Meet the Eustoma—also known as the Lisianthus or Prairie Gentian. While it’s a total superstar in the floral industry as a long-lasting cut flower, it’s still a bit of a hidden gem as a houseplant. If you’re looking for something elegant and eye-catching for your indoor collection, this is the one!
Growing Your Lisianthus
The great thing about Lisianthus is that it’s perfect for year-round growing in your home or a sunroom. Just a heads-up: these beauties aren’t cold-hardy, so they can’t stay out in the garden once the temperature drops. While some varieties do just fine in a garden bed during the summer, you’ll need to bring them inside before the first frost if you want to try overwintering them.
Location and General Care
Lisianthus loves a bright spot, but it’s a bit sensitive to the afternoon sun—think bright, indirect light or partial shade. If you move yours to the balcony for the summer, make sure it’s protected from harsh winds. These plants are also a bit picky about water; they like to stay consistently moist, but they absolutely hate “wet feet” (standing water). Pro tip: when potting them, add a layer of broken terracotta shards or pebbles at the bottom to ensure great drainage.
Soil, Watering, and Feeding
To keep your Prairie Gentian happy, you’ll want to get the soil mix right and stick to a steady watering and feeding schedule.
- Use a mix of potting soil, clay granules (or pumice), and sand in a 2:1:1 ratio.
- Make sure the substrate is well-draining.
- Avoid acidic soil; these plants prefer a more neutral pH.
- Water sparingly—wait until the top layer of soil feels dry to the touch.
- During the blooming season (April to September), mix some liquid fertilizer into your watering can every two weeks.
Watering is usually where people trip up with Lisianthus. You’re aiming for that “Goldilocks” zone: if the soil gets too dry, the plant will drop its flowers, but if it sits in a saucer full of water, you’re looking at root rot.
Overwintering
Even though Lisianthus isn’t a fan of the cold, you can definitely try to keep it going through the winter indoors. A dark, freezing garden is a no-go, but a cool, bright room around 50°F (10°C) is just right. During this time, the plant goes dormant and won’t need much water at all. Just keep an eye out for uninvited guests like spider mites while it’s resting!
Once spring rolls around, you can give your Eustoma a fresh start by repotting it. Since it’s in fresh soil, you can skip the fertilizer for the first few months. Slowly reintroduce it to brighter light, but don’t move it back outside until the temperatures stay comfortably in the double digits (Celsius), even at night.