All about balsam from A to Z
To create comfort and coziness in the house is the desire of any woman. Fashionable interior is achieved through designer renovation, modern furniture. But it’s important to create a warm atmosphere with your own hands.
The main decoration of any home are potted flowers. They bring prosperity and prosperity to the family.
Balsam, begonia, geranium are the most favorite types of indoor plants in our country. They say they are endowed with a number of mysterious qualities. Read more about this flower in our article.
Appearance story
For the first time, balsam was seen in the tropical, subtropical territories of Asia and Africa. In 1596, this plant appeared in Europe, and more specifically in the UK. There, balsam was presented as a gift to Queen Elizabeth I. She was incredibly fascinated by its beauty.
Reference! In Russia, balsam was brought only in the middle of the 19th century. Since then, he has become an indispensable old-timer of window sills of Russian houses. However, for a long time only one type of balsam was popular - Waller.All names
The name translated from Latin means “Impatient”, because even with a light touch of ripened fruits, they burst, and the seeds scatter in different directions. In England, this flower was called "Flaky Lizi", due to its abundant and long flowering.
And in Austria, the plant was called the "Beautiful Branch" and compared the flowering of balsam with a young, beautiful girl. In Germany - "Hard Lisa."
What is it called among our people? Already here, in Russia they began to call it “Vanka-wet”, for a great love of water, after watering drops of sugar dew appear on the leaves of the plant. Other names were also found:
- "Twinkle".
- "Vanka-vstanka."
- "Touchless."
- "Star".
Flower description
Indoor balsam is a herbaceous plant that has annual and perennial varieties. The scientific name is impatiens. The genus Balsaminov in its composition has about 400 varieties of plants. In areas with a temperate climate grow 7-8 species.
Reference! The plant is bush-shaped, with a height of 30 cm to 2 m, depending on the variety, with dense stems and juicy, but fragile leaves. Inflorescences of its irregular shape, red, white and yellow shades. Fruits - an oblong box with seeds, firing when pressed."Roly-wet" is distinguished by shape:
- upright;
- amperes;
- bush.
And by the type of balsam flower there are: carnation, pink, camelliform, bouquet-bush. The latter grow to 50 cm tall. Their flowers rise above the leaves, giving the effect of a lush bouquet.
Photo
Next, you can see the photo of the balsam indoor flower:
Its benefit
Traditional medicine has long and successfully used balsamine as a medicinal plant, because it contains tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids. These substances are important for the normalization of vital processes in the human body. The main beneficial properties of the plant:
- It is a diuretic and cleansing herbal remedy.
- Normalizes kidney function.
- Reduces puffiness.
- Antiseptic. A decoction of balsam is used to wash purulent wounds.
- Relieves inflammation due to the high concentration of vitamin C during flowering.
- With it, rheumatism, pain in the back and joints are treated.
According to Tibetan doctors, the healing flower is able to normalize the menstrual cycle. Helps with poisoning, as a natural sorbent.
Harm and contraindications
Until now, the composition of balsam has not been fully studied. Therefore, its healing qualities remain unstudied. Despite this, according to researchers, the plant contains poison. Broth and preparations prepared on the basis of balsam should be used with caution. Not recommended for use:
- pregnant women, as well as women during lactation;
- children under 12 years old;
- people with gastrointestinal problems.
An overdose of this substance can cause intoxication of the body, dizziness, weakness.
Can I keep him at home? Despite the presence of toxic substances in the composition, balsam is harmful only when used internally. It is possible and even necessary to grow a flower in the house.
Signs, symbols and meanings
History knows many signs associated with this plant. People who want to have this beautiful flower on their windowsill need to know the mysterious properties of impatiens.
- Balsam is considered a symbol of family prosperity, so it takes root only where peace and love reign in the house. If the flower begins to hurt, dry out - this means there are disagreements, quarrels, there is no mutual understanding in the family.
- Bad sign. Impatiens are believed to be a harbinger of alcoholism in the home.
- "Vanka-vstanka" is a man's flower. It gives a strong sex health, confidence, masculine strength.
Kinds
As already mentioned, in nature there are about 400 different varieties of "Vanka - wet." You can divide these varieties into three groups: decorative and non-decorative, exotic. The decorative group includes:
- Impitience garden. Annual. This plant reaches up to 70 cm in height. The leaves are large, slightly pointed. The flowers have an irregular shape, the texture is terry or plain, the color is from white to dark purple. The flowering period is June - October.
- Balsam Waller. Grows up to 50cm, upright stems. The color of the leaves can vary from bright green to dark brown. Perennial plants. Terry and semi-double petals, various colors.
Note! This variety of balsam is widespread. Often grown in pots, and also blooms well on flower beds in the summer. This variety has many hybrids and varieties, due to its unpretentiousness.
- New Guinean. This variety is grown in horticulture, and is already sold in pots. Refers to room culture, because it is a thermophilic plant. Looks good on terraces, in large street pots and in sunny areas. The flowers are white, pink, all shades of red, purple colors.
Undecorative impunity grades
- Iron-nosed. This species was brought from India. This species was called so because of the presence of glands at the base. It grows in height up to 2m. Petals are raspberry or pink. This variety of balsam is considered harmful weeds as a result of their random spread of seeds.
And in hot weather, the heady aroma of the plant attracts many insects. At present, the variety is not in demand.
- Impatiens is ordinary. It grows in darkened forest glades, near springs or a stream. Growth from 80 to 100 cm. Blooms from June to the first frost. Inflorescences have a yellowish tint. Used in medicine.
- Small flowered balsam. Similar to ordinary balsam, only smaller. It begins flowering in May and ends in October. It is a malicious weed.
Exotic
- Balsam Balfur. The birthplace of this plant is the Himalayas. Heat-loving and for our latitudes, the flower is not very familiar. Grows up to 1 meter, has fairly small inflorescences, bright, beautiful color.
- Niamniam or African. This species grows in Africa, where botanists are engaged in its selection. Flowers in shape resemble birds on twigs. There are tall and short plants. Petals are bright red, yellow, pink.
How to care?
The flower "Roly-wet" does not require special conditions. He is quite unpretentious in leaving. It can be located in dark places, and on the sunny windowsill. However, it prefers diffused light.
In cold periods of the year, it is important for the plant to maintain an air temperature of at least + 12 ° C and bright light.
At home, caring for "Vanka-wet" involves abundant watering. The procedure should be performed every other day, but it is important not to fill it. Excess water for the plant is not permissible. It is worth spraying, which also increases the humidity in the room.
Advice! In winter, watering should be moderate, 1 time in 3 days or a couple of times a week. During this period, balsam also grows. And if the soil is very dry or, on the contrary, there is an excess of moisture, this significantly weakens the plant.You will find more nuances of balsamic care at home in this article.
Top dressing
At any time of the year, plants need top dressing. True, in the cold season, the plant slows down growth, and you need to feed it 1 time in 10 days. Nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers with alternate use are well suited for balsam, and in winter they add potassium and phosphorus.
Read more about feeding and watering balsam here.
Breeding
Impunity is propagated in two ways. Using seeds, the process is quite complicated. You need to plant the seeds in wet ground, then cover with a film to achieve the greenhouse effect.
However, the desired type of flowers is not always obtained. The second method is cuttings. The upper part of the balsam is cut off, about 6-8 cm and all the foliage is removed from it. Then the resulting stalk is placed in a container of water.
After a couple of weeks, roots will appear. Before planting in the ground, the future plant is important to strengthen. The cutlery is planted in a container with special soil. Balsam will grow and gain strength. Later it can be transplanted to the right place.
Watch a video about the cuttings of balsam:
Landing and transplanting
"Roly-wet" is a perennial flower. Many gardeners transplant it every 2 years. This is due to the fact that the stems are stretched, the leaves begin to fall off, the plant begins to hurt, various insect pests appear.
All these processes adversely affect the appearance of balsam. Transplantation is a simple matter, but there are a number of nuances that you should not forget about:
- The roots of the plant should be completely mixed in a pot, which should be of medium size with a small amount of soil.
- To achieve lush flowering, the balsam in the pot should be cramped.
- To get a three-dimensional view, you can plant 2-3 copies together.
- It is important to pay attention to the ground. It should not be too saturated with nutrients, otherwise the green mass will grow, but the flowering will slow down.
- There must be drainage in the pot.
Diseases and harmful insects
No indoor plant is safe from various diseases:
- At an internal temperature in the room above 25 ° C and low humidity, unfavorable conditions for balsam are formed. The leaves fade, and the flowering period of the plant slows down.
- Excess moisture in the pot causes mold and fungal growth.
- If rot is noticed on the surface of the soil, the top layer should be replaced as soon as possible, otherwise the disease will develop and the flower will be completely lost.
- Balsamine drops leaves, the reasons may be: not comfortable air parameters, not regular watering, hypothermia, an excess of fertilizing. Sometimes the plant does not have enough light or a rather close pot.
- Lack of sunlight can affect leaf color. They become pale, light green in color. The shoots are stretched, as a result the flower has an ugly shape.
- With low humidity, balsam threatens to be damaged by a spider mite. Get rid of it should be through special solutions.
- Aphids and whiteflies are dangerous insects for balsam. You can fight them with insect repellents.
Balsam or impitience unpretentious plant. Thanks to what they are bred on balconies, window sills, terraces. A variety of varieties and species of this plant will appeal to even capricious flower lovers. And balsam favorably affects the atmosphere in the house and protects it from ill-wishers.
Useful video
Watch a video about balsam, abundantly flowering plant: