Rechsteineria

Named after the Swiss priest Rechsteiner (19th century). The genus comprises about 75 species distributed in tropical regions from Mexico to northern Argentina.

A very attractive plant with rounded bright green leaves and orange cigar-shaped flowers. It has a well-defined winter dormancy period during which the above-ground parts of the plant die back.

Scarlet Rechsteineria (Rechsteineria cardinalis)

A perennial herb up to 25 cm tall with a tuberous rhizome and erect, densely pubescent shoots. Leaves up to 15 cm long and 10 cm wide, opposite, ovate-elliptic, cordate at the base, obtuse, light green, shortly velvety-pubescent. Flowers scarlet-red, tubular, bilabiate, up to 7 cm long, in terminal umbel-like inflorescences. Native range – Brazil.

White-felted Rechsteineria (Rechsteineria leucotricha Morton.)

Similar in growth habit to the previous species. Leaves 3–4 per whorl, narrowly ovate, tapering to the base, on long petioles, silvery-gray due to a dense felted indumentum. Flowers narrow, salmon-red. Native range – Brazil.

Location: plants with a winter dormancy period (the above-ground parts die back by the beginning of winter). In summer, keep the plants in a bright place but shaded, water moderately and fertilize regularly. After flowering in August–September, reduce watering, then stop it completely. After the above-ground parts have dried, keep the tubers for 3–4 months in dry, cool conditions at 13–15 °C. In February plant them, leaving the top of the tuber above the soil, and until growth begins keep them with light misting at 20–25 °C, after which slightly lower the temperature.

Light: preferably a well-lit location, but shaded from direct sunlight.

Watering: moderate during the growing season, as the top layer of the soil dries. Watering is done via a saucer (bottom watering).

Air humidity: moderate.

Repotting: in spring into fresh loose, fertile soil.