The New Guinea Balsam is a very delicate flower. It amazes with its constant flowering. This herb is often grown on window sills, and also as an ornamental plant in the garden, in open ground.
From this article you will learn in detail about this plant, read its description. See what this flower looks like in the photo.
Also consider how care is carried out at home, how to deal with diseases and pests. Find information about what to do if the balsam does not bloom, we will describe ways how it multiplies.
Botanical description and history
New Guinean hybrids first appeared on the flower market in 1972. They were bred by crossing the Indonesian Hoker variety with other types of balsam. Homeland New Guinea balsam are subtropics and tropics in Africa, Asia and America.
Depending on the place of growth and variety, the flower grows from 30 to 50 cm. The root system is strong and grows well. The plant has the appearance of a bush with many stems..
In oblong-oval pointed leaves:
- bright streaks;
- sawed edges;
- short scapes.
Flowers with figured petals can reach a size of 5-7 cm. Depending on the variety, they are single-color or two-color with patterns. At the top of the stems is one or more buds. Flowering lasts several months, this is influenced by climatic conditions and place of growth.
In place of the flower, a fruit is formed - an oblong box. Its outer part is divided by ribs. After the fruit ripens when touched, it opens, throwing out seeds. In nature, the flower multiplies that way.
Description of appearance and features
At home, New Guinean balsam can bloom for 10 months. Among flower growers, this property makes the plant very popular.
New Guinean hybrids are powerful and fleshy. They have strong shoots, bright asymmetrical flowers and very dense leaves. Of the many varieties of balsamine, these are distinguished by the beauty of flowering and the richness of greenery.
The peculiarities of varietal New Guinea balsam include the fact that the plant sheds leaves because of:
- hypothermia;
- lack of lighting;
- drying up the soil.
How the flower will bloom affects the choice of the pot, as well as the systematic introduction and composition of fertilizers.
New Guinean hybrids are valued for their coloring.. Flowers come in different shades:
- pink;
- apricot;
- peach;
- pastel;
- fuchsian etc.
Leaves in addition to bright dark green are bronze either with a yellowish enlightenment in the middle.
A photo
Next in the photo you can see the plant and admire the beauty of its flowering.
Landing
Can the plant be planted in the garden?
New Guinea Balsam - is one of the most simple plants in terms of care, both on the windowsill in the apartment, and in the garden. It is able to tolerate a small time drying and waterlogging of the soil.
Important! It must be borne in mind that in this case the decorativeness of the flower, the thickness of the leaves and the number of buds that are forming suffer.
Lighting and location
New Guinea Balsam prefers soft diffused light. It is impossible for it to fall into direct sunlight. The best location of the flower is the window sills of the windows facing west and east. In winter, when the daylight becomes shorter, the plant needs additional lighting. Otherwise, its shoots will stretch, and the leaves will begin to fall off.
Soil requirements
The flower grows well in light fertile land. You can purchase ready-made substrate or prepare yourself by mixing:
- Fertile soil.
- Leafy ground.
- Peat.
- Humus.
- Sand.
Self-prepared mixture should be disinfected.
Care for the flower at home
How to care for a flower?
For normal growth in the home environment, a New Guinean room room balsam needs some care. The temperature should be 18 ° C ... 24 ° C. The flower has a negative effect:
- temperature below 10 ° C;
- frosty air;
- drafts.
Therefore, it should not be put on the windowsill in the kitchen, because there windows are often opened for ventilation.
The plant should be watered abundantly regularly, but only after the topsoil dries. It will not let rot appear. In winter, watering is reduced to two times a month., the water flowing into the pan should be poured.
These plants come from the tropics with high humidity, so when dry air they can throw buds and flowers.
Especially such a procedure is necessary in extreme heat and with the onset of the heating period. The leaves of the flower can be wiped with a damp sponge, thus they will be cleared of a layer of dust and will breathe freely.
Abundant flowering is impossible without top dressing. Twice a month, New Guinean balsam is fertilized with potassium mineral compounds. This element contributes to the formation of colors. No need to feed with pure nitrogen, through which the green mass will actively grow, and flowering will slow down.
New Guinea Balsam poorly tolerated pruning. If you want the bushes to look more dense and compact, you can pinch the tops of the shoots. Although the plant itself is able to form a lush form. To create the look and shape of a bush, it is allowed to trim only the Harmony view.
Once every 2-3 years the flower must be replanted. This is done in the spring. It is necessary to take a small pot, both in diameter and depth. In cramped conditions, the New Guinean balsam will grow lush. At the bottom to organize a drainage layer, for example, of expanded clay. The flower must be carefully transferred from pot to pot. Fill the resulting void with soil to such a level that the root neck rises 2 cm above it.
Common diseases and pests
In most cases, New Guinea Balsam falls ill from improper care. This is evidenced by the external state of its parts. When exposed to direct sunlight on the leaves appear yellow spots. This means that the flower got burned.
It so happens that when the heating is on, the balsam leaves start:
- dry at the edges;
- wither;
- fall off.
You need to install special trays with water and expanded clay or put a humidifier. If the colorful leaves always become pale, this indicates a lack of nutrients. Complex fertilizers will help them to become bright again.
To the decay of the root system and the stems of the New Guinean balsam, and subsequently to fungal diseases, results in:
- excessive watering;
- waterlogging of the ground;
- too raw air.
The flower can suffer from insect pests: aphids and spider mites. Infected New Guinean balsam must be isolated. The treatment is carried out with special preparations. They process the flower itself and the earth.
What if it does not bloom?
The reasons that the New Guinea Balsam does not bloom may be:
- Lack of nutrients in the soil.
- Insufficient lighting.
- Excess fertilizer.
- Incorrect feeding, namely excess nitrogen.
At their elimination the flower will please with magnificent flowering.
Breeding features
Under natural conditions, balsam propagation occurs with the help of seeds. Houses to grow a flower this way is difficult.
Seeds
According to statistics from 10 seeds sown, only 5 germinate. Also, it must be borne in mind that young plants derived from seeds develop slowly, the slightest cause can lead to their death.
First you need to prepare a fertile soil, which gently spread the seeds. After that, sprinkle them with a small layer of earth. Then moisten, using a spray or a watering can with a spray.
All this to create a greenhouse effect should be covered with a transparent film or glass. It is necessary to open the container systematically for airing and moistening the soil, preventing the earth coma from drying out. The emergence of the first shoots can be expected in 1.5-2 weeks.
Cuttings
The most effective method of reproduction of New Guinean balsam is cutting. To do this, below the knot it is necessary to cut the cutting on which you want to remove the lower leaves. Plant it in prepared soil. It is necessary to put the cutting in a warm place where there is no draft and where direct sunlight does not penetrate. The stubs are formed after 14 days.
In the room conditions, the New Guinean balsam lives 4-5 years, then it needs to be updated. When grown in open ground, the plant becomes one-year.
A balsam is a flower that, although it does not smell, it stands out with magnificent flowering. It is widely used in landscaping personal sites. With the help of different in color flowers balsam Novogvineyskogo landscape designers create beautiful and unique compositions.
