Cuphea DIPETALA

Cuphea DIPETALA - Two-petaled cuphea, Cuphea dipetala, Cigar flower.

Cuphea is a genus of shrubs and subshrubs in the family Lythraceae, growing wild exclusively in South America.

The genus is represented by small plants with oval leaves and small flowers. Plant height can reach 60 cm (23.6 in). The stems are ascending and erect. Its tubular flowers resemble a smoldering cigarette. Flowering lasts a long time - from late spring until late autumn. The flowers are nodding, on one- or two-flowered receptacles. Petals range from 2 to 6. Stamens number from 6 to 11. The fruit is a capsule enclosed in the floral tube.

Cuphea dipetala is a small herbaceous plant with thin, erect stems. The leaves are arranged oppositely, lanceolate in shape, small (length about 2.5 cm (1.0 in), width 0.5 cm (0.2 in)). The flowers are small, up to 1 cm (0.4 in) in diameter, two-petaled, lilac or dark pink in color. The plant begins blooming in mid-June and finishes with the onset of the first frosts.

Seeds are sown on the surface of universal soil without burying them, merely slightly pressing each seed into the soil.

The sowing is moistened with a spray bottle, placed in a mini-greenhouse or covered with film, and germinated in light, but not in direct sun at a temperature of 18-22 °C (64-72 °F). Seedlings need ventilation. It is necessary to avoid waterlogging and drying out of the sowings.

Seedlings appear after 1-2 weeks. After a pair of true leaves appears, the seedlings are pricked out into individual pots. When the seedlings begin to stretch, the apex is pinched off, and the plant produces lateral shoots. In May, after the end of spring frosts, the seedlings can be planted out into balcony boxes or pots. The distance between plants should be 30-35 cm (11.8-13.8 in).

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Cuphea is grown as a houseplant or as an annual in open ground. It looks magnificent in a hanging basket, where 2-3 plants are placed for greater decorative effect. It can also be used in borders.

It loves diffused sunlight and will grow excellently on a southwestern or southeastern windowsill. During sweltering hours, shading will be required. The plant should be provided with a comfortable temperature in summer - not higher than 25 °C (77 °F), and in winter - not lower than 12 °C (54 °F). The plant is sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Dark stains may appear on the leaves due to disruptions in temperature conditions.

In summer, the bush should be watered generously every 3-4 days; in winter, watering is reduced to once a week or even every 10 days. Excessive watering leads to root rot. When growing the plant in containers, good drainage must be ensured. In hot weather, cuphea should be misted. In winter, the plant should be kept away from radiators, and regular ventilation should not be forgotten, as the plant needs fresh air.

A universal soil mix consisting of peat, garden soil, and river sand mixed in equal proportions is suitable for growing. The plant needs regular fertilization, applying feedings every two weeks. For this purpose, it is important to use universal or potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.

Young plants should be repotted every year. Mature bushes are repotted less frequently - once every 3 years. Every spring, shoots are pruned by about one third to achieve beautiful blooming and well-developed branches.