Eustoma flower: types and varieties, cultivation in the country and at home

Eustoma is a garden and home flowering plant. Until recently, the flower was not so widespread, but today on the flower beds and window sills of apartments you can see the most diverse varieties of eustoma - white, purple, blue, two-tone.

Eustoma flower - features

Lisianthus or eustoma is a delicate and very beautiful flower with leaves, which, as if, are covered with wax, of a pleasant bluish tint. The inflorescences are large, in the form of a funnel, simple or double, with a diameter of about 8 cm. The inflorescences that have not yet blossomed resemble rosebuds, but as the flower blooms, the flower transforms and looks more like a poppy. Stems up to 120 cm long, branch strongly, so one plant is already a full, lush bouquet.

Up to 35 buds are simultaneously formed on the bush. Cut flowers can stand in a vase for up to 30 days.

By the way, in the Netherlands, eustoma is one of the ten most popular flowers, and in Poland regularly takes prizes at exhibitions. At home, the flower grows up to 20 cm, and on the flowerbed you can grow a bush up to 1.5 meters.

Types and varieties of eustoma

Every year, new varieties of a wonderful flower appear in specialized stores. Planting material is available to gardeners for professionals and amateurs who want to grow large, bright flowers in the flowerbed. When choosing seeds, pay attention to the height of the bush, type of inflorescence, color, growing conditions. Seeds are very small, so they are sold in pelleted form.

Amateur gardeners are recommended to choose annual varieties of eustoma, since two-year-olds can be grown exclusively in a greenhouse, but this will require experience and knowledge.

The main varieties of eustoma

Where better to grow - in a flower bed or at home

Indoor or garden plant eustoma flower? Previously, lisianthus was grown exclusively at home, but today seeds for sale on the flowerbed are on sale. It is used to decorate alpine hills, mixborders are formed from it.

Flowering begins in mid-summer, lasts until early October. One bush blooms for four months.

In the southern regions. Under favorable weather conditions, if you cut the flower in time, new shoots will go from the root and the eustoma will bloom again. However, in the middle lane it is impossible to achieve such a result.

If you need to grow a flower by a certain date, it is enough to sow the seeds according to the schedule.

Eustoma is a flower that can tolerate minor frosts. The main mistake of beginning gardeners is the late harvesting of seeds. If you prepare the planting material in the spring, the buds will not have time to appear.

The necessary conditions

• Sunny areas.
• The optimal soil composition is humus with the addition of peat.
• The best way to breed is from seeds. Cutting method is impossible.
• The plant is watered after the soil has dried, excessive moisture is dangerous for the bush.
• After the flowering begins, the bush can not be transplanted, otherwise the root system dies.
• At home, lisianthus grows in cool conditions.

Seed propagation

Growing a beautiful, flowering eustoma bush at home is not easy enough even for experienced gardeners. The process is long, laborious. The main difficulty is very small seeds, it is not easy to work with them. The second problem is the low germination of planting material (out of 100 seeds, no more than 60 take root).

Algorithm of actions:

• in the middle of winter they begin to prepare seeds;
• the best choice is a sterilized substrate with a low nitrogen content;
• seeds are scattered on the surface and pressed;
• from above the container is covered with polyethylene;
• holes for making air in the film;
• if additional lighting is required, install lamps;
• humidity must be maintained by spraying seedlings.

Optimum temperature: +20 ºC during the day and +14 ºC at night.

If you observe the conditions and technology, the first shoots appear after 14 days, to accelerate their growth, they are treated with a solution of a special drug. When two full leaves appear, the seedlings are transplanted into separate containers. Plants are transferred to the flowerbed after three months.

Home breeding

For lisianthus to bloom in winter, seeds are sown from mid-summer to early fall.

Algorithm of actions:

• the container is filled with a substrate (a mixture of sand, peat);
• seeds are scattered on top;
• containers are placed in a warm, well-lit place;
• regularly spray the ground.

When shoots appear, watering should be halved so that the soil has time to slightly dry. As soon as full leaves are formed, the bushes are transplanted into separate pots.

Indoor varieties need additional lighting, oxygen access. It is important to ensure the appropriate temperature regime - between +19 ºC and +22 ºC.

Irrigation is carried out with settled water. Bushes do not require spraying. Fertilize with the appearance of the first buds. Complex fertilizers are used twice a month. When the air warms up well, the eustoma is brought out to a fresh tongue. Faded stems must be cut off, leaving two pairs of leaves.

Eustoma in the garden

For cultivation in the garden, eustoma flowers are grown from seeds. They are sown from December to January, so that the buds appear during the period from the end of May to July. Seeds are planted in plastic cups filled with the finished substrate. Each container must be covered with plastic wrap, thus creating the effect of a greenhouse.

Over several months, seedlings need:

• airing and access of air;
• additional lighting;
• spraying.

In the second half of February, the glasses are transferred to the sunniest and lightest window sill. To prevent infection by various diseases, the seedlings are sprayed with Fundazole solution. As soon as two full leaflets appear on the seedlings, the eustoma is transplanted into pots. The containers are covered again with a film, but open during the day for ventilation.

Literally in one week the seedlings grow twice and in March it is again transplanted into larger diameter pots. At the same time, it is important to maintain an earthen room.

The most favorable period for replanting bushes on the flowerbed is May, since the probability of frost is minimal. It is important to choose a section protected from the wind, which is well lit.

How to plant eustoma seedlings:

• it is necessary to prepare the hole;
• pour water on it;
• without clearing the earthen lump, put a seedling in the center of the hole and sprinkle with earth;
• cover with a plastic container (it must not be removed for at least two weeks).

The minimum distance between the holes is 10 cm. It is important to observe the watering regime - for young seedlings of eustoma, an excess of moisture and its deficiency are harmful.

Useful Tips

1. After the appearance of 6 to 8 leaves, pinch the top of the plant. This allows you to form a volumetric crown.
2. The first top dressing is carried out in a month - mineral fertilizers are used, but the solution is prepared in a low concentration.
3. Wilted flowers cut.

Lisianthus after flowering

After flowering ends, the branches are removed, but not completely - they leave a few centimeters (two internodes, so that the following flowers develop). The capacity is placed in a room where the temperature does not rise above +15 ºC. In the winter months, watering is reduced, fertilizers are not applied. The bush is transplanted into new soil only in the spring, with the advent of new leaves.

Gradually restore the previous care regimen:

• bright lighting;
• watering mode;
• top dressing.

Pest and Disease Control

Mr. Summer resident tells: how to keep a flower eustoma longer

Cut inflorescences stand in a vase for up to one month. In order to maximize the life of the eustoma, it is necessary to regularly change the water to keep it clean, to prevent the appearance of bacteria. In addition, the branches should receive adequate nutrition.

Recommendations:

• already in the water, the stems must be cut obliquely;
• it is necessary to perform work with disinfected scissors or a knife;
• leaves trapped in water must be removed;
• cut the stem, insert a match so that water penetrates more easily.

Best of all, eustoma is stored in settled, filtered water. You can get rid of bacteria that are certainly present in water in this way:

• put a silver object in a vase;
• pour ash into the water;
• dissolve an aspirin tablet; several activated carbon tablets can be used;
• Dissolve a tablespoon of salt in water.

Water needs to be changed daily, and the stems should be washed with plain water. And experts offer to provide food for eustoma as follows:

• add a tablespoon of sugar;
• use special solutions.

Nutrients are changed daily with water.

Eustomas have a lot of advantages - a wide range of colors, remains fresh for a long time after a cut, forms a branched bush with a lot of flowers. Unlike a rose, an eustoma has no thorns.

Watch the video: Planting and Pre Sprouting Ranunculus and Anemone Corms in Fall - Cut Flower Garden (April 2024).