Amaryllis is a large family of monocotyledonous plants, which includes about two thousand varieties. The bulk of them are grassy types of flowers. They have an aesthetic appearance, for which they are very fond of flower growers in Europe. In addition to decorative purposes, some types of plants are used in medicine and cooking.
In this article we will consider the Amaryllis family, photos and the main features of its representatives.
Homeland of the family
The homeland of the Amaryllis is South Africa. In this part of the hottest continent, nature comes to life only for a couple of months a year. This period falls on July and August. It was at this time that the arid southern part of Africa was abundantly rained. The soil is saturated with moisture, and the bulbs of the plant of the amaryllis family acquire kidneys.
It is noteworthy that in such a short time the desert area of South Africa is being transformed. The landscape is covered with a multi-colored carpet of all kinds of flowers and herbs. Among this abundance of vegetation, large flowers stand out especially. On a massive thick stalk, which can reach 60 centimeters in height, there are inflorescences formed from buds of various colors. The flower of the amaryllis family can have a different shape and shade, depending on what type it belongs to. It can be white, and burgundy, and pink.
general description
The amaryllis family includes about seventy genera of bulbous plants. Interestingly, although South Africa is the historical homeland of this culture, this did not stop it from spreading widely to all continents. Some representatives of the amaryllis family are found even in temperate climates. These include daffodils and snowdrops. However, most of the species of the amaryllis family grows in tropical and subtropical zones.
Most thermophilic species can be grown in an apartment. These include hippeastrum, clivia, nap and rhodofiale. The main reason for the fame of the amaryllis family lies in their unusual inflorescences. They have a very aesthetic and beautiful appearance, due to which they are able to fit into any interior. Buds can be collected in several pieces. There are plants with single flowers.
Amaryllis grows in the southern part of the African continent. An interesting fact is that often flower growers mistakenly take it for another plant - hippeastrum. This culture looks very similar to the Amaryllis family, but grows on the American continent. This caused some confusion, and therefore certain recommendations were made by the International Botanical Congress in the middle of the 20th century.
- All amaryllis found in South Africa, combine in one form - beautiful amaryllis.
- All subspecies growing on the American continent are attributed to hippeastrum.
However, for many years, clivia and many other bulbous flowers were called amaryllis. Therefore, until now, often in descriptions of the characteristics of the amaryllis family, you can see the name hippeastrum as a synonym for this type of plant.
Bulb Description
The bulb is a key element of the plant. The life of the Amaryllis begins with it. The ripened bulb has a pear-shaped shape. As it grows, it acquires a brownish tint, has large sizes. In diameter, it can reach 12-13 centimeters. A distinctive feature of the bulbs of the amaryllis family is that the "children" grow from its center, and not from the edges, as is the case with other related cultures.
Leaf appearance
Many people who first saw amaryllis may think that this plant has no foliage. But she is still there. The leaves of the representatives of the amaryllis family are long and have a grooved shape. Their color ranges from light green to deep dark. The bush has a peculiar structure. Leaves grow from the root, and not from the petioles. This culture does not have them. One of its main features is the death of leaves during the dormant period. This can only be observed with hybrid types. If we consider other species, then their foliage persists all year round.
What is a peduncle
Before the beginning of the most beautiful period, the arrow with buds is ejected. The size of the peduncle directly depends on the parameters of the bulb, in particular on its age. Also important are the conditions under which amaryllis grows. If the bulb is sufficiently developed, then the peduncle can reach 55-60 centimeters. It has a dense fleshy structure and is not hollow inside. During the growth period, the peduncle is always directed towards the light. In order for it to have the correct even shape, the container with the plant is regularly rotated around its axis. The arrow is removed only after the seeds have fully ripened.
Some lovers of indoor plants immediately after the first bud opens, cut the flower stalk and put it in a container of water. It is noteworthy that the other flowers present on it fully bloom and are able to exist no less than on a plant. Cut the arrow so that the bulb has the opportunity to release a new one. However, using this method, it will not be possible to obtain amaryllis seeds.
Amaryllis family seeds, general description
After the petals of flowers fall, in their place boxes are formed in which the seeds are located. They initially have a rich green color and have a triangular shape. They consist of 3 chambers, where the seed ripening process takes place. This period lasts at least 1 month. In each chamber up to 18-20 seeds are located. Their color varies from white to pale red. For this, gardeners often compare them with pomegranate seeds. Amaryllis seeds become unusable very quickly, so it is recommended not to delay their planting after collection.
Flower
It is large in size and can reach 10 centimeters in diameter. Flowers form an umbrella-shaped inflorescences. Each of them can have up to 10-12 buds. In the wild, growing in South Africa, amaryllis can often have a simple shape, where 6 petals form a funnel. At the same time, breeders every year bring out more and more new hybrid species of this plant, where you can observe flowers of various sizes with a rich palette of colors.
How to plant and propagate
This plant with spread leaves and a high peduncle has insufficient resistance. Therefore, experts recommend using large containers during transplantation. An important point when choosing a pot for amaryllis is its special shape. The tank should be narrowed at the top and expand at the bottom. This will provide the necessary stability to the pot. When landing, you must follow some requirements.
First, the bulb should be planted in the center. In this case, the distance from it to the walls of the pot should be at least three centimeters. If several bulbs are placed in the container, then a gap of at least 10 centimeters should be left between them. The second important condition is the volume of the pot. It should be wide and deep. This is necessary because the plant has a powerful root system.
When planting, it is recommended to use soil, which will include river sand, garden soil and turf soil. Such a mixture can be created independently or purchased in a specialized store. A key role in landing is played by drainage. It is able to provide the necessary aeration of the roots. As drainage, gravel or expanded clay can be used. It is poured with a layer of no more than three centimeters, on top you need to add a little sand.
Care
Thanks to proper care, you can get up to three amaryllis blooms per year. This crop needs diffused lighting, moderate moisture, suitable soil drainage, a comfortable room temperature and proper fertilizer. Watering should begin no earlier than when the arrow rises to a height of ten centimeters. It is important to know that amaryllis do not like stagnant water. At the same time, watering no more than once every four days will be optimal. It should be carried out so that water does not fall on the bulbs. It should be poured solely into the soil.
In the winter months, you need to spray the culture, but not more than once every ten days. Florists recommend using mixtures saturated with phosphorus and potassium as fertilizers. If we are talking about amaryllis growing in open ground, then they can be fed with organic matter. The solution can be prepared from poultry manure.
Diseases and Pests
The most dangerous and fatal disease for amaryllis is stagonosporosis. When the disease affects the culture, spots form on the bushes, which eventually become larger. This leads to the death of foliage. As a result of this, the bulb will also die. Without the right amount of leaves, it gradually becomes smaller and weaker. In order to cure the plant, as a rule, a 0.2% solution of Fundazole is used. "Trichodermin" or "Fitosporin" is also excellent. The treatment process itself lasts for two years and consists in pickling the bulb before planting it, spraying the leaves and soil.
The most dangerous pests of amaryllis are: scabbard, mealybug, root tick, nematodes, slugs, mealybugs, daffodil and others. Florists recommend paying close attention to temperature conditions. The greatest activity and reproduction of pests occurs at high temperatures. Therefore, it is important to periodically inspect the culture for unwanted insects. On the lower and upper sides of the leaves you can find a shield protected by a wax shell. But the biggest damage to the plant is caused by strollers, which spread through the foliage and suck out the juice from it.