Amaryllis - home care after flowering

Amaryllis is loved by flower growers for being one of the most abundantly flowering indoor plants. The large, multi-colored, funnel-shaped or bell-shaped buds have a delicate aroma and impress with their tall stem. A simple-looking flower pleases with its bright colors.

What kind of amaryllis flower

A perennial plant of the Amaryllis family was first mentioned by Karl Linnaeus in 1753 when describing the garden of the mayor of the city of Amsterdam. The flower was brought to Europe from South Africa, and for several centuries it has been popular among fans of indoor floriculture. Other names: belladonna, lily, or naked lady. The latter name comes from the characteristic bare stem on which the buds bloom.

Amaryllis Red Lyon

Description

Amaryllis belongs to bulbous houseplants. Two rows of rectilinear elongated leaves are 2 to 3 cm wide and up to 60 cm long. The diameter of the pear-shaped bulbs can reach 12 cm. Each bulb produces a long bare stem - a peduncle, sometimes there can be two of them. The stems end with inflorescences.

How amaryllis blooms and how much

The diameter of the bell-shaped fragrant flowers is from 5 to 8 cm. Shades:

• white;
• yellow;
• red;
• crimson;
• purple;
• Orange;
• pink;
• purple, etc.

The petals have pointed tips, as a rule, there are 6 of them.

Amaryllis blooms for 15-20 days. This usually happens in the fall. During this period, the plant needs regular watering and a lot of light. But with diligence, you can make amaryllis bloom at any time of the year. The main thing is to know how to care for amaryllis so that it blooms.

Care rules for abundant flowering

With proper care, the plant can bloom 2-3 times a year.

Amaryllis pots on the windowsill

Watering

The soil in the pot should always be moist, but the water should not stagnate. The plant is adapted to moderate drought, but not excessive moisture.

If the air in the house is very dry, you can do a light sprinkling of the buds. This is not difficult to do, but for irrigation you need to take filtered water at room temperature. Some growers use melt and rain. Chlorinated water from the city water supply has a detrimental effect on the plant.

Soil and fertilizing

It is advisable to make sure that the ground is not acidified. This plant does not tolerate acidic soil.

Caring for amaryllis at home includes feeding with complex liquid fertilizer for flowering crops of the Emerald brand. It needs to be done once every 10 days.

You can fertilize amaryllis with organic matter or complex mineral fertilizers. Nutrient composition:

• compost - 2 parts;
• humus - 1 part;
• rotted leaves - 2 parts;
• coarse sand - 2 parts

Other features

Once the flower has begun to bloom, the first arrow can be cut and placed in the water. The flowering period in the vase and on the bulb is approximately the same, but when cutting, the bulb is less depleted and stimulation occurs to eject a new bud.

In order for the arrow to maintain its verticality, the pot with the plant must be periodically rotated and reoriented relative to the light part of the room. The optimal number of arrows for flowering is no more than 2.It is better to remove excess peduncles, otherwise the next year the flowering regime will not happen at all.

What to do with amaryllis after flowering

Amaryllis has faded, what to do next. Watering is gradually reduced to zero. It can be renewed when the flowering arrow reaches a length of 10 cm.If you start watering earlier, then all the forces will go into the growth of the leaves, and the owner is unlikely to see what beautiful buds the amaryllis has.

If there is amaryllis in the apartment, home care after flowering is not difficult, since it is not capricious. When the arrow is completely dropped, the pot with the plant is placed in a cool dark room with a temperature of at least + 10 ° C (for a period from July to October).

Amaryllis at rest

The dormant period should last 3-4 months for the plant to gain strength for a new full flowering, otherwise it can quickly deplete and die. During this period, amaryllis must be properly cared for. He needs diffused light. Leaves do not need to be cut off so that organic matter from them goes into the bulb.

Amaryllis bulbs

During rest, the bulb can be taken out of the pot, separated from the “babies” and transplanted into the mother plant.

What to do with the onion

Usually, flower growers leave amaryllis in a pot after flowering for a dormant period. However, according to the rules, the bulb must be pulled out of the ground, the roots must be cleaned, and dried elements must be cut off.

To protect the planting material from diseases, the bulbs are placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, dried, wrapped in a dry napkin and stored. Every 2 weeks, a preventive examination should be carried out.

Transplanting bulbs

During transplantation, the affected roots are removed, the wounded roots are sprinkled with charcoal, the children on onions are carefully separated and transplanted into individual pots. In healthy plants, the root system fills the entire pot and prevents decay.

It is recommended that the transplant be done annually, this procedure must be performed after the amaryllis has faded. What to do in this case: The pot must be selected based on the size of the bulb. A ceramic container is best suited, since it provides the root system better with oxygen. The distance between the wall of the pot and the bulb should not be more than two centimeters.

The soil for the flower is prepared by mixing peat, sand, humus in equal proportions. The mixture is poured with boiling water before planting. Ready-made soil for bulbous plants is also sold.

The bottom of the pot must be filled with a layer of drainage. It is not necessary to deeply deepen the bulb: it is enough to cover with the mixture two-thirds of the height.

Amaryllis transplant

Reproduction

The seeds ripen in the opening box. Amaryllis can be propagated not only by children, but also by seeds. However, this option is tedious and complicated, so they try to spread according to the first type, separating the small buds from the mother's bulb.

The pot must be taken in size the same as for an adult onion, since the plant is growing rapidly. When reproduced by children, the plant begins to bloom in the third year. If, nevertheless, reproduction from seeds is carried out, then you will have to wait five years.

Care errors

If you take care of the plant, it will look bright and attractive. But there are typical mistakes that can be avoided:

• If the flowers are very pale, then the pot is exposed to direct sunlight. We need to find a darker place.
• In a damp and cold room, the opposite reaction occurs: the flowers darken, and sometimes even blacken.
• Insufficient watering will cause the flowers to droop and the leaves to become pale.
• When damaged by thrips or other pests, the leaves turn yellow.

Bulbous plants are distinguished by an elegant flowering. But if caring for them is not very good, the plant becomes moody and does not bloom.

The reasons for this condition:

• There was no rest period for the bulb.
• There was not enough sunlight.
• Low room temperature.
• The soil is not fertilized enough.
• The bulb is damaged by pests.

If there are small children in the house, you need to remember that amaryllis is not only an exquisite flower, but also a poisonous plant. Its bulbs contain poison, which the African natives used in arrows. A tip moistened with such juice could lead to the death of a person. Small doses of poison, of course, are not fatal, but for the sake of precaution when transplanting and working with the bulb, it is better to use gloves and not allow children to this process.

Amaryllis Aphrodite will decorate any interior

Recently, interest in tropical plants has increased. After all, they give the interior in the house originality and special refinement. Amaryllis can be considered such a representative of the flora. How to care so that it blooms and no one remains indifferent to bright buds - the main thing is that everything must be done with love, and the result will not be long in coming.