Eustoma - the gentle daughter of the prairies in your garden or on the window

• Type: Gentian
• Flowering Period: July, August, September
• Height: 0.15-1 m
• Color: white, purple, pink, yellow, green,
• Biennial

Eustoma (lisianthus) again aggressively attracts a lot of fans. Combining the tenderness of rose flowers, the power of lush leaves and a slightly capricious character, it is used to decorate events and make elegant bouquets. The plant can be grown at home from seeds. We will analyze the nuances of planting, care and competent cultivation of perennial beauties, evaluate photos of the most common varieties.

Lisianthus (eustoma) in nature and in design

Eustoma has many names and is also known among flower growers under the name of Lisianthus Russell, the Irish, Japanese roses, and the Texas bell. This is a representative of herbaceous plants, biennial. Now the name Eustoma is used more often, which in Greek means beautiful lips. Lisianthus (translated "bitter flower") is a name of the same genus according to the botanical classification, now obsolete. Eustoma - a native of the southern regions of the United States, the northern regions of Mexico, is found in the Caribbean. At home, the flower is called: Texas bell, tulip gentian, and sometimes just gentian.

Described back in the eighteenth century, large-flowered eustoma (Eustoma Grandiflorum) and Russell eustoma (Eustoma Russilianus), as a result of the active work of breeders, gave rise to a variety of varieties.

This botanical genus includes 3 species:

• Small eustoma, small gentian, western gentian, blue-eared eustoma (Eustoma exaltatum);
• Large-flowered eustoma (Eustoma grandiflorum);
• Lisianthus, Eustoma Russell, or Russell (Eustoma russellianum).

In the wild, eustoma reaches a height of 60 cm, its flowers in various shades of blue. Stems are powerful, elongated leaves are painted in dark green color, with an unusual bluish tint. The wild plant prefers well-lit warm places with fertile light soil. Propagated by seeds, in the usual conditions biennial.

Bred by scientists, breeders delight the eye with the colors of white, purple, yellow, red, apricot. Bicolor and fringed eustoma flowers look unusually spectacular. The appearance of lisianthus buds is unusually similar to unblown roses, and many varieties do not lose this similarity during flowering, they only look more tender. The elongated leaves, combined with widely branching stems, on which up to thirty delicate inflorescences ripen in turn, create a unique image of lisianthus, it is simply a royal look. Breeders have bred varieties with simple and double petals, giving the flowers extra splendor. The delicate charm of the plant did not go unnoticed by designers and florists; eustoma is used in the preparation of wedding bouquets, for decorating banquet rooms, and for decorating celebrations.

Photo gallery: eustoma in design

Where is better to grow a flower

You can breed eustoma both at home, on balconies, loggias, and in garden areas. You need to focus on the climatic conditions of the region. The flower feels good like a balcony decoration. When planting seedlings in open ground, the plant blooms until September, and when frost approaches, it can be transferred to a house where lisianthus will please the hosts for a long time to come.

Lisianthus annual and perennial

At home in nature, lisianthus is a biennial plant, but when grown in open ground it is used as an annual, as its delicate root system does not withstand winter cold. This is not surprising if we recall the origin of the flower - there are no frosts in its homeland. Although scientists have developed varieties that are resistant to lowering temperatures, the geography of year-round eustoma cultivation in the garden in our country is limited (in winter, air temperature should not be below +10^aboutFROM).

At home, eustoma can be cultivated for more than one year, but according to amateur gardeners, even under favorable circumstances, the plant degenerates after two years and does not give the expected flowering. Therefore, often in the form of indoor flowers, lisianthus are grown for one year and thrown away after flowering.

On sale many varieties of eustoma seeds for every taste

The seeds of this flower are almost always sold with the annual marking. If you want to extend the life of a planted plant in open ground, with the approach of frost, you need to dig it out whole and store at home. With proper care, it is likely that in the spring the eustoma will start growing and will please the flowers with another season.

Series and varieties of lisianthus: descriptions with photos

Selection work with lisianthus does not stop until now. New series are constantly appearing, within the framework of which a wide range of varieties of various types and colors is presented.

Sortoseries are divided into two large groups:

• tall - reaching heights of up to a meter and even more, planted in open ground for cutting;
• undersized - compact varieties, perfect for growing a house on the windowsill.

The difference exists not only in the size of adult plants, but also in shades of petals, plants with double and simple flowers are distinguished within each group. Most of the seed comes from the USA and Japan. So far, breeders have not managed to bring out a winding eustoma. Under the guise of weaving Lisianthus, the gardener at best will receive a weaving or park rose.

Tall

ABC F1 - a series of terry annual lisianthus. The height of the stems reaches 75-100 cm, the inflorescences are large, 5-6 cm in diameter. Varieties of the series: Blue border, Blue haze, Blue blush.

Kyoto F1 - this series presents a selection of tall (up to 90 cm) varieties with simple non-double flowers, early flowering. Representatives of this series: Wine red picot, Picot Pink, Picot Blue, Kyoto White.

Photo gallery: eustoma of ABC and Kyoto series

Photo Gallery: Outdoor Echo Series

Arena F1 - a series of lisianthus with a stem height of 80-100 cm. Terry flowers up to 7 cm in size are painted in a variety of shades, manufacturers attribute the variety to annuals. Lush red flowers are collected in luxurious inflorescences.

Photo gallery: annual plants of the Flamenco series, Arena

Japanese breeders presented the Wonderous series - tall plants (up to 70 cm), annuals, forming lush caps from simple large flowers. The most famous varieties Light Brown, Ash.

Photo Gallery: Piccolo and Vanderouz Series Eustoma

Universal (for a garden and windows) grades

Eustoma seeds with stems up to 50 cm tall are on sale. Such plants are planted both at home and on the site.

Twinkies - a series with flowers 50 cm tall, spirally arranged in simple colors. There are many varieties, the most common are Pink, Blue-violet, Yellow.

Cinderella F1 - a series of eustomas with stems up to 50 cm tall, annual, with simple flowers of various colors.

Photo gallery: series for home and garden

Low varieties - can be grown in pots

Compact varieties feel good at home. Manufacturers have developed many series with small-sized plants. Here is some of them.

Eustoma Mermeid (Little Mermaid) F1 - a series of stunted lisianthus. The height of the stems is about 15 cm, the flowers are simple 6 cm in diameter, perennial. Varieties: White, Violet, Baby Pink, Blue, Blend.

Photo Gallery: Mermaid series (The Little Mermaid)

Photo Gallery: Sapphire Flowering Series

Florida F1 - a series of compact annual lisianthus with a height of 20-25 cm, with double and simple flowers with a diameter of up to 10 cm. The most famous varieties: White, Sky Blue, Pink.

Photo Gallery: Carmen and Florida Indoor Series

Planting gentian at home for seedlings and care for it

Tall cultivars are perfect for growing on the site. During the period of active flowering, they will decorate the garden with luxurious flowers, which in cut form will stand at home for up to two weeks. Preparation for planting in open ground begins long before spring with growing seedlings.

When to sow

It will not work to plant seeds directly in the ground on a site, especially in winter - the eustoma does not tolerate temperatures below +10^aboutFROM. The period from planting to flowering takes 22-26 weeks, therefore, planting seeds for seedlings should be done in December-February.

Is it possible to propagate by cuttings or roots

Propagation by cuttings is possible only in theory, in practice they do not take root. The same happens with the division of rhizomes - the fragile roots of lisianthus painfully respond to any damage. That is why the division of the bush can lead to the death of the entire plant.

As for bulb propagation, this is in principle impossible, since lisianthus is a herbaceous plant and does not form bulbs.

If you are offered to buy lisianthus bulbs, feel free to leave. In the best case, the seller is mistaken himself, in the worst - he is trying to deceive you.

Seed cultivation

Seed propagation is perhaps the only really effective way to reproduce eustoma. Planting seed is sold in a wide assortment, although more recently it was available only to special floriculture farms. The seeds of the plant are extremely small, in one gram they contain from fifteen to twenty thousand, so they go on sale in the form of dragees. The shell are auxiliary nutrients that help in the development of the plant at the initial stage.

Due to their very small size, lisianthus seeds are sold in pelleted form.

How to cultivate the soil and plant seeds

Soil for planting you need to choose light, a commercially available mixture for senpolia is well suited. Another option is to plant seeds in peat tablets. They are convenient in that in the future you can get by transshipment into larger containers without damaging the sensitive roots of small lisianthus. How to prepare the soil yourself:

1. Mix two parts of peat with one part of garden soil and half part of sand.
2. The soil must be sterilized, so the slightest infection can quickly kill seedlings. To do this, pour the soil with boiling water with a strong (dark pink) potassium permanganate solution.
3. After the earth has cooled, seeds are planted - laid out on the surface of the soil and slightly pressed.

Sterilization is also required for containers in which seedlings are planted. Peat tablets are also treated with boiling water with potassium permanganate, after they swell to the desired size and cool, they begin to plant seeds.

Seeds are laid out on the ground and slightly pressed

Landing process:

1. Seeds are laid out on the surface of the prepared soil and lightly pressed.
2. After planting, you need to moisten the soil, it is convenient to use a spray bottle for this.
3. After drying, the nutritious composition covering the seeds hardens, which creates difficulties for the germination of weak shoots. To avoid such problems, after moistening the dragee, you can gently crush it with a toothpick, destroying the shell.
4. The landing is covered with film or glass, you can use a container with a transparent lid, and put in a well-lit place.

Planted seeds are sprayed with water

Eustoma seedling care

Eustoma seedlings are very demanding of light, you need to arrange planting on well-lit window sills. Seeds planted in winter due to short daylight hours require additional artificial lighting. You can use a phytolamp (sold in stores specializing in the sale of garden accessories), if it is not there, the usual luminescent one will do. Under artificial light, seedlings should be up to 12-15 hours a day until about the end of March.

Under the lighting, the seedlings should be at night in winter

When germinating seeds, it is necessary to ensure a favorable temperature regime. In the afternoon, the seedlings should warm up to 22-25^aboutC, at night - not lower than 18^aboutC. To moisten the germinating seeds at first will not have to be especially common, since in closed containers there will be enough evaporated moisture. If the soil dries up, it is carefully sprayed with water from a spray bottle. It is imperative to provide ventilation of the germinated seedlings by moving the lid from the container or removing the film for 5-10 minutes.

The first sprouts appear about two weeks after planting the seeds. Germination in lisianthus is considered good if 40-50% of the planted seeds are germinated. After the appearance of the first sprouts, watering should be carried out only in the morning, so that the stem and leaves have time to dry by evening. This will reduce the risk of root rot seedlings.About 5-6 days after germination, seedlings need to begin to harden. On the first day, air baths are arranged for 10 minutes, then the same amount is added every day. After reaching three hours, the shelter from the film (container cover) can be removed.

When picking, plants are placed in separate containers

After the appearance of two pairs of true leaves, at 6-8 weeks after germination, the seedlings are dived into separate pots. The sprouts in this case will be very small, but this is a normal type of plant at this age. When picking, you need to gently pick up a seedling with a toothpick along with a lump of soil and transplant the baby separately. It is not worth delaying with a pick; a rapidly growing root system is easily damaged. The soil for transplanted sprouts is taken the same as when planted. It can not be sterilized, it is enough to treat with fungicides (antifungal drugs). Suitable Fundazol diluted in water at the rate of 1 gram per 1 liter of water.

After a month, the grown seedlings need to be transferred to more voluminous dishes. At the same time, one must act carefully, trying not to damage the roots.

1. At the bottom of the tank lay out expanded clay drainage (layer thickness - 3 cm).
2. Then the soil is poured - about 4 cm (you need to focus on the size of the container and the plant itself).
3. Sprouts are taken out together with the ground, very carefully moved to a new container.
4. Pour the soil along the walls of the dishes, slightly tamping, trying not to leave the root neck exposed.
5. After transshipment, pour water.

In the future, it is important not to overfill or overdry the plants. Lysianthus should be watered when the topsoil is dried with warm water, which has settled. It is strictly forbidden to spray growing eustomas with water - this leads to diseases of the leaves and stems.

In these pots, seedlings will grow before transplanting to the garden

If seedlings grow slowly

Florists involved in the cultivation of eustomas note that in the first months lysianthus grows very slowly. This is due to the buildup of the root system, after which the aboveground part is already starting to grow. Therefore, if it seems that the seedlings have stopped and are not increasing in size - this is normal, in a couple of months, the active growth of the plant itself will begin.

For more abundant flowering, you can pinch lisianthus at the stage of the appearance of 5-6 pairs of leaves. This procedure will make the plant more bushy.

Feeding seedlings

Seedlings can be treated with Epin growth biostimulator at the rate of 4 drops per 100 ml of water. Plants are sprayed after a dive, so timing that the leaves will dry by evening. After the transplant, the plant begins to feed weekly, suitable for this Agricola for flowering plants. It is better to use the liquid form of top dressing, diluting it with water according to the instructions. Many gardeners advise slightly lower concentrations than indicated by the manufacturers.

Video: growing lisianthus from seeds at home

We transplant seedlings into the garden

It is possible to plant lysianthus on the site as soon as the night temperatures are at least 18^aboutC. The site should be well-lit, preferably not in the sun itself, with good air movement, but without strong piercing winds. The soil needs light, loose, not swampy.

1. Shallow (need to focus on the size of the eustoma) digging holes at a distance of 20-30 cm are dug in the ground.
2. Mineral fertilizer is added to the planting pits, nitrophoska is suitable. Eustoma needs a neutral soil, so in areas with high acidity you need to put some wood ash in the pits for planting.
3. The soil in the hole is mixed with fertilizer and eustoma is planted, trying not to deepen it lower than it was in the pot.
4. After planting, it is necessary to water the plant without wetting the leaves.
5. Mulch the ground around the seedling with peat.

The soil for eustoma in the garden is mulched with peat

In the future, the process of caring for lisianthus is reduced to the need for timely watering, the dried up top layer of the earth will be a guideline. Loosening is mandatory, this is necessary for good aeration of the root system. Varieties planted on the site usually reach a height of about 1 meter, so support will be needed. For this purpose, bamboo is suitable, a support with hooks for orchids will cope well with the task. The entire period of the eustoma’s stay in the garden until the autumn is to be applied weekly with complex fertilizers for flowers in a slightly lower concentration than recommended.

Flowering care

Depending on the variety and timing of planting seeds, the flowering of lisianthus begins in mid-July and lasts until September. Extremely fragile at the beginning of life, the plant develops into a powerful bush, crowned with a whole bunch of flowers. During flowering during dry weather, watering is increased, not forgetting to mulch the soil around the flowers.

However, in rainy summers, the eustoma will be extremely uncomfortable, flowers and buds can rot from getting wet, the risk of diseases with fungal infections increases. Rotting flowers and leaves must be removed, the plant for prophylaxis should be treated with Fitosporin or similar fungicides.

Blooming flowers can be cut, at home they will stand in the water for about two weeks, and at the place of cut the shoot will grow back and give new buds. The flowering of lisianthus is long and plentiful, one shoot can give up to 30 buds that open in succession.

Proper care of eustoma ensures long flowering

What to do with perennial in autumn

Eustoma blooms for a long time, until the first frost. With the approach of cold weather, there are two options:

• Cut flowers and unblown buds, they will delight their appearance for another two weeks, and dig up and dispose of the bush.
• Bring the bush home for storage.

If you want to grow a two-year plant, you need to provide wintering of the plant at home:

1. Lysianthus gently, without damaging the roots, dig out with an earthen lump.
2. Plant in a suitable pot and place at home.
3. At room temperature, the plant will bloom, after which watering must be reduced.
4. Trim the stems, leaving three internodes.
5. Determine for winter storage at a temperature of 10-15⁰ heat.

Is it possible to collect seeds myself

Plant seeds can be collected, but there is one subtlety. Mostly cultivars with the mark F1 are sold. This letter denotes the belonging of seeds to heterotic hybrids. Such a plant is either sterile or the seeds formed by them do not carry in the second generation of parental traits. That is, if you are lucky to collect the seeds and sprout them, the result can be unpleasantly surprising - something completely different from the previous generation will grow. The best way would be to buy new seeds for planting next year.

Wintering care

1. A plant prepared for wintering with cut stems should be placed in a dimly lit place at a temperature of +10^aboutFROM.
2. Watering is reduced to one or two times a month, you can completely stop, do not feed.
3. When new shoots appear on the lisianthus, it will be necessary to resume watering, raise the temperature and set in a bright place.

Gardeners, intending to grow eustoma as a two-year-old plant, use a more convenient way of transporting the plant for the winter without transfers. The flower is initially taken to the site in a pot, dripped, and with the onset of cold weather with the same pot is brought into the house. This reduces the risk of damage to the roots, the plant tolerates a dormant period more comfortably. You can’t leave a plant on a site in winter in Russia - this will definitely destroy it.

When planting in the ground immediately in a spacious pot, it is easy to dig a plant for the winter

How to care for eustoma in an apartment

For growing in the house, low-growing varieties of lisianthus are ideal. Seed producers offer a wide selection for every taste. Usually on bags with seeds you can see notes indicating the height of the plant. The compact series will fit perfectly on the windowsill and will please you with large bright colors.

Indoor cultivation

Planting seeds and the main stages of care for germinating seedlings for indoor breeding are no different from growing seedlings intended for open ground. Everything was said above. The only difference is that after transplanting the grown seedlings, it remains on the windowsill until flowering begins.

Eustoma feels comfortable in the temperature conditions of the apartment. Lighting should be bright, but without direct sunlight.

Table: Seasonal housing conditions for lisianthus

At home, lisianthus is easy to contain. The temperature in the apartment is quite suitable for the comfortable existence of a flower. A place for him is best defined on the windowsills facing west or east. Eustoma is a lover of light, but direct exposure to the burning rays of the sun can damage leaves and flowers.

You can determine when to transfer the eustoma to a larger pot by the roots, which begin to break through the drain holes of the pot. This suggests that the plant became crowded. Tanks with a volume of 2-2.5 liters will be enough for 3 plants that will develop and grow actively throughout the growing season until they enter a dormant state.

Humid air is favorable for the plant, but it is important to remember that you can not spray leaves and flowers, this can lead to rot disease. The best option would be to put a container filled with water next to the flower pot.

If lisianthus decided to leave the next year, after flowering, the stems are trimmed, leaving three internodes, watering is reduced.

Problems and their solution

With any variant of cultivation, whether it is an apartment or a garden plot, lisianthus is not immune from the danger of diseases and pests. Seedling diseases are easier to prevent because they are difficult to treat, sometimes impossible. So that the fungus does not hit the seedlings, it is necessary to sterilize the soil for planting and all the equipment.

Experienced gardeners do not mention the drawing of seedlings, but for the prevention of this scourge, it is necessary to supplement the plantings with lamps in the winter season. To protect young seedlings from lodging, you need to protect it from drafts and regularly inspect for the presence of diseases and pests.

Table: Typical Pests and Eustoma Diseases

Video: recommendations for seed selection and cultivation

Eustoma is a long-growing flower, and while quite rare, it is not always possible to find seeds in retail. Rarity can be considered a plus, guests will probably ask what kind of rose is not ordinary you grow. Another plus of the plant is a wide variety of colors, you can plant different varieties nearby and the combination is very beautiful and unusual.

Flower gardeners reviews

I grow eustoma 3 years. No more complicated than other flowers. Seyu early in late January. The care is the same as with other colors. The only drawback of this flower. which develops for a very long time. Six months pass from sowing to flowering.
This year I sowed a little, because there were a lot of other ideas, different seedlings. And last year I had a lot of eustomas. I took her home in the fall, I thought to keep it until spring. At first, nothing hibernated, but still, by the spring, everything had shrunk. Annual - there is an annual, especially in the climatic conditions of Novosibirsk. Therefore, it is better to propagate each year with seeds.

corona//frauflora.ru/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=407&sid=cfbc309b2055fcb399f3f9be9f6a58ce&start=80/

I planted eustoma a year ago. By winter, she gained color. At first it did not grow very fast, and then it accelerated. : D Planted white-pink (it grows very high and bloomed first), yellow (it is also high, but the color turned out to be close to white), purple (low compact bush). I really liked this plant. Unpretentious. It is a pity that the annual. Although in some forum I read that they were grown for 4 years in a row. Just pruning every winter.

folia//forum.bestflowers.ru/t/ehustoma-iz-semjan.26666/

My eustoma lasted 2 years. Variety for growing in pots, miniature, up to 20 cm high. Seeds were sown in February, all 5 out of 5 sprouted, grew very slowly. After the pick, it seemed that it went faster. in May, she planted everyone in pots of 1 - 2 pieces. In June, buds were picked, since July they bloomed. I’m not talking about extraordinary beauty, you have seen! I especially like the look of the buds shortly before opening, the incomparable tenderness! Blossomed until about October, giving out all new buds. Then somehow abruptly everyone stopped living. Everything happened very quickly, there was only a green “springy” bush, and suddenly everything seemed to go limp, became listless, like a rag, and that’s all. But one of the bushes did not grow into one stem, but from the root was his second smaller (5 cm tall), and he did not bloom. So when the larger faded stalk wilted, this baby felt just as good.He wintered in normal room conditions, on the North-West window, in the spring he began to grow actively and in March picked up buds, then bloomed all summer. But in autumn everything was the same as with the rest.

Natlli//forum.bestflowers.ru/t/ehustoma-iz-semjan.26666/

This summer, Mermaid dwarf large-flowered eustomas bloomed from Sakata seeds were blooming. No matter how I tried, they could not winter in the apartment, even though “houseplant” was written on the package.

darlin//frauflora.ru/viewtopic.php?t=407&start=60

It may seem that breeding eustomas is not an easy matter. The flower is called moody, requiring increased attention. This is partly true, but the effort pays off with the enchanting look of flowering plants. Remember that grafting of eustoma, curly Japanese rose or bulbous lisianthus are tricks of dishonest sellers that should be combated by ignoring such goods.