Eustoma, or lisianthus: planting, care, growing from seeds at home and in open ground, including perennial varieties

Features of Eustoma

Eustoma (other common names are lisianthus, gentian, Japanese, French or Irish rose) is a beautiful flowering plant, usually grown by gardeners as an annual (less often perennial) ornamental crop.
Among the undeniable advantages of this plant, landscape designers note its very spectacular, long-lasting and almost continuous flowering. The genus Eustoma (the outdated name of the genus is Lisianthus) includes annual and perennial herbaceous plants of the Gentian family. In the wild, they are found in Mexico, southern North America and northern South America. Their habitat also includes the Isthmus of Panama and a number of islands in the Caribbean Sea.

Representatives of the genus are herbaceous, medium-sized plants, the height of which can vary from 40 to 60 centimeters. The height of individual representatives of this genus can be 90-100 centimeters or more. The plants have many erect, graceful stems, densely covered with ovoid or lanceolate sessile leaves. The color of the stems and leaves varies from pale green to silver-emerald.

Eustoma flowers can be simple, semi-double or double, looking like bells, poppies, roses or daylilies. The average size of flowers in diameter is 5-8 centimeters. The shape and color of lisianthus flowers usually depend on the species/varietal characteristics of the plant. The color palette includes creamy white, peachy pink, lavender lilac, violet-lilac, golden beige and many other tones. The color of flowers can be either monochromatic or variegated.

During the flowering period, lisianthus look very impressive. This is facilitated by their tendency to mass formation of flower ovaries. Thus, some varieties can have up to 20-25 flowers and flower ovaries on 1 stem at the same time. Visually, flowering eustomas resemble bushes of varietal roses, with the only difference being that their stems do not have thorns.

Lisianthus blooms usually last from late May to October. Some varieties are able to bloom profusely before the onset of persistent cold weather.

Types and varieties

In ornamental gardening, both natural types of eustomes and their cultivated forms and varieties have become widespread. To date, breeders have developed many varietal lisianthus with very large double and semi-double flowers of various colors.

• Eustoma grandiflora is one of the natural species, whose natural habitat is the southern United States. In the wild, this type of lisianthus usually grows in floodplains and lowlands of rivers. Plants can reach 35-95 centimeters in height. The stems are thin, highly branched, pale green with a silver-gray tint.

The leaves are ovate, with a rounded or pointed apex. The flowers are large, reaching 7 centimeters in diameter, and bell-shaped. The color of the flowers is purple-violet or lilac-blue.

• Eustoma minor is another natural variety of lisianthus found in the southern United States and Mexico. Another common plant name is seaside gentian. In the wild, this species is found mainly in damp places - in swamps and the banks of fresh and salt water bodies. The plants have numerous erect stems, densely covered with small gray-green leaves.

Flowering continues throughout almost the entire growing season. The flowers are bell-shaped, large, lilac-violet in color. The core of the flowers is golden yellow.

• “Champagne” is an original variety of large-flowered eustoma from the Magic series, bred by Japanese breeders. The average plant height is 75 centimeters. The flowers are densely double, with strongly corrugated edges, reaching 8 cm in diameter. The color of the flowers is soft pink, with a slight pistachio tint on the periphery of the petals. The variety is recommended for cutting.

• “Carmen” is a series of varieties of low-growing eustomas recommended for cultivation in closed ground. The height of the plants is about 20 cm. The bushes are compact, multi-stemmed. The leaves are ovate, with a pointed apex, light green. The series includes a number of varieties of different colors: “Rose” - with soft pink flowers, “Lilak” - with lilac-pink flowers, “Blue Rome” - with white and blue flowers.
• “Pink” is a very spectacular variety of tall, large-flowered eustomas from the Echo series. The height of plant bushes can reach 85-95 centimeters. The flowers are large, double, deep pink.

The variety is recommended for cutting, as well as for creating multi-tiered flower beds and high beds.

Indoor views

Today, flower growers actively grow about 5 species and varieties of perennial eustoma at home. A brief description of these varieties will be given below.

• Eustoma grandiflora. This is the most common variety, characterized by oblong or oval leaf blades, large bell-shaped flowers, and bright colors of white, red, blue or orange.

The species includes the following varieties: Wonderus Light Brown, Colorado Purple, Roccoco Marine White, Advantage Green.

• Eustoma "Mystery". It is characterized by a small height (up to 20 cm), as well as large double petals with a bright cobalt or blue color.

• "Little Bell" It also has a small height of up to 20 cm and is distinguished by a large number of green shoots. The inflorescences are small, funnel-shaped, most often light in color.

• Eustoma "Loyalty". It is distinguished by its small height and many small white buds.

• "Florida Pink". It is characterized by large pink buds that lighten and decrease in size over time.

Varieties

Low-growing varieties of Eustoma include:

• Eustoma Riddle is a low compact bush, reaching 20 cm in height. Blooms profusely with double light blue flowers.
• The Mermaid variety is a miniature compact species of Lisianthus, the crown height of which does not exceed 15 cm. It does not require pinching. This hybrid blooms with simple flowers with a diameter of up to 6 cm in a variety of shades: white, light pink, lilac and blue.
• Little Bell is a densely branching bush of miniature size, reaching a height of 15 cm. The flowers are small, simple, funnel-shaped, of all kinds of colors. This variety is valued for its abundant, long-lasting flowering. You don't have to do pinching.
• Eustoma Fidelity is a low indoor plant, no higher than 20 cm in height. It is distinguished by a multitude of snow-white small flowers, which are arranged in a spiral on the flower arrow.
• Variety Tenderness is a beautiful bush with an elegant stem up to 20 cm, on which satiny petals are arranged in a spiral. Blooms with pink flowers.
• The Little Mermaid has very small bushes, up to 15 cm in height, blooming with white, light blue or pink flowers.
• Eustoma "Florida Blue" - characterized by abundant blue flowers.
• Variety Florida Pink - this very beautiful, low indoor flower blooms profusely with light pink flowers. In a pot it looks like a bouquet with wonderful miniature roses.

This may be interesting: Streptocarpus - growing and care at home

Little Bell Mermaid The Little Mermaid Fidelity Florida Blue Florida Pink

In addition to low-growing ones, flower growers also practice growing tall indoor Eustomas:

1. Eustoma Cinderella - bush height up to 50 cm. Blooms with double flowers of delicate pink or yellow color.
2. Variety Twinkie - stem height is not higher than half a meter. It blooms with white, yellow, pink or purple flowers of extraordinary beauty.
3. Eustoma "Mariachi Lime" - the height of the bush reaches a meter. The flowers on it are double lime-colored.
4. Echo is a medium bush, grows up to 70 cm in height. Flowers of pink, yellow, lilac or white are displayed on a strong stem.

Twinks Mariachi Lime Echo

The most popular Eustoma varieties for growing at home are large-flowered. Their inflorescences consist of many large beautiful skirt-shaped flowers of the most impossible colors: snow-white and purple-red, violet and lilac, lilac and light yellow, blue and light blue.

How to grow eustoma at home

Eustoma is a flora with amazingly beautiful flowers in delicate shades. They are often added to bouquets - they last a long time and do not fade. This plant also has a minus - it is quite capricious and requires a lot of attention. The color of this flora is very similar to pink, which is why it is sometimes called Irish or Japanese rose.

Important! Some people wonder whether it is possible to grow eustoma as a houseplant. The answer to this is positive: it is grown both in the garden and at home. What is noteworthy is that the same species is used everywhere - large-flowered eustoma, or eustoma grandiflorum. It is now called Russell's lisianthus.

The height of an adult lisianthus bush ranges from 15 to 90 centimeters and produces about twenty flowers during the flowering period. They do not bloom simultaneously, but one after another. Because of this, the beauty of blooming flora is preserved for quite a long period.

Until recently, this crop was considered a garden or greenhouse crop. Today, eustoma can often be found in the home. When preparing to acquire such a flower, you need to consider the following:

• In nature, lisianthus is a perennial plant. It is often kept in the house only during the flowering season. For the winter it requires conditions that are quite difficult to recreate in an apartment. Even if it succeeds, it cannot be turned into a full-fledged perennial at home.
• Be sure to clarify what type of flower it is. For the home, you need crops that can survive in pots. They should not grow higher than 30 centimeters.
• Most likely, after purchase, the bush, even a dwarf one, will begin to grow in breadth and upward. This is because, in order to speed up and reduce the cost of growing plants, they are fertilized with growth inhibitors.

To avoid the latter, you can grow this flora at home yourself. It is best to start from scratch, that is, from germinating a seed.

Subtleties of growing at home

Eustomas are considered quite demanding plants, requiring the most comfortable conditions and proper care. The exotic origin of these beauties largely determines the specificity of their requirements for lighting, temperature and humidity conditions, and soil composition.

Eustomas prefer moderately bright, diffused sunlight. For this reason, it is recommended to place pots with plants on window sills located in the southeast, east, southwest or west of the house. On very hot days, plants should be protected from the scorching sun.

It is important to remember that direct sunlight is harmful to these delicate representatives of decorative flora.

In the summer, indoor eustomas will feel comfortable at a room temperature of +20-23°C. With the onset of autumn, it is recommended to reduce the temperature to +18°C. In winter, when plants are at rest, it is preferable to maintain the air temperature in the room at +10-15°C.

To maintain optimal air humidity, indoor eustomas should be watered regularly, preventing the soil in the pot from drying out. These plants do not need spraying or additional air humidification.

In very hot weather, it is permissible to place a wide container filled with water next to the plants.

To grow lisianthus at home, it is recommended to use soil mixtures with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Experienced gardeners often use store-bought soil mixtures intended for Uzambara violets to grow indoor eustomas. It is also possible to use soil mixtures prepared from peat soil, garden soil and clean river sand (1:1:1).

Before placing it in a planting container, it is recommended to disinfect the prepared soil mixture with a hot solution of potassium permanganate.

The main care for lisianthus grown at home consists of regular watering, periodic feeding and timely removal of dried inflorescences. Indoor lisianthus should be watered frequently, but moderately. In summer, the frequency of watering is increased, in winter it is reduced.

For irrigation, use only soft, settled water. Watering tender eustomas with cold, hard water is strictly prohibited. When watering, a stream of water is directed to the base of the bush.

It is important to ensure that drops do not fall on the leaves, stems and flowers of the plant. It is best to water eustomas in the morning or evening.

Regular feeding will ensure lush and long-lasting flowering of indoor eustomas. It is recommended to use complex fertilizers based on potassium and phosphorus as basic fertilizers. The recommended frequency of feeding is once every 2-3 weeks.

The main stages of plant nutrition:

• active growth phase, requiring the application of nitrogenous fertilizers;
• budding phase (potassium-phosphorus fertilizers);
• the beginning of flowering phase (potassium fertilizers).

High-quality care for lisianthus

The bright, pretentious lisianthus, the care of which requires compliance with certain rules, is, on the one hand, unpretentious. On the other hand, improper care of lisianthus can lead to the most undesirable consequences. The main points for growing ornamental plants are:

Location. It should be a cool place with sufficiently bright and at the same time indirect light. In enclosed spaces, it is advisable to place the pots on the east or west side, and in the warmer summer months, take them out into the yard or onto the balcony. When placing them on the south side of the building, you need to make sure that the leaves are not burned by direct rays of the sun. Modern greenhouses and conservatories are considered optimal conditions for the plant.

1. Temperature conditions. During winter dormancy, plants need a temperature no higher than 12-15 degrees. The rest of the time, the temperature must be maintained within 20-25 degrees.
2. Earth. The plant thrives in well-drained soil with a pH level of 6.5-7. As a substrate, purchased universal soil or a mixture of sand + peat + compost-turf-leaf soil can be used.
3. Feeding. The plant needs the necessary amount of phosphorus and calcium for its growth. During this period, as well as during flowering, lisianthus needs regular feeding. For this purpose, it is necessary to fertilize the flower weekly with complex mineral fertilizer, but not more than the amount indicated on the package.
4. Watering. After the soil has clearly dried out, the Irish rose is watered with soft, well-settled water. Watering is done abundantly, and after 15 minutes the excess water is drained from the pan. It is extremely important to avoid overfilling. The flowers do not need spraying; in addition, when watering, you also need to prevent drops from getting on the leaves and stem - this is fraught with unpleasant fungal diseases.

Many experts recommend adding a little lime and wood ash to a pot of soil. You can periodically loosen the top layer of soil.

To protect lisianthus flowers from diseases and harmful insects, it is necessary to periodically treat plants with deltamethrin-based insecticides. This will be a salvation from spider mites, whiteflies, and thrips. And benzimidazole fungicides will help in the fight against white mold.

Reproduction methods

To propagate eustoma, gardeners most often use seeds, less often cuttings. Seed method of propagation of these beautifully flowering plants

To obtain lisianthus seedlings from seeds, it is recommended to sow the seeds in February or March. The seeds are sown in containers with a very loose soil mixture consisting of peat soil and fragments of the bark of deciduous trees (1:1). A ready-made store-bought substrate intended for growing seedlings is also suitable for sowing seeds.

Before sowing, the surface of the substrate is leveled and well moistened. Then the seeds are laid on the moistened soil (it is recommended to purchase seed material in pelleted form) at a distance of 2-3 centimeters from each other. The spread seeds are lightly pressed to the ground with a fingertip, after which the crops are sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle. You cannot sprinkle the seeds with sand or soil.

Next, the container with the crops is covered with a transparent film, in which several small holes are made for better air circulation. Before the emergence of seedlings, they carefully monitor the level of humidity of the soil and air in the improvised “greenhouse”. The waiting period for the first shoots is 2-3 weeks. Before the emergence of seedlings, the container with crops must be periodically ventilated, occasionally spraying the substrate.

In the second half of March, the container with seedlings should be sent to a place with soft diffused light, protected from drafts. The air temperature in the room should be +20-22°C. Strong seedlings can be planted after 6-8 weeks, when they have formed 2-3 pairs of true leaves. Postponing picking to a later date is strongly discouraged.

Some tall varieties of lisianthus can be propagated by apical or intermediate cuttings. This procedure is usually carried out during the period when plants are in the phase of active growth and budding. To obtain planting material, the strongest multi-stemmed eustoma bush is selected, from which a healthy, well-developed shoot is separated. This shoot is cut into pieces so that each cutting has about 4-5 internodes.

Next, the lower leaves on the resulting cuttings are removed, and the upper ones are cut in half. Then the lower cut of each cutting is powdered with a root formation stimulator (“Kornevin”) and placed in a glass of water for 6-8 hours. Root lisianthus cuttings in plain water. If all recommendations are followed, the first roots of the cuttings appear after 2-3 weeks. After this, the rooted planting material can be planted in separate cups with loose soil.

Reproduction of Eustoma

Reproduction of indoor Eustoma occurs only with the help of seeds. Reproduction of Eustoma by cuttings, layering and dividing the bush is not possible.

Growing Lisianthus from seeds

Growing Eustoma begins with purchasing quality seeds.

If you are going to use the seeds of your faded plant, keep in mind that they only become suitable for planting after a year .

You can plant seeds for growing Eustoma at any time of the year, but it is better in June-July, so that by autumn the bush will form and bloom profusely and colorfully in winter. Quite a long time passes from the moment the seeds are planted to the start of flowering.

Eustoma seeds

Eustoma's seeds are very small - there are more than 10 thousand of them in one gram. Therefore, it is better to purchase Eustoma seeds in special capsules, in which a nutritious mixture of peat, sand and fertilizer are balanced for maximum effective seed germination. Place seed capsules in prepared, well-moistened soil (in a pot or container) at a distance of at least 5 cm from each other. Cover with transparent film. Place in a warm, bright place to germinate seeds.

You can also purchase the seeds in yeasted form. There, several seeds are placed in one ball with a nutrient mixture. It is convenient to sow such peas as described above. Or you can plant Eustoma seeds for seedlings in peat tablets. The container with tablets maintains the necessary humidity and temperature, it is convenient to ventilate, it is clearly visible how the seeds germinate and the seedlings develop.

Yeasted eustoma seeds

If you decide to plant your seeds for seedlings in a container or container with nutritious soil, a mixture of sand and peat in equal parts is suitable for you. Place the seeds on the surface of moist soil and press them lightly. Cover the container with transparent film or a lid.

This may be interesting: Diseases of violets and their treatment

The first shoots will appear no earlier than in 2-3 weeks. The soil should not be too dry or too wet. It is better to moisten the soil after the first shoots appear in the morning - there is a risk of blackleg disease. To prevent the disease, you can spray Eustoma seedlings with a solution of foundationazole - 1 tsp. for 1 liter of warm water. When the sprouts begin to sprout, begin to accustom them to new conditions - open the film more often for ventilation, reduce watering. Spray with Zircon or Epin for rapid growth of sprouts, since in the first months Eustoma grows very slowly.

Growing Eustoma in peat tablets

Only after a couple of months, when the seedlings have grown a little, can they be transplanted into separate pots. It is necessary to replant by picking up the sprout along with a lump of earth, trying not to damage the fragile roots of the tiny bush. If the seedlings are sitting in a peat tablet, carefully remove the tablet from the shell and place it in a container with prepared soil.

Transfer

Although Lisianthus is a perennial flower, it does not tolerate transplantation; try not to disturb its root system without good reason.

How and when to grow seedlings

Eustoma - growing from seeds at home

For a plant such as eustoma, growing from seeds at home is quite possible, although it is associated with a number of difficulties (as is all care). That is why you should take into account all the factors necessary for this particular flower.

Lisianthus blooms in the summer season. Considering this, as well as the fact that it usually takes about six months from the first shoots to flowers, sowing should begin in January.

When sowing seeds in winter, keep in mind that the sprouts need a lot of light. In the cold season, daylight hours are short, so you will have to organize additional illumination with a special lamp. If we talk about growing a purely indoor crop, then sowing can begin in early March. Then you won't need a lamp.

You can plant eustoma seeds like this:

• In purchased soil. In a floriculture store you need to ask for a mixture for Saintpaulias or violets. You will have to add a little perlite to it.

• In soil made in person. The composition of suitable soil is as follows: peat, garden soil, sand in a ratio of 2-1-0.5.

• In peat tablets. The easiest way to sow seeds is in peat tablets with a diameter of 4 centimeters. First, they are placed in a container disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then add water little by little until the tablets swell. Excess water is carefully drained.

Important! If soil is selected for dilution, it must be steamed for an hour. Eustomas require sterile soil.

To propagate lisianthus using seeds, a medium-depth container (from 7 centimeters) is suitable. In the case of tablets, the container should be such that they fit entirely into it.

Eustome seeds are very small. Therefore, they are most often sold coated, that is, enclosed in a hard shell (it is also a top dressing for the first time), which is destroyed by moisture. You usually don’t need to do anything with it, but such seeds take a long time to germinate. An experienced gardener can help lisianthus germinate faster. To do this, carefully try to crush the shell of the dragee with a toothpick, spread out on the soil and well-moistened.

You can also choose untreated seeds. They should have a dark, almost black color. Their sprouts will have to be fed more often.

Eustoma seeds without pelleting

Note! Some unscrupulous sellers may advertise bulbs of other colors, claiming that they are Irish roses. But eustoma is not a bulbous crop; it can only be grown from seeds.

Step-by-step cultivation of eustoma from seeds at home looks like this:

1. Soil preparation.
2. Preparing a container for seedlings.
3. The soil is placed in a container and leveled. The seed should be placed on it without sprinkling on top. Then the seeds are sprayed with water through a spray bottle.
4. At the request of the grower, you can crush the shell of the dragee, without in any case removing it from the container.
5. In conclusion, you should definitely organize a greenhouse by covering the container with the seeds with glass or polyethylene.

Japanese roses are quite capricious, delicate plants. Eustoma requires a lot of attention both when planting and when caring for it at home. Its seedlings require strict adherence to the following points:

• Long daylight hours. Seeds need at least 12 hours of light per day. If the sun sets earlier, you should use a lamp.

• Optimal temperature. For seedlings, 20-25 °C is needed, neither higher nor lower.

• Patience. Sprouts usually appear 10-12 days after sowing (in the case of pelleted seeds with an uncrushed shell, this period increases slightly). They will be ready for transplantation only after an average of 7 weeks. During this time the sprout will grow slowly. This is because first of all it grows roots, then leaves.

• Sufficient amount of water. Seedlings should never be allowed to dry out. The soil should always be moist.

Caring for eustoma at home when planting in a pot: step-by-step instructions with photos

The right place and lighting

When growing and caring for indoor eustoma, it is important to choose the right place for it. Eustoma needs a lot of light. Window sills oriented to the south are suitable for winter, and to the west or east for summer. This way, in the hot season, the plant will be protected from burns, and on cloudy and cold days, more diffused light is required. The quality and duration of flowering will depend on compliance with these rules. Additionally, during the winter months, additional illumination with phytolamps is used (at least 15 hours a day).

How to properly care?

Lisianthus, being rather whimsical plants, require special attention. Failure to follow the recommendations for caring for these capricious garden inhabitants can negatively affect both the quality of flowering and the health of the plants.

Eustomas grown in open ground require moderate but regular watering. The frequency of watering is determined based on weather and climatic conditions. Thus, in regions with a cool climate and cool/cloudy summers, the frequency of watering can be no more than 2-3 times a month. In hot and dry southern regions, the frequency of watering can increase to 5-6 or more times a month. It is recommended to water lisianthus in the morning using settled water.

A lack of moisture in the soil is just as harmful for these plants as an excess, so under no circumstances should you fill lisianthus with water.

2 weeks after planting in open ground, it is allowed to feed the plants with nitrogen-containing fertilizer. This procedure will promote active growth of shoots, leaves and roots. During the budding period, all flower crops need fertilizing containing potassium and phosphorus. At this stage, you can use ready-made complex formulations, for example, “Kemira” or “Kemira Lux”.

Another feeding is provided at the beginning of flowering plants. With the appearance of the first flowers, it is recommended to feed the bushes again with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Experienced flower growers advise using Plantafol Budding and Kemira Lux fertilizers at this stage. These drugs stimulate the active formation of buds and contribute to a brighter color of flowers.

The main secrets of the lush and lush flowering of eustomas are regular application of fertilizers and timely removal of dried inflorescences. Observations show that these simple manipulations can not only enhance, but also significantly prolong the flowering of lisianthus. It is worth noting that not all novice gardeners know what to do with plants after flowering.

At this stage, the faded bush must be carefully dug up and transplanted, together with a lump of earth on the roots, into a separate container. Next, the shoots of the plant should be trimmed so that 2-3 internodes remain on them. In this state, the plant can be sent to a cool room for the winter, or it can be placed on the brightest windowsill in the house, stimulating the development of new shoots and flowering shoots. With sufficient lighting and timely watering, a pruned bush can quickly grow green mass and bloom again.

Eustoma seeds are collected from healthy varietal plants. Usually this procedure is carried out in the second half of September, in dry and windless weather. During the work, dried light brown or gray-brown seed pods are carefully separated from the plants, serving as a container for many very small dark seeds, visually similar to lobelia seeds.

With proper storage, a new generation of eustomes with the same varietal characteristics as the mother plants can be grown from the collected seeds.

Eustoma, grown on the site as a perennial crop, overwinters well at home. To do this, the faded plant is transplanted into a separate pot in the fall, its stems are cut to a height of 2-3 internodes from the surface of the ground.

After this, the container with the plant is placed in a cool room with a constant air temperature of +12-13°C. Water the bush as needed. In such conditions, the eustoma, which is in the dormant stage, is kept until spring.

Growing in the garden

Eustoma in open ground loves a sunny place, but intense heat and always open sun dries it out. Thanks to good natural light in the fresh air, eustoma transforms from a sprout into a beautiful tender plant. Eustoma needs shallow but fairly wide holes, approximately 40 cm in diameter.

The soil

Eustoma loves black soil and thrives in soil rich in humus and peat. The nutritional composition of the soil can be regulated by applying basic fertilizers, but after rooting the seedlings. Let's look at the features of fertilizing the soil further.

Planting in open ground

Around mid-May, when the sprouts have formed from 2 to 4 pairs of leaves, it is time to plant the eustoma in open soil. If the eustoma feels great in the flowerbed, then after a month it will not be recognizable - it will grow quickly.

It is best to plant sprouts in the evening so that there is no direct sun. Still, sunlight through a glass window and truly open sun are two different things. It is necessary to help the eustoma and at this stage carefully adapt to new conditions.

We take each plant out of the pot with a lump of earth, preserving its integrity. The planting hole must be well watered. It is necessary to plant the eustoma at the same level as it grew in the pot. Then cover with a plastic bottle (half is enough, but we focus on the height of the plant itself plus the free space above the plant to the “ceiling” of the bottle). This is necessary in order to protect the plant from overnight frost, and to preserve the moisture that they desperately need. You need to cover with bottles for about the first three weeks after planting, then the bottles are removed completely.

Care during growth and flowering

During the period of active growth, the plant requires additional nutrition. The type of feeding depends on whether it is gaining green mass or is already blooming.

In order to prevent flower diseases, specially designed products can be used.

For example, these:

• Topsin;
• Topaz.

It is also necessary to pay attention to the quality of water for irrigation. It should be settled and soft.

Tall varieties are usually planted in open ground, for which appropriate support must be provided. This point should be thought out in advance, before flowering begins.

All flowers on eustoma do not open at the same time, so it is necessary to promptly remove flowers that have already bloomed. At the same time, the decorative effect of the bush itself is maintained and the formation of new inflorescences is stimulated.

When cutting flowers for a bouquet, new flowers will appear in 1-1.5 months.

Growing eustoma in protected soil and in the garden

Eustoma can be cultivated as a perennial, biennial or annual plant.

In industrial conditions, lisianthus is grown for cutting. In this case, the agricultural technology of eustoma resembles the cultivation of remontant carnations. The plant is brought to flowering, cut, and then a new generation of flower stalks grows from the roots. At home, lisianthus flower stalks are removed after flowering, and the process of plant renewal is the same. In summer, eustoma can be grown as a garden crop, placing it in partial shade.

In protected soil conditions, eustoma prefers warm and moderately warm conditions with moist and fresh air. Therefore, it grows well in greenhouses and conservatories. At home, eustoma is usually kept in winter gardens and insulated loggias. However, it is necessary to take into account: in small, poorly ventilated rooms with dry air, lisianthus develops poorly. It withers and then, as a rule, dies.

For eustoma, western or eastern placement is preferable. Plants require bright, diffuse lighting. Lisianthus responds well to additional illumination with a combination of fluorescent lamps “Flora” and the usual domestic “LD”. At rest, eustoma tolerates a lack of light. But during the growth period, with a lack of lighting, the stems become pampered, which affects the number of buds laid, reducing the productivity of the plant. Some subsequent buds may not open and dry out.

During the period of active growth and flowering, the most optimal temperature for maintaining eustoma is 20-25 degrees. In winter, lisianthus should be kept cool (10-15 degrees).

When growing eustoma, you should not use large containers. A layer of drainage must be placed at the bottom of the pot.

The soil for lisianthus should be light, peaty, with the addition of pieces of charcoal. From purchased substrates, ready-made soil for Saintpaulias is suitable.

The most difficult and important task in caring for eustoma is to establish the correct watering regime. The substrate must be constantly moist, but waterlogging must not be allowed. Here you need to navigate by the drying of the top layer of soil. Watering the eustoma is done only from the top of the pot. During the period of active growth of lisianthus, developing plants are watered more abundantly, and in winter watering should be careful.

For good flowering, eustoma requires regular addition of nutrients. Fertilizing lisianthus with complete mineral fertilizer is carried out weekly during the growth period, but at a lower concentration than indicated in the instructions.

Growing eustoma for plant lovers in the absence of skills often causes difficulties. Especially inexperienced gardeners are not always able to get the plant through the dormant period and then get a new crop of flowers. In this case, it is necessary to have a supply of your own lisianthus seeds.

Care after flowering

After flowering, eustoma’s life processes slow down - it goes into a dormant state. At this time, reduce watering and do not introduce fertilizing. What to do next depends on whether the plant will be grown as a perennial or not.

For regions with warm climates, the plant must be prepared for winter: cut off the branches, leaving only 2 or 3 growing points. If in winter the temperature drops significantly below zero, the eustoma can be transplanted into a pot and placed on a loggia or on a closed veranda. This should be a place where the air temperature does not drop below +10°C.

Despite all the efforts and the most correct handling of the flower, it is not able, in the conditions of even the warmest regions of Russia, to become a true perennial plant. The lifespan of this plant is no more than 5 years. At the same time, fewer and fewer flowers will be formed every year.

The eustoma tolerates any transplantation very hard - it adapts slowly and weakens.

Caring for eustoma in the garden

Caring for the flower is simple. The main thing is to water and feed the plant on time. During active growth, the soil around the plant is regularly loosened and kept moist. To do this, the ground is mulched with straw, leaves or bark.

During flowering, mineral complex fertilizers with a high potassium content are applied. Tall varieties are provided with a support that will protect them from gusty winds and from the pressure created by a large number of buds and flowers. For long-term flowering, it is necessary to promptly remove dried inflorescences so that the plant does not waste energy on ripening the seeds.

What could be more beautiful than eustoma growing in the garden?

Preparing for winter

When the Irish rose fades, it is necessary to prepare for wintering. In regions with warm winters, the flower can overwinter in open ground. If winters are harsh and snowy, then the plant is dug up, transplanted into a pot and taken to a room where the air temperature does not drop below +15°C. If the temperature is too high, the leaves of the lisianthus will turn yellow, and over time the plant will dry out completely.

Low temperatures also have a detrimental effect on the flower. In winter, most plants enter a dormant period, during which time they accumulate strength for future growth and flowering. During the hibernation period, the plant requires proper care. Watering is kept to a minimum, making sure that the soil is kept moist. In spring, the awakening of the plant can be recognized by the appearance of new young leaves. As soon as the temperature stabilizes, the bush is planted in its original place and awaits the long-awaited flowering.

At the slightest frost, lisianthus dies

Features of growing eustoma as a perennial crop

Eustoma looks great both in a bouquet with other flowers and on its own

Despite the fact that eustoma is called a perennial crop, gardeners in central Russia usually grow it as an annual. The problem is that the plant is very difficult to preserve in the autumn-winter period - in its homeland (which is the south of North America), eustoma is accustomed to a mild climate, thanks to which in the wild it grows and blooms all year round and reproduces by self-sowing.

In Russia, on packages with eustoma seeds, as a rule, there is an indication: an annual or biennial type of plant can be obtained from them. Biennials (and actually perennials) are purchased by gardeners who have reliable greenhouses in which the plant will be able to survive our harsh winters. In addition, biennial eustoma is used as a houseplant, while in a flower pot on the windowsill it can feel great not for 2 years, but for 4–5 years. If the gardener plans to place flowers in open ground, he chooses the annual option.

There are a lot of eustoma varieties for home cultivation - for every taste!

Annuals are most often tall varieties, the length of their stems approaches a meter. Perennials designed for indoor growing are low-growing, 15–20 cm high. However, this division is very arbitrary: depending on the plans of the grower and for growing as annuals, dwarf flowers may be required.

Another significant difference between the two types of plants is that even a novice gardener can easily cope with annuals. But growing a two-year-old (perennial) specimen in the garden is within the power of a person with extensive experience. The flower requires special care during the growing season and proper preparation for wintering and its implementation - even minor miscalculations can lead to the death of a delicate plant.

In landscape design, planting is used both in open ground and in pots.

For a long time, Russian flower growers knew eustoma exclusively as a houseplant. Today it is grown in greenhouses, winter gardens, and flower beds. On alpine hills and in mixed borders, eustoma fits perfectly into the overall picture due to its long flowering: starting in mid-July, it continues into September. And if the weather permits, then during the first ten days of October. A single plant can bloom for 4 months, gradually opening bud after bud. If a flower is cut, it will begin to grow back from the root and in the southern regions it will even have time to bloom again, which, unfortunately, does not happen in the middle zone.

A flower bed with eustomas is prepared taking into account the flowering time of certain varieties.

Flowering times can be adjusted:

• sow the seeds in November or early December - eustoma will bloom in June (at the beginning or middle of the month);
• sow before the New Year - it will bloom in July;
• sowing in mid-January will ensure flowering in August;
• sow at the end of January or the beginning of the last month of winter - expect flowering in September.

Eustoma tolerates light autumn frosts well. However, novice gardeners often make the mistake of starting to take care of eustoma seedlings in the spring. In this case, the plant simply does not have time to bloom - even if buds form, they go under the snow.

Container planting, for which various containers are used - pots, tubs, helps to extend the life of the plant and its flowering. While it is warm, they are kept outdoors, with the onset of cold weather they are brought indoors. Flowering continues, although it becomes more modest.

An important point: experts recommend using light-colored containers so that in the summer, in the sun, the roots do not overheat - eustoma is very sensitive to this.

Container technology helps preserve the plant's rhizome during the winter so that it can later be planted, with new shoots, in a flowerbed. The disadvantage of this method is that the flowering will not be as rich as usual.

Of course, chernozem is fertile soil for most plants, but not everyone can provide such conditions

The soil for eustoma should be:

• well dug (without large lumps);
• drained, which means breathable;
• fertile (mineral fertilizers and compost are added to the soil);
• moderately moist, since waterlogging can cause root rot;

As for the composition, the most suitable options are chernozem or a mixture of peat and humus in a 1:1 ratio.

Since eustoma is a heat-loving plant, it feels more comfortable in the southern regions. In central Russia, for its full growth and flowering, temperatures are needed: 20–25°C during the daytime and 15°C at night. In winter, it is advisable to keep the container with eustoma in a room where the temperature does not drop below +10–12°C.

Planting seedlings in open ground

The young plant is planted in mid-May, when the threat of spring frosts has passed.

If the flower has produced 6-8 leaves, it means it is ready for replanting.

Before planting seedlings in open ground, you need to find a place and prepare the soil. A place for planting is suitable with light partial shade, since a flower in the open sun can get burns on the leaves. Also, do not plant in a place where water accumulates. This leads to rotting of the root system and death of the plant.

For good growth and long flowering, eustoma is planted in well-drained sandy loam or loamy soil with neutral acidity. For planting, dig a hole, lay drainage and mineral fertilizer. The young plant is removed from the pot by transshipment and placed in a prepared place. When planting, do not deepen or expose the root collar. The planted plant is thoroughly watered, and the ground is mulched with straw or freshly cut grass to retain moisture.

The distance between the holes must be at least 40 cm from each other.

Differences from annual flowers

Since a perennial can only be grown in a subtropical climate, its growth can reach 15-20 cm. An annual can grow in outdoor conditions and reaches a height of up to 1.2 m. Perennial eustoma requires a lot of gardener experience, and growing annual varieties can be done even by yourself for a beginner flower lover.

Long-term cultivation is possible only in indoor conditions.

Types and varieties of eustoma with photos and names

Despite the fact that there are approximately 60 species of lisianthus in nature, only Russell's eustoma (Eustoma Russelianus) is grown indoors, and only large-flowered eustoma (Eustoma Grandiflorum) is cultivated in open ground. Some gardeners believe that these plants belong to the same species.

All types and varieties of lisianthus can be divided according to their intended purpose. There are both low-growing lisianthus (height no more than 0.45 m) and vigorous-growing ones. At the same time, tall varieties are most often cultivated in open ground and used for cutting, while low-growing varieties are most often grown as balcony or indoor plants.

Tall garden eustoma for cutting

1. Aurora . The bush reaches a height of 0.9–1.2 m, double flowers are painted in white, pink, blue or light blue. This plant blooms 15–20 days earlier than other varieties.
2. Echo . The height of the spreading stems is up to 0.7 m, large flowers can be painted in different colors (11 color variations), and there are both two-color and monochromatic ones. Flowering early.
3. Heidi . The bush has a height of about 0.9 m, it blooms magnificently with simple flowers. There are 15 color variations of flower colors.
4. Flamenco . The height of the plant varies from 0.9 to 1.2 m; the powerful stems are decorated with simple but very large (diameter about 80 mm) flowers, which can be painted in various shades. This variety is good because it is not capricious.

Low-growing varieties of eustoma for growing in an apartment

1. Mermaid . Bushes with a height of 12 to 15 centimeters are decorated with simple flowers, reaching about 60 mm in diameter; they are colored blue, purple, white or pink. The plant is branched, so it does not need pinching.
2. Little Bell . The height of the bush is about 15 centimeters, small simple funnel-shaped flowers are painted in various colors. No pinching needed.
3. Loyalty . The height of the plant is about 20 centimeters. On the peduncle there are many simple, not very large flowers arranged in a spiral; they are painted white.
4. Florida Pink . Pink simple flowers form an even bouquet on the bush.

Types and varieties of eustoma

Why is eustoma compared to a rose?

Eustoma (lisianthus) is an ornamental plant that, thanks to its beautiful flowers, resembles a rose in many ways. Flowers are up to 8 cm in diameter. Eustoma has a straight trunk with branches, matte bluish leaves and no thorns. The height of tall varieties can reach 1.2 m.

Landscape designers use the plant to decorate the garden, and florists actively introduce it into spectacular bouquets. This is facilitated by the fact that even cut plants can retain freshness in a bouquet for a long time.

Popular varieties of perennial eustoma, grown in the middle zone, include the following varieties:

• Russella - large-flowered variety;
• Echo – grown primarily for bouquets;
• Aurora, which blooms early and has double, showy flowers;
• Mermaid - a potted version of eustoma, has a height of about 15 cm;
• Flamenco is an unpretentious tall flower;
• Little Bell variety.

Lisianthus has many varieties that differ in size and color.

Sources

• https://stroy-podskazka.ru/eustoma/opisanie/
• https://stroy-podskazka.ru/eustoma/vyrashchivanie-v-domashnih-usloviyah/
• https://pocvetam.ru/komnatnye-rasteniya/eustoma-vyrasivanie-iz-seman-v-domasnih-usloviah.html
• https://glav-dacha.ru/yeustoma-komnatnaya-vyrashhivanie-i-ukhod/
• https://glav-dacha.ru/yeustoma-mnogoletnyaya-posadka-i-ukhod/
• https://nashgazon.com/tsvety/klumby/eustoma-mnogoletnyaya-posadka-i-uhod-foto.html
• https://stroy-podskazka.ru/eustoma/mnogoletnyaya/

[collapse]