Content
Ampelous bacopa, or sutera, is a gallant perennial flower of the Plantain family, which naturally grows in the tropical and subtropical swamps of Australia, Africa, America and Asia. The plant is a low ornamental bush with a dense “cap” of foliage and inflorescences, with a wide base. The flowering of ampelous varieties of bacopa lasts in waves throughout the entire summer period: the flowers bloom and fade; the plant sheds its color and after a short lull begins to bloom again. Modern landscape designers give preference to ampelous varieties of bacopa when designing balconies, terraces, flower beds, flower beds, and mixborders.
The most common is the white color of sutera inflorescences, which the British call “snow flakes” for their abundant flowering
Description
During flowering, ampelous terry bacopa is painted in white, blue, purple, and pink shades.A species that grows in width has the following characteristics:
- superficial root system;
- thin, lodging, creeping, growing wide stems 0.7-1 m long;
- small, alternate leaves with a linear arrangement;
- leaf shape - ovate, broadly elliptical, with a serrated edge;
- leaf color - green or olive green;
- The shape of the inflorescences is bell-shaped with five petals.
An amazing feature of sutera flowers is the fact that the inflorescences close at night.
Growing from seeds: when to sow ampelous bacopa
Seeds of ampelous varieties of bacopa can be planted as seedlings. Ampelous bacopa seeds are planted for seedlings in March. The growing season of plants takes quite a long time, this explains the early sowing work. For earlier flowering of bacopa, seedlings can be sown in February, provided additional artificial lighting is provided.
When growing sutera flowers from purchased seeds, which are produced in the form of dragees with several tiny grains, you must follow the strict rule of constantly moistening the soil with the crops. If you allow even a slight drying out during the germination period, the coating shell will harden.
If the soil mixture is not sufficiently moistened when germinating seedlings from purchased sutera seeds, the sprouts will not be able to break through the hard shell of the dragee capsules
Planting and care at home
Planting bacopa flower seedlings at home does not involve any complicated manipulations. It is necessary to correctly select the container, soil composition, ensure the correct microclimate, watering, fertilizing and pruning.
Sutera grains remain viable for 2-3 years
Sowing
Sowing seeds of ampelous varieties of bacopa can be complicated by the small structure of the grains. There are no special requirements for choosing a container for seedlings. It can be a wooden or plastic container.
Seeds of the tropical bacopa crop in the form of capsules are evenly distributed over the surface of the container, slightly pressed into well-moistened soil, without covering the seeds. The suter crops are moistened with water from a sprayer, and then covered with film or glass to create a greenhouse effect.
After 2-3 weeks, the first shoots appear. As bacopa seedlings grow, the flowers are gradually accustomed to the lack of shelter so that the young shoots “learn” to live in a less humid environment.
When the first 2-3 leaves appear, bacopa is dived for the first time into large containers along with a lump of earth, so as not to injure the root system. When picking for the first time, it is necessary to maintain a distance of 2 cm between individual bacopa sprouts and use a surface planting method without deepening the roots.
When the young shoots have grown noticeably, it is necessary to move the bacopa bushes into separate pots with good drainage. This is the second picking, during which the plant is buried into the ground by 1 node.
In 1 g of seed material of bacopa flowers there can be up to 5000 grains
Light
To place a container with sowing flowers of ampelous bacopa, you should choose bright places with a sufficient amount of natural daylight. When sowing sutera flowers for seedlings at the end of winter, it is necessary to additionally illuminate the sprouts. The optimal temperature for the growth and development of tropical seedlings is + 20-23 ⁰С.
After the first picking, for the effective growth of bacopa shoots, a special temperature regime of + 23-26 ⁰C is required.
After the second picking, bacopa seedlings are gradually “accustomed” to development at lower temperatures + 15-23 ⁰C.
With sufficient lighting, the first sprouts of sutera flowers appear after 2 weeks
Priming
To sow seedlings of bacopa flowers, you should choose moisture-permeable, breathable, loose soil with a low percentage of acidity. You can prepare the soil yourself:
- humus (2 parts);
- peat (1 part);
- leaf soil (1 part);
- river sand (part 2).
Experienced gardeners note that it is more effective to sow sutera seeds in a ready-made peat substrate or peat tablets, which must be constantly and especially thoroughly moistened.
Some gardeners recommend using well-moistened compost for germinating sutera seeds.
Fertilizers
After the first picking of seedlings, the tropical crop is ready for feeding. To fertilize bacopa seedlings at this stage, it is best to choose complex mineral fertilizers.
After the second picking of seedlings into separate pots or containers for culture, fertilizing with nitrogen- or phosphorus-containing preparations is necessary.
When feeding ampel varieties of bacopa, use half the dose than for other crops
Watering and humidity
To ensure the rapid growth of seedlings, it is necessary to create greenhouse conditions with a high level of humidity for ampelous sutera crops.
Due to the fact that the plant is an aquatic, moisture-loving crop, sutera sprouts require careful but abundant watering.
It is best to water bacopa seedlings daily using a sprayer.
Trimming
Seedlings of hanging sutera varieties require simple care. In order for the flowers to bush beautifully, it is necessary to trim or pinch the shoots.Pruning is done when individual stems along their entire length reach 10 cm.
The ampelous sutera bush will be more lush and decorative if you trim the long lashes
Planting and caring for the garden
Experienced flower growers recommend planting ampelous bacopa in hanging flowerpots or pots of several bushes (2-3 plants in one container, up to 5 liters in volume). In addition to hanging structures, you can plant sutera flowers:
- in floor vases, pots, containers, boxes;
- in wicker baskets;
- near a pond or fountain;
- in the garden as a ground cover crop next to dahlias, chrysanthemums or roses;
- for decorating arches or terraces;
- to create the visual effect of “blooming vertical walls”.
With proper care, sutera flowers grow, the lashes hang down and form a decorative “cloud” of foliage with a huge number of stylish small flowers in white, pink, lilac, and blue shades
Where to plant
In landscape design, ampelous varieties of bacopa look impressive in beds, flower beds, mixborders, decorative flowerpots, containers, boxes, baskets, pots, hanging plant pots. Planting outdoors is carried out after stable warm weather has established.
Sutera flower seedlings are moved into open ground - into pre-prepared holes. The roots, together with a lump of earth, are carefully placed in a well-moistened hole, sprinkled and compacted. Water abundantly, at the root.
Clouds of bacopa flowers in hanging flowerpots look rich and stylish
Light
For tropical crops, choose places with sufficient levels of natural light. Slightly shaded areas, protected from wind and drafts, are also suitable.In the shade, hanging sutera varieties will stretch out and form less attractive, leafy shoots.
Hanging pots with sutera are not recommended to be placed in drafts
The soil
The soil for ampelous bacopa should be slightly acidic and rich in nutrients. A mandatory requirement for soil for tropical flowers is excellent water and breathability.
Ampelous sutera flowers grow and develop very well in peat soil
Fertilizers
Ampelous bacopa flowers should be fertilized after planting: in May and June. The optimal period of feeding is the growth period. Bacopa “prefers” liquid complex fertilizers for flowering plants and natural organic matter. Feeding should be done at a certain frequency: once every 1-2 weeks.
Fertilizers must be applied at the root, avoiding contact with the foliage.
Watering
Since ampelous bacopa comes from tropical swamps, it requires sufficient water for growth and development. Watering should be frequent and plentiful.
The soil around the sutera bush should not be allowed to dry out.
Trimming
At the beginning of the first flowering, when the ampelous bacopa bush is gaining strength, excessively long stems (more than 50-60 cm) should be cut off. Pruning will make the sutera bush more curly, lush, and give it an aesthetic appearance. The symmetrical, spherical bushes of ampelous bacopa look great, which is also achieved by pruning the shoots. After the “haircut”, sutera flowers react with the rapid growth of additional central shoots.
Correctly and timely pruning of ampelous sutera shoots will help create masterpieces of landscape design in the local area
Reproduction
Bacopa flowers can be propagated in two main ways:
- seeds (sowing seedlings is done in January-February);
- apical shoots (cuttings are carried out in January-April).
Photos and videos of the seed method of planting and caring for ampelous bacopa allow you to appreciate the fairly simple and understandable rules that can ensure intensive growth and magnificent flowering of an exquisite tropical plant.
For vegetative propagation, sutera cuttings (shoots up to 10 cm long with two main nodes) are rooted in moist soil. As a soil, you can choose a loose mixture based on vermiculite and sand. The cut cuttings of bacopa are planted in a well-moistened soil mixture to a depth of 5 mm. In this case, one healthy node must be immersed in the ground. Roots will develop from the underground node. Aboveground shoots will form from a ground node located above the surface of the earth.
After 2-3 weeks, cuttings of sutera flowers take root
Diseases and pests
The most popular varieties of bacopa are affected by diseases such as gray rot, mold fungi, and sooty fungi:
- Gray rot (Botrytis cinerea) appears on ampelous bacopa as brown spots on the surface of the stems and foliage, which increase in size with increased air humidity. Gradually, brown necrosis develops into a fluffy gray coating of spores and mycelium. To combat the disease, fungicidal agents and a solution of Bordeaux mixture are used.
Previously, bushes of ampelous bacopa affected by gray rot were sprayed with a soap solution
- Sooty fungus or "black" (Capnopodium) manifests itself as a black coating in the form of tiny fungal spores, which clogs pores and disrupts metabolism in plant cells.Modern fungicides or a solution of laundry soap and copper sulfate are used to treat the disease of ampelous bacopa.
To get rid of sooty fungus on the flowers of the ampelous sutera, you need to “defeat” the aphids
Some of the most common pests of bacopa flowers include aphids, spider mites and whiteflies:
- Aphid lives on bacopa flowers in huge colonies, all members of which mercilessly suck the juices from the plants and deprive them of vitality. To combat aphids, you should use industrial insecticides or folk remedies (soap, tobacco, onion, pine infusion, essential oils).
By planting aromatic plants (dill, marigolds, lavender, mint) next to the garden bed, you can prevent the appearance of aphids
- Spider mites manifest themselves by the formation of a thin, transparent cobweb on the lower part of the leaves. Due to punctures on the stems and leaves made by spider mites, the plant dries out, loses color, and gradually dies. To get rid of pests, you should spray the affected plants with a soap solution.
Most often, spider mites manifest themselves after planting bacopa in open ground, but the cause of its appearance may be contaminated soil or seed.
Growing difficulties
Since ampelous varieties of bacopa flowers are of tropical origin, many European gardeners experience some minor difficulties when growing the crop:
- the superficial root system of bacopa can be damaged if you carelessly loosen the soil around the bush;
- you cannot mulch bacopa bushes, which can lead to rotting of the stems that spread along the surface of the ground;
- there is no need to pick off faded bacopa inflorescences, since the crop sheds its faded color on its own;
- In order for the bacopa bush to remain curly and lush all summer, it is necessary to constantly prune and pinch the shoots at certain intervals;
- when the lower stems of ampelous bacopa begin to become lignified, the intensity of flowering is significantly reduced; to restore flowering, you need to cut the stems by 1/3 and feed them.
Sufficient soil moisture is considered a priority in caring for hanging varieties of bacopa flowers, since this tropical plant dies in arid and temperate climates
Medicinal use
People first discovered the medicinal properties of the Bacopa Monnieri plant or “Brahmi herb” back in the 6th century BC.
The “golden herb” of Indian medicine (bacopa monnieri) is characterized by a wide range of beneficial properties and is approved for sale as a dietary supplement (dietary supplement).
Medicinal characteristics of Bacopa monnieri:
- antioxidant;
- pain reliever;
- anticonvulsant;
- neuroprotective;
- nootropic;
- immunomodulatory effect.
The medicinal raw materials are the stems and leaves of “Brahmi Herb” from semi-annual plants. The raw materials are dried away from direct sunlight. Brahmi shoot extract, Brahmi powder (from dry leaves), Brahmi oil (a mixture of leaf decoction and base vegetable oils) are produced on an industrial scale.
In folk medicine, Bacopa Monnieri flowers are used for the following ailments:
- state of increased anxiety;
- depression;
- headache;
- nervous disorders;
- significant mental stress;
- convulsions during epileptic attacks;
- cough, tonsillitis, sinusitis, sinusitis;
- recovery after strokes, heart attacks, traumatic brain injuries;
- tumors, skin ulcers.
Bacopa Monnieri flowers are a source of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, betulic acid, and therefore effectively stabilize cerebral circulation
Photo of ampelous bacopa in the garden and interior
The delightful green foliage of ampelous bacopa flowers with small numerous inflorescences looks great in any stylistic direction of landscape design.
The plant is very impressive even as the only “inhabitant” of a flowerpot or hanging flowerpot.
Modern landscape designers have gone further: the lush foam of bacopa flowers is perfectly combined in one composition with plants such as petunia, pelargonium, nasturtium or dichondra. Each culture perfectly complements the other, which makes it possible to create stylish modern solutions for decorating the interior and garden.
Since the line of ampelous sutera varieties is distinguished by delicate pastel shades of petals, the plants are effectively combined with bright spots of other plants
Experienced gardeners recommend planting bacopa flowers around the perimeter, and petunia or other crops with brightly colored inflorescences in the center of the flowerpot.
Bacopa and petunia flowers are capable of creating magically attractive sketches from which it is impossible to take your eyes off
White bacopa flowers look stylish and harmonious with various shades of purple and blue in a textured wicker basket
Lush “clouds” of sutera flowers look especially romantic and sophisticated near artificial mini-reservoirs and fountains
Conclusion
Ampelous bacopa is a magnificent, abundantly flowering ornamental crop that is incredibly popular among modern landscape and interior designers. This versatile plant thrives indoors and in the garden.
