These flowers are for decorative use. Their important feature are stems that are very bent. The word "ampel", when translated from German, means a hanging vase designed to grow flowers. This type of balsam is well suited for this method of growing.
General information on ampelous balsam
This plant is distributed around the world and has wide popularity. The following is a more detailed discussion of what it is.
Botanical Description and History
No reliable information has been preserved about exactly how ampelous balsamine appeared. Its origin can be explained only with the help of legends, but none of them has yet to be confirmed.
White flowers
The homeland of this home flower is the subtropics of Africa or North America. The first mention of the appearance of balsam on the European continent dates back to 1596. Immediately after the appearance, he began to enjoy popularity.
This plant can be grown as an annual and perennial plant. It belongs to the balsamic family, in which more than 300 plant species are known. Flowers grow in the axils of the leaves and can have different shades:
- Orange,
- lilac
- red,
- white,
- pink.
Note! Coloring can be monophonic, spotty or in stripes. They give the impression of bright colored lanterns.
The size of the flower is 6-8 centimeters in diameter. When ripe, green boxes with plant seeds grow. They gradually dry out. If you lightly touch a ripe box, it will burst and scatter the seed around. Because of this property, the people call the plant touchy.
The ampelous balsam has a size of 15 to 25 centimeters. Flowering time begins in June and can continue until frost.
Interesting Facts
In balsam, flowering occurs year round. This is one of the reasons that they are called evergreens.
Drops of water often stand out along the edges of the petals. This property gave the plant another name: Vanka Wet.
Important!Subject to the conditions of growing indoors, ampelous balsam is able to bloom year-round.
It is believed that the coloring of balsamines affects the development of certain aspects of the human personality. For example, purple develops mental abilities, and pink contributes to the development of emotionality. It is assumed that the color of the flower corresponds to the type of energy flow that affects a person.
Balsamins in the wild
There are more than three hundred species of this flower. Among them are both perennial and annual. There are shrubs with a height of up to two meters. If ampel balsamine is chosen for cultivation, how to care for it is described below.
Popular types of ampelous balsamines
There are several of the most popular types of balsamins used at home or for landscape design.
Balsam toggle switch
Balzamin ampel toggle switch
In this variety, the flowers are white. Their diameter is 4-5 centimeters.
Amplified terry balm Waller Athena Appleblossom
In this type of terry balsam, flowers have a size of 4 to 5 centimeters. The outer part of the petals is white, the inner has a delicate pink color.
Ampoule balsam in landscape design
These plants can be used in landscaping. Usually they are used for this purpose from the beginning of flowering until the end of August. At other times, they are kept indoors.
How to grow ampelous balsam
The following is a detailed discussion of the batch Impatiens Ampelny - the sowing, growing conditions and other features.
For growing, you can use cuttings. In this case, in the spring, cut stems 8-10 centimeters long, put them in water. When growing, you can use moist soil with a small addition of sand.
Note! In just a few days, they will develop a root system. Immediately after this, it is necessary to transplant them into pots.
Stages of seedling development and balsam care
When leaving, it is important to follow all the rules of cultivation.
Soil composition
To grow ampelous balsam, it is necessary to provide a suitable soil composition in which they will grow. To do this, prepare the soil mixture, which should include the following components:
- vermiculitis;
- peat;
- river sand;
- surface sheet earth.
Important! These parts are taken in the same volume and thoroughly mixed. A finished composition of this kind is sold in specialized stores where it can be purchased for growing balsam.
Biotechnology requires that when using this soil, a thin layer of sand is poured onto the bottom of the pot - this will help protect the roots of the plant from decay.
Lighting and location
How to care for a balsam flower - First of all, it is important to ensure proper lighting. With its lack, the flowers will turn pale. The plant does not tolerate direct sunlight. The best option for flower care is plentiful diffused lighting.
Important!If balsam is grown in a spacious pot, then it will not have enough flowers. You can correct the situation by replanting in a closer pot.
Seed propagation
To grow flowers from seeds, they can be taken from a plant or purchased in a specialized store.
The technique of sowing balsam seeds
If you decide to grow flowers from seeds, then with their help you first need to get seedlings. This should be done as follows:
- Prepare containers with ground. The seeds are slightly pressed into the soil and sprinkled with a small amount of sand.
- Pour and cover with a transparent film or glass.
- Seed containers should be kept in a well-lit and warm place. It should be borne in mind that direct rays of the sun are dangerous to them. The best choice is plentiful diffused lighting.
- For full development, daily ventilation is important. To do this, remove the film or glass for a while and let the plant breathe.
- Watering should be sufficient, but not plentiful. It is necessary to ensure that the earth does not become dry.
Initially, the seeds are planted together. Sprouts appear over time. As soon as three leaves can be seen on them, there is a need for a pick. Now each plant is planted in a separate container. Balzamin prefers close pots in which he will develop well. In this case, he will need daily watering. For growing, you can use the cache-pot.
Luxurious scarlet flowers
How and when to plant
Landing is done in mid-March. Before this, it is important to keep them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for several hours. Immediately before planting, the seeds are rinsed in clean water.
Adult Plant Care
When caring for balsam, it is important to provide it with suitable watering. This is a hygrophilous plant. In conditions where there is not enough water, balsam is able to survive. However, he will lose the lower leaves, and the plant itself will lose its elasticity.
To determine when moisture is needed, it must be taken into account that the ground in which the balsamic roots are located should not become completely dry.
In winter, the plant needs much less moisture. Therefore, watering at this time needs to be reduced.
Note! The situation is unacceptable when fluid stagnation occurs in a pot or pan. If you do not take measures, then this can lead to rotting of the roots.
Fertilizers, plant nutrition
In the period from April to the end of August, flowers need regular dressing. Mineral fertilizers suitable for indoor flowering plants are suitable for this purpose.
When feeding, you need to carefully monitor that in the mixture provided to the plant there is no prevalence of nitrogen fertilizers. If this situation arises, then there will be an intensive growth of stems and inhibition of the process of flower formation.
One of the suitable types of fertilizer is Kemira, its composition:
- magnesium;
- potassium;
- boron;
- copper;
- phosphorus;
- nitrogen;
- manganese;
- zinc;
- molybdenum;
- iron.
If you additionally feed "Crystal", then this will support a long and plentiful flowering. To prepare the composition, you need to dissolve a tablespoon of the drug in 5 liters of water. Such top dressing is done once a week.
Balsam with different colors
Common Diseases and Pests
When winter comes, ampelous balsam becomes especially vulnerable to the appearance of fungal diseases. The most dangerous for him is gray rot.
If the plant is sick, it is necessary to transplant it into a new container, changing the old soil.
The attack of a spider mite is more likely in those conditions when the plant does not receive enough moisture. One of the signs of the disease is the presence of swirling leaves. If you do not take measures for treatment, then all the leaves will fall off. To combat this insect, specialized preparations are used: Actellik or Neoron.
Note! With a whitefly disease, the leaves begin to turn yellow quickly. Insects can be found on the back of the lower leaves. In this case, "Fufanon" or "Decis" is used for treatment.
Care at rest
After the flowering is over, the peduncles must be cut, and the plant rearranged in a cool place. It is desirable to ensure such conditions under which the temperature will not exceed 15 degrees. Watering should be very moderate at this time.
In February, new shoots should appear. As soon as this happens, balsam should be rearranged in a room with a higher temperature and watered more intensively.
It is believed that ampelous balsam is a capricious plant that requires a lot of attention. However, if it is properly looked after, it will delight you with luxurious and varied flowering throughout almost the whole year.
