Growing alstroemeria at home: planting, reproduction, watering
Growing alstroemeria at home is a very simple and easy task. With proper care, the plant will certainly delight with its mesmerizing appearance. In the wild, the flower can grow to a large size - an average of about 1.5 meters in height. In an apartment, these indicators are much more modest. Before you grow alstroemeria in your room, you should know what the irrigation, feeding and transplanting should be.
Growing alstroemeria at home
Alstroemeria flowers are very beautiful. They grow to about 6 cm in diameter. They can have a variety of colors ranging from pale yellow, pink, and ending with purple and red. Thin dark stripes can be seen on each petal.
South America is a fairly warm region where this plant came from, so the flowers need appropriate conditions.
Lighting is an important part of grooming. It is logical to assume that Alstroemeria prefers light and warmth. The seed pot is best placed on the south side.
To prevent alstroemeria from getting burns, in the summer it needs to be put in the shade.
Fluorescent lamps can help you create the right lighting for flower growth. If you want to see alstroemeria blooming for a long time, then daylight hours for it should last about 14 hours. Also, do not forget that heaters, convectors and stoves can negatively affect the plant.
Temperature regime and feeding
Despite the love of warmth, excessive heat can destroy the flower. The maximum air temperature in summer should be 28 ° C. If it is higher, then the alstroemeria is likely to wither, and the flowers and leaves will fall off.
Try to avoid preparations in which there is a lot of nitrogen, otherwise only leaves will develop, but no buds. For alstroemeria, it is better to choose fertilizers with a high phosphorus content. Potassium is also beneficial.
In winter, try to keep the temperature around 15 ° C. Indicators that are below 8-100 C are fatal to the flower. If you ignore this condition, then the culture simply will not blossom and will not be able to please your eye.
You should also pay special attention to feeding. At the very beginning of flowering, the plant will be useful to fertilize it ash... To do this, you need to dilute a tablespoon of the product in 2-3 liters of water.
The rest of the time, alstroemeria can be fed twice a year.
Irrigation and transplanting
When watering room alstroemeria, several nuances must be taken into account. Firstly, in the summer it is important to irrigate the plant so that the soil dries out a little between procedures. It is better to take non-chlorinated water, it is well suited for irrigation.
Secondly, in winter, the number of waterings should be limited. In the cold period, the flower does not grow as much as in summer. This means that excess water can provoke rotting of the root system. But at the same time it is necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out.
In winter, you also need to take into account the temperature regime. If the thermometer readings are low, then watering should be less abundant.
Alstroemeria in a pot does not really need to be sprayed.This can only be done when the air temperature is very high or when the plant is near a heater. In this case, try to spray the flower at least once every three days.
As for the transplant, then it must be done correctly, adhering to some rules. Alstroemeria usually grows rather quickly. For her, the best option would be a substrate that contains various trace elements necessary for the growth and development of the plant.
The soil should consist of:
- leafy land (2 parts);
- pine bark (1 part);
- humus (part 1);
- peat (1 part);
- perlite (1 part).
It is better to transplant in the spring. The pot is chosen a few centimeters larger than the root, and drainage is done at the bottom. When transplanting, it is important to take care not to damage the root system.
Reproduction
You can propagate a flower at home vegetatively and by seeds. Both methods are quite simple and do not require any special skills.
Seed propagation
If you propagate alstroemeria by seeds, then the grains must first be stratified. This procedure involves simulating the weather conditions in winter. Stratification is necessary for seeds to germinate better. The temperature regime is very important in this case: about 2-4 degrees. Stratification usually lasts from two to three months.
After this time, the seeds move into the water. They need to stay there for about 6 hours. At the end of this time, the planting material can be considered ready for planting. It is not worth sowing seeds too deep, 2-3 cm is enough. After planting, the soil is watered.
In order for the grains to germinate faster, cover the pot with plastic wrap. It must be removed several times a day. Keep the container open for 10-15 minutes. The first shoots can be observed in two weeks.
Division of the root system
This is a vegetative propagation method that is quite common. It is worth carrying out this procedure in the spring, although sometimes it is possible at the end of summer. The main thing is that the roots have time to take root in the pot until the cold comes.
Sequencing:
- Remove the plant from the pot along with the soil. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the roots.
- Rinse the roots, and remove the rest of the earth.
- Cut the root vertically with a thin, sharp knife.
- Sprinkle the cut with charcoal.
- Pour earth into a pot and place the root. The pot must be taken in such a size that the plant can be safely placed there.
- Cover the root with soil. In this case, you need to ensure that the root collar is 7 cm in the ground.
In general, planting and caring for alstroemeria at home is not so difficult and does not require special skills. Although for good growth, a flower needs proper watering, temperature conditions and transplantation. But such efforts are fully justified: the plant will delight you with beautiful flowers and decorate your home for many years.