The author of the text is Krzysztof Mielicki, MSc
White-flowered Krasnocwiat Haemanthus albiflorus is one of the most interesting bulbous plants to grow at home. Plants come from South Africa, therefore they undergo a clearly marked period of dormancy.
The white-flowered dwarf produces long, dark green, semicircular leaves, slightly hairy. They alternately grow out of quite large white onions, and over time they overgrow.The plant grows up to a maximum of 25 centimeters in height, grows strongly to the sides, producing a mass of daughter bulbs.Likes a well-lit place, but not directly sunny.In summer, the pot can be placed in a sheltered place in the garden.
Krasnocwiat Białokwiatowy will be satisfied with ordinary universal soil mixed with sand for relaxation.When transplanting (once every three years), you can separate the incoming bulbs.When planting the bulbs, leave about 1/3 above the ground to prevent rotting. Water profusely from March to August and fertilize once a month with universal fertilizer. From September, we stop feeding and gradually reduce watering, preventing the plants from wilting.
In winter we only water enough so that the soil in the pot does not dry out completely; spray the plants once a week to remove dust from the leaves. Ideally, if we manage to provide a bright place with a temperature of about 10 ° C during this period.From March we gradually increase watering and move it to a warmer place.The plant will repay flowers for proper care. They have the form of "brushes" with long stamens, ended with yellow anthers.The plant takes 3-4 weeks to bloom.
Catherine's red flower Haemanthus katharinae (now Scadoxus katharinae) is blooming much more effectively.A rather large, red-spotted onion grows a dozen or so light green thin leaves on gutter-shaped petioles, forming a stalk, also speckled.In June, an inflorescence grows out of the onion - a spherical panicle up to 15 centimeters in diameter, composed of several dozen red star-shaped flowers. The eye-catching inflorescence lasts up to 3 weeks.
If you do not care about seeds, cut it when it blooms so as not to weaken the plant or flowering in the next season. On the other hand, if we want to propagate the red flower from seeds, let's wait for the shiny red berries to form.After removing the red warp and cleaning, do not delay sowing (the seeds quickly lose their germination power) to a mixture of sand and peat in the ratio of 1: 1.
Green-leaved home beauties
Requirements, substrate and fertilization
Keep the substrate constantly slightly moist and the temperature around 20ºC. When the first seedlings appear, we provide them with a clear position and water them regularly.When they produce 2-3 leaves, gently transplant them into containers with garden soil mixed with sand and a layer of drainage on the bottom to prevent rotting.For the first 3 years, do not dry the plants for the winter, we must provide constant conditions throughout the year. They will bloom, with good care, after about 4 years.
Requires a winter dormant period from October to March. Then move the pots with plants to a cool place (6-10ºC) and do not water it. At the beginning of March, we put the plants in a warmer room, not irrigating too much.When the first leaves appear, increase the amount of water and put it in a bright place.
Fertilize once a month with a multi-component fertilizer. The substrate should be light, permeable, with a layer of drainage at the bottom. We replant plants no more frequently than every 3-4 years; when they are tight, they will bloom better.In September, we stop fertilizing and gradually reduce watering. In October, we do not water anymore and we dry the plants. Over time, a few daughter bulbs will appear, which we can separate when transplanting. They flower much earlier than the specimens obtained from seeds.
