The name "mimulus" has the Latin root "mimo", which means "little mime" or "monkey." The corolla of this bright flower is very similar in shape to the muzzle of a monkey or a tiny toy. For those who like the smell and flowering of mimus, growing from seeds will seem like a fun game. Observing a few rules, it is easy to grow motley "bastards" in your garden or on the window.
In total, the ancient genus Mimulus includes more than 110 species belonging to annual and perennial species. Popular varieties in central Russia are various hybrid mixes. Mimulus grows well, the seeds of which were collected in the same climatic zone where the final plant is grown. For example, varieties "Viva" or "Calypso". Very beautiful combinations are obtained from hybrids of tiger and speckled colors, however, yellow and cream-white flowers are also in fashion.
Mimulus - growing on the window without problems
Every housewife wants to have a bright and fragrant window sill, laden with various colors. To get a beautiful and strong mimulus, growing from seeds you need to start with choosing a pot. If in the garden, speckled "gubat" most often occupies an independent flowerbed, then at home these plants perfectly complement ampelous compositions or flower vases.
The soil in the flower garden and at home is the same - as rich in humus as possible, moist and quite loose. A suitable mixture can be made independently of three parts of humus, two parts of leafy soil and one part of turf, peat and sand. It is important to remember about quality drainage: store expanded clay or an ordinary clay fragment from a pot or cup.
The place for the plant is chosen in moist chiaroscuro or near an artificial reservoir. This arrangement is explained by the increased need for mimulus in plentiful watering and regular feeding. Fertilizers are applied at least, but not more often than once every two weeks. All dying leaves and flowers must be removed from the pot.
Mimulus - seed cultivation
- Since the mimulus has tiny dusty seeds, the number of which amounts to 7 thousand pieces per 1 gram, it is impossible to avoid the picking stage. Plants are sown in greenhouses or boxes, covered with glass, in late March or early April. The lid is lifted, it is necessary to ventilate the seedlings and moisten the soil.
- If the temperature does not fall below 15 about - in two weeks the first sprouts appear. You can’t water them, only moisten them easily from the spray gun so as not to damage the weak young stems. When two or three true leaves appear, they make a pick.
- A wonderful mimulus, growing from seeds of which turned out to be a simple process, blooms in late May. Around the same time, the plant is transplanted to a permanent place in the garden or balcony container. That is, a blooming mimus can be obtained in just two calendar months.
- During transplantation to the main site, the mimulus is slightly nipped to stimulate branching and the appearance of more flowers. If a perennial plant variety is used, then you can resort to propagation by cuttings.