Sprekelia

Sprekelia description

Sprekelia: photo

Sprekelia (Sprekelia) blooms beautifully, the second name - sprekelia, is part of the Amaryllis family. This genus includes only one variety - the "Magnificent" sprekelia. Growing wild, it is found in the highlands of the Guatemalan and Mexican territories. The popular name is "lily of the Templars", "lily of the Aztecs". The Hamburg mayor in the eighteenth century donated the bulb of this plant to K. Linnaeus. After some time, the name was given by his name.

On the European territory, vegetation first appeared in 1593. At that time it was brought from the North American continent by the Spaniards, it was called as "Indian daffodil", which has flowers of red color.

The upper part of the bulb is covered with membranous scales, which are painted in red. The leaves are linear, two cm in breadth, and forty cm long. Sometimes, at the base, the leaf is painted in a reddish color. The flowers are attached to a fairly large peduncle height, which is hollow inside.

The flower corollas are bright red in color and irregular, so they resemble orchids. The pharynx is slightly greenish, has small outgrowths covered with scales. Flowers give nectar, the wild plant is pollinated by small birds. The growth of peduncles and leaves begins at the same time (sometimes the appearance of leaves occurs a little later).

The plant blooms from April to June days. Twenty days after the peduncle has formed, flowering begins. The fruit is a capsule, formed after flowering, contains a large number of flattened grains.

This vegetation can in rare cases be observed cultivated in apartment conditions. And all because after a few days after the flowers have blossomed, the bush stops blooming, and the leaves are not decorative at all. But there are gardeners who love this vegetation, and sprekelia will interest them.

Sprekelia is great: planting and care at home

Sprekelia: photo

Rest stage

Sprekelia is magnificent for a very long time in a dormant period, its duration - from November to March days (about six months). In the fall, watering is very scarce or even stops altogether. After the leaves fall off, the bulb is placed in a microclimate with temperature conditions within seventeen to twenty degrees. This is how it is stored.

Planting sprekelia

The bulb is planted in the first days of the spring season (March). For this purpose, a fresh soil substrate is used. The bulb is installed so that its top is above the surface soil layer. Watering after planting is carried out in a small amount, and when flower arrows form, the volume increases greatly, in addition, minerals are poured into the water.

Potting soil and fertilization

Almost any soil is suitable. When the sprekelia blooms and grows magnificently, top dressing is applied once every seven days. With the onset of the autumn season, fertilizers are not applied. To make the bush bloom longer, it is placed in a cool place.

Reproduction

Reproduction methods: seed, with the help of children. Sprekelia gorgeous blooms for the first time three to four years after planting. The care is similar to that of the hippeastrum.

Where to find

Great Sprekelia can be purchased at a specialty store by special order. You can also order it on the Internet.