Content
Eustoma or lisianus (Eustoma grandiflorum) is a perennial plant that fascinates with the beauty of its flowers. The culture belongs to the Gentian family and comes from Central America. The flowers of the plant are similar in appearance to roses, but their petals are more delicate and there is a kind of funnel in the center. The stem of the eustoma branches in the upper part, and buds form on each shoot. Therefore, the plant is highly decorative and represents a full-fledged bouquet. However, growing and caring for eustoma in open ground has certain features.
The perennial plant is also called Irish rose
When to plant eustoma in open ground
For a long time, gardeners knew lisianthus as a purely greenhouse and indoor plant. However, perennial eustoma can be successfully grown in open ground.
It is recommended to plant seedlings when the threat of spring return frosts has passed, since even short-term subzero temperatures are destructive for perennials. Therefore, there is no need to rush into planting in open ground. In the southern regions, eustoma can be planted in the ground already at the beginning of May, and in the central regions - only at the end of spring.
Planting eustoma in open ground in spring
For the full development of the plant in open ground, it is necessary to choose the right place on the site and prepare the soil. The development and timing of flowering directly depends on this. Therefore, it is worth studying the step-by-step cultivation of eustoma in the country to avoid serious problems.
Selecting a location
Lisianthus prefers open sunny areas, protected from cold gusts of wind. But at the same time, the plant may suffer from drying out of the root system. Therefore, experienced gardeners recommend growing eustoma in the garden on the east or west side. In this case, she will have enough sunlight, but it will not be too bright and debilitating.
When choosing a place for perennial eustoma, it is worth considering that it does not tolerate proximity to large garden crops. Lack of moisture and nutrition can be detrimental to her. Therefore, you can plant eustoma in the garden along the paths, as in the photo. In this case, the culture will be well illuminated and will be able to fully develop.
Perennial eustoma is one of the demanding plants
Soil preparation
The culture prefers well-drained nutrient soil.The best option for it is loam with a neutral acidity level.
It is recommended to prepare the site for eustoma two weeks before planting. To do this, you need to dig it up, add humus and sand to the soil at the rate of 5-8 kg per square meter. m. After this, the bed must be well leveled.
Scheme for planting eustoma in open ground
Lisianthus looks impressive in group plantings, so it is recommended to plant the perennial often. The recommended planting pattern for eustoma is 15-30 cm, depending on the growth characteristics of the variety.
The culture reacts poorly to root damage. Therefore, seedlings must be removed from technical pots carefully, without damaging the earthen ball. They need to be planted in well-watered holes, deepening to the first leaves. After planting, it is recommended to cover the seedlings with transparent caps for better adaptation.
It is necessary to plant eustoma in open ground on a warm but cloudy day.
Caring for eustoma in open ground
In order for a perennial to delight you with abundant flowering throughout the season, you need to not only plant it correctly, but also provide proper care. Therefore, it is worth studying the features of agricultural technology in more detail.
Watering
For eustoma, both excessive watering and lack of moisture are detrimental. It is worth considering that lisianthus tolerates short-term drought well. It needs to be watered when the top layer of soil dries out by 4-5 cm. Therefore, the frequency of irrigation can be 1-2 times a week, depending on the growing region.
Proper watering is especially important for the plant during the period of bud formation and flowering.At this time, it should be done more often, but in moderation. Water must be poured at the root, avoiding getting on the leaves, as this can provoke the development of rot.
Fertilizer
Eustoma responds well to fertilizing, but it is recommended to use purely mineral fertilizers. After planting the seedlings in a permanent place in open ground, it is necessary to give the plant the opportunity to adapt. During this period, it is advisable to water the eustoma with Kornevin’s solution at the rate of 5 g per 5 liters of water. Under each plant you need to pour 0.5 liters of working fluid.
After the eustoma has rooted, which usually occurs 7-10 days after planting, it is necessary to fertilize with calcium nitrate. This helps not only to strengthen the plants, but also to accelerate their growth. After two weeks, it is recommended to carry out a second feeding of the eustoma. For this, you can use the growth stimulator Energen or Zircon. In this case, it is recommended to spray the plants with the working solution.
Subsequent feeding of eustoma in open ground is recommended to be carried out every 10-14 days. It is better to use complex mineral fertilizer, like Kemira Lux. It contains all the necessary components for moderate growth of the perennial, as well as for the formation of a large number of buds and long flowering.
Trimming
Eustoma has a long flowering period. From the moment the first bud blooms until the last one withers, 6-8 weeks pass. After this, it is recommended to trim the peduncle to speed up the growth of the new one. However, this should be done when it completely turns dark brown.The plant regularly produces buds as long as the weather is warm and favorable.
After the end of the flowering period, it is recommended to shorten the stems of the plant to 3-4 pairs of leaves.
Does eustoma overwinter in open ground?
The culture is perennial, but heat-loving. Therefore, successful wintering of eustoma in open ground is impossible even with shelter. To preserve the perennial until the next season, it is recommended to replant lisianthus in containers.
Eustoma overwinters at a temperature of +15-17 °C and good lighting. During this period, the plant needs scanty watering to maintain vitality.
It is necessary to replant eustoma into pots for wintering in advance
Features of growing eustoma at a dacha in the Moscow region
In the conditions of the Moscow region, it is not always possible to wait for eustoma to bloom in open ground. This is due to the fact that it has a slow growth rate at the initial stage and the first buds open only 26-28 weeks after seed germination. Therefore, experienced gardeners recommend growing eustoma in the Moscow region using seedlings, sowing seeds in December.
In order to preserve the perennial in the future, it is recommended to plant seedlings in containers. This will allow you to move it to the winter in a timely manner, as well as hide it during periods of unfavorable rainy weather.
Methods for propagating eustoma
Propagating your favorite variety of eustoma is not such an easy task. After all, the perennial does not react well to root damage, so dividing the bush can lead to the death of not only the seedling, but also the mother plant. Eustoma also cannot be propagated by cuttings, since they do not produce roots and become rotten.
The only way to obtain young seedlings is by seed.This process is long and labor-intensive, so you should be patient. But you can also propagate eustoma in this way using independently collected seeds, which ripen at the end of the season.
Sowing should be done in December. To do this, you need to prepare wide containers with drainage holes. They need to be filled with nutritious loose substrate consisting of leaf soil, sand and peat in a ratio of 2:1:1. The seeds should be spread with a toothpick on the surface of the moistened soil and not covered with soil. After this, it is recommended to cover the container with film or glass, and then ventilate it daily for 15-30 minutes.
For successful germination of eustoma, a temperature of +23-25 ° C and a twelve-hour daylight hours are required.
The first shoots, if all conditions are met, appear after 2-3 weeks. It is necessary to pick the eustoma at the stage of 2-3 true leaves. 10 days after transplanting into separate containers, the seedlings need to be fed with calcium nitrate at the rate of 20 g per 10 liters of water. It is recommended to water the plants in doses. When the weather is favorable, the seedlings can be planted in open ground.
When growing seedlings, the plant must be pinched above 4-5 leaves.
Diseases and pests
Lisianthus is susceptible to pest damage. Perennials can be damaged by thrips, spider mites, aphids, and whiteflies. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly inspect plants and respond promptly when alarming signs appear. To protect against pests, it is recommended to spray the perennial with Fitoverm or Actellik.
This culture, if the rules of care are followed, can also suffer from diseases.The most common of them are gray and root rot, powdery mildew, and fusarium. Therefore, to prevent damage, it is recommended to periodically treat the perennial with Fundazol. This is especially true during periods of prolonged rainy weather.
Conclusion
Growing and caring for eustoma in open ground requires the gardener to follow certain rules. If you ignore the recommendations, you may not even wait for flowering throughout the season. Therefore, you need to soberly assess your strengths and capabilities in order to avoid possible disappointment.
