Eustoma in the open field

Growing eustoma at home from seeds

To make the whimsical American bell blossom in the domestic climate, it is necessary to acquire strong, high-quality seedlings. Planting ready-made seedlings in warm soil at the end of May gives a stable June flowering result. But you can grow seedlings yourself.

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Eustoma flowers: sowing, growing, care step by step

It is advisable to purchase seeds in specialized stores or sites with good reviews. The peculiarity of the seed is its extremely small size. Therefore, quality material is sold in capsules.

It is also advisable to immediately purchase related materials:

• peat tablets or peat mixture;
• biostimulants;
• specialized fertilizers;
• containers for growing seedlings;
• fluorescent lamp.

Sowing features

The main question when growing eustoma from seeds: when to plant? The best option is to sow seeds in January. The acceptable option is from the end of December to March. When choosing sowing seedlings, take into account that at least 5 - 6 months pass from the moment of emergence of seedlings to the onset of flowering. Before landing, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the sowing calendar and choose the day that falls on the growing moon.

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Selection of soil and seed containers

For planting, many growers choose peat tablets, which give a 90% guarantee of germination.

However, you can use a specially prepared soil consisting of:

• 1 part sand;
• two pieces of leafy land;
• 4 parts of peat.

Before use, the soil mixture is sieved and heated in the oven for disinfection. Peat tablets are pre-soaked so that they swell. Containers and tools for planting must be clean. If plastic common containers are used, then the surface is wiped with a disc with alcohol or manganese solution.

Seed preparation and sowing

The shops offer regular and pelleted seeds. The latter are enclosed in an ecological shell due to which they differ in their larger size. When interacting with water and soil, the shell dissolves. The coated material does not need preparation, and the usual one is soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes a day before sowing. Then they are dried.

To deal with small seeds during planting, use a wet-tipped toothpick. They pry the seed with it and spread it on top of the ground. Then they squeeze a little. It is not necessary to cover the top with soil.

Video instruction for planting seeds:

Growing features

Seedlings appear by the end of the second week.

Until that time, three conditions must be met:

• daily spraying;
• additional lighting;
• Airing for 20 minutes in the morning.

After germination, it is necessary to monitor the moisture content of the soil and apply stimulating fertilizing for laying the buds. It is advisable to leave the temperature regime at the level of 22 ° С during the day, reduce to 18 ° С at night.

Preparation of soil and containers

Planting eustoma for seedlings in 2020 is carried out in a special soil in which Saintpaulias are grown; it can be purchased in garden stores. The finished soil must be sieved and perlite or cleaned and washed sand must be added to it.You can also use a peat mixture consisting of two parts of peat, one part of garden soil and half part of sand. The main feature of the soil for growing eustoma is its airiness, lightness and lack of acidity. You can add one tablespoon of ash to the mixture for half a liter of the mixture. To disinfect the soil, it must be steamed in a double boiler for at least one hour.

For the initial sowing of seeds, you need to purchase a shallow and wide container (you can use transparent plastic containers). Drainage holes must be drilled in each container to prevent water from stagnating in the ground. For the subsequent picking, you need to have tall glasses or pots with a volume of 100 or 200 ml, and for the last transplant, you will need 0.5 liter cups.

All containers must be decontaminated, for which it is necessary to treat them with a manganese solution.

Seed preparation

Those who choose an eustoma plant growing from seeds at home should prefer coated eustoma seeds (pelleted seeds). There is no need to soak and disinfect them, the manufacturer has already carried out preliminary processing. When buying ordinary eustoma seeds, it is necessary to soak them in a solution of potassium permanganate (the solution should have a dark color) for 30 minutes. After which the seeds are dried, this is done in order to destroy infections that can ruin future seedlings.

Eustoma seedlings.

For the best germination and stimulation, planting of eustoma for seedlings in 2020 is carried out with a solution of a drop of epin substance and warm water. The seeds are dipped in such a solution for six hours, then pulled out and dried. Planting and caring for the eustoma flower should be done according to these guidelines to increase the chances of getting healthy shoots.

Sowing methods

Prepared soil is poured into the prepared disinfected containers, filling them with a little more than half. Then it is necessary to moisten the soil with a spray gun, level it and compact it. Eustoma seeds are very small, so they just need to be spread over the surface and deepened a little with a wooden toothpick. Then spray the seeds with a fine spray bottle. Containers with seeds should be placed under a plastic bag or covered with clean glass, and then placed under an additional lighting lamp.

The backlighting is carried out until mid-March, then, with a daylight hours of at least 12 hours, it is removed. It is also necessary to maintain the temperature between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. With proper planting and care, seedlings will appear 10 to 12 days after planting the seeds.

To prevent the development of blackleg, you can lightly sprinkle the seeds with sterile river sand, taking care not to deeply deepen the seeds.

Recently, sowing of eustoma for seedlings in peat tablets has become popular. This is convenient for the following:

• no need to prepare soil for planting seeds;
• special growth stimulants have been added to peat tablets, which contributes to the best germination of seeds;
• when planting one seed in a tablet, the seedlings do not need a pick;
• the soil mixture in tablets is sterile and does not need to be disinfected.

A significant disadvantage of peat tablets is their rapid drying and moisture control; so that the substrate does not dry out, vermiculite, perlite or sand is poured onto the bottom of the container or pallet.

When placing the required number of tablets in the tray, you need to take into account that when they get wet, they increase six or eight times. The preparation of tablets for sowing seeds is detailed in the instructions that are issued upon their purchase. A seed is pressed into the center of the prepared tablets; it should not be poured into it. The tray with pills is covered with plastic wrap and placed in a lighted and warm place, and the seeds will germinate in the same way as in the case of a regular mixture.

Eustoma seeds under the film.

Biology of the Irish rose - eustoma

This thermophilic plant is not able to tolerate not only negative, but also low positive temperatures. Therefore, growing eustoma seedlings from seeds is the only way to see its flowering in a flower bed. From experience I know that from sowing to the beginning of flowering, it should take about 20 weeks, depending on the variety.

If the flowers of wild eustomas are blue or blue, then cultivars and hybrids have a very wide color palette: from white to lilac, bicolors are also found. More recently, new hybrid varieties with red flowers have appeared.

Thanks to selection, the corolla of the flower acquired additional rows of petals and became terry. 35 flowers per plant is not the limit. This is facilitated by the unusual structure of a strong stem: closer to the top, it branches intensively, giving life to many buds. In the flower garden and in the cut, they all bloom.

Not only the size of the flower is impressive - up to 8 cm, but also the shape - in half-release it is surprisingly similar to a rose, but does not have the aggressiveness and regality of the “queen of the garden”. Eustoma is associated with the word "gentle". And it's not about the color of the petals, a bright tone for which is a rarity. The whole plant, despite the size and splendor of flowering, makes just such an impression.

Irish rose flowers - eustoma

The leaves of the flower are also decorative - oval in shape, with a bluish tint and a light central vein. Its height ranges from 30 to 80 cm.
If you already liked eustoma, growing from seeds at home is the only possible way to get a flowering plant, and why - more on that below. The seeds will have to be bought in the store, so I will focus on the description of the varieties, making it easier for flower growers to select them.

Description of eustoma varieties: which ones for the flower garden, and for the balcony

In culture, not species are grown, but hybrid lines specially created for these purposes by breeders, each of which has many varieties: "HEIDI" - grown in greenhouses for cutting, "Yodel" and "Echo" - tall, "Matador" - medium height and "Marmaid Blue" are dwarfs. Low varieties are often grown in a room or on a balcony, tall ones decorate flower beds and give an excellent cut.

For a flower garden:

• Cinderella - height - 50 cm, double flowers of pink and yellowish color;
• Mariachi lime - large double yellow flowers with a distinct lime tint, height - 1 m;
• Twinkies - simple white, yellow, pink and pale purple flowers, height - 50 cm;
• Flamenco - blooms 14 days earlier than others, color is light blue, pale pink, height - 70 cm;
• Pink Pikoti from the Echo series - peduncles up to 70 cm high, white double flowers with a pink border, blooms early.
• Arena - semi-double flowers of unexpected red color, height - up to 100 cm, cut variety.

Planting an Irish rose in a flower garden

For balcony and window sill:

• Fidelity - the crumb does not grow higher than 20 cm, blooms profusely with non-double white flowers;
• Riddle - the same height, blue, semi-double flowers;
• Tenderness - many simple pink flowers with satin petals on peduncles about 20 cm high;
• The Little Mermaid - height - 15 cm, flowers are simple in blue, pink, can be white;

• Florida Pink - indoor flower, simple flowers in pink, white or lilac tones;
• Florida Blue - differs from the previous series in blue colors;
• Rosie - double flowers of blue, white, pink tones on stems no higher than 30 cm;
• Sapphire Pink haze - height -15 cm, simple white flowers on the edge of the petals have a pink border.

How to grow eustoma from seeds

There are many varieties of Irish rose on sale now. Most of the bags say that they are annuals, in the flower garden they are, but on the windowsills, with properly organized wintering, the life of the plants, as well as the flowering period, can be extended.Although eustoma is a perennial by its biological nature, its life span, even in the wild, does not exceed 3 years. In culture, in the third year, the flowers become smaller. Therefore, it makes no sense to keep it for more than 2 years.

Any experienced florist knows that a prerequisite for obtaining terry eustoma plants is growing from seeds, the same applies to non-double varieties and hybrids.

There are reasons for this:
• the plant is very painful even to the slightest damage to the roots and recovers for a long time after that;
• eustoma is not cuttings;
• any attempt to divide an adult bush into parts ends in failure.

Eustoma - Irish rose, Texas bell

If it is decided to have eustoma flowers on a flower bed or windowsill, growing from the seeds of this plant is not an easy task. It is necessary to organize suitable conditions and wait patiently: small eustomas grow slowly. Prepare for the fallout of plants: slightly more than half of the sprouts that hatch may remain.

I will tell you in detail how to organize the cultivation of eustoma seedlings from seeds without errors.

Growing eustoma seedlings in peat tablets

Each peat tablet must be soaked in water one by one.

Many flower growers have long been using the method of planting plants in peat tablets. Many people fell in love with this growing method for its simplicity and effectiveness, as well as for the fact that the plants do not suffer when transplanted into the ground and do not get sick, because the risk of injuring the roots during transplantation is excluded.

It is also suitable for growing eustoma. Gardeners recommend using peat tablets of medium size with a diameter of 4 cm for this.

Each peat tablet must be soaked in water one by one. To do this, they are dipped into a plastic container, previously washed with a solution of potassium permanganate. Water is added to the container as the tablets swell; you do not need to pour a lot of water right away. When the tablet swells, a depression is made in it, into which the eustoma seeds are placed. They do not need to be pressed down or sprinkled with earth.

After that, the container is covered with a lid or plastic wrap. To provide the seeds with fresh air, the cover (film) must be lifted periodically.

Initially, the eustoma will need a bright, but diffused light: this will help the seedlings to germinate compactly, they will not be too elongated. For this, the container is placed under a fluorescent lamp. Daylight hours for eustoma should last 12 hours, so provide the plant with additional lighting.

Towards the end of winter, the seedlings are moved to the windowsill on the sunny side.

Growing eustoma from seeds

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 popular both as a garden flower and as a potted culture. This section will discuss 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 a special treatment 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 need 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

How to plant eustoma

Eustoma seeds require light to germinate. Therefore, they are sown only superficially, without covering with soil. When sowing granular seeds, they are moistened to dissolve the shell and release the seed. A spray with a fine nozzle will help. In the total container, I place the seed from the seed every 2 cm.

Eustoma maintenance before germination

I put the containers on a light windowsill, covered with glass or film. Some growers who grow eustoma from seeds say in reviews that keeping seedlings at temperatures above 25 degrees shifts the flowering time upward. Therefore, the temperature on the windowsill is 20-23 degrees. Be sure to supplement the containers with a phytolamp, bringing the lighting time to 18 hours. I do not water, the exception is peat tablets, they dry out faster. Every day I ventilate the containers by opening the bag for a couple of minutes or removing the glass. I remove the condensation. If necessary, I spray the crops.

Flower care after germination

Seed germination lasts from 10 to 20 days. The sprouts are very weak. At this time, soil moisture is important. I spray only with a spray bottle regularly, but in moderation. Gradually I accustom the seedlings to external conditions - I ventilate them for longer every day, and then I completely remove the shelters. Temperature and lighting remain the same. I do not allow drafts.

Seedlings grown in a common container need a careful pick when 3 pairs of full leaves appear. For the subsequent growth of seedlings, I choose pots or cups with a diameter of 6 cm

How to plant eustoma

Pick procedure:

• on the bottom of the containers I spread 2 cm of expanded clay - a drainage layer;
• add a little soil;
• carefully release the seedling and place it in the pot, straightening the roots;
• I add soil without deepening the root collar;
• I water it with a fungicide solution, dilute it according to the instructions;
• I spray it with Epin solution, which I also dilute according to the instructions;
• for the first time I keep the plants under the film, when they take root, I take it off.

Eustoma Flower - Eustoma, Irish Rose, (Lisianthus)

If the seedlings grew in a peat tablet, I transplant the plants with it, removing the protective layer.
After 3 weeks, I transfer the seedlings into a larger pot, and those that will grow on the windowsill I plant immediately in a permanent place.

I told you about the wonderful Irish rose - Eustoma, about growing flowers from seeds from A to Z. Post will give you a complete picture of the laboriousness of the process and the decorativeness of the flower. But these beautiful flowers in your flowerbed or on the balcony of an apartment will pay off all the work and become the pride of a florist.

Eustoma planting technology

To be successful, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for planting French rose seeds and follow them. Eustoma is capricious during the growth period and requires certain conditions, therefore, the "instructions" must be strictly observed.

In open ground

If you want to decorate a flower bed in the garden with eustoma, you will have to take care of sowing seeds for seedlings in early spring: approximately at the end of February or at the very beginning of March. So the plant will bloom in the middle of summer or in August - it largely depends on the weather. For planting, containers are used (you can also replace with other suitable utensils) and a soil mixture for flower plants. It must be sterilized and have a low nitrogen content. A soil with a pH of 6-7 is ideal.

The process of growing seedlings consists of several stages.Each of them is important!

Try to distribute small seeds evenly over the surface of the ground in the container. You do not need to bury or sprinkle them, just gently press them against the soil with your palm. The container is covered with plastic or glass to create a greenhouse effect. A small gap should be left for ventilation. At the beginning of spring, there is usually not enough light, and young seedlings will need 10 to 12 hours of daylight. Therefore, they are recommended to be placed on the southern or southwestern window and additionally illuminated with phytolamps. The temperature during the day should be around 20 ° C, and at night it should drop to a maximum of 14 ° C.
Caring for a container with planted eustoma consists in spraying the seeds as the soil dries up with warm water from a spray bottle. This may not be necessary because condensation collects inside the greenhouse. You need to focus on the state of the earth.
The first seedlings should appear in a maximum of 2 weeks. After that, the shelter is removed so that they do not grow as "greenhouse plants". Periodically they are sprayed with Fitosporin solution for disease prevention.
After the appearance of 2 full-fledged (approximately 1.5 months after planting - in April) leaves, the seedlings dive and plant in separate pots. The preferred dish diameter is about 5 cm.
In late May or early June, young plants can be transplanted into the ground without damaging the roots.

Therefore, the earthen lump must be removed carefully and try not to destroy it.

The distance between the plants should be 15-20 cm. It remains to take care of the eustoma and wait for its gorgeous flowering, which will begin after mid-summer.

The first eustoma seedlings should appear 2 weeks after planting the seeds.

In a pot at home

Planting for potted plants is very similar to the process described above. Only the timing and nuances differ. In order for the French rose to bloom in winter, planting is carried out several months in advance: from July to autumn. A container and flower substrate are also used, which can be replaced with a mixture of sand and peat, taken in equal proportions.

After a dive, which is carried out after the appearance of two leaves, the plants are planted in a pot, looked after and await flowering, which occurs with this planting scheme approximately in January or at the very beginning of February.

Terms and features of planting eustoma in Siberia

The Siberian climate is harsh and unpredictable. It cannot be called ideal for growing southern eustoma, but with the right approach, everything will work out.

It is important to follow the rules:

The seeds are planted in early March.
An important deviation from the "standard" recommendations for planting in the ground - it is carried out based on the climatic characteristics of the region. You need to be guided by the weather

Seedlings are planted in open ground only if the threat of recurrent frosts has passed - they will instantly destroy the plant.
Seedlings are planted in cloudy weather and in the evening, when the sun has almost set below the horizon. So the chance that the seedlings will take root will be slightly higher.
In the first 2-3 weeks, the transplanted plants are insulated. This must be done at night and in cold weather. Use regular film or cut plastic bottles with a volume of 1-2 liters.

These little tricks will help you grow a graceful flower in Siberian conditions.

How to transplant eustoma outdoors

Gardeners transplant eustoma to a flower bed in early July. The plant can be planted in the ground after the first 4-8 full leaves appear. If you did everything right from the very beginning, then your flower will take root in a new place without problems. Almost immediately after adaptation, flower stalks will appear, and very soon your eustoma will bloom until the very frost and delight you!

It is preferable to plant eustoma in the ground in the evening. When choosing a flower bed, remember that eustoma can reveal its beauty as much as possible only in sunny places.Together with the soil, each seedling is lowered into a well-watered hole prepared in advance. The remaining space is filled with soil. The roots of the plant in the hole should be at the same depth at which they were in the container.

More than 60 varieties of eustoma are known in the world. But growers use only two for growing - large-flowered eustoma and Russell's eustoma. The first is most suitable for cultivation in flower beds, the second for potting.

Eustoma grows well on moist soils, the acidity of which reaches a pH of 6.5-7.0. On soils where acidity is increased, eustoma will grow very slowly. To accelerate its growth, you need to monitor the condition of the soil: loosen, moisten, remove weeds in time. If the land in your flowerbed is rich in humus, then the eustoma will not need to be fed often - just a couple of times per season, using liquid dressings - Plantafol Growth, Plantafol Budding, Kemira or Kemira Lux in a concentration of 10-15 ml per 10 liters of water.

Remember that not only the soil is important for eustoma, but also high-quality timely watering. With a shortage of water, the eustoma begins to shed its buds

At the same time, it is important to maintain a balance: the soil should be moderately moist, but in no case oversaturated with moisture! The most correct thing is to water the eustoma only after the top layer of the earth is dry enough after the previous watering. In this case, it is important that water does not fall on the leaves of the plant, otherwise the plant will be at risk of fungal diseases.

Therefore, in the first two months after transplanting into open ground, it is advisable to water eustoma seedlings with Fundazol - this will provide them with strong leaves and stems, and also protect them from diseases. A solution of the fungicide (at a concentration of 1 tsp per 1 liter of water) is prepared immediately before use. A one-time spraying with Zircon or Epin - 3-4 drops per 100 ml of water will also help to improve the development of eustoma.

Feel free to give eustoma bouquets. In a vase of water, this flower can stand up to three weeks!

Growing an eustoma is not an easy task. Still worth it! Eustoma will add sophistication to any flower bed. And with proper care and watering, it will delight you with lush flowering for a long time.

Seed selection

Unfortunately, even high-quality eustoma seeds from well-known producers do not have good germination.Therefore, novice gardeners should not be afraid that instead of planted, for example, one hundred seeds, only thirty will sprout, and this will be a good indicator. The cultivation of eustoma from seeds is determined by the variety of this plant. Tall varieties are suitable for planting in open ground, undersized varieties can grow well at home on a windowsill.

Usually, the eustoma flower is grown as an annual, because the cuttings take root very poorly and the second year the plant is exposed to diseases and pest attacks. Since the flower has a long period of growth and development, when planting with seeds, it is necessary to observe the highlighting mode, therefore, this factor must be taken into account to determine the place when planting seeds in the ground. For beginners, it is best to use coated (coated) seeds, as eustoma has very small seeds.

Eustoma seeds.

Table: a short description of popular varieties

Eustoma comes in two varieties - tall and short. The tall ones include such varieties as:

The undersized (dwarf) varieties include the following varieties, reaching no more than 30 cm in height:

In addition to these main ones, the plant has other varieties, but it is recommended for beginners to start with these varieties. How many days the eustoma emerges after sowing depends on the variety, temperature, soil quality and other factors.

Pink eustoma flower.

2. How to care for eustoma: the weed is the main enemy.

If you are going to grow eustoma, you need to have a serious weed control plan. Because these plants remain tiny for several months and the leaves are rosette close to the ground, aggressive summer weeds quickly overtake the plant and choke it. Do not hesitate to buy a piece of agrofibre for flowers, in the holes of which you will plant seedlings, and the rest of the film will inhibit the growth of weeds.
But agrofibre isn't your magic wand. Weeding in your flower bed should become a regular habit of yours. Don't wait for the situation to get dire and you will pluck as many flowers as you pluck weeds. Be sure to water after each weeding so that the delicate roots can sink back into the soil.

Care

Water the eustoma with warm water as needed. Spray with water regularly. For prevention, carry out 2-3 sprays per season with a solution of foundationol. This will protect plants from fusarium wilting, powdery mildew and gray mold. From slugs, aphids, whiteflies, you can use Aktara, Aktellik.

Top dressing is best combined with watering, such preparations as "Kemira", "Kemira Lux" and "Plantafol" dissolve well in water. The first one should be carried out a month after rooting in the open ground (June), apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers, and during the budding period (July-August) - phosphorus-containing fertilizers.

If eustoma is used for cutting, then in warm weather the shoots will grow back and there will be a second flowering in 2.5-3 months.

We do not recommend collecting eustoma seeds, since the plants do not retain their characteristic varietal traits. For the winter, you can try to transplant the eustoma into a container and bring it into the house, but if all the features of caring for it are not followed (additional lighting, humidity, air movement, etc.), it will die. Leaving flowers outdoors for the winter is likely to die.

Prevention of diseases of eustoma seedlings

Coconut substrate and plant fibers are prone to mold growth. Therefore, before using it, it is necessary to carry out treatment with potassium permanganate or fungicide.

When germinating seeds, be sure to ventilate to avoid mold:

• For the prevention of blackleg and fusarium rot, Fundazol is used.
• Recently, many flower growers have fallen in love with epin and zircon. These drugs stimulate physiological processes in the plant organism, increase stress resistance.

Seedling picking

• When four normal leaves appear, the plant is ready for picking. Seedlings grown in a container or peat tablets must be sorted into separate pots, sometimes two, three plants in one container are allowed.
• This procedure will accelerate the growth of the flower, make the plant stronger, and improve the development of the root system.
• With a thin object, gently pry off the miniature plant and remove it from the peat soil.
• A small depression is made in the pot where the pick will be made. The sprout is transferred to this depression.
• The soil must be well moistened. Deepening is carried out along the lower leaves.
• Immediately after the procedure, put on a protective cap (plastic bag or plastic cup). The plants are kept in this state for several weeks.
• As a rule, plants tolerate picking well. In two weeks, your seedlings will be twice as large.

Picking seedlings at the age of 2 months.