This plant with delicate flowers is popularly called “ irish rose", Its official names are 2 – Lisianthus and Eustoma.

Low-growing varieties are an excellent addition to home design, tall ones will decorate.

Growing Eustoma from seeds at home is a painstaking process, but it is worth the effort for the sake of blooming beauty.

Growing eustoma seeds

It is better to buy Lisianthus seeds in a specialized store, as they have undergone the necessary processing and pelleting.

True, they are not cheap, but in the bag itself there will be no more 3 seeds... In order for Eustoma to begin, you will have to make enough effort and tenderness.

The best option for germinating this plant at home are peat tablets with a diameter 4 cm(on 1 seed).

• The seeds are pre-soaked, then slightly break the protective shell (scratched with a toothpick) so that they germinate faster.

• While the eustoma seeds are soaked, the tablets themselves are prepared. They are placed in a plastic container and moistened until the tablets become larger in volume. Excess water will need to be drained.

• With the help of a toothpick, a small depression is made in the center of the resulting peat cup, into which the planting material is placed.

• The container is covered with a lid and placed closer to sunlight.

If Eustoma is grown for a flower bed, then the seeds are sown at the end of December (six months before planting in the ground.

To grow eustoma from seeds at home, sowing can be done in March. It should also be borne in mind that germination requires a day of light with a duration of 12 hours.

Therefore, it will be necessary to provide additional lighting with fluorescent lamps. The temperature in the room for this period is maintained on the order of 25 ° C during the day, 20 ° C at night.

Germination period of eustoma

In about a week, the first shoots will hatch in peat cups. They will grow slowly, because at this stage all the power is spent on the formation of the root system.

The sprouts will need to be given special attention, as they are very susceptible to fungal diseases.

• The growth of Lisianthus is monitored daily, trying to prevent wet drops of condensation on the sprouts. For this, the container must be constantly ventilated.

• The state of the peat tablet is also monitored - when it dries out, it begins to settle. Therefore, it is periodically necessary to add water to the bottom of the container. As soon as the cups are full, the excess liquid is drained.

• From the moment when on the seedlings of Eustoma was formed by 2 real leaves, they should be accustomed to the air of the room. For this, the period of airing the container is gradually increased.

Somewhere from the middle of March, you can refuse additional lighting, since the daylight hours have lengthened.

Transfer to pots

As soon as the roots of the seedlings begin to peep out of the peat cup, and 6 full leaves have already formed on the sprout, you can transplant the seedlings into seedling pots with a diameter of about 7 cm.

• Previously, the prepared soil is poured into the container at the bottom in a layer thick 2 cm.

• Eustoma at home is planted in a pot along with a tablet (if there is a shell, it must be removed first). By placing a glass in the center of the pot, the voids around are filled with soil mixture.

• The earth needs to be compacted, but so that the root collar is on the line of the soil surface.

• Now gently pour the earth around the tablet. If after that the soil has settled, it must be refilled.

Neutral soil is most suitable for growing Irish rose seedlings. You can prepare it yourself by mixing humus with peat ( 1:2 ) and adding washed sand ( 1/2 ).

It is also necessary to add wood ash - for 1 liter of the mixture 2 tablespoons... For Eustoma, purchased soil is also suitable, intended for growing home violets, but with the addition of ash.

Another transplant at home

In mid-March, the next transplant of seedlings is undertaken. Here, the variety of the flower and the place of its further development are already taken into account.

Tall varieties are planted in intermediate pots with a diameter 9 cm, room - directly into the pots (no more 15 cm wide), in which Eustoma will continue to grow. All other steps are identical.

• The soil mixture is preliminarily prepared. Mineral water like "Nitrofoski" ( 1 tbsp for 3 liters of mixture).

• A layer of expanded clay is poured onto the bottom of the pot for drainage, then covered with a small layer of soil mixture.

Eustoma pots are installed on the windowsill and provide the usual irrigation regime. At the same time, they make sure that the earth does not dry out, and the water in the sump does not stagnate.

You need to fertilize the plant 2 once a month using mineral supplements. When the time comes for planting individuals intended for a flower bed, they do it in a similar way, pulling out a free hole.

Despite the fact that growing Eustoma from seeds at home requires such a careful approach, the procedure itself is quite exciting, and the result can exceed all expectations.

Such an amazing plant as eustoma can decorate any bouquet or interior. Growing from seeds, when to sow and how to do it right - all this and much more about this flower is discussed later in our article.

Plant name

Perhaps not everyone has heard the name But the flower itself is most likely known to many lovers. It is possible that it is known under other names. Some call it Lisianthus, others the Texas bell. Many call it or the Irish rose. And this is not surprising. The plant itself resembles a rose, although it belongs to a completely different family (gentian).

Historical facts

The countries of Central America and the Caribbean islands are considered the homeland of eustoma. A beautiful legend is associated with the appearance of the flower, which is told by the inhabitants of those regions. It says that the flower first appeared at the place where the innocent girl was buried. She refused to marry the Spirit of War, who killed her for this.

In European countries, eustoma (its seeds in particular) appeared thanks to the botanist from Ireland, Peter Brown. The flower growers immediately fell in love with the novelty. This is due primarily to the fact that they are able to stand in a vase for more than 3 weeks. After that, in the 20th century, eustoma began to be grown as a houseplant.

What is a flower

The flower of the Irish rose can reach 5-8 cm in diameter. It has several shades: lilac, purple, pink, white. The color of the flower is not always monochromatic. Some varieties have a contrasting border. Flower petals can be double or non-double, depending on the species. The eustoma resembles a rose while it is in the bud stage. When the flower is fully open, it looks more like a poppy.

The stems of the eustoma are graceful, strong. They can reach a height of one meter. When grown in a pot, the stem is approximately 25 cm tall. A single branch can resemble a whole bouquet. This is due to the fact that the stem begins to branch approximately in the middle. One such branch can have up to 35 flowers. They do not dissolve at the same time, but in turn.

The leaves of the plant are oval, matte. They have a gray or grayish tint.

In nature, it is a biennial plant. Eustoma from seeds at home is usually grown as an annual. When planted in a pot, the flower can grow for several years.

Small secrets of proper cultivation

Consider the main biological features that eustoma possesses. Growing from seeds at home will bring the desired results if the following conditions are met:

• The plant should stand in a place with bright, diffused light. It does not like shade, but it also does not like direct sunlight. In the sun, you can keep the soil until the seeds germinate. In this case, sunlight will further stimulate growth.
• It is best to use peat humus and deciduous bark as a soil. The components are taken in equal parts.
• The acidity of the soil must be absolutely neutral. At home, the acidity of the soil can be tested using regular vinegar. A few drops are poured onto the soil. The appearance of bubbles indicates excessive acidity of the soil.
• The plant loves moderate watering. Do this only after the soil dries out 2 cm deep.

In addition, the plant has some more developmental features. For example, blooming will last longer if the flower is kept in a cool room. The root system of the Irish rose is underdeveloped. Therefore, it cannot be divided, otherwise it will lead to the death of the eustoma flower. Growing from seeds at home is the only way to reproduce. Neither grafting nor dividing the root system is suitable. And it is not recommended to transplant the flower.

The problem with growing a plant is that eustoma has very small seeds. One gram contains up to 23 thousand pieces. Lisianthus feels great on the street in the summer in central Russia. In the cold season, flower pots are transferred to the house.

More than 60 varieties of Irish roses are known. But only a few are grown at home. For indoor breeding, low-growing varieties are suitable, the height of which does not exceed 45 cm. These include Russell varieties. In the open field, you can also plant tall ones with a height of 60 to 120 cm. It can be a large-flowered Irish rose.

Homemade eustoma seeds are recommended to be selected with the F1 marking. These are hybrids that are specially grown taking into account the climate of a large territory of the country. They are not so demanding on the length of daylight hours, the ambient temperature, they are stable, they have the best germination rates. The most popular are:

• Kyoto cultivars, the flowers of which are large in size, in various shapes and colors.
• Pikot, which belongs to the velvet varieties. A distinctive feature is long stems on which large bright red inflorescences flaunt.
• Plants of the non-double variety Mermaid are characterized by a wide variety of shades of buds.
• Eustoma Sapphire is distinguished by a warm shade of flowers with a border on the petals of pink or blue.

These are the most popular varieties that take root well in the climatic conditions of our country.

Planting a plant from seed

In our country, the most popular way to grow eustoma is by seeds. This is usually done in a seedling way, even if the flower grows indoors. This method speeds up the flowering process.

The eustoma (seeds) should mature in a small capsule that appears at the end of the flowering stage. Seeds processed by the manufacturer germinate better. At the same time, they are sealed in a gel. In addition, this treatment allows the seeds to be sown evenly. For flowers to appear in mid-summer (July-August), it is necessary to start seedlings in February-March.

The seeds are sown in soil prepared in the same way as for any other flowering plant. It should be sterilized, neutral (pH 6-7), low in nitrogen. It is better to purchase a ready-made substrate in a store. You can use peat tablets. In such a situation, they must be soaked for at least a day.

Approximately 30% of the seeds grow. The rest perishes. This is considered a good result. This must be understood in order to avoid disappointment if a small number of seeds hatch.

How to sow eustoma seeds?

They crumble on the soil and press lightly. It is not necessary to fill them with soil from above. Instead, film or glass is stacked on top. But at the same time it is necessary to leave gaps in order to create air circulation.

Next, you need to provide additional lighting. It should work for about 10-12 hours. For this, fluorescent lamps are used. The temperature should be maintained at a level of plus 20 degrees. At night, the temperature can drop to plus 14 degrees.

Watering must be replaced by spraying. At first (up to 2 months), it may not be needed at all, since there will be enough evaporating moisture.

The first shoots should appear in 2 weeks. If this happened, then everything was done correctly. From this point on, the cover is removed. Seedlings are sprayed with phytosporin solution. After about a month and a half, there will be several leaves on the seedlings. This means it's time to plant them in individual pots. A container of 4-5 cm in size will be enough. After 3 months, the plant is ready for planting in the ground.

Features of growing eustoma at home

The Irish rose is a very whimsical plant that responds to the slightest growing conditions. The most important thing is that the flower does not like direct sunlight. Therefore, it must be installed in places where sunlight is scattered. The air temperature should be within plus 22 degrees.

There should also be no drafts. But at the same time, fresh clean air is the key to successful plant growth.

Watering also has its own peculiarities. The tap water used must be soft. Calcium ions in water can severely damage the already small root system of a plant. Watering should be moderate. Waterlogging (or drying out) of the soil must not be allowed.

The plant needs to be fed. This is especially important during the period of bud formation and flowering. For this purpose, it is recommended to use ready-made liquid fertilizer, which can be bought at the store.

Growing in the garden

You can plant a plant in the garden only when the frost time has passed. The place for eustoma should be protected from direct sunlight and drafts. Excessive soil moisture is also not needed.

During transplantation, the soil must not be torn off from the roots. The flower is carefully removed from the pot and placed in damp ground along with a lump. The distance between plants is about 15 cm. At first, it is recommended to cover the eustoma.

During cultivation, the plant is pruned to form a bush. This process can be started already at the moment when the trunk contains 6-8 leaves.

Rest stage

After the end of flowering, the dormant stage begins. Plants grown at home are pruned so that 2-3 internodes remain. After that, the plant is transferred to a colder room with temperatures up to 10-15 degrees. During rest, the flower needs to be watered only occasionally. With the onset of spring, new shoots should appear on the plant. After that, the eustoma is transplanted together with an earthen clod into a new pot. Care continues as usual.

Flowers grown outdoors are dug up and planted in pots.

As you can see, eustoma seeds are used to grow a beautiful flower. Photos of plants of this genus could be seen in our article. Proper care will allow you to get beautiful flowers that will become a real decoration of the garden or home.

Not everyone succeeds in growing eustoma, or lisianthus, from seeds, especially at home. Eustoma seedlings develop slowly and need constant care. In addition, eustoma seeds are quite expensive, and they usually contain only 3 to 6 pieces in a package. But if you really want to get seedlings of this amazing plant on your own, use peat tablets and pelleted seeds. With them, growing eustoma seedlings becomes available even for beginners!

Sowing dates for eustoma seedlings

Considering that it takes 5-6 months from germination to flowering of eustoma, it should be sown at the end of December - January. At this time, the daylight hours are very short, therefore, additional lighting must be used to grow seedlings. If you are going to grow eustoma for indoor conditions, then the sowing can be postponed to the beginning of March, and then you can do without backlighting.

For sowing eustoma, medium-sized, 4 cm in diameter are most suitable.Place the peat tablets in a small container washed in a pink solution of potassium permanganate, pour a little water. It is better to add it little by little, until the tablets are completely swollen, drain the excess water.

Squeeze small indentations into tablets and spread the eustoma seeds into them, one dragee in each tablet. This is most conveniently done with a damp toothpick or wooden oven skewer.

Eustoma (lat.Eustoma) also called lisianthus (lat. Lisianthus- bitter flower), or "Irish rose", or "Texas bell", or "Japanese rose", belongs to the gentian family. Translated from Latin, "eustoma" literally means "beautiful mouth", and in a more literary version - "beautifully speaking." The homeland of eustoma is considered the south of North America, Mexico, the north of South America and the Caribbean islands. American Indian legend tells that for the first time eustoma blossomed on the grave of an innocent girl who was killed by the spirit of war for refusing to become his wife. Irish physician and botanist Patrick Brown discovered eustoma for Europeans.

The plant is very popular among flower growers as a cut plant, as freshly cut eustoma can stand in a vase of water for up to three weeks. It has been cultivated as a houseplant since the nineties of the last century.

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Planting and caring for eustoma

• Landing: sowing seedlings - in late February and early March. Planting seedlings in the garden - three months after the emergence of seedlings.
• Bloom: second half of summer.
• Lighting: shadow or partial shade.
• The soil: dry, loose, light, well-drained, neutral.
• Watering: sparse but regular. The best watering method is drip.
• Top dressing: complex mineral fertilizers twice a month.
• Reproduction: seed.
• Pests: thrips, whiteflies, spider mites and slugs.
• Diseases: false gray rot, fusarium, late blight, powdery mildew, root rot, tobacco mosaic virus.

Read more about growing eustoma below.

Eustoma flower - description

The stems of the eustoma are strong, almost a meter in height, but graceful, like those of a carnation. From the middle, the stems begin to branch, so the branch is a whole bunch, which can have up to 35 buds, blooming in turn. Eustoma leaves have a grayish or bluish tint, they are lanceolate-oval, matte, as if made of wax. The calyx of the flower is funnel-shaped, large and deep. Eustoma flowers, double and non-double, 5-8 cm in diameter, in different shades - pink, purple, white, purple, solid or with a contrasting border. When the eustoma bud is half-open, it looks like a rose, when the flower opens, it resembles a terry poppy.

Eustoma is a biennial plant in nature, in the garden version it is usually grown as an annual. Perennial eustoma is possible only in a potted version. In soil, eustoma can be grown as an annual and biennial plant.

Features of growing eustoma

• eustoma prefers bright diffused light;
• the best soil for eustoma is humus from bark and peat in equal proportions;
• propagates only by seeds, since cuttings do not germinate, and a too fragile root system does not tolerate division;
• you need to water only after the substrate dries 2 cm deep;
• try not to transplant the plant: it is perennial only conditionally, and the roots of the transplant will not tolerate;
• homemade eustoma blooms best in a cool, ventilated room.

Photo: Blooming purple eustomas in the garden

Growing eustoma at home is a painstaking and time-consuming task. However, for those who master this process, it can be a very profitable business, as eustoma is becoming more and more popular both as a garden flower and as a pot culture. In this section, we will talk about how to grow eustoma from seeds, and the main difficulty of this process is that eustoma seeds are too small: there are 23,000 of them in one gram! Purchased seeds undergo special processing to increase germination, so about sixty of these seeds emerge from a hundred.

If eustoma from seeds is grown for planting in the garden, then it must be sown in February or March, then it will bloom in July-August. The substrate is needed, as for flower plants: sterilized, with a low nitrogen content, pH 6-7. After scattering the seeds, do not cover them with soil, just press lightly and cover the container with foil or glass, leaving gaps for air circulation and arranging additional illumination with fluorescent lamps for 10-12 hours a day.

The temperature for germinating seeds should be at least +20 ºC during the day and at least +14 ºC at night. Instead of watering, spray the seeds from time to time, although the first two months you are unlikely to have to do this: there will be an excess of evaporated moisture.

If all the conditions are met, the seedlings should appear no later than two weeks later, and as soon as this happened, the cover should be removed and the seedlings should be periodically sprayed with Fitosporin solution. As soon as several pairs of leaves appear at the seedlings (this will happen in about a month and a half), dive them into pots with a diameter of 4-5 cm. After three months, the plant is planted with an earthen lump in the ground.

In the photo: Blooming white eustoma

Eustoma at home

Planting eustoma

If you want to decorate an apartment with a blooming eustoma in the winter, sow from July to September. Fill a small container with wet sand and peat (1: 1) and sprinkle the seeds over it. Place the container covered with foil or glass in a warm (19-22 ºC) and bright place, spray the seeds, if necessary, and after two to three weeks you will wait for germination.

In the photo: Growing eustoma seedlings in tablets

As soon as the seedlings have the first pair of leaves, the amount of moisture is reduced, allowing the topsoil to dry out between waterings. In the future, moisturize only in the morning so that, in order to avoid black leg disease, the leaves are already dry in the evening and at night. When the sprouts have two pairs of leaves, you can dive them into separate pots and wait for flowering, which should come in January-February.

In the photo: Eustoma seedlings in pots

Eustoma care at home

Growing eustoma in pots is not easy, as it desperately needs fresh air and bright diffused light. The best way out of the situation is a western or eastern window in the room with the ability to maintain the optimum temperature for the plant 19-22 ºC with regular ventilation. In addition, caring for eustoma involves moderate watering with settled soft water as the topsoil dries out.

Try to avoid both waterlogging and drying out of the soil. It is not necessary to spray the plant, as this can lead to leaf diseases.

During the period of intensive growth and during the period of bud formation, it is necessary to feed the eustoma with liquid complex fertilizers in a consistency of 10-15 ml per 10 liters of water. And, of course, it is necessary to remove wilted flowers in time. Try to comply with these conditions, and your eustoma in 90-100 days will delight you with its flowering again.

In the photo: Growing eustoma on a windowsill

Planting and caring for eustoma in the garden

How to grow eustoma

Garden eustoma can be grown from seed by sowing it in December or January to bloom in June or July. Fifty-milliliter cups are filled with soil mixture for violets and 3-5 seeds are laid out on top, slightly pressing them into the ground, and covered with a film so that the eustoma grows like in a greenhouse. The film will have to be lifted every 10 days to remove condensation from it and allow the seedlings to breathe a little. The optimum temperature for emergence in two weeks is 20-25 ºC. For the first couple of months, the seedlings also need additional lighting, but even with all these necessary conditions, the seedlings will grow very slowly. At the end of February, seedlings are placed on a sunny windowsill.

In the photo: Growing eustoma in the ground

As a prophylaxis of diseases, spray the seedlings with a Fundazole solution at the rate of 1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water, and for faster growth - with Zircon or Epin. A month and a half after the emergence of shoots, when they already have a couple of leaves, dive the seedlings into pots of 3-5 pieces, immersing them in the ground along the lower leaves. Remember to water and put a plastic bag over each pot for a greenhouse effect.

After a week, the seedlings will double in size. At the end of February or the beginning of March, transplant the seedlings into larger pots (diameter 8 cm) together with an earthen lump using the transfer method, placing a drainage layer in the pots first. Now they will grow up, waiting for landing in the ground.

In the photo: Eustoma seedlings at home

Growing eustoma in the garden

In mid-May, when the risk of frost is over, the seedlings are planted in open ground. A place for eustoma is chosen protected from drafts, with good drainage, light, but the light should be diffused. Landing is carried out in the evening or in cloudy weather. A seedling is immersed in a well-moistened hole along with a lump of earth in which it grew in a pot.

Eustoma grows as a bush, so it should be planted at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other. After planting, cover the seedlings for the first 2-3 weeks with glass jars or cut plastic bottles, and do not water them during this time. We have already written about watering, we will clarify only once again: eustoma is harmed by both increased soil moisture and lack of moisture.

In the photo: Eustoma flowering in a flower bed

When 6-8 leaves are formed on the stem, pinch the top so that the plant branches better. Approximately a month after planting, when the seedlings are already well rooted, they need to be fed with soluble mineral fertilizers. Plantafol is suitable for this purpose. In June, spray the eustoma with Plantafol growth with an increased nitrogen content, and in July and August with Plantafol budding solution. You can use the drug Kemira, it is dissolved in water and the plants are watered at the root. Just try to use drugs in a slightly lower concentration than the manufacturers suggest.

The beginning of eustoma flowering depends on when you sow the seeds. If the sowing took place in late November or early December, then the eustoma will begin to bloom in early or mid-July - it also depends on what spring will be. If you sow the seeds in mid-January, then flowering will most likely begin in August. After the beginning of flowering, this process does not stop until the end of October: some buds fade, others bloom, and so on.

Blooming eustoma is not afraid of early frosts, and only when frost -10 ºС and snow falls, eustoma bloom can stop. If your eustoma faded early, cut off the wilted flowers, and, quite possibly, the eustoma will bloom again in six weeks.

In the photo: Eustoma flowering in a pot on a windowsill

Among the pests of eustoma, aphids, slugs, whiteflies and spider mites are dangerous. For protection against insects, Aktar, Fitoverm, Actellik or Confidor should be used. Eustoma is affected by powdery mildew, fusarium or gray rot, from which it can be protected by prophylactic spraying with Fundazol or the use of Ridomir Gold.

Eustoma after flowering

Home eustoma

In a faded pot eustoma, the stems are cut so that 2-3 internodes remain on them, and transferred to storage in a room with a temperature of + 10-15 ºC. Watering during the dormant period is rare; there is no need to feed the plant. In the spring, when you see new shoots, transplant it carefully, along with an earthen clod, into a new soil and resume watering and normal care.

Garden eustoma

You can extend the flowering period of your garden eustoma by transplanting it together with the garden soil into a pot and moving it to a balcony or windowsill. In the house, she will delight you with flowering for some time with normal care. But a dormant period occurs in all plants. After the flowers wilt and the leaves turn yellow, they do the same with the garden eustoma as with the room: cut the stem at a height of 2-3 internodes and transfer it to a cool, well-ventilated room, almost stopping watering. There she will wait for spring.

Types and varieties of eustoma

Although there are about 60 species of eustoma in nature, only varieties are grown as a pot culture. eustoma Russell (Eustoma Russelianus), and as a garden - varieties eustoma grandiflorum (Eustoma grandiflorum)... Some growers even believe that this is one and the same species, and while flower growers are figuring out who is right, we will divide the types and varieties of eustoma according to their intended purpose. Eustoma can be short (no higher than 45 cm) or high. High varieties are grown in the garden for cutting, and undersized ones - mainly as indoor or balcony ones.

Tall garden eustoma for cutting

• grade Aurora: terry eustoma, height 90-120 cm, flowers of blue, white, blue and pink flowers. Early flowering, 2-3 weeks earlier than other varieties;
• grade Echo: height 70cm, sprawling stems, large flowers, early flowering, 11 color variations, both monochromatic and bicolor;
• grade Heidi: plant height 90 cm, flowers are simple, abundant flowering, 15 color variations in culture;
• grade Flamenco: height 90-120 cm, sturdy stems, flowers are simple, but very large (up to 8 cm), the main advantage is not capricious. Many shade variations.

In the photo: Growing eustoma in the open field

Low-growing varieties of eustoma for growing in an apartment

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In this article, I would like to tell you and show you what perennial eustoma is - planting and care, photos of buds and inflorescences that simply amaze with their different shades. This delicate and at the same time luxurious flower has many names. Where does the eustoma grow? The plant belongs to the gentian family, its homeland is Central America, but it is also very widespread in South America, Mexico - wherever it is quite humid and warm at the same time. She does not like drafts and sudden temperature changes (and what flowers do they like, if you think so?).

As for the names, they are no less attractive than the flower itself - "Irish rose", "Texas bell", "tulip gentian", "prairie flower". And yet, despite the fact that this botanical name of this genus is considered rather outdated, eustoma is also called lisianthus, which in Latin means “bitter flower”. Since this representative belongs to the gentian family, it is easy to draw parallels. Moreover, the plant itself contains many bitterness, such as gentianin, genseopicrin, genciamarin and other similar derivatives.

On the Internet, on the relevant flower forums and in groups, you can often come across the following question: eustoma and lisianthus - what is the difference? The answer is predictable - there is no difference, this is the name of the same plant.

Eustoma what kind of flower? If we briefly go into the details and origin of the names, then Eustoma - from the Greek "Eu" means: "beautiful", "beautiful", and the same Greek word "Stoma" - means "mouth". As a result, we get a "beautiful mouth" or "lovely mouth" - whichever you prefer.

It is interesting that in each country this flower is called in its own way: in Ireland - the Irish rose, in Japan - Japanese, in Mexico - generally called the Texas bell, in France - the French rose of love. Be that as it may, these poetic names correspond to reality and once again demonstrate the sympathy of many nationalities for this amazing flower.

Features of the eustoma flower

It differs not only by names, but also by the colors of the buds, the shape of the flowers themselves. Representatives of a particular variety essentially resemble a rose. A person far from the world of floristry can even confuse them. Individual varieties resemble in size and shape poppies, terry mallows, some members of the lily family. Lisianthus stems are most often massive (as, for example, in carnations), it is noteworthy that one shoot can accommodate 20, or even 30 flowers (and sometimes even more!).

Eustoma - photo of flowers:

The leaves of the plant are not particularly distinguished, they are medium in size, slightly elongated with a sharp tip. But the color scheme of colors, as mentioned above, simply amazes with its multicolor. Red, blue, cream, snow-white, lilac, two-color - with a transition from one shade to another, pink, lilac, yellow - any shades can be eustoma-lisianthus! With its exquisite beauty, this flower can compete with the bride's bouquet - and it's not in vain! In addition to their visual appeal, these flowers are very durable when cut. Various celebrations, banquets are often decorated with her bouquets, decorative arches are made out. And all because they can not lose their freshness and beauty for 15 or 20 days (naturally, being in water or in a special wet floral sponge).

Irish rose differs in size, stem height. For example, depending on the variety, it can grow in the open field, in a greenhouse, in a pot on a windowsill at home (the so-called dwarf varieties). In its natural growing environment, this plant is a biennial, however, if you want to grow it in your summer cottage, count on the fact that you will have it as an annual. But potted versions of lisianthus are perennials.

Thus, perennial eustoma can exist exclusively in the home (apartment) version. The same factor applies to the length of the stems - tall representatives go to decorate bouquets and all kinds of decorations, and undersized lisianthuses delight your eyes at home, on window sills and flower shelves.

Lisianthus, by the way, is not quite capricious in cultivation and care. He does not require any special "dances with tambourines" even from a beginner-grower, both at the summer cottage and at home. Naturally, if you treat this matter with interest and care, do not forget about watering, adhere to simple rules and recommendations of experienced florists or neighbors in the country, where it successfully grows and blooms.

Some popular varieties and types of eustoma

The main differences between these colors, of course, consist in the external difference of each variety, in colors and shades, a variety of forms. On flower forums, you can most often find references to the varieties listed below. I would also like to show them here.

Eustoma large-flowered Russell (Eustoma russellianum). It has a straight stem, the bud itself is somewhat similar to a poppy (in shape), the petals can be with or without fringe. It can have completely different shades of buds.

Eustoma Russell, photo:

Lisianthus Echo is probably the most common variety for bouquets. It can reach a height of 60 cm, and the color range of the buds has approximately 11 shades, both monochromatic and with a gradient (one shade, smoothly turning into another).

Echo variety, photo:

Lisianthus Aurora (Aurora) - an early cultivar, reaching 1.5 m in height, double flowers, saturated pink, snow-white, blue shades.

Eustoma Aurora, photo:

The Flamenco variety is a highly decorative species of Lisianthus, also reaching a decent height (approximately 1.3 meters). It is very unpretentious to care for and also boasts a multicolor bud.

Flamenco variety, photo:

Florida Pink has pink flowers! At least here it is not difficult to get lost in the bright variety. This is a perennial, the shoots of which are abundantly covered with flowers.

Lisianthus Florida Pink, photo:

The variety "Mermeid" is a potted species with a stem height of up to 15 cm. It is presented in a predominantly blue-violet range (mermaid-sea associations), but sometimes pink and white representatives are also found.

Mermeid variety, photo:

The Little Bell variety may seem rather simple in appearance, especially against the background of some lush tribesmen, but this is precisely its charm and touchingness. It is also suitable for potting.

Lisianthus Little Bell, photo:

White Large-flowered (Lisianthus grandiflorum) is probably one of the most impressive varieties. This is exactly the eustoma from which wedding bouquets are made and with which they decorate the interiors of banquet halls. A very impressive and luxurious variety.

Lisianthus grandiflorum, photo:

In fact, there are about 60 varieties of this flower in nature, all of them are at the same time somewhat similar, but, at the same time, they are completely different in appearance.

The main thing is to remember all the nuances, temperature conditions, backlighting (especially in winter) - and you will succeed. For potting at home, low-growing (dwarf) varieties of Lisianthus are used. The plant will feel more comfortable on those windows that face the east or west side. Bright, slightly diffused lighting is what is needed for a room eustoma, but on the south window, especially at noon, it is better to arrange light shading. It is highly likely that on the north window the Irish rose will not be able to develop harmoniously and may wither from lack of sunlight. If you purchased a ready-made flower in a store, give it time to adapt, do not expose it immediately to direct sunlight, so that the leaves and flowers do not burn.

Make sure that when watering the water does not get on the flowers and buds, otherwise decay will not take long. In general, when watering, try to adhere to the golden mean - do not let the soil dry out, but also do not overmoisten it too abundantly. The optimal soil condition for irrigation at home is the formation of 1.5-2 cm of a dry upper layer of soil mixture in a pot. There should always be drainage in the containers for this plant; fine gravel, clean disinfected small pebbles or fine gravel can be placed on the bottom. In general, according to observations, home eustoma-lisianthus gives flowers best and feels comfortable in a slightly cool, well-ventilated room.

Remember the love of Lisianthus for light and light shade, the east or west sides of the site are the best places for its growth. Water it sparingly, but regularly, do not wet the foliage when watering, so as not to provoke the appearance of gray mold and harmful fungi. Irrigation is no longer necessary for an adult flower, and water for irrigation, ideally, should be soft or settled. When the air temperature drops, the volumes of water for irrigation should be reduced. Sometimes, after planting in the ground, some gardeners recommend covering the plants with large plastic cups or cut plastic bottles for the first couple of weeks. It is recommended for the adaptation of the flower, getting used to a new place of residence, protection from drafts and winds, as well as to retain moisture in the upper layer of the soil.

After the eustoma-lisianthus fades, it begins a dormant period, life processes slow down and the plant seems to "fall asleep", stops growing. By this time, fertilizers should be completely eliminated, watering should be minimized, in a word - to give the flower a rest. In order for the Irish rose to delight you with its splendor next year, be sure to cut off all the branches, leaving at most two or three main tillering points (branching).

Eustoma - growing, summing up

Wherever she grows up, she needs to create a comfortable environment. On the plot or at home, in the room - it should be good, then it will bloom and smell, please you with a healthy look. This plant is capable of producing peduncles throughout the entire flowering period, if the shoots are not cut at the root. But in warm regions, even such radical pruning can lead to the re-development of stems and flowers on them.

Perennial tall eustoma will decorate your site and the surrounding area, it will harmoniously combine with other flowers and shrubs, will remain fresh for a long time and will perfectly tolerate transportation in a cut form, if the situation requires it. Low-growing varieties will become a bright decoration of your home, balcony, window sill.

It must be remembered that the Irish rose is a plant that will inevitably wither away without moisture. Drying out of the soil should not be allowed in any case. Excessive waterlogging will also not lead to anything good - the plant will begin to ache, the roots may rot. Plowing the ground around the flower should be done carefully (remember the delicate roots), we naturally remove the weeds.

Reading, getting acquainted with all the nuances, it may seem that this is too troublesome business, and the lisianthus eustoma itself is a capricious and characteristic plant. In fact, this is not at all the case, any green resident we cherish and cherish requires attention and care, sometimes individual. Trees, shrubs, any plants and flowers are creatures of nature, they are alive and also need comfortable living conditions. And the beautiful eustoma is not so different in terms of avoiding her neighbors with roses, fragrant hyacinths, surfinas and other decorations of our gardens and plots. There is hardly a florist or summer resident who does not like perennial eustoma with its delicate beauty, planting and care, photos of various varieties and shades will not leave anyone indifferent!

Flowers that look like roses - eustoma