How to Grow Lyssianthus

Once you've seen a blooming Lisianthus you'll want to add it to your garden for its colorful bell-shaped flowers. Native to the south-central region of the United States where it is grown as a tender perennial, lisianthus (Eustoma Grandiflorum) is also known as Texas bluebell and prairie gentian. In colder climates with seasonal temperatures below 40 degrees F, lisianthus is grown as an annual or houseplant. Bedding lisianthus plants are not common at garden centers, though seeds are readily available. Lisianthus seeds are tiny and need to be started 16 to 22 weeks before the last frost for your area because the plant can take four months from seed to flowering.

Small pots, containers, styrofoam cups
Tray
Potting soil
Plastic wrap
Rubber bands
Fluorescent light or grow light
Multi-compartment bedding plant trays

Instructions

- 1
  Fill small planting pots, containers or styrofoam cups with a general potting soil comprising peat and vermiculite. Be sure the pots or cups have a drain hole. Use a knife or pencil to poke a hole in the bottom if it doesn't.
- 2
  Saturate the potting soil with water until water runs out of the drain hole and on to the tray underneath the pots.
- 3
  Sprinkle several lisianthus seeds on top of the moist soil.
- 4
  Cover the top of the pot with a layer of plastic wrap. Secure the plastic with a rubber band.
- 5
  Place the plastic covered planted pots under a fluorescent light that is 1/2 to 1 inch above the pots. The pots with lisianthus seeds will need to be under the fluorescent light for at least 16 hours a day. Keep the soil moist by adding water to the tray and allowing the water to wick up into the soil. Temperatures should be constant at between 70 to 75 degrees F. The lisianthus seeds will germinate in about two weeks.
- 6
  Remove the plastic from the top of the pots when the first set of leaves appear. Move the fluorescent light to 1 1/2 to 2 inches above the pots. Temperatures can be lowered, but never below 60 degrees F. Keep the soil moist by allowing the water to wick up from the tray.
- 7
  Transplant the seedlings with two to three sets of leaves into individual compartments of a bedding plant tray that is filled half way with moist potting soil. Take up as much of the original potting soil around the tender roots as you can when transplanting.
- 8
  Set the soil filled root ball on top of the moist soil in the tray. Gently fill in around and on top of the root ball with potting soil. Plant the seedlings so the lower leave set is just at the soil level. Continue to keep the soil moist by watering from the bottom, allowing the soil to slightly dry between watering.
- 9
  Move the small lisianthus plants outside for a few hours a day when the seedlings are 3 to 4 inches high and the threat of frost has passed. Gradually harden the seedlings for the next two weeks, gradually extending the time outside.
- 10
  Plant your lisianthus in your garden where the soil is rich, loamy and moist and will receive at least six hours of sun each day. Your lisianthus should begin blooming toward the end of summertime.

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