The queen of flowers, no doubt, consider the rose. But this beauty with thorns has a very gentle and touching competitor - eustoma. The flower is similar to a rose to such an extent that it has “pseudonyms”: the eustoma is sometimes called an Irish, then a French, or even a Japanese rose. The second botanical name of the plant is lisianthus.
The flower comes from South America, but breeders around the world are seriously interested in it and in a short time brought out dozens of varieties and hybrids. In nature, eustoma blooms with blue, purple flowers, but thanks to the efforts of scientists, today the plant pleases us with white, red, pink, cream, pale lilac, apricot or two-tone petals. On a smooth stalk without thorns, bluish leaves shine dully, several flowers and unopened buds flaunt on a branch at once.
The plant is appreciated by flower growers not only because it is very beautiful. The ability to keep fresh for a long time in cut form in Europe put forward eustoma in the top ten flowers intended forsales. It should be noted that this flower is similar to a rose and with its magnificent fragrance!
How to grow eustoma
The flower is dwarf and tall (from 25 to 80 centimeters and even higher). The plant can be grown in the garden, on the balcony and as an indoor flower. A rose-like bud will open into a magnificent double bloom if the green pet receives proper care and love from its owner.
If you decide to give life to this wonderful flower in your backyard or at home, you need to get to know it better and study all its needs and "whims". Do not believe the rumors that it is too difficult to grow a flower that looks like a rose. Eustoma reproduces by seeds. Since they are very small, they are sold as pellets.
Special conditions need to be created for seedlings. If you want to decorate a summer garden with lisianthus, the seeds must be planted in winter, because a luxurious flower will bloom only after six months. And for indoor eustomas, this does not matter. When choosing seeds, you just need to pay attention to the fact that they are undersized varieties, otherwise you will have to place a reliable support for an adult plant in a pot.
Features of care
The way they prepare the soil for seedlings, this flower also looks like a rose. Peat with a small amount of sand is best suited. Some growers use peat tablets. Containers with planted seeds should be covered with plastic wrap. Seeds hatch at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. When shoots appear (thiswill occur in about two weeks), the film should be removed and bright lighting should be installed using lamps so that the stems do not stretch. In the spring, basking in the sun, seedlings begin to grow faster. It is necessary to water a small eustoma very carefully, but while the seedlings rest under the film, watering is not needed - the seeds have enough condensate moisture. An adult flower also does not require abundant watering, it is enough to protect the earthen ball in which the eustoma has nested from drying out.
Special fertilizers will help protect seedlings from diseases: fundazol, zircon or epin. The picking of growing plants is done one and a half months after they have risen.
The houseplant is transplanted into a permanent pot in the phase of 4 true leaves. A small layer of expanded clay is poured onto the bottom. At the time of the appearance of true leaves, Lisianthus is also planted in a flower bed. The flower loves sunlight and fresh air, so in the summer it is better to move a houseplant to a balcony or garden.
Beautiful eustoma twigs will not only decorate your home, but will also ennoble any celebration, whether it's an anniversary or a wedding, because it's not for nothing that this flower looks like a rose!
