Crown of fame: plant and care

Crown of fame: plant and care

origin

The crown of fame bears the scientific name Gloriosa superba. The timeless plant is often led under the outdated name Gloriosa rothschildiana. The species grows in the tropical and subtropical climates of Africa and Southeast Asia. On the African continent their distribution area extends to the south. It occurs in Malaysia and Madagascar. The Gloriosa inhabits areas of changing humidity and is naturalized in many tropical and subtropical areas.

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growth

Gloriosa superba is a perennial herbaceous plant that develops climbing shoots. This allows the crown of fame to grow to heights of two meters. The shoot axes branch out in the upper part. The point of vegetation is at the tip of the main shoot. This bud can break off very easily, which is why particular caution is required when taking care of it. Crowns of fame form an underground rhizome. It serves as a storage organ for water and nutrients so that the plant can survive dry periods.

leaves

The lanceolate leaves of the crown of fame stand in alternating arrangement. Its leaf surface, up to 15 centimeters long, is green and shiny. At the tip, the leaf blade ends in a tendril that the plants use to climb up the surrounding vegetation. If the tendrils cannot find support, the main shoot crawls over the ground.

blossom

The flowers stand on ten to 20 centimeters long stems that grow individually from the leaf axils. They are hermaphroditic and reach a diameter between ten and 20 centimeters. Typical for crowns of fame are six narrow bracts, the edge of which is strongly wavy. When the flower bud opens, the bracts bend back. They form an aesthetic contrast to the long stamens and are reminiscent of fiery flames.

Heyday

Crowns of glory bloom between June and August. During this time they are adorned with variable colored flowers. They usually shine scarlet red, with the red color changing to yellow at the base. There are single or multi-colored varieties.

fruit

When the flowering period is over in late summer, crowns of glory bear a lot of capsule fruits. They are egg-shaped or oblong in shape and harbor many dark seeds under their fleshy cover.

use

Crowns of fame come from tropical regions and are perfect for beautifying greenhouses and warm houses. They set colorful accents in pot gardens not only as ornamental flowers but also with their picturesque growth and are ideal for interior greening. The idiosyncratic growth requires a climbing aid. Curtain rods are just as suitable for climbing foliage plants as trellises.

How To Use Crowns Of Fame:

  • as a container plant
  • flowering shoots as cut flowers
  • creeping shoot axes as a green curtain

Is crown of fame poisonous?

Gloriosa superba contains the highly poisonous alkaloid colchicine, which also develop autumn crocus. The concentration is particularly high in the tuber. The substance can cause severe symptoms of poisoning. It inhibits certain processes in cell division so that the cells are not viable. Children or pets should not come into contact with the exotic beauties.

Which location is suitable?

Gloriosa grows in a light and partially shaded place. It loves warm and humid conditions, which is why the plant is best grown in a warm house or in a heated greenhouse. The humidity should be between 50 and 65 percent, while the temperature must not drop below 18 degrees Celsius even at night.

What soil does the plant need?

Use a quality soil that is suitable for container plants. You can make a mix yourself that will provide the indoor plants with optimal growing conditions. Mix a compost-based substrate with a third of leaf earth or a coarse-grained peat substitute like coconut gum. If you use garden soil and compost, you should heat the substrate in the oven. In this way pathogens and pests are killed.

This is what crowns of glory need:

  • permeable earth
  • medium coarse structure
  • moderate nutrients
  • pH between 5.5 and 6

Increase the crown of fame

Crowns of fame are propagated vegetatively. The ideal time to divide is at the beginning of March, as the plants are not yet in the growth phase. Gently tap the substrate from the root ball so that the rhizomes become visible.

Cut off some minor bulbs and place them in medium-sized planters. The eyes must point upwards, because this is where the plant develops new shoots. Germination begins at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. You have to be careful when handling the rhizomes because the eyes are very sensitive.

sowing

If you own a heated greenhouse, you can use seeds to propagate your crown of fame. Sprinkle the seeds on a sandy mixture with compost and coconut fiber. In the coming weeks, the temperature must be a constant 20 degrees. Keep the substrate evenly moist. The young plants shoot up quickly when the soil moisture is too high and bend over at the base. It can take two to four years for plants grown from seeds to flower for the first time.

balcony

During the summer months, the crown of fame enjoys a place on the balcony or terrace. Place the bucket in a partially shaded place that gets some sun in the morning and evening. A protected location with constant conditions is important because the crowns of glory cannot tolerate temperature fluctuations. If the thermometer rises, the plant gets yellow leaves. If the temperature is too low or if there is a sudden cold shock, the foliage becomes soft and partially transparent.

Pour the crown of fame

The gloriosa needs uniform soil moisture. Water generously at regular intervals between spring and fall. The substrate should not dry out between irrigation units. Pour off excess water from the saucer, as the roots cannot tolerate waterlogging. As soon as the flowers have wilted and the plant draws energy from the leaves, the watering is reduced. Stop watering completely when all the above-ground parts of the plant have withered. The rhizomes must be dry during the resting phase.

Fertilize crown of glory properly

Crowns of glory enjoy regular fertilization during the growing season. The first fertilization takes place in the spring when the fresh shoots appear. Give the plant a low concentration of liquid fertilizer every other watering. When the leaves wither in autumn, the supply of nutrients is stopped.

Correctly cut crown of fame

Wilted leaves and shoots can be removed regularly. When the plant has completely withdrawn in autumn, you can cut off the dead plant parts near the ground. The pruning should take place from September at the earliest. If living leaves and shoots are trimmed, the crown of fame can no longer store sufficient energy in the rhizome.

This cutting measure is not absolutely necessary. If you don't cut off the withered leaves, they will fall to the substrate and slowly decompose.

How do I transplant properly?

Crowns of glory are repotted annually in March so that the rhizomes get fresh soil. Clean the rhizomes carefully so that no substrate residues stick. Daughter tubers can be cut off and replanted. Insert the rhizomes, tip up, into a suitable substrate mixture and cover the tubers two to three centimeters thick with soil. Put the pot in a light and warm place. After repotting, the tubers are watered sparingly.

Overwinter

After the flowering period, the gloriosa takes a rest phase. It is not based on the Central European seasons, but on tropical rainy and dry phases. To mimic these natural conditions, you need to adjust grooming.

Once the flowers have wilted, slowly stop watering. If all the above-ground parts of the plant have died, no more watering or fertilization is used. You can clean the tuber and store it in a dark and dry place with temperatures between 15 and 17 degrees Celsius. Alternatively, overwintering in the substrate is possible, provided that it is completely dry.

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Diseases

Gloriosa superba proves to be resistant to pathogens. Care mistakes can mean that the plant no longer grows healthy. A lack of nitrogen during the vegetation phase causes the upper leaves to change color. Give the plant a high-nitrogen fertilizer regularly.

Pests

Crowns of Glory are occasionally attacked by pests, which should be combated in time. If the annoying insects are noticed too late, the fight against the mass spread becomes more and more difficult.

Aphids

During the spring, aphids can be attacked, the sucking activity of which leads to unsightly discoloration of the leaves. Since the pests reproduce asexually, action should be taken quickly in the event of an infestation.

Spider mites

If the humidity is too low, spider mites can occasionally appear on the gloriosa. Their fine webs are particularly easy to see if the plant has been sprayed with water. The spider-like pests multiply within a few days and suck plant sap from the veins on the underside of the leaves.

Brown leaves

If the tips of the leaves of the crown of glory suddenly turn brown, the humidity is not high enough. This phenomenon often shows up in winter when the bucket is on a window sill directly above the heater. Greater temperature fluctuations can also cause young leaves and buds to develop brown spots. In the absence of light, the buds dry up and fall off.

Tips

Combine flower stems of the Crown of Fame with flowering shoots of the spider gerbera and a purple butterfly orchid. The picturesque picture creates a majestic atmosphere.

sorts

  • Gloriosa carsonii: leaves encompassing the stem, up to twelve centimeters long. Flowers solitary, mahogany to purple with yellow edges. Reaches heights of up to 150 centimeters.
  • Lutea : Lily-like flowers, completely yellow. Blooms from July to August. Between 80 and 150 centimeters high.
  • Citrina : lemon yellow flowers, wine-red edges and stripes.