Stefanotis: what care does Madagascar jasmine need for flowering at home

A wonderful guest from the tropics, the owner of delicate and fragrant flowers - stefanotis, conquers at first sight. Elegant emerald greenery in combination with snow-white flowers looks elegant and elegant. But before you get the desired Madagascar jasmine, you should carefully study all the subtleties of caring for an exotic handsome man at home.

Description of Stefanotis

The exotic and vibrant Madagascar is full of surprises. One of them is a magnificent plant called stefanotis. On a tropical island, the flower prefers to grow on the forest edges, hiding in partial shade. The first description dates back to 1806. Since then, much water has flowed, but stefanotis still remains the most beautiful and desired plant for flower growers around the world.

Stefanotis - representative of tropical Madagascar

Stefanotis is a perennial climbing vine, growing in natural conditions up to 6 m. The stalk is elastic and elastic at a young age; in an adult plant, it is lignified. The leaves have a leathery glossy surface and are painted in a dark emerald color. The shape of the leaf plate resembles a vertically elongated ellipse with a pointed tip with a length of 5 to 10 cm. The central vein is pronounced. The leaves are oppositely located, attached to the stem with the help of long cuttings.

Stefanotis - Curly Liana

The name stefanotis in the literal translation sounds like a "crown of ears".

Beautiful, delicate flowers are the main decoration of a tropical plant. The flowers have a tubular shape, crowned with bent petals resembling a star. Inflorescences are loose corymbose, axillary type. In one bunch, there are up to 7 colors. They are painted in white, cream and purple shades. The unforgettable charming and delicate aroma of stefanotis gives it a resemblance to jasmine, so in common people this tropical plant is often called Madagascar jasmine. Under natural conditions, the duration of flowering lasts a long 10 months.

Stefanotis blooms in nature for 10 months

White tender stefanotis flowers are often used to create a bride’s bouquet, in wedding flower arrangements, and even weave into the bride’s hair. For this, stefanotis is known as the "wreath of the bride."

The fruits of stefanotis are similar to boxes in shape resembling an ellipse. Inside are parachute seeds. As soon as the ripe fruit bursts, the seeds will fly apart.

Inside the stefanotis fruit are parachute seeds

If we talk about the difficulty of growing stefanotis at home, then, of course, you can’t call the care of the plant easy. In order for a tropical flower to feel at home and to develop normally, it needs to be helped and created conditions resembling natural ones. A person who is inattentive or very busy will not be able to follow the rules of care. But a patient and loving grower will certainly grow stefanotis and enjoy its beautiful flowering.

Types of Stefanotis

From 12 to 16 species of stefanotis are known, which in addition to Madagascar can be found in South China, Indonesia and even in Africa.

Delicate flowers of Madagascar jasmine in the photo

Seasonal care for stefanotis at home

Maintaining the necessary conditions in different seasons will help the plant feel at home.

Stefanotis does not need to be turned to the light source in different directions, especially during the formation of buds. He doesn’t like that, he cannot stand it. Otherwise, you will not wait for flowering, and if your plant already has buds, they will fall off.

Stefanotis loves bright lighting

Landing and transplanting

Stefanotis is a liana with good growth rates. Therefore, young plants are transplanted 1 time, or even 2 times a year, but an adult plant should not be disturbed so often, about once every 2-3 years. Sometimes it will be enough to replace the top layer of the earth with more fresh and nutritious soil. The main indicator of transplantation is the pot from which stefanotis grew. To determine this moment is quite simple - the roots appeared from the drainage hole, and the substrate began to dry faster than usual. As a rule, they begin to transplant from the month of February and finish before the start of the growing season, using the gentle method of transshipment.

A pot for adult specimens needs to be selected carefully. The best choice is ceramic containers with a drainage hole. The size of the pot should only slightly exceed the volume of the root system. In an oversized pot, stephanotis will develop worse and completely refuse to bloom.

Ceramic pot holds massive stephanotis

Drainage must be used when transplanting. You can take advantage of the remains of an old ceramic pot, breaking it into small fragments or buy expanded clay filler in a store. A drainage layer should be sufficient, at least 3 cm.

For stephanotis, it is better to pick up heavy earth with a slightly acid reaction. You can purchase a suitable substrate in the store. But it is best to cook it yourself, picking up the ingredients in the following proportions:

• humus or peat - 3 parts;

• sand - 2 parts;

• deciduous land - 1 part;

• clay-turf land - 1 part.

The composition, of course, is not quite ordinary, but a caring florist will surely find all the components. And also, do not forget to sanitize the mixture before planting.

Step-by-step transplant process

1. Having laid a layer of drainage on the bottom, fill it with soil mixture.
2. Handling stephanotis in a new pot must be very careful so as not to damage the small and thin roots that absorb moisture. If this happens, then you need to add a root growth stimulator to the water for irrigation.
   

   In order not to damage the roots, stefanotis is transplanted by transshipment

3. After installing the plant in a tank, they fill up the remaining earth on the sides and water it. Be sure to wait for the excess liquid in the glass pan and drain it.

Only non-flowering stephanotis can be transplanted. If you purchased a plant with buds, you will have to wait until it fades and only after that proceed to the replacement of the pot and soil.

Support

The fast-growing stephanotis liana needs support because of its biological characteristics. The construction for maintaining the stem, as it were, recreates the natural conditions in which the plant weaves around a nearby carrier. The most common type of such a structure is in the form of an arch. Making a support is very simple, you just need to get a piece of strong wire. Bend it in an arcuate manner and insert it into the pot. And if you show your imagination, you can build various designs that stefanotis happy to master. If there is no wire at hand, then in any flower shop you can buy plastic structures in the form of a ladder.

Stefanotis needs support

Care in detail

Caring for stefanotis in an apartment requires patience and attention to the plant from the gardener. Only following all the rules of care will help to admire the beautiful flower for a long time.

Watering

Like any houseplant, stefanotis in the period of active growth needs watering. It must be plentiful so that the earth is in a moderately wet state during the warm season. Try to prevent over-drying of the earthen coma! In hot weather, depending on the thermometer, moisturize 2-3 times a week. Starting in the fall and throughout the winter, watering should be moderate.

Water for irrigation should settle for several days. Chlorine contained in tap water negatively affects the overall development of stefanotis.

In the spring-summer period, stefanotis should be watered abundantly

Top dressing

So that stefanotis had the strength to grow rapidly and bloom profusely during the growing season (from March to early October), it is fed every 2 to 3 weeks. Fertilizers should be selected complex, but with a high content of potassium. Nitrogen does not act very well on the plant - stefanotis begins to actively grow stems and leaves, because of which wintering will not proceed according to plan and flowering can not wait. Particular attention is paid to dressing during the buds - from April to May.

For normal growth and flowering, stefanotis must be fed

How to make it bloom

In room culture, stefanotis blooms in early summer. This unusually beautiful sight can last up to 4 months. Already blooming adult plants that have reached the age of 3 to 4 years. The achievement of annual flowering helps compliance with certain rules of care.

1. Stefanotis needs to be transplanted in a timely manner.

2. Avoid temperature extremes and drafts.

3. Wintering should take place in a cool room with an average temperature of 15 ° C.

4. Do not get carried away with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, especially during the budding period. Stefanotis should receive enough light.

5. Do not rearrange or rotate the stefanotis pot during budding.

Crossandra is also distinguished by its long and lush flowering. You can learn how to grow it at home from the material: //diz-cafe.com/ozelenenie/krossandra-vyrashhivaem-bez-problem-cvetok-fejerverk-v-domashnix-usloviyax.html

In order for the stefanotis to bloom, it is necessary to observe some rules

Rest period

The rest period, starting from the second half of November, is primarily characterized by a decrease in temperature in the room. With a thermometer of 14 -16 ° C, stefanotis is preparing for the laying of buds. Watering the plant at this time should be extremely careful, and feed and completely stop.

Pruning

Due to the peculiarity of stefanotis blooming on young shoots - pruning is of no small importance. The procedure is carried out annually at the very beginning of spring. Removing weak elongated and old bare shoots helps maintain an attractive appearance of the vine. Pruning, contributing to the growth of young shoots, should be moderate. In the summer, in order to prolong flowering, pinch the shoots.

After moderate pruning, young shoots grow in stephanotis

Care Mistakes

With inadequate care, stefanotis loses its attractive appearance and refuses to bloom.

Why leaves fall, doesn’t grow or bloom - table

Care Mistakes - Photo Gallery

Diseases and Pests

Inadequate care will weaken stefanotis and make it defenseless against diseases and pests.

Diseases and pests: what can be done to get rid of them - table

How do diseases and pests manifest themselves - photo gallery

Breeding

Stefanotis propagated by seeds or cuttings.

Seed propagation

This process is very time consuming and lengthy. And besides, the seeds do not always germinate. But those who have the patience may well take up this hard work.

1. Fill the container with a sterilized mixture of peat and sand, mixing them in equal amounts and moisten.
2. Seeds pre-soaked in water for 2 days are not instilled, it will be enough with a finger to slightly press them into the moistened soil.
3. Cover the container with glass and place in a well-lit place with a temperature of 26 ° C.
4. Moisten the soil with a spray gun, waiting until the soil mixture is almost dry. Do not allow waterlogging! Condensate accumulated on the glass must be wiped daily with a napkin so that it does not get on the seedlings.
5. Seed germination can take up to 2 months.
   

   After 2 months, stefanotis seeds germinate

6. After the first leaves appear, the seedlings dive into small pots filled with a mixture for growing an adult plant.
7. If daylight hours last less than 14 hours, young plants should be additionally illuminated.

Propagation using cuttings

Stefanotis is considered to be a hard-to-root plant, so phytohormones must be used when cutting. In addition, this type of reproduction fully preserves the genetic qualities of the parent. Rooting is best in the spring and summer.

1. Material for rooting is most often procured during pruning. Cuttings should be half lignified and have at least 2 - 3 leaves. The slice is made 2 cm below the knot and treated with Kornevin.
   

   Cuttings can be stocked during pruning

2. The tank is filled with sand. Cuttings are inserted into it at an angle, deepening by 1.5 cm.
3. Top cover with glass and put in a bright place.
4. Rooting occurs during lower heating (temperature in the greenhouse 25 ° C) and periodic moistening.
5. After 2 to 3 weeks, the cuttings take root and young shoots appear in the axils of the leaves.
   

   Rooting occurs after 2 weeks.

6. In the prepared 7 or 9 cm pots, new plants are planted and transferred to a bright room with a temperature of 18 ° C. Nighttime temperatures can drop to 14 ° C.
7. As they grow, rooted plants are transferred into a larger pot.

Some gardeners have successfully rooted stefanotis cuttings in water. By air layers, unlike hoya, stefanotis does not multiply.

Gardeners reviews on growing stefanotis

My stefanotis is 10 years old. The pot is more than 10 liters. The height of the arc is 1.3 meters. Loves the sun (better in the morning). In the summer it stands on the street. In the summer I water abundantly, in the heat - daily. Winter once a week.

viniti//frauflora.ru/viewtopic.php?t=3095

I would say that with proper care (light, humidity) - it is not a whimsical plant. The growth rate is amazing, I barely have time to reel on the supports. Mine is also from the "markdowns". Grows for a long time, blooms.

Alex//www.flowersweb.info/forum/forum17/topic63275/messages/

I want to give some advice. 1. Was the first sad experience - I decided to "rejuvenate" the bush, trimmed well and the bush disappeared completely. I began to study literature on the plant and deduced that stefanotis should not be cut off much - it would die. 2 This plant reacts to a change in location (especially when it blooms), experienced flower growers advise labeling the pot so as not to change the position of the flower in relation to light. By the way, in shops they sell small bright insects with Velcro for pots, very nice and convenient.

Irene//forum.bestflowers.ru/t/stefanotis-madagaskarskij-zhasmin-stephanotis.1136/

My Stefanotis stands all year round on the south window in full sun. But after winter it is necessary to gradually accustom to the sun. Yesterday I took it from the windowsill to water, I look, and he has all the leaves with such a light yellowness almost imperceptible, but it’s immediately clear - they were burnt from the bright spring sun!

Busya//cvetoforum.ru/topic3324.html

Video on the nuances of flower care

Caring for stefanotis is not easy. But the result is worth a little work, recreating conditions similar to natural ones for the plant. At an attentive florist, the result will not be long in coming. The plant covered with fragrant flowers will become the main decoration of the room. But like any strongly smelling flower, stefanotis should not be kept in the bedroom and children's room.