Balsam - flowers that 'shoot'

Balsamin - flowers, numbering more than five hundred perennial and annual species. The most ancient indoor plants belong to the family of balsam, which were brought to Europe in 1596, and now they have been pleasing people for more than 400 years with their presence on the windowsills and gardens. The birthplace of balsam is the tropical forests of Zanzibar. Some species come from Eastern India and Central Asia. Due to the properties of leaves, flowers and roots, the yellow juice of the plant was used in industry. So, in Asian countries, from the roots of balsam, a henna known to many is made-yellow-red paint, which changes the color of the hair.
In addition to the official name, balsam flowers are affectionate folk names: touchy, Ivanushka, light, Vanka wet, evergreen.
The variety of species allows the use of flowers in different ways. So annual balsams can often be seen on flowerbeds, and perennial in most cases - it's houseplants.
In appearance, common varieties have branched smooth stems, which are both fragile and juicy. Purple-pink or green leaves reach 12 cm in length. In shape they are serrate, lanceolate or oval, with fleshy petioles. Indoor flowers balm practically have no smell, and their color depends on the variety. There are no blue and pure yellow inflorescences.
After pollination, the flowers of balsam are transformed into green fleshy fruits, after drying, the boxes are formed. If you touch them, the boxes burst and shoot with fairly large seeds, and hide their doors, curling inwards. Because of this property, people nicknamed the plant as touchy.
In the care balm flowers are unpretentious, however, because of their fragility they need support. To stimulate the emergence of new shoots and the formation of a beautiful lush bush with powerful inflorescences, adult plants must be cut off annually, and young ones should regularly pinch.
Due to intensive selection today there are many varieties and hybrids that differ in height, size, color and degree of terry flowers. Particularly decorative is the camellia balsam. This variety absorbed all the best from many varieties. Bright, large, terry camellia buds of different colors are combined with green, smooth, fleshy stems, which, however, easily break down in knots. The height of branched shoots reaches half a meter, their interconnection is formed by a straight-standing pyramidal plant. The leaves of the balm are petiolate, acuminate, with jagged edges alternating. Plants have abundant foliage and very fond of warmth. Even light frosts can damage flowers. Ripe fruits at the slightest touch explode and throw seeds at a decent distance. The plant is widely used in the design of flower gardens, terraces and balconies.
The sowing is carried out by seedlings, previously grown from seeds, which are laid in drainage in March. Seeds are thrown superficially into a moist substrate and lightly sprinkled from above, then sprayed, topped with glass and put in a sunny place, avoiding direct rays.

For germination, the optimum temperature is 23 degrees. When balsam flowers start growing, the temperature and humidity are evenly lowered to 18 degrees. After the threat of frost passes, seedlings can be planted in early June. Flowers like light, fertile soils that are in sunny places or penumbra. When leaving, you should carry out constant fertilizing and watering, avoiding excessive overmoistening. Blossom balm camellia from June to September.