A Detailed Guide to the Latest Methods for Growing Eustoma (Lisianthus) from Seed
Eustoma is also known as prairie gentian, Turkish gentian, and so on. It is a perennial plant of the genus Eustoma in the family Gentianaceae, commonly propagated by sowing. Its seeds are extremely tiny, usually about 10,000 seeds per gram, which is why Eustoma seeds are mostly given a coating treatment. Coated seeds have a relatively high germination rate, so let us take a look below at how to grow Eustoma from seed!
Preparing the Seedling Soil
Before sowing Eustoma seeds, first prepare seedling soil or seedling plugs. For convenience, try to use separate small seedling pots, as this can prevent the leggy growth that occurs when germination times differ. Then, after filling with soil, spray it with a spray bottle, and then set it in a larger water basin so that the soil becomes thoroughly wet all the way through.
Sowing Method
Eustoma seeds are especially tiny, like dust, and even a heavy breath seems as if it would blow them away, so you must be very careful. It is best to have something underneath to catch them, such as a layer of white paper, so that even if they accidentally fall, you need not worry about not being able to find them. Then use a toothpick slightly moistened with water, touch it to the seed, and the seed will stick to the toothpick, making it much easier to sow into the seedling pot. Note that Eustoma seeds do not need to be covered with soil on top; just place them directly on the surface of the soil.
Keeping Moist After Sowing
After the Eustoma seeds are placed, if there is a lid available, cover it to keep in moisture. If there is no lid, you can cover them with a layer of household plastic wrap to maintain humidity; just open it once a day to let them breathe. You can also use a very fine spray bottle to mist them with water every day. If you feel unsure about getting it right, you can simply set them in a water basin to maintain humidity. But do remember, do not leave them in there 24 hours a day; just lightly mist them or let them sit for a while each day. Seeds also need to breathe. Soaking for too long will ruin the seeds, and instead make them less likely to germinate.
Germination Management
After sowing, Eustoma seeds generally germinate in about 15 to 20 days, though some take as long as 30 days. You must be patient and not give up on them, and keep the humidity up until they germinate. After germination, there is no need to keep the lid on; they can get bright, indirect light, but absolutely do not expose them to harsh sun, because newly sprouted seedlings are very fragile and can easily dry out and die from sun exposure. At this point, there is also no need to keep them in the water basin every day; just put them in when they look slightly dry. For newly sprouted seedlings, try to mist gently, because the seedlings are very small and a strong spray will knock them over.
Growing Management
1. Light: Eustoma flowers are relatively sensitive to light. Long daylight is very beneficial to the growth and development of Eustoma, helping stem and leaf growth and flower bud formation and achieving earlier flowering. Generally, 16 hours of light per day gives the best results.
2. Temperature: Eustoma likes warmth. The suitable growing temperature is 15 to 28 degrees C, and during the growing period the nighttime temperature should not be lower than 12 degrees C. When winter temperatures are below 5 degrees C, the leaf rosette forms and it cannot flower. It can also tolerate short periods at 0 degrees C. If the growing period temperature exceeds 30 degrees C, the flowering period is noticeably shortened.
3. Watering: Eustoma likes a moist environment, but excessive water is unfavorable to root growth and makes it susceptible to disease invasion. After the flower buds form, avoid high-temperature and high-humidity environments, otherwise fungal diseases are easily caused. At the same time, insufficient water supply during the growing period makes stems and leaves grow thin and weak and causes early flowering.