Eucharis flower: care, transplantation and reproduction at home.
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Eucharis flower - this plant has lived in our home for many years, and only recently I learned its real name. When it first appeared, we appreciated it for its beautiful juicy foliage, but once instead of another leaf an arrow grew, on which stunning white delicate flowers, similar to daffodils, blossomed - it was an absolute delight! A lot of time has passed since then, we learned a lot about eucharis and figured out how to make it bloom more often. I will share this information with you in the article.
Eucharis flower: what conditions are necessary
The second name of the eucharis "Amazonian lily" is associated with the homeland of the plant, although in appearance it can be attributed more to daffodils than to lilies. But some growers (like me before) do not even realize that eucharis can bloom, and in fact, with good care, it is capable of this twice a year. The thing is that the flower is very susceptible to environmental conditions and will delight you with flowering only with perfect care. First, the light. Direct sunlight is excluded, burns appear on the leaves and they wither. Absolute shade is also not suitable; a place with diffused sunlight or partial shade would be ideal. Since eucharis is native to the tropics, it is obvious that he prefers warmth, does not like temperature extremes and drafts. If in the summer you bring a flower to the balcony or garden, then it is recommended to bring it into the house at night. It is also very important to maintain a balance when watering the plant - with excessive moisture, the bulbs can begin to rot and the plant will die. And the leaves should be regularly wiped with a damp cloth and periodically sprayed.
Eucharis flower: transplant, reproduction and care
Caring for indoor plants includes watering, feeding, and periodic replanting. We have already discussed watering - the main thing is to prevent waterlogging and stagnation of water. You can feed the eucharis flower a couple of times a month by choosing universal fertilizers for flowering plants. When choosing a fertilizer, pay attention to its nitrogen content - it promotes the growth of green mass, but reduces the likelihood of flowering. But potassium, on the contrary, promotes the formation of buds. Repotting eucharis is not recommended too often, as many bulbs in one pot provide the most beautiful appearance to the plant. And it is difficult for him to endure a transplant, and then he recovers for a long time. So if your flower has been growing in one pot for less than 5 years, you don't have to worry. But if there are too many bulbs, and the plant is obviously cramped, then it's time for a transplant. If you do not plan to propagate the plant, then transplant along with an earthen clod, as carefully as possible so as not to damage the roots. If you need to separate the bulbs, then do it very carefully and be prepared for the fact that such plants will need a longer recovery period (but not a single plant died after transplanting, everyone feels great!) After completing the transplant, reduce watering, compensating for the lack moisture by spraying (the first 10 days you can not water at all). If you are lucky and your eucharis has bloomed, then after flowering it will need about one and a half months of rest. At this time, move the flower to a slightly darker place, reduce watering a little and do not worry if the leaves begin to turn yellow - the plant will rest and recover.As soon as a new leaf appears from the ground, we can assume that the dormant period is over, and it is time to fertilize, water and move the eucharis to a lighter and warmer place again.
Problems you may face
And now let's talk about the unpleasant - diseases and pests, where can we go without them. Yes, sometimes harmful insects can be found even on indoor plants. In the case of eucharis, it can be scale insects, thrips, or a spider mite. But if sufficient humidity is maintained in the room, then the appearance of insects is unlikely. If you nevertheless find pests on your plant, then treatment with soapy water will help to cope with them. In the case of a large area of damage, you will have to resort to spraying with an insecticidal preparation (choose one that can be used indoors and strictly follow the instructions). If the leaves of a plant massively turn yellow, wither and dry (and this is not associated with a dormant period), then most likely there are irregularities in the irrigation system - or a lack of moisture, or vice versa, there is too much of it. Trim off affected leaves and adjust watering. When red spots appear on the leaves, this indicates a "red burn" fungal disease. Also remove damaged parts of the plant and treat it and the soil with preparations containing copper. If eucharis is vigorous and green, but does not bloom, then most likely the temperature regime is violated, or you planted the plant in a too large pot, or "overfed" it with nitrogen. And sometimes the fact is that the bulb is simply not ripe for flowering, it may take up to five years for it. If the plant bulbs rot, then the reason may be not only in excess moisture, but also in their defeat by a narcissus fly. Most gardeners are inclined to believe that it is impossible to fight it and you will have to get rid of the affected plant. As a folk remedy, they suggest pouring a concentrated saline solution over the eucharis. It is possible that this method will help to cope with the pest, but it will also affect the soil, so the plant will need a transplant. In conclusion, I want to say that eucharises have been living in my family for more than 25 years and never during this time have they been sick or affected by pests. The sunburn was received repeatedly, it was. But no more troubles happened to them. From time to time they bloom and each time it is an exciting wonderful event and great joy.