Plants are captivating with flowers of countless colours. Amaryllis is just one of them which has flowers with a wide spectrum of colours varying from shades of pink to pure whites. The stripes, veining, darkened edges make the plant even more unique. Apart from its charming look, it has been a choice for plant lovers for its care which does not take much effort.
General Information
This plant is a small genus of flowering bulbs, which is made up of two species. The genus Amaryllis is native to Africa. Its name originates from the Greek word amarysso, which means “to sparkle.” The plant is bulbous, with each bulb reaching 5–10 cm in diameter. It has several strap-shaped, hysteranthous, green leaves. Bulbs were introduced to Europe in the 1700s and have been known to last up to 75 years in bloom.
Botanists were confused about the generic names Amaryllis and Hippeastrum for many years, resulting in the common term amaryllis being assigned to cultivars of this species, while the generic name Amaryllis was applied to bulbs from South Africa, which typically grow in outdoor spaces. The amaryllis bulbs are actually hybrids of the Hippeastrum genus and are native to Central and South America. The point is that: The cultivar amaryllis of the genus, Hippeastrum loves growing indoor spaces as opposed to the original South African one.
The genus is widely known for its flowers in various colours. The colour of its flowers generally differ from pink, salmon to apricot, rose of deep burgundy. It is possible to come across multicoloured Amarylises as well, such as purple and green, or picotee (having petals with a different edge colour). The size of the plant may vary in addition to the colour of the flowers.
How to Care For Amaryllis
The plant is perfect for indoor spaces with its easy care. However, there are a few points that need to be underlined when it comes to its care. This plant basically loves sunlight and watering and is resistant to cold temperatures.
Sunlight
This plant loves sunlight and does it’s best growing in full sun. However, it should not be exposed to direct sunlight at noon, getting the sun in the morning or evening during the day boosts its growth in a positive way.
Watering
The plant loves watering. Watering should be done by using warm water and it is important not to let some water remain on the bottom of the pot. When its watering is neglected over a period of time, the plant does its growing on its roots searching for some water. That means it spends the energy on the root. The best is to water the plant considering the soil moisture and the soil should not stay dry for long periods of time. Too much watering can also cause the bulb roots to rot. Keep in mind that: They tolerate drought, however keeping the soil moist during the active growing season is beneficial for the plant’s growth.
Temperature
It loves the heat since it originally comes from a hot climate country. Shelves above a heater could be an ideal place for the plant. Apart from loving the leat, it is known for being resistant to cold temperatures. As long as the owner of the plant provides care indoors, there will not be any problems if it is not exposed to the cold too much. Exposure to the cold for a long period possibly causes to damage the leaves. But this does not stop it from blooming in the spring.
Fertilizing
When it comes to fertilizing, the ideal is to fertilize the plant by using liquid fertilizer once a week.
Soil Type
Since it is quite easy for plants to rot, the most important is the drainage. Choosing well-drained soil is the point to underline. It can grow in any soil which is not too clay and sandy.
Planter Type
One of the important points in care is the choice of pot. It prefers pots containing air holes in its bottom. Because there should be no water left after watering since too much watering can cause the bulb roots to rot.
Propagation
Propagation is another point to tackle. It is genetically quite easy to propagate. The most practical way is to separate the baby bulbs. This is very practical and can be done easily every season of the year. In this process, It is beneficial to remove the bulbs from the soil and keep them in a moisture-free, cool, dark environment. An alternative way is to let the soil stand in the pot without watering at all. Again, it is possible to use seeds to propagate. But the bulb’s forming can take up to two years, which means it takes a lot of patience.
Common Problems
Although various insects, mites, and diseases can attack these plants under greenhouse conditions, they are less common on amaryllis growing in indoor spaces. Most of the insect infestations and diseases can be avoided with careful inspection and good care when selecting bulbs. Mealybugs could be occasional visitors. Therefore it is better to watch for snails when the plants are outdoors.
