by johnah on November 16, 2020
Creeping Gloxinia (Lophocephalum)
The name “creepy” comes from the fact that these plants are small, but they have a tendency to grow very slowly. They look like little black ants crawling around. These plants are not poisonous, but their stalks can cause severe allergic reactions in some individuals. If you suffer from such allergies, it’s best to avoid them completely!
How To Grow Creeping Gloxinia Plants?
There are several ways to propagate creeping gloxinia plants. You can buy seeds or you can plant your own. There are many varieties of creeping gloxinia available. Some of them are edible while others don’t taste good at all. You may want to choose one with a high yield if you’re looking for a crop to sell.
What Are Creeping Gloxinia Seeds?
Creeping gloxinia seeds are actually the reproductive organs of these plants. They contain pollen and eggs which will develop into new plants when germinated by insects or other microorganisms.
How To Grow Creeping Gloxinia From Seeds?
If you want to plant your own seeds, you should do it in the spring on a warm and damp day. If you’re planting them in pots, use a light mix of soil and sand. Don’t forget to sterilize the pot before planting the seeds. The best time to plant them outside is in the fall or very early spring. If you’re planting them directly in your garden, you should dig a shallow hole and cover the seed with some soil. The seeds should be at least 4 inches deep to ensure proper germination. Make sure you water them every day until they start sprouting. Once they do, you can water them less often.
What Are Creeping Gloxinia Cuttings?
A cutting is a stem that has been removed from the mother plant and rooted somewhere else. This is the most common way to propagate most plants. Creeping gloxinia cuttings can be done in several ways, but you need to choose the right one depending on your plant’s variety:
· Stem Cuttings: These are basically the same as normal cuttings. Choose a healthy and relatively new growth tip and remove it from the mother plant. Don’t damage the upper part or else it won’t grow roots properly. Dip the cutting in a rooting hormone to ensure faster and better rooting. Once you plant it in the rooting medium, water it with some diluted fertilizer.
· Leaf Cuttings: The most common type of creeping gloxinia cuttings are its leaves. This method is best done in spring as this is when these plants grow larger and stronger leaves. Find a healthy and relatively young leaf and cut it from the stem. Dip the cutting in a rooting hormone and stick it in the rooting medium. Just make sure that it’s covered with the medium.
Water it and it should start growing roots within a few weeks.
Keep in mind that cuttings don’t always work, especially if you’re dealing with a rarer plant. It might take several attempts before you succeed.
What Are Creeping Gloxinia Divisions?
These plants also reproduce by division. Unlike cuttings, plant divisions involve digging up the entire plant. This is a more advanced and risky way of propagating plants, but it also results in a stronger and healthier plant. Division works best with large robust plants.
What Are Creeping Gloxinia And Its Benefits?
These plants have been used as a source of food for many years. Creeping gloxinia contains several edible parts including its flowers, leaves, stems and tubers. Its stems and tubers can even be cooked like potatoes. Its seeds have been used in several traditional medicines to treat diarrhea, fever, headaches and other conditions.
If you’re only interested in its appearance, creeping gloxinia is a good choice as well. It has small flowers that come in a variety of colors including reds, pinks and purples. These plants can also act as good ground cover in several garden areas. They’re low-growing and won’t block the view of visitors in your yard.
Keep in mind that not all varieties of creeping gloxinia are good for eating or have attractive flowers. Always do your research before buying or planting this plant.
The Bottom Line
These plants are an excellent example of how Mother Nature can create something beautiful out of something ugly. Creeping gloxinia is a plant that you probably wouldn’t give a second look if you passed it on the street, but with a little patience and care, it can thrive into a beautiful flowering addition to your garden.
Glossy creeping gloxinia plants are an excellent addition to any garden because they require low maintenance, have few diseases and grow well in a variety of conditions. They can be grown practically anywhere as long as you’re in a temperate or subtropical climate.
If you’re interested in growing a glossy creeping gloxinia, then you’ll need to learn how to grow it from seed. Fortunately, this is a simple process.
Glossy Creeping Gloxinia Plant Info
Also known as the “Firepower plant,” glossy creeping gloxinia is a low-growing plant with succulent leaves that spread out over the ground. Its flowers are usually a shade of red, although some varieties produce white or pink flowers. It blooms from spring to fall.
These plants prefer loose, well-draining soil and can survive in dry areas. They grow best in areas where there is partial or full sunlight.
Because these plants are native to South Africa, they’re very drought tolerant and can survive a wide range of soil types.
How To Grow Glossy Creeping Gloxinia From Seed
These plants can be grown from both seed and stem cuttings.
Glossy Creeping Gloxinia From Seed
You can start glossy creeping gloxinia plants from seed. The best time to sow the seed is in early spring. Fill small pots or flats with lightly packed soil. Water the soil and allow it to drain. This will remove any air pockets that could prevent the seeds from growing.
Sprinkle the glossy creeping gloxinia seeds over the surface of the soil. Gently press them into the top layer of soil.
Water the container lightly. Place the pots or flats in a warm area, such as a heated room, or in a sunny spot outside. Avoid placing them in areas that receive direct sunlight. This can cause the soil to dry out too quickly and kill the seedlings.
Keep the soil barely moist by watering lightly every day or every other day. Glossy creeping gloxinia seedlings prefer slightly drier soil than other plants.
Transplant the seedlings to individual pots after they develop their second set of leaves.
Glossy Creeping Gloxinia Cuttings
You can also start glossy creeping gloxinia plants from cuttings. This allows you to grow more than one plant from a single parent plant. Take cuttings in the late spring or early summer after the plant blooms.
Gather a few stems with tips that feature both a node and an emerging leaf. Cut the stem diagonally just below the node. Remove the bottom leaves so you’re left with a node with two or three leaves on top.
Fill a small container with a growing medium, such as perlite and peat moss. Press the cuttings into the growing medium until they sit at a slight angle. The top node with leaves should sit just above the growing medium.
Place the container in a warm location, such as next to a heat vent. Keep the cutting moist by occasionally misting them with water.
Check the cuttings every day or two and pull out any that show indications of rot. Transplant the ones that remain healthy into individual pots after one month.
Sources & references used in this article:
Flowering Vines for Florida1 by SP Brown, GW Knox – EDIS, 2007 – growables.org
The Indoor Gardener by EA Maling – 1863 – books.google.com
Commemorative Generic Names of Flowering Plants in India by MP Nair – Nelumbo, 1979 – nelumbo-bsi.org
… Floriculture: Window-gardening and Floral Decorations: Being Practical Directions for the Propagation, Culture, and Arrangement of Plants and Flowers as … by WP Wright – 1911 – G. Richards
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