Acanthaceae

The family of dicotyledonous plants of the order Scrophulariales. Mostly herbs, subshrubs and shrubs, sometimes small trees. Among the Acanthaceae are vines, xerophytes and marsh plants. Many Acanthaceae have a special natural mechanism for ejecting seeds from the fruits - hardening springy hook-shaped outgrowths of the seed stalk.

In nature there are about 250 genera, including about 2600 species. Distribution areas are very wide - the tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. Many Acanthaceae have found their purpose as houseplants, and more often as greenhouse plants. Among the Acanthaceae, windowsills are decorated by both foliage and flowering ornamental plants.



For success in cultivating most Acanthaceae it is necessary

• Warm keeping and a winter minimum for most Acanthaceae of around 15°C.
  
• The light requirements of most Acanthaceae can be described as: "Bright diffused light." At the same time some of them require some amount of direct sunlight, for example Beloperone, while others, like Fittonia, lose their coloration under too intense lighting.
  
• Acanthaceae, like most tropical plants, prefer humid air. Small pots are better placed on trays with wet pebbles.
  

• Watering is generally abundant in summer and moderate in winter. In any case, the soil should be slightly moist.
  
  The main problems in growing Acanthaceae are related to improper watering regimes, excessively dry air and insufficient light during the winter period. For example, Fittonia is so demanding of soil and air humidity that it is often grown in terrariums or indoor greenhouses. It looks particularly striking when several varieties of Fittonia with different leaf coloration are planted in one pot.
  

  

  © plantatlas.bio

  Contact

  Use of site materials is permitted only with the permission of the copyright owners.