Asystasia is found in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, South Africa and Oceania. It is used in landscaping gardens and parks of the tropical zone.
Asystasia, comprises approximately 70 species, is a genus of the Acanthaceae family. This genus was described by Carl Ludwig Blume in 1826.
IDENTIFY ASYSTASIA PLANT
Asystasia is found in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, South Africa and Oceania. It is used in landscaping gardens and parks of the tropical zone.
They are herbs or subshrubs, with cystoliths and petiolate leaves. Leaf blade margin entire to crenate. Renewal buds persist for several years, while the upper shoots die off annually.
The plants from this genus bloom in spring and summer from the terminal or axillary inflorescence unilateral spikes or racemes, or panicles of these. The bracts are small, shorter than calyx; bracteoles similar to bracts or sometimes absent. Stamens 4, included in or partially exserted from corolla tube; anthers 2-thecous; thecae parallel to sagittate to subperpendicular, equally to unequally inserted, base muticous or with a small basal appendage. Ovary with 2 ovules per locule; stigma capitate, 2-lobed or 2-dentate. Capsule with a solid stalk at base, clavate, up to 4-seeded; retinacula present. Seeds lenticular, lacking trichomes.
Some common species of this genus: Asystasia gangetica (beautiful flowers of white or cream color, purple or blue, veins can be white, purple), Asystasia bella (ovate-oblong, pointed leaves with short-petiolate, finely toothed along the edges and white, pink rarely purple, with pink or purple veins flowers).
ASYSTASIA PLANT CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Asystasia is a fairly unpretentious plant. They feels good on a bright place, and not afraid of direct sunlight. But if during the autumn-winter period there were few sunshine, then it is necessary to train to direct rays gradually, in order to avoid sunburn.
Temperature:
In the summer the optimal temperature for growth is 20-25 ℃. In the autumn-winter period the temperature should be at 12-15 ℃.
Substrate and growing media:
Asystasia is tolerant of many soil types, but optimal growth occurs in well-drained, but moist soils that are rich in compost. Individuals should be spaced 0.45 - 0.6 m apart. The plant is transplanted every spring into a substrate consisting of leaf and sod soil with the addition of sand (4: 4: 2). Young plants are transplanted every year, adults every 2-3 years.
Watering:
From the beginning of spring to autumn this plant can water plentiful. In winter, water carefully, making sure that the soil does not dry out. The air temperature in winter is reduced to 12-15 ℃, with a sharp decrease in temperature, the leaves can be shed.
Fertilizer:
From spring to autumn, every two weeks the plant can fertilize with mineral and organic fertilizers for houseplants of usual concentration.
Pruning:
Asystasia grows very quickly and, under favorable conditions, produces strong long shoots over the spring-summer season. In order for the plant to have a more magnificent crown, nip and pruning is necessary. With age, the stem is woody, and it looks like a tree with drooping shoots.
Propagation:
In nature, Asystasia propagates by seed, but at home it is propagated by apical stem cuttings, as well as by shoots left after pruning. Cuttings root in spring; in order to make them better and faster to take root, they are placed in a light substrate or placed in water, maintaining a temperature of 20-25 ℃.
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