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 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, rich in humus fertile soils weak acid 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. Prune the plant when flowering becomes scarce, and Bottom part shoots woody.
• Reproduction: seeds, from January to April - apical cuttings.
• Pests: at home - whiteflies, aphids and spider mites.
• Diseases: gray rot, sooty or mold fungus.

Read more about growing bacopa below.

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 carried out in March in a peat substrate sterilized for 4 hours in an oven at a temperature of 100 ºC, 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. The optimum temperature for growing bacopa seedlings is 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 grow bacopa as a houseplant, then you do not need to carry out a second pick - the seedlings are immediately transplanted into a pot or basket.

Planting bacopa in the garden

When to plant bacopa

Planting bacopa in open ground is carried out as soon as the threat of return frosts disappears, that is, approximately in mid-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 will receive sunlight, the fewer colors there 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 acid 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, loosen the soil slightly, being careful not to damage the surface root system of the plant. 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 a thick layer of drainage material must be placed in the pot. 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 mineral fertilizer for flowering plants is added to the water for irrigation, so that the bacopa greenery 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

With improper care or non-observance of growing conditions, bacopa can be affected by gray rot, soot 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 sucking, that is, they feed on bacopa cell sap, so they can be destroyed with acaricidal preparations in two or three stages.

Bacopa reproduction

In addition to the seed propagation method, cuttings are used to breed bacopa, 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

In the open field or in the garden, perennial bacopa will not survive the winter, therefore, with the onset of cold weather, it must be brought into a room in which there are no drafts, high humidity 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, a loggia or an unheated veranda or room.

In addition to the species and varieties of bacopa that exist in nature, in recent times many varieties and hybrids bred by breeders 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;

The bacopa flower, planting and caring for which is not difficult, is quite popular among flower growers and amateurs. If you follow simple recommendations, then the plant will certainly please with a beautiful appearance which will last until frost.

Bacopa: plant description, main types

Bacopa or as it is also called sutera is a bushy flower. Long stems with rich green foliage during flowering are strewn with snow-white, blue and pale pink buds along their entire length.

Popular types:

In artificial bacopa, Caroline will grow all year round.

Bacopa: planting and plant care

The plant needs light in sufficient quantities, especially in the morning and evening. In the middle of the day, the bush must be shaded from the sweltering heat. Therefore, in order for the plant to feel good, the best place for planting are areas located near tall shrubs.

Sutera calmly tolerates significant temperature fluctuations. As a result, it can be kept outdoors from spring to autumn frosts.

At temperatures below -5 0 C, the flower may die.

This is a culture that loves light very much. The abundance of flowering directly depends on its quantity. In a darkened place, the plant will be comfortable, but all the forces of the suter will be spent on the accumulation of stems and foliage. In this case, the branches will be greatly extended, the buds will decrease.

When choosing a substrate, the best option is a soil with a slightly acidic reaction (about 6.5 pH). Good drainage and a high organic content are essential. In open beds, they simply add to the ground. But best of all, bacopa grows and blooms precisely when kept in a pot, in a mixture of humus, peat and river sand with leafy soil.

Landing Rules

Due to the elongated shoots, the plant is used to create horizontal as well as vertical compositions. If you raise the stems up and fix it on the grate, you get a decorative wall.

Ampelous plants are especially popular. Because of their unusual appearance, they are often planted in hanging flowerpots. Also, ampelous varieties are used in areas where it is necessary to cover hatches or untidy places.

Plant it outside only after frost. The distance between individual specimens depends on the size of the future bush and its variety, but not less than 10-15 cm. A drainage layer is necessarily poured into the bottom of the hole, covered with soil and a plant is planted. The space is covered with earth, rammed and watered abundantly.

plant care

The plant is not capricious, but for abundant flowering required to comply simple rules care.

Watering the plant

This is one of the most important factors to keep an eye on when growing bacopa. After planting, if the weather is quite hot, the flower is watered twice a day. In this case, water should not fall on the leafy plates, otherwise they will get burned.

In order for the flower to winter well, in the cold months the flowerpot must be placed in a dark place, and watering should be reduced to 1 time in two weeks.

Very good for spraying. It is recommended to do this early in the morning and in the evening, after sunset. As soon as buds begin to form on the plant, the procedure is stopped.

Fertilizer and top dressing

With active vegetation from spring to autumn, the flower is fertilized every week, alternating mineral mixtures and organic fertilizers. In order for a flower to be strong, with bright foliage and bloom well, in addition to the typical elements of potassium and phosphorus, it also needs magnesium and manganese compounds.

bacopa pruning

Without correct pruning the bush loses its attractiveness and decorative effect. Immediately after rooting, the plant begins to pinch at the growth points of the lateral and main shoots. As the bush grows, crown formation continues. The flower is cut even in the case when the shoots are greatly elongated. They should not exceed 65 cm.

plant pick

When growing a suter, it must be dived. The first time when transplanting seedlings into separate pots, when three leaves appear on the sprouts. You can also grow them in a common box, ensuring a distance of 2 cm between adjacent specimens. They dive for the second time during the period when the flower is transplanted to its permanent place (pots, open beds).

Bacopa wintering

On the street, the flower will not endure severe frosts, so it is taken to a warm room for wintering. If you bring it before the first frost and provide suitable conditions, the plant will continue to bloom and will delight everyone with its appearance until the New Year.

After the bacopa has faded, it should be pruned and moved to a well-lit, but cool room with a temperature of +10 ° - +15 0 C. A glazed balcony is an excellent option. The soil should not dry out, but watering is significantly reduced. If necessary, periodically spray the plant.

Reproduction methods

The flower is propagated by seeds or cuttings. The simplest is the second way:

1. The landing option is separated at the end of autumn during pruning of excessively elongated shoots or with the onset of spring.
2. It is enough to deepen the cuttings in well-moistened loose earth or sand.
3. Rooted branches are planted on the beds at the very end of spring, when the frosts have definitely passed.

Seeds are sown in the second half of winter, when the day becomes longer. They are not buried, but simply laid out on the surface of loose soil and slightly pressed. In order for the seeds to germinate, the temperature should be maintained at least +18 0 С, providing high humidity. The best option- keep bacopa seeds in a greenhouse until the first shoots appear. This happens 10-12 days after sowing.

An unusual and new plant in our latitudes bacopa - not at all capricious and very beautiful flower. Its use in medicine is still being studied, but flower growers have already managed to appreciate the high decorative properties of the plant.

Growing ampel bacopa - video

Bacopa is one of the plants that designers recommend to decorate walls, fences, lampposts, etc. It also looks great in horizontal gardening. Moreover, due to its simplicity, it absolutely does not overload the space. The article will discuss how to plant a flower and how to care for it in the open field (in the garden) and in room conditions. Accompanied by beautiful photographs, tips on growing from seed and disease prevention are given.

Features of the plant and its popular varieties

• Bacopa can be grown both in the garden and indoors. Some species grow in water.
• The plant does not live long, but it reproduces very easily.
• The stem is thin and long - can reach 60 cm.
• Leaves ovate, small. Their color is olive green.
• Flowers in different varieties may vary. There are tubular and bell-shaped forms, simple and terry, various in color.

Bacopa can be grown indoors and in the garden

• Bacopa blooms for a long time, throughout the season. It happens in waves: after the mass blooming of flowers, a period of a small “rest” begins, during which much fewer buds appear.
• The aroma of the flowers is either very weak or completely absent.

Plant species popular among amateurs:

spreading bacopa

Attention! Bacopa varieties with white flowers grow and develop faster than those with flowers of a different tone.

How to propagate bacopa

Flower growers propagate bacopa using seeds and cuttings. Bacopa seeds are very small and light. Their germination lasts 2-3 years. Growing a flower from seeds is quite simple.

• Fill low containers with fertile and fairly light soil, which will retain moisture well. A mixture of garden soil, peat and sand (2:2:1) will do.
• Seeds do not need to be buried in the soil. It is enough just to press them to the surface.

Advice. To prevent small bacopa seeds from being sown too densely, it is better to mix them with sand beforehand.

• To prevent the soil from drying out, the crops are covered with a transparent material (glass or polyethylene).
• During the period of seed germination, the container is arranged in a warm place. Usually shoots appear after 2 weeks.
• At the stage of the appearance of the second leaf, the seedlings dive into a common container at a distance of 2 cm from each other.
• After 2-3 nodes are formed on the plant, the picking procedure is repeated again. This time, young bacopa are planted one at a time, deepening the lower node into the soil.
• After the seedlings, be sure to feed them with mineral fertilizer and you can start hardening, periodically exposing the pots with plants to fresh air (in the garden, on the balcony).

Bacopa can be propagated by cuttings

Propagating bacopa with cuttings is also not difficult. In terms of time, it is best to carry out the procedure in January-February or in August. To begin with, cut off the apical part of the shoot with two internodes. The stem is about 10 cm long.

The composition of the soil for rooting cuttings is the same as for sowing. When planting, the lower node is buried, from which roots will develop in the future. From above, the container is covered with a transparent bag, with the help of which the moisture level necessary for the germination of the cuttings will be maintained.
After about 2 weeks, new leaves will appear, which will be evidence of the beginning of the rooting of the cuttings. When they begin to grow intensively, you need to pinch the top. So young bacopa will begin to bush.

It is recommended to plant a plant in a flower bed or in a flowerpot in the garden at the end of May, when stable warm weather sets in.

How to care for a plant and what pests it can be damaged

In order for bacopa to grow and develop well in open ground, the following conditions of care must be observed:

• The plant should have enough light. If the bacopa is planted in shading, the shoots will stretch out, there will be very few flowers on them.
• The soil is required with a slightly acidic reaction. A mixture of garden soil and peat (1:1) is best suited. If you plan to plant a bacopa in a flowerpot, then you need to prepare the soil of the same composition in advance, but with the addition of 1 part of the sand.

Choose a sunny location to plant bacopa

• At a young age, bacopa must be pinched regularly. This will make the bush very lush and beautiful. When the lashes become too long, they are cut off. During periods of weak flowering and during lignification of the lower part of the shoots, they also resort to cutting off the tops. The remaining cuttings can be used as cuttings for propagation.
• A prerequisite for the well-being of bacopa is to keep the soil moist.

Attention! Overdrying of the soil in bacopa plantings is highly undesirable. Damaged roots may not recover.

• Stagnant water also greatly harms the plant - when grown in flowerpots, good drainage is required.
• Fertilizers must be dissolved in water for irrigation. Bacopa is best suited for ready-made complexes for ampelous plants.
• Flowers grown in flowerpots for the winter can be arranged in a cool, bright room. Watering and feeding during this period should be much less frequent. Having wintered in this way, the same bush will be able to please for several years.

When growing bacopa as houseplant care is no different. The soil used is the same as when growing in garden conditions. Since the roots can rot when waterlogged, good drainage is necessary in the pot.

Caring for a bacopa in a room is not difficult

A container with a flower is best kept on a bright windowsill, while the plant must be shaded by the sun. Water the flower in the same way as in the garden. Fertilizer is added to the water every 2 weeks.

Attention! The fertilizer solution should not fall on the leaves and stems of bacopa.

The plant is disease resistant. However, if the rules of cultivation are not followed, it can be affected by various rots. To avoid this, do not thicken the plantings and water the flower bed too often. Of the pests, aphids and spider mite. If signs of damage by these insects are found, bacopa should be treated with insecticides.

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 the most different variants placement: it can be fixed under the ceiling, installed in a planter, 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 plant them on open ground. 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 in a permanent place.

Seeds germinate in two weeks. Until this happens, you need to protect them from direct sunlight. 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 monitor the temperature of the external environment: when it is already quite warm, 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. By planting a plant in a 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, since it is no coincidence that this flower is 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.

A real find for the implementation of the most daring ideas in landscape design- this is bacopa ampelous or sutera. This plant is highly decorative, it can be used for landscaping balconies, terraces, arbors, grown in flowerpots and tall flowerpots. In the flower garden, it will be a creeping plant that can be used as a ground cover.

plant description

Bacopa ampelnaya belongs to the Norichnikov family. The plant comes from hot Africa. In culture, bacopa has been grown only since the mid-90s of the last century. This plant is simply indispensable for making bright, long blooming flower beds and flower beds, because the period of its flowering is very long - from March to November.

Bacopa ampelous - it's amazing unpretentious plant, the care of which will not cause absolutely no difficulties even for inexperienced flower growers. If you want your garden to be full of flowers all season, be sure to grow this plant.

Bacopa flowers are small and can have a different color - from snow-white to dark blue and hot pink. The plant is climbing, and when grown in open ground, shoots will take root at each contact with the ground.

Selecting a landing site

The birthplace of the plant South Africa, and it is not at all surprising that bacopa prefers sunny areas. If you plant a flower in partial shade, then its flowering will not be as lush as in the sun. Without sunlight, a flower may not bloom at all and grow slowly.

Bacopa is not pretentious about the composition of the soil, although it prefers soil with a low level of acidity, which includes peat. It is optimal if you plant the plant in a mixture of garden soil and peat.

If you will grow a flower in pots and containers, then it is better to fill them with a mixture of peat, river sand, humus and leafy soil, taken in equal parts. It is very important to make good drainage under the roots so that there is no stagnant water near them. Caring for the plant is very simple and not at all troublesome.

Growing from seed

The easiest and fastest way to grow bacopa is by simply sowing seeds. If you grow a flower as a potted crop, then the timing of sowing is not limited by time. Bacopa seeds can be sown at any time of the year. Bacopa seeds are not sown directly in open ground - the plant must go through a seedling period.

• For sowing seeds, take a large container with high sides.
• Small seeds are first poured onto a piece of cloth, which is wrapped and lowered into a solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. It is not worth pouring the seeds immediately into the potassium permanganate solution, as they are too small.
• The prepared substrate is poured into the pots, moistened, and tiny seeds are sown on top.
• The seeds should be lightly pressed with the palm of your hand to the surface of the earth, then spray them with warm water from a spray bottle.
• Pots are placed in a bright place in a warm room, away from drafts.

Read also: Planting time and cultivation of exquisite Godetia

By the end of the second week after sowing, the first tiny shoots will appear. From this point on, young plants should be sheltered from sunlight.

Sprouts should grow in a warm room in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight. The air temperature in the room should be about 20 degrees Celsius.

When a couple of true leaves appear on young plants, they should be seated in separate pots. If it is warm outside by this time, then the pots can be taken out to fresh air. But before you take the seedlings out into the street, you should harden it for a week, gradually accustoming it to the air temperature on the street. To do this, you need to open the windows in the room during the day.

Bacopa cuttings

Although the easiest way to propagate bacopa from seeds, this method leads after a certain time to the loss of varietal qualities of the flower. Flowers may begin to shrink, change their bright color. Experienced flower growers prefer to propagate bacopa by cuttings, so you can save expensive varieties.

1. Planting material in the case of grafting plants should be taken from healthy, strong bushes.
2. Cuttings about 8 cm long are cut from the bush with a sharp knife.
3. Sections of cuttings are treated with drugs that stimulate root growth.
4. Removed from cuttings lower leaves and they are buried in the soil in boxes to a depth of 2-3 cm.
5. Cuttings need constant, very frequent watering. To make them germinate faster, the boxes must be covered with a transparent film.

Germination of bacopa cuttings is no different from germinating seeds - you need a lot of light, heat and high soil moisture. Usually the cuttings take root in 4-5 weeks. All this time, for successful cuttings, plants need careful care.
Young plants grown from cuttings must be hardened off before planting on the street. To do this, the pots are taken out into the fresh air for a couple of weeks during the day, and brought into a warm room at night. Pots with young plants are not placed in a permanent place on the street until the threat of May frosts has passed.

Correct fit

The time for planting bacopa in open ground depends on the climatic conditions of your region. Although the plant is resistant to temperature extremes, it should be planted outdoors when the threat of May frosts has passed.
The technology of planting bacopa in the ground is very simple. If the bushes are not too large, then up to 25 cm can be left in the rows between plants. Seedlings are planted in loose, moist soil. Seedlings are vertically lowered into prepared holes according to the size of the roots, sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly. Be sure to tamp the earth around the roots and put a layer of mulch. After planting, the plant needs care.

Read also: The subtleties of growing buzulnik Przhevalsky

plant care

An excellent plant for landscaping a plot is bacopa, the cultivation of which is not difficult even for beginner flower growers. The plant is not too whimsical and blooms all season.
Bacopa does not need pinching, despite the undulating flowering. You shouldn't have any trouble with this flower. The plant will shed dead flowers on its own, and you won't have to prune them. All following the first wave of flowering will be just as lush and plentiful. The only thing that needs to be done is to eliminate the growing points on the bushes so that they are more magnificent.

Lighting is very important for bacopa, the more sunlight the plant gets, the more abundant and magnificent the flowering will be.

As for fertilizers and dressings, they should be applied only under young plants so that they can quickly grow green mass and bloom better. After fertilizing in the spring, the bushes can also be fertilized during the flowering period, so that the color of the flowers is brighter and the flowering period is longer. Under the bacopa, complex mineral fertilizers are applied in liquid form.
The plant is fairly drought tolerant, but care must be taken to root system plants, which he has quite fragile, did not dry out. In nature, this plant grows near water bodies, so frequent watering will only benefit it. Many experienced growers flowers are sprayed every day so that there is a higher humidity around them. If you plant a bacopa in a flower bed, then caring for it will consist of watering, removing weeds, and loosening the soil around the bushes. Although there will not be many weeds around the bacopa, occasionally weeding is needed.

It happens that the lower part of the bacopa stems begins to lignify, and the number of flowers on the bush decreases sharply - in this case, the stems must be cut by a third. After pruning, the flower must be watered and fed to stimulate active growth bush. Most often, such pruning is done in the fall.

In our regions, this flower is grown as an annual, although the plant is perennial. If you grow bacopa in pots, then with the first frost they must be brought indoors. After that, the old bushes can be propagated by cuttings, since in the second year the bacopa will not bloom so profusely, no matter how good the care is.

Read also: Delphinium: breeding methods

Pests

Bacopa or Sutera is a very strong, disease and pest resistant plant. Sometimes aphids can attack the flowers, which can simply be washed off with a strong stream of water. Plants also need to be treated against aphids. soapy water or insecticides.
If the plant has a too dense crown, mold may appear. In this case, the bushes must be treated with special antifungal drugs, and the crown thinned out.

Prevention of the appearance of pests, diseases and special care for bacopa are not needed.

Bacopa in garden design

In total, more than 100 varieties of bacopa are grown in gardens today. Most often, hybrid forms are planted with lush green mass, with large flowers and a very long flowering period. Flower growers highly appreciate this plant for a long flowering period and easy care.
The plant is very decorative - small in size, very thick leaves form a real emerald green ball around a planter or in a tall flowerpot. When used as a groundcover, bacopa produces a full-blooming dense carpet with numerous buds.

Almost everywhere, due to the high resistance of the plant to adverse conditions, it is successfully grown. The mysterious and romantic bacopa has found application in landscape design or in the design of terraces, balconies, arbors. This flower can serve as an excellent background and emphasize the beauty of chrysanthemums, roses. Bacopa looks great in a single landing. It is also used for making bouquets.

The flowering period of bacopa looks very beautiful and a little mysterious. Tiny buds appear near each leaf, and are slowly getting ready to bloom. Then the first wave of flowering comes abruptly - the entire bush is covered with small flowers that look like stars. But after three or four weeks, the riot of colors begins to fade, and the emerald green is exposed - a period of rest begins, which lasts two to three weeks. Then comes the next wave of flowering. The peculiarity of the plant is that with each subsequent wave of flowering, the number of flowers does not decrease.

It is very important that your garden really glow with colors of flowers all season long, by choosing the right variety. For example, today terry varieties with large flowers are very popular among our flower growers. Terry varieties look great in single plantings against the background of lawns, next to conifers, against the background of shrubs with their lush greenery. Bacopa looks great against the background of marigolds, next to petunias, chrysanthemums.