Many plants have the ability to store nutrients. To do this, they use modified underground parts. As a rule, the vegetation cycle of such plants has a dormant period, accompanied by the death of leaves, despite external conditions favorable for growth. In decorative floriculture, quite often all of them are classified as bulbous plants. This is not entirely true, because not only the onion, but also the corm, the rhizome or the tubers can play the role of a “warehouse” with nutrients. Further, this group of plants is divided into two subgroups: indoor and garden.
Tubers and bulbs of indoor bulbous plants are not able to winter in the open ground in our climatic conditions. As a rule, they are all “children” of the tropics. In summer, you can safely leave them on the balcony or porch in hot weather, they should winter at low but positive temperatures.
What attract gardeners indoor bulb plants? Firstly, its exoticism. Secondly, bright and spectacular flowering. Some are wondering why to keep a plant in the house if it blooms only once a year, and after that it is in a state of “hibernation” for several months. However, onions are able to surprise and delight with their flowers and emerald greenery. They can be used for landscaping, cutting into bouquets. We bring to your attention an overview of the most popular bulbous houseplants with photos and names.
Amaryllis
According to various sources, the genus Amaryllis includes from two to four species. These are monocotyledonous endemic plants of the Cape of South Africa, which were later introduced into Australia. Amaryllis is a bulbous plant with long leaves of a belt-shaped form, reaching a length of 40-60 cm. A large amaryllis bulb (up to 20 cm in diameter), as a rule, half protrudes from the soil. From two to six large flowers are collected at the top of a long peduncle; their color is diverse (from snow-white to deep red). Now there are many hybrids that differ in size and shape of the flower.
Soil: a light mixture of sand, peat, humus and sod land in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 2. The soil with pH = 6.0-6.5 is considered optimal for this bulbous plant. The pot for amaryllis should be small and exceed the diameter of the bulb by just a few centimeters, then the flowering will be long and plentiful, and the process of formation of children will slow down.
Light: diffused, bright, south-west or south-east windows are best suited.
Air temperature: during the growing season + 18 ... + 25 ° , during the winter dormancy period about +16 ° .
Blossoming: peduncles appear before leaves. As soon as they reach 10 cm, the plant begins to be watered; if this is done earlier, leaf forcing will begin.
Hippeastrum
Hippeastrum is a close relative of amaryllis, with which it is often confused. Hippeastrum plants come from the tropics and subtropics of South America. They were first brought to Europe in the 16th century and have since been incredibly popular with flower growers. In 1799, the first hybrid appeared - Johnson's hippeastrum, which marked the beginning of the breeding and cultivation of a wide variety of hybrid forms, by the 60s of the XIX century there were already more than a hundred of them.
The bulbous plant has linear dark green leaves with a noticeably protruding middle vein; in varieties with red flowers, a light crimson may appear. The round-conical or rounded bulb of the hippeastrum consists of a thickened short stem and adjacent scales, the size of which is 5-10 cm in diameter. On a long hollow peduncle (35-80 cm), 5-6 zygomorphic large flowers are located. They have a funnel-shaped or tubular shape, reaching 15-25 cm in diameter, depending on the variety. The color is diverse: white, dark red, orange, cherry, pink, etc.
Soil: a mixture of coarse-grained sand, earth (turf and leaf), humus in a ratio of 2: 2: 2: 1. At home, bulb plants are transplanted every 3-4 years by transshipment.
Light: bright but not direct. Give preference to south, southwest and southeast windows.
Air temperature: during the growing season + 18 ... + 25 ° , in winter - about +16 ° .
Watering: during the growth period, moderate (without stagnation of moisture in the soil). After flowering, they first cut and then completely stop.
Vallota
The genus includes, according to recent data, about 50 species of plants growing in South America. The name of the bulbous plants is associated with the name of the French botanist P. Vallo. At room conditions, the beautiful wallota is cultivated. Its dark green leaves are collected in a radical fan-shaped rosette. The longitudinal central vein is very weakly expressed, the leaves seem almost flat, which distinguishes the wallot from the hippeastrum. The pink-brown bulb has an elongated ovoid shape. Bell-shaped or funnel-shaped flowers develop on a long peduncle (2–9 pcs.), 12 cm in diameter. The traditional color is bright red, but Alba hybrids with snow-white petals are bred.
Soil: ground (leafy or soddy) with the addition of humus, peat and sand in a ratio of 3: 2: 2: 1.
Lighting: requires bright sunlight, direct sunlight is acceptable. On hot summer days, it is better for the Wallot to clean up the back of the room.
Watering: plentiful during the period of growth and flowering, moderate - after its completion. Unlike hippeastrum, wallota does not lose leaves, so it needs moisture throughout the year.
Air temperature: + 20 ... + 25 ° (room) during the growing season, + 5 ... + 10 ° - in the winter, a gradual increase begins in March.
Eucharis
Representatives of the genus Eucharis are common in the rain forests of Central and South America. The richest species diversity can be found on the slopes of the Andes and in western Amazonia. Hence the second name of the indoor bulb plant - Amazonian lily. In room culture, it gained distribution in the second half of the 19th century.
The bulbs of eucharis are small (only 2-6 cm in diameter), wide leaves have a lanceolate shape, located on long petioles. Flowering depends more on conditions than on season. Eucharias flowers resemble daffodil flowers in shape, located on a long peduncle. The plant is common in indoor culture due to its spectacular appearance and ease of cultivation.
Soil: light and nutritious with the addition of humus and sand, good drainage is required.
Lighting: bright, partial shade is acceptable, in the afternoon hours protection from direct sunlight is necessary.
Watering: plentiful from spring to autumn, moderate in winter. The humidity in the room does not play a special role; periodically, the leaves should be wiped with a damp cloth.
Air temperature: during the growing season, room temperature and not lower than +16 ° C in winter.
Nerina
The second name of the plant is “nymph flower”. The genus Nerin unites about 30 species of perennial bulbous plants, the natural habitat of which is limited to the highlands of South Africa. The plant has dark green flat linear leaves and a bare stem up to 30 cm in height. Elegant flowers of a pale pink shade are collected in an umbrella. Hybrids of the Hernsian nerin are widespread in the culture, and wavy nerin, Bowden, and sinuous are also found. It is considered a rather moody plant.
Soil: fertile and light. Make a homogeneous mixture of sand, wood bark and turf.
Lighting: bright, direct sunlight is acceptable.
Watering: regular during the growing season, without waterlogging. Humidity should be kept to a minimum.
Air temperature: room temperature during the growing season and no higher than + 10 ° C during the dormant period.
Zephyranthes
A genus of unpretentious bulbous plants from the Amaryllis family, common in South America. In total, approximately ninety species are known, ten are common in horticulture. The most popular in the culture is pink marshmallows, popularly known as the “upstart”.
This bulbous houseplant is characterized by narrow basal leaves (30-40 cm in length). Peduncles - 25-30 cm, each has a crocus-shaped single flower with a diameter of 8-10 cm, the color of the corolla is the most diverse: from white to bright red, yellow - depending on the species. Zephyranthes has small bulbs (1-5 cm in diameter) of a rounded shape with pronounced scales. Natural species, as a rule, survive the dry season of the year in a leafless state; in room conditions, plants can retain leaves if they are watered and sprayed regularly.
Soil: loose, nutritious, with a neutral reaction of the environment. Mix in equal amounts humus, sand, turf soil and add a little fertilizer containing phosphorus.
Lighting: bright, diffused sunlight. All windows in the house are suitable, except for the north.
Watering: regular and moderate, not stopping even during dormancy. Humidity is medium and high.
Air temperature: the most optimal range is + 18 ... + 25 ° , at rest it is about +16 ° .
Dreamiopsis
A genus of bulbous flowering plants growing in East and South Africa. Among them are both deciduous and evergreen species. The plant forms a lush green rosette of large and fleshy leaves, periodically releasing a peduncle, on which fragrant snow-white small flowers are collected.
Dreamiopsis - bulbous house plants (photo is in the article), blooming with small interruptions throughout the year. They are unpretentious and very unusual. In the culture, two types of dryiopsis are most popular: spotted and Pickaxe.
Soil: loose, nutritious, with the addition of sand, easily permeable to moisture, pH about 6.
Lighting: diffused sunlight, partial shade is acceptable.
Watering: regular and moderate, it is necessary to let the soil dry.
Air temperature: moderate, in winter not lower than +14 ° .
Krinum
Another genus of bulbous from the Amaryllis family. Truly gigantic sizes distinguish them from other relatives: numerous narrow leaves of a lanceolate-linear form can reach 1 m in length. At a young age they are not flat, but are folded into a thin tube. The bulb has a short or slightly elongated neck. The flowers collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences are usually pink or white in color, 15-20 cm in diameter, sessile, or on a short stalk. Representatives of the genus are widespread in the subtropical and tropical zones of both hemispheres. All parts of the plant contain poison - crinin.
Soil: turf and leafy land, peat, humus, sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1: 1. Adult instances of transplantation are quite difficult, therefore it is recommended to carry out it once every 3-4 years. Unlike other bulbous indoor flowers, a mature Krinum bulb requires a spacious pot with a diameter of 30-35 cm.
Lighting: bright, in summer the plant can be taken out to the balcony.
Watering: plentiful during the period of active growth, but without stagnation of moisture, the earthen lump should slightly dry and moderate during the dormant period.
Air temperature: moderate, during the growing season - + 17 ... + 20 ° , during the dormant period - + 8 ... + 10 ° .
Haemanthus
A genus of flowering monocotyledonous bulbous plants, some species are cultivated as indoor and greenhouse plants. The name was appropriated in 1753 by C. Linnaeus and is derived from the ancient Greek words, which are reborn as “blood” and “flower”, which is probably due to the bright color of the petals. Among the hemanthus, deciduous and evergreen species are found, there are succulents. Plants are distributed exclusively in South Africa. The bulb has a pear-shaped or ovoid shape, the leaves are threaded and fleshy. Flowers are gathered in a thick umbrella.
Soil: a mixture of turf and leafy soil, peat, sand and humus in a ratio of 4: 2: 2: 2: 1.
Lighting: diffused bright light.
Watering: plentiful during growth and flowering, reduced during dormancy.
Air temperature: moderate, during the growing season - + 18 ... + 20 ° , during the rest period - + 10 ... + 15 ° .
Hyacinth
Oriental hyacinth is an onion plant, with a photo and name of which, perhaps, every grower is familiar. The genus Hyacinth is represented by three species and belongs to the Asparagus family. The birthplace of the plant is Syria, Iran, Asia Minor and Mesopotamia. You can meet blooming hyacinths in the spring on store shelves, a variety of colors and shapes is amazing. It may seem that such splendor is probably not so easy to grow at home or in the garden. In fact, large bulbs winter well in the climatic conditions of Moscow and St. Petersburg, central Russia, and in the northern regions you can do forcing at home.
The ancestor of all hybrids is eastern hyacinth. Photo bulb plant demonstrates in the article. It has become popular in Europe since the 15th century, the Netherlands became the center of breeding. Now more than three hundred first-class varieties are known, but their real number is in the thousands.
Bulbs are prepared for forcing from the summer. They are dried, sorted and put away for storage. Bulbs should be strong, healthy, dense, medium in size, but not less than 6 cm in diameter. They are subjected to cooling at +9 ° C (the lower shelf of the refrigerator is quite suitable for these purposes) for 10-14 weeks, and then planted in the ground. Hyacinth is not demanding on the soil, the only thing it does not tolerate is excess moisture. Boxes or flowerpots with bulbs are placed in a warm and bright place.