Nerine: description, planting and care at home

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Nerine flower or nerina is classified as a monocotyledonous plant, in its natural habitat it is represented by 13 species. Outwardly, it resembles a lily, but its flowers are more elegant, thin-petalled, with long stamens that go far beyond the petals.

Many types of nerine are highly valued and are on the same level with orchids on the hierarchical ladder.

Nerine plant (Nerine) belongs to the Amaryllis family.

About 30 species grow in tropical and South Africa. Some species and over 300 hybrid varieties are grown in cool greenhouses as ornamentals. They bloom in autumn, until the leaves are fully developed or simultaneously with them.

Only Bowden’s nerine and n. sinuous, characterized by wavy petals.

A characteristic feature of the genus Nerine, which unites some bulbous perennials, is that the leaves of the plant appear simultaneously with the peduncle or later.

Nerine plant: photo and description of species

Perennial bulbous houseplant, elegant and ornamental. The bulb is elongated, about 5 cm long, the outer scales are shiny, light brown.

The leaves are linear, dark green, belt-like, about 30 cm long, 2.5–3 cm wide, the leaf sheaths form a short false stem.

Inflorescences are on leafless peduncles-arrows.

As you can see in the photo, nerine flowers are colored red, pink, raspberry, orange, white:

They have an umbrella-shaped inflorescence, each with up to 25 flowers. In shape, the flowers of nerine resemble the flowers of their closest relatives – representatives of the Amaryllis family.

The fruit is a box; seeds are large, green, 1-4 mm in size.

It blooms in autumn (September – November), which coincides with the spring season in natural habitats. The duration of flowering varies depending on the variety and weather conditions from 7 to 17 days.

Flowering of Nerine Bowden occurs in the fall, with the end of the growing season, when the leaves practically dry out.

Nerine is a very beautiful plant and fully corresponds to its poetic name – a flower of a nymph.

The following is a description of the types of nerine flower and their photos.

Nerine Bowden (Nerine bowdenii).

The bulb of this species is bottle-shaped, forms many children. Leaves 15–30 long and 3 cm wide, glossy, green, slightly grooved. Peduncle up to 45 cm high, inflorescence – umbrella, up to 25 cm in diameter, with 6-12 flowers on trihedral pedicels up to 6 cm long. Peduncles can be cut. They remain in water for up to 2-3 weeks. Flowers are valued very highly, on a par with orchids.

Nerine curved (Nerine curvifolia).

Bulb ovoid, 5–6 cm in diameter. Leaves six, belt-like, up to 30 cm long (appear after flowering). Peduncle up to 45 cm long, bluish, with 8–12 bright scarlet-red flowers. Found in the mountains of South Africa. Several varieties and forms have been bred, for example:

Nerine curvifolia var. fothergillii Baker Leaves are numerous, large, dark-colored.

Winding feather bed (Nerine flexuosa).

The bulb is round, up to 4 cm in diameter. Leaves – 4-6, up to 2 cm wide (appear simultaneously with the peduncle). Flower arrow 60–90 cm. Pale pink flowers. It lives in the Kalahari and mountainous regions (up to 1500 m above sea level) of South Africa. In culture, a number of varieties and forms are known, including Alba with white flowers.

Nerine low (Nerine humili).

Bulb ovoid, 4 cm in diameter. Leaves six, linear, up to 30 cm long (appear simultaneously with the peduncle). Flowers pink, reddish, 10–20 per inflorescence; petals are lanceolate, pointed and wrinkled. It grows in the coastal regions of South Africa.

Nerine bashful (Nerine pudica).

The bulb is round, 3 cm in diameter. Leaves – 4-6, bluish-green, 15-20 cm long. Peduncle with 4–6 white flowers; keel pink. Found on mountain slopes in South Africa. Valuable ornamental plant.

Nerine Guernsey (Nerine sarniensis).

The bulb is ovoid, 3.5–5 cm in diameter, with light brown scales. Leaves six, bright green, almost straight, linear, obtuse, up to 30 cm long (appear after flowering). Inflorescence many-flowered (10–20), petals ovate-lanceolate, cherry red or brownish red; the stamens protrude above the corolla. Grows on rocky soils in the Cape Province (South Africa). Several forms are known:

Nerine sarniensis var. corusca.

The leaves are bright green, with pronounced transverse veins. The flowers are large, scarlet.

Nerine sarniensis var. plantii Baker.

The peduncle is longer than that of Nerine sarniensis. Flowers dark cherry red to glossy brown red; petals are needle-like.

Nerine sarniensis var. Venusta Baker.

The leaves are pale green. The flowers are scarlet, smaller than those of Nerine sarniensis, the petals are sickle-shaped and wavy. An early flowering plant.

Nerine wavy (Nerine undulata).

The leaves are linear, juicy green, 30–45 cm long. Inflorescence umbellate, with 8-10 flowers. The flowers are pale red, with wrinkled corolla lobes. Found in the Kalahari and coastal South Africa.

Nerine sinuous (N. flexuosa) – with pink flowers.

Syrian Nerine (N. serniensis) – with white or red flowers.

Nerine curvifolia var. pulhella Baker – leaves are bluish-green; flowers are pale pink.

Nerine curvifolia var. sandersonii Baker – leaves are wide; flowers are slightly wrinkled.

Planting and caring for a nerine flower at home

Nerine is photophilous and thermophilic.

The optimal place for landing is the western and eastern exposure. In summer, you can take the plant to the garden or balcony.

Lighting requirements: bright diffused light. In autumn, good lighting is needed for laying flower buds, so additional lighting is often needed.

Temperature requirements: in summer, the plant has a dormant period, at which time the plant is kept dry at a temperature not exceeding 25 ° C. When caring for nerina from the end of summer, the temperature should drop, in autumn and winter – within 8–10 ° C.

For N. Syrian, the dormant period lasts from July to August, for N. sinuous – from March to April.

Watering, spraying: regular. In hot weather, spray with water from a spray bottle. During the leaf growth period, watering is moderate (the soil should have time to dry out after the next watering); with the death of the leaves, a dormant period begins, during which watering is practically stopped.

Top dressing: after planting, when caring for nerina during the period of budding and flowering, top dressing is carried out with a small amount of complex fertilizers. During active vegetation and flowering, they are fed once every 2–3 weeks with a complex fertilizer for decorative flowering plants.

Transplantation: about 1 time in 3-4 years in April or late summer. The transplant container should not be too deep. High drainage is poured at the bottom of the pot, several bulbs are planted in one pot.

The substrate should consist of fertile soil, medium-grained sand and tree bark in equal proportions (1:1:1).

Possible problems: the winter period of dormancy has n. Bowden, while in other species, on the contrary, flowering and leaf growth begin in autumn, the growing season lasts all winter, the growth of bulbs, and the dormant period occurs at the end of spring and summer. Never prune green leaves as this weakens the bulbs. In nerine, as in other bulbs, only dried leaves can be removed.

Note. Commercial bulbs should have a diameter of 3-3.5 cm. They are planted in bowls, pots or small boxes.

For proper care of the nerine flower, planting is carried out in such a way that 1/4 of the bulb remains on the surface of the substrate. After flowering, the bulbs are unsuitable for re-forcing.

Reproduction by daughter bulbs during transplantation. Separated children are planted in prepared soil in separate pots with a diameter of about 12 cm, so that a third of the height of the bulb remains above the ground.

Reproduction of nerine by seeds is possible, but flowering occurs much later. Seeds are sown shortly after harvest; at a temperature of 22–24 ° C, they sprout on the 16–18th day.

When transplanting and planting children, the bulbs are buried in the earth mixture. For two years, children are cultivated without a dormant period, and on the third, just like adult bulbs.

In May, after the end of the dormant period, the bulbs are planted one by one or 3–5 in pots with a soil mixture of soddy, humus or compost soil and sand (3:3:1).

Pots with planted plants are taken out to a cool room (on the veranda, terrace, balcony) until the beginning of September, during this period flower buds are laid. When caring for nerina at home, you should carefully monitor that the clod of earth in the pot is not moistened. Keep it like this until flower stalks or leaves appear. During this period, you should start watering and feeding with liquid fertilizers (mainly phosphorus and potash).

Nerine blooms from late September to mid-November. From the beginning of flowering, in order to lengthen its duration, the temperature is maintained no higher than 15 ° C.

After flowering, the plants are watered and fed for some time, and then gradually stopped by December, when the leaves begin to turn yellow. From now on, they are kept completely dry at a relatively low temperature (8–10 °C). During the dormant period, the bulbs are left in pots. With frequent transplantation, plants feel worse.

This is an excellent late flowering houseplant, suitable for cutting. Cut off as soon as the first 2 flowers open. Cut umbrellas stand in the water for about two weeks.

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