Slipperfish belongs to the genus Calceolaria (Calceolaria), which includes about 300 annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous plants, shrubs and shrubs.In its natural state, the slipper is found in South America. In our conditions, it is mainly bred as an annual potted plant - hybrid varieties decorate balconies and terraces all summer long.
The slipper creates short, compact clumps of soft, egg-shaped leaves. Between them, in May, slipper-shaped labial bloated flowers appear.The lower lip is large and spherical, and the upper lip is small. Hybrid varieties bloom very decoratively, creating large and bright flowers. The slipper impresses with a whole palette of intense colors in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink and purple. Often the flowers are covered with contrasting spots or speckles. Plants have a long flowering period - we can enjoy the view of the calico flowers until autumn.
Growing slipper on the balcony
Calceolaria requires good lighting, otherwise it will produce elongated, flabby shoots and tiny, weakly colored flowers.It is a plant for sunny balconies full of diffused light. Direct sun can burn delicate leaves and flowers. It does not require high temperatures, it feels best in the range of 15-20 ° C.
In order to successfully cultivate a slipper on a balcony, the plants should be provided with a fertile and permeable substrate. You can make your own mixture and add the cleaned peat and a small amount of sand to the universal garden soil.Before planting, it is advisable to apply a slow-acting compound fertilizer that will gradually give back the nutrients to the plants throughout the season. The soil exhausted by flowering plants may not meet their nutritional needs. Therefore, every 10-14 days it is worth spraying with foliar fertilizers dedicated to flowering species. We use half of the dose recommended by the manufacturer.
Slipper - The most important rules of care
- The slipper has high water needs and should be watered regularly with soft, well-filtered water. The root ball must not dry out and should not be shed.
- The slipper reacts badly to stagnant water and does not tolerate soaking leaves and flowers. Make sure that the pot has holes through which excess water can escape.
- Calceolaria is propagated by sowing seeds in cold frames (in autumn or spring) or by herbaceous cuttings collected in summer and spring.
- Slipper is often infested with fungal diseases and pests, mainly aphids, nematodes and whiteflies.
