Indoor primrose - the embodiment of spring tenderness on the windowsill

A charming indoor primrose plant makes you fall in love at first sight. Everything is beautiful in it: soft, slightly wrinkled leaves with short stalks, and numerous bright buds, towering over the dark greenery and making the flower look like a small bouquet. Primrose petals are painted in a wide variety of shades: milky white, pale lilac, deep pink, inky purple, ultramarine, sky blue. Each of them effectively contrasts with the yellow mouth of the tube. Indoor plant lovers appreciate the culture for its long-lasting flowering and ease of maintenance.

Lighting and temperature

Primrose is demanding on conditions of detention. It grows well on light-colored windowsills, but in direct sunlight, its leaves wither and become covered with burns. The ideal place for a flower pot is on the north, east or west side of the house. In partial shade and even with strong shade, the plant will feel more comfortable than in the sun.

The room where the indoor primrose should be well ventilated, but cold air and drafts are dangerous for it. This flower loves moderation in everything. In summer, the plant is kept at a temperature of 16-20 ° C. It is difficult to achieve this at home, but overheating negatively affects the flowering of primrose. For it to be abundant and long, the air in the room must be warmed up to a maximum of 16 ° C. When the primrose blooms, it is recommended to lower the temperature to 12-14 ° C.

The faded plant can be transferred to the balcony or placed in the garden. Chances are high that changing conditions will cause the primrose to form new buds. Outdoors, the plant is left until October. In winter, the temperature is optimal for a flower in the range of 10-13 ° C. Indoor primrose will survive if it drops briefly to 7 ° C, but prolonged hypothermia will destroy it.

Many varieties of the crop bloom in winter and spring. When the last buds on them wither, the primroses can be removed from the pot and planted in the open ground. They are well suited to shaded areas located under tall and spreading trees that will protect flowers from wind, precipitation and the scorching sun. With the arrival of autumn, the primrose is dug up and placed in the pot again.

Advice

If the winters in the region are not too harsh, you can leave the plant in the garden. Having safely survived the cold season, in early spring it will be covered with flowers, filling the still dull suburban landscape with rich colors.

Humidity and watering

The frequency of watering and the amount of liquid introduced is determined by the flowering of room primrose. Before and during it, the plant needs moderate moisture. It is carried out regularly, not allowing the soil in the pot to dry out to the end and preventing it from swamping.

Faded primroses require less water, so reduce watering slightly. The need for the next moistening is judged by the state of the upper layer of the substrate. If it's a little dry, it's time to start watering. They use soft water for it, preferably rain or melt. You can do with the usual one if you defend it for several days.

High humidity is important for the health and lush flowering of primrose. The plant responds to its dryness by drying the tips of the leaves and dropping the buds. Regular spraying will help to avoid this. They are carried out daily, making sure that drops of water settle on the leaves and stems of the plant, but do not fall on the flowers and buds.You can increase the humidity around the primrose by placing the pot with it on a pallet filled with wet expanded clay, moss or sand, as well as using special electrical appliances.

Top dressing and pruning

Indoor primrose is fed with an interval of 2 weeks. Nutrient compositions are introduced after the plant has released flowering stems. If you do this earlier, you can not wait for them to appear: all the primrose's forces will go to the formation of new leaves. Top dressing at home is continued until the plant fades.

They use complex fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium and containing a minimum of nitrogen. For the harmonious development, primrose also needs other trace elements:

• manganese;
• zinc;
• boron;
• molybdenum;
• iron;
• copper.

One drug will not be able to provide the plant with the entire complex of nutrients, therefore, experienced flower growers carry out fertilizing with different fertilizers, applying them alternately. It is recommended to reduce the concentration recommended by the manufacturer. This will save the primrose roots from burns.

The plant does not need pruning, although the grower will still have to stock up with sharp scissors. They will be needed to remove wilted buds and dry leaves. Before the procedure, the blades are cleaned and disinfected (ignited over a fire, wiped with alcohol). It is advisable to carry it out with gloves - this will reduce the risk of pathogens entering the wound. Although pruning allows you to preserve the decorative effect of the flower, its main purpose is to prevent pests.

Soil composition and transplant

Indoor primroses need loose, well-drained soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. It shouldn't be too nutritious. From store substrates, they are ideally suited for geranium soil.

At home, the soil for the flower is prepared by mixing 4 components in equal volumes:

• deciduous land;
• sod land;
• peat;
• coarse sand.

You can get by with just 2 components: garden soil and sand.

Advice

Because primrose roots are sensitive to moisture stagnation, good drainage is vital.

Perennial varieties plants need an annual transplant. Adult specimens are allowed to change the pot every 2 years, renewing the top layer of the substrate (to a depth of 1-2 cm). The optimal time for the procedure is when the primrose has faded. It can also be carried out before the plant leaves the dormant period. When choosing a pot for a room beauty, it must be borne in mind that her root system is superficial. At home, primroses develop well in shallow but wide containers.

The new pot should not be much larger than the old one. That's right, if its diameter differs by 1.5-2 cm. Large dishes complicate the development of primrose. If the flower does not fit in a pot with a diameter of 15-20 cm, it is time to propagate it by dividing it into 2 parts and planting them in different containers.

The room primrose does not like anxiety. It is better to transplant it by the transshipment method. The plant is removed from an old pot along with an earthen lump. They do this carefully, trying not to disturb or injure the roots. The visible underground part of the flower is carefully examined. If there are dry, damaged or diseased areas on the roots, they are trimmed to healthy tissue. Sprinkle fresh wounds with crushed coal. Then the plant is placed in a new pot, having previously covered its bottom with a layer of expanded clay or pebbles and sprinkled a little substrate prepared for primrose on top. The voids are filled with soil, slightly crushing it. They complete the transplant with poor watering.

Growing from seeds

Primrose is propagated at home in three ways:

• seeds;
• lateral processes;
• dividing the bush.

The generative method is used by flower growers when growing annual crop varieties. Sowing can be done almost all year round.Its exact timing depends on the variety of primrose chosen for breeding: some varieties are planted in November-December, others in June-July.

Seeds are sown in light and fertile soil, consisting of deciduous soil mixed with sand. After spreading them over the surface of the substrate and sprinkling it well with water, the container is covered with a film or glass. Primrose seeds need a lot of light to germinate. This process will take 1.5-2 weeks. The temperature in the sowing room is maintained at 16-20 ° C.

With the emergence of seedlings, the shelter is removed, and the temperature is gradually reduced. When warm, seedlings can stretch out. Plant care consists in rare (once a month) watering and thinning. After 3 months, when young primroses get stronger, they are planted in separate small pots, choosing the most developed seedlings.

Vegetative propagation

The lateral processes are rooted in peat, pouring a 2-cm layer of sand on it. A correct stalk consists of a leaf and at least one growth point - a bud. Separate it from the mother plant in the spring. To force the indoor primrose to branch out laterally, it is covered with damp moss.

Having cut the leaf in half, the cutting is immersed in the substrate, deepening by 1 cm.Place it slightly obliquely. Watering the shoot, put a plastic bag on the container and put it in a cool place, not forgetting to water it periodically. The rooting of the cuttings will take about 3 months.

When the established primrose releases 3-4 new leaves, it is transplanted into a larger pot, filling it with a substrate of three ingredients:

• leafy land;
• humus;
• sand.

The components are mixed in a 2: 1: 0.5 ratio.

You can divide an adult plant when it fades. Before the procedure, the pot is kept in a dark place, regularly moisturizing. When the shoots of the flower show intensive growth, it is removed from the container. After examining the roots and, if necessary, treating them, as during transplantation, the bush is divided into parts (no more than 2-3). They are placed in separate pots, watered and, covered with foil, are placed in a bright and cool place. When the delenki take root and grow, they are transplanted, removing withered leaves before the procedure. The care for them must include fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. They are brought in every 2 weeks.

Possible difficulties

Proper planting and caring for primrose will allow you to admire the beauty of its early flowering for more than one year. But gross violations of agricultural technology weaken the plant, making it vulnerable to diseases and pests.

From insects, a flower can hit:

• aphid;
• weevil;
• nematode (leaf and gall);
• spider mite.

Primrose reacts to their invasion by deformation, yellowing and drying of the leaves, which subsequently fall off. If the colony of pests is not numerous, folk methods will help get rid of them: treating the flower with a solution of laundry soap or tobacco infusion. In advanced cases, spraying with insecticides will be required (Aktellik, Karbofos, Fitoverm).

The disadvantage of a plant is reflected in its decorative effect. If it is steadily decreasing, and there are no pests on the flower, it is worth checking whether its requirements for the conditions of detention are met.

Problems with room primrose and how to solve them

Symptoms	The reasons	Decision
Leaf decay	Excess soil moisture	Reduce watering, if necessary, transplant the plant into fresh substrate
	Water hitting the leaves	Eliminate the ingress of liquid on the leaves, treat the flower with antibacterial and antifungal drugs
Yellowing and drying of leaves	Dry air	Increase air humidity by any means
	Excess nutrients	Revise the feeding regime, in advanced cases, transplant primrose
	Flower bay	Normalize watering
Lack of flowering, discharge of buds	Heat	Provide the plant with an optimal temperature regime
The appearance of light gray spots on the leaves, subsequently covered with bloom	Fungal disease - spotting	Remove the affected leaves, treat the plant with a special preparation (Fundazol, Topsin)

At home, primrose suffers from diseases and pests less often than in the garden. A flower with signs of infection should not be brought into the house. First, you need to cure it, otherwise its unenviable fate threatens the rest of the indoor plants.

In addition to the captivating beauty, nature has endowed primrose, planting and caring for which at home will require certain skills from the grower, and many useful properties. All parts of the plant have long been used as a medicine. They have a diuretic, diaphoretic, expectorant, sedative effect, strengthen the immune system and eliminate insomnia. The aerial parts of the flower are rich in vitamins, ascorbic acid, carotene, and its roots are rich in essential oils and glycosides.

But with all the advantages, primrose also has a significant drawback - it is poisonous. It is necessary to approach the flower with gloves, and after finishing work with it, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Violation of these guidelines will cause allergies and irritation. Pet owners and parents of small children should be especially careful when growing primroses. Otherwise, the flower will not cause trouble for its owners. He will bring a pleasant variety to the indoor garden, without suffering from cold weather and lack of light in winter. And already at the beginning of spring, the primrose will justify the title of primrose, dissolving its delicate buds.