Lisianthus, or eustoma, during flowering overshadows the beauty of the queen of flowers rose. The elegant stem of this plant has no thorns, and delicate flowers of various colors bloom for several months and stand in water for a long time after cutting. They say that it is very difficult to grow eustoma. It is a flower of true winners who are happy with life and thankful for everything they have.
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Lisianthus (eustoma): description of the plant as a culture
The plant is annual, biennial or perennial. In the open ground of temperate latitudes, it is most often grown as an annual. Perennial eustomas in Russia exist only as indoor flowers.
This plant is also called the Irish rose, and it comes from the Gorechavkov family. Its unopened flowers are like roses. The plant looks very decorative due to the fact that up to 36 buds are formed on one stem, but even one flower looks like a lush bouquet.
When grown at home, it is difficult to achieve such abundant flowering, but even 2 to 3 flowers blooming one after the other are perceived as a miracle. They are welcome and very attractive.
In nature, eustoma grows in southern America, in Mexico, as well as on islands located in the Caribbean. In Russia, the plant began to be sold in the early 90s, quickly gaining the popularity and love of gardeners.
Perennial and annual varieties
In nature, there are more than fifty species, but only two are grown by flower growers: Russell's lisianthus (at room temperature) and large-flowered eustoma (in the garden). High varieties are planted in the garden for cutting, undersized plants adorn the windowsills of apartments.
All tall garden plants are classified as annuals. The best varieties of high eustoma:
- "Echo" (varietal series of 11 forms with different colors). The height of the stems is about 70 cm, characterized by early flowering.
- "Aurora". Terry eustoma up to 120 cm high, the color of the flowers can be pink, blue or white. Flowering early.
- "Flamenco". Corollas of flowers are simple, the plant is not capricious.
- Heidi. Stem height up to 90 cm, flowers simple. There are many color variations.
It is difficult to grow eustoma, but if desired, labor will succeed.
The best varieties of room, undersized eustoma, which can be grown as a perennial:
- Momeid (mermaid). The bush does not need to be formed, it branches well, the height of the stems is not more than 15 cm. Corollas are simple, painted in lilac, white or pink.
- Little Bel Flowers in appearance resemble bells of different shades, the height of the plant is up to 20 cm.
- "Florida Pink." A lush bush of small size is dotted with delicate pink flowers.
Garden and indoor lisianthus require similar care conditions.
Growing eustoma from seeds at home
Eustoma begins to bloom 30 weeks after the seedlings are biting. Therefore, it is necessary to plant it for seedlings in January, then it can bloom in late July. You need to sow flowers immediately in separate containers-cassettes, peat tablets or small glasses. Eustoma has a vulnerable root system; it does not tolerate transplantation.
When sowing small seeds of eustoma, they can not be buried. Germination of seedlings occurs in the light.
- Each lisianthus kernel is placed in a separate pot with a toothpick, and covered with a bag or glass.
- They put in a warm place. It is possible on a battery covered with a towel or newspaper.
- Eustoma germinates after 15 days at an air temperature of 20 - 25 ° C.
- Every day the container with crops needs to be aired.
- As soon as the first seedlings appeared, rearrange the container with seeds under the phytolamp.
- When 4 leaves appear on the seedlings, you can transfer them into large containers.
Seedlings need high humidity and bright light. If it is not highlighted, it will not grow. It is undesirable to spray eustoma from a spray bottle, it can easily become ill with a black leg. It is advisable to water throughout the growth with a solution of phytosporin.
When the seedlings grow up they are handled in large containers. Seedlings need nutritious land and fertilizers. In summer, eustoma can be put in a large pot in the garden, and in autumn it can be brought into an apartment or a greenhouse, then it will certainly bloom.
Features of growing lisianthus in the garden
The cultivation of lisianthus is complicated by its thermophilicity and long growing season. Therefore, it is better to plant it in a greenhouse, and it is difficult to get abundant flowering in open ground. The plant is often grown in large flower pots, which are put into the garden for the summer and brought into the house in the fall.
You can plant eustoma seedlings in a garden flowerbed in May, when the threat of cooling will be behind.
- The seedling, along with a lump of earth, is transferred to a prepared, watered hole, making the distance between the flowers about 15 - 20 cm.
- After planting, seedlings are covered with jars or plastic bottles for 15 to 20 days, until it takes root in a new place.
- Daily seedlings are aired and soil moisture is checked. It should not dry out or be too wet. After 6 leaves grow on the stem, the top can be clipped so that the stem begins to branch.
- One month after planting on a flower bed, eustoma needs to be fed with complex fertilizer (Plantofol or Kemira).
- It can bloom in August, the flowers will bloom one by one until the October frost.
Eustoma has a long growing season. After flowering, it is difficult to preserve the plant; diseases begin to overcome it. It can be powdery mildew, rust, black leg.
Eustoma: outdoor care
On a flower bed, eustoma is best grown in the Crimea or the Krasnodar Territory. In central Russia, you can plant early varieties in the garden that bloom 5 months after emergence. Hybrid and undersized varieties of eustoma bloom before
The plant does not like acid soil, dolomite flour or lime should be added to the flowerbed, and only after that plant seedlings.
Eustoma is demanding on moisture, it needs constantly moist soil, but without stagnation of moisture at the roots. To accelerate the development of the flower, fertilizer is added to the water, which stimulates the growth of roots.
Wintering plants
At 14 ° C, the eustoma stops developing, stops growing. The plant does not tolerate a transplant, so digging out bushes from a flowerbed for the winter and bringing it into the house will not work.
If the flower grows in large containers, you can rearrange them in a greenhouse or a heated room, then the green pet will grow well for several years.
In winter, the air temperature for eustoma should be in the range +10 - 15 ° C, watering is rare, feeding is not necessary. Faded stems are cut so that they have 2 or 3 internodes left on them.
Propagation of lisianthus
Eustoma is propagated by seed. She does not tolerate the division of the bush. Seeds are bought at a store or obtained from plants that are grown in a greenhouse.
It should be borne in mind that hybrid varieties do not transmit varietal traits when propagated by seeds collected independently. Simple purple or blue flowers, which are characteristic of natural species, can grow from them.
The soil for sowing is prepared from a mixture of garden soil, river sand and humus in equal parts, it is calcined in the oven, sieved, and only then are the pots for seedlings filled. You can buy the finished mixture in the store, designed for growing Saintpaulias. Drainage must be placed at the bottom of the planting container, all seeds are planted in separate pots to avoid transplanting.
The timing of sowing lisianthus depends on when they want to receive flowering. When growing indoor or greenhouse eustomas for industrial purposes, sowing is carried out year-round.
The meaning of the flower, signs
Eustoma has its own legend. It is said that she grew up on the grave of an innocent girl who died, not agreeing to become a wife of the spirit of war. Perhaps the meaning of the flower is associated with this legend. His presence in the house symbolizes contentment with life, a desire for peace and joy from the present.
A bouquet of lisianthus is often presented at wedding ceremonies. He stands for a long time in the water, without losing decorativeness, and numerous buds open one after another.
The meaning of the flower varies with color. Red and pink eustomas mean deep affection and sincere love, white - innocence, yellow flowers of lisianthus - a symbol of joy and happiness.
To grow capricious eustoma in the flowerbed, in the greenhouse or on the windowsill, you need to make a lot of effort. But to see the beautiful flowering, and even more so to observe it from year to year, is the dream of every grower.
