| Life form | Grassy, ampel |
| Family | Gesneriaceae |
| Origin | Mexico |
| Ease of cultivation | Easy with small difficulties. |
| The size | Stolons (“whiskers” with rosettes) are usually 20 to 25 cm in length, the daughter outlets have a diameter of 6-8 cm. |
| Growth rate | It grows quite slowly throughout the year. |
| Lifespan | With age, the plant loses its decorative effect, the leaves turn yellow and fall off, so alsobiya needs regular rejuvenation. |
| Temperature | In the summer: 73,4-77 ° F, in winter not below 59 ° F, the plant is thermophilic and can die at low temperature. The plant should be protected from drafts. |
| Humidity | Spray the air around the plant, avoiding moisture on the flowers and leaves, on which stains can form from the water. It is better to place the pot in a pallet with moist pebbles and do not spray the plant or use other methods of enhancement humidity. |
| Lighting | Scattered light. Suitable for the east and west windows, should be shaded from the direct midday rays. In bright light, the leaves turn yellow and twist. |
| The soil | Suitable light breathable slightly acidic soil. For own soil, you can take 2 parts ground sheet, 1 part coarse sand or perlite, 1 part peat, 1 part humus, you can add charcoal. It is mandatory to use drainage. |
| Watering | During flowering regular watering, approximately every 3 days, the pot should never stand in the water, because from excess moisture, the plant can rot. Nevertheless, the land should not dry up. Use only soft water. With the onset of autumn, watering is reduced, in winter it is watered once in 8-10 days, especially rarely if the temperature is below 59 ° F. Water should not, if possible, get on the leaves and especially on the flowers. |
| Fertilizer | From spring to autumn, once a month, a liquid fertilizer, diluted two-fold. Excessive fertilization negatively affect growth. |
| Reproduction | The easiest method of propagation alsobii – rooting cuttings, but must be constructed outlet located as close as possible to the maetrinskomu plant because rosettes on too long mustaches take root more difficult. The rosettes are buried and covered with a film. You can prikopat several outlets in a pot next to the mother plant. Alsobii sockets can take root in the water. You can multiply, completely separating the stolon (“barbel”), cutting it into pieces and planting rosettes in the soil, covering it with a film.Reproduction by seeds is rather laborious. Seeds are planted in January and February (summer flowering plants, to streptokarpusy bloomed the next year, the seeds can be sown in June-July) and sprinkle the ground. Cover the container with glass and germinate the seeds at a temperature above 68 ° F. Shoots usually appear on the 10th-12th day.After about 2-3 weeks they are dived. |
| Bloom | Blossom from May to September with tubular flowers of white color with red specks inside the pharynx. |
| Transfer | Transplanted once in 2 years in spring, while not necessarily increase the size of the pot. The pot should be low and wide to be able to implant new outlet. You should be careful not to damage the fragile roots. |
| Features of care | It likes airing, but does not tolerate drafts, gas combustion products and tobacco smoke. Leaves can be cleaned with a dry brush, but not with a damp rag. The leaves of the plant are fragile and easily damaged, so you should be careful. Sometimes after flowering, boxes with seeds are formed, but usually, in order not to weaken the plant, the fading flowers are removed in time in the base. The plant grows very well in terrariums or in pieces of bark. |
| Difficulties | It is affected by a spider mite. Large leaves of the plant can turn yellow, which is a Natural process of aging. Sites of dry tissue on the leaves are the result of a sunburn. With a lack of light, the plant grows slowly, the stems stretch, and the leaves grow smaller. The leaves twist, and their tips wither in the dry air. The leaves turn yellow and rot in the base with excessive watering in conditions of low temperature. |
| Air cleaning | – |
| Toxicity | – |
