Eustoma, the cultivation and care of which are quite simple, is an annual plant. Its scientific name is lisianthus. In the wild, it is most often found on the shores of fresh water bodies.
In form, the flower is somewhat similar to a rose; it stands out against the background of others with its purple or blue color. It grows well not only in open areas, but also in pots. Up to twenty large flowers usually appear on each of the plants, which do not bloom simultaneously. It should be noted that if for a flower such as eustoma, cultivation and care are carried out at home, you can also get white and pink colors. Among other things, now there are cultivars whose petals have a two-tone color.
When answering the question of how to grow eustoma, it should first be emphasized that its reproduction is carried out using seeds. When choosing them, it is recommended to give preference to the granular form, because by themselves they are very small. In mid-March, seeds are placed in small pots, directly on top of sterilized soil. Water is only poured onto the pan. After this, the pots need to be covered with a transparent film, under which to create a constant temperature of about 25 degrees during the day and 18 degrees at night. In this case, approximately in two weeks the first shoots of such a flower as an eustoma will appear.
Cultivation and care at this time should be especially careful, as small sprouts can die under prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
As soon as the plant has 4-6 leaves, it should be picked, and after another ten days - fed with liquid fertilizers with trace elements. After the threat of frost passes , you can begin to land in open ground. It should be noted that for an eustoma flower, cultivation and care can begin immediately from an open space. In this case, the seeds sow at a distance of about 20 cm from one another, and their development depends solely on temperature conditions.
As mentioned earlier, the plant prefers well-lit places. In extreme heat, he is encouraged to create a shadow. Eustoma can calmly stand on the balcony throughout the summer, but in autumn it should be moved back to the apartment. When creating favorable conditions with a wintering bush there will not be any problems, however, in the spring it must be divided into two or more parts. As for the soil, light nutrient soils with normal acidity are best suited for the plant. When growing at home, it should be remembered that normal drainage must be created in the pot, because otherwise lisianthus may die.
The eustoma flower, the photo of which you can see above, in vivo grows in areas that are characterized by a high level of humidity. Despite this, it should be watered at home very carefully: use only warm water and prevent excessive soil moisture. Among other things, it is advisable to allow the soil to dry out a little between waterings.