Bright lanterns on the windowsill are a flower that I could not pass by, and now it decorates my house

Once I was walking past the house of my friend and suddenly I saw bright lanterns on the window. It was some kind of flower. I even stopped and looked at him. A friend noticed me, left the house and gladly told everything about this plant.

It turned out that these unusual lanterns are the flowers of Thompson's clerodendrum.

This climbing plant is native to Africa. It blooms in many small flowers, similar to lanterns, changing color from pink to bright white. And in the middle there is a scarlet corolla with long yellow stamens. This combination creates a wonderful contrast.

I was very lucky, my friend, who later became a friend, presented cuttings of this flower. In addition, she told how to properly care for him. I dipped the cuttings into a jar of water, kept there until they gave roots. Then she put it in a pot.

I prepared the ground myself. I mixed the purchased azalea soil four parts and one part rose soil. I laid expanded clay on the bottom as drainage. At first, she covered the plant with a jar, creating greenhouse conditions.

Remembering where this plant comes from, you need to understand that it does not like direct sunlight, but at the same time, you cannot put it on the northern window, where there is no sun. The best option is a south window or a west one in winter. And in the summer - western.

If the clerodendrum likes the conditions in which it grows, it will bloom at least three times a year. If you are lucky, the flowering can last continuously for six months.

Be prepared for the fact that winter is a dormant period for clerodendrum. At this time, it can be placed on the north window. The plant will rest, gain strength, and bloom more abundantly.

As for the size, this vine can, of course, grow curly large, but for me a more acceptable option is the formation of a small bush.

Therefore, I prune, remove long shoots in half, others a little less - by one third. A large clerodendrum pot is not needed.

Watering, like all plants, is essential. During the period of growth and flowering, it will be larger than the rest of the time. Clerodendrum loves high air humidity, so it needs to be sprayed with water from a spray bottle. The exception is, of course, the dormant period.

I regularly feed. In the spring - once a week I apply a complex fertilizer for decorative flowering plants, from autumn - once a month, with the onset of winter - I stop.

Clerodendrum Thompson liked my house and makes me happy with his flashlights three times a year.