Balsam New Guinea

Common growing questions

How to achieve year-round flowering?
New Guinea hybrids are capable of blooming all year round, provided that all growing recommendations are strictly followed.

How to choose the right soil and pot?
The plant is not picky about the choice of soil, therefore, it is permissible for it to use a universal soil with the addition of a baking powder. The balsam pot should be cramped, but roots cannot be allowed to grow through the drainage holes.

Is balsam pruning and pinching necessary?
Mature plants need to be pinched. This is especially true for highly branching hybrids.

Can the plant grow outdoors?
The flower can be planted in garden plots, subject to a certain temperature regime. The temperature difference between day and night should not exceed 5 ° C.

New Guinea hybrids are very popular among flower growers. Such excitement is due to the great attractiveness of plants and their unpretentiousness.

Caring for New Guinea Balsam at Home

Growing balsam at home will not be a hassle. Often, difficulties arise for inexperienced florists who do not know or neglect the recommendations of specialists.

Can you keep balsam at home?

Several folk signs and superstitions are associated with the content of balsam at home. The most common of them says that Vanka Wet in the house means her husband's drunkenness. Perhaps such a sign arose due to the property of the plant to release drops of juice on the stems.

Another popular wisdom contradicts the previous statement. According to her, it is possible to keep a flower at home, and growing a flower brings male happiness to the owner of the house. His financial affairs are going well, he is building prosperous relations with his family.

Another sign identifies balsam with a source of home comfort. A house with a flower will become much more comfortable and hospitable. The plant emits positive energy aimed at harmonizing family relationships. If the household begins to quarrel, the balsam will wither away. As soon as mutual understanding reigns in the family, the plant will grow.

Lighting

Balsam is considered a light-loving plant. It is recommended to place it on the windowsills of the western or eastern direction. It is there that the flower receives enough bright diffused light.

The location on the south side can be problematic. Under the influence of the direct rays of the midday sun, the flower can get burned.

Therefore, if he is destined to live in the southern room, the pot should be shaded at least with a curtain, and it is better to put it in the immediate vicinity of the window.

The north side is not suitable for growing balsam. To provide him with the proper amount of light, you will have to direct the phytolamp flower to the flower. Without them, the plant will stretch, losing its decorative effect.

Temperature and humidity

Balsam is quite thermophilic. He is comfortable in the temperature range from 18 ° C to 24 ° C. Some growers advise taking the pot outside. Fresh air is really useful for the plant, but before taking it out to the garden area, you should take into account the weather conditions.

Since the flower does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature, it can be taken out only when the difference between day and night temperatures does not exceed 5 ° C.

For the same reason, the flower pot is not recommended to be placed in a place blown by a draft or under a working air conditioner.

The optimal moisture level for growing balsam is considered to be 40-60%. This is not a high standard for a living space. It is necessary to increase the humidity only during the heat and the operation of heating devices. In summer, the flower is sprayed with soft water. And in winter it can be placed on a tray with wet pebbles.

Watering and feeding

It is recommended to water the flower through the pallet. In summer, the soil is moistened daily, in winter watering is reduced to 1 time per week. Excess water must be drained. Stagnation of moisture in the pan provokes the development of rot.

For irrigation, use soft water at room temperature. It is advisable to use rainwater. If this is not possible, the domestic water should be pre-filtered.

Note! During the period of active growth, the flower is fertilized every 2 weeks. Mineral complexes for ornamental flowering plants are used as fertilizers.

The root system of balsam is very susceptible, therefore experts advise to reduce the dosage recommended by the instruction by half.

When choosing a fertilizer, you should pay special attention to the composition. The plant is suitable for complexes with a high concentration of potassium and a low content of nitrogen.

Sowing balsam for seedlings

Typically, Waller's balsam is grown for summer flowering in the garden, sowing seeds in March-April. However, in the presence of illumination and, most importantly, a great desire to decorate your windowsill with a bright flower, without waiting for spring, you can start sowing the seeds of the "fire" even in the middle of winter.

Most modern hybrids begin to bloom 3 months (90-100 days) after germination. Thus, if you decide to sow a "light" in December-January, you can get flowering balsam bushes by March 8. But first, of course, you need to decide on the variety.

Whenever you start growing balsam from seeds - at the beginning of winter or traditionally in the middle of spring - it is important to take into account some of the characteristics of this plant. In particular, if stored improperly, balsam seeds quickly lose their germination.

Balsam shoots appear faster in the light. Nevertheless, it is recommended to place the seeds not superficially, but slightly deepen, so as not to get seedlings "in caps" (with a seed coat that prevents the cotyledons from opening).

Individual balsam seedlings initially lag significantly behind the main mass, have gnarled cotyledons and small true leaves, so it is better to immediately remove defective specimens, because in the future, they will never develop into quality plants.

Balsam is a tropical flower and will require a high temperature for its seeds to germinate, so it is best to keep the containers close to the battery. Subsequently, it is also necessary to provide the seedlings with a temperature of at least 20 degrees (keep in mind that it is usually cooler on the window than in the main room) and protected from drafts.

On average, it takes 7-10 days for Waller's balsam seeds to germinate. Above the plants sown in winter, after the emergence of shoots, a phytolamp should be installed immediately, which should work at least 8-10 hours a day.

It is completely unnecessary to rush to a dive, since even grown seedlings will tolerate transplanting well. When 2 to 4 true leaves appear on plants, the seedlings can be planted in separate containers

At the same time, take into account that "lights" do not bloom well in too spacious pots. Therefore, the first container for young balsams should be pots with a volume of 300-500 mm cubic meters, and 1.5 liters bowls are suitable for adult specimens.

Buds on young plants begin to appear when the bushes grow more than five pairs of leaves.

Balsam of the Accent series. Lyudmila Svetlitskaya Hybrid of balsam "Apple Blossom" (Athena Appleblossom). Lyudmila Svetlitskaya Strawberry with cream balsam. Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Caring for New Guinea Balsam

Balsams, including the type "New Guinea", are quite unpretentious plants.However, when adverse factors arise, they lose their decorative appearance. In this regard, their successful indoor cultivation requires compliance with certain conditions.

Planting and soil

There is a wide variety of New Guinea balsam varieties, which differ in appearance: shades of leaves and flower colors, stem height. Many of the varieties are suitable for indoor growing.

Compact small and medium varieties are intended for growing in pots, while large, tall varieties are best grown in flower beds as garden flowers. However, in the summertime, smaller varieties of "touch-me-nots" can be planted in open ground or taken out into the street. This produces a good reaction in the form of a luxurious bloom.

New Guinea Balsam requires a loose, breathable substrate with a pH of 5.8-6.2 and a drainage layer.

Pot

The presence of drainage holes in the pot is imperative. For young balsam, dishes with a diameter of 10-12 centimeters are suitable.

Transfer

Due to the rapid development, balsam loses its decorative effect after 2 or 3 years. Therefore, adult plants should not be transplanted, but renewed by cuttings.

A transplant is necessary for young flowers, and it can be done at any time of the year, since the balsam does not need a rest period.

Watering

Watering should be done in moderation, but do not forget that the flower readily absorbs moisture.

When watering, you should avoid getting water on the lower leaves and excess moisture, which can stagnate and lead to decay of roots and leaves.

Air humidity

The air humidity in the habitat of the plant should not exceed 60-70% and fall below 40%. In winter, in conditions of increased dry air, it is recommended to spray twice during the day, since the lack of moisture causes the leaves to fall off. You can also use a method such as placing the pot on a pallet with moistened expanded clay.

Thermal conditions

New Guinea balsams love a moderately warm atmosphere in the 17-24 degrees Celsius range. Sudden changes in temperature are extremely undesirable, therefore, in the summer, a houseplant is provided with an outdoor stay only with a stable warm regime, when the temperature at night does not drop below the daytime by more than 5 degrees.

Balsam does not tolerate drafts and even short-term hypothermia

Light mode

Balsam needs sufficiently intense lighting without direct sunlight. Good location - east and west facing windows.

In case of insufficient flowering in the cold months of the year, it is recommended to use additional lighting with special lamps.

Wintering

The plant tolerates the winter season well if suitable conditions are created for it:

• Moderate watering;
• Warm room temperature;
• Spraying with a lack of moisture;
• Additional lighting with artificial light.

For connoisseurs of the beauty of balsams, we have prepared materials with descriptions and information on the cultivation of varieties such as Sadovy, Waller, Camellia and Terry.

New Guinea hybrids and a simple reason for their rise in popularity

Among all varieties, groups of varieties and even species of balsams (Impatiens), the so-called hybrid varieties of the Nuova Guinea group or New Guinea hybrids (often labeled as New Guinea Impatiens) are today considered the best, although some time ago these plants were considered one of the most capricious and extremely "Western".

The change in status and the rise in popularity of the touchy New Guineans can be explained simply: these plants boast a unique ability to bloom all year round. And although in regions with harsh winters they are grown only as seasonal plants in the garden, they cannot be found equal in room culture. The unique flowering time can be appreciated even in the middle lane.

The two main traits of New Guinea hybrids are meatiness and power.They have strong shoots, very densely spaced bright dark green leaves and pretty bright asymmetrical flowers, as if evenly scattered throughout the bush. The beauty of both greenery and flowering distinguishes them from more than half a thousand species and many thousands of varieties of balsams. And it seems inappropriate to add folk nicknames to this plant - a light, Vanka is wet, touchy. Although the main feature of balsams is the scattering of seeds, the cracking of the capsule at the slightest touch is also preserved by the New Guineans.

New Guinea hybrids first appeared on the flower market in 1972, and the group of these hybrids can be called relatively young. It is believed that they were bred by crossing the Indonesian touch-me-not Hawker with other species. These plants up to 20-30 cm in height can be considered both indoor and garden varieties, but they fully show their talents in the premises. In fact, these are versatile varieties that you can use as you see fit. They have very compact, dense bushes and much stronger shoots that are more resistant to injury than ordinary balsams.

Leaves are dense, broadly lanceolate, sit on short petioles in whorls, are decorated with a finely serrated edge, in some varieties they can reach 10 cm in length. On the leaf blades, “sunken” veins are clearly visible. And the flowers are much fleshy, larger, up to 5-8 cm in diameter, with graceful petals and a small colored eye. Flowers bloom in axillary "bunches" or one at a time. In horticultural culture, New Guinea balsams bloom only in spring, but when grown in room culture - all year round.

The colors of the New Guinea hybrids are also appreciated - pure pastel or watercolor shades of color and rare variations of pink shades, fuchsia, candy, salmon, peach, apricot tones. The color of the leaves is also very variable: in addition to an intense dark green, different varieties have brighter variations, and original shades - bronze or with a yellowish enlightenment in the center of the leaf blades.

The variety of New Guinean hybrids allows you to choose both more compact and large plants, which are very different from the more familiar Waller's balsam. Actually, according to their size, they are divided into three groups - compact (up to 20 cm), spreading ampelous and high (up to 60-90 cm) varieties.

In New Guinea hybrids, not separate varieties are most often distinguished, but whole series of varieties. The best of them are:

• "Macarena" with bronze leaves and orange flowers;
• ‘Jangle Rain’ - balsams with pastel, soft colors and glossy dark leaves;
• ‘Harmony’ - variety series with densely branching compact bushes, bright red, bronze or green foliage and almost round, dense flowers;
• ‘Rainforest Exotic’ - balsams, whose bright "tropical" colors in monochromatic and two-tone variations are perfectly combined with dark leaves;
• "Java" - a series of plants with bright orange-pink-red "acrylic" tones and green or bronze leaves;
• "Mini Gini" is a small-flowered series, in whose plants hundreds of small flowers are strewn with dark bushes;
• "Divaro" - a series of compact densely branched balsamines with bright green leaves and medium neat flowers;
• 'Spreading White' - variegated New Guineans with snow-white flowers.

In growing New Guinea balsam hybrids, the most important thing is to choose the right conditions for keeping and choose the plant itself with all attention to the "details". On sale New Guineans can be found mainly in the spring.

But many flower centers deliver new "batches" of balsams by the fall. When buying, the bushes should be carefully examined, noting the slightest signs of damage by diseases or pests: if you miss even a speck, then the plant will not be cured and, most likely, you will just have to throw it away.

Disembarkation rules

Since we are talking specifically about the garden variety of balsam, we will focus on how to plant it in the open field. The whole growing procedure is quite simple, you just need to understand once the requirements put forward by this plant for normal growth, and try not to violate them.

First of all, you need to choose the right site. The bush loves bright, but at the same time diffused light, therefore, when choosing a place for it, you need to focus on the western or eastern corner of the site. If you have chosen the right place, there will be no problems with flowering. For comparison: in a heavily shaded place, the balsam will suddenly stretch up strongly, but there will be less strength for flowering, because the number of flowers will be halved. It is also better not to plant the plant in the open sun. If you have no choice, find a way to shade the bush in the middle of the day.

As a rule, it is customary to plant already somewhat grown seedlings in open ground, which are planted in advance, because moving to the street can be performed almost immediately after the last frost. At the same time, a sharp change in conditions from indoor to outdoor seedlings will not work, therefore they are gradually taught to new conditions, exposing the pots to the open air for several hours a day before planting.

Balsams are not planted one by one, but they should not grow very densely either. If the distance between the pits is less than 30 cm, individual bushes will interfere with each other. In general, an average garden soil for growing such a plant is quite suitable, but if you doubt its nutritional value, it is better to immediately add a little humus, peat and sand to the hole.

The transplant looks very simple: you need to remove the seedlings from the vessel and place them in a hole, then cover them with garden soil or the mixture described above. In order for the bush to take root normally, it is immediately watered and the soil around the stem is immediately covered with mulch for insulation. If you suspect that the bush will stretch up and lose all its strength on this, leaving nothing for flowering, you can pinch the top right away.

Popular varieties

There are many varieties of New Guinea balsam, but some are particularly decorative. Since the work on selection is very active, not even specific varieties are distinguished, but varietal groups. They have common features, but may differ in color.

Divaro

Representatives of the variety are distinguished by the compactness of the bush, the rich green color of the leaf plate and the small size of the flowers.

Macarena

Macarena

A distinctive feature of the variety is an orange or salmon shade of flowers. They look especially decorative against the background of green foliage with a touch of bronze.

Rainforest exotic

Rainforest exotic

The color of flowers is always bright shades, the foliage is dark green. There are specimens with two-color petals.

Devine mix

Devine mix

All representatives of the varietal group are distinguished by a compact bush shape. Refers to large-flowered varieties. The petals can be of different colors.

Jangle rain

Jangle rain

Only gentle pastel colors are present in the color of the flowers. The leaf plate is glossy, dark green.

Harmony

Harmony

The main feature is the reddish tint of the leaf blade in some species. The flowers are round and small in size.

Mini Gini

Mini Gini

The small size of the flowers of the variety fully compensates for their number. A compact bush during flowering is almost completely covered with them.

Spreading White

Spreading White

The original variegated variety. The flowers are snow-white in color and have an average petal size.

Flowering features

Like many other flowering houseplants, Waller's balsam has periods of activity and rest. Care differs from time to time.

For your information! Inimitable balsam during the flowering period. Depending on the variety, flowers can be orange, pink, light pink, coral and many more shades. The varieties with double flowers that resemble miniature roses are especially beautiful. There are also species that look like an ampelous flower.

Growing seedlings

For seedlings, it is better to use:

• biocontainers (compressed vermicompost in granules);
• peat pots or tablets;
• cups with a removable bottom (10 cm in diameter).

When growing seedlings in peat tablets, they are transplanted into a pot when 2 main leaves appear. The tablets will dissolve in the soil and additionally fertilize the soil.

The grown seedlings are transplanted together with an earthen clod, peat pots or biocontainers. Before this, the plants are hardened - they are taken out for 2-4 hours a day outside in warm weather. Nasturtium will bloom in 30-45 days.

Seed and soil preparation

Seeds are prepared before sowing:

1. Sorting, removing underdeveloped, small and damaged.
2. Then they are disinfected by placing for 15 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate, heated to 60 degrees.
3. Next, the seeds are wrapped in cheesecloth and kept in cool water for 24 hours.
4. They can also be germinated a little and then planted in pots.

The soil can be bought at a garden store or made by yourself, combining in equal proportions:

• sod land;
• sand;
• peat.

All components are mixed well and sieved. Next, the soil is watered with a hot solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection and left at room temperature for 1-2 days.

The soil is poured into prepared containers and the seeds are sown.

Sowing

• A 2 cm depression is made in the soil and 2-3 seeds are placed in each container.
• The earth is lightly tamped and watered with warm water from a spray bottle so as not to wash the seeds.
• Peat tablets are placed in a container and watered. 1-2 seeds are placed in each tablet.
• The containers are left on a light and warm windowsill.

Seedling care

The room where the seedlings are located should be 20-22 degrees. Then the sprouts will appear in 13-15 days. After 2 weeks of cultivation, the temperature is lowered by 2 degrees.

In poor light, the seedlings will begin to stretch, so they will be weak in the future. It is necessary to additionally illuminate the plants with phytolamps so that the seedlings receive daylight for 15 hours.

Watering is carried out as the soil dries up. Nasturtium loves dry air, so it doesn't need to be sprayed.

The strongest plants are left in a container with seedlings, and the rest are removed.

Landing in open ground

The place for nasturtium is chosen protected from drafts and well-lit.
The soil should be fertile, water and breathable with low acidity. If the soil is not nutritious, then the flowering will be weak and not lush.

Depending on the climate, transplanting into open ground is carried out from early May to early June on a sunny and warm day. By this time, the seedlings should already grow to 7 cm.

A minimum of 20 cm is left between the plants, and 40 cm for tall and bushy varieties. The holes dig out a little more volume of cups with seedlings.

The plant is transferred into holes with an earthen lump, soil is poured and watered at the root. Planting mulch peat, compost.

Watch the video! Nasturtium: growing and care

Description of appearance and features

At home, New Guinea balsam can bloom for 10 months. Among flower growers, this property makes the plant very popular.

New Guinea hybrids are powerful and fleshy. They have strong shoots, bright asymmetrical flowers and very dense leaves.Of the numerous varieties of balsams, these stand out for the beauty of flowering and the richness of greenery.

The peculiarities of varietal New Guinea balsam include the fact that the plant sheds its leaves due to:

1. hypothermia;
2. lack of lighting;
3. drying out the soil.

How the flower will bloom is influenced by the choice of the pot, as well as the systematic introduction and composition of fertilizers.

New Guinea hybrids are prized for their coloration. Flowers come in different shades:

• pink;
• apricot;
• peach;
• pastel;
• fuchsia, etc.

Leaves, in addition to a bright dark green color, are bronze or with a yellowish enlightenment in the middle.

Planting balsam by cuttings

For planting and cultivating balsam in the open field and indoors, seedlings are mainly bought. Growing from seeds is troublesome and time-consuming, and for some varieties it is difficult to preserve specific features. Choosing a balsam in the store, you can buy an already blooming one to determine the shade of the buds.

Flower transplantation should be regular, due to the intensity of the growth. One of the common reasons is a cramped pot in which leaves begin to fall off. In a pot that is too large, the roots develop well, while the upper part slows down in growth and stops blooming.

For reproduction of Vanka wet, cuttings are used. To do this, healthy shoots are cut in the fall and immersed in water or in a wet substrate and kept until they take root. Then a dive is made. In winter, they are kept warm, planted in a permanent place in the spring.

How to take care at home?

In this article, we will take a closer look at home care for New Guinea balsam. Rest assured, it does not require any special skills.

Temperature

Balsam Novogvineysky is very fond of heat, easily tolerates heat. The ideal mode is a constant temperature within 22-26 ° C without sudden changes and drafts. At temperatures below 12 °, the balsam will die.

Almost the same temperature regime must be maintained for Clerodendrum - 20-25 ° in summer, about 15 ° in winter.

Even a short exposure to cold leads to freezing of the leaves.

Lighting

The New Guinea hybrid loves light as much as warmth. Which does not prevent him from suffering from direct exposure to the sun.

In order not to harm the plant, it is placed on the windowsill of the western or eastern window.

In winter, additional lighting is provided so that the balsam receives a 14-15 hour light period.

Lack of light will lead to loosening of the bush, loss of compact form, shoots will begin to fade and ugly stretch towards the light source.

Watering

New Guinea balsam needs a lot of moisture, the principle "It is better to pour than to underfill" applies to it. Even short-term dryness causes detrimental effects and stress on the plant, to which it reacts with wilting of leaves and a decrease in the general turgor. Recovery is proceeding very slowly.

Therefore, it is recommended to moisten the soil in the pot often, but in small portions, in order to avoid stagnation of water in the pan.

Otherwise, the roots and fleshy stems will begin to rot.

In winter, watering is continued in full, without changing the mode and frequency, because New Guinea balsam does not go to rest, continuing to actively develop and bloom.

For watering and spraying, do not use hard water directly from the mains. The lime it contains weakens the plant and alkalizes the soil, while balsam prefers a slightly acidic reaction.

Humidity

The optimal indicator is 45-55%. Lowering leads to drying and shedding of leaf blades and inflorescences, cessation of flowering.

To avoid this, balsam is sprayed from a spray bottle.

In hot, dry summer weather and winter heating season, you can put an open container filled with water next to the flower.

Or place the pot on a pallet of damp stones. These measures will protect the delicate plant from drying out.

Fertilizer

While flowering continues, the plant is fed with mineral complexes every 2-2.5 weeks. The easiest way is to use a liquid form that is diluted in water for irrigation.

Nitrogen compounds contribute to the fatliquoring of balsam. Instead of active flowering, you can get a violent development of green mass against the background of a meager formation of inflorescences.

How to trim

Only young tops can be pinched.

If you cut off adult shoots, thick "hemp" will remain, sharply reducing the decorative effect of balsam.

In general, pruning is very rarely required, since the hybrid itself perfectly forms a beautiful bush shape and branches.

An exception is the Harmony series, it is pinched to obtain a beautiful semicircular bush.

How to collect seeds yourself

Balsam seeds can be harvested by yourself

Propagation of balsam by seeds requires more time and patience than rooting cuttings, however, many growers prefer this method. In order for the seeds to ripen on the plant, the flowers need pollination. The easiest way is to expose the bushes to the open air, where the bright flowers will immediately attract insects. In indoor conditions, pollination is carried out artificially using a thin brush for painting

Gently collect pollen with a brush and spread it on the pistils of flowers with light strokes.

After a while, a small green fruit will form in place of the flower, which, as it ripens, will begin to turn into a dry translucent box. Ripe capsules burst even with the lightest touch, and the seeds scatter in all directions. Experienced flower growers recommend that in the evening it is easy to spray the bush with water, and in the morning, while the boxes are still a little wet, carefully pluck them from the stems. After that, the seeds are dried and poured into a paper bag for storage.