Hippeastrum - caring for a houseplant at home

Hippeastrums are distinguished by their elegance and exoticism. Their exceptionally beautiful flowers are a significant decorative asset. You can appreciate the full charm of a hippeastrum houseplant by looking at its photo. This flower belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and is represented by over 90 species, each of which is sure to enhance a home collection. Hippeastrums are often confused with Amaryllis, but despite belonging to the same family, they are classified in different genera.

Homeland and history of cultivation

Hippeastrum is a bulbous perennial native to the African tropics and subtropics. The greatest concentrations are found in Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru. Scientists believe these are the origins of the plant.

The flower first arrived in Europe in the 16th century. Capitalizing on its exotic beauty, it instantly won the hearts of gardeners. It's worth noting that at that time, the hippeastrum was mistakenly called amaryllis.

The first hybrid appeared only in the mid-18th century. It was named after its creator, Hippeastrum johnsonii. Scientists showed interest in hybridizing the plant. By the 19th century, there were already 100 hybrids. Around this time, the flower was first brought to Russia. The first amaryllis exhibition was held at the St. Petersburg Botanical Garden.

In Russia, this plant was highly appreciated. Almost immediately after the exhibition, cultivation of hippeastrum bulbs began on an industrial scale, and scientists from the Institute of Experimental Biology began hybridizing new varieties. Today, hippeastrum is considered a distinct genus of plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family. It shares a common genus with amaryllis, only belonging to the same family.

Characteristics of the hippeastrum flower and species diversity

The plant's bulbs are tunicate (closed) with tightly adherent scales. They can be spherical or oval. The diameter of a mature bulb varies from 5 to 10 cm. Thread-like adventitious roots are located along the edges of the base.

The leaves are linear and grow oppositely. In a mature plant, they can reach up to 70 cm in length and 5 cm in width. Most varieties are colored in rich shades of green. Red-leaved hybrids are also available.

The flowers are borne on a stalk. They resemble lilies. The maximum diameter is 25 cm. Depending on the variety, they can be funnel-shaped or tubular, and solid or multicolored. Many double-flowered varieties exist.

Leopold hybrids of the hippeastrum are primarily used in indoor gardening. Based on petal color, these plants are classified into the following groups:

• red;
• orange;
• pink;
• white;
• yellow;
• green;
• two-color;
• tricolor.

The following varieties belong to the group of red hippeastrums:

1. Magnem – large flowers of a rich red color, turning into cherry closer to the throat.

   

2. Black Pearl is a large-flowered variety with dark cherry petals.

   

3. Cherry Nymph is a large-flowered double hybrid with bright red flowers.

   

4. Lucky Strike – large red flowers with curled petals.

   

5. Double Dragun – large, asymmetrical, double flowers of blood-red color.

   

The orange group includes the following hybrids:

1. Bouquet - large salmon-colored flowers.
2. Solomon is a large-flowered hybrid with bright orange petals.

   

3. Sumatra – red-orange flowers with very narrow petals.

   

The following hybrids belong to pink hippeastrums:

1. Pink Nymph – large, double flowers of bright pink color.

   

2. Rosetta – large, soft pink, double flowers.

   

3. Sweet Nymph is a double variety with rich pink petals.

   

4. Danube – small flowers with dark pink petals.

   

5. Milady is a large-flowered hybrid with simple, soft pink flowers.

   

White hippeastrums are represented by the following varieties:

1. Alfresco – cream-colored peony-shaped flowers.
2. Jewel – large semi-double flowers of snow-white color.
3. Mont Blanc – large, snow-white flowers of simple shape.

   

   

   

4. Snow (Ice) Queen is a large-flowered double hybrid with tapered petals.
5. Moonlight – large creamy white flowers.

   

   

The yellow group is represented by the following hybrids:

1. Lemon Lime – small flowers, pale yellow with a green tint.
2. Herma – small flowers of a creamy yellow color.

The following hippeastrums belong to the green group:

1. Evergreen – small flowers of light green color.

   

2. Green Dragon – small, light green flowers. The undersides of the petals and the throat are slightly darker.

   

Two-colored hippeastrums are represented by the following varieties:

1. Charisma is a large-flowered hybrid. The snow-white petals are covered with numerous bright red strokes, concentrated in the center. Each petal has a red border.

   

2. Bianca – small flowers with snow-white petals and a green throat.

   

3. Densin Queen – large double flowers, a combination of coral and white.

   

The following hybrids belong to the tricolor hippeastrums:

1. Spicy – ​​the petals are a combination of salmon and red with a white longitudinal stripe in the middle.

   

2. Giraffe - creamy green petals with many thin burgundy stripes and a green throat.

   

Some hybrids have variable coloring. For example, the Moonlight variety blooms with creamy flowers that turn a creamy shade over time.

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The secrets and difficulties of caring for hippeastrum at home

Providing proper care for a hippeastrum at home is not at all difficult. The plant is not capricious or demanding. The only difficulty an inexperienced gardener might encounter is overwintering the plant. Hippeastrum has a pronounced dormant period. Caring for the plant in winter differs from caring for it during the growing season.

Lighting

The plant requires plenty of bright, filtered light. Experts recommend placing the pot on a south, southwest, or southeast exposure. However, during periods of intense sunlight, it's advisable to shade the plant with a curtain.

On windowsills facing west or east, the plant will need additional lighting. For this, you can use special fixtures called phytolamps, or direct fluorescent lamps at the plant. The distance between the hippeastrum and the lighting fixture should be at least half a meter.

Temperature and humidity

During its active growth period, the plant thrives in typical living conditions, with temperature and humidity levels. Many gardeners recommend planting hippeastrum in flowerbeds or on balconies during the summer. The fresh air strengthens and rejuvenates it.

In October, the hippeastrum begins a dormant period that lasts until early spring. The plant gradually sheds its leaves, preparing for dormancy. When the last leaf dries and falls off, cut the stem and move the pot to a dark room with a temperature of 6 to 12°C. Some gardeners recommend turning the pot on its side.

Watering and fertilizing

Water the flower with settled, room-temperature water. Bottom watering is recommended, as avoiding moisture on the bulb is undesirable. Before flowering, the hippeastrum can be misted with a spray bottle. Once flowers appear, simply wiping the leaves with damp cloths is acceptable.

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Hippeastrum should be watered according to the following scheme:

1. From the beginning of the growing season until budding, watering begins with small amounts and gradually increases. The recommended watering frequency is twice a week.
2. Budding period: every other day.
3. Flowering period: daily with small portions of water.
4. Post-flowering period: watering is gradually reduced to once a week.
5. Dormant period: stop watering.

Care must be taken when fertilizing hippeastrum. Potassium and phosphorus fertilizers, which promote flowering, do well. Fertilizing begins during the budding period. Experts recommend halving the recommended dose to avoid burning the roots. Fertilize twice a month.

Some gardeners also recommend using nitrogen fertilizers. However, too much nitrogen can cause hippeastrum root rot, so experts advise against using nitrogen fertilizers.

Diseases, pests and methods of control

Most often, hippeastrum suffers from the following diseases:

In addition to fungal and viral infections, the flower can become a victim of pests:

• aphid;
• scale insect;
• spider mite;
• mealybug.

You can get rid of harmful insects by treating the plant with an insecticide.

How to propagate and transplant a houseplant at home

Hippeastrums are repotted every 2-3 years. Here's how to repot a houseplant:

1. A drainage layer of expanded clay, pebbles or broken brick is placed at the bottom of the pot.
2. Then the pot is filled halfway with soil: a mixture of turf soil, sand, peat and humus (2:1:1:1).
3. The flower is freed from the old soil.
4. The plant is carefully placed in the soil so that a third of the bulb is visible above the soil. The remaining empty space in the pot is filled.
5. The soil around the bulb is slightly moistened.

The optimal time for repotting is considered to be August (after flowering) and December (preparation for dormancy). Repotting a flowering plant is strictly prohibited. If necessary, simply add a little fresh soil to the pot.

The flower can be propagated by cuttings and seeds. Now, let's look at each method in more detail.

Children

The offspring fully retain the varietal characteristics of the mother plant. Bulbs with a diameter greater than 20 mm are suitable for propagation. The offspring must have their own roots.

The algorithm for reproduction by children consists of the following steps:

1. Small bulbs, or baby bulbs, are carefully separated from the mother bush.
2. The damaged areas are treated with activated carbon.
3. The seedlings are placed in a moist sand-peat mixture (1:1). The optimal depth is 3-4 cm.

During the first two years, the flowers require special care. They need plenty of light without interruption for dormancy. The soil is moistened as the top layer dries out. For moisture, use only bottom watering.

In the third year, the strengthened shoots are replanted like adult plants. Flowering can be expected as early as the third or fourth year of independent growth.

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Seeds

The plant's seeds lose viability very quickly. Therefore, they are sown immediately after harvesting. To form seeds, the flower requires pollination. This can be done artificially or by planting hippeastrums in a garden and providing insects with the opportunity.

Growing hippeastrum from seeds involves the following steps:

1. The seeds are wrapped in wet gauze and placed in an empty container. Cover the top with glass. The container is placed in a warm, brightly lit place for 10 days.
2. The sprouted seeds are buried 2 cm deep in a moist sand-peat mixture.

The first shoots appear after 2-3 weeks. When the first two full leaves emerge, they are pricked out into separate containers. Caring for the shoots is similar to caring for hippeastrum offspring.

Frequently asked questions about growing

Hippeastrums are very beautiful flowers. The variety is astonishingly diverse. Growing them indoors is not difficult. Provided all care instructions are followed, the plant will delight the eye with its stunning blooms for many years.