Bakopa is an impressive plant, popular in Poland. Its tiny, bright flowers look beautiful on balustrades and hanging pots. Bakopa for the balcony is an ideal solution for busy people who do not have too much time to grow and care for plants. It gains very fast growth and long flowering. You do not need special conditions for it to look beautiful throughout the summer.
Plants of the genus Bacopa come from the tropics.Bakopa called sutera comes from South Africa. It is also found in the Canary Islands. The most famous species is the large-flowered sutera - Sutera grandiflora, belonging to the leper family. It is she who is a flower grown in Poland, popular on balconies and terraces.
What does a bakopa flower look like?
In our climate zone, it is an annual plant. It has a hanging shape. The shoots are thin but branched. They can be lowered or creeping. They grow up to forty centimeters. There are dark green, heart-shaped leaves on the shoots. Bakopa before the flowering period also has decorative qualities, thanks to the presence of numerous, tiny leaves.The plant blooms from June to September. It has numerous small flowers located in the leaf axils. Bakopa - flower, depending on the variety, can be single or full. The basic color is white, but there are also blue or pink petals.
Bakopa: varieties
Small-leaved bacopa, or Bacopa monnieri, belongs to the bean family. It is not a plant grown in gardens and balconies. Its flowers, however, are similar to the basement and can therefore be mistaken for it.Common names for basa are: purple bacopa, pink bacopa. They come from hybrids with different colors of flowers. The most popular variety, however, is the white bakopa. Among hybrids, the following are distinguished:
- blue varieties:bakopa "Blue Sensation", bakopa "Everest Blue",
- pink varieties:bakopa "Great Rose", bakopa "Pink Domino",
- white variety:bakopa "Abunde Gigant White", bakopa "Snowflake", bakopa "Double White".
Bakopa: cultivation and requirements
Bakopa can be grown in flower beds as a creeping plant. Its hanging shape allows it to be cared for in a box suspended on a balcony railing, or in a hanging pot, attached to the ceiling.You can also hang it in the gazebo. It tolerates the company of other plants well, which is why it creates collective compositions with other balcony species, e.g. geraniums.The plant prefers a sunny, quiet position. Bakopa has delicate, brittle shoots. Strong winds can break them, which is not conducive to its development. Therefore, when choosing a place for growing this plant, one must bear in mind the sheltered place. It can grow in light partial shade, although then it blooms less and shorter. It grows best in humus and fertile soil. It is worth draining it so that the substrate is permeable. The pH of the soil should be neutral or slightly acidic.Bakopa - a potted flower planted in May. At the beginning of cultivation, a place should be prepared for it, spaced 25x25 centimeters apart. It is best to buy a seedling from a proven supplier. Pay attention to whether there are any lesions on it. Bacopa can also be propagated from seeds sown at the turn of February and March. They take root in fertile and moist soil.Later they need to be quilted into a larger capacity container.
Bakopa: care
Bakopa during the flowering season should be watered regularly. The substrate must be constantly moist, but not shed. We cannot let the soil dry out. In summer, it is good to use a mineral fertilizer intended for blooming flowers for watering.The plant is not frost resistant, so it should be moved to the room after the first colder days appear. If we manage to maintain its proper conditions, we will be able to overwinter the plant. It cannot be placed on a windowsill or over a radiator, as the soil will dry out quickly. The ideal temperature for her home breeding is between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius.
Bakopa: properties and application
Bakopa - a plant grown in gardens or on balconies. It has decorative flowers that bloom for a long time. Perfect for planting in hanging pots and containers, boxes attached to railings or baskets.It is suitable for creating compositions along with other flowers. The large-flowered bakopa is only applicable in creating pot compositions.Occurring under the same name - small-leaved bacopa, is a plant used in medicine. It grows in its natural state in the vicinity of water reservoirs and sandy ground. It is a weed in the rice fields. Grown as an ornamental plant in aquariums. The properties of small-leaved bacopa have been demonstrated and used in Indian medicine to treat ulcers, tumors, inflammations, leprosy, anemia, and also in inflammation of the digestive system - intestines and stomach. It was also used as a tonic, improving the ability to associate and concentrate.
