Amazon lily - what kind of indoor flower
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The Amazon lily, or Eucharis, is a wonderful flower to keep in your home. It is unpretentious and has a pleasant appearance, for which flower growers love it. Of course, in Russia this plant is not so common, but interest in this unusual lily is growing from year to year.
Amazon lily - what is this flower
The Amazonian lily belongs to the class Amaryllidaceae and is a bulbous plant. In Europe, this flower appeared not so long ago - in the middle of the 19th century. South and Central America is considered its homeland, but most often the plant is found near the Amazon River, from which it got its name. The second name, Eucharis, is translated from Greek as "graceful", which fully corresponds to the appearance of the flower.
Amazon lily
The eucharis flower has large leaves of a dark green color, their shape is oval. The tip of the leaves is pointed, and they themselves can be up to 15 centimeters wide and up to 30 cm long.
Varieties of Amazonian lily
Eucharis has many varieties, but it is difficult for scientists to classify them, since the flower is often cross-pollinated. However, some species are more common than others in home breeding. Their names and some characteristics are presented below.
The Amazon lily resembles a daffodil in its appearance
Eucharis large-flowered
One of the most common types of Amazonian lily for home keeping.
It blooms in late spring, summer and winter. The flowers unfold alternately, which makes the flowering process smooth and harmonious. It has paired leaves, their length can reach up to 40 centimeters, which is why this species is called large-flowered.
This plant requires a lot of space in the house, but it still remains unpretentious to maintain.
Eucharis White
It is a mountain variety of the Amazonian lily. The birthplace of the flower is Colombia, or rather its mountainous territories.
The flowers are smaller than those of the large-flowered, but there are more of them in the inflorescence - up to 10.
Eucharis Mastersa
This species also comes from Colombia. Outwardly, it does not differ much from white eucharis - the leaves are green and rounded, the flowers are small, white, grow in the form of umbrellas.
Usually two inflorescences bloom at once. The flower petals are rounded and taper towards the base. Blooms all spring - from March to May.
Eucharis Sandera
The homeland of this species is South America. It is considered the second most popular type of Amazonian lily.
When blooming, 2-3 flowers are revealed, which are located on small tubes. This makes the flower look wilted. It can also be multi-flowered, then 5-6 small flowers open at once in the inflorescence. Its appearance most of all resembles a lily.
Eucharis toothless
Comes from Colombia, like eucharis Mastersa. A distinctive feature of this species is the leaves of a triangular shape.Their length does not exceed 20 centimeters, and the width is 10. Flowers in the inflorescence are usually 7-10 pieces, they open in the form of umbrellas. This eucharis blooms in mid-spring.
The most unpretentious in care are the types of Sander and large-flowered, it is on them that the choice of flower growers from all over the world falls.
Eucharis - home care
Since the Amazonian lily is an unpretentious plant, even a beginner in this business can take care of it. That is why eucharis is often recommended for beginners in flower care. At the same time, the cultivation of the plant arouses a certain interest, which attracts even experienced owners.
Illumination and temperature conditions
Any lighting is suitable for an indoor eucharis flower, but it is better to protect it from direct sunlight, otherwise the plant may burn itself.
Amazon lily will feel good on the windowsill
The optimum temperature for flowering is a thermometer reading at +18 .. + 20 degrees. In this temperature setting, the Amazonian lily will feel best. In winter, the temperature can be slightly reduced - +16 .. + 18 degrees will be enough for the proper development of the plant.
Watering rules and humidity
The plant needs to be watered a couple of times a week. In this case, you must always monitor the state of the substrate - it must not be allowed to drain, but between waterings it must have time to dry out. Also, liquid should not be allowed to stagnate, otherwise the plant will rot. The drainage layer in the pot is made at least 7-10 centimeters.
Eucharis prefers medium to high humidity, but you should not specifically raise it. It is best to spray it several times a week with room temperature water from a spray bottle.
When the flower begins to form peduncles, spraying must be stopped until the end of flowering - water should not get on the flowers and buds.
Top dressing and soil quality
Top dressing is an important part of eucharis care. It is necessary to feed the flower only during the period of active growth. For this, any mineral fertilizers for bulbous plants are suitable. It is important to pay attention to the nitrogen content in fertilizers - it should be as little as possible.
The soil should be fertile and loose. The easiest way to find the right soil is in the store - you should pay attention to the mark "for the Amaryllis family." To make the soil yourself, you need a mixture of peat, sand and humus in equal proportions.
Flower container size
To grow and develop properly, eucharis needs a fairly tight pot. For one plant, you will need a pot with a diameter of about 15 centimeters and a height of at least 15 cm. The pot must be strong and stable so that it can withstand the weight of the plant's leaves.
Pruning and replanting
The Amazonian lily is the flower that does not like to be disturbed. That is why it is not recommended to transplant or cut the flower more than once every two to three years.
If the time has already come, you need to do this only during the rest period. You should disassemble the transplant process step by step:
- Remove the eucharis from the old pot.
- Clear the top root layer from the earth.
- Spread the drainage along the bottom of the container.
- Pour soil into a new pot in a layer of 10 cm over the drain.
- Place eucharis in the soil so that the root system expands and fills in all the gaps.
- Cover the plant with earth.
- Drizzle with water at room temperature.
The process of transplanting eucharis is quite simple - with due care and accuracy, there will be no problems.
Features of flowering plants
The Amazonian lily has its own characteristics in flowering. The most important of them is the rest period.
A period of activity and rest
The period of activity for this plant usually occurs in spring or autumn, but there are exceptions. At this time, the plant blooms and pleases with its pleasant appearance and aroma.
Eucharis at rest
The Amazonian lily can bloom once or twice a year. The flowers open alternately and are in this state for about a week, and the whole inflorescence is for three whole weeks, so watching the eucharis bloom is very exciting.
After the end of flowering, a dormant period begins. At this time, you will need to reduce the indoor temperature to 15 degrees, do not feed the plant and water less than usual. Also, during the dormant period, the Amazon lily cannot be transplanted. It is necessary to end this period when new leaves become visible in the soil.
Types and shape of flowers
All flowers of the Amazonian lily are similar - they have a green core, they are white, resemble a daffodil or lily. Inflorescences can collect up to ten buds.
It is also important to highlight that all eucharis inflorescences are umbellate. The color can be darker or lighter, depending on the type of flower.
Breeding methods of the Amazonian lily
Eucharis is able to reproduce in only two ways: seed and with the help of children.
Seed propagation
This method is rarely used, since eucharis bulbs grown from seeds will bloom only five years after planting.
To get a box of seeds, you need to artificially pollinate the flowers. To do this, brush over the pistil and stamens with a brush. You can cut the box only when it starts to dry.
The seeds must be planted in a container with a lid and a damp substrate. The first shoots will appear in about three weeks.
Reproduction of eucharis by children
This is the most common breeding method for this flower. It is quite simple, but you should pay attention to the fact that the juice of this plant is poisonous, so you need to be careful.
Babies appear in those bulbs that are at least 4 years old. It is necessary to remove the bush from the pot and separate the bulbs. Next, you need to separate the babies from the mother's bulb and transplant them into a separate container. The mother plant needs to be transplanted into a new pot and the soil replaced.
Growing problems, diseases and pests
Pests do not affect this plant very often. You can protect the Amazon lily with proper care.
Eucharis - sick species
Of the diseases, gray rot is often found - the cause of this is high humidity. If this happens, it is necessary to reduce watering of the plant and carefully monitor its condition.
Also, the leaves can turn yellow, and many are wondering why this is happening. Parasites often become the reason - it is necessary to carefully examine the plant, find pests, treat the aerial part with insecticides.
Eucharis is a good choice for beginners in gardening and flower growing. It has an attractive appearance, and it is not difficult to care for it. Today it is difficult to surprise other people with houseplants, but the blooming Amazonian lily is sure to attract attention.
