Medinilla ∗ The 10 best planting and care tips

Characteristics

• Scientific name: Medinilla
• Family: Blackmouth family (Melastomataceae)
• Growth type: small shrub
• Origin: Philippines
• Growth height: 100 cm to 150 cm
• Growth form: sprawling, bushy
• Leaf: evergreen
• Flower: overhanging flower panicles
• Flowering period: February to August
• Fruit: berry
• Roots: terrestrial or epiphytic
• Toxicity: non-toxic

toxicity

Like all blackmouth plants, a Medinilla shrub is not poisonous. The German family name refers primarily to the edible berries of the genus Miconia, which turn the mouth black when eaten. However, this does not apply to the berries of Medinilla species. While these berries are non-toxic and beautiful to look at, they are not edible.

heyday

The glamorous flowering season is the pinnacle of the Medinilla year. Why this is so is illustrated by the following information on the properties of a flower:

• heyday: February to August
• blossom: panicle with several hundred individual flowers
• special feature: large, opposite supporting-leaves
• flower color: pink to coral red
• size: 30 cm to 50 cm long flower panicles
• appearance: overhanging inflorescences
• position: in the upper part of the shrub near the leaf axils

Because sober facts can hardly put the opulent flower spectacle into words, the following video illustrates the exotic flower dream of a Medinilla magnifica:

root

In the Philippines, the Medinilla thrives as an imposing epiphyte, or terrestrial shrub. The beauty of the blossoms proudly sits enthroned in the crowns of mighty rainforest trees. There the shrub clings to the branches with its roots, as we know from orchids. Since its breezy habitat has been shrinking as a result of ruthless deforestation, the evergreen flowering shrub can usually be found firmly rooted to the ground. In Central Europe, the uncomplicated cultivation with root balls has prevailed. Bearing in mind the growth as a tropical epiphyte, the roots are quite brittle in potting soil.

Plant Medinilla

Best chances of buying a Medinilla is during the flowering period. Under no circumstances should you discourage a flowering specimen by planting it in a new pot. The furious panicles of flowers are very fragile. As part of the care, you can repot your Medinille after the flowering period. You can read detailed instructions in the following section 'Maintain Medinilla'. As a welcome greeting, first choose a suitable location for the sensitive tropical beauty with these basic conditions:

• humidity: more than 60 percent
• temperature: at least 20° Celsius
• light: Light to shady, without direct sunlight.
• Important: no temperature fluctuations, protected from drafts, floor temperature corresponds to air temperature.

The high demands limit the selection of suitable locations to a temperature-controlled conservatory and a closed, heated flower window.

digression

Royal Medinilla Worshiper

Maintain Medinilla

Caring for a Medinilla is demanding. With a little practice and these instructions, you will master the gardening challenge with flying colours:

Pour

The right moisture in the substrate and in the air is an important element in the care program. Important criteria are the quality and temperature of the water. With a balanced all-round water supply you encourage the exotic flower diva for a long flowering period. How to do it right:

• water quality: Ideally rainwater, alternatively decalcified, stale tap water
• temperature: mildly tempered, preferably according to the ambient temperature
• casting needs: with dried soil (finger test)
• rule of thumb: Keep the substrate constantly slightly moist without standing water
• spray: Spray the leaves (not the flower spikes) regularly with lime-free water at room temperature

For the perfect watering technique, let the water run slowly onto the root ball until the tray fills up. Fill the saucer with beforehand lava granules(€14.00 at Amazon*) or expanded clay. This allows excess irrigation water to evaporate and increase local humidity.

Fertilize

A Medinilla needs plenty of nutrients for the formation of its profuse bud sites. Therefore, give a liquid fertilizer regularly from spring to autumn. Add the fertilizer to the irrigation water weekly. The correct dosage can be found on the packaging.

To cut

Annual pruning prevents sparse growth and promotes flowering. A Medinilla shrub always flowers on the previous year's branches. The best time to cut back is after flowering. Cut off wilted inflorescences. Trim overly long shoots by a third or half. A cut into the old wood is possible without any problems. The starting point for the scissor blades is a few millimeters above a pair of leaves or Eye on the jagged branches.

multiply

Propagation is best done in spring by cuttings, which you use as head cuttings to cut. Plant each offshoot in a sufficiently large pot potting soil. It is poured with lukewarm, soft water. Humidity of 70 to 80 percent and temperatures of around 30° Celsius are obligatory for rooting. In addition, you can stimulate root growthby putting a cutting in rooting powder dunk or another root activator use.

Diseases, pests, maintenance problems

Far from its tropical home, the Medinilla is susceptible to diseases, pests and neglect in care. If the flower diva weakens, the damage pattern provides important information about the cause. This results in effective countermeasures. This table gives a compact overview:

repot

In the spring you can repot a Medinilla. As a substrate, please use a mixture of 4 parts special soil for exotic plants, 2 parts coconut soil, 1 part lava granules and some sand. The optimal soil is loose, humic, peat-free and has a pH of 5.5. Please cover the bottom of the pot with shards of clay or expanded clay balls as drainage to prevent waterlogging. You should handle the root ball with kid gloves when you remove the used substrate. Maintain the previous planting depth and water thoroughly.

Hibernate - rest period

The pruning prepares your Medinilla for the upcoming winter time. Without a wintry breather of eight to twelve weeks, you will look in vain for the picturesque panicles of flowers next spring. The rest period is accompanied by modified care. That is how it goes:

• Medinille overwinter at 15° to 20° Celsius
• Maintain bright light and high humidity (60% plus).
• Water more sparingly until buds appear in spring
• Spray leaves weekly
• Do not fertilize from autumn until the next shoot
• Extra tip: place the bucket and saucer on wood to protect against the cold ground

A perfect rest period simulates the dry season in the Philippine rainforest. Proper watering is particularly tricky at this time. With the help of a moisture meter, you can also clear this hurdle in the care program.

Popular Varieties

With these varieties, knowledgeable breeders have taught the up to three meter high Medinilla shrub to remain at a growth height suitable for conservatories:

• flamenco: decorative hanging, intense pink inflorescences, compact growth up to 100 cm tall.
• Pinatubo: graceful Medinilla with a growth height of 40 cm to 60 cm.
• Lambada: elegant variety with light pink panicles of flowers 35 cm to 45 cm high.
• Dolce vita: Premium variety from Holland, has at least 4 inflorescences in 2 tiers when you buy it.

FAQ

Is a medinilla poisonous to cats?

No, a Medinille shrub is not poisonous. The blackmouth plant does not contain any toxic substances that could be dangerous for your cat. We asked the poison control center in Bonn. There have been no reports of health problems from humans or pets after eating Medinilla plant parts.

How can I get a Medinilla to flower?

If a Medinilla is not granted the winter rest period, the plant keeps its inflorescences under lock and key. You can make the tropical plant bloom with modified care. Place the plant in a bright location with temperatures of 15° to 20° Celsius for a period of eight to twelve weeks. It is poured so sparingly that the root ball is only slightly moist in the core. The nutrient supply begins parallel to the first budding in late winter or early spring.

My medinilla in the living room is losing buds. What to do?

Basically, the Medinilla is not made for cultivation as a houseplant in living spaces. Dry indoor air is very difficult for the rainforest beauty. This deficiency is the most common cause of bud and flower shedding. Place a humidifier near the plant and spray the leaves with room-temperature rainwater every two to three days.

Can you cut off wilted Medinilla flowers in summer?

You can cut off or pick off individual, withered flowers. There is no need to wait until pruning at the end of flowering. Cut off the flowers at the bottom. This does not result in reblooming. Rather, new leaves will sprout at this point.

Can I put purchased flowering Medinilla in a planter?

Only rarely does a Medinilla from the garden center stand in a decorative pot. You can bridge the waiting time until repotting next spring with a beautiful cachepot. Because it is difficult to control the risk of waterlogging in the cachepot, we recommend a pot with a pedestal inside, as is known from the cultivation of orchids. If excess irrigation water collects on the bottom of the pot, it cannot rise into the root ball.