Eucharis is grace itself

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It is only once to see this beautiful plant during flowering and it is already impossible to forget! The people called him "Amazonian Lily." In culture, more often than other species, large-flowered eucharis (Eucharis grandiflora) - “Amazonian lily” and Amazonian eucharis (Eucharis amazonisa) are found. This valuable ornamental bulbous plant is common in the tropics of South America, where it lives mainly in the Amazonian lowlands, the foothills of the Colombian Andes, on loose, humus-rich soil. How to grow eucharis at home, we will tell in the article.

Content:

Botanical description of the plant
Care for eucharis at home
Reproduction of eucharis
Diseases and Pests

Botanical description of the plant

Rod Eucharis (Eucharis) has about 20 species of plants of the amaryliss family (Amaryllidaceae) blooming in winter and differing only in insignificant botanical characters. The word "eucharis" in translation from Greek into Russian means "elegant". This name is justified - the plant stands out among indoor flowers by the beauty of leaves and flowers, a strong aroma.

The leaves are large (up to 40 cm long and 20 cm wide), broadly oval, pointed, dark green, shiny. They are similar in shape to an aspidistra (“friendly family”). The leaf blade is slightly wrinkled, with longitudinal protruding veins. Leaves live for a long time, for several years; but after autumn flowering partially die off. Then they are replaced by new, young ones, first rolled up into a tube.

In skilled florists, eucharis blooms twice a year. In well-developed specimens in October – November 5-8 peduncles appear (sometimes more), in the beginning of summer - 2-3. Some plants bloom on New Year's Eve. The flowers are large, up to 10 cm in diameter, similar to daffodils, snowy white, slightly drooping, gathered in a simple umbrella on long leafless stems (up to 70 cm). In the center of the flower stands out a dense, inside greenish crown with teeth along the edge.

Care for eucharis at home

Eucharis grows well in bright places, although it tolerates well a significant lack of lighting. Poorly tolerates the midday sun. The ideal place is the east and west window. In the summer, it can be taken out into the open air, but it should be shaded from direct sunlight and protected from precipitation.

Remember the thermophilic nature of the plant, do not forget the plant outdoors during the cool August nights, and even more so - during the first autumn frosts. It will be safer if you pull a small piece of plastic film by arranging a miniature greenhouse around it.

During the growth period, the temperature should not fall below 18 ° C. Strong temperature changes cause the flowers to shred. Remember that a temperature of 7-10 ° C is already considered damaging: it is possible to drop leaves and rot the bulbs.

For successful flowering, eucharis needs a resting period lasting 1-1.5 months. It is advisable to organize a dormant period after flowering, reduce watering and keep it in a semi-dry state.

Watering is moderate, since overdrying and waterlogging of the soil in the pot should not be allowed. It is best to water with soft, settled water. During the growth period, the substrate should be wetter than that of the hippeastrum and other bulbs, but still without waterlogging - therefore, water carefully, after flowering, reduce watering.

During the growing season, spraying eucharis is useful. During the flowering period, the plant is not sprayed or carefully sprayed so that water does not get on the flowers, since brown spots appear from this, as a result of which the decorativeness of the flowers is lost. Dust from the leaves can be removed with a damp cloth or washed with water, but make sure that it does not get into the soil.

Starting from the onion germination stage, it is useful to feed the plant with organic and mineral fertilizers (alternating both) once every 2 weeks. After flowering, feeding is stopped. For fertilizer, you can use universal liquid mineral fertilizing ("Rainbow", "Universal"), breeding them in accordance with the instructions.

Plants painfully endure a coma disorder, root damage and transplantation. Eucharis is transplanted no more than 1 time in 3-4 years. Over time, the pot becomes literally full of bulbs, the nutrition area is not enough, and the plant may die. The best time for transhipment and transplantation is March. One transplant in 3-4 years is enough.

Carefully with a stick, loosen the earthen lump and straighten the fleshy roots. The most tangled parts of the roots can be washed with water so as not to injure. Bulbs are planted 2-3 cm below the soil level and well compacted the earth around them. If there are no leaves on the bulbs, they can be planted so that the tip remains above the level of the substrate. This will allow better monitoring of the onset of growth.

In the first 2-3 weeks after planting, eucharis is carefully watered as the soil surface dries up, but it is sprayed (if there are leaves) abundantly and regularly. After 1-1.5 months after planting from the bulb, the top of the new leaves is shown.

Reproduction of eucharis

To separate or not to separate daughter bulbs from the mother depends on the goals that you pursue. Naturally, in close proximity, young plants develop more slowly. If each of them is planted in an individual pot, then they will quickly reach flowering. Then you need to separate the kids every year. However, if you do not want to quickly multiply eucharis, then it is better to leave the children - this contributes to a more magnificent flowering.

To obtain a lush, well-leafy specimen of eucharis, wide containers with several holes in the bottom are used for planting for fast flow of water. A thick layer of expanded clay and shard drainage is poured at the bottom, since the bulbs rot from the stagnation of water. 3-5 bulbs are planted in a container, immersing them in the ground to a depth of 4-5 cm.

Group planting in relatively tight dishes is an indispensable condition for good flowering. Seated individually, the bulbs do not bloom until they multiply in sufficient quantity.

Substrates with good moisture capacity are preferred. The substrates are prepared on the basis of leaf soil (4 parts), adding compost (2 parts), coarse sand or other baking powder (2 parts) and loam (1 part). The mixture can be made up of 3 parts of deciduous, 2 parts of heather and 1 part of sod land and sand. Heather land can be replaced with peat. Plants need good drainage. Eucharis blooms profusely, provided that it is crowded in a pot.

Completely isolated children are separated carefully, being careful not to damage the root system. Transplanted into pre-prepared soil, consisting of turf or humus containing earth, sand and peat in equal proportions, which is maintained in a sufficiently moist, but not over-moistened state.

Diseases and Pests

Eucharis, in general, is not a whimsical plant and blooms easily every year, even with minimal care. If you try, you can get a rarity (or envy of everyone) a beautiful plant with a huge number of fragrant flowers. If you leave a lot of bulbs in a large pot and regularly feed the plant, then the brilliant numerous leaves will look especially impressive. I must say that eucharis is more likely a solitary plant and it needs enough space.

Shield

Brown plaques on the surface of the leaves and stems, suck out the cell juice. Leaves lose their color, dry and fall off. For mechanical cleaning of pests, the leaves are wiped with a soapy sponge. Then the plant is sprayed with 0.15% Actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water).

Thrips

Its appearance is promoted by high temperature and low humidity. On the underside of the leaf, thrips lays numerous colonies, and light dots appear on the upper side of the leaf. As a result, the upper side of the leaf becomes tan with a silvery sheen. The plant should be sprayed (if necessary repeatedly) with insecticides (phytoverm, decis, actellik, intavir).

Eucharis during flowering is a wonderful plant that can decorate any room. In the winter garden, eucharis is best placed under the canopy of large plants.