Crossandra species Fortuna / Infundibuliformis – care

After flowering, a Crossandra produces square capsule fruits. In order to distribute the seeds contained in it over a wide area, the plant offers the attentive viewer a little spectacle, as the capsules open explosively.

maintenance

Until the Crossandra infundibuliformis ‘Fortuna’ appeared on the market in 2006, the care of Crossandra species was considered time- consuming and complicated . Until then, cultivation could only be successful in tropical greenhouses or closed plant showcases, in which the delicate acanthus plants were consistently humid and warm. Even the smallest fluctuations caused the flower to fail or the leaves to fall off. As before, the appropriate conditions at the site are considered essential for successful maintenance, in conjunction with a balanced water and nutrient balance. Thanks to ‘Fortuna’, the modern requirements have dropped to an acceptable level.

location

The Crossandra wants a lot of light without blazing sunshine, high humidity and consistently warm room temperatures. Where these requirements are taken into account, all further maintenance measures prove to be uncomplicated. This is how the optimal location should be:

• A bright window seat , shady to partially shaded
• All year round a temperature level between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius , in summer happily higher
• A high humidity of 50 to 80 percent

A seat at the west window with a light intensity of 60 to 80 percent is very much welcomed by a Crossandra infundibuliformis ‘Fortuna’. During the winter months it can also be the south-facing window, when the sun is seldom seen anyway. In summer, a location on the south side should be equipped with a shading facility that softens the sun’s rays from midday to early afternoon.

humidity

Since the high humidity for a Crossandra should only be locally at a high level, this requirement can be met with simple means. For example, place a humidifier near the pot. Fill the coaster with expanded clay balls and water. In winter, place bowls filled with water on active radiators in order to generate a high level of evaporation. It is also helpful to spray the leaves regularly with lime-free water. However, the flowers must not be wetted.

Substrate

It goes without saying that a tropical treasure like the Infundibuliformis ‘Fortuna’ should not be cared for in cheap potting soil from the supermarket. Instead, use high-quality potted plant soil from specialist dealers. To optimize the permeability, add lava granulate, expanded clay, coconut fibers or perlite. If you have made leaf compost on hand, a handful of the organic aggregate rounds off the substrate recipe .

pour

Uniform substrate moisture with intermittent drying is ideal for a ‘Fortuna’. Please do not water until you have checked with your finger whether the soil has actually dried a little. Then let the water run out of the jug nozzle in a controlled manner. You can be sure that the root ball is well moistened when the first drops of water run into the coaster. Unless you have filled it with stones, pour out the water that has collected in it after 10 minutes so that it does not rise again and waterlogging occurs.

Tip : A Crossandra infundibuliformis ‘Fortuna’ does not tolerate lime. You should therefore only use filtered rainwater or well stale tap water. Aquarium water at room temperature is also suitable for watering and spraying.

Fertilize

The dense foliage and the months of flowering cost a Crossandra a lot of strength and energy. In order not to run out of floral power prematurely, the exotic flower beauty relies on a regular supply of nutrients . How to fertilize the Infundibuliformis ‘Fortuna’ correctly:

• From April to September add a liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water every 2 weeks
• A lime-free fertilizer is well suited for tropical plants
• Alternatively, give a slow release fertilizer in April and June

Before and after fertilizing please water with clear water. The sensitive plant does not tolerate fertilizers, especially on dried-on substrate. Cut off the nutrient supply from October to March, as the plant goes into dormancy at this time.

Overwinter

Care during the winter time is characterized by the influence of the reduced lighting conditions, as the plant stops growing as a result. This is how you can guide your Crossandra safely through the cold season:

• The temperatures at the site do not fall below 18 degrees Celsius
• The air humidity is around 60 percent, even more
• Only water sparingly , but do not allow the ball to dry out
• Furthermore, spray every 2 days
• No fertilizer administer

From November to the beginning of March, a Crossandra infundibuliformis feels in good hands on the south window sill to catch every ray of sunshine that penetrates through the cloud cover. If the houseplant is exposed to too dark a light or if the temperature drops below 16 degrees Celsius, it is questionable whether it will sprout again next year.

To cut

In order for a Crossandra to retain its compact, densely bushy habit, the houseplant can be cut back in spring. An appointment at the end of winter is well suited, just before the new budding begins. Too long shoots can be shortened by a third by applying the scissors a short distance from an outward-facing bud. If you notice completely dead branches on this occasion, cut them off at the base.

In the middle of the flowering period, wilted flowers are cut off consistently so that they do not deny access to sunlight for the next buds. Avoid extensive pruning at the end of the flowering period. This could cause a fresh shoot that extends into the winter time. Instead of gathering fresh strength, the infundibuliformis ‘Fortuna’ exhausts itself completely, which significantly shortens its lifespan.

Multiply

If you hold non-blooming head shoots in your hands after pruning, they are excellent for propagation. With a length of 10 to 15 cm, place 3-5 head cuttings in a nursery pot with pricking soil or another low-lime, lean substrate. Before this, each offshoot is defoliated in the lower half, whereby at least 1 pair of leaves remains in the tip. Dab the lower cut in a rooting powder. How to proceed:

• Moisten the substrate slightly with soft water
• Put a transparent bag over the nursery pot and tie it at the bottom
• Before doing this, stick long matches in the ground as spacers
• Maintain in the partially shaded, warm window seat for 4 to 6 weeks

Ventilate the cover daily to prevent mold from developing due to condensation. The substrate must not dry out during this time. After a fresh shoot, the hood can be removed.

Tip : So that the sensitive shoots of head cuttings are not damaged when they are planted, experienced hobby gardeners pre-drill each planting hole with a thin stick and press the soil down well.

Repot

The potting soil in the flower pot is used up every 2 years . After successful wintering and a slight to moderate pruning, repot your Crossandra infundibuliformis ‘Fortuna’ immediately afterwards. The new container should not be much larger, otherwise the plant will concentrate on root penetration and neglect the flowers. The previous drainage made of potsherds or expanded clay can easily be reused after thorough cleaning. Pot out the Crossandra and shake off the used substrate as completely as possible. Stubborn chunks of substrate may be brushed off. Do not plant a ‘Fortuna’ any deeper than before and water it thoroughly.

Conclusion

Thanks to the successful breeding of Crossandra infundibuliformis ‘Fortuna’, demanding Crossandra species can also be cared for on the windowsill. The ambitious plan can be realized in a bright, not fully sunny place, with temperatures of 18 to 25 degrees and a humidity of more than 50 percent. Wherever it is possible to continuously maintain these optimal framework conditions, the oriental beauty brings you an orange-colored flower fireworks from April to October. A uniform moisture content of the substrate is just as important as the application of liquid fertilizer at two-week intervals. After a bright, warm winter, cut back the shoots by a third, repot every 2 years and look forward to a repetition of the summer flower festival.