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 they are all referred to as bulbous plants. This is not entirely true, because not only the bulb, but also the corm, rhizome or 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 capable of overwintering in the open field 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 veranda in hot weather, they should winter at low, but positive temperatures.
Thanattract flower growers indoor bulbous plants? First, its exoticism. Secondly, bright and spectacular flowering. Some are perplexed, why 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, bulbous plants can surprise and delight with their flowers and emerald greenery. They can be used for landscaping the interior, 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 monocot plants endemic to the Cape Province of South Africa, which were later introduced to Australia. Amaryllis is a bulbous plant with long belt-shaped leaves, reaching a length of 40-60 cm. A large amaryllis bulb (up to 20 cm in diameter), as a rule, protrudes halfway from the ground. From two to six large flowers are collected at the top of a long peduncle, their color is varied (from snow-white to deep red). Many hybrids have now been bred, differing in flower size and shape.
Soil: a light mixture of sand, peat, humus and sod land in a ratio of 1:1:1:2. The optimal soil for this bulbous plant is considered to be soil with a pH=6.0-6.5. The pot for amaryllis should be small and only a few centimeters larger than the bulb in diameter, then the flowering will be long and plentiful, and the process of formation of children will slow down.
Light:diffused, bright, best suited southwest or southeast windows.
Air temperature: during the growing season +18…+25 °С, during winter dormancy about +16 °С.
Flowering: flower stalks appear before leaves. As soon as they reach 10 cm, the plant begins to be watered, if this is done earlier, the forcing of the leaves will begin.
Hippeastrum
Hippeastrum is a close relative of Amaryllis, with which it is often confused. Plants of the genus Hippeastrum originate from the tropics and subtropics of South America. For the first time they were brought to Europe in the 16th century and since then they have been incredibly popular with flower growers. In 1799, the first hybrid appeared - Johnson's hippeastrum, which laid the foundation for the breeding and cultivation of a wide variety of hybrid forms, by the 60s of the 19th century there were already more than a hundred of them.
The bulbous plant has linear, dark green leaves with a prominent midrib, red-flowered varieties may develop a slight purplish tinge. The round-conical or rounded hippeastrum bulb consists of a thickened short stem and adjacent scales, the size is 5-10 cm in diameter. On a long hollow peduncle (35-80 cm) there are 5-6 zygomorphic large flowers. They have a funnel-shaped or tubular shape, reach a diameter of 15-25 cm, depending on the variety. The color is varied: white, dark red, orange, cherry, pink, etc.
Soil: a mixture of coarse sand, earth (turf and leaf), humus in a ratio of 2:2:2:1. ATat home, bulbous plants are transplanted by transshipment every 3-4 years.
Light: Bright but not direct. Give preference to south, southwest and southeast windows.
Air temperature: during the growing season +18…+25 °С, in winter - about +16 °С.
Watering: moderate during the growth period (without stagnant moisture in the soil). After flowering, first reduce, and then completely stop.
Vallota
The genus includes, according to the latest data, about 50 species of plants growing in South America. The name of bulbous plants is associated with the name of the French botanist P. Vallo. In room conditions, the beautiful wallot is cultivated. Its dark green leaves are collected in a basal fan-shaped rosette. The longitudinal central vein is very weakly expressed, the leaves seem almost flat, which distinguishes wallot from hippeastrum. The pink-brown bulb has an elongated ovoid shape. Bell-shaped or funnel-shaped flowers develop on a long peduncle (2-9 pcs.), They reach 12 cm in diameter. The traditional color is bright red, but Alba hybrids with snow-white petals have been bred.
Soil: earth (leaf or sod) with the addition of humus, peat and sand in a ratio of 3:2:2:1.
Lighting: Strong sunlight required, direct sunlight acceptable. On hot summer days, it is better to clean the wallot deep into the room.
Watering: plentiful during the period of growth and flowering, moderate - after it ends. Unlike hippeastrum, wallot does not lose leaves, so it needs moisture.throughout the year.
Air temperature: +20…+25 °С (room) during the growing season, +5…+10 °С - in winter, a gradual increase begins in March.
Eucharis
Representatives of the genus Eucharis are common in the rainforests of Central and South America. The richest species diversity can be found on the slopes of the Andes and in the western Amazon. Hence the second name of the indoor bulbous plant is the Amazon lily. In room culture, it became widespread in the second half of the 19th century.
Eucharis bulbs are small (only 2-6 cm in diameter), wide leaves are lanceolate, located on long petioles. Flowering depends more on the conditions than on the season. Eucharias flowers resemble narcissus 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, at midday hours protection from direct sunlight is necessary.
Watering: plentiful from spring to autumn, moderate in winter. The humidity of the air in the room does not play a special role, periodically the leaves should be wiped with a damp cloth.
Air temperature: room temperature during the growing season and not lower than +16 °С in winter.
Nerina
The second name of the plant is “nymph flower”. Rod Nerinunites 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 tall. Graceful flowers of a pale pink shade are collected in an umbrella. In culture, hybrids of nerina Guernsey are common, and nerina wavy, Bowden and sinuous are also found. It is considered a rather capricious plant.
Soil: fertile and light. Prepare a homogeneous mixture of sand, tree bark and soddy soil.
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 not 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. In culture, the most popular zephyranthes is pink, popularly known as the "upstart".
This bulbous house plant is characterized by narrow basal leaves (30-40 cm long). 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. During the dry season, natural species, as a rule, survive in a leafless state, in indoorplants can keep their leaves if watered and sprayed regularly.
Soil: loose, nutritious, with a neutral reaction of the environment. Mix equal amounts of humus, sand, soddy soil and add some fertilizer containing phosphorus.
Lighting: bright, diffused sunlight. All windows in the house are suitable, except for the northern ones.
Watering: regular and moderate, not stopping even during dormancy. Humidity - medium to high.
Air temperature: the most optimal interval is +18…+25 °С, during the dormant period about +16 °С.
Drimiopsis
Genus of bulbous flowering plants native to East and South Africa. Among them, both deciduous and evergreen species are found. 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.
Drimiopsis - bulbous indoor plants (the photo is in the article), blooming intermittently throughout the year. They are unpretentious and very unusual. In culture, two types of drimiopsis are most popular: spotted and Kirka.
Soil: loose, nutritious, with the addition of sand, easily permeable to moisture, pH about 6.
Lighting: diffused sunlight, partial shade is acceptable.
Water: regular and moderate, it is necessary to let the soil dry.
Air temperature: moderate, in winter not lower than +14 °С.
Krinum
Another genus of bulbous from the Amaryllis family. They are distinguished from other relatives by their truly gigantic size: numerous narrow leaves of a lanceolate-linear shape can reach 1 m in length. At a young age, they are not flat, but folded into a thin tube. The bulb has a short or slightly elongated neck. Flowers collected in umbellate inflorescences, usually pink or white, 15-20 cm in diameter, sessile or on a short stalk. Representatives of the genus are widely distributed in the subtropical and tropical zones of both hemispheres. All parts of the plant contain a poison - krinin.
Soil: turf and leaf soil, peat, humus, sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:1:1. Adult specimens transplant quite hard, so it is recommended to carry it out once every 3-4 years. Unlike other bulbous indoor flowers, a mature krynum 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.
Water: plentiful during the period of active growth, but without stagnant moisture, the earth ball should dry out slightly and moderate during the dormant period.
Air temperature: moderate, during the growing season - +17…+20 °С, during the dormant period - +8…+10 °С.
Gemanthus
A genus of flowering monocotyledonous bulbous plants, some species are cultivated as indoor and greenhouse plants. The name was given in 1753 by K. Linnaeus and is derived from ancient Greek words that will be reborn like “blood” and “flower”,which is probably due to the bright color of the petals. Among gemanthus there are deciduous and evergreen species, there are succulents. Plants are distributed exclusively in South Africa. The bulb has a pear-shaped or ovoid shape, the leaves are belt-shaped and fleshy. Flowers are collected in a dense umbrella.
Soil: a mixture of turf and leaf soil, peat, sand and humus in a ratio of 4:2:2:2:1.
Lighting: Diffused bright light.
Water: abundant during growth and flowering, reduced during dormancy.
Air temperature: moderate, during the growing season - +18…+20 °С, during the dormant period - +10…+15 °С.
Hyacinth
Oriental hyacinth is a bulbous 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 homeland of the plant is Syria, Iran, Asia Minor and Mesopotamia. You can meet blooming hyacinths in the spring on store shelves, the variety of colors and shapes is amazing. It may seem that such magnificence, for sure, is 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 the oriental hyacinth. Photo bulbous plant demonstrates in the article. It became popular in Europe from the 15th century, Holland became the center of breeding work. Now more than three hundred first-class varieties are known, but their real number is estimatedthousands.
Bulbs have been prepared for forcing since summer. They are dried, sorted and put away for storage. Bulbs should be strong, he althy, 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 this purpose) for 10-14 weeks, and then planted in the ground. Hyacinth is not picky about the soil, the only thing it cannot stand is excess moisture. Boxes or flowerpots with bulbs are placed in a warm and bright place.
