Hippeastrums belong to the amaryllis family and are successfully grown by flower growers around the world. They are easy to hybridize, their flowers have many shapes and colors. All valuable for growing hippeastrum today - hybrids.
The flowers of the hippeastrum are luxurious: they are held on strong thick stems that come out every 4 leaves and are arranged in groups of 2-6 flowers on one flower arrow. The number of arrows thrown out depends on the size of the bulb: the larger it is, the more flower buds will give. The maximum number of flower arrows on the bulb is three. Young plants with small bulbs do not bloom.
Bloom
Flower shops sell large, strong bulbs in a dormant period or plants that should bloom soon. To awaken a sleeping bulb, it is recommended to lower its bottom in warm water for 2 hours. Next, the bulb is planted in a tall, narrow pot, into which it is necessary to fill up the drainage and soil mixture for the bulb. Hippeastrums are planted by placing the bulb in the ground at ½ height.
If a flowering hippeastrum is bought , home care consists in providing it with a bright place (but not in direct sunlight) and careful weekly watering. Water should be taken at room temperature, and not allowed to get on the bulb.
The flowering period lasts about three weeks: two weeks are spent on the growth of the peduncle, 1-2 days - on the opening of buds. Blooming flowers stay on the peduncle for up to one week. Flowers can bloom in turn, in pairs or all at once - it depends on the variety. Terry forms fade 1-3 days earlier than non-terry.
Flowering usually occurs in the cold season, but a skilled grower can make hippeastrum bloom at any time. Typically, the hippeastrum blooms once a year, but with optimal care, repeated flowering in the summer is possible.
Growth time. Hippeastrum vegetation
When the flowering is over, the question arises: "How to save a faded hippeastrum?" Home care is simple, but requires compliance with a certain scheme.
The flower arrow is cut high, after drying it is twisted. A faded plant should grow foliage and restore a weakened bulb. It takes about 9 months.
It is necessary to water abundantly and regularly fertilize the hippeastrum. Home care requires top dressing at least 2 times a month with mullein solution or special flower fertilizer. Hippeastrum produces long, heavy, linear leaves of a juicy green color. The more leaves have grown, the more abundant watering. If the leaves become brittle and fall to one side, you need to increase the lighting. To do this, the flower can be placed on the terrace or dug in the garden for the summer. If desired, you can propagate your favorite variety.
If the bulb is well restored, and the plant has released many leaves in the summer, by the next season you can get a strong, ready for abundant flowering hippeastrum.
Propagation of plants is carried out in three ways: by seeds, dividing the bulbs and children.
Seeds ripen after artificial or natural pollination for 1.5-2 months in three-nested seed boxes. Germination is lost quickly, so you need to sow immediately, planting seeds to a depth of 1-2 cm. After 3-4 years, a flowering hippeastrum can be obtained from the seed. Home care consists in keeping the seedlings in a bright place with a temperature of 18-20 0 . They are placed in shallow containers with good drainage. Rest for the first 2 years is not needed, but in winter, watering should be moderate.
The easiest way to reproduce is by kids. They are separated from the mother bulb when they reach a diameter of 2 cm and have roots. As well as seedlings, at first they do not need peace. They also begin to bloom 3-4 years after planting.
Some modern hybrids do not give children. You can resort to dividing the bulbs: with a sterile knife, the onion is cut into several parts, each should have a part of the bottom with roots. The obtained segments are dried in air, the slices are sprinkled with crushed coal. Delenki should be planted in a mixture of sand and peat (1: 1), the pot should be placed in a transparent bag. Between the flakes, new bulbs will begin to form.
Sometimes flower growers, without cutting the bulb completely, make an incision on it. It also stimulates the formation of children.
Autumn dreams. Hippeastrum rest period
Growing hippeastrum at home, you need to provide him with peace. At the end of summer, top dressing ceases, watering is reduced. In September, watering is stopped.
When the leaves dry, the bulb moves to a dark, cool place for 2-3 months. There are varieties in which the drying of the leaves does not occur. In this case, the leaves are cut.
Thick roots do not die during hibernation, so it is advisable to leave the bulb in a pot.
When the resting period ends, the hippeastrum is transplanted into fresh soil and placed in a warm, bright place. Watering before the appearance of the peduncle is not performed. Next, the plant repeats its life cycle.