The exquisite name "Campanula" hides an ordinary bell underneath. The family of bell-flowers as a whole includes over 400 species, of which almost 100 have been cultivated. At the same time, Campanula is especially popular among the people. It is this plant that has been known to everyone since childhood as "the bride and groom" or "shooting star". Caring for this flower is quite meticulous, but this houseplant with its luxurious flowering is well worth the effort.
Campanula is an ampelous plant. It looks great in hanging flowerpots, baskets and pots. The stems of the flower are soft and flexible, with many small or medium-sized inflorescences. During the flowering period, depending on the variety of the bell, it is a huge ball, as if consisting of flowers, or a cascade of buds, beautifully falling out of the pot.
At home, two subspecies of campanula is most often grown - this is "Alba" with white flowers, popularly called "the bride", and "Maya" with blue inflorescences, she is called the "groom".
Proper care of the campanula
The bell, like most pets, prefers diffused lighting. On the balcony and in the garden, give preference to a place in the shade, and at home, the window sills of the east and west windows will be ideal.
Direct rays of the sun provoke rapid growth of the leaf mass, while flowering suffers - the inflorescences become smaller, they become smaller. Gradually, being in such conditions, the campanula begins to lose its decorative appearance - it stretches. In attempts to save the pet, you should not be zealous and hourly turn the pots in different directions to the light - the flower will be shapeless with randomly twisted stems. Try to observe the measure in everything.
Campanula can hardly stand the heat, the coolness is much more to the liking of this plant. In summer, the optimal temperature will be about 23 degrees, and in the cold season - +15 degrees.
In the heat in the room where the flower stands, you can turn on the air conditioner, but at the same time the cold air flow should not be directed directly to the plant. In winter, an excessively high temperature of the content can cause the foliage to dry out, and the bell may not bloom at all. It is better to remove the plant from the windowsills, under which the heating radiators are located.
Air humidity for campanula does not really matter. It only needs spraying in extreme heat and heating season, if the flower is located near heating appliances. It is necessary to spray water from below, directing it to the ground and leaves. Drops falling on the inflorescences will leave ugly brown spots.
Feeding is of particular importance in the process of growing campanula. During the growth period (this is March - September), lush flowering takes a lot of energy from the plant, so it cannot do without your help.
You can feed your pet with any fertilizer for flowering plants purchased from a flower shop. Keep in mind that the dose indicated on the package for your pet should be exactly halved. Feeding is best done three times a month.
The bell does not require abundant watering, the most important thing is to ensure that the top layer of soil in the pot is always moist. Do not allow water to stagnate in the pan, otherwise the root system of the plant will rot.
In summer, when it is hot, the plant actively blooms; it needs more moisture, therefore, most likely watering will be daily. In the fall and winter cold, it is permissible to water the flower once every couple of weeks as the soil dries up. In the spring, the plant wakes up from hibernation and requires more moisture, so it is optimal to water it daily in small doses, avoiding waterlogging.
You should know that the bell does not tolerate chlorine, therefore, the water must stand for a couple of days before watering. Alternatively, you can use purified liquid using a filter. Another important point is that the plant does not like cold water.
Campanula transplant
The root system of the bell is notable for its violent growth, it can occupy the entire space of the pot in a short time. If you have just purchased a plant, then it is better to immediately transplant it into a new container, preferably wide and not high. The main sign of a lack of space and nutrition is the drying out of the buds. If you notice this, it's time for you to think about moving your pet to a new "home".
Campanula is not a perennial plant, so transplanting should only be done as a last resort. These are most often clear signs of a tight pot and a lack of nutrition (yellow and falling leaves, drying buds, cessation or poor flowering).
“Bride and Groom” prefer loose, well-permeable soil. The best will be a mixture of equal parts of peat, sand and humus. Soil purchased in a store is also suitable for ornamental flowering plants. The optimal time for transplanting is spring and autumn.
First of all, select the correct capacity - it should be about twice the previous one. Then pour 2 cm of drainage onto the bottom of the selected pot. Fill the drainage layer with fresh soil about halfway, move the flower along with the earthen clod. Try to keep the plant 2 cm deeper than the intended soil boundary. The stems of the bell should be upward and stand in the pot straight without tipping over to the side. Sprinkle earth over the plant, lightly pressing down on it with your fingers. Then lightly water the plant, the soil should not be waterlogged. The first feeding after transplantation can be carried out after 2-3 weeks, when the flower takes root well and gains strength.
Caring for the campanula during the rest period
In September-October, campanula ends flowering, which requires a lot of strength. In order for the plant to bloom violently the next year, it needs special care.
In early November, clean the plant of dry foliage, inflorescences and stems. In December, cut off the campanula, cut off all the shoots, leaving a length of about 10 cm. By March, they will grow back, and you need to re-cut them already to a height of 5 cm.
During the rest period, you need to water the bell as the soil dries up - this is about 2-3 times a month. It is better for him to survive the winter in a bright, cool place, protected from direct sunlight. The flower should not be fed during this period.
Bell reproduction
As mentioned, the bell is not a perennial plant. Its life span is 2-3 years, so if you do not want to part with it, then a couple of years after the purchase, start reproducing it.
In the spring, during pruning, pinch off a stalk with a "heel" from an adult plant, ie. with part of the skin and pith of the maternal stem. It is desirable that 2-3 leaves remain on the handle. Immerse the resulting shoot in a weak solution of manganese for 8 hours. For better rooting, you can treat it with a growth stimulant. Plant the prepared shoot in the ground to a depth of 3 cm. Cover the pot with the future plant with a plastic or glass jar, ventilate it daily, and place in a cool place. Once a week, the cutting should be sprayed with warm purified water. After three weeks, the cap can be lifted over the plant, and after another 7 days it can already be placed on the windowsill, covering it from the bright sun. To make the future "shooting star" more lush, pinch the top of the shoots that have grown up to 10 cm.
When transplanting a campanula, it can be propagated by dividing the bush. It is advisable to carry out this operation in the spring or early summer. Carefully divide the bush with a lump of earth extracted from the pot into several parts, you can simply cut it with a sharp knife. Keep in mind that the parts should not be too small. Place each of them in a new bowl, on the bottom of which do not forget to pour drainage. Deepen the plants 3 cm into the ground, adding the required amount of it on top. Tamp and water lightly. After a week, the plants can be fed.
The bell is propagated by seeds in early March. In autumn, after flowering, on the stems of the plant, you can see small boxes with seeds, if left on the mother plant, they will ripen and burst. The seeds of the plant are very small, therefore, due to lack of knowledge, they can be mistaken for dust. Therefore, without waiting for this, carefully open the ripe box and remove the seeds. Pour a small layer of soil into a small container, spreading the seeds over it. They should not be deepened, it is better to lightly sprinkle with a thin layer of sand. Spray crops with water and cover with foil. Further maintenance consists of daily airing and spraying as needed. Watering them is not worth it, otherwise the seeds will rot. Place the dishes with crops in a well-lit cool place, there should be no drafts and sources of heat. When the fourth leaf appears on the plants, they can be seated in separate containers.
Some growers plant two colorful plants at once in a large pots. The bushes grow, their branches intertwine, and the combination of white and blue flowers looks incomparable. If you want to repeat such a masterpiece, do not forget to divide the planting container in half with a partition, so the roots of the bells will not meet. Otherwise, the “bride” can “strangle” the “groom”, because its root system is less powerful and develops more slowly.
