Amaryllis: description, care at home and in the open field

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Amaryllis flower (Amaryllis) is one of the most beautiful flowering houseplants. This is a perennial bulbous plant belonging to the Amaryllis family.

The homeland of indoor amaryllis is South Africa, from there the flower was brought to European countries, where it immediately gained great popularity. Amaryllis leaves are long (up to 70 cm) dark green, belt-like. The flowers are white-pink, orange or red, up to 8-10 cm in diameter, located on a long peduncle. The bulbs are pear-shaped, the diameter of which can reach up to 12 cm. Each bulb produces 1-2 peduncles, on which funnel-shaped flowers are located. The peduncle reaches a height of 40-70 cm, at its top there are from 2 to 6 flowers. They have six petals with pointed edges. The amaryllis plant blooms in September. Amaryllis can bloom two or three times a year, but with such a frequency this bulbous plant produces flower stalks only for professionals in floriculture. Usually blooms only once a year. True, professional flower growers recommend cutting off the third peduncle, as it greatly depletes the bulbs.

Differences between a houseplant amaryllis and hippeastrum

Often, inexperienced flower growers confuse the amaryllis home flower with similar plants called hippeastrums. They do share many similarities in their appearance, but Amaryllis is much rarer. In order not to make a mistake when choosing a plant, you can distinguish them by many differences, it is enough to compare the description of amaryllis and hippeastrum according to this table.

Characteristic

Amaryllis

Hippeastrum

plant homeland

African continent

south american continent

flowering period

Spring

Autumn

Smell

Present – gentle or pronounced

Completely missing

flower size

Up to 12 cm in diameter

Up to 8 cm in diameter

The number of flowers in the inflorescence

More often 4-8, rarely their number reaches 12 pieces

Usually 2-4. Sometimes 6 pieces

leaf growth

After flowering

Before the formation of the peduncle

bulb shape

Pear-shaped, with gray scales

Round, flattened, with onion-like husks

Stem

Peduncle fleshy inside

Hollow, empty

Amaryllis, unlike hippeastrum, can also be grown outdoors.

What does amaryllis belladonna look like?

In common speech, Amaryllis is also known by such names as belladonna or lily, as well as “naked lady”. The name “belladonna” is due to the fact that the plant is poisonous. However, flower growers consider Amaryllis belladonna as the main species of this beautifully flowering indoor flower.

Amaryllis belladonna is the only species of the genus Amaryllis family that has many varieties. This name translates as “Beautiful Lady”, it really has an incredibly attractive spring look. Due to its exotic nature, the flower is widely used in the creation of floral compositions.

Amaryllis belladonna is often confused with lilies, however, despite the external similarity, these are completely different flowers. Amaryllis is classified into species according to the color of the petals, they are also distinguished by the shape of the flower, they can be simple (non-double) – with 6 petals, and terry – more than 9 petals.

Terry, in turn, are divided into the following subspecies:

  • semi-double (semidouble) – 9-11 petals;
  • terry (double) – 12-17 petals;
  • super double (superdouble) – more than 18 petals.

Depending on the variety, the petals at the ends may be pointed or rounded.

Terry and non-double varieties of flowering amaryllis

Modern selection of Amaryllis is developing in the following three directions:

Creation of new varieties or improvement of those already known in floriculture in order to increase the size of the flower.

These include such terry varieties of amaryllis:

Double Roma.

Celica.

double dragon.

This group of plants also includes non-terry varieties of amaryllis:

Ampulo.

Black Pearl.

Exotica.

Moonlight.

Matterhorn.

White Baby.

Searching for new original flower colors or obtaining new ones from existing colors by mixing them. In this direction, breeders have bred new varieties of flowering amaryllis – Charisma, Gervesa, Temptatia, Prelude, Clown, Neon, Pizazz.

Changing the shape of the flower, creating narrow-petal varieties of amaryllis, which are called “spiders” by the breeders themselves. These are varieties such as Grandeur, Spotty, Evergreen, Lima, La Paz. Narrow-petal varieties are significantly inferior in appearance to specimens with large flowers, but they look much better in flower arrangements. Narrow-petal varieties are used by florists to create bouquets in which amaryllis is harmoniously combined with other flowering plants.

In indoor floriculture, the most famous are such varieties of indoor flower amaryllis as:

Blanda” – flowers are white.

Maxima” – pink flowers.

Purpurea” – purple flowers.

Amaryllis Aphrodite: description of the peduncle

Amaryllis Aphrodite isa bright representative of this perennial bulbous houseplant. The peduncle of the amaryllis Aphrodite reaches a height of 35-80 cm. The leaves of this type of indoor flower are linear, 50-70 cm long. The flowers are large – 15-25 cm in diameter, can be tubular or funnel-shaped. The color of Aphrodite’s flowers is represented by several options, they are bright red, orange, dark cherry, pink, white.

Like all other types of this beautiful indoor flower, Aphrodite loves bright diffused light. This species is mainly used as a pot culture, Aphrodite is also grown for cutting to make floristic compositions, this variety is not recommended to be planted on the street.

During flowering, a beautiful homemade variety of amaryllis Aphrodite is in the photo below:

Amaryllis Minerva and other red varieties

As for the color of the flowers of this bulbous plant, many varieties of amaryllis are known – these are white, and red, and pink, and orange, and lilac, and burgundy, and many other shades.

Red amaryllis is represented by several varieties.

Plants belonging to the following species of Amaryllis have such a luxurious color:

Durban. This is a large-flowered bulbous plant. Its flowers are bell-shaped. The color of the petals of this type of amaryllis is carmine red with a white spot at their base.

Red Lion. Very beautiful variety with a large flower of rich red color.

Macarena. An unusual flower with dense double petals, painted in bright red. A feature of this variety is the presence of white longitudinal stripes on red petals, which gives the appearance of the flower even more spectacular and luxurious.

Pay attention to what the amaryllis Macarena looks like in the photo below:

Amaryllis Minerva. Amaryllis Minerva is a bulbous plant characterized by red flowers with a white star in the center. This is one of the most popular types of this indoor flower culture.

White and pink types of amaryllis: photos and names

Especially popular with flower growers is white amaryllis, which is often used by florists to make wedding arrangements. White color have plant varieties such as Ice Queen (Snow Queen). The variety has fairly large white flowers with a spray of cream color located along the edges of the petals.

The plant is endowed with a special attraction by the unusual gloss of the petals, which gives the Snow Queen a dazzling brilliance and radiance. When reflected in the sun, glare appears and a unique shimmering effect is created.

Pink amaryllis is another of the most common petal colors of this plant. The variety Parker (Parker) has a rich pink color, which is characterized by typical flowers for this type of flower culture, both in shape and in size. At the base of each petal is a yellow spot.

Variety Vera (Faith) is characterized by light pink petals of medium size. A distinctive feature of the species is a pearlescent coating on the petals. This feature of Vera (Faith) makes the variety popular in the preparation of floristic compositions.

Kyus amaryllis is a late-flowering variety with dark pink petals covered with a yellow coating at the base.

Grandeur (Grandior) – a beautiful variety that is very popular with professional and novice flower growers. It is characterized by long narrow petals of a pink color. Interest in this home flowering culture among flower growers is due to the unusual coloring. All flowers have a gradient transition from the petals of a darker pink shade to light ones.

Amaryllis can have quite unusual colors – blue, blue and even green. Among these unusual varieties belongs to LaPaz (La Paz). This representative of the flora has narrow long petals, painted green with a red coating around the edges. With its appearance, LaPaz (La Paz) is very reminiscent of lilies.

All names of pink amaryllis and their photos are presented below:

How to care for amaryllis flower at home

Caring for amaryllis at home is not as complicated as it may seem to many beginner gardeners. This type of flower culture is less whimsical in care and cultivation than hippeastrum. It is Amaryllis that is often recommended for cultivation by inexperienced flower growers. In order for the plant to please with its flowering and good growth, it is important to provide it with good lighting, proper watering and the necessary temperature conditions.

How to care for amaryllis by growing this noble flowering plant on your windowsill? Amaryllis loves diffused sunlight, so you should choose a well-lit place for it, it is better to exclude direct sunlight.

For full vegetative development, the amaryllis houseplant needs 16 hours of daylight. The optimum temperature during the care of an indoor flower amaryllis is 20-22 ° C during the day and 18 ° C at night.

When growing amaryllis, plant care also consists of maintaining an optimal level of air humidity. Air humidity can be increased to 80%, higher is not recommended, because due to excess moisture, some indoor flower diseases can develop. Easily tolerates dry air, but sometimes such conditions can cause some problems associated with the reproduction of pests and the development of diseases.

If the humidity is below 80%, it can be increased by spraying the leaves with water. The plant does not like it when the temperature or humidity level changes dramatically in the room, so it is important to try to keep them at about the same indicator.

Proper watering and fertilizing amaryllis

When growing amaryllis at home, it is recommended to water it after the earthen ball dries slightly. In summer, watering can be more abundant, from August to January they are reduced to once a month.

For the flowering of amaryllis, fertilizing the soil is mandatory. The plant needs top dressing during its active growth and flowering. From the beginning of active growth, fertilizers are applied once a week, while organic and mineral fertilizers should be alternated. From the end of September, feeding is stopped.

What growing conditions for amaryllis should be provided with the advent of summer? For the summer, it can be planted in open ground in the garden or taken out in a pot on the street, and with the advent of winter – returned to its usual habitat. Transfer is rare. It must be borne in mind that amaryllis blooms better when thickened and in tight vessels.

How to transplant amaryllis into another pot

Amaryllis at home should be transplanted no more than once every three to four years, since it is a perennial bulbous plant. However, many flower growers, according to their own beliefs, remove Amaryllis bulbs from the soil every autumn, believing that frequent transplantation contributes to good growth and development of the plant.

In regions with a warm climate, flower growers prefer to grow these flowering plants in open ground, leaving their bulbs in the ground for the winter. If the temperature drops below -5°C in winter, Amaryllis bulbs may die. Experienced flower growers recommend warming the bulb planting site in the open field for the winter, even in the absence of severe frosts. In our climatic conditions, when growing amaryllis, it is possible to plant a plant in open ground only for the summer, and in the fall, the bulbs must be dug up and transplanted into pots.

For transplanting amaryllis, you can buy ready-made soil for bulbous plants.

Inexperienced flower growers who do not know how to transplant amaryllis, it will be useful to familiarize themselves with such features and recommendations of specialists:

  1. Before you start transplanting a bulbous plant, you should carefully examine its bulb. If rotten roots and dark spots are found, they should be cut off, otherwise the rotting process will develop further, as a result of which the flower will die.
  2. After removing the damage, the bulb must be soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. In addition to treating with potassium permanganate, the cut sites can be sprinkled with crushed activated carbon.
  3. Having completed the disinfection procedure, you can begin to study the instructions on how to plant amaryllis. The onion can be buried in the ground no deeper than 2/3, while on the surface there should be 1/3 of its part or even half. This is the most important rule for transplanting an amaryllis flower at home, if it is not followed, the bulb will most likely die. But even if this does not happen and it takes root, the flower grower will not see the flower arrow for sure.

How to plant amaryllis correctly so that the roots do not rot

Amaryllis in a pot is a wonderful decoration for any interior. To grow this flowering bulbous plant indoors, you need to buy bulbs during the growing season – in spring or autumn. Experienced experts in the world of floriculture recommend buying bulbs in March for the spring planting of Amaryllis.

For planting an amaryllis flower, soil for flowering plants or a self-prepared mixture is suitable. To prepare such a mixture that will contribute to the good growth and development of the plant, it is necessary to take two parts of perlite – coarse river sand, soddy and leafy soil, and add one part of humus to them. There is another option for preparing the soil for planting amaryllis, it is simpler. It is necessary to mix 3 parts of leafy soil with 1 part of humus.

For growing amaryllis indoors, you should choose not too wide, but deep enough pots. The need to use this form of pot is due to the long root system. When planting a plant in a wide pot, there is a possibility of stagnant water, as a result of which the roots of the amaryllis will rot, which can lead to the death of an indoor flower. The best option would be a pot with a diameter of about 15 cm.

The pot must also be sufficiently heavy and stable, ceramic containers are preferred, but without enamel. It is in them that good ventilation of the root system is ensured. If you plant a flower in a light pot, a fairly large plant with a voluminous bulb, a thick stem and a large peduncle can easily tip over during flowering.

How to plant amaryllis outdoors

How to plant amaryllis so as not to harm the plant? First of all, good drainage should be ensured, since stagnant moisture is the main problem when growing this indoor flower. To do this, put a layer of drainage material on the bottom of the pot. Light soil is ideal for planting a plant; it can be a mixture of peat, leafy and soddy soil, as well as sand, taken in equal proportions.

The sequence of planting amaryllis at home is shown in this photo:

Planting and caring for amaryllis in the open field (with photo)

Those flower growers who decide to plant an indoor flower in open ground for the summer should learn how to plant amaryllis in the garden correctly.

It is necessary to plant bulbs in late spring – early summer. Planting amaryllis in open ground and caring for it in the summer in the garden contributes to the growth of the plant, its good development and the formation of a stronger peduncle. All this ensures the lush flowering of the indoor flower.

In addition, as professional flower growers note, amaryllis planted in the garden for the warm season bloom much longer than their potted counterparts. It is also known that bulbs planted in open ground grow “children” much faster, from which new plants are grown.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of a place for planting amaryllis in the garden. It should be as sunny as possible, shaded areas are completely unsuitable for growing this beautiful indoor flower. Also, do not ignore the fact that amaryllis does not like high soil moisture, so places in a lowland in a garden plot are not suitable, since water stagnates there during rains. The most suitable option for planting amaryllis are elevated areas in the garden.

So, how to plant indoor amaryllis flower bulbs in open ground? First of all, you should properly prepare the soil for planting bulbs. The soil must be enriched with humus and mineral organic fertilizers applied.

How to plant amaryllis flower bulbs

Amaryllis is planted according to the following scheme:

  • bulbs on the land plot are located at a distance of 30 cm from each other;
  • the depth of the holes for planting should be 15 cm, not deeper, because 1/3 or even half of the bulbs should remain on the surface.

When the peduncle reaches a size of up to 10 cm in height, it should be tied to a special ladder or other support.

When growing amaryllis in natural conditions, natural organic fertilizers can be used as top dressing – a solution of fresh manure (1.5 cups per 10 liters of water) or bird droppings (1/3 cup per 10 liters of water).

How to grow a garden amaryllis: preparation for planting a bulbous flower

Not sure how to grow a healthy, strong and thriving amaryllis plant? First of all, it is necessary to correctly select and prepare specimens for planting in the ground. Before planting, carefully inspect the bulbs for scratches, dents, dark spots, growths, mold and rot, and other defects.

For the plant to be healthy, the bulbs must be strong, smooth and with well-developed roots. According to experienced flower growers, you should also not plant bulbs that emit a sweet smell.

The process of preparing for planting a bulbous flower of amaryllis must be performed as follows:

All dead black, brown and beige scales are removed from the bulbs. This should be done until the surface of the bulb becomes a healthy light green color. After that, the peeled onions are placed for half an hour in a solution of potassium permanganate of a saturated color. You can replace potassium permanganate with any fungicidal agent. Bordeaux liquid is the second most popular fungicide in horticulture after potassium permanganate.

After disinfection, the bulbs must be dried well, leaving them in the open air for 12 hours, but it is advisable to keep them for a day before planting.

If in the process of processing and preparing the bulbs for planting, strange areas were found that cause suspicion of the development of diseases, they are once again additionally treated with drugs such as Maxim, Fitosporin or ordinary brilliant green. After such actions, the bulbs are dried again well.

How to properly water amaryllis during flowering

An amaryllis flower planted in a pot is best watered at home in a pan or on the soil itself. Such actions make it possible to exclude the transfusion of the plant. In the spring, it is important to provide abundant watering to the indoor flower, it is at this time that the growing season of the bulbous plant falls. At this time, fertilization is required.

How to water amaryllis after planting in open ground? Immediately after planting the amaryllis in the ground, the frequency of watering should be reduced, otherwise, with a large amount of moisture, the plant will actively grow foliage, and a moisture deficit is necessary for the formation of a peduncle. But you should not limit the plant too much in watering, otherwise it will begin to fade, the main thing is to prevent stagnation of moisture in the root system. After the flower arrow appears and reaches 5-10 cm in height, watering the amaryllis becomes more abundant.

For novice growers who have not yet learned how to water a plant with accuracy, professionals recommend adhering to the rule “it is better to underfill than overfill”. The fact is that amaryllis tolerates a slight lack of moisture easily and without unpleasant consequences, and overflow leads to rotting of the bulb, and the death of the flower itself.

Water for irrigation should be at room temperature and settled. To do this, it is kept for a day, and only then the plant is watered.

It is extremely rare to spray the leaves of a plant, such care is possible in the summer and only in the evening.

How many amaryllis blooms at home?

From the moment a healthy bulb is planted to the moment the flower blooms, usually no more than two months pass. If you provide the amaryllis flower with proper care at home, every year in winter it will delight its mistress with a beautiful and fragrant flowering. In addition, it will actively multiply due to the formation of “children” on the bulb.

To keep the blooming of all flowers as long as possible, amaryllis can be placed in a cool place without direct sunlight.

With proper care for amaryllis, flowering occurs in February or early March. Large bulbs can bloom until April-May. 1-2 months is an approximate period for how long amaryllis blooms with proper care.

There is one rule on how to care for amaryllis at home, allowing you to grow a lush and healthy flower. If the third peduncle begins to break through, it should be removed, as it greatly depletes the bulb. In addition, beautiful flowers rarely bloom on the third peduncle, since the plant does not have enough strength for them.

Some flower growers, during the flowering of amaryllis, after the blooming of the first flower, cut off the peduncle and put it in a narrow vase and draw new water into it every day. Under such conditions, the following buds will bloom evenly, decorating the interior of the house.

What to do when the amaryllis has faded: home care after flowering (with video)

Not all novice flower growers know what to do when the amaryllis has faded, and how to take care of it further. A common mistake is not taking proper care of a flower after it has faded. Not knowing what to do after flowering with amaryllis, many inexperienced flower growers stop feeding and watering the plant. Top dressing should not be abruptly stopped, feeding the plant with fertilizers should be continued, but it should not be done so often. It is necessary to apply fertilizers during the care of amaryllis after flowering by half as much as during the growing season and flowering.

Watering amaryllis after flowering should be reduced to prepare the plant for a dormant period. After a few months, watering is completely excluded and pots with amaryllis bulbs are sent to a dark, cool place where the temperature does not exceed 10 degrees.

By adhering to these simple rules and little tricks on how to care for an amaryllis flower after it blooms, you can observe the formation of beautiful flowers every year. When caring for amaryllis at home after flowering, it is necessary to cut off the peduncle. You can do this after it dries out on its own. The plant is placed in a cool dark room, and about 2.5 months before the start of spring, pots with “sleeping” bulbs are transferred to a warm and well-lit room and slightly moisten the soil. These actions will contribute to the gradual transition of the flower to the growth phase, with the advent of the first leaf, care resumes.

You can get acquainted with the rules and secrets of caring for an amaryllis flower during flowering when watching this video:

Reproduction of amaryllis at home by seeds and flower care (with photo)

Reproduction of amaryllis is carried out in two ways – bulbous “children” and seeds.

Bulbous amaryllis reproduces well by seeds. But for this it is necessary to obtain seeds: to transfer pollen from stamens to the stigma of another inflorescence. For seed ripening, it is necessary to maintain a room temperature of at least +24 degrees. Under such conditions, the seeds ripen within a month.

This indoor flower can self-pollinate. When the seeds are ripe and ready to plant, the seed pods will begin to crack.

What amaryllis seeds look like, you can see in these photos:

Seed germination lasts only up to 6 weeks after harvest, so it is recommended to plant them as early as possible.

To speed up the germination of seeds, it is recommended to use the following substrate mixture:

  • two parts of leafy land;
  • part of sod land;
  • part of the humus.

Seeds in the ground should be sown to a depth of 0.5 cm.

As soon as two leaves appear on young plants, they can be transplanted into separate small containers. During reproduction in this way, care for amaryllis consists in abundant watering, fertilizing with fertilizers for indoor flowering plants, as well as maintaining the required level of humidity and air temperature. After planting the seeds, it is necessary to maintain the soil in a constantly wet state, while the air temperature should be in the range of +22 – +25 degrees.

It is advisable to periodically wipe the leaves with a damp cloth, thus maintaining the required level of humidity. You should be aware that when amaryllis is propagated from seeds at home, the varietal characteristics of each species are not preserved.

Reproduction of indoor amaryllis bulbs (with photo)

Reproduction by amaryllis bulbs is more popular with experienced flower growers than the use of seeds for this purpose. The fact is that bulbous reproduction allows you to save all the properties and characteristics inherent in a particular variety.

In floriculture, there are two ways to grow amaryllis at home:

Children’s section. When choosing this method of propagating amaryllis at home during a summer transplant of an indoor flower, it is necessary to separate the bulb with a well-developed root system. The leaves do not need to be cut when transplanting the onion, so it will receive nutrients.

How the amaryllis bulb should look when separated, you can see in these photos:

Bulb division. To propagate the plant by this method, it is necessary, without digging the bulb out of the ground, to cut off its upper part along with the leaves. Then you need to cut the onion into 4 vertical parts. Metal or wooden needles with a diameter of about 5 mm are inserted between the resulting incisions. The bulb must be kept indoors at a temperature of +25 degrees with bright diffused light. Watering should be moderate. With such care, already in the spring of next year, these bulbs will take root, after which they can be transplanted into pots or into open ground.

How to grow amaryllis at home: propagation by divisions

For many experienced flower growers, this particular method of propagating amaryllis at home is popular. It is necessary to choose an onion with a diameter of about 6 cm. It is peeled from scales until there is a noticeable light green layer, the upper and lower parts are cut off. The cut bulb is placed in a fungicidal solution for a while. For these purposes, you can use Fundazol.

Such “delenki” are planted in a substrate, which consists of 4 parts of perlite and one part of peat. Bulbs should be buried in the ground no deeper than a third. After planting, the amaryllis must be watered and constantly kept moist, but not wet. For better and faster rooting of the bulbs in the room, it is necessary to maintain the temperature within + 22 ° C. Planted bulbs should be treated with a fungicide once a week. Also, during reproduction, care for the bulbs comes down to fertilizing the soil. To do this, you can use any top dressing for flowering indoor flowers. A month after the planting of the “delenok”, full-fledged young bulbs are formed.

Why amaryllis does not bloom at home and what to do?

Amaryllis flowering at home is a very beautiful and rather long process, but only under conditions of proper care. Sometimes beginner flower growers are faced with the fact that they cannot wait for the indoor flower to bloom.

There are several reasons why amaryllis does not bloom at home, and they are associated with improper plant care.

The following main reasons for the absence of a peduncle are known:

  • too small and poorly developed bulbs;
  • short period of rest;
  • high air temperature during the growing season;
  • the formation of children on the bulb;
  • too big pot for the plant;
  • lack of light, moisture, mineral fertilizers.

Experts in the world of floriculture give novice housewives useful advice on what to do if amaryllis does not bloom at home.

First of all, you should know that the larger the bulb, the more flowers are formed on the peduncle, the brighter and longer the flowering will be. Particular attention when planting a plant should also be given to the choice of a pot. It should not be too large, a good option is a container larger than the bulb by a couple of centimeters in diameter. It is growing in a pot of this size that will delay the formation of children, as a result of which the flowering will be bright, plentiful and long.

How to make amaryllis bloom at home?

You can find a new place in the house for this indoor flower. This is another helpful tip on getting your amaryllis to bloom, as lack of daylight is a common reason for a lack of flowering. If the air temperature is not high enough, the plant may also not produce a peduncle.

Fertilizing the plant with nutrients is another way to make amaryllis bloom at home, because with a deficiency of many trace elements, the plant is not able to form a flower spike. It is recommended to use a fertilizer with a small amount of nitrogen and a high percentage of phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen slows down the growth of foliage, and phosphorus and potassium contribute to the formation of a peduncle.

There is one trick when caring for amaryllis after flowering, which allows you to make it bloom twice a season: the first time at the right time, and the second at the end of winter or early spring. But to achieve this goal, it is important to withstand the dormant period that the flower needs for additional flowering. The bulb is placed in a dark cool place with a temperature of 8-10 ° C. It is necessary to let the onion rest until mid-January.

The presence of certain diseases and pests on the plant – leaves, bulbs and roots, can also exclude the flowering of amaryllis. These are the main reasons why amaryllis does not bloom and recommendations on what to do to make the plant happy with lush flowering.

Amaryllis dormant care: do I need to trim the leaves?

Amaryllis in the dormant period needs the same careful and attentive care as during growth and flowering. To prepare the indoor flower for rest, starting in August, you should stop fertilizing and reduce the amount of watering.

During the dormant period, the amaryllis bulb is recommended to be watered no more than once every one and a half months. The plant must be in a cool place without direct sunlight.

The rest period begins from the moment when the last leaf turns yellow. The minimum duration of rest is 8-10 weeks. It is good when the indoor flower will rest for 3 months.

There is another way to store amaryllis during the dormant period. You can dig the bulbs out of the pot, put them in a cardboard or wooden box and place them in a cool, dark place. However, you should be aware that when choosing this storage option, the bulbs can dry out and become weathered.

Shortly after the plant blooms, the leaves also fall off. It is not worth trimming the green leaves of amaryllis, as the bulb receives nutrients from them for a long time. After the flowers and leaves wither, the stem is shortened to 3-4 cm.

Pests of garden and indoor amaryllis

Both indoor and garden amaryllis are susceptible to various diseases and pest attacks. Parasites infect all parts of the plant – both ground and underground. Most often, amaryllis suffers from such parasites:

Amaryllis worm. This parasite is a white waxy insect that lives under the scales of bulbs. Dangerous for the plant is not the amaryllis worm itself, but the products of its vital activity. In places where the parasite stools, sooty fungi form, which infect the bulb. When the plant is affected by this pest, growth slows down and leaves drop. Insecticides are used to control pests in floriculture.

In these photos, an indoor amaryllis flower affected by an amaryllis mealybug:

Onion tick. The pest lives in the soil, infects amaryllis bulbs, biting into them. As a result of this process, fusarium occurs and rot appears on the bulbs. When a plant is damaged by an onion mite, it becomes lethargic, its leaves turn yellow, and the inflorescences become smaller. Most often, the defeat of an indoor flower with an onion mite occurs at high humidity and high air temperature.

Signs of this amaryllis disease in the form of yellowing of the leaves are shown in the photo below:

Mealybug. It looks like white fluffy spots located on the leaves of the plant. To destroy the parasite, it is enough to wipe the leaves with a damp cloth.

False shield. Another common pest, from which, in the absence of special treatment, the plant will soon die. You can find out about the appearance of the parasite by the formation of brown spots on the leaves. In the fight against false shields, insecticides or a soapy solution are used.

Narcissus fly. When attacked by this parasitic insect, the plant gradually begins to fade. To protect the amaryllis from the pest, various insecticides are used.

Aphid. This parasite feeds on healthy amaryllis leaves. Aphids multiply very quickly and if you do not get rid of it in time, a whole colony of pests will appear on the flower. These parasites can be detected visually, in addition, when aphids infest the leaves, they turn yellow and curl. A good tool in the fight against aphids is potassium soap, they need to wipe not only the affected, but also healthy areas in order to exclude their infection.

Thripsare small brown parasites, they are clearly visible on green leaves. Soon after the appearance of thrips, the leaves begin to turn yellow. To get rid of pests, flower growers use solutions such as Spark, Fitoverm, Aktara and others. Leaves are processed twice, between the first and second time a break of 5 days is maintained.

Plants affected by these parasites are also recommended to be watered with a solution of the Confidor preparation until complete recovery. If the areas affected by thrips are small, you can get rid of pests with folk remedies. It is necessary to prepare a decoction of capsicum, mustard, tobacco or celandine, cool and spray them with a sick indoor flower.

Thrips affect not only garden amaryllis, but also their domestic relatives. Due to the small size of the parasite, it is very difficult to detect it on a plant before mass reproduction.

Measures to combat home thrips come down to the following actions of flower growers:

  • Increasing the humidity of air and soil. Excessive dryness of the air becomes favorable conditions for these pests.
  • If necessary, increase the frequency and intensity of watering the soil. Professionals in the world of floriculture recommend that homemade amaryllis shower more often.
  • In time to notice the presence of parasites will help frequent regular inspection of the leaves of the plant. On the underside of the leaves one can see small grayish or yellowish wingless larvae, later – pale yellow adults.

Means based on potassium soap and mineral oils do not give positive results in the fight against thrips, since the parasites have adapted well to them. Adhesive tapes that are hung among the leaves help to reduce the number of insects. Pesticides used against pests are not intended for use in residential premises, therefore, plants are taken outside for processing.

In these photos, the amaryllis home flower when it is damaged by thrips:

When growing amaryllis in the garden, earthworms can harm it. If in garden conditions worms bring many benefits to plants, then they have no place in pots. The fact is that living in pots, worms lead their lives in a too limited amount of soil. In search of food, earthworms make many moves, not allowing thin roots to gain a foothold in the soil, which take nutrients from it for the bulb, leaves and amaryllis peduncle.

In addition to causing serious harm to plants, they also act as distributors of fungal and viral diseases. Having discovered the existence of earthworms in a flower garden, you should not destroy them, because it is enough to transplant amaryllis into ready-made soil for flower plants. It is not worth using garden soil, since it is in it that adults and larvae of earthworms are located.

Diseases of the amaryllis plant

Quite often, amaryllis becomes infected with diseases such as fusarium, anthracosis, stagonosporosis.

Disease name

signs

Control measures

Fusarium (root rot)

Yellowing and wilting of leaves

The areas of the bulb affected by Fusarium are completely cut out and treated with an antifungal agent – Fundazol or Fitosporin. After processing the bulbs, the plant is transplanted into a new soil. With extensive lesions, the bulb becomes unsuitable for further planting in the soil.

Anthracnose

Formation of brown smudges and dark spots on the leaves

The bulb is treated with Fitosporin or Fundazol, after which it is transplanted into fresh soil.

Stagonosporosis (“stagonospora”, “red burn”)

The causative agent is the fungus Stagonospora Curtisii. When the bulb is damaged, the plant grows, develops and blooms, however, there are bright red spots on the leaves, their deformation, and the curvature of the peduncle.

Treatment of the bulb with Bordeaux liquid or copper oxychloride. In the fight against stagonosporosis, such means as “Abiga-peak”, “Maxim”, “Fundazol” have proven themselves well. After careful treatment of the infected bulbs, they are transplanted into fresh soil.

In the first-aid kit of flower growers who grow amaryllis, there should be such tools as:

  • copper sulfate;
  • home;
  • potassium permanganate;
  • brilliant green;
  • karbofos;
  • fundazol;
  • Bordeaux liquid;
  • laundry soap.

If white pollen appears on the leaves, they should be wiped with water and treated with karbofos. It is possible to cure a disease such as stagonosporosis by treating the affected areas with hom and blue vitriol. Yellowed and deformed leaves are treated with soapy water and karbofos.

Care problems during the cultivation of an amaryllis flower (with video)

Despite the fact that amaryllis is a picky plant, however, flower growers may encounter some problems when growing it. To solve a problem, first of all, it is necessary to establish its cause.

Problem

Causes

Solution Methods

Pale and wilted leaves

Excessive insolation

The pot with the plant must be placed away from direct sunlight.

Darkening and blackening of the leaves

Excessive humidity, lack of heat

It is necessary to reduce watering and place the plant in a warmer room

Withering of the peduncle and leaves

Acute moisture deficiency

Water the plant abundantly, wipe the leaves with a damp cloth and increase the humidity in the room

The leaves began to rapidly turn yellow and wither

Amaryllis pest infestation

The leaves, peduncle, bulb and roots of the plant should be checked for specific pests and treated accordingly.

Bulb reduction in size

Insufficient lighting, too many “babies”, flowering exhaustion

Amaryllis should be placed in a well-lit room, provide a period of rest and choose the right pot to stop the formation of “babies”

Often, many flower growers cannot understand why their favorite flower does not please them with flower stalks. Before looking for the reasons for the lack of flowering, you should remember how old the plant is. Amaryllis does not bloom at all before the age of three.

Withering and yellowing of the leaves of amaryllis often worries many flower growers. There may be several reasons for such unpleasant changes in the appearance of an indoor flower. The first reason is the excessive humidity of the air and the soil itself. Another common cause of yellowing leaves is an attack on the plant by parasites such as thrips and aphids.

In order for the indoor flower to become green again, it is necessary to reduce the frequency of watering and treat diseases. When the leaves begin to turn yellow and dry at the same time, do not worry, this flower is preparing for a dormant period. This is a natural process of plant development, and when the leaves are completely dry, they need to be cut.

With abundant watering of plants, the leaves may darken and even begin to rot. This can occur as a result of excessive watering of the plant or with high humidity in the room. Lack of heat is another possible cause of leaf rot and browning.

With the development of such a problem, more comfortable conditions for growing amaryllis should be provided. The humidity level should be lowered for some time to 40-50%, it is also important to prevent moisture from getting on the leaves.

With the wrong place for amaryllis, when the plant is in direct sunlight, its petals begin to fade. Such a process does not pose a danger to the flower, but at the same time it significantly spoils its appearance.

So that the flowers are not pale, the houseplant should be removed from ultraviolet light.

How pale amaryllis petals look during flower care can be seen in this photo:

Before you acquire such an attractive plant as amaryllis, you should familiarize yourself with all the features of this representative of the flora. Amaryllis is a poisonous plant, so it can be a hazard to cats, domestic rabbits, and parrots. All plants of the Amaryllis family are also harmful to pets.

Florists who have small children should also refuse to grow this plant. If juice enters the child’s mouth, allergic edema, severe pain and vomiting may occur.

Amaryllis is often used in landscape design for the improvement of flower beds and garden areas. In the garden, amaryllis can be planted with other garden plants that bloom in spring. The flower also looks beautiful in solo plantings, when several different varieties of this plant are used. A good place for planting amaryllis in the garden will be alpine slides located in a sunny area.

You can learn more about all the features of growing and caring for amaryllis at home while watching this video:

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Wednesday, November 8, 2023