Hippeastrum
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| Hippeastrum | ||||||||||||
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| Missing image Amaryllis_fl.jpg Image:amaryllis_fl.jpg A Hippeastrum cultivar in flower | ||||||||||||
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About 80, including: |
Hippeastrum is a genus of about 80 species of bulb flowers in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas from Argentina north to Mexico and the Caribbean. Popularly but erroneously known as Amaryllis, it differs from that related African genus in the leaves usually appearing with the flowers, instead of at different times of the year, and in detail of the flower structure.
Hippeastrum bulbs are 3-11 cm diameter, and produce 3-7 long-lasting (sometimes evergreen) leaves 10-60 cm long and 1-5 cm broad. The flower stem is erect, 5-60 cm tall, 1-3 cm diameter, and hollow; it bears 2-5 large flowers at the apex, each flower 10-20 cm broad, with six brightly coloured tepals (three outer sepals, three inner petals, with similar appearance to each other).
Cultivation
Hippeastrum is a very popular bulb flower for indoor growing. The bulb is tender and should not be exposed to frost, but is otherwise easy to grow, with large rewards for small efforts. The very large, decorative flowers can be grown easily with minimal care in temperate areas.
- Summer
Water thoroughly and feed heavily. The bulbs should be watered until water comes from the bottom of pot, then left to dry. Clay pots 15 cm wide or less may need watering daily in hot weather, a hot weekend with no water will not harm the bulb too much, but sitting in wet soil will. Clay pots are recommended. Feed weekly or biweekly with water soluble fertilizer.
- Fall (autumn)
In September begin to reduce water, the timing varies with the weather. If it is a cold wet fall bring the bulb in and allow it to dry in a sunny window, or if it is a warm dry fall, allow the bulb to remain out until frost. The bulb should be allowed to become completely dry in sunlight (dark, cold, wet conditions are bad). Bulbs can survive a light frost, but not a heavy freeze. When the soil is bone dry and the leaves wither, the bulb should be placed in a cool, dry area and allowed to rest. If the bulb is to be repotted, remove it from the pot and shake off the dirt, remove any roots that are not white. The rest time should be at least two months.
The bulb can be left in the pot if there is 2 cm of soil around the bulb (they like to be crowded). If the pot is too small, or there are side shoots, the bulb should be replanted. A 7 cm bulb can easily be grown in a 10 cm pot if proper care is taken. Side shoots can remain but will slow growth of the main bulb. Change the soil every 2-3 years even if reusing the same pot.
- Planting
After a rest period (two months or more, up to four months, or when they start budding) the bulb is ready to start growth again. The bulb should be planted with the top half exposed and watered well once. Care should be taken not to overwater at this point. Do not water again until growth is visible or the soil has become bone dry, then water sparingly. After a 15 cm flower spike or two leaves appear, watering can be increased. Keep the plant indoors in a sunny location until sometime in May, after the last chance of frost.
Most bulbs will produce a flower spike first, then produce leaves, large bulbs may produce two or three spikes. Each bulb is different and many times smaller bulbs will produce leaves first and flower later.
- Early summer
Pots can be buried in the garden for less maintenance/watering and are less susceptible to frost. Do not place in direct sunlight immediately, this will result in sunburn, bulbs will tolerate full sun if gradually acclimatized. Clay pots require more watering but reduce the chance of rot. This is a semi-tropical bulb that needs an extended growing season, but there is not enough light in the home for them to do well, they need full sun and must develop five sets of leaves (at least) to produce good bloom.
Side shoots can be planted and if treated correctly will produced blooms in three to four years.
Bulbs should be firm to the touch (like an apple) and as they grow they will burst their papery, onionlike skin and will turn green. Any bulb that is soft, withered, or stays white for more than a few days should be removed from its pot and inspected for rot. Healthy roots will be plump, white and fuzzy, rotten roots will be brown or black and slimy. If the roots are rotting or mold is found, remove all dirt and blackened roots and rinse until very clean. Let bulb air dry for two or three hours until it is very dry. Replant bulb in dry soil-less mix and let sit for a day. Resume watering as you would when starting a new bulb.
| Missing image Hippeastrum.overallview.arp.jpg Hippeastrum with four flowers. A second flower bud is growing up. | Missing image Belize8.jpg Hippeastrum sp. | Missing image Hippeastrum.JPG Hippeastrum 'Candy Cane' |