Medinilla magnifica, caring for Medinilla properly

Choosing the right location is very important so that the Medinilla will delight with a large bloom in summer. Since it is a tropical plant, heat and high humidity in its location are very important. In addition, it should be bright here without direct sunlight. However, a little sun in the morning or evening is definitely tolerated by the decorative plant. The ideal location is therefore as follows:

• Conservatory with consistent warmth
• Living room, not next to a heater
• all other warm rooms in the apartment
• in a bright corner
• on a window out of direct sunlight
• in warm weather in a sheltered place outside
• if possible, in a tropical house
• Absolutely avoid drafts
• do not change location during bud formation
• When changing location during flowering, pay attention to the same direction to the light
• Temperatures between 19° and 27° Celsius are ideal
• The temperature must not fall below 13° Celsius even during the rest phase in winter

Substrat & Boden

The Medinilla magnifica has no great demands on the soil, as it grows either in the ground or on trees in its original environment. In this way, the plant can be offered an ideal mixture of peat with sand, coarse leaf soil and loose compost. It is loose, permeable, humic and usually has a slightly acidic pH value. Lime should not be added, as the Medinilla cannot tolerate it.

watering & fertilizing

Since the Medinilla does not tolerate lime, you have to be careful when watering it, because the tap water in local households usually contains more or less lime. Depending on the region, this can be quite different. Therefore, you should only use filtered, room-warm, stagnant water for watering. Furthermore, the following should be observed when watering and fertilizing so that the plant can shine in all its bloom every year:

• never let it dry out
• the plant likes it constantly moist
• water the root ball well when watering
• drain excess water
• Drain the saucer about half an hour after pouring
• this avoids waterlogging
• fertilize once a week during the flowering phase
• use commercially available liquid fertilizer for flowering plants
• Sticks or long-term fertilizers are also suitable
• Stop fertilizing over the winter

plant

A Medinilla magnifica from the trade already has a certain size when you buy it. Since the branches can break quickly, a certain amount of caution must be exercised when planting. A pot should be chosen for the tub that is heavy enough so that a larger Medinilla cannot tip over due to its weight due to leaves and flowers. When preparing for planting, proceed as follows:

• Waterlogging is not tolerated
• to avoid this, create drainage
• put pieces of pottery or stones over the drain hole
• over this plant fleece
• so no wet soil will clog the drainage
• then fill in the prepared soil
• leave a planting hole
• Insert Medinilla carefully
• Fill in the remaining soil and press down lightly
• Pour well and drain excess water

multiply

Despite the extensive care that this plant requires, the propagation of the Medinilla is quite easy and good. The decorative plant is propagated by cuttings, here the so-called head cuttings are used. This is the top piece of a shoot, from which about 7 to 10 cm are cut. Then proceed as follows:

• remove lower leaves
• Place the cuttings in a pot with a mixture of sand and peat
• moisten the substrate used before inserting
• Place a clear plastic bag over the pot
• put in a warm place
• avoid direct sunlight
• after a few weeks, new shoots indicate successful rooting
• Remove plastic bag and water moderately
• when the young plants are strong enough, repot
• then treat and care like the adult plants

repot

Since the Medinilla grows quickly and can grow up to a meter high as a houseplant, it should be repotted regularly. This is ideally done every two to three years in the spring before new buds form. The new, larger bucket must be prepared in the same way as when planting. It is important that the plant is removed from the old pot very carefully, as the branches can break quickly. Before planting, all old soil should be removed from the root ball. This can be briefly soaked in a bucket of rainwater or filtered tap water before planting in the new pot. Otherwise, the procedure here is the same as for the planting.

To cut

The Medinilla magnifica does not necessarily need pruning. But if bare shoots can be seen, they should be removed. Even if many new shoots appear in one place, they can be cut back. This cut stimulates the growth of the plant. You should also remove all withered flowers during flowering to ensure a longer flowering period. To do this, the panicles are cut directly at the base of the stem with a sharp and disinfected knife.

hibernate

So that the Medinilla magnifica develops buds again next spring and unfolds its beautiful and decorative flowers again in summer, it needs a period of hibernation. For this purpose, it should be placed a little cooler than is the case in summer. However, they still need the high humidity. However, the temperature in the winter months should not fall below 13° Celsius. It must not be too dark during this time either.

Now the plant even tolerates a window seat where it is exposed to the sun throughout the day. However, a place in the immediate vicinity of a heater is unfavorable because it could usually be too dry here for the decorative plant. Even in winter it is necessary that the plant is sprayed with water, a humidifier ensures that the humidity is regulated and bowls of water are placed around the plant. However, it can be watered less and there is no fertilizer at all over the winter months. However, the soil must not dry out completely.

Care mistakes, diseases or pests

Unfortunately, there are many care mistakes. Either the plant is too dry, too cold, has not been watered enough, suffers from waterlogging or is not fertilized enough. Unfortunately, this can also mean death for the plant if you don’t pay enough attention to this. In diseases, root rot is known, but it occurs due to waterlogging. The following pests can also affect the plant:

• Lubrication or wool lice
• are shown by white webs reminiscent of cotton wool
• red spider
• if the plant is regularly sprayed with water, an infestation is avoided
• scale insect infestation
• the small, well camouflaged pests are easily overlooked
• all pests can be controlled with commercially available means

Conclusion
The care of the Medinilla magnifica is not easy and requires a little time from the hobby gardener. Above all, you have to make sure at all times that the decorative plant receives enough humidity and is not exposed to dry heating air in winter. But if enough care is taken here, the plant will be rewarded with strong, healthy growth and rich flowers over the summer months.