Hippeastrum is a flowering bulbous perennial of the Amaryllis family. It can be found in the tropics of Latin America, and sometimes South Africa. The main value of the plant is large bright flowers. They resemble a delicate bouquet, but achieving flowering hippeastrum is not always easy. To enjoy the beauty of flowers to the full, you need to know some secrets of care.
Plant description
The rhizome of the hippeastrum is a rounded bulb with a diameter of 5-10 cm. A rosette of dark green leaves opens from a thick, short neck. Belt-shaped grooved foliage reaches a length of 50-70 cm, and is 4-5 cm wide. The leaves grow in the same plane as a fan and are grouped opposite each other. Sometimes reddish stains are noticeable on the sheet plate, they correspond to the color of the flowers.
The flowering period is in the winter months. A fleshy peduncle 35-80 cm long blooms from the center of the foliage. Its top is crowned by 2 to 6 large buds. The funnel-shaped flower of the hippeastrum resembles a lily. Petals are white, pink, orange or coral. The aroma during flowering does not exude hippeastrum. The diameter of the flower funnel is capable of reaching 25 cm, and its length is 13 cm. Each bud has 6 petals arranged in 2 rows. Their edges are strongly bent outward.
After flowering, the tricuspid seed box ripens on the stem. As it ages, it begins to dry and opens up on its own. Inside are many black flat seeds. Hippeastrum seeds for a very long time retain high germination.
Types of Hippeastrum
Hippeastrum has a great species diversity. About 80 main plant species are registered. Thanks to breeders, more than 2,000 hybrid varieties were added to this amount. The main difference is the shape and color of the flowers. The most widespread hippeastrum palace. It is distinguished by large scarlet flowers on a fleshy peduncle.
Hippeastrum red characterized by the presence of narrow green stripes on pink or red petals.
Hippeastrum royal grows 30-50 cm in height. Its bright scarlet flowers with pointed petals resemble a large star.
Hippeastrum is columnar. The plant has a delicate inflorescence of 6-8 large flowers. Tubular funnels are painted in salmon color with narrow brown-pink veins.
Hippeastrum teyucuarense. Petals with a green center and a bright pink wide border have a contrasting transition and are covered with a mesh pattern. The green core is shaped like a star.
Flowering house lily
Since the flower of the hippeastrum is very beautiful, flower growers go to all kinds of tricks to admire it as often as possible. Young specimens produce a flower stalk annually, and more mature plants can do this twice a year. Before planting, the bulb can be stimulated to form a peduncle. It is soaked in warm water (up to 45 ° C) for 1-2 hours. Then planted and leave the pot in a bright, warm place. Watering the hippeastrum until the leaves appear is very rare. After 2-3 weeks, an inflorescence with several buds will grow.
If the hippeastrum does not bloom for too long, you need to fertilize it more during the growing season. With the beginning of autumn, they provide a period of rest. The pot with the bulb is transferred to a cooler place and stop watering the ground until January. Then the watering gradually resume and return the pot to a warm, bright room. Within a month, the plant will delight young buds.
Breeding methods
Reproduction of hippeastrum is produced by seed and vegetative methods. To get the seeds yourself, you need to pollinate the flowers with a brush. After tying the seed box, it matures within 2 months. Before planting, the seeds are soaked in a weak solution of boric acid. They can be germinated in wet tissue or in a moist sand-peat mixture. A pot of seedlings should be placed in a bright room. Shoots appear in 15-20 days. When the hippeastrum grows 2 real leaves, they are dived into separate small pots. For two years, seedlings are grown without a dormant period, with moderate watering and fertilizer.
Each adult onion periodically releases several children (small lateral onions). A few months later, independent roots appear in the hippeastrum baby and can be separated. During the transplant, the lateral bulbs are carefully broken off and planted in separate pots.
If the children do not form for a long time, you can divide the bulb itself. They dig it out and completely release it from the earth. It is important not to damage the thin roots. The onion is cut vertically into several parts (up to 8). Each split must have its own roots. The slice is dipped in crushed charcoal and dried a little. Landing is carried out in moist peat-turf soil with the addition of sand. It is important to maintain soil temperature of + 23 ... + 25 ° C and good lighting. After a few weeks, the first leaves will appear.
Plant transplant
Hippeastrum receives the main nutrition from the soil, so even adult plants are transplanted every 1-2 years. August or December is suitable for this procedure. The pot should be close enough, then the plant will soon produce flowers. The soil for planting is made up of the following components:
- turf land;
- leaf humus;
- peat;
- river sand.
They try to completely remove the old land. When planting, it is important to leave about a third of the height of the bulb above the soil.
Home Care
Daily care for the hippeastrum at home does not require much effort. The plant needs bright and long-lasting lighting. Southeast or southwest window sills are preferred. Varieties that drop leaves during dormancy are transferred to a dark place.
The air temperature in the room should be moderate: + 18 ... + 23 ° C. In winter, it can be reduced to + 11 ... + 14 ° C. For the summer it is allowed to put the plant on the street, but choose a quiet place without drafts. Sudden cold snap at night is also undesirable.
Humidity is not a big deal. Leaves can be washed periodically from dust under a warm shower or wiped with a soft cloth. Regularly spraying the flower is not necessary.
Watering the hippeastrum in spring begins to gradually. Until the leaves and arrow develop, it is better to pour a little water into the pan. In summer, abundant watering is required, which is gradually reduced only from October. By winter, hippeastrum cease to water. The soil needs to be slightly moistened every 1-1.5 months, but the liquid should not come in contact with the bulb.
Hippeastrum is fertilized with the appearance of a flower arrow when its height reaches 15 cm. You can make fertilizer for indoor flowering plants. It is bred in water and poured into the ground twice a month until the end of August.
Diseases and Pests
Hippeastrum is susceptible to fungal diseases. If a soft spot appears on the bulb, then rot develops. When the size of the plaque is small, you can try to save the plant. The focus is cut to a healthy tissue. The slice is treated with foundationazole and activated carbon. The bulb is dried in air for 5-6 days, after which it is transplanted into fresh soil.
Hippeastrum can be attacked by spider mites, aphids, scale insects, and mealybugs. Insects should be collected, and the crown and soil should be treated with an insecticide.
