Speckled Lip

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Speckled lip (lat. Mimulus guttatus) - a representative of the Gubastic genus of the Norichnikov family. In nature, the species is found in Alaska. In the same place, the plant was first discovered by the Russian researcher and naturalist Grigory Ivanovich Langsdorf. Today, the natural range of speckled sponges has expanded significantly. It grows in North America, European countries and even New Zealand. This aspect is due to the plant's pliability to climatic conditions and polymorphism.

Characteristics of culture

The speckled lip is represented by perennial plants over half a meter in height, which are endowed with highly branched erect stems. In the process of growth, the plants form huge carpets, reaching a width of 90-100 cm. The foliage is oval, with wide notches along the edge, rich green color. The flowers are bright, yellow, in the middle covered with dark red dots, less often with spots. The flowers do not exceed 2.5 cm in diameter.

Currently, in the garden market, you can find the garden form of speckled sponge. It is characterized by variegated foliage, grayish-green color and, finally, snow-white edging. It is important to note that speckled sponge is extremely picky about soil moisture. It feels good on the banks of water bodies, as well as on wet meadows located in semi-shady areas of the garden or areas with diffused light.

The healing properties of the plant

The speckled lip has long been called the elixir of courage. Nowadays, it is used to prepare a homeopathic medicine that healers recommend to those who often experience feelings of anxiety or fear. Also, the drug is advised to be taken by those who are characterized by a fear of airplanes, heights, darkness, enclosed spaces, water and other factors.

Growing

Sowing of speckled lipstick is carried out in the third decade of March - the first decade of April. Seeds are sown in seedling boxes filled with slightly acidic loose soil, including washed river sand. The seeds are not planted, because they are of an insignificant size. They are spread over the soil, lightly pressed with glass, and then watered with a spray bottle.

With the appearance of 2-3 true leaves on young seedlings, a dive is carried out in separate containers. However, experienced gardeners and florists recommend sowing lipstick seeds immediately in separate cups, using a match or a toothpick, previously dipped in water. But this is a very painstaking way. For those who have problems with coordination or vision, it will not work.

Amicable shoots, as a rule, appear after 10-14 days, but only if the optimum temperature is observed, which, by the way, is 18-20C. To speed up the emergence process, it is recommended to cover the seedling boxes with plastic wrap. But it is important to clean it up periodically in order to ventilate the contents of the boxes, otherwise decay cannot be avoided.

Seedlings of speckled lipstick are transplanted into open ground no earlier than 7 weeks after germination. By that time, young plants are gaining strength. A couple of weeks before planting, they are hardened, taking out containers with seedlings to a balcony or street, gradually increasing the time spent in the fresh air. When planting, a distance of 25-30 cm is observed between the plants, ideally 40 cm, because in the process of growth the plants grow greatly in width.

The main procedure for caring for speckled sponge is watering. He does not tolerate drought and actively gains green mass only under the condition of optimal moisture. In warm regions, the plant can be grown as a perennial, but then the plants should be insulated with natural material - fallen leaves or sawdust, after removing the container from the water (if the planting was carried out in a reservoir, and not near it) and digging them into the soil.