Eustoma (or Lisianthus) flowering plant of the gentian family. Enjoys great popularity among flower growers (grown on the cut), a fresh cut bouquet of eustoma can stand in a vase for up to three weeks. In this article we will talk about growing and caring for eustoma.
Variety of varieties
Today, there are a large number of Lisianthus seeds on sale. They are available not only to professionals, but also to amateur flower growers.
Eustoma is striking in its diversity of varieties and varieties, the differences in which are in flowers (terry or simple), as well as in the height of the plant (undersized or tall). Flower petals can be of different shades - they are white, and red, pink, blue, blue, classic tea shades, etc.
Did you know? Eustoma is popularly known as the Irish rose due to the fact that during the flowering of terry varieties, its flowers very much resemble rose flowers.
Tall varieties of eustoma are grown in the garden (cut). They reach up to 120 cm in height. For example:
- Aurora variety: height is 90-120 cm, terry flowers of blue, white, blue and pink color. Early flowering;
- Echo grade: height 70 cm, sprawling stems, large flowers, early flowering, 11 color options;
- Heidi grade: plant height 90 cm, simple flowers, abundant flowering, 15 color options;
- Flamenco variety: height is 90-120 cm with strong stems, flowers are simple, large (up to 8 cm), the main advantage is not capricious. A large number of color options.
Low-growing varieties of eustoma are mainly grown in balcony boxes or as indoor plants in pots. Their height does not exceed 45 cm. For example:
- Mermaid: height 12-15 cm, simple flowers, up to 6 cm in diameter, shades of white, blue, pink and purple.
- LittleBell: height is up to 15 cm, flowers simple, medium-sized, funnel-shaped, various shades.
- Fidelity: height up to 20 cm, white with a large number of simple flowers, located on the spike in a spiral.
- Riddle: height up to 20 cm, semi-double flowers, pale blue.
Growing eustoma
Eustoma is a very capricious plant, its cultivation comes from seeds. For this, a seedling method is used.
Did you know? Tuber Eustoma not grown.
Soil preparation
Eustome requires a well-drained soil. The soil mixture can be mixed by using 1 to 1 garden soil, coarse sand or perlite, humus, and also a little lime. Soil for Irish roses should be light, peaty, with the addition of pieces of charcoal. You can also buy a ready-mixed soil in a specialty store - for Saintpaulia (violets).
Important! It is necessary to control the pH level of the soil, the norm for lisianthus is 6.5-7.0. Increased acidity of the soil leads to zinc toxicity, resulting in slow growth of the plant.
Sowing seeds
The eustoma seeds are very small, so they are sold in the form of granules (with the help of a special compound from which the granules are made, Lisianthus increases its germination rate up to 60% from one sachet).
Sowing eustoma on seedlings is recommended in February. Use when sowing small pots. Seeds of eustoma do not need to go too deep into the ground. Watering is recommended to do with a spray (spray the soil, so as not to wash off the seeds). Before the first shoots, the pots should be covered with foil. Temperature regime: in the daytime - not less than 23 degrees, and at night - up to 18. It is necessary to ventilate systematically; to do this, lift the film. In a couple of weeks, shoots will appear that need proper lighting. It is unacceptable to keep them in direct sunlight, and the lack of lighting can cause the lack of flowering Lisianthus.
Pickling seedlings
Eustoma seedling picking occurs when 4-6 leaves appear in bunches (3 pieces each) into separate pots (6-7 cm in diameter). After picking, the temperature should be kept at 18 degrees, shoots should be pritenyat. After 10 days, Lisianthus is fed with complex liquid fertilizers.
Transplantation in open ground
Transplantation into the open ground is recommended to be done when the temperature does not fall below 18 ° C at night. It is necessary to replant very carefully, because the roots are very thin, and they can be easily damaged.
Very often gardeners when growing eustoma flower wonder how to keep it in winter. To do this, it should be dug in the fall, transplanted into a pot and transferred to a house or a winter garden.
Basic rules for eustoma care
When caring for lisianthus should follow the rules of lighting, watering, temperature and fertilizing.
Lighting
Lisianthus needs bright diffused light. It is also necessary for several hours to expose it to the sun. At noon, from bright direct sunlight, eustome should be shaded.
Watering
In the garden, Lisianthus tolerates both heat and drought (with regular watering, the plant looks better). If eustoma is grown in pots, the plant may die from overdrying. It is also not recommended to pour it, therefore it is necessary to water the Lisianthus after the top layer of the soil dries out.
Important! Watering eustoma must be carefully, at the root. Lisianthus does not need spraying (if moisture gets on the leaves of a plant, fungal diseases may develop).
Temperature
The optimum temperature for eustoma is 20-25 degrees during the day, and approximately 15 degrees at night. In winter, the plant is recommended to contain at a temperature of 10-12 degrees.
Top dressing
To feed the Irish rose begin complex fertilizer in 10-14 days after transplanting to a permanent place. During the period of active growth, fertilizing should be done 2 times a month. In the period when the buds ripen, and during the flowering period, eustoma should be fed once every 2 weeks.
Important! In winter, it is not necessary to do top dressing for eustome.
Combination with other plants
Caring for Lisianthus is not easy, but despite this, florists and flower growers like this flower. Irish rose is used in bouquets, in flowerbeds, in flower beds, where it is perfectly combined with tulips, chrysanthemums, lilies and even roses.
Florists use eustoma when creating bouquets and ikeban. Gardeners with its help decorate the design of the garden, the flower bed (for example, gazebos decorate it).
Due to its decorative qualities and long-term preservation of cut flowers, Lisianthus is quickly gaining popularity in Europe. For example, in Holland, eustoma is among the top ten flowers to be cut, and in Poland, Lisianthus is expensive at summer flower shows.
