Periwinkle Plant Vinca Minor


Periwinkle Plant Vinca Minor

The Vinca minor is a wonderful plant to decorate the gardens and terraces. Its rate of growth is quite fast, and its flowering is spectacular, becoming almost completely covered with flowers from spring to early fall.

PERIWINKLE PLANT (VINCA MINOR)

Characteristics of the Vinca minor

Our protagonist is a sub-shrub native to central and southern Europe and southwest Asia whose scientific name is precisely Vinca minor . It is a cover plant, perfect for covering land. Reaches a height of 40cm, and has evergreen leaves, 4.5cm x 2.5cm, bright green. The flowers, which sprout from spring to autumn, are solitary, blue-violet or white, and measure 2-3cm in diameter. The fruit is a pair of follicles of 25mm long, inside which are numerous seeds.

Its cultivation is very simple, suitable for beginners. It is decorative and nothing demanding , so that regardless of the experience you have in the care of plants, with this species you will not have any problems.

Periwinkle Care (Vinca Minor)

To have one or several specimens of this plant is a delight, because you only have to provide them with the following care so that it blooms abundantly:

Location

Place your plant outside, in an area where it is exposed to the sun directly . It may also be in semi-shade, but it must have more light than shade to be able to flourish in abundance.

Soil or substrate

It is not demanding, but if it is grown in a pot, it is highly recommended to mix universal culture substrate with 20 or 30% perlite or similar material in order to make the drainage good. In this way, it will prevent the earth from puddling, which would end up suffocating the roots.

Irrigation

Every 2 days in summer, and every 4 days the rest of the year . In case of doubt, check the humidity of the substrate before watering by inserting a thin wood stick at different points. If it comes out practically clean when it is extracted, it is because the soil is dry and, therefore, it must be watered.

It is much easier to recover a dry plant than one that has suffered excessive irrigation, because with the excess of humidity the mushrooms soon proliferate, weakening it. For this reason, in addition to controlling irrigation, it is worthwhile to make preventive treatments in spring and autumn with copper or sulfur, which are two very effective natural fungicides. Of course, if you have children or pets make sure to keep the plant treated.

Fertilizer

During the entire flowering season, it must be paid with a fertilizer for flowering plants . It can also be paid with liquid organic fertilizers, such as guano, following the indications specified on the package; or even go alternating, using one month one and the next the other.

Transplant / Planting time

Whether you want to definitely spend it in the garden or a larger pot, you can do it from spring to early summer .

Multiplication

You can obtain new specimens by sowing their seeds in spring or by their natural layers in spring-summer. Let’s see how to proceed in each case:

Seeds

  1. The first thing to do is prepare the seedbed. As such you can use a seed tray, yogurt cups, milk containers, peat pills (Jiffy), or conventional pots.
  2. Once you have chosen the seedbed, fill it with universal growing medium mixed with 30% perlite, or with one prepared for seedbeds (both you will find them for sale in any nursery or gardening shop).
  3. Now, laugh it well so that it is very wet.
  4. Next, place a maximum of 3 seeds on the surface of the substrate, so that they are slightly separated from each other.
  5. Then, cover them with a very thin layer of substrate.
  6. Finally, water again and place the seedbed in an area where it is directly exposed to sunlight.

The first will germinate after 7-10 days.

Acodo natural simple

  1. First, you must dig up the plant a little.
  2. Next, choose a stem that has roots and separate it from the mother plant carefully.
  3. Once you have it, plant it in a pot with vermiculite.
  4. And finally, water.

Plagues and diseases

It can be affected by the following pests and diseases:

Pests

The aphids are parasites green, yellow or brown attacking all garden plants. Normally, they adhere to stems and flowers, feeding on sap.

It is treated with insecticides or ecological anti-aphid traps.

Diseases

  • Virosis : are diseases transmitted by viruses, which cause the appearance of yellow spots on flowers. It has no cure.
  • Powdery mildew : the fungus Oidio causes the leaves to have a grayish powder. It is treated with systemic fungicide.
  • Root rot : occurs when there is excess moisture. You must space the risks and replace the substrate if it does not have good drainage. Also, if you have a dish under it you have to remove the excess water after 15 minutes of watering.
  • Stains on the leaves : if the leaves start to have spots, it is because the plant is being attacked by fungi. It is treated with fungicides such as zineb.
APHIDS

Resilience

The Vinca minor is a beautiful plant that withstands the cold and soft frosts of up to -3ºC . In the event that you live in an area where the winter is colder, you can place it inside the home, in a room where there is plenty of natural light and where it is far from the air currents (both cold and warm).

Applications

It is a herbaceous that is normally used to decorate. It is very ornamental and, due to its size, it is perfect to have it in any corner and even as a centerpiece. But, did you know that it has medicinal properties? In fact, it can be used as an analgesic and as a cerebral vasodilator, to recover from myocardial infarctions, to stimulate the appetite, and in case of having suffered a head injury .

It is consumed in infusion, liquid or dry extract, tincture or powder. But you should not use it in these cases according to the website Plants to cure :

  • Pregnancy
  • Lactation
  • Tumors with cranial hypertension
  • Consumption of medications such as quinidine, amiodarone, anthraquionic laxatives, or medication that potassium potassium loss.
VINCA MINOR LEAVES

What do you think of this plant?

Don Burke

I am Don Burke, one of the authors at My Garden Guide.  I am a horticulturist that cultivates, grows, and cares for plants, ranging from shrubs and fruits to flowers. I do it in my own garden and in my nursery. I show you how to take care of your garden and how to perform garden landscaping in an easy way, step by step.I am originally from Sydney and I wrote in local magazines. Later on, I have decided, more than two decades ago, to create my own blog. My area of specialization is related to orchid care, succulent care, and the study of the substrate and the soil. Therefore, you will see many articles dedicated to these disciplines. I also provide advice about how to improve the landscape design of your garden.

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