Even if the names prairie gentian or Japanese rose suggest otherwise - the eustoma is not a plant that is suitable for the garden. She is used to very sunny and warm climates and would freeze to death immediately in winter. In summer you are welcome to put the pots in the garden.
Is Eustoma suitable for the garden?
Eustoma is unsuitable for the garden because it is not hardy and prefers to thrive in warm and sunny climates. In summer you can place the plant in pots in the garden, but take it indoors before the onset of frost.
Eustoma is not hardy
The homeland of the Eustoma is the USA. The prairie gentian grows there in very sunny and warm locations. It does not tolerate cold and is therefore not hardy. So it is not suitable as a plant for the garden.
Bringing prairie gentian to the garden in summer
In summer, Eustoma estimates temperatures around 22 degrees, and it should never be cooler than 10 degrees in winter either. The prairie gentian is therefore cared for indoors all year round. Overwintering is not that easy, so the plant is often only grown for one season and disposed of after flowering.
If it is warm enough outside, you are welcome to bring the Eustoma into the garden, onto the terrace or balcony. However, you have to be sure that there will be no more frosts. You should therefore not put them in the garden before the end of May. Bring the plant back into the house in good time in the fall if you want to try to overwinter it.
The space in the garden should provide some requirements. The prairie gentian needs at least four hours of direct sun per day. Therefore, look for a convenient location:
- somewhat sheltered from the wind
- very sunny
- protected from rain
Bring it into the house after the summer break
If the eustoma is to be overwintered, check it for pests before moving it indoors. In order for it to tolerate the direct sun behind glass, it must first be acclimated to the new location every hour.
Make sure that the winter location is very bright but not too warm. Otherwise there is a risk of spider mite infestation.
We only water a little in winter and don't fertilize at all.
Tip
Since Eustoma is very sensitive to waterlogging, use very loose and permeable soil as a substrate for pots and containers. A mixture of normal potting soil (€10.00 on Amazon) with sand and gravel is well suited.
