How to grow and care for firecracker vine

Firecracker vine is a perennial herb of the genus Snapdragons in Gesneriaceae, with a half woody base. To keep good Firecracker Vine, first of all, we must understand the growth requirements of Firecracker Vine, as well as the breeding matters needing attention. The following sorting out how to grow and care for Firecracker.

Size & growth

Firecrackers can grow 3 '-- 6' feet high in full sun with long arching stems of 6 'feet.

The rush-like bright green stems start out erect then fall over into showy cascades.

The non-descript foliage looks something like an Asparagus Fern.

Flowering  

Firecracker Plant's Firecracker -shaped red stub flowers come in shades of white, scarlet, orange and coral.

Its beautiful flower color and growth pattern looks explosive!

They're attractive to pollinators of all sorts, but They are especially inviting to hummingbirds.

The Individual Red Tubular flowers are about 1 "Inch long and grow dense over The entire plant.

The flowers grow so thickly you often cannot see the sparse, asparagus-like foliage.

Its bloom time is from late spring throughout the summer and into the autumn in tropical and semi-tropical climates.

The Tubular flowers transition into small, inconspicuous fruits and hang in clusters.

Environment care

It is a high temperature, high humidity and negative environment for Firecracker Vine, and the suitable temperature for the growth of firecracker vine is 18~26℃. When we grow and care for Firecracker vine, as long as the temperature is lower than 10℃ for two consecutive days, the leaves will turn yellow and dry.

If the ambient temperature is over 30℃, Firecracker Vine will also drop leaves.

Soil care

The matrix for Firecracker Vine should be rich in humus, loose and well-drained loam.  When we grow and care for Firecracker vine, the soil for planting Firecracker Vine can be mixed with peat soil, perlite and vermiculite in equal amounts, and the soil is acidic, which is more conducive to the growth of Firecracker Vine.

Lighting care

When we grow and care for Firecracker vine , it can not be placed directly in the sun, especially in spring, summer and autumn. If it is fired by the sun, the leaves of Firecracker Vine will wither and die, and it will Firecracker Vine.

Generally, in addition to the winter, it can have sufficient light for Firecracker vine, and in spring, summer and autumn, it needs more shade treatment, almost 60% ~ 70% of the light should be covered, so it is appropriate for it to receive more scattered light for Firecracker vine.

Watering care

In the growing period of Firecracker Vine, it has more requirements for water, the pot soil must always be kept wet.  When we grow and care for Firecracker vine in the hot summer, it is necessary to water the leaves or surrounding Firecracker Vine, to improve the humidity of the air.

It will have a short Firecracker Vine dormant period in winter, during which watering can be stopped. Generally, it is good to keep the pot soil dry properly.

Fertilization care

When we grow and care for Firecracker vine during the growth of Firecracker Vine, organic fertilizer liquid can be used once every 1 to 2 weeks, and sufficient nutrients are conducive to the growth of Firecracker Vine. In addition, in the early stage of Firecracker blossom, phosphorus fertilizer can be used for more Firecracker vine, and the effect of Firecracker blossom can be improved.

When a Firecracker vine is blossoming, it must not fertilize. After the flower drops, it can be pruned properly, and nitrogen fertilizer can be applied at the same time.

Usually, organic fertilizers for Firecracker Vine can be selected, including chicken manure, cake fertilizer, bean residue and bone meal.

Humidity care

The second key requirement goes hand in hand with its temperature requirements. When we grow and care for Firecracker vine, grow your firecracker vines in relatively humid conditions. You can achieve this by misting the leaves during the daylight hours.

You should only mist the leaves during sunny, cloudless days. Avoid doing so during dull, cloudy winter days. Alternatively, you can grow the plant in wide saucers filled with damp pebbles to increase humidity.

How to propagate firecracker vine

Creating new plants is done through propagating via stem tip cuttings taken in the springtime.

Alternatively, use a layering technique.

To propagate from cuttings:

Choose a healthy tip with a minimum of 2 leaves near the end.

The cutting should be 6 "inches long.

Remove all leaves except a pair at the branch tip.

Make small scratches on the bottom what inches of the cutting, dip into this end rooting powder.

Shake off excess powder.

Place the cutting into a pot of appropriate, well - draining soil and water lightly.

Place a plastic bag loosely over the cutting and set it in a protected area with an indirect light and temperature consistently at 50 ° degrees Fahrenheit (10 ° C).

To propagate through layering:

Choose a healthy, flexible branch near the plant 's base.

If the plant is in the ground, outdoors, dig a little trench beside it.

If it 's in a pot or container, set a fresh pot of substrate beside it.

Bend the feature branch into the trench or a fresh pot of soil and weigh it down with a rock or use a garden staple to hold it into the ground.

Leave it in place, and care for it as a said plant until you see it has begun sending out new went and flowers.

When you are certain that the feature branch has begun producing its roots, sever it from the parent plant.

Firecracker vine pest or disease  

Firecracker vine Plants experience no serious disease or insect problems as long as it's not overwatered and receives the right amount of sunlight.

If it's not given the right environment, it may be subject to root rot, attacks from mites, caterpillars, and nematodes.