Levisia flower features
Levisia belongs to the Portulacaceae family. Rare representatives of the flora, found only in the arid regions of the North American continent, and nowhere else. The plant is named after explorer Captain Meriwether Lewis.
Most of this genus is cultivated as attractive hybrids. Some species are evergreen, but most with dying foliage for the winter.
Densely flowering plants, small and squat (from 10 to 50 cm in height), are beautiful on the sides of the paths, suitable for rock gardens. The color of the petals is pink, white, cream, red with orange or yellow stripes. Blooms in May-July. The diameter of the flowers after full opening is 2-2.5 cm. Inflorescences in racemes or panicles of funnel-shaped flowers with five petals. They have bare stems. Fleshy leaves (up to 15 cm) are collected in rosettes.
During the flowering period, long cylindrical stems of reddish color, with beautiful flowers, collected in inflorescences, emerge from the base of the rosettes of leaves. They bloom for quite a long time. The stems of the inflorescences are erect, from 10 to 50 flowers can form on one, with oval petals. The colors of the flowers are varied: white, pink, orange, yellow, red, white-pink.
Additional Information! In some, the peduncle is branched, with small flowers, in others, tall stems, or stemless. A feature of some species is the presence of large flowers on the stem.
Levizia: landing, care
They are relatively demanding plants to grow, but when they meet their basic needs, they grow well and bloom profusely every year.
Location
Levis usually thrive in a well-lit area, but should be protected from the bright midday sun.
Note! The habitat in which they are grown should be sunny in the morning, in the afternoon, on the contrary, shady.
If they get too little sun, or if the place is too shady, the plants grow weak, and usually disappear after a few months. Therefore, they are not suitable for planting under trees.
Soil for Levia
Growth requires a soil with a neutral or slightly acidic pH, well permeable, with a high content of humus. When planting in the ground, drainage should be provided. Fertilizers applied to the soil contribute to good development.
Landing
Plants are placed at least 10 cm apart so that they can develop separately and not compete for water and light.
Prepare the soil with clay, pebbles and humus. The planting hole should be about 5 centimeters larger in circumference than the root ball. The soil is watered and the plant is inserted into the hole. The voids are filled with gentle tapping.
Watering
Excess moisture is also harmful to the plant. Levizia are more sensitive to waterlogging than other plants. It is recommended to water only when it is really necessary: in the heat and during growth. It is important to prevent the formation of stagnant water. Standing water contributes to the infection of the plant with root rot. They grow best between rocks, where water runs off when watering or when it rains, and the plants do not rot.
Important! Water gently in the morning or evening. Never water in sunny weather, because wet leaves burn the sun.
fertilizers
Add liquid fertilizer to irrigation water in early spring. If necessary, you can feed during the entire growing season from one to two times a month. Before flowering, add a little liquid fertilizer to the watering.
Transfer
Levisia have a fleshy and long root system, so they are not recommended to be transplanted. The place is immediately chosen taking into account all their needs.
Oh pruning
Lewisia does not require pruning. If the flowers have faded, they should be cut off. This strengthens the plant and it can develop daughter rosettes. Often, a secondary flowering of the plant then occurs. You can trim wilted or dry inflorescences constantly.
Reproduction of Levia
Propagated in three ways: child rosettes; seeds; leaf cuttings.
The easiest way to propagate levizia with child outlets. They are cut and planted in the chosen place. The ideal time for this is late summer, allowing young rosettes to take root before winter.
Reproduction by leaf cuttings:
- leaf cuttings are taken from one leaf;
- separate a strong leaf from a plant;
- cut at the intersection lived;
- place the leaf pieces on a sandy substrate;
- keep the soil evenly moist.
The place for growing should be warm and bright. As soon as strong roots and new shoots are formed, the young plant can be transplanted into soil rich in humus. This method can be used at home on the windowsill all year round.
Propagation by seeds is difficult. Levisia fruits contain from 4 to 15 seeds. Before sowing, they must be stratified. To do this, you can plant the seeds directly in the fall in the open air or store in the refrigerator for about 6 weeks. In the latter case, sowing can be done at home.
Seeds are sprinkled with a thick layer of peat or compost. For germination, it does not matter if the container is in a bright place, but as soon as the first tips of the shoots appear, the box should be moved to a bright place.
After germination, young plants are transplanted into small pots and after about six months they are transplanted to a permanent place.
How does Levia winter?
Severe frosts are not particularly dangerous, but in winter and spring Levisa can be surrounded by a lot of water and rot. Many of the 17 Lewisia species can easily cope with freezing temperatures, but are extremely sensitive to moisture. Particularly cold and wet winters are hard on plants.
Note! The ornamental plant is frost-resistant down to -23 ° C, but does not tolerate stagnant or winter dampness at all, so it needs to be covered.
The plant can also overwinter in a room where the temperature should be from 0 to 5 degrees. Luizia is less suitable as a houseplant as it needs a lot of light. Indoor spaces usually do not meet the light requirements of these plants.
Pests and diseases
Pest infestation or disease per se is not a problem for this genus. Insect pests are rare on plants. However, aphid infestation can occur. Plants should also be protected from snails that feed on leaves. There is a high risk of root rot due to waterlogging.
cultural species
In total, 20 species of Levisia are known, on the basis of which many hybrids have been bred, such as, for example, with pure white flowers, with pale pink veins and with wavy leaves, jagged at the edges.
Levisia tupolistnaya (Levisia Cotyledon) – most often found in gardens. It blooms from May to June with mostly pink flowers. Long peduncles with many buds. The size of the flower is not more than 2.5 cm in diameter, 15 petals each.
Levisia long-petal (Levisia longipetala). Flowers 4 cm. crimson, red. The height of the bush with flowers up to 15 cm.
Lewisia dwarf (Lewisia pygmaea). Low-growing perennial, Flowers up to 3 cm in diameter, 7 pieces per peduncle, collected in umbellate inflorescences. The color of the petals is white, with a pink color.
Lewisia nevadensis (Lewisia nevadensis) . The leaves are elongated, flowering period from May to August. Flowers of medium size white. Open only in bright sunshine, closed on cloudy days.
