| Life form | Liana, ampel |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Origin and distribution | Southwestern Madagascar. There are 2 known species: large cryptostegia (Cryptostegia grandiflora), cryptostegia Madagascar (Cryptostegia madagascariensis). |
| Ease of cultivation | Average |
| The size | In nature up to 30 m, some shoots are lignified, leafy, others thin, with rare leaves, with their help, the plant is attached to the support. |
| Growth rate | High and medium |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Temperature | The plant is thermophilic. The temperature of the summer is + 77-82,4 ° F, in winter the temperature is + 68-71,6 ° F. |
| Humidity | Cryptoesthesia requires a high enough humidity and regular spraying. In winter it should not be placed near heating batteries |
| Lighting | He prefers the brightest light and only a slight shade at noon. The windows facing south, south-west, south-east. |
| The soil | A well drained substrate based on glistening soil with sand will do. You can make a mixture of 1 part of the turf ground, 2 parts peat, 1 part humus, 1 part coarse sand or perlite. Drainage required. |
| Watering | In summer, the watering is abundant, with complete drying of the soil, the leaves fall off quite quickly. In winter, watering cuts. |
| How to fertilize | Fertilize the subcortex for flowering plants during the growing season approximately every 2 weeks. |
| Reproduction | Spead by cuttings and seeds. Seeds retain their germination for about a year. Before germination, it is desirable to soak them in warm water for a day so that the seeds swell. Those that do not swell are pierced and re-soaked before swelling.Later, the seeds are germinated in a coconut substrate or a mixture of peat and sand under the conditions of lower heating (temperature + 75.2 ° F), covering the pot with polyethylene. Duration of germination – from one to several weeks. |
| Bloom | Cryptostegia blooms in summer, forms five-petalled pink, reddish, white flowers. |
| Transplant and care | Young plants are transplanted annually into a larger pot. In the future, the transplant is carried out every 2-3 years. When transplanting, it is necessary to work in gloves, do not let the milk of the plant enter the skin. Otherwise, it must be rinsed. In summer it is useful to take out to the open air. Requires regular pruning at the beginning of the season, which contributes to better branching. |
| Difficulties | The main pests are aphids, mealy worms. Relieves leaves with insufficient watering. |
| Beneficial features | Prior to the Second World War, cryptostegia was grown in India as a source of latex for the production of rubber. |
| Toxicity | The plant is poisonous to humans and animals. If ingested, the gastrointestinal tract acts on the heart, can cause intestinal disturbances. It is necessary to remove old leaves in a timely manner, since dust on them can cause allergic reactions. |
