The Spruce / Kara Riley
Cinerariais a hybrid plant, a cross betweenPericallis cruentaandP.
Cineraria prefers cool weather and filtered sunlight or partial shade.
Many gardeners prefer to use them for container culture rather than as in-ground bedding plants.
Read on for our care and growing guide.
Light
Cineraria will do best in filtered sunlight or partial shade conditions and it resents full sunlight.
If grown as a short-lived indoor plant, however, it likes bright but filtered sunlight.
Soil
Cineraria like a rich, moist, slightly acidic soil that has good drainage.
Amendments such as peat moss and coffee grounds can help create good soil conditions for this somewhat fussy plant.
Water
Cineraria needs constant moisture but it still needs to breathe.
Steady watering in hot weather is a must.
Thus, it’s critical that frequent watering is paired with well-draining soil.
Temperature and Humidity
Cineraria is temperamental about temperature.
The preferred temperature is between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
These plants thrive in an environment that is humid yet not quite tropical.
However, avoid making the ground too soggy as this can cause root rot.
The best way to provide this humidity for both indoor and outdoor plants is to create a pebble tray.
As that water evaporates it will create an evenly humid atmosphere around the plant.
Misting is not recommended as it can overwhelm the flower petals.
These plants have a steady appetite, but don’t want to be gorged with fertilizer.
Types of Cineraria
Cineraria is usually offered in various named color mixes.
After flowering is complete, these plants are usually pulled out and replaced with warm-season, summer-flowering annuals.
Here’s how:
Propagated in this manner, the new plant should flower within about three months.
Give indoor potted plants more light than is required for outdoor plants.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Cineraria is subject to quite a number of plant pests and diseases.
Indoor plants are often more susceptible than outdoor garden plants.
Aphids,thrips,spider mites,white flyandleaf minerscan all feast on cineraria.
The best treatment is a spray with a horticultural oil such asneem oil.
What Do Cineraria Blooms Look Like?
Cineraria comes in vibrant shades of pink, red, purple, blue, and many bi-colors.
Cineraria is a relatively demanding plant that needs a half-strength feeding every two weeks.
Frequent light feeding is the key to good flowering.
These plants also require soil that is consistently moist but not soggy.
The parent species (Pericallis cruentaandP.
The varieties now popular in the trade are derived from the hybrid cross of these two species.
Cineraria is a seasonal bloomer that generally flowers 16 to 18 weeks after seeds germinate and sprout.
For Christmas bloom, for example, you should plant seeds in late August to early September.
This is why many people seeking winter-blooming plants simply buy them in season from a houseplant supplier.
