Terry balsam: characteristics, varieties and care

The balsamic family includes herbaceous plants of the order (order) heather. They can be both annual and perennial. Asia and Africa are considered the birthplace of terry balsam. The plant was brought to Europe from another continent back in the 16th century. It is believed that it was then that the home cultivation of this flower was born.

Of the five hundred different species growing in their historical homeland, just over fifteen varieties are found in the middle lane. Terry balsam can be a wonderful decoration for a flower bed or delight its owners at home on the windowsill. It is a plant about 50 cm tall, with an erect stem and branching system. The branches are smooth, with oval leaves of deep green color. The numerous petals of the flower are collected in a rosette and resemble a miniature rose in shape. Up to fifty flowers can form on one plant at the same time.

Few people know, but young balsam shoots can be eaten - they make an excellent vitamin side dish. The seeds of the plant are also considered edible. They make a seasoning for vegetables. If the seeds are poured with fruit syrup, you will get very tasty sweets - an analogue of the well-known kozinaks.

This flower is popular in many countries and has many names. Due to the ability of the plant's capsule during ripening to scatter seeds when touched, the flower was called touchy. During the Renaissance, a bunch of balsam was presented by lower-class gentlemen to ladies from high society, so the flower was considered a symbol of inequality and love longing. In America he was nicknamed "Troubled Lizzie" - possibly due to the fact that the flowering period of the balsam is almost continuous.

In Russia and on the territory of the post-Soviet space, the flower has the name "Vanka-Vstanka" due to the fact that the stem of the plant always tends upward, regardless of the position in which the flower pot is. Also called balsam "Vanka Wet"... The leaves absorb moisture, which then appears on the surface in the form of dew droplets. Another common name for balsam is "Ogonyok"... This is connected with another legend. It tells about a girl who was waiting for her lover from the war, and so that he did not get lost, she put a flower with bright red flowers on the window so that it shines like a light and serves as a guide for the traveler.

All the numerous types of balsam are divided into three main groups.

• Traditional varieties have flowers with white, pale pink or bright scarlet color.
• Hybrid varieties in the first generation - these are low - about 30 cm tall - plants with bright flowers. In addition to the traditional color, flowers can be yellow or orange.
• Hybrids in the second and subsequent generations have leaves with a variegated color and are more resistant to a lack of moisture. In the scientific literature, they are designated by the F1 index.

As mentioned above, terry balsam is considered a non-capricious flower and quite easy to care for both at home and in the open field. However, in order for a flower to please with its bright festive look, some recommendations must be followed.

• When growing an indoor balsam specimen, choose a container that is not too wide. Having a lot of free space around them, the roots of the plant begin to form appendages, thereby taking away nutrition from the stems and, as a result, inhibiting the flowering process.
• Terry balsam should be kept in a well-lit place. However, too strong sunlight can burn the plant, so in summer the flower should either be removed from the windowsill, or a protective barrier should be created for it (for example, from tracing paper or baking paper).
• The ideal soil for indoor balsam is a mixture of river sand, leaf humus, turf and peat.
• During the flowering period, the plant needs organic fertilizers. For additional nutrition, you can use dry onion husks, mowed nettles, bird droppings, ground fish bones. It will also be useful to sprinkle the flower with crushed eggshell and sprinkle with milk whey.
• The optimum temperature for indoor balsam is from +15 to +25 degrees. To avoid overheating the plant in the sun, it is either removed from the heat source (it can be the sun or a battery), or sprayed twice a day.

Terry balsam can be propagated both by seeds and by shoots.

Before planting, the seeds are placed in a weak solution of manganese for 15–20 minutes before planting in order to disinfect them in case of illness. Then the mixture of seeds and soil is covered with a layer of sand of about 2-3 mm and covered with foil to provide a microclimate. The mini-greenhouse is periodically ventilated, and after the germination of seeds and the appearance of the first two leaves on the processes, they are seated in separate containers with a diameter of no more than 10 cm. The procedure is best carried out in late winter or early spring.

The propagation method by cuttings (or shoots) requires some experience in floriculture. On an adult plant, cut the top branches about 6 cm high so that 3-5 leaves remain on the handle. In this case, the incision must be made quickly, in one motion. Cut cuttings are placed in water so that the leaves do not fall into the water. After roots appear on the cut branches, they can be planted in the ground.

Here is a brief description of some varieties of this flower

This variety is characterized by a variety of colors. The flowers of the plant can have various colors: from boiling white, like a bride's veil, to dark red or purple. Some varieties can have two colors. The size of the flower is about 5 cm, it bears some resemblance to the bud of a carnation. The height of an adult indoor plant is about 15 cm, and on a flower bed the flower can stretch twice as much. The variety has several series.

• Series "Athena Aphrodite" with large white flowers with bright scarlet tips. Ideal for lawns.

• Series "Athena F1 Red Flame" is hybrid and outwardly resembles the previous species. It is dominated by red with small white blotches.

• Series "Athena Artemis" is a bush up to 30 cm in height with dense foliage and bright red flowers. Looks very impressive both on the windowsill and on the flower bed.

• "Athena Demeter"... The shrub is 30–35 cm high, characterized by an abundance of foliage and double inflorescences. White, pale pink and bright red flowers can appear on one bush at the same time.

• Athena Bright Parple. Annual plant.The height of the plant, depending on the habitat, can be from 10 to 25 cm. The flowers are large, bright crimson.

• "Athena Coral Pink"... The height of the bush is up to 25 cm, the flowers are large, about 4 cm in diameter, the color is bright pink with a coral tint, similar to small roses.

• Athena Juno. A shrub plant with a height of slightly more than 30 cm with flowers of pale pink color, collected in terry spherical inflorescences. Suitable for planting at home, on the balcony in the summer, as well as for flower beds and pots.

• "Athena Moth"... This series is somewhat larger than the others - the bush grows up to 45 cm in height. Leaves with a jagged texture at the edges, large flowers (4–5 cm), white, pink, bright red and lilac buds appear on one bush.

• "Athena F1 orange flame" Hybrid series, suitable for both garden and home. The bush is undersized, only 10-15 cm high. The flowers with their bright orange color really resemble the tongues of a fire, they look especially impressive in partial shade.

• Pallas Athena... The height of the bush is about 30 cm, the flowers are about 5 cm in size, collected in terry purple inflorescences; suitable for open ground and enclosed spaces.

It is a hybrid and also has a variety of color options. This variety can be recognized by its characteristic coloration: striped two-tone petals and a colored center. The color of the petals can be delicate pastel tones: white, pale lilac, pale blue, or aggressive colors - dark burgundy, deep purple. Leaves with a reddish brown tint.

It is considered indoor. The series of this variety are as follows.

• "Tempo". Low-growing series - 25 cm. Differs in unusually beautiful double inflorescences with peach, raspberry and orange petals.

• "Accent". Dwarf plants up to 15 cm. Flowers are large, petals are two-colored, pinkish-orange.

• "Fareflay". Bushes 25 cm tall with numerous small flowers, ideal for indoor use.

For information on the characteristics of terry balsam, see the next video.