Alstroemeria - a representative of the family of Alstromerias, which includes 4 genera and is divided into 250 species. Alstroemeria "arrived" in our region from the subtropics of South America.
This is a perennial herbaceous plant, the stem of which is straight, and the root system is tuberous. Under natural conditions, alstroemeria can reach 1.5 m in height.
Did you know? Alstroemeria has long been known as the "flower of the Incas", it was the Incas who considered this plant holy and endowed it with magical properties. This flower is also called "Peruvian lily".
Alstroemeria flowers, similar to lilies, are painted in delicate tones of yellow, red, pink, orange, and lilac. Flower petals are decorated with veins, which are closer to the edge of the petal are becoming thinner and paler.Flower size about 6 cm in diameter. In this article we will talk about how to grow alstroemeria in a pot to decorate your window sill.
Optimal conditions for growing alstroemeria in the house
Alstroemeria, like any other plant, requires certain conditions for proper cultivation. Due to the fact that Alstroemeria is from warm regions, it is better to create conditions close to nature on her home window sill.
Location and lighting
Alstroemeria, if you grow it from seed, better on the south side of the apartment, because alstroemeria loves light and heat very much.
Important! In the summer alstromeria better pritenyat to prevent burns of the leaves.
In order for the flower to please you with a large amount of color and bright saturated colors, you need to ensure it has a light day 14 hours long; if you do not have the ability to light alstromeria in a natural way, you can use fluorescent lamps for additional lighting.Alstroemeria is best not to put in places near convectors or other heating devices. We will discuss further how to maintain the humidity of the air necessary for a flower and how to water alstromeria correctly.
Temperature mode: winter-summer
Alstroemeria is a flower very sensitive to temperatures and especially to their differences. An important factor in the content of alstromeria will be to maintain the correct temperature depending on the season.
In winter, the temperature should be maintained at 13-15 ° C, in the extreme case the flower will withstand the temperature at 8 ° C. At higher temperatures, the flower buds will not open, and in the spring Alstroemeria will not please you with its color.
In summer, the flower will be sufficient at room temperature not exceeding 28 ° C. If the temperature is higher, the leaves and flowers will fall off and the flower will stop growing.
Observe the temperature regime is quite simple, the main thing is not to overdo it in providing heat to Alstroemeria.
Proper care is the key to abundant Alstroemeria blooms.
To Alstroemeria pleased flowering, you need to properly care for it, following the rules of irrigation and air humidity, as well as timely feed the plant. It is absolutely not difficult to do this, and you will notice the results of your care from the very first weeks.
Watering and humidity
In watering Alstroemeria has its own subtleties, and they depend, as well as on temperature, and on the season.
For example, in summer and during the growing season, the plant must be watered in such a way that the earth can dry out. Watering is better with settled soft water, in which there is no chlorine.
Since in winter, alstromeria does not develop as actively as during a warm season, in winter it should be a little less watering, but in such a way that the flower does not dry out.
If you overdo it, the water will stagnate in the roots and the rhizome will begin to rot, and the result will be a lack of color for the next season.
Did you know? In winter, the plant needs to be watered depending on the temperature: the lower the temperature, the less moisture will be required by alstroemeria.
If you keep alstroemeria at the right temperature, it will only need spraying during periods of extreme heat or drought, but if the plant is on the windowsill next to the convector, you must spray the alstroemeria at least once every three days with soft defended water.
Fertilizer
To feed the plant need not very often, usually two or three feedings per year is enough.
And during the most active flowering, the plant can be treated with a solution of ash: 1 tablespoon dissolve in 3 liters of water.
Important! Choosing, than to feed alstroemeria, it is better to stop on preparations in which the content of potassium and phosphorus is higher, but there is less nitrogen.If the plant is “overnourished” with nitrogen, the leaves will begin to grow faster, but the buds will not develop.
All about transplanting
Alstroemeria grows pretty quickly, and over time it becomes cramped in a pot. Alstroemeria transplantation at home is a simple process, but everything must be done consistently.
Did you know? Alstroemeria does not tolerate very acidic soil.
For alstroemeria best suited substrate with the following composition: 2 parts of leafy land, 1 part of humus, 1 part of peat land, 1 part of pine bark, 1 part of vermiculite / perlite. This mixture is an excellent balanced substrate with a high content of trace elements useful for alstromeria.Most often, alstroemeria is transplanted in the spring in a deep pot, the diameter of which is 4-5 cm larger than the root system. In order for the plant to feel comfortable, drainage should be laid out on the bottom of the pot for about a quarter of the volume.
Transplant order:
- Carefully get the alstroemeria out of the old pot.
- Clean the root system from the ground and inspect the rhizome (in the presence of damaged roots - cut them).
- Dip rhizome in potassium permanganate for disinfection.
- Into the prepared drainage pot pour the substrate.
- Plant a plant.
- Sprinkle the plant with soil, a little ram and pour.
Feed the transplanted plant can be 2 weeks after transplantation, when the roots have already taken root.
Alstroemeria reproduction at home
The popularity of Alstroemeria is growing every day, and more and more often growers propagate Alstroemeria at home. Reproduction can be done in two ways: vegetative and seminal method.
Seeds
Alstroemeria seeds are planted in late February - early March. When growing alstroemeria from seeds, the plant will bloom no earlier than in the third year.
Before planting seeds in a pot, they must to stratify. The stratification process is rather long and lasts up to 2 months. For stratification, seeds are kept at a temperature of +2 to +4 ° C, and then gradually the temperature is raised.
After the stratification process, seeds can be soaked in water and left for 5-6 hours. After that, they are planted in the ground to a depth of about 3 cm, sprinkle with soil on top and slightly moisturize.
From above the container with the planted seeds is covered with a film. Seeds need to be ventilated and removed for several minutes once a day. If everything is done correctly, after 10 days you will notice the first shoots, and after two weeks, several leaves will appear on the plant.
Important! To teach germinated seeds to room temperature, it is necessary to gradually remove the film from the sowing tank.
Division of rhizomes
The method of division of rhizomes is more popular in the reproduction of alstroemeria. In this way, plant the plant in spring. In order to propagate alstroemeria in this way, you should pull the plant out of the pot as carefully as possible so as not to damage the plant’s rather fragile roots, with a clod of earth.
Only after you have fully reached the plant, the roots must be shaken off the ground and rinsed with water. The rhizome is divided, cutting it with a thin sharp blade vertically. After separation, all cutting sites must be treated with coal.
In the prepared pot pour the soil and planted the rhizome so that it is freely located in the pot. Top delenku sprinkled with a handful of sand and soil. Alstroemeria must be planted in such a way that the root neck is not more than 7 cm deep into the ground.
Alstroemeria can be planted in this way at the end of summer: the roots will have time to take root until the cold weather.
How to deal with possible pests and diseases
Diseases of alstromeria are better not to heal, but to take all necessary measures for prevention. Even if the plant looks healthy, the treatment with Fundazol several times a year will not harm it.
"Fundazole" suitable for the treatment of diseases such as root rot, phytophthora, fusarium, which most often appear due to overflow and excess moisture in the root system, as well as from gray rot, which damages the plant, which lives in a room with high humidity and in poorly ventilated rooms.
Alstroemeria can be attacked by thrips and ticks, which appear as a result of a temperature violation, if the room is too warm and the air is dry. You can fight them with insecticides such as "Aktara" or "Confidor"watering the soil.
As you can see, even a beginner can grow alstromeria. This flower of extraordinary beauty requires some subtleties in the care, but all efforts applied to its cultivation will return to you a hundred-fold result in the form of a beautiful plant with beautiful color.
