A beautiful flowering plant, Pericallis Hybrida, can brighten your garden or home with its vibrant colour. It belongs to the family Asteraceae and is a hybrid between Pericallis Cruenta and Pericallis Lanata. Both the parent plants belong to the Canary Islands. It looks like a Daisy, also belonging to the same family, which makes it even more desirable. If maintained well, you can enjoy the beauty of this plant in your house throughout the year.
Pericallis Hybrida: Key facts
| Common name | Cineraria |
| Flower’s colour | Purple, blue, pink |
| Plant size | 6-12 inch |
| Planting season | Spring, summer, and autumn |
| Use | Ornamental |
Pericallis Hybrida: Characteristics
- The plant has green leaves throughout the year, making it a perfect choice for your garden.
- This evergreen plant is also perennial, which means it lives for over two years.
- The plant has no woody stems.
- It mainly grows in the Mediterranean and subtropical climate.
Pericallis Hybrida has a wide variety of colours. Not just purple, blue, red and pink, they also come as bicolour. Some flowers have these vibrant colours in combination with white. The flowers bloom in a cluster of 1-4 inches in diameter. The flowers last for a long time. When the flower dies, the plant loses its charm too. The plant has thick foliage too.
How to grow Pericallis Hybrida?
The most popular way of growing Pericallis Hybrida is from seeds. Start with planting seeds in flat trays or small pots containing pot mix by lightly pressing them into the soil. Keep them uncovered as they need sunlight to germinate. Keep the seeds moist and wait for 14-21 days for them to germinate. Once seedlings develop true leaves, transplant them in individual pots. Pericallis Hybrida can take anywhere from 16 to 18 weeks after germination to bloom. If you grow these plants as perennials, they will easily reseed on their own and colonise. To prevent this from happening, deadhead their flowers before the seeds mature.
Pericallis Hybrida: Care tips
Pericallis Hybrida is a popular plant because of its gorgeous colours. It is not too hard to care for this plant. They can be grown in pots or on the ground. Here are some top tips for managing this species.
Pericallis Hybrida: Soil requirements
It requires moist and well-drained soil. The pH value of the ground needs to be slightly acidic. It is ideally between 5.5 and 6. The soil must be humus rich. To help the plant thrive, add peat moss.
Pericallis Hybrida: Sunlight requirements
Pericallis Hybrida blossoms well in partial to full shade. It makes it suitable to be grown as an indoor plant as well. Full sunlight doesn’t work well for the plant.
Pericallis Hybrida: Water requirements
Frequent watering is required so that the soil is always moist. However, overwatering can kill the plant, and excess moisture retention can lead to fungal infection.
Pericallis Hybrida: Temperature requirements
The plant flourishes in a temperature range between 50- and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Extreme heat or cold can be harmful to plant growth. Extra care needs to be taken when the seeds are germinating. When indoors, the plant requires a cool temperature.
Pericallis Hybrida: Humidity requirements
Pericallis Hybrida thrives in a humid climate. Particular attention must be taken to humidity when growing inside. Sometimes, the plant is kept on a pebble tray with some water so that the air around it is humid.
Pericallis Hybrida: Fertiliser requirements
Farming can be applied for two to three weeks after flowering starts. Although the plant eats well, it shouldn’t be fed excessively.
Pericallis Hybrida: Pests and diseases
Aphids, spider mites, and other pests can affect the plant. Treating the plant with a neem oil spray is the easiest way to eliminate them. If the infection is severe, the plant may have to be removed.
Pericallis Hybrida: Pruning
Pruning a Pericallis Hybrida is necessary to encourage growth. All it needs is a clearing of its dead flowers. New flower buds take life soon enough. Usually, once the flowers are dry, the plant is removed, and plants for the next season are placed. It is because the possibility of the same plant flowering again is low. However, the leaves remain green in all seasons.
Pericallis Hybrida: Propagation
Propagation is usually done from seeds. The critical point to note here is that the seeds germinate in the presence of light and so should not be covered. The germination takes about 10-15 days. The seedlings should not be overwatered because there is a risk of fungal infection. 4 weeks later, the transplanting can be done.
If you are growing them in your garden, these can reseed on their own and propagate. The flower dies after blossoming and, if left untouched, turns into seeds. These seeds fall on the ground, giving life to new plants.
Alternatively, propagation can be done by stem cutting. For example, a 5-inch stem tip with no flowers and only top leaves is planted in a pot. It will have rich roots, moist soil with a cool temperature and indirect sunlight. Replant if needed, and you can see the flowering in around three months.
Pericallis Hybrida: Uses
Pericallis Hybrida is a unique, decorative, versatile plant that can be used as a houseplant or garden flower. It is known for its striking colour and large size. This plant has been used for centuries as a decorative item in homes, gardens and offices. The flowers look like bells hanging from their branches while blooming. No thorns or spines are on this plant, so it requires no protection when growing outdoors. However, you can keep it inside your home to enjoy its beauty all year. The flowers bloom all year long with different colours depending on what time of year they bloomed.
FAQs
Does Pericallis Hybrida readily rebloom?
After the flowering season is over, the plant usually doesn't rebloom. Instead, it is often discarded and replaced by new.
Can we choose when the plant should bloom?
It takes the plant only around three months to blossom. So, you can plan and germinate the seeds to bloom at your desired time. However, providing the right plant care atmosphere, including sunlight, water, soil, and humidity, is still essential.
Which is the major pest that affects the plant?
Aphids or blackflies are the biggest threat to the plant. There is also a kind of white wooly aphids that affect Pericallis Hybrida. White powdery mildew can also be seen.
What kind of fertiliser is best suited for the plant?
A half-strength balanced fertiliser is most suitable for Pericallis Hybrida. It is a heavy feeder but should not be overly fertilised.
What are the common names of Pericallis Hybrida?
Cineraria, florist's cineraria, and common ragwort are the plant's common names.
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at [email protected] |
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