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Planting a flower bush alstroemeria
The alstroemeria flower, or Peruvian lily, is a herbaceous perennial. It is grown mainly for cutting or as a garden decoration. In the northern regions, they are planted only in greenhouses or tubs. Let’s talk about how to create suitable conditions for alstroemeria.
Features of planting alstroemeria
The bush of the Peruvian lily reaches a height of 1 m. Its stems are erect, numerous flowers bloom at the ends. Their color depends on the variety. The rhizome of the plant is tuberous, does not tolerate frost well.
Alstroemeria flowers look very similar to lilies
Alstroemeria is planted in places with a thin shade. This will ensure a wild bloom. The fragile stems are afraid of the winds, so they choose a protected and quiet place. If required, then additional supports are installed. The soil on the site should be loose and nutritious. In heavy soil, the roots quickly rot. Before planting, the bed is dug up, peat, rotted manure or humus are added.
The flower grows quickly, so every 2-3 years you can propagate it by dividing the bush. This is best done in the spring, when young shoots appear. In the first year, the daughter bushes do not bloom.
Alstroemeria reproduces well by seeds. In April, they are sown for seedlings, seedlings appear in 15-20 days. They are transplanted to a permanent place when warm days come. Flowering in young plants begins in the second year.
Caring for bush alstroemeria
Alstroemeria is an unpretentious plant, so standard procedures are enough:
- watering;
- top dressing;
- weeding.
The flower does not like too wet soil. Often dies from waterlogging if the spring is rainy. The soil is rarely watered, only during drought periods. To create suitable conditions, cover the soil with mulch. Top dressing is done every week, mineral fertilizers with a high potassium content are used.
Alstroemeria does not tolerate frost well. In autumn, the entire aerial part is cut off, the soil is allowed to dry out and the bush is covered with dry foliage or film.
The main task is to prevent the soil from freezing to a great depth, otherwise the rhizome will die
In the northern regions, root tubers are dug up and stored in a cold basement. They are placed in a box or pot of earth. In the spring they are planted in a flower bed. If young shoots fell under short-term frosts, then you should not worry. With the onset of warmth, the bush will grow in full force.
Growing alstroemeria is not a hassle. Create the right conditions to keep the bloom happy for as long as possible. You still have questions – watch the video on the topic.