Free Achimenes Grandiflora Plants

An extremely colourful plant, the Achimenes flowers throughout the spring and summer. During this time the compost should be kept evenly moist, but in autumn and winter the plant should not be watered at all, as it becomes dormant and will ‘rest’ until the start of a new growing season. When this arrives, in the spring, the plant can be helped into new growth by watering the compost with warm water - hence the common name of Hot Water Plant. However, the water should not be too hot as this will damage or kill the rhizome.

Plant type : Flowering plant with bushy habit
Season of interest : Late spring and summer
Size : 10-40cm (4 —16in)
Flower : 2.5-4cm (1 -1|in) wide, cerise-red flowers
Leaf : 5-10cm (2—4in) long, 5cm (2in) wide, but can grow larger, green
Temperature : 18-24°C (64—75°F)
Aspect/Light : Well-lit situation with exposure to sunlight but not excessively high levels for prolonged period
Humidity : Moderate to high
Watering : Evenly moisten compost in spring and summer; allow to dry in autumn and winter
Feeding : Once every two to four weeks with half strength flowering plant fertilizer in spring and summer
Propagation : Plant 7.5-9cm (3-3|in) tip cuttings in late spring to early summer in seed and cutting compost at 20-21°C (68-70°F); separate rhizomatous root in spring and plant as above
Potting : Houseplant potting compost
Problems : Red spider mite
Availability : Commonly available late spring and early summer
Uses indoors : Windowsill or hanging basket plant
Other varieties : Achimenes hybrids - generally smaller; pink, white, red or purple flowers