Growing refined lisianthus in a flower bed and in a pot

The bride and groom are united by eternal marriage before the altar. The witness of this unbreakable union, in most cases, is the Lisianthus. This is a decorative rose (also called Irish or Japanese), which is used to create wedding bouquets and accessories.

Enjoy the beauty eustoma (one more name) anyone can. To do this, you need to properly plant the flower and take care of it.

The culture is unique in that it grows in the garden as a one-year exhibit, and in a pot on the windowsill becomes perennial.

Oh how cute

The first specimen bred by breeders had a purple color. Later varieties were cultivated in white, purple, pink and apricot palettes. Recently everyone was struck by a unique hybrid in green. Several types are popular among florists:

1. "ABC". Refined and delicate rose buds.
2. "Florida". Deep purple hue.
3. "Echo". Light flowers with a pink border.
4. "Mermaid". Conquer with their snow-white appearance.

Upon closer examination of the photo of lisianthus flowers, you will notice that the varieties mainly differ in color. Only some varieties surprise with their large double buds. The culture blooms for 3 summer months. They give it a gorgeous look:

• cup-shaped (bell-shaped) flowers with 4 cm petals, which remain half-open;
• long stems (from 30 to 45 cm at home or up to 70 cm in their natural habitat);
• elliptical green leaves with a silvery sheen;
• a luxurious bouquet, because up to several dozen blooms bloom on one branched branch.

Such lisianthus will be with proper cultivation and care. Low-growing varieties are used both in landscape design and in indoor interiors. Plants with tall stems are often used by florists in creating festive bouquets.

On sale there are capsules with ready-made flower substrates. It is worth knowing that each of them contains from 6 to 10 seeds.

Growing up: elementary and simple

To begin with, prepare a place in the house. Lighting should be maximum (up to 12 hours a day), and the microclimate should be warm and moderately humid. At temperatures from +18 to + 25 ° C, eustoma feels great. Deviation from these indicators slows down its growth. Growing lisianthus from seeds occurs according to the following scheme:

• the container is disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate and dried;
• fill with soil prepared in advance or arrange peat tablets on a pallet, after moistening the ground (pour water until the tablet expands in volume, then drain the rest);
• seeds are planted with a toothpick in small funnels;
• covered with a film of medium thickness or glass;
• the seedlings are sprayed and aired daily (when condensation appears, first open for a few minutes, and then increase the time);
• in 2-3 weeks the seedlings are ready for potting.

The soil substrate is obtained by mixing earth, sand, peat and perlite. Each component is taken in the same amount. Such a composition contributes to the saturation of the soil with a sufficient amount of oxygen. Acidity - 6 pH. The soil should be with a minimum content of nitrogen compounds.

It is not worth deepening the seeds too much, then they will germinate for a long time.In order not to sow them too thickly in the garden, some mix the planting material with sand or earth. The first buds will appear only after 3-4 months.

Since growing lisianthus from seed at home is a slow process, it is recommended to start sowing in November / December. For garden specimens, February / March is suitable, then they will bloom by summer, and for indoor specimens - July / September.

Dive - grow a flower big and healthy

Seedlings are planted in a flower bed when the stems grow up to 15 cm. From the moment of sowing, 3 or more months will pass. Indoor specimens are transplanted after 8 weeks (sprout height - 10 cm). For experienced flower growers, it will not be difficult to dive a plant into the ground or a pot. But for beginners, it is important to know certain subtleties of the process:

1. Prepare the pot. The container is chosen of medium size (diameter - 15 cm) with holes on the bottom.
2. Fill with soil mixture. In this case, 2 cm is left from the edge.
3. The soil in the container is moistened and loosened. Then the seedling is carefully taken out.
4. They do not shake the land ball, but delicately divide the dense bush into several copies.
5. Water the soil abundantly in a new place.
6. A hole is formed. The depth is 5 cm, and the diameter is 4 cm. Make it with a pencil.
7. The sprout is immersed in the hole. The root collar should sit 2 cm. Then sprinkle with a substrate and press lightly.
8. Finally, water the young Lisianthus.

When buying planting substrates in specialized stores, you should give preference to soil for flowering crops. It is undesirable to use the soil for vegetables in the care of indoor varieties.

Newly made specimens are placed in a shaded place in compliance with the temperature regime: + 18 ° C, but not lower. When the plant gets stronger and grows up, it is transferred to open ground. By this time, the seedling produces 8 to 10 leaves. Transplant time - late April or mid-May. During this period, the threat of frost passes. A warm and windless evening is ideal weather conditions for this. The photo shows planting and caring for lisianthus.

The distance between the plants on the garden bed is 30 cm. Fragile seedlings are covered with a cut plastic bottle. Such a "spacesuit" serves as protection from the cold and at the same time helps to retain moisture. After 21 days, the dome can be removed.

A place in the garden is chosen with diffused light and moist soil. It is important to remember that the Japanese rose is a representative of the tropical flora.

Caring hands of the florist

The following months of growing lisianthus directly depends on a well-planned routine of caring for the plant. It all starts with watering:

• use only soft water;
• moisten the soil regularly so that it is damp and not dry;
• water only the root area, not getting on the leaves.

It is necessary to increase the frequency of irrigation during the flowering period. In a new place, the culture takes on a painful appearance, therefore it does not tolerate excess moisture. Spraying is a controversial issue because the plant often suffers from fungal diseases. In winter, frequent water procedures are fraught with many dangers. So, the root begins to rot, and the stem withers.

The variety rarely needs pruning. Nevertheless, for the winter, growers cut the bush at the root. Dig it up, checking for rot, and transfer it to a pot, which is disinfected. In the spring, new shoots appear from these pods.

Lisianthus flowers are picky enough to feed. For the first time, fertilizers dissolved in water are applied, a week after the transfer of the crop to an open area. Complex minerals (potash and phosphoric) treat the soil during flowering. The frequency of the procedure is 4 or 2 times a month. The concentration of the solution is made slightly less than indicated on the package.

The name of the plant comes from two ancient Greek words: "blossoming" and "flower".The Latin interpretation uses a different adjective meaning "bitter," as the Irish rose contains a lot of bitterness.

Although lisianthus is considered a perennial plant, it still weakens and withers over the years. Experienced gardeners recommend using the culture for 2 years and then planting new samples. In the garden, you can create a real fairy tale from such a variety of bright colors and sophisticated eustoma flowers.