Eustoma (Lisianthus): care and cultivation

Eustoma or lisianthus (there is also one name “Irish rose”) appeared in Ukraine relatively recently in the 1990s.

At first, it was grown as a houseplant, and later began to be planted in open ground, as an annual plant. In nature, eustoma grows in central America, where the climate is warm and humid. The leaves of eustoma are grayish in color, cylindrical with a matte fleecy texture. Eustoma blooms. Lisianthus flowers come in different colors, from simple to double, there are low (up to 30 cm) and tall (up to 70 cm) species, and the shape of the flower resembles a classic rose, hence the name “Irish rose”. Eustoma blooms for quite a long time: from June to frost, and when grown in greenhouses and winter gardens, eustoma will bloom again.

Every year, different eustoma seeds are more and more on sale. You can also buy eustoma blooming in a pot in flower shops.

Types of eustoma

Non-terry varieties of eustoma – hybrids “Kyoto” F1 , “Twinkie” F1, “Mermaid” F1, “Sapphire” F1.

Terry varieties of eustoma are hybrids “Echo” F1, “Cinderella mix” F1.

Sowing eustoma seeds for seedlings

Eustoma seeds are sown in December superficially under a film. The seeds are lightly pressed into the soil and sprayed from a spray bottle. Our greenhouse with sown seeds should be placed in a bright and warm place where the air temperature will be +20-+25 ° C. Soil for sowing should be light and sandy with neutral acidity. From time to time, the sown seeds need to be monitored so that the soil does not dry out, it must be moistened with a sprayer, and the crops must be ventilated 1 time per day so that the soil does not become covered with white mold. Eustoma will bloom, with proper care, 22 weeks after the sprouts appear.

Eustoma can be sown in peat tablets (1 seed in 1 tablet), which will greatly facilitate further transplantation. After the appearance of the first cotyledon leaves, usually after two weeks, the glass or film is removed. Eustoma belongs to light-loving plants, it needs bright light during the day, that is, seedlings need to be illuminated. Seedlings in the phase of 3 true leaves dive into single pots. After picking, the temperature is lowered to 20°C, and the plants are shaded.

Caring for lisianthus seedlings

• Light brightness: eustoma is a light-loving plant, does not tolerate direct sunlight well, prefers diffused light. On the South Window, seedlings should be shaded from the midday sun, and on the North Window they will lack light, so the ideal place for growing eustoma is the Western and Eastern windowsills.
• Watering and humidity: eustoma is a moisture-loving plant. In hot and dry rooms, it needs to be sprayed frequently. You need to water as the top layer of the earthen coma dries. Excess water in the soil is detrimental to eustoma.
• Fertilizers: you need to start feeding the eustoma 2 weeks after transplanting.

Hardening and planting eustoma seedlings in open ground

With the onset of warm spring days (in April), seedlings need to be gradually hardened, taking them out to the balcony or yard for a while.

Eustoma seedlings are planted in open ground after the threat of night frosts at a distance of 15 cm from each other.

• Planting site: for eustoma, choose a bright place protected from drafts and strong winds.
• Soil for eustoma: the soil for planting eustoma is prepared in advance. It should be nutritious, loose, permeable to which sand and peat are added. When growing eustoma, choose light-colored plastic pots. When growing tall varieties, a decorative support is installed for eustoma.
• Watering eustoma: eustoma should be watered in the same way as seedlings, and during budding and flowering, eustoma should be watered abundantly with warm water.



• Fertilizer: once every 2 weeks, the plant is fed with a complex mineral fertilizer for flowering plants.
• Post-flowering care: Faded eustoma buds are removed to prolong its flowering. With early flowering, a few buds can be left to ripen the seeds.

Reproduction of eustoma

Eustoma is propagated by seeds or dividing the bush.

Eustoma care in winter

Eustoma in most cases is grown as an annual plant. If you want to grow eustoma next year, then, in the fall, with the threat of night frosts, it must be transplanted into a pot and brought into the house, where it will continue to bloom. In winter, the plant needs to be pruned, leaving 3 internodes. The air temperature for wintering eustoma should not exceed +15°C, respectively, reduce watering. In the spring, after the threat of night frosts, the plant is planted in open ground.

Pests and diseases

Eustoma can be attacked by: aphids, white-winged, slugs.

With dense plantings and with waterlogging of the soil, as well as with sudden changes in temperature, the development of diseases such as: powdery mildew, gray rot, fusarium is possible.