Bacopa cultivation. Features of growing ampelous bacopa and caring for the plant. plant care

Trying to decorate their home, many gardeners often grow ampelous plants, which are quite unpretentious, as they feel good both on a glazed balcony and indoors, some species can successfully grow on open loggias. Bacopa ampelous has long been known to flower lovers in Europe. Lately, we got to know her.

Bacopa ampelous: description, types and photos of plants

During the first acquaintance with bacopa, a person is unlikely to be able to appreciate its attractiveness. Although the plant looks magnificent, the flowers are rather small, so there is no need to talk about originality. But still, it is not necessary to discount it, especially considering that in European countries this flower is the main decoration of the facades of houses. Perhaps it's all about its simplicity, due to which, without greatly overloading the site, the bushes of the plant easily fill large spaces. For this bush, you can choose a variety of placement options: it can be fixed under the ceiling, installed in a flower pot, and also decorate flat surfaces, this allows you to give them the effect of a dense carpet.

Popular varieties and photos of bacopa:

Bacopa reproduction

Bacopa ampelous reproduces from seeds, layering and cuttings. All processes are carried out easily, since the flower has excellent germination.

Bacopa ampelous: growing from seeds at home

As a rule, the method of sowing from seeds is used to obtain new bacopa flowers, it can be done at any time. The only exceptions are situations when in the future it is planned to put them on open land. When the grower intends to grow bacopa at home throughout the entire time, then sowing can be done at any time. Although there may be times when you need to be patient to see the first flowers.

Bacopa begins its flowering in March, therefore, when sowing seeds a month earlier, the seedlings do not have enough time to grow by this time. Therefore, flowering does not occur before July;
the growing season of the plant is quite long and lasts until mid-autumn. As a rule, vegetation occurs in two stages, with the latter being the most active.

When choosing seeds for growing bacopa at home, you must first find out how stable the color of the bush is. Since it is possible that in a few years, bacopa will no longer delight you with the color of the sunset, which will change to a gray-white hue. But most often this only happens when you grow the plant for a long time.

The method of growing bacopa from seeds by directly planting them in the ground is unacceptable. First you need to get seedlings, which are then planted on permanent place.

Seeds germinate in two weeks. Until that happens, you need to protect them from direct sun rays. At the initial signs of sprout development, the pot must be rearranged closer to the light. From this time on, more frequent waterings begin.

For bacopa seedlings from seeds, a temperature of 19-21C is considered comfortable. You can think about transplanting into separate pots only after 2-3 leaves have formed on the flower. You also need to watch the temperature. external environment: when it is already quite warm, then you can transplant seedlings to open ground. But first you need to harden for 8-12 days, so that the seedlings can adapt well to natural conditions. During transplantation to a permanent place, the bushes are planted no closer than 12-20 cm between themselves. But in any case, it is necessary to take into account the height of the plants.

Bacopa flowers: growing with cuttings

Cutting occurs as follows:

Reproduction by layering

During reproduction, with the help of layering, after a short period of time, you can grow a new fully flowering bush:

Near the pot with the mother bush, a container with fertile soil is installed.
Bacopa stems are laid out on the ground and carefully fixed with an iron staple. Due to the fact that the branches receive nutrition from mother plant, their rooting occurs in a short time.
After a certain period, the earth is carefully dug up and the degree of development of the root system is determined.
With a good result, the branches are separated from the mother plant and as a result a new flowering bush is obtained.

Bacopa: planting and care, photo of flowers

A photo of bacopa can amaze many gardeners, but the desired effect can only be achieved with properly used agricultural cultivation techniques. This plant is quite a "peaceful neighbor", because it can be grown at the same time as other flowers. But, if we consider the experience of flower growers, then it is best to place bacopa with nasturtiums, fuchsias and petunias. This choice is determined by the best compatibility in appearance.

All plants are different. small size, creating a single carpet, and do not create shadows, and also do not stand out from each other. Because for each plant are provided favorable conditions for growth. Although bacopa can be grown as an independent flower at home, this will in no way affect the decorative properties of the backyard.

Growing bacopa and caring for it in the future is a task feasible for any grower, regardless of his experience. Regarding bacopa, it should be noted that while caring for a flower, you need to pinch it, although unlike other flowers, it will bloom in waves. As the flowers fade, the next wave is often just as intense as the last. In this case, the areas of growth on new shoots deserve attention, they must be removed immediately if it is not necessary for the bush to grow in breadth.

Fertilizers and lighting

Much attention during care must be paid to lighting. This is important for bacopa, as growing in a sunny area will enable it to bloom profusely. Planting a plant on shady area, you will not be able to achieve the same beauty. The effect of baits is negligible, so it makes sense to produce them. only for young bushes to provide the plant with the necessary nutrients. Further fertilizers are added when flowering.

With the advent of winter, mineral fertilizers are reduced and completely excluded after a while. The same should be done with watering. Even without this, Bacopa feels comfortable without constant watering. The most important thing is all the time control soil moisture and, if necessary, irrigate. When caring for bacopa, a more effective measure is spraying leaves and shoots, which is practiced by many flower growers. Since in this case it is possible to maintain optimal air humidity in the growing zone of the plant.

Equally important for the normal growth of bacopa is a regular supply of air. Why do you need to periodically loosen the earth in the root zone. But the depth of loosening must be minimal, otherwise you can touch the roots. When bacopa is not planned to be grown as an annual plant, then in the fall the bush is dug up and brought into the house. At this time, the plant needs to maintain a temperature of at least 13-16 degrees.

Conclusion

When first seeing ampelous bacopa, most beginners, as well as experienced flower growers, may find this plant not worthy of attention. But this is a mistake, because it is no coincidence given flower used to decorate homes in European countries. Therefore, for him you need to find a place on the site, since he has many opportunities to show all his originality.

The main difference between bacopa and other plants is that it perfectly clings to any surface, therefore it easily manages to create magnificent “live” carpets that look great not only in the garden, but also at home. Growing this plant is quite simple, since during care it will not be necessary to feed, as well as constant watering.

Bacopa or Sutera is a perennial lush flowering curly herbaceous plant from the Plantain family, common in many European countries and Russian regions. These flowers are native to the South African tropics. Bacopa has decorative qualities, unpretentious in care and maintenance, different long period flowering and a wide variety of species, varieties and hybrids. She is deservedly held in high esteem by flower growers, gardeners and landscape designers.

The method of propagation of bacopa by cuttings is the simplest and does not require special skills and efforts, but it is available only to those who already have an adult plant. Everyone else can use the method of growing a flowering crop from seeds. This will have to spend a lot of attention, some florist skills and a lot of hard work. For planting, it is recommended to take seeds of proven and reliable bacopa varieties: Snowflake, Scopia Doubl Ballerina Pink, and Blizzard.

The optimal time for sowing seeds is the first week of March. With more early landing(for example, in the last week of February) it is necessary to use additional illumination of crops. For convenient control of soil moisture in containers, it is recommended to use transparent plastic cups for planting seeds.

The soil should be loose, moist, with low level acidity. The ideal composition is equal parts of peat, compost (wet), leaf humus. To prevent the occurrence of root rot and other diseases associated with an excess of moisture in the soil, it is recommended to use sand drainage. This material easily absorbs excess moisture. A small layer of sand must be poured onto the bottom of each cup, and only then filled with soil mixture.

Date of packing of purchased seeds has great importance, since their germination lasts only for three years.

Soaking required seed material as disinfectant and prevention from various diseases. The time spent by seeds in a weak manganese solution is about 20 minutes.

Sowing seeds is carried out in moist soil, after which they are lightly pressed and sprayed with a sprayer. Every plastic container with seeds must be covered with glass or plastic wrap and put in the light warm room with a temperature of at least 20 degrees Celsius.

constant temperature and high level humidity should be maintained for two weeks. This time is necessary for the germination of seeds and the emergence of seedlings.

Emergence of seedlings is a signal to transfer containers to a brighter place, to remove glass or film coating, and also to thin out young plants.

The method of watering seedlings is drip and plentiful. The soil mixture must be constantly moistened.

The first picking is carried out after the formation of 3-4 full-fledged leaves. Plants in this form can grow independently in individual containers with peat soil. When transplanting seedlings into common containers, it is necessary to observe the distance between plantings (at least 2 cm). The transfer of plants to a new place of cultivation is carried out together with earthy clod in order to preserve the integrity of the delicate and fragile root system.

Fertilizers are applied regularly. The first - 15 days after germination, the second and all subsequent - every 10 days. It is necessary to use mineral and organic fertilizers alternately. Full development and abundant lush bloom bacopa depends on the composition of complementary foods. It must contain phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium in large quantities.

The second picking is carried out already with grown bushes, which are transferred to a permanent place of cultivation. The decorativeness of plants will depend on the density of planting. The distance between plantings should not be less than 10 cm. It is recommended to deepen the root part by one node, which will contribute to better rooting and abundant flowering. The place of cultivation can be open areas in the garden or flower garden, as well as hanging flower containers or pots.

About 15 days before planting in open ground, bacopa seedlings must be hardened off, gradually lowering the temperature, reaching 15 degrees Celsius. This procedure will strengthen the immunity of young plants, which can be transferred to the beds in the second half of May. The distance between the landing holes is not less than 20 cm. In case of unexpected vagaries of the weather and a drop in temperature below 10-14 degrees, it is recommended to use film covers.

The landing site should be semi-shaded, without direct sunlight, with moist soil (possible near a reservoir).

Basic rules for caring for bacopa

The decorative qualities of bacopa are preserved with regular pinching.
Withered and dried flowers do not need to be removed.
Plants require periodic loosening of the soil. Do not forget about the shallow location of the roots to the surface of the soil.
It is recommended that timely preventive treatment plants by spraying to resist pests. When the main pest (aphids) appears, it is necessary to use soap solution based on laundry soap.

A flowering bacopa plant is a wonderful decoration for a flower garden, garden, porch, gazebo, loggia or balcony. A little patience for its cultivation will be required only at the initial stage of plant development, when it can be unnecessarily capricious. After adapting to a permanent place, a rooted flowering culture will become almost unpretentious and will not require much attention.

How to grow and propagate bacopa (video)

Many gardeners prefer to deal with flowers and plant them both in the country and near the house, and sometimes even on balconies in apartment buildings. The best decoration than a beautiful opened bud, you can hardly find.

Flowers are a symbol of life, youth and splendor. They serve as a wonderful decoration for any place. They can even cure people of depression and stress.

Exotic flowers are increasingly attracting the attention of florists and lovers of beauty. One of these bright and tender plants is bacopa.

It has received a lot of attention recently. Bacopa is native to South Africa. This plant is a perennial. The cool climate is difficult for him to tolerate, so in winter the flower must be placed in a warm room.

This exotic and unusual flower has over a hundred species.

Currently, this plant has a lot different colors. It all depends on the specific type. The most common types of this plant:

bacopa ampelous
snowtopia
blue avalanche
vasilisa
snow avalanche

Colors are as follows: white, pink, yellow, blue, purple, red, purple, blue.

Let's consider some types in more detail. Bacopa ampelous is a South African representative. The plant is quite simple and picky. People often use the ampel view to decorate balconies, adjoining territories, walls.

The foliage of bacopa flowers can be 2 centimeters in diameter. Bacopa ampelous bright green, has stems 60 centimeters long. However, the plant achieves such characteristics with proper care.

Flowers blue, pinkish, white or purple. However, as soon as autumn comes and the temperature drops, they immediately fall off the stem.

One of the subspecies of ampelous bacopa is bacopa snowtopia. This is a typical representative of this family. The plant blooms with blue and white buds, creating a beautiful contrast of brightness.

Utopia has small leaves. For quite a long time, you can observe the flowering of this plant due to its endurance and good adaptability.

Another hybrid is bacopa snowtopia, or it is also called bluetopia. Flowers white and bluish. Very often, terraces are decorated with this plant.

Bacopa blue avalanche is also related to ampelous. The stems are drooping, covered with lilac and bluish flowers. It is usually planted in a pot. It also refers to the ampelous type.

Bacopa vasilisa - very fragrant flower. Many florists note that it emits the smell of a real perfume. This is a plant of the Astrov family, an annual. Stands straight, branchy. In height it can reach 60 centimeters. Blooms with summer period to the cold. Flowers begin to bloom in June.

Blooms with small fragrant flowers white color. They grow in whole inflorescences up to 8 centimeters. Vasilisa is resistant to heat and dry air. Loves sunshine and warmth. However, it can also grow in the shade.

But Vasilisa does not tolerate frosts.

Bacopa snow avalanche is also capable of growing up to 60 centimeters. This type is often used as decorative flower. Shoots drooping, white flowers. Blooms for a long time. Grow this species in pots.

Gallery: bacopa plant (25 photos)

Growing Features

Classic bacopa - perennial. On stems, flowers are 2 cm in diameter, having 5 petals at the base.

Mostly flowering occurs from March to October. Often grown with bacopa:

fuchsia
lobelia
aregatum
petunias
nasturtiums

A flowering plant forms a fluffy carpet of its inflorescences. This species is not afraid high humidity, heavy rains. Even under such conditions, the flower will grow and bloom.

In the event that the flowers do not bloom, the leaves can decorate any place, because they are bright and small. If anyone decides to grow this plant, you need to find information and learn as much as possible about it.

In order for the seedlings to turn out to be of high quality, and subsequently the plants are healthy, beautiful and chic flowers bloom, it is necessary to properly plant bacopa.

Landing does not require any serious effort. The main thing is to follow the algorithm.

Choose soil. For this flower, soil that is not too acidic is ideal. For example, a mixture of peat and garden soil one to one.

If you plan to grow in pots, add humus and sand. Avoid standing water. Make sure you have good drainage for this. This is necessary for the health of the root system.

As for watering, do not water these flowers. Sprinkle with a little water. However, make sure that the soil does not dry out or, conversely, is not too wet.

You will only do better if you feed bacopa useful minerals and fertilizers.

Make sure that the distance between the flowers is about 25 centimeters. After all, the larger and longer the flower, the more space it needs.

As soon as the frosts stop, you can plant a flower in the soil. Bacopa will grow well in places where there is no wind and where the sun's rays constantly fall.

Remember the rule - the more sun, the more flowers.

During cold weather, flowers need to be moved. They will fit in perfectly wet room with temperatures ranging from 8 to 15 degrees. The temperature of minus 5 the plant can still withstand.

If the flower will winter in places where it is too stuffy, there is a high probability of developing flower diseases - for example, rot, fungus. And the shoots, in general, can become bare and stretch out.

Correct pinching

Of course, you can ignore this procedure, however, the number of flowers depends on it. Therefore, if you want an abundance of blooming 5-petal buds, pinching is better.

This process is carried out in this way:

young shoots are taken, a growth point is pinched on them. This allows the lateral processes and colored buds to develop better.
pinch on any segment of the stem.

As for reproduction, there are several ways. For example, the process can take place by sowing a seed or cuttings.

The way through the seed is to grow seedlings. Sowing in the soil will not give a result. The seed is quite small. One gram contains about 5,000 seeds. In order for the seed to germinate, it is recommended to use light soil, which receives a sufficient amount of moisture, air, light and sun.

The most best temperature for this about 23 degrees. If the temperature is 5 degrees lower, the seeds will not germinate.

Seeds do not need to be planted deep. It is better to place them closer to the surface of the soil.

It is also not recommended to cover the pots. After all, without the presence of the sun and the rays, all the work will go down the drain, and the seeds will not germinate.

Do not forget that this flower loves moisture, so make sure that it is enough for the seed.

If you competently approach this issue, then after 2 weeks you will see the first results of your work - the first shoots.

At the first pick with a couple of leaves, take care of feeding the plant. You can do this with fertilizer. It needs to be bred. Do half of the indicated rate in the instructions.

During the second pick, seedlings need to be transplanted. To do this, prepare special glasses with drainage. After that, you can harden the flowers. Lower the temperature to 15 or 23 degrees during the day, and to 13 in the evening.

plant cuttings

It is best to carry out cuttings in winter, for example, in January or in spring - in March. This process is also relevant for August and September. For this you need:

choose young shoots, be sure to be healthy and strong
cut off the top to 10 centimeters
root the shoots in moist soil by half a centimeter
the lower node must be below the ground surface for the formation of the root system

The knot that is on top will form shoots and leaves. In addition, for better development root system, you can fertilize the cuttings with the help of phytohormonal agents or special preparations that stimulate growth.

The cuttings in the container must be placed in a warm place with high humidity.

Rooted easier white bacopa. After that, you can plant in the soil in a permanent place in May.

Plant bacopa (lat. Bacopa) belongs to the genus of the Plantain family, which includes more than 100 species of aquatic, water-loving, succulent creeping rhizomatous perennials. Bacopa comes from South America and from the Canary Islands. In nature, bacopa grows on marshy shores of water bodies in the tropics and subtropics of Asia, Australia, America and Africa. The second name of bacopa is suter. Bacopa flower has been in cultivation since 1993. It is also grown in temperate climates, using it as an ampel and as a groundcover.

Planting and caring for bacopa (in a nutshell)

Bloom: plentiful, gradually weakening, but then increasing again.
Landing: sowing seeds for seedlings - in March, planting seedlings in open ground or in suspended structures- in the middle of May.
Lighting: bright sun or partial shade in areas protected from strong winds.
The soil: drained, humus-rich fertile soils of slightly acidic reaction.
Watering: frequent and abundant, especially in drought.
Top dressing: only young plants need to be fed from spring to September. Apply complex mineral fertilizers in turn with organic ones.
Trimming and pinching: for better tillering, the shoots are pinched from time to time, and too long lashes are shortened. Cut the plant when flowering becomes scarce, and the lower part of the shoots is woody.
Reproduction: seeds, from January to April - apical cuttings.
Pests: at home - whiteflies, aphids and spider mites.
Diseases: gray rot, sooty or mold fungus.

Ampel bacopa - description

Bacopa stems are thin, creeping, creeping or decumbent, reaching a length of 60 cm and growing strongly in width. The leaves are small, broadly elliptical or ovate, green or olive green, linear, with a serrated edge. Ampel bacopa blooms with axillary bell-shaped or tubular flowers (depending on the type and variety), small or large, simple or double, white, pink, lilac, blue, light blue, red, purple or lilac. Bacopa blooms for a long time and occurs in waves: after an abundant first wave, the formation of flowers fades, and after a while it intensively resumes. The life of the plant is short, but it reproduces easily. Growing ampelous bacopa is carried out both in the garden and at home.

Growing bacopa from seeds

Sowing bacopa seeds

For the primary cultivation of bacopa, you will have to resort to the seed method of reproduction. Growing bacopa from seeds does not involve any particular difficulties, and it is not a problem to purchase high-quality seed in the store. When to sow bacopa for seedlings? Sowing is done in March in sterilized for 4 hours in an oven at a temperature of 100 ºC peat substrate, which after cooling is placed in a container with transparent walls. It is not necessary to deepen the bacopa seeds; it is enough to press them to the surface of the moistened substrate and cover with a film or glass. Bacopa germinates from seeds in the light, at a temperature not lower than 20 ºC. Shoots can appear in 10-14 days, and the full germination period can last 3-4 weeks.

Bacopa seedling care

Bacopa care during the seedling period is simple. Once seedlings begin to emerge, it is important not to let the substrate dry out. Remember to carefully loosen the soil around the seedlings. At the stage of development of seedlings of three true leaves, the first picking of bacopa is carried out - transplanting seedlings into separate peat pots 5 cm in diameter. After the seedlings get used to the new place, they are fed with a complex mineral fertilizer in half the dose recommended by the manufacturers. Optimum temperature for growing bacopa seedlings 22-26 ºC.

If you are going to plant seedlings in the garden, then, most likely, bacopa seedlings will require a second pick - transplanting into pots bigger size, which, for the stability of seedlings, is carried out with the deepening of the stem by one node. A week after the second pick, when the bacopa seedlings take root, they are fed with a complete mineral fertilizer with a predominance of phosphorus and nitrogen, after which the temperature in the room during the day is maintained within 15-24 ºC, and at night - about 13-15 ºC.

If you are growing bacopa as indoor plant, then the second picking is not necessary - the seedlings are immediately transplanted into a flower pot or basket.

Planting bacopa in the garden

When to plant bacopa

Bacopa planting in open ground is carried out as soon as the threat disappears. return frosts, that is, approximately in the middle of May. But first, the seedlings must undergo hardening: they are taken out into the open air daily, gradually increasing the duration of the sessions until the seedlings can spend the whole day in the yard.

How to plant bacopa

Bacopa grows best in sunny areas sheltered from the wind. You can land it in partial shade, however, than smaller plant receives sunlight, the fewer flowers will be. In the shade of bacopa, it generally loses its decorative effect - its shoots are drawn out, and few flowers are formed.

Bacopa is undemanding to the composition of the soil, but well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soils of a slightly acidic reaction are most suitable for it. When planting in open ground, the distance between seedlings, depending on the variety, is kept within 10-25 cm - the higher the plant, the more space it will need.

Bacopa care in the garden

Growing bacopa in the garden involves performing such gardener activities as watering, weeding, loosening the soil, fertilizing, pinching and pruning, as well as protecting against diseases and pests. It is not necessary to remove wilted flowers - bacopa can clean itself. Water the plant often and plentifully, especially in dry, hot summers. After watering, slightly loosen the soil, being careful not to damage the surface root system plants. Weeds also need to be removed carefully, and it is best to do this manually.

As for dressings, only young plants need them. Fertilizers are applied from spring to September, but with the approach of winter, top dressing is stopped. Bacopa is fertilized with complex mineral solutions, alternating them with organic matter - solutions of bird droppings or mullein.

Bacopa care at home

How to care for bacopa at home

The conditions for growing bacopa in an apartment are not much different from garden ones. How to grow bacopa indoors? The plant is planted in a substrate of approximately the following composition: humus, sand, garden soil and peat in a ratio of 2:2:1:1. The soil for ampelous bacopa should prevent waterlogging, since the fragile roots of the plant are prone to decay, and that is why it must be placed in a pot thick layer drainage material. Watering a home bacopa, like a garden one, should be frequent and plentiful, however, avoiding prolonged and chronic waterlogging of the soil, since this is much more dangerous than rare and insufficient moisture. After watering, the soil in the pots must be carefully loosened. Once every 10-14 days, liquid water is added to the water for irrigation. mineral fertilizer for flowering plants so that the greenery of the bacopa is always juicy and bright, and the flowering is plentiful. A solution of fertilizer is poured under the root, trying not to get on the leaves of the plant.

Bacopa placement

Bacopa at home, just like in the garden, requires good lighting and some direct sunlight daily. It also grows well in partial shade, but by placing it away from the light, you can not wait for flowering. Since the plant normally tolerates temperature fluctuations and even frosts down to -5 ºC, bacopa in a flowerpot from spring to late autumn can decorate a balcony, terrace, veranda or loggia.

bacopa pruning

In order for the bacopa to grow well, the ends of its shoots are pinched from time to time, and if the lashes of the plant become too long, they are cut off. The apical cuttings left after pruning are used for propagation. Bacopa is also cut when the lower part of its shoots begins to lignify, and flowering becomes scarce. In this case, the shoots are shortened by a third of the length, and it is better to do such pruning in the fall.

Pests and diseases of bacopa

At improper care or non-compliance with growing conditions, bacopa can be affected by gray rot, sooty or mold fungus, especially if planted too densely. If bacopa is affected by fungi, its crown must be thinned out, and then the plant should be treated two or three times with a solution of a fungicidal preparation with breaks of two weeks.

Of the pests, bacopa is affected by whiteflies, aphids and spider mites. All these insects are suckers, that is, they feed on bacopa cell sap, so they can be destroyed with acaricidal preparations in two or three stages.

Bacopa reproduction

Except seed method propagation for breeding bacopa, cuttings are used, for which apical cuttings about 10 cm long are used. They take root easily and quickly in moist, loose soil, consisting of vermiculite and sand in equal parts. The cutting is deepened by 5 mm so that one node is underground - it will give new roots. The other node must remain above the soil surface - shoots will develop from it. The roots grow within 2-3 weeks, but to accelerate root formation, it is desirable to treat the cut of the cutting with a growth stimulator or phytohormones. The stalk planted in the ground is covered with a transparent cap to create a greenhouse effect, after which it is placed in a well-lit place, protected from direct sunlight. During rooting, the soil should be slightly damp. When the cutting begins to form shoots, pinch it to encourage tillering.

The best time for cuttings is the period from January to April - at this time, adult bushes are divided into cuttings. It is good to root cuttings at the end of summer, when there is a lot left after pruning. planting material. Cuttings of white bacopa are best rooted, other types of plants are more capricious and require the use of drugs that stimulate root growth.

perennial bacopa in winter

AT open ground or in the garden, perennial bacopa will not survive the winter, so with the onset of cold weather it must be brought into a room in which there are no drafts, high humidity air and the temperature is maintained at 12-15 ºC. AT winter time watering bacopa should be infrequent, as its growth stops. The wintering plant also does not need top dressing.

Many gardeners do not plant a perennial bacopa in the spring with a whole bush, because during the winter it still loses its decorative effect. They disassemble the overwintered plant into cuttings.

After pruning, homemade bacopa is also placed in cool conditions until spring. It can be a glazed balcony, loggia or unheated veranda or room.

In addition to the species and varieties of bacopa that exist in nature, many varieties and hybrids bred by breeders have recently appeared. The most popular of them in amateur gardening are:

- a plant native to the eastern United States, reaching a height of 30 cm. It has thick erect stems, planted in pairs crosswise with oval leaves, light green in the shade, and copper-red in the bright sun. Small bright blue flowers open at the ends of the stems. This is an aquarium bacopa - it is often grown in water under glass. In gardens, caroline bacopa is planted along the banks of water bodies, artificial or natural, or directly in them. The depth of water in this case should be at least 30-35 cm;

– undersized plant with thin stems, developing in the water column. Australian bacopa shoots are covered with light green oval or rounded opposite leaves up to 18 mm long. Light blue flowers of the plant open on the surface of the shoots;

- succulent with creeping stems, oblong sessile leaves from 8 to 20 mm long, entire or sparsely toothed and rounded at the top. The flowers of this plant are axillary, with a blue, white or purple corolla up to 1 cm long;

Bacopa heart-shaped (Bacopa cordata)

- herbaceous perennial up to 15 cm high with small or medium-sized green leaves;

Bacopa (lat. Bacopa) - also known as Blutopia or Sutera. This is a herbaceous plant that belongs to the genus of the Plantain family. There are currently about 70 known various kinds this perennial. The list includes aquatic (hydatophytes) and water-loving (hydrophytes). These plants are used for decorative floriculture on land and in water (aquariums, pools).

Homeland Sutera - swampy valleys South Africa where it occupies vast territories in the wild. In Europe and Russia, it is considered an exotic plant; it is grown mainly for decorative design areas or rooms where something unusual is required. Therefore, it is difficult to say that it is very popular among flower growers, but recently the demand for it has increased significantly.

Description of Bacopa

A distinctive feature of the perennial is that the plant comes from tropical Africa, therefore it does not tolerate low temperatures. Stems creeping, creeping, shoots quickly give roots, Bacopa grows rapidly.

One of the brightest representatives of this species is Bacopa ampelous
This variety is specially bred for growing in flowerpots (containers) filled with earth. Growing very quickly, long, thin stems form into long hanging or creeping green waves.

The leaves are small, ovate-shaped with notches, have a rich green or olive green color. It begins to bloom in June with blue, blue or mixed with white bell or star-shaped five-petal small flowers. Flowers are located in the grooves of the shoots. Blossom ends in the fall, when new shoots stop forming.

The periods of flowering intensity also occur in waves: after some fading, the flowers bloom again, abundantly covering the stems with bright blue stars. For the winter, plants must be transferred to a warm room in which the temperature does not fall below zero. At this time, care is reduced only to watering.

The aquarium bacopa is also widely known.
A wonderful decoration of reservoirs and aquariums, it easily breeds, has an attractive appearance, quickly occupies the territory allotted to it.

The plant is unpretentious, and therefore even a child can grow a bacopa.

Reproduction and planting Bacopa ampelous and aquarium

Remember:
It is best to plant Bacopa in the spring, forming a planting of new shoots. This is done so that with each subsequent year the varietal characteristics of the plant do not deteriorate. Shoots are taken from the mother stem. Thus, the flower is renewed annually without prejudice to decorative properties and flowering.

This plant, like most others, can be propagated vegetatively and by seeds. The vegetative method includes planting germinated cuttings and processes taken from the mother trunk. To begin with, if there is no cultivation experience, it is best to use cuttings, it turns out easier and seedlings bloom in the same year. If for any reason you decide to try growing plants from seeds, they can be purchased in special stores, or on the Internet portal (methods of growing from seeds below).

Reproduction by cuttings

Propagation by cuttings is carried out by planting them with already germinated roots. For cuttings, it is best to take the tops of the shoots, cutting them off so that two or three leaves remain on the trunk. The length of the cut cutting should be 5-8 cm.

Bacopa cuttings in water bottles

To accelerate the formation of roots, cut cuttings are dipped in water with growth stimulants diluted in it. After the appearance of several threads of roots, the cuttings can be planted in the prepared soil.

Reproduction by root shoots

The selection of shoots can be done when thinning is performed and excess shoots with roots are removed. right time to separate the shoots from the maternal root - this is the cold period when Bacopa is at rest.

Reproduction by layering

bacopa monieri propagation by layering

This method of reproduction is very simple and effective, it gives very good result. Implementation is carried out as follows: - a container (box) with prepared fertile land is taken; placed next to an adult Bacopa bush; a long process of a flower is laid in the ground and sprinkled, after which abundant watering is carried out. After the shoot is in the ground, it takes root. After that, it is separated from the main stem and landed on a permanent place of growth. Thus, several well-developed plants can be obtained per season.

Growing bacopa from seeds at home and in open ground

It is very easy to grow bacopa seedlings on the windowsill. When to plant seedlings? You can sow as early as February, until the end of spring.

Since bacopa seeds are very small, it is best to simply sprinkle them gently on the surface of the prepared substrate. One of the recommended compositions: one part of peat, one part of leafy turf, two parts of river sand, two parts of humus. Before mixing, it is advisable to ignite river sand in an oven heated to 100 degrees for two to three hours. "Lazy" gardeners will like not to fool their heads, but simply to purchase ready-made soil mixture for flowers. It has the necessary hygroscopic properties, is loose and, of course, is supplied with a supply of organic matter and nutrients.
you can simply press gently with your palm so that they are pressed into the ground, and gently spray the surface with a spray bottle.
It is advisable to cover the container with a film or glass, choose a place where it will be warm, but not hot. Enough 18-20 ° C.
When you see the first shoots, be sure to remove the film so that the plants do not get sick or get used to closed space, becoming unadapted to normal conditions.
Watering should be moderate, be sure to make sure that the water does not stagnate. An indispensable condition is good drainage (there must be holes in the bottom of the container).
When the first 2-3 true leaves appear, carefully pick the seedlings into cups. The easiest way to do this is with a dessert fork or a toothpick: pry off the roots with a clod of earth and carefully move to a new place, having previously prepared a hole. It’s not worth pressing hard, just cover it with earth and carefully pour it with water, which will compact the soil mixture.
It is advisable to shade the pickled plants for a while, removing them from sunny window sill. After 2-3 days, bacopa seedlings will recover a little from stress and begin to form new roots, restore turgor (leaf elasticity).

Bacopa ampelous can be grown from seeds in peat cups

As soon as the spring cold has passed, and there is no threat of frost, seedlings can be planted in a flower bed. Do not forget that by this time the plants should get used to the open air and the sun. Therefore, every day, two weeks before planting, take the plants to the balcony or threshold, starting from an hour or two, increase the hardening time. On the last day before planting, the plants should spend the night outside.

How to sow bacopa for seedlings, look at the video:

Growing bacopa seedlings from seeds in the open field includes the following steps:

It is necessary to prepare a nutrient soil mixture.
Seeds are sown “before winter”, for this, the surface is slightly crushed on the prepared bed, the seeds are laid out on the surface of the earth and lightly tamped.
Then the surface of the bed is covered with fallen leaves 1-2 cm thick and left under the snow.

Useful
Experienced gardeners give advice: because. the seeds of the plant are very small, they need to be mixed with fine sand in a ratio of 1: 5, the sand will not allow the seeds to be carried away by a gust of wind and will distribute them more evenly over the beds.

In the spring, when the snow melts and a relatively positive temperature is established, the bed is closed with glass or a transparent film, the stale leaves are removed, allowing the germinated seeds to develop further. Care of the sprouts is to maintain the temperature in the greenhouse 18-20 degrees, and moisten the ground. After the sprouts are strong enough, they are transplanted to a permanent place of growth, at the same time picking long roots.

Planting bacopa seedlings in open ground

The landing of those prepared for the chosen place of constant growth is carried out in the last decade of the beloved month of May. At the same time, according to experienced gardeners, the variety with white flowers takes root best of all. This species takes root best in the open field, and grows better.
If you still liked the rbakopa with blue flowers, you will need to carefully monitor it, providing regular watering and top dressing.

The structure of the land should be:

light, better sandy;
without large fractions;
enriched with complex fertilizer for flowers;
must pass air well;
vermiculite can be added to improve drainage.

The seedlings are deepened to the 2nd leaf, which should be on the surface, the buried trunk will give additional roots, such a planting will also help keep the stem upright.

Post disembarkation care

Immediately after disembarkation, they must be covered with a film or covering material to maintain the necessary microclimate inside the greenhouse and maintain moisture in the ground. This greenhouse should be well lit, but direct sunlight under the film should be avoided. After the appearance of the first shoots, it is better to pinch the tops so that the process gives additional shoots. The film is removed after the sprouts get stronger and the threat of frost has passed.

An adult plant does not require much care:

keeping the earth moist is a prerequisite for a healthy content;
as it grows, top dressing with a complex of mineral and organic fertilizers is necessary.

When transplanting seedlings, it is necessary to ensure that the roots are completely deepened into the ground.
The first feeding of seedlings should be at least a week later.
In order to avoid disease of the root system with various rots, it is necessary to keep the earth moist, without over-moistening it or over-drying it.
In the beds for growing sprouts, it is best to make a drainage system.
Zelentsy, which were grown in a warm room, must be hardened according to a special technique. Basically, this is the periodic taming of sprouts to low temperature conditions.

Application

Due to the properties of intensive reproduction and growth, bacopa has found application for growing on terraces, beams. Hanging undulating waves of greenery blooming in blue or white look very effective against the background of wall coverings.

Necessary care for Bacopa

This flower does not require active care. But you need to remember that the plants come from Africa, so the plants require moist soil, good lighting, it tolerates temperature fluctuations from 0 to 25 degrees, but does not tolerate frost at all. It grows very quickly and blooms with beautiful hats. It is these properties that have become the reason for growing outdoors for non-standard design flower beds or balconies.
Let's remember all the basic conditions that are very important for successful cultivation this exotic flower.

Bacopa feels good at temperatures from 10 to 25 degrees. It does not tolerate frost, so it "winters" in a warm room where the temperature does not drop below zero.
For good growth and development of the flower, good lighting is necessary, but midday direct sunlight from falling on flowers and leaves should be avoided;
the plant grows best in places sheltered from the wind, as - as they have very weak and thin stems;
for good plant growth, it is necessary to maintain moderate soil moisture, but not overmoisten to avoid fungal root diseases. Therefore, during the hot period of summer, intensive watering is necessary;
the soil prepared for cultivation is slightly acidified. The structure should be light, best of all sandy, well fertilized with organic matter, peat and complex mineral fertilizers.
Top dressing is best applied in liquid form diluted in the input. Top dressing is best worn separately: after 2 weeks with mineral fertilizers and every two weeks with organic fertilizers.
when the flower grows, it is necessary to pinch the shoots - this will allow you to form a plant cap, depending on the design idea;
after the flowers dry up, it is not necessary to remove them, they crumble on their own. Bacopa blooms in waves: after intensive flowering, a period of rest occurs for one to two weeks, after which the flowers bloom with the same intensity;
tillage must be done very carefully so as not to damage the roots of plants located close to the surface;
in order not to lose the primary varietal features, it is necessary to periodically update the flowers with seedlings from fresh stepchildren.

Bacopa ampelous is currently attracting the attention of gardeners more and more. The plant looks very beautiful when decorating balconies, building facades, garden paths. design of reservoirs, alpine slides in combination with others exotic plants. The mere presence of African flowers on your site will make the site attractive and a subject of admiration for connoisseurs and specialists in exotic plants.

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