Hippeastrum FAQ. Can hippeastrum be grown outdoors? Magnificent hippeastrums in the photo

The name of the genus - Hippeastrum comes from the Greek words hippeos - "cavalier" and astron - "star", which is reflected in the second name of the plant: "cavalry star", or "cavalier among the stars". The genus Hippeastrum belongs to the large Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae).

Hippeastrum is very often erroneously called amaryllis, although these two plants, outwardly very similar, have clearly expressed both biological and morphological differences. Amaryllis is native to South Africa. Hippeastrum was brought to Europe among the first ornamental plants from the tropical regions of Central and South America in 1693. And in 1753, Carl Linnaeus assigned the plant the generic name amaryllis because of its resemblance to the African amaryllis (Amaryllis belladonna). This native of South Africa - the Karoo desert was brought to Europe almost simultaneously with hippeastrum.

Beautiful and unusual plants found many fans who grew them with great pleasure. Among the enthusiasts of breeding and hybridization was the English florist and scientist William Herbert. It was he who found out that the South American species interbreed quite easily, but it is impossible to cross them with the South African species. A deeper study of the structure of these plants showed that the structure of their fruits and seeds is different.

Herbert came to the conclusion that Linnaeus made a mistake by combining these two plants, and proposed in 1821 a new classification system, leaving only one species in the amaryllis genus - African amaryllis, and assigned all American ones to a new genus, which he gave the name hippeastrum. And in 1963, a special commission was created to deal with the confusion with the names of these plants, which made the final conclusion: hippeastrum and amaryllis are two different genera. But confusion still occurs, so I will try to characterize both of these plants, since there are still quite a lot of differences. Amaryllis has leaves 3-4 cm wide, and dense, filled fleshy peduncles end in inflorescences of 6-12 fragrant flowers collected in a corymb.

Flowers white, lilac, purple. The petals of the flowers are pointed, the bulb is elongated, regularly, after flowering, it forms many daughter bulbs (children). Mature seeds are light green. Amaryllis blooms in autumn. Belt-like hippeastrum leaves are wider - 6-7 cm, their length reaches 60 cm.

Peduncles are hollow, up to 90 cm high (and some varieties even 1.2 m) and bear 2-6 large flowers in an umbrella-like inflorescence. The flowers are funnel-shaped or bell-shaped, up to 18-22 cm in diameter, tubular at the base, completely odorless, stamens are large with bright yellow or orange pollen. The color range is much wider than that of amaryllis: red, white, pink, various shades, plain and variegated. T

Only blue and blue shades are not typical for them. The duration of flowering of each flower is about 5 days. In the cut at a temperature of -18-20 ° C, the flowers stand for 10-12 days, at a lower temperature, up to 20 days, without losing their decorative effect. Seeds are dark brown, flat, disc-shaped. The bulb is more rounded in shape than that of amaryllis. Most modern highly ornamental varieties do not form baby bulbs or form very few and irregularly. Hippeastrum blooms in winter or spring. Although it can be "forced" to bloom at any time.

Hippeastrum is a perennial bulbous plant.

The bulb of an adult plant consists of 12-24 scales (about 30 cm in diameter) with 3-6 inflorescences located between them, which are at different stages of development. In the third year, the bulb becomes sexually mature, that is, an inflorescence forms in it. From the moment of laying the inflorescence to flowering, 12-16 months pass. At the onset of puberty, there is a strict alternation of leaves with a closed and open base (scales). After three leaves with a closed base, a leaf with an open base follows, inside which an inflorescence is formed. Each month, the plant throws out one leaf (although during the dormant period these leaves may not appear outside). It is easy to calculate that the hippeastrum forms 3 inflorescences in a year, but in order for even one to bloom, some requirements must be met. The main task is to provide the plant with nutrients and prevent the bulbs from shrinking in size. They shrink in poor light, with the formation of an excessive number of children, or with too abundant flowering. It is possible to compensate for the loss of mass by the bulb during flowering only with regular mineral supplements. After the onset of puberty, the hippeastrum repeats all the cycles of its development from year to year: during flowering and at the beginning of increased leaf growth, the supply of nutrients in the outer scales is actively consumed, and the diameter of the bulb decreases. Then, during the vegetation of plants, the bases of the assimilating leaves begin to thicken rapidly, new leaves are laid in the renewal bud, and the diameter of the bulb increases significantly. All these processes in the conditions of greenhouse culture go on continuously.

Grow hippeastrum you can use any of the methods: in the soil (in pots on the windowsill with a transplant for the summer in the ground) and in hydroponics; without a dormant period (constantly with leaves); as a forcing culture (after forcing, the bulb is thrown away).

Hippeastrum bloom depends on agricultural technology: the time of planting the bulbs, the temperature in the room. By adjusting the timing of the dormant period and the temperature regime, flowering can be achieved at any time of the year. Since it is usually impossible to regulate the temperature regime at room conditions, I will tell you how you can achieve the flowering of hippeastrums by changing the irrigation regime and performing a few simple operations. In order for the plant to accumulate enough nutrients necessary for flowering, the growing season should last 6-8 months. Care during the growing season consists in systematic weeding and loosening of the soil, watering and fertilizing with liquid organic or complete mineral fertilizer.

The optimal ratio of elements in the fertilizer: nitrogen - 14%; phosphorus - 10%; potassium - 27%. Fertilizer concentration - 20 g per 10 liters of water, feeding frequency - 1 time in 10 days. For the suitability of the bulbs in the future, for forcing and obtaining flowering at certain times after the growing season, they need a period of relative rest (8-9 weeks). At this time, the temperature should be around 13-17 ° C, and the plants do not have to be taken out to a dark place. Care consists in the timely removal of dried leaves. Watering is reduced to a minimum, so long as the roots do not dry out, since they are perennial. It is allowed to store the bulbs in a cool place)