Ipomea Batat: photo, variety

In home floriculture and in summer cottages, a decorative, beautifully flowering flower is gaining popularity – Ipomoea Sweet potato or “sweet potato”. For a long time, the plant was grown as an edible crop, and only recently has it been used in landscape design. Planting and caring for the perennial morning glory Sweet Potato is simple. In regions with a warm climate, the crop is grown in open ground, in cities with unstable weather, like a flower plant.

General description of the species

Ipomoea Sweet potato is a perennial crop, but in home floriculture the plant is grown as an annual. The deciduous plant belongs to the Bindweed family and grows up to 5 m. Botanical description:

• The root system is tuberous, spindle-shaped. The yellow-orange flesh contains antioxidants that reduce the likelihood of cancer cells.
• Escape – smooth, liana-shaped.
• The leaf plate is heart-shaped with a pointed end, from 3 to 14 cm long. The color can be varied, from light yellow to red-purple.
• Flowers are funnel-shaped, of various colors, up to 5 cm in diameter, inflorescences are formed by single buds, collected from 1-3 pcs.
• Seeds are elongated, reach up to 6 mm in length. Seeds are in a flat, woody box, angular shape. Seeds are located singly, in each chamber.

There are more than 7000 species, which are divided into decorative, fodder, dessert and vegetable.

1. Desserts taste like melon, pumpkin or banana. They are used to prepare fruit salads, jams and flavored alcoholic drinks.
2. Vegetable – has a rich taste and aroma, easily replaces potatoes. It is used boiled, raw or baked. On its basis, fragrant vegetable and meat broths are obtained.
3. Feed – goes to feed livestock.
4. Decorative varieties – Ipomoea Sweet potato is intended for cultivation in open ground, as an ampelous and indoor plant.

As a food product, Ipomoea Sweet potato brings great benefits to the body. The plant is low in calories, it contains vitamins, minerals and other useful substances. Useful properties of Ipomoea Sweet potato:

• improves the functioning of internal organs;
• removes bad cholesterol, toxins and toxins;
• stimulates the work of the heart muscle;
• has anti-inflammatory effects;
• strengthens the nervous system.

Ipomoea Sweet potato is unpretentious in cultivation and care, it can grow on sandy or loamy soil with neutral acidity.

In most cases, morning glory sweet potato is grown outdoors. The place should be well lit, protected from gusty winds. After flowering, perennial varieties are transplanted into a pot and brought into a warm room. When growing Ipomoea Sweet potato in room conditions after flowering, the top is cut and set closer to the window, making sure that there are no drafts and sudden changes in temperature.

Sorta ipomei Batat

Ipomoea Sweet potato is popular not only for its beautiful flowering, but also for its decorative foliage. It can be grown in open beds and at home. A variety of colors will decorate any corner of the house and garden.

There are many varieties of Ipomoea Sweet potato, but in order to choose the right variety, you need to read the description and view the photo.

Margaret

Deciduous plant with large pale green heart-shaped leaves. Ipomoea of ​​the Margarita variety grows up to 30 cm, the lashes can reach 1-2 m. The variety does not bloom, it has gained popularity for decorative foliage about 15 cm long. In regions with an unstable climate, it is grown at home as an annual. In open ground, the plant is planted under the film, after the end of spring frosts. Margarita is used as an ampelous, ground cover plant. It is planted in containers, hanging pots. For rapid growth, during the growing season, it is necessary to pinch the top.

Cairo

The variety came to the country from Australia and Asian countries. The plant produces shoots 5 m long and sky-violet flowers. The flowering is plentiful, during the vegetative period the plant is covered with numerous buds, forming a beautiful carpet of delicate petals.

Purple

An annual plant with a pubescent stem, reaching a length of up to 8 m. The leaf plate is smooth, dark green in color. In early summer, the plant is covered with simple or double flowers of pale pink, red, purple and snow-white. The tropics of America are considered the birthplace of the variety.

ivy

The liana-like plant produces shoots up to 3 m long. The variety got its name because of the leaf shape resembling an ivy leaf plate. A flower with a diameter of 5 cm, painted in red, pink, burgundy or blue with a snow-white edging.

moonflower

A variety of late flowering with large heart-shaped leaves of pale green color. In July, 3-m shoots are covered with large snow-white flowers with a diameter of 10 cm. Flowering is one-day, but long. The buds open until the first frost. The variety is grown in hanging planters and used for vertical gardening.

Mina Lobata

Ipomoea mina Lobata is an annual, densely growing plant with flexible shoots up to 3 m long. The stem is covered with three-lobed dark green leaves. In their axils, inflorescences of an unusual shape appear. Spike-shaped brushes in the initial stage of disclosure are painted in bright red. As they bloom, the flowers acquire a color from orange to snow-white-cream. Before planting Ipomoea mina Lobata, you need to view the photo and read the reviews of flower growers.

Breeding methods

Ipomoea Sweet potato can be propagated in 3 ways: seeds, tubers and cuttings. Each method has its own characteristics and degree of complexity. Vegetative propagation is most suitable for beginners, experienced flower growers can propagate Ipomoea Sweet potato with seeds.

How to grow Ipomoea Sweet Potato flower from cuttings

Ipomoea Sweet potato can be propagated in the simplest and least time-consuming way – cuttings. In autumn, cuttings 10-15 cm long are cut from the plant, the lower leaves are removed, the cut is processed in a root formation stimulator. The prepared material is dipped in warm water until the roots appear. If the cut is rotten, it is carefully cut and placed in clean water with the addition of Kornevin. After the appearance of 5 cm roots, the plant is transplanted into a pot with nutrient soil.

How to propagate by tubers

The method is suitable for plants growing in open ground. In autumn, Ipomoea is dug up, the upper part is cut off, the tubers are placed in wet sand or sawdust. Planting material is stored in a dark, cool room.

In December, after the appearance of the buds, the tubers are divided into several parts, so that each division has one bud. After the cut is treated with charcoal or brilliant green, each part is planted in a pot with nutrient soil. In the spring, the prepared material can be transferred to a permanent place. After planting Ipomoea Sweet Potato will show flowers in early June, gradually covering the bush until the first frost.

Can it be grown from seeds

Seed propagation is a complex method with a small percentage of germination. Therefore, to obtain 2-3 plants, about 10 seeds are planted that have undergone pre-sowing preparation. Breeders usually use seed propagation to obtain a new variety.

Growing Ipomoea Sweet potato from seeds occurs in 5 stages:

1. Soil Preparation – To increase germination, seeds are sown in light, nutritious soil. To do this, the purchased nutrient soil is mixed with sand in a ratio of 2: 1.
2. Pre-sowing preparation of seeds – planting material is soaked for 24 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Thus, they are disinfected and hatch faster. You can also increase germination by puncturing each seed with a sterile needle. But, according to gardeners, this option is risky, it should be used only if sterility is observed.
3. Planting seeds – the container is filled with moist, prepared soil. Seeds are placed at a distance of 3 cm from each other, deepening by 2 cm. For quick germination, the container is covered with film or glass and cleaned in the warmest place. The ideal temperature for germination should be within +20°C. 2 weeks after the appearance of sprouts, the shelter is removed.
4. Picking – after the appearance of 2-3 true leaves on the seedlings, the seedlings dive in separate containers. Seedling care is simple, it is necessary to provide it with sufficient lighting and regular irrigation, since with a lack of moisture and sunlight, a young plant may die.
5. Transplantation to a permanent place – seedlings are planted in open ground after the end of spring frosts, when the plant height is at least 10-15 cm.

Ipomoea Batat seeds are planted in mid-May, and seedlings are planted in early June.

Planting and caring for Ipomoea Sweet potato

Ipomoea Sweet potato is often grown outdoors as an annual plant. To do this, select a well-lit area without direct sunlight and drafts. Therefore, the south or southeast side is suitable for growing.

When grown indoors, morning glory Sweet Potato is placed on a well-lit windowsill. At the same time, fresh air must be supplied, without the formation of drafts. At home, Ipomoea Sweet potato is grown in hanging planters or voluminous flower pots.

Ipomoea sweet potato seedlings are planted in a permanent place after the earth warms up to + 15 ° C. The soil for the flower is best prepared in the fall. To do this, the site is dug up, humus, rotted manure or compost and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are introduced. Since Ipomoea Sweet potato prefers to grow on neutral soil, acidified soil is diluted with lime or dolomite flour 14 days before top dressing. In the spring, the earth is dug up and fed with nitrogenous fertilizers.

Algorithm for planting in open ground:

1. In a permanent place, morning glory is planted in seedlings.
2. In the selected area, a hole is made with a depth of 15 cm.
3. If several plants are planted, an interval of 30-40 cm must be observed.
4. When planting seedlings, the cotyledon leaves should be in the ground, and the lower leaves should be removed, leaving only the top two.
5. The planted plant is compacted in the ground, shed and covered with a breathable material until new leaves form.

Aftercare

Caring for Ipomoea Sweet potato is simple, the main thing to remember is that the plant is thermophilic, so you need to adhere to the thermal regime.

In order for the plant to please with abundant flowering, proper care is needed, which consists in watering and feeding.

1. Watering is carried out regularly, but moderately.
2. After watering, the earth is loosened and mulched. Mulch will retain moisture, stop the growth of weeds, and become an additional organic top dressing.
3. During the period of active growth, Ipomoea Sweet potato is fed with nitrogen. The main rule is not to overfeed flowering varieties, otherwise, instead of forming buds, the plant will grow green mass.
4. When growing perennial morning glory Sweet potato in regions with warm winters, it is necessary to carry out autumn and spring pruning. In autumn, damaged and dried shoots are removed, in spring – branches that have not overwintered.

Caring for Room Ipomoea Sweet Potato

When growing room morning glory Sweet Potato with carved leaves, minimal care is required. Watering is carried out only after the soil has dried out, as the plant is afraid of overflow. Frequent irrigation is necessary in the first weeks of the growing season. In a hot, dry summer, the plant is recommended to be taken out onto the balcony and watered only when the soil dries to a depth of 2 cm.

If white bubbles form on the leaf plate, then watering is stopped. Since the formation of blisters is a reaction to an excess of moisture. Therefore, the plant is recommended to be watered through the pan.

Growing morning glory Sweet potato on the site

When growing Ipomoea Sweet potato on a personal plot, it must be remembered that the plant is thermophilic and may die during the first cold weather. The optimum temperature for development is + 9-30 °C. At low temperatures, the flower stops growing, at elevated temperatures, the plant dies.

In autumn, before the onset of frost, the plant is dug up, transplanted into a flower pot and cleaned in a room with a temperature of + 16-20 ° C.

Fighting diseases and pests

Ipomoea Sweet potato is rarely exposed to diseases. But when overflowing, the root system of the plant can rot. In this case, morning glory is carefully removed from the ground, the root system is examined, and rotten and damaged roots are cut. The healthy part is treated with copper-containing preparations.

Of the pests, Ipomoea Sweet potato can be attacked by aphids and spider mites. To combat insects, insecticides or folk remedies are used.

Ipomoea Batata in landscape design

Ipomoea Sweet potato makes beautiful flower arrangements. Next to the morning glory will be perfectly coexist:

• petunia;
• Europhobia;
• marine lobularia;
• large-flowered purslane;
• decorative cereals.

Since the plant is liana-shaped, it is used for vertical gardening. Ipomoea is planted to decorate arches, arbors, unsightly walls and fences.

As a climbing plant, Ipomoea is used for ampel cultivation in hanging pots. In a combination of several varieties, a dense, beautifully flowering morning glory looks impressive, giving comfort to even the most modest interior.

Conclusion

Planting and caring for Ipomoea Sweet potato is simple, so the flower can be easily grown both at home and in the garden. The lianoid plant will be a wonderful decoration for your home interior and addition to landscape design.

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