Cineraria Flowers (Pericallis Cruenta) Grow & Care Guide

Cineraria (Pericallis Cruenta) is a plant of great ornamental value in winter and spring. The flowers of cineraria are bright, light blue, pink or nearly white, etc. Cineraria is an excellent material for planting flower beds or potted plants for arranging courtyard pathways, giving people a fresh and elegant feeling. Its main viewing function: used for decoration, viewing, beautifying the environment, and purifying space in hotels, courtyards, lobbies, theaters and other public places.

When to Grow Cineraria (Pericallis Cruenta)

Growing of Cineraria (Pericallis Cruenta) Daisy-Like Flower is not troublesome, but the more information you have, the easier it will be for you. So, what are Cineraria preferences? The light should be bright, but there also should be shade at noon. The soil should be fertile and well drained, slightly alkaline or neutral. If you have a suitable site and the soil has the required hydrogen index, then wait until the middle of May, and when sudden night frosts have passed, plant the seedlings into the open ground.

How to Grow Cineraria (Pericallis Cruenta) 

June To August – Cineraria (Pericallis Cruenta) seeds are fine and they need light to germinate. Don’t cover the seeds with soil. They should be lightly pressed into the soil.
The soil should be watered prior to sowing of the seeds. Avoid watering the soil after sowing. The ideal germination temperature is around 67° degree Fahrenheit. Seeds should start appearing in around two weeks time.
When the first seedling start appearing, the temperature should be reduced to 60℉. Keep in mind baby Cineraria plants cannot handle direct sunlight.
September To January – Once seedling plantlet's have been potted, continue to keep them in a cool environment. Plant perform best if grown in a greenhouse. The plants do not like rain. The potting soil should always be moist. Feed with a complete liquid plant food once a week.Temperatures during this period should be around 48℉. The area should be airy and free of drafts.
February To April – When weather clear, plants should start to bud. Once the budding begins raise the temperature to around 60° degrees Fahrenheit. Cineraria plants reach full bloom in around four weeks'time. When the flowering has ends the cycle begins again.

How to Care for Cineraria (Pericallis Cruenta)

Cineraria Flower Lighting

Cineraria flower (Pericallis Cruenta) which are kept outside prefer a position of partial to full shade. It is unusual for a flowering plant to be such a shade lover, so take advantage of this trait by planting it in a darker corner of your garden, which would benefit from being brightened up with the plant's vibrant blooms. When grown outdoors, Cineraria plants can tolerate some sunlight, but ideally, this would be in the morning when the sun's rays are not at their most intense.
Shade during the heat of the afternoon will be most appropriate for this plant. If you are keeping Cineraria as a houseplant, a position that receives bright but indirect light would be ideal. It doesn't need a huge amount of light to survive indoors, but it will struggle to thrive in the shade as a houseplant.

Cineraria Flower Soil Care

As with most other flowering plants, cineraria flower (Pericallis Cruenta) will require a properly balanced soil environment. In addition to the pH balance you also need to check if the soil is well-drained.
Rich soil that comes with plenty of organic matter like compost works best for these plants because these kinds of soil drain quite well while also retaining a significant amount of moisture. Since the moisture is held around the plant's roots, they tend to thrive much better.
Remember, when it comes to Cineraria plants, soil type is of utmost importance. This alone will determine whether the plant is getting its watering requirements fulfilled. Heavy soil that drains poorly will end up adding excessive moisture to the plant’s root which in turn will cause it to rot.
Likewise, gritty soil that tends to drain fast won't provide enough time for the roots to soak up the excess water. While the plant prefers relatively acidic soil, they can thrive well in almost all well-drained and fertile soil.

Cineraria Flower Watering

Keep a Cineraria (Pericallis Cruenta) Plant moist but never soggy. Always allow the top inch or two of soil in a Cineraria Plantto dry out before watering. Cineraria Plants can sit in the excess water for 15 minutes then be sure to empty the saucer. The more blooms a Cineraria Plant has, the more water it needs.

Cineraria Flower Temperature & Humidity Care

Cineraria (Pericallis Cruenta) are somewhat fussy about temperature, as is true for many plants who thrive in a narrow range of hardiness zones. Their preferred temperature is between 50 and 65 degrees. If temps dip below 35 at night, they'll die, and if they go above 80 degrees, they'll stop blooming. In the heat of summer, make sure they stay in shade and it may be necessary to bring them indoors during very hot days.
These flowers thrive in a humid yet not "tropical" environment, Even if your location is not consistently humid during the growing season, you can approximate the climate needs of this plant by keeping the soil around it consistently moist. 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 plantings is to create a pebble tray. Spread a layer of pebbles or pea gravel on a low dish or tray and place it beneath the container. Keep filled with water to up to a half inch in depth (that may mean refreshing it daily if your house has dry air). As that water evaporates it will create an evenly humid atmosphere around the plant. Misting is not recommended as it may overwhelm the flower petals.

Cineraria Flower Fertilizer

Cineraria (Pericallis Cruenta) is fed with fertilizer solution approximately once every 2 weeks. However, the use of fertilizing for a plant grown as an annual crop is not necessary.

Cineraria Flower Pruning

Smaller Cineraria (Pericallis Cruenta) and houseplants don't need to be pruned. Cut outdoor garden Cineraria back by one-third in the late winter, before the growing season begins. If you are planning to allow your plants to reseed, do not deadhead the flowers, but let them wither and fall. Deadhead wilted flowers on indoor potted plants. Removing unhealthy flowers encourages new buds and may extend the blooming season.

Cineraria Flower Pests & Diseases

Cineraria (Pericallis Cruenta) are prone to mildew and fungus, especially in damp conditions. Powdery mildew is easy to spot—watch for white, powdery-looking growths. Yellow spots on the underside of leaves may indicate downy mildew. Spray the affected leaves with organic fungicide per the manufacturer’s directions. Root and collar rot can occur either due to overwatering or leaf disease, which weakens the plant. Cineraria rarely survive root rot, so check often for plant discoloration and wilting. For an outdoor Cineraria plant, be on the lookout for aphids, which you can control with a diluted mixture of soap and water.

Varieties of Cineraria (Pericallis Cruenta)

Florist's Cineraria

colorful flower clusters including dark pink, purple and blue

Starships

a popular variety that grows 12 inches (30 cm) tall, with large colorful flower heads

Dwarf Cineraria

grows 7 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) tall, with single daisy-like flowers