Every housewife dreams of seeing her garden plot blooming and fragrant. For this, a lot of effort and time is spent, a combination of different plants is selected, and flower beds are erected. But it is impossible to imagine a single flower bed without a beautiful and delicate eustoma flower. In addition to growing in open ground, this plant looks great in a flower pot on the windowsill. If the reader has never heard or seen this beautiful flower, then the editors of the Agronom.guru portal will help you understand the question of how to properly plant perennial eustoma and tell you about further care. The article will also present photos of buds and flowers that amaze with their beauty.
An ideal solution for decorating a personal plot
Types of Irish rose eustoma - brief botanical information
Perennial eustoma is a delicate and luxurious flower that came to our country from Central and South America and immediately won the hearts of many gardeners. In nature, only blue and purple flowers exist, but thanks to the efforts of breeders, varieties of various shapes and colors have been developed.
The flower is original not only for its beauty, but also for its various names. In each country, the plant has its own name: in Ireland - Irish rose, in Japan - Japanese, in France - French love rose, and in Ireland - Irish rose or Texas bluebell. Eustoma is also called lisianthus, which means “bitter flower” in Latin. The flower received its second name for a reason, since it belongs to the Gentian family and contains a large amount of gentianin, genceopecrin and genteamarin. All these poetic names are true and show the love of many countries for this amazing and unusual perennial.
Lisianthus and eustoma are the same plant
Photo of a rose-like eustoma flower in a garden and bouquet
Irish rose can be grown at home on the windowsill and in the garden. This plant looks great as a cut flower because of its beautiful flowers, which resemble half-opened silky roses. Flowers can stand in water for a long time without losing their beauty.
Photo of flowers in the garden
What eustoma looks like in bouquets, photo
Planting perennial eustoma
This type of plant can be either annual or perennial. It should be noted that growing eustoma is quite a difficult task.
Eustoma can be grown in three ways, namely: firstly, as an indoor crop, secondly, in open ground, thirdly, in greenhouses.
Growing eustoma both in a greenhouse and in a garden does not have any special differences. Most often, this plant is bred as an annual due to its instability to cold weather conditions.
Recently, dwarf hybrids have become increasingly popular.
Open ground or pot - where is it better to grow eustoma
Most gardeners wonder where it is better to grow perennial eustoma - in the garden or in the apartment? The answer is obvious that no matter where this flower grows, it will always delight its caring owner with its beautiful appearance. When grown in the garden, the plant will decorate any flower garden, will be an addition to rock gardens, and will also look beautiful in single plantings.
The most common is eustoma grandiflora.
Although eustoma is considered an annual plant when grown at home, it will, without any doubt, be one of your favorite indoor flowers, even though it must be grown from seeds every year. If you want to admire beautiful flowers on cold, short days, sow the seeds in mid-summer.
Eustoma prefers bright, diffused light
Lighting, as well as temperature, which is necessary for growing eustoma
In order for the eustoma to delight you with its flowers, it is necessary to provide it with good lighting, but despite this, direct rays should not fall on the flower itself. As for humidity, the flower is very susceptible to changes.
But despite the fact that the plant is very whimsical, it is very easy to choose the temperature for it, the main thing is that the temperature is not less than 10 degrees.
How to plant eustoma seedlings
Growing eustoma from seeds will not be difficult even for a novice gardener. You just need to know when and how to plant seeds for seedlings. Since properly grown seedlings are the key to a strong and healthy plant.
When to plant eustoma when growing from seeds
Eustoma is a slow-growing plant that, when grown from seeds, will bloom only at 25 weeks. Therefore, in order to see the long-awaited flowering, the seeds are sown in mid-December or early January. Many gardeners carry out this procedure in early November.
Since the seeds have good germination, they do not need stratification
How to sow eustoma seeds for seedlings at home: step-by-step instructions
| Photo | Action |
| In order for the plant to delight with its flowering for many years, it is necessary to approach the choice of seeds with all responsibility. You need to buy them only from trusted manufacturers and in yeasted form. |
| Before sowing, prepare nutritious, well-drained soil. For good ventilation of the seedlings, it is better to sow the seed in shallow furrows. We place the seeds in spilled soil, dig them a little deeper and install a microgreenhouse to create favorable conditions for rapid germination. |
| If you follow the sowing rules, the first seedlings will appear in 2.5 months. All this time, the plant is growing a powerful root system, which has a positive effect on the growth of an adult plant. |
| Picking is carried out at the stage of 2-3 true leaves into prepared nutrient soil. |
| We water the seedlings well and put them in a warm, sunny place. We carry out the first feeding after 5-7 days with calcium nitrate, diluted strictly according to the instructions. Next, careful care of the young plant is necessary. |
How to properly care for seedlings
In order for the plant to be strong and healthy, it is necessary to properly care for the seedlings. Maintain temperature and humidity conditions, carry out regular spraying and fertilize with complex mineral fertilizers every 10 days.
Properly grown seedlings are the key to long and beautiful flowering
Lighting, temperature and watering
After picking, seedlings require careful care:
- For good growth of eustoma, you need to create moderate warmth, daytime temperature - +20..+25°C, night temperature - not lower than +20°C.
- Eustoma is a light-loving plant. For rapid development, young seedlings need a lot of diffused light. Therefore, it is better to grow them on the western or eastern side. In winter, additional artificial lighting is installed.
- Watering is the most important stage in care. Since the plant does not tolerate both underwatering and overwatering. The soil in the pot should always be kept moist. The water should be soft, settled and not very cold. The flower will be grateful if it is watered with melt or rain water. Such water contains the necessary microelements for good growth and development. In winter, if the flower grows in an apartment, watering is reduced and the humidity is increased using a humidifier or a container of water.
- During the period of active growth, eustoma requires replenishment with mineral fertilizers in a slightly lower dosage than described in the instructions. With enough nutrients, growth will be faster, and flowering will be abundant and long-lasting.
Caring for a young plant will require a lot of effort and patience.
When and how to pick eustoma
Picking is carried out at the age of 6-8 weeks. To do this, prepare separate containers with nutritious, well-drained soil. The seedlings are carefully removed, trying not to damage the root system, and transplanted into separate containers with a diameter of 5 cm. During this period, the plant is regularly watered and fed once every 10 days.
The second picking is carried out after 30 days, when the plant gets stronger and grows green mass. You need to replant the plant to a permanent place, be it open ground or a flower pot, together with a lump of earth. The transplanted plant is watered and shaded from sunlight for 2-3 days.
You can learn how to properly dive eustoma from the video:
Picking is carried out at the age of 3 months
Eustoma perennial planting and care in open ground
It is worth noting that the soil for this plant is not suitable for everyone. The soil should be well loosened and fertilized. Eustoma does not tolerate heavy soil and waterlogging.
Before planting the Irish rose, the soil must be well fertilized by adding organic matter (humus, compost) and complex mineral fertilizers. It is important to remember to create drainage.
Eustoma begins to be planted in greenhouses in April, and in open ground no earlier than May, when the likelihood of frost is reduced to zero.
It is optimal to plant the plant on a non-sunny day or at night. When planting this crop in the ground, it is necessary to maintain an interval of at least 20 cm, while the depth of burial is as usual, preserving the soil around the root.
Planting seedlings in open ground
The young plant is planted in mid-May, when the threat of spring frosts has passed.
If the flower has produced 6-8 leaves, it means it is ready for replanting.
Before planting seedlings in open ground, you need to find a place and prepare the soil. A place for planting is suitable with light partial shade, since a flower in the open sun can get burns on the leaves. Also, do not plant in a place where water accumulates. This leads to rotting of the root system and death of the plant.
For good growth and long flowering, eustoma is planted in well-drained sandy loam or loamy soil with neutral acidity. For planting, dig a hole, lay drainage and mineral fertilizer. The young plant is removed from the pot by transshipment and placed in a prepared place. When planting, do not deepen or expose the root collar. The planted plant is thoroughly watered, and the ground is mulched with straw or freshly cut grass to retain moisture.
The distance between the holes must be at least 40 cm from each other.
Reproduction of eustoma at home
Eustoma seeds, as well as ready-made seedlings, can be bought in the store. Flower mixture is also sold. Buy a special substrate for Saintpaulias. You can prepare it yourself by mixing:
- 1/3 garden soil;
- 1/3 coarse sand;
- 1/3 humus;
- a small amount of lime.
Start work in February-March. Prepare small containers and fill them with slightly moistened soil. Make a greenhouse for the seeds from film or glass. The optimal temperature for good development of seedlings is +22...25°C during the day and approximately +20°C at night. Place the seeds on the surface of the ground, at a distance of about 15 cm from each other.
Advice. In warm regions where the soil warms up earlier, seeds can be sown directly into the soil on the site. The technology is the same.
Expect the first shoots after 1.5–2 weeks. Air them once a week. After the seedlings have a third leaf, they can be plucked. This occurs approximately 6–8 weeks after the seedlings peck. Work very carefully, as the root of a young plant can be easily damaged.
Eustoma will bloom only 90–120 days after germination. If flower shoots are cut off at the end of summer, then after about a month you can wait for re-blooming.
Caring for eustoma in the garden
Caring for the flower is simple. The main thing is to water and feed the plant on time. During active growth, the soil around the plant is regularly loosened and kept moist. To do this, the ground is mulched with straw, leaves or bark.
During flowering, mineral complex fertilizers with a high potassium content are applied. Tall varieties are provided with a support that will protect them from gusty winds and from the pressure created by a large number of buds and flowers. For long-term flowering, it is necessary to promptly remove dried inflorescences so that the plant does not waste energy on ripening the seeds.
What could be more beautiful than eustoma growing in the garden?
Preparing for winter
When the Irish rose fades, it is necessary to prepare for wintering. In regions with warm winters, the flower can overwinter in open ground. If winters are harsh and snowy, then the plant is dug up, transplanted into a pot and taken to a room where the air temperature does not drop below +15°C. If the temperature is too high, the leaves of the lisianthus will turn yellow, and over time the plant will dry out completely.
Low temperatures also have a detrimental effect on the flower. In winter, most plants enter a dormant period, during which time they accumulate strength for future growth and flowering. During the hibernation period, the plant requires proper care. Watering is kept to a minimum, making sure that the soil is kept moist. In spring, the awakening of the plant can be recognized by the appearance of new young leaves. As soon as the temperature stabilizes, the bush is planted in its original place and awaits the long-awaited flowering.
At the slightest frost, lisianthus dies
Photo of perennial eustoma
Read here Jaskolka: tips for choosing, planting and care in open ground. Step-by-step description of how to grow a plant (120 photos and videos)
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Caring for eustoma at home when planting in a pot: step-by-step instructions with photos
| Photo | Action |
| In order for the Irish rose to decorate your apartment, you can sow the seeds yourself or purchase an already mature seedling. |
| For a plant to grow and develop well, it needs bright, diffused light. On the south side it is shaded from direct sunlight. In summer, the flower is taken out into the open air, be it a loggia or a personal plot. In the autumn-winter period, additional lighting is necessary. |
| The air temperature in summer should not fall below +20°C. With the onset of autumn, the temperature decreases. If the flower is grown as a perennial, it is necessary to provide it with a dormant period in winter. The temperature at this time should not rise above +15°C and not fall below +10°C. |
| Humidity also plays an important role. When the air is dry, the plant will shed its leaves. A humidifier is installed to increase the air. Spraying is strictly prohibited, as too high humidity leads to fungal diseases. |
| Water once every 7 days as the soil dries out. The water that forms in the pan is removed immediately, as this can lead to rotting of the root system. |
| During the period of active growth and flowering, the Irish rose is fed with mineral fertilizers every 10 days. |
| If eustoma is grown as an annual, it does not need to be replanted. If it is a perennial, transplantation is carried out using the transshipment method. |
| For long-term flowering, faded stems are removed, leaving at least two pairs of leaves. New shoots will grow from these stems over time. |
| To prevent the development of fungal diseases, the plant should not be allowed to overcool. If you follow these simple rules of care, eustoma will become your favorite indoor plant, which will delight its owner with abundant and beautiful flowering. |
Diseases and pests of eustoma
With good care, eustoma is very rarely exposed to disease and attack by insect pests. But there are times when the following appear on your favorite flower:
- spider mite;
- aphid;
- scutum;
- slugs
Treating the flower with Aktara or Fitoverm will help you quickly get rid of pests. When slugs appear, it will be more effective to collect them manually to prevent them from crawling onto neighboring plants.
The most common diseases are:
- powdery mildew;
- gray and root rot;
- Fusarium
Before treating with insecticides, the bush is carefully inspected and all damaged areas are removed.
You can also fight pests and diseases using traditional methods. To do this, mix red and black pepper, powdered mustard and garlic gruel. Everything is filled with water and left to infuse for several days. The resulting solution is used to treat the plant in cloudy weather, since burning substances can cause leaf burns.
With proper care, eustoma will never know about pests or diseases
