SOLANUM RANTONETTI Flowerpot

The Solanum commonly called rantonetti Rantonetto is an evergreen shrub of the family of Solonaceae coming from South America. The plant generally bred as sapling it reaches a height of more than 150 cm and has a rounded foliage composed of numerous woody twigs covered with dense light green foliage. THE flowers that they bloom copiously among the foliage they are solitary or gathered in bunches. The color of the crown is Violet load while the throat is yellow. The scent that is perceived only after sunset is delicately pleasant. I who follow the flowers, are small berries roundish orange, inedible. Solanum rantonettii blooms continuously from spring until late autumn if the local climate remains mild.

CARE

This gorgeous plant ornamental could be also grown in pots especially in the northern regions so that you can repair in the winter moving it against a south-facing wall or under a porch or other bright, unheated place. The jar it must be wide and deep and filled with specific soil mixed with sand and expanded clay. The plant should be buried up to the collar and immediately afterwards generously watered. Choose for her a place sheltered from the winds and in full sun, water it regularly especially in summer and occasionally in winter, the soil must remain almost dry. It fears the cold and temperatures below 0 ° C.

The soil must remain slightly moist, never soaked, in summer water it regularly is with plenty, avoiding the alternation of dehydrated soil and soggy soil, in winter the soil must remain almost dry.

Plants grown in the ground are satisfied with rainwater but during periods of prolonged drought it is good to intensify the watering. From spring to autumn every 15 - 20 days, administers some fertilizer for flowering plants in liquid form.

After flowering shorten too long or weak branches to favor the birth of new shoots, for a more compact development of the shrub and to give harmony of shape to the foliage. Remember when you prune that shears must be disinfected and well sharpened. The Rantonetto benefits even one drastic winter pruning, in fact, at the vegetative restart it forms more compact and dense shrubs that during the flowering period will be even more full of flowers.

Curiosity

The generic name solanum comes from the Latin solamen and means relief and refers to the calming and sedative properties of some plant species.