Eustoma is a plant native to Central America. By the beauty of its flowers, it is ready to argue with the roses so beloved by the gardeners. In addition, the eustoma has another advantage - it does not have thorns. About how to breed eustoma how to care for it, whether it is possible to achieve long-term flowering of plants in our latitudes, we will go further.
Reproduction and planting of eustoma
The main type of reproduction of the plant is seed, sometimes gardeners give recommendations for the reproduction of eustoma by cuttings, but in practice this method undergoes a fiasco, since the cuttings do not take root. It should also be remembered that the eustoma does not multiply by division. The root system of the flower is easily attenuated and it is damaged during division. Transplanted in this way the bush, soon dies.
At the first planting, the seeds of the eustoma can be purchased in the departments of flower and garden shops, and later the seeds can be collected independently.
Seeds are planted superficially in slightly moistened soil under a film or glass. The planting time for eustoma seeds is the end of February. If you do this later, the plant will have time to form a bush, but there will be no flowering. The temperature during germination of seeds should be 20 - 25 °.
Within 2 - 3 weeks, the seeds germinate and after reaching the stem height of 2 cm they are carefully, without disturbing the earthen lump, transplanted into seedling pots. After the seedling sprouts up to 15 cm in height, the eustoma can be sent to cultivation in the open ground. This is permissible if no more frost is expected on the ground. The optimal period is May - the beginning of June.
If the eustoma is a potty type, it is transplanted into a pot. Soil mixture with this should be with good drainage. The earth mixture for senpolia will perfectly suit the flower.
Both in the ground and in the pot the eustome is transplanted by the method of transshipment, without disturbing the earth lump at the root of the plant.
How to take care of eustoma?
Lighting and air
Eustoma is quite a capricious plant. In order for the flowers to be large and long to please the flowering the lighting should be bright, but diffused. It is best if the sun will fall on the plant from the southern, eastern or western side. The same applies to the room's eustoma.
A flower loves moist air. It is for this reason that it is often grown in greenhouses and greenhouses, and in an apartment they try to transfer to a loggia.
Watering
When growing eustoma in the garden, you should carefully monitor the soil. In periods after watering, especially if the air is moist, the land should remain moderately dry. Water the plant better with warm water.
Eustomum, regardless of the type of landing, it is necessary to constantly spray.
Additional fertilizing
For an eustoma, any fertilizer that is soluble in water is suitable. Feeding costs once every two weeks, but only during periods of active growth of the flower.
Diseases and pests
Eustoma, as a garden flower, is prone to attack by mealy mites .
During the period of growing eustoma from the seed, care includes systematic spraying of the plant with drugs against the "black leg". If this is neglected, the plant, with a high probability, will disappear.
Bloom
After the first flowering, the eustoma can continue to delight in lush and beautiful flowers, for this it is necessary to trim the faded stems.
Wintering of the eustoma
At winter, the plant from the open ground by transshipment should be transplanted into the pot and sent to a well-maintained loggia or winter garden. If the natural sunlight is not enough for the flower, you can include additional lighting, in the form of fluorescent lights. Thus, constantly transplanting the plant, it is possible to grow a multi-year eustoma.
In the usual conditions of an apartment or a house, when it is warm, dry and there is not enough movement of air flow, the plant is likely to die.