The word “eustoma” is literally translated from Latin as “beautiful mouth” or “beautifully speaking”. The magnificent flower has several more names that are used in different countries and regions: lisianthus (Lisianthus - bitter flower), Texas bell, Irish or Japanese rose.
The eustoma houseplant, a photo of which can often be seen on the covers of floriculture publications, belongs to the Gorechavkov family. It is believed that eustoma is a native of the southern regions of North America, the northern regions of South America, the islands of the Caribbean and Mexico. The American Indians have a legend that tells us that for the first time this flower bloomed on the grave of an innocent girl who fell victim to the spirit of war. The proud beauty refused to become his lover.
Irish botanist and physician Patrick Brown discovered eustoma for Europeans. It is popular among flower growers as a cut flower, since the eustoma can stand in a vase with water for up to twenty days, and as an ornamental plant for indoor cultivation. In its last form, the flower has been cultivated since the mid-twenties of the last century.
Many gardeners dream of indoor eustoma blooming in their home. Growing and caring for this plant raises many questions even for experienced flower lovers. In this article we will try to answer them. Today, there are more than sixty species of this plant, which are divided into several conventional groups.
By type of cultivation:
- tall eustomas, which are most often planted in the garden and in personal plots;
- For indoor cultivation, undersized varieties are suitable.
By the duration of the growing season:
- annual plants are suitable for lovers, as they are easier to grow;
- two-year-olds for professionals;
- perennial varieties do not exist.
By type of flower:
Plant description
Eustomas have strong stems, which in open ground can reach a meter in height. Moreover, they are very elegant, like carnations. Almost from the middle, the stems begin to branch, turning into a whole bouquet, numbering up to 35 buds, which open one by one.
The leaves of the eustoma are lanceolate-oval, matte, like wax painted in a bluish or grayish tint. The calyx is deep and large, funnel-shaped. Flowers can be double and simple (depending on the variety), painted in various shades - lilac, pink, purple, white, plain or with a bright contrasting border.
When the bud is half-opened, it looks very much like a rose, when the flower opens completely, it becomes like a magnificent terry poppy. Under natural conditions, eustoma is a two-year plant; in garden breeding, it is usually annual.
Growing Features
Many florists and gardeners are interested in the eustoma flower. How to grow it, not everyone knows, so we want to share with you some of the secrets of this plant:
- eustoma needs bright but diffused light;
- the plant needs soil consisting of equal shares of humus and peat;
- the eustoma is propagated by seeds, since the cuttings do not germinate, in addition, the very fragile root system does not tolerate division;
- watering the plant should be carried out only after the soil has dried two centimeters deep;
- do not transplant eustoma: its roots will not tolerate transplants;
- indoor eustoma, the photo of which you see below, blooms better in a well-ventilated room.
Seed cultivation
Quite a capricious plant - indoor eustoma. Growing and caring for him is a rather painstaking task that takes time. Nevertheless, those who master the difficult process, it will bring true pleasure. Indoor eustoma flowers at home grow their seeds, which it is advisable to purchase in a specialized store. The complexity of this process lies in the fact that the seeds of eustoma are very small: in one gram of them contains 23 thousand pieces. Seeds purchased in the store are processed using special technology to increase germination.
Eustoma room: growing and care
Sow seeds at home should be in the first half of December. If you do this at this time, then by the end of August your buds will bloom, from which it is impossible to look away. Disposable cups are used for planting. The substrate should be loose, with a peat component. Soil with the addition of coconut is great.
Seeds are laid out on the surface of the soil, which is pre-watered, and then sprayed. After that, the cups should be covered with a film, and transferred to a warm place (+25 ° C). Once a day, the film is removed for a few minutes for ventilation, and the earth is moistened. After one and a half to two weeks, indoor eustoma gives the first seedlings. Growing and caring from now on is complicated.
The film is removed, and a lamp is installed above the young shoots at a height of not more than 35 cm. When the seedlings reach 15 cm in height, they can be planted in constant containers. For this, a ceramic pot is suitable. At the bottom, a layer of 3-4 cm spread drainage (expanded clay). Then the tank is filled with the soil mixture, without adding it to the upper edge by three centimeters.
Care
Very beautiful is the eustoma flower covered with numerous flowers and buds. Caring for him at home is not an easy task for one reason: the plant is in dire need of diffused bright light and fresh air. This need can be satisfied by installing a pot of eustoma on the east or west window in a room in which it is possible to maintain a temperature of + 19-22 ° C, with regular ventilation.
You can not spray eustoma, as this can provoke leaf diseases. During the formation of buds and intense eustoma, they are fed with complex liquid fertilizers, at the rate of 10 ml per 10 liters of water. It is necessary to remove wilted flowers from the plant in time. Follow these simple rules, and eustoma will delight you after ninety days with repeated flowering.
Watering
Absolutely do not tolerate the overdrying of the soil, these indoor flowers. Eustoma, home care which requires regular watering, is also afraid of waterlogging, so moisten the soil only after the top layer dries. The plant is watered under the root, trying to prevent water from falling on the leaves, at a cool temperature this can cause fungal diseases.
Temperature
For growing lisianthus, the optimum temperature is considered to be daytime temperature + 20-25 ° C, and at night - no more than +15 ° C. If possible, in winter the flower is transferred to a room with a temperature of +10 ° C.
Flowering secrets
Often, beginning flower growers are interested in why indoor eustoma does not bloom well. Growing and caring for this magnificent plant has some secrets:
- a few minutes after watering, drain the water from the pan;
- so that the plant blooms more abundantly, maintain the temperature regime necessary for it and often ventilate the room;
- if pests are found on the flower, proceed with treatment immediately to prevent their spread to other plants.
Care after flowering
When the eustoma fades, its stems must be cut so that they have no more than three internodes, and the plant is transferred to a cool room (+10 ° C). During dormancy, the plant is rarely watered, and top dressing is stopped altogether. In the spring, after the appearance of new shoots, transplant the eustoma very carefully (by transshipment method) into a new nutrient ground and resume normal watering and care.
Indoor flowers eustoma (care): why does the ovary dry?
This question is of interest to many gardeners. It would seem that all the rules for caring for the plant are respected, but it discards the ovary. There are several reasons for this. Here are just a few of them.
- The plant stands in a draft. During ventilation, cold air can cause buds to fall off, as well as leaf death. At this time, the flower should be removed from the windowsill.
- For watering, too cold water is used: it should be settled, soft, room temperature.
- You can not transplant the plant during the period when it has blossomed or gained buds. Even minimal, at first glance, damage to the root system causes stress, as a result of which not only the ovary, but also the flowers fall.
- Another reason may be low humidity in the room. To increase it, gently spray the air around the plant, preventing moisture from entering the flowers and buds.
- With insufficient lighting, photosynthesis slows down in the leaves at first, which ultimately leads to bud dropping. Sometimes, it seems that they are about to bloom, but this does not happen.
- The ovary can dry even at a high temperature in the room. Eustoma blooms and long pleases with its beauty at an air temperature of +12 to +15 ° C.
- The cause of falling ovary can be pests: spider mites, whiteflies, thrips, scale insects.
Diseases and Pests
Indoor eustoma is susceptible to fungal mosquitoes, which are dangerous distributors of fungal diseases, to fusarium wilting, to powdery mildew, gray rot. In the process of growing plants, periodically carry out preventive spraying with special drugs. But if you still found pests, then do not delay the treatment. The following drugs are effective: Saprol, Topsin, Mospilan, Fitoverm, Confidor. Spraying is done 2-3 times.
As you can see, a rather whimsical plant indoor eustoma. Growing and caring for it will require some effort from the owners, but believe me, you will be rewarded with an excellent result when the eustoma blooms.