The lisianthus or Eustoma grandiflorum It is one of the most beautiful plants because of the way it grows, which is reminiscent of a rosette, as well as its large flowers and its white, pink, lilac or blue tones. This plant comes from the southern part of the United States and northern Mexico, so it requires a series of specific care to have it both inside the home and in the garden.
If you have decided to purchase one or have been given it as a gift, this article will interest you. In a HOWTO, we explain how to care for lisianthus plant so that it blooms and fills with beauty all around it.
Lisianthus plant location
The lisianthus plant can live both indoors and outdoors, either planted directly in the garden or in a pot on the balcony or window. Despite this ability to survive, it is important to place it in a place where it lives without problems because there are environments that do not tolerate anything well. We tell you where to locate the lisianthus plant in your home:
Lisianthus plant outdoors
If you are going to put the plant outside, it is important that you look for an area that is not shady, but in which the sun does not give direct sunlight to the plant because it is not good for the sun’s rays to fall on it for too many hours and if it is long hot. And it is that they would damage it and wither it before its time. Yes, it must have a lot of light because it needs it for its growth and for the buttons to form and the flowers to come out.
Lisianthus plant indoors
In this case, the best option is to look for a room or a place inside the house that has a lot of natural light, but that does not shine directly in the sun. Also, do not place it near a heat source such as a radiator or stove, or under an air conditioner. You can still move it around to expose it to the sun’s rays, but only for a few minutes and never on hotter days. Remember that it is only good to put it directly in the sun when it has not yet bloomed.
In fact, regardless of whether the plant lives inside or outside the home, it is always important that the place where you place it never exceeds 35ºC. A very cold place is not good either. The minimum temperature should be around 20ºC.
Soil and compost for the lisianthus plant
The soil or the earth are also very important to favor the lisianthus plant growth. If you have bought the pot, it will already come with the necessary soil, but if you have to plant it or transplant it, something that sooner or later you will have to do because it will grow fast, take good note.
The soil or soil for the lisianthus plant must be very fertile, apart from having in the garden or in the pot a good drainage system so that it does not lack water, but there is not too much. In addition, it is convenient to put some compost or fertilizer. This product is only recommended to be used from the beginning of spring to the end of summer, but with caution to avoid problems with the roots and leaves. Although you can add one that is universal, it is important to note that it has potassium because it improves the flower, apart from strengthening the plant, and nitrogen so that the foliage grows healthier.
In this other oneHOWTO article we tell you how to make natural compost.
How to water the lisianthus plant, one of the most important care
This plant needs a lot of water, so watering must be done frequently. The periodicity varies depending on the time of year. The best is water it three or four times a week, while the rest of the year can be more than enough with once or twice every seven days. Everything will depend on the state of the earth. Remember that the soil must always be kept moist, but it is vital that there is no waterlogging.
So that the lisianthus plant does not get waterlogged, which can lead it to rot and die, it is necessary that the pot or the soil in which it is planted has good drainage and that the soil is not too compact.
Is it necessary to prune the lisianthus plant?
On pruning the lisianthus plant, there are different opinions. Some experts point out that it is not necessary, while others say that it is because its stems are very tall and grow continuously. Due to their height, with only the weight of the flower, they could bend.
However, they are very extreme cases. In general, no pruning is necessary. But you do have to be aware of remove dried branches, leaves and flowers to prevent disease from occurring in the plant. You can do it with your hands if they are very dry or help yourself with pruning shears to remove them.
Caring for the lisianthus plant against pests
If you have a lisianthus plant, you should pay attention to its health. And, like all plants, its health can be affected by pests. In general, they all present a serious problem because they can lead to their death. These are the Most common pests of the lisianthus plant and how to combat them:
- Fungal diseases: in this group are all the conditions that occur such as gray mold, Pythium or stem rot. One reason why soil drainage is very important to prevent these diseases from appearing. And is that a good drainage system is the best prevention to avoid excessive humidity. Anyway, if even with everything this type of problem appears, you should apply a fungicide to kill fungi. Here we tell you how to make a homemade fungicide.
- Insects: even if they are small, they are harmful and, in fact, they are a veritable plague. Among those that most affect this plant are whiteflies, as well as aphids, thrips and leaf miners. In general, they attack the leaves and end up hindering their development. In this case, what should be used is a mild pesticide.
With these tips, from UNCOMO we hope we have helped you know how to care for the lisianthus plant. If you have any questions, remember to consult with experts in its care or in the florist or nursery where you bought it, among other options.
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