Roscoea

Cultivation : Roscoea can be easily grown from seeds or roots by burring it in the soil for about 15cm depth and while burying more seeds or tubers leave adequate spacing between them. The soil must be moist and well drained and avoid too soft and watery soil and never prefer waterlogged areas which results in decay of corms and hence affect growth of plant. Keep the soil moist and don’t allow it to become wet. Cover the plant with mulch for about 3 inch to maintain the moisture of the soil and also for better growth of plant; hence plant covered with mulch grows faster than non covered plant. The mulch covered will also provide nutrients for the plant. It is usually better to plant roscoea with seeds; hence germination with seed is very easy and takes lesser time than compared to other process of planting roscoea. This plant prefers full sun to partial shade location for better result.

Provide adequate quantity of water for good health of plant, hence water insufficiency leads to wither roots, loose its strength and lead to death of the plant. Excess watering must also be avoided which cases rotten stem. For better result water the plant once in a week.

It has to be fertilized for better growth. Fertilizer used are water soluble fertilizers which must be used in growing season for every 2 weeks, organic fertilizers used as per requirement and indicated in the fertilizers and temperature controlled fertilizers which must be generally used once in growing period of plant. The plant area must be kept clean by cleaning the dead leaves, dried flowers; hence this will give way for next blooming buds.

Propagation : Roscoea can be propagated by lifting plant bulbs during winter season; the lifted plant must be planted in tubs in cold frame and must be kept in light shade location till the plant starts growing well, and should be replanted in summer or late spring.

It can also be propagated from seed by sowing it in spring; hence it’s very easy to germinate it from seed. Seed starts germinating in few weeks and plant in pots in warm location and wait till it starts its growth. The container must have drainage hole for proper drainage of soil and must be filled with rich, well drained soil and addition of fertilizers are very necessary for growing in container for good growth. After the growth of plant to some extent, carefully lift the plant from the container and replant it in outdoor location you prefered. Roscoea can also be propagated by dividing the tubers, bulbs, corms when the growth stopped due to winter frost and keep it in a place free from frost and replant it in summer.

Varieties : Roscoea consists of many species and more cultivated among its entire species are Roscoea purpurea also called Roscoea procera and flowers in purple or white colour. This species required partial shade location and can grow 0.83 feet to 1.33 feet tall, its native is Himalayas. Roscoea humeana flowers in purple and purplish pink colours, its native is Asia and prefers full sun to partial shade, Roscoea cautleoides can grow up to 25 cm tall and flowers in yellow, purple and white colours and this is the only species flowers in yellow colour and this species prefers partial shade.

Disease and Cure : Wide-range fungicide must be used in order to prevent the plant from fungal diseases which spreads very easily throughout the plant when left unseen and cause damage to whole plant and even cause death of the plant. This treatment must be done when fails to bloom flowers. In some cases very high temperature disturbs blooming of flowers. Growth of bacterial diseases must be controlled by using hygienic and clean water.

Excess water supply will cause the bud and plants to rot and plant get spoiled, hence care should be taken in watering the plant, only adequate amount of water should to supplied with an appropriate days of gap between watering. Choosing rich and well-drained soil will surely prevent diseases attacking the plant. If needed use pesticides and fungicides.

Check slugs and snails occurrence, hence they will produce holes in leaves, damage entire stems or in some cases completely destroy seedlings.

Lily   Bird of paradise   Daisy   Orchid   Daffodil   Sunflower   Anthurium   Ranunculus   Sweet William   Sweet pea   Tulip   Camellia   Caladium   Gladiolus   Gerbera   Jasmine   Lavender   Poppy   Pansy   Rhododendron   Zinnia   Meanings of Flowers   Directory   Gazania Information