Queen of flowers, no doubt, consider the rose. But this beautiful woman with spikes has a very gentle and touching competitor - eustoma. The flower is similar to a rose to such an extent that it has “pseudonyms”: the eustoma is called either the Irish, the French, or even the Japanese rose. The second botanical name of the plant is lisianthus.
The flower comes from South America, but breeders around the world have seriously become interested in it and in a short time brought dozens of varieties and hybrids. In nature, eustoma blooms with blue, purple flowers, but thanks to the efforts of scientists, today the plant makes us happy with white, red, pink, cream, soft lilac, apricot-colored or two-tone petals. On a smooth stalk without thorns, bluish leaves glisten matte, several flowers and unopened buds flaunt on a branch at once.
The plant is appreciated by flower growers not only because it is very beautiful. The ability to keep cut freshness in Europe for a long time has put eustoma in the top ten of flowers intended for sale. It should be noted that this flower is similar to a rose and with its magnificent fragrance!
How to grow eustoma
The flower is dwarf and tall (from 25 to 80 centimeters or even higher). The plant can be grown in the garden, on the balcony and as an indoor flower. A rose-like bud will open into a magnificent terry inflorescence if the green pet receives proper care and love from its master.
If you decide to give life to this wonderful flower on your personal plot or at home, you need to get to know it better and study all its needs and “whims”. Do not believe the rumors that it is too difficult to grow a flower that looks like a rose. Eustoma is propagated by seed. Since they are very small, they are sold in the form of granules.
For seedlings you need to create special conditions. If you want to decorate the summer garden with lisianthus , the seeds must be planted in winter, because a luxurious flower will bloom only after six months. And for indoor eustomas it does not matter. When choosing seeds, you only need to pay attention to the fact that these are low-growing varieties, otherwise you will have to place a reliable support for the adult plant in the pot.
Care Features
By the way the soil is prepared for seedlings, this flower also looks like a rose. Peat with a little sand is best. Some gardeners use peat tablets. Containers with planted seeds must be covered with plastic wrap. Seeds hatch at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. When shoots appear (this will happen in about two weeks), the film should be removed and the lamps should be set to bright light so that the stems do not stretch. In spring, basking in the sun, seedlings begin to grow faster. Watering a small eustoma should be done very carefully, and while the seedlings are resting under the film, watering is not needed - the seeds have enough moisture in the condensate. An adult flower will also not require abundant watering, it is enough to protect the earthen lump, in which the eustoma has piled up, from drying out.
Special fertilizers will help protect seedlings from diseases: foundationazole, zircon or epin. The picking of growing plants is done a month and a half after they have sprouted.
A houseplant is transplanted into a permanent pot in phase 4 of real leaves. A small layer of expanded clay is poured on the bottom. At the time of the appearance of true leaves, lisianthus is planted on a flower bed. A flower loves sunlight and fresh air, so it is better to move a houseplant in the summer to a balcony or garden.
Beautiful branches of eustoma will not only decorate your home, but also ennoble any celebration, be it an anniversary or a wedding, because it is not for nothing that this flower looks like a rose!