Eustoma - Eustoma is a plant of the gentian family . Most often, flowers of this genus are cultivated under the name lisianthus, translated from Latin - "bitter flower." The birthplace of plants is considered Central America and the Caribbean. These are unusual, magnificent flowers, very similar to roses - all shades of blue. Tall, more than half a meter, exceptionally beautiful and undeservedly forgotten plants. All colors of eustoma, except for blue, are artificially bred, and large-flowered is grown as an ornamental or potted plant. There are three species in the genus of eustoma: Eustoma grandiflorum, Eustoma russellianum, Eustoma exaltatum.
Eustoma: outdoor cultivation
Previously, the seeds of lisianthus were available only to professionals, now in the open market there is a variety of seeds for lovers. You can often see how good it is in cutting and how multi-colored eustoma blooms in pots. Landing and grooming seem incredibly difficult. In fact, it is quite possible for an amateur to grow these beautiful flowers in a summer cottage.
Eustoma: landing and care
Eustoma is cultivated both as a perennial and as an annual plant. Lysianthus is industrially grown for cutting. Agricultural technology is very similar to the cultivation of cloves, remontant: the plant is stimulated before flowering, and after cutting the next line of peduncles grows. At home, flower stalks are also removed after flowering, and the process of renewal is the same. In summer, eustoma is a very winning garden crop if placed in partial shade. In a sheltered ground for the best result, it is necessary to create lisianthus conditions of moist and fresh air. The flower grows beautifully in greenhouses and greenhouses with a western or eastern location and bright, but diffused lighting, it is grateful for lighting up with fluorescent lamps, especially during the growth period.
During the rest period, it should be kept cool - up to fifteen degrees above zero, in the active period - up to twenty-five. He will thank eustoma very well for following these recommendations. Planting and caring for it are not as complicated as they seem. The main thing is to collect seeds. Otherwise, growing eustoma is almost impossible. If lisianthus is grown in a potted version, you need to keep in mind that it should not be large dishes, and at the bottom a good layer of drainage is required. The soil is best peaty, you can add pieces of charcoal. Perfectly suitable substrate for senpolia.
Watering and feeding
This is perhaps the most difficult of what requires an amateur eustoma gardener. Planting and caring for it are mainly in the correct system of watering and feeding. The ground under the plant should be constantly moist, but without waterlogging.
The most difficult and important thing in caring for eustoma is setting the right watering regime. The substrate should be constantly moist, but at the same time it is impossible to allow waterlogging, focusing on the drying of its upper layer.
Watering the eustoma should be done only on top of the pot, and developing plants - even more abundantly. In winter, with watering, one must be most careful. For normal flowering, the eustoma also requires the introduction of nutrients into the soil: a full-fledged mineral fertilizer is applied weekly when the plant is growing. Although it is better still, it has a lower concentration than the instruction recommends.
Eustoma: reproduction
Propagated only by seeds - solely and exclusively. Lisianthus is easily pollinated, and many small seeds appear in its boxes. Their germination rate is quite high. They need to be sown superficially, on sterile soil, under glass or under a film. Temperature - no more than twenty five degrees. Shoots will appear in one and a half to two weeks and at first they will not please with rapid growth. During this period, you must observe the temperature regime: at night it should not be colder than twenty degrees, and during the day - hotter than twenty-five. Gradual adaptation to filmless growth will help seedlings gain stamina.
Pick
Six to eight weeks after the emergence of seedlings, you need to dive them directly in bunches of about five pieces at a time in small seedling pots. By that time, tiny eustomas grow to two centimeters. After a dive, you must necessarily shade the plants and lower the temperature of the content to eighteen degrees. The grown and acclimatized seedlings are transplanted by transshipment - with an earthen lump - into pots of a slightly larger size, up to ten centimeters in diameter. If lisianthus is grown as an annual plant, transplants are no longer needed. Eustoma has a very vulnerable root system, so every transplant for her is stress and the danger of death.