Mimulus

The genus Lipsticus, or Mimulus, includes about 150 species of herbaceous and shrubby plants, annuals and perennials, which are usually grown as annuals; often short-lived, unpretentious and tender species. Sponges can be both erect and groundcover. Their flowers are very decorative. The range of colors - from yellow to bright orange and red tones. The short - legged sponge (Mimulus brevipes) is a 40-50 cm tall species. The flowers are large (5 cm in diameter), yellow. It is recommended to grow in wet areas. Red sponge (M. cardinalis) grows up to 50 cm. The leaves are oval, toothed, with well-defined venation. Fiery red flowers, sometimes covered with yellow spots, on long peduncles that form in the axils of the leaves, look like snapdragons. The plant is suitable for growing in flower beds and borders. Yellow sponge (M. luteus) is a perennial that is an erect, branching shrub up to 60 cm in height. The leaves are ovate or rounded in shape. Yellow flowers with brown or red spots are collected in racemose apical or axillary inflorescences. Flowering lasts from May to September. The plant thrives well in an environment with very high humidity or if the roots are completely submerged. Does not like high temperatures and open sun. The musk sponge (M. moschatus) is a low-growing species up to 15 cm high, with pubescent creeping stems. The oval leaves are slightly pubescent. The flowers are small, yellow, and fragrant, collected in racemose inflorescences at the ends of the stems and in the axils of the leaves. They are grown in rock gardens. The orange sponge (M. aurantiacus) is a branched shrub species. The green leaves are usually oblong or oblong-lanceolate in shape, the flowers are orange or dark yellow. The drop lip (M. guttatus) is a species characterized by leaves of various shapes. Inflorescences-brushes of bright yellow flowers with red or brownish spots. The hybrid or tiger sponge (M. x hybridus hort. / M. tigridus hort.) includes various hybrid varieties of perennials cultivated as annuals - these are plants with a height of 25 cm, strongly branched, and profusely blooming during the summer season. There are also garden forms with double flowers.

The genus Lipsticus, or Mimulus, includes about 150 species of herbaceous and shrubby plants, annuals and perennials, which are usually grown as annuals; often short-lived, unpretentious and tender species. Sponges can be both erect and groundcover. Their flowers are very decorative. The range of colors - from yellow to bright orange and red tones.

The short - legged sponge (Mimulus brevipes) is a 40-50 cm tall species. The flowers are large (5 cm in diameter), yellow. It is recommended to grow in wet areas.

Red sponge (M. cardinalis) grows up to 50 cm. The leaves are oval, toothed, with well-defined venation. Fiery red flowers, sometimes covered with yellow spots, on long peduncles that form in the axils of the leaves, look like snapdragons. The plant is suitable for growing in flower beds and borders.

Yellow sponge (M. luteus) is a perennial that is an erect, branching shrub up to 60 cm in height. The leaves are ovate or rounded in shape. Yellow flowers with brown or red spots are collected in racemose apical or axillary inflorescences. Flowering lasts from May to September. The plant thrives well in an environment with very high humidity or if the roots are completely submerged. Does not like high temperatures and open sun.

The musk sponge (M. moschatus) is a low-growing species up to 15 cm high, with pubescent creeping stems. The oval leaves are slightly pubescent. The flowers are small, yellow, and fragrant, collected in racemose inflorescences at the ends of the stems and in the axils of the leaves. They are grown in rock gardens.

The orange sponge (M. aurantiacus) is a branched shrub species. The green leaves are usually oblong or oblong-lanceolate in shape, the flowers are orange or dark yellow.

The drop lip (M. guttatus) is a species characterized by leaves of various shapes. Inflorescences-brushes of bright yellow flowers with red or brownish spots.

The hybrid or tiger sponge (M. x hybridus hort. / M. tigridus hort.) includes various hybrid varieties of perennials cultivated as annuals - these are plants with a height of 25 cm, strongly branched, and profusely blooming during the summer season. There are also garden forms with double flowers.

Cultivation

Plants of the genus Mimulus are used as groundcover for the design of tents and rocky areas; they are grown in the fresh air in the open ground on flower beds and in containers, - boxes and flower beds - on terraces and balconies. They are permanently planted in the spring in April. The soil should be very moist, for example on the banks of water bodies, or even (this applies to some species, such as yellow sponge) partially covered with water. Leave a distance of 20-30 cm between the plants. For cultivation, choose medium-sized containers. In the culture of lips are unpretentious; still prefer soils rich in humus and containing peat. During the spring and summer period, a complete mineral liquid fertilizer of 15 ml per bucket is added to the water for watering plants-both in flower beds and in pots - every 20-30 days.

Location

The ideal location in a temperate climate is in an open area, but not in strong sun, which can cause burns and slow down the growth of the plant. In hot climates, partial shade is necessary.

Temperature

The minimum temperature that most species can tolerate is 7 °C. The most stable of them are red lip and musk lip, which can withstand sub-zero temperatures, respectively -7 °C and -15 °C. The maximum permissible temperature for cultivation is 28-30 °C.

Watering

If the site is not wet, it should be watered abundantly and often during the growing season.

Care

Remove withered flowers and damaged parts of the plant.

Reproduction

Propagate by seed. Sow seeds from March to May in containers filled with the same type of soil used for potting and described above. Containers are kept indoors. Sowing of all types is recommended to be carried out at a temperature of 13-15 °C. After the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted into boxes so that they take root better. Subsequently, they are planted in the ground. The simplest of the vegetative methods of reproduction is dividing the bush in early spring. You can also take short cuttings. They are placed to form roots in containers filled with a mixture of peat and agroperlite, under glass or plastic.

Propagate by seed. Sow seeds from March to May in containers filled with the same type of soil used for potting and described above. Containers are kept indoors.

Sowing of all types is recommended to be carried out at a temperature of 13-15 °C. After the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted into boxes so that they take root better. Subsequently, they are planted in the ground.

The simplest of the vegetative methods of reproduction is dividing the bush in early spring. You can also take short cuttings. They are placed to form roots in containers filled with a mixture of peat and agroperlite, under glass or plastic.

Acquisition

The sponge is easy to get in gardening centers and nurseries. Preference should be given to the most resistant varieties. Choose compact plants, without yellowing.