Amaryllis is a large family of monocotyledonous plants, which includes about two thousand varieties. Most of them are herbaceous types of flowers. They have an aesthetic appearance, for which they are very fond of flower growers in Europe. In addition to ornamental purposes, some types of plants are used in medicine and cooking.
In this article we will look at the Amaryllis family, photos and the main features of its representatives.
Homeland of the family
Amaryllis is native to South Africa. In this part of the hottest continent, nature comes to life only for a couple of months a year. This period is in July and August. It is at this time that the arid southern part of Africa is abundantly rained. The soil is saturated with moisture, and the bulbs of the plant of the amaryllis family acquire buds.
It is remarkable that in such a short time the desert area of South Africais being transformed. The landscape is covered with a colorful carpet of all kinds of flowers and herbs. Among this abundance of vegetation, large flowers stand out. On a massive thick stem, 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 which species 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 the historical homeland of this culture is South Africa, this did not prevent it from spreading widely to all continents. Some members 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 heat-loving species can be grown indoors. These include hippeastrum, clivia, vorsley and rhodofial. The main reason for the popularity of the Amaryllis family lies in their unusual inflorescences. They have a very aesthetic and beautiful appearance, thanks 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 flower growers often mistake it for something else.plant - hippeastrum. This culture is outwardly very similar to the Amaryllis family, but grows on the American continent. This caused some confusion, and therefore certain recommendations were put forward by the International Botanical Congress in the middle of the 20th century.
- All amaryllis found in South Africa, combined into one species - beautiful amaryllis.
- All subspecies growing on the American continent were classified as hippeastrums.
However, for many years, clivias and many other bulbous flowers were also called amaryllis. Therefore, until now, often in the descriptions of the features of the Amaryllis family, you can see the name hippeastrum as a synonym for this type of plant.
Description of the bulb
The bulb is the key element of the plant. From it begins the life of amaryllis. The ripe bulb has a pear shape. As it grows, it acquires a brownish tint, has a large size. In diameter it can reach 12-13 centimeters. A distinctive feature of the amaryllis bulb is that the "babies" grow from its center, and not from the edges, as happens in other related crops.
Appearance of leaves
Many people who see amaryllis for the first time may think that this plant has no foliage. But she is still there. The leaves of the Amaryllis family are long and grooved. Their color varies from light green to deep dark. The bush has a peculiar structure. Leaves grow from the root, notfrom petioles. They are absent in this culture. One of its main features is the death of leaves for a dormant period. This can only be observed in hybrid types. If we consider other species, then their foliage is preserved all year round.
What is a peduncle
Before the start of the most beautiful period, an arrow with buds is thrown out. The size of the peduncle directly depends on the parameters of the bulb, in particular on its age. Also important factors are the conditions under which amaryllis grows. If the bulb is sufficiently developed, then the peduncle can reach a size of 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 full maturation of the seeds.
Some houseplant lovers immediately after the first bud opens, cut off the peduncle and place it in a container of water. It is noteworthy that the rest of the flowers on it fully bloom and are able to exist no less than on the plant. Cut off the arrow so that the bulb has the opportunity to release a new one. However, using this method, you will not be able to get amaryllis seeds.
Seeds of the Amaryllis family, general characteristics
After the flower petals fall, bolls are formed in their place, 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 process of seed ripening takes place. This period lasts at least 1 month. Up to 18-20 seeds are located in each of the chambers. Their color varies from white to pale red. For this, flower growers often compare them with pomegranate seeds. Amaryllis seeds become unusable very quickly, so it is recommended not to delay planting them after harvesting.
Flower
It is large and can reach 10 centimeters in diameter. The flowers form umbellate 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 outstretched leaves and a high peduncle is not resistant enough. Therefore, experts recommend using large containers during transplantation. An important point when choosing a pot for amaryllis is its special shape. The container should be narrowed at the top and widen at the bottom. This will provide the necessary stability to the pot. When landing, you must follow some requirements.
Firstly, the bulb should be planted in the center. At the same time, 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 strong root system.
When planting, it is recommended to use soil, which will include river sand, garden soil and soddy soil. Such a mixture can be created independently or purchased at a specialized store. Drainage plays a key role in planting. It is able to provide the necessary aeration of the roots. Gravel or expanded clay can be used as drainage. It is poured with a layer of no more than three centimeters, you need to add a little sand on top.
Care
With proper care, you can get up to three amaryllis blooms a year. This crop needs diffused light, moderate moisture, suitable soil drainage, comfortable room temperature and proper fertilizer. Watering should begin no earlier than the arrow rises to a height of ten centimeters. It is important to know that amaryllis do not like stagnant water. In this case, it will be optimal to water no more than once every four days. It should be carried out so that water does not fall on the bulbs. It should be poured exclusively into the soil.
In the winter months, you need to spray the crop, 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 the open field, then they can be fed with organic matter. The solution can be prepared from litterpoultry.
Diseases and pests
The most dangerous and destructive disease for amaryllis is stagonosporosis. When the disease affects the crop, spots form on the bushes, which become larger and larger over time. This leads to the death of the foliage. As a result, the bulb will also certainly die. Without the right amount of leaves, it gradually becomes smaller and weaker. In order to cure a plant, as a rule, a 0.2% solution of "Fundazol" is used. Also perfect "Trichodermin" or "Fitosporin". The treatment process itself lasts for two years and consists of dressing the bulb before planting it, spraying the foliage and soil.
The most dangerous pests of amaryllis are considered to be: scale insects, scale insects, root mites, nematodes, slugs, mealybugs, narcissus fly and others. Flower growers recommend paying close attention to the temperature regime. 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 scale insect protected by a wax shell. But the greatest damage to the plant is caused by tramps, which spread through the foliage and suck the juice out of it.
