Balsam
Content:
Balsam description
Balsam is a very beautiful and profusely blooming indoor flower that has become very popular for a long time ago. Today it can be found on the windowsills of many amateur gardeners, who love this plant very much for its unpretentiousness, not capriciousness, and at the same time excellent results in development and growth. In addition, the flowering of the plant is eternal and very bright, it is practically not affected by various external factors, which is why balsam is so popular and in demand.
Due to the fact that balsam has some special properties and characteristics, it is popularly called very differently. Some call it touchy (at the time of ripening, the boxes with seeds crumble at the slightest touch of them), a light (when evening comes, a very large number of flowers open on the balsam, which more resemble lights of a very different shade - white, pink, orange, bright yellow , purple or reddish). In general, in general, the whole set of names can be classified precisely because of the external features and characteristics of this plant, as well as because of some of its specific features - sensitivity to touch, lack of tolerance of possible exposure or pressure. But in general, balsam looks incredibly impressive against the background of many other plantings, therefore, it is on the external characteristics that gardeners pay most attention to when they are going to select varieties and types of plants for planting indoors, at home, and for planting on their own personal plot.
Another name for balsam is quite unusual - people sometimes call it "Vanka wet". This is due to the fact that balsam is the very plant that needs constant moisture, and also after watering or before the onset of inclement weather, a small amount of sugar dew may appear on the balsam leaves, which also makes the plant look moist. Of course, as we have already noted, all these names come from what characteristics the plant has, especially the external ones.
The homeland of balsam is Zanzibar, and it was also well cultivated in the regions of Africa and Central Asia. In general, balsam can still be found there in huge quantities, although the plant is cultivated on the territory of many other states. In our country, it first appeared around the 19th century, that is, quite recently. The balsam family is a huge species diversity, which includes more than 500 species and varieties of plants. Their common features are a love for illuminated areas and the need for sunlight, as well as a love for moisture, since balsam really belongs to moisture-loving crops, and without constant watering, the plant can simply die, which in no case should be allowed.If we talk about balsam growing in a temperate climate, then today in such conditions about eight species can grow, which, of course, is a very small, even meager indicator. But to date, only about 15 species have been introduced into the culture. One way or another, the plant is of very great interest, so you should not ignore it, but it is better to pay special attention to the undoubted species diversity, as well as to agronomic measures and caring procedures in order to understand what exactly the balsam is, what are its features, characteristics and specific features.
Balsams are divided into two rather large groups - these are annuals and perennials. As a rule, annual balsams adorn garden beds, as they have very bright and colorful flower blooms. Therefore, in general, annuals are more popular than perennials. As for the perennial group of balsams, they can be grown indoors and at home, they will delight with their appearance and flowering throughout the year. In general, both groups are very popular with gardeners, as they have their own distinctive features and interesting features.
Balsam is a plant whose stems are distinguished by some transparency and at the same time juiciness. They are quite brittle and long - they reach about half a meter in height, sometimes even higher, grow mostly straight up. The root system is presented as lobular, and the leaves are oval and slightly elongated, in the shape of a heart. The color of the leaves is usually light and green, sometimes, as the plant matures, they become deeper, saturated color of juicy greenery. Veins appear on the leaves, and in general the plant looks quite beautiful and decorative, so that the bush makes up a special composition.
The flowers of the plant are five-petaled, rather unusual in shape. They can be located on the bush in a free direction, and they can also gather in larger inflorescences, which also looks quite interesting. In the inflorescence, one elongated petal can sometimes come across, which stands out against the background of all the others. The color can usually be pinkish, and also often the flowers acquire red, white and purple shades, it all depends on the variety and type of balsam, as well as on how carefully the gardener looked after this plant and followed all the requirements of agricultural technology. Small white buds open and turn into larger and brighter flowers that have a rich color and look incredibly decorative and attractive. Often there are such types and varieties of balsams that have not one-color flowers, but two-color. For example, these are rose buds, which can also be double, carnation, camellia. These flowers are even more decorative and, at the same time, they require special attention and special care measures, which, of course, are very important in order to obtain the desired result in floriculture.
When the buds fade, green fruits appear in their place. When they ripen completely, it turns out that they were capsules, inside which the seeds are located. It is worth noting that the boxes are very sensitive to any touch and can easily crumble if the gardener starts to touch or cut them off. In general, in the future, the seeds can be used in order to cultivate and propagate balsams, and, in principle, the seed method is considered one of the most popular today. In the next part of this article, we will dwell in more detail on what types and varieties of balsam exist, and what features and characteristics they have.
Popular varieties and types of balsam, their characteristics
- Waller's balsam - the bush of this plant reaches half a meter in height, while it has very juicy straight stems, on which there are delicate and wide leaves of green or brownish color, their shape is very typical for all varieties and types of balsamines - they are oval. This type of balsam is distinguished by the fact that it responds incredibly to heat and light, and in general, such conditions for a plant are considered the most ideal. This factor should be taken into account by absolutely every gardener who is just looking for a place for planting balsams. Flowers can be either one-color or two-color, everything will depend on the variety. In general, the flowering itself is very abundant, which also attracts gardeners precisely to plant this species in their personal plot or at home. Waller's balsam is a species that is considered the progenitor of a very large number of hybrids, and for this reason it is also very popular and in demand, since it has a number of positive and beneficial traits and characteristics that can later be noticed in hybrid balsam varieties.
- New Guinea Balsam - one of the hybrid perennials, which is distinguished by very large and bright inflorescences, as well as the fact that they can be chaotically located and cover almost the entire shrub. This variety can be grown both in open ground and in a pot right in the apartment. At the same time, New Guinea balsam is not at all afraid of direct sunlight, but on the contrary - it reacts perfectly to them, and it is due to sunlight that it shows its decorative features and characteristics. The difference between New Guinea balsam also lies in the fact that this variety is very resistant to attacks from pests, and is also practically not susceptible to diseases. The leaves are very deep green in color with yellowish veins. In a warm and sunny place, balsam shows especially abundant flowering, so when planting, you should pay special attention to the place of planting of this plant.
- Balsam Kandy - the variety is quite young, it was bred relatively recently, when compared with some other plant varieties. The bush has smooth and very juicy straight stems, which can reach about half a meter in length. The leaves are oblong, have slightly tapered tips. The color scheme of the leaves is uneven, that is, they can be painted in several shades of green, which adds even more decorative effect to the bush. The flowering of the shrub turns out to be very abundant, the buds are formed on rather high pedicels, have a heterogeneous, very diverse color, which also favorably distinguishes this type of balsam from all other species and varieties. The flowers are very soft to the touch, as if even slightly velvety. The variety is very decorative and, at the same time, it does not impose strict requirements at all, if we talk directly about care measures, so that without much effort the gardener can get an incredibly attractive planting on the site or at home, which will delight with varied and bright flowering throughout very long time.
- Balsam called Strawberry with Cream - acts as one of the most spectacular varieties, which gives out red-white double flowers. The attractive flowers reach a diameter of four centimeters, which makes them quite large when compared with other types and varieties of balsams. With all this, the plant is very compact, the stems are well developed, they can branch a little. Long-lasting flowering even if the plant develops and is planted in a slightly shaded area.With all this, the variety also does not show any special requirements in care or agricultural technology, so it is excellent for planting it even in the plots of those gardeners who do not have too much free time to take care of planting.
- Peters - this type of balsam differs from all the others precisely in that the leaves have an unusual color - they have a decorative bronze tint, which, of course, is almost impossible to find in all other species of this plant. The flowering is very abundant, the flowers are bright and very red, which, in combination with the bronze leaves, gives an incredible decorative effect. The bush looks great both in a single planting and in a group - in combination with other flower and shrub crops.
- Orchid balsam variety - the stem of the species is very juicy and at the same time very brittle, has a dark pink tint. The leaves are velvety, deep green in color, with red or pink veins on them, which give them an even more decorative appearance. The flowers are also very unusual - in their shape they resemble shoes more than typical flowers. The petals are white in color, sometimes red or bright yellow and orange blotches can appear on them, which makes the flowers even more attractive, especially if balsams are used to decorate flower beds and personal plots, as well as to create group decorative plantings. The peculiarity of this balsam is that it is never affected by spider mites, which are not at all opposed to settling in these plants. For gardeners in the choice of types of balsam, this factor is an undoubted advantage.
- Tom Thumb - the bush is very compact, while it gives abundant and very beautiful flowering. The flowers are very large, terry, decorative, you can grow a bush in indoor conditions, and you can also plant balsam in open ground, where it will also feel great. At the same time, when choosing a place, it is worth keeping in mind that Balsam Boy with a Thumb is very fond of well-lit sunny areas, and in general can grow in partial shade. But still, partial shade can affect the decorative features and characteristics of this balsam - the inflorescences will be small and not as bright as they could be. The flower should also be regularly and very abundantly moistened, since if the soil dries out, this will lead to the plant refusing to bloom at all, which means it will not show its decorative features and characteristics. In order for the bush to become wider and branch, its tops from the very first stages of development must be slightly pinched, but this is best done very carefully, you can even under the supervision of more experienced gardeners, if the florist does it for the first time. Indoor balsam can also grow in a cramped pot, it will only adjust to size and become even more compact. If the balsam grows in open ground, then, accordingly, it can grow to the most incredible sizes, and the bush itself will be very branched and large, it is worth looking after it more, periodically cutting it off, getting rid of branches that lead to thickening of the crown, as well as from dry or diseased, damaged branches.
- Cutie - this balsam is distinguished by its beauty in appearance, since it is very compact, and at the same time its foliage is very dense. Flowering has pink and snow-white shades, at home it can stretch for a whole year. If this balsam is planted in the open field, then flowering continues throughout the summer period. The height of this bush is usually about twenty centimeters, while the balsam of this balsam called Cutie is incredibly thermophilic, which should be taken into account when choosing a place for planting.The bush can grow both on the sunny side and slightly in partial shade, while if the shade is constant, this can lead to the fact that the flowering will lose some decorative components and properties.
- Salmon Chiffon - the bush is also distinguished by the fact that it has a very long and abundant flowering. The flowers themselves are distinguished by their large size and the fact that they are terry, which also adds additional decorative effect to them. The petals feel more like a very delicate chiffon fabric, a salmon shade, bright, and therefore, during flowering, these bushes can stand out from all other varieties and species, and this is really a very profitable option for single or group planting in combination with some others plants and flowers.
Of course, there are a huge number of other types and varieties of balsams, which are more whimsical and can be quite capricious if we talk about the sediment and subsequent care of the plants. However, they are not so common in home or backyard plantings, and therefore, in this article, we will not mention them. In the next part of this article, we will talk in more detail about what are the rules for caring for balsams of various varieties and types. They will be of interest to both novice gardeners and experienced ones, since knowledge of such basics will allow flower growers to achieve incredible results in planting balsams and in their subsequent reproduction and cultivation, so that agricultural technology should in no way be ignored.
Balsam care
Of course, regardless of which variety or type the balsams belong to, if there are several common needs and characteristics that are precisely noted in the caring measures and preventive measures applied to this plant. If the gardener remembers these requirements and features, then in the future it will be much easier for him to care for the plant and, accordingly, achieve excellent results:
- The plant always needs a lot of watering, and the substrate is better to be poured than to forget to water. In general, balsams respond well to moisture, so it is worth remembering this, since flowering and, accordingly, the decorative features of this plant largely depend on this.
- Fresh air is another requirement that should be met when planting balsams. They are very fond of being in the fresh air and saturated with oxygen, but at the same time it is worthwhile to carefully monitor that the fresh air does not turn into a draft, since due to drafts, plants can sometimes feel very strong discomfort, and their general condition due to this deteriorates markedly. When the gardener ventilates the room in which the balsam is located, then do not forget to set the pot away from the draft during ventilation so that it is not directly in the air stream
- Balsams show better flowering in small pots than in large open spaces
- The plant can easily propagate in a variety of ways, especially by cuttings and using seed.
- Balsams are plants that are very fond of good lighting, as well as warmth, since it is in such conditions that they reproduce and feel best.
- Balsams also show excellent growth and development results when they grow on window sills in apartments or on balconies. Only if there is a very hot midday sun, then it is recommended to remove the plant from the windowsill or shade it slightly, since direct sunlight may not always have a good effect on the general condition of the plant. It is also worth noting that in the more winter months, when there is not enough sunlight, the pot should also be moved away from the glass and closer to the battery so that the plant feels warm from it, because thermophilicity is one of the most striking characteristics of the plant.
- In order to contain balsam in winter, it is recommended to place the pot in a bright room, the temperature in which is not lower than 15 degrees. Also, the room should be moderately humidified, since the plant develops well in such conditions, and it is best for the gardener to organize them in order to support the vital activity and development of balsam even in such a harsh time.
- In the summer, balsams can be planted on the territory of an open personal plot, but with the onset of autumn, you can return it back to your apartment or home, because in winter balsams need special care and supervision from the person himself. In the garden for the summer period, balsams can be planted in the shade of trees, where they will feel just wonderful and very comfortable.
If you properly care for balsams, they will delight gardeners with their continuous and very abundant flowering. But even at the same time, it is also worth considering some circumstances and conditions that must be observed, because balsams are, although unpretentious plants, but still susceptible to some caring measures, so they cannot be ignored in any case. In an apartment, balsams are best displayed on the windowsills located in the southern part of the apartment. The flower is very fond of warmth and light, so there he will find the most suitable place for himself. Only if the balsams are still very young, then at noon they should be shaded a little, otherwise there is a great risk that the sun will damage the plant or burn it. Also, balsams take root well on eastern or western windowsills, since there they will receive sufficient lighting, but at the same time they will also be safe.
If the flower is located in a shaded or in a very dark place, then it will generally refuse to show any signs of flowering. If the pot is not positioned correctly, then the plant will begin to stretch upward, the stem will become bare, and the lower leaves will fall off. In general, this clearly will not look decorative, so it is worth taking care of the location of the plant and its illumination, otherwise the balsams will not reveal their characteristics and, in principle, will refuse to demonstrate abundant and attractive flowering. If the gardener correctly guesses the location of the balsam, then he will demonstrate abundant and continuous flowering from early spring to late autumn. Usually, balsams rest for some time, mainly a state of dormancy occurs in the winter, and then it again demonstrates abundant growth and active flowering. The flowers are incredibly attractive and bright, so balsams are often used not only in single plantings, but also in group compositions. In addition, they take root well with other plants and flowers, which is also their undoubted advantage. With the onset of summer warmth, balsams can be determined on terraces or balconies, as well as taken out to the gazebo at home. Fresh air, sunlight, warmth - this is exactly what balsams need so much for their most favorable growth and development.
Watering is very important for the flowering of balsams. The soil substrate should always be moistened, as overdrying will lead to the plant ceasing to be decorative, starting to dry, and will look extremely painful and completely unattractive. In summer, watering should be much more often than in winter, but in winter, moisture is sometimes added so that the plant is constantly in fresh and moist soil. Watering is carried out as soon as the gardener noticed that the topsoil has dried out at least one centimeter in depth. Water should be used warm, settled and soft. If you immediately take running water at low temperatures, then the plant may experience a shock, and this has too negative an effect on its root system and on its general condition.If a grower noticed a white bloom on the surface of the soil, it would mean that the water for irrigation was too hard and unsuitable to use for watering a plant such as balsam. But also do not abuse watering and fill the flower until it floats in the ground. Especially this should not be done if the temperature is too low, and the plant does not have enough at the same time with all the illumination. Watering should be frequent, but very moderate. If excess moisture has accumulated in the pallet, it is advisable to immediately remove it, especially if it is winter. In the summer, moisture in the pan may remain, as it will be an additional source of nutrition for the balsam root system.
Also balsams are very fond of when, after watering, the gardener loosens the root circle. Thanks to this procedure, oxygen saturation increases, the soil becomes ventilated. Moreover, any processing and loosening should be done very carefully so as not to cause mechanical damage to the plant itself. If the gardener noticed that the leaves begin to deform, curl, become covered with dust, then they should also be carefully wiped with a damp cloth, since not only the soil and root system requires care, but also the outer part of the plant, which is just very attractive and decorative. if the plant itself is generally healthy and receives sufficient care from the grower.
Balsams are very fond of warmth, and a comfortable temperature for them is between 20 and 28 degrees. In winter, it is also worth maintaining the temperature around 16 degrees, since balsam may not tolerate too much temperature drop at all. In general, temperature extremes should be avoided, because the plant is larger and adapts best in stable conditions, and it is for this reason that it is recommended to take temperature regime and stability very seriously in this particular area.
If we talk about humidity in the room, then in this case, balsam, in principle, is not particularly picky about this aspect. But there is a situation when the room has an incredibly hot temperature, and the leaves can excessively evaporate moisture, which is why they become completely dry and completely unattractive. Therefore, it is in this case that the gardener should try very seriously to maintain normal and comfortable indoor humidity. You can place containers with water next to the pot, which will evaporate moisture and make the air more humid. Technical devices are also excellent - for example, purchased air humidifiers. A flowering plant should be sprayed from a spray bottle, but this should be done very rarely, otherwise the buds can be damaged or generally ruin the appearance of the inflorescences.
Balsam takes root well in nutritious, and at the same time in very light soils. It should be loose so that air passes through the upper layers and saturates the plant and its root system. For balsam, soils that are universal in their composition are perfect, which can be purchased directly in stores for gardeners and gardeners. Also, some gardeners can independently prepare soil mixtures, for this it is necessary to take and mix components such as turf, leafy earth, humus and sand into a homogeneous mass. In addition, peat is added to the resulting composition, and all this is thoroughly mixed to obtain a homogeneous and permeable light soil. The mixture should be disinfected before use, for this you can either steam it or freeze it so that the trace elements and bacteria finally die and cannot develop in the composition.
In order to grow a great balsam, you should pay attention to the size of the pot. The flower takes root well in very small containers, in which the root system can braid the entire earthen lump.If the balsam turns out to be in a spacious pot, then he can spend all his energy on building up the root system to the size of the pot. In this case, there is a great risk that the plant will be very large, but at the same time it will not have enough resources to simply tie buds and give a full and decorative flowering. So, if you grow balsams in large pots, you will have to wait for flowering much longer than if you grow plants in small and compact pots. In general, in this case, choose the gardener himself, we can only give similar recommendations and list all the advantages and disadvantages of both large and compact containers. In addition to paying attention to the size of the pot, it is also recommended to keep in mind that it is worth making drainage holes that are located right at the very bottom of the pots. A drainage layer can also be installed at the bottom, it consists of expanded clay, pebbles. It is also necessary to add some pieces of charcoal or activated charcoal there, as it can also act as a drainage component and remove excess moisture from the pot so that it does not damage the plant's root system.
Top dressing should be carried out from early spring (April) to October. Usually, feeding is sufficient with a frequency of twice every 30 days. Fertilizers should be taken special, which are just designed specifically for indoor plants. In the composition of such fertilizers and mixtures, trace elements - phosphorus and potassium must necessarily prevail, since it is they that have a positive effect on the formation of the green mass of the plant, as well as on the fact that a large number of buds are tied, which will then give abundant flowering. It is worth being very careful and careful in the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers, since an excess of nitrogen can lead to the fact that the flowering will be damaged, which means that the balsam itself will gradually lose its decorative features and features over time. Therefore, when feeding a plant, one should observe the measure and in no case abuse these substances.
Balsam is an excellent perennial that over time can outlive the soil, so it needs to be transplanted to a new place. It is recommended to transplant young balsams from one pot to another approximately every year, while renewing the soil and its composition. The size of the pots must be such that the root system of the plant is comfortably placed in it, plus a certain amount of completely fresh soil is added there. After transplanting, the substrate is thoroughly watered with settled clean water, and if there is such a need, then you can add some more substrate. The most important thing is to be very careful at first to ensure that the plant successfully adapts to new conditions. When the root system wraps around the entire earthy clod, it is then that the balsam will enter the stage of its active flowering, will show all its decorative properties and features.
As for pruning, it should be done regularly, throughout the life of this plant. If the plant was planted by seed, then it is necessary to pinch the top of the balsam, then the lateral shoots will go into growth, from which the general shape of this plant will be formed. If the gardener has an idea to form a tree from a shrub, then it is worth waiting for a while until the stem begins to grow stiff. Then it will already be possible to start formative pruning, the plant recovers on its own, and if the procedure is done correctly, then in general it perfectly tolerates even such a stressful situation.
In general, balsam is an excellent houseplant, which is distinguished by its species and varietal diversity.Care measures are not at all complicated, so even a gardener without experience will be able to master them perfectly and get a full-fledged and very attractive plant as a result, which will delight with its variegated and abundant flowering.