should be at least 35 cm.

On the territory of our country, this beauty is often grown as an annual plant, but some amateur flower growers prefer to contemplate the evergreen kufeya in the indoor version. In the southern regions, where winters are not characterized by severe frosts, the cigarette tree can easily overwinter and dissolve the first buds at the end of March.

A distinctive feature of the flower is the fact that it blooms from late March to mid-September.(You must admit, a rather significant prospect of decorating any landscape park or just home).
The leaves of the kufei are glossy, dark green flower, small, shaped like an elongated oval with a sharp end. The shrub itself can reach a height of 40-50 cm, but professional landscape designers can give the plant any size through regular pruning. The flowers of this beauty are small, but there are a lot of them on one plant. Flower sizes vary from 2 to 3.5 cm. The color of flowers can be different: pink-red, purple-violet, lemon-white.

Types and varieties

As we said, there are about 250 types of this, however, most of them are not bred as decorative decoration. Amateur flower growers of our country know only a few types of kufei, which we will talk about in more detail.

This type of cigarette tree is a very compact and beautiful shrub, therefore it is preferred to grow it indoors, on balconies, in more southern regions - on terraces or. Hyssopolis kufea has strong and resilient branches that do not break even in strong winds, so caring for it at home will not take much work.
This type of shrub is easy enough to propagate by cuttings, so young cuttings can be purchased in almost every flower shop. The hyssopolis cigarette tree blooms very brightly with many small, glowing flowers.

Sometimes it seems that the shrub is on fire and glows with a bright red, purple, white or purple color. This type of plant loves a lot of light, heat and abundant watering, therefore, in the Moscow region and other central and northern regions of Russia, it is better to plant it in a pot and keep it in the house.

A very beautiful and beloved shrub by many growers. It has small compact forms, therefore it is very often grown indoors. The plant got its name because of the beautiful crimson flowers, of which there can be more than a hundred on a small bush. Among the people of kufei, fiery red is better known as a cigarette.
This nickname also comes from the flowers, which have elongated shapes and darker colors at the edges (it is the dark colors at the edges that give the impression of a smoldering cigarette). The plant is light-loving, does not tolerate frosts, likes high air humidity.

In some foreign literature, this type of shrub can be found under the name candy bush. It's funny, but this nickname was invented for a reason. The candy bush has beautiful bright pink flowers that give off a sweet sticky liquid with a pleasant scent. The shrub is very similar to kufeya hyssopolis (it has the same compact size and lignified shoots), however, the micro-petal form of the plant has petals not in the leaf axils, but above them.
The leaves are small, dark green, glossy, growing oppositely. The petals are very small, almost invisible due to the long calyx. The calyx is yellow, inside is green. The micro-petal cigarette bush is very common in the parks of the southern regions, where winters are less severe. Florists prefer to grow this shrub outdoors, where it attracts many pollinating insects (,).

Lanceolate

The lanceolate species of an exotic plant is slightly different from the previous representatives of the genus. This bush reaches a height of 0.8-0.9 m and no longer has such compact forms. However, the lanceolate kufeya is hot favorite plant many landscape designers in the southern regions. There, the flower is often found in parks, gardens, alleys and terraces. It attracts with its special, beautiful and vibrant flowering, which cannot be compared with anything else.
The tubular purple flowers can be seen from late to mid-October. The lanceolate cigarette tree propagates by seeds, which are spread by various, animal and gusty winds.

Planting at home

Growing kufei from seeds at home is not a difficult task, so any novice florist can handle it without any problems. You can buy seeds at any flower shop. There are about 300 seeds in a one-gram bag (this is enough to plant a whole alley of these beautiful shrubs). Since the plant is light-loving, it is best to plant seeds for seedlings in the house. You can start disembarking in late March or early April.

For seedlings, you can use small cups, at the bottom of which there are several small holes.
The soil for seedlings and adult plants is made according to the same formula: one part is taken, sod and leaf land, as well as humus, in addition, half a part of river sand is added to the mixture. One or two seeds are planted in each cup to a depth of 2-3 cm. After planting, the cups must be covered with glass or plastic wrap. Sunrises appear on the 5-7th day. They must be kept in a well-lit and humid place at a temperature of + 20-22 ° C (preferably on a windowsill).

Did you know?Some tropical varieties of kufei produce oil that is very similar in taste to coconut oil.

In late May - early June, the seedlings need to be transplanted. The selection of a place is yours. It will depend on which region of our country you live in. In the southern regions, kufeya can be planted under the open sky.

The best place would be: the southern side of the site, with good lighting, neutral soil acidity and no gusty winds. In the central and northern regions, it is better to transplant into deeper and wider containers, since the shrub must be placed in the house (in the summertime it can be taken out into the street). It should be remembered that kufeya is capable of withstanding slight frosts (up to -12 ° C), so take this into account when choosing a place for planting.
If the planting of a cigarette tree is carried out using cuttings, then all the above rules are also observed: soil composition, lighting, moisture, temperature regime... Only when planting cuttings is it necessary to immediately select the optimal capacity in which the plant can fully develop at least the first 6-9 months.

Reproduction

The Mexican shrub can be propagated by grafting or by means of seeds. It is necessary to trim the cuttings and plant them at temperatures of + 18-20 ° C, this is best done in spring. You need to separate the tips of non-lignified shoots with a sharp knife at a slight angle. The separated parts of the plant are placed in warm water for 7-10 days. After this period, the cuttings develop roots, they are ready for planting in prepared soil.

For better germination, flower growers recommend planting several cuttings in one container.After the appearance of the third pair of leaves, the plant needs to be pinched. In this case, the kufeya will grow lush, bright and beautiful.
If you propagate kufeya by seeds, then you need to wait until the end of the flowering period, which occurs in early to mid-autumn. At this time, ripe seeds are collected from the flowers and dried a little in the sun. After that, it is advisable to treat the seeds with a weak aqueous solution. Prepared seeds can be planted even in the fall, but in the apartment the plant must be provided with appropriate care: optimal lighting, temperature and humidity.

Care

In order for kufeya to bloom regularly and magnificently at home, she needs special care.

Temperature

It is necessary to keep the plant in the spring-summer-autumn period at temperatures of + 18-25 ° C. These conditions will be optimal for a normal and long lasting flowering process. In winter, perennial plants must be provided with a lower temperature, which will vary within + 12-15 ° C.
It should be noted that kufeya can withstand lower temperatures, but the flowering process can be greatly delayed. Breeders have also developed frost-resistant shrub varieties that can withstand winters down to -12 ° C.

Watering

The Mexican shrub loves watering and moist soil. It comes from those regions where the air humidity is always slightly higher than the air humidity in our region. In addition, in tropical regions of southern North America, rain is more frequent than in our country.

Watering the kufeya should be 2-3 times a week, especially carefully you need to monitor watering during the flowering period, then the bush will be even more lush and luxurious, with a lot of bright glowing flowers.

Important!If the kufeya is placed in a draft, then it can throw off all the leaves!

It is important that moisture saturates the entire earthen lump. If a cigarette tree grows in your house in a special container, then you need to water it until water begins to flow from the lower holes. Make sure that the topsoil does not dry out. The flower does not tolerate constant high soil moisture, therefore, when planting, it must be provided with a good one.

In winter, when the shrub is dormant, watering should be reduced to 3-4 times. Kufeya loves water procedures very much, so regularly spray her leaves and flowers.

The cigarette tree is a graceful lover. It can be fed throughout the entire flowering period, then the brightness and splendor of the flowers will be even more exciting. Fertilizer can be purchased at any flower shop (it is best to buy a complex fertilizer with all possible minerals).

A fertilizer with equal proportions of potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen in the composition is well suited. An aqueous solution is made at the rate of 20 g of fertilizer per 10 liters of water. You can also purchase special dressing for leaves and flowers, make water solutions, spray shrubs (procedures should be carried out once every 10-14 days).

Pruning

This North American shrub is capable of reaching its maximum size in a short period of time (especially when proper care). Its shoots are capable of reaching a height of 0.5-0.9 m, so they must be cut regularly. Thanks to the splendor of the bush, many landscape designers create a variety of geometric shapes and give the kufei a fabulous beauty. There are no special rules in pruning, you just need to shorten the strongly rushing shoots, create a beautiful shape for the bush.

Transfer

A young plant is transplanted every spring. Every year, you need to transplant kufeya into a pot of greater height and diameter (the size of each parameter should be increased by 2-3 cm). When the diameter of the pot reaches 25 cm, the transplant can be done less often - once every 2-3 years.

Did you know?Mexicans believe that kufeya is able to try on people, so it is placed in noisy offices and other crowded places.

When transplanting, the plant must ensure the optimal composition of the soil (we talked about this at the beginning of the article) and good drainage. Drainage can be built from polystyrene, broken brick or expanded clay. During the procedure, it is important not to damage the roots of the plant (if any of them are affected, then carefully remove them). Immediately after transplanting, the plant is abundantly watered and fed.

Diseases and pests

Most often, kufeya is affected by powdery mildew and various fungal diseases. If the root system of a flower is affected by fungi, then this is a clear sign of waterlogged soil. The first signs of the presence of fungus in the soil around the plant are: the appearance of dark gray spots on the leaves, decay of the shoots and root collar. To combat fungal diseases of kufei, you need to use fungicidal. When a bush is damaged by a spider mite, a small cobweb can be observed on the shoots and leaves. The pest often appears due to the dry air in the room where the cigarette tree is kept.

To combat spider mites, you can use insecticides (according to the instructions for use) or an aqueous solution of potassium soap (20 g of soap per liter of water). Each leaf and all shoots should be thoroughly washed with soapy water.
If the kufeya is struck by the scabbard, then you need to use either an aqueous solution of potassium soap (just as in the previous case). The first sign of the appearance of scale insects is small dark brown tubercles on the leaves (these are the shells of the pest). If the shrub is affected by thrips, then its leaves begin to deform and serrate. To combat thrips, first the mechanical method is used (the leaves are washed under running water), and then they are treated with insecticides.

According to the horoscope, the zodiac sign of Libra (September 23 - October 23) is accompanied by plants: large-crested pineapple, Japanese azalea (white), Chinese rose, Japanese fatsia, chrysanthemum, wavy-leaved cross, capsicum, codiaum, truncated zygocactus, heliotrope hybrid and red kufeya fire ...

Kufeya can be attributed to the number of indoor flower plants that are little known to most amateur flower growers, but it is worth paying more attention to it. The name of the genus - Cuphea (family Verbeinikovye) - is rather prosaic, it was assigned because of the shape of slightly curved fruits: "kyphos" is translated from Greek as "bent", "crooked". The genus includes, according to various sources, from 200 to 250 species of herbaceous perennials, semi-shrubs and shrubs, common in the temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of Central and South America.

Among them there are annuals more than a meter high. It also includes a group of low-growing dwarf shrubs and shrubs, interesting due to the numerous small bright flowers and long flowering.

They are useful for open field growers, who especially often use plants of some types of kufei in more southern latitudes for growing in containers. This is how the following kufeis contain - creeping (C. procumbens), lavea (C. llaavea), cinnabar red (C. miniata), purple (C. x purpurea) and lanceolate (C. lanceolata).

For growing in the premises of our zone, both the listed species and the "home" types of kufei are quite suitable - fiery red (C. ignea or C. platycentra), hyssopolis (C. hyssopifolia) and micro-petal (C. micropetala)... And the latter group of species is usually found on sale. Of course, a pot of kufei seedlings can be taken out to our garden after the period of spring frosts in order to keep there until the cold weather.

Due to the high light-loving nature, it is better to place the kufei indoors where there is a lot of bright light, but in the hottest summer hours there should be mandatory shading from direct sunlight. It grows well on windows facing west and east. For this very thermophilic plant, it is desirable to provide a temperature of 20 ... 25 ° C in summer, and 15 ... 18 ° C in winter.

Although this plant is considered to be quite drought tolerant, it is not recommended to abuse this quality. Abundant during active growing season - from April to August - watering is gradually reduced by autumn, and in winter it should be extremely moderate, but complete overdrying of the soil substrate is not allowed.

Kufeya normally tolerates low air humidity, however, for its normal growing season, the florist should still spray the plant with warm water. During spring and summer, it is fed every two weeks with a weak solution of mineral fertilizers intended for flowering indoor plants, which ensures abundant flowering of the kufei.

Experts advise to carry out an annual transplant of kufei in the spring. For this purpose, a fertile soil is needed, consisting of leafy, sod, peat and humus soil, river sand (in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 1: 0.5). Be sure to arrange a good drainage layer at the bottom of the container in the form of fragments of pots.

Kufa is propagated by semi-lignified stem cuttings and seeds. There are two most favorable periods for this - spring and late summer. The cuttings root quite well if a number of conditions are met. If planted in fertile soil, then it should be well moistened, but without excess water (temperature 22 ... 26 ° C). If the cuttings are placed in water (20 ... 22 ° C), then its layer should not exceed 1.5-2 cm. This is constantly monitored and water is added to the desired level as it evaporates.

With seed propagation, usually kufeya is grown through seedlings. Its greenish-brown seeds (up to 3 mm in diameter) are light (about 300 pcs per 1 g), very similar to curved discs. They are usually sown in late March - early April (the second term is more suitable for open ground). It takes no more than 7-10 days for seedlings to appear. It must be borne in mind that during germination, the seeds secrete a sticky substance. Therefore, if they are too close to each other, then a lump is formed, resembling a cake, from which it is extremely difficult to extract a single seed.

The seeds of kufei are characterized by high light sensitivity: they grow faster in the light, therefore they are not embedded in the soil (you just need to press it slightly into it, and cover it with glass on top). The optimum temperature for their germination is 20 ... 22 ° C. Good illumination of seedlings is necessary: \u200b\u200bwith a lack of light, it stretches very quickly.

Young kufei plants dive, as a rule, at a slight slope into deep containers, which are installed in a sufficiently illuminated place so that they do not stretch too much if there is little light. Otherwise, you will have to pour the soil under the cotyledon leaves later so that the long seedlings do not fall. If the plants are planned to be transferred to open ground, then for normal life the seedlings should be pre-hardened. When the danger of spring frosts has passed, young kufei plants are placed in open ground (late May - early June), where light nutritious or moderately fertile soils are chosen for them (seedlings are planted a little deeper than they were in picking containers).

For this purpose, there must be a well-lit place in the garden; in extreme cases, you can plant it in a slightly shaded one. But it is categorically not recommended to plant young plants in damp corners of the site where there is no air movement. When planting, the distance between them should be at least 30-35 cm. At this time, watering of seedlings in dry weather is especially important. Care consists mainly in the timely weeding of the weeds. Kufeya blooms in late June - early July and continues to bloom until frost. It should be borne in mind that the vegetative mass of kufei grows rapidly, therefore, pinching and pruning is carried out to regulate branching. Some flower growers keep pots with kufei in the outbuildings of country houses - on light terraces. These extraordinarily beautiful flowering plants look great thanks to their hanging stems on the support walls in hanging pots and baskets.

Most popular among indoor species Consider a fiery red kufeya (origin - Mexico and Jamaica). This is a shrub or herbaceous perennial with a height of 25 to 40 cm (depending on how they want to get it - in the form of an erect bush or ampelous plant). Its shoots have opposite, oblong or ovate-lanceolate pointed leaves up to 6 cm long, 2 cm wide.

Single flowers (2-3 cm long) are located on short pedicels in the axils of the leaves, they are almost without petals, very unusual in their color. The tubular perianth (calyx) is bright red with a small dark purple limb with white ends and a black pharynx. There is a short swelling (“spur”) at the base of the perianth.

For the obvious resemblance of flowers to a smoldering cigarette, as if covered with ash, in England this kufeya acquired the popular name cigar plant (cigarette plant). Recently, this species has received the Coan form of two colors - the usual red-orange and white. If the fiery red kufeya is grown as a balcony culture, then too elongated shoots are only slightly shortened.

The fiery red kufeya is characterized by very intensive growth and active branching. If you create optimal conditions for her and ignore the pinching, then she will give such long shoots that they will fall to the ground under their weight, turning into a ground cover plant, or hang out of the container, like an ampelous culture. The flowering of kufei is long. Blooms in mid-July.

Propagated by seeds. According to experts, 1 g contains 700-750 seeds. Although under the conditions of good cultivation, kufei gives fiery red seeds, it is not easy to collect them, since as it ripens, the ripe fruit cracks, and they fly in different directions.

When exposed to favorable soil conditions, such seeds germinate and give seedlings. You can, of course, close the boxes with a light piece of gauze to keep the jumping out seeds. Then these harvested or purchased seeds are sown. Experienced growers assure that plants obtained from seeds are more beautiful. Fire-red kufeya can also be propagated by cuttings: green apical cuttings give roots in water after 10-15 days, and even faster in summer in warm weather.

This type of "home" kufei also looks great in the open ground of our zone (in separate flower beds, in the form of a line along the paths or in a group on an illuminated alpine hill). It goes well with other summer outdoor (container and balcony) plants, especially if it is in the foreground.

Shoots lying on the ground take root, so they can be planted when the flower rejuvenates. Therefore, with an autumn transplant, only small bushes should be taken from the mother bush. In general, this species is usually cultivated as an annual plant, grown on balconies and terraces. But you can leave it to overwinter and make it bloom for next year. Then in the fall, at the end of flowering, watering is reduced, and for winter maintenance, a cool (10 ° C) light room is found for the plant; watering - once every 10 days. In March, this plant is transferred to a warmer room.

Cufea hyssopolis native to Mexico and Guatemala. This is a shrub or semi-shrub (35-50 cm high) with numerous profusely branching shoots, with narrow opposite, sessile or short-petiolate leaves (up to 2.5 cm long, 0.4 cm wide) of a dark green color, lanceolate, whole-edged.

Small flowers (about 1 cm in diameter) are numerous and sit singly in the leaf axils. The calyx is tubular, widened upward, short-toothed. The corolla is separate, with six identical petals (according to experts, an atypical feature for kufei), lilac-pink in color. The petals at the base are fused with the calyx.

The shoots of kufei hyssopolis are literally covered with these flowers, but they are sterile, so there are no seeds. The known form of kufei hyssopolis is white-flowered (Alba). This species may be of interest to amateur flower growers cultivating plants of the "bonsai" type. In the lower part of the plant, the shoots are lignified, so it quickly turns into a dwarf tree.

Hyssopolis kufeya is propagated by well-ripened green cuttings (5-10 cm long), which root well in wet sand, even in water they form a good root system. Let me remind you that the leaves are carefully pinched off from the bottom of the petioles so that they do not rot in the water. Hyssopolis kufea requires very careful shaping of the crown. Due to its strong bushiness, the plant of this species can be shaped like a ball or pyramid. During the summer, it is possible to maintain the shape of the kufei only by periodically pinching the ends of the shoots.

Micro-petal kufeya is a shrub 30-40 cm high with small narrow leaves, very similar to the previous species. Small flowers appear one after another, but not in the axils of the leaves, but above, above them. The top of the flower cups is yellow, but at the base they are scarlet, the throat is greenish, the stamens are red. The petals (there are six of them) are so tiny that they are almost invisible due to the teeth of the calyx. Although kufea is micro-petal and produces many seeds, it is preferable to propagate it by cuttings.

Other types are much less common among amateurs. An annual species - lanceolate kufeya - is unusually beautiful. This is a fast-growing plant (70-90 cm high), with purple, strongly pubescent soft hairs, stems similar to whips with lanceolate light green leaves. He has dark purple tubular flowers (2-3 cm in size), collected in one-sided rare inflorescences-ears. Lanceolate kufea blooms from the end of July. Propagated by seeds (200-250 seeds per 1 g).

Kufeya prostrate - low (about 40 cm) annual plants with strongly branching stems located on the ground with dark green leaves. She has lilac flowers (less often white or purple). Bloom from mid-July. Propagated by seeds (300-350 seeds per 1 g).

Very popular in European countries and so far extremely rare in our country kufeya Blazing bonfire (C. miniata) is an interspecific hybrid of kufei lavei and prostrate, which received its own name. These are ampelous annual bushes (25-30 cm high) with magnificent cascades of their flowers, with which they delight flower growers all summer. As a rule, this kufeya is placed in elegant baskets and hanging pots. Its most popular variant is called Firefly (C. lavea var. Miniata Firefly), which is distinguished by its fiery red flowers. She looks good in compositions with others. flower cropswith flowers of dark red color.

Kufeya as an ornamental plant is still very "young" in comparison with other flower crops: breeders paid attention to it only 20-30 years ago. Some annual types of kufei in their homeland have found application in perfumery. They are grown to obtain seeds, from which fatty acids are squeezed out (for example, laurel, which is necessary for the manufacture of shampoos).

To unfavorable conditions (draft, prolonged drying of the soil, cramped pot, getting under frost), kufeya can react by dropping leaves. Depending on the cause of this phenomenon, the plant is removed from the draft, dry shoots are cut to half the height of the plant, transplanted into a more spacious container, and fed. If you carried out this procedure on time, then the plant will give young leaves after 2-3 weeks. From indoor pests with high dry air, a spider mite may appear on the leaves. When placing kufei in damp shaded corners of the garden, powdery mildew may appear on the leaves.

Alexander Lazarev, candidate of biological sciences