For my garden, I grow many annual flowers in seedlings. One of my favorites is eustoma. This flower is also a symbol of the opening of the new season, because it has the earliest planting dates.
Growing eustoma
In our climate, eustoma is grown as an annual plant. She is too tender to winter in our area. A feature of eustoma is that it is grown only from seeds.
From sowing seeds to flowering takes about 20 weeks. Therefore, in order for eustoma to please me in the garden in the middle of summer, I start sowing no later than February.
Sowing eustoma seeds
I usually sow eustoma seeds in a separate container. I use air soil. A purchased substrate for Saintpaulia (violets) is suitable. Sometimes I prepare the planting mix myself, mixing peat, garden soil and sand in a ratio of 4:2:1. The soil must be neutral.
Before planting, I spill the soil mixture with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to prevent diseases and pests. If I use garden soil or dubious purchased soil, then I calcine it on the stove or in the oven.
The container in which I perform the sowing must be washed with a disinfectant. I fill it with slightly damp soil. I flatten the top a little with my hand.
With the help of a toothpick, the tip of which is moistened with water, I place the eustoma seeds on the surface of the soil at short intervals. I do not bury the seeds and do not sprinkle with anything.
I put the container with seeds in a plastic bag and put it under the lamps. Lighting should be at least 12 hours. The optimum temperature for rapid shoots is 20-25 degrees.
Seedlings appear in a week and a half. After that, I periodically ventilate the container. Gradually open completely. I keep the soil slightly moist. I spray young leaves from a spray bottle.
Germination of eustoma seeds in peat tablets
Recently, I have been increasingly using peat tablets for seed germination. I tried to grow eustoma in them.
First, I soak the tablets in water. They should increase in size. I use tablets with a diameter of 4 cm.
Then I just put the seeds on the surface without deepening them. I put the tablets in a container and continue to act, as in the case of group sowing.
Picking eustoma seedlings
At the stage of 2-3 pairs of true leaves, I start picking eustoma. I use the soil of the same composition as for sowing.
Carefully, with the help of an awl, I take out the tender flower sprouts from the container and plant them in separate containers with a clod of earth.
Further care comes down to timely watering and 12-hour illumination. I use the backlight even when the daylight hours are already quite long. This is necessary so that the eustoma seedlings do not stretch.
Planting eustoma in open ground
I plant eustoma in the garden after the establishment of stable warm weather. This is usually early July. It is at this time that flower stalks begin to form on the plant.
During the summer, eustoma grows and blooms until autumn frosts. Closer to autumn, I cut the eustoma into bouquets. In a vase, this flower can stand for 3 weeks, retaining its decorative effect.
Now I can’t even imagine my garden without this magnificent flower. Eustoma is undoubtedly worthy of such painstaking cultivation from seeds. I would be glad if you share your experience of growing eustoma. Tell us which varieties are your favorite.
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