The birthplace of an unusual garden flower of lisianthus is Mexico and North America. This spectacular perennial plant belongs to the family of bitters. At home, from ancient times, it is very appreciated for its healing properties. In Mexico, lisianthus (or eustoma) is often used in all sorts of religious rituals and festivities. In our country, this culture is grown in suburban areas mainly as a decorative one.
general description
Until recently, this plant was considered not very suitable for making bouquets, and therefore was not grown industrially. The fact is that wild lisianthus has a very short stem and does not look very attractive in flower arrangements. However, since the bell corollas themselves in this plant are very beautiful, it ultimately interested biologists-breeders. As a result, many tall varieties of eustoma (up to 70 cm) were bred. Today, lisianthus is quite common, including in our country, a garden ornamental plant.
Lisianthus flowers: seedling cultivation
The eustoma plant is southern, and therefore heat-loving. Lysianthus is grown by domestic gardeners mainly from seeds, in seedlings. The best time for sowing in boxes is considered the end of February - the beginning of March. The soil for seedlings is prepared slightly acidic or neutral, fertile. Ready-made soil suitable for indoor violets is suitable for these plants. In order to make it a little more loose, you need to add a little sand to it.
How to plant?
Before filling in boxes, the soil for eustoma must be steamed. The fact is that this plant is not very resistant to various bacterial and fungal diseases. Flower seeds lisianthus (eustoma) are very small. Therefore, they are usually sold in the form of dragees. They are planted in boxes in a superficial way. Soil is preliminarily moistened a little. After the seeds are laid out on the ground, the box is covered with film or glass. Lysianthus seedlings emerge approximately 10-12 days after planting. All this time you need to make sure that the soil in the box does not dry out.
Seedling Care
Emerging seedlings of eustomas are gradually accustomed to room air, removing film or glass for an increasingly longer time. At first, lisianthus seedlings actively build up the root system. At the same time, their green mass develops very slowly. After about 6-8 weeks in young eustomas, 2-3 pairs of true leaflets appear. At this time, they are transplanted into separate pots. To delay with picking plants is not recommended. Too large seedlings during transplantation can easily damage very overgrown roots.
They usually pick in small plastic pots (6 cm in diameter). Since the roots of this plant develop very quickly, somewhere in the middle of March seedlings are handled in larger containers (up to 9 cm). Lysianthus flowers are transferred to the open ground in early June when the threat of freezing frost passes.
The seedlings are watered with eustomas for the first time exclusively using a spray gun. Overdrying young lisianthus really do not like. Therefore, soil moisture in boxes and pots should be monitored carefully. Fertilizing plants is best with a comprehensive tool designed for flower seedlings. Such feeding should be done once every two weeks, reducing the concentration indicated on the package by half.
Where to plant?
In the garden, lisianthus flowers feel best in slightly shaded, well-sheltered places. These plants like the soil fertile, neutral, drained. It is not worth planting eustomas in the lowland. In such places, they will certainly begin to develop bacterial diseases.
Very high varieties of lisianthus are often planted in the background of yard flower beds or fences. Low-growing ones look good on alpine hills, as well as in group plantings of bright annuals.
How to plant
Lysianthus flowers should be planted in open ground with an earthen lump. It is preferable to fertilize the soil in the flowerbed with an azophos or nitrophos. If the land on the site is acidic, when digging it is worth adding ash or dolomite flour.
When transferring to flower beds, in no case should you deepen the flowers of lisianthus. Planting should be done in such a way that the plants are at the same level above the surface of the flowerbed as in the pot. The distance between the bushes should be quite large. Eustoma of all varieties grows very magnificent and at the same time it does not like thickening. If it is predicted that a rainy summer is expected, it is advisable to treat the planted lisianthus with a solution of Fundazole or Fitosporin. The soil under the plants needs to be mulched with a thick layer of peat.
Top dressing in the summer
This ornamental plant consumes quite a lot of nutrients. Therefore, in order to achieve magnificent flowering, the soil under it must be fertilized periodically. Make feeding under eustoma 3-4 times per season. In this case, usually infusion of cow or horse manure or compost is usually used as fertilizer.
How to water?
Adult lisianthus flowers, like young ones, do not tolerate overdrying very well. With a lack of moisture, they can even drop buds. Therefore, eustoma should be watered quite often and plentifully. It is best to do this in the morning or in the evening, otherwise you can burn the leaves of the plant. Between watering, the soil on the flower bed should dry out a bit. Otherwise, the eustoma may develop a black leg. A day after watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil under lisianthus.
Plant diseases
Different kinds of bacterial and fungal infections, as already mentioned, very often affect lisianthus flowers. Care for them therefore should include various kinds of measures aimed at preventing the development of such diseases.
If good conditions are not created for these flowers, they can catch mycosis, fusarium, or gray rot. In order to prevent this from happening, certain rules must be followed. When watering, for example, you need to try to make sure that water does not fall on the leaves or stems of eustomas. The same goes for the infusion of manure. This top dressing contains a large amount of nitrogen, which can soften the cells of green parts of plants and make them vulnerable to infections.
If lisianthus still get sick, they should be treated several times with a solution of soap and copper or 1% boric acid.
Of the pests, eustomas are most often affected by whiteflies and spider mites. In order to rid the flowers of this scourge, they just need to be treated with infusion of garlic or tobacco.
Lisianthus: the meaning of the flower according to beliefs
As you can see, care for eustomas is a rather complicated procedure. However, in most cases it is worth it. Flowers are really extremely beautiful. At home, in Mexico, Lisianthus are treated with great respect. Varieties with white buds are considered a symbol of femininity, tenderness and love and are used to decorate wedding halls, as well as composing bouquets of brides. Lisianthus with dark colors, on the contrary, symbolize deep grief and sadness. They decorate burial places, use them in mourning bouquets.
In Russia, lisianthus is generally considered only a wedding flower. It is allowed to give these flowers also for anniversaries or birthdays. In particular, eustomas look spectacular in combination with white or red roses.