Tricirtis
Content:
Tricirtis - an extremely popular representative of the lily family, which is not only interested in flower growers, but also gardeners. In the end, it is not for nothing that among professional cultivators this small genus was named "Garden Lily". The homeland of this flower is the high peaks of the Japanese islands and the Himalayas, but it is not found only there. The fact is that the cultivation of Tricirtis began in the eighteenth century, and therefore during this time it spread not only throughout Asia, but also beyond its borders.
Garden lily tricirtis: flower description
Tricirtis: photo of a flower
Speaking about the scarcity of this genus, it is worth noting that this issue has not yet been fully resolved. The fact is that how many species belong to the genus Tricirtis is still the cause of heated debate and discussion in the community of professional breeders. Nevertheless, if we calculate the arithmetic mean, then it can be noted that there are about fifteen species of Tricirtis in total.
Also, this plant has several completely different names, each of which has incredibly interesting and unusual origins. As already mentioned, gardeners call this flower a garden lily, but its original name - Tricirtis - comes from the Greek language and literally translates from it as "three tubercles". This name comes from the fact that this flower has three nectaries.
No less interesting name was given to Tricirtis by the Filipinos, who call this exotic lily a toad. The fact is that the juice of this plant attracts amphibians, which include toads, which, by the way, are a Filipino delicacy. Well, in order to catch these nimble animals, the hunters after them grease their hands with the juice of Tricirtis.
Plant features
Garden Orchid Ritzirtis - Like most orchids, it is a perennial plant, and its root is very short, which makes this plant incredibly delicate and fragile. Most often, the stems of Tricirtis grow absolutely perpendicular to the ground, but there are also branching varieties. The leaves of this genus are far from the most beautiful and attractive. They have the shape of an inverted egg. Sometimes there are also very oblong leaf plates. Nevertheless, even the nondescript leaves of this kind of lilies have an interesting feature: they are colored in almost the same way as the petals, with the exception of bright and variegated flowers, of course. However, they are covered with the same specks and patterns as the buds of Tricyrtis.
By the way, speaking of buds. They always have no more and no less than six petals, and, of course, a lip. Most often, the buds are completely painted in white, on top of which you can find specks of completely different shades. However, most often the patterns on the flower petals have shades close to red: burgundy, purple, pink, and so on.
Most often, flowers do not form inflorescences and grow exclusively singly, however, you can also find those varieties that collect buds in umbrella inflorescences. As already mentioned, there are also three nectaries on each bud, and, of course, the lip, which in this genus is very much altered, and it is far from always easy to find it.
In addition, even at home, this oridea may well ripen fruits that look like small bolls containing seeds that can be used for reproduction.
Tricirtis: photo of a flower
Tricirtis: open field planting
This question is incredibly important and relevant, since most often Tritsirtis is planted in gardens with open ground, and not at all in pots.
In order to do this correctly and provide the orchids with the best conditions in which they will delight you with the best flowering, you should carefully follow all the points of the instructions below:
When to plant?
Tricyrtis seeds are planted in open soil immediately after they are harvested. Most often, this period falls on the onset of cold weather, but do not be afraid that the seedlings will not tolerate the coming frosts and will simply die in the ground. The likelihood that this will actually happen is extremely small.
Nevertheless, it may also happen that planting before the onset of winter will be simply impossible and will have to be postponed to the spring. Of course, the germination percentage will not be as significant as when planting seeds immediately after they are harvested, but with careful stratification, spring planting can also be quite successful. However, for this you will have to choose the timing very well, because the strtification takes almost two months, and you must be completely sure that by the time it is completed, all return freezes will have passed.
By the way, it is possible to propagate the tricyrtis garden orchid using other, non-seed methods, but we will talk about them later.
Rules for planting tricyrtis in open ground
First of all, of course, you will need to find a suitable site for Tricirtis, where he will feel most comfortable. Some shaded place is best for this, for example, the sweat of the ruffs of a gazebo or under the crown of a tree.
As for the soil, of course, there are certain requirements for it. First of all, it should be loose and have the same composition as forest soil. This means that it must contain a sufficient amount of peat and humus. Another option is to grow Tricirtis in black soil, but even in this case, you will have to add peat to the soil.
Speaking about the illumination of the site, although Tricirtis should be in shade, this does not mean that it should be deprived of light at all. However, the most important thing is not the brightness, but the regularity of sunbathing, and therefore you should make sure that at least half of the day Tricirtis was under diffused light.
Completely different rules, however, work for later varieties of this plant, since they need a lot of light and it must be very constant and regular. The fact is that twilight in autumn comes much later than in spring or summer, and therefore the flower may simply not have enough light to form buds and inflorescences.
It is also important to provide protection against through winds. In principle, Tricyrtis are completely independent of airing, and therefore you should not have any difficulties with the wind: you can generally exclude it from the life of a flower.
But what you need to pay very close attention to is the stagnation of moisture. It is incredibly detrimental to this genus with a very delicate root system. However, perhaps the same can be said about any other orchid.
When planting seeds, you must also remember that they must be buried. Nevertheless, the deepening should not be deep at all: no more than a third of a centimeter.Also, after planting, abundant soil moistening with seedlings is mandatory. The only flaw in growing Tricirtis from seeds is that it will bloom only after two, or even three years.
Tricirtis seeds: photo
Tricirtis: flower care in the open field
Caring for the tricyrtis orchid orchid is exactly what you expect from caring for an orchid: it is far from the easiest process, with a huge number of small details and nuances. But, nevertheless, it is still much simpler than growing domestic species of orchids, and therefore, with the proper desire, responsibility and care, even an amateur gardener or even a beginner can cope with it.
You can avoid most of the problems already at the planting stage, since it also implies a large number of rules, following which you can easily make life easier for the flower. Well, further care and cultivation of Tricirtis implies very careful adherence to the watering and feeding regime, which certainly should not cause you any difficulties. As a matter of fact, we will begin our instructions with watering and fertilization:
How to water and feed Tritsirtis
On many gardening websites and guides, you can read about Tricyrtis as an incredibly drought tolerant crop. To say that this is the direction, of course, is impossible, however, on the other hand, a person may well survive by eating only once a day. However, you can probably imagine how bad you will feel at the same time.
This also applies to plants, and therefore you need to water Tricirtis quite often, no matter how its drought resistance tries to disorient you. In addition to the fact that watering should be abundant, it is very important to make sure that it is constant.
The water must also meet certain requirements. First of all, it should be soft enough, as hard water can harm the delicate root of the plant. In addition, a very good solution would be to use rain or settled water, as it will be much more useful for the flower.
It is also necessary to follow the irrigation technique. You have probably already learned that Tritsirtis has a delicate root system, and therefore watering should be neat and gentle. It will also be useful to slightly loosen the soil after each watering.
An equally important procedure is the mulching of the site, which many inexperienced gardeners, unfortunately, neglect. Of course, mulching is not necessary, but it helps a lot in growing absolutely any ornamental crop. Firstly, mulch does not allow moisture to evaporate out of time from the soil. Secondly, it is a natural and very reliable protection against all kinds of weeds.
As for feeding, it is not a very obligatory procedure, like mulching, by the way. However, if you want the flowers of your Tricirtisa to be bright and the leaves to be healthy, then it is still better to use fertilizers. By the way, all kinds of organic feeding, such as humus, are perfect for this. However, mineral complexes can also be beneficial for Tricirtis.
Tricirtis: photo of a garden orchid
Flower transplant
Some may be gladdened by the news that there is practically no need to transplant Tritsirtis. This plant exists very well in the very place where it was planted for the first time, but if it is regularly fed and watered well, you can completely forget about the transplant.
Nevertheless, the desire to transplant a plant may arise from the gardener himself, if, for example, the place where the flower grows is better to give to some other culture.In this case, you will need, as with seed reproduction, to choose the most suitable site for Tricirtis and prepare everything you need to help the plant quickly and easily take root in a completely new and unfamiliar place.
Reproduction
There are several ways to breed tricyrtis, one of which you have already read in detail and which you thoroughly learned. I am, of course, talking about the seed propagation method.
However, many gardeners do not like him, because, you see, seed reproduction is an incredibly long process, and people do not like to wait at all. And therefore, the division method, which is carried out during a forced plant transplant, is no less popular. To carry out such a procedure, you, first of all, need a sharp, well-sharpened instrument. After you prepare it, you can dig up Tricirtis. It is imperative to remove adhering lumps of soil from its root, as they can seriously interfere with the procedure.
Now that both the tool and the bush are ready, the root is stripped either in half or into more pieces, depending on how large the parent plant's root system is and, of course, how many new individuals you want to grow. When you are finished, the cut sites on the mother plant must be decontaminated, as otherwise contamination with bacteria and viruses may occur. Also, remember that every plot must be very well cared for.
Wintering of Tritsirtis
Tricirtis: photo of a plant
It is very important to understand that this tricyrtis is not winter-hardy, despite the fact that it grows on the slopes of high mountains, and therefore, especially in the conditions of our harsh winters, protection is simply vital for it. There are several ways to provide it. The first is covering the bushes themselves with a thick layer of peat, which certainly will not allow the frost to destroy your Tricirtis. Another way is to cover the bushes with agrofibre, however, to be honest, we would still prefer peat protection.
A completely different question - if you live in the southern latitudes. The climate there is far from being so harsh, and therefore such a serious protection from frost can only harm the flower. To avoid this, it is enough to be limited only to shelter with an ordinary film, and if winter communicates to be warm, then protection can be completely abandoned. Nevertheless, despite the fact that the plant will not be greatly affected by this, experienced gardeners still do not recommend leaving a garden orchid without any protection, since unforeseen snowfall can simply kill a promising bush.
Pests and diseases
That for which Tritsirtis certainly cannot be blamed, it is for poor immunity. The resistance to pain in this orchid is simply excellent, and therefore, if you properly care for the flower and do not make gross mistakes, you are definitely not afraid of the sudden appearance of some kind of rot.
Nevertheless, such troubles as decay of roots quite often happen to representatives of the genus Tricirtis, however, not because a fungus suddenly entered them, but due to the simple carelessness of the owner. That is why we have been repeating and will not tire of repeating that watering is the most basic, but at the same time, the most important procedure, in which it is simply unacceptable to make mistakes.
Therefore, if you do not want to see your flower drooping and wilting one day, be sure to try to consult with a more experienced gardener than you yourself, since only a good specialist will be able to say which watering regime will be good specifically for this species and specifically for this variety.
The situation is completely different with insects, since they, in fact, do not care how well the plant has a good immune system. It won't hurt them to eat it anyway. Therefore, the best way to deal with pests such as slugs, snails or spider mites is prevention.Nevertheless, if it did not help and the parasites still got to your Tricirtis, the only thing you can do is to collect them yourself and carry them as far as possible.
However, this applies to snails. What to do with spider mites? The method of combating them is even simpler and it is called insecticides. Although many gardeners treat any kind of chemistry very badly, unfortunately, you will hardly be able to cope with the scourge of cobwebs differently.
The most popular varieties and types
Tricitis: photo of a flower
Of course, despite the fact that there are no more than fifteen species in the genus, breeders have long been working on various hybrid varieties, the number of which is simply huge at the moment. And therefore, choosing for yourself exactly the Tricirtis that you like is far from an easy task. However, for this there is this list: we will give the best varieties and types of this unusual orchid, among which, we hope, you can definitely find your ideal.
Taiwanese tricyrtis (Tricyrtis formosana), or Formosan tricyrtis
Of course, it was not in vain that we mentioned this species very first. The fact is that it is he who enjoys incredible popularity not only among gardeners, but also among gardeners who are not averse to taking care of flowers that can easily decorate their possessions.
One of the main distinguishing features of this species is its record size. The length of its stems is practically never less than eight tenths of a meter, and the stems themselves are very pleasant to the touch, as they are covered with soft villi.
Leaves of this species are no less attractive. They have an almost glossy surface, and their color is very bright and rich.
However, of course, the crown of this species is not the leaves or stems, but the stunning buds, which are painted white and covered with small purple specks. Their special decoration is the lip, which looks like an oblong pod, which is divided at the end into three parts. It is painted in a burgundy shade. By the way, you can also see pink spots on it.
Tricyrtis yellow (Tricyrtis flava = Tricyrtis yatabeana)
Already from the name, one can easily understand how this particular species differs from many other representatives of this small genus. Its homeland is the mountain thickets and forests of the Japanese Islands, however, this flower takes root well with us.
Its buds are completely yellow, and only rarely can small brownish-orange specks be seen on the surface of the petals or lips. By the way, about the petals. Unlike most Tricyrtis, Tricyrtis yellow has rather wide petals, which makes it look like an ordinary wildflower. However, his guda immediately betrays the belonging of this species to the orchid family.
As for the stem, it is not unusual in anything. In length, it reaches about half a meter, but there are also dwarf varieties that do not exceed a quarter of a meter in height.
Perhaps this was influenced by the unimpressive size of the flower, or maybe its simple coloring, but now Tritsirtis yellow is difficult to find in anyone's garden. Nevertheless, in our opinion, he is more than worthy to occupy a place of honor there.
Hairy tricyrtis (Tricyrtis pilosa = Tricyrtis maculata = Tricyrtis elegance)
As soon as you look at a flower of this species of Tricyrtis, you will immediately notice how unusual and unique it is. In fact, it is completely unlike any other flowers, and it may even seem that it came from another planet altogether.
First of all, such an impression about this flower determines its outstanding color. First of all, it affects the stem, which is not only covered with fine hairs, which can be seen by the name, but also from the outside may seem blue to the observer.
The bud itself, however, is no less unusual than the stem on which it grows. It is painted white, but the spots on its surface are extremely unusual. Their edges are painted in a rather dark and rich pink color, but the closer to the center, the brighter and paler the color becomes.
The alien appearance of the flower is complemented by the lip, which is completely colored green. At its base, however, you can find small white and purple specks, and at its tip there are three nectaries, which, by the way, appear long before the rest of the flower blooms.
Long-legged tricyrtis (Tricyrtis macropoda)
Despite its name, this representative of the Tricirtis family still could not become longer than the very first representative of our list. The length of its stem reaches seven tenths of a meter, however, there are also smaller specimens, the length of the stems of which exceeds half a meter.
Speaking of color, the stem of this species differs in that it is very dark and, moreover, smooth. Against the background of bright yellow buds, this brownish-burgundy color looks very harmonious and stylish.
By the way, about the buds. They, like the representative of the Tricirtis, whom we described a little above, are almost completely yellow. However, this time the shade is much brighter and the number of brownish specks is much higher. In addition, the lip of the buds of this species is longer and more elegant, and is crowned with nectarines, painted in an almost snow-white color.
Tricyrtis broadleaf (Tricyrtis latifolia = Tricyrtis bakeri)
Looking at this plant for the first time, it is difficult to even imagine that it is an orchid. The species is indeed very unique and differs significantly from many of its relatives. The siebles of this Tricirtis reach about six-tenths of a meter in length, and leaves grow along their entire length, which, as the name implies, are very large, due to which the plantings of this Tricirtis are very similar to real thickets.
A distinctive feature of this species is that it blooms very early, and therefore is ideal for creating flower arrangements that will delight the gardener from May to October.
However, why did we say that this species is so different from all other Tricyrtis? The fact is that its flowers are collected in very dense bundle inflorescences, which are very rare in the orchid family. The flowers themselves are painted in a creamy yellow color and there are practically no spots on their surface.
Tricyrtis hirta, or Uvularia hirta
Tricitis short-haired: photo of a flower
So we got to the crown of this list: to the most popular and best, according to many gardeners and breeders, Tricirtis species. The homeland of Tritsitis shorthaired, like most of the best varieties of this extraordinary orchid, is the Land of the Rising Sun.
The length of its stems varies greatly and can reach both eight-tenths and only four-tenths of a meter, and therefore this species can be liked by both lovers of miniatures and those who prefer large flowers. Other features of the stems are the short pile on their surface and the fact that they are very branchy.
The leaf plates are about fifteen centimeters long and have a fairly standard ellipsoidal shape. However, they cannot be called glossy at all, since on their surface, as well as on the stem, there is a short and soft pubescence.
Flowers of Tritsyrtis short-haired very rarely combine into inflorescences, and, even if they do, then only two or three pieces. However, they just look great on their own and are perhaps the most beautiful of all Tricirtis.
In fact, they are very similar in structure to the buds of Tricyrtis hairy, but it should be noted that their palette includes many more bright and colorful colors, and their shape is simply amazing and mesmerizing.
By the way, there are several subspecies of this Tricirtis, about which, however, not so much can be said.
Tricitis short-haired Masamuna is distinguished by the fact that it does not have pubescence at all, and what the short-haired black differs in, it seems, does not need to be explained at all. It's just that its specks have a much darker shade than that of the parent species.
Natural and hybrid varieties of short-haired Tricirtis are of much greater value and interest, among which the following can be distinguished:
Tricirtis Dark Beauty (dark beauty). This variety is distinguished by its incredible color, as well as the following three. However, this one can really be called the most unusual, since Tricirtis Dark Beauty has a color that is very uncharacteristic for Tricirtis, namely, blue. Also on Tritsirtis dark beauty you can see purple and purple spots, but the lip looks like sea coral, painted in bright pink tones.
Tricirtis Raspberry Mousse. This variety is distinguished by a wine-purple color, and also by the fact that the spots on the surface of the petals of this Tricirtis form a gradient that gradually passes from the main color to snow-white. The lip is similar in color to the petals, but at the base it is painted in an olive shade.
Tricirtis Blue Haven. This variety is perhaps the least interesting of all of these, as it is the least variegated and bright. Nevertheless, Tritsitis Blue Haven will definitely appeal to lovers of miniatures and minimalism in landscape design. Its petals are sky blue, and its lip resembles a bright red sea coral again.
Tricirtis Purple Beauty. In fact, this variety is practically no different from the standard representative of the species Tricirtis shorthaired. The only difference between Tritsirtis Purple Beauty is slightly darker spots on the surface of the white petals.