Amaryllis flowers - home care

Amaryllis (amaryllis) - a plant native to South Africa. The flower is used to hot summers and cold winters. This is one of the hibernating plants. To ensure proper care to the indoor representative of the flora, you need to learn about the features of care and the problems associated with its content.

Appearance of Amaryllis

Amaryllis is a flowering plant that is popular among flower growers. He is sometimes confused with hippeastrum.

Blooming Amaryllis

Amaryllis has external characteristics that will distinguish it from other similar plants:

• An elongated bulb has a diameter of 4 to 15 centimeters, produces 1-2 peduncles or arrows;
• Narrow leaves in length reach half a meter, characterized by a dark green color;
• From a peduncle grows from 2 to 12 flowers resembling a funnel. Petals can be of different shades, there are white, red, pink, purple. They have streaks of bright red color. There are 6 petals in total, they are pointed at the tips.

Amaryllis content at home

The flower is known by another name - beladonna, which translates as "beautiful lady". It is characterized by a contradictory character. On the one hand, in order to get blooming amaryllis, home care necessary for the plant is not too laborious. It is necessary to create comfortable conditions, ensuring peace in the cold season. With good care for amaryllis and proper planting, cultivation will be a pleasure, delighting not only with beautiful, large flowers, but also with a pleasant aroma.

Drainage example

Soil selection

For a comfortable existence, they prepare the soil suitable for plants that have bulbs. The mixture is purchased ready-made in specialized stores or mixed independently. To do this, take sand, peat, sheet land, turf in equal quantities. After mixing, the soil is laid on the prepared drainage.

Pot selection

The pot for amaryllis must be chosen high. The bulb during growth acquires the root system, which needs a place. It is better not to use a too wide pot to avoid stagnation of water, which will negatively affect the plant.

Fertilizer and fertilizer

They feed the plant during flowering, growth. The procedure should be carried out every 10-14 days. For this, organic and mineral fertilizers are used. In the first case, apply:

• Mullein. This is manure that serves as fertilizer for many plants. To create use 300 grams of raw materials, which are bred in 10 liters of water;
• Bird droppings. You need 80 grams of concentrate and a bucket of water.

Fertilizers are applied to the soil. At the same time, it is recommended to alternate organic and mineral mixtures.

Temperature mode

Amaryllis feels comfortable at home at moderate temperatures. In winter, they keep indoors 10-12 degrees. In summer and spring, the plant is usually warm. Provide temperatures from 20 to 24 degrees. Amaryllis loves fresh air, but does not tolerate drafts. At night in warm seasons, a slight decrease in temperature by several degrees is permissible.

Watering

In summer, regular watering is required, it is necessary to moisten the soil immediately after drying. After planting, water is poured into the pan on which the pot stands. Then, when the amaryllis takes root, moisten the soil.

In winter, the plant is at rest, watered much less frequently. Humidification depends on the room temperature. When the plant is warm, watering is necessary 2-3 days after the drying of the soil. If amaryllis lives at a temperature below 15 degrees, rarely moisturize.

Diseases and pests of amaryllis

Some insects can harm the plant. Which pest destroys the flower is determined by the appearance of the stems, leaves.

More often amaryllis affects:

• False shield. Brown spots form on the leaves, a soap solution will help cope with the parasite;
• Mealybug. The insect settles not only on the leaves, but also on the stem. Fluffy, bulky spots form. It is easy to get rid of the pest, you need to wipe the affected area with a damp cloth. After a while, repeat the procedure;
• Onion tick. The parasite lives on the roots, affecting them. The flower itself wilts, the leaves begin to turn yellow. Usually this happens with rotting, excessive watering;
• Aphid. Notice the insect on the leaves is not difficult. They themselves turn yellow and fold into a tube. Florists treat the plant with potash soap, wiping the leaves and stems with a solution.

Plant after parasite activity

In addition, the flower can suffer from fungal diseases, usually this is facilitated by excessive watering. For example, often a flower affects stagonosparosis. Red spots appear on the leaves and stem, this is a dangerous disease that leads to the death of the plant. Brown or gray smudges may occur that characterize anthracnose and gray rot.

How to care for amaryllis during an illness:

• Affected sheets must be destroyed;
• The plant is transplanted into a new soil, as often fungi affect the root system.

All diseases cause:

• excess moisture;
• temperature difference in the room;
• drafts;
• dense soil.

Bulb planting rules

The easiest way to grow amaryllis from a bulb. They inspect her before planting. It should be dense, rough and clean. Spots indicate infection with parasites or fungi. The bulb may have dark scales, these are dead parts of the plant, they are removed. Before planting, they are treated to prevent the development of the disease.

At the bottom of the selected pot put drainage:

• expanded clay;
• pebbles;
• Red brick.

The material should be small, take 3 centimeters in height. After this, the earth is poured, the bulb is immersed in two-thirds. The top of the planting material remains in the air. The earth is laid moist so that the bulb begins to grow. After the appearance of the peduncle, the planting was successfully completed, and the care of the amaryllis flower begins.

Seed propagation

The plant can multiply not only by bulbs, but also by seeds. The choice of method depends on the experience of the grower.

Propagation by seeds is a more time-consuming process. The sequence of actions is determined by the state of the raw material. With fresh seeds it is easier, they are planted in the ground, sprinkled with earth. Then watered using a spray gun. After a maximum of three months, transplanted, continue to grow in bulk pots. The main thing is to provide a place for the long root of amaryllis.

If the seeds are old, they must be soaked so that they swell. To do this, take a napkin, moisten it with water at room temperature. Seeds are wrapped inside. Dishes with a napkin should be kept warm. After 2-3 days, the seeds swell slightly, increasing in size, they are ready for planting.

Amaryllis Seeds

The old planting material is distinguished by a shell: it dries, and the size of the seeds decreases. Pre-soaking is necessary for them.

Awakening after wintering

In winter, the plant is at rest. Before this, the flowering period ends, amaryllis discards the leaves. It is necessary to stop the bait in late summer - early fall.

Amaryllis bloomed what to do next:

1. If the leaves remain, do not need to cut them. When dying, they provide the bulb with essential nutrients for life. Already in hibernation, you can get rid of dried leaves, otherwise at the beginning of watering they can rot, which will lead to flower disease. During wintering, the bulbs do not die, since the plant is perennial. It is necessary to water it once every 2-3 weeks;
2. Transplant the plant one month after flowering is complete. You can do this not every season, once every two years is enough. Before the transplant, the peduncle is removed, the bulb is cleaned of rotten and damaged processes;
3. Move the plant to a cool place. Although amaryllis is comfortable at a temperature of around 10 degrees, the plant will not survive the frost. The "hibernation" of the flower lasts about 2 months.

After moving to a new bright place, you need to immediately moisten the soil. Next, adjust the frequency of watering, monitoring the condition of the soil, the temperature around and dry air. Remember that waterlogging is dangerous for the plant. At the end of winter, amaryllis begins to bloom. The beginning of the period may occur in March.

Flowering at the desired time

To prolong the flowering that occurs after wintering, you can by adjusting the air temperature, light, watering. Light and moisture can awaken amaryllis. Only they will help make the plant quickly come out of hibernation.

Amaryllis is usually ready to bloom in February-March. Sometimes the fragrant period lasts until the end of spring. This is especially true for large bulbs, they are able to give a "crop" several times a season.

Why amaryllis does not bloom

Amaryllis - an exotic plant adapted to life in arid areas, refers to the cold-resistant representatives of the flora.

The plant does not bloom

Why amaryllis does not bloom and only leaves leaves:

• The alternation of the active period with rest is not observed;
• Excessive watering;
• The plant suffers from fungal diseases or parasites.

The main reason for the lack of flowering is considered to be the avoidance of the "wintering" period. The plant is not sent to a place that is comfortable for hibernation. Amaryllis does not have time to relax, gain the strength necessary for the opening of fragrant flowers. The plant itself will give a sign that it is ready for the next step. It will come to life, a peduncle will appear. So, it's time to return it to warm conditions, providing light. The main thing is to avoid direct sunlight and drafts. After the arrow appears, you need to water the plant. When its active growth begins, increase hydration, rare spraying is allowed.

Amaryllis is a beautiful indoor flower that requires care and attention. Creating comfortable conditions for him is not difficult, the main thing is to understand what the plant needs. Compliance with simple rules will relieve worries about why amaryllis does not bloom, and the room will be filled with a pleasant aroma.